MHAP. XXII.] HIGHLAND SHEPHERDS. 179 
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, set to with good will at the scalding mess before 
them, each attacking the corner of the dish nearest him, shovelling 
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 pur- 
pose. 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 meal-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 
confined between steep and rocky hills that come down to the 
edge of the water; varied here and there by less abrupt ascents, 
covered with spreading juniper-bushes and green herbage. On 
one of these bright spots we saw a hind and her calf, the former 
standing to watch us as we passed up the opposite side of the 
river, while her young one was playing about her like a lamb. 
They did not seem to care much for our coming there; and 
having watched us for some time, and seeing that we had no evil 
intention towards them, the hind recommenced feeding, only 
occasionally stopping to see that we did not turn. The ring- 
ouzel, that near cousin of the blackbird, frequently flitted across 
the glen, and, perching on a juniper-bush, saluted us with its wild 
and sweet song. 
The morning was bright, and the river sparkled and danced 
over its stony bed; while every little pool was dimpled by the 
rising of the trout, who jumped without dread of hook and line 
at. the small black gnats that were playing about the. surtace of 
n2 
