]yO SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



conjecture. Its moorland districts — the territory of the shepherd and his flock — 

 have also their records in the circhng fosse, the sepulchral cairn, and the " grey 

 stone," commemorating the site of ancient camps, the fall of warlike chiefs, or the 

 grave of pious confessors. Here, the Border slogan has often startled the ear, 

 and there, the sudden " mounting" for the midnight foray, the baffled enterprise, 

 or triumphant return, have alternately roused the people to violence, or soothed 

 them down into a temporary calm. But these localities speak of more than the 

 reverses of petty warfare; they remind us of national triumphs, and national 

 disgrace — of the " battle of Sark" and the " raid of Solway Moss ;" of the Scottish 

 sovereign, who, on hearing the " rebel-flight" of his army, sickened and died. 

 There also, on the opposite shore, the ambitious Edward " breathed his 

 vengeance, and expired." 



Every prominent feature — every tower that now rears its roofless walls along 

 the Solway, is a historical landmark. Each has its " massy more," its " haunted 

 chamber," where accusing spirits, says superstitious " eld," pointing to some 

 deed of blood, call for vengeance ; and where the belated peasant — startled by 

 unearthly sounds — hears the " greeting bairn," sees the sheeted spectre gliding 

 near the ruin, or blue-lights glimmering from the deserted loopholes.* — But we 

 have no space for dilating on the numerous features, moral and physical, which 

 render the Solway frontier a rich field of research and observation. The subject, 

 however, including the whole of the southern border, is likely to be brought forth 

 in a new and separate form, and containing an original fund of local traditions. 



Our illustrations of this county are limited to a very few of those scenes which 

 are endeared by their associations with modern genius or ancient story ; but 

 from Sanquhar to the river Sark, from the Solway to Loch-skene, the scenes 

 that are continually unfolding themselves present almost every description of land- 

 scape betvi^een the extremes of high cultivation and cheerless sterility. From these 

 the painter might select an ample portfolio — each view enriched by traditionary 

 relics, which exemplify the progress of arts, and contrast their primitive features 

 and rude landmarks with the vast improvements now introduced by agricultural 

 and commercial enterprise, and the use of steam navigation. We begin with 

 the west frontier of the county, the warlike and poetical Niddisdale. 



On a fine eminence of this district, overlooking the valley of the Nith, stands 

 Drumlanrig Castle, the ducal residence of the Douglasses of Queensberry, and now 

 descended to the duke of Buccleuch, whose possessions extend over a great 



• Coinlongon and Carlaverock Castles ; towers of Spedlins, Clackethouse, Stapleton, Woodhoiise, Amis- 

 field, and many others more inland. That o( Woodhouse is said to have been the first house in Scotland 

 in which Bruce took refuge when flying from England. Most of these are " haunted ruins." 



