Fifld AffifitinffS. 161 



Craigdarroch and Bahjakg. — 5th July, 1884. 



The third Field Meeting of the session was held on the 5th 

 July, when a party of twenty-live met at the Fountain at nine 

 o'clock to take part in it. Soon after the appointed hour they 

 drove off in two waggonettes by way of Dunscore and Moniaive, 

 intending to visit the places of interest en route. The first halt 

 was made at Holywood, to allow the members to visit the so-called 

 Druidical Circle on the farm of Kilness. Among the party was 

 the Rev. Mr Lucas, F.S. A., London, who has given special atten- 

 tion to the subject of standing stones and their markings. There 

 are eleven stones yet standing, and as to how they came tliere, 

 and the objects they served, there were various opinions and 

 doubts e.xpressed. The largest stone was estimated to weigh 

 about 12 tons, the next largest 9 tons, and the smallest between 

 2 and 3 tons. Leaving the Druidical Circle, the party resumed 

 their journey, passing through Dunscore Village, and enjoying 

 the picturesque scenery of the charming valley of the Cairn. At 

 the lower end of the parish of Glencairn, Dr Gilchrist directed 

 the attention of the party to the cliannel of the river Cairn, as 

 tliat river has unmistakably changed its course at a not very 

 distant date. He pointed out the old course, and suggested that 

 a lake then covered the hollow, which to-day is fertile fields. 

 Proceeding further the party reached " Maxwelton Braes," which 

 were as " bonnie " and as attractive as ever. Further along the 

 road a halt was made to inspect a stone with the name of William 

 Smitli upon it. It is supposed to mark the spot wliere a 

 Covenanter of that name was massacred, and who was buried in 

 Tynron Churchyard. Another .stone in that Churchyard bears 

 the following inscription : — 



" I, William Smith now here do ly, 

 Once martyred for Christ's verity ; 

 Douglas of Stenhouse, Laurie of Maxwelton 

 Caused Coronet Baillie give me martyrdom. 

 What cruelty, they to my corpse then used 

 Living may judge— me burial they refused." 

 In Glencairn Churcliyard there are four martyrs — Jolin Gibson, 

 James Bennoch, Robert Edgar, and Robert Mitchell — buried ; 

 but time would not permit the party to inspect the stones raised 

 to their memory. 



On arriving at Moniaive, the old market cross, which was 

 erected there in 1638, was visited, and also a monument 



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