By the Rev. J. L. Ross. 



237 



" But what is still more to the point, there are also several places 

 here which still retain the name Papay or Papley, which, when 

 viewed with attention, seem to have something strikingly peculiar. 

 They are all in a retired situation, distinguished for the richness 

 of their soil, and the variety of their natural productions, no less 

 than for the pleasantness of their exposure, and their agreeable 

 prospect; and when all these circumstances are considered, along 

 with some venerable ruins which some of them contain, we are almost 

 compelled to believe that they once were the abode of men of that 

 sacred character. In particular, there are two whole islands that 

 bear that name; both of which, besides the ruins which they exhi- 

 bit, are distinguished among the group for their commodiousness, 

 their pleasant appearance, and the productive richness of their soil, 

 no less than for their retired situation. 



" These might have been the chief residences of the Papw or 

 priests j 1 they might have been their property ; or they might have 

 been the places to which they at last retired, when their labours 

 had become unacceptable to the people, and they had been driven 

 from other parts of the country." 



Let us now, however, consider the following extracts from Barry's 

 history of the Orkneys, regarding the religion and circular struc- 

 tures of these Islands. 



" The ancient mythology of Iceland (also of Teutonic or Cym- 

 bric origin) taught in strong energetic language the existence of 

 a "Supreme God the Ruler of the Universe, to whom all things 

 were subject," which Tacitus relates was the belief of the Germans. 



"In it the object of their worship is styled the author of every 

 thing that exists ; the eternal ; the living and awful being, who 

 searches into concealed matters, and is subject to no change ; of 

 incorruptible justice, infinite power, and unbounded knowledge. 

 From this all perfect God sprung, as emanations of his divinity, an 

 infinite number of inferior deities, who presided over and directed 

 the operations of nature ; and who, on account of the service which 

 they thus performed to mankind, challenged a share in their 

 adoration. Agreeably to this notion, the Picts inhabiting Caledo- 



1 Probably Druids having come from Ireland peopled by the Celts. 



