LEWIS. ANTIQUITIES. 



the most interesting which have been found in Britain, 

 I have added an etching for the purpose of showing 

 the general disposition more perfectly than words are 

 capable of explaining it.* 



The form is that of a cross, containing at the inter- 

 section a circle with a central stone ; an additional line 

 being superadded on one side of the longest arms 

 and nearly parallel to it. Were this line absent, its 

 form and proportion would be nearly that of the 

 Roman cross or common crucifix. The longest line 

 of this cross, which may be considered as the general 

 bearing of the work, lies in a direction 24 west of 

 the meridian. The total length of this line is at present 

 588 feet, but there are stones to be found in the 

 same direction for upwards of 90 feet further, which 

 have apparently been a continuation of it, but which 

 having fallen, like others through different parts of 

 the building, have sometimes been overwhelmed with 

 vegetation, leaving blanks that impair its present con- 

 tinuity. The whole length may therefore with little 

 hesitation be taken at 700 feet. The cross line, inter- 

 secting that now described at right angles, measures 

 204 feet, but as it is longer on one side than the 

 other, its true measure is probably also greater, although 

 I was not able to discover any fallen stones at the 

 extremities ; the progress of cultivation having here in- 

 terfered with the integrity of the work. The diameter 

 of the circle which occupies the centre of the cross is 

 sixty-three feet, the lines ceasing where they meet 

 the circumference. The stone which marks the centre 

 is twelve feet in height. The heights of the other 

 stones which are used in the construction are various, 

 but they rarely reach beyond four feet : a few of seven 

 or eight feet are to be found, and one reaching to 

 thirteen is seen near the extremity of the long line. 



* Plate xxx, fig. 1. 



