NUMBER XXXII.

PARISH OF DRON,

(COUNTY OF PERTH, SYNOD OF PERTH AND STIRLING, PRESBYTERY OF PERTH.*)

By the Rev. Mr DAVID DOW.

Name, Extent, Surface, &c.

HE prefent and ancient name of this parish, as far

THE

back as can be traced, is Dron. Dronn, in the Gaelic language, is faid to fignify a Ridge or Projection, a Hunch or Bunch;' and this probably is the true etymology of the name; for it is obviously defcriptive of its fituation, of that part at least where the church and manse are placed. They stand on the eastern extremity of a rifing ground, detached

from

* In order to give fome idea of the populoufnefs of this part of the country, it may not be improper to obferve, that there are 20 parithes in this prefbytery exclufive of the town of Perth, all of which lie round it as their common centre, and are all, except 4, within 6 miles of it. Thefe 4 are about 9 or 10 miles diftant from Ferth. Six parishes lie fouth of Earn; S, north of Tay; and the reft, including Perth itself, between the Earn and the Tay.

from the hills, and formed like a ridge, floping on every fide to the N. and S. extending weftward with a gradual afcent, and terminating a little beyond a farm, which lies on the most elevated part of it, and is named Weft Dron. There are feveral other places in different parts of the country, which have the fame name of Dron; and they have all a fituation fomewhat fimilar. The parish is fituated about a mile S. of the river Earn, and 5 miles S. E. of the town of Perth. It extends in length from E. to W. between 3 and 4 miles, including a narrow ftrip of the lands of Pitkeathly, in Dumbarnie parish, which interfects it, and in breadth from N. to S. about 3 miles. The principal and lower part, ftretches, in a floping pofition, along the bottom of the Ochil hills, which form the fouthern boundary of the rich and beautiful vale of Strathearn, and presents to the view of the traveller, paffing along the great road which leads from Perth to Kinghorn and the Queensferry, a very agreeeable profpect of well cultivated and inclofed fields. The face of the hills here is various. In fome places they exhibit an irregular and broken furface, roughened by projecting rocks, and overgrown with furze; but even there, confiderable patches of corn land, producing barley and oats, are to be seen interspersed. In others the defcent is more fimooth and regular, uniformly green, and adorned with ftrips and clumps of plantation. Some are covered with an extensive wood of firs, birch, afh, &c. which at once ornaments the profpect and enriches the country. When fully grown, it will afford a copious fupply of timber for all neceffary uses, an article grown scarce, and much wanted here. A few farms, more extenfive than rich, occupy the higher part of the parish, being fituated on the fummit of the Ochil hills.

Climate

Climate and Difeafes.-The higher ground poffeffes, from its elevated fituation, a pure and wholesome air, though ra ther keen and piercing; but the lower part of the parish cannot boast of so pure an atmosphere, for it is often loaded with moist vapours, the common exhalations of deep and narrow vallies, where flow rivers wind their course, and where much of the furface is covered during winter with ftagnated water. The existence of agues, fluxes, rheumatism, and other kindred diforders of the human frame, is the natural confequence of such a state of atmosphere. It cannot, however, be faid, that the inhabitants, tho' occafionally attacked by these diforders, are in general unhealthy. Nature and habit have a wonderful power to form the conftitution to its local refidence and deftination in life. Agues, formerly of a fevere and tedious kind, were very prevailing; the returns of fpring and autumn never failed to bring along with them this fatal disease, and frequently laid afide many the labouring hands, at a time when their work was of the greatest confequence and neceffity. For feveral years, however, this disease, fo enfeebling to the human fyftem, has in a great measure ceafed. This happy change may be owing in part to a different mode of living, and in part, probably, to the better and more general cultivation of the foil, confidered as a fource of more pure and wholesome air. In this neighbourhood, large tracts of moorish ground, which lay totally neglected, and covered with water in winter and fpring, have lately been broken up, drained, and brought under tillage, or planted with timber, which abforbs and exhaufts the fuperfluous moisture. Confumptions are rather more frequent than formerly among the young, and often feemingly healthy and vigorous. They are no doubt sometimes owing to a radical weakness of conflitution, but more frequently to fedentary occupations, damp houfes, crowding the fick and the healthy together

in

in one bed, and to the pernicious custom of expofing them. felves, in a state of violent perfpiration, to the fudden impreffions of cold. A large draught of cold water, in this ftate, has often proved the beginning of confumptions and dropfies *.

