RESULTS OF A RESIDENCE AT FOCHABERS. Ill 



come down it some sixty miles or so ; and to see these rafts 

 chasing each other down, one is very easily reminded of 

 Cooper's novels, emigration, Henry Russell's lectures, and 

 American life in all its phases. 



Then as we look eastward through the village, a hill 

 heavily crowned with Scotch fir also completely blocks the 

 view ; and so black and dark this hill always looked to me, 

 even in brightest sunshine, that it cast quite a melancholy 

 over the scene ;* and if we wander round its base by the 

 great north road, we observe a great yawning distorted rift 

 entirely dividing the hills, and down it in rainy seasons the 

 w T ater rushes rapidly, discharging itself into the Spey. This 

 is called the Burn of Fochabers ; and as we still wander on, 

 in all directions is to be seen these curious zigzag rifts ter- 

 minating in the first named one. The sections show that 

 these rifts are composed of red sand and pebbles, — a kind 

 of uncemented conglomerate. "When the sun shines full 

 upon them they produce a very brilliant effect, and the fore- 

 shortening of shadows give to the places over which they 

 fall a strange and undefinable appearance. It had quite a 

 charm for me to get up here of an evening and watch the 

 clouds veil the shadows, now thrusting themselves down into 

 the lowest crevices — in an instant at the top of them, and 

 then as suddenly bounding away and spreading out as they 

 receded until they topped the hills and disappeared altogether. 

 Happiness seemed to have her throne here — everything 

 was so peaceful ; and that strange sensation which creeps over 



* In the wood which covers this hill are two or three large patches of 

 a scarce plant (Linnaa borealis). I searched very carefully for larvae upon 

 it, but without meeting with any ; still it is my conviction, that some- 

 thing good might be detected feeding upon it. These patches are not 

 easily found, and I cannot describe their exact position here ; but I be- 

 lieve, were any one visiting this place and asking Mr. Webster (men- 

 tioned at p. 113), he would have much pleasure in directing him to them. 

 He is exceedingly kind and obliging. 



