214 ANCIENT REMAINS IN ARRAN. 



traceable on the floor in outline ; at the opposite or north end 

 of the cist, a few long bones lay on the floor, and also two 

 flint arrow-heads. The cist was 3 feet long, 2 feet deep, and 

 16 inches broad. The dimensions, nearly the same in all 

 the cists, shew that these were not intended for depositories 

 of the body in an extended position. When cremation and 

 the urn were not employed, the body was interred in a con- 

 tracted position, sometimes on the side with the body and 

 limbs bent; sometimes in a sitting posture, the knees drawn 

 towards the chin, with the arms used in battle lying on 

 either side, ready to be grasped again when the dry bones 

 should be clothed with muscle, and the re-animated body 

 should start into new life! 



The double granite circle No. 5 was next tried, but n> 

 thing was found save the two sides of a cist. The place had 

 obviously been disturbed before. 



The small open enclosure No. 6 was also searched, but no- 

 thing met with except a fragment of a flint implement. An 

 unsuccessful search was also made at the monolith on the 

 moor No. 9 in the plan and this concluded the labours of 

 our first day; it was bright and warm, and our operations 

 were prolonged late into the evening. 



101. My next examination was made on the 26th Septem- 

 ber, the force, and its organization by Mr. Paterson, being the 

 same as before. His Grace the Duke of Hamilton honoured 

 us with his presence during the greater part of the day, 

 remaining on the ground till nightfall, and aiding us by his 

 advice. The day was one of the most brilliant and genial of 

 the season ; the atmosphere had that unusual transparency, 

 ominous of change, which gives magical effects to a landscape. 

 The granite peaks were defined against the deep azure of the 

 north-eastern sky with wondrous distinctness they seemed 

 close at hand, and lifted up into the clear air far beyond their 

 usual height. 



As the circle No. 3 had been found to have a cist to one 

 aide of the centre, I was desirous of discovering now whether 



