numerous and voracious, that the farmers are fometimes forced to houfe their fheep, 
as is done in France for fear of the wolves. 
The north fide of Loch Nejs is far lefs beautiful than the fouth. In general the 
hills are lefs high, but very fteep ; in a few places covered with brufhwood, but in 
general very naked, from the Aiding of the ftrata down their hoping (ides. About 
the middle is Cajllc Urquhart , a fortrefs founded on a rock projecting into the lake, 
and was faid to have been the feat of the once powerful Cummins. Near it is the 
broadeft part of the loch, occafioned by a bay near the cattle. 
Loch Nefs is twenty -two miles in length ; in general from one to two in breadth ; 
its greateft depth an hundred and forty fathoms. 
From the lake iffues the river Nefs, which difeharges itfelf into the Murray Firth 
at Invernefs, a royal borough, the capital of the fhire, and of the Highlands of 
Scotland. 
Loch Ncfiy by reafon of its great depth, never freezes; and, during cold weather, 
a violent fteam rifes from it as from a furnace. Ice brought from other parts, and 
put into it, inftantly thaws : but no water freezes fooner than that of the lake when 
brought into a houfe. Its water is efteemed very falubrious ; fo that people come or 
fend thirty miles for it: old Lord Lovat, in particular, made conftant ufe of it. 
But it is certain, whether it be owing to the water, or to the air of that neighbour- 
hood, that, for feven years, the garrifon of Fort Augujlus had not loft a Angle man. 
The greateft rife of water in Loch Nefs is fourteen feet. The lakes whence it re- 
ceives its fupplies are Loch Oich, Loch Game , ane Loch Ouich. 
Fort Augujlus is not capable of much defence, being commanded by feveral heights 
at no great diftance. 
Near the fort is a fmall village, with a tolerable inn ; and below it a little pier, 
which affords fhelter for fmall veflels and boats, which come from Invernefs with 
ftores to fupply the garrifon. 
The mountains on each fide of Fort Augujlus are very rugged and barren. All 
the way from the fort to the lake is a fine extenfive plain, which anfwers well as a 
place of exercife for the military. At the lower part of the lake there are many 
extenfive plantations of fir, continued all the way to Invernefs, which is about five 
miles from the lower end of Loch Nefs. 
