Dk Akchibald's " CurviosiTiEs of Dumfries." 53 



I have not observed anything worthy liis notice cast up from 

 our narrow sea. 



Near this, or witliin ten miles iu the Stewartry of Galloway, 

 are silkworms, bastard amethysts, limestone, pearls, and (as is 

 thought but not yet found) lead and coal. 



In Xidesdale are ancient houses such as yourself can inform ; 

 for nothing is here which is not ancient enough, and few things 

 new. You'll inform concerning the ancient houses and lochs, 

 such as Closeburn, &c. ; woods, such as Tinwald, Mouswald, 

 Carlaverock, Dardarroch, &c. 



As for Drumfriess. you also sufficiently know it; it is so called 

 from the Freez-well beside it. It's ruled by one Provost, three 

 Bailies. Its revenue is reckoned betwixt five and six thousand 

 merks. You'll inform of the old Grayfrier Church, where the 

 Cumin w^as killed; of the Castle, bridge, church, new exchange, 

 our large granary house, which though old is still new work ; our 

 stately cross, large street, and pleasant situation by and alongst 

 the River Xith. 



Just beside this town, upon the side of the river, hard by the 

 Castle of Cumin, iu the place called Castle dikes, once well forti- 

 fied with mounts and ditches, but now ruinous, springs a fountain 

 most strongly all summer, harvest, and spring, though never so 

 hot and dry, which precisely about Hallow mass (as is gonerally 

 reported) diies up (though the wiater were never so rainy) until 

 the spring. 



Within four miles I remember to have seen a spring, which 

 at that time was dried up, wherein may be digged abundance of 

 an earthy substance, like litharge of gold, unctuous and greasy, 

 which, when the people mix it with water, casts up a splendent, 

 golden, oyly-like colour, wherewith they colour their doors and 

 windows. 



Within ten miles is a well whence the neighbouring people 

 digs an earth which they call Bleck. It's black and thick (as I 

 remember), instar Limi Arnilasi [like the clay of potter's earth]. 

 Uerewith they colour much of that cloth they call Galloway 

 grays. 



I did here see a boy five or six years old (living- within three 

 miles of this place) out of whose joj^nts, shoulders, buttocks, 

 fingers, and toes did grow little horns, like the typhi or young 

 horns of a goat, black and hard; which, when thev came to the 



