Tracing the Tumel from its source in Loch Rannoch, we find it receiving the Garry near Fascally, as its only principal accessary branch.. If less magnificent than the Tay or the Earn, it presents a far greater variety of scenery. The first remarkable spot is at Mount Alex ander, where it forces its way through a narrow, rocky, and wooded pass, overshadowed by the skirts of Shehallien, abounding in variety of extensive, as well as close scenery, and as rich below as it is bold and rocky above. Hence it forces its way over a rocky tract, forming numerous picturesque cascades until it reaches Tumel bridge. Shortly after this it emerges into the beautifully wooded vale of Loch Tumel, joining that lake through green meadows thickly set with scattered ash trees, and bounded on each side by numerous farms that skirt the high boundaries on both hands.
On emerging from Loch Tumel it assumes a charac ter entirely new ; being pent up for above five miles in a deep, rocky and woody glen, affording no room at the bottom beyond that required for its course. Splendid as this scenery is, it is totally unknown to the public, and has indeed been visited by very few. We have no hesi tation in saying, that, with the single exception of Loch Cateran, there is no .spot in Scotland which contains so much grandeur, variety, and beauty, within so small a space ; nor any indeed which exceeds it in the romantic richness of its truly alpine scenes. It will well repay the labour of more days than one ; but, to see it in perfection, it must be examined on each side of the river, for which facility is afforded by good roads. • Where it is about to join the Garry near Fascally, it produces the celebrated fall of the Tumel ; a scene perfectly exquisite in its com position, and in the beauty of the cascade, although the height is net considerable. From this point downwards to its junction with the Tay, it passes through a narrow valley, in which the scenery about Fascally, which forms properly a part of that already described, is the most re markable. The whole, however, is one continued series of beauties to the junction ; and in diverging a little from it, we find, about the village of Moulin, views of the vale of the Tay, together with much closer mountain scenery, which ought 'to attract every traveller thus much out of his road.
The Garry, which at Fascally forms so large a branch of the Tumcl, arises partly out of Loch Garry, near Dal naspidel, receiving afterwards three principal branches from the Bruar, the water of Erochi, and the Tilt, besides subordinate ones. The first part of its course is through
a wild uninteresting country ; but above Blair it imme diately assumes those beauties which are continued to its termination. Blair itself is unrivalled throughout Scot land ; and scarcely any thing can exceed the beauty of the whole valley down to the pass of Killicrankie. Of the scenery of that celebrated spot it is superfluous to say any thing, except to point out to artists that it reserves the greater part of its most striking scenes for those who will pursue it with care through all its recesses. The summer's labours of the most expert artist would not ex haust half of the beauties to be found throughout this tract as far as Blair ; but we have not room to describe even their places. But we must point out the grounds at Urrard, with its beautiful cascade ; the views from Lude ; those on the eastern side of the Garry ; and those which more especially belong to Blair. Among these we must especially name Glen Tilt, affording alpine scenery of a singular character, and no less magnificent than unlike to any thing else of the kind in Scotland. When the river is about to quit the Glen, the pass which it has wrought itself through the rocks, is singularly wild and romantic ; and near to this place the cascades of the Fender, though in no great scale, offer specimens of this class of scenery scarcely inferior in beauty to any of the same dimensions in Scotland. The falls of the Bruar are rather rude than picturesque, but are well known, while the others are neglected.
The course of the Lyon is remarkable, from the uni formly narrow and deep valley through which it runs. Arising far west in Loch Lyon, it receives numerous mountain streams in its course to the Tay, but no river of any note. The scenery of that valley is as novel as it is beautiful ; but, like many of the secluded parts of Scot land, it is alike undescribed and unknown. Where it is contracted in the narrow pass westward of Fortingall, it is particularly striking from the closeness and magnitude of the hills, and from the fine trees which cover its mean dering bunks. After this point it assumes a new but still beautiful character, rich in fine woods and in overhanging trees and rocks, and enclosed on each hand between high mountains.