UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 141 



burning of the dead having been at times prac- 

 tised among the Celts. 



" Some of those ancient weapons called celts, 

 made of stone as well as of brass, have been 

 found in this island : arid also the elf-shot or 

 flint arrow heads, the universal weapon of ancient 

 times ; what amazing patience it must have re- 

 quired to shape this \veapon into the accurate 

 form which it usually possesses ! 



" Among other antique remains discovered in 

 I slay, are eighteen large gold rings, which were 

 buried in one spot. They are bent into a cir- 

 cular form but not closed ; and having been at 

 first used by the person who found them as 

 handles for his drawers, they are still employed 

 in the same way, though their value has long 

 been known. It is supposed that they were the 

 collars of Roman officers, and probably the 

 spoils of war. 



" I observed a curious circumstance in this 

 island which I may as well mention here. At 

 its western extremity the cattle visit the beach 

 every day at low water, and quit their pastures to 

 feed on sea-weed. The accuracy with which they 

 attend to the diurnal changes of the ebb tide is 

 very remarkable ; as they are seldom mistaken 

 even when they have some miles to walk to the 

 beach. They are very fond of fish also, prefer- 

 ring it to the best grass. In Shetland, I am told, 

 that both dogs and horses eat fish from choice, 



