Scotland > 1868, 1878 - Slater's (late Pigot & Co.'s) Royal national commercial directory and topography of Scotland > 1878 > Part 1

ABERDEENSHIRE.
J. HIS important and exten8ive county is situated in the north-east part o£ Scotland, and is bounded on the north and east by the
North Sea ; on the south by the counties o£ Kincardine, Forfar, and Perth ; and on the west by Inverness-shire and BanlTshire. In
formitapproaches to thntof an oval, the length of wliich, from north-east to south-west, is about eighty five miles, and its extreme
breadth about forty. It is estimated to comprise 1,970 square miles, or 1,260,625 acres. There is a characteristic difference to be observed
in the inhabitants of Aberdeenshire from those of any other county in Scotland ; they are in genurnl regarded as an active, vigorous,
and enterprising race ; and when they emigrate they seldom fail of success. The dialect of the inhabitants, too, is peo~har from those
of the south of Scotland; and to a stranger's ear appears to be attended with a quick, sharp, and rather angry accent. On the sna
coasts they hare a distinct difference of physiognomical appearance from other inhabitants of Scotl.-ind ; and attest by this, as well as
by their .speech, that they are descended from a race which originally came from the northern regions of Europe, and lixed themselves
in this part of Scotland. , , ^ .. .. „ , ...
Soil, Surface, oio.— Towards the sea ;the county is fertile, and comparatively level; but a groat proportion of the county hes
amidst the wilderness of the central highlands. The county is popularly divided into ftve districts, namely,— Marr, the southernmost,
comprehends all south of the river Dee, from the sea to the oast end of the hill of Benochie; Garioch lies norlh of the Don, bounded
by a ridge of hills beginning near the royal burgh of Kintore ; Strathbogie lies to the north-west of Garioch, and south-east of the upper
part ol Marr; Formarteii, east of Garioch, and bounded on the south by the river Don, and on the north and east by the Ythau and the
North sea ; Buchau, extending from the Ythan to the Deveron. These live districts are suli-divided into lesser districts or divisions,
whose names are generally descriptive of their appearance and situation. The district of ;Marr, on the confines of the shires of Banff,
Inverness, Perth, and Angus may be considered as the centre of Scotland, being at the greatest distance from the sea iu every direction.
The appearance of the upper part of this district is wild, rugged and mountainous. Towards the east and north-east tlio county becomes
more level, but is in many places moorish and barren ; but the woods, mostly lir, are extensive, producing Bne timber. The rivers Don
and Dee have both their sources in this quarter. Balmoral, the Highland residence of Her lUajesty the Queen, and Abergeldie, the
seat of His Koyal Highness the Prince of Wales, are in this district. From tho top of Craigendarroch, there is, perhaps, one ol the most
grand and picturesque views in Scotland. The district of Buchan is not so hilly, lying mostly on the east and north coast, but
being almost destitute of wood its appearance is blealt and naked; from the quantities, however, of large timber found in many
mosses, no doubt can exist of its having been once well weeded. .Anciently this extensive domain was the property of the Barls of
Bnchan, on whose attainder in 1320 King Robert Bruce divided the land amongst his adherents. Subsequently the title was revived
in the Erskine family, but without a restoration of tho lands, and the present Earl has but little property iu this quarter. The districts
of Strathbogie, Garioch and Fonnarten are generally well cultivated. At the termination of a deep glen in Strathdee is tho pass or
craigs of Boliitar, which forms the eastern entrance into the Grampian mouotaius. To ti.e south of Peterhead are the remarkable
breakers on the coast, called the SidUrs of Bmhnii. They represent a large oval cavity, in depth about one hundred feet, formed by the
steep rocks on the coast. A natural arch opens into the sea at the eastern end, into which boats are sometimes drawn and dashed to
pieces. The mountains of greatest altitude in Aberdeenshire are— Buck, 2,377; Firmouth, 2,600; Cairueach and Scroneach, 2,700:
Morven, 3,100; Montkeen, 3,180 ; Lochnagar, 3,800; Benaven, 3,920; Benaburd, 3,9i0; Uairutoul, 1,220; Macdui, or Ben-Macdui, 4,300;
and Braeriach, 4,304 feet above the level of the sea, besides several others of less but considerable elevation.
