MY HIGHLAND TOUR; HOOKING AN EMPEROR.

Otago Witness, Issue 1943, 14 February 1889, Page 28

MY HIGHLAND TOUR ; HOOKING AN EMPEROR.

Mr John Anderson, of Denham Green| sends me the following account of an incident which occurred during a trip he made in the Highlands a few years ago : — .-. --T *'" j Some years ajjo I visited Dingwall to see the Comou, which I bad a lease of. lof course tried my hand at hookiug a few salmon. See* iog one leap to a large fly below n small island oear the middle of tbe stream, but not having my boots, my sou ■ aid he would carry me on his back (be having on his fishing boots). So up I got, and he carried me safely to the dry ground ; but just as jie turned round to let me off, his foot slipped among the stones, and he fell on the .top of me, and my thigh, coming in contact with a round stone, and him on the top of me, I felt as if the bone was broken, snd I had to get the help of my son aud a man to walk to the hotel at Conon Bridge, and I suffered severe pains all night. A cold water cloth and plenty of flannel so far cured me, however, tliat I was enabled to crawl to the station next day so as to reach Inverness. The worthy landlord of the Station Hotel, Mr M'Dohald, offered^ me the use of a fine new carriage he had got home that day from Edinburgh, and a splendid pair of greys, so I had. a fine xun all round Inverness, visiting the famed cemetery and cathedral. After tea I took a stroll down the station to inquire about my intended trip down the Caledonian canal next morning. Having met a porter — an Inverness man — I obtained all the information I wanted and was walking up the station when I met an old gentlemen coming down. He asked me if I could tell him anything about this canal. I said I had just been getting information, so while walking up I told him what I heard. , On returning to the hotel he observed that they had a fine river here. I replied yes, and a famed one, and said I was just going to take a walk' to see it. He asked if he might accompany me, and I replied that I should have much pleasure in having his company, and would point out anything in Inverness, as I had lately had a drive all round the town, and the coachman had explained all the points of interest to me. On reaching the river we saw some men fishing with a coble and net for salmon, so I went near and explained all that they 'did. He seemed surprised at all I said, and he asked one of the fishermen a few questions. They, hearing what I had said, remarked: "Your friend has explained it so well, he surely must have been at the trade." He appeared to be a foreigner and had never seen a coble, or salmon caught before. On our return to the hotel he asked me again could I get a net made for him to take abroad ; also a rod, line* and hooks. He said he would be passing through Glasgow soon, so I gave him the address where to get them. Next morning I was again honoured with the fine turn-out with the magnificent greys, and I was up very early to the canal,, seemingly the first passenger oh board.\.lobserved.two persons on tbe deck, and on asking one of the deckhands who they were, he pointed out one as the skipper and the other as the company's agent, who had been sent round on a special commission to attend on the Emperor of Brazil and party. So I went up and had a chat with them, saying I^was going to Oban with them, and my family — wife, Bon, and daughter. Just as I was bpeakiDg I saw a number of carriages and vans coming up, and I asked in a joke, "Was this a managerie?" "No," said the captain; "it ia his Majesty the Emperor of Brazil and the Empress and his retinue— about 20 persons in all." As I was talking to the skipper and agent the Emperor walked . on jboard, and to my surprise and confusion came' right up to, me and shook me heartily by the hand. I did not know where to look or what to say. The captain and agent would think me a queer chap asking all about a man who seemed on , friendly terms with me, and paying so little attention to them ; hut after a little I explained, when they laughed most heartily. They did not, however, appreciate my presence, as the Emperor asked me all the questions as to the places as we came up.. At the first lock, knowing wo would be some tune getting through, I put up my rod so as to have a cast, and caught a trout; the first the Emperor had ever seen .caught. *fAt . the F^Us:. of Foyer, owing to my sore leg, I could not leave the Bteamer, and kept angling. After the Emperor had seen the falls, he said he would walk down and ask my wife if she would take his seat beside the Empress, and ride down, an offer which she at once accepted. It seems there is a near cut for pedestrians, and the Emperor got down before the rest, and came to where I was'fishing at the pjjer. "Anderson," he said, "what have; you r caught.";-? Replied five, and that I had the best on, but "feared to lift it out in case it broke my gut, as the pier was deep. He got down on his knees at once and caught my line. I called out, " Take care of my hooks, as one may get you fast," and I had scarcely said the words when, on the fish giving a riggle, the hook went right into the palm of his Majesty's hand. .However, he saved the trout — nearly one pounfl and'athalf. I expressed regret that he had got the hook into his hand, but he only laughed ; and with one pull out cams the hook with a pieue of skin sticking to it, and then it spouted out with blood. He never said a word, but took his handkerchief and rolled ib round it after dipping it into water. The secretary, an old general of 82 years, said, " You can now say what many cannot brag of — you have caught an Emperor, and such is not caught every day." After we left, there being a breeze of wind, my daughter's veil blew off, and the Emperor got up and ran after it and handed it to her like a young man, offering to make it fast on her bonnet. On all my journeying I wore a very large straw hat, just like a parasol, for the sun. He took a great fancy to it, and asked could I get him one. I told him- where he could get one in Edinburgh. He kept chatting all the voyage to Oban ; indeed he Vfas" so cute that nearly all I said Jie made me repeat so that he might take a note of it in his book; -He.told me of Brazil, his palace and hanging gardens, and promised to send me fruit and some nice seeds. On arriving at Oban his retinue of carriages and vans was awaiting him and his party, so I desired my folk to stand back and let them all ashore, as there was a crowd. They all got ashore and away with the carriages without anyone lifting his hat off or saying a word. I said to my people this waß strange. But I had no sooner landed than there was a fearful shout, and the whole crowd came after hurraying as load, as they could* following up" to the hotel. Campbell, the landlord, J'hearing it, came out andjyonderiDg asked me^ what ii meant. I said I was ajs -ignorant as h^ was. He af.ke<3 due of them, ais theyjihougbt I was the Emperor jof Brazil,^6 l turned and.tobk off ray hat thanking them for the honour. .*. -'

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