o6 on antiquities in Scotland. Alarch ix. 



artificial. The basis of the tower is laid deep with- 

 in the bowels of the mount, and in the center of the 

 whole is placed the well, which has always been 

 sunk deep enough to furnifli an abundant supply of 

 water for the use of the garrison, and those who 

 might be besieged within the keep. This high 

 tower was always divided into stories, one above the 

 other, each story consisting of one apartment, which 

 was lighted by windows in the wall, that were so con- 

 structed as to admit the light freely, but not to allow 

 any mifsile weapon xhtownfrom below to penetrate 

 into the apartment through these apertures, while 

 they at the same time admitted of weapons being dis- 

 charged through them from within for the annoy- 

 ance of the afsailants. These particulars are beau- 

 tifully illustrated in Mr King's masterly efsay on 

 the subject. Each of these apartments too is furnilli- 

 ed with its fire place, and a chimney leading from it 

 to the top of the building, in the heart of the 

 wall ; and in most of the stories some cavities have 

 been made in the wall, to serve as cupboards or 

 prefscs for the conveniency of the inhabitants. AU 

 the floors of these apartments, above the s^urface of 

 the mount at least, were made of wood, not vaiilted ; 

 ■and in every one of them is to be seen, till this day, 

 holes iii the wall fitted to receive the ends of beams 

 for supporting the floors of the diflferent apart- 

 ments. I 

 The entry to the keep was always by one narrow 

 door, on a level with the top oj^ the conical mound, to 

 ivhich there was no accefs but by one narrow flight 

 ■cf steps, ascending ia a straight line ffona the bottpa 



