CHAPTER VII.
The Castle--A father's inquiries--Scotch language--A determination--Bui hin Digri--Good Scotchman--Difference of races--Ne'er a haggis--Pugnacious people--Wha are ye, man ?--The Nor Loch--Gestures wild--The bicker--New Town champion--Wild-looking figure--Headlong.
It was not long before we found ourselves at Edinburgh, or rather in the Castle, into which the regiment marched with drums beating, colours flying, and a long train of baggage-waggons behind.

The Castle was, as I suppose it is now, a garrison for soldiers.

Two other regiments were already there; the one an Irish, if I remember right, the other a small Highland corps.
It is hardly necessary to say much about this Castle, which everybody has seen; on which account, doubtless, nobody has ever yet thought fit to describe it--at least that I am aware.

Be this as it may, I have no intention of describing it, and shall content myself with observing that we took up our abode in that immense building, or caserne, of modern erection, which occupies the entire eastern side of the bold rock on which the Castle stands.

A gallant caserne it was--the best and roomiest that I had hitherto seen--rather cold and windy, it is true, especially in the winter, but commanding a noble prospect of a range of distant hills, which I was told were 'the hieland hills,' and of a broad arm of the sea, which I heard somebody say was the Firth of Forth.
My brother, who, for some years past, had been receiving his education in a certain celebrated school in England, was now with us; and it came to pass, that one day my father, as he sat at table, looked steadfastly on my brother and myself, and then addressed my mother:--'During my journey down hither, I have lost no opportunity of making inquiries about these people, the Scotch, amongst whom we now are, and since I have been here I have observed them attentively.