camp. According to the Chronicle, No. iii. in Innes's App. before the middle of the 9th century, that terrible Northman made descents upon Scotland; and in the reign of Kenneth M'Alpin, he is supposed to have

By Ella, he was put to a cruel death, being

repeatedly ravaged. destroyed by vipers. This Vikingr was also an eminent Scald, or poet, and before his demise, he consoled himself by composing an Epicedium, or funeral song, rehearsing all the exploits of his life. This poem is preserved by Olaus Wormius, in his book De Literatura Runica, in a Latin version, translated word for word from the original; and a copy of it may be seen in Dr Blair's Critical Dissertation on the Poems of Ossian. It consists of twentynine stanzas, of ten lines each, and every stanza begins with these words, Pugnavimus ensibus, "We have fought with our swords." - A few verses of this poem are subjoined, as exhibiting a striking picture of the Vikingr.

"We have fought with our swords. I was young, when, toward the east, in the bay of Oreon, we made torrents of blood flow, to gorge the ravenous beast of prey, and the yellow-footed bird. There resounded the hard steel upon the lofty helmets of men: The whole ocean was one wound: The crow waded in the blood of the slain. When we had numbered twenty years, we lifted our spears on high, and everywhere spread our renown. Eight barons we overcame in the east, before the port of Diminum; and plentifully we feasted the eagle in that slaughter. The warm stream of wounds ran into the ocean: The army fell before us. When we steered our ships into the mouth of the Vistula, we sent the Helsingians to the hall of Odion. Then did the sword bite: The waters were all one wound: The earth was dyed red with the warm stream: The sword rung upon the coats of mail, and clove the bucklers in twain. None fled on that day, till among his ships Heraudus fell. Than him, no braver baron cleaves the sea with ships; a cheerful heart did he ever bring to the combat," &c. He says, "I hope that the sword of some of my sons will yet be stained with the blood of Ella."-" Fifty and one times have I reared the standard in battle. In my youth, I learned to dye the sword in blood: my hope was then, that no king among men would be more renowned," &c.

advanced by Cluny to Dunkeld. In Langbeck's Scriptores Dan. vol. ii. p. 2, 3, mention is also made of this invasion. Between Inchtuthill and Meiklour, there is an island in the Tay, called ، The Bloody Inches," a name which tradition refers to a battle with the Danes. The appellation is partly Saxon, but we often meet with names half translated from the Gaelic and British. What Regner proposed to carry from Dunkeld in the shape of plunder, it is not easy to conceive; but he delighted in fighting, and appears to have met with his match, for he was defeated by Kenneth, and compelled to make a precipitate retreat. In his Epicedium, or Death Song, translated into Latin by Olaus Wormius, he seems to allude to this expedition, when he says, "In that day, when fainting, I concealed my blood, and pushed forth my ships into the waves, after we had spread a repast for the beasts of prey throughout the Scottish bays."

Below Inchtuthil, and about two miles eastward, is the Roman camp of Meiklour, situated at the confluence of the Isla and the Tay. As both of these rivers are here broad and deep, in order to fortify the position, it was only necessary to throw up an intrenchment in front, or on the north side of the camp: accordingly, a rampart, at present 20 feet broad and 5 feet high, extends from the Isla to the old course of the Tay. This rampart, which is two English miles in length, is now called Cleaven Dyke, and has been made out of two parallel trenches, that are 60 feet distant from each side of the Dyke. About a mile and a half of the intrenchment still remains; and at the south-east end, next the Isla, there is a square redoubt, generally supposed to have been the Prætorium; but we rather

