SALT-WATER LOCHS. 73 



the Highlands, though dormant, is not dead, and to carry 

 back his fancy to the old times of clans, catarans, and 

 claymores.* 



The fishing of the sea-loch is not nearly so scientific 

 as that of the inland. The great art lies in being 

 thoroughly acquainted with the best state of the 

 tide for commencing operations in having a perfect 

 knowledge of the fishing ground, and being able to set 

 your long line with neatness and despatch. Having 

 li ved for a cpuple of years on the banks of two sea-lochs, 



* It is often amusing to see how easily the warm blood will boil, 

 even in those whom years and hardship might have cooled. The fol- 

 lowing characteristic instances occur to me : A spruce young gen- 

 tleman and party of friends, in crossing a ferry, had only one boat- 

 man, nearly eighty years old, tugging away at both oars. The young 

 spark, who rather piqued himself upon his performance, offered to 

 relieve him of one. " Na, na," says old Donald, whose manner was the 

 extreme of respect, " ye'll no be accustomed to this wark." "Me !" 

 says the youngster, " I'll row any man in your country." The High- 

 lander instantly faced him with a look and tone of perfect equality 

 " I've seen the day when ye wad hae been sair pushed!" The other 

 case was that of an old " grannie " in defence of her rights and 

 privileges : An efficient and benevolent magistrate, who had been 

 very active in his endeavours to stop the progress of the cholera, 

 was inculcating the necessity of cleanliness. Grannie listened with a 

 sort of half-consenting air, which seemed to say " we must submit 

 to all this for the good that's to come" until he mentioned the 

 necessity of removing the dunghill from before the window. Her 

 Highland blood could not endure so audacious an inroad upon her 

 freedom : she determined to make a stand upon this odoriferous 

 ground, proverbial for inspiring pluck even into the craven. With 

 an attitude of defiance, and her fists firmly stuck in her sides, she 

 bawled out "Deed, Major, ye may tak our lives, but ye'll no tak our 

 midden!.'" 



