NORTH UIST. ANTIQUITIES. 141 



placed on hills. But it is fruitless to discuss these ques- 

 tions, since not a shadow of evidence can be adduced 

 respecting them. It has been on all occasions found that 

 there was a considerable resemblance in the manners, 

 usages, warlike weapons, and monumental practices, of 

 the original British -or Celtic inhabitants and those of their 

 early invaders ; and there seems no ground for attempting 

 a distinction in the structures which they erected for the 

 purposes of defence. Such a systematic distinction at 

 least as that above mentioned is little likely to have 

 existed in rude nations whose immediate necessities were 

 the spur to these undertakings : systems are the off- 

 spring of refinement. 



Numerous barrows are also found in this island, and 

 a group of them is still remaining in one of the sandy 

 tracts of the north western shore, though many have 

 doubtless been either overwhelmed or blown away, in 

 consequence of the continual transference of the loose 

 sand. Similar barrows are known to abound throughout 

 Scotland as well as in South Britain, although the cairn 

 of stones is, in the former division of the island, more 

 prevalent than the tumulus of earth. Such memorials, 

 on being opened, have generally been found to enclose 

 urns, sometimes further secured in stone chests and con- 

 taining ashes, as well as trinkets, weapons of war, and 

 other objects of affection or fashion; the burning of the 

 dead appearing to have been a prevalent custom during 

 the ages which preceded the introduction of Christianity. 

 At times entire skeletons have also been discovered in 

 them. Recently, one of the barrows in North Uist was 

 opened during the operations of levelling and clearing 

 some rough ground, and was found to enclose a skeleton 

 in an erect posture. As we have no records of such a 

 practice as the interment of bodies in an erect position, 

 it is probable that this was one of the hiding places 

 which, till lately, are known to have existed in several 

 of the islands. These subterranean apartments were 

 used as places of retreat in cases of sudden invasion, 



