LACHLAN GORACH. 249 



in a way, a great favourite of ours — he returned our friendly greet- 

 ing of " Well, how are you, Lachlan? " with a hearty shake of the 

 hand, and a bow that, for close proximity of forehead to the 

 ground and duration, might have graced the court of Louis the 

 Fourteenth, and immediately on regaining the erect position, struck, 

 to an air that was probably original, into the following verse, 

 which we took down on the spot : — 



' ' First the heel and then the toe, 

 That's the way the polka goes ; 

 First the toe and then the heel, 

 That's the way to dance a reel ; 

 Quick about and then away, 

 Lightly dance the glad Strathspey. 

 Jump a jump, and jump it big. 

 That's the way to dance a jig ; 

 Slowly, smihng as in France, 

 FoUow through the country dance. 

 And we'll meet Johnny Cope in the morning." 



It was very amusing. Where he picked up the uncouth rhyme we 

 do not know, and it was bootless to inquire. Having ordered him 

 some dinner, we bade him good-bye, when we caught hold of the 

 following verse of Lachlan's favourite ditties as we disappeared : — 



" Kilt your coaties, bonnie lassie, 

 As you wade the burnie through ; 

 Or your mother will be angry 

 If you wet your coaties now." 



Poor Lachlan, always cheerful and perfectly harmless, is a welcome 

 guest at every fireside throughout the many districts which he 

 periodically peregrinates. We may have something more to say of 

 himself and his quaint scraps of songs on a future occasion. ■ 



