From Aberfeldie we proceed down the right bank of the Tay: but scarcely any thing worthy of particular notice is to be met with till we come within fight of its confluence with the Tummel, a small distance before Logierait. The plain through which the rivers Tay and Tummel, now seen united, sweep their collected waters, is truly charming.

In looking toward Dunkeld, within the compafs of little more than eight miles, the scene before us is highly picturesque. Although there is not much of the fublime, yet there is no want of fufficient grandeur, to raise it in our estimation as a fit subject for the canvas. The middle of the picture is occupied by the windings of the Tay through meadows and wooded flopes: the left wing, which fwells gradually into the uplands, is finely contrafted with the bold, impending precipices of Kinnaird on the right; at the base of which, the road takes a fudden turn into the wood that stretches for a confiderable way along the course of the river. In the distance, a chain of the Grampians, that bounds Strathmore on the north, terminates the profpect; the moft confpicuous point of which is the King's feat, as it is called, a conical hill at the base of which Dunkeld is fituated.

On the opposite bank of the river, about the feventh mileftone, on looking up toward Blair, the profpect is indeed delightful. From nearly the fame spot, a view into Strath-tay is also highly interefting. A little nearer to Dunkeld, several ftations may be taken; particularly one about the fixth mileftone, which commands an extenfive peep into both vallies, viz. Strath Tay and Strath Tummel. A vast variety of fore ground and intermediate distances are at hand to afford every affistance M m 2

to

to compofition. So that the picturefque traveller, as well as the skilful artist, will find ample scope for the exercife of taste and judgment in the selection of subjects for the pencil.

As we proceed along the south bank of the Tay to Inver, we are pleased with the fnug and comfortable appearance of the hamlets, and habitations of the farmers and the proprietors of lands. Several of the latter, whofe predeceffors purchased church lands in the Bishoprick, live on their own property in ease and independence; and, having no vaft ftretch of country to farm out to others, find it the more neceffary to attend immediately to their own limited demefnes *.

On the north bank of the Tay, as on the fouth, the road keeps pretty parallel and close in with the river; in confequence, at every turn, new and beautiful profpects prefent in rapid fucceffion, but not fo as to distract the attention; on the contrary, each scene forms a part of the feries, which seems connected by the charms of variety, novelty, richness, and grandeur in landscape.

Within five miles of Dunkeld, on the north bank of the Tay, we pafs through Dowally, where the church † of that parish is feen furrounded by a wretched group of huts, worfe than which are no where to be met with, even in the remoteft diftricts of our mountains. It fhould feem, from ancient records, *The properties alluded to are Glenalbert, Kinnaird, and Dalguise.

"Upon information that the Irish is spoken in the highland parts of the parish "of Caputh, the Bishop built and endowed a church in honour of the bleffed mother "St. Anne (A. D. 1500.), among the woods of the church lands of Dowally." Vide Dr. Biffet's MS. Tranflation of Abbot Mill's Hiftory, as quoted in Stat. Acc. vol. xx. P. 465.

that

that formerly Dowally conftituted only a part of the parish of Caputh; but it is now confidered as united to Dunkeld.

The land fet apart for agriculture from the pass of Killicrankie, but particularly from Mulenearn ten miles below Blair, on both fides of the river, is of a quality by no means ill adapted for raising crops of grain, potatoes, and turnip. The foil is, in general, of a light sandy appearance, and the crops raised on it ripen early and yield liberal returns. It appears from the Statistical Accounts, that in the contiguous parishes, Logierait, Dowally and Dunkeld, Caputh *, and Clunie, the same mode of agriculture was pursued, and is not yet altogether abolished, to the great hindrance of improvement. The old fyftem of outfield and infield, commonties, runrigs, and ridges crooked and raised in the middle, which led to error, mifmanagement, and eventual poverty, ought entirely to be abolished. The good effects of a change are even now fufficiently manifeft, to warrant a perseverance in a better and more rational system, in which the true interests of the landlord and tenant are involved, as well as thofe of the community.

The writer of the Statistical Account of the "City of Dunkeld, and Parish of Dowally," very judiciously points out in his "Hints for Improvements in Agriculture," fpecific and evident advantages refulting from fyftem in the management of farms in these districts. To fummer-fallow and lime; and to crop, I. oats; 2. pease or potatoes or turnip, ruta baga, or Swedish turnip by far preferable; 3. barley and grass seeds; 4. hay; 5. and 6. pasture, is a mode of husbandry ftrongly recommended; and cannot fail of fuccefs, provided feafons anfwer,

* Called by fome Keapoch..

and

and fufficient pains be bestowed. The watering of pasture and heath grounds is also advised *.

The live-ftock of these districts confifts of horses, black cattle, fheep, and swine. Overstocking, and a deficiency of winter and spring provender, militate greatly against the improvement of breed, to which the Highland Society has of late years paid fo much attention. The fheep are of the small white-faced fort peculiar to the highlands; the mutton is delicate, and the mufcular fibre fmall, and rich in its flavour. The wool fells from 16s. to 11. per ftone. The ufual price is 71. per score. The fwine are of a fmall breed, the value of each from l. 10s. to 21.; and the pork is of excellent quality.

The other quadrupeds which frequent the diftricts under review, are red deer, roe deer, rabbits, hares, foxes, badgers, pine martins, polecats, weazels, otters, rats, mice, moles, and urchans. It is faid, that good red deer feed in the forefts of Atholl belonging to the Duke. Roes have greatly increased in number of late years, and inhabit the woods about Dunkeld. Two miles to the weftward of Dunkeld, at the entrance of the wood on the north fide of the Tay, there is a rabbit warren, which produces a rent to the Duke of 251. per annum.

From the wooded shelter afforded on the banks of the Tay, most of the birds either indigenous or migratory in the districts of our highlands are to be found about Dunkeld. Among the native birds may be enumerated the grouse, black-cock †, part* See Dr. Smith's Agricultural Survey of Argylefhire, which contains much useful information on this fubject.

Of the native birds now extinct, the capercallie appears to have frequented the braes of Atholl, and the banks of the Tay. See Stat. Acc. vol. xx. p. 473, letter inferted from James VI. to the Marquis of Tullibardine, March 14, 1617. 3

ridge,