1911-1912.] A Mid- Lothian Burn, 397 



faithful companion Sir Alexander Seton. He was one of 

 those who signed the famous letter to the Pope in 1330 

 asserting the independence of his country, and vowing that 

 as long as a hundred of them remained alive they should 

 never submit to the King of England. In turn the lands 

 were held by the Haliburtons of Dirleton, the Logans of 

 Eestalrig, the Coupers, the Myretouns of Cambo (near Crail), 

 and the Eamsays of Barnton, in whose possession they now 

 remain. 



About a quarter of a mile below the church and a little 

 back from the burn stands Gogar House. Above a window 

 in the south front of the mansion is a stone which has carved 

 on it the date 1625, and the monogram "I. C. and H. S.," 

 for John Couper and Harriet Sinclair, his wife. Selway thinks 

 that a part of the house is of an earlier date ; probably that 

 portion to which the modern porch has been added was the 

 original building, and was enlarged by John Couper on his 

 succession. The interior of the house is said to be disappoint- 

 ing through its many modern alterations. The cellars, how- 

 ever, are still furnished with their original hooks of massive 

 size, which, doubtless in troublous times, would be heavily 

 weighted with provisions for the defending party. Behind 

 the house stands an ancient oak. The stretch of water from 

 the church to the mouth would appear to be the very Mecca 

 of local anglers. One day last April seven Job-like indi- 

 viduals were counted cowering and creeping along the burn- 

 side, but, judging from their woebegone faces, the trout were 

 not on the feed that day. It is a mistaken notion that this is 

 the best part of the burn. Now, we know of a place, — but 

 that is quite another tale. 



And what of the races that have peopled our valley since 

 the dawn of history ? In the place-names wherever we turn 

 there is evidence of Pictish occupation. Dalmahoy ; Eatho 

 (Gaelic, rath — a fort, the second syllable being doubtful) ; 

 the Almond (Gaelic, amhidnn — a river) ; Gogar itself, said to 

 be derived from the Gaelic word signifying light, to mention 

 only a few, — all speak eloquently of a people to whose 

 language we owe these various words. On the Kaimes 

 Hill, too, that western neighbour of the Craigs of Dalmahoy, 



