MORAVIANS. See BOHEMIAN BRETHREN.
MORAY or ELGINSHIRE, a maritime county of Scotland, on the Moray Firth, bounded N. by the same, W. by Nairnshire, S.W. by Inverness-shire, part of which severs it into two parts, and S.E. and E. by Banffshire. The northern portion of it, lying between Inverness-shire and the sea, is 26 miles in length by 23 miles in breadth; the southern portion, inclosed by Inverness-shire, 14 miles long by 12 miles in breadth; while both together have an area of 340,000 statute acres. In its physical aspects Morayshire presents the characteristics of the Lowlands as well as those of the Highlands of Scotland. The former constitute the maritime section of the county, and the latter the interior. A light, gravelly soil, resting on a Devonian bottom, characterizes the surface of the maritime portion of the county, extending from 4 to 6 miles from the sea-coast. Undulations spread through this district, and in the parishes of Duffus and Elgin become hills of slight elevation. Southward, in the interior, the land becomes always more and more mountainous, until, on the borders of Inverness-shire and Banffshire, it attains a very considerable elevation. The geologic system of this, the highland section, is primary, with here and there strata of mountain limestone. Gneiss is the most prevalent rock among the hills, but it frequently approaches to granite in its structure, especially on the borders of Banff and Inverness shires. The climate of the county is generally considered healthy. On the coast, where the soil is gravelly, and consequently of a dry nature, the temperature is mild; but on the uplands it is more changeable and more subject to extremes. Westerly winds prevail in Morayshire for nearly three-fourths of the year; but most of the heavy gales that visit this county are from the N. or N.W. Easterly winds, however, are prevalent in spring, to the great injury of vegetation. The annual fall of rain upon the N.E. part, near Speymouth, is stated to be little more than 25 inches, and the mean temperature of the year to range from 45° to 50°. In the hilly region, however, the winter is long and often severe, and
the harvesting is generally late in being brought to a close. Moray, however, has the other advantages of an extended sea-coast, and large rivers traversing its valleys. The former stretches for about 30 miles along the Moray Firth, from the mouth of the Spey to beyond the Findhorn. It presents to the sea several bold headlands, such as Burgh and Stotefield Heads, and has likewise considerable inlets at the mouths of the Findhorn and Spey rivers. The harbours on the coast are, however, few and insecure. The principal streams of Morayshire are the Spey, on its eastern boundary; the Findhorn, on the W.; and the Lossie, in the centre of the county. The first of these rises from Loch Spey in Inverness-shire, and has about one-half its entire course in that county, after which it enters Moray at Tomachrochri. It then bounds the parish of Abernethy on the W. for about 3 miles, and afterwards separates it from the parish of Duthil. After traversing the detached part of Inverness-shire, the Spey again enters Morayshire, and forms its boundary on Banffshire for the greater part of its course downwards. The stream at last reaches the sea, below the town of Speymouth, by means of a wide mouth studded with islands, after a course of about 110 miles. It has a very rapid and tortuous course; and, after the Tay, discharges the largest volume of water of any stream in Scotland. No part of it is navigable, but it is much used for floating down timber. From the great bends in its course, together with the rapidity of its flow, the strath or valley has been long subject to very destructive inundations. The scenery on the banks of this river is frequently of a highly picturesque character. The Findhorn, which enters Moray on the west, is next in importance to the Spey. Rising among the mountains of Badenoch, it takes its meandering course north-eastwards through Inverness, and entering Nairnshire a little above Balknockan, traverses that county in the same direction. It enters Moray at Kilmoney, when it gradually turns to the N., and after receiving the waters of the Dorbas and other smaller tributaries, falls into Loch Findhorn, an inlet of the sea. Its total course is about 50 miles, for 10 of which it flows through Moray, but its waters are not navigable. Valuable salmon-fisheries pertain to the stream. Like the Spey, it is noted for sudden and destructive inundations. The "Moray floods" of 1829 were caused by a great outbreak of the Findhorn. The only other river worthy of mention is the Lossie, which, rising from a loch of the same name, traverses the centre of the county by an irregular N. by E. course, receives the Lochty on its left, and, after passing the town of Elgin, empties itself into the Moray Firth after a course of 25 miles, all within this county. The surface of Morayshire is otherwise diversified by several small lakes. In regard to its soil and agriculture this county