ON ANCIENT CAMPS AND EARTH-WORKS. 99 
In certain places where the land is adapted for the purposes 
of agrieulture, there these land-marks of the history of 
former ages have gradually been effaced by the use of the 
plough, or the soil spread around with the object of im- 
proving the fertility of the land ; but as earth-works 
for the most part occur on high lands, or barren hills, or on 
moors unsuited for cultivation, they remain much in the 
same state as when they ceased to be occupied for defen- 
sive and other purposes, except that the gradual decay of 
herbage, and its reproduction, as well as the washing of 
the rain and winter floods, tend in some degree to bring 
them gradually to a level surface. The ditch becomes by 
degrees less deep, the mound less high ; but when turf has 
once covered it, the process is so slow that the earth-works 
of this country remain to the present time the truest monu- 
ments of the manners and habits of our forefathers; and 
as such they must be regarded with the deepest interest, 
and are well worthy of the most careful investigation; and 
happy it is that men have been found ready to give time 
and attention to their study, and have brought learning and 
research to bear upon their elucidation. These ancient 
mounds give life to history, which otherwise becomes in- 
“ sipid and wearisome. Who does not feel more enthusiastie 
and realize more vividly the scenes and events of bygone 
times, when he stands upon the very spot where the brave 
early defenders of this island first withstood attempts 
«t subjugation? Who does not read Cesar and Tacitus 
with deeper interest, when he traces the connection of 
forts, and treads upon the very line of march, and stands 
upon the battle-ground, described by the historian? Such 
investigations give health and recreation both to mind and 
body—they give study a vitality which it cannot otherwise 
possess ; and these historical monuments, however simple, 
