OS1/25/17/23

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 23
[Continued] named Lawton, upon which it is said Macbeth distributed justice; and upon the
neighbouring hill is the " King's Seat" from whence is seen the Birnam Wood; and tradition
adds, as he gazed upon the magnificent scene before him, Macbeth thought the wood began
to move. The name of Macbeth was long popular in Scotland, and his character is still well known by
the people about Dunsinane; but his ancient Castle in the neighbourhood has disappeared, while his stronghold
on the hill remains, probably not very much altered from the time when he occupied it. He was known to be
very rich, and, as he left it suddenly, the residenters in the neighbourhood believe that he had not an
opportunity of removing his treasure from the fortified hill. This encouraged them to excavate the top
of the hill, as they were satisfied a proper degree of perseverance was only required to find out the
treasure. Last year, they had been disappointed, as previous excavators were; but they have uncovered
Antiquarian remains that are very interesting. To understand those, I shall give a few particulars of the
hill, of its fortifications, its erections, and their contents. The hill of Dunsinane is 800 ft. in height above the
neighbouring plain, and 1114 feet above the level of sea, and may be distinguished from the heather-clad
hills, with which it is surrounded, by being of a conical shape, and covered with green sward.
Dunsinane Hill has undergone considerable changes by the influence of the weather, so that there are different
opinions as to the nature of its fortification. There appeared to be 2 roads up to the top of the hill, a very
precipitous one towards the south, which led directly to the top, and another which wound round the eastern
side, forming an inclined plain and terminating with the other road to the south of the fortification. This
was of an oval form, the long diameter being 169 steps in an east-south-east direction, and the broadest
transverse diameter 89 steps. This space appears to have been cleared of rock, and large quantities of black
earth, brought from the Valley below, to form an earthen wall 20 feet broad at its base, and tapering
upwards to the height of probably 10 or 12 feet. Where the hill was abrupt in its descent, layers of large packed
boulders were placed upon the rock, along the inner and outer edge of the wall, upon which sod and earth
was heaped so as to form a strong breastwork tapering upwards. The late Principal Playfair, when
minister of Meigle, made excavations in the Dunsinane Hill, and, in a section made across the top
of the hill, at its widest part, he found flagstones, charcoal, and bones of several species of animals. At

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