THE VALLEY OF THE KEN 55 



through the rocky ravine below the Linn ; but 

 owing to the difficulty of getting down to the 

 water's edge (the only possible place of descent 

 is a cleft beneath an ancient fir-tree), it is awk- 

 ward, without help, to land a salmon when hooked 

 — few men but MacRobert (that wily fisherman of 

 Dairy I) meeting with any measure of success. 



The stream is divided below this, forming a fine 

 island, on whose shingly surface stands a magnifi- 

 cent clump of old Scotch firs ; while beyond again, 

 where the river threads its way through extensive 

 woods, until Dairy is reached, many tempting- 

 looking salmon pools may be seen, though, I 

 fear, it is not often that they reward even the most 

 persevering fisherman. 



Surely this river Ken, whose romantic and varied 

 scenery I have feebly endeavoured to depict, is truly 

 as wonderful and mystic a field as a boy need wish 

 to ramble in : for although the river has a bad name 

 as a trouting stream, I have found it, for those 

 satisfied with small fish, very much better than its 

 reputation ; and, for a boy devoted to fishing, little 

 short of an earthly paradise. 



It is now many years ago that my brother and 



