taceous kind, Oysters, Cockles, Muscles, Lobsters, and Crabs, in such plenty, that there is not in Britain a cheaper fish market. The nearness of this Frith to the Northern Ocean, made it anciently much frequented by Whales,-insomuch that Orkney had its name from that Fish; for in Erse, Orc is a species of Whale, and Y an Island, and so Orcy is the island of Whales. As yet Whales follow shoals of Cod, or Herring, into this Frith. In 1719, a Whale, upwards of fifty feet in length, was left by the tide, at Phopachie, near Inverness. Another, of like dimensions, was stranded in the Barony of Innes; and one in the Barony of Inshoch, about the year 1754. They were all of the Cetus Dentatus kind, and yielded much Spermaceti. Young Whales, Porpoises, and Seals, are frequent in the Frith, and sometimes plenty of Herring. The rivers of Spey, Findhorn, Ness, and Farar, abound in Salmon of the best kind; and in all our rivers and brooks, are delicious Trouts and Eels. I have seen, in Spey, some Lampreys, which seem to be of the longer Eel kind, about four feet in length, and of great thickness. In all our Lakes their are Pikes of a very large size, and in many Lochs, particularly in the Loch of Moy, near Macintosh's house, there is so great plenty of fat Trout, called red-wame, (because the belly of it is of a vermilion red), that, at one cast of the net, there will be taken out sometimes upwards of two hundred. In the river Spey there are Pearl Shells, in which I have seen many ripe Pearls, of fine water, and great value.

I shall now conclude this part with an account of the rarities, whether of Nature or of Art, found in this country. And,

1st, The only rarities of art I shall take notice of, are-the Chapter-House, called the Apprentice Isle, in the Cathedral, at Elgin ; for which, See Part VI. Ecclesiastical History, Sect. 3. The Obelisk, near Forres-See Part V. Military History. The Sea Burgh -See Part V. Military History. And the Druid Circles and Cairns -See Part VI. Ecclesiastical History, Sect. 2.

2d, As to natural rarities, the Loch and River of Ness merit our

notice. These never freeze, but retain their natural heat in the most extreme frost. Upon the banks of the Loch, Snow seldom lies two days; and Corn ripens much sooner than in other places. This quality is, probably, owing to mines of Sulphur in and near to the Loch. This Loch, though about twenty-two miles in length, has no Island in it,-in some parts, it has been sounded with a line of about three hundred fathoms, and no bottom found. This depth, with the lightness of the water, makes waves rise very high, yet not broken upon it. What Mr Gordon writes in his Geography, on the authority of Sir George Mackenzie, Advocate, concerning the hill Meal-fuor-vonie, is a mistake. That hill is not two-thirds of a mile of perpendicular height from the surface of the Loch, neither is there any Lake on the top of it.

3d, The Loch of Dundlechack, in the parish of Durris, does not freeze before the month of February; but, in that month, it is in one night covered with Ice. This I have been assured of, by the inhabitants near to it.

4th, The Cascade, or Water Fall, near to Fohir, in Stratherick. Here the river Feachlin, contracted between rocks, falls down a precipice about an hundred feet high, as I conjecture from a bare view of it, and breaking on the rocky shelves, the water is dissipated and rarified, and fills the great hollow with a perpetual mist.

5th, The Caringorum Stones. This mountain, of a great height, is in Kincardine, in Strathspey,—about the top of it, stones are found of a crystal colour, deep yellow, green, fine amber, &c., and very transparent, of a hexagon, octagon, and irregular figure. They are very solid, will cut as well as diamond, and being now in great request, are much searched for, on this, and other hills,—they are cut for Rings, Seals, Pendants, Snuff-Boxes, &c.

6th, In the parishes of Kinnedar and Duffus, there are several Caves,-some are ten or twelve feet high, and it is uncertain how far they extend,—they open to the sea, in a hill of free stone, and,

probably, were formed by the impetuous waves washing away the sand and gravel between the strata of stone.

7th, Chalybeat Mineral Water, at Teynland, in Lhanbride,—at Achterblair, in Duthil,-at Achnagairn, in Kirkhill, and other places,—an unctuous mineral at Miltown of Relugas, in Edinkylie. These are much frequented, and found medicinal in several dis

eases.

