67 



considerable quantities. The waters of the stream 

 issue from among the dusky mountains in the south. 

 The scenery on their banks is a constant theme of 

 exultation among the inhabitants of the neighbour- 

 hood. 



The Nith is not, by many anglers, considered a first- 

 rate water for salmon and trout fishing ; yet it is well 

 entitled to a visit by any one who has not previously 

 seen the country on and around its banks. A tour 

 along its waters is highly interesting in the summer 

 months. It has a great range, amounting to above a 

 hundred miles, taking all its windings and doublings 

 into account, and presents to the eye an agreeable 

 diversity of landscapes, the majority of which are, 

 however, of the bleak and rugged kind. The moun- 

 tains of Nithdale are exceedingly interesting. From 

 the tops of their lofty heights an extensive and 

 magnificent view is obtained of the greater part of 

 the west and south of Scotland. On the south we 

 recognise the range of the Galloway hills ; on the 

 west, the desolate solitudes of Kyle ; on the east, 

 the heathy mountains of Crawford Moor ; and on 

 the north, the majestic Tinto, waving afar his misty 

 mantle, and revealing through the opening of its 

 folds the rudy and fiery scars which the angry ele- 

 ments have made on his shaggy and time-worn sides. 

 The dark blue mountain of Criefnl is likewise a con- 

 spicuous object in the upper part of Mthdale. It 

 commands an extensive view over the Solway Firth, 

 and a large tract of land lying towards the west. 

 The scenery in the immediate locality of the nioun- 



