an integral part of the design, though it may be somewhat earlier than the foregoing; and at Timahoe the doorway of the tower is richer and more elaborate, but at the same time of a style so closely resembling that of Cormac's Chapel as to leave no doubt of their being nearly of the same age. The only remarkable difference is that the jambs of the doorway of the tower slope considerably inwards while all those of the chapel are perfectly perpendicular. Another proof of their age is that many of the doorways have Christian emblems carved in relief on their lintels as in the tower at Donoughmore or that of Antrim, or on the round tower at Brechin in Scotland-emblems which, from their position, and the fact of their being in relief, cannot have been added, and must therefore be considered as original. When we find that the towers which have not these indications differ in no other respect from those that have, it is impossible to resist the conclusion that they too are of Christian origin; the positive evidence of a few being sufficient to overbalance the mere absence of proof in a far greater number.

Antiquaries have enumerated 118 of these monuments as still to be found in Ireland: of these some twenty are perfect, or nearly so, varying in height, from about sixty feet to 130 feet, which is the height of the imperfect one at Old Kilcullen. They all taper upwards towards the summit, and are generally crowned with a conical cap like that at Clonmacnoise, though not often constructed in the herring-bone masonry there shown.

The tower of Deverish may be taken as a typical example of the class. It is eighty-two feet high, with a conical cap, and its doorway and windows are all of the form and in the position most usually found in monuments of this class. The conical cap is frequently omitted and its place supplied by a battlemented crown; this is the case at Kildare and also at Kilree. In one instance, and, I believe, one only, the base of the tower is octagonal. This is found at Keneith, county Cork.

One of the most beautiful and most perfect is that of Ardmore. It is of excellent ashlar masonry throughout, and is divided externally into four storeys by string-courses, which do not, however, mark the position of the floors inside. Its mouldings and details lead to the presumption that it is nearly coeval with Cormac's Chapel, Cashel, and that consequently it must belong to the Twelfth Century. It stands within the precincts of the rude old church mentioned above, and when explored not long ago the skeletons of two persons were found below its foundations, placed in such a manner as to lead to the inevitable conclusion that it was a place of Christian burial before the foundations of the tower were laid.

The floors which divide the tower into storeys are generally of wood, but sometimes of masonry, constructed as that at Keneith. There are no stairs, but ladders are used to pass from one storey to the next.

Several instances of doorways have been quoted above. Of these no two are exactly alike, though all show the

same general characteristics. That at Monasterboice, for instance, has an arch cut out of a horizontal lintel extending the whole way across, while that at Kilcullen has the arch cut out of two stones, which is by far the most usual arrangement.

The windows are generally headed with two stones meeting at the apex; but sometimes the window-head is either a flat lintel or a single stone cut into the form of an arch, as at Glendalough.

Though these remarkable towers are of extremely various forms, differing according to their age and locality, almost all exhibit that peculiar Cyclopean character of masonry which has led to such strange, though often plausible, speculations; for neither their details nor their masonry would excite remark if found at Norba in Latium or at Æniade in Acarnania, yet here they stand alone and exceptional to everything around them.

Whatever may have been their origin, there can be no doubt as to the uses to which they were applied by the Christians they were symbols of power and marks of dignity. They were also bell-towers, and lamps were possibly lighted in them in honour of the dead. But perhaps their most important use was that of keeps or fortalices; to which, in troubled times, the church plate and other articles of value could be removed and kept in safety till danger was past.

As architectural objects these towers are singularly pleasing. Their outline is always graceful, and the sim

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plicity of their form is such as to give the utmost value to their dimensions. Few can believe that they are hardly larger than the pillars of many porticoes, and that it is to their design alone that they owe that appearance of size they all present. No one can see them without admiring them for these qualities, though the peculiar fascination they possess is no doubt in great measure owing to the mystery which still hangs round their origin, and to the association of locality. In almost every instance the tower stands alone and erect beside the ruins of an ancient but deserted church, and among the mouldering tombstones of a neglected or desecrated graveyard. In a town or amid the busy haunts of men, they would lose half their charm; situated as they are, they are among the most interesting of the antiquities of Europe.

THE

THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

E. T. C. WERNER

HE traveller who, having accomplished the day's ride from Pekin and the fatiguing journey up Nank'ou Pass, beholds before him the magnificent spectacle is, not unnaturally, on his return home, very positive in his assertions as to the existing and vast magnitude of the Great Wall. He has seen it with his own eyes, and he informs his friends that it fully realized, if it did not exceed, his highest expectations. Though his map does not furnish any ideas as to the dimensions or condition of the vast structure, it nevertheless contains a line representing a length of 1,500 miles similar throughout, and the mode of representation being the same from one end to the other it is but reasonable to suppose the wall to be so also. There is perhaps to be found among his heavier baggage a brick which he has brought with him to substantiate his arguments, and with this undeniable proof his non-travelling friends are finally convinced. Were we willing to be hypercritical, we might here dwell upon the amusing anecdote which relates that a supply of bricks, similar to the genuine article in all respects except that of age, used to be kept in the British Legation at Pekin for the convenience of those who had neglected to supply