Dr. Wilson on Linton and its Legends. 41 



rated one, must have a solid content of considerably upwards of 

 half a million of cubic feet. The process, however, which has 

 just been suggested, is precisely that by which so fine a material 

 was likely to have been first gathered and set in motion ; while 

 the site of the mound presents also those conditions which would 

 be equally favourable for its ultimate deposition. Neither is 

 any special wonder requisite for its accomplishment ; for the 

 same process has been often witnessed elsewhere, and there are 

 many situations in which it is in progress even now. Consider- 

 able villages, forests, and cultivated lands have disappeared under 

 these drifted heaps. In the department of the Landes, a hill 

 more than sixty feet high may be said to be seen advancing upon 

 the village of Mimisan, which is in danger of being overwhelmed ; 

 and the Adour, though flowing generally with a full and rapid 

 current, is known to have been turned nearly a thousand fathoms 

 from its original course. On the margin of the great American 

 lakes, especially at the* eastern extremity of Lake Superior, sand- 

 hills are said to have been thrown up to the height of 150 feet. 

 But even in the immediate vicinity of Linton, something like the 

 same set of causes has recently shown itself in brief operation. 

 In March of the present year there was a remarkable tract of 

 cold and dry weather : the seed corn had not yet vegetated, and 

 the fields were bare of verdure. On the 30th of the month 

 arose a violent tempest of wind, without rain. The effect of this 

 was to raise the dry soil as a fine dust from the surface of the fields, 

 and to drive it towards the north-east, the gale having been 

 south-westerly. Of this drifted soil not less than 200 cart-loads 

 were removed from a small extent of the road leading from the 

 valley of the Kail towards Caverton. The same process, a hun- 

 dred times repeated, at a period when there was more frequently 

 a fitting concurrence of circumstances for its agency, would have 

 sufficed to produce the effect which we have conceived at 

 Linton. 



Even if it should be proved that the Linton knoll had been 

 used as a tumulus for purposes of ancient burial, this would 

 neither demonstrate its artificial origin, nor be in any way incon- 

 sistent with the other purposes to which we have supposed it to 

 have been adapted. There are many instances to show that na- 

 tural tumuli have been selected as places of sepulture ; and where 

 the remains of a revered chieftain or king were deposited, was 

 also a favourite resort of the people on their great occasions of 

 assembly. But the legend of the sisters had, nevertheless, its 

 basis ; and that lay undoubtedly in the anxiety of the Catholic 

 priesthood to promulgate the loftiest ideas regarding the sanc- 

 tity and inviolability of their office. A deep thought thus lies 

 under the wild fancy ; and a natural phenomenon, otherwise 



