The north Iowa times. [volume] (M'Gregor [i.e. McGregor], Iowa) 1856-1857, 1856-11-14
MISCELLANEOUS.
HUNTING IN SCOTLAND.

HUNTING IN SCOTLAND.
As you penetrate deeper into the fast
nesses you get among the great deer glens
of Mar and Athol; and, threading the
streams to their heads, you find yourself
rapidly leaving first grass, then heather,
and lastly the lichen vegetation, where the
tops of Ben Macdhui and Cairngorm pre-.
sent nothing to the foot or the eye but the
debris of red granite. That is the haunt
of ptarmigan. The Highlander tells you
they live on the stones and it is true their
crops are found to contain a quantity of
pebbles, necessary for triturating the
tough moss and Alpine plants that form
their food. Il.
1t is long ago, but not the less fresh in
our memory, when we first penetrated
these mountains from the north, that is,
the Spey side. 1t was . September morn
ing that we rode our pony (hight Glenelg
from the country Of his breeding) to the
highest farmhouse in Abernethy, where we
left him to wait our return. Two active
lads, sons of the tenant, were delighted to
accompany us. and we were on our march
when the day was still early. In those
days, the lower part Of the glen Of Nethy
was too rank heather for grouse and for
miles we passed over, scarcely letting our
dogs hunt it. Towards evening we fell
among several good coveys, and had
abundance of sport, and more than the
gillies like to carry. before we struck the
waters that run to the AVN. But our OBJ
ject was other game, and we were glad to
find ourselves getting among the ptarmi-
gan as night fell. A council was held to
deliberate where we should sleep. We
ourselves inclined for the Clach-ean, the
shelter-stone on the rocky bank of Loeb
AVN. But it was easy to see our propo-
sal was most distasteful to the natives
1t is we'll enough known that the shelter
stone is under the peculiar charge Of the
fairy people Of glen AVN, who are pretty
hospitable when shepherd or deer-stalk-
er is driven there by stress of weather, but
will not tolerate any wanton attempt to en-
croach upon their protection. We have
since that time passed night there. But
then, tho cautious councils prevailed,
and our party turned little eastward, and
made, as it got quite dark, shealing
which the shepherds of Glen AVN use for
a few months in summer, situated almost
at the highest 'forking' of AVN, and, so
far as we know, The highest inhabited
house that night in Britain. 1t was hut
of green sod, with roof of thin black
turf. The walls were not above three feet
high, and one required to enter as you do
into the galleries of the pyramids. Hav-
ing crept in. we were heartily welcomed
by the shepherds, and after eating our
supper together to which they contribu-
ted piece of mutton marvellously like
venison, and we had reconciled their thin
active dogs to our tired pointers having a
share of the heather in the corner, we Law
down in our plaids round the fire of bog
fir and heather-roots, which mouldered
in the midst of the howell. The weather
had changed in the course of the night.
and one Of our party awoke with feeling
of intense cold. He trimmed the fire, and
then threw upon it a bundle of wet heath
er, which produced at first only smoke
He had thrust his feet towards the fire.
and was again asleep, when we were arous-
ed by a shout Of fire. and found, on
springing up, the roof of the bothy in a
light blaze, caught from the heather thrown
on the fire blazing up as it dried. To
rush ont was the first impulse. 1t was
showing, and the roof was covered with a
thin coat of snow, which had no effect in
checking the fire. The burn ran close by,
and with our bonnets we laved up water
on the low roof, and soon got the fire ex-
tinguished. but at the expense of leaving
little lake to fill the place so lately occu.
pied by our beds. This was uncomfortable
enough, and as we sat under the roof,
which still sheltered us from the snow,
longing for daylight, we formed certain
vows against being caught bivouacking
again on the burn of the Carouries.
The night had an end, and we sailed out
prepared to yield to fate and the weather,
and to make for the low country; when
the snow suddenly ceased falliug. The
sun, not yet risen above our horizon, be-
gan to tinge with rose the white cairn Of
Cairngorm. Then top<after top caugh.
the glow. till the whole mountains round
shone in glorious light. Coming from
that dark smoky cabin, the change was
magical It was perfectly still; even on the
highest cliffs there was not breath. As
We walked forward, the ptarmigan crowed
and rose at our feet. Taking up our dogs.
we began shooting, and had several hours
of very fine sport. The birds when found
were generally down on the white moss
beside the little streams that intersect it ;
but on being flushed, they took short
flights and lighted on the steep corr;es.
often within sight, SO that marking was
OF as much importance as in day Of N or
fork patridge-shooting. In that our
'hench-men' excelled, and also in direct
ing our approaches to the game when
marked. 1t would be nervous sort Of
climbing in other circumstances, but with
the game before him, man thinks little
OF the danger, and really incurs less from
not thinking. Before the weather chang
ed. which it did at mid day, our bag was
well filled. We have seen many fine
day round the black rocks Of Loeb AVN
and on the side of Cai,ngorm but that
morning rests brightest in our memory.
Fg An incOrripible war who L,nt .