Field Meetings. 29 



breadth, and, from some peculiarities of construction, apparently 

 was the property of a chief or person of distinction. Some fine 

 trunks of Bog Oak were dug out near the same place where the 

 canoe was found ; one of the trunks which was measured was 

 over 70 feet in length and about 2^ in diameter. After a walk 

 through the fine gardens at Mabie, which are in the occupation of 

 Mr James Service, nurseryman, the party next visited the Picts' 

 Knowe, an ancient British camp still in fine preservation, as 

 when Mabie Moss was reclaimed, near the centre of which it is 

 situated, the camp was fenced ofi" so as to secure it intact. On 

 the hilltop to the westward can still be traced a similar-shaped 

 fort or camp, which very probably was the " watch tower " or 

 " look out " of the family or tribe dwelling at the Picts' Knowe 

 then surrounded with water, as is evident from the finding of a 

 canoe of the above dimensions in close proximity. 



The party next visited St. Queran's Well, and the stone seats 

 and the cooling water were very welcome after so much walkint^. 

 St. Qiieran (or Querdon, Guerdon, Quergan, or Jardan, &c., as it 

 is variously given) was a Scottish saint, supposed to have been 

 connected with the earlier forms of the Abbey of Holywood, and 

 the date assigned to him by Butler is 9th September, 876. The 

 Society possesses a number of coins found in the well many years 

 ago by the then tenant of the farm of Barbush, which were doubt- 

 less the ofierings of invalids, as was usual at the holy wells of old 

 times. After about an hour's further walking, the party reached 

 Troqueer Holm, where they were received by the President, 

 J. Gibson Stai'ke, Esq. After partaking of refreshments, Mr 

 Starke's private museum was inspected, catalogues of the collec- 

 tion being presented to those present. A magnificent collection 

 of Coins; of Land and Fresh-water and Marine Shells from various 

 parts of the world ; a very complete collection of British Ferns, 

 Sedges, and Grasses ; Curiosities from Jamaica and Ceylon ; and 

 a vast number of rare old Books, Autographs, and other objects 

 of interest too numerous to mention were examined ; and after an 

 hour or two had been thus pleasantly and profitably spent, Mr 

 J. H. Maxwell of the Kirkcudbrightshire Advertiser proposed a 

 vote of thanks to Mr Starke for his great kindness in throwing 

 open his museum to the Society, which was very cordially awarded. 

 Mr Starke having briefly responded, the party took leave of him, 

 liiglily gi-atified with the day's proceedings, which were of the 

 most pleasant description. 



