14 



INTRODUCTORY EXPLANATIONS. 



are emptied into the western ocean. These two longitudinal 

 divisions were then transversely subdivided into Provinces, 

 or groups of counties which together constitute the basin of 

 a principal river, or have some other physical peculiarity in 

 common. The mesial line was not continued northward of 

 Inverness, where Scotland becomes veiy naiTow, and coun- 

 ties extend from the east to the west coast. The wide 

 county of Inverness itself, also extending from east to west, 

 is bisected by the line ; the eastern portion (Moray, includ- 

 ing the small counties of Elgm and Nairn) bemg thus di- 

 vided from the western portion. 



In this manner eighteen " Provinces," or groups of coun- 

 ties, have been marked out on the map ; and though still 

 being arbitrary divisions of the surface, by conforming to 

 county boundaries, they will be found more natm-al sec- 

 tions of the island than ai-e the counties themselves. The 

 cut on the opposite page shows their geographical posi- 

 tions and names ; and the one underneath, the comparative 



Districts. 



Altitude of Districts. 



