24 BOTANICAL TOUR IN THE 



pastures and numerous herds of Highland slots and queys that 

 graze thereon. The conical-peaked mountains of Ben-ean and 

 Ben More were very remarkable objects in the direction of north- 

 west. The views in the direction of Loch Lomond and Argyle- 

 shire are very extensive and grand. The road for a mile or two 

 passes along a kind of table-land commanding very wide and beau- 

 tiful prospects,, and then the declivity to Lochearn Head begins, 

 and the direction of the hills which bound Lochearn opens out,, 

 and the lake itself expands in all the quiet, secluded beauty of a 

 Highland loch. 



Lochearn is the apex of the fine fertile vale of Strathearn, one 

 of the richest straths* in Scotland. There is not much fertility 

 on the north-west end of the lake, where we were. The ground 

 capable of bearing any profitable alimentary produce, is very 

 limited only a narrow fringe along the borders of the Loch and 

 at the margin of the little stream that feeds it. The husbandry 

 is not superior to the soil. Luxuriant specimens of vegetation 

 we did not see, but we saw noble specimens of humanity. A 

 brawny native, in full Highland costume, nobly displayed the 

 physical qualities of the Celtic race. It is however more than 

 doubtful if the dominant portion of the inhabitants of the High- 

 lands be Celts. There may be some Celtic blood in their arteries 

 and veins, as there is British blood mingling with the vital fluid 

 in the circulatory system of the Sassenach of South Britain. 

 But the Campbells, the Stewarts, the Grahams, the Murrays, 

 the Menzies, and probably the heads of most of the powerful 

 families in the Highlands, are of the Saxon race : originally not 

 Celts at all, but who speak the Celtic language, wear the dress, 

 and practise many of the customs of this ancient race. From 

 these considerations it was inferred that the fine example of the 



* The term Strath properly signifies a valley of considerable width and length 

 through which a river flows ; in modern phrase it is called a river-basin. It is said 

 to be derived from the Celtic Strath, a country confined by hill's and on both sides 

 of a river. Strath may have some relation to the Latin stratum, whence is derived 

 our word street, a way or thoroughfare ; ways or roads being usually constructed 

 along the banks of rivers. Strathmore, the great vale at the foot of the Grampians 

 on the east, is a compound word signifying the Great Strath ; mor, in Celtic, is great. 

 Glen is a narrower vale. Correi is a very narrow ravine, but usually wide enough 

 to afford a way up and across the mountains. Correi is from the same root as 

 the Latin cwrro, " I run," either because water runs in it, or it may afford a space for 

 walking on or climbing in ; for it would in some cases be dangerous to run in High- 

 land Corveis. 



