140 THE MOUNTAIN. 



Lady of the Lake. The distance is about five miles, 

 and as the former part of the way road it can 

 scarcely be called is very steep, and the weather was 

 oppressively hot, the Highlanders, who during the 

 summer months gain a livelihood by lending ponies 

 to travellers, could scarcely be persuaded that it was 

 our intention to walk. In vain we protested that 

 we purposed to use our own legs. It was contrary 

 to all precedent to allow our luggage to be trans- 

 ported on the backs of beasts, unless we ourselves 

 adopted the same mode of transit. Consequently 

 we were compelled to pay as much for the convey- 

 ance of our portmanteaus, &c., as if we had hired 

 ponies. I was not a little amused at the pertina- 

 city of two of these horse-proprietors, who, until 

 we had gained the brow of the hill, (which, to confess 

 the truth, was rather toilsome work,) rode close by 

 our sides, as if to display the superior comfort with 

 which they proceeded reminding us ever and anon 

 of the steepness of the ascent, and the excessive 

 heat of the weather, evidently hoping that we 

 should soon "give in" and accept the accommoda- 

 tion of their ponies, which, as their companions, 

 they said, were not in sight, they offered to us, 

 as a special favour, at a lower rate than was usual. 

 As we drew near to the termination of the acclivity, 

 they grew still more moderate in their charges; 

 but, on reaching level ground and seeing that we 

 were inexorable, they pressed forwards, and to our 

 great comfort we saw them no more. We were, 

 however, but indifferently rewarded for our labour 

 as Botanists, and saw nothing of which we should 

 not have been able to enjoy a very good view as 

 equestrians. I could not help wondering whence, 

 in the olden time, could have congregated the 



