DUFFUS, a parish, in the county of Elgin; including
the villages of Burgh-Head, Cummingston, New
DufFus, and Hopeman; and containing 2529 inhabitants.
The name of Duffus is supposed to be derived from the
Gaelic word Dubuist, signifying the black lake, in reference
to the lake of Spynie, now drained, or to some
other lake of which there is no trace left. The parish
was formerly remarkable for its castle, and as the scene
of military operations; and there are several monuments
of antiquity still remaining, with which its ancient history
is closely interwoven. The most interesting relics are
those of fortifications at Burgh-Head, by some thought
to be Roman, and by others considered Danish, but most
probably originally constructed by the Romans, and
afterwards occupied by the Danes. The works were
divided into two parts, a higher and a lower, and presented
four strong ramparts, built with oaken logs,
directed towards the small isthmus upon which the village
of Burgh-IIead now stands. A few years ago an obelisk
was standing nearly in the centre of the parish, thought
to have been erected by Malcolm II., in memory of a
victory over the Danes under Camus; and not far from
it there was once a village called Kaim, supposed to be
the same as that mentioned by the historian Buchanan
as retaining the memorable name of Camus. The village
is now removed, but the place nevertheless retains the
appellaticm of Kaim. DufFus Castle, the picturesque
ruins of which are still visible, was the ancient seat of
the lords of that name, a branch of the noble family of
Sutherland, and who yet bear the title, recently restored
from attainder, though they now possess no property in
the district.
The PARISH is nearly six miles long and three broad,
containing about 10,000 acres, and lying along the Moray
Firth, by which it is bounded on the north. The coast
at the east end is rocky and very bold, and contains
some large and remarkable caverns; in the western part
it consists of a level sandy beach. Along the shore, and
for half a mile inland, the surface is mostly meagre pasture,
supposed to have been once richly-cultivated land,
and to have been reduced to its present condition by the
blowing of sand from the western beach. The remaining
part of the parish, with the exception of two slight acclivities,
is a continuous plain of good ground in a high
state of tillage. With respect to climate, the parish is
highly favoured: the finest stone fruits ripen on the
open wall, and the more rare and delicate flowers and
shrubs attain a luxuriant growth, and prolong their
blossoming until December. In the western district the
soil is a black fertile earth, mixed in some places with
sand; in the eastern quarter it is a deep rich clay, similar
in many respects to the fine soil of the well-known Carse
of Gowrie. The number of arable acres is 538 1, in
pasture 2962, and 310 are in wood: grain is produced
of excellent quality, and to a considerable extent, greatly
predominating in amount over the green crops, the
annual value of the former being four times that of the
latter. The cattle are of the Morayshire breed, which is
very similar to the Highland, but more bulky: they have
been recently crossed and varied with the Tceswater and
other esteemed breeds. The best method of cultivation
prevails, and many improvements in every department
of husbandry have taken place; the farm-buildings are
generally thatched with straw, but are substantial, and
of suitable extent. The rocks consist of sandstone and
limestone, of each of which there are quarries. The
annual value of real property in the parish is £7902.
Among the residences is Duffus House, a commodious
and handsome mansion in the old English manorial style.
The village of Duffus is regularly built, and is a neat, .nttnyp
clean, and interesting place. The chief communication e
of the people is with the town of Elgin, to which there is
a good turnpike-road; and a light post curricle brings the
mail. Burgh-Head has an excellent harbour, and regular
steam communication with Leith and London. There
are three fisheries carried on, namely, a salmon, a herring,
and a white fishery, which generally prove very profitable.
Ecclesiastically the parish is in the presbytery of Elgin
and synod of Moray; patron. Sir Archibald Dunbar, of
Northfield, Bart. The minister's stipend is about £250,
with an excellent manse, built in 1S30, and a glebe of
the annual value of £18. Duffus church, situated in the
eastern extremity of the parish, at a very inconvenient
distance from the bulk of the population, is an old and
ill-constructed edifice of unsightly appearance, with a
very picturesque and ancient porch; it was repaired in
the year 1782, and is in good condition. There is a
chapel of ease at Burgh-Head, where are also two dissenters'
meeting-houses; and near Kaim is an episcopal
chapel. A parochial school is supported, in which the
classics and mathematics are taught, with the usual
branches of education; the master has a salary of £36,
a portion of Dick's bequest, about £12 fees, and a house
and garden. There are several other excellent schools
in the parish.