lOG The Catrail, or Picts-WorJc-Ditch, by James Small. 



possibly be found, the places named being miles from its track. 

 He must bave erred in the latter case from baving taken some 

 similar roadway for it ; and in tbose days be would bave no maps 

 indicating its course. Many old road-lines similar to tbe Cat- 

 rail exist at tbe present day, botb in its vicinity and on otber 

 parts of tbe Border bills, wbicb, but from maps and enquiries 

 made on tbe spot and at well-known old residenters, migbt bave 

 been looked on as sections of Catrail by tbe writer. 



He states tbat "tbe first vestiges of tbis work appear at tbis 

 day about a mile to tbe west of Gallosbiels, in tbe sbire of Sel- 

 kirk, and two from Melrose in Teviotdale, at a place called tbe 

 Eink Hill." Every one now knows tbat tbe nortbern end of tbe 

 work, "tbe first vestiges," still very deeply marked, and un- 

 doubtedly Catrail, is on tbe wooded bill above Torwoodlee 

 mansion, at Galasbiels, fully tbree miles from tbe Eink bill. 

 But be adds a little furtber on, tbat "tbe wbole lengtb of tbis 

 boundary from Pirle fell (Peel fell) in Cumberland (tbe Peel 

 fell divides Northumberland and Eoxburgbsbire) to tbe town of 

 Gallowsbiels is 22 miles ; from tbe last of wbicb places I am con- 

 vinced, Grallow water served as tbe rest of its limit." Many 

 parts of tbe Catrail bave disappeared since be visited it ; but 

 wbat remains of it from Eink to tbe southern end is on the 

 whole, and with tbe exception of tbe errors referred to, very 

 accurately laid down by him. Some parts of it are nearly as 

 deep and broad as at the time of his visit, nearly 160 years ago. 

 The names of some of the bibs and burns given by him bave 

 now passed away ; and be names several farms or places of abode 

 which are totally unknown at tbe present day ; but tbis, doubt- 

 less, has arisen from tbe fact of many farm dwellings and 

 shepherds' houses of bis day having been removed, and their 

 names and respective situations forgotten. But although be 

 pretty accurately describes the Catrail and gives its measure- 

 ments with apparent care, it is a matter of fact tbat very many 

 well-defined stretches of it, which he saw and described, are 

 now totally obliterated. 



Chalmers, in bis Caledonia, gives an account of it ; and the 

 late respected Eev. Dr Douglas, Galasbiels, spent some time in 

 tracing it, and be furnished Chalmers with data as to its line of 

 route and its markings. One writer, however, tbe late Mr Nor- 

 man Kennedy, Hawick, an intelligent and shrewd observer, 



