Agnews of Lochnaw

1426.] THE FIRST HEREDITARY SHERIFF. 61
ditch ; but these were never visible from inside the court. In
front is the green, on which many a time cattle, in the widest sense
of the term, were to be seen — collected by means which would
not bear too close an investigation. Beyond, lies the lake, em-
bowered in its woody hills, with its cluster of islands, in the
centre one of which the outline of the old King's Castle can
still be traced. Whilst behind, peering over the high-pitched
roof of the buildings, rises the rocky hill, partially covered with
brushwood, to which, doubtless, our forefathers then, as we do
now, looked as a sure barometer ; and when the wreaths of mist
were seen gathering round it, perhaps then as now the oldest in-
habitant would oracularly say, " When the Lady-Craig puts on
her mantle, she sees the storm which is gathering afar." 1
The neighbourhood of Lochnaw has been especially selected
in former times for positions of defence. In Aldouran Glen,
little more than a mile distant, a tongue of land projecting into
the valley has been artifically detached at the neck, and a com-
manding position thus obtained, which is guarded by a double
line of entrenchment. The remains of these earthen parapets,
standing out in rounded hummocks, are called by the peasantry
"Kempes 1 Graves ;" they being quite unconscious that this was a
Danish camp, and that " kempe," a warrior or champion, is good
old Norse. There is something in the traditionary phrase ; many
of the warriors have probably been buried near the spot, but the
old breastwork itself does not mark their tomb.
Within half a mile of this stands the Tor of Craigoch, thus
noticed by Chalmers in his " Caledonia :" —
" Of the great conic mounts, some have been converted into
mounts of defence, as we learn from the entrenchments which
surround them, and the encampment on their summits. Of
1 The sportsmen of the Rhinns have a rhyming version of this old traditionary
saying, which is, however, not more poetical, and is moreover claimed for other
lakes besides Lochnaw —
" When the mist creeps up the hill,
Fisher ! out and try thy skill ;
When the mist begins to nod,
Fisher ! then put up thy rod."