of Edinhiirghy Session • 109 
church, and extending it through the middle aisle, to the foot of 
the arch of the west door under the tower, at each of which places 
marks were cut in the stones for that purpose. The chain used for 
this purpose was only eighteen yards in length, consequently four 
yards shorter than the regular land-measuring chain. After the 
chain had been properly measured, the parties repaired to the 
commons. Twenty-four apples were previously prepared, bearing 
the following marks, viz., five marks called ‘Pole-axes,’ four ditto 
‘Crosses,’ two ditto ‘Dung-forks, or Dung-pikes,’ one mark called 
‘Pour Oxen and a Mare,’ one ditto ‘Two Pits,’ one ditto ‘Three 
Pits,’ one ditto ‘Pour Pits,’ one ditto ‘Pive Pits,’ one ditto ‘ Seven 
Pits,’ one ‘ Horn,’ one ‘ Hare’s-tail,’ one ‘ Duck’s-nest,’ one ‘ Oven,’ 
one ‘ Shell,’ one ‘ Evil^ and one ‘ Hand-reel.’ 
It is necessary to observe that each of these moors was divided 
into several portions called furlongs, which were marked out by 
strong oak posts placed at regular distances from each other, which 
posts were constantly kept up. After the apples were properly 
prepared they were put into a hat or bag, and certain persons fixed 
on for the purpose began to measure with the chain before-mentioned, 
and proceeded till they had measured off one acre of ground j at 
the end of which the boy who carried the hat or bag containing 
the marks took out one of the apples, and the mark which such 
apple bore was immediately cut in the turf with a large knife kept 
for that purpose; this knife was somewhat in the shape of a 
scimitar with its edge reversed. In this manner they proceeded 
till the whole of the commons were laid out, and each proprietor 
knowing the mark and furlong which belonged to his estate, he 
took possession of his allotment or allotments accordingly, for the 
ensuing year. An adjournment then took place to the house of 
one of the overseers, where a certain number of acres reserved for 
the purpose of paying expenses, and called the ‘ out-let ’ or ‘ out- 
drift ’ were let by inch of candle. 
“ During the time of letting, the whole party were to keep silence 
(except the person who bid) under the penalty of one shilling. 
When any one wished to bid he named the price he would give 
and immediately deposited a shilling on the table where the candle 
stood, the next who bid Mso named his price and deposited his 
shilling in like manner, and the person who first bid was then to 
