244 Report of the Meetings for 1893. 



Galashiels. 



On Wednesday, September IStti, the members of the Club had 

 their fifth excursion this season, the district traversed being 

 Oaddon Yalley and Tweedside from Walkerburn to Gralashiels. 

 In the company, who left the Douglas Hotel, Galashiels, at 

 half-past nine in the morning, were Majur-General Boswell, 

 Darnlee — with whom were three ladies; Mr Ralph Eichardson, 

 Gattonside House ; Mr William B. Boyd, Faldonside ; the Eev. 

 Dr Hunter and the Rev. Mr Callander, Galashiels ; Rev. David 

 Paul, Roxburgh ; Rev. George Gunn, Stichill ; Eev. Mr Goldie, 

 Walkerburn ; Dr D. J. Wood ; Mr Robert Romanes of Harry- 

 burn, Lauder ; Mr Robert S. Craig, Edinburgh ; Mr Archibald, 

 Mr Dunlop, and Rev. James Daun, Ashkirk ; Rev. Robert 

 Small, Caddonfoot ; Mr John Turnbull, Ettrick View, Selkirk ; 

 Mr D. M'B. Watson, Hawick ; Mr John Cochrane, Galashiels ; 

 and Mr James Wood, Galashiels — guide for the day. The 

 morning was very dull and grey, with a fresh wind from the 

 west threatening rain, but only one shower fell during the 

 outing, and while it continued the company were enjoying the 

 hospitality of Mr Alexander Rutherford, under the historic roof 

 of Ashiesteel House, of which at present he is tenant. 



The first pause was at the plantation opposite Blyndlee, the 

 residence of Mr George Dickson, where the company were shown 

 a section of the Catrail, the ditch here being about 26 feet in 

 width, with a high earth wall on its margin next the river. It 

 was explained that the dimensions here are stronger or larger 

 than on most of the ancient work, which is still traceable at 

 places from Torwoodlee hill fort to the Peel Fell in the Cheviots, 

 a distance of about 70 miles. In answer to a question regarding 

 its purpose, Mr James Wilson replied that many theories were 

 held, but his belief was that it was primarily designed as a road, 

 and might also serve as a tribal boundary. The name, ' the 

 Catrail,' he thought misleading, for there were many precisely 

 similar works in Peebles, Berwick, and Roxburgh shires in 

 connection with the British hill forts. 



The next place visited was the broch at Torwoodlee. Mr 

 Wilson showed the company a plan of the hill fort in which the 

 broch is situated, and a memoir on the broch, the relics found in 

 it, and its surroundings, read by Mr James Curie, junr., F.S.A., 

 Melrose, to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, and published 

 in Vol. XXVI. of their Proceedings, in which, at their leisure, 



