44 Antiquities from the Stewaetrt. 



unique " find." It consists of a ball of oak 7 in. diameter and 

 seven pins of oak each 13 in. long-, 3 in. diameter at lower end, 

 and tapering towards a ball-shaped top 1-|- in. wide, found in a 

 moss at Balmaclellan 12 ft. under the surface. Some of the pins 

 were standing and some thrown down as if they had been 

 suddenly left in the middle of an unfuiished game. This fine set 

 of mediaeval ninepins was presented by Mr John Nicholson in 

 1865. 



An archaic curling stone, with iron handle, from Borgue 

 farm (MP 158), presented by John M'Laren, 1885, and a piece of 

 waistband tape (NA 222), woven in a primitive loom at Bal- 

 maclellan, and presented by Sir A. Mitchell in 1867, complete this 

 list — 337 objects in all. 



We know, however, that a considerable number of relics 

 were found many years ago which are now in private collections. 

 In order to carry out the intention of compiling a comprehensiv^e 

 list of all the Stewartry relics, I shall append the briefest 

 possible description of such objects. There are, e.g.^ the following 

 five objects named on p. 335 of the seventh vol. of the Proceed- 

 ings : — 



1. Bronze mummer's head mask found at Torrs, Mid Kelton, in 



1820 ; sent to Sir Walter Scott by Mr Train, now at 

 Abbotsford. This is really a Mask or Chanfrein made to 

 place on a horse's head; in the Mediaeval Jousts and 

 Tournaments such masks were not uncommon. Through 

 the courtesy of the Hon. Mrs Maxwell-Scott, the National 

 Museum is now enriched by the possession of a fac-simile 

 in bronze of this remarkable relic. 



2. Buistie or antique bedstead, found at Threave. 



3. Brass or copper helmet, " with several implements of war," 



found in a stone coffin taken out of a cairn on Gelstou. 



4. Bronze tripod jug from Mid Kelton. 



5. Bronze head of a war horse turned up by the plough near 



Glenlochar Bridge ; was preserved at Culvennan. 



In Anhaologia, appendix to Vol. X., Mr Eiddell of Friars' 

 Carse describes and figures several "Galloway" relics, among 

 which are these : — 



