Page:Shetland Folk-Lore - Spence - 1899.pdf/43

 raids of the invaders. Hence the construction of the numerous brochs or castles to which we have referred. The mass of stone, often transported from a distance, used in some of the brochs is something marvellous, and points to the concerted action of a multitude of hands. The sites chosen were such as could best facilitate the transmission of messages by means of signals from end to end of the land with almost telegraphic speed. It is noticeable that from one broch another can be seen, and from this a third, and so on, from Scaw to Fitful. If a broch can be found that does not fulfil this condition, a voard or wart, which signifies a watch-tower, is in the neighbourhood.

The most favoured sites for brochs were holms in lochs, holms and skerries near the seashore, especially such holms, or islets, as were wholly or partially connected with the mainland by tidal beaches or reefs; and where such formation was absent, a sort of half-tide footway, or brig,