REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1908 265 



of charred wood still remained in the flue, a diagram of which 

 is appended to Mr Tate's exhaustive paper.*- In illustration 

 of this device the President instanced his own experience, 

 when under canvas with the Naval Brigade before Sevastopol, 

 where underground flues of a similar nature were laid from 

 the interior of some of the tents to the open air for the sake 

 of ventilation. The approach from the East to the main fort 

 was defended by strong and complicated works, evidencing 

 considerable military skill. All the remains, however, repre- 

 sent one homogeneous settlement, forming a primeval Fortified 

 Town, which was not raised hastily for a temporary shelter, 

 but constructed with great labour as a permanent residence 

 for a settled tribe. Widely scattered as are now the dwell- 

 ings and sparse the population occupying the upper reaches 

 of the Breamish, abundant evidence exists to show that in 

 Celtic times, and even much later, this remote region was 

 sufficiently peopled to necessitate the construction on many 

 hill-tops, as well as on lower coigns of vantage, such as 

 that at Greaves Ash, of defensive works to which in danger 

 the inhabitants might repair, and ward off the inroads of 

 freebooter and invader. 



From the camp Westward a steep road leads down to the 

 Linhope Burn, on which are two cascades in deep shady 

 recesses, and beyond them a romantic waterfall, 

 Linhope. locally known as Linhope Spout. The stream 



.here rushes through a narrow rent and pre- 

 cipitates itself into an open Linn 48 feet beneath. Charmingly 

 picturesque and secluded the locality suggests itself as a fit 

 haunt for the Raven and Eing-ouzel, the former of which used 

 to frequent the neighbourhood, and has been reported as nesting 

 there. The rocky basin of the burn is richly fringed with 

 brake and sedge, and provided ample variety for the botan- 

 ists, though no rare plants were gathered. Chief among the 

 Ferns was Cystopteris fragilis, which found a congenial home 

 in the crevices of the rocks overhanging the Linns. Among 

 others noted were Blechnum spicant ; Polypodium vulyare ; 

 P. Dryopteris ; P. Phegopteris ; Lastrma montana ; Athyrium 

 filix fcemina ; and Aspleriium Adiantum-nigrum. Sedges were 



* B.N.C., Vol. IV., Part 5, Plate vi. 



