444 



to combat with old prejudices, which must be treated with 

 apparent respect, and yet at the same time with firmness, so 

 as to baffle the absurdities of the country people, who view 

 our objects with a suspicion which reasoning with them 

 only serves to increase. But really the stories that we are 

 sometimes compelled to listen to are of so extraordinary and 

 ludicrous a nature, that they amply atone for every obstacle. 

 Sometimes they are in reference to the supposed inmates of 

 the forts, " a very dangerous class of people ;" and not unfre- 

 quently mixed up with the mysteries of the Danes, and the 

 early history of Denmark. The only remarkable feature in 

 this fort is, that I have met with many large stones whose 

 surface is perfectly vitrified. Having placed some of them in 

 a furnace, the glassy surface dissolved, but the greatest heat 1 

 could apply would not vitrify the unglazed surface ; and from 

 the black appearance of the stones when fractured, they must 

 have been subjected to the action of great heat. 1 also met 

 with some bones and teeth, which, on examination, proved to 

 be boars' teeth. The bones were reduced to a substance like 

 butter. Only the teeth could be collected. I will send you spe- 

 cimens of the stone, and rubbings of inscriptions, should 1 find 

 any. I often regretted my inability to send you a rubbing of 

 the Aghalusky inscription, but I was not in Carberry since ray 

 last communication ; the weather being then wet, I could not 

 apply the paper to the stone ; besides, the inscription is very 

 large, so that it would have been useless to have sent a rubbing 

 taken by any other than myself, as I could not depend on the 

 accuracy of it. 1 am sure you must be now wearied with me, 

 I have detained you so long. 



" Believe me. Rev. dear Sir, 



"Your's very faithfully, 



" Richard Caulfield. 

 " Rev. Dr. Todd, F. T. C. D., Sfc, 

 " Trin. Coll. Dub." 



