96 
Ireland. “ For there is a structure of stones there ivhich none 
of this age could raise without a profound knowledge of the 
'mechanical arts. 3 3 
“ These stones,” continued Merlin, “ are mystical , and of a 
medicinal virtue. The giants of old brought them from the 
furthest coasts of Africa , and placed them in Ireland whilst 
they inhabited the country.” Merlin then, having received 
commission, placed in the proper order the engines which 
he thought necessary for the work, took down the stones with 
incredible facility, and afterwards reared them up as a monu- 
ment to the slaughtered Britons; and, as the British his- 
torian concludes, “ thereby gave a manifest proof of the pre- 
valence of art above strength.” It cannot be that the Sarsen 
stones were removed from Ireland, but the design of the erec- 
tion might be taken from a like structure at Kildare, which 
place was celebrated for its connection with Druidic worship, 
as its name “Kill dara ( the cell of the oak) ” implies. It was 
there that St. Bridget kept her perennial fire, and a noble 
round tower, 130 feet high, still exists as a survival of these 
fire- worshipping times. 
In order to examine into the connection between these so- 
called Druidic remains and the British worship, I consulted 
Davies in his “Mythology and Bites of the British Druids.” 
Without being able to assent to many of his views, I found 
that in one case the Neo-Bardism of the twelfth century seemed 
to connect the worship of Ceres and Proserpine with a pe- 
culiar caer or sanctuary of this mystical goddess in the Gyvylchi, 
in the desert of Arvon, in Eryri, or the region of Snowdon.* 
The annotator upon Camden describes a strong fortress (on 
the summit of Pen-men-maur) from which an cld road, still in 
part traceable, conducts to the temple. “About a mile from 
this fortification stands the most remarkable monument in all 
Snowdon, called Y Meineu Hirion , upon the plain mountain 
within the parish of Dwygy vylchi. It is a circular entrench- 
ment about twenty-six yards in diameter; on the outside 
whereof are certain rude stone pillars of which about twelve are 
now standing, some 2 yards and others 5 feet high; and 
these are again encompassed with a stone wall. It stands 
upon the plain mountain, as seen when we come to the height, 
having much even ground about it, and not far from it there 
are three other large stones, pitched on end in a triangular 
form.” 
* E. Davies, p. 299, &c. 
