SAND-FLOOD IN MORAYSHlRE 369 



Sand-Flood in Morayshire* 



" Westward from the mouth of the river Findhorn in 

 Moray shire, a district, consisting of upwards often square 

 miles of land, which, owing to its extreme fertility, was 

 once termed the Granary of Moray, has been depopu- 

 lated and rendered utterly unproductive by the sand- 

 flood. This barren waste may be characterised as hilly ; 

 the accumulations of sand composing these hills frequent- 

 ly varying in their height, and changing their situation. 



There is historical evidence, that, in the year 1097, 

 the Moray Firth overflowed the low country on its south- 

 ern shore, and threw out sand. But the destruction of 

 the barony of Coubine (which includes the greater part 

 of the desert mentioned above) was long subsequent to 

 this, as might be proved from the inscription on a tomb- 

 stone in the church yard of Dyke. From historical no- 

 tices, also, in regard to the Kinnairds of Coubine, pre- 

 paring for publication, it appears that the eruption of 

 sand commenced about the year 1 677 ; that its progress 

 was gradual ; that, in 1697, not a vestige was to be seen 

 of the manor-place, orchards, and offices of Coubine ; 

 that two-thirds of the barony were already ruined, and 

 that the sand was daily gaining ground. 



This sand, which overwhelmed Coubine, came from 

 Mavieston, situated on the shore, about seven miles west 

 from the mouth of the Findhorn, where, from time im- 

 memorial, there have been large accumulations of sand. 

 The sands at Mavieston had formerly been covered with 

 vegetation. In an act of the Scottish Parliament, dated 

 16th July 1695, for the preservation of lands adjacent 

 to sand-hills, it is stated, that the destruction of Con- 



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