4 



HIS TORT of the SOCIETT. 



1789. read ; communicated by his fon Mr Patrick Wilson, the 

 prefent ProfefTor of Aftronomy in that Univerfity. 



March 2. 



Mr Playfair on 

 the aftronomy 

 of the Brah- 

 mins. 



March 16. 



Biographical 

 account of Sir 

 William Dick. 



Phyf. CI. Mr ProfefTor Playfair read a paper on the Aftro- 

 nomy of the Brahmins. [See Vol. II. No. XIII. Phyf. CI.'] 



Literary Clafs. Dr Duncan read a Biographical Account 

 of Sir William Dick of Preftonfield, Bart. [See the Appen- 

 dix to the Hiftory of the Society, Vol. II. p. 58.] 



April 6. Phyf. CI. Dr Anderson read a communication from 



cidwLmdiaum- Dr James Anderson of Madras, containing an Account of 

 the Oldenlandia Umhellata, the Plant ufed for giving a red Dye 

 to Cotton in the Eaft Indies. 



April 20. 



Account of the 

 ifland and caftle 

 of JLochurr. 



Lit. CI. Dr Gregory read an Account of the Ifland and 

 Caftle of Lochurr, in the ftewartry of Kirkudbright ; com- 

 municated by Mr Riddell of Friars Carfe, and tranfmitted 

 by Lord Hailes. 



According to this account, Lochurr is fituated in the 

 midft of a wild country on the eaftern border of Galloway, 

 about ten miles eaft of the town of New Galloway. Upon 

 the eaft fide of the loch are two fmall iflands, joined to the 

 fhore by a caufeway of large ftones, which is at prefent pretty 

 deep under the furface of the water. The gentleman from whom 

 Mr Riddell received this account, was obliged to wade a- 

 long this caufeway up to the middle, in order to reach the 

 iflands, and to proceed with a great deal of caution, as the wa- 

 ter on each fide was about 16 feet deep. The neareft and 

 fmalleft of thefe iflands he found to be covered with willows 

 and long grafs, and to be about 70 feet long by 56 broad. 

 About 70 feet farther, is the largeft of the illands, about 200 

 feet long and 72 broad and furrounded by a wall of ftones 

 without mortar, fix feet thick, and in fome places five feet high. 



On 



