OS1/33/35/76

Continued entries/extra info

[Page] 76
[continued from page 75]

[Extracts from the New Statistical Account] ------- Examiners replies to each
[Parish of Tongue] ------- of the underlined portions

to Cnoc Craggy, consists of conglomerate capping the gneiss ------- Vide Name Sheet
and resting horizontally on its fractured beds. Red sandstone
has also been discovered at one point in this mountain range
near Dalcharn. ------- Vide Name sheets
The only plantations of any extent in the parish are those
around the House of Tongue
Antiquities.___ The most striking ruin is Castle Varrich standing ------- Vide Name sheets
on the promontory already mentioned bearing the same
name. It is a square building, which originally consisted
of two stories, the first arched with stone, the second covered
with wood. Its dimensions inside are not great: the walls
are thick, and still of a considerable height. Tradition is
silent as to its history, on which subject its name has given
rise to various conjectures; but most probably the name is
merely derived from a Gaelic word signifying the castle
on the eminence. The remains of several circular towers ------- Vide Name sheets & Traces,
are to be seen, extending from the coast to the interior,which,
from the circumstance of one being always in sight of another
are supposed to have been erected for the purpose of conveying
telegraphic information when an enemy threatened to
invade the country. Several subterranean caves have been
found in the parish, long and narrow in their construction,
with a small entrance. From various circumstances they
appear to be artificial, and were probably occupied by the
natives, in warlike times, as places of retreat. The only Tumuli ------ Tumuli shown on 6 Inch Sheet 25. Trace 5 & 6. and will be found
to be seen are at a place called Druim na Coup, where, as ------- described in the Name Sheet along with Druim na Coib.
has been noticed in the former Account, a battle was fought ------- Vide Name Sheet
between the Mackays and the Sutherlands. Upon the same
ground, or nearly so, a party of French were seized in 1746,
going south with gold to aid the rebels. The French vessel in
which they were conveyed, being pursued of this coast, ran for
safety into the Bay of Tongue, and the party, carrying their valuable ------- Tongue Bay, Written
treasure, landed at Melness, where for a night they were protected ------- See other side
by a gentleman of Kindred sentiments. Next day his son
went to convey them by the nearest route through the country, but,
as soon as their character and object were Known, they were
[continued on page 77]