THE MORAR AND SHIEL DISTRICTS 319 



it, may generally be discovered near the pool. I believe the weapon 

 is quite innocent, and is used for the purpose of freeing the angler's 

 worm-tackle from the rocks of the pool bottom, as " hanking " is 

 frequent. 



The streamy pool below is a pleasant cast, but fish are there only 

 in the bye-going. The lowest pool called for some, to me, unknown 

 reason, the Island Pool is just above the road bridge, which crosses 

 close to the river mouth below the railway bridge. In this pool fish 

 pause just after leaving the sea creek immediately below. In the 

 narrow gut into which the river empties, large numbers of fish may 

 sometimes be seen, as in the fall pool. The water is never dirty, 

 though in flood it is much broken and aerated. The deep loch above 

 is a perfect settling pond. 



The sea creek is a joy to the eye. The floor and margins are in 

 great part of white sand, over which the translucent waters of the 

 Western Ocean show green and pure. Here and there a rocky 

 point runs out with a rim of foam, shining over violet and purple 

 weeds. The land on either side is broken and polished. Beyond is 

 the vivid streak of the Sound of Sleat, and the whole is backed by 

 the wonderful outlines of the Cuchullin Hills of Skye. 



The right bank of the river is owned by Lord Lovat, the left bank 

 by Mrs. Nicholson of Arisaig. North Morar Lodge and South 

 Morar Lodge stand on each side respectively, and the fishing is let 

 with the lodges. The other proprietors previously mentioned come 

 in on the loch. 



The high railway bridge which now spans the river has consider- 

 ably altered and has certainly not improved the aspect of the place. 

 But before the railway came, Morar was distinctly inaccessible, and 

 one has generally to yield a certain amount of beauty to utility. 



At the railway terminus at Mallaig, which is next station, there is 

 now a large hotel with every comfort, as well as a harbour of a 

 somewhat prescribed order, perhaps where daily steamers come and 

 go in the summer time. 



On my first expedition to Morar and its neighbourhood Mallaig 

 was a mere clachan of thatched cottages, a sort of jumping-off place, 

 from which a small lug-sail ferry-boat could take one across Loch 

 Nevis to Inverie. I recollect that when I made that crossing my 

 appearance as a casual stranger seemed to excite such curiosity that 

 I was almost ashamed of myself for being so conspicuous. 



It is not in every case easy to decide if a waterfall should or 

 should not be opened up, and Morar Fall is one which seems to 



