162 The Topography and Flora of Strathdearn. [Sess. 
curve, with farms and shooting-lodges around; then through 
a narrow gorge with precipitous mountains on either side, 
which become higher and wilder as one advances up the 
glen. Some distance farther, or about nine miles from the 
high-road, one comes to another widening of the strath, 
surrounded by an amphitheatre of still higher mountains. — 
This picturesque, peaceful-looking, and very secluded little 
valley is the abode of a colony of crofters, who all appear é 
to be in comfortable circumstances. This and the previous 
expansion of the valley seem to be the beds of ancient lakes 
with the remains of the natural embankments which gave 
them being. Beyond the Coigs (the names of these crof- 
ters’ homes all begin with Coig) the glen becomes wilder, — 
and is entirely given up to game, one of the chief being 
deer. (The whole of this district is great in game.) A 
palatial shooting-lodge, with its electric light, &c, has 
recently been erected just about three miles short of the 
end of the road. ; 
The prevailing rock of the district is granite, of many varie- 
ties as to size of grain. A coarse kind of limestone is got in 
some of the hills near, but is not now worked, though not 
many years ago a good deal was quarried and burned, chiefly — 
for manure; and at each farm-steading, whether standing or in — 
ruins, the remains of a lime-kiln are to be seen. 
Strathdearn, like Strathnaver and many other Highland 
glens, has become greatly depopulated within the last forty — 
years or so; but it seems to have come about more naturally 
than in the case of “ Bonnie Strathnaver,’ about which the late — 
Professor Blackie sang so touchingly. 
In a bend of the river three and a quarter miles up — 
from the bridge on the highroad stands the half- ruinous 
parish church of Dalarossie, surrounded by its ancient burying- | 
ground. In the churchyard there is a stone of very great 
interest, but whose history it is not easy to read. In shape it 
is a roughly made circular basin about 18 inches wide inside, 
and at present it is sunk in the ground in an unused part of 
the burying-ground nearly to the level of the brim. From 
what was said before, it will be seen that Dalarossie (Duler- 
gusy) dates from a remote time, and the popular tradition 
makes this stone to have been the font for the “holy water” 
