Dr Hibbert o?t the Vitrified Cairns of Orkney. 315 



had its laws whereby watchmen were placed at the various 

 wart hills of the country, as the Ward or Vord Hills of Ork- 

 ney were named, who were required, under the severest pe- 

 nalties, to be constantly on the alert to transmit a signal of 

 alarm to a fleet, or to the chain of beacons of which it might 

 form a link. Accordingly, to the north of the small island of 

 Papa Stronsa, a higher cairn than common, intended as a look- 

 out place, appears, with the evident foundations of a build- 

 ing near it, which, I have no doubt, was the residence of the 

 watchman whose office it was, upon the fires of Elsness be- 

 ing kindled, to instantly warn the fleet which was anchored in 

 the contiguous sound. 



The historical view which I have thus taken was familiarly, 

 yet beautifully, illustrated when I visited Stronsa. On the 

 opposite shore of Sanday several distinct kelp kilns were 

 lighted up, which were well calculated to impress the imagina- 

 tion with a number of beacon fires, while the fishing-vessels 

 then moored in the sound, like so many war ships, added a 

 show of reality to the illusion. The number of the fires I 

 could distinctly count. But the atmosphere was then clear. 

 Under different circumstances, I can account for the disap- 

 pointment occasionally expressed by the ancient Northmen, 

 that the signals were not sufficiently explicit. In the year 

 1136, a messenger came to inform Earl Paul that war ships 

 had been seen, but that it was uncertain whether the number 

 was ten or twelve. 



This is the general history of the vitrified cairns of Elsness. 

 Yet I am still in doubt on one subordinate question, whether 

 a telegraphic signal of the number of hostile vessels approach- 

 ing, indicated by a corresponding number of cairns being 

 lighted up, was communicated by this promontory from inde- 

 pendent observations, or from signals transmitted from North 

 Konaldsay, — in which latter case we ought to expect as many 

 vitrified cairns to be found here as at Elsness. I much regret, 

 on account of the inconstancy of the weather, making a very 

 hasty visit to this more northerly island. I was certainly shown 

 by the well informed factor of this place, Mr Scarth, many 

 cairns, the stones of which were discoloured by fire, yet there 

 Was none in which absolute vitrification was manifest. Hut I 

 have requested the proprietor of the island, William Traill, Esq. 



