BOLESKINE-AND-ABERTARFF, a parish, in the
county of Inverness; containing the village and posttown
of Fort-Augustus, 131 miles (N. W.) from Edinburgh;
and comprising 187 6 inhabitants. The name
Boleskine has usually been traced to the Gaelic term
Bail-os-cionn, which signifies " the town hanging above
the loch" (Loch Ness). Another derivation, however,
has been assigned to it, by which it is identified with
the compound term Boile-eas-ceann; ceann signifying
"height" or "summit", eas "a cataract", and boile
"fury", which, taken together, would mean "the summit
of the furious cascade ", viz., the fall of Foyers.
The whole of the parish, previously to the fifteenth
century, was the property of the Lovat family; and at
a still earlier period, it is supposed to have been possessed
by the Cummins, a very powerful and warhke
clan; Fort-Augustus being still called, in the common
language of the district, Kdichuiman, or "the burialplace
of the Cummins". Strath-herric, a district of
Boleskine, was anciently possessed by the clan Grant,
the time and cause of whose departure are uncertain.
Before the year 1545, the parish is said to have been
occupied by the tribes of Mc Gruer, Mc Imesheir, and
Mc Tavish, retainers of the Lovat family, and the principal
of whom, having accompanied Lord Lovat in his
expedition to settle the heir of the Clanronald family in
his father's estate, were, in their return from the Hebrides,
intercepted at the east end of Loch Lochy, by
the clan Mc Donald, and almost extirpated. The numerous
offspring descended from the Erasers killed in
that engagement, in process of time spread throughout
the parish; and Foyers is now the seat of the representative
of this ancient and powerful clan.
The p.ARisH is twenty-one miles long, and about ten
broad, and its surface is considerably diversified throughout.
The district of Strath-herric consists of flat lands,
with a few undulations, near which is a great extent of
hilly ground, and in the eastern quarter is a range of
high hills, called Monadhliath: tracts of low land are
to be seen in other parts, suited to the growth of oats,
barley, and potatoes. Loch Ness, which is twenty-four
miles long and about one mile and a half broad, bounds
the parish on the north for fourteen miles. This lake, in
the middle, is from 106 to 130 fathoms deep, and near the
sides from sixty-five to seventy-five; and, from its great
depth, never freezes: the ground around rises to a considerable
height, and is ornamented with a variety of trees.
There are about twelve other lakes in the parish. In
Abertarff are two streams that fall into Loch Ness, the
Oich and the Tarff, which latter gives name to the district
of Abertarff; and there are two celebrated cascades
in the parish, formed by the same river, within less than
half a mile of each other, and known as the Fall of
Foyers, the grandeur and magnificence of which, increased
by the sublimity of the surrounding scenery, can
be adequately conceived by those only who have beheld
the spectacle.
The soil exhibits all the varieties of gravel, clay, till,
loam, and peat-moss, and is generally of a poor or middling
character. The lands are mainly devoted to the
rearing of sheep, of which about 30,000 are kept, all of
the Cheviot breed; and the wool is sold chiefly to woolstaplers
in the north of England. The greater part of
the district is without inclosures, but good farm-buildings
have been erected on all the principal lands, where,
also, good fences are to be seen. The rocks comprise
blue and red granite, which exist in large quantities,
and limestone is also plentiful, but not much wrought.
The annual value of real property in the parish is £5887.
There is a salmon-fishery, which lets for £30 a year.
Annual fairs are held at Fort-Augustus, in the beginning
of June and end of September, chiefly for the sale
of cattle, but at which, also, some traffic is carried on
by pedlers and others; and occasional trysts for blackcattle
take place in spring and autumn. The only turnpike-
road is the old military road, which runs for about
twenty-two miles on the south side of the parish, and is
kept in good order. There are three district roads, in
indifferent repair; and the Caledonian canal, which
passes through the parish, opens up a communication by
means of steam-packets and other vessels.
For ecclesiastical purposes the parish is within the
bounds of the presbytery of Abertarff and synod of
Glenelg; the patronage is exercised by Professor Scott
of Aberdeen, and the minister's stipend is £238. 2. 2.
There is an excellent manse with offices, and the glebe
comprises upwards of fifty-two acres, of which thirtyfive
are in good cultivation, and the remainder indifferent
pasture. Till about seventy or eighty years since, there
were two glebes in the united parish, one near Fort-
Augustus, and the other on the banks of Loch Ness,
both eligible and desirable tracts of laud, which were
then exchanged for the present glebe. The church,
conveniently situated for the bulk of the population,
was built in 1777, and is a neat and well-finished building,
seated for 560 persons. There is a missionary
minister in conne.vion with the Established Church,
who regularly officiates at Fort-Augustus; and in the
same district is a Roman Catholic chapel. The parochial
school affords instruction in Latin, Gaelic, and the
ordinary branches of education; the master has a salary
of £30, with about £13. 10. fees. At Fort-Augustus,
also, is a school, supported by charity. See Fort-
Augustus.