Page:Annals of Duddingston and Portobello.pdf/71

38 of mouth seems already to have disappeared from among our collier population. My description, were it to survive, might be well regarded as one. of the fossils of the coal measures—a memorial of a condition of things become extinct—and such is the character borne by even the comparatively recent history of our Scottish colliers in general. It bears upon its front the stamp of obsolete ages, and of states of society long gone by.”

The following verse of a song, called ‘‘ The Coal-Bearer’s Lamentation,” is said to have been often sung by these poor women of Duddingston and neighbouring parishes when at their toilsome work :—

Rh Rh Rh Rh Rh

Let us be thankful that not only in our parish, but throughout the British Empire so deplorable a condition of society has for ever ceased to be tolerated.

Besides colliers and salters, there were in former times in the parish of Duddingston other industries dependent upon the natural products of the earth, without the notice of which our narrative would not be complete. We refer particularly to the freestone quarries of Joppa, and the fire-clay brick work.

Perhaps the earliest quarrying for stone required for the houses at Joppa, was made at either side of the ‘‘ Pans,” where the stratum of freestone cropped out and was exposed to view. Little labour was required to detach the blocks from the cliff, which rust then have presented a bold front to the sea. On the west side of the ‘‘ Pans,’”’ where not covered up by the sloping bulwark, may still be seen a portion of the freestone bed. It has long ceased to be wrought. A few hundred yards further west and opposite the houses of Joppa, on the property of Major Adair (a somewhat eccentric character in his day), a second quarry was opened towards the latter part of last century ; and a third, and by far the largest and most important, was started on the south side of the village and close to Easter Duddingston, on the ground of the Marquis of Abercorn. The quality of the sandstone beds there laid open was very varied, some layers being fine grained and compact, others friable and composed of large loosely-