Gazetteer of Scotland

CRU
CROSSMICHAEL ; a pariih in the
ftewartry of Kirdcudbright. It is of
a rectangular form, extending in length
about 5, and in breadth about 4 miles.
It is bounded on the E. by the river
Urr, and on the W. by the river Dee.
.From thefe rivers the ground rifes into
a ridge which is beautifully diverfified
with gentle eminences, entirely arable.
Towards the northern border there is
a fmall part covered with heath. The
foil is various, as loam, clay, till, fand,
and alongthe rivers exteniive meadows
or holms. There are z lakes in the pa-
riih, abounding with excellent pike
and perch. The Urr has a fmall har-
bour,, which admits vefiels of fmall
burden. By a canal lately cut from
Carlinwark loch, which joins the Dee
at this pariih, marl is furnifhed at a
cheap rate to the farmers in this diftricl:.
The fh allows at the mouth of the
Dee prevent veffels coming fo far up,
but a fmall expence might render it
navigable for near 15 miles. There
are two ferries over the rivers in this
pariih, and the great military road
to Port Patrick paffes through it.
Like the reft of Galloway, confiderable
attention is paid to the rearing of
cattle. There are feveral Pictifh monu-
ments of antiquity, and the remains of
ancient fortifications. Population in
1792, 772.
CRUACHAN, OrCRUACHAN Beinn ;
a lofty mountain, lituated at the head
of Loch Aixie, in Argyllshire. The
perpendicular height, as meafured by
Colonel Watfon, is 3390 feet above
the level of the fea, and the circum-
ference at the bafe exceeds 20 miles.
It is very fteep towards the N. E. and
Hopes gently down on the S^tnrt-rifes
with an abrupt afcent near the furn-
mit, which is divided into two points,
each refembling a fugar loaf. It was
the north point which was meafured
by Col. Watfon, the fouthern one be-
ing 30 feet lower. The fides of the
mountain are covered with natural
woods of birch, alder, oak, and fir,
which abound with roes and red deer.
On the fummitof this mountain is the
fatal fpring, from which, according to
a tradition of the country, attributed
to Offian, iffued Loch Awe, the beau-
tiful expanfe of water below; (vide
Dr. Smith's tranflation of " Bera" of
Ofiian.) Cruachan is the weather
gage of the people within view of its
CRU
lofty furnmit; before a ftorm " the
fpirit of the mountain ihrieks," and
its head and fides are enveloped with
clouds. It is moftly compofed of red-
dim porphyry, but near the bottom
is found argillaceous J'chijlus, inter-,
fected with veins of quartz and lapis
ollaris. The porphyry feems to con-
fift of a kind of trapp of a dirty red
colour, with flefh-coloured cryftals of
feldt-fpar, fome cryftals of b\a.ck/cheorl,
and a very few of greeniih-coloured
mica. On the top of the mountain the
fea-pink grows luxuriantly, and fea
fliells have been found on the very
fummit.
Cruach Lussa, or Cruach Lu-
SACH, " the mountain of plants ;" a
mountain in the diftricl: of Knapdale,
in Argyllfhire. The height has never
been exactly meafured, but it is thought
to exceed 3000 feet above the level of
the fea.
CRUDEN ; a parifli fituated in
that diftricl: of Aberdeenfhire, called
Buchan. It is a regular compact field,
extending about 8 or 9 miles along the
Britilh ocean towards the S. and about
7 or 8 miles inland towards the W.
The foil is various; a large portion of
it is a deep rich clay, the reft is light
and gravelly ; but, except the moffes,
and a few banks, all of it could eafily
be made arable. An immenfe quantity
of peat mofs extends along the N.
boundary. There are 4 fifhing villages
in the parifh, at one of which, Ward,
it is very probable a tolerable harbour
might be made out. Hufbandry is
only in its infancy, and few farms in
the parifli are in good order. Thread
manufactories are carried on to a great
extent. Slams-cajlle, the feat of the
Earl of Errol, is in this pariih. The
Bullers of Buchan, and other ftupen-
dous rocks and precipices, are much
admired for the awful grandeur they
exhibit. Dunbuy, a fmall infulated
rock near the Bullers, is frequented by
innumerable fea-fowls. There are alfo
feveral very extenfive caves in the
neighbourhood. About a mile W. of
the church are the remains of a druid-
ical temple. In this pariih was fought,
in the beginning of the nth century,
the famous battle between Malcolm
II. and Canute, fon of Sueno, after-
wards king of England, Denmark, and
part of Sweden. In this engagement
the Danes were totally defeated, and