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CHAPTER XVIII. 



TWEED AND ITS TRIBUTARIES. 



OF our Scottish rivers, Tweed unquestionably ranks 

 next to Tay. This stream, as is well known, has its 

 origin fifteen hundred feet above the level of the sea, 

 in a small spring or well situated at the base of a hill, 

 on the confines of Peebles-shire and within half a mile 

 of the counties of Lanark and Dumfries. From the 

 same hill, issue also the Clyde and Annan, the three 

 rivers intersecting the south of Scotland in different 

 directions, and each maintaining the lead, in point of 

 size, over its particular division. 



The tribute which Tweed receives, before accomplish- 

 ing many miles of its course, is indicative of its after 

 amplitude. On one side, it is increased by the Core, 

 the Menzionburn, the Friud, and the Tala, as well as 

 numerous streams of less magnitude. On the other 

 side, it is supplied by a hundred rills, many of them, 

 during summer, mere threads of water, but when 

 swollen by melted snows, impassable torrents. A small 

 loch termed Gameshope, abounding in trout, is the 

 source of the principal feeder of Tala. On reaching the 

 Crook-inn, Tweed presents every appearance of being 

 an excellent tr outing stream, and as such, is justly 

 appreciated, in its upper, as well as its lower districts. 

 Salmon, or rather bull-trout, there often mistaken on 

 account of their size, for the true solar, find their way 

 up almost to the sources of the river, and are killed, 



