general, and when well executed, makes a warm and durable roof. At prefent a spirit of industry and improvement pervades every rank, and would probably lead on to a more perfect and general knowledge of agriculture, had they longer leafes; but the bad effects of fhort leases have been fo clearly stated in other statistical accounts, that it is needless to enter upon a detail of them.

State of Improvement in February 1793.

[Each particular state being made out by two different farmers, who gave in a figned report.]

thefe

The above state comprehends the whole parish, except the lands of Oldmaud and Aflect, which, lying in the lower part of the parish, may be confidered as equal to others of the like extent and rent; and the nearest to them in both

thefe refpects, are the lands of Culfh and Artamford. With refpect to the inclofures, it is not pretended, that they are all fufficient fences; perhaps no inclofure, properly speaking, is a fufficient fence on both fides, but what is built entirely of stone; and tenants poffeffing only a 19 years leafe, cannot be fuppofed to be at the expense of stone fences, when they have no allowance or encouragement for them. In the last state there is no notice taken of hay crop, it being the opinion of the farmers who gave it in, that no true judgment could be formed of the ufual crops of hay from the produce of last year, on account of the fupernumerary cattle on hand, till fummer was near over, which confumed a great deal of grafs, ufually made into hay.

Air, Climate and Difeafes.-This parish feems to have a confiderable elevation above the level of the fea, and most of the neighbouring parishes, as will appear from a circumftance to be mentioned afterward. The air is confequently fharp and pure; and the feafons generally a week or fortnight later, than in many places in its vicinity. In winter the froft is fometimes fo intenfe, as to put a stop to the plough; when nearer the coaft it meets with no obftruction. Laft winter, (1791-2,) it occafioned a ceffation from tillage for 8 or 9 weeks. Snow lies very long upon the ground, and, in the higher part of the parish, fometimes falls to a confiderable depth, when 2 or 3 miles eastward the fields are clothed in their blafted verdure. Here, too, we have often what are called fummer-fhowers, which are very partial. A cloud is carried along a tract of ground, fometimes not more than 500 or 600 yards wide, pouring down a temporary deluge. In winter, again, a shower of fnow, instead of rain, frequently paffes over a like extent, and in the fame direction. The phyfical caufe feems to

be

be a frequent interchange of clouds between the fummits of 2 oppofite hills, Bennachie and Mormond. The former is diftant from us about 20 miles S. W. the latter about 8 or 9 miles N. E. But this obfervation is not to be confined to this place alone; for fuch phænomena, I believe, are common to almost every part of Scotland.-There are no diseases peculiar to this parish. Rheumatism is the most general complaint among the men, and nervous diforders among the women. To account for the prevalence of these disorders, I need only mention the employment of the former, which, after hard exercife in the morning, is to go out and ftir a damp field; and the fedentary occupation of the latter, which is chiefly fpinning or knitting of stockings. Scrofulous, confumptive, and asthmatic complaints are not fo common. In autumn 1791, a putrid kind of fore throat, which first made its appearance about the coaft fide, found its way into this parish. Since that, it has continued to rage in different places, with great virulence, and little intermiffion, and is peculiarly fatal to the young, and people of a full conftitution. No effectual remedy has yet been discovered for this contagious disorder; and the only approved medicines are a vomit at first, and then Jefuit's bark, continued feveral times a-day, in a glass of Port wine. A very malignant fever, too, has prevailed this winter. Some were carried off by it in eight days illness, while others have been languishing as many weeks.

Natural Hiftory, Antiquities, &c.-There is neither a wood, hill nor river in the parish; confequently no qua drupeds, migratory or aquatic birds, but fuch as are common: nor are there any remarkable foffils. There is, however, reafon to believe, that this parish once abounded in wood; for veftiges of oak, hazel, and other hard wood, (but no fir), are to be found in every mofs. Springs and

rivulets,

rivulets, fufficient for driving mills and light machinery, are very plenty. There are alfo fome chalybeate wells, but none of these have attained to any great repute.

On a farm in the head of the parish there are 3 contiguous fprings, which run in as many different directions. One of them runs eastward, increafing confiderably in its courfe, till it joins the water of Strichen. Thefe form the water of Ugie, which falls into the fea at Peterhead. Another of them runs fouthward into Ythan, and falls into the fea at Newburgh. The third runs N. W. into Doveran, and falls into the fea at Banff. This is the circumstance above alluded to, and from which we inferred the height of the parish.-Remains of feveral Druidical temples are to be feen. The place where one of them stood is about half a mile N. from the church, and ftill retains the name of 'standing stones." In view of this, and about a mile from the church, directly S. there was another. This is not yet all removed, and the former was but lately taken away, to lay the foundation of the prefent manie. There are also feveral tumuli or small cairns, fome of which have been dug up, and found to contain urns inclosed in stone coffins. The coffins were compofed of flags of ftone from 3 to 4 feet long, and so closely laid together, that no duft could penetrate. The urns, which to the eye appeared quite found, but mouldered at a touch, were placed near one of the corners, and contained fragments of human bones and ashes. About 2 miles north from the church ftands an old castle, called Fedderatt, which appears to have been a place of confiderable strength. It is furrounded partly by a foffe, and partly by a morass, so that there could have been no access to it, but by a caufeway (which is still vifible) and a draw-bridge. Water, it seems, had been conveyed to it by means of pipes; for pieces of them have, at different times, been torn up by the plough. Accord

ing to tradition, it was built by one Crawford; but at what time we cannot learn. It afterward came into the pos feffion of the Irvines of Drum, and is now the property of Lord Aberdeen. It is alfo faid to have been one of the laft strong holds of James II.'s partifans, who, after the battle of Killycrankie, poffeffed themselves of Fyvie caftle, and, being obliged to abandon it, took refuge in Fedderatt; but were purfued, and expelled by King William's troops. In the weft fide of the parish there is an extenfive piece of moor, called Brucebill. This is faid to have been fo named from Edward, brother to King Robert Bruce. Here he is reported to have encamped foon after the battle of Inverury, and from this to have marched in purfuit of the Cummins, to a place near the village of Deer, called Aiky-brae, or Oaky-brae. And this is partly corroborated by Joan Major, (de. geft. Scot. Fol. 83. lib. 5.) who relates, that Edward there engaged and routed the Cummins in the year 1308. In memory of this victory, the market of Aiky fair is faid to have been established, which ftands on the spot where the battle was fought.

Population, c.-From the return made to Dr Webfter 40 or 50 years fince, the number of fouls then was 2313. The amount of the prefent population is 28c0 fouls, of whom 1324 are males, and 1476 females. These are all of the Established Church, except 156 Seceders, (there being a Seceding meeting-house in the parish,) 40 Epifcopalians, and 6 Roman Catholics.