"An ancient dwelling, semi-subterranean, exists at Nisibost, Harris [and is described in vol. iii. of the _Proceedings_, p. 140].... A still finer example exists near to Meall na h-Uamh, in South Uist.... The bo'h, or Pict's house, as it would be called in the Orkneys--but the name is unknown in the Long Island--that I am about to describe lies less than half a mile above the shepherd's house; but so little curiosity had that individual that he was entirely unacquainted with it; and I believe it would never have been found by us but for a little terrier (in its etymological sense, of course) of a daughter. The child was only acquainted with the two here drawn [of which the other--viz., _Uamh Sgalabhad_, is here reproduced as Plate I., frontispiece]; but there may be many more waiting the researches of the zealous antiquary." (Captain Thomas, _op. cit._, p. 165.) [Illustration: PLATE XIII. GROUND PLAN AND ENTRANCE OF UNDERGROUND GALLERY AT PAIBLE, TARANSAY, HARRIS. "The drawing is from a photograph of the entrance, which is 2 feet 10 inches high and 1½ foot broad. The sea flows up to it at high tides."] PLATE XIII.--_Underground Gallery at Paible, Taransay, Harris._ (From Plate XXIX. of Vol. VII. of _Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland_, First Series.) Describing this earth-house, Captain Thomas says:--"The drawing is from a photograph of the entrance, which is 2 feet 10 inches high and 1½ foot broad. The sea flows up to it at high tides. On crawling in, there is seen the usual guard-cell (_b_), close beside the entrance, but so small that we may be sure the sentinel, if there was one, must have been a light weight; in fact, we are almost driven to the conclusion that there were no Bantings in those days. This guard-cell is but 2 feet 5 inches high, and 3 feet in width. The gallery then turns at a right angle to the left hand. We excavated it for 22 feet.... When digging, we came upon two broken stone dishes (corn-crushers?) now in the Museum [Society of Antiquaries of Scotland]; and above the gallery were most of the bones of a small ox, placed orderly together.... Bones of the seal were common, and a few of the eagle." (_Op. cit._, p. 169.) [Illustration: PLATE XIV. MAES-HOW, ORKNEY.] [Illustration: PLATE XV. INTERIOR OF MAES-HOW, ORKNEY (_Facing inner doorway of gallery_). _Cell or Bed in Wall._] [Illustration: PLATE XVI. SECTIONAL VIEW AND GROUND PLAN OF MAES-HOW.] PLATES XIV., XV., AND XVI.--_Maes-How, Orkney._ These plates represent the "Pict's house" referred to by Captain Thomas (pp. 50-51, _ante_), with regard to which he says:--"Maes howe was for three families--grandees, no doubt; but the numbers it was intended to hold in the _beds_ may be learned by comparing them with the Amazon's House, St. Kilda."