Commerce, M.inufaotures, Minerals, &o.— The making of linen and sail-cloth has been successfnliy introduced in several parts,
and Aberdeen is the seat of various other branches of manufacture. Shipbuilding, both wood and iron, is carried on in various parts of
the county. The sea coast abounds in flsh of great variety and richness, and the river and sea fishing, together, form a great source
of wealth to the inhabitants. The herring fishery is prosecuted on a very extensive scale at Peterhead and Fraserburgh. Granite is a
valuable and extensive production of this county, and presents an article of considerable trailic, many thousand tons being convoyed to
Londou, and other distant parts, for paving and building purposes ; it is chiefly found in the neighbourhoods of Aberdeen, Peterhead,
New Pitsligo, and Monymusk. Other minerals are found in different parts ol Aberdeenshire, and are eminently worthy of notice :—
in the parish of Old llachar was discovered a valuable mine of manganese; Leslie produces amianthus, luaile by t'n peasants into sauff
boxes and ornaments : plumbago has been found on the banks of the Deveron ; and, near Peterhead, ouy.^ peOo.es are to be lUL-t with.
The largest rock crystal ever found in Scotland was discovered upon the estate of Inveroauld, in this county ; its size was nearly that of
ft child's body at the age of four years. On the same estate have also been obtained amethysts and aqua-marines, eqnai in colour and
hardness to those so eagerly sought after in the East. Topazes of great value, provincially called (Jairngorm stones, are also to he
met with iu Aberdeenshire. Talc, mica, asbestos and amianthus,commonlv called niountuiu cork, and mountain leather, arc found iu
several of the hills, and in great variety. At Craig, in the district of Strathbogie, there is a tine ilaxen asbestos, both green and
white. This country produces plenty of game, black cattle, deer, sheep, horses, &o. -A very great proportion of the landholders
reside permanently or occasionally on their estates, and countenance bv their presence many valuable improvements. The reaiiri-.)- of
plantationuAnd fences, >.he introduction of superior breeds of cattle, and better modes of agriculture, have for so-uie time engaged their
attention, to^he manifest advantage of the district.
Rivers akd Springs, Can.als and R.iir.wArs.— The princinal rivers of Aberdeenshire are tho Dee, the Don, tho VTthau, tho Ogie, mid
the Deveron. These rivers aro of great value, from the immense quantity and lineuess of i.he salin-ui they produce: luit ar^ too s-aiiid
to admit or navigation to any great extent. Tho rWer Ythan deserVHS particular mention on account oi the p ■ u-l ii-heiy. fonn: ny
carried or in it with great success. The Dee runs through the V.ile of Stratudjc, ourrouud-'d wil.'i awful Ironts oi l>if;y mei iLi ;is. 0,1
the Don i.i-e seen the princely ruins of Kildruinmy Castle, another ancient seat of the Earls of Marr. -At the top of the Vale of Braemar, a
short way above Marr Lodge, is the noted waterfall called the Linn of Dee. In the valley of Glenmnick there is likewise another
picturesque cascade; and a little below, on the southern banks of the Dee, most romantically situated, are Panuaich Fells, iiinch fre-
quented in summer. There are other sanitary springs at Peterhead, which possess chalybeate properties, and are m high repute. On
the sea shore are several remarkable caves, curious pectorations iu the rocks, and echoes which reverberate sounds with wonderful
distinctness. The main line of railway intersecting Aberdeenshire is the Great North of Scotland and its numerous branches. The
Deeside Railway, from Aberdeen to Ballater, though still the property of a separate company, is leased by the Great North of Scotland
Railway, so that it has now absolute control of the whole of the railway traffic of the county.
DIVISIONS, Representation, &o.— This shire contains eightv-flve parishes and three royal burghs— Aberdeen, Kmtore, and
Inverury. The contributory boroughs (or those which, in conjunction with others, are represented in the Senate) belonging to this
county are Inverury, Kintore, and Peterhead. The city of Aberdeen returns one member, and the shire at large two ; the gentleman
representing the Eastern Division being the Hon. Sir Alexander H. Gordon, k.o.b. The gentleman representing the Western Division la
Lord DougUs WilUam Cope-Gordon. The county of Aberdeen in 1871 contamed a population of 244,608— viz., 116,90.3 males and 128,694
females ; in 1861 the flgures were : males, 104,441 ; females, 117,128 ; total, 321,569.
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