42 DAVID MILNE HOME ON THE 
on each side, about a quarter of a mile distant, whinstone does occur on the 
shore ; but at neither of these places, is the rock so extensive or so projecting 
as that at Bridgeness. 
It occurred to me to suggest to Mr SKENE, whether the original name might 
not have been Broch-ness. My reason for this was, that on this projecting 
Ness there may have originally been a broch or castle, as there once had been 
at Burghhead, near Elgin, in a position somewhat similar. But I now think 
that Mr Sxene’s explanation is the more probable. 
A rough sketch of the ground may render more intelligible a farther descrip- 
tion. 
On Sketch I. a general plan of the projecting knoll is given. 
Its longer axis runs about north and south, or at right angles to the coast. 
Its steepest side, consisting of bare rock, is on the north-west—its height there 
being about 38 feet above high-water mark. The east half of the knoll is flat, 
and formerly sustained one or two small gardens of labourers’ cottages. 
The letter C, on Sketch I., indicates the spot where the tablet was found— 
19 feet above ordinary spring-tides. 
With regard to its distance from the sea, some explanation is required. The 
present sea-mark is not where it once was. An immense amount of rubbish 
has been thrown into the sea, at and near Bridgeness, from coal and ironstone 
workings, as well as from salt and other manufactories. The outer line, 
EEA EE, represents the present sea-margin ; the inner line, F F F F F, repre- 
sents the former sea-margin, as ascertained by Mr CApELL, he haying opened 
out at various points, the ancient beach by means of pits 3 or 4 feet in depth, 
in which he showed to me beds of broken shells and sea shingle. 
It will be observed, that the line F F F F F keeps pretty close along the sides 
of the Ness or Knoll, so that in ancient times, the knoll projected well into the 
sea beyond the general line of coast. The water at this place, is also deeper 
than elsewhere. A harbour has been formed on the east side of the Ness, 
which is now frequented by sloops drawing eight or ten feet of water. 
The general line of the old sea cliff, when the sea stood about 20 or 25 feet 
above its present level, is a good way farther back. As the rocks along that 
cliff are ordinary coal sandstone, they yield more readily to the action of the 
sea; and hence between them and the sea, there is is a stripe of flat land, a few 
hundred yards wide. But this whinstone knoll bemg much harder than the 
sandstone of the cliffs, has not suffered in the same way. It has even pro- 
tected those parts of the sandstone cliffs which adjoin it. Accordingly these 
sandstone cliffs form a junction with the knoll, making a bend on each side 
of the knoll towards it. 
At the place where the tablet lay (viz., C in Sketch I.) there was a quantity 
of squared stones in a confused heap. Many cf these bore the marks of 
