23 



CHAPTER III. 



ALINE. 



BY this time the improvements had been, or 

 were said to be, completed at Aline, and 

 thither did I betake myself alone, R. M. having 

 gone over to the mainland for some shooting. 



Before entering upon life in the Lews, it 

 wonld be as well perhaps to take the oppor- 

 tunity of saying something about the events 

 that had taken place in that country a few years 

 previously to our location there, and which 

 were at that time sowing a seed that was here- 

 after to bring forth much fruit. I do not want 

 to enter into a history of the Lews — how the 

 Fife lairds took possession of and held it — how 

 they gave place to the M'Kenzies. Suffice it to 

 say that some six or seven years before our 

 arrival, the present owner, Sir James, then Mr. 

 Matheson, bought it of Mrs. Stuart M'Kenzie, 

 of Seaforth ; and a very fortunate purchase for 

 the said country it was, for he had just re- 

 turned from China with his pockets full of gold. 



