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nental Europe ; then, and only then, can we hope that a light may be 

 cast upon their significance. 



The striking similarity of many of the carvings at Lough Nacloy duff 

 to not a few of the already published tomb or rock engravings will be ap- 

 parent even to a casual observer (see PL XXVII.). We have here fifteen 

 of the primitive crosses as found in the undoubtedly pagan monuments of 

 Slieve-na-Caillighe and Dowth, upon the rock at Ryefield, in the county 

 of Cavan, and in the cave of Knockmore. Surely no investigator who 

 compares these carvings one with another will fail to recognize their 

 wonderful similarity of style ! Some may be more rudely designed than 

 others, and less well executed; but there is, after all, little variety, 

 except in the elaboration of a few examples, and in difference of size. 

 It is difficult to believe that mere fancy could have originated and dif- 

 fused this peculiar style of rock engraving. 



Together with the crosses at Lough Nacloyduff, we find some figur- 

 ings which are, I believe, new to archaeologists and others, and two star- 

 like scorings which, as far as I recollect, are not elsewhere represented, 

 except in one instance, viz., in the great sepulchral monument at Dowth. 

 The original figures to which I refer are two in number, and occur 

 beneath and to the right of the largest cross or kite-shaped design, 

 shown in the accompanying rubbings (PI. XXVII.). The upper one, 

 which has every appearance of having been executed with great care 

 and deliberation, might naturally represent a chair or throne ; the lower 

 one a plough. A small primitive cross, which occurs upon the left-hand 

 side of the cave, would appear to be accompanied by oghamic writing, 

 of which I may observe that the fifth stroke from the left, and the upper 

 portion of the third from the right, are doubtful. The white line in the 

 rubbing of this inscription (appears black in the engraving) is caused by 

 a natural crack in the rock. 



Of the exact form of the arrangement (in groups) and of the size of 

 the various designs in Lough Nacloyduff cave, the rubbings will give a 

 better idea than can any written description. In every case of rubbing 

 the paper was laid as far as the surface would admit horizontally upon 

 the face of the rock. 



Probably owing to the remoteness of its situation from the track of 

 " excursionists," the cave presents little evidence of outrage — one only 

 modern " scribing," " 1777," disfiguring the walls. 



It may perhaps not be out of place here to state that the " Dark 

 Cave," once perhaps the home of a family whose " young barbarians" 

 clomb the adjacent rocks, and snared trout in the neighbouring loch, is 

 now literally a den of wild animals, foxes, and badgers. The bones and 

 hides of hares and the tattered plumage of grouse attest the successful 

 raidings of the red dog of the Irish. 



