TKEGONNDSTG HILL AND ITS SXTREOtrNDINGS. 361 



one of the glacis of tlie camp beneath which a stone trough 

 was discovered under the superincumbent ruins of an archaic 

 building, something like thirty- five years ago. The trough is 

 ovoid in form, made out of granite, 7 inches in length, 4^ 

 inches wide at the top, and 3J inches at the bottom. The 

 interior is carefully hollowed with sloping sides J-in. deep ; at 

 the extremity there is an orifice. The bottom of the interior is 

 perfectly smooth and flat. A cover fits the lower portion with 

 great nicety, having an orifice corresponding to the first. The 

 height of the utensil is 2J-in. Traces of organic matter have 

 been discovered about the orifice by means of a microscope. 

 The gal-gal, beneath which the utensil was found, is known as 

 the Griant's Lapstone. A legend informs us that a giantess 

 following hard after a St. Wendron giant, here lost a load of 

 stones, which she was carrying in the lap of her apron, when its 

 string broke, and the stones fell and formed the pile. The name 

 lap-stone is thus an elephantine pun on its supposed origin. 

 Another story is to the effect that it was thrown thither by the 

 giant of Grodolphin Hill. According to some traditions giants 

 were living on the hill, three generations ago. They were the 

 enfeebled remnants of the old Cyclopean race, and were obliged 

 to give up their former blood-thirsty habits. The last giant was 

 blind, and it was with some difficulty that his wife prevailed on 

 him to remain quiet. This giantess, though represented as 

 being on the whole a quiet old body, spending most of her time 

 in gathering " creeks " for her fire, was not above practising on 

 the fears of her neighbours, when she went to them on begging 

 errands. " Bee Bo-Bum " she would fiercely cry, " I will have 

 sumpan to ait. Ef my old man were to come roun', he wud kill 

 tha." She always used to leave money behind the "heps " of 

 the door in exchange for gifts made her. 



Perchance this giant used to quench his thirst at the giant's 

 well. It is on the southern slope of the hill, immediately above 

 Bal-west. It had a spiral flight of stone steps, now destroyed. 

 It stands below a stone-wall, is circular in plan, is six feet in 

 circumference and very shallow, and has the crumbling vestiges 

 of stone-work. It is now dependent on the rain for its supply 

 of water. Lake says that the S. slope of the hill is studded 

 with tumuli ; of these, after a diligent search, 1 can find no 

 trace. 



