Moats. Another specimen of antiquity is to be seen on the road from Spring-hill to Lough Neagh, a little to the left, in a low situation. It is a kind of small moat, round, and thrown up apparently from the fosse, which surrounds it. This fosse is now a marsh. It may be supposed that the moat has formerly been sustained by piles, because these are found, on digging around its margin. Coins, pins, rings, and forks, have also been found in it. Another of these is on the right hand of the road, leading through Loghermore, from CumberClaudy, at a place called Dungorkin, (that is to say, the Fort of Famine.) The fosse, which is elliptical, is 84 feet in width. The mound is, in the greatest diameter, 186 feet, in the lesser 129 feet. There is a causeway of piles, over which, cross-beams had been placed first, and over these transverse pieces. A spacious gate of oak was also dug up, opposite to this bridge or causeway. The trees growing on the mound, were, alders, sallows, and mountain ashes. These enclosures lay too low for safety or for strength. Query. Have they been places of religious retirement, or have they been smybolical seats of the worship of the Sun ? Ancient Entrenchments. There is one of these visible by its traces, near Mr. Mackay's at Prospect; another with an entrenchment between Gortnagaran and Cathery; it is in shape a parallelogram, whose longest dimension is about 100 yards. Cromliagh, or Cromlech-Sloping Stones. There is one of these at Slaght Manus, (that is to say, the place of the death of Manus.) There is another at Letter-Shandenny, (Lither-sion-danach, which probably signifies, the solemnity of the valiant league); another of these is in Balteagh; and a fourth not far from Salterstown; a fifth at Slaghtaverty (the death-place of Avertagh, a celebrated giant of ancient times.) Others are to be found in Bally-na-screen. Some of these have been surrounded by a circle of upright stones, like the Stonehenge of Wiltshire. U u Another trace of the Phenician rites, is that of Midsummer's-eve. It was anciently a festival in honour of Baal, the Sun, on the day of his greatest glory. At his decline, the mountain tops were resorted to, for the purpose of a last glimpse of the all-vivifying power. His departure was succeeded by songs and dances, accompanied with torches lighted to his honour. This rite still is observed, by the aboriginal Irish. On the evening which concludes the 21st of June, the hills, and "high places," are instantly in a blaze of bondfire light so soon as the Sun has sunk below the horizon. Artificial Caverns. There are many of these. They seem to have been intended for hiding goods, not easily transportable, or women, children, and perhaps men, not fit to take the field at the moment of sudden invasions. They are built, as to side-wall, with common land-stones, having no sort of cement; flags, or long stones are laid over these, as a roof; the height is sufficient barely for a man to pass in a stooping, or rather creeping posture. The length varies. The mouth of the cavern was most probably concealed by a rock or grassy sod. They consist frequently of galleries; some of these are at right angles with others, and then again proceed parallel to the first; that is, they are again at right angles with the second gallery. Old Castles. Those of Irish erection are but few. The castle of Bally-reagh is probably very ancient. It is situated on a rock insulated by the sea, in the country of M'Quillan, and the tradition says that it belonged to one of that family. There is neither record nor legend concerning it. Near the church of Ballyaghran, on the east bank of the Bann, ́stood another castle, reported also to have been the abode of the chief M'Quillan. It has lately been demolished. In the grout which cemented the wall, I found pieces of pit-coal, which confirms the opinion, that mining is of great antiquity in this country. There were several English castles, with bawns and flankers, built by the London companies; one at least in every proportion, but none remain now in good repair. Wherever there is a trace of any, it has been noted in the map. Miscellaneous Remains of Antiquity. Among various other instruments in use among the Irish, at a very remote epoch, we find querns of free-stone, which were the domestic hand-mills used for grinding corn. To this ancient custom there is an allusion in the Gospel by St. Mathew, xxiv.-41. “Two women shall be grinding at a mill," &c. As to implements of war, we dig up frequently hatchets made of the hard basalt, spears of grey granite, both of rude figure and workmanship. Barbed heads for arrows of flint, sometimes neatly executed, are common; these are what the old women call elf-stones, to which they attribute the sudden diseases of cattle; they will even put their fingers into the cavities for the passage of the exterior veins, and point these out as the wounds from the fairies, which wounds they gravely set about to cure, with salt water, and some special charms, spells, and incantations. Sometimes golden and silver coins, fibulæ, and gorgets, with other ornaments, are also dug up; but these are rare. QUESTIONS PROPOSED.-REPLIES. According to his original scheme, the author had intended that the concluding chapter should contain a summary and recapitulation, of the most important topics which had been brought under consideration, in the progress of the work. This design was formed, with the intention of pressing those subjects, in a more particular and lasting manner, on the consideration of those who are connected with, or interested for, the welfare of the county of London-Derry. After this outline had been already sketched, the following questions, (having been submitted from a most respectable quarter,) left it beyond all doubt, that they should be answered with the utmost deference and attention. The compass of these queries is such, as to lead through a range more extended than that which had been originally planned; and, therefore, it was soon discovered that, in replying to these enquiries with becoming consideration, the necessity of any further discussion was entirely superseded. Consistently with this perception, the queries, though retained in their original series, have been separated, in order that the answer to each might be immediately subjoined. Queries submitted to the Rev. Mr. SAMPSON, with a request that answers may be given to the same, as it may suit Mr. S's. convenience. Query 1. "Is it your opinion that any evil of a public nature, to 66 66 |