8th, The Black Cock, called by some writers of Zoology, Gallus Scoticanus, as peculiar to Scotland. It is the most beautiful fowl of our country, larger in the body than any Capon, of the colour of the Pea Cock, but wanting the proud train, which would retard his flight; he haunts the birch woods in the hills, and is very shy,—although he is not so large in the body as a Goose, he has more flesh, and is more delicious.

9th, I may reckon among our rarities, the Hill of Benalar on the south side of Spey, in the braes of Badenoch. It is not improbable, but this is the highest ground in Scotland; for brooks from it fall into Spey, Lochie, and Tay, and so enter into the sea at Garmouth, Fort-William, and Dundee.

10th, Let me add, as now become a rarity, the Courach. This nautic vessel was, anciently, much used. SOLINUS, Cap. 22, says of the Irish in his day, "Navigant autem vimineis alveis, quos circundant ambitione tergorum bubulorum," a short, but exact, description of the Courach. It is in shape oval, near three feet broad, and four long, a small keel runs from the head to the stern,-a few ribs are placed across the keel, and a ring of pliable wood around the lip of it. The whole machine is covered with the rough hide of an Ox or a Horse, the seat is in the middle, it carries but one person, or if a second goes into it to be wafted over a river, he stands behind the rower, leaning on his shoulders,-in floating timber, a rope is fixed to the float, and the rower holds it in one hand, and with the other manages the paddle; he keeps the float in deep water,

and brings it to the shore when he will,-in returning home, he carries the machine on his shoulders, or on a horse. In Erse, Curach signifies the Trunk or Coat of the Body; and, hence, this vessel had its name, and, probably, its first model.

11th, I shall add but one rarity more, not indeed natural to this country, but adventitious,-I mean the Locust, which came to our coast in July, 1748, and, for ought I know, was never before seen in it. This flying insect is full two inches long in the body, and half an inch round, consisting of several rings or cartilages. The head is in the form of a Lobster's, broad, and covered with strong scales, with two antennæ; the mouth wide, and armed with sharp teeth; the neck and shoulders covered with a scale like a helmet; the eyes large and lively. It has three pair of legs,—the nearest to the head about an inch in length,—the next pair somewhat longer, and both armed with sharp claws,—the third pair, with which it leaps, are two inches long, besides the foot which is nearly half an inch. The leg has an inflexture or joint in the middle; the upper part or thigh, is, in form, like a bird's thigh; the lower half is smaller, but serrated or like a saw; the foot has three glands in the sole to tread softly, and is armed with three claws on the heel, and as many at the point, to take a firm hold; the body is covered with two pair of wings,-the under wing is finer and of a silver colour, and the upper is stronger, and spotted of silver and brown. When the wings are folded, the whole length of the Locust is two inches and a-half. From what country they came here I know not, but they found this climate too cold to generate in.

PART IV.

THE

CIVIL AND POLITICAL HISTORY OF MORAY.

Of the Inhabitants, their Manners, way of Living, and GeniusAgriculture and Improvements-Manufactures, Trade, and Commodities for Export-Civil Government-Feudal Customs -Titles of Honour-Counties, Inverness, Nairn, Moray, or Elgin Regalities-Baronies-The abolishing the Heritable Jurisdictions-Courts of Judicature-Roll of Barons-Royal Burghs, Inverness, Elgin, Nairn, Forres-Burghs of Barony, &c. &c. &c.

It cannot well be doubted, that the ancient inhabitants of this Province were the Picts and Scots,-the one inhabiting the Lowlands on the coast, the other the Highlands among the hills. The Romans called the former Picti, because they painted their bodies; but their true name was Phichtiad, i. e. Fighters, because they were brave and valiant. The ancient writers bring them from the European Scythia; BEDE, Lib. 1, says, “It happened that the Picts from Scythia, as it is said, entered the ocean in long ships. Coming to Britain, they began to reside in the northern parts of the Island, for the Britons had possessed the southern." And NENNIUS, Sect. 9, writes, "The Picts came and possessed the Islands called the Ork