84 LOCH CRERAtf. 



must not expect it to get up an exhibition of its powers 

 at all times or any time, and if one passes the ferry at 

 slack water or neap tides, there is nothing particular to 

 tell of the wild torrent that empties itself seaward in a 

 big spring-tide at low-water. Add to this a heavy gale 

 with the tide, and the ferry is then impassable ; while a 

 heavy gale against the tide is even worse to go through. 

 "Circumstances alter cases," as the school line says. 

 We recollect looking at a coal miner stripped to the 

 waist, picking coal as he lay on his side in a narrow 

 aperture, and being surprised at our guide asserting he 

 " was six feet high and had bones like a horse." Connel 

 can show well when its mane is up and the tide is low. 



On Monday evening (yth) about half-past six we saw the 

 finest meteor it has ever been our fortune to note. We 

 had just stepped outside, when it swept down the 

 heavens in a slight curve from the west, like a great 

 " drop " of fire ; and went out when due north from our 

 position, in a brilliant violet flame. This occurred just 

 as it had apparently entered the margin of a fleecy cloud, 

 in which it appeared as it extinguished, as a flambeau 

 would when thrust into vapour. 



With a beautiful evening and a rising glass, the 

 prospects of a good morrow were fair, but on our 

 return homeward a little after ten, a splendid circle 

 surrounded the moon and blasted our hopes. It 

 was a more sensitive glass than the mercury, and 

 a thoroughly wet day followed. The whole week, 

 indeed, has been mild, but even before the more genial 

 weather set in we were led forth in the evening, armed 

 with a box of matches to supplement the moon, and 

 employed in eagerly hunting the gooseberry bushes that 

 the owner had discovered to be in blossom. They were 



