"_They shot him dead at the Nine-Stone Rig_" (Vol. viii., p. 78.).--Your correspondent the BORDERER will find the fragment of the ballad he is in search of commencing with the above line, in the second volume of the _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, p. 114. It is entitled "Barthram's Dirge," and "was taken down," says Scott, "by Mr. Surtees, from the recitation of Anne Douglas, an old woman, who weeded his garden." Since the death of Mr. Surtees, however, it has been ascertained that this ballad, as well as "The Death of Featherstonhaugh," and some others in the same collection, were composed by him and passed off upon Scott as genuine old Scottish ballads. Farther particulars respecting this clever literary imposition are given in a review of the "Memoir of Robert Surtees," in the _Athenaeum_ of August 7, 1852. J. K. R. W. _Hendericus du Booys: Helena Leonora de Sieveri_ (Vol. v., p. 370.).--Are two different portraits of each of these two persons to be found? By no means. There exists, however, a plate of each, engraved by C. Visscher; but the first impressions bear the address of E. du Booys, the later that of E. Cooper. As I am informed by Mr. Bodel Nijenhuis, Hendericus du Booys took part in the celebrated three-days' fight, Feb. 18, 19, and 20, 1653, between Blake and Tromp.--From the _Navorscher_. M. _House-marks, &c_. (Vol. vii., p. 594. Vol. viii., p. 62.).--May I be allowed to inform MR. COLLYNS that the custom he refers to is by no means of modern date. Nearly all the cattle which come to Malta from Barbary to be stall-fed for consumption, or horses to be sold in the garrison, bring with them their distinguishing marks by which they may be easily known. And it may not be out of place to remark, that being one of a party in the winter of 1830, travelling overland from Smyrna to Ephesus, we reached a place just before sunset where a roving band of Turcomans had encamped for the night. On nearing these people we observed that the women were preparing food for their supper, while the men were employed in branding with a hot iron, under the camel's upper lip, their own peculiar mark,--a very necessary precaution, it must be allowed, with people who are so well known for their pilfering propensities, not only practised on each other, but also on all those who come within their neighbourhood. Having as strangers paid our tribute to their great dexterity in their profession, the circumstance was published at the time, and to this day is not forgotten. W. W. Malta.