42 EEPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1896 



walk up the hill to the statue erected in 1800 to Sir William 

 Wallace — 



" Great patriot hero, 

 Ill-requited chief," 



and then away past Wallace's Lodge to Bemersyde, catching a 

 glimpse of the ancient house, of which Thomas the Ehymer 

 prophesied — 



" Tyde what may betyde, 

 Haig shall be Haig of Bemersyde." 



In going through the village we pass the house of Jamie Barrie, 

 the Bemersyde poet, whose wife kept a small grocery shop, the 

 words on the sign being Jamie's composition — 



" Sma' beer 

 Sold here ; 

 A penny a bottle ; 

 I'm sure it's no dear." 



The drive proceeds by Bemersyde Hill, where a pause is 

 generally made by visitors at the place where Sir Walter always 

 stopped his carriage to admire the magnificent view. 



Passing Halydean Mill Loch, the party will proceed up the 

 "Pilgrim's Path," an ancient road leading from Dryburgh to 

 the Hospital of Soutra. 



Due east from here may be seen Smailholm Tower, the scene 

 of Sir Walter's "Eve of St. John," and a little to the north of 

 the Tower is the site of the hamlet of " Wrangholm," the 

 probable birthplace of Saint Cuthbert. 



Continuing, the drive reaches the "dreaded Hendean," where 

 in old times a headless hen was heard going chuck, chuck, 

 chuckin' in the dark, up and down the dean, and which the good 

 folk knew could be nothing else than the deil in disguise. 



Eedpath is the next place reached, where some time will be 

 spent. The lands of Eedpath came into the possession of the 

 Abbey of Melrose somewhere in the 14th century, having been 

 gifted to it by Thomas Eaudolph, Earl of Moray, whose tower 

 stood at the west end of the village. Another tower stood at 

 the east end of the village, which at this time was said to have 

 a population of 600 inhabitants. 



Eesuming the drive, we proceed up "the Market Eoad," 

 passing on our left " The Eound Wood," the site of a British 

 camp, and down the hill to Eedpath dean, with the Black Hill 

 to the right, whose top was encircled by a vitrified fort ; and 



