Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/36

22 habit of burying their dead within their cities or stations, this may probably have been the cemetery for the station at Bewcastle, and the adjacent towers and fortlets. About 60 yards on the south-west side of the Bush are the remains of a pistrina, three feet in diameter and three feet six inches in the highest part, the stones showing strong traces of the fire. There is also a well of excellent water on the west side.

(300 yards.) At 10,650 yards it reaches another remarkable ruin, called "the Dollerline," which may possibly have been another Mile castle. The foundations show it to have been a place about twelve yards long and eleven yards broad. They are now covered with turf, and not more than four feet in the highest part. It seems to have been protected by an outer rampart on the east, west, and north sides, with a pistrina adjoining the outer rampart on the north side. The river Kirkbeck, a purely pastoral stream, flows close to the east and north sides, and must have been crossed here by the Maiden Way, but there are no traces of a bridge. This place has probably been a fortress to defend the passage of the river. The other way, which branched off on the summit of the Side Fell, joins here again; hence, possibly, the name—de alterâ lineâ— Dollerline. It is about 700 yards above the station at Bewcastle. On the east side of the way, between the Bush and the Dollerline, are three small mounds of stones, which may have been either the foundations of small towers, or burial-places.

The Bush and Dollerhne are situated at the head of an extensive plain which would be well adapted for the different sorts of martial exercise of the Roman warriors, or a grand review. At the head of the plain is a pretty little waterfall, and farther up the river, in a rather secluded corner, is one of nature's softer scenes—the union of two lovely winding glens, through which the rivers Kirkbeck and Greensburn pursue their whimpling course—now straying round a rocky scaur, now hiding underneath the grassy brows, and now playing o'er the white freestone linns, till at last they unite their murmuring waters. The rugged and precipitate banks on each side; are covered with the hazel and coppice, and when gladdened by the singing birds form a sweet and peaceful scene of rural beauty.