Gazetteer of Scotland

OB A
O B A
o
OATTILAW ; a parifti in Forfar-
fhire, about 5 miles long, and 2
broad, watered by the South Ejk river.
The general appearance is Rat, riling
towards the S. to the i'ummit of the
hill of Findbaven, which is elevated
1500 feet above the level of the adja-
cent country. The foil is clayey and
muiry, and the climate cold and moift.
Be-ides the veftiges of an old caftle on
the top of Findhaven (vide Find-
haven), there are the remains of a
rectangular encampment; in the midft
of which are two tumuli, which have
never been opened. In 1801, the po-
pulation was 384; decreafe 64 fince
J 79 x - . .
OBAN ; a village in Argyllshire, in
the parifh of Kilmore, fituated on a
fine bay, in the found of Mull, hid
from the weftern ocean by the ill and
of Kerrera. This bay is of a femicir-
cular form, from iz to 24 fathoms
deep, and large enough to contain up-
wards of 500 fail of merchantmen : it
has two openings, one from the N.,
and another from the S., and is de-
fended from the fury of the wefterly
winds by the iflands of Kerrera and
Mull. The village has rifen rapidly
from a fmall beginning. The firft
houfe of any confequence was built
by a trading company of Renfrew,
who ufed it as a ftore-room ; Oban,
even at that time, being confidered as
one of the mod convenient ftations
for trade on the W. coaft of Argyll-
fhire. About 2,5 years ago, it was
conftituted one of the ports of the
cuftomhoufe; and, when a little trade
began to be carried on, from the con-
venient bay, and the vicinity of a po-
pulous country, the attention of the
Duke of Argyll, Mr. Campbell of
DunftafFnage, and other perfons who
poffefled property around the village
was roufed, and they granted building
leafes to a confiderable extent ; fince
which time the buildings have annually
increafed. it was particularly indebt-
ed to two brothers of the name of Ste-
Venfon, who fettled in. it in 1778, and
by different branches of traffic, not
only acquired handfome fortunes for
themfelves, but highly promoted the
good of the neighbouring country.
Oban- is admirably fituated for trade,
and is in a particular manner adapted
for a fifhing ftation. But thefeare in-
ferior confiderations to the great na-
tional advantages that might be de-
rived from its excellent harbour and
road. It is formed by nature, and by
the combination of many favourable
circumftances, for being a principal
harbour, a place of trade, and a cen-
tral market for the Weftern High-
lands, and middle diftrict of the Weft-
ern Ifles. Its bay is defended by the
ifland of Kerrera, which, at a fmall
diftance, ftretches acrofs it. It lies in
the trait of coalting veffcls, palling
from N. to S. through the found of
Mull, and being fituated near the en-
trance of the great Loch Linnhe, has a
communication with an extenfive range
of country ; and, ihould ever the na-
vigation, through the chain of lakes
which extend in the middle of the
Glenmore-)ia-b' ' alabin from Invernefs
to the Atlantic, be rendered practi-
cable, its importance will be greatly-
enhanced. " Here alfo," as remarked
by the late patriotic tourift Mr. Knox,
" a royal dock and arfenal might be
erected. It is well known, that the
belt deligns of government for annoy-
ing its enemies, or defending our co-
lonies or trade, are fometimes fruftrat-
ed by contrary winds, which prevent
our fleets and tranfports from getting
! out of the harbours, and particularly
; from getting round the Land's End.
I We alfo know, that the enemy gain
I information through the medium of
the newfpapers or otherwife, of alraoft
every equipment and motion of our
fhips and troops, by which they are
enabled to counteract ourdefigns with
fimilar fquadrons, or by ftcret dif^
patchesto commanding officer;, abroad.
There is no doubt, that, the lofs and
delays to the nation from theft cir-
cumftances, might be in ibme degree