REPORT OF THE MEETINGS FOR 1898 279 



when the small neighbouring burn of Liprick ran with 

 blood for twenty-four hours. It was also mentioned that 

 the old name of the farm was Deadrig. 



By the time the re-start was made in the direction of Hume 

 the weather had greatly improved, and a splendid view was 

 obtained of the vast tract of beautiful country stretching 

 eastwards and westwards and to the south. Arrived at the 

 village of Hume, the party repaired to the Public School, 

 where they first of all inspected a collection of local antiquities, 

 which were exhibited by Eev. Mr Gunn and Mr Thomas 

 Brotherston, Hume Byres. The relics consisted chiefly of 

 cannon balls, horse shoes which had been found in one of the 

 mossy fields in the neighbourhood, bullets for the cross-bow, 

 an old sword (the blade of which was broken) having a copper 

 handle covered with shagreen in the centre of its iron basket 

 hilt, a large number of stone axes and whorls, a quern with a 

 stone projection for a handle (which is of rare occurrence), 

 a smoothing stone, and hammer stones. An object of special 

 interest was a leather head, which was called ' The Maiden.' 

 In smuggling times the leather head was fixed on a tin body 

 shaped like a woman. This body was carried on the saddle 

 behind the horseman, who thus appeared to be riding with a 

 female friend seated on pillion behind him. There was also 

 exhibited a large fragment of the banded Trachyte which 

 was recently discovered at the Black Hill of Earlston. 



At this stage the Rev. George Gunn read an interesting 

 paper on the history of Hume Castle. 



The audience proceeded to ramble over the historic heights 

 of the Castle, and view the sites of not a few battlefields 

 of yore, as well as enjoy the glorious panorama of Cheviot, 

 Eildon, and Lammermoor from about the highest point of 

 Berwickshire. Then the Castle itself and its various features, 

 including the well and the inner keep, were inspected with 

 much interest. Having feasted their eyes for a few minutes 

 on the pleasing prospect, the party directed their steps to 

 the churchyard — the moss-grown stones and the ' pest knowe ' 

 in the corner coming in for special notice. Mr Gunn mentioned 

 that the quadrangular iron bell belonging to the old Church 

 of Hume was of Celtic type, and that it was preserved in 



