The book Arran; - Cook Clan

240 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
potatoes, poultry, pigs, pipers, plaiden, eggs, and yarn, to attend our
Midsummer fair, which commences to-day ; and in the hurry and
bustle of landing some of the hardy islanders fell into the water, to
the great amusement of a vast concourse of people assembled to
witness their arrival. Potatoes met with a ready sale at thirteen
pence per peck, but the poultry being grass-fed, and the freshness
of the eggs being somewhat questionable, buyers were rather shy.
Upon the whole, however, the Arranites were well received and nothing
disconcerted by the indifference with which their hens and eggs were
treated ; they seemed to throw sorrow a day's march behind them.
Availing themselves of the luxury of deal floors, the merry dance
struck up, at an early hour, in several of their favourite hostelries.
Glasgow Herald, July 16, 1824.
Aedkossan, July 8.—At our midsummer fair, which was held on
Monday last, there were nearly twelve score of Highland cattle from
Arran, Cantyre, and Isla, brought forward, besides a few lots of home
bred beasts of the dairy breed. Of the former, several scores were
disposed of at what were considered good prices ; and more might
have found purchasers, had the holders been inclined to yield anything
of their first demands.
Highland cows sold from £4 to £6, stots from £5 to £9, according
to their age and quality ; ponies from £10 to £20. A few samples
of Arran wool were exposed, but it has not been ascertained whether
any sales of that article were effected.
The local fair at Lamlash, ' the Kirktoun of Kilbride,' may
be considered as an ancient institution, but it w^as in the forties
no great affair, being at the beginning of winter, vpith little
business to do save in the sale and exchange of horses. The
fair at Brodick was of quite recent origin and fixed at a more
convenient season, in the beginning of June, so that it did
considerable trade in horses, cattle, and wool. A description
of 1847 gives us its leading features in what was, no doubt,
its high day, and it is amusing to observe the note of kindly
patronage which the observer throws into his account : for
all its proximity to some of the busiest and most populous