IN THE HIGHLANDS 41 



well-made ball maitli guithais (a good fir rope) could 

 hardly be beaten by the best modern ropes. 



I never saw a wire riddle for riddling corn or meal in 

 the old days ; they were all made of stretched sheep-skins 

 with holes perforated in them by a big red-hot needle. 

 Trout lines were made of white or other horsehair, and 

 when one stabled a pony at an inn, it always ran the risk 

 of having its tail stolen ! Also, the only spoons in the 

 country were those the tinkers made from sheep and 

 cow horns melted down. How one used to smell the 

 burning horn at the tinker encampments after dark ! 



Knives and forks were hardly known in the crofter 

 houses, and everything was eaten with fingers and 

 thumbs. Even now I hear them say herrings and 

 potatoes never taste right if eaten with a knife and fork. 

 My mother was one day visiting some poor squatter 

 families who in those days resided on Longa Island, 

 and one woman was very anxious she should partake 

 of something. My mother was hungry, for she never 

 carried luncheon with her on her long daily expeditions 

 from early morning to night, trusting to her chance 

 of getting a bowl of milk and a bit of oatcake or barley 

 scone from those she visited. Well, the poor woman 

 confessed to having no meal in the house and conse- 

 quently no bread; all she had was a pail of flounders 

 just off the hooks, and she asked if the bantighearna (lady) 

 would condescend to partake of one of them. My 

 mother said she would, and a flounder was instantly 

 put in a pot. When it was boiled the woman took it 

 out, neatly broke it in two or three pieces, and placed 

 them on a little table without plate or cloth, knife or 



