, 1890-10-16

grim menace, stupendous Fort
George, jutted from the headlaud
at the south; and then vast Mo
ray Firth with Its fierce far head
lands; and at last the blue sea.
Just across the river there, at the
northern edge of the city, stands
Craig-Phadrlc, lifting its parachute
like crowning forest above the city,
and hiding within in one of these
most curious of antiquarian enig-
mas, vitrifled fort of Pagan con-
structlon, the most extensive and
perfect one still existing In Britain.
Down behind you In the mazes of
ancient streets are the remains of
an ancient market-cross; nobody
knows how many centuries old ;and
in its base Is embedded n blue,
lozenge-shnped stone, the palladium
of the old burgh, and called Clach-
na.cudden, or
"sToNE OF THE TUBS"
for having been for untold genera
tons the resting place for women
with their tubs, as they halted u
moment for gossip on their way to
and from the Ness for water. Just
mile from where you stand, at
the mouth of the Caledonian canal,
Is one of the most picturesque lit
tie fishing villages of Scotland. 1t
Is in reality part of the ancient
city. 1t Is called Clachnaharry. 1t
clusters about the base of II high,
bold headland rock. In olden times
sentinels were stationed upon this
rock to give notice of the approach
of caterans and other marauders.
Clach-na-herry, Rock of tho
Watchman," was its Gaelic name
1000 years ago, and Clachnaharry 1t
remains to this day. just there in
the southwestern edge of the town,
rises from the plain bogle-haunted
Tomnahurich. Tou-a-churiach, or
"Knoll of the Canoe" was its
Gaelic name; because 1t resembles
an inverted ancient curach, the
hide-bottomed canoe of the ancients.
Hugh Miller gives it rank as
Queen of the Scottish tomhans.'
Tradition says the mighty cairn is
the tomb of Thomas the Rhymer,
prophet bard of Ercildoune; II tomb
rs eternal and almost as mighty ns
the pyramid of Cheops. Fairy lore
peoples it with colonies and legions
of the wee folk. Savant and SER
want quicken their pace by it ut
night; and all Highlanders hold it
in veneration.
A FAMOUS BATTLEFIELD.
Not four miles from where you
stand, on the great Moor of Cul-
loden, which sweeps In dreary
ridges and scrubby plantations OF
frs around Culloden house, then,
when the headquarters OF Bonnie
Prince Charlie" and now, with its
modern restoration, the property OF
the Forbes family, Cumberland's IS
10000 trained men butchered all the
fierce and devoted band who re-
manned to stand with sword in hand
for the line of Stuart. Where all
the different clans fell can be as
clearly traced by the tiny head
stones rs we can follow the old
wrath lines of our own blue and
gray on the field of Gettysburg. a
step beyond Culloden moor, just
across the little river Nairn, is
another mystic city of the dead.
In tiny valley dominated by two
hills called Dun Evan and Dun
Daviot, on which can still
be traced the outlines and walls of
stupendous prehistoric forts, you
will find the most extensive and inn
pressive series OF cairns and stone
circles anywhere existing In Scot
land. IT ancient Inverness was the
capital of Pictavia, here was the
place of incineration and sepulture
; of all those mighty northern hosts
from reinotest, mlsthidden time.
But turning from contemplation OF
bogle-haunted cairns, ancient
slaughter-pens and wondrous Pagan
Metropolis, how fair the valley
smiles back, with cleaning river,
shimmering bay, CLASSY lake, and
beauteous city, to the September
sun. Myriad upon myriad OF
/ gossamer lines sweep across it
from mountain to cnirn, from
cairn to spire, from splre
to headland, from headland &c
mountain again; and along the ser.
: rated edges of northern and south
. ern horizon these blend with the
peaks above. Those to the south
disclose aud hide the Grampiar
range. Those to the north glow il
the face of their king, mighty Ben
Wyvis, and Ben Wyvis hints of uu-
known Highland s;raths and glens
} of mystic crags and waterfalls
eagles and bridle-paths, of red deer
and poachers, of crofts and sheel
ings, of Gaelic and grandeur. AnC
to these, as we may, we shall go.
EDGAR l.. WAKEMAN.
Women and Boxing.