Address of the Vice-President. 15 



situation and character of the fosse, the rampart has been 

 supposed the work of a people inhabiting the south side, and 

 built in some way to arrest the inroads of some northern foe. 



In the account referred to, the several lands and farms 

 through which the dyke passes are stated in detail. 



At a later period a portion of the Dyke was examined by 

 Mr Vere Irving. He started from the farm of Gateslack, in 

 the parish of Durrisdeer, and on ascending the hill above it 

 he soon came up to the Dyke clearly and distinctly marked, 

 running along the face of the slope. 



An account of this examination, with remarks and his- 

 torical conjectures respecting the structure, is inserted in the 

 Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries.* 



Mr Vere Irving's idea appears to be that the Dyke was 

 erected not so much to prevent the inroad of enemies and 

 freebooters as to prevent their escape and return with the 

 cattle they had seized. The Dyke would thus be in the 

 nature of a great cattle trap. 



Another extensive work in the district is 



The Great Roman Road 



through Dumfriesshire from the soiith. 



Scattered notices of this Road occur in the Statistical Ac- 

 count, according as vestiges of it appear in the different 

 parishes. As also notices of the Roman Stations and En- 

 campments, tumuli, and relics found in its course. 



In the Account of the parish of Eskdalemuir there is a 

 description of the Camp there. And in the Transactions of 

 the Society of Antiquaries-f there is an account of the great 

 Camp at Burnswark, in the parish of Middlebie. And in 

 the Proceedings of the same Society^ are notices and figures 

 of Roman Altars and other relics found near the Camp at 

 Birrens, and presented to the Society by Sir George Clerk of 

 Pennycuick. 



* Vol. 5, p. 189. t 4to, Vol. 1, p. 124. 



tVol. 3, p. 14]. 



