Gazetteer of Scotland

BEN
BER
•white quart-z. The red granite of
Benevis is Said to be the moil beauti-
ful in the world. There is aTme vein
of lead ore, very rich in Silver, found
imbedded in the granite. From this
mountain riSes the fmall river Nevis,
which glides through a glen of the
fame name.
BEN HOLME; a parifn in the
county of Kincardine, forming a fquare
of nearly 3 miles. The Surface is con-
siderably diverfified, and the foil is
various ; but being Sheltered from the
N. wind with a S. expofure, it is very
fertile. John's-haven, a thriving frfhing
village, diftant abcut 8 miles from
Montrofe, is in this parilh. Here a
fail-cloth manufactory was eftabliShed
fome time ago, by a company of Dun-
dee merchants, which has been of
great fervice to the neighbourhood.
There are Several quarries of excel-
lent freeftone. The town of Benholme
has been a Strong place of detente, be-
fore the invention of gunpowder.
Population in 1793, about 1560.
Benivenow ; a mountain in the
parifh of Aberfoyle, in Perthshire, is
moftly compofed of calcareous matter,
many pieces of which, from its fine
polifh, is ufed inftead of marble. The
elevation of the mountain is nearly
3000 feet above the level of the Sea.
Benlawers ; a mountain near Ken-
more, in Perthshire; is fuppofed to be
next in height to Benevis. It is Situ-
ated on the banks of Loch Tay ; riling
in a conical Shape to the height of
4015 feet above the level of the Sea.
Benledi", oi-Benledia, " the hill
of God .,•" a mountain in the parifh of
Callender, Perthshire. It riSes from a-
fmall bale to the height of 3009 feet
above the level of the Sea, command-
ing an extenfive profpec"t of the wind-
ings of the Forth. On the top are tire
remains of a druidical temple.
Benlomond; a mountain in the
parifh of Buchannan, in Dumbarton-
shire ; is Situated on the borders of
Loch Lomond, from the level of which
it rifes majestically to the height of
3240 feet, and 3262 feet above the le-
vel of the fea. Its height is Surpafied
by Benevis, Benlawers, and Some other
mountains ; but the difference is more
than compensated by the magnificence
of its infulated Situation, with reipecl
to the neighbouring hills. Its form is
a truncated cone, and its- Sides, parti-
cularly towards the lake, are finely
covered with natural wood. The ac-
cent is eaSy on the S. W. Side ; but
the N. fide is. exceedingly Steep, having
at one place a perpendicular precipice
nearly 300 fathoms deep. The view
from the Summit is moft extenfive. On
the N. E. fide is the Source of the ri-
ver Forth. Here an inconsiderable rill,
but very foon augmented to a river,
by the numerous Streams which join
their waters as it paffes through the
valley, Sometimes expanding into a
fmall lake, and immediatelyarter pour-
ing its torrent over a fhipendous pre-
cipice. Benlomond is chiefly compofed
of granite, interfperSed with immenfe
maifes of quart-z; considerable quanti-
ties of micaceous fchijlus are found
even at the top, and many rocks near
the baSe* of the mountain are entirely
compofed of that mineral. To the
botanift, Benlomond (from the num-
ber of rare plants it pofieifes,) will af-
ford great amufement.
Ben more, a mountain in the pariSh
of Killin, in the county of Perth. It is
Situated by the fide of Loch Dochart,
in the pafs between Glendoehart and
Strathfillaur. Its figure is conical,
and by Stobie's map of Perthshire, its
elevation above the level of the fea is
3903 feet.
Benuaish; a mountain of great
height, in the parifh of Killearn, in the
county of RoSs. Its top is constantly
covered with Snow.
Benvoirlich ; a mountain in Bal-
quhidder parilh, in the county of
Perth ; is eitimated by Mr. Stobie to
be 3300 feet above the level of the fea.
Bf.regonivm ; the ancient metro-
polis of Scotland, is Said to have beea
lituated in the parilh of Ardchattan,
Argyllshire. It was the chief reiidence
of the Scottish kings, from Fergus IL
till the removal of the feat of the go-
vernment to Dunftaffnage. Vide Ard-
chattan and Muckairn.
BERNE RA; one of the weftern
ifies, is a beautiful and fertile ifland,
about 5 miles in circumference. The
foil is fandy, but when manured with
Sea weed, extremely productive. It
was formerly a druidical Sanctuary ;
has Still a wood of yew trees, with
which the groves were planted when
devoted to religious purpofes. In the
center of the ifland is a frefn water
lake, called Loch-Bruift, diverfified