140 NORTH UIST. ANTIQUITIES. 



by the remotest probabilities, to elucidate this obscure 

 science.* 



In the account of South Uist and Barra, the want of 

 springs and water courses has been noticed, and it was 

 remarked that the lakes appear to be filled from the 

 drainage water of the surf ace. The same remark, though 

 in a somewhat less degree, is applicable to North Uist ; 

 since its more numerous elevations give rise to a few 

 small streams, which although not permanent, are more 

 frequently filled than those of the southern islands. The 

 vicinity of the mountainous land of Harris appears also 

 to generate more rain in North Uist than is observed to 

 fall in the southern division of the chain. 



IN this island, as in many of the others, are found 

 remains of military works now nearly obliterated. These, 

 according to the predominant custom of the people every 

 where, are called Danish. The most remarkable are 

 situated on small islands in lakes, but they present little 

 but heaps of ruins. One of them which I examined, 

 was connected by a raised causeway with the shore. It 

 has been supposed by some antiquaries that the works 

 situated in islands were actually Danish or Scandinavian, 

 and that they were thus distinguishable from the similar 

 fortresses of the British, w r hich were supposed to be always 



* I have formerly noticed the gay appearance of the sandy plains 

 which are prevalent in these islands, and occasionally mentioned 

 the most conspicuous of the plants which inhabit the pastures, of which 

 the fragrance perfumes the air around. I shall here enumerate all the 

 plants which I observed in a single green plain, a list which will, I 

 believe, apply to the whole of this tract of country, as well as to the 

 sandy shores of the other islands. Holcus lanatus, Bromus mollis, 

 Festuca duriuscula, Agrostis littoralis, Festucaovina, Aira flexuosa, Aira 

 praecox, Lolium perenne, Vicia cracca, Potentilla anserina, Geranium 

 sanguineum, Trifolium repens, Thalictrum pratense, Bellis perennis, 

 Ranunculus arvensis, Plantago lanceolata, Anthyllis vulneraria, Galium 

 verum. 



