SCOTLAND (NATURAL PRODUCTIONS). 



155 



of hills, connected with the mountains of Carrick on 

 the west, and with those of Selkirkshire and Lam- 

 mermuir on the east. The Cheviot Hills extend 

 along the south-east border of Roxburghshire ; and 

 connected with them, on the north, are Cocklaw, 

 Ruherslaw, the Wisp, the Dunian, and other 

 mountain heights. Ben Nevis, situated northward 

 of the great chain of the Grampians, in the parish 

 of Kilmallie, Inverness-shire, is the highest moun- 

 tain in Great Britain, its summit being 4370 feet 

 above the level of the sea. Ben Lawers, near 

 Kenmore, in Perthshire, is a conical peak, the top 

 of which is 4015 feet above the sea; and Ben Ivas, 

 or Wyvis, in the parish of Fodderty, Ross-shire; 

 Ben More, near Loch Dochart, in Perthshire ; and 

 Cairn Eilar, or the Hill of Eagles, at the junction 

 of the counties of Perth, Inverness, and Aberdeen, 

 are of a height somewhat inferior to that of Ben 

 Lawers. 



The valleys of Scotland claim attention next to 

 her mountains. Many of them are intersected by 

 rivers and lakes, and exhibit the most picturesque 

 scenery. Stretching transversely across the island, 

 from sea to sea, is the Great Glen of Caledonia, with 

 its chain of lakes, now connected so as to form the 

 Caledonian Canal ; Strathmore, or the Great valley, 

 traverses the kingdom from Stonehaven in Kincar- 

 dineshire to the district of Cowal in Argyleshire, 

 between the Grampian hills on the north, and the 

 Sidlaws, Ochils and Lennox hills on the south ; and 

 another great but irregular valley extends from the 

 Moss of Kincardine in Perthshire, south of the 

 river Teith, to Clydesdale in Lanarkshire, chiefly 

 lying between the Forth and the Clyde, and traver- 

 sed from east to west by the canal which unites 

 those rivers. The Carse of Gowrie, in Perthshire, 

 is a fine tract of vale land ; and the straths and 

 glens of limited extent are numerous, including the 

 fruitful districts of Strathblane in the shires of 

 Stirling and Dumbarton, Stratherne in that of 

 Perth, Glendevon in the same county, Glenorchay in 

 Argyleshire, Glenbervie in Kincardineshire, and 

 Glenkensin the stewartryof Kirkcudbright, watered 

 by the streams from which they respectively derive 

 their appellations. The level tracts, called moors 

 and mosses, generally barren, unless where the land 

 has been reclaimed by human industry, are more 

 numerous, and cover a wider extent of surface, than 

 those in South Britain. Some of these wastes have 

 been rendered very productive, by the operations of 

 skill and enterprise. 



Scotland is divided into thirty-three counties, of 

 very unequal sizes. Some of the larger shires were 

 originally provinces, and others of smaller extent, 

 sheriffwicks, an appellation sometimes yet retained. 

 The various shires will be found described under 

 their proper heads. The following table exhibits 

 the extent of the several counties of Scotland. It 

 was constructed from Arrowsmith's large map of 

 Scotland, by Mr Jardine and Sir George Stuart 

 Mackenzie. The map of Scotland constructed by 

 Arrow-smith, is perhaps the best that has hitherto 

 been published. It does contain a few errors in 

 the position of places, and a few in the courses of 

 rivers, but none have yet been discovered that can 

 affect the present calculation in any material de- 

 gree. On the whole, the table may be regarded as 

 the nearest approximation to truth hitherto at- 

 tempted. By the term water, mentioned in the sub- 

 sequent table, is to be understood only the fresh 

 water of lochs ; that of rivers and salt water firths 

 not being included : . 



e Orkney and Shetland foi 



nly one county. 



Natural productions. The most plentiful miner- 

 als of Scotland are lead, iron, and coal. The lead 

 mines are in the south of Lanarkshire and in Dum- 

 fries-shire. A mine of silver was formerly opened 

 in the Ochils; but it now furnishes only cobalt. 

 A small portion of silver is found in the ore of 

 Scottish lead. Copper has been found in different 

 places, but in small quantities. Mercury is not 

 unknown ; but the quantity procured is very incon- 

 siderable. A productive mine of antimony has 

 been opened in Dumfries-shire. Iron is found in 

 many places; and the quantity is such, as to supply 

 several of the greatest works any where to be seen. 

 The quantity of iron manufactured at Carron alone 

 is very great. Coal is not less plentiful than iron, 

 forming a source of wealth to the country, and 

 greatly aiding the manufacturer in many of his 

 undertakings. It is supposed that the largest 

 untouched field of coal in Europe exists in Scot- 

 land, in that singular tract of barren country in 

 Carluke and Caftibusnethan parishes, on the north 

 of the Clyde ; from thence continuing, at intervals, 

 as far as Douglas parishes, Glenbuck and Muirkirk 

 in Ayrshire, and thence to the town of Ayr. The 



