PLATE X.—­"Both” and Underground Gallery at Meall na h-Uamh,
Huishnish, South Uist.

(From Plate XXXIII. of Vol.  VII. of Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, First Series.)

“I have next to notice,” says Captain Thomas (op. cit., p. 164), “that form of bo’h, Pict’s house, or clochan, whichever name may be adopted by archaeologists, to which a hypogeum or subterranean gallery is attached.... [The present example] is in South Uist, about half a mile inland from Moll a Deas (South Beach); and the Moll is about one mile and a half to the south of Husinish (Husness, i.e., Houseness).  The site of the bo’h is called Meall na [h-] Uamh, or Cave Lump [more correctly, the Mound of the Cave, or ‘Weem.’] It consists of a partly excavated oval dwelling chamber (a), 7 feet by 14 feet on the floor; the dome roof has fallen in; there are two cuiltean, or niches in the wall.  A low curved subterranean passage (b), about 2-1/2 feet square and 20 feet in length, leads into an elongated bee-hive chamber (c), 13 feet by 5 feet, and 6-3/4 feet high; from thence an entrance (d), 2 feet by 2 feet, admits to a small circular chamber or cell (e), 5 feet in diameter and 5 feet high.  The main passage inclines downwards, so that the floor of the second chamber (c) is nearly 3 feet lower than that of the first (a); and that of the inner one (e) a foot below the second (c).”

[Illustration:  PLATE XI.

GROUND PLAN OF BOTH AND UNDERGROUND GALLERY, OR TIGH LAIR, NEAR MOL
A DEAS, HUISHNISH, ISLAND OF SOUTH UIST.]

[Illustration:  PLATE XII.

RESTORED ELEVATION OF ANCIENT BOTH AND SECTION OF HYPOGEUM OR TIGH LAIR, ON THE LINE a, k, NEAR MOL A DEAS, HUISHNISH, SOUTH UIST.

“These piers were about 4 feet high, 4 feet to 6 feet long, and 1-1/2 foot to 2 feet broad; and there was a passage of from 1 foot to 2 feet in width between the wall and them.”

“On a small, flattish terrace, where the hill sloped steeply, an area had been cleared by digging away the bank, so that the wall of the house, for nearly half its circumference, was the side of the hill, faced with stone....  The hypogeum or subterranean gallery is on a level with the floor, pierced towards the hill, and is entered by a very small doorway [marked d on Ground Plan, Plate XI.]....  It is but 18 inches high and 2 feet broad, so that a very stout or large man could not get in.” (Op. cit., pp. 166, 167.)]

PLATES XI.  AND XII.—­"Both” and Underground Gallery at
Huishnish, South Uist.

(From Plates XXXIV. and XXXV. of Vol.  VII. of Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, First Series.)