collect them into large droves, and carry them up to the markets in the fouth-eaft counties of England. They generally buy upon credit; payments are not expected, until, in the courfe of 4 or 5 months, they are enabled to make them from their returns in the English markets, and confequently muft, in a great measure, depend upon their fuccefs there, which they themselves have the exclufive privilege of reporting to the farmer their creditor. Of these adventurers, who thefe many years have obtained the credit and confidence of the country, the greater number have at one time or other failed, and fome repeatedly. By fuch failures large fums have been loft, honeft and induftrious farmers much hurt and reduced, and whole families ruined. It were to be wished that the English graziers, or cattle merchants, were to be seen buying their cattle in our own markets, rather than that our farmers fhould be obliged to run fuch risks, in trufting their property to fo great extent, in the hands of people, fo many of whom they have experienced to be unworthy of their confidence, in order to get it difpofed of in the remoteft parts of the island.

VOL. XVII.

P

NUM

NUMBER X.

PARISH OF BUITTLE.

(COUNTY AND SYNOD OF GALLOWAY.-PRESBYTERY OF KIRKCUDBRIGHT).

By the Rev. Mr GEORGE MAXWELL of Glenarm, Minisler of that Parif.

Name, Situation, and Extent.

ARIOUS opinions are entertained as to the derivation

VAR

of the name. Some have thought that Boot-hill, or Butt-hill, was the original name of that territory which now composes the parish of Buittle, on account of the frequent mufters of cavalry, or archers, that must have taken place in the vicinity of the caftle after-mentioned. With as much probability, however, it may be suggested, that the word Buittle is but a contraction of Bowet-hill or Bowet-hall, an appellation ooccafioned by the beacons in the neighbourhood of the caftle alluded to; or the great light which it displayed on feftive or folemn occafions. Men of the name of Bootle, too, are frequent in England, and to be found in Scotland.—Buittle is one of thofe parishes in the ftewartry of Galloway, that border upon the Solway Frith, and have the advantages of navigation. From the march of Crofsmichael, upon the north, Buittle extends fouthward to the fea. This is the length of the parish, and includes about 8 miles. On the

whole

1

whole of the caft fide it is bounded by the river and parish of Urr. From thence to Kelton and Rerrick, which are conterminous to Buittle, on the west and fouth-west, its average breadth may be 3 miles.

Soil, Surface, Hills, &c.-The foil of Buittle is like moft of the land in lower Galloway (efpecially near the mouth of the Urr), kindly and fertile, even beyond its appearance. The furface of Buittle is unequal, and juftifies Buchanan's remark upon Galloway in general:-" Nufquam fere in "montes attollitur, fed collibus tantum frequentibus intu"mefcit." The hills, however, being moitly green and without heath, have lately drawn the attention of the induftrious; nor have their pains been ill repaid, as the foil is often found deeper on the heights than on the lower ground. It is here to be observed also, that there are few hills in this part of Galloway, where cultivation is at all practicable, that do not bear diftinct marks of the plough. The depths of the furrows, too, plainly declare, that this tillage has not been cafual, or merely experimental, but frequent and fucceffive. This fhould fet both the antient population and induftry of this part of Scotland in a more favourable light, than that in which they are ufually beheld. It also affords probability to a tradition repeated by the country people to this day, "That at a time when Scotland was under a pa"pal interdict, or fentence of curfing from the Pope, it was

found that his Holinefs had forgot to curfe the hills, "though he had commanded the land, ufually arable, to "yield no increase; and that while this fentence remained, the people were neceffitated to feek tillage ground, in places unufual and improbable." The grafs through

the

That King ROBERT BRUCE, and what part of Scotland

fub

the greater part of Buittle is excellent, being moftly what is called the Sheep's fefcue grafs. Exclufive of other good properties, it may be adverted to, that this plant defies extirpation by either bad farming or bad ftocking: For often when land is so much plowed that it will bear no more corn, and even the roots of the larger graffes are deftroyed, we fee the field covered with the fescue in a very short time. Again, by overstocking a pasture, the feed ftalks of moft graffes are eaten up, and the very roots preyed upon. But the prodigious crop of finall feeds, light and easily transferred by the winds, afforded by the fefcue, hinders its deftruction in the former fenfe; and the fmalinefs of its fibrous roots in the latter.

Plants, &c.-The natural productions of Buittle differ little from those of the lower parts of Galloway in general, and which, in all probability, will be particularly mentioned in the account of every parish belonging to that district. The plants and flowers in Buittle are no ways remarkable. Even by gentlemen in affluent circumftances, that cultivation of the earth, which produces an immediate return, and connects with general utility, is preferred to attempts of unprofitable curiofity, as to rearing exotic plants, or even those of this climate that are of a precarious growth. This parish, indeed, abounds fo much with excellent natural shelter, that it is believed few plants or trees would fail here, that fucceed well in any other part of Scotland, if not of Britain. With great fafety one might take any bet, that, communibus diebus,

the

fubmitted to him, were under the Pope's curfe for a good many years, and that Galloway acknowledged his authority pretty early, every one knows; but if the above tradition, as standing connected with this fact, is true, we may place it among the few benefits that fuperftition has conferred on mankind.

the thermometer stands higher during the year in Buittle than at London. For fome ages, this parish was, in confequence of the above natural advantages, diftinguished as a bounding with orchards. Of late, however, these have fallen much into decay. It has indeed been complained of, that for many years past the growth of fruit-timber, and of trees in general, has been lefs favoured by the temperature of the air than formerly; and fome gloomy philosophers have dreaded, that Scotland might experience the calamities of Iceland, or Danish Greenland. Even under lefs dreary impreffions, candour must admit, that, for thefe 15 or 20 years, new plantations have not come on fo vigorously as could have been expected; and that the fruits, fuch as apples, pears, &c. have not ripened to the degree of perfection, that even middle aged people affirm to have been formerly

common.

Animal Flowers-Till of late, perhaps, it has not been much adverted to, that the animal flower, or water polypus, is even common alongst the shores of Buittle, Colvend, and very likely around the whole coaft of the Stewartry of Galloway. The form of these polypufes is elegant, and pleafantly diverfified. Some are found refembling the fun-flower, fome the hundred leaved rose, but the greater number bear the likeness of the poppy. The colours differ as much as the form. Sometimes the animal flower is of a deep purple, frequently of a rofe colour, but mostly of a light red or fleshy hue. The most beautiful of them, that could be picked up, have often been carried from the fhore of Colvend, 12 or 15 miles up into the country, where they have lived, fed on worms, and even bred for feveral weeks, and might have exifted much longer, if they could have been supplied with fea-water. In a word, it feems probable, that an industrious