Dr. Mac Culloch on the Vitrified Forts of Scotland . 273 



This variety is fusible, and from this unquestionably the vitrified 

 portions had originated. It is here that a part of the rock has been 

 cut down, very certainly by sharp tools, for the purpose of scarping 

 one side of the fort. There is no bed of foreign fragments on the 

 top of the grauwacke, and no covering but the common soil. I 

 know not what conjectures we can form about this fort, except that 

 the same attempt has been made, but has failed from the deficiency 

 of proper materials. I confess that the consideration of the requisite 

 heat inclines me as much in this case as in the former to the original 

 supposition, and confirms in my mind the notion that the vitrified 

 forts of Scotland are the effects of design. 



Since the above account was written, two circumstances have 

 occurred to me v/hich seem to afford additional evidence of the 

 truth of the opinions I have held respecting the vitrification of 

 these buildings. 



The first is an article in the 12th vol. of Nicholson's Journal, 

 p. 313, quoted from the report of a French engineer (M. Legoux 

 de Flaix), describing a method of building practised in Hindustan. 

 In this process a wall of brick earth is erected, which is then sur- 

 rounded by a coffer filled with combustibles. As the combustion 

 proceeds fresh fuel is added, until the whole mmII is baked into one 

 solid brick. The coincidence of the effects of this actually existing 

 process with those of one long since forgotten, seems to prove al- 

 most to demonstration, that similar means have been practised in 

 the ancient military works of Scotland to produce structures so 

 analogous to those now commonly used in India, and that the 

 " baking" of buildings in this country must be considered in the 

 light of a lost art. 



The other is to be found in the history of Gatacre-house In 

 Shropshire, (now unfortunately pulled down) of which a slight and 



Vol. II. 2 m 



