34 Mn. Ferguson on the 



a bam had washed out a chasm in the clay, at least 30 or 40 feet deep> 

 showing that the deposit is of very considerable thickness. 



Between this spot, CoUieston, and Ythan mouth, lies the old parish of 

 Forvie. For many years this tract of country, extending some three or 

 four miles along the coast, has been covered with sand to a great depth. 

 The remains of the church walls were, even at a recent date, still traceable 

 above the sand on the high lands near the shore. 



Passing northwards from ColliestOn, we have the same high precipitous 

 coast line for several miles, but so indented by creeks and narrow tor- 

 tuous ravines, as to render the walk along the shore a very long one. 

 Numerous caves are met with, some of them of great extent. Many of 

 them enter from the sea, others are far above the sea level, indicating 

 change in it. One of these latter I explored last summer. It was of 

 considerable height, and after going about 45 yards into the rock, it 

 descended abruptly. 



On a high rock jutting out into the sea, stand the ruins of the ancient 

 castle of Slains. To the north of it is a fine bay, with a beautiful sandy 

 beach ; but within a yard or two of the shore, numerous sunken reefs, and 

 rocks just raising their ridges above the surface of the water, render the 

 navigation of the coast very dangerous. 



Not far from this point, still northward, is a very extensive cave called 

 the " Dripping Cove." It difi'ers from the last in that it occurs in lime- 

 stone, and is fiUed with stalactites and stalagmites. I had often heard 

 of it, and searched for it long and minutely, though in vain. It seems 

 that the overlying clay, which is continuous all along the cliffs, has fallen 

 in mass over its mouth, and completely shut it up. I examined all the 

 brae, and climbed down to the sea level, and examined the rocks below. 

 A stream of water, strongly charged with calcareous matter, was falling 

 over the cliff, and covering the rocks with a limey incrustation. This 

 water was actually percolating through the cave ; but so completely is it 

 now closed, that though, as I afterwards learned, I must have passed and 

 repassed the very spot where it was, it yet remained undiscovered. 

 Near this, where the clay reaches the edge of the cliff, it is fringed there 

 with tall grass. When the culms have withered and fallen over the cliff, 

 the water from the high ground above runs along them dropping from 

 their points, and such is the perpendicularity of the cliff, falls from 100 

 to 150 feet into the water below. 



As I have already stated, the principal rocks met with on this portion 

 of the coast, are gneiss and mica slate. The next parish, that of Cruden, 

 carries on the coast seven miles farther. The gneiss and mica slate, 

 extend part of this way, after which there are two miles of a broad sandy 

 beach, called the Ward of Craden. The south end of this beach is 

 marked by a remarkable reef of sunken rocks running out far into the sea, 

 called the Scars of Cruden. It is terminated towards the north by pre- 

 cipitous cliffs of red granite, which extend from this point onwards beyond 

 Peterhead. 



