SHORES OF THE CLYDE AND FIRTH. 
73 
before the admiring eye. Stretching away to the right, 
between the green and purple hills, are the blue waters of 
the inner Kyles, sparkling in the sunshine like a majestic 
river in its flow. Away down in front is placid Loch 
Reddan running into the base of the hills beyond. On its 
right shore rise the grounds of Colintraive, with an 
occasional white-washed thatch-covered cot sending forth 
its blue wreaths of smoke amongst the clustering hazel and 
natural woods that adorn the district. To the left, the 
huge mountains rise to the sky-line in bare broad shoulders 
and jagged beetling crags. Swerving seaward again, near 
the entrance, the primeval woods rise in graceful folds of 
dark and olive green far up the mountain side, and yonder, 
at the base of the woody cliffs, on the very lip of the loch, 
are the rounded turrets of Glencaladh, the splendid residence 
of Stephenson, the representative and relative of the great 
engineer of that name ; and in the midst of all, guarding 
the entrance to the loch, is the group of romantic little 
islets, giving a fairy-like enchantment to the lovely spot. 
But the speed of our steamer is quickly leaving behind 
the passing scenes. Yonder on the left, on the Bute 
shore, stretching up the barren hill-side, is an oblong 
oasis, on which are seated the famous ''Maids of Bute," 
two stones which, when observed from a particular angle 
approaching from the inner Kyles, very much resemble 
two women seated upon the hill-side surveying the scenery 
before them. 
Some would-be improver of nature has attempted to 
adorn them with a painted dress, but the attempt only mars 
the beauty and resemblance, and should be left to nature's 
own seasonable moss coatings of modest green and grey. 
Very speedily we gain the magnificent scenery of the outer 
Kyles, with the beautiful villas and wooded mountain 
