Gazetteer of Scotland

MUT
temples, and on the tops of eminences
are teen many fmgle ftones of a gray
colour, Mantling upright, from 10 to
14 feet high ; probably pointing out
the grave of fome chief, or the fpot
y/here he fell hi battle. " Thefe,"
MUT
fays the Gaelic bard, " may be the
ftones of renown, raifed to the foul
that never melted before, but was like
the fteel of his fword." In 1793, the
number of inhabitants in the parifh
was 2948 ; increafe 46 ftnee 1755.
N
NAI
NABEE (LOCH), or Loch Na-
bfau ; a fmall lake in Moray-
fhire, in the parifh of St. Andrews
Lhanbryd. It is about 3 miles in cir-
cumference, and has a beautiful ifland
covered with wood ; it is frequented
by innumerable flocks of wild geefe
and ducks, and fometimes is vifited
by a few fwans.
NAIRN (COUNTY of); a part
of the ancient county of Moray, does
not exceed 16 or 18 miles in length,
and is only 10 at its greateft breadth.
It is bounded on the N. by the Moray
Frith, and is furrounded in all other
directions by the counties of Invernefs
and Elgin. The general appearance is
very agreeable, rifing into confider-
able mountains towards the S., but
towards the N. it is level, and the foil
abundantly fertile. It is watered by
the rivers Findhorn and Nairn-, befides
feveral fmaller brooks, the banks of
which are covered with woods and
plantations. There are many elegant
feats ; of which Brodie, the feat of
Lieut. Colonel Brodie; Kilravock, the
feat of Mr. Rofe ; Holme, the feat of
Mr. Rofe ; Cantray, the feat of Mr.
Davidfon ; Eoath, the feat of Capt.
Dunbar; and Letken, the feat of Mifs
Brodie; are the chief. Nairnfhire con-
tains one royal borough, viz. Nairn,
the county town. The other villages
are too trivial to deferve notice. It
is divided into 4 parochial diftricls,
which in 1798, contained 6054 inha-
bitants ; increafe 360 fince 1755. It
fends a member to parliament alter-
nately with the county of Cromarty.
The valued rent is 15,1621. 10s. n^d.
Scots, and the real land rent is efti-
mated at 8000I. fterling.
NAIRN; a royal borough, and
NAI
county town of the county of Nairn,,
fituated on the coaft of the Moray
Frith, where the river Nairn flows intq
that arm of the fea. 'It is a neat town,
with a fmall and convenient harbour,
which might eafily be improved. At
what period it was erected into a roy-
al borough is uncertain ; the olde'ft
charter extant is one from James VI.
dated 1589, being the renewal of one
granted by King Alexander, probably
the firft of that name who fwayed the
Scdttifh fceptre. That charter was
confirmed by one from Charles II., of
date 1 661, by which the government
of the town is vefted in 17 perfons, viz.
a provoft, 3 bailies, a dean of guild,
treafurer, and 11 counfellors ; 9 of
whom to be a quorum. Their whole
trades form only one corporation.
The funds of the town were formerly
very confiderable ; but, through lapfe
of years, have been greatly leffened.
The town has undergone many chan-
ges. It was originally fituated at leaft
half a mile from the place where it
now Hands, and was defended by a
caftle, the ruins of which are fo co-
vered by the fea, that the foundations
of it are only viable at fpring tides.
Bucbannan tells us, that this caftle
was taken by the Banifh invaders
duing the reign of Malcolm I. and
that by them the cujlodes or govern-
ors were cruelly ufed. Nairn form-
erly gave title of Baron to the family
J of Nairn, attainted for their concern
•in the rebellion of 1745. In 1794,
! the town contained 1100 inhabitants.
The parifh of Nairn is 8 miles from
\ N. to S., and 6 from E. to W., bear-
I ing fomewhat of a refemblance to St.
Andrew's crois. Along the coaft, the
[ foil is fandy; along the river Nairn, it