Criticism invidious--Gairloch people have a good character--Fidelity, courtesy, and hospitality--Sir G. S. Mackenzie's opinion--Sir Francis Mackenzie's tribute to his Gairloch people--Attachment to home--Caution and keenness in money matters--Anecdote--Captain Burt's charge of want of cleanliness not generally applicable now--Morality--Indolence--Always behind time--Clinging to old ways--Old Highland _esprit_ dying out--Annual competition recommended 121 CHAPTER VI.--LANGUAGE AND DRESS. Gaelic called Irish--Gairloch dialect--Not dying out--Knowledge of English increasing--Old people still unable to speak English--Gaelic phrases in English--Gaelic literature in Gairloch--Should Gaelic be discouraged?--Ancient dress in Gairloch--Belted plaid or truis--Separate form of the kilt--Antiquity of the kilt--Highland dress proscribed--Subterfuges--Discouraged homespun fabrics--Kilt common in Gairloch in early part of nineteenth century--Sir Francis Mackenzie on the kilt--Now fallen into disuse--Present dress of men--Gairloch hose--Dress of women--The mutch--Maiden's headdress--Dr Mackenzie on maiden's hair and on mutches 125 CHAPTER VII.--WAYS AND MEANS. Sources of livelihood--Industry of women--Dwellings--Byres adjoining--No chimneys--Gradual improvement--Gardens rare--Fevers and consumption--Food--Absence of pigs--Whisky--Illicit distillation--Fuel--Torasgian--Cabar lar--Peat creel--Carts--Sledges before roads were made 132 CHAPTER VIII.--AGRICULTURE AND STOCK. Little agriculture in ancient days--Black cattle--Blood taken from living cattle--The bowmen--Hill shielings miserable places--Introduction of sheep farming--Sheep farms forested--Sheep deteriorate pasture--Ancient breed of sheep--Present farms--Run-rig--Crofts established in Gairloch--Crofters' crops--The cas-chrom--Sir G. S. Mackenzie on imperfect agriculture--On indolence--The Highland husbandman--His negligence--Sir Francis Mackenzie on imperfect cultivation--On manures--On the cas-chrom--On lack of industry--On absence of gardens--Introduction of the potato 136 CHAPTER IX.--FISHERIES. Gairloch fishermen and fish--Herring fisheries--Lobsters and crabs--Oysters--Gairloch cod fishery--Under Sir Alexander Mackenzie, 1721 to 1766--In 1792--Sir G. S. Mackenzie's account of it under Sir Hector--Lines and hooks formerly home-made--First foreign hooks in 1823--Cod fishery in 1884 and 1885--Salmon fishery--Bag-nets--Diminution in stock of salmon 143 CHAPTER X.--POSTS AND ROADMAKING.