Many remains of antiquity may be traced in this county, particularly tumuli, upright stones, cairns and Druidical circles,—various ruins of castles, as Auchirrdune, Balveny, Edinglassie, Galval, Desk ford, Scuth, Grange, Inehdrewer, Banff, and the castle near Cullen. For several ages the shores of the Moray Firth were almost incessantly molested by the hostile descents of the Danes. Many spots are point ed out where these piratical invaders were defeated with dreadful carnage, partiularly at Gamrie, at Cullen, and at Mortlach, where great victories were successively gained over them, about the end of the 10th and beginning of the llth century, by the chief of Buchan, Indulf king of Scots, and Malcolm II. In the same age it is believed that a number of religi ous houses were founded near the scenes of these suc cessful engagements.
The chief towns and villages in Banffshire are Banff, Cullen, (both royal boroughs,) Portsoy, Macduff, Gardenston, Troup, Keith, New Mill, Buckie, Port easy, Findochtie, Portnockie, Tammtoul.
Cullen, formerly Invercullen, was a constabulary arearly as the days of David.II. For several ages it was subject to the Earls of Findlater. The coun cil of this borough consists of 19 members. The manufactures are linen and damask. Population nearly 1000.
Portsoy, in the parish of Fordyce, contains above 1000 inhabitants, who are engaged chiefly in fishing, or in the manufacture of thread and linens.
Macduff, in the parish of Gamrie, is about a mile distant from Banff. It now possesses a tolerable harbour, and sends a number of vessels to London, Leith, &c. The population exceeds 1000.
The greatest length of the county is 58 miles, the breadth 24.. It contains 750 square miles, and is di vided into 23 parishes. 1801, the population was stated at 35,807, a lower number than either Dr Web 6ter's calculation in 1755, or Sir John Sinclair's in 1798. The valued rent is 49,200 Scots ; and in 1798, the real rent was rated at ..£13,490 sterling. (80 BANGALORE is a strongly fortified town in Hindostan, in the Mysore country, and being the bulwark of the Mysore country towards Arcot, is a place of great political importance. The town, or pettah, is of great extent, and the palace erected by Tippoo is a very magnificent structure. Silk and woollen goods are manufactured in the neighbour hood. The fort of Bangalore having been destroyed by Tippoo after the British retired, Purneah was putting it into repair in 1801., and making it even stronger than before. See Lord Valentia's Travels, vol. i. p. 411. (tu)