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DR.     F.     A.     MACPHERSON. 


THE 


Celtic     /Ibontbl?: 

H  fin)aoa5inc  for  1f3iohlanbcv6. 


EDITED     BY 

IOHX   MACKAY,   e)    l)lyll|swooel    Drive,   Glasgow. 


VO  Li.     1  V. 


(GLASGOW:    A1!CH1BAL1>    SlNCLAIl!,    10    JVrnNVKi.i,    Stkkkt. 
HENRY   WHYTE,    JOHN    MENZIES   .t    CO.,    and    WrLLIA:\l    LoVK 

EDINBURGH:    NORMAN    MACLEOD,    ani.   JOHN    GRANT. 

INVERNESS:    WILLIAM    MACKAY.      PORTREE:    J.    G.    ALVCKAY. 

OBAN;    THOMAS    BOYD,    ani.    HUGH    MACDUNALD. 

1  syc. 


COflTEriTS.    K- 


A  last  century   '  Nuw    Woiuiin,'    bv   Janet    A. 

M'Cullocli,        --.'.-- 
A  loval  Foe  :  an  Episode  of  the  '45,  bv  Janet  A. 

M'Cullocli,        ■         -         -         -"       - 
A  tradition  of  the  Macleods  of  Drynoch,  Skyv. 

by  Lockhart  Bogle  (ilhis.), 
A  trip  to  lona  (illustrated),        .         .         -         ■ 

Bonnie  Prince  Charlie,  by  J.  Hamilton  MitolnH 
(illustrated),     ------ 

CLAN  SOCIETIES: 


Clan  Buchanan, 
Clan  Cameron, 
Clan  Campbell, 
Clan  Chat.tan  Associati^ 

"  Clan  Chattan," 
Clan  Chisholm, 
Clan  Colquhoun, 
Clan  Cumming, 
Clan  Drummond,     - 
Clan  Donnachaidh, 
Clan  Ferguson, 
Clan  Grant,     - 
Clan  (jrcgor,  - 
Clan  Miicdonald, 
Clan  Machines, 
Clan  Mackay,20,  .SO,  42 
Clan  Mackenzie, 
Clan  Mackinnon, 
Clan  Maclean, 
Clan  MaoMillan,      - 
Clan  Macrae, 
Clan  Menzies. 


40,  lOH,  i.:;o, 

46,  108,  110, 

20,  ISO,  57,  114,  109, 

149,  173,  222 

129,  130,  144,  173 

■     140, 

10.  140 


28,  42 


no,  130, 

-      120, 


70,00,  110,  140.150,  100 

-  lOO, 
40,  102, 

-      40,  40,  70,  110,  IS2, 
42,  100, 

-  145. 

-  130. 


157 
213 


118 
171 


108 
100 
230 
120, 
230 
222 
221 
210 
173 
173 
182 
74 
220 
180 
42 
00 
210 
i;!0 
101 
220 
144 
181 
100 


Cluiiy  and  Lady  Cluiiy  of  the  '45,  after  Culloden, 

bv  Alexander  Macpherson  (ilhis.),  34,  53,  71,  82 
HI,  122,  1.53,  162,  183,  217,  226 
Cuan  of  the  Spoils,  by  George  Morrison  (illus.).     187 
Cuimhnich  bas  Ailpein  (Remember  the  death  of 

Alpin),  by  Frank  Adam,  -         -  ion 

Deatli  ofl!.  K,  Black,  Siam.     -         -         -         _     i;{(i 

Echoes  of  Gaelic  Song,  liy  1).   M.,     .  -        13 

Gaelic  Mod  at  Glasgow — prize  list,  ■         .  4<i 


HKiHLAND  ASSOCIATIONS,  CLUBS, 
Aberdeen  Highland  Association, 
Clydebank  Highland  Association,     - 
County  of  Sutherland  Assoc.  (Glasgow),  (io 
Edinburgh  Camanachd  Club,  - 

,,  Skye  Association,  . 

,,  Sutherland  Association,  ■ 

Forfar  Celtic  Society,        .... 


ETC. 

20,  210 
00,  00 
00,  133 

133 

60 

•3(;,  210 

147 


VjiliK, 

Gaelic  Society  of  Glasgow,       -  13,  GO,  09,  210 

,,               Inverness,      -         .         -  110,  204 

„               London,         ■         .         -  60,  12s 

(ilasgow  Caithness  Association,        -         ■  •       04 

"         Celtic  Society,  -         -         -         -  .     15t' 

Cowal  Shinty  Club     .         -       10,  102,147 

,,         Jura  Association,        ■         -         •  Go,  74 

,,         lioss  and  Cromarty  .\ssociatioii.  -     l(i2 

,.         Skye  Association,       -         ■         -  00,  (iO 

Govau  Highland   .Association,           -         -  -     13!f 

Highland  Home  Industries   Association,  •  .     230 

Society  of  London,  -         ■         ■  -     140 

Lewis  and  Harris  Association,-         •         ■  -     130 

Londonlnverness-shire  Association,  •         ■  130,  15(- 

Mull  and  lona  Association,        .         .         -  .     13o 

Paisley  Gaelic  Club,         .... 


1.3|. 

144 

170 
150 


14s 
140 


Highland  Pen  and  Highland  Sword,  by  Frank 
Adam,       -...-.. 

History  of  the  Erasers,  by  Alex.  Mackenzie 
(review)     -...--- 

How  the  Thistle  became  the  Badge  of  Scotland, 
by  VV.  S.  Hunter  (illus.),  .... 

Iain  Breachd  of  Calavay  Castle,  by  A.  B.  Mac- 
Lennan  (illus.),-         .         -         .         .         - 

lain  Maclean,  or  a  Midnight  Mystery,  by  Mrs 
D.  Maclean,      ------ 

"  Lyra  Celtica,"  by  Elizabeth  A.  Sharp  (ivviewi, 

"  Manson "  (a  query),      -         .         .         -         . 


Notes  on   the    Highland   Clans — iheir   badges, 

slogans,  music,  etc.,  by  Fionn,  lO.S,  120,  140.  17-! 

Oidhche  Shanihna   (Halloween    from    a   Celtic 

point  of  view),  by  Fionn,  -         -         -         .       :iO 
Origin  of  some  Highland  names,  by  Cowal,        •       13 

"Records  of  the  clan  and  name  of  Ferguson" 

(review!,    -------       74 

Rev.  William  Mackenzie's  first  sermon  in  Tongue. 

by  John  Mnrrav  (illustrated),     -         ■         -       10 

Reviews,  18,  40",  74,  100,  120,  148,  170,  170,  222 

Ranald  MacDonell  of  Morar,  by  Fionn,     -         ■       68 

'  Songs  of  the  Nortli,"  by  Harold  Boulton  (review),  40 


Sutherland.  Duke  and  nuchi 


of. 


The  Big  Smith  of  Polmaily,  by  William  Mackay 
(illustrated), 

'•  The  Campbells  are  coming," 

The  Chief  of  the  Clan  MacKae,  by  (Captain  John 
MacRae, 

The  Church  in  the  Highlands,  by  J.  A.  Lovat 
Fraser, 

The  Clan  Chisholm  standard  bearer  at  Culloden,  40, 5s 


50 

150 
145 

2.3.-. 


COXTENTS. 


The  Clan  Historian  lionouivd.  .  -        I  in 

TIh'    Devil    in     CTk'n-Ur4uliait,    liy     William 

ilackay  (illusti-atocl),  .         -         .         .       i;,") 

"  The.'  Cit'sto  collection  of  Highland  music,"  by 

Dr.  K.  N.  Macilonald  (review),  -  -  -  171) 
The  Grey  Bothy,  by  Janet  A.  M'(>ulloch,  •     IL'T 

The  Heir  of  the  House  of  Stuart,  by  Josephine 

M.  MacDonell  (illustrated),  .         .         .         ,s 

The  Hiahland  Brigade  at   Waterloo,   by  John 

Mackay  (illus.),  4,  31,  43.  -o^  95.  10-i.  lot 

The  Highland  Race  (letters),  -  -  -  1S<I,  -j:!'.! 
The  flishland  Sword,  by  W.  Druniraond  Norie 

(illustrated),  -  '  ■  -  177,  107,  217.  2-".w 
The    Hon.    Edward    Macpherson,   Gettysburg, 

U.S  A.,    -------     1011 

The  kilt  and  tlie  bagiiipcs,  .  _  _  -  no 
"  The  r.ast  -Macdonalds  oflsla,"  -  -  -  .-.O 
The  late  Alexander  Mackay,  Trowbridge.  -       .')<) 

The  Loch  of  Shame,  by  lain  MacAoidh  (illus.),  S7 
The  Lords.of  Lochaber,  by   T.   D.   Macdonakl 

(illustrated),      -  11,  37,  5i,  78,  85,  110,  13,s 

"  The  Lost  Pibroch."  by  Neil  Munro  (review),  lUS 
The  M'Crindles,  bv  John  M'Crindle,  -     L'34 

The  Mod.  .     " 10,    lii 

The  Royal  Si'ot>  Greys,  bv  John  Mackay  (illus.i, 

151,  1G7, 191,  u'li.  i.';;i 

The  Scottish  Highlander,  by  J  A.  Lovat  Fraser,     2o:; 

Tlie  Stewarts  of  Appin,  by  Duncan  Livingstone 

(illus.), 91,  119.  i:;i 

The  sweetest  bite  :  an  incident  in  the  life  of  Sir 
Kwen  Cameron  of  Lochiel,  by  John  Cam- 
eron (illus.),  ■        ■    '    ■        -        -      (;:; 

Traditions   of  the  Cok(uhoun  (Jouijtry,  by    F- 

.Mnry  ('oliiuhoun  (illus.),  125,  14ii.  174,  2111;.  2l':'. 


What   is    my 
(review),    - 


Tartan 


bv     Frank 


OUR    -MFSICAL    PAGE. 
Gaelic  Sonus  with  Musk.'  anh  Tran.slations. 

An  Gillc  dubh,  ciar  dubh — The  dark  grey  lad. 

1  y  Fionn.  ------       ,S9 

Bi'alach  a'  Mhorbheinn —  Tlie  Pass  of  the  Morven. 

by  Fionn.  .-.--.       (;:i 

'Chailin  og  naeh  stiuir  thu  mi — Young  maiden 

will  you  guide  me,  by  .Malcolm  MacFarlane,  2l)0 
Gille  Calum — The  Sword  Dance,  by  Fionn,  -  49 
Is  troni  learn  an  airidh— The  Shieling  Song,  by 

-Malcolm  MacFarlane,        ,         -"        -"      '-     l.sd 


Mairi  Anna— Annie's  Mary,  by  ('.  .\I.   P.. 
M(i  chailin  dileas  donn — My   Faithful   .-Vuburn 

Maid,  by  Fionn,        -         - 
Mo    nighean    donn    bboidheach— My    lirown- 

haired  maiden.  ------ 

Seonaid  Xic  Aoidh— Jessie  Mackay,  liy  Malcolm 

MacFarlane,      -         -         -      "   .  "      . 
TIki  e  'tighinn— Charlie's  coming,  by  Fionn,     - 

PiiRTRArrs   AND    BIOGRAPHIES. 
Frank  Adam,  Java,  by  the  Editor,    - 
Hugh  Bannerman,  Southport,  by  the  Editor,    - 
Arthm-  Bignold,  of  Lochrosque, 
I'l-    A.    H.    F.   Cameron,   Worcester,  by  John 
Caiiierun.  ---.'.. 

The  l.-ite  Colin  Chishclm,  Inverness,  by  Fionn. 


C. 


Dr.  and  Mrs.  Kenneth  M.  (Iiisholm,   by   Ale 

ander  .MacKenzie,     -         -         -      '  - 
Colonel    Alan    John    Col((iihoun,    by    Neil 

Colquhoun,       ------ 

!•'.  Mary  Colquhoun,  by  Neil  C.  ('n|i|ulioun. 
The    late    Hugh    Davidson    of   Cant  ray,    by  C. 

Fraser- .Mackintosh,  -  -  -  '  -  '  - 
The  Marchioness  D'Oyley,  Paris,   bv  .losephine 

M.  MacDonell,     '     -         -        '- 
(icneral   Sir  John  A.   Kwart,   K.C.B.,  by  Juhn 

Mackay,  -         -         -         -         .         - 
Norman    Hay    Forbes,    of   Forbes,    Tunbrid"e 

Wells,  by  the  Editor,  -  -  -  - 
Surgeon  General  A.  H.  Fraser,  by  the  Editor.  - 
The  late  Hector  F.  Gallic.  St.  Helens,  by  John 

Munro,     ------- 

.Mexander,    Mrs.    and  Miss    Littlejohn,    Inver- 

charron,  by  Rev.  R  L.  Ritchie, 
Alex.  MacDonald,  of  Balranald,  by  the  Editor, 
Charles  Donald  MacDonald,  Argentine  Republic, 

by  the  Editor,  ------ 

H.  L.  MacDonald,  of  Dunach,  by  the  Editor,     - 
( 'ouncillor  H.  MacDonald,  Aberdeen,  by  J.  Mackay, 
The   late    Right    Hon.  Sir  A.   MacDonnell,  by 

Allan   MacDonald,    LL.D., 
Duncan  MacGregor,  of  Arngask,  by  the  Editor, 
Malcolm  M'Gregor,  of  Dunan,  by  the  Editor,    - 
Lieut.-Colonel  John  Machines,  Glendaruel,  by  A. 

R.  Forbes,        ------ 

Lieut-Col.  A.  Forbes-Mackay,  by  Seana  Cliaraid, 
Alexander  Mackay,  Glasgow,  bv  the  Editor, 
Alex^  H.  Mackay,  LL  D,.  Halifax  by  the  Editor, 
Robert  Gunn  .Mackay,  London,  by  the  Editor, 


Ni'W   Zealand,    by 


:.  MacKinnon. 
MacKinnon, 
,  Davidson,  - 


l(i4 
14 


Hon.   John  MJveni' 

John  Murray  Graham, 
Francis  Alexander,  and  the  Hon.  Mr; 

by  Donald  D.  MacKinnon, 
Surgeon-General   Sir   William   A. 

by  C.  Eraser-Mackintosh. 
A.  Mackintosh,  Hatfield,  by  W.  (J 
Roderick  MacLeod,  Inverness,  -         -         - 

Donald  MacPherson,  Falkirk,  by  the  Editor,     - 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  F.  A.  MacPherson,  Liverpool,  by 

A.  MacPherson,  -  -  -  -  - 
Captain  and  Mrs.  John  MacRae,  by  A.  MacRae, 
Sir  Hector  and  Lady  Munro,  of  Foulis,  by  C. 

Fraser-Mackintosh,  ----- 
Surgeon-General  Munro,  C.B.,  M.D.,  LL.D., 
Theodore  Napier,  Edinburgh,  -         -         -         - 
Prince   Rupert   of   Bavaria,    by   Josephine    il. 

MacDonell.  --"---. 
P.  B.  and  Mrs.  Robertson,  London,  by  the  Editor, 
Major-Gen.  C.  S.  Thomason,  R.  E..  India,  by  Fionn, 
Walter  Shaw,  London,  by  W.  G.  Davidson, 

POETRY. 

A  Ghlinn  mo  dhuchais,  by  Angus  Mackintosh, 
A  Soldier's  Vow,  by  Alice  C.  MacDonell, 
Address  to  the  Bagpipes,  by  Pipe-Major  U.  Stewart. 
Among  the  Heather,  by  Janet  A.  M'Culloch,     - 
An  Address  to  the  Mountains,  by  Surgeon  Lieut.- 
Colonel  J.  MacGregor,       _         _         -         . 
An  Old  Boundary  Dispute,  by  Angus  Mackintosh. 
Bonnie  Strathdearn,  by  P,  MacPherson,    - 
Burns'  Songs  in  Gaelic,  by  I.  B.  O., 
Charles  Alfred  Stuart  Black ,  M.  A . ,  by  R.  F.  Forbes, 
Clann  nan  Gaidheal,  by  Neil  MacLeod, 


17r. 

225 


20.'! 

2;:(> 

124 
1S5 
47 

107 
197 


74 

87 

101 

114 


15(; 
ii;i 


26 
lO.-i 


141 
194 
121 


114 
lots 


157 
18G 


179 
20 


CONTENTS. 


Cluny  MacPherson  of  the  '45,  by  William  Allan, 
Creag  Dubh  Kingussie,  by  Janie  E.   B.  Mac- 

pherson,   ------- 

DunoUie  Castle,  Loch  Linnhe,  by  J.  A.  M'Cullocli, 
DunstalVnage   Castle,    Loch    Etive,    by    J.    A. 

M'Culloch,        -...-- 
Fingal's  Weeping,  by  Sarah  Robertson  Mathcsun, 
Foundering   of  the    ■'  Drumniond   Castle,"    by 

Janie  E  B.  MacPherson,  -  -  - 
Gaick,  Kingussie,  by  Jauie  E.  B.  MacPherson, - 
Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,    by   Surgeon-Major   J. 

MacGregor,      ------ 

Glengarry,  Ijy  William  Allan,  -         -         -         - 

Highlanders,  by  W.  Drummond-Norie,     - 

In    Exile,    by    R.    F.    Forbes, 

Joy  go  with  my  Love,  by  Sarah  U.  Matheson,  - 

"Lays  of  the  Heather,"  by  Angus  Mackintosh,!  TO, 

Memorial  of  a  Holiday  in  the  Highlands,  by  A. 

Cluny   MacPherson,  -         .         -         - 


'219 
nil 


1:17 
•j:;7 


15 
150 

84 
L'iO 

19fl 


Miann  an  t-saighdeir  Ghaelich,  le  Caber-feiilh,  -  'Jo 
Moeh-thrath,  (Mod  Prize  Poem)  by  J.  MacFadyen,  42 
My     Native     Shore,     by     Surgeon-Major    J. 

MacGregor,      .         -         -  .         .       so 

Na  saighdearan  Gaelach,  by  R  Eraser  Mackenzie,  Ho 
The  Black  Fisher  of  Liichsannish,  by  Janet  A. 

MHaiUoch.       -        -        -        -        -        -     105 

The  Clan  Mackay,  l)y  Elizabeth  Mackay,  -     102 

The  Mermaid's  Tears,  by  Janet  A.  M'Culloch,-  99 
The  parting  of  Prince  Charlie  and  the  Highlanders, 

(Mod  Prize  Poem)  by  Rev.  W.  iM.  Whyte,  59 
The  parting  on  the  Bridge,  by  A.  C.  MacDonell,  182 
The    Seaforth   Highlanders  in   Hindnostan,  hv 

Alice  C.  MacDonell.  -  -  -  "-  24 
The  Targe  and  Claymore,  by  ['.  MacPherson.  -  210 
Theid    mi     null     tbar     an     Atlantic,     by     K. 

Fraser-MacKcnzie,  -----  20 
There's  nothing  in  the  garish  day.  by  R.  Findlater,  1  :i7 
To  a  Sprig  of  Heather,  by  Frank  Adam,  -         -       58 


DEDICATED 

ALEX  AN  DEI! 

MACPHERSON, 

E  s  1;. , 

Piu 

VO.ST 

OF      KlXliU.SSIR, 

in 

recognitiun 

,i    hi 

Na 

ualjle 

contributions    to    Celtic 

Literature,   his 

etibrts   in    in'ouK 

ting 

the 

ancient    pastimes   of   the    Gael 

,    and  .  especially 

in 

acknowledgni 

eiit    (- 

f  hi.- 

man 

\    services  iu  furthering 

the  objects  and 

iiit 

ei'est.s  of  the 

Ceiti 

■  Mo 

iithly. 

JOHN 

MACKAY. 
Editor. 

•r.  10  Ii..th\Mll  Street,  Glasj;' 


MRS.     F.     A      MACPHERSON. 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

^  MAGAZINE  FOR   HIGHUNDEHS. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MACKAY,  Glasgow. 

OCTOBER,     1895. 


No.   1.  Vol.  IV.] 


[Price  Threepence. 


DR.     F.    A.     MACPHERSON,     LIVERPOOL. 


^^J^  MONG  the  many  members  of  the  old  Clau 
,^J^^  Chattan,  who  have  attained  prominent 
:^SSi  positions  on  the  other  side  of  the  border, 
is  Dr.  Francis  Alexander  Macpherson  of  Liver- 
pool, who  is  descended  from  the  Pitmain  branch 
of  the  clan.  Relentlessly  persecuted  after  "  the 
day  of  dool "  on  "  Scotland's  last  and  saddest 
field,''  and  their  dwellings  sacked  and  burnt 
down,  by  "the  bloody  Duke  of  Cumberland" — 
whose  inhuman  cruelties  are  almost  unexampled 
in  British  history — Dr.  Macpherson's  ancestors, 
who,  with  their  chief  at  their  head,  had  taken 
an  active  part  in  the  '45,  were  constrained  to 
escaije  from  the  Macpherson  country — those 
heathered  hills 

"  That  heave  and  roll  endlessly  north  away 
By  Corryarrick  and  the  Springs  of  Spey." 

Finding  refuge  in  Ireland,  the  family  ultimately 
settled  down  in  Londonderry,  where,  fully  a 
century  later,  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was 
born,  namely,  on  1st  June,  1850.  Ilis  great- 
grandfather, and  also  his  grandfather  were  bred 
to  the  sea.  The  former  after  retiring  from  the 
service  became  the  most  famous  instructor  of 
navigation  in  his  day — pupils  being  sent  to  him 
from  all  parts  of  the  three  kingdoms.  While 
cruising  in  the  North  Sea  in  the  beginning  of 
this  century  Dr.  Macpherson's  grandfather  was 
captured  by  eleven  French  men-of-war  and 
carried  prisoner  to  Dunkirk,  but  after  two-and-a- 
half  years  detention  he  was  liberated  Ijy 
exchange.  He  married  Elizabeth  M'Caine,  or 
MTan,  of  Londonderry — a  great-grand-daughter 
of  Captain  Francis  Wilson,  an  officer  who  was 
engaged  in  the  defence  of  Derry  at  its  siege  in 
1688-9.  Francis  Alexander  Mac[)herson — the 
father  of  Dr.  Macpherson — married,  in  18i4, 
Mary  Kilgour  Whyte,  of  Fingask,  in  Perthshire, 
thereby    renewing    the    Scotch    blood    in    his 


descendants.  Although  he  has  now  attained 
his  eighty-fifth  year,  he  is  still  hale  and  hearty. 

Dr.  Macpherson  is  one  of  a  family  of  three 
sons  and  two  daughters,  of  whom  only  he  and  a 
younger  sister  now  survive.  His  elder  brother, 
William  John,  died  in  January,  1867,  in  the 
course  of  a  brilliant  career  at  the  University  of 
Dublin,  where  he  had  taken  a  Hebrew  prize,  a 
second  class  in  Classics,  and  a  first  in  Catechetics 
— thus  following  in  the  footsteps  of  his  uncle,  the 
Rev.  Samuel  M'Caine  Macpherson,  A.B.,T.C.D., 
of  Leckpatrick  Church,  Co.  Tyrone.  His 
younger  brother,  James  Bruce  Macpherson, 
studied  Physic,  and  having,  in  1878,  obtained 
the  degrees  of  the  Royal  Colleges  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  of  Edinburgh,  became  one  of  the 
House  Surgeons  of  the  Liverpool  Dispensaries. 
He  afterwards  successfully  practiced  in  Prescot, 
Lancashire,  where  he  died  in  1889. 

Educated  at  Foyle  College,  Dr.  Macpherson 
prosecuted  his  medical  studies  at  Dublin,  and, 
in  1876,  took  the  diplomas  of  the  Royal  Colleges 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  Edinburgh.  In 
the  same  yeai'  he  was  appointed  Junior  House 
Surgeon  to  the  Liverpool  Dispensaries,  the  oldest 
medical  charity  in  that  city.  In  the  following 
3'ear  he  became  Senior  House  Surgeon  to  the 
Noith  Disjiensary,  an  office  which  he  held  for 
six-and-a-half  years.  On  resigning  that  office 
lie  was  elected  Honorary  Medical  Officer  of  the 
same  Institution.  During  his  University  curri- 
culum of  four-and-a-half  years  in  Dublin  hs 
studied  music  under  highly  qualified  masters  and 
became  a  member  of  the  amateur  choir  of  St. 
Patrick's  Cathedral. 

In  1878  Dr.  Macpherson  composed  and  set  to 
music  a  song  entitled  "The  last  good  night," 
which  subsequently  became  so  popular  and  well 
known  at  Liverpool,  Manchester,  and  Dublin 
Concerts.  He  also  composed  a  Cathedral  Service 
for  five  voices  and  some  chants  still  in  manuscript 
and  unpublished.  A  meritorious  singer  himself 
he  has  taken  a  sjiecial  interest  in  the  throat  and 
its  diseases.  To  extend  his  experience  in  this 
direction  he  visited,  in  1878,  the  Hospitals  of 
Pari.s,  and  in  1880  those  of  Berlin.  He  was  the 
first  who  advocated  (through  the  columns  of  the 


TflE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


Liverpool  Courier)  the  demolition  of  insanitary 
dwellings  of  the  poor,  and  the  re-construction  of 
such  dwellings  on  a  satisfactory  basis — a  work 
since  accomplished  in  many  of  our  large  cities 
ou  an  extended-  scale,  the  result  of  which  has 
been  a  very  considerable  decrease  in  the  national 
death  rate. 

In  1883  Dr.  Macpherson  contributed  a 
remarkable  paper  to  the  British  Medical  Journal 
giving  from  personal  observation  "some  unrecor- 
ded effects  of  arsenic."  In  the  same  year  he 
was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Local  Prize 
Committee  of  Trinity  College,  London.  On 
20th  April,  1887,  he  married  Florence,  elder 
daughter  of  the  venerable  William  F.  Taylor, 
D.D.,D.C.L.,  etc.,  Archdeacon  of  Warrington. 
Of  that  marriage  there  are  two  sfins — Alexander 


Kilgour  Macpherson  and  Bruce  Whyte  Macpher- 
son. A  higlily  accomi)li8hed  and  cultured  lady, 
Mr.s.  Macpherson  i.s  a  member  of  the  Liverpool 
Literary  and  Philosophical  Society,  and  also  of 
the  E.x-libris  Society  of  London. 

Last  year  Dr.  Macpherson  was  urged  to  stand 
for  the  City  Council,  in  the  Conservative  interest, 
for  the  Everton  division  of  Liverpool,  but  the 
arduous  duties  of  an  extensive  professional 
practice  absorb  so  much  of  his  time  that  he  felt 
constrained  to  decline  the  honour.  All  his  spare 
time  is  devoted  to  historical  and  scientific  studies, 
in  which  he  takes  the  deepest  interest.     Long 


may  he  and  his  flourish  in  the  land  of  their 
adoption,  and  continue  to  rellect  so  much  credit 
on  the  old  Clan  Chattan,  and  the  dear  old  bens 
and  glens  and  corries  of  his  forefathers! 

"  Oh,  gladly  in  the  times  of  old,  I  trod  that 

glorious  ground, 
And  the  white  dawn  melted  in  the  sun  and 

red  deer  cried  arovuul. 
I  heard  the  black  and  red  cock  crow,  and  the 

bellowing  of  the  deer. 
1  think  these  are  the  sweetest  sounds  that 

man  at  dawn  can  hear. 

Oh,   wildly   as   the   bright   d.iy   gleamed,   I 

climbed  the  mountain  breast, 
And  when  I  to  ray  home  returned,  the  sun 

was  in  the  west. 
'Twas  health  and  strength,  'twas  life  and  joy, 

to  wander  freely  there. 
To  drink  at  the  fresh  mountain  stream,  to 

breathe  the  mountain  air." 


A.  Macpiikii.son. 


BURNS'  SONGS  IN   GAELIC. 

(John  Ani>beson,  my  .)0  John.) 


Iain  Chaimbeil,  tus  ar  n-eolais, 

Bu  bhoidheach,  deas,  do  chruth  ; 
Le  d'aodann  tlathail,  nasal, 

'S  le  d'  chuailein  dualach,  dubh  ; 
Aoli  's  maol  an  diugh  do  cheann, 

'S  tha  do  chiabh  mar  chobhar  trkigh'; 
Ach  's  caomh  le  m'  chridh'  do  bhathais  mhin, 

Iain  Chaindjeil,  fhir  mo  ghrMdh. 

Gum  b'  ait  ar  ceura  a'  direadh 

Le  che'ile  ris  a'  bheinn  ; 
'S  gum  b'  aoibhinn  's  gum  bu  ghr^dhach 

Na  l^iithean  'chaitheadh  leinn  ; 
'S  mar  dhlr  sinn  ni  sinn  tearnadh 

Le  che'ile  slos  o'n  bhrJiigh  ; 
'S  le  che'ile  caidlidh  sinn  's  a'  ghleann, 

lain  Ohaimbeil,  fhir  mo  ghraidh. 

Eadak.   lk  "  I.  15.  ().  " 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 
GAICK,      KINGUSSIF. 


'Ceasu  a  littlu  uluU-,  O  North  wind  :   hut 


:  of  the  lovely,'' — Ossian. 


Stern  Solitude !    wherein  dumb  lifted  hands 
Of  mountain  monumental  Age  raise  high 
SUeuce,  to  Silence, — beneath  Thy  Lone  Eye 
Mused  iu  Dreams,  beneath  Thy  stilling  wands 
Of  Truth,  no  visionary  phantom  stands 
Adorning  self,  with  bauble  of  the  hour. 
And  sick  world  sinionv     O   Mountain  Pow'r  ! 


^Mirrored  in  waters  of  Thy  Heatherlands 

Which  kiss  the  rills  and  shadows  fi-om  Thy  Throne, 

Rapt, — in  Thy  still  Nobility  above — 

Our  human  eyes  yearn  further  than  the  known 

Of  earthly  Boundary,  sLuoe  we  but  move 

By  Beauty  where  the  silences  are  grown. 

To  lose  ourselves  in  larger  Life  and  Love 

Janie    E.    B.    MaCI'HERSON. 


The  Di:kk  of  Sutherland's  two  boys,  Lord  StaflVrd 
and  Lord  Alistair  Leveson  Gower,  began  attendance  in 
the  infant  room  of  Golspie  Public  School  this  month, 
under  the  tuition  of  Miss  Sellar,  hifant  mistress.  This 
is  an  example  which  we  hope  will  be  imitated  by  other 
members  of  the  Highland  nobility 

The  GpA^■D  Bazaar  which  was  held  at  Golspie 
recently,  under  the  persona!  auspices  of  the  Duchess  of 
Sutherland,  for  the  purpose  of  raising  funds  to  place 
trained  nurses  in  various  parts  of  Sutherland,  has 
resulted  in  the  splendid  sum  of  £1,100  being  realised. 
It  is  a  most  worthy  oliject,  and  Sutherland  people  must 


feel  greatly  indebted  to  the  Duchess  for  the  great 
interest  which  she  takes  in  tlieir  welfare,  and  her 
practical  efforts  on  their  behalf. 

A  DisTiNOUisHED  Caithness  Student,— Miss 
Florence  Mackay,  eldest  daughter  of  Captain  James 
Mackay,  F.S.A.,  Trowle,  Trowbridge,  and  niece  of  Mr. 
Donald  Mackay,  J.P.,  Braemore,  Dunbeath,  who  is 
being  educated"  at  the  far-famed  Cheltenham  I^adies' 
College,  has  just  passed  the  Oxford  Senior  Examination 
with  distinction.  In  Botany  .she  was  seventh  in  the 
list  for  all  England. 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


Part  XIV. — {Continued from  Vo!.  Ilf.,  page  226). 

The  Highland  Brigade. — Quatre  Bras, 

Waterloo. 

'HILE  this  subsidiary  attack  was  being 
made  to  prepare  for  the  grand 
assault  upon  the  British  right, 
Napoleon  directed  Ney  to  marshal  the  Guard 
in  two  grand  columns,  the  choice  troops,  which 
had  never  yet  failed  in  snatching  victory  from 
opponents.  They  were  the  veterans  of  Auster- 
htz,  Wagram,  and  many  other  fields,  who  had 
decided  many  of  his  previous  victories.  No 
force  seemed  capable  of  resisting  them.  They 
became  a  terror  to  every  European  army. 
They  were  regarded,  like  the  legions  of  old 
Rome,  invincible  in  battle.  Like  the  Roman 
legions  each  division  of  the  Imperial  Guard 
was  in  itself  a  complete  little  army,  with  its 
cavalry  and  artiUery.  For  the  first  time  they 
were  going  to  measure  themselves  with  the 
"  sons  of  perfidious  Albion,"  whom  they  were 
certain  of  annihilating,  and  "  chasing  into  the 
sea." 

One  of  these  grand  columns  was  drawn  up 
near  Hougomont,  supported  by  their  cuirassiers. 
The  other  was  formed  in  rear  of  La  Belle 
Alliance.  ReiUe  was  directed  to  liring  all  his 
troops  to  aid  the  first,  and  form  on  its  left, 
while  D'Erlon  was  to  do  the  same  with  his 
troops  on  the  right  of  the  other.  They  were 
to  advance  in  a  slanting  direction,  north  west- 
ward, and  converge  on  the  British  right. 

Meanwhile  Wellington's  eagle  eye  perceived 
the  impending  storm.  He  saw  the  marshalling 
of  the  Guard,  and  (luickly  judged  where  the 
attack  was  to  fall.  He  directed  Lord  Hill, 
who  commanded  the  right,  to  bring  his  troops 


^f!.,A^-      '^ 


gradually  into  position,  Adam's  Light  Brigade, 
Maitland's  brigade  of  Guards,  and  Chasse's 
Dutch  in  support,  whUe  to  their  left,  and  more 
forward,  guns  in  front,  towards  the  crest  of  the 
ridge,  and  the  whole  available  artillery  to  take 
post,  inclining  inwards,  so  as  to  expose  the 
advancing  colmnns  of  the  enemy  to  a  concentric 
fire.  In  the  centre  of  this  angular  or  crescent 
position  he  caused  a  battery  of  nine  pounder 
guns  to  be  placed  to  fire  straight  in  front,  while 
sixty  other  guns,  including  those  on  the  flanks, 
were  brought  to  bear  on  the  enemy  as  he 
advanced,  in  front  and  flank.  The  infantry  on 
each  side  of  the  central  battery  were  formed 
four  deep.  The  Guards  on  the  right  of  the 
battery,  flanked  on  their  left  by  the  73rd 
Highlanders,  30th,  33rd,  and  69th  regiments, 
and  on  the  right  of  the  Guards  towards  Hougo- 
mont were  the  52nd,  71st  Highlanders,  and 
two  battaUons  of  the  95th,  Vivian's  and  Vande- 
leur's  hght  cavalry,  with  Dornberg's  German 
dragoons,  and  the  remnant  of  Somerset's  and 
Ponsonby's  heavy  cavalry,  the  glorious  Union 
Brigade,  were  brought  into  Ime,  closely  in  the 
rear,  to  be  ready  to  make  the  most  of  any 
advantage  that  might  present  itself. 

At  about  7  p.m.  Napoleon  gave  the  order  to 
advance.  At  first  it  seemed  that  he  intended 
to  lead  the  attack  in  person.  iMouutel  on  his 
white  Persian  charger  he  advanced  in  front, 
exclaiming,  "  The  battle  is  won  !  we  must  fall 
upon  the  English  position  and  throw  them  into 
the  defiles.  AUons  !  Le  Garde  en  avant !  " 
Having  thus  headed  them  for  a  few  minutes, 
exposed  to  a  terrific  fire  from  the  British  guns, 
he  suddenly  halted  with  his  staff  and  motioning 
with  his  hand,  said,  "  Gentlemen,  there  is  the 
road  to  Brussels,"    at   the   same   moment  he 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


turned  aside  under  the  swell  of  rising  ground 
which  sheltered  him  from  the  terrible  bullets 
of  the  British  artillery.  Had  Najioleon  iu  this 
supreme  crisis  of  his  career  advanced  with  his 
Guard  and  perished  with  them,  his  name 
would  have  gone  down  in  history  as  the 
grandest  figure  iu  modern  times  Fate  willed 
it  otherwise. 

As  these  grand  warriors  proudly  swept  past 
Napoleon,  confident  of  victory,  confident  in 
their  prowess  and  power  to  carry  all  before 
them,  they  waved  their  bear  skin  busbies,  and, 
brandishing  their  arms,  rent  the  air  with 
enthusiastic  cries  of  "Vive  I'Empereur!"  the 


French  rendering  of  the  old  Roman  salutation 
of  the  gladiators  to  the  Emperors.  "  Ave ! 
Imperator,  morituri,  le  salutant." 

Wellingtou  took  his  stand  beside  the  Guards, 
watching  the  movements  and  advance  of  the 
enemy  with  impassive  com]iosure,  while  the 
French  artillery  rained  shot  and  shell  all 
around.  He  ordered  the  (iuards  to  lie  down 
in  the  road  ditch  in  their  fi-ont,  to  shelter 
themselves  from  the  tremendous  cannonade, 
telling  them,  ''Be  cool,  my  lads  hard  pounding 
this." 

The  formidable  Imperial  Guard  moved 
majestically  across  the  valley  and  uji  the  slojie. 


i<-y^^.v^-. 


CHAKGE    OF     MAITLAND'S    GUARDS. 


