44 MR BROWN OX THE GAME OF BALL 



It appears, therefore, that of 3700 specimens of flowers, 3628 have 

 all the characters of Tormentilla ; 43 possess those of Potentilla, while 

 the remaining 29 vary in the number and proportion of the divisions 

 of the calyx and corolla. The conclusion to which these facts in- 

 clines is, that the genus Tormentilla does exist, and that the occasional 

 multiplicity of petals and sepals is to be referred to luxuriance of growth. 



An ff list 1834. 



The Game of Ball as played in Dunse on Fasterris Eve. By Mr 

 THOMAS BROWN. 



As ojie object of this Club is to examine the antiquities of Berwick- 

 shire, a brief notice of the above game may not be unacceptable. Though 

 still kept up, the interest taken in it has greatly decreased, and it may 

 not, improbably, disappear ere long. It is not so much, therefore, from 

 its present state that a complete description is to be drawn, as from the 

 recollections of the oldest inhabitants. I have only to regret that the 

 details here presented are not more complete. 



Eastern's Eve, or, as it is here called, Eastern's E'en, was once almost, 

 if not altogether, a holiday to the inhabitants of Dunse. As in many 

 other parishes, cock-fighting was the principal amusement during the 

 forenoon, and, at one period, it seems, to have been in high estimation. 

 The parish school, which was set apart for it, is described as having been 

 sometimes crowded to the door, and the fees collected on the occasion 

 formed a perquisite of some value. It is certainly to the honour of the 

 present generation that this practice has disappeared. 



The amusements of the afternoon are both more peculiar and inviting. 

 The game is ball, played in a manner which, if not peculiar to Dunse, 

 is at least not common. Preparations for it used to begin nearly a week 

 before. Three young men were chosen to conduct them, and were 

 called " ba'-men." They met on the Wednesday of the preceding week, 

 to hold, along with their friends, the shaping of the ball, when they pa- 

 raded the town, accompanied by a drum and fiddle, playing the tune, 



" Never let the gree gang doon 

 For the gude o' our toon." 



In this style they called at the houses of the more respectable inhabi- 

 tants, danced with the servants, and received contributions. 



Till the day itself arrived, their only duties were to collect these con- 

 tributions and prepare the balls. Three are required for the game, but 

 four are always prepared. The family at Dunse Castle have so liberally 

 supported the practice, that it has been customary to leave there one of 

 the balls, which it is said are preserved. Of those played with, the first 



