63 



immense cliff between two high mountainous ridges, 

 running from cast to west. The descent from either 

 side is steep and rugged in the extreme. The val- 

 ley is very narrow through which the Moifat makes 

 its way, with many abrupt windings. The river is 

 stretched out like a silver thread as we cast an eye 

 down the vale from any of the surrounding hills. 

 For a considerable distance, the vale does not average 

 more than two or three hundred yards in width ; 

 and the whole scene often recalls to the mind the 

 vale of Tempe, so graphically described by ^Elian. 

 There are here, however, no smoking altars of 

 incense no thickets overshadowing the sides of the 

 stream, to screen the weary traveller from the rays 

 of the sun no convivial parties enjoying themselves 

 in sequestered groves no musical birds warbling 

 among the green branches of the ivy-mantled trees, 

 described in the celebrated defile between Ossa and 

 Olympus ; but, notwithstanding all this, the glen is 

 a scene which, for simplicity and grandeur, cannot 

 easily be rivalled, and the tourist who has once 

 passed through it will not soon forget it. Sir 

 Walter Scott thus dashes off some of its leading 

 features : 



" Through the rude barriers of the lake, 

 Away the hurrying waters break, 

 Faster and whiter, dash and curl, 

 Till down the dark abyss they hurl ; 

 Then issuing forth, one foaming wave, 

 And wheeling round the giant's grave, 

 White as the snowy charger's tail, 

 Drive down the pass of Moffat dale." 



