PHYSICAL FEATURES. 



27 



viz., the Helmsdale, Brora, Shin, Cassley, and Oykel; and there 

 are also other three that deserve notice — the Lothbeg, Fleet, and 

 Evelix ; and we now proceed to take these in the order given, as 

 also to give some description of the surrounding country, which 

 together will, we hope, convey a fairly good idea of the physical 

 features of the Sutherland division. 



The Helmsdale is the first in every way, from its size and large 

 drainage area, not to mention that it is the best angling river in 

 the north. Its head-waters are the large chain of lochs consisting 

 of Truid Air Sgithiche, nan Cuinne or Eumsdale, a' Chlair, Baddan, 

 and na Lloine on the main branch, and Leum a' Chlamhain. nam 

 Meann, An Euathair, and Araich-lin on the other. It has two 

 affluents of considerable size — viz., the Free and the Craggie, both 

 running in from the right-hand side, the first at Borrobol, and 

 the second below Kildonan. 



The larcjest hills in this drainafje area are the two Bens 



O O 



Griam, striking objects when first seen as one proceeds up the 

 Stratli, rising, as they do, from the vast stretches of flow-lands that 

 surround them. A great part of the catchment basin consists of 

 long flats of this flow-ground, with undulating moorland, the 

 heather being, for the most part, better on the north-east side of 

 the river than elsewhere. Before passing down the strath, we 

 should mention that this district is probably now the only place 

 in our area where the Wild Goose (Ansa' fcrus) still exists as a 

 breeding species. 



It is in this neighbourhood of Kinbrace that the late Duke 

 expended so much money in trying to make arable farms. But 

 nature was against him, the climate being rarely equal to ripening 

 grain of any sort, and though good crops of turnips and some hay 

 can be grown, little else can be done ; indeed, about Badenlocli 

 nothing is attempted in the large parks there, which are rapidly 

 degenerating even in their grazing capabilities.^ 



^ To quote still further from the excellent article already mentioned : — 



* The reclamations were mainly confined to the parishes of Lairg and Kildonan 



in the Dunrobin district. 



' The work and extent of the reclamations have been fully described at 



different times, and also the object which the late duke had in view in entering 