think it a work constructed to strengthen that flank of the intrenchment: a small fort within, on the top of an eminence, considered an exploratory post, was more likely to be the Prætorium. Cleaven Dyke has openings at the west end, and middle, where the gates were probably situated. The extent of ground contained within the rampart is considerable, the two rivers forming with the Dyke nearly an equilateral triangle. What portion of the area was occupied by the Roman army cannot now be ascertained; but there is ample space for the encampment of 26,000 men upon the Polybian system. It is not likely that there ever was any other intrenchment here than Cleaven Dyke, the other sides being completely protected by deep rivers; and the rampart itself is covered for more than a mile by a wide ravine, through which a considerable stream conveys the waters of several lochs to the Isla. The position had been farther strengthened by a fort, on an eminence, called Castlehill, on the south margin of the Tay, immediately below the influx of the last named river; and there seems to have been a redoubt at Camp Hill, on the south side of the Isla, a short distance above the intrenchment.

At Meiklour we suppose Agricola encamped, on leaving Grassy Walls; and, if the battle with Galgacus was fought in the neighbourhood of Blairgowrie, it would be from this camp he marched to attack the Caledonians. The intrenchments here are stronger, it must be acknowledged, than those supposed to have been thrown up by Agricola, in his temporary encampments; but, if the enemy was at hand, it is reasonable to suppose that a rampart, stronger than usual, would be constructed, and this would be easily accomplished,

as there was only one line of intrenchment to execute : besides, it is probable that this became afterwards one of the castra stativa; the situation being uncommonly good, and in every respect suitable for a station, we suppose it to have been In medio, as formerly mentioned.

That battles have been fought near to several of the Roman camps found in North Britain, there can be no doubt; but the vestigia of a great battle in the Stormont, are more numerous than all the rest put together. It is matter of regret that these vestigia were unknown to General Roy, who was so able to illustrate whatever related to camps and battle-fields. Had the General

seen the camp at Meiklour, and the traces of a great battle to the northward, he might perhaps have come to the conclusion we have done; for we agree with those antiquaries who think it probable, that the decisive engagement between Agricola and Galgacus was fought in the vicinity of Blairgowrie. Accordingly, in the Map of the Basin of the Tay, cross swords have been inserted on the ridge we suppose to have been occupied by the Caledonians; and also where it is supposed the Roman army was posted, particularly where the auxiliaries were drawn up, and where they joined battle. Tacitus says, "Legiones pro vallo stetêre," and the legions are generally supposed to have been drawn up immediately before the camp. Some, however, understand pro vallo to mean," instead of a rampart;" that is to say, the auxiliaries might rally behind the legions in case of defeat; and, in this sense, Tacitus appears to us to have made use of the expression. In that battle wherein Caractacus was overthrown by Ostorius Scapula, the former is said to have posted his

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"principes, pro vallo;" and, from the nature of the ground described, there seems reason to conclude, that the British prince posted his "choice men, instead of a rampart." The Romans never fought close to their intrenchments, when they could avoid it; and the legions would not have been drawn up immediately before the camp, unless it had been the intention of Agricola to wait for the attack of the enemy; whereas it is evident, that, after he had made a suitable disposition of his forces, he advanced to charge the Caledonians: Having dismounted, and dismissed his horse, he advanced on foot before the banners," "Dimisso equo, pedes ante vexilla constitit." We conclude, therefore, that the legions were drawn up so as to sustain the auxiliaries, their front being about a mile, and their rear half that distance, to the northward of the camp at Meiklour. It could not have been the camp at Inchtuthil, formerly an island, else Tacitus would have mentioned the passage of the river; and, for the reasons formerly given, it appears that Agricola did not occupy Inchtuthil.

The camp of the Caledonians, before the battle, is supposed to have been at a place called Buzzard Dykes, or Garry Drums, in the parish of Kinloch, being earthen dykes 8 or 10 feet high, enclosing nearly a square mile. This place is 5 miles north from the Roman camp at Meiklour, and is situated upon an acclivity of one of the lower Grampians, having the south side, or front, covered by a ravine, through which the Lornty carries the waters of Loch Ben-Achally to the Ericht; and within the camp are several springs. In the neighbourhood are a number of cairns, that have. been raised over the bodies of the slain.