Mr Menteath on the Geology of Nitksdale. 65 



rock, which runs across the Annan at the Manse of St Mungo, 

 uniting the Tinwald greywacke range of hills with those on the 

 eastern bank of the Annan, and may be traced skirting the 

 greywacke mountains from Burnswark to Langholm. This rock 

 seems to cut off the new red sandstone of the Upper and Lower 

 Basins; but as it has been bored in several places, and the 

 red sandstone always found under it, we may infer that the red 

 sandstone extends from the one basin to the other, and is mere- 

 ly covered by this formation, or probably the amygdaloid inter- 

 sects the sandstone. • 



The greywacke mountains which shut in this upper basin of 

 the Annan are lofty, and to the north present a bold picturesque 

 outline. Their sides slope to the Annan, and afford good pas- 

 turage to numerous flocks of sheep. In this upper basin, the 

 wood, from something unfavourable in the soil, is scanty, and 

 does not appear to grow luxuriantly. About Raehills, the 

 spruce fir is that which grows best. On the west, the Annan is 

 joined by the streams of Evan, Ae, and Kinnel ; on the east, by 

 the Moffat, Whamphry, Dryfe, and the Milk, all proving, by 

 the number of the streams issuing from these mountains, their 

 great elevation. 



The interior of this upper basin of the Annan is filled with 

 the new red sandstone. This red sandstone is well fitted, from 

 its compact texture, for all kinds of building. 



Neither limestone nor ores of any kind have hitherto been 

 met with. 



A mile from the town of Moffat, resorted to for its medicinal 

 waters, there is a sulphuretted hydrogen spring, issuing from a 

 greywacke rock, containing iron pyrites, and passing through 

 a peat-bog, where it is probably still more impregnated with 

 sulphur. 



About five miles from Moffat is Hartfell Spa, which is a 

 strong chalybeate. It issues from a rock of alum-slate on the 

 side of the mountain of Hartfell. 



These springs have caused great resort to this district, and 

 have thus as it were created the interesting village of Moffat, 

 and contributed to the improvement of the neighbouring coun- 

 try. 



The soil of this upper basin of the Annan, consists in part of « 



