196 REMINISCENCES OP THE LEWS. 



whenever that prince of pipes, the proprietor's 

 piper, is handy; fear God and honour the 

 Queen — and you'll do well, even with the 

 atrocious elements of the Lews. 



Ladies and gentlemen, do you know what 

 midges are ? If you don't, pray go to the 

 Lews. I do not say they are merely an annoy- 

 ance, for they are a drawback to enjoyment 

 there, and their presence amounts to such a 

 nuisance that of themselves alone they ought 

 to necessitate a reduction of 100 per cent, on 

 rent. They interfere with every occupation in 

 life. Fishing, you must either be stifled with 

 a midge-veil or smoke yourself sick to keep them 

 ofi*. When you sit down to luncheon, that 

 most enjoyable of hours in either fishing or 

 shooting, they are all but maddening. I have 

 lately described what they can be when stalking, 

 and even on the highest hills they will pursue 

 you, and if they catch you there I think they 

 are worse than anywhere. In short, they are 

 maddening even to the natives, and I have often 

 been fairly driven home by them. Then there 

 are a few of those delicious days that sometimes 

 come even in the Lews, when the dolcefar niente 

 is the only enjoyment to be had. You saunter 

 out to wander by the river side, or sit down to 

 watch the sea loch softly rippling to your feet. 



