TJic Scott is Ji Naturalist. 209 



Clyde between Abington and Elvanfoot to the Nith between 

 Sanquhar and Enterkinfoot. The old capital of the district — the 

 village of Crawford — is on the Clyde between Abington and 

 Elvanfoot, with 



(( 



Aulcl Crawford-Lindsay's towers," 



the remains of the once large and strong castle of Crawford or 

 Crawford-Lindsay, on the opposite side of the river. This little 

 village and old castle give his title to the present chief of the 

 former holders of, and rulers over, all this district — the Earl of 

 Crawford and Balcarres.^ But what is of more interest in con- 

 nection with our present subject, the said castle — which is also 

 but less appropriately known as Tower-Lindsay — was the scene 

 of the story that was told by Sir Walter Scott,- and has been so 

 often quoted, concerning the presentation to King James V. of 

 the golden " Bonnet Pieces," -^ as the only, or the finest, fruits 

 of the then, and now, barren -looking moorlands of Crawford- 

 Lindsay. 



The auriferous capital of the district is, however, Leadhills, up 

 among the Lowthers, about midw^ay between the Clyde and Nith ; 

 and the smaller village of .Wanlockhead, which is only a mile 

 distant, may for all practical purposes be regarded as a part of, 

 or offshoot from, Leadhills. These villages are on the watershed 

 between the Clyde and Nith ; and hence some of the auriferous 

 streams that traverse the district flow Clydewards, while others 

 flow Nithwards. The most important of the former are the 

 Conner and Elvan waters or streams — the one emptying itself 

 into the Clyde near Abington, the other at Elvanfoot. Of the 

 Nith tributaries from this part of the Lowthers, the chief are the 

 Mennock and Enterkin ; the one, corresponding to the Conner, 

 opening into the Nith above Sanquhar — the other, corresponding 

 to the Elvan, finding an entrance and exit at Enterkinfoot. 



Specially in order to survey its auriferous riches, I have care- 

 fully traversed this district twice — in 1863 and again in 1877 — 

 taking notes on the spot, not only of what I saw, but also of 



1 In his ' Lives of the Lindsays' (London, 1849, p. 22) this nobleman, who 

 wp.s then Lord Lindsay, described the auriferous, argentiferous, and plum- 

 biferous possessions of the Lindsays in the Barony of Friemuir or Crawford- 

 muir in 1239, when gold was systematically mined, especially in the Elvan 

 valley, as " the Gold Scours " of the present day so far testify. 



- In his ' Tales of a Landlord.' 



■^ For a short description of these coins, see the article entitled "Bonnet 

 Pieces " in Chambei's's Encyclopcedia. 



