Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/295

Rh so far that road, in order to cross Corryarraick; but they became so terrified with what they saw before them, and what they dreaded to meet with, from the account of the young Oxonian, that they fairly, from fear, turned about and took the road to Fort William. This, however, did not alarm me. I saw nothing to hurt any body but the horses; and they being assisted, I trusted all would go well.—From the base of Corryarraick to its summit, the road lies on a broad side of it. The ascent is to be sure very long and steep, but not excessively so; nor does the hill sweep from the road very precipitately to a stream below, which is at a considerable distance from it. The mountain on the left rises high; and on each side of the passing track, is a stony rough pasture, mixed with rushes, and a black boggy-looking heath down to the stream; on the other side of which, the mountains have the same hue as that I was ascending. Not a shrub, or bush to be seen, nor trace of a house, except two or three huts at Laga-ne-viene; so that the scene at all times, and in all weathers, must be black and dreary. Long poles are driven into the ground, by the edge of the road, at stated distances, all the way up the ascent; and also down the zig-zag on the other