THE SALMON. 193 



Locally, they are called " giants' kettles ;" and the 

 country people regard them as the productions of men 

 or of magic, though they be simply the effect of the 

 stream dissolving the softer parts of the rock. It is 

 probable that they have been produced by little cas- 

 cades, caused by interruptions that are now worn 

 away ; as they are found under those cascades which 

 still exist. The Keith is a remarkable one. The 

 river has cut a channel for itself in the upper surface 

 of the mass of breccia, by which, during drought, it is 

 almost concealed, and it is so pent up in the gorge, 

 that an agile and adventurous person could at these 

 times jump across. In this gorge, there is still par- 

 tially concealed, under the rocks, a fall of about thirteen 

 feet in height, which would not prevent the ascent of 

 the salmon on account of its height, but does so when 

 the river is low, on account of the great velocity with 

 which the water passes through and discharges itself 

 from the narrow gorge. The pool, or kettle, into 

 which the water falls, is of great depth, not less than 

 thirty feet. During a long continuance of dry weather, 

 the salmon accumulate in it in considerable numbers ; 

 and in a favourable state of the light, they may be seen, 

 not merely covering the extent from side to side, but 

 actually built, as it were, one stratum above another, 

 all hanging suspended in the water, and waiting till a 

 flood shall come, and, by filling the gorge, overflow the 

 rocks, and thus convert the fall into a brawling rapid 

 which they can ascend. As this place is much further 

 from the sea than the fall at Kilmorac, the fish are not 

 in so good condition when they arrive at it ; but great 

 numbers of them are caught by a bag-net on the end 



