185 



NATURAL BRIDGES. 



In the heart of the north Highlands of Scotland there is a narrow 

 pass between the mountains in the neighbourhood of Bendearg, well 

 known to the traveller who adventures into these wilds in quest of the 

 savage sublimities of nature. At a little distance, it has the appearance 

 of an immense artificial bridge thrown over a tremendous chasm ; but 

 on a nearer approach is seen to be a wall of nature's own masonry 

 formed of vast and rugged bodies of solid rock, piled on each other as if 

 the giant sport of the architect. Its sides are in some places covered with 

 trees of a considerable size, and the passenger who has a head steady 

 enough to look down the precipice, may see the eyries of birds of prey 

 beneath his feet. The path across is so narrow that it cannot admit of 

 two persons passing alongside ; and, indeed, none but natives accustomed 

 to the scene from infancy, would attempt the dangerous route at all, 

 though it saves a circuit of three miles. Yet it sometimes happens, that 

 two travellers meet in the middle, owing to the curve formed by the pass 

 preventing a view across from either side; and when this is the case, one 

 is obliged to lie down while the other crawls over his body ! This 

 natural bridge bears a name which, however euphonous it may sound 

 in Gaelic, must not be mentioned in English "to ears polite." The 

 following legend is connected with this spot. A deadly fued had long 

 existed between the families of Macpherson of Bendearg and Grant of 

 Cairn, and, though apparently reconciled by the intervention of mutual 

 friends the enmity still existed, and required opportunity only to burst 

 forth with redoubled violence this soon occurred One day a High- 

 lander was walking fearlessly along the pass; sometimes bending over 

 to watch the flight of the wild birds that built below, and sometimes 

 detaching a fragment from the top to see it dashed against the uneven 

 sides, and bounding from rock to rock, its rebound echoing the while 

 like a human voice, and dying in faint and hollow murmurs at the 

 bottom. When he had gained the highest part of the arch he observed 

 another coming leisurely up on the opposite side, and being himself of 

 the patrician order, called out to him to halt and lie down; the person, 

 however, disregarded the command, and the Highlanders met, face to 

 face, on the summit. They were Cairn and Bendearg! the two 

 hereditary enemies who would have gloried and rejoiced in mortal strife 