Rivers, Springs, Minerals.-Though there are no rivers which run through this parish, yet it is plentifully supplied with water, by springs and little currents which defcend from the hills. The only river which borders on the parish, and divides it from Abernethy, is Farg. It rifes in

the

Scorbutic habits are not uncommon; being every where, in a lefs or greater degree, to be met with. But nature has provided a remedy for this diforder in the mineral waters of Pitkeathly in this neighbourhood, which have proved very effectual in some of the worst and most inveterate appearances of this malady, as alfo a fuccefsful palliative in fcrofulous diforders. The fmall-pox, through improper management, by keeping the patients too hot, and too long in their foul linen and clothes, and through the ftill prevailing averfion of the lower claffes of the people to the falutary practice of inoculation, continue to carry off great numbers of children. It is difficult to convince that part of mankind whofe minds have not been opened by education and reflection, that any innovation on the customs of their fathers can with propriety or fafety be introduced. A superstitious dread of acting contrary to the will of heaven, by introducing disease into the human frame, not inflicted by the immediate hand of Providence, is the sentiment which deters the weak but well-meaning peafant, from adopting the practice of inoculation. But daily inftances of its happy effects begin to wear off this prejudice, and experience and obfervation have enabled many persons to get the better of thofe ill-grounded fcruples, which they once thought it a part of religion to entertain. Another very fatal disease among children, and very prevailing, is that of worms; which cuts off many, debilitates the constitution of more, and is frequently attended with very violent and shocking symptoms. No effectual remedy seems to be known for extirpating these pernicious vermin from the human constitution, when once, by neglecting to apply an early check, they have been suffered to obtain a feat in the bowels. Bad water, in its raw state, and unripe fruit, contribute greatly to introduce and rengthen this habit, fo common and troublesome to children.

the Ochil hills, about 5 or 6 miles above, and runs through a deep and narrow glen for a confiderable way, before it iffues into the plain; and after a fhort courfe directly north it bends to the east, and loses itself in the river Earn, at a place, which derives its name from it, called Culfargie. Though this river is often almost dry in fummer, yet after long continued rains, or heavy fummer fhowers, it fwells into a dreadful torrent, and burfts from its narrow channel into the level of the Strath, with fuch irrefiftible impetuofity as to fweep all before it. It abounds with fine trout, and is the scene of an agrecable amufement to the angler in the proper feafon. Mineral fprings are frequent here, and by their fcum and fediment, indicate the existence of metals in the neighbouring mountains. They are mostly of the chalybeate kind, but are not used for any medicinal purpofe, though, if tried, they might probably be found of fervice for bracing the ftomach and nerves. There are fome veins of limettone in the parish; but what has yet been discovered, is of an inferior kind. It is not however improbable, that if fuel could be procured for burning it at a moderate expenfe, veins of good lime might be found on a more accurate search; an article of great importance to the farmer, who at prefent is obliged to import it from Lord Elgin's lime-works at Charlestown, or to bring it in carts from the hills of Fife, the Lomonds, or Forthar, at the distance of 8 or 10 miles. There is fome free-ftone; but feldom wrought, except on a particular demand. The appearances of coal are fo great, that many attempts have been made to discover it, by digging, boring, &c. but hitherto without fuccefs. Three different trials have been made within this parish fince the year 1758, and fanguine hopes have been entertained, but as often difappointed. Our nearest coal-mines are at Keltie, at the distance of 18