Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/410

392 rocks on the margin, where huge flat flakes are continually heaped one upon another, with beautiful trees sprouting naturally from every crevice. Towers of rocks boldly rise to the sky, with chasms and mouths of caves on each side gaping and pouring forth never-ceasing streams. The gay red-berry mountain ash, the alder, maple, thorn, and young oak, creeping up on every side, and brightening the dark recesses that at every ten yards present themselves. In the caves of Cartland Wallace frequently concealed himself from his enemies. There is a great variety of strata in the crags of Cartland; it was autumn when I saw them, and the plants, weeds, and trees, exhibited a rich variety of tints, hanging about the huge masses of ponderous spar, rising to prodigious heights; and as the sun shone on the flakes of them, they resembled the finest blocks of polished red and white marble, ornamented with the most beautiful tints which vegetation in its autumnal pride can bestow. Every turn of the scene (and it is nothing but windings) presents a new and different beauty from the former. I was extremely sorry to quit this charming and enchanting spot, where I knew not what to admire most, the water or its banks. We pursued its course till