Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/123

Rh overhanging precipices; and water gushing, in spouts from innumerable apertures. On the left, the river deep below, foaming, and rolling down its close bed of rocks and precipices; varied by, now and then, a mile of a beautiful winding flat of verdure; but still rocks and wood confining the view, on every side. No fields, no corn, no produce except feed for sheep and goats. Such was the scene till I reached Hawick, where the Slettrick water joins the Tiviot.

The town of Hawick is, in itself, a very middling place, but its situation, and its surrounding beauties, are enchanting. Its bridges, and its views, from almost every part of it, are picturesque, and highly gratifying to those who love nature in its true simplicity. Lord Napier's house and woods, seen through the arch of the bridge over the Tiviot, are well worth a wet walk, which I had, to get a view of them.

My old Scot's prediction of his horses, was truly verified; for, notwithstanding both they and their master were like drowned rats, we really performed the last two miles better than any of the foregoing twenty; which, however, upon the whole, took eight hours to accomplish; consequently gave me less time at Hawick, than I