Blair Collection > Mackintosh's collection of Gaelic proverbs, and familar phrases

in his hand, and uniform cap on his head, on which
were painted, in gih letters, " Williamson's Penny
PosT,'^ alternately collecting and delivering letters in
his useful though humble vocation. But, as he wrote
a pretty legible hand, he got employment occasionally
to keep books and transcribe papers, which caused him
to lay aside his cap and bell ; and take up the more
honourable calling of a quill-driver.
His better day had now dav\Tied ; and his condition,
though still humble, bid fair for better emolument
and consequent respectability. He was now called to
attend, as tutor, a younger brother of the present Sir
George Stewart of GairntuUy, where he remained for
some time.
In the year 1784, he made a tour to Lochaber,
where he fell in with a namesake of his own, from
whom he obtained a considerable proportion of what
forms the present Collection of Gaelic Proverbs.
From the recitation of the same person, too, he wrote
down several ancient Gaelic poems, one of which
** Ceardach Mhic Luin," is inserted in the Perth Col-
lection, printed 1786, p. 263. Previous to his excur-
sion to the more remote districts of the Grampians, our
collector had procured a valuable and extensive por-
tion of his materials for the present compilement from
John Wallace, who resided at Lettoch, in the vicinity
to his native country, he converted into a mean of gaining a
livelihood, by exhibiting himself, dressed as an Indian chief,
singing the war-Kong, throwing the tomahawk, handling the
seal ping- knife, and at the same time howling horribly the whoop
of a savage in the act of glutting his murderous revenge.
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