FOSS-SHIRE. 299 



allowed to rest in peace, so that eventually he returned 

 to the service of his master in Gairloch, while to com- 

 memorate his prowess the highest hill in the district 

 was called Ben Fionnlaidh, or Ben Finlay, a name 

 which it keeps to the present day. 



On this estate of Letterewe some very remarkable 

 proceedings were taken in 1840 by Mr. Bankes, 

 for the destruction of a boat-shaped monster called 

 " The Beast," which the natives declared dwelt in 

 a loch on the property called " Loch-na-beiste," 

 after the monster. In the year above mentioned 

 a deputation of Mr. Bankes' tenants waited on him 

 for the express purpose of begging him to undertake 

 the destruction of " the beast," and although, as may 

 easily be imagined, he at first turned a very deaf 

 ear to the suggestion, he eventually yielded later 

 on to the sworn testimony of one Sandy McLeod, 

 an elder of the kirk, who together with two other 

 most respectable people who were with him jointly 

 and severally vowed they had seen " the beast," 

 which evidence being quickly corroborated by that of 



