L o c h - L o m o n d .
fideràble fort, whofe plan is engraven by Mr. Gordon. Crofs the
Kelvin, and enter the ihire
of L en o x , or Sheriffdom of D u n b a r t o n .
See on the right Mugdoc caftle, a fquare tower, the a n tie n t feat
o f the Grahams : and near it is a mount, probably the work of
the Romans, for they penetrated on this fide as far a s the banks
of Loch Lomond, a gold coin o f Nero and another o f Trajan hay.
ing been found in the pariih o f Drummond. The c o u n t i y not
grows high, rnoory, black, and dreary. Pafs over Fenwick bridge,
flung over a dark and rocky glen, fhaded with trees, impending
over a violent torrent. Leave at fome diftance on the right
the fmall houfe o f Mofs, immortalized by the birth of the’
great Buchanan. Crofs a handfome bridge over the water of Et-
neric, and breakfaft at the village o f Drummin or Drummond wifi
the rev. Mr. Macfarlane, the minifter of the place. The pariih,
which takes its name from Druim, a back, from the ridges th at rui
along it, is in extent nine miles by feven ; and fome years ago
contained about a thoufand eight hundred fouls ; but the numba
is much reduced by the unfeeling praftice of melting feveral left
farms into a greater. Arrive once more within fight of the charming
Loch Lomond.
Approach its ihores, go through the narrow pafs o f Bualmck
where the Grampian hills finiih in the lake. Many of th e ita-
run in a line with, and feem to have been a continuation of thenn
appearing like fo many fragments rent from them by fome vioM
convulfion. Arrive in a beautiful bay: the braes of the h ills» 1
the
I U S C O T L A N D . 17 5
I rjgjjt are lofty: fome filled with fmall pebbles; others have
I ferruginous look. The iflands are mountanous and exhibit
|ariety of charms. Inch-Calloch, or the ifle of nuns, has on it the
lemains of a church, is finely wooded ; and is faid to have been the
■eat of the fair reclufes. Inch-Murrin, or the ifie of St. Murrinus,
Is two miles long, is a deer park, and has on it the ruins o f a houfe
»pnce belonging to the family of Lenox. On this illand John Col-
mbm, Laird of Lufs, with .feveral o f his followers, were barbaroufly
‘murdered by a party of iflanders, who, under conduft of Lauchlan
1 Mean, and Murdoc Gib/on, in 14.39, carried fire and fword through
p is part of N. Britain.
B Various other iflands grace this fine expanfe : Inch-Lonaig of great
fextent is blackened with the deep green of yews. The ofprey inhabits
a ruined caftle on Inch Galbraith| and feveral little low and naked
■flesferve to diverfify the fcene. From this fpot the boundaries of «
the water are magnificent and diftinft: the wooded fide of the
■reftern* and the foaring head of Ben-lomond. on the eaftern,. form a
jview that is almoft. unequaled.
I The top of this great mountain is compofed o f a micaceous flate, B e n -lomo nd .
■nixed with quartz. The Jibhaldia procumbens, a plant unknown in
mEngland, grows on the upper parts. Ptarmigans inhabit its fummit;
Band roes the woods near its bafe,. the moft fouthern refort of thoie
■animals-in our ill and.
I The height of Ben-lomond from- the furface of the lake is three
■thoufand two hundred and forty feet: the profpeft from the fummit
fofvaft extent: the whole extent of Loch-lomond with its wooded ifles
.appears juft beneath. Loch-loung, Loch-kettering, Loch-earn and the
river.