Fdkts in Eskdalkmuir. 83 



has gradiuilly lilled it up. These breaks, in the coutimiity of the 

 trendies, added to iny labour, and I am sure, in trying to lind 

 them, and then tracing' them out, I walked three times lo miles. 



ihie trencli on the ground deserves special menti(jn. It is 

 widely known as the "' Deil's Jingle," probably " Dingle," a 

 hollow between two hills or mounds. It is supposed to run 

 across country all the way from the Solway Firth to the North 

 Sea, and I (juite conceive there may be some truth in this sup- 

 position; it runs through Castle O'er ground for close on five 

 miles, and one of my men, in whom I have full reliance, traced it 

 two miles further north from Castle O'er march fence. It ^uns 

 almost due north and south for over a mile, when it inclines to 

 the north-east, then, with a sharp bend, it runs straight north 

 towards the Parish of Ettrick, in Selkirkshire. 



I am strongly of opinion that it would be found to join that 

 well-known work the " Catrail," which passes through Ettrick, 

 close to Tushielaw. 



There is much difference of opinion as to what these lotir/ 

 trenches were used for, but as this is a controversial matter, I 

 cannot enter into it at present. My own opinion is, that the 

 Castle O'er group at least were used as hollow ways along which 

 the fort dwellers could move to and fro the different foi'ts without 

 being seen by their enemies. But it is difficult to understand 

 why, if used as roads, two of them ai'e formed up and down 

 exceedingly steep .scaurs, which entails severe physical exertion on 

 any one ascending-, or even descending them, whereas, by a 

 detour of a few hundred yards, an easier way could have been 

 found. 



Resides these forts and trenches in the Parish, there is the 

 rectilinear camp at llaeburnfoot, which has been exploied and 

 fully described at a meeting of this Society; and another of the 

 same form, still unexplored, within which is situated the grave- 

 yard of Watcarrrick Chapel. 



Then, there are the two important important stone cii'cles 

 on the Farm of Cote, known under the names of the " Girdle 

 Stanes," and the " Loupin' Stanes," both laid down in the Ordnance 

 Maps as " Druidical Circles." In passing, I may say that I 

 understand the word " Druidical " is now withdrawn from these 

 maps, as there is no evidence that the Druids had ever anything 

 to do with them ; they are now recorded as " Stone Circles." 



