HIGHLANDS OF PERTHSHIRE. 4A7 
where the fare is excellent and the charges moderate. Our Gillie 
trudged along with the impedimenta (the impediments of travel- 
ling) ; his clatter was interesting, for he knew the Highlands of 
Perthshire, and the Lowlands too, it may be presumed. He was 
able to point out the chief mountains of the former, and the posi- 
tion and direction of the passes, lochs, and rivers of both. His 
acquaintance with the prominent outlines of the country was 
serviceable, for he knew all the towns of Perthshire, their dis- 
tances and bearing from each other; and being besides a person 
of observant habits, he was pretty well qualified to aid those who 
wished to be acquainted with the physical, moral, and religious 
condition of the occupants of the country, as well as to see 
something of its picturesque beauties. From Dunblane to 
Doune the country is open, and has a bare appearance, fringed 
or dotted here and there with woods, rather than adorned with 
trees. The Scotch are a thrifty people. Trees are very useful as 
shelter, but they are often detrimental to the operations of agri- 
culture. The country however is not unenclosed ; but the fences 
have more of a useful than of an ornamental character. The 
road is of an up-hill and down-vale nature ; nothing hinders the 
the traveller from getting a glimpse of the scenery in all situa- 
tions, and generally a good view is obtainable. 
Soon after seven o’clock we reached Doune, a half-highland, 
half-lowland town, of no great pretensions either for its size or its 
situation. Here the Teith, the most important tributary of the 
Forth, is a fine and rapid river; it sets in motion the immense 
wheels of the celebrated Deanston cotton-mills. The castle of - 
Doune stands on an elevated promontory at the confluence of the 
Teith and Ardoch. It is a massive edifice, surmounted by a spa- 
cious square tower, eighty feet in height, at one end of the front, 
and by another on the opposite extremity; the whole forms a 
large quadrangle. This ancient stronghold is an erection of 
greater extent and strength than of beauty; but it was once the 
residence of one of Scotland’s earls, and the locality where the 
tragical event of the murder of the “ Bonnie Earl of Moray” 
occurred,—a tragedy which is the subject of one of the beautiful 
songs and melodies of Scotland. 
The Botany from Dunblane to Doune is like the country— 
not very interesting. In agricultural districts the botanical rari- 
ties are chiefly annuals. Scotland possesses but few of these,— 
