422 THE LANG REEL o' COLLIESTON. [CHAP. x. 



night the old folks sit and enjoy themselves with a bowl of 

 punch and a smoke, talking of old times and old fishing 

 adventures, storms, miraculous hauls, etc. ; in short, like old 

 military or naval veterans, they have a strong penchant "to 

 fight their battles o'er again." The fun grows fast and furious 

 with all concerned, till the tired body gives warning that it is 

 time to desist, and by and by all retire, and life in the fishing 

 village resumes its old jog-trot. 



It would take up too much space, and weary the reader 

 besides, were I to give in detail an account of all the fishing- 

 places I have visited during the last ten years. My purpose 

 will be amply served by a glance at a few of the Scottish 

 fishing villages, which, with the information I can interpolate 

 about the fisher-folks of the coast of France, and the eel- 

 breeders of Comacchio, not to mention those of Northumberland 

 and Yorkshire, will be quite sufficient to give the general 



company adjourn to the links to a place which is smooth and level, 

 and which lies at no very great distance from the Coast-Guard station at 

 the end of the sands of Forvie, and there, to the inspiriting strains of 

 the violin, dance the ancient, picturesque, and intricate " Lang Eeel o' 

 Collieston " a reel danced by their forefathers and each succeeding 

 generation from time immemorial. To those who are fond of " tripping 

 the light fantastic toe/' and who never had the fortune to see it danced, 

 it would doubtless be interesting were we to give a description of this 

 "The Lang Reel o' Collieston;" but, although fond of that sort of 

 exercise, we do not boast professional skill, and consequently are 

 unacquainted with the technical names of the various movements in this 

 particular department of the worship of Terpsichore. We may, however, 

 mention that, as indicated by its name, the lang reel o' Collieston is a 

 lang reel in a double sense. It is of long duration and lengthy in its 

 dimensions, for all the wedding party join in dancing the " lang reel." It 

 is commenced by the bride and her " best man," and pair after pair link 

 into its links as the dance proceeds, until all have linked themselves 

 into it, and then pair after pair drop off, as in some country -dances, 

 until none are left dancing but the bride and " best man " who com- 

 menced it. As may be supposed, this extended saltatory effort is rather 

 trying for the bride ; and we heard one sonsy wife of forty declare, in 



