Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/374

356 noise that astonishes all who hear it; and in some directions it is heard for many miles; while the fishing boats, at the extremities of the eddies, float in perfect smooth water.

On the west-side of Loch Etive, near the road to Appin, are the ruins of the city and castle of Beregonium, formerly the chief city of Scotland.

I now return to my own route towards Inveraray from Dalmally; and as I left the view of Loch Awe, and proceeded on my journey, I drove through a woody district; and the road, from the hard rain, was continually crossed by roaring torrents, and burns swelled to rapid rivers. When I came to the bridge of Cladich, the stream there was so tremendous, that I was apprehensive it would wash away every thing before it. From that bridge the road takes a short turn towards the east, and immediately winds up, and amongst mountains, to a very wild and dreary alpine country. The stream the road lies near, perhaps in dry weather, is little more than a burn; but when I was near it, and in a violent rain, it was roaring through its deep channel with prodigious violence, resembling a large river: indeed the whole was a scene of wild mountains,