Omaha daily bee., 1888-10-07

part of which is q timely rcstoratlon), is
a massively walled circular enclosure,
with a circumference of nearly three
hundred and sixty feet, surrounding an
area of nearly eighty feet in diameter.
1t is about fifteen feet high above the
solid rock apex of the mountain. The
breadth of the wall at the base is fifteen
feet; at its coping about eleven feet.
The outer wall has Il curved slope, or
inclination, inward from the base up
wards, and the entire mass is laid with
uncemented stones. The single entrance
to the curious structure is from the east.
This gateway is a tritle over six feet
high, is four feet pcrOss at the bottom,
and the sides incline slightly from the
base to the horizontal Intel above; a
form common in most ancient structures
and especially in elevated entrances to
round towers of Ireland. In the in
terror at the four arms of the circle,
stone steps lead right or left to a first
platform. The second platform is SIM
ilarly assembled. The last, or grand
platform, is reached by sever stone
stairs i~rregularly located; and the
coping Of the cashel's walls
is breast-high to one stand
ing upon the latter platform. In the
center of the southern wall and at the
center of the northeastern quarter cir
Gle, are entrances into which II can
creep on hands and knees. They lead
to intramural galleries, the former
about 20, and the latter about 40, feet in
length; each but > feet high, 20 inches
wide at the bottom, and with inclining
side. At the west, almost opposite the
entrance, are a hidden and drain, we'll
preserved. In the progress OF restOra-
| 49,, ,,,,,, ,,,; .1n, ~ r,ant nptir,itr
were uncovered aud preserved. Aside
from these absolute evidences of it's
remote origin, the grand antique is
clearly located as the regia OF Ptolemy,
in the second century; while, as Eochy
Ollahir, the Dagda, exactly s%ynchron-
ICES with the Assyrian monarch Darcy
luS, its existence can be definitely
traced to the period, ,053 before Christ.
Another curious fact should be noted.
That is the wonderful similarity of its
plan to that of the b~attlemented city of
Ecbatana. as described by H~eroditus;
and there can be no doubt that its rude
art was fashioned after eastern type and
design.
But what a thrill runs through the
frame as standing alone with the
silences upon the G~rianan's walls the
appalling thought-sweep from now TO
then possesses you'll There in the east
is the rising sun, which perhaps, they
worshipped. it floods the beauteous
valleys with shine and life. 1t lays
upon ancient road, field, fallow, house
top, church spire, ruined round-tower
and castle, Its warm and glowing hands.
1t maLtles Tough Swilly with crimson
and orange from the base of Aileach
past the white sails of the herring fish
ers's smacks, until the Tough is lost at
the laundering edge of the shoreless
northern seas. 1t leaps to an hundred
circling mountain peaks, from Sieve
Snaght to Tappaghan, from
Knocklayd to mystic Errigal.
and lights matchless fires in their
GROWING mists. So burned the signal
fires in the dim days, a tiara of flame tC
wake the helots and their herds. Hithel
they streamed, these skin-clad hordes
Within these very ramparts huddled the
affrighted flocks. Within these very
walls kings watched owe battles. Int
these very galleries were hurried the
treasure, and their surprising treasure
their women. Here were the feasts O
victory; the wailihgs and lamentations
the weird, wild fites-all, a Thousand
years before ~barbaroas men looked be