ANCIENT REMAINS IN ARRAN. 209 



Orkney and the Isle of Lewis, are the Stone Circles of Tor- 

 more. They are situated on the open moorland at the back of 

 Drumadoon, and the King's Hill, S. of Mauchrie water-foot. 

 They may be most readily reached from Brodick, by crossing 

 the moor from the base of Craig-Dhu, S. of Glaister farm, or 

 by turning off the Shiskin road at the bridge over the 

 Mauchrie, passing along the Dougrie road through the old 

 birch wood as far as the first farm-house, where the weird 

 forms of " the standing stones" are well seen upon the moor. 

 If we ascend from the shore after visiting the King's Cove, 

 then a little beyond the farm-house of Tormore a large circle 

 of granite blocks is first passed ; a little farther, two upright 

 stones ai'e seen upon the moor, and when the eastern crest is 

 reached, the group of circles is seen on its eastern slope. 

 The tall, upright stones look majestic and solemn, standing 

 solitary on the wild heath. We associate them with an age 

 and the life of a people long passed away, but who were 

 moved by feelings and passions like our own, and they thus 

 awaken in our minds a strong human interest. The mystery 

 of their origin and purpose enhances the charm that hangs 

 about them ; curiosity and speculation are excited : and we 

 conceive a strong desire to discover for what purpose they 

 were reared, and to what uses they were applied. After a 

 careful survey of them, in July, 1860, and an examination of 

 all that had been written about them, I was not able to 

 satisfy myself that there was any authentic record of the 

 discovery of relics which could throw light on their origin or 

 use; while I was acquainted with only one or two cases in 

 which such circles had been anywhere opened. Further 

 investigation into a subject confessedly so obscure seeming 

 thus highly desirable, I placed the nature and importance of 

 the inquiry before the late Duke of Hamilton, and requested 

 permission to make a series of excavations within and around 

 the stone circles and monoliths of Arran. His Grace not 

 only at once most kindly acceded to the request, but ex- 

 pressed a wish that the operations should be conducted at 



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