APPENDIX. 27$ 



covering ftone : in the broadeft part this ftone is five 

 feet, and nearly ends in a joint at both extremities. It 

 is difficult to defcribe the effect produced by this great 

 mafs, that from the manner in which it is fupported, 

 and from the fhape of the pillars, has an appearance of 

 lightnefs at once furprifing and pleafmg. There are 

 other remains of the fame defcription in other places, 

 particularly one near Rathfryland, and another between 

 Caftlereagh and Comber ; but it would be unneceffary 

 to dwell upon thefe, as they afford nothing very mate- 

 rially differing from thofe already mentioned ; but the 

 cromlech in the Giant's ring, near the church of Drum- 

 boe, on the fummit of a hill between Lifburn and Bel- 

 faft, deferves particular notice, from the circumftance 

 of its being placed in the centre of one of the moft flu- 

 pendous works of antiquity this country can boaft of. 

 This altar, of which I have alfo given a drawing, 

 differs very much from the reft, confifting of a rude 

 incumbent Hone of feven feet by fix feet and a half, 

 and fupported by ranges of rude pillars, and clofe to it 

 fome fixed {tones ftill remaining of confiderable fize > 

 the fupporters are from two to three and a half feet 

 high, the covering {tone formerly an inclined plane. 

 The indofure, in the centre of which ftands this altar, 

 is circular, one third of a mile in circumference, the 

 rampart which furrounds it, floping on each fide, in- 

 ftead of ending in a point is fufficiently wide for two 

 to ride a-breaft ; the whole is fo proportioned, that -a 



N n perfon. 



