The Scottish Naturalist. 



159 



mediate vicinity of water, they could be surrounded by it without 

 much labour. Towards the east end of Loch Kinnord, the ruins 

 of a large fort are to be seen, now known by the name of 

 Gardieben, a Celtic word signifying strong fort of the water. 

 There is also another interesting ruin on the east shore of Loch 

 Davan, and to the north of Kinnord. There, one can trace 

 pretty clearly the outline of the embankment, upon which had 

 rested the drawbridge that had crossed the moat. The moats 

 which enclosed these "peels" had been of considerable depth. 

 They are now, however, much filled up with the remains of de- 

 cayed vegetation and other rubbish ; but an iron probe can yet 

 be thrust down, without much effort, to a depth of about ten 

 feet. The fort of the castle island towards the west end of Loch 

 Kinnord probably formed the most extensive and inaccessible 

 stronghold of the ancient city. This fort has also a Morainic 

 foundation ; and there can be little doubt that, for more than a 

 thousand years, it had been used as a fortress of one kind or 

 other. It has undergone many changes, and been used for 

 divers purposes in its time. By examination, we find that it had 

 been extended beyond its original dimensions — traces of piles 

 being discernible round the outer edge. Traces of a fort of con- 

 siderable extent are also to be seen on the top of a small hill, 

 called Mickle Ord, to the south of Kinnord. This, however, has 

 not been surrounded by water, but is more of the nature of a hill 

 fort. We thus see that at four points, almost south, north, east, 

 and west, near the centre of the vale, places of defence had been 

 constructed ; they are what we have already named the Inner 

 Forts. 



The small island in Loch Kinnord, or that marked in the 

 Ordnance maps as the " Tolbooth," is worthy of special notice, 

 as being the most perfect crannog in Scotland. It is situated in 

 the deepest water of the loch ; it is about sixty yards in circum- 

 ference ; the highest parts now standing are about six feet above 

 the present water-level. It has been artificially constructed, and 

 has the appearance of having been built in the following manner : 

 — Strong oak poles had been placed in an upright position in the 

 water, bound together with horizontal bars of the same material, 

 round the whole structure, fragments of which can yet be seen. 

 To keep this woodwork firmly in position the builders had con- 

 veyed in their canoes thousands of tons of ordinary-sized stones, 



