climate." He has given to the world the following sonnet in praise of the northern capital:

Some sing of Rome and some of Florence; I
Will sound thy Highland praise, fair Inverness:
And, till some worthier bard thy thanks may buy,
Hope for the greater, but not spurn the less.
All things that make a city fair are thine,
The rightful queen and sovereign of this land
Of Bens and Glens and valiant men, who shine
Brightest in Britain's glory-roll, and stand
Best bulwarks of her bounds-wide-circling sweep
Of rich green slope and brown-empurpled brae,
And flowery mead, and far in-winding bay,
Temple and tower are thine, and castled keep,
And ample stream that round fair gardened isles
Rolls its majestic current, wreathed in smiles.

The islands to which the Professor alludes in the above lines are a favourite resort in the summer evenings. They lie about three-quarters of a mile up the river, and are connected with each other and with the roadway on either bank, by means of suspension bridges.

From Inverness, two splendid short circular tours can be made by taking train to Strome Ferry, steamer (via Broadford, Plockton, and Raasay) to Portree and Gairloch, coach via Lochmaree, to Auchnasheen, and train to Inverness, or vice versa. (See pages 71, 72, 73 and 101); or by rail to Strome Ferry, steamer to Portree and Stornoway; thence by mail steamer to Ullapool, coach to Garve, and train to Inverness, or vice versa. pages 102 and 103.

See

Monday,
Wed., &
Friday.

A.M.

OBAN to STAFFA and IONA and Back.

Swift Steamer sails frequently in May and June; and daily during July, August, and September

GOING NORTH.

The Mail Steamer leaves Oban daily during the year (Sundays excepted) about 1 p.m. (after arrival of train, leaving Glasgow at 7 a.m.) for Tobermory. Returning from Tobermory daily at 8 a.m. for Oban, (calling each way at Craignure, Lochaline, and Salen), in oonnection with 12-15 p.m. train for the South.

Going by SOUND of MULL-Returning by South Coast of MULL.

This route is a sail round the Island of Mull; on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday the steamer goes by the Sound of Mull, and on the other days returns by it. On Wednesday evenings the steamer returns from Oban to Tobermory, thus enabling parties resident in Mull to visit Staffa and Iona and get home the same evening.

The boats for landing at Staffa and Iona are large, each capable of carrying from 30 to 40 passengers, and manned by the most experienced boatmen. A granite slip or pier for the landing of passengers has lately been built at Iona. At Staffa everything has been done for the comfort and safety of passengers, hand rails of wire-rope have been fixed from the entrance to nearly the end of Fingal's Cave, which enable passengers to go in without danger. A new stair, from the Clam-shell Cave, leads to the summit of the Island. The Steamer's fare includes boats, guides, and all charges, except meals on board.

Steaming out of Oban Bay, past Dunollie Castle, and through between the Maiden Island and the end of Kerrera, the steamer makes for Lismore Lighthouse,

nearly opposite which, is the Lady Rock, completely covered at high water, and its position distinguished by an iron beacon. Tradition says that it was on this rock that one of the M'Leans of Duart placed his wife, expecting that the flowing tide would rise and sweep her off. She was rescued by one of her brothers, and the legend forms the subject of Campbell's spirited poem of "Glenara." On the first prominent point stands the old Castle of Duart. From this quarter is to be seen one of the finest pieces of scenery in Scotland. Looking backwards we see Ben Cruachan, towering above the Argyllshire hills; to the left Ben Nevis, the Peaks of Glencoe, with the waters of Loch Linnhe, Loch Creran, and Loch Etive; to the right the Island and Paps of Jura, and Colonsay; and, in front, the Kingairloch, Morvern, Ardnamurchan, and Mull hills.

We are now in the Sound of Mull, and after passing Duart Castle, we come in view of Torosay Castle, a splendid mansion, beautifully situated in Duart Bay, the property of A. C. Guthrie, Esq. The first place of call is Craignure Ferry, and at the head of Craignure Bay Craignure is Java Lodge (Misses Maclaine). The late Dr. Norman M'Leod resided here for some time. The steamer now crosses to the Morvern shore, where we see Ardtornish Castle, in which Sir Walter Scott has laid the opening scene of the "Lord of the Isles." Rounding Ardtornish Point the steamer touches at Lochaline, which is the Lochaline landing place for the Morvern district. At the head of the Loch is the mansion of T. V. Smith, Esq., proprietor of Ardtornish. The next residence of note is Lochaline House, the property of the heirs of the late Mrs. Paterson; and further on the Manse of Fiunarie, a place immortalised to all Highlanders as the early home of Dr. Norman M'Leod, the late great Scottish divine, and editor of "Good Words," The present parish minister, the Rev. Dr. John M'Leod, is the uncle of Dr. Norman, and the second in succession of the same family that has filled this charge. Near Killundine Point, close down at the water's edge, lies Con Castle, Killundine House, the property of Col. Charles Cheape, stands higher up. The next place of call is Salen Pier, the landing place for this district of Mull, after leaving which we pass the fine old ruin of Aros Castle.

Salen Pier

Tobermory

A magnificent view is now obtained of the saddle-shaped mountains, Ben Tallah and Ben More. The latter is the highest mountain in Mull, and is visible in varying shapes for most of the day. We are now in full view of Tobermory, or the Well of Mary, the bay of which forms a splendid anchorage for vessels of any tonnage, being protected by the Island of Calve, very much as Oban is by Kerrera. From the Pier, looking right across the bay, we see Drumfin Castle, the residence of Alexander Allan, Esq., of Aros. To the right of the Castle there is a very fine waterfall. The ship "Florida," one of the "Invincible Spanish Armada," is said to have been blown up, and to have sunk in the bay just below Drumfin.

Steaming out of Tobermory, and looking towards the Morvern shore, is seen the chapel and residence of C. G. Gordon, Esq., of Drimnin; and here the Morvern hills terminate on meeting the waters of Loch Sunart, a very fine loch, which extends 17 miles inland. On the opposite side of the loch from Drimnin, on the Ardnamurchan shore, is Mingary Castle, a place of considerable importance in olden times, and still in splendid preservation. Passing Rhu na Gael Lighthouse, on the Mull shore, the first little bay is called Bloody Bay, from its having been the scene of a great sea fight some 400 years ago.

We are now on the waters of the Atlantic, and rounding Ardmore Point, we pass Glengorm Castle, the property of Wm. Lang, Esq. At Callioch Point looking in the direction of Ardnamurchan Lighthouse we can see the Scuir Eigg, the Island of Rum with its peaks, as also the Islands of Muck and Canna, the Cuchullin hills in Skye, and towards our left, Coll, Tiree, and the Treshnish Islands. Rounding Callioch Point, Calgary Bay and the Castle of Calgary, the property of J. Munro M'Kenzie, Esq., come in sight. At Treshnish Point, we get a view of Staffa, the Treshnish Islands, Fladda, the two Cairnburgs, Lunga, and Bach or the Dutchman's Cap, so named from the Island being shaped like the latter. One of these Islands, Cairnburg, has the remains of Danish fortifications still standing, though besieged at many different times. These islands are uninhabited, are all covered with very rich grass, and used for feeding a few Highland cattle. On the left hand Loch Tua opens up to view, with Torloisk,