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The former is separated from the great chain of the 

 Grampians by a wild and desolate tract called Moor 

 Rannoch. The mountain is easily ascended by the 

 western side ; and at the height of fifteen hundred 

 feet, the prospect opens out, and displays to the 

 traveller's eye the Paps of Jura, and several of the 

 Hebride islands. At two thousand feet all vegeta- 

 tion ceases ; and near the summit the snow, in con- 

 siderable depth, is found throughout the whole year. 

 From its highest point, the visible horizon embraces 

 an area of 120 miles. The mountain of Mealfour- 

 vonie is not near so high as Ben Nevis, but it stands 

 in an imposing locality, and is a very sublime fea- 

 ture of nature. " The view from the summit is of 

 vast extent, and highly impressive. We stand in 

 the midst of an amphitheatre of hills, old as the 

 creation, and command a view of the Caledonian 

 Valley, or Great Glen of Albin. The whole course 

 of the canal, with its chain of lakes Loch Ness, 

 Loch Oich, and Loch Lochy were at our feet, 

 extending in a direct silvery line of sixty miles. 

 Six lakes, and numerous tarns, or pools, were in 

 front; and in the gorge, through which the river 

 Foyers rushes, the top of the fall was visible like 

 a white streamer. Ben Nevis, and the mountains of 

 Skye, Kintail, Strathglass, and round to Ben "Wyvis, 

 formed a sublime rampart. All of them were more 

 or less covered with snow, and their variously 

 shaped peaks and forms rose tier above tier, undu- 

 lating against the sky, some clear and sunny, others 

 dark and rugged. The coldness of the atmosphere 



