AUTUMNS ON THE SPEY. 



course, while that of the latter is about north- 

 north-east. It thus flows through the celebrated 

 Strathspey, passing Cromdale which signifies 

 crooked plain, from the semicircular sweep that 

 the Spey takes close by the church and manse.* 

 For several miles the hills forming the banks of 

 the river are clothed with forests of pine, larch, 

 and oak : its elevation here is about 600 feet above 

 the sea. 



A great variety of scenery follows for many 

 miles. Well-wooded hills, cultivated farms, sandy 

 plains, and barren heaths, succeed each other. 

 Soon afterwards the Aven, the most important 

 tributary of the Spey, falls in on the eastern side. 

 The latter now progresses for many miles amidst 

 picturesque scenery in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood of its course, passing near Ballindalloch, 

 Carron, Wester Elchies, and Abcrlour. 



At Craigcllachie the road runs close to the river, 

 at the base of a precipitous bank clothed with fir- 

 trees, which, in some portions of the rock, seem 

 to have fixed their roots in the deep fissures of the 

 granite. Between this and Arndilly, on the east- 

 ern bank, the Fiddich pours its tributary waters 

 into the Spey, and the lofty hill of Ben Aigen 

 appears, and forms the background of the picture 

 DR. LONOMUIR'S Sprynidc. 



