A RAID ON SUTHERLAND. 459 



pline. First came two sons, each guiding a shaggy pony and 

 light cart loaded with beds and furniture ; then one of the 

 daughters leading the milch cow. Next came her sister, skil- 

 fully driving four sheep with the aid of their two collies. The 

 hale mother now trudged forward with a hen in her apron. 

 Lastly followed the patriarch, like Jacob, with staff in hand, 

 and at a sufficient distance behind the procession to give him 

 a good view of the whole. There could not be a more con- 

 tented or healthy-looking family ; and the stately father, with 

 his ruddy face browned by the mountain blasts, was a noble 

 type of the Highland shepherd. 



The district of Assynt is unrivalled for loch-fishing. It is 

 full of lakes, with variety of fishing to tempt all tastes ; tarns 

 teeming with yellow trout to suit impatient fishermen, and 

 ladies, it would seem for we actually saw two equipped with 

 little shining fly-rods, ready to fill the creels, which no doubt 

 they did. A gillaroo loch is only three miles from the inn, 

 and in Loch Assynt larger feroxes are more frequently taken 

 than in any other loch in the county. Although vexed to 

 have only one day to spare for so fertile an angling range, we 

 determined to make the most of it, and throw no chance of a 

 heavy fish away. We immediately set about catching baits 

 of various sizes, and despatched a lad for John Sutherland, the 

 Duke's watcher, asking him to accompany us next day. 



There were no fewer than four fishing parties at the inn, 

 each choosing his own sport, and plenty of it to choose from. 

 All of them had tried the large loch for the big fish, but the 

 inn people told us not one salmo-ferox had been extracted 

 this year. A little enclosed pond was easily found, to keep 

 the bait alive during the night, and we soon whipped out the 

 necessary number to stock it. 



We were early astir. Of course the live bait were first 

 visited ; and as some of the best had escaped, the fly-rod was 

 again put in commission. My comrade was about to empty 

 our fresh supply into the enclosed pool, when, with eager 



