EEMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 41 



way, that it became a much more comfortable 

 residence. 



At that time, too, if ever man was insane on 

 the subject of fishing, I was, and Ahne did 

 not afford me the salmon fishing I pined for ; 

 therefore, in 1852, I took Soval for myself, 

 because it then possessed two salmon rivers. I 

 did not, however, remove there till 1853, and I 

 have often wondered how my legs carried me 

 through that same year, 1852. 



One of these two salmon rivers, the Laxay, 

 was about twelve miles off; but I did not much 

 care for it, as, till doctored by me afterwards 

 with artificial spates, it was little worth. The 

 other river, the Blackwater, was distant, I 

 should say, fifteen miles good — seven along the 

 road, and then eight across the muir — perhaps 

 more, a strong walk, with a ford or two to cross, 

 that in good fishing weather was not low. I used 

 to start early and walk to it, fish all day, and 

 go on to sleep at the Oallernish Inn, three miles 

 off, and reverse this home the next day. Then, 

 also, I stretched my legs, in order that they 

 might not stiffen, backwards and forwards, 

 between our place and the Harris lochs, that 

 were some seven or eight miles off — a stiff walk, 

 but it was worth it ; for what lochs they were ! 

 Loch Scoost, with its high peak above you. 



