'52 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



Immediately below this scene, the turmoil of the waters subsides into smooth 

 dark linns, while the rocks at the same time recede and give place to daisied 

 banks, and sweet patches of corn-fields. 



On the southern bank of the river, on a high conical mound, rising above a 

 perpendicular sheet of rock, is the vitrified structure of Dunfion,* recently thrown 

 open to public inspection by the taste and liberality of Mr. Fraser, of Lovat, 

 who has also formed a beautiful drive along his own side of the river, so as to 

 include this interesting and romantic scenery. At the further end of the 

 Drhuim, the road begins to ascend towards the interior of the country ; and 

 here the river is seen pouring down on each side of a high rounded hill, covered 

 with oak and birch, at the lower extremity of which it forms the second set of 

 small but beautiful cataracts. This wooded hill is the island of Aigas for 

 the river parts into two and encircles it noted as having been the temporary 

 retreat to which Simon, the last Lord Lovat, conducted the dowager Lady Lovat, 

 whom he had forced to become his wife when letters of fire and sword were 

 issued against him, and the principal families of his clan, by King William, 

 in 1697.f 



The ancient Priory of Beauly stands on a fertile spot near the brink of the 

 river, surrounded by aged trees, which give to its venerable walls an air of 

 congenial sanctity and seclusion. The name, beau lieu, was no doubt suggested 

 by the beauty of the situation. It was founded in 1230 by John Bisset, of 

 Lovat, but received various additions from his successor. The monks belonged 

 to the order of Valliscaulium, a reform of the Cistercian, and following the 

 rule of St. Benoit, or Benedict. They were introduced from France by Malvoisin, 

 bishop of St. Andrews, about the period above named ; and established also 

 at Pluscardine in Elginshire, and Ardchattan in Argyll. They led an austere 

 and solitary life, and afforded, says Mr. Anderson, " an asylum within these 

 walls to many natives of the Highlands, whom either bodily infirmity, or a 

 distaste for the coarse manners of their countrymen, disqualified for more active 

 occupations. The remains of an orchard still attest the fertility of the ground, 

 and the attention which the good old monks paid to horticulture. At the 

 Reformation, when the last prior resigned it along with his lands in trust to 

 Lord Lovat, its revenues were considerable. It is now a mere shell ; the roof 

 is fallen in, the area occupied with rubbish, and the closely set graves of the 

 Clan Fraser and their allies. Beside the high altar repose the ashes of the 



The cross sections of this vitrified fort displayed several layers of charcoa, earth, and bones, 

 f See the description of this and the adjacent scenery in the highly interesting " Guide to the Highlands," 

 already quoted ; an indispensable Vade-Mecum for the northern counties. 



