P i N £ FORESTS*
people who refort here at this feafon to take and fell herrings, to
the ftrangers. An unexpedted fight, at the diftance of thirteen
miles from the fea, amidft the wildeft fcene in nature.
A little farther the loch fuddenly turns due South, and has a
very narrow inlet to a third reach : this ftrait is fo fhallow as to be
fordable at the ebb o f fpring-tides ; yet has within, the depth of
ten and feventeen fathom : the length is about a mile; the breadth,
a quarter. About, feven- years ago it was fo filled with herrings,,
that had crowded in,, that the boats could not force their way,,
and thoufands lay dead on the ebb.
The fcenery that furrounds the whole o f thfs lake has an Alpine
wildnefs and magnificence;, the hills o f an enormous height, and
for the moil part cloathed with extenfive forefts of oak and,
birch, often to the very fummits. In many places are extenfive
trails o f open fpace,, verdant, and only, varied with a few trees-
fcattered over them: amidft the thickeil woods afpire vaft grey,
rocks, a noble contrail! nor are the lofty, headlands a lefs em-
bellilhment; for through the trees that wave on their, fummit, is
an awful fight of iky, and fpiring fummits of vaft mountains.*
On the .South fide,, or the country, of Knodyart, are vaft numbers
o f pines, fcattered among the other trees,, and multitudes of.
young ones fpringing up. A conflagration had many years ago
deftroyed- a fine fpreft; a lofs which in a little time, it is to be
hoped will be repaired. Befides this, I can add fome other pine
forefts to my former lift* : that near-Loch-maree-, Ahernethy, and
Rpth-murchu; both belonging to.gentlemen of the name of Grant-,.
* i l l . 2d, 3d edi t . p p . 183, 194, 21a.;
Glen-more,