j a m
B U I S TAJ?FA G-'JE' CAS T L E
IPBIpI
Oppofite to this ifland, in Lorn, is the bay o f Oban, where are the
cuftom-houfe and poft-office.
On a great rock within land, precipitous on three fides, is the
caftle of Dunolly, once the relidence of the chieftains o f Lorn.
Continue our courfe; and paffing with difficulty through a very
narrow found, formed by the Ilan Beach, and the main-land, arrive
in a fine bay. Anchor under the antient caftle of D u n - s t a f f a g b , '
or Stephen’s Mount; and inftantly receive, and accept, a moft polite
[ invitation from the owner, Mr. Campbel.
' This caftle is fabled to have been founded by Ewin, a PiSliJh D
monarch, cotemporary with Julius Cafar, naming it after himielf
Evonium. In fa£t, the founder is unknown ; but it is certainly of
great antiquity, and the firft feat of the Pifiijh and Scottijh princes.
In this place was long preferved the famous ftone, the Palladium of
North-Britain •, brought, fays Legend, out.of Spain, where it was firft .
ufed as a feat of juftice by Gethalus, coeval with Mofes. It continued
here as the coronation-chair till the reign of Kenneth the fecond, who
removed it to Scone, in order to fecure his reign ; for, according to the
tnfcription,
Ni fallatfatum, Scoti, quocunque locatum
Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem.
; Mr. Campbel ffiewed to me a very pretty little ivory image, found
in: a ruinous part of the caftle, that was certainly cut in memory of
this chair, and appears to have been an inauguration fculpture. A
crowned monarch is reprefented fitting in it, with a book in one hand,
as if going to take the coronation oath.
' The caftle- is fquare ; the infide only eighty-feven feet; partly
G g g ruinous,