viii PREFACE. 



overlooked or missed the chance of observing; and, 

 I think, they can accept the personal incidents 

 recorded as having occurred under my own ex- 

 perience, or, if related secondhand, to have come 

 from those who may be trusted to have intelligently 

 observed and accurately reported. 



If my readers should derive only a tithe of 

 the pleasure from perusing this journal that I have 

 had in shaping it, I shall be satisfied for to me 

 this has been a labour of love by bringing back 

 clearly on my mind many cherished memories. 



I believe it to be a common experience that 

 times passed in the country do leave stronger and 

 more vivid prints on the mind than those lived 

 in towns, however much more eventful and im- 

 portant these latter may have been with myself 

 I find this distinction of recollection to be marked 

 and indubitable, and there are certain days lived 

 in the country, particularly those passed in the 

 Highlands, which will come again and again on my 

 memory with the startling clearness of a vision, 

 when I seem to see every heather-brae and rugged 

 corrie on the hill-side, to look on the broken 

 waters as they rush down the stony glen, almost 

 to feel on my cheek the fresh breeze that waves 



