As we came hither early in the day, we had time sufficient to survey the
place. The house was built like other huts of loose stones, but the part
in which we dined and slept was lined with turf and wattled with twigs,
which kept the earth from falling. Near it was a garden of turnips and a
field of potatoes. It stands in a glen, or valley, pleasantly watered by
a winding river. But this country, however it may delight the gazer or
amuse the naturalist, is of no great advantage to its owners. Our
landlord told us of a gentleman, who possesses lands, eighteen Scotch
miles in length, and three in breadth; a space containing at least a
hundred square English miles. He has raised his rents, to the danger of
depopulating his farms, and he fells his timber, and by exerting every
art of augmentation, has obtained an yearly revenue of four hundred
pounds, which for a hundred square miles is three halfpence an acre.

Some time after dinner we were surprised by the entrance of a young
woman, not inelegant either in mien or dress, who asked us whether we
would have tea. We found that she was the daughter of our host, and
desired her to make it. Her conversation, like her appearance, was
gentle and pleasing. We knew that the girls of the Highlands are all
gentlewomen, and treated her with great respect, which she received as
customary and due, and was neither elated by it, nor confused, but repaid
my civilities without embarassment, and told me how much I honoured her
country by coming to survey it.

She had been at Inverness to gain the common female qualifications, and
had, like her father, the English pronunciation. I presented her with a
book, which I happened to have about me, and should not be pleased to
think that she forgets me.

In the evening the soldiers, whom we had passed on the road, came to