S a lmo n f i sh e -
R I E S .
K i l l i c r a n k i e .
Salmons annually force their paffage even up this furious ca-l
taraft; and are taken here in a moft artlefs manner : a hamper, I
faftened to a wicker-rope, pinned into a cleft of the rock by j l
ftick, is flung into the ftream : now and then a filh, in the fall!
from its effort to get up, drops into this little ware. It is not to !
be fuppofed that the owner can enrich hirtifelf by the capture: in i
fafr, the chance of his good fortune is hired out at the annual rent!
of one pound fourteen ihillings.
At other times the fifher flings into the ftream below, a crow!
foot, or caltrop, faftened to a long rope. On this inftrumentl
the falmons often transfix themfelves, and are drawn up to -land!
Another method, of much rifque to the adventurer, is at time!
pra&ifed. A perfon feats himfelf on the brink of the precipice!
above the cataradbs, and fixes one foot in the noofe of a wicker!
cord: here he expe&s the leap of a falmon, armed with a fpear!
the moment the fifh rifes, he darts his weapon ar the hazard o i l
falling into the water by his own effort, or the ftruggle of h i !
prey.
A little to the eaft of this fall the Garrie unites itfelf with tlieB
' tu rn l; a river that rifes from a lake thirteen computed miles!
above Blair. The'noted pafs of Killicr ankie is formed by tbil
hills that impend over it on each fide; the waters of the G#rn!
rufhing beneath in a deep, darkfome, and horrible channel; !
the laft century a.pafs of much danger and difficulty, a path!
hanging over a tremendous precipice, threatening deftrutftion toB
the leaft falfe ftep of the traveller; at prefent a fine road, forme!
by the foldiery lent by government, and encouraged by fixpenciB
per day added to the pay, gives an eafy accefs to the remotaB
highlands!
highlands, A fine arch over the Garrie joins the once impervious
■fides. 1 Near the north end of this pafs, in its unimproved and arduous
ftate, on an open fpace, was fought the celebrated battle of KiUi-
c r a n k ie ; when the gallant Yifcount Dundee fell in the moment of
viftory, and with him all the hopes of the abdicating monarch.
The enemies of this illuftrious hero made his euloge : Mackay, the
defeated general, in the courfe of his flight, pronouncing the death
of his antagonift ; “ Was Dundee alive,” fays he, “ my retreat would
not have been thus uninterrupted.” His body was interred in the
church of Blair. His glory required no infcription to perpetuate
i t : yet the elegance of his epitaph, compofed by Doftor Archibald
Pitcairn, merits repetition, doing equal honor to the hero and
poet. . . _
Ultime Scotorum, potuit quo fofpite folo
Libertas patrias falva fuifle tuae.
'T e moriente novos accepit S c o t i a cives :
Accepitque novos te moriente Deos.
Ilia tibi fuperefie negat, tu non potes illi,
Ergo C a l e d o n i a nomen inane vale.
Tuque vale gentis prifcae fortiffime Du&or,
Optime Scotorum atque ultime, G r am e , vale.
O laft and beft o f Scots ! who didft maintain
T h y country’s freedom from a foreign reign ;
New people fill the land, now they are g o n e ;
New Gods the temples, and new kings the throne:
Scotland and thou did each in other live.
Thou coud’ft not her, nor cou’d lhe thee fu rv iv e ;
Farewel, thou, living, that didft fupport the State,
And cou’dft not fall, but by thy country’s fate.
D r y d * n ,
I Continue
B a t t l e o r
K i l l i c & a n k i e .