AND FORT WILLIAM. 427 



eaft fide ; who, far removed from the feat of govern- 

 ment, Edinburgh, Glafgow, tnd other commercial 

 marts, lie under the fame inconveniencies, climate 

 and foil cxceptcd, u the Hebrides and wcilcrn 

 fhore. 



This diftricl was confidereti of fuch importance in 

 antient timei, as to draw thithrr the fierce Danes 

 ind other warlike people, from the northern hive of 

 Scandinavia ; who, as appears from hiftory, tradi- 

 tion, hieroglyphic pillars, urns, >iher monu- 

 ments, maintained a long and bloody ftruggle, in 

 the hopes of a final eftablifhment -, which, however, 

 they could not effect. 



Leaving thofe ages of hoftility, we (hall attempt 

 i review of thefc (bores in their prcfcnt half- im- 

 proved (late. 



Invernefs, capital of the north, a town of great an- 

 tiquity, and occafionally the feat of kings, (lands in 

 the centre of a line of coaft extending above 270 

 in length. The northern fide reaches to Dungf- 

 byhead,at the eaft entrance of the Pentland Firth, and 

 thence to Cape Wrath on the weft. This diftridb 

 lies on the north fide of the propofed communica- 

 tion with the weft fca, and comprehends the coun- 

 ties of Rofs, Sutherland, and Caithnefs, which com- 

 pofe the third natural divifion of the kingdom. It is 

 entirely a Highland country ; tho' along the eaft coaft 

 the inhabitants fpeak both languages promifcouOy. 

 The mountains of the Wi-ft Highlands generally ex- 

 tend to the fea, which in many parts they over hang in 

 a bold magnificence. Ontru iide, nature hath 



been more indulgent. 1 he diftrift around Invcr- 

 vcl and fertile; as alfo the whole coaft of 

 Rofs(hire to the diftancc of 20 miles from the fca, 

 producing good crops of wheat, oats, and bar- 

 ley. After pafling the Firth of Dornoch into Su- 

 therland, the low coui in breadth, 

 and at the northern boundary of that county, the 



mountains 



