272 



Selwood Fared. 



as Inspector of Ancient Monuments appeared to make a formal 

 enquiry necessary, in order to pronounce whether this place were or 

 were not the remains of a British city : because, if so, it might have 

 to be taken under Government protection. The General's report 

 was unfavourable. He could find no signs of ancient habitation. 

 It is very likely that most persons, upon a mere cursory inspection, 

 of the ground, would be of the same opinion, and would leave it 

 with the full persuasion that the pits never could have been human 

 dwelling-places. There is no trace of street, no regularity, no 

 vestige of foundation of houses to be seen. The idea of these holes 

 having been used for occupation by families, without any appearance 

 of arrangement for proper drainage : and accessible only by steep 

 descent of many feet, conjures up before the mind nothing but a 

 vision of unwholesomeness, a huge collection of human cesspools, 

 sinks of abomination and disease. 



But it is a case which ought not to be judged of too hastily, upon 

 mere appearances, and without some calm consideration. Mr. 

 Kerslake's arguments are so strong that it is difficult to refuse 

 assent to them. His statement is, in brief, that the platform of 

 Penselwood was once a strongly-fortified place, and that these pits, 

 taken in connection with that fact, are the sites of dwellings of 

 some kind, occupied by a large population. His pamphlets upon 

 the subject are convincing, however, at first sight, startling. 



The story is this. You will remember that the Roman Emperors 

 were a long time getting possession of this country, and that several 

 expeditions failed. About A.D. 47, Vespasian, then only a general, 

 afterwards Emperor, landed with an army at some place on the 

 south coast, fought thirty battles, took more than twenty hill forts, 

 and the Isle of Wight. That is really all the Roman historian tells 

 us, which certainly is as brief an account as could be given of such 

 long and large military transactions — thirty battles described in less 

 than thirty words. He does not mention a single name of any one 

 of these hill forts. Comes next a very old Welsh history. It 

 mentions just what I have quoted from the Roman historian, and, 

 oddly enough, gives the name of one, and only one, of the hill forts 

 so taken ; the name he gives is Caer-Pen-hwil-goit. Come next 



