Ossian Collection > Journal of a tour in Scotland in

ABERDEEN 67
landau was closed. The country still in the
same manner intersected by coombes or
ravines. As we advanced both the soil and
the cultivation worsened. Instead of fields
there were peat - mosses, and these were
succeeded by wastes where poor heather
grew among the stones. Yet even in this
unpromising land great improvements are
going on. The owners of the soil encourage
settlers by giving them a few pounds where-
with to erect a hut, and letting them the
land for ten years rent free. The tenants
then clear away the stones (no inconsiderable
labour) and form with them a rude wall
round the piece which they have thus brought
into a state fit for cultivation. In many
places we saw fair crops growing in inclosures
of this kind, when on the other side the wall
all was waste. Thus in a few years this whole
tract will be reclaimed. I am surprized to
see how well trees will grow upon this coast,
very near the sea — how much better than in
the neighbourhood of Liverpool.
R. and T. consigning us at Aberdeen to
the good offices of Mr Gibb, and Mr Haddon
the Provost, set off with Mitchell to inspect
a road and some bridges about 30 miles to
the west. Bought a history of Aberdeen by