HIGHLANDS OF PERTHSHIRE. 4.79 
on the north-west end of the lake, where we were. The ground 
capable of bearimg any profitable alimentary produce, is very 
limited—only a narrow fringe along the borders of the Loch and 
at the margin of the little stream that feeds it. The husbandry 
is not superior to the soil. Luxuriant specimens of vegetation 
we did not see, but we saw noble specimens of humanity. A 
brawny native, in full Highland costume, nobly displayed the 
physical qualities of the Celtic race. It is however more than 
doubtful if the dominant portion of the inhabitants of the High- 
lands be Celis. There may be some Celtic blood in their arteries 
and veins, as there is British blood mingling with the vital fluid 
in the circulatory system of the Sassenach of South Britain. 
But the Campbells, the Stewarts, the Grahams, the Murrays, 
the Menzies, and probably the heads of most of the powerful 
families in the Highlands, are of the Saxon race: originally not 
Celts at all, but who speak the Celtic language, wear the dress, 
and practise many of the customs of this ancient race. From 
these considerations it was inferred that the fine example of the 
species Highlander, we saw at Lochearn Head, was originally. of 
the Saxon race. The genuine Highlander is a sparer man, with 
less muscular development, than his Saxon lord; he is also cha- 
racterized by more agility of body, and by a more expressive and 
mtellectual countenance. As our object was botanical, and not 
ethnological, these disquisitions are tabooed. Retournons a nos 
moutons: or, in plain English, let us “stick to our text.” 
We had been conversing with the postmaster of Lochearn 
Head about the common Carvi of Scotland (Carum Carui). This 
obliging official was assuring us that it did not grow wild in his 
vicinity (it was observed in his garden), and we were talking on 
the general subject of the wildness of species in general, when 
the gigantic Highlander above mentioned put an end to our 
discussion. 
It is a widely-spread opinion that all cultivated plants, whether 
they be of a nutritious, medicinal, or other useful character, were 
originally wild; and, like all domestic or domesticated animals, 
did originally exist no otherwise than in a wild state, growing 
spontaneously and capable of self-propagation, without the agency 
or labour of man. ‘The origin of this opinion is unknown to us, 
but we know that we do not hold it, because it is untenable, in- 
capable of proof, and unphilosophical : .we know the effects, but 
