15G SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



fashion, is chiefly remarkable for its town-hall a curious old building, situated 

 near its centre, and surmounted with a spire and clock. On the north side is 

 the new church, a plain edifice ; and, in its neighbourhood, an obelisk, to the 

 memory of the first earl of Cromarty, secretary of state for Scotland in the reign 

 of Queen Anne, and whose life and eccentricities are so well known. The 

 powerful earls of Ross had once a castle here, the foundations of which are still 

 visible ; and here, also, they held their courts. The waters of the Frith come 

 close up to the town, but, owing to its being too shallow for that purpose, the 

 mouth of an adjoining stream has been deepened and formed into a canal for 

 admission of small vessels. 



About two miles up the vale of Strathpeffer, is Knockfarrel, on the summit 

 of which is one of the finest specimens in the kingdom of those equivocal struc- 

 tures called vitrified forts several of which we have already noticed and which, 

 in various parts of the kingdom, have been discovered and partly described, to 

 the number of forty-nine. In the same vale, a little higher up, are the chalybeate 

 wells of Strathpeffer, much frequented in the fine season, and with many testi- 

 monials in favour of their medicinal virtues. 



If the name of Cawdor Castle as a popular writer* has well observed be 

 not of itself sufficient to excite curiosity, the beauties of its situation, the 

 freshness in which all its appurtenances of ancient feudal gloom, and grandeur, 

 and means of defence, still remain, will amply recompense the stranger for anv 

 trouble he may be put to in visiting it. Perched upon a low rock, overhanging 

 the bed of a Highland torrent, and surrounded on all sides by the largest forest 

 trees, which partly conceal the extent of its park, it stands a relic of the work 

 of several ages a weather-beaten tower, encircled by later and less elevated 

 dwellings. The whole is inclosed within a moat, and approachable only by a 

 drawbridge, which rattles on its chains just as in the years long gone by. The 

 staircase the iron-grated doors and wickets the large baronial kitchen, partly 

 formed out of the native rock the hall the antiquated furniture the carved 

 chimney-pieces and mantle-shelves the rich and storied tapestry, and even the 

 grotesque family mirrors in use two centuries ago, are religiously preserved by 

 the family who still inhabit their ancestral halls. In this castle, according to 

 local tradition, the good King Duncan was murdered by Macbeth, his sister's 

 son. But, as we have already stated, the infamy of being the scene of that 

 deed is also claimed by the castle at Inverness, and another in the neighbourhood 

 of Elgin : but few would feel an interest in searching out the disagreeable 

 truth on this point, even were it now practicable to do so. Of the " Thanes 



* Mr. Anderson of Inverness. See his " Guide to the Highlands." 



