186
DEER.
frequently bold and rocky, but in other places
bo level, that the river sometimes inundates
whole farms. For the greater part of its
course, its banks are overhung with fine natural
forests and plantations, chiefly of birches, inter-
mixed with wild shrubs, extremely grateful to the
traveller, who is thus led to overlook the gene-
ral sterility of the soil in other respects. To-
wards its source large woods of natural pines
of stupendous size, add a gloomy magnificence
to the scene. At proper seasons, large rafts
of trees are constructed and floated to the sea,
though, from the changes of the river, this
cannot always be done with safety. A few
miles above Braemar, is what is generally called
the Linn of Dee. It is scarcely a waterfall,
the descent of the river being only about five
feet, and that with a gentle slope. The chan-
nel is here so contracted between two rocks,
that it may be leaped across with ease ; the
feat, however, is somewhat terrific, and few
heads can bear the stunning effect of the eter-
nal noise produced by the confined waters. In
general the hills press so close upon the Dee,
as to leave little flat ground upon its sides, till
within five or six miles of its mouth, where
the hills become lower, and recede a little far-
ther from the river, so as to give place to some
level fields or haughs. The near vicinity of
the elegant bridge of Dee adds to the beauty
of the prospect. This river abounds with sal-
mon, and yields among the most valuable
fishings in Scotland ; the produce being esti-
mated at about L.8000 per annum. In mak-
ing a comparison of the soil of the banks of
the Dee and the Don, the two principal rivers
in Aberdeenshire, the latter has manifestly the
advantage. Hence the old rhyme : —
A rood o' Don's worth twa o' Dee,
Unless it be for fish and tree.
This river committed great havock during the
floods of August, 1829.
DEE, a river in the stewartry of Kirkcud-
bright, the sources of which are in Dry Loch,
Loch Long, Loch Dee, and some small rivu-
lets, among the hills, in the western part of the
stewartry, on the borders of Carrick in Ayr-
shire. It pursues an irregular course to the
east till it falls into Loch Ken opposite Par-
ton. Here its character is entirely changed.
The Ken, before forming the long narrow lake
which takes its name, is a much larger river
than the Dee, and as it never alters its course
from north to south — sinuosities excepted — it
8.
ought to have maintained its name throughout.
Public taste has, however, decided this matter,
and the Dee, on coming in upon the west side
of the Ken, gives its name to the water, till
it terminates at the town of Kirkcudbright.
For two miles from its mouth it is navigable
for vessels of 200 tons burden. Its course is
generally rapid, flowing over a rough rocky
bottom, between steep romantic banks adorned
with natural wood and plantations. At the
head of the navigation at Tongland, it is cross-
ed by a magnificent bridge, which consists of
a single arch, having a span of 1 10 feet. It is
built of vast blocks of freestone, brought from
the isle of Arran, and cost about L.7000,
which was paid by the gentlemen of the stew-
artry. A short way above the bridge, are some
cascades, the effect of which is very good when
the water is large. Altogether, the Dee of
Kirkcudbright runs about forty miles.
DEER, or OLD DEER, a parish in
Buchan, Aberdeenshire, having the parish of
New Deer on the west, Strichen on the north,
and separated from Peterhead on the east by
the parish of Longside. Its greatest extent is
ten miles, and its mean breadth five and a half.
One branch of the river Ugie runs through its
centre ; the other branch enters it for a short
way on the north-east. The surface is undu-
lating. The higher parts are covered with
heath or plantations, and the low grounds are
generally arable. The pleasure-grounds and
woods of Pitfourare the only objects of attrac-
tion. There are a number of mills of differ-
ent kinds in the parish ; and the manufactur-
ing and bleaching of fine linen is a great source
of employment. The parish is bleak, except
the parts laid out as pleasure-grounds ; but it
is generally productive of good corn crops.
The district abounds in lime, of which great
quantities are exported. The villages are,
Stewartfield, Fetterangus, and Deer. The
latter stands ten and a half miles west from
Peterhead, and twenty-eight north of Aberdeen.
It is populous and thriving. Not far distant,
upon the north bank of the Ugie, stand the
remains of the Abbey of Deer, which was
built in the beginning of the thirteenth century,
by William Cumming, Earl of Buchan, who
brought some monks to it from the Abbey of
Kinloss in Moray. Its lands were erected
into a temporal lordship in 1587, in favour of
Robert Keith, the person created commenda-
tor of Deer at the Reformation, and son of