Forewords

AN early writer, speaking of Fort-Augustus with its loch and Government galley, calls it "the most centrical point in the Highlands" or the "umbilicus" of the North. Geographically this description is no doubt tolerably accurate; but until recently this centrical spot has been completely severed from all the cords that bind to civilisation and the south, unless indeed we except the tourist steamers of a well-known Glasgow company, which ply up and down the Caledonian Canal for some two months in the summer, and which are popularly termed—not without a sense of humour—"the swuft boats." Within the last few years, however, this naval centre has been connected with the main arteries of traffic that run from London to Fort-William and Mallaig, on the extreme west coast of Inverness-shire, and as it is now becoming a favourite resort of holiday seeker, tourist and sportsman, this booklet is written to try to enhance the pleasure of a visit to the district. In these pages it is in no way intended to enumerate all the spots of interest in the neighbourhood, much less to give a complete history of the Great Glen; all that is aimed at is to jot down a few items in connection with the folk-lore, place-names, history, manners, customs and superstitions of the country, which may be worth the attention of the stranger and help to while away an idle hour. All description of scenery has studiously been avoided as containing a tacit insult to the reader, whom we may leave to judge with his own senses the beauties of the scene and nature's charms.

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Contents

• Chapter I —'Twixt Spean and Gairlochy
  The Giant's Hole—The Clan Gregor—High Bridge—Fergus M`Ivor—Brawls and Bruises—The Mound of the Standard

• Chapter II —On the Banks of Loch Lochy
  The Spean and Lochy Waters—Second Sight—Deoch-an-doruis—A Sturdy Warrior—The Clan Cameron—Achnacarry

• Chapter III.—Under the Shadow of Ben Tigh
  Misapplied Vengeance—Miss Jenny Cameron—Kilfinnan Cattle-lifting—The Battle of the Shirts

• Chapter IV—The Raven's Rock ("Creag an Fhithich")
  The Well of the Seven Heads—Glengarry—A Highland Funeral—Aberchalder

• Chapter V.—Saint and Sinner (Cummin and Curnberland)
  GIen Mor—Cille-Cummin—Fount Augustus—A Salubrious Climate—Cumberland the Butcher—The Traitor Lovat - Roualeyn Gordon-Cumming—The First Ordnance Survey

• Chapter VI.—Round about Kilcumein
  "The Prisoner's Landlady"—Kilcumein—Musie: and Ministers—Montrose's March—The "Dairy Glen"—Corri Arrick —The "Old King's Inn"—"His Majesty's Galley"—Baile Friseil—Battery Rock—Cherry Island—An Open-air Kirk —Kilmalomaig—Allan of the Red Shirt—A Vitrified Fort - Corrie's Cave—Loch Ness—Glenrnoriston—Urquhart Castle