Gazetteer of Scotland

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About 7001. worth of wood is cut
down annually. Lead mines are
wrought at Strontian to the value of
about 40001. annually. In these mines
a new mineral was discovered a few
years ago, the properties of which
were analysed by Dr. Hope, professor
of chemistry in Edinburgh, who dis-
tinguished it by the title of Strontites.
It resembles barytes very much in ap-
pearance ; but its chemical qualities
are different in many respects. The
muriate of barytes communicates a
blue colour to flame, while that erf
strontites (the new mineral,) commu-
nicates a deep red colour. It is also
lighter than the barytes, and is gene-
rally of a greenish hue. It is not con-
vertible into a lime, nor does it effer-
vesce with acids. Near the mines of
Strontian are found beautiful speci-
mens of talc, garnets, asbestos, &c.
Population of the whole district in
1801, 4829:
ARDOCH ; a small village in the
parish of Muthil, Perthshire. Near
it is the most complete Roman camp
that remains in Scotland. It was pro-
bably established during the fourth
Campaign of Agricola, in the year 48.
It is 1060 feet in length, and 900 in
breadth, and could contain 26,000
men, according to the ordinary distri-
bution of the Roman soldiers in their
encampments. There appears to have
been 3 or 4 ditches surrounding the
camp, strongly fortified. The four
entries crossing the lines are still dis-
tinctly to be seen. The general's quar-
ter rises above the level of the camp,
but is not exactly in the centre. It
is a regular square of 20 yards, inclos-
ed by a stone wall, and containing
the foundation of a house 30 feet by
20. There is a subterraneous com-
munication with a smaller encamp-
ment at a short distance, in which se-
veral helmets, spears, &.c. have been
found. From this place the great
Roman highway runs east to Bertha,
about 14 miles distant, where the Ro-
man army passed over 'the Tay into
Strathmore. '
ARDOCH ; a rivulet in Perthshire,
which rises from Loch Maghaig, in
the parish of Kilmadock, and runs
into the Teath at the castle of Doune.
ARDROS5AN;.a parish in Ayr-
shire, extending along the western
coast about 6 miles in length, and
ARG
about 4 in breadth. The surface is a
mixture of hilly and flat country, in
most places fit for the plough, though
even the best lands of the parish are
under pasture. It is capable of great
improvement ; but agriculture is ra-
ther neglected. The soil is loamy,
with a mixture of sand, and in some
places it is a strong deep clay. There
are few inclosures. A great quantity
of sea-weed is annually thrown upon
the coast, which affords excellent ma-
nure. Lime and coal are found in
great abundance. The town of Salt-
coats is situated partly in this parish,
and partly in the parish of Stevens-
town. {Vide Saltcoats.) There are
some remains of Danish encampments,
on a hill in the N. side of this parish.
The ruins of the castle of Ardrossan,
which was partly taken down by
Cromwell, shew it to have been a
place of great extent. Population in
1801; 1846;
ARDSTINCHAR or STINCHAR;
a river of considerable size, which
takes its rise in the eastern part of
Ayrshire, in the parish of Barr, about
12 miles above the village of Colmo-
nell. It continues a very l-apid course
for the space of 2« or 27 miles, till it
falls into the Atlantic, at Ballantfae,
near which village is a salmon fishery,
which rents at about 1001. a-year. Se-
veral streams or rivulets fall in its
course into the Ardstinchar, particu-
larly the Ashill,the Dusk, the Muick,
and the Feoch.
ARGYLLSHIRE ; anciently called
Argathalia, is said to have been a part
of the ancient Caledonian kingdom,
while the Romans and Picts were in
possession of the greater part of Scot-
land. It extends about 114 miles in
length, and 43 in breadth, excluding
the isles. It contains 2 royal boroughs,
and 49 parishes. It is divided into 5
districts, viz. Kintyre, Knapdale,
Cowal, Lorn, and Argyll Proper ;
bounded on the S. by the Irish sea
and the Clyde ; on the E. by Perth
and Dumbartonshire ; on the N. by
Inverness-shire ; and on the W. by the
Atlantic ocean. Argyllshire was much
infested, in ancient times, by preda-
tory intruders, and was in consequence
the scene of many engagements. The
deeds of Fingal and his heroes Were
mostly atehieved in this district ; and
1 many monuments of the remotest au»
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