It  was  now  7-15  p.m.  The  shadow  of  the 
mass  before  the  level  rays  of  the  setting  sun 
increased  its  awful  mipressiveness.  The  huge 
bear-skm  caps  of  the  Guai-d  seemed  a  dark  forest, 
and  though  it  occasionally  rocked  under  the 
awful  fire  of  the  British  artillery,  yet  the  shock 
was  speedOy  recovered.  Thi-ough  the  smoke 
and  fire  of  the  sharpshooters  the  dark  plumes 
of  the  Grenadiers  of  the  Guard  were  seen 
unceasingly  approaching,  Ney  at  their  head, 
Drouet  beside  him,  to  whom  Ney  repeatedly 
said,  they  were  about  to  gain  a  glorious  victory. 
Ney's  horse  was  shot  under  him;  he  then 
marched   on   foot  in   front — sword    in    hand. 


General  Friant  was  struck  down  by  his  side. 
Ney  went  on  braving  death  at  every  step  from  the 
volleys  poured  upon  his  massive  columns  whose 
impulse  seemed  to  be  irresistible.  The  British 
guns  tore  their  front  and  sides  as  they 
advanced,  though  the  fire  of  the  French  sharp- 
shooters on  the  flanks  of  the  columns  was  so 
severe  that  many  of  the  gunners  were  di-iveu 
from  their  pieces. 

The  lofty  bear-skins  of  the  grenadiers  of 
the  Guard  were  now  seen  on  the  ridge. 
As  they  mounted  the  crest  amidst  the  smoke, 
they  presented  the  appearance  of  giants. 
They  came  on  within  fifty  paces  of  the  British 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


Guards  lying  concealed  iu  the  ditch  when 
Wellington,  standing  bv  the  side  of  Maitland, 
shouted,  "Up  Guards!  make  ready  "  Uprose 
the  Guards,  up  rose  the  ti'oops  on  the  left  of 
the  battery,  moved  forward  a  few  paces,  and 
poured  into  the  devoted  column  so  close  and 
well  directed  a  volley  that  nearly  the  whole  of 
the  two  front  ranks  (if  the  Imperial  (!uard  at 
once  fell.  A  second  volley  had  the  same  result. 
A  rapid  and  well  sustained  tile  firing  followed, 
which  the  French  crowded  in  column,  in  vain 
strove  to  answer  with  effect.  Just  as  this  well 
sustained  musketry  fire  was  going  on  the 
artillerymen  of  Adam's  brigade  on  the  flank 
worked  then-  guns  vfith  wonderful  rapidity, 
pouring  a  perfect  storm  of  grape  and  canister 
shot  into  the  flank  of  the  column,  staggering  it, 
and  causing  it  to  give  ground  and  fall  back 


down  the  slope.  Maitland  immediately  ordered 
the  Guards  to  charge.  On  went  these  grand 
sons  of  AHiion  at  the  doulile,  and  loudly 
cheei-ing,  struck  into  the  French  mass,  embarr- 
assed and  shattered,  and  rolled  them  down  the 
slope  to  seek  shelter  near  Hougomont.  When 
the  charging  Guards  were  half  way  down  the 
slope  Maitland  saw  the  head  of  the  other 
column  coming  up  on  the  left.  He  instantly 
called  "Halt,"  and  retu'ed  his  men  to  where 
they  previously  stood  behmd  the  ridge.  No 
sooner  was  this  effected  than  the  second  column 
advanced  to  the  attack,  with  Keille's  troops  in 
support  on  its  left.  This  dense  mass  came  up 
the  slope  steadily  and  sternly,  muskets  on  their 
shoulders,  preceded  by  the  usual  light  infantry 
as  skirmishers.  They  advanced  unshrinkingly, 
with  loud  cries  of  "  Vive  1'  Empereur !  "  into  the 


ltKTRF,.\T     OF     TlIK     FKENCH     FHOM     WATEKLOO 


cross  fire  of  the  British  biiltories  At  the  mere 
sound  of  the  French  cheers  a  l)rigade  of  Dutch 
Belgians,  stationed  in  rear  of  the  < Guards,  gave 
way  panic-sfricken,  and  fell  back  iu  confusion 
on  Vandeleur's  horsemen,  who  closed  then- 
ranks,  preventing  the  terrified  "  Braves  "  from 
going  further  For  a  moment  a  feeling  of 
anxiety,  though  not  of  fear,  pervaded  the 
British  ranks.  At  this  instant  WeUington, 
who  had  all  day  his  eye  upon  these  poltroons, 
came  ujd,  rallied  them,  and  led  them  back 
to  the  place  so  cowai'dly  abandoned 

Now,  again,  were  conspicuously  seen  the 
admirable  eflt'ects  of  the  arrangements  and 
dispositions  made  by  Wellington  to  meet  the 
f(jrmidable  attack  of  the  (iuard.  The  rapid 
discharges  ■  of  the  converging  artillery  on  the 


head  and  flank  of  the  column  were  so  severe 
that  Eeille  pushed  forward  a  large  body  of 
cavah-y  to  silence  them,  which  piartially 
succeeded,  but  M'cllingtdn  ordered  some 
s(iuadrons  of  the  23rd  Hussars  to  march  down 
the  slope  in  rear  of  Adam's  men,  and  charge 
them.  This  well  timed  movement  succeeded. 
The  French  cavalry  were  driven  away,  their 
battalions  m  column  were  uncovered,  their 
long  flanks  became  exposed  to  Adam's  artillery, 
which  instantly  opened  upon  them  a  fire  so 
tremendous  and  rapid  that  the  head  of  this 
body  of  men  constantly  pushed  on  by  the  mass 
in  the  rear,  seemed  for  sometime  never  to 
advance,  but  melted  away  as  it  came  into  the 
scene  of  carnage, 

(To  be  continued). 


DONALD  "MACPHERSON 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


DONALD     MACPHERSON,     FALKIRK. 

Presijient,  Falkirk  Hi(iHLANi)  Association. 


u¥ 


less  Stuart  Line ' 


E  have  mucli 
pleasure   iu 
7''*      adding   to 
our    '■  Celtic  Gallerj'  " 
tbis  month  the  portrait 
of    Mr.    Donald   Mac 
pherson,     the     genial 
jiostm  aster  of  Falkirk 
He  belongs  to  a  family 
(cadets  of  the  Break- 
acbie    branch    of    the 
clan)  which,  after  the 
last  hope  of  the  "hap- 
was  finallv  extinguished  at 


Culloden,  settled  in  the  Reay  country,  and 
laying  aside  the  claymore  and  targe,  devoted 
themselves  to  the  peaceful  pursuits  of  farming, 
which  they  cultivated  with  considerable  success 
Mr.  Illacphersou  was  born  in  Edinburgh,  but 
was  educated  at  the  F.  C.  School,  and  Miller 
Institution,  Thurso.  He  received  his  early 
training  for  the  jiostal  service  in  the  Thurso 
office,  imder  Mr.  Macdonakl,  who  soon  recog- 
nised the  ability  and  energy  of  his  y<jung 
assistant.  In  1881,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one,  Mr.  Macpherson  was  ai:>pointed  to  the 
postmastership  of  Kirkwall.  On  leaving  Thurso 
he  was  jii-esented  l)y  the  Provost,  in  the  name 
the  inhabitants,  with  a  han<lsome  gold  watch, 
suitably  inscribed,  and  a  congratulatory  address. 
During  his  postmastership  at  Kirkwall,  be 
instituted  many  reforms :  postal  facilities  were 


KINGfS3IE    AXD    Rl'TlIVEN    CASTLE,    BADENOOH. 


extended,  the  telegraph  business  was  trebled  ; 
and  in  this  and  many  other  respects  Mr. 
Macpherson  quickly  gained  the  goodwill  of 
the  people.  In  188.5  he  was  induced  to  stand 
as  a  member  for  the  Town  Coimcil  and  was 
elected ;  in  1888  he  was  returned  at  the  head 
of  the  poll,  and  in  1891  his  election  was 
unopposed.  To  hini  is  due  the  credit  of  the 
adoption  by  Kirkwall  of  the  Free  Libraries 
Act :  and  the  librar\ ,  which  owes  so  much  to 


his  efforts  as  Hon.  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  has 
proved  a  great  success.  He  was  also  elected 
Governor  of  the  Educational  Trust. 

In  Februarj-  1894,  ^Mr.  Macpherson  was 
promoted  to  a  much  more  important  sphere  of 
usefulness — the  postmastership  of  Falkirk. 
Before  leaving  Kirkwall  he  was  made  the  recip- 
ient of  a  silver  tea  service  and  other  valuable 
gifts  by  the  Provost  on  behalf  of  the  inhabitants. 
In  this  connection,  it  is  enough  to  sa\  that  Mr. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Macpherson  has  amply  justified  the  wisdom 
of  his  superiors  in  promoting  him  to  this 
responsible  appointment. 

The  Highland  Association  of  Falkirk  was 
fortunate  in  securing  Mr.  Macpherson  as 
president,  and  under  his  guidance  it  is  rapidly 
making  its  influence  felt  in  the  district. 

As  a  clansman  ^Ir.  Macpherson  is  all  enthu- 


siasm. He  is  learned  in  clan  lore,  and  is  not 
averse  to  discussing  the  most  minute  questions 
of  clan  genealogy.  To  his  clansmen  and 
readers  of  the  Highland  press,  he  is  famiHarly 
known  by  his  nom-de-p/iniie  "Craigdhu,"  At 
present  he  is  enjoying  a  brief  holiday  in 
Norway,  where  we  hope  he  may  find  health 
and  pleasure.  EnrroR. 


THE  HEIR  OF  THE  HOUSE 
OF  STUART. 


'45  is  being  so  ably  told  once  more, 
in  the  pages  of  the  Celtic  Monthlij. 
the  portrait  of  the  present  heir  of  the  Koyal 
House  of  Stuart  will  no  doubt  be  of  interest  to 
Highlanders,  though  perhaps  some  may  be 
imaware  of  his  descent.  I  take  the  following 
particulars  from  "  The  Legitimist,"  one  of  the 
principal  Jacobite  organs  of  the  day.  When 
the  last  descendant  of  King  James  TI.  died,  the 
legitimate  suc- 
cessors to  all  the 
rights  of  the 
Stuarts  were  the 
descendants  of 
Princess  Henri- 
etta Maria,  sister 
of  James  II.  She 
married  Philip, 
Duke  of  Orleans, 
and  died  in 
1670,  leaving  two 
daughters.  Mary, 
the  eldest,  married 
King  Charles  II. 
of  Spain,  but  died 
without  issue; 
her  sister,  Anne, 
married  A  m  a- 
deus,  King  of 
Sardinia,  from 
whom  descended 
Frances  V.,  Duke 
of  Modeua,  who 
married,  in 
1842,  Aldegonde, 
daughter  of  Louis 
I.,  liiug  of  Bava- 
ria, and  died 
without  issue; 
his  younger 
brother,  Ferdi- 
nand,   Archduke 


U  R.ll.     I'lilXCK     RUFKUT     OK     UAV.MilA 


of  Austria,  married,  in  1847,  EUzabeth,  daugh- 
ter of  the  Archduke  Joseph  of  Austria,  and  left 
at  his  death,  in  1849,  an  only  daughter,  Maria 
Theresa,  who  (born  in  1849  and  married  in 
1868  to  Louis,  Prince  of  Bavaria,  eldest  son  of 
Luitpold,  Prince  Regent  of  Bavaria)  is  now  the 
imquestionable  heiress  of  the  House  of  Stuart. 
His  Eoyal  Highness  Prince  Eupert,  the  subject 
of  this  portrait,  is  her  eldest  son.  He  was  born 
at  Munich  on  the  18th  May,  1869,  and  is  an 
officer  in  the  Bavarian  army,  where  he  is  much 
beloved,  and  shows  the  promise  of  all  that 
chivalry  which  was  so  exemplified  in  his 
illustrious  ancestor,  James  IV.  of  Scotland. 
Loyalty  to  the 
House  of  Stuart 
is  as  true  to-day 
among  many 
descendants  of 
those  who  fought 
and  [d  i  e  d  for 
"Bonnie  Prince 
Charlie,'  as  it 
was  in  the  '45, 
and  the  Queen 
"  over  the  water  " 
is  pledged  bj' 
faithful  adherents 
to  an  extent  little 
dreamed  of  in 
these  matter  of 
fact  daj'S,  while 
they  look  to  the 
fulfilment  of  the 
old  prophecy, 
quoted  in  the 
August  number  of 
theCeltic  Monthly- 


' '  The  aukl  Stuarts 

back  again, 
The    auld    Stuarts 

Ijack  again, 
Let  Howlet  Wliigs 

do  wliat  they  can, 
We'll  hae  tlie  Stuarts 

back  again." 


JosEi'mNE  M.  MacDonell, 
of  Keppoch. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


OUR      MUSICAL      PAGE. 


|pjR|HE  following  song  is  taken  from  Munro's 
W^  FiLiiiH  where  it  appears  over  the  signa- 
^^^  ture  •'  Cruachan,"  the  owner  of  which 
nivn  (If  pliane  was  Lieutenant  P.  Maclntyre,  Royal 
Marines,  eldest  son  of  the  late  Alexander 
MacLityre  of  Camusnaherie,  Lochaber,  and 
cousin  of  the  late  Rev.  John  MacLityre,  LL.D., 
Kilmonivaig.  He  died,  30th  June,  1855, 
aged  69. 

The  air  here  given  is  one  of  the  variants  of 
the  music  to  which  "Mo  rim  an  dluyh  mar  an 
de  thu  " — My  love  to-day  as  yesterday — was 
sung.  Fraser  of  Knockie's  Collection  contains 
one  version  of  the  tune  and  Munro's  Filidh 
another.     It  would  seem  also  that  ''ID  horo 


',<  na  horb  i\le"  the  well-known  and  currently 
popular  song,  is  sung  to  a  variant  of  the  same 
air.  I  venture  to  think  the  music  as  here  given 
is  as  effective  as  anj'  of  the  versions  mentioned. 
It  was  published  several  years  ago  by  Messrs. 
Paterson  &  Sons,  Edinburgh,  with  pianoforte 
accompaniment,  to  words  represented  as  having 
been  translated  from  the  original  Gaelic  by  D. 
G.  Macdougall.  The  title  of  the  song  was 
"  I'm  thine  for  ever." 

The  translation  here  given  is  necessarily 
halting  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  the  rhythm 
for  which  English  words  are  not  adapted ;  but 
it  gives  an  idea  of  the  sentiments  of  the 
original.  C.  M.  P. 


MAIRI     ANNA-ANNIE'S      MARY. 


Key  F.      Wiih  feelin^j. 

Vekse.  I 

n  :  -. n  I  s  :  -. d  I  d  :  -.S|  |  li.d  :  - 
Ghabh  nii  cead  an  diugh  de  m'  leannau, 
Pairtin'  frae       my  lovely        Mary 


1     :   -.1  I    d'    :  -.111:  -.s  I  n.s 
Ise  'falbh         'us  mise       'fanachd  ; 

"S  left      lae      dowie  a'         thegither. 


-.1    I     d'     :  -.d 


d 


.d 


Dli'tfhi\('  i       mi      mar         uan      air     fannal, 


Like        the 

Chorus. 


.n  I 


Hiiiraibh 


lambkin 


weak    and    wearie 


n    :  -. d  I  r.d 
hiiiraibh     e'ile, 


n    :  -.n  1     1     : 

-.1     1 

s     :  -.d 

1  r.d  : 

'Oaoidh  a  mhath'r 

■,  0  ! 

Mhiiri 

Anna. 

Langin'       for 

its 

tieecy 

mither. 

n    :  -.  s  I 
Hiiiraibh 


I   n.s 


1     :  -.1  I 
Hiiiraibli 


d'    :  -.d 
ithill. 


d     :  -.s,  Hi.d 
hiiiraibh     e'ile 


'S  bbidheach  geug  'na  h-^ideadh  Samhraidh, 
'S  ebin  nan  speur  a'  seinn  'na  meangaibh, 
H-uile  creutair  eibhinn,  seannsail, 
'S  mis'  learn  fe'in  a'  caoidh  ua  chaill  mi. 

'S  tiamhaidh  leam  a'  choill  's  na  gleannain 
Far  am  b'  kbhaist  duinn  bhi  'teanal 
Shobhrach  ;\illidh  's  blkth  nam  meangan — 
An  diugh  iad  'fks  gun  ]Mhk.iri  Anna. 

'S  binn  a'  chuthag  'seinn  le  caithream ; 
'S  binn  an  smeorach  'n  ogan  daraich  ; 
'S  binn  an  tend  o'n  mheur  an  tarruing  ; 
Ach  's  binne  guth-bebil  Mkiri  Anna. 

Com  tha  aluinn,  's  beusan  banail  ; 
Siiil  tha  caoimh,  da  cridh'  mar  sgathan  ; 
'S  ni  bheil  Gaidh'l  an  gleann  a'  bharraich 
Nach  d'  thug  gradh  do  Mhiiiri  Anna. 

O  !  na  'n  robh  mi  'n  riochd  na  h-eala, 
An  long  's  na  ghluais  i  's  luath  gu  'n  leanainn, 
'S  ghabhainn  tJimh  am  barr  a  cranna 
Shealltainn  'bhim  air  Mkiri  Anna. 

Ach  ged  rinn  an  cuan  ar  sgaradh, 
'S  ged  theid  bliantan  cianail  tharainn, 
Gus  an  sgar  o  m'  chom  an  t-anara 
'S  leat  mo  glu'adb,  a  Mhkiri  Anna. 


n  :  -.  n  I  1  :  -.  1 
'S  cian  tha  mi  's  mo 
Sair's    my  heart  since 


s    :   -. d  I  r.d  :  — 

gliaol     o  cheilc. 

gane        is        Mary. 

'Mang  the  leafy  trees,  what  gladness  ! 

Birds  a'  singin'  blythe  and  merry. 
No  a  note  revealin'  sadness — 

Nane  but  mine,  lamentin'  Mary. 

Down  the  glade  I  gaze  in  anguish  ; 

Aft  we  wandered  'mang  its  flowers  : 
Quite  unheeded  now  they  languish — 

Mary's  far  frae  those  sweet  bowers. 

Sweet  the  cuckoo's  note,  and  mellow ; 

Sweet  the  mavis'  tunefu'  ditty  : 
Mary's  voice  could  beat  them  hollow  : 

She  sings  afar  now — mair's  the  pity. 

She  was  winsome,  kind  and  tender; 

Pure  in  heart,  her  e'e  shone  clearly  ; 
Every  livin'  soul  that  kenn'd  her 

Lo'ed  her  weel,  but  I  maist  dearly. 

O,  gin  I  could  strong  and  fast  tiy, 
In  her  track  I'd  wing  the  cary, 

Then  alicht  upon  the  mast  high 

And  look  down  on  my  sweet  Mary. 

Tho'  I'm  pairted  frae  my  dear  ane, 
Tho'  the  rolling  waves  us  sever, 

I'll  be  faithfu',  never  fear  nie  ; 
I  will  lo'e  my  ^lary  ever. 


10 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY!  • 


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niE     CELTIC     MONTHLY, 


11 


THE  LORDS  °f  LOCHABER 


ny.riACDOA'ALo  - 


Pakt  VIII.— ALEx.oiDf:K  v.,  liDS-lSOO— luiXED 
AT  Cakn-Alastair — Donald  Glas,  1500- 
ttO — He  joins  DoNAiD  Dubh  VII. — Cam- 
paign IN  Badenoch: — Burning  of  Inverness. 

{Continued  from    Vol.   III.,  pwje  233). 

i;3to/lpUCH  advanced  in  years  when  he  w.is 
sJffl^b  elected  to  replace  Iain  Aluinn  at  the 
4M'''^  head  of  the  clan,  Alexander  V.  of 
Keppoch's  short  rule  was  a  comparitively 
uneventful  one  From  him  came  one  of  the 
earliest  patronymics  by  which  the  heads  of  the 
clan  were  known,  viz  : — "  Clann  Alastau-  Mhic 
Aonghuis,"  so-called  in  order  to  distinguish 
them  from  the  line  of  Iain  Aluinn,  the  deposed 
chief,  who,  as  has  already  been  said,  were 
known  as  ''  Sliochd  a'  bhrathair  bu  shine."  He 
was  kUled,  or  rather  assassinated  at  a  place  near 
the  head  of  Lochleven,  while  out  with  a  foraging 
]>arty  of  his  clan.  His  assassin,  who  lay  in 
ambush  and  took  the  old  chief  unawares,  is 
said  to  have  been  a  Cameron,  who  was  employed 
for  the  purpose.  His  clansmen  erected  a  cairn 
to  his  memory,  and  hence  the  place  has  ever 
since  been  known  as  Carn-Alastair.  He  was 
married  to  a  daughter  of  Donald  Gallach 
;\lacDonald  of  Sleat,  whose  wife  was  a  daughter 
of  MacDonald  of  Isla,  and  of  the  Glenns,  in 
Ireland,  ancestor  of  the  Earls  of  Antrim.  On 
this  lady's  marriage  with  Donald  Gallach  she 
brought  with  her  as  a  tocher  to  her  husband 
some  Irish  clansmen,  who  were  settled  in  Sleat 
at  the  time.  Later  on,  when  her  daughter 
married  Alexander  of  Keppooh  some  of  these 
Irishmen  were  brought  in  the  same  manner 


from  Sleat  to  Lijchaber,  where  they  settled  on 
Kejjpoch's  lands.  Some  of  their  descendants 
are  still  about  the  Braes  of  Lochaber.  Many 
of  them  adopted  the  name  of  MacDonald,  but 
there  are  still  a  few  bearing  their  original  liish 
cognomens  of  Burke,  Boyle,  Kelly,  itc.  Hence 
the  frequent  occurrence  of  these  names  at  one 
time  among  the  native  population  of  Lochaber 
and  the  west  coast  of  Inverness-shu'e.  In 
Slackenzie's  '•  History  of  the  !MacDonalds  and 
Lords  of  the  Isles,"  the  Ijest  and  most  complete 
history  of  the  clan  as  a  whole  that  has  been 
written,  it  is  said  that  this  Irish  colony  had  the 
township  of  lonar-Odhair  allotted  to  them,  but 
Mackenzie  is  not  quite  accurate  in  his  account 
of  the  cause  that  brought  them  to  Lochaber. 

Short  as  was  the  rule  of  this  chief,  the 
absence  of  &\xy  notable  event  during  the  period 
is  probably  owing  to  the  fact  that  about  this 
time  the  King  held  his  t'ourt  at  Kintyre,  from 
which  he  exercised  a  most  beneficial  inlluence 
over  the  West  Highlands,  the  whole  country, 
in  fact,  being  in  a  comparitively  tranquil 
state. 

The  author  of  the  ''C^mhachag'  says  of 
this  chief : — 

■ '  AlasdiiLr  cridlie  iiaii  gle.i-nn, 

Gun  thu  bill  ami 's  moi'  ;i  chre  ich, 

'S  tiic  a  leag  tbii  air  an  tain 

'N  damh  donii  leis  na  coin  gldaisi 

Bratach  Alasdair  nan  gleann, 

A  srol  fararaach  ri  crann, 
Suathainteas  soilleir  Siol  Cliuinn 

Nach  do  chuir  suiiii  'an  Clannsibh  Ghall. 


12 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Dh'fhag  mi  e  's  an  fhridh  so  shios, 
Am  fear  a  b'  olc  dhomhsa,  'Bhas, 

'S  trie  a  chuir  e  a  thagradh  an  cnias 

'N  an  cluais  an  daimh  chabraich  an  sas.  " 

Alexander  had  two  sons,  (1)  Donald,  known 
as  "  Dombnull  Glas,"  who  succeeded  him,  and 
(2)  Ranald  Og,  who  predeceased  his  father. 

Donald  Glas  is  stated  to  have  succeeded  his 
father  about  the  year  1500.  He  built  the  old 
Castle  of  Kepi^och.  on  Tombeag,*  and  lived 
through  a  stirring  and  eventful  career.  Mac- 
kenzie says  that  he  had  his  residence  at  CoiUe 
Dhiamhain,  on  Torran  nan  Ceap,  within  a  mile  of 
old  Keppoch  house.  Shortly  after  his  accession 
to  the  chief  ship  the  ancient  Lordship  of  Lochaber , 
which,  along  vsdth  that  of  the  Isles,  had  been 


finally  forfeited  from  the  House  of  MacDonald 
in  the  year  1493,f  was  made  over  to  Alexander, 
Lord  Gordon,  eldest  son  of  Huntly,  by  James 
IV.  From  this  date  forward  the  MacDonalds 
of  Keppoch  had  to  stand  by  themselves  in 
maintaining,  by  the  right  of  the  sword,  the 
lauds  of  Keppoch  and  Garragach.  The  Lord- 
ship of  the  Isles  was  no  more ;  the  House  of 
MacDonald  was  broken  up  into  so  many 
opposing  factions;  and  the  Lordship  of  Lochaber 
was  in  the  hands  of  other  than  a  MacDonald. 
The  Blac Donalds  of  Keppoch  may  be  said  to 
have  been  then,  for  the  first  time,  forced  to 
fight  for  their  existence  as  a  distinct  and 
separate  branch  of  the  Clan  Donald.  The 
Olan  Ranald  and  Sleat  families  were  fighting 


TOMliEAC:— THE    bITE     OF     KEProCU     CASTLE 


one  another  for  the  possession  of  the  lands  of 
Garmoran  and  Uist ;  the  latter  also  laid  claim 
to  the  ancient  Lordship  of  the  Isles  and  the 
Earldom  of  Koss,  in  opposition  to  the  respective 
claims  of  the  heirs  of  Alexander  of  Lochalsh, 
and  of  Donald  Dubh,  the  grandson  of  John, 
the  last  who  held  legal  right  to  the  title.  From 
this  time  may  be  dated  the  downfall  of  the 
MacDOnakls  from  their  position  as  the  most 
powerful  of  all  the  Highland  clans;  and  from 
it  may  also  be  dated  the  steady  rise  of  the 
Campbells,  who  founded  all  the  great  jsower 
which  they  afterwards  wielded,  on  the 
discomfiture  of  the  Lords  of  the  Isles.     Other 


clans,  who  were  formerly  the  vassals  of  the 
island  lords,  now  rivalled  in  extent  of  territory 
and  power  any  one  of  the  several  branches  into 
which  the  MacDonalds  became  divided.  The 
Keppoch  branch  was,  perhaps,  the  most 
isolated,  holding  their  lands  in  the  centre  of 
the  enemy's  country,  and  in  supreme  defiance 
of  all  authoritj'  and  legal  right.  Sleat,  Clan 
Ranald,  and  Glengarry,  each  of  them  had  their 
charters,  but  Kepjxich  had  none.  It  was 
probably  iu  realising  the  desperate  position  in 
which  he   was  thus  placed  that  Donald  Glas 

*  Gregory's  History,     f  In  1.50LI,  see  Gregory's      st 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


13 


thought  to  secure  his  position  bv  esiiousing  the 
cause  of  Donald  Dubh,  thus  building  his  hopes 
on  the  success  of  that  cause.  Donald  Dubh 
had  just  escaped  from  his  imprisonment  in 
Inchonnal  Castle  through  a  stratagem  on  the 
part  of  his  kinsman,  IMacDonald  of  Glencoe. 
He  at  once  raised  his  claim  to  the  Lordship  of 
the  Isles,  and,  as  was  the  wont  of  the  island 
lords  of  old,  when  carrying  war  into  the  enemy's 
country,  he  made  Lochaber  his  headquarters  ; 
and,  the  families  of  Sleat  and  liochalsh  having 
each  theu-  suppc  irters.  Donald  Glas  became  the 
principal  lieutenant  of  the  son  of  Angus  Og. 
Together  they  laid  waste,  with  fire  and  sword, 
the  lands  of  the  Camerons  and  the  JIackintoshes, 
in  revenge  for  these  latter,  who  were  at  one 
time  vassals  to  the  island  lords,  having  trans- 
ferred their  allegiance  to  then-  former  enemies. 
Huntly  was  despatched  to  Lochaber  to  j^reveut 
a  general  up-rising. ;[:  This  was  in  1501.  In 
the  following  year  a  commission  was  given  to 
Huntly,  Lovat,  and  William  Muuro  of  Foulis, 
to  proceed  to  Lochaber  and  let  the  king's  land 
to  •'  true  men,"  and  to  expel  at  the  same  time 
all  "broken  men"  The  only  ascertained  result 
of  this  expedition  was  a  grant  of  Mamore  to 
Stewart  of  Appin.  Mamore,  which  was  part  of 
Alastair  Carrach's  barony,  had  long  ago  become 
the  property  of  Lochiel,  it  having  been  the 
marriage  portion  of  one  of  Kepijoch's  daughters 
who  was  wedded  to  a  former  head  of  the 
Cameron  clan.  The  grant  to  Stewart  of  Appin 
was  made  in  the  year  1503  S  But  Kepf)och 
was  still  at  large.  By  this  time  Donald  Dubh 
had  won  to  his  side  almost  all  the  former 
adherents  of  the  Lords  of  the  Isles,  and  in  the 
same  year  as  that  in  which  the  events  just 
related  took  place,  his  standard  was  again 
unfurled  in  Lochaber.  On  this  occasion  he 
was  again  accompanied  bv  Donald  Glas  of 
Keppoch.  These  incidents  are  thus  described 
by  Tytler: — "Although  James  (the  king) 
received  eai-ly  inteUigence  of  the  meditated 
insuiTection,  and  laboured  by  every  method  to 
dissolve  the  imion  amongst  the  confederated 
chiefs,  it  now  biu'st  forth  with  destructive  fiuy. 
Badenoch  was  wasted  with  all  the  ferocity  of 
Highland  warfare ;  Inverness  given  to  the 
flames;  and  so  widely  and  rapidly  did  the 
contagion  sfiread  throughout  the  Isles,  that  it 
demanded  the  most  j)rompt  and  decisive 
measures  to  arrest  it." 


LETTERS    TO     THE     EDITOR. 


t  Reg.  of  Pri^-y  Seal,  II.,  fo.  OJ. 
§  Reg.  of  Privy  Seal,  fo.  84. 

(To  be  continuecl). 


ECHOES  OF  GAELIC  SONG. 
Sir.— "Fionn's"'  pajier  on  Ci-odlt.  Outih-iii  has 
wakened  a  sleeping  chord  in  my  memory.  Sixty 
years  ago,  when  I  was  a  boy,  we  had  a  nurse, 
Christy  Grey  by  name,  every  fibre  uf  whose  nature 
was  alive  -with  snatches  of  old  Gaelic  song.  They 
came  and  went  like  the  summer  breeze.  I  have  no 
remembrance  of  her  singing  any  song  from 
beginning  to  end.  Her  snatches  of  song  seemed  to 
me,  even  then,  to  be  strangely  mixed  and  fitful  — 
the  reflex  of  her  own  fitful,  passing  f.ancies.  Here's 
a  verse  which  oft  recurred.  I  remember  it  as  if  it 
were  but  yesterday  she  sang  it  in  her  own  clear, 
touching  strains  : — 

"  'IS'ochd  gur  trom  lium  mo  chridhe, 
'S  trie  snidh  air  mo  ghruaidhean." 

These  lines  were  always  repeated  and  were  followed 
by  something  which  I  think  she  herself  did  not 
understand.  Anyhow  I  did  not  understand  it  then, 
nor  do  I  understand  it  now. 

"  Ri  bhi  smuanachadh  air  mo  leannan. 
Air  do  'n  ghealtachd  air  fhuair  e." 

This  also  was  repeated,  and  something  followed, 
even  the  sound  of  wliich  I  cannot  now  recall. 

At  other  times,  but  in  quite  another  connection, 
would  come  in  something  closely  resembling  the 
last  verse  given  by  "  Fionn  "  of  Crodh  Cliailchi: — 

"  Cha  chaidil,  cba  chaidil. 

Cha  chaidil  mi  uair, 
Cha  chaidil  mi  idir,  tVc-,  &c.'' 

It  seems  to  me  that  there  is  here  a  sort  of  law,  or 
rather  an  habitual  want  of  law — a  regular  irregu- 
larity—strangely governing  the  traditionary  handuig 
down  of  Gaelic  song  through  a  succession  of 
unlettered^  singers.  Snatches  of  .'song  are  caught 
up  according  to  the  passing  whim,  and  woven,  ex 
tempore,  into  new  combinations,  many  of  wliich 
have  thus  passed  into  our  ivritten  Gaelic  literature. 
T  have  lighted  on  some  striking  examples  of  this  in 
our  printed  variants  of  the  "Ossianic"  Ballads. 
A  verse  which  the  reciter  does  not  understand,  by 
reason  perhaps  of  a  word  to  him  now  obsolete,  is 
ignorantly  glos&ed,  or  slurred  over  in  a  meaningless 
way — to  puzzle  some  future  reciter,  and  set  the 
scholarly  critic  to  his  blind  work  in  the  next  age. 

Some  of  these  verses  I  have  also  found,  strayed 
into  new  connections,  and  patched  into,  or  upon, 
older  or  newer  bottles. 

D.  M. 

ORIGIN     OF     SOME     HIGHLAND     NAMES. 


The  Gaelic  Society  of  Glasoow  is  about  to  open 
the  session  and  a  number  of  interesting  lectures  have 
been  arranged.  The  second  volume  of  the  Transactions 
is  at  present  in  the  press. 


Sir. — I  should  be  glad  if  some  of  your  readers 
could  give  the  clan  origin  of  any  or  all  of  the 
following  names,  viz.  :— Mowat  of  Caithness ;  Wans 
of  Ross;  Bannatyne  of  Bute;  GilfiUan  of 
Mull ;  Spalding  of  Glen  Shee ;  MacThomas  of  Glen 
Shee  ;  Morrison  of  Outer  Hebrides  ;  Steel  of  Outer 
Hebrides.  Also  of  the  following— M'Tavish, 
M'Niven,  M'Birnie,  M'Caskill,  M'Cubbin,.M'Kelvie, 
M'Nee,  M'Neilage,  M'Phun,  M'Glashan,  Gilmore, 
and  M'Cunn.  Yours  truly,  Cowal. 


14 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


DR.    A.    H.    F.    CAMERON,    WORCESTER. 

^E  have  much  pleasure 
l,i  iij  introduciug  to 
i^/'^/''>  our  readei's  in  the 
Ijerson  of  Archibald  Henry 
Foley  Cameron,  a  distinguished 
member  of  the  Clan  Cameron, 
who,  notwithstanding  tlie  fact 
that  his  branch  of  tlie  family 
has  been  resident  in  England  since  his  ancestor, 
Dr.  Thomas  Cameron,  commenced  the  practice  of 
physic  at  Worcester  in  1727,  is  nevertheless  an 
ardent  and  sympathetic  Highlander  in  heart, 
cherishing  the  history  and  traditions  of  his  clan, 
and  prizing  highly  his  descent  from  the  valiant 
Chieftains  of  the  Cameron  men. 

Dr.  Cameron  is  the  only  son  of  Archibald 
Cameron,  a  lawyer  in  Worcester,  who  died  in 
1846.  After  his  father's  death  the  family 
removed  to  the  ueighliourliood  of  Inverness,  and 
in  1853  they  acquired  Lukefield  in  Glen  Urijuhart, 
which,  however.  Dr.  Cameron  sold  in  1885.  In 
1865  Dr.  Cameron  settled  as  a  medical  practitioner 
in  Liverpool,  where  he  followed  his  profession 
with  marked  success  for  a  period  of  twenty-five 
years,  until  his  health  giving  way  in  1890  he 
returned  to  his  native  County  of  Worcester,  to 
enjoy  a  dignified  rest  after  his  long  and  arduous 
labours  in  Liverpool.  When  resident  in  Liver- 
pool, in  addition  to  purely  professional  work,  he 
was  largely  interested  in  religious,  educational, 
and  political  matters,  besides  contributing  many 
papers  to  the  leading  Medical  Journals.  Dr. 
Cameron  traces  his  genealogy  to  John,  the  fourth 
son  of  Ewen  Cameron,  the  thirteenth  chief,  who 
was  a  great  warrior  and  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished chiefs  of  his  time.  His  fourth  son, 
John,  chose  the  church  as  his  vocation,  and 
while  nearly  all  the  rest  of  the  clan  were 
following  their  chiefs  to  the  field,  and  largely 
adopting  the  profession  of  arms,  the  descendants 
of  the  Minister  of  Dunoon  were  following  the 
peaceful  callings  of  the  learned  professions  and  the 
Christian  ministry.  The  line  of  genealogy  is  a 
most  honourable  one.  John,  the  Minister  of 
Dunoon  in  1566,  had,  prior  to  the  Reforniation, 
adopted  the  Protestant  faith.  His  sou  John, 
born  about  1579,  became  Principal  of  the 
University  of  Glasgow,  and  the  most  famous 
Protestant  divine  of  his  day.  A  younger  brother 
of  the  Principal,  Thomas,  settled  in  Glasgow, 
and  married  Margaret  Boyd  of  Portancross,  by 
whom  he  had  issue  Thomas,  who  married  Jean 
Macaulay  of  Ardincaple,  and  had  issue  John, 
who  becaino  Minister  of  Kincardine,  in  Monteith, 
Perthshire.  Refusing  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  King  William  at  the  Revolution, 
this  John  lost  his  parish.  He  had  a  son  born  to 
him  in  Edinburgh  in  1704,  who  became  a  Snell 
exhibitioner  at  Oxford.  In  1679  John  Snoll,  of 
Ayrshire,  left  the  Manor  of  I'fton,  in  Warwick- 


shire, to  support  from  five  to  twelve  exhibitioners, 
his  object  being  the  maintenance  of  Episcopacy 
in  Scotland.      When  Episcopacy  was  abolished 
in  Scotland,  the  trustees  permitted  the  exhibi- 
tioners to  choose  their  own  professions,  and  Dr. 
Thomas  Cameron  was  the  first  who  did  not  enter 
into  holy  orders.     He  commenced  to  practice  at 
Worcester   in    1727,   and   laboured   there  most 
assiduously  with  great  reputation  to  himself  and 
with  benefit  to  those  whom  he  attended.     He 
was  one  of  the  earliest  promoters  of  the   Wor- 
cester    Infirmary,   to    which    he    was    elected 
Physician.     As  early  as  1752  he  was  writing  on 
small-pox  and  measles,  and  his  discoveries  are 
highly  spoken  of  by  contemporary  writers.     He 
was    a   keen   Jacobite,    and    there    were    many 
kindi-ed  spirits  in  and  around  Worcester.     It  has 
been  said   that  this  Dr.   Thomas  first  brought 
himself  into  prominence  by  fearlessly  attending 
fever   jjatients    which    the   other    medical    men 
avoided.     He  was  engaged  to  be  married  to  a 
Miss   Severn,  who,  shortly  before  the  marriage 
was  to  be  celebrated,   fell   ill    with    small-pox. 
He,   however,  married   her  from  principle,   and 
nursed    her   through    dreadful    sufferings    with 
unremitting  devotion.     His  dying  wife  suggested 
that    her   friend,    Miss    Plowden,   of    Plowden, 
might  take  her  place  and  comfort  him   in   his 
loss.     Being   a   man    of   prompt    resolution    he 
acted  at  unce  on  the  strange  advice,  and  a  fort- 
night after  his  wife's  death  he  married  lier  friend, 
as  she  had  suggested.      When  he  went  to  the 
tailor  to  order  a  new  coat  for  his  wedding,  he 
directed  that  the  button-holes  should  be  worked 
with  white.     "  Not  so  soon  after  the  death  of 
your  wife"    remonstrated  the  tailor.     "Zounds, 
can't  I  have  my  coat  made  as  I  like?"     He  had 
his   way.     He"  was  a  man  of  great  originality 
and  force  of  character,  of  whom  many  striking 
stories  used  to  be  told.     It  is  stated  of  him  that 
he    was    the    first    to    introduce    skates    into 
Worcester.     The  i)eople  went  out  full  of  won- 
dering curiosity  to  see  a  man  walking  and  gliding 
on  ice  with  "  horns  "  on  his  feet ;  skates  at  that 
time  having  long  curved  points. 

