FLOODS IN SCOTLAND. 153 



tlie guard, and promptly procured six men to 

 carry the mails across the river, which was 

 done with scarcely any detention, although 

 the ebbing current was fearfulh^ strong^. 

 Four of Mr. Davidson's men then volunteered 

 their services and carried the baofs on their 

 backs to Earnhill, where the guard procured 

 a horse and cart, in which he proceeded to 

 Dyke. There the Reverend Mr. Anken was 

 waiting in readiness, with his servants and 

 several lights, to assist to forward the mail. 

 One of the servants from the manse waded 

 before the cart for upwards of a mile, the 

 water covering the road, in many places to 

 the depth of three feet. In Auldearn the 

 guard was met by the Reverend Mr. Barclay, 

 who informed him that the bridge of Nairn had 

 been swept away. 



After a most boisterous night the cart arrived 

 opposite to JSTairn, where, the guard blowing 

 his horn, several persons instantly came for- 

 ward and advised him not to attempt to cross 

 the Vjridge, a great part of it having fallen. 

 Finding it, however, impossible to get a boat, 

 he drove the cart back to Auldearn, where he 

 remained till three o'clock in the morning, when 

 he again set out on his way to Inverness ; and, 



