The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

HADDINGTON—EDINBURGH. 325
Haddington, or East Lothian, consists in the main of a fertile lowland, above
which rise a few detached groups of hills, and which is bounded on the south by
the Lammermuir Hills (1,732 feet). The Tyne Water crosses the lower part of
the county from west to east. The coast, with its bold cliffs interrupted by sandy
bays, is perilous. No part of Scotland surpasses this county in its agriculture.
Haddington, the county town, on the Tyne and at the foot of Gareton HiU, is one
of the principal grain markets in Scotland. Rape-seed cakes and bone manure are
manufactured. The fine old Gothic church, the " lamp of Lothian " of other days
because of its beauty, is now in ruins. Gifford, the birthplace of John Kiiox, lies
to the south. Dunbar, near the mouth of the Tyne, with a harbour difficult of
access, is one of the principal seats of the herring fishery. Its dismantled castle,
on a jutting rock perpetuallj' gnawed by the sea, is famous for its gallant defence
by "Black Agnes," the Countess of March. Two battles were fought near
Dunbar in 1296 and 1650, and in both the Scots were routed. North Berwick has
become the most fashionable watering-place on the east coast of Scotland, but
engages also in the herring fishery. Near it, on a bold clifi" half surrounded by
the sea, stands Tantallon Castle, and 2 miles from the shore rises Bass Rock,
covered with sea- fowl. In the western part of the county are Cockenzic, a fishing
village ; Prestonpans, with a famous brewery, and noteworthy, moreover, on
account of the battle fought in its neighbourhood in 1745 ; and the market town
of Tranent, whose inhabitants engage in the manufacture of silk, and near which
are a few collieries.
The county of Edinburgh, or Mid-Lothian, extends southward from the
Forth on either side of the sterile Pentland Hills, which occupy its centre and
terminate only in Arthur's Seat and the Castle Hill of Edinburgh. The fertile
valley of the Upper Esk separates the Pentland from the Moorfoot Hills, and
between these latter and the Lammermuir Hills, on the borders of Berwick, a pass
790 feet in height leads into the valley of the Gala, which is tributary to the
Tweed. The Water of^Leith drains the western portion of the county, and the
river Almond forms the boundary towards East Lothian. Agriculture is carried
on with care and success, but the inhabitants possess also other resources in their
coUieries, shipping trade, and various manufactures.
Edinburrjh, the capital of Scotland, may certainly claim to take a place amongst
the beautiful cities of Europe. It possesses, above all, what most of the towns of
England are deficient in— originality. It is one of those rare places whose site
would become picturesque country if all the houses were to be suddenly swept
away. Edinburgh is unique in the natural beauty of its position, and the art
with which its inhabitants have availed themselves of the inequalities of the
ground in erecting their monuments and laying out their gardens. Moreover,
like Glasgow, it enjoys the advantage of being built of stone and marble, the
neighbouring quarries of Craigleith and Corstorphine having supplied the
material required by its builders. In poetical language Edinburgh is called
" Dunedin," while one of its vulgar epithets is " Auld Reekie."
In the eastern part of the plain through which the Water of Leith takes its