LOCH-GOIL. SCENERY ADJOINING. 113 



once partially inhabited. High up the mountain, traces of cultivation are 

 visible, and, being inaccessible to the plough, must have been dug by the hand.* 

 On another part are the remains of a shieling, or chalet, to which, in the summer 

 months, as practised in Switzerland, a whole family resorted with their cattle, 

 and returned again to the valley in winter. " But this," as the shepherd 

 feelingly added, " was when the country was inhabited." The introduction 

 of sheep to these pastures led unavoidably to the expatriation of the old inha- 

 bitants. The system of farming which now prevails over almost the entire 

 Highlands, is incompatible with the existence of population. This is a topic 

 on which it is painful to dwell, and which was justly estimated by an amiable 

 nobleman, who told his stewards that " he would rather see one human being on 

 his estates than a hundred sheep." 



Along the borders of Loch-goil and Loch-long, the natural sterility of the soil 

 is partly concealed, and its savage grandeur agreeably diversified, by extensive 

 woods, which cover the land near the coast, and extend their waving verdure 

 along the rugged flanks of the mountains. To strangers unaccustomed to 

 Highland landscape, and who will make a boat-excursion up Loch-goil, when 

 the weather is sunny, and the surface of the lake is serene, the scenery which 

 then developes itself at every few strokes of the oar will afford convincing 

 evidence that there are few spots, even in the Highlands, where Nature has 

 arrayed herself in more varied and imposing features. The mountains are 

 lofty, but present at intervals the most opposite character; here, piled in 

 rugged cyclopean masses, hollowed into dismal and dripping caverns, frowning 

 in precipices ; and there, so smooth as hardly to interrupt the undulating pasture 

 by a single rock. These hills, which, till the introduction of sheep, were 

 covered with the natural produce of dark mountain-heath, have now undergone 

 a pleasing transformation ; and, not unfrequently green to the very summits, 

 want only a few chalets scattered along their acclivities to recall to the traveller's 

 mind some of the most pleasing scenes in Switzerland. Here, indeed, there 

 are no glaciers the source of that exuberant vegetation which distinguishes 

 the Swiss Alps ; but, from the frequent showers which here drop from the 

 passing clouds that float over these mountains, reservoirs are formed, which, 

 descending through innumerable ramifications, keep up vegetation, and provide 

 a rich summer pasture for the flock. In looking down from these pastoral, 

 or rocky regions, the eye is always refreshed by the bright expanse of some 



* Probably by the cascrom or foot plough, an implement much more efficient than the spade, and pecu- 

 liarly adapted for mountainous districts. The reader will find a drawing and description of this instrument 

 in Mr. Logan's well-known work, " THE SCOTTISH GAEL ;'' a production of great research, and contain- 

 ing a rich fund of information on Highland topics. Vol. ii. p. 90. 



VOL. IF. G G 



