bar, which it is in contemplation to remove entirely, fo that the water may get free paffage; and by this means the adjoining banks will in great measure be gained to the proprietors,* one of whom is intrufted with the arduous undertaking.

As we proceed, the road taking a sweep clofe on the water's edge by the base of the hill of Ardchulery, we are much delighted with the fweet retreats amid the knolls and wooded receffes along the green slopes rifing gracefully on the margin of the lake ; which, as we advance, become more and more narrow, till the fedgy fwamp at its western extremity indicates its origin, and hides the black, fluggish stream that enters it here, after winding its way for feveral miles through a valley in every respect paftoral from the flats of Balquhidder. Every thing in Strathayre is in character with the furrounding fcenery, which is truly Highland. The drefs, air, and language of the induftrious and happy inmates of these huts; their rude implements of husbandry; the dwarfish appearance of their cattle; their peat-stacks; in fhort, every article about their dwellings, is characteristic of a people as yet but in the unpolished state of infant fociety. But, amid all this rudeness, to our no small surprise, we fall in all at once with a newly erected village, the houses of which are built with ftone and lime, and flated too! It is truly admirable to think that, within the short space of two or three years at moft, this new establishment has been planned and executed with a spirit and perfeverance highly honourable to those concerned in the undertaking. The inhabitants of this village are called feuers; i. e. tenants on an indefinite leafe, paying a fum down, and a yearly fine, for which they have a certain portion of

Mr. Buchanan of Achlaifhie.

land

land for building on, for garden-ground, arable ground, meadow, and hill-grazing.

On our left, at the weft end of the long valley through which we have pursued our journey, the braes of Balquhidder, extending far to the fouthward, open upon us. Here we have a fublime fcene of mountain perspective, contrafted with an extenfive level, evidently the former bed of a lake, now a green swamp; through which the river Balvaig wings its course, and connects Loch-lubnaig which we have juft left behind, Lochdoine, and Lochvoil. In time of great floods the intermediate grounds are laid under water, when the whole extent of the vallies Balqubidder and Strathayre feem one continued fheet of water; and there is little doubt, that this is the ancient bed of the river Forth, the fource of which is to be feen in the vale of Balquhidder. The river Balvaig, and the lakes which it connects, abound in trout, char, bull-trout, and falmon. The whole extent of this glen, as feen from the road, feems well adapted for pasture. Although the hills on either hand appear almoft naked, yet it is believed, (as was the cafe in moft parts of Scotland,) that the higher and particularly the lower grounds were covered with. wood; as in the moffes, there have been found trunks and fragments of oak, alder, and birch. But whatever wood is now met with is cut down for the fake of its bark; and the poor inhabitants can hardly obtain fo much as will ferve for roofing. their huts, or for the rude utenfils of husbandry. The last cutting of the oak-wood in this parish was fold for 1,400l. ftering*. The emigration to the moffes of Kincardin and Flanders was chiefly from this glen and other parts of Balquhidder. * See Statistical Accounts, vol. xvi. p. 90.

The

The population of confequence is greatly diminished. The ftranger will naturally inquire why fo infatuated beings many wandered from their home, which, in every respect, appears preferable to the dreary waste that they now labour to cultivate. He is answered, when informed that there are upwards of twenty thousand sheep, where half a century ago one tenth of that number were not to be found. Formerly the lands were occupied by fifty tenants; now eight tacksmen have the whole in their own hands, and have divided the hill and dale into sheep-walks. This parish is the property of fourteen different perfons *, fix of whom refide in it. The boundaries of each proprietor are marked; and every farm is divided according to the old Scotish fashion, of out-field and in-field, that

hill pasture, and arable ground. Where several small farmers are stationed on a small farm, the practice of fouming is followed, which is to be understood thus: the haddin (keeping) of four sheep is allowed to one cow; and double that number to one horse for the grass for each sheep there is an allowance of from one to three shillings per annum, and confequently, from eight to twenty-four fhillings for keeping a horse! but be it remembered, that the Highland horses are kept out fummer and winter. The annual rent of the whole parish does not, at prefent, exceed three thousand pounds. The arable land rents at from five to fifteen fhillings per acre (Scots), and, the returns, with the utmost care, are but inconfiderable; the poor tenants being often obliged to fetch from the low country oats and oat-meal; which, together with potatoes, milk, and bad mutton, (it being principally the carcafes of diseased sheep,) conftitute the chief

*See Statistical Accounts, vol. xvi. p. 90.