KILNINVER-AND-KILMELFORD, a parish, in the district of Lorn, county of Argyll, 8 miles (S. by W.) from Oban; containing 896 inhabitants. The name of the first of these two ancient parishes is formed from the Gaelic words, kil, a " cell, chapel, or burying-place," and inver, " the foot of the river or water," which are descriptive of the situation of the ancient chapel or place of sepulture. Kilmclforcl, corrupted from Kilnamaolphort, or Kilnameallphort, or perhaps Kilnameallard, is also formed from two Gaelic words, signifying, as is generally supposed, " the burial-ground of the smooth or round bays", though some think the name means " the promontory's bay". Each derivation of the name is strictly applicable to a rocky point of land projecting into the head of Loch Melford, and forming on cither side two round bays. The parish, which covers about twelve square miles, is situated on the sea, embracing a line of shore fourteen miles in extent, marked bynumerous inlets and bays affording convenient and safe anchorage. Kilninver is washed on the north by Loch Feuchan, and . Kilmelford on the south by Loch Melford, both of them branches of the Atlantic Ocean, which also forms channels or sounds that bound the parish on the west side. Loih FeuchiiH, separating Kilninver from the parish of Kilbride (usually called Mid Lorn), is a Ixnmdary of the parish for three miles; it is about a mile broad, and the depth is fifteen fathoms. Loch Melford is nearly four miles long, about half as wide, and thirty-five fathoms deep: the line of its northern shore, from the numerous indentations and curvatures, forming many excellent inlets and bays, measures not less than six miles. On the western coast of the parish, for about five miles, from the estuary of the Euchar to the sound of Clachaii-Seil, is a spacious and beautiful bay, formed by two lofty rocky promontories; it has a clayey bottom, and a fine smooth sandy beach. After this, and as far northward as the sound of Clachan, the rugged nature of the coast exposes shipping to great danger. The sound of Clachan, which is a part of the western boundary of Kilninver, is two miles long, and eighty feet broad, exhibiting, on account of its smooth and straight course, the appearance of a fine canal. It may be crossed in some places at low water, and at all times by the ferry; but for greater convenience, a bridge has been thrown over, consisting of one arch, seventy-two feet in spaa and twenty-seven feet above the highest water-mark. Under this bridge vessels of twenty tons' burthen can pass with ease, and obtain good anchorage either at the northern or southern end of the sound. The whole of the coast supplies abundance of salmon, mackerel, turbot, herrings, ling, haddock, skate, and a variety of other fish; and on the shores of the two lochs are found oysters, lobsters, crabs, muscles, cockles, and welks. The general surface of the parish is much diversified, comprising high mountains, and hills and dales: it is intersected by rivers, and ornamented with lakes, amidst a great profusion of beautiful and interesting scenery: there are also some tracts of level ground. The most lofty eminence is Ben-Chapull, or "Mares' mountain", rising about 1500 feet above the level of the sea, and commanding extensive and magnificent views to the west and north. The other hills are comprehended in four different ranges, which extend to the sea-coast. Glen-Euchar, taking its name from the river that runs along it, and stretching for about six miles through the Kilninver district from east to west, confers much pleasing variety on the scenery; its elevations in rainy seasons afford fine pasture, and the lower parts of the vale yield good crops of corn and potatoes. Another strath, called the Braes of Lorn, in the south, and parallel with Glen-Euchar, though not so extensive or well cultivated, yet surpasses it in the richness of its pasture, and is remarkable also for its plentiful supply of limestone and of peat, the latter forming the principal fuel. A tract in the west of the parish, called Nether Lorn, extending about three miles, and having in general a clayey soil, but being in some parts loamy, on a sandy and slaty bottom, is exceedingly rich and fertile, yielding potatoes, grain, turnips, and fancy grasses. The Euchar, the largest stream, which flows from Loch Scamadale, after running westward for about two miles, takes for the same distance a northern course, and falls into the sea at Kilninver. It is swelled by numerous tributary streams, and passes for the most part between finely-wooded banks. About a mile from the sea-shore, it flows through a deep rocky ravine, and forms a waterfall, distinguished both for its strikingly romantic scenery and as the resort of fine salmon: near this spot, on the southern bank, stood the mansion of the Mc Dougalls of Raray. The river Oude, which rises in Loch Trallaig, and is nearly five miles in length, in its course from north-east to south-west runs for two miles through the braes of Lorn, in the parish of Kilninver. About a mile from