Gazetteer of Scotland

FOU
FO W
foot from the river Dovan to wRhin 6
miles of Kinrofs. The lands are ele-
vated, and expofed to ftorms and au-
tumnal frofts, which renders the fea-
fons later, and the crops lei's produc-
tive. The hills afford excellent fheep
pafture, and are in general covered
with grafs to the very fummit. Seve-
ral extenfive plantations have been late-
ly made, and enclofures are becoming
general. There are two villages, which
are both burghs of barony ; one called
the Crook of Dovan, under the fuperi-
ority of Moncrief Wclwood, Efq. of
Tulliebole ; and the other Blairingone,
of which the Duke of Atho! is fuperi-
or : both thefe have well attended an-
nual fairs. The river Dovan in its
courfe forms feveral romantic falls,
particularly the Caldron linn, the Rum-
bling bridge, and the Devil's mill; ( vide
Dovan.) Coal, lime, and ironftone
are found in great abundance; and
moft of the hills are compofed of ba-
faltic whinftone, of a dark blue or
purple colour, which anfwers toler-
ably well for building. Population in
1795, 2505.
FOULDEN ; a parifh in the county
of Berwick, is nearly of a fquare form,
containing about 6 fquare miles. The
foil varies from a ftrcng clay to loam
and fand : the whole is fertile, well
enclofed, and in a high ftate of culti-
vation. It is interfered by the Wbit-
tadder, which runs in a den, in many
places from 40 to 50 yards deep. The
fea coafc is fteep and rocky, affording
no creeks or harbours for fifhing boats.
There is an old ruin called Foulden,
which appears to have been a place of
ftrength and fecurity in the border
wars. The village, which was form-
erly confiderable, is a burgh of ba-
rony, under the fuperiority of Mr.
Wilkie of Foulden, and is privileged
to hold 2 annual fairs. Population in
I793> 344.
FOULIS EASTER, in Perthshire,
lately united to LyNinr., in forming a
parochial diftrict. Vide Lundie and
Foulis.
FOULIS WESTER ; a parifh in
Perthfhire, in the diftrict of Stratherne,
about 8 miles in length, and 6 in
breadth. It is watered by the Almond,
which here forms feveral romantic
falls. The foil is a red clay or till,
which, by cultivation and manure, be-
comes loamy and fertile : a veryfmall
portion is enclofed, the greater part
being fitted for pafture. Abercairney-
boufe, the feat of Mr. Moray of Aber-
cairney, is a large and commodious
building, furrounded with extenfive
plantations. The village of Foulis
contains about 140 inhabitants ; near
which is the ancient manfion of Cur-
toquhey, the refidence of Mr. Maxton.
The ruins of an ancient fort or caftle
are feen about a mile W. from the
church. Population in 1794, 1224.
FOVERAN; a parifh in Aberdeen-
fhire, extends 4 miles in length from
E. to W. and about 2 in breadth. The
general appearance is flat, but the
ground rifes by a gradual afcent from
the fea : the foil varies from a fandy
loam to a rich loam and ftrong clay,
the whole of which is arable. The
river Ythan forms the boundary on
the N. at the mouth of which lies the
fmall village of Newburgh. The
Ythan is navigable for nearly 3 miles,
but no harbour has been built, nor
any accommodation for fhipping.
There are the ruins of feveral ancient
caftles and chapels, and a few tumuli
or cairns are to be feen. Population
in 1793, 1243.
FOWLA, or FULE ; one of the
northern ifles, fuppofed to be the
Ultima Thule of the ancients, not
only from the mere analogy of the
name, but alfo from more undoubted
teftimony ; for Tacitus fpeaking of
the Roman general Agricola, regard-
ing his victories, and the diftance to
which he penetrated northward, thus
expreffes himfelf; invenit domuitque
Infulas, quas vocant Cr cades ,d effect aque
Thule.'" Now Fowla, which is high
ground, is eafily feen in a clear day
from the northern parts of the Ork-
neys. It is about 3 miles in length,
and 1 \ in breadth ; it is fituated nearly
20 miles diftant from any land to the
weftward of the clutters of Orkney
and of Shetland, to which laft it is
politically annexed. It is very bold
and fteep towards the W. ; and the
only landing-place, which is called
Ham, lies on the E. fide, and is much
! reforted to as a fifhing ftation. It af-
fords excellent and extenfive pafturage
I for fheep, and is inhabited by 26 or
j 27 families, making about 1.0 inha-
! bitants, who, although the ifland can-
! not fupply them with provifions, are
I fo attached to the place, that they are
I 7.