LuCH-CUERAN. BARCALDINE.- -AI'PIN. 87 



sublime, which delights the eye and interests the imagination, and the charm 

 of which is so greatly increased by the soft repose infused into the landscape. 

 At particular periods of the tide, the water rushes out of Loch-etive with a force 

 and turmoil resembling those of a vast cataract. This phenomenon is caused 

 by the contracted channel at its mouth, and a reef of rocks under water. The 

 roar of the water is sometimes so loud as to be heard at the distance of several 

 miles ; but the fall is visible only during spring-tides, and at low water. This 

 remarkable current is believed to be the stream of Lora, celebrated by Ossian. 



Loch-creran possesses nearly the same character in point of scenery the same 

 union of the sublime and picturesque, which distinguishes the surrounding lakes. 

 Its banks are luxuriantly hung with romantic woods, diversified with rocks 

 and promontories, and embellished with rural seats of the landed proprietors, 

 and others, who select these delightful shores for their summer residence. 

 Barcaldine Castle, a lofty and massive structure, occupying a slight eminence 

 on the plain to the south of the lake, thjrows an imposing feature into the 

 landscape, and conjures up many traditions and warlike associations with deeds 

 of the " olden time." The baronial mansions of Airds, Appin, and Ardshiel, 

 are in the immediate neighbourhood ; and, independently of the splendid scenery 

 in which they are embosomed, each has its domestic annals its tales of suffering 

 or of loyal service, which invest the district of Appin with a peculiar charm, 

 and linger in the mind long after the mere landscape has vanished away. To 

 these we shall very briefly advert; but where such materials abound, it is as 

 difficult to select as it would be ungracious to omit. The more prominent 

 features of the local history, the modern Ariosto has transferred to his graphic 

 page, and what he has adopted he has adorned. 



It is a remarkable fact, that, although surrounded by so many powerful and 

 ambitious neighbours, the Stewarts of Appin preserved their estates entire during 

 the long lapse of four centuries. The first laird of Appin was a natural son of 

 Lord Lorn, the last of the name of Stewart who possessed that title and estate. 

 It appears to have been the intention of Lorn to marry the mother of his son, 

 and thereby legitimize their offspring ; but this honourable intention was defeated 

 by his sudden death, which was supposed to have been accelerated by those 

 who only beheld in the contemplated union the advancement of a rival, and the 

 ruin of their own prospects. The estates, therefore, went to three daughters, 

 coheiresses of Lorn, the eldest of whom married the earl of Argyll, with the 

 lordship and estate of Lorn for her dowry. The second married Sir Colin 

 Campbell of Glenorchy, (see Kilchurn,) uncle to the earl, and received in portion 

 the lands on the north side of Loch-awe, and part of Nether Lorn. The third 



