CHAP, x.] AUCHMITHIE. 445 



lasting waves, the dashing of which only makes the deep 

 solitude more solemn ; the sea-gull sweeps around with its 

 shrill cry, and playful whales gambol in the placid waters. 



The village of Auchmithie, which is wildly grand and 

 romantic, stands on the top of the cliffs, and as the road to 

 it is steep a great amount of labour devolves on the fisher- 

 men in carrying down their lines and nets, and carrying 

 up their produce, etc. One customary feature observed by 

 strangers on entering Auchmithie is, that when met by female 

 children they invariably stoop down, making a very low curt- 

 sey, and for this piece of polite condescension they expect 

 that a few halfpence will be thrown to them. If you pass on 

 without noticing them they will not ask for anything, but 

 once throw them a few halfpence and a pocketful will be re- 

 quired to satisfy their importunities. There are two roads 

 leading to Auchmithie from Arbroath, one along the sea-coast, 

 the other through the country. The distance is about 3| 

 miles in a north-east direction, and the country road is the 

 best ; and approaching the village in that direction it has a 

 very fair aspect. Two rows of low-built slate-roofed houses, 

 and a school and chapel, stand a few yards off by themselves. 

 On the north side of the village is a stately farm-house, sur- 

 rounded by trees, and on the south side a Coast-Guard station, 

 clean, white-washed, and with a flagstaff, giving the whole a 

 regular and picturesque appearance. Entering the village of 

 Auchmithie from the west, and walking through to the ex- 

 treme east end, the imagination gets staggered to think how 

 any class of men could have selected such a wild and rugged 

 part of the coast for pursuing the fishing trade a trade above 

 all others that requires a safe harbour where boats can be 

 launched and put to sea at a moment's warning if any signals 

 of distress be given. The bight of Auchmithie is an indenta- 

 tion into rocky cliffs several hundred feet in perpendicular 

 height. About the middle of the bight there is a steep ravine 



