152 TOUR IN SUTHERLAND. CII. X. 



a number of hinds near the roadside ; but the stags, 

 or at any rate the older stags, keep higher up the 

 mountains. 



These plains must be excellent ground for run- 

 ning the deer-hounds on, and I wished much that I 

 could have remained long enough in the country to 

 see some of the dogs run a deer ; but being sum- 

 moned at the time to England, I was obliged to de- 

 part without even the treat of passing some days in 

 the deer forest, notwithstanding the Duke of Suther- 

 land's kind permission. Of course I should have 

 gone " unarmed,^' it being as early as the middle of 

 June ; but I am happy to say that (although sports- 

 man enough in my way) I can enjoy watching and 

 making acquaintance with the actions and habits of 

 so fine an animal as the stag quite as much as 

 endeavouring to kill him. AVithout pretending to 

 disown my love of deer-stalking, I find an enjoyment 

 in watching unseen, and patiently, the animals in a 

 manner which one could not do, supposing oneself to 

 be rifle in hand ; for then, such is the passion of 

 mankind for the chase, that I fancy few people exist 

 who would not be more intent on killing the stag 

 than in quietly looking at him. In the present 

 instance, however, I had little leisure for even 

 looking at the deer. 



There is a constant succession of fine mountains 



