Gazetteer of Scotland

CAN
CAN
und of the pureft white, which con-
tribute alike to beautify the coaft,
and to enrich the foil : the coaft af-
fords only % or 3 bays, where, in mo-
derate weather, veffels may take in
cargoes ; but none are fafe with a
rough or ftormy lea. The Stores of
Canifbay'are exceeding valuable, yield-
ing about ioc tons of kelp in a favour-
able feafoR. The foil, wherever cul-
tivation prevails, is a light black loam,
with an intermixture of mofs ; there
are coniiderable trads of pafture
ground, which require only the ad-
vantage of cultivation to be rendered
productive ; the reft of the parifh is
cither heath or mofs, yielding peats in
the greateft abundance, and of excel-
lent quality. The ifiand of Stroma,
in the Pentland Frith, belongs to this
parifh ; (vide Stroma.) The rocks
of the coaft are moftly oompofed of
freeftone. Near Ba'rrogil-cajlk is a
fpecies of bituminous coal, which e-
snits a hot vivid flame m burning, but
without much diminution of its fize,
or difiblution of its parts ; it is found
near the furface, and there is every
reafon to fuppofe that coal of a fupe-
xior quality might be found under it.
In the burn of Sempfler is found a
fiuoric fpar y of the pureft white colour ;
when put into the fire it emits a con-
siderable portion -of phofphoric light,
which gradually decays as the ftone
cools, and is again emitted when the
ftone is heated anew ; when reduced
to powder, and heated in a crucible,
it puts on a beautiful and brilliant ap-
pearance during ignition ; it is a non-
conductor of electricity, and is infolu-
"ble in any of the mineral acids. Fref-
nvick, the feat of Robert Sinclair, Efq.
is a large elegant modern building ;
ibme years ago, one of the wings was
much damaged by lightning. Burrogil-
caftle, a feat -of the Earl of Caithnefs,
is an old and venerable pile ; it has
been of late much embellifhed and
■enlarged by its noble owner. Rr.ahjler
is alfo an old caftle, the refidence of
the Sinclairs of Brabfter. There are
3 ancient towers or cafties, built on
xocks furrounded by the fea, which
have been occupied as places of de-
fence. John o' Groat' s-houfe, fo often
vifited by travellers, is fituated about
a mileand a half from Dungifbay-head ;
(vide John o' Groat ? s-house.) Po-
pulation, in 1793, -195s.
CANNA ; one of the 4 iflands of
the Hebrides, which form the parifli
of Small Ifles, and is annexed to the
county of Argyll. It is about 4 com-
muted miles in length, and 1 in breadth;
its furface is partly high and rocky,
producing excellent pafture, and partly
low, and tolerably fertile. The horned
cattle of Canna grow to a larger fize
•than any in the neighbouring iflands,
owing to the finenefs of the grafs.
Cod and ling abound on the coaft ;
and the harbours are moft conveniently
fituated for the fiihing grounds. On
the S. E. fide of Canna lies Sand i/land,
feparated by a channel, which is dry
at low water. This fmall ifiand is
valuable, and fit both for crop and
pafture ; it has 4 tenants, who pay
about 60I. of yearly rent. Between
this ifiand and Canna lies the well-
known and much frequented harbour
of that name. A great many bafaltic
pillars are to be feen in Canna : one
of the hills is remarkable for its effecls
on tlte mariners compafs, having pow-
er to reverfe the directions of the
poles : many other places are magne-
tic, but in a lefs degree. There is alfo
a great deal of cozxiz plumpudding-jtone
in many places, connected with the
bafaltic rock. Population of Canna 3
about 30c.
Camnich; a ftream in Invernefs-
Shire, which, united with other itreams
near Erchlefs-caftle, forms the river
Beauiy.
CANOBY ; a parifh in the county
of Dumfries. It extends about 9 miles
in length, and 6 in breadth ; it may
be confidered as the low lands of Elk-
dale ; for, its higheft grounds, which
rife gradually towards the E. and N.E.
cannot be called mountains, contrafted.
with the elevated peaks in the con-
terminous pariihes ; at the fame time
the furface is uneven, and diverlified
by a variety of ridges and flats, ex-
cepting the banks of the Efk, which
are level. The central part is inter-
fered by the Elk, and the great road
from Edinburgh to London pafles in
the fame direction. The foil is a light
loam, fheltered by aprofufion of wood
in every part. Befides the Elk, the
parifli is watered by the Liddal, which
divides it from England, and the
Tarras, remarkable for its romantic
fcenery. The number of acres occu-
pied by wood cannot be kfs than ioooj