TAIN TO INVERNESS. 85 



leading merchants were favourable and ready to at- 

 tend. Sutherland, Caithness, Wester Ross, Skye, 

 the Orkneys, Harris, and Lewes were represented at 

 the meeting; Baillie Anderson also "would state 

 with confidence that the market was approved of by 

 William Chisholm, Esq., of Chisholm, and James 

 Laidlaw, tacksman, of Knoekfm," and so the matter 

 was settled for ever and aye, and The Courier and 

 The Morning Chronicle were the London advertising 

 media. This Highland wool parliament was ori- 

 ginally held on the third Thursday of June, but now 

 it begins on the second Thursday of July, and lasts 

 till the Saturday ; and Argyleshire, Nairnshire, Mo- 

 rayshire, and High Aberdeenshire have gradually 

 joined in. The plane stanes in front of the Caledo- 

 nian (then Bennett's Hotel) have always been the 

 scene of the bargains, which are most truly based on 

 the broad-stone of honour. Not a sheep or fleece is 

 to be seen, and the buyer of the year before gets the 

 first offer of the cast or clip. The previous proving 

 and public character of the different flocks are the 

 purchasers' guide far more than the sellers 5 descrip- 

 tion. There is a good deal of caution and sparring 

 on the Thursday, but after dinner on .Friday prices 

 begin to settle. 



The lots are not at the buyers' risk till they are 

 lifted, drawn, and taken to the road. It is gene- 

 rally bargained to shoot two to the clad score, but 

 drawing properly so as to make the lots really level 

 implies liberty to shoot three or four. The largest 



