SiO Mr*. W. Kemp on the Moraines 



Gala house (see No. 2. A.)> in a fine sheltered situation, where 

 the vale extends to the south for a considerable distance, at 

 a lateral opening between the hills. 



Nearly parallel with the Gala there is a lateral moraine, 

 which divides the town from Gala house and parks, and be- 

 hind that there is a series of beautifully formed mounds, 

 ranging nearl}' parallel one with another. These are not con- 

 tinuous, although some parts are of considerable length : one, 

 called the long knoll, being about 700 feet long, of a serpent- 

 ine form, averaging 35 feet high ; others are like small hil- 

 locks, from 20 to 40 feet high, with narrow trough-like val- 

 leys between. To use a simile, I thought, while examining 

 these interesting relics, that to convey the clearest conception 

 of that place, would be to imagine portions of the rolling waves 

 of a troubled sea to be instantly arrested in their course, while 

 the intervening parts passed onward for a little space, and 

 were then likewise immovably fixed. 



Such seems to have been the action of glaciers in the vale 

 of Galashiels, as to have scooped out the basin in some places 

 to an unknown depth, which had afterwards been filled up by 

 impalpable sedimentary sand, over which there is a covering 

 of gravel varying from four to six feet deep, so that a great 

 part of the town may literally be said to be built upon a quick- 

 sand*. 



There are many lateral moraines along the valley of the 

 Tweed; but the only remarkable terminal ones I have yet 

 observed, are two, one at Dryburgh, the other at Holilee. 

 The first is upon the Dryburgh side of the river, and memo- 

 rable enough by a fine Doric temple being built upon its sum- 

 mit by the late Earl of Buchan. The one at Holilee (see 

 No. 1.) has attracted the notice of many a passing traveller, 

 by its singular uniformity and beauty ; so much so, that the 

 most skilful engineer could not construct a finer mound. It 

 crosses the lower end of an extensive vale, immediately below 

 which the hills on each side press close upon the river. The 

 northern part of this mound is about forty feet high, and is 

 composed of rolled gravel. The road to Peebles runs through 

 it. It has swept across and along the opposite side of the 

 vale for about a mile long, but the river has long since car- 

 ried away a great part of it. A few years ago a splendid 

 portion of it rose out of the vale to the height of sixty feet ; 

 but the farmer, unmindful of this fine geological monument 

 of ancient time, after long cursing it for a barren and unpro- 



• This sand below the gravel is probably of anterior origin. — J. E. B. 



