1789. 
March 2. 
Mr Playfair on 
the altronomy 
of the Brah- 
mins. 
March 16. 
Biographical 
account of Sir 
William Dick. 
April 6. 
Account of the 
oldenlindia um- 
bellata. 
April 20. 
Account of the 
ifland and caftle 
of Lochurr, 
4 HISTORY of the SOCIETY. 
read ; communicated by his fon Mr Parrick Witson, the 
prefent Profeffor of Aftronomy in that Univerlity. 
Phyf. Cl. Mr Profeffor PLAyrarr read a paper on the Aftro- 
nomy of the Brahmins. [See Vol. II. No. XIII. Phy C/.] 
Literary Clafs. Dr Duncan read a Biographical Account 
of Sir WittrAM Dick of Preftonfield, Bart. [See the Appen- 
dix to the Hiftory of the Society, Vol. II. p. 58.] 
Phyf. Ci. Dr ANDERSON read. a communication from 
Dr James ANDERSON of Madras, containing an Account of 
the Oldenlandia Umbellata, the Plant ufed for giving a red Dye 
to Cotton in the Eaft Indies. 
Lit. Cl. Dr Grecory read an Account of the Ifland and 
Caftle of Lochurr, in the ftewartry of Kirkudbright; com- 
municated by Mr Ripper of Friars Carfe, and tranfmitted 
by Lord Hates. 
AccorDING to this account, Lochurr is fituated in the 
midft of a wild country on the eaftern border of Galloway, 
about ten miles eaft of the town of New Galloway. Upon 
the eaft fide of the loch are two fmall iflands, joined to the 
fhore by a caufeway of large ftones, which is at prefent pretty 
deep under the furface of the water. The gentleman from whom 
Mr RippeELt received this account, was obliged to wade a- 
long this caufeway up to the middle, in order to reach the 
iflands, and to proceed with a great deal of caution, as the wa- 
ter on each fide was about 16 feet deep. The neareft and 
fmalleft of thefe iflands he found to be covered with willows 
and long grafs, and to be about 70 feet long by 36 broad. 
About 70 feet farther, is the largeft of the iflands, about 200 
feet long and 72 broad, and furrounded bya wall of ftones 
without mortar, fix feet thick, and in fome places five feet high. 
On 
