THE GAMINS' DIVERSION. 347 



in the metropolis put him tinder the charge of a gentleman, a far- 

 away cousin of his own, who undertook to show him all the 

 wonders of the great city, and look after him generally. The 

 worthy Provost was thoroughly Scotch, and dressed after a some- 

 what outre fashion, a la Dingwall of the period. Walking one day 

 along one of the streets of London, a little in advance of his guide, 

 the worshipful Provost's appearance and tout ensemble attracted the 

 attention of some half-dozen street arab boys, who, always ready 

 for a "lark," desired no better pastime for the present than to 

 chaff and poke their fun at the Chief Magistrate of one of Scot- 

 land's most distinguished northern burghs. The Provost, indignant 

 at the impudence and rudeness of the young rascals, at last turned 

 round, and, shaking his silver-headed cane at the offending gamins, 

 exclaimed, in tones loud enough to be heard by his guide, who was 

 almost choked with laughter at the scene, "Ah, you young 

 vagabonds ; if I had you in Dingwall, wouldn't I make you pay 

 for your davayrshon ! " The term " diversion " was then used, both 

 in English and Gaelic, all over the Highlands, as indeed it still is 

 to some extent, in the sense of fun with a backbone of mischief to 

 it ; rough horse-play, in fact, accompanied by what is now-a-days 

 commonly called chaff. 



