an oblong figure, named the coronach, are ftill kept as the remains of antiquity. Tradition relates that the bell was made at Rome, and confecrated by the Pope.-The biblefone, having the figure of a book diftin&tly engraven, lying about a mile east from the church, on the fide of the road leading from Birnie to Rothes, has probably been placed there as a land-mark.-The Cairn of Killforeman, of a conical figure, 300 feet in circumference at the bafe, has been probably placed over the remains of a brav. man, whofe exploits are now forgotten.-The cave in the middle of a fteep high rock, near the Gedloch, was, according to tra dition, haunted about 100 years ago by a gang of armed ruffians, who had no vifible way of obtaining the means of fubfiftence, but by theft and robbery. The happy conititution we now enjoy has fuppreffed all fuch iwlefs banditti. All who have feen the falls of water in the Lin of the Shoggle, and the Eats of Glenlaterach, much admire them, and the adjacent wilds. There is about 20 feet of a fall of water in each of thefe places.-Some veftiges of an incampment can be traced in a well-aired dry fituation, watered on the weft fide by the burn of Barden, and fortified on the E. and N. by a valley. It commands a profpect of the Moray Frith, from Speymouth to Cromarty Bay. Probably the Danes, after invading this part of the country, had a camp there.

Advantages and Difadvantages.-The pafture for cattle and sheep annexed to the feveral farms in the Highlands, is of great advantage to the tenants; but the arable land being much exposed to the north, the corn growing there. is late in ripening, and frequently damaged by frost.-From the winter folftice to the vernal equinox, heavy falls of fnow often cover the face of the earth, and deprive the heep of convenient pafture. They, having nothing but

ftraw

1

straw to eat in the folds, become lean and feeble; info, much, that when the ewes yean, many lambs die; because their dams have not milk enough for them. The owners would therefore do well to provide a fufficient quantity of turnip and hay for the ewes.-Materials for the implements of agriculture are scarce. An afh tree costs the artificer himself from 1 s. 6 d. to 2 s. Sterling the foot. It would therefore be equally advantageous to the proprietors and tenant, that fuch an extent of wafte ground were inclosed, and planted with afh, birch, and alder, as might furnish the farmer with every neceffary utenfil of timber.

NUM.

NUMBER XII.

PARISH OF KILMORY,

(ISLE OF ARRAN, COUNTY OF BUTE, SYNOD OF ARGILE, PRESBYTERY OF KINTYRE.)

By the Rev. Mr JOHN HAMILTON.

Origin of the Names Arran, Kilmory, &c.

RADITION fays, that the name Arran is derived from

TR

a plat of ground in the north end of the island, where a battle was fought by Fin or Fingal, (the chief of the giants,) who inhabited this ifland, with Manus, the King of Swedland's fon, where was a great flaughter. Fingal being conqueror, the plat of ground was called in Gaelic by a name which literally fignifies, "Fin's flaugh"ter." Ar and Fin being joined, make the name in Gaelic to be, in the genitive, Ar-fbin, or the "Slaughter "of Fin," which by degrees was written Arran.-Kilmory fignifies, in Gaelic, "St Mary's Chapel," or in Gaelic itfelf, Cill Mhuire. The island of Arran contains only two parishes, Kilmory and Kilbride. Kilmory parish extends 30 miles in a femicircular form, from Dippin on the

fo uth

fouth-eaft, to Lochrannza, in the north extreme of Arran. It is bounded on the S. E. S. W. and N. W. by the sea; and in the narroweft place is only 6 miles from Kintyre; on the N. E. by a spacious central common moor, where the horses and sheep of the island range promifcuoufly in fummer. The surface of the parish is uneven and hilly; the foil is various, partly gravelish, clay, and moffy, and is capable of producing light crops of barley, oats, (in fome places,) pease, and flax only for private ufe; but potatoes are planted in every farm, and are the general food of the people.

Difeafes.-The diseases here, are cancers, rheums, fevers brought from other countries, and a great death of newborn infants, by the falling down of the jaws; and fome women die in childbed, both which lait two are attributed to the unfkilfulness of midwives, who venture upon the practice from natural courage, without neceflary and proper knowledge, there being none duly qualified in the ifland. The oldest man now living in the parish is 88, a few more have turned 80, and there has been an inftance of I who reached 95.

Rivers, Lochs or Lakes.-The burns here, which scarce deferve the name of rivers, have, fome of them, their fource from lochs or lakes in the mountains, and fome from numberlefs fprings; after a fhort and rapid course they empty themselves into the fea; they abound with fine trouts, and fome falmon. There are 3 lochs or lakes; the principal of which is Earfay loch, in the weft of the island, which abounds with trouts of different fizes, and fine falmon, which are caught by cruives and draught-lines.

Caves.-There are feveral natural caves, the principal, and which highly excites the curiofity of ftrangers of all ranks, is one in the weft of the ifland, oppofite to Campbelltown, called the King's Cove, because, as tradition affirms, King Robert de Bruce and his retinue lodged in it for some time, when taking fhelter in retired places, before his defeat of John Baliol, and acceffion to the thione of Scotland. It is 40 yards long, 16 broad, and about 20 high, in which are feveral engravings and antique figures; feemingly a coat of arms, and forms of weapons are cut in the rock; a little within the entry are the letters M. D. R. The cave is fo fpacious, that fermons have been preached in it to fome hundreds of hearers at different times. About 2 miles fouth from it is another cave, which could contain 200 perfons; but nothing elfe remarkable in it.

Hills and Sea Coast.-The highest hill is Beinnbbar fhionn, or the "Mountain of the white top," fo called, from its being covered a great part of the year with fnow; it ftands in the N. W. part of the island, and is fuppofed to be 2 miles high; but the adjacent mountain called Goatfield, though not quite fo high, is yet more remarkable, as it produces brilliant ftones. The fea-coaft, efpecially in the E. and S. part of the parish, is a proud and very unhospi table shore; but towards the W. and N. fomewhat lefs fo, excepting a large funken rock in the W. S. W. part of the parish, alinoft oppofite to Campbelltown, called the Iron Rock; it lies confiderably off the land, and has proved detrimental to many veffels.

Light Houfe. In the isle Pladday, a mile off the land, in the east part of the parish, a light houfe has lately been. erected, with two different lights, to diftinguish it in the