Page:Once a Week, Series 1, Volume II Dec 1859 to June 1860.pdf/319

306 by a dry moat on three sides, and protected to the north by the steep face of the rock which descends nearly perpendicularly to the river. In addition to this, there has been constructed, at a later period, a curtained outwork, entirely enclosing the castle, and flanked at the four angles with as many bastions, according to the usual method of defence, after the introduction of fire-arms. The original entrance to the castle was by a drawbridge over the dry moat; but at present the access is by a stone-bridge which leads to an archway under the west-front: in the centre, on the right, is the great stair, ascending to the first story, in which are situated the principal rooms. On passing through the arch, we enter the vast court of the castle; this court is still lighted in the primitive manner of the old castles and houses of the middle ages. A huge half-spherical iron cradle is suspended at the extremity of a rod of the same metal projecting from the wall, and furnished with several joints which allow of its being drawn in, or extended at pleasure to the distance of eight or ten feet over the court, and is placed on a level with the corridor of the second story which surrounds the court, and which is supported on pillars of Saxon style remarkable for their solidity and simplicity. The cradle is furnished with “kien-holz” or “bog-wood,” which is still used in the highlands of Scotland and Ireland. It is that resinous part of the pine-wood which is found most abundant in the base and root of all the pine species, but especially in that of the spruce-fir. When the cradle is ignited, and is extended to the full extent of the rod, the blaze throws over the whole court the light of day; a “retainer” is in constant attendance to see that a proper supply of kien-holz is given to feed the light. In the same manner the great kitchen of the castle is lighted in the centre by a tall moveable tripod candelabra, also of iron, about six feet high. The top of the stem is furnished with a pair of spring pincers, which holds between its teeth a large splinter of the same resinous wood, and when ignited gives a blaze of light over the whole space around. When this is burned down to the teeth, which takes some time, another piece is supplied from a vast heap of material which is kept for that purpose in a niche of the huge kitchen.