SEPTEMBER 201 



any given night with a dozen gamekeepers armed with 

 dog-whips. 



Nevertheless Culzean (you must pronounce it Cullane, 

 please, with the stress on the last syllable) was well 

 placed as a stronghold in the days when artillery was 

 more remarkable for terrific nomenclature than for 

 strength or precision in shooting. The castle stands on 

 a bold headland of the coast of Ayrshire ; its walls are 

 built to the very verge of a precipitous crag, and the 

 waves roll in upon three sides of it. The landward access 

 is interrupted by a deep ravine, across which the roadway 

 is carried level on a causeway of masonry, while the 

 chasm itself is formed into terraces and flower gardens. 



From the windows there is a noble prospect seaward. 

 The long line of Cantyre bounds the western horizon ; on 

 the north the fantastic outline of Arran, with many 

 loops and crests, ends abruptly in the beehive mound 

 of Lamlash; and towards the south, beyond where 

 Turnberry lighthouse marks the birthplace of Robert 

 the Bruce, the granite dome of Ailsa heaves itself in mid- 

 channel, interrupting the fainter blue contour of the 

 coast of Ulster. And lest one should weary of vacancy 

 in the middle distance, there is the never-ending pro- 

 cession of ships, outward or homeward bound, which the 

 great Sidon of the north, Glasgow, and the lesser ports of 

 the Clyde attract to these waters; the gannets for ever 

 wheel and plunge, and the sea-parrots and razor-bills 

 hurry along the wave- tops in little dark-clad companies. 



One may turn from the rampart of the wild coast, and, 

 passing a couple of hundred yards inland, find himself 

 among great trees; for, by a peculiar ground contour, 

 the park is sheltered from Atlantic gales, and hardly 