On  one  occasion  while  walking  in  the  streets 
of  Worcester  he  saw  a  scavenger  throwing  a 
.shovelful  of  dirt  into  his  cart  in  such  a  way  as 
purposely  to  splash  the  white  dress  of  a  lady 
who  was  passing  at  the  time.  Dr.  Cameron 
grasped  the  man  by  the  waist  band  and  pitched 
him  into  his  own  cart  amid  the  mud  and  filth, 
telling  him  that  was  to  teach  him  better  manners. 
He  was  followed,  as  Physician  to  the  Infir- 
mary, by  his  son  Charles,  who  for  many  years 
occupied  the  first  jjlace  as  Consulting  Physician 
in  the  county.  He  married  Ann  Ingram,  of 
White  Ladies,  and  left  four  sons,  the  second  of 
whom,  Archibald,  was  the  father  of  the  subject 
of  our  memoir.  (Photos  by  T.  Bennett  &  Sons.) 
... ,.  ,.„. ,,  John  Cameron. 


DR.  T,  CAMERON. 


DR.  C.  CAMERON. 


PR  A.  H,  F,  CAMERON. 


A.  CAMERON 


THE     CKLTTC     MONTPILY 
GHOID     IAD     BHUAM     THU. 


15 


The  Editor,  Celtic  Monthly. 

Sir. — As  requested  I  uow  send  you  the  song 
of  Ghoid  iad  hhuam  thu,  and  may  mention 
hrierty,  for  the  mformation  of  your  Gaelic 
readers,  the  occasion  of  my  \\Titing  it,  as  it 
happens  to  be  the  last  song  of  any  kind  that  I 
have  ever  written  in  foreign  lands,  ^\'hile 
returnmg  to  India  last  year  from  wanderings 
in  Kiam  and  Cochin  China,  I  was  on  my  way 
from  Calcutta  to  Darjeeling  in  the  Himalayas, 
to  spend  the  few  days  of  my  leave  that  then 
remained  unexpired.  I  missed  my  cash-box 
shortly  after  leaving  Calcutta,  and  reached  the 
mountain  seat  of  L)arjeeling  almost  penniless, 
as  my  money  and  many  other  articles  were  in 
this  same  bos.  The  loss  of  the  box  consequently 
caused  me  great  inconvenience,  and  I  had  some 
little  trouble  afterwards  in  procuring  fmids  to 
bring  me  to  my  proper  destination,  some  fifteen 
hundred  miles  away. 

The  matter  was  at  once  reported  to  the 
police,  and  a  few  days  after  my  return  I 
received  a  telegram  saying  that  the  police  had 
recovered  the  box,  but  broken  and  with  the 
contents  taken  out  of  it.  Sorry  though  I  was 
for  the  loss  of  its  various  contents,  yet  I  was 
pleased  to  get  my  old  companion  back  agaiu ; 
and  as  it  had  travelled  far  and  wide  with  me 
on  laud  and  sea,  I  thought  the  least  thing  I 
could  do  was  to  sing  a  commemorative  Gaelic 
song  to  its  praise.  And  thus  I  sang  the  song  of 
Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu.  which  I  uow  submit  for 
your  readers'  perusal,  while  the  bos.  itself 
remains  safe  in  my  possession. 

Select  verses  from  this  song,  as  well  as 
Tir  nam  Beann-ard.  will  be  sung  by  Mr. 
Roderick  JlacLeod,  the  Inverness  Gaelic 
singer,  at  the  Annual  Concert  of  the  London 
GaeUc  Society,  in  St.  Martin's  Town  Hall, 
Trafalgar  Square,  on  the  Hth  November. 
Tir  nam  Bcann-ard  will  also  be  probably  sung 
at  the  forthcoming  Mod  in  Glasgow,  by  the 
Choir  of  the  Glasgow  Gaelic  Musical  Associa 
tion,  to  whom  the  song  is  dedicated. 


Yours  &c., 


J.  MacGregor, 

Suri;eon-Major. 


Air  Fonn ; 


"  Mhali  dhubh,  ohu,  oho." 
Seisd. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuani, 
Ghoid  iad  bhuam  tliu  aon  uair, 
Ach  a  chaoidli  gu  suthain,  buau, 
Cha  ghoid  iad  bhuauisa  rithist  thu. 


'All  Calcutta  inlior  nam  buth 
Thachair  orm  gu  dearbh  an  cu, 
A  ghoid  bhuam  mo  chuid  gun  diu 
Cho  tuirseach  trom  's  a  bhithinnsa. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,  ghoid  iad  bliu.im, 

Ghoid  am  mearlach  dubli  gun  bhaigli, 
Ghoid  e  bucas  beag  mo  ghraidh, 
'S  dli-fhag  e  mise  caoidh  le  craidh, 
An  t-aileagan  bu  ghrinne  leani. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuani  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam, 

'S  ioiiia  .seorsa  bha  nad  blu-oinn, 
Do  'm  bu  bhoidhche  dreaoh  'us  loinn, 
Nithibh  neonaoh  's  moran  bhuinn, 
A  rinn  mi  cruinn  a  chruinneachadh. 
Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam, 

Marbhaisg  air  an  t-salchair  bhreun, 
'Bhrist  a'ghlas  'bha  daingeann  treun, 
Glas  nach  fosgladh  fear  fodh  'n  ghrein, 
Na  mhearlach  breun  ged  bhitheadh  e. 
Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam, 

Measg  nam  mearlach  charach,  chruaidh, 
Riamh  cha  d-fhuaireadh  fios  no  luaidh, 
Air  aon  iuchar'  bheireadh  buaidh, 
No  dheanadh  fuasgladli  idir  ort. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam, 


etc. 


etc. 


"S  ann  bha  'n  iuchar  dh-fhosgladh  tu 
'Na  mo  phocaid  achlais  dluth, 
'Nuair  a  bhual  's  a  bhrist  an  ou 
A  ghlas  'bha  duinte,  ceangailte. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam,  itc. 

Null  's  a  nail  thar  cuaii  'us  tuinn, 
'S  ioma  bliadhna  shiubhail  sinn, 
'S  tusa,  ghraidh,  cho  aluinn,  griiin, 
Ri  cumal  cruinn  mo  litrichean. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam,  &c. 

Ach  mo  chreach  mo  dheireadli  tliall, 
Ghoideadh  thu  le  bruid  de  Ghall, 
'S  dh-fhag  thu  mise  caoidh  do  chall, 
Gun  fhios  de  'n  toll  's  na  chuir  iad  thu. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam,  &c. 

'S  bochd  nach  b'  urrain  dhut  toirt  glaodh, 
"Nuair  a  chaidh  an  traill  nad  ghaoth, 
'S  cha  b'  ann  aon-chuid  mall  no  maotli, 
Ach  grad  rid  thaoblisa  bhithinnsa. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam,  &c. 

Hhrist  am  balgair  niosach  thu, 
'S  ghoid  e  'n  t-airgiod  bha  nad  bhru, 
'S  thilg  e  bhuaith  thu  air  bheag  diu, 
Mar  ni  nach  b'  fhiu  leis  bruidhinii  air. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuani  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam,  etc. 

'S  'nuair  a  fhuair  mi  thu  fadlieoidh, 
Brist  'us  buailt  air  ioma  doigh, 
Dh-fhas  mi  cheart  cho  binn  ri  oigh, 
Ri  seinn  deadh  orau  niilis  dhut. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuani  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam,  kc. 

Seadh  's  gu  'n  caraich  sinn  gun  dail 
Taobh  nio  ghaol  a  bhrist  an  traill, 
'S  triallaidh  sinn  a  null  thar  ski, 
Gu  tir  mo  gliraidh  's  mo  chridliesa. 

Ghoid  iad  bhuam  thu,  ghoid  iad  bhuam,  &c. 


IG 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


BONNIE     PRINCE     CHARLIE. 

By  J.  Hamilton  Mitchell. 


{Contijiiierl  from   I'd/.   III.,  paijr  23(5). 

Battle  of  Culloden. 

|pra|HE  climax  of  affairs  was  reached,  when 
W^  after  many  weeks  of  suffering  and 
^J^  exhausted  by  the  hardshijjs  which  they 
had  lately  endured,  the  Highlanders,  then 
reduced  to  5000,  were  brought  face  to  face  with 
their  enemies  on  the  plains  of  Culloden,  on  the 


16th  April,  174G.  Tired  by  the  effects  of  a 
night  march  upon  Nairn,  they  were  roused  from 
their  slumbers  and  hastily  mustered  to  oppose 
the  heterogeneous  mass  of  home  and  foreign 
mercenaries  who  constituted  the  troops  of  the 
Elector,  and  who  were  twice  their  number,  and 
supported  by  heavy  artillery.  The  elements 
now  even  seemed  to  oppose  the  cause  of  the 
unfortunate  yoimg  Stuart,  for  immediately 
before  the  commencement  of  the  action  a  heavy 
blast  of  rain  and  sleet  beat  directly  on  the  faces 
of  the  Highlanders.  The  English  artillery 
then  began  to  play  upon  them  with  fearful 
effect,  but,  through  an  error  in  judgment,  the 


From  Paiiitiiin  by] 


BATTLE    OF    CULLODEN. 


\Captaln  MackenzU 


charge  was  not  commenced  for  nearly  an  hour. 
At  length  the  clansmen,  unable  longer  to 
restrain  themselves,  rushed  impetuously  upon 
the  foe.  Lord  George  Murray  leading  them  to 
the  charge  with  indomitable  courage.  But  aU 
was  of  no  avail.  The  front  line  of  English  poured 
forth  an  incessant  fire  of  musketry,  the  cannon 
now  loaded  with  grape-shot  swept  the  field  as 
with  a  hailstorm,  and  when  the  Highlanders 
reached  the  lines  of  the  enemy  they  were 
enveloped  in  smoke  and  involved  among  the 
weapons.  They  rushed  on,  though  not  a  man 
ever  came  in  contact  with  the  enemy ;  the  last 
survivor  perished  as  he  reached  the  points  of 


the  bayonets.  All  that  courage,  all  that  despair 
could  do  was  done  that  day,  and  not  tiU  every 
bayonet  was  bent  and  bloody  with  sti-ife,  and 
the  bodies  of  the  gallant  Highlanders  were 
heaped  in  layers  of  three  and  four  deep,  did 
the  battle  cease :  — 

"  There  was  no  lack  of  bravery  there, 

No  spare  of  blood  or  breath, 
For,  one  to  two,  our  foes  we  dared, 

For  freedom  or  for  death. 

The  bitterness  of  grief  is  past. 

Of  terror  and  dismay  ; 
The  die  was  risked,  and  foidly  cist 

Upon  Culloden  day." 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Effects  of  the  Rebellion. 

Such  was  the  last  battle  fought  on  British 
soil.     Those  who  suffered  defeat  acquired  more 
fame  from  that  defeat  than  those  who  conquered, 
and  the  names  of  the  vanquished  have  descen- 
ded to  posterity  enshrined  in  a  halo  of  glory 
and  honour.     The  daring  attempt  of  the  young 
Prince  to  regain  his  ancestral  rights  has  been 
made  the  subject  of  story,  song,  and  ballad, 
and  wherever  Scotsmen  are  met  the  name  of 
Charles  Edward  Stuart  is  fondly  cherished  and 
duly  honoured.     The  question  of  whether  the 
Eebellion  was  in  itself  justifiable  has  been  often 
disputed.     In  justice  to  the  Jacobites  it  may 
be  said  that  when  any  form   of   government 
becomes  destructive  of  life,  liberty,  and  happi- 
ness, and  more  than  all,  to  the  national  name 
of  honour,  it  is  the  inherent  right  of  the  people 
to  alter  or  subvert  it  by  force  of  arms.     On 
these   grounds   alone   the    Highlanders    were 
amj)ly   justified   in    beginning    and    carrying 
through  the  civil  war  of  174o.     They  sought 
not  to  overturn  the   British  Constitution,  but 
only  to  drive  from  the  throne,  which  he  so  vmwor- 
thily  occupied,  a  foreign  interloper  who  was 
out  of  all  sympathy  with  the  wishes  and  aspira- 
tions of  the  peoi^le,  and  who  was  kept  there 
solely  by  the   assistance   of   whole   armies   of 
Dutch,   Swiss,  and  Hessians ;    and  to  replace 
him  by  a  Prince  of  their  own  blood,  who  was 
familiar  with  tbeir  hal.nts  and  customs,  whose 
interests  were  their  interests,  and  who  would 
be   their   friend   as   well   as    their    sovereign. 
Nor,  judged    by    its    results,  is    the    luckless 
expedition  of  Charles  Edward  to  Scotland  to 
be  deplored,  for,  though  it  did  not  meet  with 
the   success   which   it   merited,  and    was   the 
means  of  ruin  and  disaster  to  so  many  noble 
famihes,   the  loss  of  thousands  of  brave  and 
useful  fives,  yet  it  put  an  end  for  ever  to  the 
dynastical  struggle  which  agitated  Britain  for 
more  than  half  a  century.     It  restored  peace 
and    social    order    into    the    Highlands,   and 
blended  Celt  and  Saxon  into  one  prosperous 
and  united  people.     Where  is  the  Highlander 
of  to-day  who  will  not  rejoice  with  I'rofessur 
Aytoun  that  the  clan  system  and  patriarchal  rule 
of  the  chiefs  should  have  perished  amid  a  blaze 
of    glory   and    honour'    than    have    gradually 
dwindled  into  contempt — that  it  should  have 
been    extingiushed    in    one    brilliajit    though 
unsuccessful  effort  in  the  cause  of  right  than 
have    lingered    on,    the    shadow    of    an    old 
tradition  ?    The  uubought  loyalty  and  allegiance 
of  the  Highlanders  to  the  Prince  cannot  be  too 
highly  praised  nor  too  much  admired.     To  be 
the  last  of  aU  the  inhabitants  of  the  British 
Isles  to  acknowledge  an  alien  rule,  and  remam 
loyal  to  then-  ancient  line  of  kings  is  a  fact  that 


must  always  refiect  to  their  credit,  and  enshrine 
their  names  with  honour  everlasting: — 

"  Hands  that  never  failed  their  country. 
Hearts  that  never  baseness  knew. " 

Ch.\ELES    and    the    HiaHLANDEfiS. 

Charles  lingered  late  on  Culloden  field  in  the 
hope  that  all  was  not  lost,  and  it  was  only  when 
the  horse  which  he  rode  was  dragged  away  by 
his  immediate  body  guard,  that  he  quitted  the 
scene  of  battle.  Then  for  the  foUowmg  five 
months  with  a  reward  of  £30,000  upon  his 
head,  was  he  a  wanderer  in  the  Western  Isles, 
often  at  the  mercy  of  beggars  and  outlaws,  and 
undergoing  all  the  fatigue  and  suffering  incident 
to  such  a  life.  To  the  undying  honour  of  the 
Highlanders,  however,  not  one  was  foimd  base 
enough  to  betray  him;  not  one  regretted  having 
drawn  the  sword  in  his  cause ;  and  not  one  of 
them  but  would  gladly  have  imperilled  his  life 
and  fortime  over  again  for  the  sake  of  their 
beloved  Chevaher.  "He  went,"  says  Lord 
Mahon,  "  but  not  with  him  departed  his 
remembrance  from  the  Highlanders.  For 
years  and  years  did  his  name  continue  enshrined 
in  then-  hearts  and  familiar  to  their  tongues, 
their  plaintive  ditties  resounding  with  his 
exploits  and  inviting  his  return.  Again  in 
these  strains,  do  they  declare  themselves  ready 
to  risk  life  and  fortune  for  his  cause ;  and  even 
maternal  fondness — the  strongest  perhaps  of 
all  human  feelings — yields  to  the  passionate 
devotion  to  Prince  Charhe."  Never  did  senti- 
ments proceed  more  from  the  heart  than  those 
expressed  in  the  plaintive  song  of  "  Will  ye  no 
come  back  again." — 

"  Englisli  bribes  were  a'  in  vain 
Tho'  puir  and  puirer  we  maun  be. 
Siller  canna  buy  the  heart 
That  clings  aye  to  thine  and  thee. 

Thej'  sought  ye  in  the  gloamin'  hour. 
They  sought  ye  in  the  mornin'  grey. 
Though  thirty  thousand  pounds  they  gie. 
Yet  there  is  nane  that  wad  betray." 

Conclusion. 
Over  the  subsequent  life  of  the  unhappy 
Prince  we  draw  the  veil.  It  reveals  a  tale  of 
melancholy  interest — a  circumstance  often 
pointed  out  by  those  whose  destiny  has  never 
subjected  them  to  severe  trials,  as  proof  that 
he  was  never  possessed  of  a  magnanimous 
character.  But  the  people  who  hold  this  \iev/ 
— and  1  myself  have  met  many — would  do  well 
to  remember  that  continued  misfortune  and 
disappointment  had  begun  very  early  to  impair 
his  once  noble  mind,  and  that  for  long  he  was 
a  wanderer  in  foreign  lands,  lost  sight  of  by 
his  friends  and  even  by  his  father  and  brother. 
To  be  born  with  disputable  pretensions,  as  Mr. 


IB 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Chambers  points  out,  is  one  of  the  greatest  of 

misfortunes,  and  if  Charles  Edward  eventually 

yielded  to  the  frailties  which  inevitably  ensure 

degradation,    surely    the    magnitude    of    his 

sufferings   may   fairly   be    admitted    as    some 

palliation.     His  lot  liad  been  one  to  which  few 

men  have  ever  been  exposed,  but,  if  judged  by 

hia  early  Ufa  and  behaviour  during  his  brief 

expedition  in  Scotland,  he  will  be  found  to  have 

possessed  all  those  qualities  that  go  to  make 

an  amiable  and   popular   ruler,   and   a   great 

kmg.     The  man  who  induced   Highland  and 

Lowland  gentlemen  to  join  his  cause ;    who  led 

a  victorious   army   into   the   very   heart   of   a 

hostile  country,  and  had  the  crown  of  the  three 

kingdoms  akiiost  within  his  grasp ;  who  in  the 

dark  days  after  CuUoden  bore  his  trials  with 

an  equanimity  which  lasted  through  them  all ; 

•who  cheered  his  comrades  in  hours  of  danger ; 

and  who  displayed  powers  of  physical  endurance 

hardly  equalled  by  liis  companions,  must  have 

possessed    qualities    far    above    those    of    the 

ordmary    standard.       Throughout    his    brief 

military  career  Charles  Edward  Stuart  proved 

himself  a  Prince  of  marked  abihties,  a  brave 

soldier,  a   born   general,  and   a   true   patriot 

Till   the   last   his   heart   was  in  the  glens  of 

Scotland  and  with  the  Highlanders ;    nothing 

clouded  the  happiness  of  his  declining  yeai-s 

more  than  the  remembrance  of  the  brave  and 

noble  lives  which  were  sacrificed  on  his  behalf 

—a  sentiment  to  which  Burns  has  beautifully 

and    touchmgly    given    expression    in    "The 

ChevaUer's  Lament." — 

"  Tlie  deed  that  I  dar'd,  ctmld  it  merit  their  malice  >. 

A  king  and  a  fatiier  to  place  uii  his  throne  ! 
His  right  are  these  hills,  hi.s  right  are  these  valleys, 
Where  the  wild   beasts  iind  shelter,  tho'  I  can 
find  none  1 
But  'tis  not  1/11/  sutf'rings,  thus  wretched  forlorn  ! 

My  brave  gallant  friends,  'tis  ijovr  ruin  I  mourn  ; 
Your  faith  proved  so  loyal  in  hot  bloody  trial- 
Alas  I  can  make  it  no  better  return  I  " 

He  died  on  the  30th  January,  1788,  in  the 
arms  of  the  Master  of  Nairn,  and  beneath  the 
marble  of  St.  Peter's  Cathedral,  Rome,  the 
bones  of  Charles  Edward  Stuart  have  long 
since  crumbled  to  dust.  There  also,  stands  a 
monument  erected  by  desire  of  George  IV.— a 
generous  and  graceful  tribute  to  royalty  in 
misfortune— on  which  is  inscribed  three  empty 
titles  not  found  on  the  roll  of  British  kings— 
James  III.,  Charles  III.,  and  Henry  IX.  The 
last  of  these  unfortimate  Princes  died  in  1807, 
and  with  him  ended  "the  hapless  Stuart  line."— 

"No  more  for  their  cause  shall  the  trumpets  be 
blown, 
Nor  their  followers  crowd  to  the  field  ; 
Their  hopes  were  all  wreck'd  when  CuUoden  was 
won, 


And  the  fate  cf  their  destiny  seal'd. 
Cold,  cold  is  that  heart  which  could  stand  o'er  his 
grave, 
Nor  think  of  their  fate  with  a  sigh. 
That  the  glory  of  kings,  like  a  wreck  from  the  wave, 
Here  lone  and  deserted  must  lie." 
[The  End.] 

[Note.— Having  recently  visited  Prince  Charlie's 
Monument  at  Glentinnan,  I  was  much  surprised 
and  sorry  to  find  it  in  a  lamentable  state  of 
decay.  Not  only  is  the  western  portion  of  the 
surrounding  wall  completely  broken  down,  but 
the  masonry  at  the  base  of  the  tower  is  fast 
falling  away.  Surely  such  a  state  of  affairs 
should  not  be  allowed  to  exist !  A  very  trifling 
sum  would  repair  all  the  damage,  and  it  would 
reflect  both  honour  and  credit  on  the  superior 
of  the  ground  to  see  that  this,  the  only 
monument  in  Scotland  to  the  young  Chevalier, 
is  not  permitted  to  further  crumble  into 
ruin. -J.  H.  M.] 


REVIEWS. 


The  Minstrelsy  of  SroTL.\ND,  2(X)  Scottish  songs 
adapted  to  their  traditional  airs,  by  Alfred  Moffat. 
London  :    Augener  &   Coy.     This   is    a   handsome 
collection   of   songs   arranged   for  tlie   voice,    with 
pianoforte  accompaniment,  and  supplemented  with 
historical   notes.     Until  within  recent  years  such 
collections  seldom  or  never  included  examples  of 
Highland    minstrelsy,    but    now,    thanks    to    the 
patriotism  of  a  few— Highland   music   has   forced 
itself  on  public  favour  and  is  now   receiving  that 
attention  to  which  it  is  justly  entitled,  and  so  we 
are  pleased  to  note  that  the  present  collection  not 
only  contains  a  number  of  Highland  airs  set  to 
Lowland  songs,  but  about  a  score  <if  genuine  Gaelic 
melodies  with  singable  English  translations  of  the 
original  words.     The  most  of  these  have  been  taken 
from   "Fionn's"   Cultic    Li/ce,  which   of  ilselt  is  a 
guarantee  of  their  genuineness,   while  others  are 
taken    from    Mr.    L.    MacBean's    "Songs    of    the 
Highlands,"  and  a  few  from  our  own  columns.     The 
historical  notes  are   valuable   and   in   many   cases 
exceedingly  interesting,  while  the  setting  of  the  airs 
is  simple  but  eft'ective.     The  work  is  wonderfully 
moderate  in  price,  and  should  find  its  way  into  the 
hands  of  all  who  can  appreciate  a  genuine  collection 
of  characteristic  Scottish  songs.      Mr.  Moffat  is  to 
be  congratulated  on  the  thorough  manner  in  which 
he  has   performed  his  self-imposed  task,   and   we 
trust  his  labours  will  be  appreciated  as  they  deserve. 
Mr.  Alexanher   Mackenzie  has  issued  a  new 
and  enlarged  edition  of  his  Gvide  to  Ii(rerne.is  and 
the  Hiiihhinds,  a  book  that  should  be  in  the  hands 
of  every  one  who  wishes  to  possess  a  reliable  guide 
book,  and  learn  something  of  the  history  and  anti- 
quities of  the  places  visited.      We  know  nothing  to 
compare  with  it — it  is  a  marvellous  shillings  worth. 
The  value  of  the  book  is  very  much  enhanced  by  a 
series  of  process  plates  giving  views  of  the  principal 
places  of  interest  in  the  North.     Mackenzie's  Chiiiie 
can  be  had  at  any  of  the  railway  bookstalls  or  the 
leading  booksellers,  and  if  you  intend  visiting  the 
"  Land  of  the  Gael "  do  not  forget  to  provide  your- 
self with  a  copy. 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


1!) 


REV.     WILLIAM     MACKENZIE'S     FIRST 
SERMON     IN     TONGUE. 

.^/^N  the  Church  of  Tongue  becomiug  vacant 
V^k'))  '^'^o"*'  the  middle  of  last  century,  Kev. 
AVs^  William  Mackenzie,  who  had  charge 
of  the  mission  station  at  Achness,  near  the  head 
of  Strathnaver — then  thickly  populated  but 
now  alas  !  a  wilderness — was  asked  to  occupy 
the  pulpit  on  a  certain  Sabbath.  Here  was  a 
good  chance  for  the  talented  but  as  yet  uuor- 
dained  .  minister.  Admiral  Donald  INIackay, 
then  factor  of  the  Eeay  estate,  was  regularly  in 
his  place  in  the  family  pew,  and  although  not 
the  jjatron  of  the  "  living  "  his  influence  meant 
a  good  deal.  A  few  "laborious  days  and  sleep- 
less nights"  were  passed,  and  at  last  the  manu- 
script was  reaily,  and  the  Sabbath  came.  There 
were  no  roads,  but  the  steep  hills  which  lay 
between  the  young  aspu'ant  and  the  coveted 
ku'k  were  no  barrier.  Donning  his  best  suit, 
and  carefully  placing  the  MS.  sermon  in  his 
tall  hat — then  often  perfoi'ming  the  double 
function  of  head-gear  and  pocket — the  hopeful 
minister  grasped  his  stall'  and  ''  took  the  hills  " 
All  went  well  until  he  reached  the  narrow 
straits  which  join  Loch  Loyal  with  Loch 
Craggy.  Here  he  attempted  to  wade,  but  just 
as  he  was  in  the  niidtlle  of  the  stream  he 
stumbled,  and  as  either  his  head  was  too  small 
for  his  hat,  or  his  hat  too  large  for  his  head, 
the  former  fell  off,  and  after  swimming  down 


the  lake  for  a  short  distance  met  a  watery 
grave.  It  was  rather  awkward  to  want  the  hat, 
but  what  about  the  sermon? — the  product  of 
so  many  anxious  thoughts,  for  which  much 
"midnight  oil,"  or  rather  tallow  candles,  were 
ungrudgingly  wasted.  Poor  Mackenzie  never 
before  appeared  in  a  pulpit  without  the  aid  of 
his  MS ,  and  how  could  he  that  day  stand 
before  Admiral  Mackay'?  Less  deceitful  men 
would  have  foimd  some  excuse  and  returned 
home,  but  on  Mackenzie  came,  and  as  was 
afterwards  remarked  "  many  a  soul  had  to 
bless  God  that  he  did  come."  As  he  pursued 
his  journey  he  tried  to  recall  his  sermon,  but 
not  a  single  thought  of  it  would  enter  his  mind. 
He  was  perplexed,  but  resolved  to  call  on 
William  Koss  of  Deanside,  of  whose  sincere 
and  ardent  piety  he  often  heard,  though  he 
never  saw  the  man.  On  entering  William's 
house  he  related  to  the  veneraV)le  patriarch  all 
that  happened.  William,  though  probably  not 
very  fond  of  "paper  ministers,"  sincerely 
sympathized  with  the  young  man,  and  after 
meilitating  a  while  said; — "My  young  lad,  I 
don't  kniiw  what  to  say  to  you,  but  I  thmk  you 
should  go  to  the  church,  and  I'll  go  to  the 
barn  (then  the  place  of  prayer).  You  may  give 
out  the  psalm,  and  go  on  with  your  prayer,  and 
if  you'll  see  me  enter  the  church  you  may  go 
on  with  your  sermon  also."  Mr  Mackenzie 
went  on  to  church,  and  entered  the  pulpit. 
The  big  families  of  IMelness  and  Skerray  were 
in  the  big  seat  to  his  right,  the  Ribigills  and 
Kinlochs  were  to  his  left,  and  before  him  in 
that  ancient  seat  of  oak*  sat  Admiral  Mackay. 
However,  he  gave  out  the  psalm — rather  a  long 
one.  He  liegan  to  pray,  and  though  his 
intonations  were  longer  than  usual  lie  was 
about  to  exhaust  his  vocabulary  of  sentences 
suitable  for  such  an  occasion,  when  the  door 
opened  and  in  stepped  the  venerable  and 
plaided  William  Ross.  A  chapter  was  read,  a 
text  was  selected,  and  a  sermon  was  preached, 
and  till  this  day  the  people  of  the  Eeay  country 
will  exclaim  after  hearing  a  good  sermon,  that 
"  Mr  William's  could  hardly  be  better  1 " 
Needless  to  say  Mr.  Mackenzie  never  afterwards 
"imitated  a  crow  nibbling  at  a  potato,"  as  the 
"paper  ministers  "  have  since  been  likened  to. 
He  was  inducted  in  Tongue  in  1769,  and 
laboured  with  "  sound  judgment,  zeal  and 
success"  till  his  death  m  1834.  Both  his  son 
and  grandson  succeeded  him. 


For  Pictures  of  the  Ancient  Church  of  Tongue 
and  Lord  Reay's  Pew,  see  Ceitic  Monllihi,  Vol. 
II.,  1894. 


Tongue,  S\it.herlaiui. 


John  Mureay. 


20 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


CLANN     NAN     GAIDHEAL. 


)JT^|HE  following  verses  are  composed  to  the 
V^  well  known  and  rousing  air  of  "  Tki, 
'^J^  tii/h'nn  fodhiitii  in  id/i"  This  song  was 
originally  composed  to  one  of  the  Chiefs  of  the 
Clan  Ranald,  the  famous  Aileim  Muidenrlach. 
Buswell,  the  biograjjher  of  Johnson,  boasted 
that  he  could  sing  one  verse  of  this  ditty. 
Like  other  popular  airs  several  rhymers  tried 
their  hand  at  composing  words  to  "  Tka  tiijlinn 
fodh'im  eiriiih"  but  none  of  them  are  of  out 
standing  merit.  Nor  do  I  claim  any  superiority 
for  my  own  humble  efforts  in  the  following  verses. 
Only,  they  may  be  fully  as  smooth  and  singable 
as  any  of  the  others,  and  perhaps  somewhat 
more  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  and  senti- 
ment of  our  present-day  Highlanders. 

Seisd  : — 

Tha  titfh'nn  foclhara,  fodhara,  fodhaui, 

Tha  tigh'nn  fodhara,  fodham,  fodhain, 

Clann  nan  Gilidlieal  a  tigh'nn  fodhara, 

'S  foghainteachd  an  euchdan. 

Siol  nan  sonn  's  nan  curaidhean, 
'Bha  'n  tir  an  fhraoich  a'  tuineachadh, 
A  dhion  a  cliu  gu  h-iirramach, 

'S  nach  fhuiligeadh  an  eucoir. 

An  cliu  's  an  iiir  sin  mealaniaid, 
'S  an  t^saor.s'  is  daor  a  cheannaich  iad, 
'S  a  chaoidh  a'  stri  gun  fhannachadh 
A  leantninn  air  an  ceum-san. 

'Us  ged'  tha  'u  al  air  tanachadh, 
'Us  niuii'  'us  tir  'g  an  dealachadh, 
Tha  cairdeas  bli'ith  'g  an  teannachadh 
Le  carthantas  ri  che'ile. 

Cha  diobair  iad  am  fearalachd, 
No  rioghalachd  an  seanaircan, 
'S  an  gaol  do  thir  an  athraichean, 
Ged  'sgaradh  iad  blio  che'ile. 

O,  gu  ma  buan  'us  maireannach, 
'Bhios  cliii  nam  fiviran  chaithrcamach, 
'Us  fhad  bhios  grian  'us  gealach  ann 
Bidh  aithris  air  an  euchdan  ! 

N.  Macleod. 


THEID    Ml    NULL   THAR   AN    ATLANTIC. 


Sei.sd — 
Thu'id  mi  null  thar  an  Attaidii; 
Theid  mi  null,  's  gur  ann  am  dheoin, 
Theid  mi  sbebladh  air  na  cuantailih 
Gu  mo  luaidh-sa,  Hattic  og. 

Tha  mo  cliridhe-s'  an  Ur-Albainn,* 
Tir  nan  garbh-choill'  'us  nan  6b, 

Far  am  bell  mo  leannan  uaaal. 
An  t^  shuau'c'  a  rinn  mo  leon. 


Ged  'tha  iomadh  caileag  aluinn 
Eadar  Gekrrloch  'us  Ferraoit — 

Air  fad  Albainn  agus  Eirhin — 

'8  tu-sa  ra'  e'ibhneas  thar  gach  oigli. 

Bha  mi  duilich  'bhi  ga  d'  fhagail, 
Bha  mi,  'ghraidh,  a  sileadh  dhebir, 

'S  bha  mo  chridhe  faisg  air  sgkineadh 
'N  uair  a  riiinig  mi  air  bord. 

Fad  del  sheachdain  air  a  chuan  domh 
Bha  mi  luaineach  gun  do  phoig, 

Ach  a  nis'  gur  buileach  truagh  mi 
O'n  's  fhad  nam  thu,  Hattic  big. 

Gu  ma  luath  a  tliig  an  latha, 

'Us  an  t-soitheach  'bhios  fo  shebl, 

A  bheir  mise  null  air  astar 
'i)h  'ionnsaidh  'chailinn  leam  is  buidhch'. 

'S  trie  ga  d'  fhaioinn  mi  am  bruadar, 
'S  trie  'nam  shuaiu  mi  'toirt  dhuit  phbg, 

Ach  's  a'  mhadainn  's  fliada  uait  mi, — 
Och,  mo  thruaigh',  tha  mi  'Fermbi. 


No^•a  Scotia.         t  Fernioy,  County  Cork. 

R.  Frasbr  Mackenzie. 


A     CELTIC     LIBRARY     FOR     AliERDEEN 
UNIVERSITY. 


