Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/376

 31 G GAULISH FORTRESSES OX THE COAST OF BU ITT ANY. On the other s'kle of this line stretches the platform divided bv a rocky crest into two slopes of unequal extent, the western one of which is not very steep, while the other forms an escarpment on the eastern side. It is on this crest that the buildings of the semaphore and corps dc garde now stand. A parapet with its chemin dc rondc, constructed of earth and stones, some of them being of considerable size, runs round on the west, north, and east sides of the plat- form, and continues following the precipice as far as the entrance to the peninsula, where it ends, after having turned the little creek, from which start the two diverging lines already mentioned. In this pai'ticnlar poi tion it is formed entirely of large upright stones placed near each other. This parapet, which is in its higliest parts about a 3'ard high, appeals to have been made, not so much with a view to defence, as to prevent dangerous accidents to the inhabitants, especially during storms, and at night time, when a false step might cause immediate destruction. The whole surface of the platform, and especially the western slope, is marked with shallow depressions of a some- what rectangular outline, and surrounded with a ridge of earth of greater or less height. These depressions arc the sites of ancient dwellings, and are so numerous and so regularly arranged that they remind one of the cells of a beehive, or the cellular tissue of certain plants. ][ore par- ticularly in the evening, when the sun's ra3's fall obliquely, is this ai'rangcment conspicuous. Notwithstanding, how- ever, the care exhibited in this economical use of all avail- able space, still there was apparently not sufiicient room, for several dwellings have been established outside the ])arapct on the steepest sloj)es, giving the appearance, as it wore, of Ijanging over the sea. »Some of these li.ivc been partly destroyed by the falls of rock, which are cuiistantly taking j)lace in dilltrent pails of the coast. A group of six houses alongside ol the iliiid wall which defends the entrance to the platform on the south side deserves more particular notice. Tiie first two, oi" triangular form and very small dimensions, have i)een built inside tlio wall one on each sid(,' of the entrance-gate A.' The (bird, J*, situated a little more than two yards to the east of this ' It lim been RiiggeiitMl that tlu-iio two w.iIIm. Tli<ly forkwl <n<lH nf tlm Ihtm. Su<i pLiii.