Torpheus*: but our biographers do not feem to have ever confulted that cele- 
brated hiftory. 
A fculptured monumental ftone, which is Hill found {landing on the way fide, on 
a fandy plain, at a little diftance from the town of Dornoch, the capital of Suther- 
land, is faid to have been eredled in memory of another defeat of Scandinavian 
bands, which had landed in thofe parts, in the thirteenth century : but there are no 
carvings on it, which can with any probability have reference to fuch an event. By 
its being called Thanks Cross, and having on one fide the arms or armorial enfig” 
of Sutherland, and on the other that of Caithne/s, it has probably been raiie 
to mark fome fettled boundary, or in memory of fome agreement between the 
Earls of thefe adjoining counties. But, like many of the more ancient monument 
ftones of North Britain, having been raifed before the sera in which written 
annals of events were kept, the traditions concerning them are often vague and in ' 
determinate, and have reference to later ages than thofe to which they certainly be- 
long. 
Mr. Pennant has particularly mentioned the remains of Cam Lea, or the Grey 
Tower, now nearly levelled with the ground, which lie near the coaft, a little beyo n 
Dunrobin : among the inland hills, there are very entire fpecimens of the f alTie 
kind of buildings; the very ancient architecture of the Picls. That they had be en 
the refidences of the chieftains, there feems no kind of doubt; they are always 
found fituated as commanding the fineff paffures and the richeft vallies. But th e 
unfrequented and rugged paths that lead to them, over the bleak ridges of the hi ’ 
and through the intricate windings of rocky glens, are much againff travellers 
general being indulged with a view of thefe remarkable ruins. Perhaps few of th° 
who have vifited the pleafant environs of Dunrobin, have ever had courage ^ 
venture fo far among the mountains, as to fee the {lately remains of thefe primal 
towers ; which without cement, or any apparent aid from metals, have been fo firm 
conHrudted, as to have Hood the ravage of at leaft a thoufand years. 
One of the moll acceffible, Hands on a rocky mount, a little beyond die weft £I ^. 
end of Loch Brora, which itfelfi with its majefiic boundaries, affords variety 
picturefque fcenery. That tower f is fo free of rubbilh, that one without ffoop 1 ^ 
can enter by the inner doors, to the apartments within the walls ; and feveral oi 
Haircafes to the fecond Hory are perfedlly entire. The river tumbles round m 
a number of irregular cafcades ; its precipitous banks are full of foffd ^' c / 
many of them of kinds not now found on the {bores. The more curious fp eC 
mens are moft frequently found in working the limeftone quarry above the ^ 
of Brora. Thefe circumffances may enliven reflection, and give additional am 1 
ment to the way, on an excurfion by Carril to the Piffijh tower at AcHiR" 
kyle, if any Ihould go to vifit it from Dunrobin. 
* See Antiquities and Scenery. Extratts from Torpheus, p. 135, &c. anno 940, &c. jjjf, 
Thonnodus Torpheus, appointed by Ch r isti an V. hiftorian for the kingdom of Norway - ^ 
toriographers were regularly appointed by that crown to refide in the illand of Flat a, to narrat®^^ 
tranfadfions as occurred in the Orcades, and in the North of Scotland. And from thefe jq 
Torpheus was furnifhed with thofe materials of his work, which relate to characters who flo l,rl 
the northern counties of Caledonia. f Antiquities and Scenery, p. 74? 
