Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/122

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104
A DESCRIPTION OF

no food for them. To be sure, it is situated amongst such a chain of mountains, that it does appear that no number of animals, except sheep, could be fed from the produce of that district. A little meal and water was the only refreshment my poor, lame, and galled beasts found at Mosspole; which when they had swallowed, we proceeded. Having just entered Roxburghshire, we met with a branch of the Tiviot, which we crossed; and about four miles further, we joined the main Tiviot water, and entered Tiviotdale, contracted like that of Ewesdale, and in some degree, in its beauties, similar; but more diversified, by every charming scene that water, hills, rocks, and wood, can produce. All I could see through torrents of rain, was delightful, particularly below the junction of the branches of the Tiviot (we met at Mosspole) with the main stream; which came rolling down amongst rocks and wood, in a very charming style. Any one, less delighted than I am with wild nature, would, perhaps, be somewhat alarmed at such a road, and such scenery, in a violent rainy day. The road, too, rough and steep, and not wider than a carriage; with huge clifted rocks on the right, sometimes covered with wood, at others, bare, and frowning through the shade of other