On the Rise of the Shores of the Firth of Forth. 289 
feet of high-water mark, at the mouth of the Almond water, 
where Cramond is situated, one single evidence of a raised 
sea-heach. Again and again have we tried to find a trace of 
marine shells higher up than those reached by storm waves. 
The cause of the change of level we leave for further ex- 
planation to the end of this paper. 
On one of our many journeys from Cramond through 
Dalmeny Woods towards Carriden, the next point in Sir 
Charles Lyell's evidence, we were much struck and amused 
by nearly stumbling over a rude canoe formed out of a 
single willow tree. It was much ruder, indeed, than those 
found below the foundations of some houses in Glasgow, 
having no prow to cleave the waters, and except that it bore 
evidence of having been cut by sharp implements, and having 
an iron staple for its rudder, w^e might have formed some 
new and fanciful theory other than the true one ; that it was 
of pre-Eoman origin, and not the work of the gardener's sons. 
Mr Geikie goes on to say :* — " The next point westwards 
where we meet with traces of the Eoman occupation is the 
commencement of the Wall of Antonine at Carriden. 
From this point the line of the wall runs on the summit of 
the high bank that overlooks the Firth westwards beyond 
the village of Polmont. Its position at the Kerse toll-bar 
was pointed out to us by a farm labourer, who dug through 
the soil in a level field on the upper edge of the great Carse, 
and showed the position of the large flat stones which 
formed the foundation of the wall. From this locality the 
wall again ascended to the higher ground, passing west- 
wards by Falkirk and Camelon, and then receding from the 
shores of the Forth. From Falkirk seawards, the ground 
forms a great expanse of flat alluvial land, called the 
Carse. No one can doubt that this tract lias been gradually 
gained from the sea, and that the tides must, at a compara- 
tively recent period, have washed the heights on which Pol- 
mont and Falkirk stand. One antiquary even asserts his 
belief that this tract may have been formed since the days 
of the Eomans. He alleges, in support of this opinion, 
that near Camelon, on the banks of the Carron, at the inner 
* Edinbiirgh Philosophical Journal^ New Series, toI. xiv. p. Ill, 
