Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/314

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A DESCRIPTION OF

district appeared, in comparison, a perfect Paradise. There are between the lakes a great many excessively pretty falls of the river Ericht, which I should have enjoyed, had the road been less dangerous, or I on foot instead of on horseback.

The greatest part of the district of Rannoch, (which I describe more particularly than most others, because it is less known, yet well worth seeing) has been for ages in the possession of the chiefs of the Robertson's. In the last rebellion, Robertson of Strowan, the poet, was their chief; a man, at that time, near eighty years of age, his body hale and strong, and his mind in vigour. He was at the battle of Preston Pans; and for his share of booty was allotted the carriage of Sir John Cope, there defeated. Strowan drove it in triumph, as far as he could, towards his district; and when the roads became impassable, he summoned his vassals to carry it into Rannoch. Amongst the other contents of Sir John's chaise, were a number of rolls of brownish stuff, which were concluded to be very valuable specifics for wounds, particularly as they were safely packed in a soldier's carriage, to be ready, as it was thought, in case of accidents. These precious rolls were cried in the streets of Perth, "Wha'll buy