In the ninth century, when the commitment, on of thefe no them ternt ^ 
the continent freely opened, they could not M to learn the ufi t of cem» 
buildinn, if they had not before difeovered it, and to obtam mtoumenB of ^ 
From thefe dreumftances we may be enabled in feme mealure to ato > ^ 
fo much contefted atra of Ofian’s heroes, as well as that of ^ 0 f 
Car-born chief implies a proficiency in arts, almoft incompatible with the 
life where the application of metals is unknown. 
The bards were men of renown at the above period. When the ScandinaJ !L 
, * rc harafled the coafts of the north of Scotland and the Weft a n 
t?ZZ lll TnX and the leaders of armies, carried them a, ong to ceh 
brate their atchievements, and to narrate the difficulties and dangers whi I 
fortitude and prowefs overcame*. The fame enthufiafm wh.ch mfpired the 
in the day of battle, would make them indulge tile expreffion of fofter ent £ 
in days of eafe, and drains of lamentation in the penfive hours of forrow. J 
hereditary fongs might be for a time preferved bp oral tradition and dot 1 ^ 
hem were put on record by a Danifi hiftoriographer in the ifiand of ' FWa, 
of the OrLcs , and '.here is reafon to believe the poems attributed to 0 ^», ^ 
fonof Fingal, are the produftion of various bards pie uve in , . 
„el , or he might have been one of the general recorders and collectors of 
C armed away by thefe remarks from the particular confideration of The 
ture reprefented in the plate, it is only neeeflary to refer to an ample deft ^ 
its romantic fituation and internal form, given in the aiticle Dun r 
pacre 105, &c. of the author’s " Antiquities and Scenery ft where many 
tions are given of the nature, extent, convemency, and general chara ^ 
buildings. This one is fituated in the central parts of Strath- Newer, jj» 
divifion of the county of Sutherland, and is celebrated as a place o 1 
an ancient Erje ballad of a few lines, of which the following is a tranQati 
Seven miles from ocean, in the chearful dale. 
Stands the large tower, where Dornadilla reigns ; 
From thence, when war or civil feuds prevail, 
The warriors pour into the Caithnejs plains. 
* See «r/ W authority. Annuities and Scenery of Scotland, p. 150* 
