Antiquities of Eskdalemuir. 15 



my own personal observation bears out in the case of my own 

 parish in particular, these forts or mound-enclosures are for the 

 most part to be found on the lower hills of the district, or on the 

 knowes projecting from the slopes of the higher hills as they fall 

 downwards to the valley, through which run the rivers, the 

 Tweed, Clyde or Esk, as the case may be; a site or elevation of 

 1000 feet is a common enough one ; the form is almost universally 

 circular or oval, though in Eskdalemuir we have a very well 

 defined example of a rectilinear enclosure at Raeburnfoot which 

 is ttrongly suggestive of Eoman construction, and which 

 bears a striking resemblance in its general outline, form, and 

 extent to the important Eoman Station at Birrens, the opening 

 up of which was such a pleasing revelation to all who take an 

 interest in Antiquarian researches. As I have just remarked 

 regarding these hill-forts in Eskdalemuir, with the solitary excep- 

 tion of Raeburnfoot, the circular or curvihnear form greatly pre- 

 ponderates. Dr Christison gives the proportion of rectilinear to 

 curvilinear as 22 to 206 — and certainly as far as Eskdalemuir is 

 concerned this proportion is abundantly borne out by facts open to 

 the observation of all. These rude hill-forts and camps, so con- 

 spicuous on almost every height, were evidently planted there by 

 the aborigines for purposes of defence, and clearly testify to a time 

 when this secluded and pastoral vale was often no doubt the 

 battlefield of ancient Briton and Roman invader, or, to come 

 down to more recent times when the Vale of Esk as well as the 

 other adjoining vales and dales of the Border formed the land of 

 foray and of feud — the land of hostile invasions from England and 

 relentless retaliations from Scotland all through the Middle Ages 

 down to the Union of the Crowns. If open war was not actually 

 declared and actively engaged in between the two great rival 

 kingdoms, yet there was that incessant petty warfare which 

 originated in the deep-rooted feuds and quarrels of the great 

 Border families or clans. In portraying this turbulent life of the 

 ancient Borderers Scott has gilded not a little of it with the glow- 

 ing colours of romance and chivalry. We have only to read his 

 " Lay of the Last Minstrel " to discover that its main and govern- 

 ing idea is to set forth in poetic and vividly realistic form the 

 manners, customs, and traditions that anciently prevailed on the 

 borderlands of England and Scotland. 



