CH. I. OUR START AND CONVEYANCE. 6 



mens for a gentleman who is as great a lover of 

 nature as myself, and a far more scientific one. 



Our start from Bonar Bridge was a most amusing 

 affair, not only to ourselves, but also to all the in- 

 habitants of that small but beautifully situated 

 village. The vehicle which we travelled in was a 

 small and lightly built flat-bottomed boat, made of 

 larch, and mounted on wheels. It was constructed 

 to ship and unship in half a minute. By simply 

 unscrewing two bolts, it could be taken off its 

 wheels and launched into the water. Being on 

 springs, it made a very easy carriage, and was 

 large enough to hold four persons, with plenty of 

 space for luggage. On the present occasion our 

 party consisted of a friend of mine, Mr. J., 

 who (although for many years a wanderer over 

 Switzerland and many parts of Europe) had never 

 been through the wilder and more mountainous 

 regions of Scotland ; Mr. Dunbar, whose assistance 

 was of much use as a naturalist and interpreter 

 amongst the shepherds and others who spoke more 

 Gaelic than English ; myself, and Leo, my retriever. 



Having adjusted the harness, traces, &c. of the 

 boat to my horse (a stout Highland "garron"), we 

 started at an early hour, trusting to the chapter of 

 accidents and the pace of our horse as to where we 

 should sleep that night, but determined to make 



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