Dr Ilibbert on the Vitrified Cairns of Orkney. 313 



than glance at some of* the conclusions to which I have ar- 

 rived. 



For three or four centuries, that is from the 10th to the 

 14th, the Scandinavian province of Orkney, always impatient 

 of the control of the mother country, had no enemies to con- 

 tend with so formidable as the kings of Norway, who frequent- 

 ly paid them hostile visits, to reduce them to submission. 

 Against these incessant invasions the Orcadians were generally 

 well prepared by keeping up a careful watch in their more 

 northerly isles, which, upon the first approach of an enemy 

 from the shores of Norway, should convey signals to a fleet 

 anchored in a convenient port, and x - eady to put to sea, there 

 to contend with its foes long before they could possibly land. 



These simple historical circumstances are abundantly unfold- 

 ed to us in the Orkneyinga Saga. Our inquiry, therefore, 

 becomes comprised in the following questions ; First, In what 

 part of Orkney were its ancient gallics most commonly moor- 

 ed? And. secondly, In what manner were timely signals con- 

 veyed to the fleet thus moored to arm and put to sea ? 



The first of these questions is soon resolved. It is evident, 

 that, as hostile attacks were chiefly to be dreaded from the 

 north, the most northerly harbour which could afford good 

 shelter and depth of water for ships, provided also that it 

 was situated on the east coast of Orkney, would be preferred ; 

 as these two circumstances of situation united, would be requi- 

 site for readily clearing out to oppose a hostile fleet, advancing 

 in its proper course from Norway. Now, the most northerly 

 island, lying also to the cast of the Orkney group, is North 

 Ronaldsay ; — but here there is no harbour whatever. Nor is 

 the island of Sanday, the next in succession, much more for- 

 tunate ; its navigation being greatly obstructed by surround- 

 ing shoals of sand, whence the island has derived its name. 

 In short, there is no port whatever which could have afforded 

 any convenience to early war ships, required upon the ap- 

 proach of an invading fleet to instantly put to sea, more north 

 than the sound of Papa Stronsa. This harbour, then, which 

 lies due south of Klsiicss in Sanday, being divided from it by 

 a channel ;t league and a-lialf acrOH, must, from necessity, 



have been selected aa the ancient Portsmouth of Orkney. 



