150 HIGHLAND WEDDING. 



We had not watched its progress long, when a 

 sudden dash, followed by no slight commotion in the 

 water, told that a fair-sized fish had been hooked. 

 Nothing deterred however by the warning thus afforded 

 them, others speedily followed the example, and ere 

 long almost every hook carried its fish. When, taking 

 advantage of the first opening in the weeds, we drew the 

 otter ashore, and along with it ten fish of various sizes 

 and weights, from four or five ounces up to a couple of 

 pounds. This process repeated thrice, we started for 

 home, with rather more than thirty fish, as the joint 

 production of rod and otter. 



The incident I now purpose recording, though not in 

 any way associated with sport, is nevertheless of no 

 small interest from its peculiar character, being an 

 example of the mode in which a wedding and its 

 festivities are commonly celebrated in the Highlands. 

 The parties concerned were, as might be presumed, of 

 a humble rank in life, the bride being the daughter of 

 a shepherd on the Laird's farm, and the bridegroom 

 himself another member of the same corps. 



There being no minister or kirk within sixteen 

 miles, a species of compromise was made between the 

 two parties, that dignitary undertaking to meet the 

 wedding couple and their friends halfway, and to 

 perform the ceremony in a cottage conveniently situated 

 by the roadside. 



On occasions of this kind open house is kept, 

 frequently for several days, and the capacities of every 

 cottage in the immediate vicinity are tested to the 

 utmost, the invitations being, by traditionary custom, 

 general, and the number of guests, unlimited. 



The company having collected at an early hour, set 

 out on their walk of eight miles, to the number of about 



