Ossian Collection > Loch Etive and the sons of Uisnach

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LOCH ETIVE AND THE SONS OF UISNACH.
Loudoun. — As to this particular story being true or not I
have no opinion, but as to the probabiHty it is of the very
highest kind. I do not doubt that in early times, when
travelling was difficult, such things were very common. They
occur abundantly even now ; people are so afraid of believing
romance, that the length of the absence of Ulysses has been held
wonderful. It is the telling and the adventures that have
made it so. I have heard of a woman that has kept her
husband's apartment unaltered for forty years expecting his
return, and her mind is apparently sound. I know another
who has waited more than twenty. I know one who waited
as long expecting her son, how much longer I do not know.
Margact. — It is an inconvenience to have such a distance
to walk to the boat, but it is beautiful when we are on the
smooth mouth of the river.
0' Keefe.- — It occurs to me that I do not remember seeing a
sail on Loch Awe ; it is a very gusty loch ; people ought to
have oars or steam.
Loudoun. — I have seen a sail, but it was not held wise to
use it.
The stories of Kilchurn are not numerous ; there is more
historic romance connected with the Argyll Campbells, whose
house was at Ardchonnel some ten miles below ; there was
Dugald Dalgetty when he took in his formidable provision for
three days, and before he went to Inveraray. But not the less
this Kilchurn castle has been painted oftener. The situation
is fine, and we look from the cultivated to the wild, so that
the natives, as well as people from the cities are attracted by
this contrast ; if not rich, it is not a desolate wilderness, but
one that actively engages the eye and the thought in what-