AND ANGLING SONGS. 153 



sion when Lord Robertson, better known as Peter, was present 

 (and I think De Quincey also), on which some whisky of rare 

 excellence was brought, in the way of a dram, to table at Glou- 

 cester Place, christened by the host Millbanlc, in honour of his 

 friend in the north, who had transmitted it. By this kind-hearted, 

 elderly gentleman, I was prevailed upon to remain all night at 

 Scatwell, and try my hand next day on Loch Luichart, which 

 lay about two miles off. 



This sheet of water is one of the natural reservoirs through 

 which the leading river, or Conon proper, directs itself. By some 

 perversion, the name Strathconon has been given to the valley of 

 the Meig a lateral stream of rival dimensions, which, joining 

 the other "close to Scatwell, leads up to the heights of Scuirvuil- 

 lion and the lonely recesses of Glenigag well-known resorts of 

 the stag at the season when he is most acceptable to the deer- 

 stalker. From where the Meig enters, up to Loch Luichart, 

 about a mile of river intervenes, the nature of which is rocky and 

 impetuous, so much so, that although no really insurmountable 

 barrier, as far as the eye can judge, occurs, the succession of 

 petty cataracts is such as effectually to hinder salmon from enter- 

 ing the lake, and thence attaining the ample extent of breeding- 

 grounds lying unpeopled in Strath-Bran, and along the bed of the 

 Grudie river, leading to Lochs Fannich and Chroisg, the parent 

 lakes, so to call them, from which the Conon draws sustenance. 

 A ledge of obstructions, still more formidable, lies stretched, not 

 far from its mouth, across the Meig, and prevents the free pas- 

 sage of salmon into Strathconon, where the breeding accommo- 

 dation is also on a large scale. 



At the lower end of Loch Luichart, as approached on the 

 north side of the river, the scenery commands attention, being 

 bound up with objects that rarely, in a similar combination, pass 

 under regard. What have specially riveted themselves on my 

 recollection are the remains of a grand old forest, trunks of trees 



