George Mccall issued two stories this week that may be published elsewhere, but it explains the conditions most of us left and also lists many of our family that left. " An Englishman who journeyed into Scotland in 1600's wrote, If the tourists entered Scotland through Dumfries Shire and the moors of Galloway, he was at once filled with dismay by the dismal changes from his country- the landscape is bleak and bare, destitute of trees, abounding in heather and morass and barren hills; soil where cultivated is found only in dirty patches of crops, on ground surrounded by heather and bog;____." After winter the cattle were sometimes in such weakened condition, that they had to be carried to pasture, by "lifting". In bad seasons, people were forced to bleed the cattle and mix with some meal to survive. I guess a "Rood Fair " provided some escape, but by 1608 our family began to move and most had left by 1700. We had begun the 1600's as free-holders, but by end of 1600's most of the land had been lost. Received copy of "Unfit to Command" and no members of our family are listed. Be Proud of Your Heritage, Ron Mccall www.clanmccall.org