Chips from Old Stones, by the Author of 'Hill Forts and Stone Circles of Ancient Scotland' (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 edition. Excerpt: ...It was built of stone pillars with hewn stones (?), which, it was thought, were brought from the point of the Dun. It was round inside, with the ends of long narrow stones sticking through the wall round about, on which clothes might be hung. There were six croops or beds in the wall, one of them very large, called "Rastalla." It would accommodate twenty men or more to sleep in. Next to that was another, called Ralighe, which was large, but rather less than the first. Next to that were Beram and Shimidaran, lesser than Ralighe; and they would accommodate twelve men each to sleep in. Next to that was Leaba Nam Con, or the dogs' bed; and next to that was Leaba an Tealisch, or the fireside bed. There was an entrance (passage) within the wall round about, by which they might go from one croop to another without coming into the central chamber. The house was not to be noticed outside except by a small hole on the top of it, to allow the smoke to get out, and to let in some light There was a doorway on one side (where they had to bend to get in and out) facing the sea, and a large hill of ashes a little way from the door, which would not allow the wind to come in. Bar Righ was the name of the door. The present inhabitants of St Kilda, when in Boreray, following or hunting sheep to pull the wool off them, which is their custom instead of shearing them, used to live in the house until twenty years ago, when the roof fell in. Some of the croops are partly to be seen yet (1862). Tigh-a-Stalair should be carefully planned. It is most important archseologically as being a Pict's house which has been inhabited till the present generation, and goes far to prove the original intent of those structures. I use the term 'original' advisedly; for...