FAREWELL TO THE HIGHLANDS. 55 



This, of course, is an entirely outside price ; and many 

 good deer forests, with plenty of grouse shooting, are 

 obtainable for sums of 1000Z. or 2000Z. A deer forest 

 being pointed out to me, I naturally alluded to the total 

 absence of trees not a single one was visible ; a forest 

 being but a mountain side or pass, the favourite resort 

 and abiding-place of deer, which are jealously preserved. 

 The shootings on level moors command high prices, as 

 it is easy work to make a big bag when the grouse are 

 driven by a host of beaters to you. On a moor like 

 Rhidorach a man must be able to endure any amount 

 of fatigue and to earn every bird by " the sweat of his 

 brow/' Of deer-stalking there are two courses by 

 which an antlered head is to be secured. The first is 

 by renting an expensive and well -stocked deer forest, 

 and having a drive, the shooter being placed at con- 

 venient spots by which the deer pass, slaughtering the 

 animals without trouble or exertion. The other mode 

 is to stalk the stag over moor and mountain, being on 

 the ground before daylight, often following in pursuit 

 for a whole day without obtaining a shot, taking long 

 detours to get the wind of the stag, crawling then a 

 mile or two on hands and knees, through the burns, 

 over the boulders noiselessly ; lying down at times to 

 avoid detection, at length creeping stealthily until 

 within range, and then, if your hand is steady and you 

 are cool and unexcited, you may occasionally bring 

 down a stag with each barrel. Of the Highlanders I 

 must say I formed a most favourable opinion. They 

 are shrewd, civil, and obliging, without showing a sign 

 of servility. Well-informed, as a rule, steady, domesti- 

 cated, and thorough lovers of sport ; warming to a 

 congenial spirit, and making themselves pleasant and 



