264 LOCH C RERAN. 



hundred from our sparsely-peopled vicinity arrived, and 

 this although a visit from the " Great King " to an aged 

 neighbour had kept many kindly faces from the throng. 

 Nothing illustrates the extreme sympathy that pervades 

 a Highland district more than such an incident, as death 

 will not only keep the immediate friends of the deceased 

 from the place of mirth, but the immediate neighbours, 

 otherwise wholly unconnected, who consider it unfeeling 

 to enjoy themselves visibly under the circumstances. 

 This sensibility underlies the Highland character, and 

 accounts for much that the sterner temper of the Low- 

 lander finds quite incomprehensible in their everyday 

 existence. It is both a source of strength and weakness, 

 for while it enables a prosperous Highlander to be a 

 gentleman, it is apt to prevent an unsuccessful one from 

 playing the man. 



We are far from cities, in a comparatively poor district, 

 a large proportion being crofters, and a stranger naturally 

 expects that the result of a promiscuous gathering from 

 hill and shore will result in a rough-and-tumble sort of 

 meeting. Enter the school-house during the evening, 

 and you first find the whole tastefully decorated by the 

 young men and maidens with admirable effect, and by 

 the aid of the very simplest means. Branches of ever- 

 greens from the nearest plantations are tacked on to the 

 walls in simple patterns, while garlands of holly, ivy, and 

 other evergreens are stretched across in front of the rude 

 platform, over which a plaid is spread for a carpet. A 

 Gaelic welcome in leaves of variegated holly gives life to 

 a graceful meeting-place, while a few paper flowers give 

 the needful touch of colour. All a very simple matter, 

 representing a few hours' merry work of the young people, 

 and no expenditure except of willing labour. The 



