or BURGH, the name of an ancient species of buildings, of a circular form, common in the Orkney and Shetland islands, the Hebrides, and northern parts of Scotland. The latter term points out the founders, who at the same time bestowed on them their natal name of borg, "a defence or castle;" a Snee-Gothic word; and the Highlanders universally apply to these places the Celtic name dun, signifying a hill defended by a tower, which plainly points out their use. They are confined to the countries once subject to the crown of Norway. With few exceptions, they are built within sight of the sea, and one or more within sight of the other; so that on a signal by fire, by flag, or by trumpet, they could give notice of approaching danger, and yield a mutual succour. In the Shetland and Orkney islands, they are most frequently called wart or ward hills, which shows that they were garrisoned. They had their wardmather, or watchman, a fort of sentinel, who stood on the top, and challenged all who came in sight. The gackman was an officer of the same kind, who not only was on the watch against surprize, but was to give notice if he saw any ships in distress. He was allowed a large horn of generous liquor, which he had always by him, to keep up his spirits. Along the Orkney and Shetland shores, they almost form a chain; and by that means not only kept the natives in subjection, but were situated commodiously for covering the landing of their countrymen, who were perpetually roving on piratical expeditions. These towers were even made use of as state prisons; for we learn from Torquatus, that after Sueno had surprised Paul, count of Caithness, he carried him into Sutherland, and confined him there in a Norwegian tower. Out of our own kingdom, no buildings similar to these are to be found, except in Scandinavia. On the mountain Swalberg in Norway is one; the Stir-biskop, at Upsal in Sweden, is another; and Unseborg, in the same kingdom, is a third.

These towers vary in their inner structure; but externally are universally the same; yet some have an addition of strength on the outside. The burgh of Culwick in Shetland, notwithstanding it is built on the top of a hill, is surrounded with a dry ditch 13 feet broad; that of Snaburgh in Unft, has both a wet and a dry ditch; the first cut, with great labour, through the live rock. The burgh of Moura is surrounded by a wall, now reduced to a heap of stones, and the inside is cylindrical, not taper, as is usual with others. The burgh of Hogs-ler, upon an ille in a loch of the same name, has also its addition of a wall; a peculiarity in a causeway, to join it to the main land, and a singular internal structure. Numbers of little burghs, with single cells, are scattered about these islands, in the neighbourhood of the greater; and which probably were built by the poorer sort of people, in order to enjoy their protection. A multitude of places in these islands have the addition of burgh to their names, notwithstanding there is not a vestige of a tower near them; the materials having long since been carried away, and applied to various uses.