In  concert  with  the  University  authorities,  the 
Aberdeen  Highland  Association,  which  is  now  in 
siich  a  flourishing  condition,  has  issued  an  appeal 
for  funds  to  acquire  a  very  valuable  Celtic  Library 
which  is  at  present  available  for  this,  the  most 
Highland  of  our  Scottish  Universities.  A  well- 
known  collector,  whose  name  is  familiar  to  readers 
of  the  Ci'Ific  Montldy,  in  order  to  have  his  books  in 
the  safe  keeping  of  the  University  for  the  use  of 
successive  generations  of  Celtic  students,  has  offered 
his  collection  to  the  University  for  the  amount 
which  it  has  cost  him  to  bring  them  together, 
during  more  than  fifty  years  of  careful  and  discrimi- 
nating book-hunting.  If  broken  up  and  dispersed 
in  the  usual  way,  this  large  .and  well  chosen  collec- 
tion of  Celtic  books  might  be  exjiected  to  sell  for 
three  or  four  hundred  pounds  ;  but  the  University 
can  now  acquire  them  for  one  hundred  guineas. 
Besides  a  complete  set  of  almost  every  original 
work  ever  printed  in  Scotch  Gaelic,  this  collection 
is  specially  rich  in  early  Irish  works,  in  the  old 
literature  of  Cornwall  and  Brittany,  and  in  such 
books  in  old  French  as  would  be  invaluable  to 
Celtic  students  entering  on  original  research  as  to 
the  origin  of  the  Celtic  people  and  the  early 
development  of  their  respective  forms  of  the  old 
Celtic  tongue.  Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie  has  already 
given  £20,  and  further  subscriptions  may  be  sent 
to  Hugh  Macdonald,  Esq.,  123^  Union  Street, 
Aberdeen,  the  Secretary  of  the  Association. 

■'The  Clan  Mackay  Society  commences  its  eighth 
^ssion  by  a  meeting  in  Edinburgh  ou  17th  October. 
The  last  session  was  the  most  successful,  financially 
and  numerically,  for  several  years  past. 


GENERAL    SIR    JOHN    A.    EWARf     K  C  3. 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

A  MAGAZINE   FOR   HIGHLANDERS. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MACKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.  2    Vol.  IV.] 


NOVEMBER,     1895. 


[Price  Threepence. 


GENERAL    SIR    JOHN     ALEXANDER 
EWART,     K.C.B. 


vvpi^ENElUL  SIR  JOHN  EWART,  the 
f^lfitr'  present  Colonel  of  the  Argyll  and 
\\^l  Sutherland  Highlanders,  was  liorn  on 
11th  June,  1821,  in  H.M.  67th  Regiment,  of 
which  his  father,  the  late  Lieutenant-General 
John  Frederick  Ewart,  C.B.,  was  at  that  time 
the  Lieutenant-Colonel.  He  was  educated  at 
the  Royal  Military  College  of  Sandhiu'st,  and 
in  May,  1838,  passed  out  at  the  head  of  the 
Ust,  obtaining  at  the  same  time  the  prize  for 
general  merit  and  good  conduct,  and  also  a 
special  certificate  signed  by  the  Board  oi 
Examination. 

General  Sir  George  Murray,  G.C.B.,  who 
was  then  the  Colonel  of  the  42ud  Royal  High 
landers,  applied  for  his  appointment  to  that 
regiment,  but  there  being  no  vacancy,  he  was 
on  the  27th  July,  1838,  gazetted  to  an  Ensigncy, 
without  purchase,  in  the  S-'jth  Royal  Sussex 
Regiment,  the  depot  of  which  was  stationed  at 
Stirling  Castle,  where  he  joined.  In  1840  he 
embarked  for  the  Island  of  Mauritius,  ser\ing 
in  that  colony  until  1843,  and  again  from  1840 
till  1848,  in  which  year  he  became  a  Captain 
and  exchanged  to  the  93rd  Sutherland  High 
landers.  Whilst  ui  the  3.5th  he  for  sometime 
commanded  the  light  company,  and  was  for 
several  years  captain  of  the  cricket  eleven. 

On  September  30th,  1848,  he  joined  the 
93rd  Highlanders  at  Stirlmg  Castle,  the 
regiment  which  had  just  returned  from  Canada, 
being  quartered  at  Stirling,  Perth,  and  Dundee. 
After  remaining  for  foiu'  years  in  Scotland  it 
was  moved  to  England,  and  in  February,  1854, 
received  sudden  orders  to  embark  for  jNIalta, 
together  with  three  battalions  of  the  Cuards 
and  several  other  regiments.  War  with  Russia 
ha\'ing  been  declared,  it  proceeded  on  tn 
Turkey,  landing  at    Gallipoli   on   11th   April, 


1854,  and  at  Varna  on  the  15th  Jime,  for  the 
purpose  of  assisting  the  Turks  then  besieged  at 
Silistria  by  the  Russians :  the  latter,  however, 
on  hearing  of  the  arrival  of  the  Bi'itish  and 
French  troops,  at  once  raised  the  siege  and 
retired.  The  invasion  of  the  Crimea  was  then 
decided  on,  and  on  the  7th  September  the 
combined  expedition  sailed,  a  sight  which  will 
never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  witnessed  it. 

The  British  infantry  had  been  formed  into 
five  divisions,  the  1st,  which  was  connnanded 
by  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of  Cambridge,  consisting 
of  three  battalions  of  Guards  and  the  three 
Highland  regiments  (42nd,  79th,  and  93rd). 
On  the  14th  September  the  landing  of  the 
troops  was  effected  .about  eight  miles  south  of 
Eupatoria,  and  on  the  19th  the  allies  consisting 
of  27,000  British,  23,000  French,  and  8,000 
Turks  commenced  their  march  towards 
Sebastopol. 

The  Battle  of  Abna  took  place  on  the  20th 
September,  the  Russians  occupying  a  very 
strong  position  on  the  heights  beyond  the  river, 
strengthened  by  two  earth-works,  both  heavily 
armed.  The  light  division  under  Lieutenant- 
General  Sir  George  Brown,  assisted  by  a 
portion  of  the  2nd  division,  endeavoured  to 
storm  the  principal  field-work,  but  were  unfor- 
tunately driven  back  by  the  heavy  fire.  The 
Guards  and  Highlanders  then  advanced  in 
line,  the  former  capturing  the  field-work  and 
the  latter  storming  tlie  heights  to  its  right. 
At  5  o'clock  the  fighting  was  all  over  and  the 
Russians  in  full  retreat,  the  loss  of  the  93rd 
being  1  officer  (Ensign  Abercromby)  killed 
and  52  non-commissioned  officers  and  men 
killed  or  wounded.  In  this  battle  Sir  John 
Ewart,  who  was  at  the  time  a  captain,  had  the 
scabbard  of  his  claymore  broken  by  a  rifle  ball. 
He  was  subsequently  present  at  the  Battles  of 
Balaclava  and  lukerman,  and  throughout  the 
Siege  of  Sabastopol,  accompanying  the  93rd  on 
the  expeilition  to  Kertch  and  Yenikale,  and 
being  present  with  them  at  the  two  assaults 
upon  Sebastopol,  made  18th  Jime  and  Sth 
September,  1855.  The  Highland  regiments 
were  not  present  at  Inkerman,  being  at  that 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


date  employed  in  the  defence  of  Balaclava,  but 
Sir  John  Ewart,  who  had  passed  through  the 
Staff  College,  having  been  appointed  a  Deputy 
Assistant  Quarter-Master  General  was  present 
at  that  battle  ou  horseback,  and  was  riding 
with  Lord  Raglan  and  the  staff  when  a  shell 
burst  in  their  midst,  kilHng  the  horses  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Gordon,  A.Q.M.G.,  and  Cap- 
tain Somerset,  A.D.C  ,  and  mortally  wounding 
General  Strangways,  who  commanded  the 
British  artillery. 

On  the  termination  of  the  war  Sir  John 
Ewart,  who  had  previously  been  promoted  to 
the  rank  of  Major,  was  made  a  Brevet  Lieutenant- 


Colonel,  and  was  one  of  four  officers  of  the  93rd 
who  received  the  French  Legion  of  Honour  and 
Turkish  Order  of  the  Medjidie,  and  one  of 
three  officers  of  the  93rd  who  received  the 
Piedmontese  Silver  Medal  inscribed  with  the 
words  "  Al  valore  militare,"  he  having  served 
throughout  the  entire  campaign  without  being 
absent  from  his  duty  for  a  single  day.  He  was 
for  some  little  time  in  command  of  the  regiment 
during  the  siege,  in  consequence  of  the  absence 
of  the  other  three  field-officers. 

Whilst  acting  as  a  D  A.(i.MG.  he  executed  a 
survey  of  the  whole  of  the  country  l)etween 
Balaclava   and    the    liussian    defences,    being 


repeatedly  under  fire  whilst  so  employed,  and 
was  with  the  93rd  when  they  did  duty  for  two 
months  in  the  trenches  after  their  return  from 
Kertch. 

Sir  John  remained  in  the  Crimea  until  the 
veiy  last,  and  on  returning  to  England  in  July, 

1856,  after  peace  had  been  proclaimed,  was 
stationed  at  Aldershot  and  Dover  until  June, 

1857,  when  the  regiment  was  placed  under 
orders  for  China,  forming  part  of  an  expedition 
sent  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  Canton.  On 
arrival  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  the  destina- 
tion  of   the   93rd   was   suddenly   changed    to 


India,  in  consequence  of  the  breaking  out  of 
the  great  mutiny  of  the  native  troops,  and  ou 
reaching  Calcutta  the  regiment  was  pushed  on 
hurriedly  to  Cawupore,  with  a  view  to  the 
rescue  of  the  ladies  and  children  besieged  in 
the  residency  of  Lucknow,  for  although  Have- 
lock  and  Outran!  had  fought  their  way  with 
the  78th  Highlanders  and  <me  or  two  other 
regiments  into  Lucknow  in  the  month  of 
September,  they  were  unable  to  make  the 
rescue  complete  and  became  themselves  also 
besieged. 

On   November  2n'l   Sir  .lohu    was   tng.iged 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


23 


with  two  companies  of  the  fl;)rcl  in  an  attaik 
upon  the  fortitiecl  village  of  Buiiterab,  and  mi 
the  5th  was  second  in  command  of  a  foi-ce  scut 
to  I'onvey  pi'ovisi(ins  and  ammunition  to  the 
Aluiubagh,  where  Haveloek  had  left  his  sick, 
and  liaggage  under  a  strong  guard;  this  was 
successfully  aui'-omplished  after  being  again 
engageil  with  the  enemy. 

On  the  14th  Sir  Colin  Campbell  having 
arrived,  the  relieving  force  consisting  of  about 
-1,000  men  advanced  from  the  Alumhagh  anil 
captured  the  Dilkusha  and  Martiniere,  the  Fort 
of  •lulalal)ad  having  been  taken  possession  of 
on  the  previous  day,  when  Sir  John  Ewart 
conuuanded  the  brigade  of  infantry  sent  to 
attack  it.  He  was  also  given  command  of  the 
rearguard  consisting  of  three  squadrons  of 
cavalry,  a  troop  of  horse  artillery,  and  -"illi) 
infantry,  detailed  to  jirotect  the  whole  of  the 
baggage  and  provisions  during  Sir  Coliu's 
advan(-e  ou  the  14th.  This  he  eliected  without 
the  loss  of  a  single  cart,  after  beating  off  the 
enemy. 

The  storming  of  the  Secunderbagh  toi  'k  place 
on  the  16th  November,  when  Sir  John  Ewart 
(then  Major  and  Brevet  Lieutenant-(.'olonel) 
commanded  the  seven  companies  of  the  03rd 
which  took  part  in  it,  the  remaining  three  being 
engaged  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Leith-Ha>- 
in  the  capture  of  a  village  and  the  King's 
stables.  There  were  no  ladders,  but  a  small 
lireach  having  been  made  in  the  wall  of  the 
building  by  one  (if  the  heavy  guns  an  entrance 
was  ett'ected,  the  hole,  however,  being'  only 
large  enougli  to  admit  one  at  a  time.  The 
enemy  were  taken  by  surprise,  Ijut  those  whu 
got  in  first  had  to  tight  for  their  lives,  and 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Ewart  had  his  bonnet  shot 
oft'  his  head  by  a  volley  tired  at  a  distance  of 
only  ten  yards,  afterwards  receiving  two  sword 
cuts  in  a  personal  encounter  with  two  native 
officers  who  were  defending  a  colour  which  he 
succeeded  in  capturing.  The  main  entrance 
gate  and  a  large  window  protected  by  iron 
bars  having  been  at  last  forced,  the  rest  of  the 
stormers  rushed  in,  and  in  a  short  time  aljout 
2,000  of  the  rebels  lay  dead,  no  quarter  being 
given  on  account  of  the  horriljle  barbarities 
perpetrated  at  Cawnpore,  by  order  of  the 
scoundrel.  Nana  Sahib. 

The  Shah  Nujjeef  and  other  buildings  were 
then  stormed  and  t;iken,  and  the  rehef  of  the 
Kesidency  ett'ected,  the  women,  children,  sick 
and  wounded,  beiug  all  withdrawn  ou  the  night 
of  the  19th,  and  the  troops  under  Haveloek  and 
Outram,  together  with  Sir  Coliu's  force,  retiring 
to  the  Martiniere  on  the  night  of  the  '2'2ad. 

To  the  great  grief  of  everyone  Sir  Henry 
Uavekx'k  died  on  the  24th  November,  and  Sir 
Colin  Campbell  then  decided  to  leave  Outram 


with  4,000  men  in  front  of  Luckuow,  whilst  he 
himself  escorted  the  women,  children,  sick,  and 
wounded  to  Cawnpore.  The  OlJrd  accompanied 
him,  starting  on  the  27th,  the  force  of  3,000 
men  having  to  protect  an  enormous  number  of 
helpless  creatures,  whom  it  was  necessary  to 
carry  and  get  across  the  (langes  as  soon  as 
possible. 

General  Wyndham  had  been  left  in  command 
at  ("awnpore,  as  that  place  was  threatened  l)y 
the  mutineers  of  the  Cwalior  Contingent,  who 
had  ett'ected  a  junction  with  some  of  the 
soldiers  of  Nana  Sahib,  and  now  endeavoured 
to  gain  possessi<in  of  the  bridge  of  boats  so  as 
to  prevent  the  re  crossing  of  Sir  Colin  ;  and  on 
the  very  day  the  latter  marched  from  Lucknow 
made  a  tierce  and  determined  attack  upon 
Cawnpore,  driving  ^^'yndham  into  the  small  fort. 

Campbell  had  hiilted  for  the  night  at  Bunnee, 
but  in  consequence  of  the  heavy  tiring  heard  in 
the  direction  of  Cawnpore.  he  made  a  forced 
march  of  about  forty  miles  ou  the  28tli,  and 
just  managed  to  arrive  in  time  to  save  the 
bridge,  the  93rd  being  the  first  regiment  sent 
across  under  cover  of  the  heavy  guns  belonging 
to  the  Naval  Brigade. 

On  the  night  of  the  29th  the  women,  children, 
and  invalids  were  all  got  safely  across  the 
Ganges,  and  Sir  Colin  disposed  his  force  the 
best  way  he  could  to  protect  them  until 
rehiftjrcements  shoulil  arrive  from  Allahabad. 
It  was  in  the  performance  of  this  duty  that  Sir 
John  Ewart  lost  his  left  arm  by  a  cannon  shot 
ou  the  1st  December,  not  far  from  the  spot 
where  his  cousin.  Colonel  John  Ewart,  who 
C(mimanded  the  1st  Bengal  Native  Infantry 
which  mutinied,  ha<l  been  foully  murdered, 
together  with  his  wife  and  little  girl,  in  the 
month  of  Julj". 

When  Ewart's  left  arm  was  shot  away  his 
right  arm  was  in  a  sling  from  his  wound  at 
Lucknow,  and  he  continued  for  some  weeks  in 
a  very  sad  state,  his  life  having  at  one  time 
been  given  over.  Possessing  a  strong  constitu- 
tion he  eventually  recovered,  and  after  leaving 
Cawnpore  was  sent  to  England  on  sick  leave. 
The  death  of  poor  Adrian  Hope  at  the  attack 
upon  the  fort  of  Rohya  gave  him  his  regimental 
Lieutenant  Colonelcy,  and  the  mutiny  having 
l)een  completely  put  down  he  exchanged  with 
Colonel  Stisted  of  the  78th  Highlanders,  then 
on  its  passage  home  from  India.  He  had  been 
appointed  a  Companicjii  of  the  Bath,  and  in 
April,  1859,  was  further  rewarded  for  his 
services  by  being  made  an  Aide-de-Camp  to  the 
t^ueen,  with  the  rank  of  Eull-Colonel  in  the 
army,  a  promotion  which  put  him  over  the 
heads  of  about  a  hundred  liieutenaut-Colonels. 
He  continued  in  command  of  the  Boss  shire 
Butt's  until  October,  1864,  and  in  the  year  1872 


24 


THE    CELTIC     MOlJTHLY. 


was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major-General, 
shortly  afterwards  receiving  the  reward  of  £100 
per  annum,  granted  for  distinguished  services. 
After  the  Relief  of  Luckuow  he  was  strongly 
recommended  by  Brigadier-Gent  ral  the  Hon 
Adrian  Hope,  who  commanded  the  Highland 
Brigade,  for  the  Victoria  Cross,  the  names  of 
three  other  officers  of  the  93rd  being  also  sent 
in  at  the  same  time,  but  Sir  Colin  Campbell,  who 
had  become  Full-Colonel  of  the  regiment, 
dechned  to  award  more  than  one  Cross,  being 
probably  afraid  that  he  would  be  accused  of 
favouring  the  Sutherland  Highlanders.  He 
therefore  gave  orders  that  the  officers  should 
assemble  and  select  the  recipient.  A  mess 
meeting  was  held  with  the  following  result  :— 

Captam  W.  D.  Stewart,     -     18  Votes. 
Lieut  -Colonel  J.  A.  Ewart,    16      „ 
Captain  W.  A.  Cooper,      -      5       „ 

One  of  the  medical  officers  who  was  unable  to 
attend  the  meeting  stated  that  he  should  have 
voted  for  Ewart,  who  therefore  only  lost  the 
Victoria  Cross  by  one  vote.  Had  he  represented 
the  matter  he  w'ould,  doubtless,  have  been  given 
the  much-coveted  decoration,  but  he  has  all 
along  refused  to  do  so,  as  he  considers  that  he 
was  no  braver  than  the  rest  of  his  brother- 
officers,  and  merely  did  his  duty. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1877,  Su-  John 
Ewai-twas  appomted  to  the  command  of  the 
Allahabad  division,  extending  from  Cawnpore 
to  Segowlie  on  the  Nepaul  frontier,  a  distance 
of  about  five  hundred  miles.  This  appointment 
he  held  imtil  the  30th  November,  1879,  when 
in  consequence  of  his  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
Lieuteuant-General  he  had  to  leave  India. 

On  the  12th  January,  1881,  he  became  a 
Full  General  on  the  active  list,  having  previously 
been  appointed  Colonel  of  the  Duke  of  Edin- 
burgh s  Wiltshire  Kegimeut  The  Colonelcy  of 
the  92nd  Gordon  Highlanders  falling  vacant 
he  was  on  the  12th  March,  1881,  transferred  to 
that  regiment,  and  on  the  30th  June,  1895,  he 
was  again  transferred  to  the  Colonelcy  of  the 
ArffvU  and  Sutherland  Highlanders,  which 
consists  of  the  old  91st  and  93rd.  On  the 
occasion  of  Her  ^Majesty's  Jubilee  he  was  made 
a  K.C.B.  Sir  John  Ewart  belongs  to  an  old 
Border  family,  which  in  the  15th  century  moved 
into  the  Stewartry  of  Kirkcudbright.  His 
residence,  Craigclouch,  is  situated  m  Eskdale, 
about  two  miles  from  Langholm,  and  he  is  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Dumfries. 
He  married  in  the  year  1858  Frances,  eldest 
daughter  of  John  Spencer  Stone,  of  CaUingwood 
Half,  and  two  of  his  sons  are  Captains  in  the 
79th  Cameron  Highlanders,  another  having 
been  for  some  time  in  the  Black  Watch.  He 
has  therefore  been  closely  connected  with  th» 


five  old  kilted   regiments,  ■42nd,   78th,    79tl- 
92nd,  and  93rd. 

„     .    ,  John  M^ckay. 


THE    SEAFORTH     HIGHLANDERS 
IN     HINDOOSTAN. 

"Cabek  Feilih." 

The  Stokming  of  Bangalore. 
Few   were   the   words   their   leader   spake,    as    he 

glanced  along  the  line. 
He  saw  in  the  looks  of  his  Highland  men  the  fever 

of  battle  shine.  „      ^     ^   „,■ 

High  o'er  the  dizzy  heights  the    Fort*  of   Tippoo 

Sahib  gleamed,  ,    ,.  ,  ^    r        > 

Whose  ramparts  circled  round  with  light,  far  o  er 

the  city  streamed  ; 
Muskets  and  pointed  bayonets  sheen,  and  the  rattle 

of  burnished  guns,  .  ,      f 

Shewed  where  the  storming  party  lay,  the  pick,  ot 

Scotia's  sons  ;  x.     n  i.^  i. 

Darker  and  darker  fell  the  shades  across  the  Pettah 

The  northern  warriors  eager  strained  to  hear  the 
signal  call  ;  ,     ,  i      c 

The  pipers'  lingers  mutely  played  the  march  ot 
'  Caber  Feidh,'  ,,  ,     j  .i 

For  well  they  knew  the  kilted  lads  would  lead  the 
upward  way. 

Three  guns  in  quick  succession  rung, 

'  To  arms,'  the  Seaforth  gallants  sprung. 

Out  they  rushed  from  the  covered  way  in  a  sheet 

of  deadly  fire,  ,  ,  .  . 

The  hurrying  troops  upon  the  breach  mount  higher 

still  and  higher;  ,  ,,        ■, 

Proudly  the  feather  bonnets  waved,  and  the  silver 

antlered  head 
Bright  on  the  stalwart  shoulders  glanced,  where 

tii-st  the  Seaforlhs  lead  ; 
With  wild  huzzas  of  conquering  men  who  never  yet 

have  failed, 
Sure   footed   as   the    mountain   stag    the    swaying 

ladders  scaled. 
The  cheering  sound  of  beating  drums,  the  soldiers 

shout  of  joy,  ,       ,  rr- 

Triumphant  swept  the  ramparts  round  and  iippoo  s 

power  destroy.  .  . 

Down  went  the  alien  flag,  a  strip  of  crimson  siIkT 

was  there,  . 

The  colours  of  the  lion  rampant  floating  tree  on  air: 
The  foremost  ap  the  the  breich  that  day, 
The  hardy  sons  of  '  Caber  Feidh.' 

Savendkoog. 
O'er  the  giddy  heights  ot  Savendroog  the  kilt  and 

.sporran  swung,  , 

The  first  to  dare  the  steep  descent  by  jaggod  peaks 

o'er  hung  ;  .      .,  ,        i     j 

The  first  the  dread  ascent  to  gain,  three  hundred 

feet  in  face,  c       c        c 

Climbing   the   perilous   rock    by   dint   of   tufts   of 

slippery  grass  ;  ,        ,  i    , 

Then  burst  the  belching  batteries  forth,  wliBr*.  sho' 

and  shell  bstrayed 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


25 


•A'ithin  the  fort  tlia  clu»ky  bordss,  l)y  Bi-itish  pluck 

dismayed. 
"  Britons   strike   liome,"    then    charged    the    host, 

heroic  ardour  burned 
Within  each  breast,  whose  muskets  sheen  no  dusky 

warrior  turned  ; 
Where  danger's  post  was  carried  first,  the  Seafortli's 

last  were  seen, 
And  '  Caber  Feidh  '  the  pipei'S  played  for  the  lads 

in  tartan  green. 
No  life  was  lost,  e'en  death  refrained, 
To  mar  the  glorious  victory  gained. 

The  Gates  of  Otitra-durgum. 

Not  ended  yet  the   Seaforth's   task,  before   them 
<  )utra-durgum  lay. 


Tho'  scares  two  suns  had  sot  to  r«at  in  the  arm»  of 

dying  day. 
No  need  to  wait  for  granted  leavej  the  soldiers 

rushed  the  wall, 
Tho'  fast  the  gate,  the  Celtic  fire  doomed  that  the 

fort  should  fall  ; 
The  ladders  with  the  pioneers  dashed  over  quick 

as  thought ; 
The  second   wall,  the  second  gate,   the  dauntless 

Seaforths  fought. 
Forcing  with  shoulders  squared  a  way,  thro'  bolts 

and  bars  they  burst. 
Until  the  narrowing  pathway  stemmed  th'  advancing 

bayonet  thrust ; 
Too  late  the  Colonel's   order  sent  the   dangerous 

slopes  to  leave. 


^^-kt^liX^ 


THE     SEAFIlRTII     IlUilll 


VIJNG    THE    HEIGHTS     AT    SAVENDROOG. 


'^:^ 


The  seeming  check  the  Highland  blood,  the  High-  Fierce  white  sheets  of  lurid   flame,   muskets  and 

land  wit  relieve  ;§  rockets  rent 

Hand  over  hand  the  ladders  came,   five  walls  to  The  holy  calm  of  eastern  night,  o'er  heated  battle 

escalade,  bent ; 

'  Then  forward  lads,'  no  danger  yet  the  Seaforth  Disturbed,  the  echoing  hills  sent  back  each  shout  of 

lads  dismayed,  mad  delight. 

Two  companies  of  Highland  men  alone  the  fortress  \g   q'qj.   t]je   nullah   rushed   the   foe,  pursued    by 

took,  Highland  might. 

Which,  to  his  lowest  depths  the   fame  of  Tippoo  jjj„p  ^j^jg  ^he  valiant  Seaforths  charged,  successful 

Sahib  shook.  .j,.ji„gj  ^l^  f^,e^ 

Dauntless  still  in  valour  shone  the  kiltsd  lads  in  And  twice  the  swollen  river  crossed   in   flush    of 

fight,  heavy  flow,; 

That  last  decisive  victory  gained,**  thro'  the   long  The  current  claimed  its  victims  there,  of   gallant 

and  weary  night  men;and  true, 


2(i 


THE     CiiLTIC     MONTHLY. 


Uiit  forward  still  their  cuinrades  went,  and  forced  a 

passage  thro', 
And  victory  held  the  laurel  wreath  above  the  nolile 

slain, 
Where  early  morn  the  tartan  kissed  for  some  one  s 

sake  again. 

What  they  have  done  in  years  gone  by  should  need 

arise  to  claim, 
The  steady  arm,  the  dauntless  heart,  would  concjuer 

just  the  same. 
Witness    the    march    to    Candahar,    the    desperate 

Afghan  war. 
Where  many  a  gallant    Seaforth  lad,   from   home 

is  sleeping  far ; 
Amai  height,  whose  records  tell  the  deed.s  of  daring 

done. 
Where  gallant  8ellars'+t  bravery  the  cross  of  valour 

won. 
Look   to  the  keen  eyes'  sparkle,   as  the  ranks   go 

sweeping  by, 
That  speaks  the  Highland  heart  within,  to  coixpur 

or  to  die. 
With  the  Scottish  colours  tiying,  from  the  pipers  as 

they  play 
The    march    that   leads    to     victory    the    men    of 

'  Caber  Feidh.' 


ANGUS     MACKINTOSH,     HATFIELD. 


*  The  Pellah  of  Bangalore. 

+  Lieutenant  Duncan  of  tlie  71st  pulled  down  the  flag 
and  put  his  own  sash  in  its  jihice. 

J  Lieutenant  Maclimes  applied  for  leave  tc  storm  the 
first  gate:  Captain  .Soott  deemed  the  ciiterprise 
unpracticable,  but  the  soUlieis  hearing  the  reijutst 
made,  and  not  doubting  of  consent  being  gi\'eii, 
rushed  towards  the  wall  followed  by  MacIniVes. 

§  Lieutenant  Mad'hersou  forced  his  way  through  the 
crowd,  causing  the  ladders  to  be  handed  over  the 
soldiers'  heads.  bel'iM-e  the  t'olonel's  order  could  be 
delivered. 

**  Seriugapatarn. 

tt  Sergeant  Sellars,  1st  Battalion  Seafortlis. 


Loudon. 


Alice  C.  MacDonkll. 


Clan  Chattan  A.ssociation. — The  first  monthly 
meeting  this  season  of  the  Clan  Chattan  Association 
was  held  on  17th  October  in  the  Blythswood  Rooms 
— Mr.  William  Mackintosh  in  the  chair,  and  among 
those  present  were  Messrs.  W.  G.  Da^•idson, 
Secretary,  W.  Lambert  Shaw,  Vice-President,  D. 
P.  Menzies,  F.S.A. ,  Scot.,  A.  J.  Fergns.son,  C.  A., 
Clan  Secretaries,  and  others.  Tlie  large  hall  was 
tilled.  The  chairman  mentioned  that  between  forty 
and  fifty  new  meudjers  joined  during  the  past  year, 
and  that  the  annual  gathering  would  be  held  about 
the  middle  of  December,  when  the  Chief  and  Mrs. 
Mackintosh,  and  the  young  Chief  as  well,  were 
expected.  l\Ir  Fraser-Mackintosh  gave  an  address 
on  "  The  History  of  the  Clan  Chattan."  The  clan, 
he  said,  went  back  before  historic  times.  The  clan 
extended,  and  it  was  the  clan  built  up  under  the 
Mackintoshes  whom  they  and  history  knew  as  the 
(Uan  Chattan,  the  real  Instoric  Clan  Chattan,  who 
liad  distinguished  themselves  in  every  age  from  that 
]ieriod.  Tlie  learned  lecturer  then  discussed  Cluny 
Macpherson's  claims  to  the  chiefship  of  the  clan, 
which  he  strongly  opjiosed,  holdmg  that  Mackintosh 
was  the  rightful  chief  of  the  clan.  Songs  were 
contribiited  by  Mr.  Gillespie  and  others,  and  a 
jdea.sant  evening  was  sjient. 


t'rn.W.  ANGUS  MACKINTOSH  was  born 
^h  it  Dores,  Invemess-shire.  His  pater- 
—  '^  nal  ancestors  were,  until  1829,  for 
generations  tenants  of  the  Cbiefs  of  Mackintosh 
in  Stratbnairn  and  at  Duntelcbaig.  On  the 
maternal  side  be  comes  of  a  family  of  Suther- 
landshire  Gunns,  several  members  of  which, 
inchidiug  bis  grand  father,  were  soldiers  about 
the  beginning  of  the  century.  He  has  also 
Fraser,  MacDonald,  and  ]\IacGiUivray  blood  in 
his  veins.  Some  uf  liis  ancestors  fought  at 
Culloden  for  Prince  Charlie— one  of  them, 
Hugh  Fraser  of  Glendoe,  narrowly  escaping 
the  fate  of  many  other  Jacobites — the  scaffold. 
Fraser  was  taken  while  hiding  in  Corryarrack, 
after  the  battle,  by  three  of  Cumberland's 
soldiers,  but  on  the  way  to  Fort  Augustus 
succeeded  in  suddenly  and  deftly  throwing  his 
captors  over  a  precipice  and  making  his  escape. 
Mr.  Mackintosh's  great-grandmother  on  the 
day  of  Culloden  was  amongst  those  who 
supplied  the  fugitive  Highlanders  with  food, 
by  the  waters  of  the  Nairn, 

In  early  life  Mr.  Mackintosh  underwent  a 
course  of  training  in  forestry  in  the  extensive 
woods  of  tbe  Duke  of  Sutherland,  and  has  since 
been  head  forester  for  Lord  Digby  in  the 
King's  Co.,  Ireland,  Sir  Arthur  Stepney,  Bart., 
South  Wales,  and  the  Earl  of  Yarborough,  in 
Lincolnshire.  He  is  at  present  employed  as 
Overseer  on  the  Brooknian's  Estate,  Herts. 
Three  years  of  his  early  life  were  spent  in  the 
United  States  of  America,  and  he  has  had  some 
experience  of  life  on  the  ranches  of  Colorado 
and  Texas.  In  the  past  he  has  been  a 
contributor  to  the  pages  of  the  Journal  of 
Forestry,  and  in  1883  won  the  Scottish  Arbori- 
cultural  Society's  Silver  Medal  for  an  essay  on 
"  The  Ash  Bark  Beetle  and  how  to  get  rid  of 
it."  He  is  an  enthusiastic  member  of  the  Clan 
Chattan  Association. 


Glaiigo 


W.  G.  Davidson. 


ANGUS    MACKINTOSH. 


HUGH    DAVIDSON. 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


37 


THE     LATE     HUGH     DAViOSON,     OF 
CANTRAY,     INVERNESS-SHIRE. 


^^HE  Davidsons  of  Cantray  have,  for  some 
(j^^     time,  held  a  veiy  good  position   in  the 

""^^  Counties  of  Inverness  and  Nairn.  The 
fii-st  of  this  familv.  Mr.  David  Davidson,  was  a 
specimen  of  that  "typical  Scot  who.  crossing  the 
Borders,  returns  to  found  afamily.  il r.  Davidson 
after  being  engaged  in  London"  as  a  merchant 
broker,  returned  to  his  native  Sb-ath  Nairn, 
where  he  acquired  with  other  lands  the  proper- 
ties of  the  old  family  of  Dallas  of  that  ilk, 
afterwards  of  Cantray,  and  of  the  Roses  of 
Clava,  Cadets  of  Kih-avock. 

He  married  .Mary  Cuthbert  of  Castlehill,  a 
family  long  holding  the  position  of  Free 
Barons  in  Scotland,  and  having  Cadets  of  high 
rank  such  as  the  ^larquises  of  Seignelay  and 
Barons  Colbert  in  France,  besides  Bishops  and 
Abbes.  Mr.  Davidson  was  succeeded  early  in 
the  present  century  by  his  son,  also  David,  "who 
had  the  honour  of  Knighthood  conferred  upon 
him  by  the  Prince  Eegent.  Sir  Darid  was 
unfortunately  rather  extravagant,  and  some  of 
his  father's  estates,  other  than  Cantray  and 
Clava,  had  to  be  sold.  Sir  David  married 
Margaret  Rose,  of  the  long  descended  family  of 
Rose  of  Kilravock,  head  of  all  the  numerous 
Roses  in  Britain  and  the  Colonies.  By  this 
marriage  the  Davidsons  greatly  strengthened 
their  social  position,  for  Lady  Davidson  was 
not  only  of  good  rank,  but  clever,  kind  hearted, 
popular,  and  hospitable.  One  of  her  daughters 
married  first  Sir  Robert  Grant,  brother  of 
Lord  Glenelg,  and  second  Lord  Joscelyn  Percy, 
brother  of  the  Duke  of  Northumberland.  S'ir 
David  was  succeeded  bv  his  eldest  son,  Da\-id, 


who  did  not  long  survive  his  majority  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  Hugh, 
a  handsome,  poinilar,  sporting,  and  hunting 
laird,  who  married  IMiss  Grogan,  an  li'ish  lady. 
This  Hugh,  the  fourth  Cantray,  was  succeeded 
by  his  oldest  son,  also  Hugh,  fifth  Cantray,  a 
youth  of  nmeh  promise,  whose  talents  were 
much  strengthened  by  considerable  travel. 
He  took  a  leading  part  in  Coimty  business,  and 
in  virtue  of  his  abUities  was  selected  at  a 
comparatively  early  age  to  fill  the  important 
office  of  Co)ivener  of  the  County  of  Inverness. 

He  will  also  be  remembered  as  a  great 
improver  of  land,  who  not  only  did  a  deal  him- 
self, but  encouraged  substantially  his  tenants 
in  the  reclamation  of  hill  and  other  uncultivated 
lands.  The  buildings  on  his  estate  were 
considered  models  in  the  district.  The  present 
Cantray  entered  the  army  at  an  early  age,  and 
continues  in  active  service,  notwithstanding  his 
accession  to  the  estate,  a  very  good  example  to 
those  in  position. 

Inverness.  C'.    FraSER-MaCKINTOSH. 


IAIN     MACLEAN,     OR     A     MIDNIGHT 
MYSTERY. 


,^7&N  a  recent  number  of  this  magazine  we 
^Jy  gave'a  short  life  sketch  of  Gille  Calum 
=i  (Malcolm)  MacLean  ;  since  then  we  have 
had  some  talks  with  his  grandson  from  whom 
we  learned  the  following  incident  which  has  been 
handed  down  from  father  to  sou  for  three 
generations.  In  order  to  make  it  understandable 
it  is  necessary  to  give  a  description  of  the  houses 
then  occupied  by  the  working  class.  These 
v;qv&  built  verj'  much  on  the  same  princi|;ile  as 
the  thatched  huts  still  seen  in  the  Highlands, 
but  with  this  disadvantage,  which  survives  in 
some  of  the  outer  islands  to  the  present  day, 
that,  while  the  family  occupied  one  end  of  the 
hou.se,  the  cattle  belonging  to  them  occupied  the 
other :  so  that,  in  going  in  and  out  at  the  door, 
a  member  of  the  family  had  to  depend  on  the 
good  nature  of  the  cattle  for  his  safety.  Not- 
withstanding this,  their  presence  in  the  home- 
stead was  considered  a  safeguard  for  the 
following  reason.  It  was  generally  believed 
that,  when  any  great  evil  menaced  a  householii, 
the.se  dumb  creatures  were  instinctively  made 
aware  of  it,  and  gave  warning  to  the  family  of 
the  approaching  danger  by  assuming  an  unusually 
aggressive  attituile,  while  producing  sounds 
expressive  of  the  greatest  fear.  A  trace  of  this 
superstition  still  exists  hi  the  West  Highlands 
where,  if  a  dog  is  heard  to  howl  piteously  round 
a  houseat  night,  it  is  looked  upon  as  a  sure  sign 
of  iraijending  misfortune.     On  the  other  hand,  if 


28 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


a  cricket  suddenly  makea  itself  heard  iu  a  house- 
hold, it  is  received  with  joy  as  a  sure  presage  of 
unusual  good  fortune. 

