BINDON HILL, OE THE SWINES-BACK. 55 



At some height above this commences a very remarkable wide 

 and shallow foss or roadway towards the top of the hill. It is 

 very regularly excavated, and runs upwards against the hill 

 without any easement by divergence or winding. Where it 

 begins, perhaps 50 or 60 feet from the bottom, are remains of 

 an earthwork, apparently a sort of barbican or advanced defence 

 of the entrance. This has now been inclosed in a garden, and 

 to some extent altered by ornamental outlaying, but one very 

 perfect barrow and parts of two or three others are visible 

 flanking the foot of the ascending foss. At the top the foss ends, at 

 some distance before reaching the ramparts, in a sort of flattened 

 platform or landing stage, and the original earth-working is 

 here evidently undisturbed, showing it to be the intentional ending. 

 Higher up between this and the ramparts is another such 

 flattened landing stage, without any visible connection with the 

 lower one ; and above this again is an apparent way through 

 the rampart. Although the hill at this western part is not quite 

 so steep as at the two sides it is still very steep, and requires 

 stiff clambering rather than walking. It is about the steepness 

 that requires steps or stairs to be practicable, and when in use it 

 must have been cut into or furnished with steps. No doubt it 

 was the provision for the water supply of the hill city from the 

 spring, upon the many-hands-make-light-work principle, in most 

 cases the only solvent of this difficulty so common to such places. 

 Where the foss ends short of the top, the flight of steps was 

 probably supplemented by wooden continuations to be removed 

 or drawn up in times of danger. 



