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enemies to approach by way of the River Severn, for the hill commands a magnificent view of that river, down to within a few miles of the estuary. An elaborate system of fortifications has been built here, which consist, in the main, of alternate ridges and ditches, terracing the hill right up to the summit. The hill was honeycombed with excavated dwellings, and probably quite a thousand warriors manned the fort in those days. Extensive use was made of heavilyconstructed chevaux-de-frise, made by driving sharply-pointed spars firmly into the ground, and filling in the interstices with thorny growths and pointed branches. Three of these chevaux-de-frise encircled the hill at different levels, and, as they were placed in ditches, would be invisible to an attacking party until they had climbed the preceding ridge. There is a system of passages through these protections, which could be closed if necessary. The soldiers, who are very scantily clothed in skins of animals, are armed with bows and arrows, slings and wooden spears; they have also collected large quantities of heavy stones, which are placed in piles at various points in the defences, from which they can be rolled or thrown down upon the enemy. A system of signalling by watch fires is employed, and at night these beacons are visible on many a hilltop, particularly to the east and south. A big fire is burning on the highest point of the fort, and smaller ones on outlying hills in the near neighbourhood. The number of these outlying fires is significant, and news is conveyed by lighting and extinguishing them. Evidently an enemy is expected, for a sharp look out is being maintained down the Severn Valley. A steady stream of men passes backwards and forwards from the direction of Birdlip and the line of hills south of that place. Some are bringing food, and a party is carrying deer slung from poles carried on the shoulders of two men; others are carrying stones or materials for making arrows, while others again are at work upon the entrenchments. Though their language, which is very coarse and guttural, cannot be understood, the prevalent idea is that news has been received of the approach of invaders, who have sailed up the Severn in ships. Many of the men have the memory of previous encounters with, and victories over, these invaders, but the news shows that this time they come in far greater numbers. The battle which followed was long and bloody, and ended in the capture of the hill by the invaders. The foreign raiders are very primitive people, but slightly less so than the