Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 1.djvu/250

232 stones" may be very correctly applied to these nations in this dark era. On the plain of L'ancresse, in sight of three or four cromlechs, is a cairn of granite blocks, now much reduced in height, still called "La Rocque Belen" or Balan; a name too significant, and of too frequent occurrence in Celtic districts, to be overlooked. At a short distance from this spot is another object perhaps of former idolatrous veneration, retaining the title of "La Fountaine des Druides," not far from which, according to the late Mr. Joshua Gosselin, there was a fine rocking-stone, now destroyed. Such a variety of objects and localities, denoting remains associated with paganism, within a short distance from each other, can scarce be the effect of accident. The proximity of Christian chapels, built almost on the very site of these places in the first years of missionary exertions, is a fact which also deserves notice. The large cromlech and circle of Du Tus, or De Hus, is on the same hill as the first Christian chapel, built by St. Maglorius, on the then island of the Vale; and the spot on which the priest's house was situate, is called "Paradis," perhaps in contradistinction to the favourite haunt of the pagan worshipper, who still held some secret veneration for his former associations: nor is this a singular instance in these islands, for it may be seen that nearly all the first Christian establishments are near to those places which still retain Druidical remains.

The great variety of vessels usually discovered within these tombs, were intended to contain food and presents, as offerings to the manes of the dead; the abundant distribution of limpet shells throughout the cromlechs of the Channel islands, would in like manner lead to the same conclusion, this shell fish having been very generally used as food from the earliest period. 2em