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running along the road-side in numerous covies. Passing the sources of the Spey, and the waters that run to the north-east, one arrives on the most elevated point of the road in this quarter, and observes the stream of the Garry running to the south-east. On this height there is a broad verdant plain covered with short but re markably fine and thick grass, with a handsome slate-roofed cottage, apparently a hunting or shooting box, for which the situation is admirably adapted. The mountains open on the north, and in the vale between is seen Loch-Garry, with the large stream issuing from it, and running directly east along the Athol side of the green to the opening through which the road passes, where it receives its southerly direction. Loch-Garry is four miles long, and half a mile broad, and with its tributary streams forms one of the sources of the Tay. The traveller, having passed the height, is again in Perthshire, and in the division of Athol, and descends by the side of the stream of the Garry, through a scene of rather increased barrenness, for seven miles, to Dalnacardoch, at the head of Strathgarry; the distance between Dalwhinnie and the inn of Dalnacardoch being altogether thirteen miles, across the hill of Drumnacher, the wildest and most rugged part of the whole stretch from

Edinburgh to Inverness, with the exception perhaps of two or three miles in the vicinity of Loch-Moy, in the territory of the Clanchattan. On the Athol side of the Drumnacher road, a huge stone is set on end, with a date marked upon it, probably the time when the road was first made.

The inn of Dalnacardoch, like all those on this great thoroughfare, is provided with all the accommodations that can reasonably be required. The road to Falkirk by Tummel Bridge, Aberfeldie, Amulrie, Crief, and Stirling, here diverges to the south, and the Athol road, continuing its south-easterly direction, descends through the valley of Strathgarry for eleven miles to Blair. The banks of the Garry are here in many places adorned with natural wood, and the Strath, like the higher portions of Badenach, is a fine pastoral valley, but much better adapted to the rearing of sheep and cattle, than to arable cultivation; although some grain crops are also produced. In passing a torrent, about five miles below Dalnacardoch, a romantic waterfall may be observed through an opening in the side wall of the bridge. Four miles above Blair, the Garry receives the stream of the Ericht from the valley of Glenerrochy, opening to the west, through which a country road stretches to the

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district of Rannoch, situate between Athol and Braidalbane. This stream issues from Loch Ericht, which extends from the vicinity of Dalwhinnie in Badenach, for fourteen miles southwest, in the direction of Rannoch, so that it is partly in Inverness-shire, and partly in Perthshire. This lake is three-fourths of a mile broad, and is surrounded with much natural wood, in which Prince Charles lay concealed for some time after the battle of Culloden. From this point the hills open on each side, and the united streams flow for about four or five miles through the fine broad and fertile plain, called the Blair of Athol, a rich level or haugh on the banks of the Garry, apparently fitted for the production of all the grain crops that are raised in any quarter of Scotland. In looking down. from the height above the junction of the Garry and Ericht upon this plain, with the thick wood consisting of old spreading oaks, and every variety of the best timber trees that grow in the kingdom, at its southern extremity, around the mansion-house of the Duke of Athol, and the pine forests which rise on the hill-sides, it naturally occurs to one who has traversed the round here described, that a scene at once so rich and so grand has never met his eye, since he left Strath Tay; and with that exception, Athol

altogether is probably the finest of highland valleys.

The district of Athol has been thus generally described. "Athol (pleasant land) the most "northerly division of Perthshire, a very moun"tainous district, the precise limits of which "are not very clearly defined: but is under"stood to include all that part of the county, "whose waters fall into the Tay from the east ❝ above Dunkeld, and all to the northward of "Braidalbane, except Rannoch. The face of "the country is one continued range of moun. "tains, which are intersected with many rapid "rivulets confined in narrow glens. These

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formerly were thickly clothed with forest "timber of all kinds, the extent of which is "much reduced, as wood is to be found now

only in the most sheltered places. In the "bottoms of the glens, by the sides of the rivu"lets, there are many strips of arable land; "which, where not overrun with gravel brought "down by the floods, produce good crops of "bear, oats, and potatoes, for the support of a "population of 15,000. These are to be found "almost exclusively on the banks of the prin "cipal streams, the Tay, the Tummel, the "Garry, and the Tilt, and around the mansions "of the respective chieftains, which are set

"down amidst natural woods, and have lately "been adorned with plantations. Athol was " formerly one of the best hunting districts in "Scotland, and much celebrated on that ac "count. But now that the native woods have " in a great measure disappeared, the herds of "deer have diminished, and given place to the "more useful animal, the sheep, of which there "are now many thousands fed on the different 66 ranges of the mountains, besides a numerous "breed of good highland cattle. There still, " however, remains a considerable number of "red deer, more especially in the Duke of "Athol's extensive domains about Blair, where "indeed there is a very great quantity of natu"ral wood, as well as many new plantations. "This Alpine territory extends over about 450 square miles. It gives the title of Duke to "the chief of the Murrays-a name little "known in the district. "Robertsons, and the "most prevalent clans."

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The Stewarts, the Fergusons, are the Much of the woods

which now cover extensive tracts of hill and dale, moor and mountain, in the vicinity of the Blair of Athol and Dunkeld, is said to owe its origin to the present Duke, who has paid great attention to the raising of forest timber, and still continues annually to plant trees by thou

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