22 Hill Wells. 



places at once would find gaps through which they 

 might pour into the camp. It seems, therefore, 

 evident that these works once sheltered an amiy ; 

 and, looking at their massive character, it is diffi- 

 cult to resist the conclusion that they were not 

 temporary trenches merely, but were permanentl}' 

 garrisoned. 



There is another alternative ; they may have been 

 a place of refuge for the surrounding population in 

 the nameless wars waged between rival kings. In 

 that case they would, when resorted to, contain a 

 still larger number of persons ; women and children 

 and aged men would be included, and to these must 

 be added cattle and sheep. Now, reflecting upon 

 these considerations, and recollecting the remarks 

 previously made upon the lack of water on these hills, 

 the very curious question arises, How did such an 

 army, or such a refugee population with cattle and 

 horses, supply themselves with sufficient water for 

 drinking purposes ? The closest examination of the 

 camp itself fails to yield even a suggestion for an 

 answer. 



There is not the slightest trace of a well, and it 

 ma}' fairly be questioned whether a well would have 

 been practicable at that date. For this bold brow 

 itself stands high enough ; but then, in addition, it is 

 piled on an elevated plateau or table-land, beneath 

 which again is the level at which springs break out. 

 The wells of the district all commence on this table- 

 land or plain. A depression, too, is chosen for the 

 purpose, and their depth is about ninety feet on the 

 average : many are much deeper. But when to this 

 depth the task of digging right down through the hill 