may be divided into the maritime or lowland and the highland districts. Of the first, the soil is open and well suited for both wheat and oats. The highlands, on the other hand, are, with the exception of some parts of the valleys, exclusively devoted to pasture, especially for sheep. The breeds that are fed on the hills are mostly Cheviots and black-faced, while crosses with the Leicester-shire and South Downs are generally confined to the lowlands. Most of the cattle are crosses between the native breed and those of Teeswater or Aberdeenshire. The great stimulus given to the agricultural interest in the production of stock, corn, and other commodities for the metropolitan markets, by the ready communication obtained either by sea or railway, has been the cause of many improvements in farming, as well as of a steady rise in the price of land. In 1857 there were 82,401 acres in the county under rotation of crops, against 80,413 acres in the preceding year; and the following statistics for the year 1857 give the acreages as returned:—There were in that year 28,560 acres under grass and hay, 17,213 under oats, 12,737 turnips, 9522 barley, 8749 wheat, 3190 po-
Morbihan. tatoes, 776 rye, 481 bere, 409 tares, and 284 under bare or summer fallow. Of live stock in the same year there was an aggregate of 88,916, against 90,982 in the preceding year. In 1857 the following were the specified numbers:—56,336 sheep, 23,231 cattle, 5024 horses, and 4325 swine. The number of occupants of arable lands was in the same year 1146, or 1 to every 72 acres of arable farmage. In 1856 the valuation of the county (excepting the two burghs) amounted to L.116,851, against L.113,954 in 1855, and L.62,312 in 1811. Morayshire is not rich in mineral resources; excellent sandstone, however, and limestone are to be had in the county, which latter is slipped in considerable quantities. Peat is plentiful among the hills, and is much used for fuel. Large plantations of fir, larch, and other trees, supply the county with plenty of timber, which is generally floated down the streams in rafts. The manufactures are insignificant, and consist chiefly of beer, whisky, woollens, and ropes. The Great North of Scotland Railroad traverses the lowland part of the county, and sends off a branch line from Elgin to Lossiemouth on the coast. Regular communication with the south is also kept up by means of steam-packets. Moray unites with Nairnshire in returning a member to Parliament. It belongs to the northern circuit, and the assizes are held in Aberdeen. Ecclesiastically the county pertains to the synod of Moray; and in 1851 it contained 62 churches, with 28,293 sittings. Of the former, 24 belonged to the Established, 20 to the Free, 8 to the United Presbyterian, 4 to the Independent, and 2 each to the Episcopal, Baptist, and Roman Catholic denominations. For educational purposes there are 65 public schools and 31 private seminaries. The county shares with those of Banff and Aberdeen in the Dick Bequest, left for the purpose of increasing the salaries of teachers in these three counties. The number of poor relieved in the year ending May 14, 1856, was 1472, out of a population of 39,494 (in 1851); and the total amount collected for this purpose was, in the same year, L.8904, against L.8659 expended. The present Morayshire formerly occupied the middle district of the old county of Moray. Its earliest reliable history commences with the invasion of its territory by the Danes in 1008, when Malcolm II. of Scotland marched against them, but was defeated near Forres. They afterwards brought over their wives and children, and established a settlement here; but their possession of the country was disturbed by defeats which they sustained on three different occasions at the hands of the Scots, who ultimately forced them to leave the country. Moray was then incorporated in the kingdom of Scotland. There are many antiquities in this county, one of the principal of which is Pluscardine Abbey church, on the Lossie, near Elgin, a fine cruciform edifice, with a square tower of hewn stone. It was founded in 1230 by Alexander II., and bestowed upon the monks of Valles Caulium, a reformed order of Cistercians. Darnaway Castle, in the parish of Dyke and Moy, is likewise a building of great antiquity, and has been the seat of the Earls of Moray, of the Randolph, Douglas, and Stuart families. Besides other interesting relics, some remains of Danish monuments and fortifications are still extant. Of the former, the most remarkable is Sweno's Stone, near Forres, a large slab covered with representations of beasts, &c., 23 feet in height by about 4 in width, and said to reach into the ground for more than 10 feet. The aggregate population of the whole county was, in 1821, 31,398; in 1831, 34,498; in 1841, 35,012; and in 1851, 38,959. Of the last, 20,768 were females, and 18,191 males. Of towns containing more than 2000 inhabitants there were only two here in 1851,—viz., Elgin, the capital (6337), and Forres (3468), both of which are parliamentary and municipal burghs.