OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE. 201 



I have witnessed another set of facts, of which I can, as yet, 

 produce but one example. The district along which the road 

 passes from Edinburgh to Dumfries, in the neighbourhood of 

 Noblehouse, exhibits a series of low hills, possessing the cha- 

 racteristic forms of craig and tail, which belong to those in 

 the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, but such as to indicate the 

 action of a stream flowing from the south-west. This is a high 

 district compared to that of Edinburgh, and the waters may 

 here be supposed in some measure to flow towards the estuary 

 of the Frith of Forth. 



These changes shew the importance of more extensive ob- 

 servations. At the same time, the concurrence of various 

 indications, in pointing out one common direction at each 

 place, seems to denote the influence of some general cause, 

 and authorises a hope that the facts, when properly col- 

 lected, will enable us to trace the general direction, and per- 

 haps the origin, of this important agent. 



Character of the Western District. 



Another district of Scotland, which circumstances have led 

 me to traverse in various directions, presents to view a state of 

 things as different from those which have lately been described 

 as could well be conceived. I mean, the south-west of Scot- 

 land, comprehending the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, the shires 

 of Galloway and Dumfries, with part of Ayrshire, on one hand, 

 and part of Cumberland on the other. 



Vol. VIL C c In 



