16 Mr, Macgilliyray on the Granite of . 



the view of which excites a melancholy feeling, and inspires relu 

 gious awe. Viewed from Ben-na-muic-dui or Ben-na-buird, the 

 mountains seem to have no regular direction, but run amongst each 

 other in long round-backed ridges. The proportional size of the 

 valleys is very small, contrary to the idea which one might form in 

 passing along their bottoms. 



Loch-na-s;ar Group, — The mountain of Loch-na-gar, which is< 

 the highest of those on the southern side of the Dee, is, in certain 

 of its aspects, the most picturesque of the Dee mountains. Viewed 

 from the Spittal of Glen Muic, at the distance of about four milesj 

 its corry and summits present the appearance of a volcanic crater. 

 From a very extended base, bounded by Glen Muic, Loch Muic^ 

 the mountains of the upper part of Glen Callader, and the Dee 

 from Invercauld to near Ballater, it rises in long acclivities and 

 rounded masses, sometimes with abrupt faces, to the base of its 

 summits and precipices. On the eastern side, under the two highest 

 summits, is a semicircular range of magnificent cliffs, which, at the 

 eastern extremity, are about a thousand feet in height. The whole 

 mountain consists of granite, having nearly the same appearance ag 

 that of the Ben-na-muic-dui and Ben-na-buird groups, but in ge- 

 neral smaller in the grain and less red. The fissures in the pre- 

 cipices are nearly perpendicular, with transverse rents, giving the 

 rock the appearance of being stratified. An enormous quantity of 

 blocks and fragments lies on the slopes at the base of these rocks^ 

 which are separated by several deep gaps, and variously broken into 

 ridges and shelves. At the base of the slope is a small lake with 

 dark brown water. Toward the west of the highest summit, an-^ 

 other range of precipices stretches along the flattish summit of the 

 mountain. These are of inferior elevation, but present the same 

 general appearances, and have also a lake at their base. The loose 

 blocks and stones which in some places cover the summits and 

 sfides, are less disintegrated than those of the Ben-na-muic-dui and 

 Ben-na-buird groups, and are partially crusted with lichens and 



The granitic mountains of the Grampian range are very differ- 

 ent from the micaceous, the former being broad and massy, with 

 rounded or flattened summits, while the latter rise into narrower 

 summits, and have generally a less extended base. Loch-na-gar, 

 in fact, presents an extensive group of summits, ridges and preci- 

 pices separated by hollows and valleys. Its slopes are more rapid 

 toward Loch Muic, which is bounded laterally by rather steep hills 

 of moderate elevation. At the upper end of this lake is a semicir*. 

 cular hollow or corry, opening northward into a rugged glen, bound- 

 ed by high mountains, and at its upper part by magnificent preci- 

 pices, named the East and West Craigs, with a lake, named the 

 Duloch, at their base. The waters of this lake are dark- coloured, 

 as are those of the stream that issues from it, on which is a beau- 

 tiful fall, about half a mile from Loch Muic. 



