Edinburgh journal of science (1831) Edinburgh journal of science edinburghjournal05edin Year: 1831 314 Dr Hibbert on the Vitrified Cairns of Orkney. No other situation could have been so eligible for instant em- barkation into the Northern Ocean ;—which superior advantage is even acknowledged at the present day, by its being the only harbour in the isles of Orkney which is deemed a convenient one for the prosecution of the North Sea Fishery of the Her- ring. The site of the ancient Portsmouth of Orkney being thus established, the next object which I have is to shew through what medium telegra
Edinburgh journal of science (1831) Edinburgh journal of science edinburghjournal05edin Year: 1831 314 Dr Hibbert on the Vitrified Cairns of Orkney. No other situation could have been so eligible for instant em- barkation into the Northern Ocean ;—which superior advantage is even acknowledged at the present day, by its being the only harbour in the isles of Orkney which is deemed a convenient one for the prosecution of the North Sea Fishery of the Her- ring. The site of the ancient Portsmouth of Orkney being thus established, the next object which I have is to shew through what medium telegraphic signals, which consisted of beacon fires, were conveyed to the fleet thus anchored in the sound of Papa Stronsa. Shetland, which yielded a more willing obedience to Norway, was frequently in league with this power against Orkney, and as hostile fleets were often reinforced in the more loyal pro- vince, the intermediate island, named Fair Isle, of difficult ac- cess except to boats, was firmly retained by the Orcadians and converted into their most northerly signal station. From this site, an alarm fire, which would be first hailed in North Ronaldsay, would be answered by its inhabitants kindling a fresh flame in order that the intelligence might spread to Papa Westray and Westray on the west, and to Sandayon the south. Sanday would propagate the alarm to the fleet which was>; anchored in Papa Stronsa, with q particulars of the number of hos- <; tile vessels approaching the Or- cadian shores. These particu- lars, as we are assured by divers writers so late even as the time of Wallace, was usually signi- fied by the number of fires which were lighted ; and hence the many vitrified cairns with which < «s. ' the signal station of Elsness in § C^' Sanday now appears studded In order also to complete the efficiency of this telegraphic sys- tem, every Scandinavian province Vitr'ijicd cuinu of Elsness. Papa Slronsay. Sound in which the Fleet lay. O
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