tect. III. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 295 



steady revenue as completely to repay die ex- 

 pences incurred, without fixing the rate of car- 

 riage so high as to defeat the great object in 

 view. If gentlemen of opulence, and who are 

 more immediately interested in the prosperity 

 of that part of the county, would risk the ex- 

 pence, without any view to indemnification, it 

 would do the greatest credit to their liberality 

 and public spirit. But I am apt to suspect that 

 no individual, or society of men, will be found 

 so generously disposed, as to venture such a 

 sum of money as the extent of the scheme 

 would require, without the prospect of being 

 fully repaid. 



SECT. III. -FAIRS AND WEEKLY MARKETS. 



THERE is, perhaps, no county in the king- 

 dom so well accommodated in this respect us 

 Fife. In all the towns and large villages, nu- 

 merous fairs and markets are held on different 

 days, through the several months of the year, 

 at which a great deal of business is transacted. 

 The principal articles bought and sold are, 

 grain, horses, and black cattle, and these last 

 either fat or lean, or for milking. Besides 

 many other commodities, such as haberdashery 

 goods, groceries, flax, yarn, hard- wares, and 

 such other things as are most likely to meet the 

 public demand, are exhibited for sale. And 

 the country people knowing and taking advan- 

 tage of this, usually attend upon these occa-* 

 sions, and purchase what they find necessary 

 for the use of their families. 



