MEMOIR OF THOMAS BEWICK. 91 



to do. I was particularly struck with her whole 

 handsome appearance. It was a compound of 

 loveliness, health, and agility. Her hair, I think, 

 had been flaxen or light, but was tanned to a pale 

 brown by being exposed to the sun. This was 

 tied behind with a riband, and dangled down her 

 back ; and, as she bounded along, it flowed in 

 the air. I had not seen her while I was in the 

 house, and felt grieved because I could not hope 

 ever to see her more. 



After having wandered about in this way for 

 some time longer, during which I uniformly met 

 with the same kind treatment among these un- 

 polluted, unspoiled, honourable, and kind people, 

 I began to think of the long way I had to get 

 over on my return towards home ; for, although 

 my money was not greatly diminished among the 

 Highlanders, yet I knew not how much I might 

 want in or near towns, in the more civilised 

 districts ; so I turned back in a south-easterly 

 direction through the country, where I met, in 

 my various wanderings, the same warm and 

 friendly reception. From that time to this, I 

 have ever felt pleased at the name of Highlander. 

 Were not these people proof against the tempta- 

 tion of a bribe of thirty thousand pounds, held 

 out to them to betray the unfortunate Prince 

 Charles Stuart ? Is it not to be regretted that 

 agricultural improvements have taught the land- 

 lords, or chieftains, to turn numerous farms into 

 one, and to banish thousands of these hardy 

 descendants of the ancient Britons, this brave 

 race of men to whose forefathers they owed so 

 much, to seek an asylum in foreign climes ? In 

 exchange for men, they have filled the country 



