64 Transactions. 



this with the conditions, say at Cairnderry, a specially interesting- 

 relic. Within the area of its rimstones there have been three 

 burials— one central placed due N. and S., and two others N.E. 

 and N.W. of the first, but at unequal distances. The central kist 

 measures 14 ft. N. and S. by 3 ft. E. and W. outside measure- 

 ments. The stones forming its sides are 5 to 7 ft. long and 3 to 

 4 ft. thick. AVhat evidently was the lid-stone has slipped down 

 between the sides. The kist on the N.E. is much smaller, 5 ft. 

 and 3 ft. G in. only. Nor are its stones quite so ponderous. The 

 N.E. kist has been more destroyed than the others. It was placed 

 almost on the edge of the cairn, and, probably, in the general 

 ruthless destruction, its side stones were pulled up and scattered. 

 Very similar to this last must have been the single interment in 

 the White Cairn of Glencaird — in this same wild moor borderland 

 between Ayrshire and Galloway. The main difference lies in the 

 dimensions, the grave here being 24 ft. long, and widening from 

 its south-end — barelj^ 2 ft. broad — to the north end, where it is 

 vei-y nearly 4 ft. Two of the huge lid-stones still remain cover- 

 ing this wider part. The Boreland Cairn on Knockman Wood has 

 points of its own meriting notice. It is as yet almost untouched. 

 It is one of the few long-oval cairns in Galloway. Its N. and S. 

 axis measures 54 ft., and its E. and W. 90 ft. Its stones, which 

 are unusually large, rise to a height of some 10 ft. Round the 

 base great bulky stones and boulders are set at pretty regular 

 distances, twenty-one of which are now distinctly visible. At the 

 E. end, between two of the largest of these rim-stones, and 

 scarcely over one foot from their inner side, a small urn has been 

 found burnt to a jet black. It rested on the forced earth at a 

 depth of about 5 ft. below the tops of the large encircling stones. 

 A farther important feature is the position of the kist (or kists) 

 relatively to the height of the accumulated stones. In the still 

 existent cairn at Cauldside the four-sided kistvaen (opened years 

 ago by Mr James Faed) is within a few feet, five or six, of the 

 very summit. No doubt there are others below. In Cairntosh 

 the grave was near the middle of the heap ; while at Conchieton 

 the sides of the kist appear to have been driven into the ground ; 

 and in this instance we know from the testimony of the late Mr 

 Gordon that there was but one interment. Although the majority 

 of our larger cairns were reared solitarily in what were once per- 

 haps fertile straths, but now are wilds given up to heather and 



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