454 SITU ATIONS FOR TOWNS 



for thr relief of the people, and the various purpofes 

 of navigation, commerce and filherics, br re- 



fentcd to government, a cuftom-houfe was built at 

 the head of the bay, but neither key, wharf, nor 

 ftorehoufe. The want of a key was found fo very 

 inconvenient, that the collector and c Her of 



the place, expended out of their pitiful i alary, 

 about 20!. in running out a little dike, to which a 

 fmall veflel may lay her fide, and this is the port of 

 Oban. The town confifts of two or three flated 

 houfes, viz. the cuftom-houfe, and the inn ; alfo 

 a few huts built in the Highland ftyle. 



Fortunately the parifh church is within 4 miles ; 



a fhort ftep for a Sunday mornings exercife, com- 



d to 20 miles, the medium diftance mother parts. 



Two merchants refide at Oban, the landlord of 

 the inn and his brother ; who jointly carry on the 

 whole trade of the place. They fupply the conti- 

 nent and iflands with meal from the eaft coaft, by 

 the Pentland firth j and with other necefiaries, from 

 Glafgow, by the mull of Cantire. They have alfo 

 a concern in the remaining herring bufs fifhery be- 

 forementioned ; and here I faw the crew of a veflel 

 go through a dole examination refpecting their age, 

 refidence, &c. at the cuftom-houfe, on their clearing 

 out for Loch Broom. They were in general fhort, 

 but (lout young men, and feemed to be in good 

 fpirits ; they loved Rodney with all their hearts, and 

 did not fear the Monfieurs and the Dons j no, nor 

 the Mynheers neither, fhould they all three come 

 athwart the Britifh line, 



3. LOCH SUNART. Northward of Oban lies 

 Loch Etive, a narrow inlet of confiderable length ; 

 Loch Crerin, and the Linnhe Loch, whofe waters 

 almoft environ Upper Lorn, a country abounding in 

 piclurefque views. 



On the north fide of the Linnhe Loch is the lad 

 diftrict of Argylefhirc, called Morven *, environed 



* The native country of Fingal, the Caledonian monarch, of 

 whofe exploits the Highlands abound in traditionary longs, and 

 wonderful ftories. 



alfo 



