148 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



the picture would have been enough to bring the 

 picturesque spinning-wheel once more into fashion. 

 Alas ! for a little romance, which never got beyond 

 the first act. 



The men are loosely put together, probably 

 not physically strong, certainly over-given to tea- 

 drinking, a form of dissipation whose innocence 

 is only apparent ; but courteous and helpful withal. 

 The curse of greed, and servility, which shadows 

 one through the haunts of tourists, has not reached 

 those outlying districts, or blighted the manhood 

 of the simple natives. With little to occupy their 

 lives, they are always ready to oblige ; and the 

 difficulty is not to satisfy them, but to get them 

 to take any return. As a result of our intercourse, 

 we came away with the pleasant feeling that we 

 should like to meet with them again. 



