1845] JOURNAL— SCOTCH TOURS. 129 



Aug. 8. This morning we got a lift to Fort William, where we 

 were peculiarly fortunate in getting beds, as all the inns were over- 

 full every night. At 12 o'clock we went out (that is, Balfour, 

 Cockburn, and I), walked up the right hand side of the water of 

 Nevis for many miles, crossing a very steep and rough mountain 

 road to the iijjper part of the glen, to a fine waterfall, near which 

 the vegetation was particularly vigorous. We returned down the 

 other side of the glen, after examining a very grand and singular 

 ravine through which the river breaks — filled with large rocks one 

 upon another. Here we had much difficulty, and had to return by 

 a different track. We reached Fort William at 8 p.m. On the top 

 of the high ridge which we passed in going up the glen we saw the 

 scratches of glacial action very well marked on the rounded rocks, 

 and crossing the natural lines of structure in the rocks. 



Aug. 9. Went along the Inverness road as far as the Lochy 

 Ferry and then turned over the flat land and ascended into the 

 corrie of Ben Nevis. Examined the rocks and found many plants, 

 amongst others Poa laxa. In the latter part of the day we ascended 

 to the masses of snow which lie in a hollow far up, under the highest 

 part of the mountain. It can scarcely be called snow, it is rather a 

 mass of spherical crystals of ice, each of about the size of mustard- 

 seed. It is broken with difficulty. Near to the snow we found 

 Stellaria cerastoides, Sazifraga rivularis, and a few other plants. We 

 then returned, having started at 9 a.m., and reached home again at 

 6.30 p.m. It was a stormy day, with frequent rains, and the higher 

 parts of the mountain constantly covered with clouds. I was very 

 much struck with the grand character of the cliffs and rocks. They 

 are the finest that I have seen. 



Aicg. 10. Sunday. Attended the Episcopalian Church. 



Aug. 11. Balfour went again upon Ben Nevis, but as it was 

 raining hard on the mountain. Risk and I walked eight-and-a-half 

 miles up the shores of Loch Eil. The view of the mountains 

 towards its head is peculiarly fine. We did not get many plants, 

 only picking a few Eubi 



Aug. 12. Balfour having heard that Dr. Graham was dead, and 

 that the botanical chair at" Edinburgh was thus vacant, we returned 

 towards Glasgow. It was a very fine day, and we saw Glencoe in 

 perfection. Indeed, nothing could be more favourable than the day 

 for the whole journey to Inverarnon. At that place Risk and I 

 remained — Balfour going to Glasgow, and Cockburn to Killin — and 

 we gathered a few plants. 



A ug. 1 4. To Edinburgh. Balfour then looking after the Botanical 

 Professorship. 



Aug. 15. John Goodsir kindly took me into his house at 21, 

 Lothian Street, and I spent most of my time in the rooms of the 

 Botanical Society. 



