TAIN TO INVERNESS. 93 



tions. The new lessee began to drain on the Dean- 

 ston principle ; but others were so set in their belief 

 that water comes in at the top of a drain, that he 

 faltered in his first idea, and only went two feet deep. 

 He found out his error before the first field was 

 finished, and eventually showed, in the very teeth of 

 prophecy, that swedes and the softer turnips could all 

 flourish there. The foundation of the herd was chiefly 

 laid from Keir, Mr. Gator's, and Athelstaneford ; and 

 Lord Privy Seal of the Prince Consort's and Gold- 

 smith of Sittyton breeding left the best mark. Two- 

 thirds of the lots went south of Nairnshire, and 

 among them Lord Privy Seal (150 gs.), who was then 

 a two-year-old, to Lord Kinnaird ; and his son Great 

 Seal, and Northern Belle to the late Mr. Balfour of 

 Whittinghara. The average of the forty-two lots, 

 which ranged from eight years to as many days, was 

 J35 14s. Neither Mr. Eraser of Brackla nor Mr. 

 McLennan was in the list of buyers. The former 

 is well known in the county as a great feeder of cross- 

 bred cattle ; and Aberdeen, Elgin, and Inverness 

 butchers all muster round the Meikle Urchany ring, 

 when sixty or seventy cross-bred two-year-old stots 

 and heifers, which have been reared there or bought 

 in at the end of September and wintered very highly, 

 are put up for roup in April. 



It was long after dark when we started from Nairn 

 to Torres ; and we felt no "pricking of the thumbs" 

 as we passed the spot where Macbeth met the witches. 

 We took the bearings of it, both by road and rail, 



