478 BOTANICAL TOUR IN THE 
It was past six o’clock by the cottage chronometers, ere the poor 
village or hamlet of Strathire was reached; and our alimentary 
organs reminded us that we had not yet breakfasted. There are 
two public-houses here; but neither of them had a sufficiently 
inviting aspect to induce us to break our fast m them. So we 
walked on, two or three miles further, to the King’s House, on 
the Braes of Balquhidder, and there rested and refreshed. This 
inn, which has been lately rebuilt and enlarged, was erected ori- 
ginally by General Wade. And as the military, or the King’s 
servants, were the sole travellers needing refreshment on that 
road, it got the appropriate name of the King’s house, because 
built at his expense and for the accommodation of his servants. 
This inn is built near the summit of the Pass, a couple of 
miles from the church of Balquhidder, where, in the church- | 
yard, the celebrated Rob Roy is buried. It is ten miles from- 
Callander, four from Lochearn Head, and twelve from Killin. 
The views from this elevated station are much admired. Close 
at hand are the green Braes of Balquhidder, so celebrated in 
Scottish song, and not less deserving of celebrity for their excellent 
pastures and numerous herds of Highland stots and queys that 
' graze thereon. The conical-peaked mountains of Ben An and 
Ben More were very remarkable objects in the direction of north- 
west. The views in the direction of Loch Lomond and Argyle- 
shire are very extensive and grand. The road for a mile or two 
passes along a kind of table-land commanding very extensive 
prospects, and then the declivity to Lochearn Head begins, and 
the direction of the hills which bound Lochearn opens out, and 
the lake itself expands in all the quiet, secluded beauty of a 
Highland loch. 
Lochearn is the apex of the fine fertile vale of Strathearn, one 
of the richest straths* in Scotland. There is not much fertility 
* The term Strath properly signifies a valley of considerable width and length 
through which a river flows ; in modern phrase it is called a viver-basin. It is said 
to be derived from the Celtic Srath, a country confined by hills and on both sides 
of a river. Strath may have some relation to the Latin stratwm, whence is derived 
our word street, a way or thoroughfare; ways or roads being usually constructed 
along the banks of rivers. Strathmore, the great vale at the foot of the Grampians 
on the east, is a compound word signifying the Great Strath ; mov, in Celtic, is great. 
Glen is a narrower vale. Correi is a very narrow ravine, but usually wide enough 
to afford a way up and across the mountains. Correi is from the same root as 
the Latin cwrro, ‘I run, either because water runs in it, or it may afford a space for 
-2 walking on or climbing in, for it would in some cases be dangerous to run in High- - 
‘land Correis. 
