206 EEMINISCENCES OF THE LEWS. 



honours of lier ball. All Stornoway was there, 

 dancing with that grim determination Scotch- 

 men alone can put on such festive occasions. 

 And how they do dance I In that very extra- 

 ordinary, and when well done, beautiful dance, 

 a Scotch reel — the dexterity and neatness with 

 which the evolutions and steps are performed, 

 has oftentimes perfectly astonished me ; as 

 close-packed almost as herrings in a tub, they 

 never jostle one another, or get into any mess. 

 I have seen more confusion, more sprawling 

 about, in a London ball-room — aye, and less 

 manners too — than in many a Scotch dance in 

 a barn. And not only in their own national 

 dance is it that they so excel ; but see them 

 dance a French contredanse, waltz, galop, or 

 polka, and there is none of that rough horse- 

 play work you so often see in England. 



What is it in the Highlander that makes him 

 generally so well-bred and civil-mannered a 

 gentleman ? It must be the remains of the 

 clan education ; for though, from the complete 

 revolution of property that has been progress- 

 ing for years, and still, alas ! progresses, clan- 

 ship is gone, or fast going — yet still a M'Kenzie 

 claims kindred with high Kintail, and must not 

 disgrace his name. Supposing you lived near 

 to a small provincial town in England or 



