TO CAFFA. 
113 
others may be noticed. The shape of the Altyn 
Obo is not so conical as usual in antient tumuli ; '■ 
it is rather hemispherical. Its sides exhibit that 
stupendous masonry seen in the walls of Tiryns, 
near Arsos, in the Morea ; where immense un- 
shapen masses of stone are placed together 
without cement, according to their accidental 
forms 2 3 * . The western part is entire, although 
the others have fallen. Looking through the 
interstices and chasms of the tumulus, and exa- 
mining the excavations made upon its summit, 
We found it, like the Cairns of Scotland, to consist 
wholly of stones confusedly heaped together : its 
exterior betrayed a more artificial construction, 
and exhibited materials of greater magnitude. 
It seems to have been the custom of the age in 
which these heaps were raised, to bring stones, 
or parcels of earth, from all parts of the country, 
to the tomb of a deceased sovereign, or of a 
near relation 5 . To cast a stone upon a grave 
was an act of loyalty or of piety ; and an ex- 
pression of friendship or of affection still remains 
in the North of Scotland to this effect, “ I will cast a 
stone upon thy cairn.” The heap so raised consisted 
of heterogeneous substances ; granite and lime- 
(2) Seethe excellent representation, in Cell's Argalis ^ of this Oycto- 
pi ! un work. : it U impossible to obtain greater fidelity of delineation. 
(3) Ao-aiTo; htiXtut srxvra ctvfyu A10ON 'ENA vk^i'ovtx ntivui Is to 
rovro ivretvtx xaAwvauf iu e .yu\ous fab XlQojv XKTukisrcu, 
« r ^A avn Tti, cr~oxri/;y. Jlcrudut. Melpom. 
CHAP. 
III. 
