ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS IN LOCHS OF HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND. 221 
islet seem to be formed of rubble work, and the same remark applies 
to the twin islands on Loch Chlathamir. On several little lochs of 
the island the common brochs or duns are to be seen.’ 
Mr. K. J. Ross, Bank of Scotland, Stornoway, writes: ‘ Quite 
recently another instance of an artificial island, which does not appear 
on the list, has been brought to my notice. It is situated on Loch 
Orisay, which appears on the reduced survey map as Loch Hilean 
Mor, about seven miles from Stornoway, in a westerly direction. I 
do not think there can be any doubt about its being artificial, for the 
person who brought it to my notice had never seen or heard that 
artificial islands of the kind existed, yet he was quite positive that it 
had been built by the hand of man.’ 
One of the most interesting examples of the whole series is that 
at Tolsta, first suggested by Rev. W. Morrison, M.A., F.S.A. Scot., 
who writes: ‘ At Tolsta, some twelve miles north of Stornoway, on 
the croft of a Mr. McIver, a small shopkeeper, I saw a lake bottom 
on this croft. He had drained the loch with a view to adding it to 
his croft. He was astonished that with the exception of a small 
mound on the otherwise arid area he could get no crops to grow. [ 
suggested that the mound was a lake-dwelling. He at once agreed 
that it must be so, for he found stakes stuck all round the mound. 
He added that he found fragments of clay pottery, which he threw 
aside as of no value to him. This took place several years ago. If 
Mr. Mclver is in life he will assist you with good-will. Lake- 
dwellings should be found all over the interior of the island of Lewis.’ 
The following delightful letter from Mr. C. G. Mackenzie, 
Procurator Fiscal, Park House, Stornoway, gives further details [the 
letter is given in full as a sample of the many pleasant letters which 
this inquiry has brought me]: ‘ July 30, 1912. I have had an oppor- 
tunity of visiting the site of the lake at N. Tolsta, as to which you 
wrote me some time ago. I saw Mr. Mclver and got some details 
from him. The superficial area of the loch was something about 
13 acre. It appears that the existence of the island was unknown 
until as the water of the loch was being drawn off the islet revealed 
itself. It proved to be almost 12 yards square and appears to have 
had a foundation of heather with ‘‘ built stones about it.’’ On the 
island were found a quantity of mussel-shells, deer-horns, and snuff- 
mills made of stone. There was a causeway leading to the islet, and 
stakes were discovered sticking out of the ground along the track of 
the causeway. The stones, etc., forming the islet were removed, and 
while utilising the site for agricultural purposes, a curious discovery 
was made. Under the heather were found immense quantities of 
diatomite. Mr. MaclIver tells me that at one part of the loch he forced 
a 15-foot iron rod into the diatomite and found no bottom. 
‘While in North Tolsta I saw a loch in the near vicinity of the 
one under notice on which an islet is situated. From the general 
appearance of the island I do not doubt that it is a built one. At 
Aird in the Eye Peninsula [ examined an island in Loch an Duin. 
A causeway of stone leads from the shore to the island, and this 
island, too, I regard as artificially formed. Whether the stones forming 
