THE HIGHLANDS. 127 



of her mate. She was of slim and fragile form, and moi'e like a 

 lady in her walk and bearing than any wife of a caird that had ever 

 been seen in those parts. The natives were somewhat surprised to 

 see this great caird making for the head inn, the " Gordon Arms," 

 where the singular pair actually took up their quarters for several 

 days. Thence they were in the habit of' sallying forth, each armed 

 with a fishing-rod, to the river banks, a circumstance the novelty 

 of which, as regarded the tinker's wife, excited no small curiosity, 

 and many conjectures were hazarded as to the real character of the 

 mysterious couple. 



A local hero named the King of the Drovers, moved by admira- 

 tion of the peculiar proportions of this king of the cairds, felt a 

 great desire to come into closer relations with the stranger. He 

 was soon gratified. A meeting was arranged, in order to try 

 whether the son of the mountain or the son of the plain were the 

 better man in wrestling, leaping, running, and drinking ; and in all 

 of these manly exercises the great drover, probably for the first 

 time, found himself more than matched. 



After nearly two months' tour, the travellers came down by the 

 low-lying lands of Dunkeld, where Mr. Wilson was somewhat sus- 

 piciously regarded, being by some good folks looked upon as a 

 lunatic. Mrs. Izett, a lady of accomplishments and taste, and a 

 great admirer of genius, gives a description of Mr. and Mrs. Wil- 

 son's arrival at her house at midnight. She writes to Mr. John 

 Grieve, a friend of my father's, who lived many years in Edinburgh, 

 a man of good judgment, and refined and elegant pursuits : — 



"Had you a glimpse of Byron, Southey, etc.? By the way, 

 Southey brings your friend Wilson to my recollection. We had 

 the pleasure of seeing him and his agreeable partner here. Though 

 they w r ere here for several nights, I really could not form an opinion 

 of him. They arrived here late at night. The following day, and 

 greatest part of the night, he passed rambling among our glens 

 alone, and the day after, the whole of which he passed within 

 doors, I happened unfortunately to be confined to my room with 

 the headache — at least during the greatest part of it — and thus lost 

 the opportunity you kindly afforded me, of enjoying what I should 

 have considered a great treat. There is something very striking in 

 the countenance of Mr. Wilson, particularly his eye. His head I 

 think quite a model for a minstrel ; there is so much of fire, and at 



