Note 57 — 201 BESSY BELL AND MARY GRAY

In the manuscript cited in The New Statistical Account of Scotland, p. 37, we are told that, to prevent the spread of infection, “it was thought proper to put those out of the town at some distance who were sick. Accordingly, they went out and builded huts for themselves in different places around the town, particularly in the South Inch [etc.] and the grounds near the river Almond, at the mouth thereof, in all which places there are as yet the remains of their huts which they lodged in.” So, when this same pestilence was raging in the parish of Monivaird, the gentlemen “caused many huts to be built, and ordered all who perceived that they were infected immediately to repair into them:” Porteous, History of the Parishes of Monivaird and Strowan, MS., Communications to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, vol. i, printed in the Transactions, II, 72, 1822.