its junction with the sea at the expansive bay north of the head of Loch Melford, it traverses a locality crowded with grand and romantic scenery, and crossed by the great road between Lochgilphead and Oban: the rocks in many places overhang the road, and rise on each side several hundred feet high. Of the various inland lakes, about twenty in number, the largest is Locli Scamadale, measuring two miles in length and half a mile in breadth. The water is twenty fathoms deep; and the beautiful scenery in the vicinity is enlivened by tributary streams and mountain torrents, which, in time of flood, pour with impetuosity and deafening roar through the deep and narrow ravines around. Loch Trallaig, more than a mile long and half a mile broad, is situated in the braes of Lorn: near it, at the base of a very lofty rock, is the school-house of the district; and on its northern side, a range of hills, SOO feet high, forms a conspicuous and striking feature in the scenery. Of the other lakes, that called Parson's lake is distinguished for the wildness of the scenery in its vicinity, for its beautifully-wooded island, and the ruins of a castle or monastery containing twelve apartments. All the lakes, as well as the rivers, contain fine trout and perch, especially Line, or String, lake, in the eastern quarter, in which the trout are said to surpass all other trout in the county for size and flavour. Near the rivers is a quantity of alluvial deposit on clay or sand, and in other parts the soil exhibits several varieties: there are tracts of loamy, clayey, and sandy earth. The husbandry approximates, as nearly as is ijracticable, to that in the southern districts of the country; and the tenants of the Marquess of Breadalbane, who holds two-thirds of Kilninver, as well as the proprietors who farm their own estates, are emulous to promote every agricultural improvement. Cattle-shows and ploughing-matches are annually held. The cattle are chiefly of the native Highland breed, of which about 1200 are kept; and there are 15,000 sheep. The rocks on the coast are principally sandstone and slate, with mixtures of whinstone; and limestone abounds in the hills that skirt the parish on the east and south-east. The native trees comprise oak, ash, elm, alder, birch, mountain-ash, and hazel; the plantations consist of Scotch fir, larch, spruce, plane, poplar, lime, beech, and chesnut, and cover altogether a considerable portion of ground. The annual value of real property in the parish is £488<2. Melford and Glenmore are the only seats of importance. The inhabitants, who have diminished in number about 100 since the year 1831, are engaged in agriculture, with the exception of those employed at a large distillery, and in the salmon and herring fisheries. There are two salmon-fisheries, one at the confluence of the Euchar with Loch Feuchan, and the other at the mouth of the Oude, producing together about £70 per annum: the herring-fishery is carried on in Loch Melford, and supplies a large stock of fish for the parish and surrounding district. About fourteen miles of public road pass through the parish; and important facilities for exporting agricultural produce are afforded by the extent of sea-coast. A fair or market is held in May, and another in November, for the hiring of servants. The parish is ecclesiastically in the presbytery of Lorn, synod of Argyll, and in the alternate presentation of the Duke of Argyll and the Marquess of Breadalbane, the former as possessing the old patronage of Kilmelford, and the latter that of Kilninver. The minister's stipend is £166, with an allowance of £50 in lieu of a manse; the glebe, situated chiefly at Kilmelford, is valued at £20. 1 0. per annum. There is a church in each district, kept in excellent order, and sharing alternately the ministry of the incumbent. That at Kilninver, built about 1793, accommodates 450 persons; and the edifice at Kilmelford, distant from the former eight miles, seats 250. The parochial school at Kilninver affords instruction in the usual branches; the master has a salary of £34, with an allowance of £6. 8. in lieu of house and garden. In the school at Kilmelford the same kind of instruction is given; the master receives a salary of £25, and the sum of £4 in lieu of house and garden. The fees respectively amount to £20 and £15. There is also an Assembly's school, the master of which has £25 per annum, with an allowance for house and garden. The antiquities comprise tumuli, cairns, and perpendicular stones, with the ancient ruin called Dun-Mhie Raonaill, or " Ronaldson's tower", formerly used as a watch and signal station. A tower or stronghold in Line lake served a desperate band of adventurers, for upwards of a century, as a secure retreat, whence they made predatory incursions throughout the neighbouring country. There is also a place called the "Bones' barn", where the well-known Alexander Mc Donald, usually called in the Highlands Alastair Mac Cholla, burnt to death a large number of women and children who had fled thither to escape from his violence.