THE TAY 283 



there any longer. So she went to the Campbell of that day and 

 said, " Cold is the place where you are building the castle ; it will 

 be exposed to every wind and storm." And he asked her, " Where 

 would you build it ? " " Where I should hear the thrush," she 

 replied. 



In those days people believed in superstitions, and they tried 

 to ascertain where the thrush should be first heard. There was a 

 field where M'Gregor was wont to keep his calves. It was enclosed 

 with blackthorn and hawthorn, and there was a pass called the 

 Pass of the Calves, through which they Vv'ere put in and brought 

 out. That was the first place in which they heard the thrush. 

 The castle was built there, and it was called Caisteal Bhealaich 

 (Pass Castle) by the common people, and Taymouth by the gentry. 1 



As the river quits the loch, it flows for a mile and a half through 

 the Taymouth Castle grounds, with its avenues of stately limes 

 planted with so much care by Sir Duncan Campbell of the Cowl, 

 a bitter foe to the clan M'Gregor. Lord Archibald Campbell, in 

 his interesting book already mentioned in connection with the 

 Aray, gives the following translation of the old Gaelic " Song of 

 Breadalbane," two of the verses running as follows : — 



" Loch Tay of the salmon 

 That come from the sea of rough waves, 

 Which is belly-spotted, small speckled, 

 And supplied with rough, strong fins ; 

 Leaping to every false fly. 

 Seizing flies on the tops of the waves ; 

 They are numerous in every pool. 

 Spawning in the water bottom of the land. 



Where was there seen in Scotland 



A place that excelled Breadalbane of my love ? 



Whisky and all would be found there. 



Beer and brandy to drink. 



What else would you desire. 



Unless a bottle of wine or of rum ? 



Generously would that be obtained, 



With bread and cheese supplied on the table." 



The other verses of this song do not concern fish or fishermen, 

 so I omit them ; but, whoever the poet may have been, every 

 verse makes it clear he knew what he was writing about, and fully 

 appreciated both the good things appertaining to the domains of 

 his chieftain and the generous hospitality dispensed at the castle. 



Over and over again have I been present when a discussion has 

 arisen amongst a company of Sassenach sportsmen as to which of 

 the big Scotch properties they would take if they had their choice. 

 Well, some would have liked to dispossess the Duke of Fife, others 

 His Grace of Sutherland, or oust Lord Lovat from Beaufort Castle, 

 or the Duke of Roxburghe from Floors ; but for one who would 

 have chosen any of these there have ever been three who would 

 have taken the lands of the Marquis of Breadalbane. 



1 From The Records of A rgyll, by Lord Arclubald Campbell. 