Many  years  ago  a  youug  man,  called  Iain 
MacLean,  lived  with  his  parents  in  a  house  of 
the  above  descrijition.  From  early  infancy  he 
had  been  afflicted  with  a  peculiar  defect  in  his 
eyesight :  all  objects  appeared  double  to  him. 
Although  he  could  easily  find  his  way  along  a 
plain  familiar  path  in  day  time,  if  night  came  on, 
or  if  he  found  himself  at  cross-roads,  he  became 
confused  and  had  to  stand  still,  as,  instead  of 
seeing  two  roads  to  choose  from,  his  imiieifect 
vision  showed  him  four ;  so  that,  if  he  was 
missing  from  home  for  any  unusual  length  of 
time,  his  mother,  who  always  went  in  search  of 
him,  generally  found  him  sitting  at  the  cross- 
roads, entangled  iu  a  labyrinth  of  imaginary 
paths.  He  had,  however,  two  very  faithful 
friends  by  whom  he  was  often  accompanied ; 
one,  a  young  man  in  the  neighbourhood,  to 
whom  he  was  much  attached ;  the  other,  his 
old  dog  "  Fraochau,"  in  whose  company  he 
always  felt  safe :  this  animal  was  so  wonderfully 
sagacious  that,  on  many  occasions,  when  his 
master  would  have  lost  his  way  in  the  dark,  he 
took  hold  of  his  coat  and  pulled  him  along  in 
the  right  direction. 

And  now  comes  the  strange  part  of  our  short 
story.  One  night,  after  the  MacLean  family 
had  retired  to  rest,  Iain  was  awakened  about 
midnight  by  a  loud  knock  at  the  door  ;  he  got 
up,  and  was  trying  to  find  his  way  to  the  door, 
when  the  extraordinary  behaviour  of  his  four- 
footed  friends — usually  so  quiet — arrested  him. 
Each  animal  assumed  its  own  jjarticular  attitude 
of  attack,  in  order,  as  it  seemed,  lo  prevent  hi.s 
getting  out.  His  horse  esjjecially,  being  nearest 
the  door,  kicked  so  furiously  as  to  make  it 
impossible  for  him  to  open  it :  even  his  faithful 
"  Fraochau "  turned  against  him,  and  helped  to 
bar  his  passage  by  growling  fiercely.  Iain's 
parents  became  greatly  alarmed  :  their  supersti- 
tious fears  being  aroused,  they  a.ssured  him  the 
cattle  wanted  to  give  warning  of  some  great 
danger  outside,  and  advised  him  strongly  not  to 
open  the  door  on  any  account.  Acting  on  their 
advice,  but  much  against  his  will,  Iain  went 
back  to  bed,  and  slept  heavily  for  about  an  hour, 
when  he  was  again  wakened  by  a  second  knock. 
He  got  up,  but,  in  trying  to  find  his  way  to  the 
door,  the  same  scene  as  before  was  enacted  :  the 
cattle  fiercely  resisted  his  approach.  Bemg 
again  beaten  back,  Iain  retired  to  rest,  and  was 
just  beginning  to  lose  consciousness  iu  sleep 
when  a  thiid  knock  came  to  the  door,  and  a  low 
mournful  wail  fell  on  the  still  night  air,  while  a 
clear  voice  rang  out,  "  Iain  !  Iain  !  eirich  !  tha 
do  charaid  ga  mharbhadh"  ("Iain!  Iain!  arise! 
thy   friend    is    l)eing    slain ").     In    the   greatest 


distress  Iain  got  up  and  dressed  quickly.  Right 
or  wrong  he  determined  to  be  out  this  time,  so, 
seizing  such  weapons  as  he  could  lay  hands  on, 
he  attacked  the  animals  on  either  side  vigorously, 
lint  in  vain — thej'  proved  too  many  for  him — 
and  he  had  to  sit  down  in  despair  waiting  as 
[latiently  as  possible  for  daylight,  when  he  and 
his  father  went  out  to  try  and  discover  the 
cause  of  the  midnight  mystery.  This  time  the 
horse  and  "Fraochau"  let  them  pass  unmolested. 
On  ojiening  the  door,  they  found  heavy  snow 
had  fallen  during  the  night,  but  to  their  surprise 
could  see  no  trace  of  foot-marks  having  come  to 
the  door,  although  there  certainly  were  traces  of 
foot-prints  leaving  it.  These  they  followed 
closely  and  found  that  they  took  an  even  course 
through  ditch,  hedge,  and  dyke,  without  devia- 
tion :  it  almost  seemed  as  if  the  being  they 
belonged  to  had  the  supernatural  power  of 
finding  his  way  through  all  obstacles.  The 
snow  was  so  deep  in  some  parts  as  to  render 
the  path  almost  impossible,  so,  Iain  called  his 
old  dog  "Fraochau,"  and,  pointing  to  the  foot- 
prints, told  him  to  follow  them,  while  he  and 
his  father  returned  to  the  house.  Some  time 
passed,  and  they  were  just  beginuing  to  forget 
about  "Fraochau"  and  his  mission,  when  Iain 
felt  his  coat  pulled  vigorously  from  behind; 
turning  round  lie  found  his  faithful  dog  there  in 
a  great  state  of  excitement.  He  knew  by  his 
movements  that  he  wanted  him  to  follow,  which 
he  did.  After  wandering  about  for  some  time, 
Iain's  guide  led  him  to  a  mound  of  snow, 
beneath  which  he  found  enshrined  the  dead 
bodj'  of  his  friend. 

Iain  was  in  great  grief  at  the  thought  of 
having  been  prevented  from  going  to  his  friend's 
relief.  His  parents,  however,  took  a  different 
view  of  the  matter,  and  regarded  it  as  a 
merciful  interposition  of  Providence  in  his  behalf. 
Very  probably,  if  Iain  had  gone  out  in  the 
blinding  snow-storm,  his  defective  eyesight 
would  have  played  him  false,  and  he  might  have 
lost  his  way,  or  shared  the  fate  of  his  unfortunate 
companion,  whose  mysterious  death  still  remains 
an  unsolved  problem. 

A  few  years  later  Iain  married,  and  became 
the  father  of  Gille  Calum  MacLean,  whose 
singular  career  we  have  alreadj'  briefly  sketched. 


Strontian,  Loch  Sunart 


Mrs.  D.  Maclean. 


Clan  Donnachaidh  SociBiy.— A  meeting  of  thi.s 
clan  ia  to  be  held  in  the  Atholl  Arms  Hotel,  Blair 
Atboll,  on  Friday  Evening,  25th  October,  at  0-30 
p.m.  Mr.  Edgar  W.Robertson  of  Auchleeks  will 
preside.  It  is  also  proposed  to  arrange  a  drive 
through  part  of  the  clan  country. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


29 


OUR      MUSICAL      PAGE. 


r=|P|lHE  following  rousing'  Jacobite  song  was 
V^  iMni|iosed  by  tlie  famous  bard  Alexander 
'-'j^  MacDonald,  known  as  Mac  MhaiqliMir 
Alasdair,  who  left  all  and  followed  Prince  Charlie. 
He  was  among  those  who  welcomed  the  Prince 
on  his  landing  at  Moidart,  and  he  was  with  hiin 
when  he  raised  his  standard  at  Gleniinnan.  He 
held  a  commission  in  the  Prince's  army,  and 
after  the  defeat  at  Cullodeu,  he  and  his  brother 
Anu'us  had  for  a  time  to  conceal  themselves  in 


the  woods  and  caves  of  Kinlorh  nan  IJamh 
above  Borradale,  in  the  Arisaig  district.  He 
was  the  author  of  the  first  Gaelic  Vocabulary, 
which  was  published  in  174L  The  first  edition 
of  his  poems  was  published  in  Edinburgh  in 
17.51.  The  English  words  given  with  the  music 
are  in  full  sympathy  with  the  spirit  of  the 
original,  and  are  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  W.  M. 
Whyte,  Echt,  Abenleen. 

FlONN. 


THA     E     'TIGH  INN     CH  ARL     E'S     COMING. 

Key  B^)     Firmly,   iri/h  marked  tinw. 


/:si  I  d  : 

Seisd — 0,  hi     -     ri  -  ri 

Choucs — Hurrah,     hiirral 


r  I  n  :  — :  — 


Si  :  —  :  Si  I  1|  :  Si  :  —  I  d  : 

tlia  e     'tighinn,         Hi  -  ri 

Cliarlie's      coming,  Royal 


r  1  ri  :  — :  n  I  Si  :  — :  S|  I  1|  :  — :  —  i 
ri,  'n  righ    tha  bhuainn  ; 

Cliarlir,       long       a     -     way  I 


I  d  :  — :  li  I  Si  :  — :  Si  I  1| :  — :  d  |  r  :  n  :  —  |  s  :  — :  f.f  I  n  :  — :  r   I  d  : 
Paigh-eain-aid  ar     n-airm  's  ur  n-e'ideadh,  'S  breacan  an  -  fheil  -  idh 

Draw  the  broadsword,     don        the        tartan;  Clansmen,    rouse  ye     for 


Fii 


an     cuaich. 
the     fray! 


\ 

i   In:  — :  ni.f  |  s  :  s  :  - 

Rann' — "Se'ibliinn  leani  fhein, 
Vekse— Hark  the  summons! 


ri  :  — :  r  I  d  :  d  :  - 
tha  e  tighinn, 
Charlie's     coming. 


r  :  d  :  r  1  n  :  n  : 
Mac     an     righ 
Heir  of  Scotland's 


-  I  r.:.d.:s,  |  1,  :-:  -( 
dhlighich  tha  bhuidnn ; 
light  -  ful      King! 


In:— :f|s:  —  :s 
Slios  mor  rioghail 
Gather,         loyal 


n  :  — :  r  I  d  :  r  :—  1  .n  ;  n  :  r  I  d  :  — :  r 
da  'n  tig  armaclid,    Claidheamh  'us  tar     - 
clansmen    gather  ;     Broadsword    gird    and 


;aid         nan  dual, 
tar  -  get     sling! 


Sarahuil  an  Fhaoillich  a  ceoltas, 
Fuaradh-froise  's  fadadh-cruaidh ; 

Lann  thana  'na  laindi  gu  cosgaiit, 

Sgoltadh  chorp  mar  choirc'  air  cluain. 

Torman  do  phioba  's  do  bhrataioh', 

Chuireadh  spioraid  bras  's  an  t-sluagh  ; 

Dh'  e'ireadh  ar  n  -ilrdan  's  ar  n-aiene 
'S  chuirteadh  air  a'  plirasgan  ruaig. 

Tairneineach  a'  hhoiiih  's  a'  chanain, 
Sgoilteadh  e  'n  talamh  le  chruas  ; 

Fhreagiadh  dha  gach  beinn  's  gach  bealach, 
'S  bhodhradh  a  mhac-tall'  ar  cluas. 

Giu-  niairg  do  'n  e'ideadh  's  an  Ik  sin, 
Cbta  gnkd  de  'n  mhadar  ruadh  ; 

Ad  bhileach  dhubli  "us  cocddz  innt', 
Sgoiltear  i  mar  chal  mu  'n  cluais. 


Triumph  on  his  forehead  Hashes, 
In  his  eye  the  glint  of  steel, 

Sword  in  hand  he  conies  to  battle — 
Up  ye  clansmen  brave  and  leal ! 

Sound  the  pibroch,  wave  your  banners  : 
Hearts  be  strong  and  spirits  high ! 

Rouse  ye  heroes,  prove  your  mettle  ; 
Coward  souls  have  they  who  fly. 

Let  the  cannons'  awful  thunder 

Shake  the  earth  with  battle-sound, 
Till  the  echoes  of  his  welcome 

Peal  from  crag  and  mountain  round. 

Woe  betide  the  rebel  red-coats 

When  he  comes  from  o'er  the  seas. 

When  old  Scotland's  Royal  standard 
Shakes  its  colours  to  the  breeze ! 


30 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY 


TO     CORRESPONDENTS. 

All  Communications,  on  literary  and  business 
matters,  should  bi-  addressed  to  the  Editor,  Mr.  JOHX 
MACKA  r,  9  lUtjthiwood  Drive,  Glasgow. 

TERMS  OF  SUBSCRIPTION.— The  CELTIC 
MONTHLY  will  be  sent,  post  free,  to  any  part  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  Canada,  the  United  States,  and  all 
countries  in  the  Postal  Union — for  one  year,  4s. 


The 


Celtic    Monthly. 

SOVEUBER,  1895. 


General  Sir  John  Alexander  Ewart,  K  C.B.  (with  plate), 
The  Seaforth  Hioiilanders  in  Hindoostan,  poem  (illus.), 
Angus  Mackintosh,  Hatkirld  (with  plate),  .... 
The  late  Hl'ou  Davidson,  of  Cantray,  Inverness-shirk 

(wilh  plate:, ... 

Iain  MacLean,  or  a  Midnight  Mystery,  .... 
Our  Musical  Page— Tiia  e  'tighinn — Charlie's  Coming, 

To  OCR  Readers,      .        - 

The  Highland  Brigade  at  Waterloo,  Part  XV.  (illus.), 
Hugh  Bannerman,  .Soithport  (with  plate), 
Clunv  and  Lady  Clu.^v  ok  the   45,  after  Culloden  (illus.). 
The  Lords  of  Lociiabkr  (illustrated),    .       -       .       -       - 

OlDHClIB  SllAMlINA— IlALLO\VF.EN  FROM  A  CEI/riC  POINT  OK  VlEW, 
LETTKU  TO  THE  EDITOR,      .-.-.... 


OUR     NEXT     ISSUE. 

We  will  present  our  readevs  with  life-like  plate 
portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  B.  Robertson,  London ; 
Messrs.  Malcolm  MacGregor,  Dunan  ;  Robert 
Gunn  Mackay,  Loudon;  and  Hugh  Macdonald, 
Secretary,  Aberdeen  Highland  Society  ;  also  a  portrait 
and  sketch  of  tlie  late  Mr.  Hector  Gillie,  St.  Helens, 
a  native  of  Edderton.  Many  of  our  readers  will  be 
glad  to  learn  that  we  intend  giving  shortly  a  series  of 
interesting  articles  by  Mr.  Hugh  Colquhoun-Haniilton, 
M.A.,LLB. ,  and  other  contributors,  on  "The  Clan 
Colquhoun  " — its  chiefs,  traditions,  etc.  Through  the 
courtesy  of  Sir  James  Colquhoun,  Bart.,  the 
distinguished  Chief  of  the  Clan,  we  have  arranged  to 
give  engravings  of  portraits  of  the  Clan  Chiefs  from 
the  originals  at  Rossdhu,  as  well  as  pictures  of  places 
and  objects  of  Clan  interest  in  the  Colquhoun  country. 

Our  January  issue  will  take  the  form  of  a  "  Grand 
Christmas  Number,"  which  we  hope  to  make  the 
most  attractive  we  have  yet  published. 

"The  Last  Macdonalds  of  Isla  "  is  already 
practically  out  of  print.  This  beautiful  work  received 
most  favourable  reviews  in  the  leading  papers  through- 
out the  country,  and  was  described  as  one  of  the  most 
attractive  books  ever  published  in  connection  with  the 
Highlands.  We  feel,  however,  that  much  of  the 
success  of  the  publication  was  due  to  the  reputation 
of  its  learned  author,  whose  works  are  always  sought 
after,  and  it  is  no  doubt  a  source  of  gratification  to 
Mr.  C.  Fraser- Mackintosh  to  know  that  his  latest 
volume  was  almost  sold  out  on  the  day  of  publication. 

Till!  Clan  Chattan. — Our  readers  will  doubtless 
be  pleased  to  learn  that  we  intend  shortly  giving  a 
series  of  interesting  histories  of  the  various  septs  of 
the  Clan  Chattan,  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  C.  Fraser- 
Mackintosh.  The  first  article  of  the  series  will  deal 
with  the  MacGillivrays,  after  which  the  Davidsons, 


Shaws,  Karquharsons,  Macbeans,  Gows,  Macphails, 
Grerars,  Nobles,  Gillespies,  Clarks,  Gillies,  Macqueens, 
and  Cattanachs  will  each  receive  separate  attention. 
The  articles  will  be  suitably  illustrated. 

Celtic  Monthly,  Volume  \\1. — As  our  third 
Volume  is  now  completed,  and  as  we  are  only  able 
to  supply  a  few  complete  bound  copies,  several  of  the 
monthly  parts  being  already  out  of  print,  those  who 
wish  copies  might  kindly  communicate  with  us  without 
delay,  to  prevent  disappointment  The  price  is  10,'-, 
post  free,  and  orders  should  be  sent  at  once  to  the  Editor. 
Volumes  L  and  1L— We  are  now  able  to  offer 
two  bound  copies  of  the  scarce  Volume  L.  which  can  be 
had  at  L'5/-  each;  copies  of  the  volumes  for  1894 
(January  to  December)  can  be  had.  10/.,  post  free — 
from  the  Editor,  9  Blythswood  Drive,  Glasgow. 

Clan  Maokay  Society. — There  was  a  large 
attendance  of  members  at  the  council  meeting  which 
was  held  on  the  14th  Oct.,  Mr.  Alex.  Mackaj',  Charing 
Cross,  Vice-President,  in  the  chair.  It  was  arranged 
to  give  Mr.  John  Mackay,  Hereford,  a  "  Clan 
Reception"  on  the  occasion  of  his  visit  to  Glasgow  on 
the  2.5th,  to  preside  at  the  Mod.  The  gathering 
promises  to  be  one  of  the  most  enthusiastic  ever  held 
in  connection  with  the  Clan  Mackay,  every  member 
being  desirious  of  attending,  as  an  expression  of  his 
regard  to  a  clansman,  who  is  not  only  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  representatives  of  the  clan  name,  but 
perhaps  the  most  popular  Highlander  of  the  present 
day.  "  Hereford's  "  welcome  by  his  clansmen  will  be 
a  memorable  one. 

The  council  thereafter  considered  an  application  for 
relief,  and  a  grant  was  made.  The  treasurer  stated 
that  the  past  year  had  been  the  most  successful  finan- 
cially since  the  society  started,  the  total  funds 
now  amounting  to  nearly  £900.  A  booklet  is  to 
be  published  shortly,  giving  a  full  list  of  members. 


THE    LATE     MR.    ALEXANDER    MACKAY, 
TROWBRIDGE. 


It  is  orir  painful  duty  this  month  to  record  the 
death  of  Mr.  Alexander  Mackay,  of  Holt  Manor, 
Wilts,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  resjjected 
of  the  Mackay  clan.  Mr.  Mackay's  death  will  be 
lamented  in  every  part  of  the  globe  where  his 
clansmen,  and  natives  of  Caithness,  are  to  be  found. 
Although  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  matters  relating 
to  the  Highlands,  he  had  a  special  warm  regai'd  for 
his  own  clan,  and  to  this  munificence,  along  with 
that  of  Mr.  Mackay,  Hereford,  and  ottier  notable 
clansmen,  we  owe  the  founding  of  the  bursary  in 
connection  with  the  Clan  Mackay  Society.  He  was 
Ex-President  of  the  Society.  A  portrait  and  sketch 
of  his  life  vidll  be  found  in  the  Celtic  Mdiithli/  for 
October,  1894.  The  U'ilt.shire  rij/ics  says  that  his 
funeral  was  "accompanied  by  a  remarkable  display, 
evidencing  the  deep  feeling  of  respect  entertained 
by  the  residents  in  the  town  and  neighbourhood 
towards  the  deceased  gentleman — the  ceremony 
being  attended  by  gentlemen  representing  practi- 
cally all  the  public  bodies  and  institutions  in  the 
district."  The  Clan  Society  at  its  recent  meeting 
recorded  its  sincere  sympathy  with  the  bereaved 
widow  and  family. 


IHE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Part  XV. — (Continutd  from  page  6). 

The  Highland   Brigade,  Quatjre  Bras, 

Waterloo. 

T^f^^M^ITH  undaunted  courage  the  heroic 
^M^l)  Imperial  Guard  came  on  through 
^^jnjh  the  terrific  storm,  and  reached  the 
top  of  the  ridge  in  front  of  the  right  of  Mait- 
land's  Guaids  and  the  central  battery,  which 
opened  on  them  an  awful,  terrific,  fire  of  grape 
and  canister  shot.  The  (iuards  then  took  ujd 
the  firing  and  advanced.  The  French  cheered 
and  moved  forward.  The  British  in  silence 
poured  on  them  terrible  volleys,  and  again  the 
front  ranks  of  the  column  went  down  hke  grass 
before  the  scythe.  At  this  decisive  moment 
Wellington  ordered  Adam's  infantry  brigade 
to  advance  against  the  flank,  and  with  admir- 
able prescience  soon  after  directed  Vi%iau  with 
his  cavalry  brigade  to  descend  the  slope  in  rear 
of  Adam's  men,  between  the  Imperial  Guard 
and  Hougomout,  and  'S'andeleur  to  follow  him 
with  his  cavalry  regiments. 

The  effect  of  this  attack  at  once  in  front  and 
flank  was  decisive.  Napoleon,  in  his  despatch 
written  the  day  after  the  battle,  ascribed  to  it 
the  loss  of  the  day.  In  the  meantime.  Colonel 
Colborne  (afterwards  Lord  Seaton),  seeing  the 
left  of  the  French  exposed,  without  waiting  for 
an  order  from  either  Adam  or  Wellington, 
advanced  his  gallant  52nd  and  swiftly  and 
steadily  converging  inwards,  threw  in  such 
furious  volleys  on  the  rear  left  flank  that  the 
Imperial  Cuard  swerved  away  to  the  right  in 
great  disorder.  Adam,  seeing  Colborne  coming 
up  with  the  o'2nd,  rode  up  to  him  and  asked 
what    he    was    going    to    do.    "Drive    these 


fellows  off "  was  the  curt  reply  of  the  gallant 
Colborne.  By  this  brilliant  advance  the  column 
of  the  Guard  was  separated  from  Reille,  who 
was  moving  up  to  its  support.  Adam  pui-sued 
the  broken  remains  of  the  Guard  at  the 
bayonet's  point,  and  all  rallying  was  impossible. 
Then  arose  in  the  French  ranks  the  cry  "  Tout 
est  perdu  !  la  Garde  est  respousse  "  (all  is  lost ! 
the  Guard  is  repulsed),  and  the  enormous  mass 
was  driven  headlong  down  the  slope  to  the 
Charleroi  road,  carrying  away  with  it  the  whole 
of  D'  Erlou's  corps  which  was  on  its  right 
flank,  spreading  disorder  through  the  whole  of 
Napoleon's  right  centre. 

The  moment  of  victory  had  now  arrived. 
When  the  last  column  of  the  Imperial  Guard 
was  falling  back  in  disorder  down  the  slope, 
with  their  flanks  reeling  under  the  terrible  fire 
brought  to  bear  upon  it,  Wellington  perceived 
the  Prussian  standards  near  Planchenoit  on  the 
French  right,  fierce  fighting  going  on  all  round 
that  village  and  on  the  heights  above  it,  he  rightly 
judged  that  Blucher  had  arrived  in  great  force. 
He  instantly  ordered  the  whole  line  to  advance 
in  the  formation  in  which  they  stood.  Riding 
to  the  front,  with  hat  in  hand  high  raised  in 
the  air,  he  waved  on  his  men.  Like  an 
electric  shock  the  heart  stirring  command  was 
taken  up  all  along  the  line  Confidence 
revived,  wounds  were  forgotten,  one  feeling  of 
exultation  tilled  every  soldier's  breast.  Colours, 
tattered  and  torn  were  raised  aloft  and  waved 
by  excited  hands,  bagpipes,  drums,  trumpets 
sent  forth  heart-stirring  sounds,  stragglers  ran 
forward  to  fill  depleted  ranks,  even  such  of  the 
wounded  as  could  walk  hurried  forward  to 
share  in  the  glorious  triumph.  With  bounding 
steps  the  whole  line  pressed  forward  as  one 


32 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


mail,  at  the  command  of  their  great  ami  grand 
chief.  The  last  rays  of  the  setting  sun  glanced 
on  the  arms  of  the  surviving  thousands,  who 
with  loud  cheers  streamed  over  the  crest  of  the 
hill  they  so  gallantly  held  during  the  long  hours 
of  mortal  strife. 

It  was  now  8-30  p.m.  The  scene  was  closing, 
and  the  curtain  was  about  to  fall  on  the 
terrible  drama  played  on  the  field  of  Waterloo. 

The  French  were  thunderstruck  when  they 
beheld  the  whole  British  line  majestically 
advancing,  and  driving  before  it  the  last  column 
of  the  Impel  ial  Guard.  They  had  been  told, 
and  believed,  that  the  British  infantry  were 
destroyed,  and  now  seeing  them  advancing  in 


such  strength,  despair  seized  them,  and  at  once 
concluded  all  was  lost.  Horse,  foot,  and 
artillery  breaking  their  ranks,  began  to  flee 
tumultuously  towards  the  rear.  The  British 
cavalry,  still  four  thousand  strong,  poured  in 
every  du-ection  down  the  slope,  cutting  down 
every  one  who  resisted,  and  driving  before 
them  the  mass  of  fugitives  who  strove  to  keep 
their  ranks,  or  arrest  their  impetuous  progress. 
The  "Old  Guard,"  nevertheless,  still  stood 
firm.  The  two  battalions  who  formed  the  rear 
of  the  last  attacking  column,  had  not  suffered 
much  from  the  terrific  tire  which  had  proved  so 
fatal  to  those  in  front  and  flank,  and  instead  of 
moving  away  in  disorder  to  the  right  before  the 


3t^% 


WELLINUTO.V     OKDEKED    THE     WHOLE     LINE    TO     ADVANCE. 


fire  of  Adam's  brigade,  they  detached  them- 
selves, and  retii'ed  in  good  order  to  their  com- 
rades in  the  rear.  The  battalions  of  the  Guard 
left  in  reserve,  in  perfect  array  of  squares,  un 
scathed  and  fresh,  supported  by  a  strong  body 
of  Cuirassiers  on  both  flanks,  with  artillery  in 
the  insterstices,  presented  not  only  a  formidable 
body  to  cover  the  rallying  of  the  defeated 
Guard,  but  formed  the  head  of  a  column  that 
might  have  succeeded  in  restoring  the  battle. 
Wellington  was  near  at  hand,  his  men,  and 
especially  at  this  moment,  his  cavalry,  flushed 
and  animated  with  the  dawn  of  victory,  re- 
doubled their  eftbrts.     The  admirable  presci- 


ence of  their  Chief  was  now  conspicuously  seen 
in  having  ordered  forward  his  two  brigades  of 
light  cavalry  at  the  time  of  Adam's  attack  on 
the  flank  of" the  "Guard."  Vivian  reached  the 
hollow  of  the  valley  at  the  tnnc  the  "Guard" 
was  falling  back  in  disorder  down  the  slope, 
and  Napoleon,  after  personally  rallying  the 
broken  battalions  of  the  Guard  who  formed  the 
first  column  of  attack,  arranged  them  in  squares 
on  rising  ground  commanding  the  Charleroi 
road.  At  the  same  time  he  pushed  forwai'd 
some  light  horse  to  check  Vivian,  but  they  were 
quickly  overthrown.  Upon  this  the  fearless 
Cuirassiers  advanced  and  formed  in  front  of 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


33 


the  "Old  Guard,"  but  wearied  with  pre\ious 
etlbrts,  and  discouraged  by  the  repulse  of  the 
Guard,  they  could  not  withstand  the  vehement 
onset  of  the  British  horsemen. 

Vivian  charged  in  esehelon  of  regiments,  and 
with  the  10th  dispersed  and  drove  away  the 
French  cavalry  in  the  front  and  left  of  the  ''Old 
Guard."  No  sooner  was  this  efi'ected  than  the 
gallant  veteran,  galloping  to  his  left,  led  on  the 
18th  against  another  body  of  French  cavalry 
on  the  right  of  the  Guard.  In  this  he  was 
assisted  by  the  1st  German  legion.  In  a  few- 
minutes  the  diizzling  helmets  nf  Cuirassiers, 
and  pennoned  spears  of  Lancers  were  seen  scat 
tered  in  disorder  and  flying  in  everv  direction. 


Meanwhile  Wellington  moved  forward  in  sup 
port  of  Vivian  the  2nd  German  legion,  who 
successfully  charged  a  body  of  cuirassiers  on 
the  right  of  the  10th.  but  being  in  turn  assailed 
by  fresh  cuirassiers,  they  were  thrown  in  dis- 
order; quickly  rallying,  however,  they  soon 
afterwards  drove  the  French  horsemen  off  that 
part  of  the  field. 

These  cavalry  charges  laid  bare  the  squares 
of  the  Guard,  but  the  artillery  of  the  Guard  in 
the  intervals,  opened  a  heavy  tire  upon  the 
British  horsemen.  Vivian,  in  spite  of  this  fire, 
excited  by  the  fiu-y  of  battle,  dashed  ahead,  and 
1  jefore  any  infantry  could  arrive  on  his  left, 
captured  twenty-four  gims. 


F,NTia\aOF:;THE     AI.MRK     AKMIKS  .-INTi  i     I'.MUs. 


At  this  moment,  seeing  Hanoverian  redcoats 
coming  up,  he  attacked  the  squares.  Such  was 
the  vehemence  of  his  men  that  one  squadron  of 
the  10th,  reforming  after  the  captm-e  of 
the  grms,  charged  one  of  the  squares  with 
unparalleled  impetuosity,  but  were  beaten  ofl 
after  a  brave  struggle  by  the  tii-e  of  the  Guard. 
Nevertheless,  the  shock  caused  the  square  to 
fall  back,  continually  cut  at  by  the  relentless 
hussars,  tUl  it  was  lost  in  the  crowd  of  fugitives. 

Vandeleur's  brigade,  coming  up  at  this  time, 
charged  the  enemy  on  Vivian's  light,  overthrew  a 
body  of  French  formed  in  square  endeavouring 
to  stay  the  piu'suit  and  restore  the  battle. 
captured  the  only  battery  remaining  on   the 


French  left,  and  pushing  on,  somewhat  in 
advance  of  Vivian,  he  now  headed  the  pursuit. 
General  Gourgand  (campaign  of  1815),  one 
of  Napoleon's  staff,  ascribes  the  loss  of  the 
battle  to  this  grand  cavalry  charge.  "The  sun 
had  set,  nothing  was  despaired  of,  when  two 
brigades  of  the  enemy's  cavaliy  penetrated 
between  La-Haye-Sainte  and  Keille's  corps. 
They  might  have  been  stopped  by  the  four 
squares  of  the  Guard,  but  seeing  the  gi-eat 
disorder  prevailing  on  the  right  they  tiuned. 
These  three  thousand  cavalry  prevented  all 
rallying.     The  confusion  only  iucreased. " 

(To  be  coHtintud). 


34 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


HUGH     BANNERMAN,     SOUTHPORT. 


mffr.K.  HUGH  BANNER- 
*W<  MAN,  of  Southpnit, 
was  born  at  Helmsdale, 
Sutlieilandshire,  being  the  thii-J 
son  of  the  late  James  Bauiiermau, 
merchant,  of  that  place.  Like 
many  of  the  young  lads  from  the 
north  he  left  home  in  early  life, 
going  in  1851  to  Ireland  where  he  entered  a 
laige  drapery  establishment  as  an  apprentice. 
In  1860  he  removed  to  Liverpool,  where  be 
became  a  partner  in  the  then  well-known  firm  of 
Sutherland  &  Co.,  Silk  Mercers,  etc,  Bond 
Street.  A  dissolution  of  partnership  in_  1870 
led  to  the  opening  of  a  similar  business  in  the 
fashionable  watering-place  of  Southport,  under 
the  style  of  Sutherland  &  Baunerman.  Mr. 
Bannerman  is  now  sole  partner  of  this  business, 
which  is  carried  on  in  Lord  Street,  in  premises 
of  an  exceedingly  handsome  and  commodious 
character. 

Mr.  Bannerman  is  of  a  rather  retiring  disposi- 
tion, taking  little  part  in  public  matters,  though 
he  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Presbyterianism 
in  Southport,  and  still  takes  an  active  part  in 
the  affairs  of  the  Presbyterian  Ohui'ch  there. 
His  ancestors  were,  for  generations,  settled  as 
tacksmen  at  Dalhalmy,  on  the  lovely  Strath  of 
Kildonan,  his  grandfather,  after  having  lost  a 
leg  in  the  service  of  King  and  country,  being 
one  of  the  victims  of  the  Sutherland  Clearances. 
Although  settled  so  far  away  from  the  land  of 
his  sires,  he  remains  a  staunch  Highlander,  and 
has  always  kept  a  warm  corner  in  his  heart 
for  Sutlieilandshire — indeed  nothing  gives  him 
greater  pleasure  than  paying  an  annual  visit  to 
his  native  village,  where  his  two  sisters  reside. 

Editor. 


CLUNY     AND      LADY     CLUNY     OF    ;THE 
'45,     AFTER     CULLODEN. 


Br  Alexanuki:  Macphebson,  Kingussik. 


"  My  master  was  a  Chief  renowned, 

In  manhood's  active  prime  : 
My  Lady  was  for  ev'ry  worth 

Unequalled  in  her  time. 

Her  father  was  a  wily  Lord, 

Well  skilled  in  <langurous  art 
(But  truth,  and  love,  and  goodness  tilled 

His  daughter's  gentle  heart)." 

A^l|0  runs  a  portion  of  a  touching  ballad, 
fe^jfe  composed  by  Mrs.  Grant,  of  Ijaggan, 
'»»'  towards  the  end  of  last  century,  with 
"no  exaggeration,  no  alteration  of  fact,  and  very 
little  jioetical  decoration,"  narrating  the[afflictions 


of  Cluny  of  the  '45  and  bis  devoted  wife  .sub- 
sequent to  the  Battle  of  Culloden,  from  the 
raouth  of  a.  faithful  and  grief-stricken  Highland 
retainer,  who  had  been  for  upwards  of  fifty  years 
in  the  service  of  the  Cluny  family.  In  some 
letters  addressed  by  Lady  Oluny's  father,  the 
celebrated  Simon,  Lord  Lovat,  to  Lochiel  of  the 
time,  and  contributed  by  the  present  Lochiel  to 
the  "  Transactions  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of 
Inverness,"  there  is  an  amusing  account  given  of 
Cluny's  courtship.  Cluny  had  apparently  been  a 
welcome  guest  at  Beaufort  on  more  than  one 
occasion  previously,  but  on  the  occasion  of  his 
first  visit,  with  "  inatrimonial  intent,"  Lovat 
sends  an  express  to  Lochiel  to  acquaint  him 
"  That  your  cousine  Cluny  Maopherson  came  here, 
and  after  staying  some  days,  he  desired  to  speak  to 
me  by  myself,  which  I  very  easily  granted.  After 
some  compliments,  he  very  civilly  proposed 
to  marry  my  daughter  Jenyie,  who  is  with  me.  1 
was  truly  a  little  surprised  ;  1  told  him  all  the 
obligeing  things  I  could  think,  and  told  him  that  I 
would  never  let  my  daughter  marry  any  man  if  he 
was  of  the  first  rank  of  Scotland,  beyond  her  own 
inclinations.  So  that  he  must  speak  to  herself 
before  I  give  him  any  other  answer  than  that  I  was 
obliged  to  him.  But  the  house  being  very  throng 
with  strangers,  he  could  not  get  spoke  to  her, 
though  he  stayed  a  week  here.  I  advised  him  to 
make  his  visit  a  visit  of  friendship,  since  he  had 
not  been  here  of  a  long  time,  and  not  to  speak  to 
her  till  he  should  make  one  other  visit." 
Lovat  thus  concludes  his  letter: — 
"  One  of  my  great  motives  for  giving  ear  to  this 
ati'air  is  the  view  that  1  have  that  it  might  unite 
the  Camerons,  Macphersons,  and  the  Frasers  as 
one  man,  and  that  such  method  might  be  fallen 
upon  them  as  might  keep  them  unite  for  this  age 
that  nothing  would  alter.  But  this  desire  will 
never  make  me  agree  to  any  proposition  against 
my  daughter's  inclination,  or  contrary  to  a  reason- 
able settlement." 

The  ardent  lover  persevered,  and  on  his 
making  the  "  one  other  visit "  recommended  by 
Lord  Lovat,  which  took  place  shortly  after- 
wards, Cluny  found  an  opportunity  of  "  popping 
the  question  "  to  "  Jenyie,"  and  was  blushingly 
accepted.  Qn  that  occasion  Lovat  writes  further 
to  Lochiel : — 

"  Your  cousin  Cluny  has  been  here  these  three 
weeks  past,  and  I  do  assure  you  that  I  am  obliged 
to  sufler  a  great  many  battles  for  him.  The 
M'Intoshes,  who  are  madly  angry  at  this  match, 
endeavour  to  get  all  those  they  converse  with  to 
cry  out  against  me  for  making  of  it,  and  those  who 
don't  love  that  the  Macphersons  should  be  greater 
than  they  are,  or  that  my  family  should  be  stronger 
than  it  is,  make  it  their  business  to  cry  out  against 
it.  .  .  .  The  more  I  know  your  cousine  Cluny 
the  more  I  love  him  for  a  thorrow  good-natur'd, 
even-tempered,  honest  gentlemen." 

