222 FIELD MEETINGS. 
doctor than the one of stone. In addition it is an elcquent 
tribute to the progress made in agriculture since then. 
Quarrelwood was the next place of call, and here the 
party saw the interesting but poor remains of the Reformed 
Presbyterian Church, or, as it is perhaps better known, the 
Cameronian Kirk. Of an octagonal shape, and with par- 
ticularly high doors for an old building, littie of it remains, 
and the remnant is being used for housing pigs. 
The Rev. W. M‘Dowall, Kirkmahoe, gave a brief 
account of the causes that led to the formation of the Reformed 
Presbyterian Church or the Cameronians. This, he said, was 
one of their first churches to be built. Cameron had preached 
there, and in consequence the people were fined some 
thousands of pounds for allowing that. From Quarrelwood 
several other churches took their origin—Scaurbridge, 
Hightae, Springholm, Castle-Douglas, &c. The population 
of Quarrelwood at that time (1720) was between 200 and 300, 
and Duncow had a population of about 200. The church fell 
into decay, and its successor was Martyrs’ Church, Dumfries. 
In his reminiscences, Mr M’‘Dowall told a story of three 
Covenanters who were being pursued by dragoons, and who 
sought refuge in a public-house in the village. The landlord 
took them in, sat them at a table, and brought flagons of 
wine, and bade them be merry. Within a few minutes the 
troops arrived, and seeing three apparently jovial revellers 
passed them by with hardly so much as a second glance. 
On the call of Mr Shirley a hearty vote of thanks was 
given to Mr M‘Dowall, and the party continued its way home- 
ward through Kirkton Village, arriving about 9 p.m. 
