Possibly the singular dwarfie stone of Hoy, in Orkney, owes its origin to a similar source. A huge mass of square sandstone rock, which appears to have tumbled from a neighbouring cliff, has been hollowed out into three apartments, with a fire-place, vent, stone-bed, pillow, &c. The traditions of the island preserve strange tales of a giant and his wife who dwelt in this abode, and the "Descriptio Insularum Orchadium," written by Jo. Ben., (John the Benedictine,) in 1592, adds to the account of its internal accommodation the following somewhat whimsical provision for the comfort of the latter,--"Tempore camerationis fœmina gravida fuit, ut lectus testatur; nam ea pars lecti in qua uxor cubuit effigiem habet ventri gravidi." Others of the Scottish caves and oratories are less artificial in their character. They are especially abundant in the Western Isles, and on the neighbouring coast, where the waves of the Atlantic have wrought out caverns far surpassing in extent and magnificence the largest in the interior of the country. Few of these, however, possess such marked features as to distinguish them from similar relics pertaining to no definite period, which are to be met with on every rocky coast exposed to the rude buffets of the ocean waves. One exception, indeed, may well claim to be singled out as unmatched by any other work of nature or art, though belonging to an older system than the primeval period of the archæologist. Amid scenery unsurpassed in the interest of its historic associations, or its venerable relics of medieval skill, stands the wondrous natural cave which popular tradition has associated with the favourite name of Fingal. "Nor doth its entrance front in vain To old Iona's holy fane, That nature's voice might seem to say-- Well hast thou done, frail child of clay! Thy humble powers that stately shrine Tasked high and hard--but witness mine!"[105] To those who are curious in investigating such ancient relics, Chalmers furnishes a very ample list of "Natural Caves in every part of North Britain, which have been improved into hiding-places by artificial means."[106] The associations with many of these retreats are of the most varied and romantic character; and few districts of the country are without some wild or thrilling legend or historic tradition relating to such caverned shelters of the patriot, the recluse, or the persecuted devotee. FOOTNOTES: [91] Archæol. Scot. vol. ii. p. 54. [92] Bell. Gall. lib. v. c. xii. [93] Sinclair's Statist. Acc. vol. iv. p. 101. [94] Caledonia, vol. i. p. 97. _Vide_ also New Stat. Acc. vol. vii., Renfrewshire, 502, &c. [95] Martin's Western Isles, pp. 67, 87, 154. [96] Archæol. Scot. vol. ii. p. 52. [97] New Statist. Acc. vol. xii. p. 545. [98] Sinclair's Statist. Acc. vol. xiv. p. 526. [99] Sinclair's Statist, Acc. vol. xiii. p. 117. [100] Pennant's Tour, vol. i. Appendix, p. 339. [101] De Moribus Germanorum, c. 16.