In  a  letter  from  Lovat  to  the  Duke  of  Gordon, 
dated  Beaufort,  13th  August,  1742,  the  marriage 
is  thuH  alluded  to; — 


HUGH    BANNERMAN 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


35 


"  As  yo\ir  Grace  and  the  Wdi'tliy  Dutchess  were 
so  eivill  tu  ray  daughter,  I  think  it  my  duty  td 
actjaint  your  Grace  that  her  aunt,  tlie  Lady  Scat- 
well,  having  come  here  on  the  Tuesday  after  your 
Grace  went  away,  my  daughter  was  married  next 
day  to  the  Laird  of  Cluny,  and  tliey  both  beha\  ed 
to  the  satisfaction  of  all  who  were  present,  and  as 
they  are  both  good-natur'd,  and  of  an  even-temper, 
I  hope  they  will  be  very  happy.  Thej^  had  the 
honour  to  succeed  your  Grace  in  the  lucky  velvet 
bed,  which  I  hope  will  have  good  effect." 

Alluding  to  a  suhseqiieiit  visit  bj'  Cluny  and 
liis  wife  anil  their  infant  dauglitei-  to  Beaufoit, 
Lovat  savs ;  — 


"I  was  mightily  desirous  that  Cluny  should 
leave  his  daughter  with  me,  who  is  the  tinest  child 
I  ever  saw.  But  after  he  tirst  consented  to  it,  he 
then  resiled  and  carryed  her  of,  which  vexed  me 
\  ery  much,  notwithstand  that  Dr.  Eraser  of  Achna- 
gairn  gave  his  positive  advice  to  Cluny  not  to  carry- 
away  his  child  in  the  winter  time.  But  he  acted 
the  absolute  chief,  and  carried  the  poor  infant 
away  in  a  credill  a-hovseback.  Before  twenty 
gentlemen  I  openly  washed  my  hands  from  any 
harm  that  would  happen  to  the  child  by  carrying 
her  away  in  this  season.  But  Cluny  took  the 
blame  upon  himself,  aud  there  I  left  it.  However, 
they  had  such  tine  weather,  that  I  hope  the  cliilcl 
will  arrive  at  Cluny  in   good  health."     [The  child 


■KKAi;^  (liHt  Bll     (IIIANN     IIIVTAIN     AMI     l.iil'Il     (i\||; 


happily  survived  the  perilous  journey  in  the  dead 
of  winter  'in  a  credill  a-horseback,' and  lived  to 
become  the  wife  of  Colonel  Duncan  Macphersou,  of 
Bleaton.  She  died  on  6th  November,  1808,  in  the 
sixty-sixth  year  of  her  age,  and  her  remains,  along 
with  those  of  her  husband,  peacefully  rest  in  the 
old  churchyard  of  Kingussie.]  "But  I  cannot 
think  that  a  house  whose  walls  was  not  finished 
two  months  ago  can  be  very  wholesome  either  for 
the  child  or  for  the  mother.  But  it  seems  that 
Cluny  is  resolved  to  wear  the  Britches  and  the 
Petty  Coats  too,  so  that  I  am  afraid  my  child  will 
not  comb  a  grey  head  in  that  coiuitry."  However, 
we  must  submit  and  resign  all  things  to  Providence." 


In  a  letter  to  Loril  Lovat,  dated  12th  October, 
1742,  the  Duke  of  Gordon  speak.s  of  Cluuy's 
"  good  fortune  in  being  espouised  to  a  lady  of  so 
much  real  worth  and  accomplishments,  as  every- 
body knows  she  is  endowed  with."  Writing  to 
Cluny  on  loth  September,  1745,  with  the  view 
of  allaying  Lady  Cluny's  "gloomy  apprehensions" 
as  to  the  result  of  the  Rising  in  favour  of  Prince 

*  "  Creag  Dhubh  Chlann  Chatain  "  is  the  old  slogan  or 
war-cry  of  the  Macphersons.  A  cave  in  the  face 
of  the  rock  was  one  of  the  retreats  of  Cluny  of  the 
'4"i  after  Cnlloden. 


36 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Charlie,  her  father,  Lord  Lovat,  characterises 
her  as  "  of  such  sympathising  temper,  even  to  _a 
remoter  relative  than  her  own  child,  that  at  this 
time  she  cannot  be  made  easy." 

"Come,  listen  to  another  song, 

Should  make  your  heart  beat  higli, 
Bring  crimsim  to  your  forehead, 

And  the  lustre  to  your  eye  ; 
It  is  a  song  of  olden  time  ; 

Of  days  long  since  gone  by, 
And  of  a  baron  stout  and  bold 

As  e'er  wore  sword  on  tliigh  ! 
Like  a  brave  old  Scottish  cavalier, 

All  of  the  olden  time  ! 

He  had  his  castle  in  the  North, 

Hard  by  the  thundering  Spey  ; 
And  a  thousand  vassals  dwelt  around, 

All  of  his  kindred  they. 
And  not  a  man  of  all  that  clan 

Had  ever  ceased  to  pray 
For  the  Royal  race  they  loved  so  well, 

Though  exiled  far  away 
From  the  steadfast  Scottish  cavaliers, 

All  of  the  olden  time  !  " 

The  happiness  anticipated  by  Lord  Lovat  for 
the  young  couple  at  the  time  of  the  marriage 
was,  alas  1  of  short  duration.  About  three 
years  afterwards  Prince  Charlie  landed  in  the 
Highlands,  and  raised  his  standard  at  Glenfinnan. 
Cluny  had,  about  sis  weeks  previously,  been 
offered  and  accepted  the  command  of  a  company 
in  Lord  Loudon's  Ilighlanders,  but  he  was  in 
reality  a  strong  partisan  of  the  Stuart  dynasty. 
While  hesitating,  we  are  told,  between  duty  and 
inclination,  his  devoted  wife,  although  a  staunch 
Jacobite,  earnestly  dissuaded  him  from  joining 
the  Prince,  assuring  him  that  nothing  could  end 
well  which  began  by  breaking  his  oath  to 
Government.  But  when  the  Stuarts  "claimed 
their  own  " — 

"And  when  the  tidings  southward  came, 
That  Highland  bosoms  all  aflame. 
Glengarry,  Keppoch,  loved  Lochiel 
To  their  true  Prince,  for  woe  or  weal, 
Were  plighting  troth,  and  thronging  round 
His  standard  reared  on  Scottish  ground— 
Glenfinnan  by  the  lone  Loch  Shiel " — 

Cluny  and  his  clansmen  could  not  resist  the 
appeal  to  join  the  standard  of  the  "  King  of  the 
Highlanders,"  regarding  him,  as  they  did,  as  the 
true  heir  to  the  Throne.  Sad  and  bitter  enough 
was  the  fate  which  ultimately  overtook  Cluny 
and  his  wife  in  consequence  of  his  enthusiastic 
de\otion  to  the  Stuart  cause. 

(To  be  continued). 


The  Clan  Grbook  Societt. — The  usual  autumn 
meeting  of  Council  of  the  Clan  Gregor  Society  was 
held  recently  in  the  Religious  Institution  Rooms, 
and  it  was  well  attended  by  directors  from  the 
Edinburgh,  Perth,  and  Glasgow  districts.  Mr. 
Atholl  Macgregor,  Eastwood,  Dunkeld,  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Society,  occupied  the  chair.  The 
ordinary  business  falling  to  be  attended  to  at  this 
time  was  transacted,  several  new  members  were 
admitted,  and  a  sum  of  £52  allotted  as  bursaries  to 
young  men  and  women  of  the  clan,  besides  various 
grants  made  to  necessitous  and  deserving  members 
of  the  clan.  The  Society  shows  evidence  of 
continued  prosperity  in  all  its  branches. 

The  Clan  Chattan. — A  well-attended  meeting 
of  representative  clansmen  from  Glasgow,  Edin- 
burgh, Dundee,  Kadenocli,  and  other  places,  was 
held  on  Saturday,  28th  September,  in  the  offices  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Macpherson,  Solicitor,  Perth,  for  the 
purpose  of  considering  the  best  means  of  organising 
the  Clan  Chattan  at  home  and  abroad.  Provost 
Macpherson,  Kingussie,  presided,  and  amongst 
those  present  were  Mr.  Neil  Cluny  Macpherson, 
Glasgow  ;  Mr.  C.  W.  E.  Macpherson,  C.A.,  Edin- 
burgh ;  Mr.  John  Macpherson,  Chief  Constable  of 
Perthshire  ;  Rev.  Ranald  Macjiherson,  Lochee  ; 
Mr.  George  Macpherson,  Phoness,  Edinburgh  ; 
Mr.  Donald  Macpherson,  Postmaster,  Falkirk ; 
Mr.  H.  Macpherson,  Writer,  Glasgow  ;  Mr.  D. 
Macpherson,  Edinburgh  ;  and  Mr.  D.  Macpherson, 
Teacher,  Glasgow.  Apologies  for  absence  were 
intimated  from  Mr.  John  Macpherson-Grant,  yr.  of 
Ballindalloch  ;  Colonel  Macpherson  of  Glentruim  ; 
Captain  J.  Farquharson  Macpherson,  Edinburgh  ; 
Mr.  John  Shaw,  S.S.C,  Edinburgh  ;  Mr.  John 
Macpherson,  Solicitor,  St.  Andrews  ;  and  Messrs. 
Noble,  Davidson,  Gillespie,  and  Gillies,  Glasgow. 
After  discussion  it  was  unanimously  resolved  to 
proceed  with  the  formation  of  an  organisation  to  be 
called  the  Clan  Chattan,  with  Cluny  Macpherson  of 
Cluny  as  Chief,  and  a  central  executive  in  Glasgow, 
with  representative  executive  committees  in  Edin- 
burgh, Dundee,  Inverness,  Aberdeen,  Badenoch, 
etc.  As  a  number  of  those  present  had  been  at  the 
great  Clan  Chattan  gathering  at  Cluny  Castle  in 
May  last,  the  Provost,  on  behalf  of  Cluny  Macpher- 
son, took  the  opportunity  of  handing  them  the 
medals  struck  in  commemoration  of  that  interesting 
event.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  Provost  • 
for  presiding.  The  meeting,  it  may  be  stated,  was 
the  outcome  of  the  Clan  Chattan  gathering  at 
Cluny  Castle,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  Clan 
Chattan,  with  a  full  representation  of  all  its  septs, 
will  be  strongly  organised.  The  medal  is  of  artistic 
design,  and  bears  on  the  front  the  clan  emblem  "a 
cat  rampant,"  while  on  a  scroll  is  inscribed  the 
motto,  "  Creag  Dhubh  Chlann  Chatain."  On  the 
reverse  side  is  the  following  inscription  ; — 
"  To  ccmimemorate  the  visit  of  the  Clan  Chattan  to 
Cluny  Castle  to  tender  their  allegiance  and  loyalty 
to  Cluny  Macpherson,  the  chief  and  head  of  their 
clan,  23rd  May,  1895." 


Sutherlandshire  Association,  Edinburgh. — 
The  monthly  meeting  of  this  Association  was  held 
in  No.  5  St.  Andrew  Square,  on  the  evening  of 
Friday,  4th  ult,  Alexander  Mackay,  Esq.,  LL.D., 
in  the  chair.  There  was  a  good  attendance  of 
members  present.     Mr.  Alexander  Mackay  of  20 


St.  Andrew  Square,  read  his  third  paper  on 
"  Reminiscences  and  Recollections,"  which  was 
much  appreciated.  Mr.  John  Mackay  of  47  Thistle 
Street,  an  old  member  of  the  Association,  was 
made  a  life  member. 


The    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


THE  LORDS  °f  LOCHABER 


T.D.riACDOj'^/^L.D 


Pakt  IX. — Death  ok  Donax,d  Glas — Ran.alu 
MoR  VII.,  15-1047 — Blab-nan-Leine — 
Execution  of  Keppoch  and  Lochiel  at 
Elgin — The  Keppcch  Curse. 

{Continued  /'rum  paje   13). 

Ipl^lHE  whole  array  of  the  kingdom  north  of 
S?^  the  Clyde  and  Forth  was  called  out, 
^iS^  and  "the  Earls  of  Argyle,  Huntly, 
Crawford,  and  Marshall,  with  Lord  Lovat  and 
other  Barons,  were  appointed  to  lead  an  army 
against  the  islanders ;  the  castles  and  strong- 
holds in  the  hands  of  the  King  were  fortified 
and  garrisoned."  But  it  took  nearly  two  years 
to  overcome  Donald  Dubh  and  his  clansmen, 
the  King  having  had  to  lead  the  Royal  Army 
in  person;  while  the  Royal  Navy,  under  the 
command  of  Sir  Andrew  Wood  and  Robert 
Barton  was  sent  to  harass  the  supporters  of 
MacDonald  in  the  Isles.  Donald  Dubh  was 
ultimately  taken  prisoner,  and  committed  to 
the  Castle  of  Edinburgh,  where  he  I'emained 
until  his  second  escape,  nearly  forty  j'ears 
afterwards.  Thus  ended  one  of  the  many 
desperate  but  futUe  attempts  of  the  MacDonalds 
to  recover  their  once  vice-regal  sway  in  the 
isles.  Critical  as  the  position  of  Keppoch 
undoubtedly  was,  before  the  insurrection  of 
Donald  Dubh,  it  must  have  been  far  more  su 
when  that  insurrection,  upon  which  he  had 
buUt  his  hopes,  when 

"  All  was  done  that  men  could  du, 
And  all  was  done  in  vain." 

The  power  hitherto  enjoyed  by  the   Lordi  of 


the  Isles  was  uow^  mvested  in  the  Earls  of 
Argyle  and  Huntly. 

Donald  Glas  died  about  the  year  1540.  He 
was  married  to  a  daughter  of  Cameron  of 
Lochiel,  and  had  issue,  a  sou,  Ranald,  or 
Raonull  Mor,  who  succeeded  him. 

From  this  chief,  Ranald  Mor  VII.  of  Keppoch, 
was  taken  the  patronymic  by  which  the  clan 
have  ever  since  been  known,  viz: — "  Clann 
Raouuill  na  Ceapach,"  the  Clan  Ranald  of 
Keppoch.*  He  took  an  active  part  in  support 
of  John  Moidartach's  claim  to  the  captaincy  of 
Clan  Ranald.  I  He  and  Ewen  Allanson  of 
Lochiel  and  their  respective  followers  accom- 
panied John  Moidartach  when  he  laid  waste 
the  districts  of  Abertarf  and  Stratherrick, 
belonging  to  Lord  Lovat;  and  the  lands  of 
Urquhart  and  Gleumoriston,  the  property  of 
the  Grants.  The  Earl  of  Huntly,  in  his  then 
capacity  as  lieutenant-general  of  all  the  High- 
lands and  of  the  Orkneys  and  Shetland,  "lost 
no  time  in  raising  a  large  army  in  the  north, 
with  which,  in  May,  1514,  attended  by  the 
Mackintoshes,  the  Grants,  and  the  Erasers,  he 
marched  into  Lochaber  against  the  Clan 
Cameron  and  the  Clan  Ranald,  whose  principal 
captains  were  Ewen  Allanson  (of  Lochiel), 
Ronald  M'Coneilglas  (of  Keppoch),  and  John 
iloydart."  These,  having  wasted  and  plundered 
the  Fraser  and  the  Grant  countries,  had  also 
taken  absolute  possession  of  them,  and  intended 

*  See  Pres.  Forbes 's  Mem.,  174-t. 
t  The  "Clan  Ranald"  and  the  "Clan  Ranald  of 
Keppoch,"  it  will  be  observed,  are  not  the  same, 


■.'.h 


THE    OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


to  enjoy  and  possess  them  for  all  time  coming.''* 
But  by  the  mediation  of  the  Earl  of  Argyle 
they  dislodged  themselves  immediately  upon 
the  appearance  of  Huntly,  and  retired  to  their 
own  territories  in  the  west.  It  was  while 
returning  to  his  own  couutry,  after  parting 
with  Huntly  on  this  occasion,  that  Lord  Lovat 
was  intercepted  at  the  head  of  Loch  Lochy  by 
John  Moidartach  and  live  hundred  of  the 
Clan  Ranald,  Keppoch,  and  Cameron  clansmen, 
when  took  place  one  of  the  most  desperate  and 
most  fiercely  fought  battles  recorded  in  the 
history  of  Highland  warfare.  With  Lord 
Lovat  was  his  son,  the  Master  of  Lovat,  and 
also  Ranald  Galda,  Lord  Lovat's  nephew,  and 
rightful  heir  to  the  Ghiefship  of  Clan  Ranald. 


He,  however,  was  deposed  by  the  clan  in  favour 
of  John  Moidartach.  Hence  the  broils  here 
referred  to.  The  wings  of  the  Clan  Ranald 
force  were  commanded  by  Ranald  Mor  of 
Keppoch  and  Ewen  Allansou  of  Lorhiel.  Either 
side  had  the  other  intervening  between  it  and 
its  own  country.  It  was  thus  a  case  of  win  or 
die.  It  was  in  the  month  of  July,  and  the  day 
being  exceedinglj'  hot,  the  combatants  stripped 
to  their  shirts,  and  fought  until  there  were  less 
than  half-a  dozen  Erasers  left  to  tell  of  the  fate 
that  befell  their  comrades.  Lord  Lovat,  the 
Master  of  Lovat,  Ranald  Galda,  and  over  three 
hundred  of  the  Clan  Eraser  were  left  dead  on 
the  field.  The  slaughter  on  the  other  side  was 
also  enormous,  but  victorv  was  also  theirs,  and 


I0|;T-\VIM.IA.M     I'Ku.M 


the  'ultimate  result  of  the  conllict  was  that 
John^'Moidartach  acquired  undisputed  posses- 
sion of  the  captaincy  of  the  Clan  Ranald,  and 
transmitted  it  to  his  descendants.  This  battle 
is  known  in  the  Gaelic  as  "  Blar-nan  leuie," 
the  Battle  of  the  Shirts.  It  is  also  called  the 
Battle  of  Kinlochloohy. 

As  soon  as  news  of  the  disaster  was  brought 
to  the  Earl  of  Huntly.  he  again  returned  with 
an  army,  entered  Lochaber,  and  laid  waste  the 
country.  But  the  chief  actors  w  hom  he  sought 
to  punish  kept  out  of  his  reach,  and  no  sooner 
had  he  returned  to  hia  own  country  than 
Keppoch  and  Lochiel  were  again  on  the  war- 
path. They  maintained  a  guerilla  warfare  for 
over  two  years,  and  were  only  subdued  then 


through  the  instrumentality  of  William  Mac- 
kintosh, captain  of  the  Clan  Chattan,  by  whom 
they  are  said  to  have  been  betrayed.  They 
were  apprehended  and  imprisoned  in  the  Castle 
of  Ruthven,  Badenoch;  and  were  tried  for  high 
treason  at  Elgin,  by  a  jury  of  landed  gentry, 
found  guilty,  beheaded,  and  their  heads  set  on 
the  gates  of  the  town.  This  was  in  the  year 
154:7. i'  One  tradition  says  that  a  sou  of 
Ranald  Mor  was  also  apprehended,  tried,  and 
executed  at  the  same  time,  l)ut  the  family 
tradition  has  it  that  this  son  was  murdered  by 


*  Keltic's  History. 
t  Lesley,  p,  186 ;  Gordon's  Eai'lcloiu  of  Sutherland, 
p.  110;  and  M.S.S.  of  the  Camerous. 


THE     CELTIC     MONrHLY. 


.'W 


Mackintosh.  Kauald  Mors  wife  was  a  sister 
of  Mackiutosh,  and  there  is  a  famil}-  tradition 
that  she  implored  vengeance  from  heaven  on 
her  unnatural  brother,  and  praj'ed  that  a  son 
should  not  succeed  his  father,  or  an  heir  be 
born  to  the  estate  for  a  period  of  three  hundred 
years.  "This,"  says  the  tradition,  "has  been 
literally  fulfilled  in  the  succession  of  the  chiefs 
of  Clan  Chattan.  Until  the  late  Alexander 
Mackintosh  was  Itoru,  almost  exactly  on  the 
completion  of  the  three  hundred  years,  it  was 
always  side  branches  that  succeeded."  A  strong 
family  likeness  is  observable  between  this 
"  curse  of  Keppoch  "  and  the  curse  of  Glencoe, 
which  is  supf)osed  to  be  hanging-  over  the 
House  of  Breadalbane, 

The  author  of  the  "  Comhachag "  says  of 
Ranald  Mor ; 

"'Raonuill  Mac  Dhumhnuill  Ghlais, 
Fear  a  fhuair  foghluin  gu  deas  ; 
Deagh  Mliac  Dhomhiiuill  a  Uhuil  Ghais, 
Ni  'm  1)60  neach  Gharaig  leis." 

He  was,  as  has  already  been  stated,  married 
to  a  daughter  of  Mackintosh.  By  her  he  hail 
issue  : — 

(1)  Alasdair  Boloinue,  who  succeeded  him. 

(2)  Ranald,  who  succeeded  his  brother. 

(3)  Another  son,  who,  according  to  the  tradition 

referred  to,  was  killed  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  Mackintosh. 
(l).John  Dubh,  a  natural  son,  whose  descen- 
dants were  known  as  "Sliochd  Iain  Duibh," 
the  "Black  Tribe."  Of  this  branch  are 
the  Dalchosnie  MacDonalds,  the  present 
Invenievis  MacDonalds,  anil  several  others, 
of  whom  later  on. 

(!'„  he  cnitliiiii-ii). 


OIDHCHE      SHArVIHNA. 

Halloween  fbom  .a  Celtic  Point  of  View. 
By  Fionn. 


|pTP||HE  Celtic  year  was  originally  divided 
V^  into  two  seasons,  Winter  and  Summer 
^J^  known  as  (jnin  and  sam,  as  in  Welsh 
still,  and  afterwards  extended  to  Geamhrmlh 
and  Saiala-adli.  The  termination  i-a  or  radk  was 
equal  to  the  er  in  Summer  and  Winte/',  and 
probably  meant  hood  or  tide  (summer-tide)  (,- . 
a  period  or  season.  It  may  be  here  noted  that 
sama  is  year  in  Sanskrit.  As  Mr.  MacBain 
remarks* — "The  Celtic,  or  rather  Gaelic 
Festivals,  of  a  distinctive  kind,  are  three  in 
number;  Uealltaiiui  (1st  May),  Lunafduinn  (1st 
August),  and  SniiiJniiiin  (1st  November).     Wly 


these  festivals  should  be  a  month  later  than 
the  solar  periods  in  each  case,  is  doubtful,  but 
it  is  clear  that  these  periods  suit  the  climatic 
changes  of  the  seasons  in  the  north  better  than 
the  earlier,  though  truer,  solar  periods."  With 
refei'ence  to  this,  Professor  Rhysf  says  "  The 
Celtic  year  was  more  thermometric  than  astrono- 
mical, and  the  Lugnassad  was,  so  to  say,  its 
summer  solstice,  whereas  the  longest  day  was, 
so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  discover,  of  no 
special  account." 

Sa7nkiiiim  means  summer-end,  old  Irish  Sum/i- 
f'/iuiii  =  summer-end — fnin  being  a  word  for 
ending  or  setting.;)."  Oidhchf  Shainlnia  (31st 
October)  or  Halloween  is  therefore  the  gi-eat 
festival  which  celebrated  the  end  of  the  Celtic 
year,  for  An  tSum/iiiiiia  (1st  November)  was 
New  Year's  Day — and  we  find  that  in  the 
Isle  of  Man,  where  ilanx  is  still  spoken,  the 
Mummers  went  round  on  that  day  singing 
"To-night  is  New  Year's  Night." 

Samhiiiiiii  like  the  other  great  festival  Beallt- 
iiiiiii  or  Beltane,  was  sacred  to  the  gods  of 
light  and  of  earth.  And  so  we  find  bonfires 
blazing  on  the  height,  while  round  the  hearth 
a  plentiful  supply  of  cakes,  as  well  as  nuts  and 
apples,  are  discussed.  Our  national  poet 
Burns  has  left  us  a  graphic  picture  of  Oidhclm 
Sliainhim  and  its  ceremonies  in  his  poem 
"  Halloween,''  and  anyone  who  has  taken  part 
in  a  Hallowen  gathering  in  the  Highlands 
cannot  but  think  that  Ayrshire,  where  the 
poet  gathered  his  information,  must  have  been 
much  more  Celtic  then  than  now — as  almost 
every  form  of  divination  referred  to  by  the 
poet  is  practised  in  many  parts  of  the  High- 
lands at  the  present  time.  In  crofter  communi- 
ties where  the  hill  gi'azing  are  held  in  common 
Sam/imiiii  or  Hallowmas  is  an  important  data — 
as  at  this  time  each  tenant's  "souming"  is 
adjusted.  In  confirmation  of  this  I  cannot  do 
better  than  quote  from  Mr.  Carmichael's 
interesting  p)aper.§  which  appears  in  the 
appendix  to  the  Report  of  the  Highlands  and 
Islands  Commission  (1881)  — 

"  The  young  of  most  animals  are  changed  to 
a  new  name  on  the  first  day  of  winter.  The 
foal  becomes  a  hi//i  or  luthaij,  filly,  the  lamb 
becomes  an  othaisg.  For  these  things  and  for 
most  if  not  indeed  for  all  things  of  this  nature 
'  the  old  peoj)le '  had  rhymes  to  assist  the 
memory.  These  rhymes  are  invariably  ex- 
p)ressive  and  jsithy,  although  now  becoming 
I  ibsolete.     The  calf  changes  to  a  stirk  - 

"  Oidhche  Shamhna  theirear  ganilnia  ris  na  laoigh, 
La  'Illeathain  theirear  aij^liean  riu  na  dheigh." 

At  Halloween  the  calf  ia  called  a  stu'k  aye. 
At  "i.ilut  Jolm'a  the  stirk  becomes  a  quey. 


40 


THE    OELtIC     MONTHLY. 


The  youug  are  separated  from  their  mothers, 
and  the  new  name  is  applied  to  them  at 
Hallowmas,  GaeHc  Samhuinn." 

*  Celtic   Mythology   and  Religion,   by  Alexander 

MacBain,  M.A.,  Inverness,  1885. 
t  The  Herbert  Lectures,   188('>  —(Lectures  on  the 

Origin  and   Growth  of  Religion   as  illustrated 

by  Celtic  Heathendom) — page  419. 
%  O'Donovan's  preface  to  the  The  Book  of  Rights, 

(Leabhar  na  G-ceart)  pp.  xlviii.-lvi. 
5;  Grazing   and    Agrestic    Customs   of    the    Outer 

Hebrides,  by  Alexander  Carmichael. 


UETTER     TO    THE     EDITOR. 


THE     CLAN     CHISHOLM     STANDARD- 
BEARER     AT     CULLODEN. 

"Mo    RUN    OEAL    OLi." 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Celtk  MuiMlij. 

Sir — Imagine  my  .surprise  at  Mr.  Angus  Mackin- 
tosh's version  of  the  story  (jf  the  far-famed  and 
brave  William  Chisholm — i.e.  "  F('tii--Iiinis-)ian- 
ceann  "  in  Strathglass.  Having  seen  the  stone  slab 
referred  to  by  Mr.  Mackintosh,  and  knowing  that 
the  late  Mr.  Alexander  Eraser,  Mauld,  erected  it,  I 
concur  in  all  he  said  about  Mr.  Eraser. 

But  evidently  Mr.  Angus  Mackintosh  is  not 
aware  that  William  Chisholm  was  the  standard- 
bearer  for  the  Clan  Chisholm  at  Culloden. 

Here  let  me  quote  what  an  independent  writer 
of  eminence  (in  his  line)  said  of  "  Feai--I,iiiis-iiiiu- 
ccann  "  and  his  most  anuable  and  talented  spouse, 
Christina  Fergusson.  I  allude  to  John  M'Kenzie, 
Editor  and  Collector  of  "The  Beauties  of  Gaelic 
Poetry."     On  page  374  he  says  ; — 

"Christina  Fergusson,  the  authoress  of  the  above 
elegiac  production,  was  a  native  of  the  Parish  of 
Contin,  Ross-shire,  where  her  father  was  a  black- 
smith— chiefly  employed  in  making  dirks  and  other 
implements  of  war.  She  was  married  to  a  brave 
man  of  tlie  name  of  William  Chisholm,  a  native  of 
Strathglass,  and  a  near  kinsman  of  the  Chief  of  that 
name.  On  the  memorable  day  of  Culloden, 
William  was  rtag-bearer  or  banner-man  of  the  clan  ; 
and  most  assuredly  the  task  of  preserving  the 
"  Brutach  Choimheach  "  from  the  disgrace  of  being 
struck  down  could  not  have  fallen  into  better 
hands.  He  fought  long  and  manfully,  and  e\en 
after  the  retreat  became  general,  he  rallied  and  led 
his  clansmen  again  and  again  to  the  charge,  but  in 
vain.  A  body  of  t)ie  Chisholms  ultimately  sought 
shelter  in  a  barn  which  was  soon  surrounded  by 
hundreds  of  the  red-coats,  who  panted  for  blood. 
At  this  awful  conjuncture  William  literally  cut  his 
way  tlirough  the  government  forces.  He  then 
stood  in  the  barn  door,  and  with  his  trusty  blade 
high  raised  and  in  proud  defiance,  guarded  the 
place.  In  vain  did  their  spears  and  bayonets  aim 
their  thrusts  at  his  fearless  breast — he  hewed  down 
all  who  came  within  reach  of  his  sword,  and  kept  a 
semi-circle  of  eight  feet  clear  for  himself  in  the 
teeth  of  his  desperate  enemies.  At  length  lie  was 
shot  by  some  Englishmen  who  climbed  up  to  the 
top  of  the  barn  from  behind,  where  he  fell  as  a 
hero  would  wish  to  fall,  with  seven  bullets  lodged 
in  hia  body. 

His    wife    forthwith     composed     the     foregoing 


beautiful  and  heart-touching  lament,  which  is 
altogether  worthy  of  an  ati'ectionate  woman.  She 
is  so  full  of  the  idea  of  her  noble-souled  husband 
that  her  own  personal  hardships  and  privations  find 
no  place  in  the  catalogue  of  her  miseries — they 
have  but  one  great  radical  source,  the  death  of  her 
beloved.  Neither  does  she  pour  invective  on  the 
depopulators  of  her  country — no  !  these  were  too 
insignificant  to  draw  her  mind  for  a  moment  from 
her  peerless  William  Chisholm.  With  great  taste 
too  she  devotes  to  the  Prince  one  solitary  expression 
of  sympathetic  condolence : 

"Who  now  shall  wield  the  burnish'd  steel, 
Or  fill  the  throne  he  ought  to  fill  !  " 
and  then,  with  the  wings  and  wail  of  a  mateless 
dove,  flutters  over  the  mangled  carcass  of  her 
husband,  and  depicts  his  matchless  person  and  soul 
in  language  that  would  melt  tlie  sternest  heart 
to  sympathy.  There  are  several  passages  of 
great  beauty,  pathos,  and  sublimity  in  the  song, 
and  apart  from  the  interesting  circumstances  that 
called  it  forth,  it  possesses  all  the  essential  proper- 
ties or  attributes  of  a  first-rate  production.  The 
air  is  original." 

I  have  quoted  Mr.  M'Kenzie  as  an  independent 
authority  only,  but  I  am  prepared  (if  need  be)  to 
give  the  names  of  four  men  and  two  women  who 
remembered  the  stirring  incidents  of  the  "  '45  and 
'46."  For  the  tiist  twenty  years  of  my  life  I  lived 
next  door  to  the  son  of  one  of  the  men  who  accom- 
panied William  Chisholm  when  he  went  to  Contin 
to  marry  Miss  Christina  Fergusson,  the  armourer's 
daughter.  In  relating  his  father's  account  of  the 
reception  the  party  had  and  the  wedding  festivities, 
it  seemed  to  me  the  Fergussons  were  in  easy 
circumstances.  In  conclusion,  let  me  beg  to  assure 
the  poet,  Mr.  Angus  Mackintosh,  that  it  is  far 
from  my  thoughts  to  find  fault  with  him  for  having 
written  an  able  comment  on  erroneous  information. 
I  remain,  faithfully  yours, 

Iiiveniess.  COLIN  ChISHOLM. 

The  Ct.an  Macle.in  — Sir  Fitzroy  D.  Maclean, 
Bart.,  Chief  of  the  Clan,  and  Lady  Maclean,  gave  a 
reception  to  the  members  of  the  association  in  the 
Bath  Hotel,  Glasgow,  on  Thursday  Evening,  17th 
October,  which  was  well  attended,  many  clansmen 
wearing  the  Highland  dress,  .\dvantage  was  taken 
of  the  occasion  to  present  Mr.  John  Maclean, 
Mitchell  Street,  Vice-President,  with  a  handsome  gold 
watch,  bearing  a  suitable  inscription,  in  acknowledg- 
ment of  his  valuable  service  to  the  society.  The 
chief  made  the  presentation,  and  stated  that  to  Mr. 
Maclean  was  largely  due  the  great  success  which  had 
.attended  the  association  since  its  formation. 

The  Fourth  Annual  GATHEHiNr;  ok  the  Clan 
was  held  on  the  following  evening  in  the  Waterloo 
Rooms.  The  platform  and  hall  were  crowded  with 
members  and  friends,  and  the  proceedings  passed 
off  with  entire  success.  The  chief  presided,  and  in 
his  address  said  he  was  happy  to  give  a  very  good 
report  of  the  elan  association.  Their  members  were 
increasing  daily.  The  Maclean  Trust  was  now  in 
operation,  and  woidd  probably  yield  £600  a  year,  to 
be  applied  for  educational  bursaries  to  boys  and  girls 
from  seven  to  fourteen  years  of  age,  those  who  had 
passed  the  fifth  standard,  as  well  as  for  those  at 
Universities.  Addresses  were  also  delivered  by  Mr.  C. 
Fraser-Mackintosh  and  otliers. 


P      B.     ROBERTSON 


MRS,     P.     B      ROBERTSON. 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

4  MAGAZINE  FOR  HIGHLANDERS. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MACKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.  3.  Vol.  IV.] 


DECEMBER,     1895. 


[Price  Threepence. 


P.     B.     ROBERTSON,     LONDON. 


^^R.  P.  B.  ROBERTSON  was  bom  at 
^U^h  Insch,  Aberdeenshire,  on  20th  April, 
^¥^  1861,  and  his  early  years  were 
spent  at  Methlick.  on  the  Ear!  of  Aberdeen's 
estate.  He  is  therefore  a  thorough  "  Aber- 
donian,''  and  feels  proud  of  the  fact.  He  was 
for  some  time  pupil  teacher  in  Methlick  Public 
School,  but  he  resigned  his  appointment  in 
187.5,  when  he  went  to  Buckie,  Bantl'shire, 
where  he  served  his  apprenticeship  to  the 
general  drapery  trade,  after  which,  in  1S80,  he 
went  to  London  to  push  his  fortune.  Mr. 
Robertson  was  endowed  with  a  splendid 
physique  (he  stands  six  feet  in  height)  and 
excellent  good  sense,  and  having  secured  an 
appointment  with  the  well-known  Scotch  whole- 
sale clothing  firm  of  Messrs.  M'Pherson  I'v 
Glen,  the  value  of  his  services  was  soon  recog- 
nised by  his  employers.  Two  years  later, 
hoping  to  find  a  larger  sphere  for  his  energies, 
Mr.  Robertson  commenced  business  on  his 
own  account  in  Norwood,  as  a  clothier  and 
general  outfitter.  Here  he  prospered  very 
well,  but  meeting  with  a  severe  accident  in  the 
cricket  field,  he  was  advised  by  his  medical 


attendant  to  dispose  of  his  business  and  seek  a 
more  active  outdoor  life  as  the  siu-est  means  of 
recovering  his  health.  He  acted  upon  this 
advice  and  again  entered  the  service  of  his 
former  employers,  who  were  vei-y  pleased  to 
secure  such  a  valued  servant  as  their  repi'esenta- 
five,  and  the  change  of  occupation  soon  had  the 
desired  eftect.  As  a  business  man  his  career 
has  been  eminently  successful,  and  he  attributes 
this  entirely  to  his  total  alistinence,  hard  work, 
and  honesty  of  pm-pose. 

The  subject  of  our  sketch  has  always  been 
a  keen  politician,  and  has  engaged  In  a  gi-eat 
deal  of  social  and  religious  work.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  executive  of  the  Liberal  and 
Radical  Association  of  Norwood,  and  a  warm 
admirer  of  Mr.  Gladstone  Indeed  so  strongly 
pronounced  were  his  political  opinions  that  his 
friends  of  the  other  party  did  not  lose  an 
I  ipportunity  of  enjoying  a  joke  at  his  expense. 
Mr.  Robertson  himself  relates  rather  a  good 
story  of  how,  during  the  heat  of  a  parHamentary 
contest,  he  came  down  early  one  Sunday  morning 
and  found  the  whole  front  of  his  shop  (that  of 
the  radical  Mr.  Robertson!)  covered  with  great 
orange  tory  placards,  advising  the  "free  and 
independent  electors  "  to  vote  for  the  Conserva- 
tive Candidate !  Mr.  Robertson  was  cruel 
enough  to  spoil  the  attractive  display  by  the 
application  of  soap  and  water. 

