Ferguson — Ogham-inscribed Stone from Mount Music. 195 



of the inscription more immediately under our notice with the drawing 

 which accompanies Mr. Brash's paper. I can assure the Academy that 

 this drawing is as close a representation as any hand-drawn copy they 

 are ever likely to receive can well be expected to be. Yet they will, 

 if they see with my eyes, observe how very differently the digits look 

 in the conventionalized form given them in the one, and in their 

 genuine shapes, degrees of distinctness, and relations to the stem-line, 

 as disclosed in the other. Were it not that a criterion so indisputable 

 lies before us, I would not venture to question a line of the drawing 

 without the profoundest self-distrust ; for. if I have learned anything 

 in these investigations, it is the knowledge, ever present to my mind, 

 of my own fallibility, and a high respect for the impres?ions of other 

 and more experienced observers. 



I say "if," because, whilethe reading I suggest is reconcilable with 

 the appearances, it may be erroneous. All that I venture positively to 

 affirm respecting the inscription is that, to my eye, the q of the sup- 

 posed Muqi appears like an abraded r ; that the vowel before tt seems 

 distinctly enough to be i ; and that the final group is not reconcilable 

 with the reading which would make it represent n. 



I may add as a curious pendant to this communication that the 

 reason why this Knockauran inscription is not now among the Academy's 

 collection is, that the late Mr. TVindele, in his lifetime, expressed a 

 wish that it should be erected over his own grave. His family design- 

 ing, at some time, to comply with that desire, have consequently 

 retained it out of the general collection which they disposed of to the 

 Academy. Mr. Windele does not appear himself to have regarded the 

 inscription as at all decypherable ; but his imagination was taken with 

 the appositeness of the cross associated with the written mystery ; and 

 if the accompanying inscription really bear the meaning which I have 

 ventured to suggest, it will not be doubted that a more appropriate 

 monument could hardly have been found for this earnest and pious- 

 hearted antiquary. 



I am, my dear Sir, 



Very faithfully yours, 



Samuel FKEersox. 



