2 AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 



district of Lochaber, among lofty precipitous 

 mountains. This insignificant sheet of water, 

 little more than a quarter of a mile in length, 

 and considerably less in breadth, is the undoubted 

 source of this glorious river; and although several 

 tributaries fall into the parent stream, yet none 

 are sufficiently important to deserve a higher 

 title. During its early career, the surrounding 

 hills are bleak, barren, and comparatively uninte- 

 resting, but where the new Highland railway 

 crosses it, a few miles before reaching Kingussie, 

 they assume a different character ; and the tra- 

 veller, while sitting at his ease in a coupe of the 

 Limited Mail train, may enjoy for many miles one 

 of the finest panoramic views of romantic scenery 

 that the British Islands can afford. On the north- 

 west the long chain of the Monadliadh or grey 

 mountains stretches away into the distance. 

 On the south-east rise the still loftier and grander 

 Grampians, with Ben McDhui and Cairngorm, 

 and other giants of the group, capped occasionally, 

 even at this season, with snow. Gradually the 

 hills on either side diminish, as they approach 

 the fiver, until they terminate in an extensive 

 valley advancing towards the north, through which 

 the Spey meanders for many miles in the midst of 

 most magnificent scenery. Several small lakes 



