144 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CH. X. 



CHAPTER X. 



Deer Hounds — Deer Forest in Sutherlandshire — Effect of the 

 Forests on Deer — The Stag casting his Horns — Hinds and 

 Calves — Courage of the Hind — Poaching Shepherds — 

 Value of Horns — Fighting of Stags — Highland Forester — 

 Breed of Deer-Hounds. 



While staying at the inn at Aultnaliarrow, I saw 

 several brace of deer-hounds of the true old Scotch 

 breed. These dogs, which belonged to Lord Elles- 

 mere, were kept close to the inn, at the house of 

 one of his Lordship's foresters. The tract of country 

 preserved as a deer forest comprises a most extensive 

 range of mountains, the best in all Scotland for the 

 purpose. Reaching away to the north-west and 

 west, the forest takes in corrie after corrie, and 

 mountain after mountain, of the most wild and 

 romantic character. Fitted, too, for scarcely any 

 other purpose than as a refuge for wild animals, the 

 most determined utilitarian could not say that the 

 ground was wasted, nor suggest a better use to 

 which to apply it. It is far too barren to make 

 sheep farming remunerative, and any other way of 

 attempting to make the mountains in that district 

 useful to mankind would be labour thrown away. 



