HADDINGTON— EDINBUEGH. 325 



Haddington, or East Lothian, consists in the main of a fertile lowland, above 

 wliich rise a few detached groups of hills, and which is bounded on the south by 

 the Lammermuir Hills (1,732 feet). The Tyne Water crosses the lower part of 

 the county from west to east. The coast, with its bold cliffs interrupted by sandy 

 bays, is perilous. No part of Scotland surpasses this county in its agriculture. 



Haddington, the county town, on the Tyne and^at the foot of Gareton Hill, is one 

 of the principal grain markets in Scotland. Rape-seed cakes and bone manure are 

 manufactured. The fine old Gothic church, the " lamp of Lothian " of other days 

 because of its beauty, is now in ruins. Gifford, the birthplace of John Knox, lies 

 to the south. Dunhar, near the mouth of the Tyne, with a harbour difficult of 

 access, is one of the principal seats of the herring fishery. Its dismantled castle, 

 on a jutting rock perpetually gnawed by the sea, is famous for its gallant defence 

 by "Black Agnes," the Countess of March. Two battles were fought near 

 Dunbar in 1296 and 1650, and in both the Scots were routed. North Bertcich has 

 become the most fashionable watering-place on the east coast of Scotland, but 

 engages also in the herring fishery. Near it, on a bold cliff half surrounded by 

 the sea, stands Tantallon Castle, and 2 miles from the shore rises Bass Rock, 

 covered with sea-fowl. In the western part of the county are Cochenzie, a fishing 

 village; Frestonpans, with a famous brewery, and noteworthy, moreover, on 

 account of the battle fought in its neighbourhood in 1745 ; and the market town 

 of Tranent, whose inhabitants engage in the manufacture of silk, and near which 

 are a few collieries. 



The county of Edineurgh, or Mtd-Lothian, extends southward from the 

 Forth on either side of the sterile Pentland Hills, which occupy its centre and 

 terminate only in Arthur's Seat and the Castle Hill of Edinburgh. The fertile 

 valley of the Upper Esk separates the Pentland from the Moorfoot Hills, and 

 between these latter and the Lammermuir Hills, on the borders of Berwick, a pass 

 790 feet in height leads into the valley of the Gala, w'hich is tributary to the 

 Tweed. The Water of Leith drains the western portion of the county, and the 

 river Almond forms the boundary' towards East Lothian. Agriculture is carried 

 on with care and success, but the inhabitants possess also other resources in their 

 collieries, shipping trade, and various manufactures. 



Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, may certainly claim to take a place amongst 

 ihe beautiful cities of Europe. It possesses, above all, what most of the towns of 

 England are deficient in — originality. It is one of those rare places whose site 

 would become picturesque country if all the houses were to be suddenly swept 

 away. Edinburgh is unique in the natural beauty of its position, and the art 

 with which its inhabitants have availed themselves of the inequalities of the 

 ground in erecting their monuments and laying out their gardens. Moreover, 

 like Glasgow, it enjoys the advantage of being built of stone and marble, the 

 neighbouring quarries of Craigleith and Corstorphine having supplied the 

 material required by its builders. In poetical language Edinburgh is called 

 "Dunedin," while one of its vulgar epithets is "Auld Reekie." 



In the eastern part of the plain through which the Water of Leith takes its 



