Gazetteer of Scotland

DIR
6f cultivation. There is little waste
land, and the whole forms a beauti-
ful diversified scene of hill and dale,
wood and water, corn fields and mea-
dows. The soil is a rich loam, which
in dry seasons affords luxuriant crops ;
but, from the fatness of the ground,
and the steepness of the hills, wet
seasons frequently balk the expecta-
tions of the farmer. The river Co-
han runs through the parish, in which
a few trout s are occasionally caught.
On it also is a very productive sal-
mon fishing. There are a few plan-
tations, which are" in a thriving state.
The only stones fit for building are a
species of whinstone or scurdy, and a
line freestone, containing a quantity
of oxyde of iron. Population of the
town and parish in 1801, 1418.
DIRLETON ; a parish and village
in the county of Haddington. The
parish is situated where the Frith of
Forth opens into the German Ocean ;
its extent is nearly 6 miles square.
The western part of the parish, along
the Frith, is sandy and barren for
nearly 3* miles ; but towards the E.
the soil becomes better, being a fine
level plain. The village is nearly in
in the centre of the parish, built up-
on a rocky ground, rising as it re-
cedes from the sea. There are 2 small
islets on the coast, on one of which,
called Fidrie, is the ruin of some edi-
fice, probably a lazaret or hospital
for the reception of sick. A consi-
derable quantity of sea weed is thrown
ashore after a storm, part of which is
used as a manure, and part burned
into kelp, of which there is, made on
an average about 14 tons per annum.
Inclosures are becoming general, and
there is of late years a great improve-
ment in the mode of farming. Wil-
liam Nisbet, Esq. of Dirleton, the
chief heritor, has lately made out ex-
tensive plantations. Gulan-ness, the
point of land Which determines the
mouth of the Frith, and from which
passage-boats formerly sailed for Fife,
is in this parish. Population in 1801,
1115.
DIVIE ; a small river in the county
of Moray, Its principal branch rises
in the borders of Strathspey, and, after
a most rapid course, it falls into the
Findhorn river.
DOCHART; a lake and river in
Perthshire. The lake lies in tlie pa-
DOL
rish of Killin, and extends E. and WV
forming the boundary between Strath-
fillan and Glendochart. It is about 3
miles in length, and contains a float-
ing islet, a curiosity which is always'
recommended to the notice of stran-
gers. This islet is 51 feet long, and
20 broad. It appears to have been
gradually formed by the natural inter-
texture of the roots and stems of some
water plants. It moves before the
wind, and may be pushed about with
poles. Cattle going unsuspectingly to'
feed upon it, are liable to be carried
on a voyage round the lake.- On ano-
ther, but stationary island, stand the
ruins of a castle, the ancient residence
of the Knights of Lochow. It is em-
bowered with wood, and has a very
romantic appearance. The river Fil-
lan runs into the W. end of the lake,
and the river Docliart issues out of it,
and runs about 8 miles through Glen-
dochart ; then it joins the Lochay,
and pours its Waters into Loch Tay.
DOLLAR; a parish in the county
of Clackmannan. It consists chiefly
of an extensive and gently sloping
plain, beautifully interspersed with
small villages, farm houses, and inclo-
sures ; and taking in a small part of
the parishes of Tillycoultry and
Muckart, forms a kind of amphithea-
tre, about 3 miles long, and \\ in
breadth, bounded, on the N. by the
Ochil hills, and by a rising ground on
the S. Besides the plain, it takes in a'
part of the Ochils, which are in gene-
ral covered with a beautiful green, af-
fording excellent pasture for sheep.
At the foot of the hills, and the great-
er part of the plain, the soil is light
and gravelly, causing a quick vegeta-
tion. On the banks of Dovan or De-
von, which nearly divides the parish'
into 2' equal parts, the ground is chief-/
ly haugh, with an intermixture of
clay. The village of Dollar is very
small and mean, but being situated
on the road from Stirling to Kinross,
from which it is equidistant about 12
miles, is a proper stage for travellers.
There is a fine bleachfield on the
banks of the Devan, belonging to Mr.
William Haig, who was amongst the
first in Scotland to introduce the prac-
tice of bleaching with muriatic acid.
In the neighbourhood of the town of
Dollar is the venerable ruin of Castle-
Campbell, anciently the occasional re«