J. F. Campbell Collection > Popular rhymes of Scotland

60 POPULAR RHYMES OF SCOTLAND.
beasts, are taller and plumper on Don than on Dee.' — View
of the Diocese of Aberdeen, 1732.*
HILL OF BENNOCHIE.
The Grole o' the Geerie [Garioch],
The bowmen o' Mar ; f
Upon the hill o' Bennochie
The Grole wan the war.
This seems to refer to some early local contention, settled
at the hill of Bennochie. The meaning of ' Grole ' has not
been ascertained. It oug-ht to be remarked that the issue
of the fight is equivocal, the last word being liable to be
interpreted as waur, or the worse.
HILLS IN ABERDEENSHIRE.
The four great landmarks on the sea,
Are Moimt-Mar, Loclmagar, Clochnaben, and Bennochie.
' Clochnaben, or the White Stone Hill, is remarkable for
a protuberance of solid rock on its summit, about one hun-
dred feet in perpendicular height, appearing from the sea
like a watch-tower, and forming an excellent landmark for
coasting vessels.' — Fullarton''s Gazetteer of Scotland.
' The chief hill here [in Garioch] is that of Bennochie.
It has seven heads, the chief of which, being a round peak,
is called The Top; which being seen afar off, and also
affording a wide prospect to one who stands upon it, has
given occasion to the name ; for Bin-na-chie signifies The
Hill of Light (though others expound it The Hill of the
Pap, because of the resemblance The Top bears to a
nipple) ; and accordingly there is an old verse which says,
There are two landmarks off at sea,
Clochnabin and Bennachie.'
Vieiv of the Diocese of Aberdeen, 1732.
BRIDGE OF DON.
' The brig of Don, near the auld toicn of Aberdeen, with
its one arch, and its black, deep, salmon-stream below, is in
my memory as yesterday. I still remember, though per-
haps I may misquote, the awful proverb which made me
pause to cross it, and yet lean over it with a childish de-
* See Collections printed for the Spalding Club, 1843.
t A rhyme alluding to ' the brave bowmen of Mar,' is mentioned in a
View of the Diocese of Aberdeen above referred to.