Page:Manners and customs of ye Englyshe.djvu/121

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MR. PIPS HIS DIARY.

Deere Stalkynge in ye Hyghlandes.

[Monday, September 17, 1849.]

COMES Mr. Gollope, and Mr. Goblestone, and Jenkyns, to dine with me off a Haunch of Veniſon, and Mr. Mc. Nab calling, I did make him ſtay Dinner too, and the Veniſon very fat and good; and Mr. Gollope did commend my Carving, whereof I was proud. Between them a Debate over our Dinner, as to whether the Red Deer or the Fallow Deer were the better Veniſon, and both Mr. Gollope and Mr. Goblestone do ſay the Fallow, but Mr. Mc. Nab will have it that the Red is by far the better, and do tell them they know nothing about the Matter, and never tailed Red Deer but ſuch as had been mewed up in Richmond Park, which are mighty different from them that do browſe in the Highlands on the Heather. He do fay that Highland Deer-Stalking do excel every other Sport, from Tiger-Hunting to Fox-Hunting, which I mean to repeat to Mr. Corduroys to make him mad. Then he to deſcribe the Manner of Stalking the Deer, and his Account thereof mighty taking but, with his broad Scottiſh Accent and Phraſes, droll; and good Lack, to hear him talk of Braes, and Burns, and Cairns, and Corries, rattling the R in every Word! He ſays that the Deer are the cunningeſt and the watchfulleſt, and can ſee, and hear, and ſmell at the greateſt Diſtance of any Creature almoſt living, and do keep Spies to look out, and their Ears and Eyes