66 



TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. V. 



we should not succeed in reaching the summit, owing 

 to the state of the weather ; and he was correct ; 

 for, although there was an occasional clearing away 

 of the clouds, when we were about half-way up there 

 commenced such a determined and heavy torrent of 

 rain, that we had to give in ; the whole mountain, 

 too, was enveloped in a cloud like a wet blauket, 

 impenetrable to the sight. For a long time we sat 

 down under my plaid, which kept us tolerably dry 

 (Dunbar, myself, and the dog) ; with nothing else 

 to enliven us except watching the curious antics of 

 two ravens on a great lump of rock in front of us. 

 At last, in despair, we made our way home, as 

 quickly as we could, splashing through the rain- 

 water which had converted the whole hill-side into 

 pools. Near the loch-side, amongst the birch trees, 

 I saw a great many red -poles and other small 

 birds. 



From Aultnaharrow we drove again to Loch 

 Maddie, where I caught some fine trout. We saw 

 a few Grey lag geese, and found the grey crows 

 again tenanting the nests which we had attacked 

 three or four weeks ago. Of course I smashed 

 every egg and killed every crow that came within 

 my reach. 



On the 10th of June the frost was so severe 

 in Strath Naver, that it cut down all the potatoes to 



