ISLA. ANTIQUITIES. 



as well as of brass, which have been found in this island ; 

 the only instance in which they have been observed in 

 the Western islands, although occurring in various parts 

 both of North and South Britain. These, together with 

 fibulee of brass, are found in the graves, their usual 

 repositories. That universal weapon of ancient times, 

 to which superstition still attaches some medicinal and 

 antimagical powers in Scotland, has also been met with in 

 this island ; namely the elf-shot, or flint arrow head ; which 

 occurs also in Sky and in different parts of the mainland. 

 The difficulty of shaping this weapon into the accurate 

 and beautiful forms which it commonly possesses, must 

 have been excessive, and gives a proof of the same pa- 

 tience which is now exerted on similar manufactures by 

 the uncultivated inhabitants of the South Sea islands. 

 If indeed we wish to form a lively conception of the state 

 of ancient manners in our own country, we have only 

 to examine their existing state in those still primitive 

 settlements. History here becomes divested of its obscu- 

 rity, and of the poetical mist in which it is so often involved 

 by the distance of past ages. 



Among the remains of this miscellaneous nature which 

 have been found in Isla, the most remarkable are a num- 

 ber of large gold annuli, amounting to eighteen, which 

 were discovered together in one spot, buried under the 

 soil. They were bent into a circular form, but not closed ; 

 and the finder, ignorant of their nature, converted them 

 into handles for a chest of drawers. They are still execu- 

 ting the same office, although their nature and value have 

 been now long known. It is probable that they were the 

 collars of Roman officers, and part of the spoils of war, (" the 

 gold of the stranger/') since the Romans appear to have 

 made no settlements in the Western islands. 



Considerable remains of ancient defensive military 

 works are found in Isla ; and, as usual, they are erected 

 of laid stone without mortar. They are, like all other 

 similar works, attributed to the Danes ; but resemble 

 those which, on good grounds, are proved to have ap- 



