, 1890-12-18

your steamer is abreast tho north
easterumOst point on the Scottish
mainland. This IL noble Du nca shy
Head. 1t IL two miles In circum-
ference, lofty emerald cone set on
sca-base OF fearful rocks, gashed
with nuinberlcss gloe or stream
entering chnsms, and reaching
threateningly into the sea huge
"stacks or columnar rocks,
fashioned by the oceans beatings
into all manner Of weird and fun
tastic shapes. A glimpse of the
little Inn near the former site of
ancient John o. Groats house." Is
caught around To the west of Dun
cansby Head. Beyond the narrow
strait stands the little cultivated
island of Strona, over which the
sea swept In the great storm Of 1862,
This passed, you cross the wild
waters OF Pentlapd Firth, and two
hours' sail brings you to anchor In
the harbor of Kirkwall.
THIS QUAINT OLD CITY,
whose ancient name was Kirkju-
vagr, or "church bay" Is built on
either side Of n long, narrow. wind
ing street ut the foot of an overshad-
owing hill. Its one great object of
interest Is the cathedral of st, Mag
nus, founded by Rognvald, Jarl of
Orkney, about $50 years ago. Near
1t are ruins Of former noted build
ings, the bishops and earl's pal
aces. In the latter can still be
seen the fireplace and outlines
of the great banquetlng hall
where, In the 'Plrate,b Scott places
the scene of the interview between
"Jack Bunce" and "CIeveland."
But you could hardly be induced to
tarry long in the Orkneys unless
fascinated by its Plctish antiquities.
On no other equal area in
Northern Europe, possibly ex-
cepting Carnac, In Brittany,
can such numbers and
variety be found. Within an hours
walk Of kirkwall are excellent ex-
amples OF chainbered mounds and
eirde-houses or earth excavations,
sLone-roofed. From nine to fifteen
miles west of Kirkwall, In the vicin-
ity of Stenness and Stromness,
vast number of extraordinary
Pagan relics are found. The
Orkahaug, or "mighty howe" of
the Orkneyinga Saga, stands
ness. This tuniultls is In the center
Of circular pla 800 feet In cir.
cumference. A truncated mound
forty feet high covers chsmbered
barrow fifty-four feet long leading
to central vault fifteen feet square
and twelve feet high--no doubt
vault for Pictish kings.
The standing stones of Stenness and
Broger are but IA short distance
away. Within date necessary for
historical Authorization these
WEIRD MONoLITHs
formed as marvellous and ghostly
host of past-age memorials as can
now be seen on the plain of Carnac,
Brittany. The tremendous stone,
called the Watchstone, was stand
ing as late AZ 1914, and the gigantic
"Stone Of Odin" stood within the
memory of man just north of
the Ring Of Stenness. This
was the famous stone men,
toned by Scott In "rhe Pi-
rate, through huge hole in which
Orcadian lovers plighted their
troths. The little island of Eglisha,
to the north of Krkwall, has one
of the eighth century round towers
such as are seen throughout Ire
land. In the island of Hoy Is the |
noted "Dwarfie Stone," twenty
eight feet long, eleven to fourteen
feet broad, and two to six feet
thick, In which many centu-
rles ago were hewn two sleep
ing apartments, one with "a stone
pillow, attributed to the dwarf
'"Troled" in the Northern Sagas,
but undoubtedly gigantic heather
altar At Burray, n little island to
the south, Is q massive "broch,"
precisely similar to the famous Gri-
anan of Aileach, near London
derry, Ireland. Its walls are
about twenty feet thick,
chambered, sixteen feet high, and
the structure Is forty feet In dame
ter. 1t was both a Pictish place of
defense and sepulture for incinerary
urns containing ashes of the dead,
from 1000 to 5000 years ago.
EDGAR l.. WAKEMAN.