Gazetteer of Scotland

BAM
rlffa of Perfhfhire, extending about 15
ririles in length, and 7 in breadth. The
furface is very hilly and mountainous*
and fcarcely any of it is under crop.
A great number of iheep are fed on
the hills. The mountains are generally
very high and fteep. Eenmore, rifing
3903 feet, and Benvoirlich 3300 feet
above the level of the fea, are in this
pariih. There is a considerable extent
of the ancient Caied©nir.n foreft in
this difcridb, but the proprietors are
yearly diminishing its extent. There
is abundance of limeftone, which the
fcarcity of fuel renders of little ufe.
There are fome appearances of lead,
but no proper vein h&"s been difcover-
ed. There are many fine ftreams and
lakes, of which the principal are Loch-
doine, Lochvoil.- part of Lochlubnaig,
and part of Lochearne , in thefe there
are abundance of excellent fifh. The
military road from Stirling to Fort
William pafi'es through the parim.
The number of inhabitants in 1793,
was 130c.
Balreggan Head; a promontory
in the pariih of Stcnykirk, in the bay
of Luce.
BAMFFSHIRE is bounded on the
N. by the Ocean ; on the W. by
Murray and Invernefslhir'es ; on the
S. andE.byAberdeenfhire. It extends
in length about 36 miles, but it's ave-
rage breadth is fcarcely more than 16.
It contains 2 royal boroughs, and 24
pariihes; comprehends part of Buchan,
Boyne, Strathdovern, Strathaven, and
Balvenie. The lurface of the country
is agreeably diverfified with hill and
dale, well watered with rivers, and or-
namented with many feats and exten-
' five plantations. The S. part of the
county is very mountainous ; but the
northern diftricb. is level, and the foil
extremely fertile. The rivers are, the
Deveron and the Spey, Ifla, Conglafs,
Avon, and Fiddich. The county of
EamfF abounds with the necefiaries
and cbmforts of life ; and valuable mi-
nerals are often found in the district.
Limeftone is very plenty ; and a hill
in the diftricb of Balvenie affords hones
and whetftones, fufficient to iupply
the whole ifland. There are leveral
remarkable mountains in the county,
of which Cairngoram, orle of the high-
eft in Scotland, is the chief. Bclrin-
nes, rifing 2690 feet, and Knockhill,
which is 2^00 feet above the level of
BAM
the fea, are alfo in this county. At
Portfoy is a beautiful vein of ferpen-
tine, called Portfoy marble ; and a
fpecies of granite, which, when po-
lifhed, exhibits the refeniblance of
Arabic or Hebrew characters. Along
the whole coaft are frequent tumuli
and Daniih monuments. The Duke
of Gordon, Earl of Findlater, Earl of
Fife, and Lord Bamff, have elegant
feats in the county. The valued rent
is 79,2001. Scots, and the real land rent
43,49cl. fterling. Population of the
whole county in 1798, 38,487.
BAMFF, or BANFF ; a royal bo-
rough, and capital of the (hire of that
name ; is pleafantly fituated on the
fide of a hill, at the mouth of the ri-
ver Deveron, Tradition fays, it was
founded by Malcolm Kenmore,in 1163.
It was erected into a royal borough*
and endowed with the fame privileges
as Aberdeen, in virtue of a charter
from Robert II. dated October 7,
1372. It now gives the title of baron
to the Ogilvie family. It has feveral
very well built ftreets, and is fai'd to
be the moft fafhionable town N. of
Aberdeen. The harbour is very bad,
owing to the continual fhifting of the
fand banks at the mouth of the river.
Manufactories of thread, cotton, and!
ftockings, are carried on to confider-
able extent, and great* quantities of
falmon are annually exported. There
is an excellent eftablifnment for the
education of the children of the poor.
In the neighbourhood is Duff-houfe,
the magnificent manfion of the Earl of
Fife, with its extenfive and beautiful
I policies. The houfe itfelf is an elegant
i building, planned by the kte Mr. A-
| dam. It contains a well felecled lib-
I rary, and a number of fine paintings.
The pariih is about 6 miles in length,
I and 2 in breadth. The furface is beau-
\ tifully diverfified, and the foil, though
j in general good, is of various qualities.
The fea coaft is bold and rocky. A
! great part of the pariih, though it
might be eafily converted into arable,
ia occupied by pafturage ; and a very
considerable number of black cattle
are reared in the pariih. There is art
extenfive nurfery of young trees in the
neighbourhood. Near the town is a
powerful chalybeate fpring. There is
a fine bridge of 7 arches lately creel-
ed over the Deveron. There is built
within thefe two years, a new prifoa