i79^* *'* antiquities in Scotland. 59 



clearly proves that they could never have been inten- 

 ded for watch towers. And 



Lastly, in a mountainous country like Scotland, 

 tops of high hills, within view of each other at a 

 great distance, formed natural^ alarm-posts, so infinite- 

 ly superior to any artificial vfork for this purpose, 

 that our forefathers must have been totally desti- 

 tute of common sense, if they could ever have form- 

 ed an idea of substituting such imperfect works as 

 these in their stead. ' Other invincible objections to 

 this hypothesis, arising from the construction of 

 these piles themselves, might be urged ; were it 

 liicre necefsary. 



2. Forts, or places of strength. 



I find that an opinion very generally prevails, espe- 

 cially among those who live at a distance, and never 

 have seen any of these buildings, that they have 

 undoubtedly been erected for the purpose of defence ; 

 but neither does this hypothesis appear to be te- 

 nible wlien it is nearly examined. 



In the 1st. place, these buildings are so construc- 

 ted, that they could have contained but very few 

 persons, in proportion to the immense expenc? of e- 

 recting them. In those times il was necefsr.i-y to 

 ftielter the whole body of the people, men, women, 

 and children, from the rage of their euem-es, and al- 

 so their cattle, and valuable effects. The modern 

 idea of a fortrcfs, defended by a few warriors, to se-' 

 cure the pofsefsion of tlie country, would have been 

 laughed at as ridiculous ; for, as military c::peditions 

 wer« at that time merely predatory, and of ihort 



