The Buchanites and Crocketford. 299 



upon the road, and admire the skill with which he nailed to 

 the damag-ed hoofs the little iron plates or shoes without 

 which he never travelled, and which helped the footsore cattle 

 so much upon their way. 



Last but not least in importance was the weekly advent 

 among- its multiple subscribers of the sevenpenny Dumfries 

 Courier. 



Such recurring- and sug-gestive hints of a wide and stir- 

 ring world beyond, and of quiet Galloway farms and moor- 

 land stretches up country, gave colour and variety to the 

 sedentary village life, besides stirring up the dubious passions 

 of discontent and ambition. The pig trade stimulated the 

 introduction of bacon-curing establishments in the village. 

 The cattle trade tempted some to droving ; the coach traffic 

 begat a love of ostlery ; and all gave ample temptation to 

 drink. Such local travelling as there was was done on foot 

 or occasionally on horseback or in heavy carts. For those 

 who could afford the luxury there were a few so-called dandy 

 carts, light springed vehicles with a seat slung across the 

 body, and painted green. These were the precursors of the 

 farmer's gig. 



In the fifties, when the prosperity of the village was at 

 the turn, a considerable drainage scheme was inaugurated in 

 the neighbourhood with great benefit to the surrounding 

 lands. It brought many Irishmen into the district, and pro- 

 vided much grist for the village mills, but it was the last 

 flicker of the old prosperity. 



A man had to be smart indeed in those days if he wanted 

 a house in the Nine-Mile Bar. It had fully two hundred 

 inhabitants in its two score of houses, nearly every room 

 having its own tenant. When the Irishmen sought lodgings 

 the problem of their accommodation might well have been 

 deemed insoluble. But where there is a will there is a way. 

 One of the original Buchanite houses lodged a good few 

 " heids and thraws " — the only way possible. And it may 

 be surmised that the inhabitants did not get their money for 

 nothing, for blows — and noise of furniture smashing — were 

 as common as snores. 



Some of the drainers who Iodised in the Buchanite house 



