9 6 LANDSCAPE AND LITERATURE 



southern side belong to the long and broad chain of 

 uplands which stretches from Portpatrick to Saint Abb's 

 Head. Rising sometimes to more than 2,500 feet 

 above the sea, they stretch as a wide pastoral country, 

 much of which is still covered with ' muirs and mosses 

 many.' These high grounds catch the clouds and mists 

 from the Atlantic, and receive such a copious rainfall 

 as to feed many large streams which cross the lowlands 

 to the sea. The number and size of these streams 

 form a notable feature in the scenery, and the different 

 geological formations through which they flow have 

 contributed to give much variety to their channels. 

 Here they may be seen flowing in a narrow glen, 

 there opening into a wider strath, or creeping sullenly 

 in a narrow chasm between precipitous walls of naked 

 stone, or dashing merrily over rock and boulder beneath 

 overarching trees, or sweeping in wide curves through 

 open meadows or dense woods, and finally carrying 

 their burden of mossy water into the blue firth. 



These streams, with their endless changes of aspect, 

 their variations from season to season, their play ot 

 sunshine and shadow, their wild flowers and their 

 birds, had a strong hold on the affections of Robert 

 Burns. His best inspiration came to him from them. 

 As he tells us himself : 



'The Muse, na Poet ever fand her, 

 Till by himsel he learn'd to wander 

 Adown some trottin' burn's meander, 



An' no think lang; 

 O sweet to stray, an' pensive ponder 



A heart-felt sang.' l 



1 To William Simpson, stanza 15. 



