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CHAP. IX. 



OF POACHERS AND FREE-BOOTERS. 



" Donald Caird can wire a maukin' ; 

 Kens the wiles o' dun deer-staukin* ; 

 Listers kippers, makes a shift 

 To shoot a moor-fowl in a drift. 

 Water-bailiffs, rangers, keepers, 

 He can wauk while they are sleepers ; 

 Nor for bountith or reward, 

 Dare you mell wi' Donald Caird." 



SIR W. SCOTT. 



THE passion for hunting wild animals is probably one of 

 the most powerful affections of the mind where it has once 

 taken root. It is the recreation of nobles and of kings 

 the solace of the gentry and the allurement of the 

 paradise of wild nations. After death, the Indian of the 

 West believes that he shall ascend the Rocky Mountains, 

 (e and there, among crags, and snows, and tumbling torrents, 

 and after many moons of painful toil, he will reach the 

 summit, from whence he will have a view over the land of 

 souls ; there he will see the happy hunting grounds, with 

 the spirits of the brave and the good living in tents in the 

 green meadows, by bright running streams; or hunting 

 the herds of buffalo, and elks, and deer, which have been 

 slain on earth."* 



If we look back to remote periods in our own country, 



* Adventures of Captain Bonneviile, by W. Irving, Esq. 

 R 2 



