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ber of inhabitants -, for they are often obliged to have recourfe to
importation.
Every perfon has his potatoe-garden -, and they often change
the fort: the London-Lady has been found to fucceed beft, which
in fome farms yields from feven to ten-fold. Some people have
diftilled from this root a very ftrong fpirit, which has been found
to be cheaper than what is diftilled from any grain. Starch is alfo
made of i t ; and, in fome families, bread.
Corcar or the Lichen omphaloides, is an article of commerce
great quantities have been icraped from the rocks, and exported
for the ufe of the dyers, at the price of a Ihilling or fixteen pence
a ftone.
A good many flieep are now reared here. The beft fat weathers
fell for eleven flullings each. Thofe of the old fmall kind
for only fix. Much wool is fent out of the country.
The beft black cattle have been fold for five guineas per head ;
but the ufual price of the four year old is about five and forty
ihillings, While on this fubjeft, I cannot help mentioning the
diftrefsful ftate of this country, previous to the Rebellion j for, till
the year 1745, Lord Breadalbane was obliged to keep a conftant
guard for the prote&ion of his vafials cattle, or to retain fpies
among the thievifti clans, having too much fpirit to fubmit to
pay the infamous tax of black meal to the plundering chieftains.
Few horfes are reared here. Such which feed on the tops of
the higher hills are often affe&ed with a diftemper that commonly
proves fatal, if a remedy is not applied within twenty-four hours.
It attacks them in the months of July and duguft, ufually after a fall
of
of rain, or before the dew rifes in the morning. An univerfal fwell-
Ing fpreads over the body : the remedy is exercife, chafing, or any
method that promotes urine and perfpiration. The vulgar attribute
this evil to a certain animal that fcatters its venom over the
igrafs; but more probably it arifes from fome noxious vegetable
hitherto unobferved.
I Crofs the Lion at a ford near its union with the Lay. To the
inorth foars the rocky hill of Shi-hallin, or the paps ; and to the
: left lies the road to Ramoch, noted for its lake and pine foreft.
¥ Vifit Caftle Menzies, the feat of Sir Robert Menzies, placed ro-
manticly at the foot of the northern fide of Strathe-Tay. The
woods that rife boldly above, and the grey rocks that peep be-
tween, are no fmall embelliihment to the vale. Far up the hill
are the remains of a hermitage, formed by two fides of native
'frock, and two of wall, fome centuries paft, the retreat of the chief
of the family, who, difgufted with the world, retired here, and
refigned his fortune to a younger brother.
\ Crofs Tay-bridge, and vifit on the oppofite: fide, Monefs,z place
Mr. Fleming is fo happy as to call himfelf owner of. A neat walk
conduits you along the fides of a deep and well-wooded glen, enriched
with a profufion and variety of cafcades, that ftrike with
fjaftoniihment. The firft, which lies on the left, runs down a rude
ftaircafe with numbers of landing-places, and patters down the
fteps with great beauty. Advancing along the bottom, on the
fright, is a deep and darkfome chafm, water-worn for ages ; the end
filled with a great catarait, confifting of feveral breaks. The
rocks more properly arch than impend over it, and trees imbrown
and ihade the whole.
Afcend
A u g . 19 .
C . M e n z i e s .
M one s s .