■«-79^' Orhian canal. 14c 



througli without great difficulty, and at a considerable ex- 

 pence y and lastly, there would be great difficulty in find- 

 ing water to supply the waste by lockage ; nor does it ap- 

 pear probable that a quantity sufficient could, in any way, 

 be obtained to supply that waste, (hould the intercourse 

 ever become considerable. 



On the other hand, though the cut at Crinan must b© 

 longer, and the rise upon the whole greater than at Tarbat, 

 vet the conveniences that would result from it, were it 

 once made, appear to be much more than sufficient \a 

 counterbalance these. 



. . The entry into loch Crinan is wide, and would admit 

 of vefsels sailing out of it almost with any wind ; and 

 velsels going southward or northward with a fair wind, 

 would not suffer any retardment by being obliged to alter 

 their course. 



The bottom of the valley through which the cut 

 must be carried is, for the most part, soft ground j and the 

 principal rock they would meet with in their course is lime 

 stone, which would pay well for the digging of it j and, last- 

 ly, it can command a supply of water, with scarcely any 

 -expence, that would be much more than sufficient for any 

 ■navigation that could ever be expected to take place there. 

 Indeed the convenience in this respect is such here, as to 

 be almost unrivalled any where, a«d therefore deserves ta 

 be slightly specified. 



Gn an eminence at one side of the valley there is at' 

 present a frefli water loch (lake) of great extent, which 

 fcims a natural reservoir, that supplies a perennial stream.' 

 that at present flows through the valley. The outlet 

 from this lake Is a narrow pafs, which, if closed up with a 

 , proper dam, leaving a sluice for the purposes wanted, the 

 surface of this loch might be raised five or six feet 

 -iljgher than at present j in which case it would find for 



