118 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING. 



Mertoun into the water, they wudna look at her ; for 

 the storm cam from the wast last nicht ye ken, and 

 she* wull be waxing the morn ; but we can gang doon 

 to her and see." Down we accordingly went, and she 

 was decidedly waxing, he said. 



All this was a mystery to me at that time ; but I 

 learned from him that when the river is about to flood, 

 the rain that has fallen near its sources comes pouring 

 down from the gullies and drains, and propels the 

 clear water before it, which then climbs the dry stones 

 of the channel, exhibiting a convex surface, like wine 

 in a glass filled to the brim. This effect cannot be per- 

 ceived where the river is in quick motion ; but in the 

 little bays and pools that are here and there in the 

 channel, it is very visible : the water will rise to some 

 height before it is in the slightest degree discoloured, 

 and this in proportion to the quantity of rain that has 

 fallen near the sources ; so that a stranger would not 

 notice the change. In strong spates it is afterwards of 

 a reddish cast, and fines by degrees into a porter colour, 

 which gets clearer and clearer till it resumes its wonted 

 transparency. It must be noted that I speak with 

 reference to the Tweed only; for it is obvious that 

 every river is coloured somewhat differently, according 

 to the nature of the soil from which, and through 

 which, it flows. Thus the Tay partakes much of the 

 dark moss and peat colour ; and on part of the Inver- 

 ness coast, where some of the rivers come from a hard 

 stony soil, they are never much discoloured, or, if dis- 



* The Tweed, like a ship, is always called she, the feminine gender 

 giving it its due consequence. 



