1814-1840 ISLE OF ARRAN 11 



cities of the cottages elastic as these were could 

 accommodate, there was always the homely and com 

 fortable hostelry of Mrs. Jameson to fall back upon, 

 with the calm bay in front, the Castle woods behind, 

 and the noble cone of Goatfell towering into the sky 

 beyond them. 1 



Sixty years have passed away since the time to 

 which I am now referring ; and though in this in 

 terval Arran has altered far less than other places 

 on the Firth of Clyde, it has, nevertheless, undergone 

 some marked changes. The old village of Brodick, 

 for instance, with its long row of thatched cottages, 

 has been removed. The old inn no longer invites 

 each passing traveller that can pay, though the build- 



1 Among the reminiscences of this pleasant Highland inn I recall the eccen 

 tricities of a half-witted but pawky attendant, who used to be employed in 

 miscellaneous errands, and had a specially pronounced love of brandy. On 

 one occasion he was pushing his boat down the beach, when two visitors came up 

 and asked where he was bound for. He answered that he was going across the 

 bay to the Corriegills shore for a bag or two of potatoes. The gentlemen asked to 

 be allowed to accompany him ; a request with which Sandy willingly complied, 

 the more especially as they volunteered to do the rowing if he would steer. 

 Having crossed the bay, they were coasting quietly past the huge boulder of 

 granite which, lying on the red sandstones, forms so notable a landmark on 

 that part of the shore. Directing the attention of his crew to this object, Sandy 

 remarked : Maybe ye ll no believe me, but if anybody climbs to the tap o that 

 stane and cries as loud as he likes, there s naebody can hear him. This state 

 ment, as he expected, was received with a smile of derision, whereupon he 

 insisted that he would wager them a bottle of brandy that it was true. So they 

 drew to land, and Sandy, jumping ashore, was speedily on the top of the 

 boulder, where he proceeded to open his mouth and swing his body as if he 

 were roaring with the strength of ten bulls of Bashan, but without emitting a 

 sound. Very extraordinary, said his friends, and they resolved to try the ex 

 periment themselves. So when Sandy had descended, they proceeded, with 

 rather less agility, to clamber up the stone. When they were both on the top 

 they proceeded to shout with such vehemence that they might have been heard 

 on the other side of the bay. Sandy, however, stood on the shore below, 

 putting his hand behind each ear in turn to catch any sound that might come 

 from the boulder. They shouted to him until they were nearly hoarse, without 

 evoking one sign of recognition from him. At last coming down they demanded 

 if he meant to say that he had never heard them. Sandy had a remarkable power 

 of expressing astonishment by his mere looks, and availing himself of this power, 

 he loudly protested that he had never heard one single sound from them, and, 

 with a face of childlike innocence, asked if they really had called out. He was 

 allowed to pull the boat back himself, but he had his bottle of brandy that 

 evening. 



