ALEXANDER WILSON. 
XXV 
'■« On the side of a large mountain, in a little hut of his own 
rearing, which has known no other possessor these fifty years, lives 
this strange and very singular person. Though his general useful- 
ness, and communicative disposition, require him often to associate 
with the surrounding rustics, yet, having never had an inclination 
to travel farther than to the neighbouring village, and being totally 
unacquainted with the world, his manners, conversation, and dress, 
are strikingly noticeable. A little plot of ground that extends 
round his cottage, is the narrow sphere to which he confines him- 
self ; and, in this wild retreat, he appears to a stranger as one of 
the early inhabitants of earth, ere polished by frequent intercourse, 
or united in society. 
“ In this vale, or glen, innumerable rare and valuable herbs are 
discovered, and, in the harvest months, it is his continual resort. He 
explores it with the most unwearied attention, — climbs every cliff, 
even the most threatening, and from the perplexing profusion of 
plants, collects those herbs, of whose qualities and value he is well 
acquainted. For this purpose, he has a large basket with a variety 
of divisions, in which he deposits every particular species by itself. 
With this he is often seen labouring home to his hut, where they 
are suspended in large and numerous parcels from the roof, while 
the sage himself sits smiling amidst his simple stores. 
“ About six months ago, I went to pay him a visit along with 
an intimate friend, no less remarkable for a natural curiosity. On 
arriving at his little hut, we found, to our no small disappointment, 
that he was from home. As my friend, however, had never been 
in that part of the country before, I conducted him to the glen, to 
take a view of some of the beautifully romantic scenes, and wild 
prospects, that this place affords. We had not proceeded far along 
the bottom of the vale, when, hearing a rustling among the branches 
above our head, I discovered our hoary botanist with his basket, 
passing along the brow of a rock, that hung almost over the centre 
of the stream. Having pointed him out to my companion, we 
stuck a bountree sheath , for holding his knitting wires. Notwithstanding these 
habits, he had received a better education, could read and write, and possessed 
a considerable number of books : he could also fence. He was a Came- 
ronian ; and every Friday left his house early for some wild elevated ground, 
carrying with him a creelful of books, and remained abroad the whole day. 
VOL. I. 
c 
