Topographical, statistical, and historical gazetteer of Scotland > Volume 2

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tion between it and otter countries becomes almost
impracticable. The banks of the Avon, however,
are pleasant enough, and in different places tufted
with groves of birch, mixed with some alder." A
beautiful and much more poetical description of this
interesting glen, by Professor Wilson, has been
already given under article Aven (Loch) : which see.
The soil is various ; but in general it is a mixture of
sand and black earth. On the elevated plains there is
a tolerably fertile mould ; on the declivities a reddish
earth and gravel ; and on the tops of the hills gravel
and moss. A small proportion only of the soil is
arable. Some forests and glens afford pasture for
black cattle and sheep. There are few enclosures,
and no plantations of note ; but although the natural
poverty of the country, 40 miles from the nearest
sea-port, seems ill-calculated for the advancement of
agriculture or manufactures, the general march of
improvement has even penetrated to the wilds of
Strath-ath-fhin. In the mountains there is abun-
dance of limestone, which is in very general use by
the farmers; and also of freestone, ironstone, slate,
&c. : precious stones are sometimes found. The small
village of Tomantoul [which see] is in this par-
ish. Kirkmichael appears to have been a complete
stronghold of those superstitious, but poetical and
often beautiful fancies, which have so universally pre-
vailed in the contemplative regions of the Scottish
Highlands, and which still, to a certain extent, sub-
sist in these romantic glens, in all their preternatural
and imaginative forms, at least, — if not in all the
more substantial and appalling powers, which un-
enlightened faith in such creations — unsubstantial
and airy thougli they be, in form— enables them to
exercise over the ignorant believer. As a record of
these curious psychological phenomena, in form and
power, the lengthened detail by the reverend writer
of the Old Statistical Account of Kirkmichael is
both learned and interesting; and we regret that our
limits do not permit us to present our readers even
with a brief abridgment of them.
The same author's account of the dress, manners,
character, &c, of the inhabitants of this sequestered
district, end of last century, is of a very graphic and
peculiar description, savouring not a little now and
then itself of something like a prevalence of rougher
and less delicate ideas, and of less fastidious and freer
modes of speech, at Tomantoul, in the 18th century,
than, we opine, now prevails among the worthy in-
habitants of Kirkmichael. On the subject of dress:
— "Since the year '45," says our authority, "there
is a considerable change on the dress of the people
of this district. By a singular kind of policy — as if
rebellion lurked in the shape and colour of a coat
— at the above period, the ancient dress was pro-
scribed, and none durst wear it without running the
risk of a rigorous prosecution. It was consequently
superseded by the Low country dress. To the an-
cient braccae, or truish and belted plaid, succeeded
strait breeches, and an awkward coat of a uniform
colour, — sometimes a long surtout dangling down to
the heels, encumbering the freedom of motion. The
barbarous policy of Edward the First did not more
effectually destroy the spirit of the indignant Welsh,
by the murder of their bards, than the prohibition of
their ancient garb, that of the poor Highlanders. In
the enthusiasm of patriotism, Mr. Fraser of Lovat
got the prohibitory act repealed, in order, according
to his own emphatic words, ' to divert the minds of
the people from Transatlantic notions.' Let meta-
physicians, if they choose, trace the connexion. But,
though this respectable gentleman, with the view of
making them good subjects, procured liberty to the
Highlanders of exposing their naked posteriors to
the north wind, on their bleak mountains, few availed
themselves of the privilege. * * * Since 1745,
the women too have altered their apparel. Before
that period, they sometimes wore white blankets
covering their heads, sometimes their shoulders —
drawn forward by their hands, surrounded on each
side by a fold. These, as fashion varied, were suc-
ceeded by barred plaids, or blankets, where different
colours blended, crossing each other at right angles,
somewhat distant, and bearing a square Space in the
middle. Wearied of barred plaids, they betook them-
selves to Stirling ones, and now duffle Cardinals begin
to have the ascendant. Formerly, their hair flowed
in easy ringlets over their shoulders; not many years
ago, it was bound behind into a cue ; now it spreads
into a protuberance on the forehead, supported bv
cushions; sometimes, it is plain, and split in the
middle. But who can describe the caprice of female
ornament — more various than the changes of the
moon !"
Of the manners, character, &c, prevalent in this
district end of last century the account is by no
means flattering : in fact, they are represented to
have been unfettered as the winds, by any law,
divine or human " No monopolies are established
here,'' says he; " no restraints upon the industry of
the community. All of them sell whisky, and all
of them drink it. When disengaged from this busi-
ness, the women spin yarn, kiss their inamoratos, or
dance to the discordant sounds of an old fiddle. The
men, when not participating in the amusements of
the women, sell small articles of merchandise, or let
themselves occasionally for days' labour, and by these
means earn a scanty subsistence for themselves and
families. In moulding human nature, the effects of
habit are wonderful. This village, to them, has
more than the charms of a Thessalian temple. Ab-
sent from it, they are seized with the mat de pais ;
and never did a Laplander long more ardently for
his snow-clad mountains, than they sicken to revisit
the barren moor of their turf-thatched hovels. Here
the Roman Catholic priest has got an elegant meet-
ing-house, and the Protestant clergyman the reverse
of it; yet, to an expiring mode of worship, it would
be illiberal to envy this transient superiority, in a
country where a succession of ages has witnessed its
absurdities."
This parish is in the synod of Ross, and pres-
bytery of Chanonry. Patron, the Earl of Seafield.
Stipend £121 Is. Od. ; glebe £10. Unappropri-
ated teinds £148 13s Tomantoul, the upper
part of the parish, is one of the new Government
districts. It was erected into a quoad sacra par-
ish, in 1832, by an act of the General Assembly,
and a Government church erected. Kirkmichael
has not been divided, however, quoad civilia ;
arid an additional parochial school, belonging to the
entire parish, has been placed in the quoad sacra
parish under the Schoolmasters' act of 1803; the
original salary of the teacher being divided. The
salary of the former is the maximum; fees, &c., £10:
of the latter, £17 3s. 4d.; fees, £11 10s.
KIRKMICHAEL, a parish in the counties of
Ross and Cromarty, to which were added, about the
end of the 17th century, the two parishes of Culli-
eudden and St. Martins. It is sometimes called
Resolis. The united parish lies along the south
coast of the frith of Cromarty, between it and the
Ardmeanach [which see], and extends about 8
miles in length, and 3 in breadth. Kirkmichael
forms its eastern section; Cullicudden, its western.
The soil is various, but a black light loam most pre-
vails. There are a greater number of Danish en-
campments in this than in any other parish in the
north. There are also several old castles; and three
modern seats of the proprietors, viz. Braclangwell,