Mr Menteath 07i the Geology of Nithsdale. \ 57 



other, that a better division of this lower district of Dumfrieg- 

 shire would be, to consider the two as one large basin. The 

 mountains which form the sides of the higher parts of Eskdale 

 are high, having extensive grassy slopes, that yield to large flocks 

 of sheep an excellent pasturage. From its source to Langholm, 

 the Esk, joined by the Meggot and the Ewes, runs in a very 

 straitened basin, which may be called tlie Upper Basin of the 

 Esk. This basin contains neither coal, lime, nor sandstone 

 throughout its whole extent, the prevailing rock being grey- 

 wacke. At Glendinning, the greywacke rock contains grey anti- 

 mony-glance ^ or sulphur et of antimony. Some years ago it was 

 mined to advantage, but the workings are now abandoned. In 

 the same neighbourhood, among the mountains, there are traces 

 o^ galena or lead-glance. 



Below Langholm, the basin of the Esk expands ; and, to the 

 west, unites itself with the Lower Basin of the Annan, which 

 may be called the Lower Basin of the Esk. This basin contains 

 mountain limestone, the coal formation, and the new red sand- 

 stone. These deposits, according to Professor Jameson, are ar- 

 ranged in the usual order, the mountain limestone being the 

 lowest ; next the coal ; and, resting upon the coal, in several 

 places, the new red sandstone. On the Byreburn, below Lang- 

 holm, the coal is worked, though no seam exceeding 3 feet has 

 been discovered. 



From Langholm, in the direction of Ecclefechan and Brown- 

 muir, limestone is found in all that range ; and beyond, to the 

 north of this line, the greywacke. 



The soil of the lower basin of the Esk is similar, in all its cha- 

 racter and qualities, to that of the lower basin of the Annan. 



Having thus hastily and rapidly sketched the districts of An- 

 nandale and Eskdale, and, as briefly as we could, enumerated 

 iheir mineral deposits, it may not be uninteresting to contrast 

 them with Nithsdale, which forms the principal subject of this 

 sketch. 



In the upper basin of the Annan, we have observed that there 

 is neither coal nor lime ; that its distance from those districts 

 where these minerals abound, has checked its advancement in 

 improvement. The upper basin of the Esk, without coal, lime- 

 stone, or sandstone, is still more unfavourably situated than that 



