CROMARTY, County of

CROMARTY, County of, in Scotland, forms a kind of peninsula, washed on three sides by the friths of Cromarty and Moray, and bounded on the south-west and south by the county of Ross. Its extreme extent in length is about 16 miles, and on an average about six and a half or seven in breadth. It was erected into a distinct county about the end of the 17th century, at the request of Sir James McKenzie, earl of Cromarty, to whom it almost entirely belonged. The face of the country is pleasant; a long ridge of hills extending the whole length in the middle of the county, having a fine declivity on either side towards the shores of the friths. The higher grounds are mostly covered with heath, but towards the shores the soils are light and early. A great many plantations have been lately

made out, which will shortly be a great ornament and shelter to the country. The language is generally Gaelic, but many speak that broad Scotch, which is commonly called the Buchan or Aberdeenshire dialect. Freestone, granite, and reddish-coloured porphyry, are almost the only minerals, if we except topazes, similar to those of Cairngorm, found in the parish of Kincardine. Eitheries are very successfully carried on, and pearls of considerable value are sometimes found in the frith of Cromarty, where the river Conal falls into that bay.

Population of the County of Cromarty at two different periods.