There  are  few  more  patriotic  Scotsmen  in 
London  than  Mr.  Robertson.  Among  his 
London  friends  he  is  sometimes  jocularly 
referred  to  as  the  'aggressive  Scot,"  as  he  is 
so  quick  to  resent  any  slight  put  upon  his 
native  country  or  his  countrymen.  The  "  Scots- 
uian  from  home"  is  always  a  warm  admirer  of 
our  national  poet,  Robert  Burns,  whose  Celtic 
descent  and  Celtic  sympathies  have  endeared  his 
memory  among  Highlanders  and  Lowlanders 
alike.  Mr.  Robertson  was  for  several  years 
President  of  the  "Robert  Burns  Norwood 
Scottish  Association,"  and  in  1885  he  was  made 
the  recipient  of  a  very  fine  life-size  bust  of  the 
bard,  executed  by  the  late  Mr.  Bool  of  the 
Crystal  Palace.  He  is  also  interested  in 
vohmteering,  and  is  an  honorary  member  of 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


the  famous  crack  corps,  the  Loudon  Scottish. 
lu  all  Highland  matters  this  notable  member 
of  the  ancient  Clan  Donnachaidh  takes  a  keen 
interest,  and  he  enjoys  nothing  better  than  to 
spend  an  evening  with  his  fellow  .Scots,  discussing 
"youth's  bright  days,  when  they  roamed  among 
tiie  heather." 

Mr.  Robertson  in  1886  married  Miss  Plant, 
a  very  estimable  and  accomplished  lady,  and 
they  have  four  children,  two  girls  and  two  boys. 
It  may  be  also  mentioned  that  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Robertson  are  members  of  Devonshire  Square 
Baptist  Church,  the  pastor  of  which  is  a 
"brither  Scot,"  Rev.  G.  P.  Mackay,  and  they 
take  a  very  active  part  in  the  various  organiza- 
tions in  connection  therewith.  We  wish  them 
long  life  and  happiness.  Editor. 


PRIZE     POEM. 


MOCH-THRATH. 


Le  "  Cui.'<EAi.;."t 

Gii  'n  d'  dhirioh  mi  suas  feaclh  bliruach  'us  bliatlan, 

'N  uair  ghluais  mi  maduinn  an  de, 
Bha  cronan  cho  biiiu  aig  iiillt  a'  ghleannain, 

Ri  innleachd  eallaiit"  nan  teud  ; 
Bii  ghile  na  neoil  iia  cloimhteach  canaicli, 

Na  'n  cleuchdain  tarrsuing  troinih  'n  speur. 
Am  breachdadh  a'  cr.'isg'  mar  sg.'iileag  ainnir, 

'Toirt  maldachd  maise  do  'n  ghrt-in. 

Bha  gorm-iichd  a'  clniain  gvui  ghluasad  tuinne. 

Gun  fhuaim,  gun  plilub  air  a  thriiigh, 
'Dealbh-lharruiug  ann  fe'in  a  re'ir  a  chunia, — 

Gach  creutair  lurach  ga  shnamh, 
Le  'sgiathan  a  sgaoil  mu  'n  t-saoghal  againn, 

Cha  'n  fhaod  gu  'm  breanaich  mi  'mheud, 
'S  a  chirb  bha  cho  reidh  fo  m'  le'irsinn  agam, 

'S  i  sleuchdte  'm  faileas  nan  neamh. 

Builgeadh  o  'n  iasg  's  e  blian  ri  cladacli, 

'Us  tianih  a  lainnir  's  an  t-skil', 
Gach  achadh  fo  dhe'is  "san  spre'idh  air  luhacliair, 

O  'n  d'  eisd  mi  langan  nam  ba. 
Coin  nan  dos  dliith  a'  briiclidadh  toraidh, 

A  liib  na  niogail  gu  U'lr  ; 
Rifeid  's  gach  geug  bu  sheisdeir  caithream, 

A'  gleus'  air  meanganaibli  iird'. 

Bha  comhdach  nan  cluan  am  buadhan  cinneis, 

'S  na  li-iiain  a'  ruitheis  mu  'n  cliiirn, 
Bu  dealrach  an  driiiohd  air  tiiis  nam  bileag, 

Sud  cuirnein  aileadh  an  aigli, 
An  seillein  le  niiadh  gu  dian  a'  solar, 

A  mhiann  a  broilleach  nam  bl.\th, 
Luath's  aiteal  a  sgt'ith  ri  .si'irein  *  srannain, 

'N  a  leum  'measg  fhailleanan  tlilth. 

Tha  "m  pailteas  an  stnir  Righ  mor  nam  Fhiitheas, 

Gu  sloigh  a  chumail  gun  eis, 
Tlia  fonn  agus  cuan  le'n  cual  de  mhaitlieas, 

A'  cruachadh  tliairis  gu  knr. 
Cha  d'  fhi'igadh  a'  chrion-ohnuinih  dhibhdli  falamh, 

Tha  mirein  aice  gu  feum, 


'Nis,  c'  uim'  gu  'm  bheil  d'lth  air  miltean  leanabh, 
N  a  iombaigh  bbeannaichte  ft'ln  >. 

( )'n  thugadh  an  saogbal  .saor  do  'n  duine, 

Sud  aobliar  tuilleadh  de  nair', 
Gu  fuil'ngeadh  cu-rian  do  bluasdan  gionach, 

A  bhiadh  a  tliilleadh  o  'n  phaisd'. 
No  leanabanaibh  maotli  as  aogmhais  arain, 

Gun  aoidh  aig  cagailt  gun  bhliiths, 
'S  an  athair  bochd,  fann,  's  e  crom  'n  a  fhaUus, 

'Cuir  saill  mi-fhallain  air  each. 

Phir  leis  am  b'  i'lill  an  canain  aithris, 

Gur  fagail  Mathais  rtiar  tha, 
'Stoibheam  do  chainnt,  'us  cam  do  bharail, 

Nach  dall  do  thagairt  an  drJisd ! 
Tha  'chuibheal  ud  cli  mar  ni  nach  buin  da, 

Mur  h-innleachd  duin'  i — cha  'n  fhearr  ; 
Cha  chuir  i  'n  car  cruinn  le  'chuibhleabh  uile, 

A  chaoidh,  's  gach  buill'  aice  ce,\rr. 

"Seirein.' — A  low  hunuiiinii-  sound. 
"  S  binne  na  n  seilleivn  am  hrujiich,  seirein  an  le.anjvilih  na  shuain. 
t  This  Poem  receivtKl  the    First   Prize    at  the    recent   Mo,/. 


CLAN      NEWS. 

Clan  Maik  ay  Society. — The  Reception  accorded 
to  Mr.  John  Mackay,  Hereford,  by  his  clansmen 
on  the  occasion  of  his  recent  visit  to  Glasgow  to 
preside  at  the  Mod,  was  a  remarkable  function  in 
many  ways.  The  large  hall  was  unable  to  hold  the 
large  turn  out,  and  the  whole  proceedings  were 
most  enthusiastic.  "  The  Grand  Old  Man  "  of  the 
Mackay  clan  received  an  ovation  from  his  clansmen 
and  clanswomen  which  showed  the  great  respect 
which  they  entertained  for  him  as  a  clansman  and 
a  Highlander. — During  the  session  wliich  has  just 
closed  nine  life  members  have  joined  the  Society. — 
Inspector  Murdoch  Mackay,  Glasgow,  a  native  of 
Skerray  (in  Lord  Reay's  country),  a  Councillor  of 
the  Society,  has  been  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Lieutenant. 

Clan  Geant  Soi'iett. — A  very  enjoyable 
Smoking  Concert  was  held  in  the  Alexandra  Hotel, 
on  8th  ult.,  Mr.  James  (irant,  President,  in  the 
chair.     The  Grants  were  out  in  strong  force. 

Clan  MacDonald  Society. — The  .\nnual  Social 
Gathering  of  this  Society  takes  place  in  the  Water- 
loo Rooms  on  (ith  December,  under  the  presidency 
of  the  Right  Honourable  J.  H.  A.  MacDonald,  C.B. 
(Lord  Kingsburgh).  A  Smoking  Concert  was  held 
in  the  Bath  Hotel  on  24th  ult.,  Mr.  Graeme  A. 
MacLaverty  in  the  chair,  which  was  well  attended. 

Clan  Donnaihaidh. — The  Annual  Meeting  was 
held  at  Blair-AthoU— Mr.  E.  W.  Robertson  of 
Auchleeks  in  the  chair.  Seventy  new  members 
joined  during  the  past  year,  and  the  credit  balance 
is  now  £120. 

Clan  MacMillan  Society. — The  Annual  Social 
Gathering  was  held  in  the  Berkeley  Hall,  on  19th 
idt.— Rev.  Hugh  MacMillan,  D.D.,  in  the  chair. 
There  was  a  large  attendance  of  members  and 
friends,  and  the  proceedings  were  of  the  most 
enjoyable  nature.  Mr.  Donald  MacMillan  (the 
designer  of  "  Breacanseilgmhicghillemhaoil),  the 
genial  President  of  the  Society,  addressed  the 
meeting,  and  other  speeches  were  delivered.  The 
Society  is  in  a  very  flourishing  condition. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


43| 


the;-,  K-'- :- 


—i-r- 


JOHN  MACKAY  Gg^'P 
.n.".  HEREFORD— fV 


<;   ^ottwf 


Part  XVL — (Continued  from  page  :'>3). 

The  Highland  Brigade,5Quatee  Bras, 
Waterloo. 

I'ELLINGTON  m  person  led  the 
advance  of  the  infantry.  Seeing 
how  bis  gallant  light  cavalry  were 
acting,  led  bj'  Vivian  and  Vandeleur,  and 
directed  by  Lord  Uxbridge,  "  the  British 
Murat,"  he  galloped  to  the  head  of  Adam's 
brigade,  moving  steadily  forward  four  deep  in 
pursuit  of  the  foe,  and  seeing  numbers  of  the 
fugitives  crowding  off  towards  the  rear  and 
around  the  squares  of  the  "Old  Guard,"  he 
ordered  Adam  to  attack  them,  and  being  near 
the  gallant  Colonel  of  the  52nd,  whom  he  so 
well  knew,  said,  "  Go  on,  Colborne,  go  on.  they 
won't  stand,  give  them  no  time  to  rally." 
Approaching  the  squares  of  the  Guard  they 
were  received  and  gi-eeted  by  a  hot  fire.  The 
shot  flew  thick  and  fast  about  the  ears  of  all. 
General  Campbell,  who  saw  the  danger 
Wellington  was  exjjosed  to,  said  ''  this  is  no 
place  for  you,  you  had  better  move  off."  "I 
will,"  quietly  said  the  Duke,  "  when  I  see  these 
fellows  off."  The  Guard  impressed  with  the 
steady  advance  of  the  light  brigade,  did  soon 
move  steadily  away.  A  battery  of  six  guns 
severely  galled  the  advancing  British  infantry. 
A  flank  company  made  a  rush  upon  it,  and 
quickly  captured  the  guns.  The  main  body 
of  the  army  now  came  up,  and  with  loud 
shouts  captured  the  guns  which  the  Union 
brigade  had  been  unable  to  take  away 
when  they  made  the  brilliant  and  glorious 
charge  in  the  early  afternoon. 


As  may  well  be  imagined  Napoleon  witnessed 
this  concluding  scene  with  feelings  which  it  is 
impossible  to  describe.  When  he  saw  his 
"  Old  Guard  '  recoiling  before  the  British 
cavalry  he  turned  pale,  observing  to  his 
Belgian  guide,  '■  they  are  mingled  together." 
Returning  to  a  small  elevation  in  the  rear, 
upon  which  were  some  gims,  he  directed  their 
fire  upon  the  advancing  British  infantry.  One 
of  then-  discharges  struck  the  brUliant 
Uxbridge,  by  Wellington's  side,  and  carried 
off  his  leg.  These  guns  were  quickly  taken. 
Napoleon,  seeing  all  was  lost,  turned  to  General 
Bertraud  sajing,  "  Tout  est  fini,  sauvons  nous" 
(all  is  over  now,  let  us  save  ourselves),  and  was 
soon  out  of  harm's  way. 

The  British  cavalry  and  infantry  stoutly 
pushed  the  French  before  them  till  they  came 
up  with  the  Guard  in  square.  They  were 
called  upon  to  surrender  and  lay  down  their 
arms.  The  reply  was,  "  The  Guard  dies,  but 
never  surrenders,"  but  assailed  on  both  flanks 
by  Vivian  and  Vandeleur,  and  by  Adam's  and 
Halkett's  troops  in  the  rear,  which  was  over- 
whelmed by  a  mass  of  fugitives  ]ireventing 
them  from  forming,  they  were  pierced  through 
and  through  in  all  directions,  cat  down,  or 
made  prisoners  with  their  generals,  Duhesme, 
Lobau,  and  Cambroune.  AU  resistance  to  the 
British  troops  was  over.  It  was  now 
"  Sauve  qui  pent."  All  order  vanished,  the 
disorder  was  irremediable,  a  dreadful  carnage 
ensued.  The  great  road  to  Charleroi  was 
choked  with  equipage,  and  cumbered  with  the 
dead  and  dying,  while  the  fields  as  fai'  as  the 
eye  could  see  were  covered  with  a  host  of 
helpless    fugitives.      Discipline    and    courage 


44 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


were  forgotten,  aud  Napoleon's  splendid  arnij' 
of  the  morning  was  now  a  total  and  complete 
wreck — a  terror  stricken  multitude.  Napoleon's 
o^vn  words  best  describe  it — "It  was  a  complete 
rout." 

Meanwhile  a  desperate  battle  was  still  being 
maintained  on  the  right  around  Planchenoit. 
All  the  Prussian  foi-ces  had  arrived  on  the 
scene  of  action  with  ilarshal '  Vorwarts'  at  their 
head,  who  attacked  the  French  opposing  them, 
in  front  and  on  both  flanks.  The  French 
Guard  fought  with  a  courage  and  bravery 
worthy  of  its  best  days,  but  were  obliged  to 
recede,  fighting  step  by  step,  sometimes  in 
square  to  resist  cavalry,  then  deploying  to 
resist  infantry.     They  were  at  last  surrounded, 


and  reduced  to  a  few  hundreds,  when  their- 
brave  General  Pelet  called  out  to  them  '  A 
moi,  chasseurs  I  Savons  1'  aigle,  on  mourons 
antoiu-  d'  elle  "  (Hither  chasseurs  !  let  us  save 
the  eagle,  or  die  round  it).  The  brave  fellows 
quickly  rallied  round  their  undaunted  leader, 
and  closing  their  ranks,  succeeded  in  cutting 
their  way  through  the  Prussians  with  their 
eagle  untouched,  though  not  a  fourth  of  them 
sunived  the  glorious  conflict.  All  was  now 
over  on  the  right.  The  whole  of  the  French 
ojjposing  the  Pnissians  were  one  mass  of  inex- 
tricable confusion,  which  was  swept  away  by 
the  torrent  which  streamed  in  resistless  force 
over  the  whole  field. 

Blucher  now  called  his  superior  ofScers  to 


IK    TliK     lIltlTlSlI.    Hlf 


him,  and  gave  them  orders  to  send  the  last 
horse  and  the  last  man  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 
Never  had  such  a  rout  been  witnessed  in 
modern  war.  Wellington,  on  his  side,  rode 
constantly  with  his  advanced  forces  regai'dless 
of  all  and  every  danger.  When  urged  by  the 
officers  around  him  not  to  expose  himself  so 
much,  his  reply  was,  "  Never  mind,  let  them 
fire  away,  the  battle  is  won."  Noble  sentiment, 
he  had  done  his  best,  he  saved  the  honour  of 
his  army,  the  honour  of  his  country,  and 
grandly  enhanced  the  glory  of  both.  Now  he 
felt  hfe  of  no  value,  having  dared  and  done  so 
much,  and  gained  one  of  the  most  decisive 
battles  ever  fouglit. 


Having  continued  the  pursuit  to  near 
Genappe,  and  seeing  by  the  little  light  left  at 
9-30  p.m.  that  the  French  army  flying  before 
him  were  in  no  condition  to  rally,  he  stayed 
the  pursuit,  which  was  gradually  relaxing. 
He  saw  that  his  troops  were  worn  out  \\ith 
fatigue,  and  ordered  the  infantry  to  bivouac 
for  the  night  round  the  farm-houses  of  Caillou, 
and  the  light  cavalry  a  mile  or  two  further  on, 
abandoning  the  work  of  death  to  the  fresher 
and  more  sanguinary  Prussians. 

Wellington  and  Blucher  met  near  Genappe 
at  a  tillage  called  "Maison  du  Roi,"  about  a 
mile  beyond  La  Belle  Alliance,  and  mutually 
saluted   each   other   as    victors.     The   British 


THE    CELTTC   MONTHLY. 


General  represeutetl  to  lilucher  that  his  ineu 
were  so  exhausted  with  lighting  all  day  that 
they  were  hardly  able  to  continue  the  pursuit. 
'■Leave  that  to  me,"  replied  the  gallant 
Prussian  coruniauder,  "I  will  send  every  horse, 
uian  and  gun  after  the  enemy,"  and  he  did. 
Zeithen  continued  the  pursuit  all  night  without 
ever  resting.  Seven  times  the  wearied  French, 
ready  to  drop  down  with  sheer  exhaustion, 
tried  to  form  bivouacs,  seven  times  they  were 
roused  by  the  dreaded  sound  of  the  Prussian 
trumpets  and  obliged  to  continue  their  tlight. 
Nothing  could  surpass  the  desperate  and 
relentless  animosity  of  the  Prussians  towards 
the  French.  Repose  and  plunder  were  sacriiiced 
to  revenge.  The  memory  of  former  defeats, 
insult,  and  oppression,  now  produced  dread- 


ful retaliation,  and  overpowered  every  feeling 
<jf  humanity.  The  "woe  to  the  vanquished" 
was  pronounced,  thousands  besides  those  who 
perished  on  the  field  fell  that  night  beneath 
the  Prussian  lance  and  sabre,  and  so  entirely 
had  the  defeat  at  Waterloo  extinguished  the 
spirit  and  destroyed  the  discipline  of  the 
remnant  of  Napoleon's  army,  that  the  wild 
hurrah  of  the  pursuers,  or  the  very  blast  of  a 
Prussian  trumpet  liecame  the  signal  for  terror 
and  tlight. 

^^'ellingtou  returned  at  midnight  to  his 
quarters  in  the  village  at  ^^'aterloo,  across  the 
crimson  field  which  that  day  consummated  his 
military  glory.  It  is  said  that  he  was  deeply 
aft'ected  as  by  the  pale  moonlight  he  unwillingly 
surveyed   the    terrible   scene   of   slaughter  he 


-IF     Hl.ircoMiiNT     AFTKli     THE     BATTLE     OK     WATEKUm, 


passed  by,  and  that  he  bitterly  lamented  a 
victory  achieved  at  the  expense  of  the  li\es  of 
many  personal  friends,  many  brave  officers, 
and  thousands  of  his  gallant  soldiery. 

When  the  sun  rose  next  morning  it  revealed 
an  awfully  tremendous  spectacle  of  carnage. 
Humanity  shuddered  at  the  view.  Mortal 
suflering  in  all  its  variety  was  frightfully 
exhibited.  The  dead  lay  there  in  thousands- 
with  them  human  pain  and  agony  were  over, 
but  with  them  a  vast  multitude  of  maimed, 
wretched  men  were  intermingled,  mutilated  by 
wounds,  and  tortured  by  thirst  and  hunger. 
Nor  was  war's  misery  confined  to  man. 
Thousands  of  wounded  horses  were  strew  n  over 
the  field  of  slaughter.  ISome  quietly  lay  on  the 
ground  croppmg  the  grass  within  their  reach. 


some  with  deep  moaning  expressed  their 
suiferings,  while  others  maddened  with  pain 
"jerked  their  armed  heels  at  their  dead  masters, 
killing  them  twee."  On  the  small  area  of  two 
square  miles  there  lay  upwards  of  .50,000  men 
and  horses  dead,  dying,  and  wounded.  In 
many  places  the  dead  lay  four  deep  upon  each 
other,  marking  the  spot  which  a  British  square 
had  occupied ;  outside,  lancer  and  cuirassier 
with  their  horses  lay  thickly  on  the  ground. 
Further  on  might  be  traced  the  spot  where  the 
cavalry  of  France  and  Britain  had  encoimtered, 
chasseur  and  hussar  were  intermingled,  the 
heavy  Norman  horse  of  the  Guard  were  inter- 
posed with  the  grey  charger  that  carried 
Albyn's  chivalry.  Here  and  there  the  High- 
lander and  tirailleur  lay  side  by  side,  and  the 


46 


tHE    UELtiC     MONTHLY. 


heavy  dragoon  with  Erin's  badge  on  his  hehnet 
was  grappled  in  death  with  the  Polish  lancer. 

On  the  crest  of  the  ridge  where  the  ground 
was  cumbered  with  dead,  and  trodden  fetlock 
deep  in  mud  and  gore  by  the  frequent  charges 
of  rival  cavah-y,  the  thickly  strewn  corpses  of  the 
Guard  pointed  out  the  spot  where  the  last 
effort  of  Napoleon  had  been  defeated.  Here, 
in  column,  that  favouiite  corjjs  on  whom  his 
last  hope  rested,  had  been  annihilated.  The 
advance  and  repulse  of  the  tiuard  was  traceable 
by  the  mass  of  fallen  Frenchmen.  In  the 
hoUow  below,  the  last  struggle  of  France  was 
made.  Here  the  British  left,  the  fighting  fifth 
division,  in  which  were  the  42nd,  78th,  and 
92nd  Highlanders,  had  converged  upon  the 
French  centre  at  the  close  of  the  day,  and  here 
it  was  that  the  British  bayonets  had  closed  the 
awful  contest. 

Waterloo  was  one  of  the  decisive  battles  of 
the  world — the  overthrow  of  Napoleon  and  of 
the  military  poxver  of  France.  "Waterloo  was  so 
complete  that  the  subsequent  events  of  the 
brief  campaign  have  little  interest.  A  French 
historian  justly  said,  "  This  defeat  left  nothing 
undecided  in  futui'e  events,  for  victoiy  had 
given  judgment."  The  victory  of  Waterloo 
gave  Europe  peace  and  rest  for  nearly  forty 
years,  till  the  Emperors  Nicolas  and  Louis 
Napoleon,  from  motives  of  ambition,  again  let 
loose  the  dogs  of  war  in  1854,  and  led  to  the 
unification  of  Italy,  and  the  overthrow  of  the 
second  empire  in  France. 

(To  be  continued). 


REVIEW. 

SONCS  OF  THE  NoKTH,  (i,\THEREU  TOGETHER  FRO.M 
THE  HiGHLANU.S  ANl^  THE   LoWLANDS  OF  SCOTLAND, 

edited  by  Harold  Boulton,  music  arranged  by 
Malcolm  Lawson.  London  :  J.  B.  Cramer  &  Co., 
Regent  Street. 

To  tbose  who  love  our  old  Scottish  melodies  a 
second  volume  of  "The  Songs  of  the  North" 
cannot  be  otherwise  than  welcome.  The  first 
volume  has  afforded  us  the  means  of  spending 
many  a  pleasant  evening,  and  it  was  a  sincere 
delight  to  receive  this  handsome  and  interesting 
instahnent.  The  great  success  which  attended  the 
publication  of  the  first  volume  certainly  justified 
the  issue  of  a  second  series,  and  tlie  editors  are  to 
be  congratulated  upon  the  excellence  of  the  present 
work.  Altogetlier  fifty  songs  are  given,  and  of 
these  we  are  glad  to  find  that  about  half  the 
number  are  Gaelic  melodies,  with  translations,  or 
set  to  new  words.  The  selection  is  a  good  one,  and 
gives  a  fairly  adequate  idea  of  the  variety  and 
beauty  of  our  Gaelic  minstrelsy.  There  are 
love  songs,  laments,  herding,  carding,  fairy  and 
war  songs,  while  the  humorous  side  is  excellently 
rejiresented  by  ' '  Breigein  Binneach  "  (.John  the 
Braggart)  and  Uob  Donn  Mackays  inirailable  satire 
on  the  "pitiful,  work-a-day  carpenter  man"  who 
his  "false  love  stole.''     Both  these  latter  airs  are 


new  to  most  Highlanders,  and  will  be  all  the  more 
welcome  on  that  account.  Having  said  so  much  in 
praise  of  the  Gaelic  portion  of  the  work,  we  can  say 
no  less  in  regard  to  the  Lowland  songs.  Several 
of  those  given  are  quite  new  to  us,  and  we  are 
delighted  to  make  their  acquaintance.  Some  of 
them  are  very  beautiful,  and  cannot  fail  to  become 
popular  for  concert  purposes.  In  concluding  this 
short  notice  of  this  valuable  work,  we  heartily 
recommend  it  to  our  readers,  for  they  will  find  in 
this  varied  collection  ample  material  for  many  an 
evening's  enjoyment.  Tlie  volume  is  certainly  a 
valuable  contribution  to  our  Scottish  minstrelsy, 
and  the  printing  and  binding  are  handsome,  and 
leave  nothing  to  be  desired.  There  is  amply  room 
for  a  third  series,  and  if  the  editors  are  anxious  to 
procure  fresh  material  we  will  be  happy  to  place  at 
their  disjiosal  the  music  of  a  large  number  of 
Mackay  country  songs  of  great  beauty,  which  have 
never  been  published,  and  which  we  feel  sure  will 
be  welcomed  by  all  wlio  love  our  Gaelic  melodies. 

The  "REti  anh  White"  Book  of  Menzies. — 
This  beautiful  work  which  has  just  been  published, 
contains  an  immense  amount  of  curious  information, 
much  of  which  is  new  to  most  readers.  The  history 
of  the  ancient  Clan  Menzies  is  exhaustively  dealt 
with,  and  there  are  4(1  full  page  illustrations, 
including  portraits  of  chiefs,  historic  reli(jues,  clan 
arms  and  tartans,  etc.  The  author,  Mr.  D.  P. 
Menzies,  F.S.A.,  Scot.,  deserves  great  praise  for 
the  ser\-ice  he  has  done  his  clan  in  collecting  its 
records,  and  publishing  them  in  such  a  handsome 
form. 


CLAN      NEWS. 


Clan  Mackinnon  Society. — The  session  was 
opened  on  20th  \ilt.  by  Mr.  Robert  Mackinnon, 
Vice-President,  reading  a  paper  on  "A  night  on 
board  a  Trawler  on  tlie  North  Sea;"  and  there  is  to 
be  a  Musical  Entertainment  on  18th  December. 
The  Social  Gathering  takes  place  in  the  Berkeley 
Halls,  on  14th  February,  Major  Francis  A  Mac- 
kinnon, Presiding. 

Clan  Campbell  Society. — A  Concert  and  Dance 
were  held  on  12th  ult. ,  Ex-Bailie  Malcolm  Campbell, 
President,  in  the  chair,  and  there  was  a  good 
attendance.  The  chairman  suggested  that  a  special 
efi'ort  should  be  made  to  increase  the  membership , 
as  it  was  not  what  it  should  be. — It  is  intended  to 
hold  the  Annual  Gathering  about  the  end  of 
January. 

Clan  MacLean  Soc.tbty. — MacLeans  everywhere 
will  be  glad  to  learn  that  Mr.  Magnus  MacLean, 
M.A. ,  Lecturer  on  Physics,  Glasgow  I'niversity, 
has  had  the  degree  of  D.Sc.  (Doctor  of  Science) 
conferred  on  him  by  his  Alma  Matfr.  There  is  no 
more  popular  teacher  at  the  University  than  Dr. 
MacLean.  He  is  eciually  popular  in  Highland 
circles,  and  was  recently  President  of  the  Gla.sgow 
Gaelic  Society,  and  is  \'ice-President  of  the  Clan 
Society.     The  Doctor  is  a  native  of  Eilcan  a'  GJiko. 

The  Clan  Cameron  have  arranged  to  hold  their 
Annual  Social  Gathering  in  the  Waterloo  Rooms, 
on  19th  inst.,  Lochiel  in  the  chair.  Sir  Charles 
Cameron,  M.D.,  Dublin,  Lundavra,  Dr.  MacMartin 
Cameron,  Newton  Stewart,  Dr.Cameron,  Fetter- 
cairn,  and  other  notable  clansmen  at  a  distance  are 
expected  to  be  present. 


HUGH      MACDONALD. 


The    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


17 


COUNCILLOR     HUGH     MACDONALD, 
ABERDEEN. 


of 


."TylKa^E  have  much 
MmlJ  pleasure  iu 
^m^*  adding  to  our 
'Celtic  Gallery  '  this 
mouth  the  portrait  of  a 
representative  High- 
lander in  Aberdeen, 
Ciiuncillor  Hugh  Mac- 
douald,  the  Secretary 
the    Aberdeen    Highland 


and    Treasurer 
Association 

Mr.  Macdonald's  cai'eer  is  one  of  which  the 
Clan  and  Gaels  generally  maj'  well  be  proud. 
Born  at  Rogart,  Sutherlandshire,  the  eldest 
of  a  family  of  three  sons,  he  received  a 
sound  education  in  the  parish  school  there 
under  the  able  schoolmaster,  the  late  Mr. 
Wilham  Macdonald,  FE.IS.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  he  left  the  paternal  roof  for  the  south. 
For  a  time  he  was  engaged  iu  a  commercial 
office,  but  he  early  had  aspirations  towards  a 
profession.  After  a  brief  period  of  private 
study  he  entered  the  University  of  Aberdeen, 
passing  through  the  usual  law  course  at 
Marischal  College,  completed  his  curriculum 
with  honours.  Meanwhile  Mr.  Macdonald 
served  an  apprenticeship  iu  one  of  the 
oldest  law  offices  ui  Aberdeen,  and  having 
passed  as  a  .Sohcitor  rapidly  rose  to  the  highest 
position  in  the  establishment.  Iu  pursuit  of 
a  lai-ger  iield  Mr.  Macdonald  thereafter 
commenced  the  practice  of  his  isrofession  on 
his  own  account  iu  Aberdeen,  and  has  been 
eminently  successful,  his  genial  and  gentlemanly 
bearing  winning  the  respect  of  all  classes. 

Mr.  Macdonald  not  only  takes  a  leading  rank 
among  those  of  his  profession,  but  he  is  also  a 
man  of  many  sided  and  remarkable  activity. 
A  fluent  aud  eti'ective  speaker,  he  was  elected 
in  1891  President  of  the  Aberdeen  Joridieal 
Society  for  a  term,  in  succession  to  Professor  J. 
Dove  Wilson,  LL.D.,  regius  Professor  of  Law. 
Yielding  to  a  strong  iuvitatiou  by  representative 
citizens  Mr.  Macdonald  in  the  same  year  stood 
for  the  Town  Council,  and  was  retui'ued 
unopposed.  Last  year  he  was  again  returned 
unopposed,  aud  is  the  present  Chairman  of  the 
BiUs  and  Law  Committee  of  the  Town  Council. 
Mr.  Macdonald  has  just  refused  a  place  in  the 
magistracy  owing  to  his  professional  engage- 
ments. On  the  institution  of  the  Burgh 
Committee  ou  Secondary  Education  Mr.  Mac- 
donald was  appointed  Secretary.  He  was  also 
appointed  Secretary  of  the  Aberdeen  Art 
Gallery  aud  Industrial  Museum — an  office 
formerly  held  by  the  Town  Clerk  of  Aberdeen. 


In  the  discharge  nf  all  these  varied  duties  Mr. 

Macdonald  gives  abundant  evidence  of  the 
thorough  earnestness  and  energy  he  brings 
into  all  his  work.  In  politics  Mr.  Macdonald 
is  a  Liberal.  He  is  an  ardent  Free  Church- 
man, being  an  office-bearer  iu  Queen's  Cross 
Free  Church,  Aberdeen.  Mr.  Macdonald's 
ue.xt  younger  brother  is  the  Rev.  Angus  M. 
Macdonald,  M.A.,  Free  Church,  Towie,  Aber- 
deenshire, who  won  the  first  Bursary  cif  the 
Rogart  Educational  Association.  His  youugest 
brother  is  in  business  in  Wales. 

In  no  respect  has  Mr.  Macdonald's  organizing 
ability  and  energy  been  more  remarkably 
displaj'ed  than  in  his  services  on  behalf  of  the 
Aberdeen  Highland  Association.  Instituted 
twenty-one  years  ago,  the  Association  was  at 
one  time  active,  but  eventually  lapsed  into 
languor  and  decay,  till  last  year  Mr.  Macdonald 
assumed  the  difficult  task  of  resuscitating  it. 
Having  formed  a  council  of  sixteen,  with  the 
Most  Honourable  the  Marquis  of  Huntly  as 
Chief,  and  three  such  excellent  Highlanders  as 
Dr.  Alexander  Ma<gregor,  Dean  of  GuUd 
Macdonald,  and  Sheriff  Robertson  as  Chief- 
tains, the  resuscitated  Association  was  inaugu- 
rated in  March  last,  and  so  satisfactoi'y  has 
been  the  progress  since  that  it  has  been 
arranged  to  award  two  biu'saries  to  Highland 
students  at  Aberdeen  University.  The  Associa- 
tion is  also  iu  course  of  procuring  a  Celtic 
Library,  and  the  establishment  of  a  Highland 
Institute  Building  is  being  considered.  Not 
only  have  county  gentlemen  and  representative 
citizens  come  forward  in  support  of  the  good 
work  of  the  Association,  but  the  students  at 
the  University  have  also  joined  with  them,  the 
President  of  the  University  Celtic  Society  being 
oue  of  the  Members  of  Council. 

Mrs.  Macdonald  is  a  descendant  of  a  Ross- 
shii-e  family.  Their  family  are  one  boy  aud 
three  girls. 

Heiefoid  JoHN    MaCKAV. 


GAELIC  CHRISTMAS  &  NEW  YEAR  CARDS. 


We  are  glad  to  learn  that  the  success  which 
attended  the  introduction  of  these  novelties 
last  year  has  caused  Mr.  Whyte  to  secure  cjuite 
a  variety  for  the  present  seasou.  They  all 
bear  Celtic  designs,  with  appropriate  Gaehc 
mottos,  while  the  cards  themselves  are  works 
of  art  equal  to  any  that  are  manufactured  in  or 
out  of  Germany.  As  there  is  likel}'  to  be  a  large 
demand,  early  application  should  be  made  to 

4    BRIDGE    STREET,    GLASGOW. 


48 


THE     OELTIC     MONTHLY. 


THE     LATE     HECTOR     F.     GALLIE, 
ST.     HELENS. 


^i«fSR.    HECTOR    GALLIE    was   bora   at 

"^Jl^     Edderton,  Ross-shire,  on  October  5th, 

MY^     18-10,  and  was  educated  at  the  Parish 

School   and   at    the   Royal  Academy  of  Tain. 

With  a  keen  aptitude  for  study  he  was  in  his 

youth   also   a   leading    spirit    in    all    out-door 

exercises,  and  thus    early    evinced    a    strong 

tendency    to 

sports    of   every 

description,  and 

particularly   the 

gun.       Whilst 

quite   a  boy  he 

■was   the    parish 

champion    shot 

at  the  Target 

Shooting  Meet- 
ing,   annually 

held  on  Old  New 

Year's  Day.     hi 

1857  he  left  the 

Academy    and 

was  apprenticed 

to   the    drapery 

business   in   the 

shop    of    Mr. 

William  Murray, 

Tain.  A  few 
years    later    he 

got  an  appoint 

mentin  a  similar 

business   with 

the  firm  of 
Kelley,  Peake,  & 
Barry,  Manches- 
ter. Shortly 
after  he  formed 
the  acquaintance 
of  his  country- 
m  a  n,  I  v  e  y 
Mackie,  who  was 
then  the  Mayor 
of  Manchester. 
Having  recog- 
nised Mr.  Gallie's 
business  (juality 

he  recommended  him  to  Mr.  Cartright,  the 
glass  bottle  manufacturer  at  Warrington. 
After  a  few  years'  experience  there  he  removed 
to  St.  Helens  to  fill  an  engagement  with 
Messrs.  Dixon,  Canniugton,  &  iShaw.  Soon 
after  this  he  commenced  business  for  himself  as  a 
wine  and  spirit  merchant,  and  his  careful  atten 
tion  to  business,  and  courtesy  and  consideration 
for  the  wants  of  others,  soon  stamped  him  as  a 
successful  man  in  his  adopted  town.     In  1865 


Mr.  Gallic  married  Elizabeth,  only  daughter  of 
Mr.  Peter  Lightfoot,  of  St.  Helens,  and  two 
sons  and  four  daughters  were  left  in  December, 
1894:,  to  mourn  his  loss  at  the  early  age  of 
fifty-five.  Two  yeai's  before  his  death  he  was 
seized  with  brain  paralysis,  and  gradually 
but  surely  his  mental  faculties  left  him,  but  his 
early  Highland  love  remained,  for  although 
the  memory  of  recent  events  seemed  gone  the 
incidents  of  his  boyhood  were  always  fresh, 
and  a  question  in  his  beloved  Gaelic  language 
would  elicit  at 
once  a  prompt 
answer.  Mr. 
Gallic  was 
indeed  attached 
to  his  native 
Highland  home, 
and  no  Septem- 
ber ever  passed 
without  seeing 
him  with  dog 
and  gun  and 
friend  in  some 
part  of  its  moor 
or  field.  An 
aft'ectionate  hus- 
band and  father, 
a  staid  and 
thoughtful  citi- 
zen, a  shi'ewd 
and  successful 
business  man, 
(piiet  and  retir- 
ing in  his  habits 
and  tempera- 
ment. Hector 
Eraser  Gallie 
has  left  behind 
him  an  example 
that  cannot  fail 
to  stimulate  to 
success  those 
who  like  himself 
are  ambitious 
enough  to  desire 
to  leave  a  good 
name  as  true 
architects  of 
their  own  for- 
tune. There  are  many  Ross-shire  men  scattered 
in  all  parts  of  the  globe  who  have  by  tlieir  own 
efforts  made  an  excellent  position  for  them- 
selves, and  done  credit  to  their  native  coimty, 
but  of  these  there  are  none  who  cherished  a 
greater  love  for  the  old  place  and  the  old 
people  than  the  subject  of  this  memoir. 

