bout with me to show me the wonders of the
place. Mr. Robertson wished to give me letters to some
gentleman at Edinburgh. I, however, begged leave to be excused,
saying that I wished to get home, as, indeed, I do, for my mind
is wearied by seeing so many strange places. On my way to
Kirkwall I saw the stones of Stennis--immense blocks of stone
standing up like those of Salisbury Plain. All the country is
full of Druidical and Pictish remains. It is, however, very
barren, and scarcely a tree is to be seen, only a few dwarf
ones. Orkney consists of a multitude of small islands, the
principal of which is Pomona, in which Kirkwall is. The
currents between them are terrible. I hope to be home a few
days after you receive these lines, either by rail or steamer.
This is a fine day, but there has been dreadful weather here. I
hope we shall have a prosperous passage. I have purchased a
little Kirkwall newspaper, which I send you with this letter. I
shall perhaps post both at Lerwick or Aberdeen. I sent you a
Johnny Groat's newspaper, which I hope you got. Don't tear
either up, for they are curious. God bless you and Hen.

GEORGE BORROW.

STIRLING, _Dec. 14th, 1858._

DEAR CARRETA,--I write a line to tell you that I am well and
that I am on my way to England, but I am stopped here for a
day, for there is no conveyance. Wherever I can walk I get on
very well--but if you depend on coaches or any means of
conveyance in this country you are sure to be disappointed.
This place is but thirty-five miles from Edinburgh, yet I am
detained for a day--there is no train. The waste of that day
will prevent me getting to Yarmouth from Hull by the steamer.
Were it not for my baggage I would walk to Edinburgh. I got to
Aberdeen, where I posted a letter for you. I was then obliged
to return to Inverness for my luggage--125 miles. Rather than
return again to Aberdeen, I sent on my things to Dunkeld and
walked the 102 miles through the Highlands. When I got here I
walked to Loch Lomond and Loch Katrine, thirty-eight miles over
horrible roads. I then got back here. I have now seen the whole
of Scotland that is worth seeing, and have walked 600 miles. I
shall be glad to be out of the country; a person here must
depend entirely upon hims