Tbe HIGHLANDS of SCOTLAND. 19 



a cajfa, or coffer-work *. Thefe flakes were probably warped 

 acrofs by boughs of trees laid very clofely together, fo as to 

 form two fences, running parallel to each other at the diftance 

 of fome feet, and fo clofe as to confine all the materials, of 

 whatever fize, that were thrown in between them. Into this 

 intermediate fpace, I fuppofe, were thrown boughs and trunks 

 of trees, earth and flones of all fizes, large or fmall, as they 

 could quarry or collect them. Very little care would be necef- 

 fary in the difpofition of thefe materials, as the outward fence 

 would keep the mound in form. In this way, it is eafy to con- 

 ceive, that a very flrong bulwark might be reared with great 

 difpatch, which, joined to the natural advantage of a very in- 

 acceflible fituation, and that improved by artful contrivances 

 for encreafing the difficulty of accefs, would form a ftructure 

 capable of anfwering every purpofe of fecurity or defence. 



The mofl formidable engine of attack againft a ftructure of 

 this kind, would be fire; and this, no doubt, would be al- 

 ways attempted, and often fuccefsfully employed by a be- 

 fieging enemy. The double ramparts, at a confiderable di- 

 ftance from each other, and the platform, at one end, were 

 certainly the beft poflible fecurity againft an attack of this 

 kind. But if the befiegers prevailed in gaining an approach to 

 the ramparts, and, furrounding the external wall, fet fire to 

 it in feveral places, the conflagration muft fpeedily have be- 

 come general, and the effect is eafy to be conceived. If there 

 happened to be any wind at the time, to increafe the intenfity 

 of the heat, the ftony parts could not fail to come into fufion, 



C 2 and 



* La maniera riempiuta che fi dice anco a cajfa, facevano gli antichi, con tavolc 

 pofte in coltello tanto fpacio, quanta volevano che fofle grofio il muro, empiendolo di 

 malta, e di pietre di qualunque forte mefcolate infieme, e cofi andavano facendo di corfo 

 in corfo. Si veggone muri di quefta forte a Sirmion fopra il lago di Garda. Di quefta 

 maniera fi pofiono anco dire le mura di Napoli, cioe le antiche, le quali hanno due muri 

 di faflb quadrato, groffi quattro piedi, e diftanti tra fe piedi fei — e fono empiute di fafli 

 e di terra. Pallad. Architect, lib. i. cap. 9. 



