Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-20

been recently burnt. II was . beauti-
full sight. The grand solitude, the vast
expanss, and the pure air impressed US
exQuisiiely. One Of the ladies found Q
big root Of white heather, which is rare
and said to bring good luck. The for
tunate finder. distributed it round to
the party, who received It as q much
appreciated gift. The white heather is
the same botanically as the purple, the
absence Of color being due to some
temporary popularity Of the soil.
After enjoying the prospect at the
highest point Of our climb we started
the descending slope, and soon came on
. shooting-bor, where three or four
sportsmen and dozen gillies turned
out to view such an unusual sight as
our party presented in going by. They
eyed the dog-cart most curiously.
Three quarters of an hour further on,
and at ii O'Clock. we reached farm
house, and we did the remaining ten
miles along a good road in very fair
time, and arrived at Glen lsla just as
the gsInos begun. We were all ready
for luncheon, so We chose q grassy
island by the side Of the river
Isla for our camping-ground 1t was
backed up by fern-cOvered rocks and
sheltered with trees, and was Ear enough
from the high-road to escape the dust,
and was altogether a capital spot.
AN INTERESTED GATHERING.
The games were very interesting to
us rs strangers, and quite as much SO
to the people Of the neighborhood, as
many of the same competitors appear
year after year, and there is great
eagerness to know who is likely to win.
We found on our arrival that repre-
sentatives from all the distinguished
families residing within driving ra-
dius Of thirty miles had assembled.
| The Airlies of Cortachy Castle, the
Liells Of KeDnordy, and many others,
came to show their friendly interest.
The games took place on piece Of fiat
ground bounded by the river on one side
and steep slope at the foot of Mount
Blair on the other, on which benches were
placed for the spectators. We were
lucky in being in the front row, and so
could have a good view. The competi-
tors and several gentlemen among the
spectators were in Highland costume,
members of many different clans were
present, and the day fine and bright,
so that the scene was quite gay. AS
we took our seats the pipers were play
ing their trial pieces in very spirited
fashion. They were on a platform
about twenty feet square and raised
foot frem the ground. They walked in
step around and across it, keeping time
to their music. The judges were hid
den, so the manner of stepping did not
count towards winning the prize.
which, thought, was mis-
take, as there was great difference
among me pipers in this respect. One
of them marched along the gpyest Of the
gay, and another stepped as fierce and
proud as if he were piper to the Queen
and aspired to the possession of John
Browns shoes. Some of them were
handsomely dressed, and had variety
of silver buckles and charms, and one
Of them wore several medals gained in
London and other parts of the world.
BAG-PIPEs.
/ am no judge of bag-pipes. so can
not pronounce on the merit of the per-
formers but many OF the listeners
considered the playing very good and
as the noted McCool was there, sup
pose it was. The dancing was remark
ably pleasing. Several Highland filings,
strathspeys, and reels were given, and
all were really gracefully done, and
without the roughness and awkward
ness had believed inseparably con-
nected with them from seeing them in
other countries. The most difficult was
the sword-dance. Two swords were
crossed on the platform, aud then one
by one the competitors came forward
and danced an infinite complexity
Of steps in and out and cross
ways over the swords with great dex-
terity. If any part Of the swords is
touched the dance is a failure, aud the
dancer is at once ruled out, but that did
not happen when we saw the games.
The sailor hornpipe ended the dancing
late in the afternoon, and for it the men
changed their picturesque costume for
plain white linen clothes and broad blue
collars and straw hats. One man did
extremely well, and gave such good
idea Of hauling in ropes and Of other
ship occupations that we were forcibly
reminded Of the Atlantic.
TRIALS OF STRENGTH.
While these amuSements were going
on in the foreground, throwing the
stone, hammer, and caber went on a
little distance beyond. The stone,
ball about eight inches in diameter and
twenty eight pounds in weight, is first
poised in the right hand on level with
the head, the left arm is raised up as a
sort of balance, the thrower stands
with his back turned towards the
direction he is to throw in, and
turns suddenly round and filings
his missile. The greatest distance we
saw thrown was twenty-six feet.
The hammer is an iron bar about
yard and half long, with ball at
one end five inches in diameter. The
men plant themselves firmly, grasp the
bar in one hand and whirl it round
their heads with gradually increasing
speed till about the fifth time, when
suddenly they send it whizziDg through
the air, and it alights many yards Off.
We saw one sent % yards. ! was more
surprised at this feat and the grace of
the dancing than anything else in the
sports. Next came tossing the caber,
a pole fifteen yards long, placed in
hole some depth in the ground to
keep it steady. Each competitor took
it out in succession and tossed it as far
as he could. This must have been diff
cult to do, as no one tossed it very far.
After this came foot-races, and the whole
ended with tug Of war between sets
of men from different districts. This
is the most exciting event Of the day in
the eyes of the participants and their
friends, as it gives the winners collec-
lively great Importance, and raises their
III