MOUSA, an island, in the former quoad sacra parish
of Sandwich-and-Cunningsburgh, parish of DunrossNESS,
county of Shetland j containing 12 inhabitants.
This island lies close to the east coast of the Mainland,
and at the entrance of Aith's Voe; it is also called
Queen's Isle, and is about a mile in length and threequarters
of a mile in breadth. The village of Cunningsburgh
is distant from it, north-westward, about two
miles. In this island is a most perfect specimen of an
ancient Scandinavian fortress, or, as some call it, Pictish
castle. It is nearly entire, and in .shape resembles a
dice-box: its height is about forty-two feet, and, over
the walls, its diameter fifty feet; the walls are about
ten feet in thickness, and hollow in the middle. The
fort stands on the shore, and seems to have been a place
of defence. Opposite to it are the ruins of another
castle of the same description, round which are still
visible the sites of a number of small houses.