PREFACE 



My uncle, Dr. John Mackenzie, having left behind him 

 ten manuscript volumes of Highland Memories, covering 

 the period 1803 to 1860, and I, who inherited these 

 manuscripts, having reached the age of seventy-nine, 

 it has occurred to me that I might make a book of 

 reminiscences which would give pleasure to those who 

 reverence ancient customs and love the West Coast 

 Highlands. 



I make no pretence to the art of the writing man. 

 The reader must be kind enough to imagine that he is 

 sitting on the opposite side of a peat fire listening to the 

 leisurely memories of one who has lived a great number 

 of years, observant of the customs of his neighbours, 

 attentive to things of the passing moment, and who 

 finds an increasing pleasure, after a life of the open 

 air, in dwelling on the times that are gone. 



If my book should give pleasure to its readers, I 

 shall be glad ; if it should do anything to deepen affection 

 and give them reverence for the noblest memories of 

 our Scottish past, I shall be humbly grateful. 



OSGOOD HANBURY MACKENZIE. 



TOURNAIG, POOLEWK, 



March, 1921. 



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