SO Notes and Sketches. 



orchard gardens of the same seat, the grounds of Aden, 

 and half-a-dozen miles to the north, the highest ground 

 in Buchan Mormond Hill with the noted figure of 

 a white horse occupying an acre of the surface of the 

 south slope of the hill, the space within the outline of 

 the animal being covered with white quartzose stones. 



When their great annual fair approached the dwel- 

 lers in Buchan, eastward and westward, began to 

 bestir themselves in preparation for the most import- 

 ant gathering of the year. On the day preceding the 

 fair cattle were to be seen converging from all sides 

 to fields within easy reach of the stance. Dealers and 

 others from a distance came, all on horseback. Thus 

 at the ford of the Ebrie, near Arnage, some eight miles 

 off, as many as a hundred horsemen would pass on the 

 evening before the fair. They rode not unfrequently 

 at full gallop. Bets on the comparative merits of their 

 horses sometimes gave rise to racing in this sort ; but 

 there was, in addition, the prevalent notion that it 

 involved a sort of slur to allow your neighbour to pass 

 you on the road to the fair. On the day of the fair 

 fifty or sixty acres of Aikey Brae were covered with 

 human beings, cattle, horses, and various kinds of 

 merchandise. 



Aikey Fair day was regarded as the great summer 

 holiday ; and both old and young flocked to it. In- 

 deed, it was the boast to have seen so many fairs. 

 " Old Cairnadaillie," who died at the age of ninety- 

 six, affirmed that he had been at ninety-one successive 

 fairs at Aikey Brae, having been first carried there 

 in his mother's arms. As many as 10,000 persons 

 are said to have been sometimes present, all attired 

 in their Sunday best. The men appeared in the 

 old-fashioned, home-spun, woven, and tailored coat 

 and vest, with big pockets and big buttons, knee 

 breeches and hose, all made of the wool of sheep 

 reared at home. They wore shoes with large 

 buckles ; and some of the rustic dandies came dressed 



