AT THE WELLS OF DEE 
29 
the sources of the Dee in 1816. In his journal he 
describes that night’s experiences as follows :■— 
4 ' About three or four miles above the Linn, the 
Dee is joined by a river equal in size, namely the 
Geaully, the source of which I had explored in 
1816, when I came across the mountains from Blair 
Atholl. Hitherto I had travelled in a westerly 
direction, but now proceeded northward, following 
the river. There are no houses beyond the junction 
mentioned. About a mile above it, I came in sight 
of a most magnificent rock, with a mountain peak 
behind it of greater elevation. When I reached 
this rock, I learned by the light scarlet colour of 
the clouds on the ridges that the sun was setting. 
Passing the rock, I entered a valley bounded on 
both sides by very lofty and rugged mountains, and 
terminating in a vast mass, towering above the 
whole. Before I reached the upper end of this 
magnificent, though wild and desolate valley, night 
fell. About this time I saw a deer not far from me. 
Near the upper end of the valley the stream which 
I had followed separated into two. It was with 
great difficulty that I clambered to this part to see 
which was the largest, that I might follow it. 
Having ascertained that the largest stream came 
from a valley which branched off at a right angle 
from the extremity of the main one, I entered this 
valley and proceeded about three-quarters of a mile. 
It was by this time completely dark, and I deter¬ 
mined to rest myself.” 
• 
“ About midnight I looked up and saw the 
moon and some stars. They were at times 
obscured by masses of vapour, which rolled along 
the summits of the mountains. I had now a better 
view of my situation. I was near the upper end of 
a high valley, completely surrounded by enormous 
