Gazetteer of Scotland

AUL
steep and rugged rocks ; the gfoomy
horror of the cliffs and caverns, " in-
accessible by mortals trod," and
where the genial rays of the sun never
yet penetrated ; the waterfalls, which
are heard pouring down in different
places of the precipice, with sounds
various in- proportion to their distan-
ces ; the hoarse and hollow murmur-
ing of the river, which runs, at the
depth of near 1 30 feet below the sur-
face of the earth ; the fine groves, of
pines, which majestically climb the
sides of a beautiful eminence that
rises immediately from the brink of
the chasm ; all these objects cannot
be contemplated without exciting e-
motions of wonder and admiration in-
the mind of every beholder. The ap-
pearance of this singular and pictur-
esque scene, will naturally bring to
the recollection of the classical spec-
tator those beautiful lines of Vir-
gil, in which he describes the gulf
through which his Alecto shoots her-
self into the infernal regions.
—-dens is hunc frondibus atrum
Urget utrimque latus nemoris, medioqite
fragosus
D'at sonitum saxis y et torto "vortice tor-
rens.
Hie specus horrendum, et stcvi spir acuta
dit'is
Monstrantur ; ruptoque ingens Ache-
ronte vorago
■ Pestiferas aperit fauces :
JEneidos vii. 1. 5Q5
Critics (says Dr. Robertson) may la-
bour to convey the force and mean-
ing of the author's words ; and tra-
vellers may* by their ingenious de-
scriptions, give us a still more lively
idea of their beauty and propriety •
but he who would see a living com-
mentary on this noble passage, must
visit the rock of Aultgrande." — Vide
Statistical Account, Vol. i. p. 294.
AULTMORE ; a considerable ri-
vulet in Banffshire, in the parishes of
Keith and Grange, which falls into
the Isla.
AULTRAN ; a rivulet in Cromar-
tyshire, near which a bloody battle
was fought between the Scots and
Danes.
AVEN ; a river which issues from
a lake of the same name, at the foot
of Cairngorm mountain, in the coun-
ty of Banff, and, after a rapid and
AVE
tempestuous course of 20 mile3, falfs
into the Spey at Inveraven. It abounds
with trout.
AVEN, or AVON y a river in La-
narkshire, rises on the borders of
Galston and Sorn, from Loch A>ven *
and, after receiving many tributary
streams, in its course through the fer-
tile vale of Strathaven, falls into the
Clyde near the town of Hamilton.
Its banks are high and bold, and in
most places covered with natural
woods.
AVEN, or AVON ; is also a river
in Stirlingshire, which takes its rise in
the parish of Cumbernauld, from Loch
Fanny-side, and, receiving considera-
ble additions to its streams in passing
through Slamannan and Linlithgow
parishes, falls into the Forth near Bor«
rostownness-
AVENDALE, or STRATH-
AVEN ; a large parish or barony, in
the county of Lanark, about 12 miles
in length, and 5 or-6 in breadth. The
face of the country, as the name im-
ports, is open, rising gradually from
both sides of the Aven, and termina-
ting in hills. The soil is various. In
the low grounds it is in some places
dry and gravelly, in some clay, and
in others moss. The hilly part is black
moor, covered with heath. A number
of smaller rivers intersect the parish,
which abound with trout ; and salmon
are sometimes caught in the Aven..
There is abundance of limestone, and
some coal y but the coal is not of a
good quality. Freestone is rather
scarce. A few specimens of iron ore
have been dug up ; but it has not been
found worth working. The crops on
the low grounds are generally good ;
but on the borders of the moor they
are very precarious. The town of
Strathaven was erected into a borough
.of barony in the year 1450, with the
usual privileges. It has a weekly mar-
ket, and a number of annual fairs ;
but having no public funds, has no
other magistracy than a baron-bailie
appointed by the Duke of Hamilton.
The manufacture of muslins employ
a considerable. number of hands. A
Roman road can be distinctly traced
for several miles, on the S. of the Aven..
Here are also 3 ancient chapels. The
castle of Avendale exhibits an inte-
resting ruin on a rocky eminence*