314 Dr Hibbert on the Vitrified Cairns of Orkney. 



No other situation could have been so eligible for instant em- 

 barkation into the Northern Ocean ; — which superior advantage 

 is even acknowledged at the present day, by its being the only 

 harbour in the isles of Orkney which is deemed a convenient 

 one for the prosecution of the North Sea Fishery of the Her- 



ring. 



The site of the ancient Portsmouth of Orkney being thus 

 established, the next object which I have is to shew through 

 what medium telegraphic signals, which consisted of beacon 

 fires, were conveyed to the fleet thus anchored in the sound of 

 Papa Stronsa. 



Shetland, which yielded a more willing obedience to Norway, 

 was frequently in league with this power against Orkney, and 

 as hostile fleets were often reinforced in the more loyal pro- 

 vince, the intermediate island, named Fair Isle, of difficult ac- 

 cess except to boats, was firmly retained by the Orcadians 

 and converted into their most northerly signal station. From 

 this site, an alarm fire, which would be first hailed in North 

 Ronaldsay, would be answered by its inhabitants kindling a 

 fresh flame in order that the intelligence might spread to Papa 

 Westray and Westray on the 

 west, and to Sandayon the south. 

 Sanday would propagate the 

 alarm to the fleet which was>; 

 anchored in Papa Stronsa, with q 

 particulars of the number of hos- <; 

 tile vessels approaching the Or- 

 cadian shores. These particu- 

 lars, as we are assured by divers 

 writers so late even as the time 

 of Wallace, was usually signi- 

 fied by the number of fires which 

 were lighted ; and hence the 

 many vitrified cairns with which < «s. ' 

 the signal station of Elsness in § C^" 

 Sanday now appears studded 



In order also to complete the 

 efficiency of this telegraphic sys- 

 tem, every Scandinavian province 



Vitr'ijicd cuinu 

 of Elsness. 



Papa Slronsay. 



Sound in which 



the Fleet lay. 



O 



I.'im qf 

 Cairns. 



