DEER DIKES. 283 



which are not included in the great ones of the Dirrie-Chatt 

 and the Dirrie-More, 1. The Parph ; 2.* the forest of 

 Klibreck ; 3. the Dirrie-Meanach. 



The number of deer that wander over the vast forests of 

 Sutherland cannot well be ascertained. About thirty years 

 ago an opinion prevailed that it amounted to 3000. The 

 introduction of sheep farms, and other causes, have 

 materially lessened that number, if, indeed, it was a correct 

 one. So that the harts, hinds, and calves, of all ages, taken 

 collectively, do not probably, at present, exceed the number 

 of 1,500. The calculations of the foresters would lessen 

 that number, and the statements of the shepherds would 

 increase it, their respective interests being diametrically 

 opposite. 



Hunts were occasionally upon a grand scale, in this as 

 well as in other forests in Scotland, when the deer were 

 collected by scouts, and driven to certain passes. One of 

 these was along the side of Craigmore, one of the most 

 prominent summits of Ben-Ormin, where there is a station 

 still, called " The Earl's Seat," and farther on there is 

 another, called " Angus Baillie's Seat," having been selected 

 by a forester of that name. There are also the remains of 

 several ancient hunting lodges, which were chiefly con- 

 structed on the islands in the freshwater lakes. 



There seem to have been two modes of killing deer in 

 the Sutherland district, quite peculiar to the country 

 one was the erection of an enclosure, called Garruna-bhiu, 

 (the deer dikes) : it was formed of two opposite rough stone 

 walls, about a quarter of a mile in length, and 100 yards 

 apart at one end, this distance being gradually contracted to 

 a narrow opening at the other. The deer having been 

 driven in at the wide end in numbers, could not get into the 

 moor at the narrow extremity without great delay, and 

 thus became an easy prey to the sportsmen. The other 

 method alluded to was formerly practised at two extreme 

 points of the Sutherland forests. A strong force of men 

 collected them in herds near the sea-coast, urged them 

 forwards, and, at length, forced them down the cliffs and 

 crags, and drove them into the water. Boats were concealed 

 amid the rocks, which were put in motion at the proper 



