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[Page 72]
Premier from "down under". Holyrood is shut until 9 am so I cannot enter. Have a good view of Calton Gaol a huge edifice erected for a gaol but constructed exactly the same as an old Castle & it is hard to believe that it is not one. I catch the 8.55 am at Caledonian Station & proceed north having as a companion Lt A.G. MacLaren 3 Bn Argyll & Sutherland Highlander from Allans Water who points out the places of interest Sir Wallace Monument and the site of Battle of [indecipherable] in rear on left the site of Bannockburn & the hill where the camp followers massed & led Edward to believe that a fresh army was coming into action Pass thro Stirling with its ancient castle & blood strewn battlefield now verdant fields. MacLaren descends at Bridge of Allan & I journey alone to Dunblane where the inevitable change takes place & I spend the time in the old Cathedral which was erected in 1240 & contains traces of 3 sisters Euphemia, Margaret supposed wife of James IV & Sybyl all of whom were poisoned & interred at foot of the altar in 1501. Then see castle at Doune one of the oldest in Scotland. Today there is a flag over it as one of the family is being married & my friend a Highland Captain is going to the wedding as it is his cousin. MacLaren has been full of enthusiasm for the Highland scenery & has mapped out an itinerary for me different from what I had intended. He recommends me to have a meal at a place kept by one Cram who has been in Aust. I arrive at Callander & find Cram. He is in the bakehouse (they are bakers & pastrycooks) & I go there & explain that MacLaren has sent me & have a yarn & am adopted as their guest & given carte blanche of whole house. I spend a half hour looking over library. Then dinner commences & a pleasant one