GLEN NEVIS. 365 



as far as the mansion-house, we had long been familiar, and once 

 at least we had a bird's-eye glance into the glen proper itself, from 

 the summit of Dundearduil, which we had approached from the 

 south in order to examine its curious and still inexplicable vitrifica- 

 tions. It was not, however, till Friday last, that we had an 

 opportunity of thoroughly exploring the glen through all its 

 windings, and coming with little difficulty to the conclusion already 

 expressed, that of all our West Highland glens, it is, perhaps, the 

 most beautiful and (Glencoe always apart) the most deserving of a 

 thorough and leisurely examination. "We were fortunate in having 

 hit upon a highly favourable day not too bright, for glaring sun- 

 shine and unclouded brightness amongst mountain scenery is a 

 great mistake and no less fortunate in our companions, each one 

 of them blessed with eyes that, open, could really see, and hearts 

 that, duly appealed to, could truly feel ; who knew full well what 

 they had come to do, and from first to last did it admirably. 

 Earely,. we should say, has the noble glen exposed its stern 

 grandeur and innumerable beauties under favourable skies, to the 

 glad and earnest gaze of more intelligently appreciative spectators ; 

 and more rarely still, perhaps, have the splendid falls of the Nevis 

 borne burden to peals of honester or merrier laughter than we 

 indulged in as over the well-plenished luncheon basket we fortified 

 ourselves for the ascent of the upper gorges, a somewhat " stiff " 

 climb, but neither really difficult nor dangerous. When we say 

 that at Glen Nevis House our party was joined by Mr. Macpherson 

 fear a ghlinne e fein, the goodman of the glen himself, as the 

 Highlanders say who kindly accompanied us throughout, and to 

 whom every foot of the glen was as familiar as the floor of his 

 own dining-room, many of our readers will understand how 

 refclly pleasant and enjoyable, cceteris paribus, must have been our 

 upland wanderings on that delightful day. 



We have no intention of entering on anything like a minute or 



