374 J CARGO OF VENISON 



beats a turnip-field, and now and again, when so 

 running a hare, they have been known to pounce on 

 another which considered itself safe in its form, I 

 have killed hares with a goshawk ; the latter is 

 fleeter than an eagle, which is a somewhat awkward 

 bird. I have trained them for hare-hunting, but they 

 are too clumsy to carry, and cannot fly off the hand or 

 ' cadge ' without the assistance of a strong breeze to 

 fill their sails, much like wild swans off a loch. No 

 bird is, perhaps, more easily shot than a wild swan 

 when it is trying to mount off the water in still 

 weather. 



Although the weather during my stay at Paat was 

 so wet, being worse in that respect than any which I 

 have ever experienced, even on the west coast of 

 Ireland, the boat, on our return to Morna Lodge, was 

 so full of venison that the water almost came over the 

 gunwale. Five days' shooting had given a result of 

 eleven stags and six hinds, and there was only just 

 room for us to sit in the boat. John had done his 

 work admirably, and every haunch was beautifully 

 packed for the journey. I regret to think that I shall 

 never see him or Paat again, for it is not likely that it 

 will be let to anyone of my acquaintance, but most 

 probably taken by some tenant on a long lease, and 

 whoever is fortunate enough to secure it will most 

 likely keep it as long as possible. 



On our arrival at Morna we received but very 

 middling accounts of the deer they had got, being so 

 poor ; but this was the case in Strathconnon also that 

 year. However, matters have very much improved 

 since then, and, owing to the removal of the twelve- 

 foot fence, no better were ever seen either there or at 



