Clova 1

The hills now put on a more bleak and desolate look: the way over barren heaths began to seem tedious; when Kildrumy castle came in view. Even the distant appearance of that noble ruin, dissipated all ideas of fatigue. On going towards it, across a stony moor, passed by a well-shaped, though rude stone obelisk*, ten or eleven feet high; and was directed to some underground vaults, which have their openings in the side of a mossy bank. The best entrance into them was but small, and shewed a long dark cavity within. The access was confined and difficult; but on going in I found the recess to be about eight feet wide, and six or seven feet high, well built up at the sides, and covered with vast flaggs.

One may advance twelve or fifteen paces without interuption, and where the passage is blocked up, seems to be owing rather to rubbish having fallen in, than to the design of the builders. The others are similar; but whether they have been connected together, and had communication at the ends, cannot now be easily discovered. They are said to have been numerous and of great extent.

They were the retreats of the antient possessors; such as Tacitus informs us were used by the Germans as a shelter, as well from the inclemency of the weather, as from the fury of their enemies. Those who used these concealments would, no doubt, have it in their power to block up the entrance with a large stone, so as to have the appearance of its naturally lying there; and the banks in which they are, give no other evidence of their contents. They would therefore answer well for the purpose of stratagem and retreat.