The Caledonian Chief, who was wont to deck his bonnet with a feather, and a 
ribbon-flower, would be fond of thefe additional marks of diffindtion, conferred by 
ornaments of fuperior workmanfhip and defign; and with no lefs ambition would 
thofe emblems of honour be imitated on their monumental Hones. 
A and B are on Hones in the county of Mar , near to the Hill of Benachie ; 
C and D, near to Goljpe in Sutherland ; E, on the beautiful and entire obelifk near 
to Sandwich Caftle , on the coafl of Rojsjhire. 
It is remarkable, that the farther North, the richer and more elaborate are the 
embellilhments of thefe obelifks : but that only becomes a confideration of any im- 
portance, as it ferves to elucidate the probability of the account given by Torpheus*, 
that the expeditions from the Continent were the channel by which a knowledge of 
the finer arts, and of ChriHianity, firfl fpread the comfort of their light over the 
North o { Scotland i and confequently gives additional validity to the pofitions laid 
down in thefe Hridtures, concerning feveral of the hieroglyphics and fymbols that 
are chofen as the diflinguilhed ornaments of the carved monuments exhibited, 
viz. that they derived their origin from the illuminations of Miffals, and other ma- 
nufeript books, brought from the Continent in the eleventh and twelfth centuries f. 
Of the elephant-like figure which appears in the middle of the Hone, of which 
a reprefentation is given in the plate, enough has been already narrated ; and of the 
fo elaborate embellifhment, which is carved over it, no conjedture is offered. The 
connedted fliields and feeptres, as they are varioufly exhibited on other monuments, 
will afford fubjedt of future difquifition. This Hone is in the higheH prefervation, 
having lain on its face in fand from time immemorial. It is at prefent in the 
church-yard of Dyke, near to Forres, in Moray . The reverfe of it is a richly- 
ornamented crofs : it has evidently therefore been railed in the obelifk Hile, and is 
but the upper half broken off. 
* Antiquities and Scenery of Scotland, page 142, 143* 
f Ibid. 123. 
