ACHNACARRY 285 



MacLean of Ardgour, and the Caledonian Canal, which form 

 his natural boundary, are "to the fore,'" they are the only 

 limits by which his steps should be guided, and he should have 

 no other bounds than "the march" he shares with them. 

 Flowers ! the blossoms of the mountain heather are his roses ; 

 his waterfalls and cataracts his singing birds ; and the stag and 

 the various denizens of his wilds maintain the hospitality of his 

 larder. 



There is a situation on which the house might have been 

 built, on the opposite side of the river, its windows to the south ; 

 and availing itself of the avenue of trees, whence might have 

 been enjoyed the view of both lakes, the waterfall and river; 

 and it then would have commanded the whole of the little 

 valley between the hills. Yesterday, the 6th of November 

 1853, I crossed the lesser fall, and climbed to the island, and 

 sat for some time on a i-ock close on the brink of the cataract ; 

 summoned the spirits around me — di-eamed that I was Lochiel 

 — and reformed the whole state of things before it was time to 

 dress for dinner. Dinner ! that necessity recalls me from 

 the land of clouds and spirits, and bids me write in more 

 histrionic style. 



As a deer forest, this is essentially one of hinds, and not 

 enough has been done by the proprietor to make it anything 

 like a first-rate scene for the rifle. It consists, too, but of one 

 side of a hill, is only two miles wide, and, on that account, but 

 for the woods at the foot of the mountain, running down to 

 Loch Ai'keg, would be of very little value, inasmuch as the 

 sheep and shepherds on one side are for ever distui'bing the 

 forest by a very natural trespass.^ Lord Malmsbmy has done 

 his best in the vicinity of Ben Vain, by a fence, to keep the 

 sheep out ; but as the fence extends but a short distance com- 

 pared with the extent of the mountain, the forest cannot be 

 sufficiently protected. There is also a peculiarity in this forest 



' Since these lines were written the limits of Achnacarry forest have 

 been greatly extended, and stretch along hoth sides of Loch Arkeg as far 

 as the marches of Knoidart and Glen Quoich. — Ed. 



