Thus _Kennet_ avenue enters the town of _Abury_ ten degrees north of the north-west point, which north-west point was the Druids’ purpose. The neck of the snake going down from _Overton-hill_ regards _Silbury_ precisely, and their intent was that it should be full west, but ’tis ten degrees north of the west. The meridian line of the whole work passes from _Silbury-hill_ to the center of the temple at _Abury_, this varies ten degrees to the east from the north-point. The stupendous cove in the northern temple opens ten degrees east of north-east. It was their purpose that it should regard the north-east. The diameter of the great circle of the great stones at _Abury_, on which the north and south temples are built, was design’d to have been set on the line from north-west to south-east, but it verges ten degrees northward; and so of all other particulars. And by this very means we may, at any time, point out the line of the termination of _Bekamton_ avenue, tho’ entirely destroy’d. For from _Silbury-hill_, it was design’d by the Druids to have been set full west, as _Overton-hill_ full east. Therefore a line mark’d from _Silbury-hill_, ten degrees north of the west point, and at the proper length of the avenue, being 4000 cubits, an eastern mile, determines the spot where _Bekamton_ avenue ended. That spot is south of the square inclosure going up to _Cheril-hill_, where _Silbury-hill_ bears ten degrees south of east, where _Abury_ steeple bears twenty-five degrees west of south-west. From _Silbury-hill_ you mark it by the line that goes to _Oldbury_ camp, on the left hand of _Cheril-hill_. In that line was the termination of _Bekamton_ avenue; it being the intention of the Druids to place the founder’s _tumulus_ or _mausoleum_ of _Silbury-hill_ in the middle, between the two ends of the avenue, the head and tail of the snake, upon the east and west line, and exactly south of the center of the great circle at _Abury_. This whole work therefore was properly the _mausoleum_, or made, as it were, one _tumulus_ over the founder. A prophylactic form’d by the great symbol of the deity, guarded the ashes of the deceased hero. And from this custom in mythologic times, they invented the notion of a snake being the genius of departed heroes; or of such being turn’d into snakes and the like, as is said of _Cadmus_, and many more. Thus _Virgil_ describing _Æneas_ celebrating the anniversary of his father’s death, at his _tumulus_ in _Sicily_, recites the ancient rites practis’d at these places and on these occasions, and introduces a snake creeping out of the _adytum_ of the _tumulus_, passing by the altars and holy utensils, and retiring again, in _Æneid_ V. ————_Adytis cùm lubricus anguis ab imis Septem ingens gyros, septena volumina traxit, Amplexus placidè tumulum_———————— &c. _Hoc magis inceptos genitori instaurat honores, Incertus geniumne loci, famulumne parentis Esse putet_————