THE NAIRN 171 



have done in April 1746, for many trees have grown up to 

 cover the brow of the slope, and hill draining has brought 

 about further modification. Nowhere now could horses and 

 cannon get bogged, as happened apparently when the Duke 

 of Cumberland made his final advance within half-a-mile of the 

 Highland army previous to receiving the first attack. In the 

 peaceful aspect of the country nowadays, when nothing more 

 warlike than the distant pop-pop of the sportsman reaches the 

 ear on a summer day, it is difficult to realise the revolting scene 

 which succeeded the defeat of the gallant Highlanders ; when 

 wounded men, unable to retire across the Nairn river with the 

 main body, were for days dragged from their hiding-places and 

 brutally massacred in cold blood. Culloden was a great 

 victory, but it left a deep stain which is only now fading from 

 memory. 



