THr GLENKENS IN THE OLDEN TIMEs. 139 
a resemblance to an old sunk fence. The western end of this 
wall was on the eastern shore of Loch Ryan, near the site of the 
ancient Roman station of Rorigonium (now Innermessan). It 
then passed through the northern part of Wigtownshire and 
entered the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright a few miles to the north 
of Newton-Stewart. It next passed across the parish of Minni- 
gaff, and entered the Glenkens on the farm of Garvary, in the 
parish of Kells, and passed through the farms of Drumbuie, Clendry, 
Largmore, Dukieston, Knockreoch, Larg-geerie, Barlae, Dalshan- 
gan, near the old Bridge of Deuch at the ‘“ Tinkler’s lowp;” Mar- 
skaig, Auchenshinnoch, and Kerroch, in Dalry. It passed through 
the parishes of Glencairn, Tynron, and Penpont, and was very 
entire at Southmains, near Sanquhar. [rom Southmains it passed 
down the east side of the Nith, and can be traced to the Hightae 
flow, through the parish of Annan, and ended at the Solway Firth 
nearly opposite Bowness in Cumberland, where Hadrian’s wall 
commenced. Another account says that when the Romans with- 
drew from Britain the northern hordes issued from the woods and 
mountains and rushed into Valentia plundering the whole country. 
It was at this time, we have every reason to believe, that the 
inhabitants of the South of Scotland, with the aid of some foreign 
residents, raised a wall of protection against those voracious visi- 
tors. This rampart, called the ‘‘ Roman Dyke,” the ‘“ Pict’s Wall,” 
or “ Deil’s Dyke,” seems to have been built of stone in some parts, 
and in other parts of stone and turf. It had a fosse on one side, 
and probably a path on the other. The rampart must have been 
made by a people inhabiting the south side. ‘The remains of this 
wall have been traced from the shore of Loch Ryan on the west 
to the north-east boundary of Kirkcudbrightshire. After that it 
runs into Dumfriesshire, and joins the Britton wall at the Solway 
Firth. The remains of this old dyke can still be seen at several 
places in the Glenkens. 
The next notable event in order of time was the battle between 
the Northmen, or Danes, and the Scots on Dalarran Holm some 
time about A.D. 800. The feeble governments of Denmark and 
Sweden allowed numerous bands of pirates and robbers to infest the 
northern shores of Britain. In 787 they first appeared on the coasts 
of England, and some years afterwards visited the shores of Scotland. 
After landing and plundering along the shores of the Solway, 
they reached the Glenkens. Those Danes and the natives met on 
