On August 12th, 1897, the writer went round with the Burry-man of that year, and notes were made and photographs procured.
The author of the communication in the last number of Folk-Lore quotes with some variation an article which appeared in the Glasgow Herald, and which was reprinted in the Scottish Antiquary of 1900 (vol. xiv., p. 109). The photograph given and description of the man of 1908 correspond in every way with the 1897 representative of the "burgh" as the writer in the Herald considered him, a guess at the significance of his name criticised in the Scottish Antiquary, doubt being expressed of the ancient existence of the custom. There being no reference to the Burry-man in old documents, the theory of origin here advanced must be regarded as a guess.
The whole history of the town is connected with its convenience as a ferry, and it may be presumed as certain that the "baitward," ("batward" as Wyntoun would have called the "boatkeeper"), must have been an important personage. After the creation of the Ferry as a Royal Burgh by Charles I., if the town's authorities appointed an official, the inquiry for transport by a stranger might be answered by an independent seafarer or by the burgh(ferry)man. By those questioned in 1897 it was impressed on me that it was the seafaring portion of the burghers who were responsible for the burryman. The dress was made by "some old fishermen," and the performer seen had on his hands tattoo marks showing that he was probably a seaman himself. What his age may have been was difficult of diagnosis, as the only other portions of his skin visible were the sides of his nose. The e sound in the neighbourhood is just as like u as e, but one furryman of all who might offer their services, would be the burgh-man, pronounced burry-man, the man recognised by authority. Here Jamieson's "burry," or "shaggy," comes in as a suggestion to Jack (in the green) going round for his hansel fairing, to prepare himself an "official" dress; and the use made of the Arctium Bardana, the burdock.
On referring to Mr, Hutton, whose grandfather had been in communication on this subject with Sir Walter Scott, he gave
