202 WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS chap, xxii 



up a concert of howling and barking enough to startle every 

 deer in the country. My companion, whose knowledge of the 

 English tongue was not very deep, told me that the. owners of 

 the dogs would be some " lads from Strath Errick," who were 

 to hold a conference with him about some sheep. 



A black-headed, unshaven Highlander having come out, 

 and kicked the dogs into some kind of quiet, we entered the 

 hut, and found two more " lads " in it, one stretched out on a 

 very rough bench, and the other busy stirring up some oatmeal 

 and hot water for their breakfast. The smoke for a few 

 moments prevented my maWng out what or who were in the 

 place. I held a short (very short) conversation with the three 

 shepherds, they understanding not one word of English, and I 

 understanding very few of Gaelic. But, by the help of the man 

 who accompanied me, I found out that a stag or two were still 

 in the glen, besides a few hinds. The meal and water having 

 been mixed sufficiently, it was emptied out into a large earthen 

 dish, and placed smoking on the lid of a chest. Each man 

 then produced from some recess of his plaid a long wooden 

 spoon; whilst my companion assisted in the ceremony by 

 fetching some water from the river in a bottle. They all three, 

 then, having doffed their bonnets, and raising their hands, 

 muttered over a long Gaelic grace. Then, without saying a 

 word, they set to with good will at the scalding mess before 

 them, each attacking the corner of the dish nearest him, shovel- 

 ling immense spoonfuls down their throats ; and when more than 

 usually scalded — their throats must have been as fire-proof as 

 that of the Fire King himself — taking a mouthful of the water 

 in the bottle, which was passed from one to the other for that 

 purpose. Having eaten a most extraordinary quantity of the 

 pottage, each man wiped his spoon on the sleeve of his coat, 

 and again said a grace. The small remainder was then mixed 

 with more water and given to the dogs, who had been patiently 

 waiting for their share. After they had licked the dish clean, 

 it was put away into the liieal-chest, the key of which was then 

 concealed in a hole of the turf wall. I divided most of my 

 cigars with the men to smoke in their pipes, and handed round 

 my whisky-flask, reserving a small modicum for my own use 

 during the day. 



From this place to its source the river is very narrow, and 



