THE ADD 371 



because Ptolemy, in his famous exploration of our savage land, 

 called it Longus Fluvius. I am indebted to Col. Malcolm of 

 Poltalloch, who has seen a reputed copy of Ptolemy's very 

 early map, for an explanation of this expression. The map 

 indicates the mouth of a river clearly not corresponding to the 

 present Add, but of a river flowing from the south end of the 

 present Loch Awe. If, as Col. Malcolm believes, the great 

 fracture of Ben Cruachan and consequent outlet from Loch 

 Awe at the Pass of Brander occurred about 840 or 841 A.D., 

 and the former outlet was from the long southern extension 

 of the loch where Ford now is, this would explain a Longus 

 fluvius. In one continuous line we would then have the water 

 of Tulla, the Orchy, Loch Awe, and the lower river the proto- 

 type of the Awe falling into Crinan Bay. This would give a 

 waterway of over 60 miles. The Dalriads probably left 

 Dunadd, a fortified hill above the mouth of this large river, 

 after the change in outflow from Loch Awe so markedly reduced 

 their access to the sea. An examination of the valley between 

 Ford and the present Add shows clear indications of a former 

 large river channel and of a rocky outlet with deep pools below 

 Ford. 



The present Add is only 16 miles long, and can never have 

 been longer. It rises from a number of small burns on the 

 hills behind Furnace on Lochfyne side, and takes a direction, 

 behind those hills, parallel to the long axis of Upper Lochfyne. 

 It has here a rapid and rocky course, coming down its hill 

 tract some 400 feet in about 4 miles. When about 300 feet 

 above sea-level it suddenly bends to the north-west, and in 

 about a mile and a half it passes out upon the northern part 

 of the flattish moor through which the Crinan Canal is cut. 



At Glassary the Add is only 50 feet above sea-level, and it 

 has still 6 miles to go to the sea at the western end of Crinan 

 Canal. Through this last stretch of flat country the river 

 meanders in deeply-cut loops. This is the best fishing section, 

 although near the mouth and practically in the estuary some 

 great takes of sea-trout are repoited to have been made. In 

 the sluggish waters of this chief section a strong breeze is 

 usually necessary to success in angling, and on account of the 

 highness of the banks the river having eroded the peat and 

 earth deeply the breeze can scarcely be too strong upstream. 



