ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS IN LOCHS OF HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND. 209. 
however, sends me the following extract from a rare pamphlet by Angus 
M‘Diarmid, printed in Edinburgh in 1816. The English is probably 
some of the most extraordinary issued from any press whatever: ‘ An 
island, on that part of the said lake (Loch Earn) near Edinaple, which 
island, according to some affirmation, has been erected dexterous 
modelling: its foundations were laid on timber on which they executed 
the operation so emphatically, that it were specious habitation, the 
primary idea of operating the said island for place of refuge to some 
of the inhabitants, to protect their precious goods from the insult of 
multitude of inhuman transactions. 
“Another island at the fit end, of the aforesaid lake, in anciently 
notoriously assaulters inhabited, wherein they were beheaded, in conse- 
quence of felonious conduct, by a valiant gentleman of Macnab, who 
on the execution of that purpose, has contribute the assistance of other 
three in bearing a boat from a far distance on their shoulder, over 
mountainous ground, in dead time of night. By which intellectual 
plan, got in to the island, and forthwith finished the ravished 
inhabitants.’ 
In the Report of last year I quoted the letter of Dr. Th. Johnston, 
M.A., assistant to Sir John Murray, in the Lake Survey of Scotland, 
but the authority of the writer and the appositeness of his remarks 
makes it fitting that his opinion be again recorded here. Dr. Johnston 
suggested that the islands in Loch Hoil, Loch Derculich, and Loch 
Essan are artificial, and added: ‘ In the majority of the lochs which I 
have visited, artificial islands exist, either as ‘‘ islands ’’ or more often 
as “‘cairns,’’ more or less submerged. The existence of causeways is 
frequent, and generally, as you know, they have a bend or turn in 
them, so that strangers or enemies would probably step off into deep 
water. These islands have all a very similar structure and formation 
as far as surface inspection goes, and no doubt if you examined them 
in your diving dress you would find them much the same in construc- 
tion as Cherry Island in Loch Ness.’ 
Mr. Alex. Porteous thinks that at least one of the islands in Loch 
Ochlertyre is artificial. 
Stirlingshire. 
Loch Lomond offers examples very similar to Loch Tay, though at 
the time of writing sufficient information is scarcely available. 
In reply to my inquiry, Mr. Robertson, of the Inversnaid Hotel, 
undertook to examine some of the cairns, which are situated five miles 
distant. In order to facilitate his work I sent him a water-telescope. 
On June 10 last he wrote: ‘I have now been able to examine the 
cairns which can well be seen in the present low state of the loch. 
They occur in the bay where I have marked a red cross on the map 
enclosed, and immediately to the S. of the point, called Rowchoish. 
. . . They are composed of large boulders, but are laid with such 
regularity that they appear to be artificial.’ 
1912. P 
