Inchkeitli.; THE FORTIFICATIONS. 293 -
As it was impossible to use carts, donkeys with
panniers were employed for the conveyance of
light materials. The forts are entirely isolated from
the island by a deep ditch, twenty feet broad and
as many deep; and, fortunately, the natural contour
of the ground selected for the fortifications enabled
this to be done with excellent effect; thus each
fort can be held and defended by its garrison, even
though the island should be in possession of an
enemy.
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post or old cannon, to form the pivot of the platform
of the gun arming the battery-the platform
to revolve like a railway turn-table, so that the
muzzle of the gun may traverse a very wide area
In rear of the gun-platforms are the magazinesthat
in the north battery being sunk in the solid
rock many feet deep.
From each fort access is given to the bottom of
the ditch by a covered way ; and from the ditch to
the mainland by a flight of steps.
INCHKEITH.
Generally speaking the exterior slopes of the
forts follow the coast lines of the promontories, and
the earth of which they are formed was thoroughly
compact and rammed down previous to being
riveted with sods-stonework never being employed
in the external faces of modem fortifications,
to preclude the dangerous chance of wounds
inflicted by splinters and stone shivers.
The parapet walls are of great thickness, and
rise about four feet six inches above the floor of the
interior of each fort. The interior, in the instance
of the north and west batteries, takes a circular
form, and the floor is composed of a solid mass of
The crest of the west headland was removed, to
permit a solid concrete foundation being laid for the
gun-platform.
By July, 1881, the Inchkeith forts were completed,
and ready for being armed with their guns.
The three forts mount altogether four guns, and
have been constructed at advantageous points, and
there can be no fear of an enemy ever cutting off
the supply oi water, as it gushes plenteously from
the rocks. Each fort covers a space of between
half an acre and an acre of ground, and the points
chosen for them are of the first strategetical
importance.
concrete several feet thick. In the centre of this From the shape of the isle they form the points
concrete is sunk, in an upright position, an iron of an irregular triangle, and each being in sight of
