R om a n camp,
fome of thefe barrows, neither lodged in ftone chefts nor depofited j
in urns.
The Romans, in their courfe along this part of Britain, did not
negleft fo fine a lituation for a ftation. Notwithftanding the great
change made by inclofures, by plantation, and by agriculture, there
are ftill veftiges of one ftation five hundred yards fquare. The fide
next to Delvin houfe is barely to be traced : and part qf another
borders on the margin of the bank. There is likewile a ftnall
fquare redoubt, near the edge, facing the Eafi-inch in the Tay; I
which covered the ftation on that fide.
The firft was once inclofed with a wall fourteen feet thick, whole
foundations are remembered by two farmers of the name of
Stertan, aged about feventy; who had received from their father
and grandfather frequent accounts of aihes, cinders, brick, iron,'
utenfils, weapons, and large pieces of lead, having been frequently
found on the fpot, in the courfe of ploughing *: and to the weft
of this ftation, about thirty years ago, were difcovered the veftiges
of a large building, the whole ground being filled with fragments
of brick and mortar. A reftangular hollow made of brick is
ftill entire : it is about ten or twelve feet long, three or four feet
wide, and five or fix feet deep. ~ Boethius calls this place the Tuliv.n
of the PiBs ; and adds, that in their time, it was a moft populous
city s but was deferted and burnt by them on the approach of the
Romans under Agricola. He alfo informs us, that it bore the name
of Inchtiithel in his days f . The materials from which this hif-
torian took the early part of his work are unknown to us, any fur-
* By letter from the Rev. Mr. Bi/Jet, miniiler o f Capulb.
H iß , Semite, fib. IV . p. 64.
ther
ther than what we learn from himfelf, that they were records fent
to him in 1525 from Jona; but by whom compiled, remains un-
difcovered. I do not doubt his aflertion; nor do1 I doubt but
that fome truths collefted from traditions may be fcattered amidft
die innumerable legendary talesj fo abundant in his firft books.
This I would wiih to place among1 the former, as the aftuaf veftiges1
of two .nations'are ftill to be traced on the ipot. I would alfo calf
it the Orrea oi-the Romansi, which the learnedStitkelty fuppofes to’
have been Perth, notwithftanding he places- it in his map * north1
eaft of the Tay, and on the very fpot where the prefent Delvin Hands'.
H Leave Delvin. Crofs the Tay, at the-ferry o f Caputh. Pafs
over a fliort traft of barren country; On the banks ofta finall'rill
are veftiges of an encampment, as is fuppofed, of the Danes, and1
to have been called from thofe invaders Gaily Burn, or the burn o f
the ftrangers. A little farther, in a very fertile improved country,
is Lomarty, celebrated for the fignal- viftory obtained by the Scots,
under Kenneth III -f-, over the Danes, by means o f the gallant pea-
fant Hay, and his two fonsj who, with no other weapons than yokes
which they fflatched from theit oxen then at plough,' firft put'a ftop
to the--flight q f their countrymen, and afterward! led them on to'
conqueft. Thefe ipirited lines are a perfeftpifture of the" aft ion :
Quo ruitis, Cives ? H e ia ! hoili obvertite vultus !
Non pudet infami vertere terga fuga ?
Hollis ego v o b is ; aut ferrum vertite in hoftem.
D ix it , et armatus dux praeit ipfe jugo.
Qua, qua iba t vallum condenfa per agmina Danum
Dat itragem. Hinc omnis confequiturque fuga.
H Account o f Richard o f Cirenceßer, f Who began his reign in 976.
Servavit
A u g . 24*
L o n c a r t y .