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第48章

the life of thomas telford-第48章

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and so spiritless; and industry was in so backward a state all over

the Highlands; that the want of more convenient communications was

scarcely felt。



Though there was plenty of good timber in certain districts; the

bark was the only part that could be sent to market; on the backs

of ponies; while the timber itself was left to rot upon the ground。

Agriculture was in a surprisingly backward state。  In the remoter

districts only a little oats or barley was grown; the chief part of

which was required for the sustenance of the cattle during winter。

The Rev。 Mr。 Macdougall; minister of the parishes of Lochgoilhead

and Kilmorich; in Argyleshire; described the people of that part of

the country; about the year 1760; as miserable beyond description。

He says; 〃Indolence was almost the only comfort they enjoyed。

There was scarcely any variety of wretchedness with which they were

not obliged to struggle; or rather to which they were not obliged to

submit。  They often felt what it was to want food。。。。  To such an

extremity were they frequently reduced; that they were obliged to

bleed their cattle; in order to subsist some time on the blood

(boiled); and even the inhabitants of the glens and valleys

repaired in crowds to the shore; at the distance of three or four

miles; to pick up the scanty provision which the shell…fish

afforded them。〃*'2'



The plough had not yet penetrated into the Highlands; an instrument

called the cas…chrom*'3'



'Image' The Cas…Chrom。



literally the 〃crooked foot〃the use of which had been forgotten

for hundreds of years in every other country in Europe; was almost

the only tool employed in tillage in those parts of the Highlands

which were separated by almost impassable mountains from the rest

of the United Kingdom。



The native population were by necessity peaceful。  Old feuds were

restrained by the strong arm of the law; if indeed the spirit of

the clans had not been completely broken by the severe repressive

measures which followed the rebellion of Forty…five。  But the people

had hot yet learnt to bend their backs; like the Sassenach; to the

stubborn soil; and they sat gloomily by their turf…fires at home;

or wandered away to settle in other lands beyond the seas。  It even

began to be feared that the country would so on be entirely

depopulated; and it became a matter of national concern to devise

methods of opening up the district so as to develope its industry

and afford improved means of sustenance for its population。

The poverty of the inhabitants rendered the attempt to construct

roadseven had they desired thembeyond their scanty means; but

the ministry of the day entertained the opinion that; by contributing

a certain proportion of the necessary expense; the proprietors of

Highland estates might be induced to advance the remainder; and on

this principle the construction of the new roads in those districts

was undertaken。



The country lying to the west of the Great Glen was absolutely

without a road of any kind。  The only district through which

travellers passed was that penetrated by the great Highland road by

Badenoch; between Perth and Inverness; and for a considerable time

after the suppression of the rebellion of 1745; it was infested by

gangs of desperate robbers。  So unsafe was the route across the

Grampians; that persons who had occasion to travel it usually made

their wills before setting out。  Garrons; or little Highland ponies;

were then used by the gentry as well as the peasantry。  Inns were

few and bad; and even when postchaises were introduced at Inverness;

the expense of hiring one was thought of for weeks; perhaps months;

and arrangements were usually made for sharing it among as many

individuals as it would contain。  If the harness and springs of the

vehicle held together; travellers thought themselves fortunate in

reaching Edinburgh; jaded and weary; but safe in purse and limb;

on the eighth day after leaving Inverness。*'4'  Very few persons

then travelled into the Highlands on foot; though Bewick; the father

of wood…engraving; made such a journey round Loch Lomond in 1775。

He relates that his appearance excited the greatest interest at the

Highland huts in which he lodged; the women  curiously examining

him from head to foot; having never seen an  Englishman before。

The strange part of his story is; that he set out upon his journey

from Cherryburn; near Newcastle; with only three  guineas sewed in

his waistband; and when he reached home he had still a few

shillings left in his pocket!



In 1802; Mr。 Telford was called upon by the Government to make a

survey of Scotland; and report as to the measures which were

necessary for the improvement of the roads and bridges of that part

of the kingdom; and also on the means of promoting the fisheries on

the east and west coasts; with the object of better opening up the

country and preventing further extensive emigration。  Previous to

this time he had been employed by the British Fisheries Society

of which his friend Sir William Pulteney was Governorto inspect

the harbours at their several stations; and to devise a plan for

the establishment of a fishery on the coast of Caithness。

He accordingly made an extensive tour of Scotland; examining; among

other harbours; that of Annan; from which he proceeded northward by

Aberdeen to Wick and Thurso; returning to Shrewsbury by Edinburgh

and Dumfries。*'5'  He accumulated a large mass of data for his

report; which was sent in to the Fishery Society; with charts and

plans; in the course of  the following year。



In July; 1802; he was requested by the Lords of the Treasury; most

probably in consequence of the preceding report; to make a further

survey of the interior of the Highlands; the result of which he

communicated in his report presented to Parliament in the following

year。  Although full of important local business; 〃kept running;〃

as he says; 〃from town to country; and from country to town; never

when awake; and perhaps not always when asleep; have my Scotch

surveys been absent from my mind。〃  He had worked very hard at his

report; and hoped that it might be productive of some good。



The report was duly presented; printed;*'6' and approved; and it

formed the starting…point of a system of legislation with reference

to the Highlands which extended over many years; and had the effect

of completely opening up that romantic but rugged district of country;

and extending to its inhabitants the advantages of improved

intercourse with the other parts of the kingdom。 Mr。 Telford

pointed out that the military roads were altogether inadequate to

the requirements of the population; and that the use of them was in

many places very much circumscribed by the want of bridges over

some of the principal rivers。  For instance; the route from

Edinburgh to Inverness; through the Central Highlands; was

seriously interrupted at Dunkeld; where the Tay is broad and deep;

and not always easy to be crossed by means of a boat。  The route to

the same place by the east coast was in like manner broken at

Fochabers; where the rapid Spey could only be crossed by a

dangerous ferry。



The difficulties encountered by gentlemen of the Bar; in travelling

the north circuit about this time; are well described by Lord

Cockburn in his 'Memorials。' 〃Those who are born to modem

travelling;〃 he says; 〃can scarcely be made to understand how the

previous age got on。  The state of the roads may be judged of from

two or three facts。  There was no bridge over the Tay at Dunkeld;

or over the Spey at Fochabers; or over the Findhorn at Forres。

Nothing but wretched pierless ferries; let to poor cottars; who

rowed; or hauled; or pushed a crazy boat across; or more commonly

got their wives to do it。  There was no mail…coach north of

Aberdeen till; I think; after the battle of Waterloo。  What it must

have been a few years before my time may be judged of from Bozzy's

'Lett

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