Vol 6 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

more when the circle was complete. There is no central stone •a are round the sides. One was l^ feet distant from the next •other distances were, 17 ft., 19 ft. 8 in., 25 ft., 34 ft. 4 in 37 ft'Transactions. 33Note toMr Thomson's Paper.The following will throw light upon the expression "profanepersons brewing" (page 28): "Bailie Johneson reports that ingonig through the town last Sabbath he found in the house ofJames Moorehead a large pot upon the fire boyling wort, and inJohn Baxter's house Wright found the said James Moorehead'swife with a choppin stoup in her hand, and the said James Mooreheads wife sitting at a table and said she was seeking barm."The following extracts may be interesting from the form ofpunishment:-" 1641. Bessie Black for her 3rd departure fromvirtue to sit six Sabbaths and at the cross in the Jougs." " 164'>Euphane Thomson and Jane Johnson, servants, for scolding eachother, to be put m the Jougs presently." " 1644. A man and hiswife for slander are sentenced to stand at the kirk style with thebranks m their mouths." « 1695. It is statute and ordained thatwho drmk to excess shall pay the Nobleman twenty pounds • theBarron, twenty merks ; the Gentleman Heretor or Burgess,' tenmerk.s;the Yeoman, forty shillings ; the Servant, twenty shillings•and the Minister the fifth part of his stipend.III. The Druidical Circle in Troqueer. By Mr JoHN Brown,F.E.I.S.,of Drumsleet.The Druidical circle on the Hills farm lies about four milesfrom Dumfries, a little over half a mile to the left of the farmcalled East Hills, as one journeys towards Lochrutton.Or takinothefootpath to Lochrutton Kirk, a quarter of a mile past Turnfeen"the travellerwould find it about 200 yards to his left just as he is'aboutto reach the top ot the ascent. It is, on a contour line ofthe trigonometrical survey maps, shewn to be situated exactly 500feet above the level of the sea, and lies in a somewhat depressedplace close to the last rising of the hills behind, which attain 625tcet In the depression is a platform evidently to some extentartificial and irregularly circular, 70 to 80 feet in diameter Thetop has been levelled, or rather made level, by using the materialsbrought from the sides. On this little platform is the Druidicalcircle. There are now ten stones in the circle, but, judging fromthe distances from stone to stone, it is probable there were a few'm.; the average is about 25 ft. 3 in.; and the circumference