The Catrail, or Ficts-Work-Ditch, by James Small. 119 



could be deduced, because there are data in plenty, but of sucb 

 a complex and peculiar nature, that theorists, I suspect, would 

 probably have to romance a little in order to bring matters to a 

 logical conclusion. 



WHAT WAS IT MADE OR USED FOR ? 



This is a point on which great diversity of opinion has been 

 shown. After reading the productions of many writers on the 

 Catrail, I have had no difficulty in coming to the conclusion that 

 several of them have simply followed the theories of those who 

 preceded them. A considerable number of writers disagree as to 

 what it was made or used for, and they also differ in their accounts 

 of its width and depth. Those writers who looked on it as a de- 

 fence, notice conspicuously the numerous forts and tower-sites 

 along its course, while some of those who considered it to have 

 been a boundary line, and others who thought it was simply a 

 ditch-road used for peaceably driving cattle and sheep from place 

 to place without exposure to marauders, say next to nothing 

 about the forts, &c., along its lines. 



Unless perhaps in the neighbourhood of Galashiels, I do not 

 think the forts and strengths much more numerous in the vicinity 

 of the Catrail, than on several of the Border districts known to 

 me. 



I have little or nothing of a theory to offer on the subject of 

 its use. I certainly disagree, however, with Gordon and others, 

 who thought it a boundary line between either kingdoms or 

 tribes. I have traced its course on a map which I have sent to 

 the Club's respected Secretary, Mr Hardy, and anyone examin- 

 ing it will at once see that as such a boundary line it would 

 have been most eccentric, and indeed absurd. As an illustra- 

 tion I may mention that the Catrail so curves in its course 

 between Torwoodlee and the south-east point of Minchmoor that 

 it describes the outline of a large cul de sac. The crow-line from 

 Torwoodlee to the place indicated on Minchmoor is 6 miles in 

 length, and the Catrail line is nearly 12, and it must be re- 

 membered that in that course of twelve miles, besides making 

 the general curve alluded to, it, in many places, and over a 

 large portion of the distance, shows just about as many windings 

 and twistings as an ordinary parish road. The smaller curvings 

 were doubtless made in most cases to avoid rocks or damp, 

 very wet land. 



