Black Dyke and British Camps. By James Tait. 311 



dyke runs through the middle of the camp from west to east, 

 and after leaving the camp its course may be traced towards the 

 steading of Blythe for about 200 yards. The ground on which the 

 dyke runs is above the level of the ground around it, and perhaps 

 is the line of the famous earthwork called Harrit's Dyke which 

 ran from Blythe to Berwick. 



A small camp covering half an acre of ground stood a short 

 distance west from the farm house of Blythe, and a strong 

 British encampment covering fully two acres, and defended by 

 three earthen ramparts, lies between Harefaulds and the steading 

 of Thirlstane. It is situated on high ground, and is covered 

 with a young plantation. 



About two miles north from the Harefaulds is found a small 

 so-called Druidical Circle, embracing within its circuit rather 

 more than the third part of an acre. The stones of the circle are 

 about forty in number, are all small, of a rough shape, and all 

 apparently in their original position. Traces of hut circles were 

 found on the western side of the Circle, and about seventy-five 

 yards S.E., are standing two large stones near to one another, 

 and formerly there were a great number of broken pieces of 

 stone close around them, the remains possibly of some rude 

 Cromlech. 



About two hundred yards east from this Circle is an oval ring 

 enclosing about two acres of ground. The stones used in this 

 ring are of the same size and character as those in the small 

 circle, but placed at much wider intervals, the distance between 

 the stones varying from twenty two to twenty eight yards. This 

 oval ring bears the name of the "Burrastoun Lair," and pro- 

 bably was the Lair or hiding place of the inhabitants of the 

 Burgh town of Lauder, on occasion of a Border Eaid, or an 

 English invasion. Other Border towns in like manner seem to 

 have had their lairs or hiding places in times of war and danger ; 

 that of Earlstoun was in the How of the Hope on Huntshaw 

 Hill, and the last time it was had recourse to was in 1745, when 

 the villagers fled thither at the coming of some of Prince 

 Charlie's Highlanders, who, however, found them out and 

 despoiled them of their brogues. 



The Burrastoun Lair lies at the eastern base of Dabs Hood, 

 one of the most considerable eminences of the Lammermoors. 

 The summit of this hill is fairly level, and about six acres at the 

 highest point are enclosed by strong earthen ramparts. Another 



