Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/226

208 of billiard tables, from a long poll; this bag is usually either fastened horizontally upon some rock, or held by a fisherman just under the fall, to catch the fish, if they do not succeed in their leap. The fishermen, at such great falls as those of the Tumel, are themselves securely fastened to the shore, otherwise they might fall off the rocks on which they sit, and be lost in the torrent; for, it is said, the noise of it has the effect of making them fall fast asleep.

The Duke of Atholl is hereditary ranger of the King's forest of Atholl; by which means his Grace has a prodigious tract of country for his amusement of deer hunting: those animals are in great abundance at Blair; but being extremely shy, give the hunters infinite trouble and fatigue. Whole days are sometimes spent, from the dawn to the setting sun, in shooting one of them; much dexterity too is requisite to accomplish it. The Duke is one of the best shot in Britain; but notwithstanding his Grace is often obliged to be scrambling about the crags for eight or ten hours before he succeeds. The venison of the wild deer is delicious, very fat, and runs to a great size. During the time I had the honour of spending at Blair, I lived upon red deer venison and