-- This wildness,
however, is different from that of the Highlands; for here the
mountains, instead of heath, are covered with a fine green
swarth, affording pasture to innumerable flocks of sheep. But the
fleeces of this country, called Nithsdale, are not comparable to
the wool of Galloway, which is said to equal that of Salisbury
plain. Having passed the night at the castle of Drumlanrig, by
invitation from the duke himself, who is one of the best men that
ever breathed, we prosecuted our journey to Dumfries, a very
elegant trading town near the borders of England, where we found
plenty of good provision and excellent wine, at very reasonable
prices, and the accommodation as good in all respects as in any
part of South-Britain. If I was confined to Scotland for life, I
would chuse Dumfries as the place of my residence. Here we made
enquiries about captain Lismahago, of whom hearing no tidings, we
proceeded by the Solway Frith, to Carlisle. You must know, that
the Solway sands, upon which travellers pass at low water, are
exceedingly dangerous, because, as the tide makes, they become
quick in different places, and the flood rushes in so
impetuously, that the passengers are often overtaken by the sea
and perish.
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