THE DOON 379 



The river now has a very pleasant running character, with a 

 succession of quiet pools, often much sheltered by trees. There is, 

 as might be expected, great similarity between the lower Boon and 

 the lower Ayr. The nature of the country through which each 

 river passes in its lower stretch is of a gentle undulating character, 

 good fanning land, stretches of meadow, woods, and now and again 

 well-kept policies. At Dalrymple the river takes an abrupt turn to 

 the south for two miles to Cassillis House, is checked almost 

 immediately in a westerly course, turns back eastwards, and then 

 goes north again. Several times afterwards it appears as if trying 

 again to find its way west, but always has to pass on northwards. 

 It flows over a three-foot weir a little distance above Auchendrane 

 House, takes a bend round Doonholm, and is at the Burns' 

 Monument and Alloway Kirk. There is an Alloway Mill also, in 

 connection with which a smooth cement-faced dam dyke is thrown 

 across the river. It was at one time a rather serious obstacle, but a 

 fish-pass has been erected in recent years, which, after some altera- 

 tion, is, I hope, less difficult to fish than it was. Above the 

 Alloway Mill a short distance the Dutch Mills have also a weir, 

 some three feet high, with a fish-pass. 



The memory of Burns is fondly cherished in this the place of his 

 birth, and apart from those whose business it is to know about the 

 Burns' relics and the " auld clay biggin' " which stands so simply by 

 the roadside, who, as it were, make a living out of his memory, 

 there are not wanting those who have a genuine and a deep know- 

 ledge of his beautiful songs and strong, deeply fascinating poems. 

 There is a short cut through the Alloway Kirkyard for anyone 

 wishing to keep near to the river bank. Folk don't now see the 

 " warlocks and witches in a dance " that made Tarn o' Shanter 

 "amazed and curious," but stepping over the stile there on 

 one occasion I came upon an old worthy deeply absorbed in a 

 well-thumbed book. A short crack showed him to be steeped in 

 Burns lore, and I had caught him in the act of quietly verifying a 

 reference. As I left the kirk gates I felt that Burns still lives 

 about the old Brig o' Boon. 



But we have almost come to the end of 



" the bonnie winding banks 

 Where Doon rins, wimplin' clear." 



An ever-running stream from the Bridge curves to the right, and 

 at top of tide-reach is brought up by a cement-covered weir, where 