M„,,i„v.  John  Miin::o, 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


49 


OUR      MUSICAL      PAGE. 


(HP||HERE  is  no  Highland  dance  older  or 
X^  better  known  than  GilU  Cdlmn,  or  the 
^■^^  Sword  Dance.  It  is  said  that  this  Gil/e 
Caliim  was  no  less  a  personage  than  Calum  n' 
C/iiiin  m/idii  (Malcolm  Canmore).  This  monarch 
provoked  the  displeasure  of  the  Highlanders 
by  removing  the  court  of  the  Scots  from 
Dimstaftnage  Castle,  its  ancient  seat  in  Argyll- 
shire, and  establishing  it  at  Dunfermline ; 
further,  by  marrying  the  Saxon  Princess, 
Margaret,  which  led  to  the  change  of  the  court 
language  from  Gaelic  to  English,  further  to 
his  having  added  to  the  coinage  a  very  small 
coin,  the  bodle,  or  two  pennies  Scots,  equal  in 


value  to  the  third  part  of  our  halfpenny.  It 
was  called  in  Gaelic  bnnii-n-siti,  or  coin  of  six, 
being  the  sixth  part  of  a  shilling  Scots,  which 
was  so  small  as  to  be  contemptible  in  the  eyes 
of  his  Highland  subjects.  The  term  penny 
and  halfpenny,  or  bawbee,  are  used  in  the 
translation  only  for  want  of  a  better:  they  give  no 
idea  of  the  value  of  the  old  Scottish  money. 

The  set  of  the  ilelody  now  given  is  taken 
from  "'The  Thlstle,"  a  Miscellany  of  Scottish 
Song  by  Mr.  CoUn  Brown,  Ewing  Lecturer 
on  Music,  Anderson's  College,  Glasgow,  and 
published  a  few  years  ago  by  Messrs.  W.  Collins, 
Sons,  it  Co.,  Glasgow  and  London.       Fionn. 


GILLE-CALUM-THE    SWORD     DANCE. 

Key  a.      Livehj,  witli  mwfci'd  time. 


F!nr 


Si,s,.-:t,.,s,  I    d    :  1,  .fi    I  s„s,.-:  ti  .,si  I     r     :  t,  .s,  I  1,  ,f,.-:  f  .,r  I     d    :  1,  .f,  I  s,Si.-:  t,  ..r  I  d  .1,  :    r 


-:t,.,r|     f    :  li  .fi   I  s,,S|.-:  t,  .,r  |  s  .,1  :  s  .r    I  f  .,s  :  f  .r  |  d,f.- :  1,  .f,  |  s,,Si.-:  t,  .,r  I  d  .1, 


Gille-Caliim  dk  pheighinii, 
Gille-Cahim  dh  pbeighinn. 
Da  pheighinn,  da  plieighinn, 
Gille-Calum  bonn-a-sia. 


Gillie-Calhnii,  twa  peuiiies.  (a  budle 
Gillie-Callum,  twa  pennies, 
Twa  pennies,  twa  pennies, 
Gillie-Callum,  ae  bawbee 


Gheibbinn  leannan  giui  dad  idir, 
Gheibhinn  leannan  gun  dad  idir, 
Gun  dad  idir,  gun  dad  idir, 

"S  rogha  's  tagha  air  bonn  a-sia. 
Gille-Calum,  &c. 


I  can  get  a  lass  for  naething,  (a  sweetheart,) 
I  can  get  a  lass  for  naething. 
Lass  for  naething,  lass  for  naething. 
My  pick  and  wale  for  ae  bawbee. 
Gillie-Callum,  &c. 


Gheibhinn  bean  air  da  pheighinn, 
Gheibhinn  bean  air  dh  pheighinn, 
D;\  pheighinn,  da  pheighinn, 
'S  te'  nach  fhiach  air  bonn-a-sia. 
Gille-Calum,  &c. 


I  can  get  a  wife  for  tupijence, 
I  can  get  a  wife  for  tuppence. 
Wife  for  tuppence,  wife  for  tuppence, 
A  useless  ane  for  ae  bawbee. 
Gillie-Callum,  &c. 


GAELIC     MOD     AT    GLASGOW— PRIZE     LIST. 


Best  Original  Gaelic  Poem — 1,  .John  Macfadyen, 
Glasgow,  £.5  5s.  ;  2,  Neil  Ross,  Glendale,  £1   Is. 

Best  English  Translation  of  Gaelic  Poetry — 1,  Rev. 
W.  M.  Whyte.'Bcht,  £2  ;  2,  A.  Stewart,  Glenlyon,  £1. 

Gaelic  Prose — 1,  Neil  Ross,  Glendale,  £.3  ;  2,  John 
Macfadyen,  Glasgow,  £1. 

Gaelic  Recitation — 1,  Neil  Ross,  Glendale,  £2;  2, 
A.  Stewart,  Glenlyon,  £1 

Gaelic  Reading — 1,  Miss  Margaret  H.  Mace.achran. 
Oban,  £2;  2,  .^rch.  Mann,  Oban.  £1. 

Choral  Singing — Juniors — Milton  School  Choir, 
Glasgow,  and Balgarve School, Lismore, equal,  £3 each. 

Solo  Singing — Juniors  (Female) — 1,  Joan  Little, 
Oban,  £1  Is.  ;  Dora  Black,  commended. 


Solo  Singing  tor  Bovs— Vincent  Wilson,  Lismore, 
£1  Is. 

Solo  Singing — Seniors  (Ladies) — I,  Miss  Cathie 
Macneill  Robb,  Glasgow,  Gold  Medal  and  £1 ; 
2,  Annie  Carmichael,  Gl.asgow,  £2  ;  .3,  Lizzie  Macken- 
zie, Inverness,  £1.  Gentlemen— I,  Angus  Brown, 
Glasgow,  Gold  Medal  and  £1  :  2,  W.  A.  Spence, 
Oban,  £2 ;  3,  J.  E.  Cameron,  Inverness,  £1. 

Choir  Singing — Seniors — 1,  Oban  Gaelic  Choir  and 
Choir  of  Northern  Institute  of  the  Blind,  Inverness, 
equal,  £8  15s.  each ;  2,  Gleneoe  Choir,  £3  10s. 

Solo,  with  Clars.ich  accompaniment  — 1,  Miss  Emily 
Macdonald.  Cathcart,  £7;  2,  Mil's  IM.  A.  Mackechnie, 
Oban.  C3 


50 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


TO     CORRESPONDENTS. 

All  Conimiiiiirntiuns,  OH  literary  and  btiaineas 
mattfrn.  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  Mr.  .JOBS 
MACKAT,  9  litythsu'ood  Driee,  Olasgotv. 

TERMS  OF  SUBSCRIPTION.— The  CELTIC 
MONTHLY  will  be  sent,  post  free,  to  any  part  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  Canada,  the  United  States,  and  all 
countries  in  the  Postal  Union — for  one  year,  4s. 


The 


Celtic    Monthly. 

DECEMBER,  1896. 


GOr*TEI>J'TS. 

P.  B.  Robertson,  London  (with  plates),        .       -       .        .  41 

MocH-TllBATH  (pl'ize  poem)       -------  42 

The  Highland  Brigade  at  Waterloo,  Part  XVI.  (illus.),     •  43 
Renews— So.vos  ok  the   Nohtii— The   "Reu  .ind  Wjmte" 

Book  of  Me.sxies,  - 46 

CorNCILLOR   Hl'GH    ilACDONALD,    ABERDEEN  (witll  plate),            -  47 

The  late  Hector  F.  Oali.ib,  St.  Helens  (with  portrait),  -  48 

Our  Musical  Page— Gille-Calum — The  Sword  Dance,       -  49 

To  our  Readers,      -       - 5() 

The  Lords  of  Lochaber,  Part  X.  (illustrated),    •       -       -  51 

Robert  Gu.nk  Mackay,  London  (with  plate),         -       ■       -  63 

Cluny  and  Lady  Clu.jy  of  the  '45,  after  Cilloden  (illus.),  5-3 

The  Bio  S.\iith  of  Pol.maily  (illustrated),     -       ...  .55 

Clan  News, 4?    46,  57 

To  A  Si'Rio  or  Heather  (poem),     - 58 

Letters  to  the  Editor — "Mo  run  geal  oo,"       -        -        -  58 
The  Parting  of  Pki.nce  Charlie  and  the  Highlanders 

(prize  tran'lation),  -         - 69 

Hiohlasd  Society  Nfws. 60 


NOTICE    TO    SUBSCRIBERS. 

Those  subscribers  who  have  not  yet  forwarded  their 
contributions  lor  Volume  IV.  (whicli  are  now  overdue) 
might  kindly  do  so  at  once,  as  we  are  anxious  to 
complete  the  list  as  soon  as  possible.  Subscriptions 
for  the  year  (1-  post  tree)  should  be  sent  to  Mr.  John 
Mackay,  !•  Blythswonil  Drive,  Glasgow. 

GRAND  CHRISTMAS  NUMBER. 
Our  next  issue  will  take  the  form  of  a  Grand  Christ- 
mas Number,  and  will  contain  interesting  illustrated 
contributions,  in  prose  iind  verse,  appropriate  for  the 
season.  A  double  front  plate  will  be  given  containing 
a  portrait  of  Mr.  .Malcolm  MacGregor,  representative 
of  the  ancient  family  of  Dunan,  Perthshire,  and  an 
interesting  genealogical  tree,  showing  the  descent  of 
the  branch.  The  family  crest  and  clan  tartan  will 
also  be  reproduced  on  the  plate.  Plate  portiaits  and 
biographical  sketches  will  also  be  given  of  Lieut.-Col. 
John  Maclnnes,  of  Glendaruel,  and  Mr.  Frank  Adam, 
of  Java,  whose  valuable  work  on  "  Clan  Septs  "  will 
shortly  appear.  The  Christmas  Number  will  be  very 
handsomely  illustrated,  and  we  anticapate  for  it  a 
very  hearty  reception  from  Highlanders  at  home  and 
abroad. 

Celtic  Monthly,  Volume  III. — As  our  third 
Volume  is  now  completed,  and  as  we  are  only  able 
to  supply  a  few  complete  bound  copies,  several  of  the 
monthly  parts  being  already  out  of  print,  those  who 
wish  copies  might  kindly  communicate  with  us  without 
del  ly,  to  ]  revent  disappointment.  The  price  is  10/-, 
l>ost  free,  nnd  orders  should  be  sent  at  once  to  the 
K  lit  or. 


Volumes  I.  and  II  — We  are  now  able  to  offer  for 
sale  one  copy  of  the  scarce  Volume  I.,  and  two  copies 
of  Volume  II. — apply  Editor,  Celtic  Monthly,  1) 
BIythswood  Drive,  Glasgow. 

We  understand  Mr.  Allister  Macdonald's  Cuinneach 
'us  CuiUe  (Songs  and  Poems  in  Gaelic)  will  be 
published  immediately,  price  3/-  post  free.  Sub- 
scribers' names  should  be  sent  to  Mr.  Macdonald,  70 
Tomnahurich  Street,  Inverness. 

Sutherland  and  the  Rkay  Country. — Suther- 
landers  at  home  and  abroad  will,  doubtless,  be  glad  to 
learn  that  a  special  chapter  has  been  contributed  to 
this  forthcoming  work  on  the  Sutherland  Rifle 
Volunteers,  by  Quarter-Master  J.  Morrison  of  Golspie, 
in  which  a  complete  history  of  this  splendid  regiment 
is  given,  from  its  inception  to  the  present  day.  We 
are  indebted  to  Colonel  Duncan  Menzies  of  Blarich 
for  a  series  of  interesting  photographs  of  the  battalion, 
the  officers,  pipe  band,  groups  of  officers  and  men  of 
Sutherland  and  Caithness  companies,  Robert  Mackay, 
Queen's  Prizeman,  etc.,  all  of  which  are  being 
engraved  for  the  book.  The  volume  is  published  at 
5/-  and  12(6  (large  paper  edition),  and  intending 
subscribers  should  send  their  names  to  the  Editor, 
Celtic  Monthly,  at  once. 

Her  Majesty  the  Queen  and  H.R.H.  Princess 
Beatrice  have  recently  honoured  Messrs.  A.  &  J. 
Macnaughton,  Pitlochry,  with  substantial  orders  for 
their  Woolen  Manufactures. 

For  List  of  Prize  Winners  at  the  Gaelic  Mod  see 
page  49. 


APPEAL    BY    THE    DUCHESS    OF 
SUTHERLAND. 


Sutherland    Benefit    .Nur.sinu    Assoijiation. 

Sir — I  should  be  most  grateful  for  space  in  your 
periodical  for  the  publication  of  this  .short  letter, 
which  may  attract  the  attention  of  Highlanders  in 
Great  Britain  or  in  distant  lands. 

Some  there  may  be,  who  recollect  weeks  or  years 
happily  spent  in  Suthetland,  and  these  will  be  glad 
to  learn  that  in  the  scattered  parishes  of  that 
county  we  are  establishing  nurses  to  relieve  the 
suffering  and  the  sickness  of  the  poor. 

These  nurses  are  cottage  women,  who  are  sent 
from  their  own  parishes  to  be  trained  near  London, 
and  who  develop  much  intelligence  and  usefulness 
under  such  training.  It  is  these  cottage  nurses 
who  meet  the  real  need  of  the  people.  Fur  their 
services  a  small  fee  is  asked  in  jiroportion  to  the 
patient,  and  which  is  paid  to  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Sutherland  Benefit  Niii-eing  -Association  at  Golspie. 
The  nurses  themselves  are  paid  a  fi.\ed  salary  by 
the  Association,  and  under  no  cirumstances  what- 
ever accept  fees  or  gratuities.  But  these  fees  do 
not  in  any  way  attempt  to  cover  expenses.  The 
sum  of  nearly  £400  a  year  is  required  to  keep 
sufficient  nurses  up  to  a  high  level,  and  I  therefore 
plead  with  your  readers  for  annual  subscriptions, 
however  small,  which  may  be  sent  in  to  me  at 
Trentham,  Stoke-on-Trent,  and  will  be.  gratefully 
acknowledged.  Bankers'  forms  can  be  sent  to  any 
who  wish  for  them,  and  further  information  if  desireil. 
I  remain,  Sir,  yours  faithfully, 

Millk'ent  Sutherl.\nd. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


ol 


THE  LORDS  °f  LOCHABER 


T.V.!lACOO!SALn  . 


PaKT   X, AXASDAIR  BOLOINUE  VIII.,  1547-59 — 

The  Battle  of  Boloinne — Ranald  IX  — 
He  assists  the  Bjng,  and  is  received  into 

KOTAL      FAVOUR AlASDAIR-NAN  ClEAS      X. 

"The  Chieftain's  Candlesticks.'' 
(CoiUiiiut'il  I'l-dtii  jiage  39). 
<B3^lHIEF  ALA.SDAIR  VIII.,  of  Keppoch, 
IrliWi  succeeded  his  father  about  the  year 
XS-ii  1.517.  Two  years  afterwards  he  fought 
a  battle  against  the  Camerons  at  a  place  called 
Bolomne,  a  little  above  Keppoch  House,  at  the 
back  of  !Mull  lioy,  where  he  received  wounds, 
from  which  he  never  recovered,  after  greatly 
distinguishing  himself  in  the  fight.  The 
Camerons  were  defeated,  and  their  chief, 
Lochiel,  slain.  Alasdair  being  unable  to 
follow,  his  half-brother,  John  Dubh,  led  the 
victorious  MacDonells  after  the  flying 
Camerons.  From  this  battle  he  got  the  name 
of  Alasdair  Boloinne,  by  which  he  was  ever 
afterwards  known.  He  must  have  suffered 
long  from  his  wounds,  for  it  was  some  years 
after  the  battle  that  he  is  said  to  have  gone  to 
Kingussie  to  be  treated  for  their  effects  by  a 
famous  bi  itanist  said  to  be  resident  there  at  the 
time.  He  died  while  in  the  hands  of  the 
botanist,  in  the  year  1559.  The  family  tradition 
says  that  his  wounds  were  poisoned  by  his 
■would-bf-  doctor,  who  was  bribed  by  Alasdair's 
enenii(is  to  do  so.  He  was  buried  in  Kingussie. 
Tradition  credits  him  as  being  no  less  distin- 
guished as  a  sportsman  than  he  was  as  a 
■warrior  The  author  of  the  "  Comhachag," 
who  liv,(l  at  the  same  tuue,  says  of  him:  — 


"  Alasdair  Mac  Raonuill  Mhor, 

'S  trie  a  mharbh  's  a'  bheinii  na  feidh, 

'S  a  leanadh  fad  air  an  toir ; 

Mo  dhoigh  gur  e  'n  Domlinullacli  treun." 

He  died  unmarried,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  brother  Ranald. 

Although  Ranald  IX.,  of  Keppoch,  only 
succeeded  his  brother  in  the  year  1559,  he  was 
for  several  years  previous  to  this  date  the  real 
head  of  the  clan,  Alasdair,  the  nominal  chief, 
being  a  sufferer  from  the  effects  of  the  wounds 
he  received  at  the  Battle  of  Boloinne.  During 
all  those  years  Ranald  was  a  strong  adherent 
of  the  King,  and  took  an  active  part  at  the 
head  of  tbe  clan,  quelling  disturbances  under 
the  Royal  banner  of  James  V.  It  is  extremely 
improbable  that  a  Keppoch  chief  would  have 
taken  a  course  such  as  this,  one  so  opposed  to 
the  line  of  conduct  adopted  by  his  predecessors, 
were  there  not  some  understanding  of  favours 
to  come  between  them.  Indeed,  we  have 
evidence  that  there  was  some  such  under- 
standing. Nor  did  the  death  of  the  King, 
resulting  from  grief  over  the  defeat  of  his  army 
on  the  occasion  of  the  unfortunate  rout  of 
Solway  Moss,  put  an  end  to  the  promises  of 
Royal  favour.  Shortly  before  the  assassination 
of  the  Regent  ^Murray,  Mackintosh  of  Mackin- 
tosh was  made  to  promise  that  he  would  grant 
to  Keppoch  such  titles  to  the  lands  occupied 
by  himself  and  his  clan  as  would  seem  fair  and 
just  to  him — the  Regent*     But  the  death  of 

*  Records  of  Privy  Ojuii.;il  ai  tuinjjui.      urugury 
page  208. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


the  King  in  the  lirst  instance,  and  the  assassi- 
nation of  the  Regent  in  the  second,  Y>ut  an  end 
to  all  the  hopes  that  might  have  been  enter- 
tained by  Keppoch  for  so  desirable  a  settlement 
in  this  direction.  Ranald  is  accredited  with 
ha%'ing  given  his  children  a  Uberal  education. 
He  died  aljout  the  year  156-1.  By  his  wife,  a 
daughter  of  Stewart  of  Appin,  he  had  issue : — 
1. — Alasdair,  who  succeeded  him;  2  — Donald; 
3. — Angus  ;  4. — a  daughter,  who  married 
MacFarlane  of  Lus. 

Alasdair  X.,  of  Keppoch,  is  said  to  have 
been  in  Rome  finishing  his  education  at  the 
time  of  his  father's  death,  and  this  probablj' 


accounts  for  his  succession  being  commonly 
dated  from  the  year  1678,  fourteen  years  after 
the  event.  He  was  famous  in  his  day,  and  in 
his  country  as  a  performer  of  miracles.  It 
would  seem  that  part  of  the  education  he 
received  at  Rome  was  a  knowledge  of  arts  akin 
to  the  "  three  card "  and  other  "  sleight  of 
hand "  tricks  of  to-day,  a  knowledge  which 
would  have  been  beyond  the  imderstandLng  of 
his  uninitiated  countrymen,  and  which  could 
easily  account  for  the  marvellous  powers 
attributed  to  him.  It  was  owing  to  his  having 
been  an  adept  in  this  way  that  he  came  to  be 
known  as  "  Alasdair-nan  Cleas  "  (Alexander  of 


A.NOR'H     Jlllul;     FKO.M     llOV     BRIDGE,     L0CHAI.E;K. 


the  tricks).  Alasdair-nan-Cleas  was  considered 
one  of  the  most  accomplished  men  of  his  day. 
A  great  friendship  is  said  to  have  existed 
between  himself  and  his  brother-in-law,  Mac- 
Farlane of  Lus.  They  used  often  to  visit  one 
another,  and  Keppoch  House,  during  his  time, 
is  said  to  have  been  the  scene  of  many  a  feast 
graced  by  the  presence  of  guests  from  the 
north  and  south  of  the  kingdom.  In  this 
connection  there  is  a  story  told  of  Alasdair 
which  was  beautifully  illustrated  in  a  picture, 
exhibited  in  the  Royal  Academy  some  years 
ago,  entitled  ''The  Chieftain's  Candlesticks." 
While  on  his  way  home  from  Spain  he  made  a 


short  stay  in  England,  as  the  guest  of  an 
EngUsh  baron  who  had  been  a  companion  of 
his  during  his  college  days  at  Rome.  The 
visit  was  celebrated  by  a  banquet  given  in 
Alasdaii-'s  honour,  at  which  there  was  a 
gorgeous  display  of  silver  plate.  Six  massive 
silver  candlesticks,  of  rare  workmanship,  used 
on  the  occasion,  became  the  subject  of  conversa- 
tion. The  Englishman  laughingly  challenged 
Alasdair  to  produce  candlesticks  as  valuable 
from  among  the  treasures  of  his  moimtain 
home.  Keppoch's  Highland  pride  was  roused, 
and  he  accepted  the  challenge,  promising  to 
forfeit  three  times  their  value  if  he  did  not 


ROBERT     GUNN      MACKAY. 


THE     UELTIU    MONTHLY 


produce  au  etjual  number  that  would  far 
surpass  them  in  beauty  and  value.  Some  time 
after  the  EngUshman  paid  a  return  visit  to 
Keppoch,  and  he  was  received  at  the  entrance 
of  the  Highland  Chief's  home  by  twelve  stal- 
wart clansmen,  dressed  in  their  picturesque 
native  garb,  and  holding  flaming  pine  torches, 
lighting  the  way  to  the  banqueting  hall. 
''  These,"  said  Keppoch,  "  are  my  priceless 
candlesticks,  and  all  the  wealth  of  England 
could  not  buy  them.  "  The  English  baron  was 
fain  to  acknowledge  his  wager  lost.  The  story 
has  also  been  made  the  subject  of  a  spirited 
poem  by  Miss  Alice  C.  Mai'Donell,  a  living 
representative  of  the  Ke^jpoch  elan,  who  has 
hajjpily  inherited  all  the  Highland  patriotic 
instincts  of  her  famous  ancestry.  She  is  one 
of  the  official  bards  of  the  Clan  MacDonald 
Society. 

fl'o  be  continued). 


CLUNY     AND      LADY     CLUNY     OF      THE 
'45,     AFTER     CULLODEN. 


ROBERT    GUNN     MACKAY,     LONDON. 

Vice-Pkesident,  Cl.\n  Maok,\v  .Societv. 


fT  has  often  been 
remarked  in  our 
—  hearing  how  many 
young  men  from  the  far 
north  of  Scotland  migrate 
to  London,  and  prosper 
there.  The  subject  of  our 
sketch  loft  his  native 
parish  of  Berriedale, 
Caithness,  when  only 
seventeen  years  of  age,  and  in  London  Town 
found  ample  scope  for  his  energy  and  talent. 
Mr.  Mackay's  father,  Mr.  Murdoch  Mackay, 
was  teacher  of  the  Free  Church  School  for  the 
long  period  of  over  fifty  years.  On  his  arrival 
in  London  our  youthful  clansmen  entered  the 
office  of  Messrs.  S.  Mark  cS:  Co ,  the  well-known 
firm  of  wine  merchants  and  shippers,  Finsbury, 
where  after  several  years  of  hard  apj)lication  to 
business  he  became  manager,  and  shortly  after- 
wards was  assumed  as  junior  partner.  For 
the  last  fourteen  years  Mr.  Mackay  has  been 
senior  partner  of  this  large  and  flourishing 
business. 

Although  he  has  been  many  years  away  from 
his  native  place  our  clansman  ne\er  forgets  that 
he  is  a  Highlander.  He  naturally  takes  a  keen 
interest  in  the  Clan  JIackay  Society,  of  which 
he  is  a  Vice-President,  and  a  life  member.  To 
all  funds  for  the  furtherance  of  its  objects  he 
has  always  been  a  generous  contributor.  He 
is  also  a  Hfe  member  of  the  London  Caithness 
Association,  and  a  leading  member  of  the 
Burns  Club  and  other  Scottish  national 
institutions.  Editor. 


Jr  Ali';xandI';[j  Mai'I'Hersun,  Kinuu.ssik. 


11. 

"  Many  a  uiglit  of  mute  despair 

Saw  he  the  welkin  lurid  red 
Witli  the  death-fires  baleful  glare, 
From  Badenoch  o'er  Loohaber  spread 
Far  west  to  Ardnamurchan  Head  ; 
And  heard  dim  voices  of  lament 
From  the  far-otf  mountains  sent. 
Homeless  wives  and  famished  bairas, 
Crying  'mid  the  misty  cairns. 
For  their  sires  that  slaughtered  lay 
By  the  smouldering  sheilings  far  away." 

§N  a  letter  dated  22Qd  June,  17-50,  Lochgarry 
informed  Prince  Charlie  that,  having  gone 
—  to  Scotland  the  preceding  winter  to  visit 
his  wife  and  family,  he  had  seen  Cluiiy,  whom  lie 
found  the  same  person  he  always  believed  him — 
"  a  true,  worthy,  good  man,  and,  in  a  word,  a 
man  of  loyalty  and  honour." 

So  keen  was  the  desire  of  the  (iovernment  to 
capture  Cluny  that  a  reward  of  £1000,  in 
addition  to  the  command  of  a  company,  was 
offered  for  his  apprehension,  and  a  detachment 
of  the  Royal  forces  was  for  a  lengthened  [leriod 
stationed  in  the  district  for  the  express  purpo.se 
of  capturiug  him,  dead  or  alive.  With  undaunted 
courage  and  marvellous  fertility  of  resource  iu 
the  way  of  escaping  from  his  pursuers,  he  for 
nine  long  weary  years  wandered  without  home 
or  shelter,  winter  as  well  as  suunner,  iu  the 
mountain  fastnesses  of  Badenoch,  taking  refuge 
in  caves  among  the  rocks,  and  enduring  the  most 
terrible  hardships,  which  his  wife  to  a  large 
e.xtent  shared  with  him.  Ho  watchful  and  alert 
were  his  clansmen  in  ascertaining  and  apprising 
their  "  outlawed  chief "  of  the  movements  of  the 
enemy  that  during  that  long  period  he  succeeded, 
with  many  almost  miraculous  escapes,  in  eluding 
the  unceasing  vigilance  and  activity  of  his 
pursuers. 

In  a  nnniisctipt  in  the  Cluny  Charter  Chest, 
relating  to  the  Cluny  family,  and  of  what  Cluny 
of  the  '4")  did  and  suffered  for  Prince  Charlie, 
which  appears  to  have  been  written  in  France  in 
1760,  the  writer  of  which  is  not  known,  it  is 
narrated  that  after  Culloden  both  Cluny  and  his 
family  were  e.xposed 

"  to  the  most  horrid  miseries,  in  perpetual  danger 
of  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  troups,  of  whom 
there  were  many  detachments  night  and  day  in 
search  of  him  with  positive  orders  to  bring  him  in 
dead  or  alive,  and  great  rewards  were  promised  to 
anyone  who  shou'd  discover  the  place  of  his  retreat, 
and  at  length,  finding  no  other  means  to  make 
themselves  easie  in  regard  to  him,  the  ofticiers  of 


:a 


tfiE     CELTIC     MONl'HL^ 


the  truups  caused  proposals  of  accomodation  to  be 
conveyed  him,  which  his  loyalty  made  him  always 
reject  witli  disdain. 

"  He  lived  wandering  in  the  mountains,  lying  in 
the  woods,  in  the  caves,  and  in  the  rocks,  amongst 
the  wild  beasts,  his  fellow  inhabitants  of  those 
savage  places,  receiving  provisions  by  some  of  the 
most  ailectionate  of  his  own  clan,  who  found  means 
in  the  night  from  time  to  time  to  steal  away  from 
the  soldiers  to  succour  ;  he  struggled  thus  for  nine 
years  consecutively  without  almost  ever  setting  his 
foot  within  a  house,  without  tire,  in  the  hard  winters 
in  the  North  of  Scotland ;  not  changing  his  place  of 
refuge,  but  in  the  night  time,  and  always  afoot,  it 
being  impossible  to  conceal  a  horse  in  his  places  of 
retreat,  during  which  time  his  wife  dayly  suH'ered 


all  sorts  of  hard  usage    and   reproaches    from    the 
troups. 

"  Perhaps  it  will  be  thought  that  this  recital  is 
exaggerated  ;  nevertheless,  his  fellow-countrymen 
and  even  liis  enemies  know  that  it  comes  much 
short  of  what  he  ivally  suttered,  and  the  extra- 
ordinary accidents  that  he  has  escaped  in  the 
course  of  these  nine  years  wou'd  be  subject  for  a 
whole  volum." 

As  Mrs.  Grant  of  Laggaii  lui.s  put  it : — 

'•'  In  gloomy  caves  he  past  tlie  day, 

And  by  the  taper's  light 
Consumed  the  lonely  studious  hours. 

And  hoped  the  coming  night. 


liNTiiANCIi     UAl.l,,     C1.C;NV     UAVrLK,     INMillNKr 


Then  when  the  world  in  slumber  lay, 
Through  midnight  darkness  stole, 

And  in  my  lady's  faithful  breast 
Reposed  his  sorrowing  soul. 

Or  fondly  gazing  while  lie  slept, 

Hung  o'er  his  infant  son  : 
And  lingering  blest  th'  unconscious  liabc 

Till  glimmering  dawn  begun. 

Or,  when  the  livelong  winter  night 
Had  lulled  the  spies  of  pow'r, 


'Midst  faithful  friends,  a  gleam  of  joy 
Shone  on  the  social  hour. 

With  eager  search  the  watchful  Ijauds 
Hia  secret  haunts  exjilored. 

And  many  a  faithful  vassal  knew 
The  caves  that  hid  their  lord. 

A.t  last,  with  sad  reluctant  sighs, 
He  left  the  British  strand  : 

And  sore  my  lady  wept  to  leave 
Her  darling  son  on  land." 


tHE    CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Loyal  and  devoted  to  the  very  last  to  the  ill- 
fated  Stuarts,  notwithstanding  his  unexampled 
siil'fering-s  in  the  cause,  Cluny,  in  consequence  of 
a  special  request  contained  in  an  autograph  letter 
from  Prince  Charlie,  in  the  beginning  of  May, 
170.'),  contrived  to  escape  to  Prance,  arriving 
there  in  the  beginning  of  June  of  that  year, 
when  he  met  the  Prince  and  duly  accounted  for 
all  the  effects  which  had  been  left  in  his  hands. 
Pining  in  his  lonely  exile  for  the  companionship 
of  his  loving  wife,  and  giving  expression  to  that 
desire  in  a  letter  she  received  from  him,  she 
braved  what  in  those  days  was  the  long  and 
perilous  journey  "  o'er  land  and  sea,"  and  with 
their  young  daughter  joined  him  in  France  in 
1757,  remaining  with  him  till  the  end. 

So  faithful  did  his  clansmen  and  tenants 
prove,  that  vehen  his  estates  were  forfeited  soon 
after  Culloden,  they  not  only  paid  their  rents  to 
the  Government — who  subsequent!}'  held  the 
estates — but  year  after  year  "  another  rent  "  to 
Cluny  as  well,  down  to  the  date  of  his  death  : — 

"And  when  at  last  war-guns  were  hushed, 

And  backed  to  wasted  farms  tliey  fared. 

With  bitter  memories,  spirits  crushed, 

The  few  whom  sword  and  famine  spared 

Saw  the  old  order  banished,  saw 

The  old  clan-ties  asunder  torn. 

For  their  chief's  care,  a  factor's  scorn 

And  iron  rule  of  Sax(jn  law. 

One  rent  tu  him  constrained  tu  bring 

'  The  German  lairdie,'  called  a  king. 

They  o'er  the  sea  in  secret  sent. 

To  their  own  chief  another  rent 

In  his  far  place  of  banishment. " 

The  following  curious  and  amusing  letter  is 
supposed  to  have  been  written  to  Lady  Cluny 
by  a  friend  under  the  assumed  name  of  "  Donald 
Hatebreeks."  It  is  addressed  on  the  cover, 
"  To  the  Houble.  Lady  Worthy  at  her  Hermi- 
tage," and  is  dated  "Tartanhall,  Augu.st  .'"), 
1751." 

"Madam. — Your  doing  me  the  honour  of  making 
such  respectable  mention  of  me  in  your  letter  to 
the  young  Gentleman,  who  will  put  this  into  your 
Hands,  calls  for  a  grateful  acknowledgment,  which 
I  heartily  wish  it  were  in  my  jiower  to  make  suitable 
to  my  Inclination.  Then,  indeed,  should  your 
Ladyship's  present  Hermitage  be  turned  into  a 
Palace. 

"The  other  day  I  had  a  letter  from  London, 
dated  July  27,  in  wliicli  is  the  following  paragraph  : 

"  'Two  days  ago  tliis  great  City  was  alarmed  with 
the  Accounts  of  the  Death  of  its  Ulorious  Ueliverer  the 

Great  Duke  of  C d.     The  Report  proved  premature; 

but  they  say  his  Heinous  is  far  goue  in  a  Lethargy  and 
cannot  live  long.' 

"  Let  him  tumble  to  the  other  World  when  he 
will,  his  funeral  pomp  will  not  be  attended  with 
many  Tears,  as  it  will  be  no  hard  matter  to  find  a 
Successor  to  a  Butcher,  though  it  will  be  diiticult 
enough  to  pitch  upon  one  to  equal  him  in  Guts  and 
yet  to  have  no  Bowels  1      Nothing  can   paint  the 


A'anity  and  Fickleness  of  this  world  more  to  the 
Life  than  the  Fate  of  William  the  Cruel.  These 
very  animals  who  lately  exalted  him  to  Adoration 
itself  will  be  the  persons  to  rejoice  most  at  his 
Death,  for  upon  the  Death  of  his  Brother  they 
oi)ened  with  full  mouth  upon  their  once  Darling 
Willie,  and  made  no  Bones  to  declare  their  fears 
that  he  had  given  a  Dose  to  poor  P'eckie.*  In  a 
Word,  their  Language  and  Clamour  were  such  that 
One  was  apt  to  think  Hell  was  let  loose  upon  the 
Demigod  himself  !  Their  Venom  they  could  not 
contain,  such  a  panic  were  they  seized  with,  lest  he 
should  step  into  more  power  and  then  make  his 
own  beloved  Adorers  feel  what  others  had  felt 
before  them.  From  this  we  see  there  are  some 
certain  critical  periods  of  Time  that  will  force 
Truth  out  of  the  hidden  Recesses  of  villainous 
Breasts  even  against  Inclination. 

"  I  have  my  end,  if  this  poor  scribble  hajjpens  to 
add  in  the  least  to  your  Ladyship's  Entertainment. 

"My  warmest  wishes  attend  your  nearest  and 
dearest  Friend,  t  May  he  live  and  be  happy  in 
enjoying  all  he  wishes  and  all  he  wants;  for  to  him 
and  all  his  concerns  I  heartily  pray  for  all  Things 
good  and  happy. — I  have  the  honour  to  subscribe 
myself,  madam,  your  Ladyship's  much  obliged  and 
very  humble  servant, 

"  Donald  Hatkhreeks. 

"Tartanhall,  August  5th,  1751." 

*  His  brother,  Frederick,  I'rince  of  Wales,  who  died  a 

short  time  previously. 
I    Her  husband — Cluny  of  the  '45. 

(To  be  coiitinned). 
THE     BIG    SMITH     OF     POLMAILY. 

A    LeOENU    of    GLEN-URliUHAK  r. 


|pT^|HE  great  legendary  hero  of  Gleu  Urqukart 
V^  is  An  Gobha  Mor* — the  Big  Smith,  or 
'^■^  Armourer,  of  Polmaily.  The  Smith 
and  his  seven  sons  were  noted  for  their  enor- 
mous strength.  They  were  also  as  skilful 
in  the  armourer's  art  as  any  who  ever  struck 
anvil  with  hammer;  and  no  weapons  were 
to  be  found  in  Scotland  to  equal  their  cold- 
iron  swords  (claidheanihan  fuar-iaruun) — much 
prized  weapons  in  the  making  of  which  the 
iron  was  heated  and  shaped  by  heavy  and 
rapid  hammer-blows,  without  the  agency  of  fire. 
If  the  Smith  excelled  as  an  armourer,  he  also 
excelled  as  a  husbandman ;  and  his  herd  of 
cattle  at  Polmaily  were  noted  for  their  beauty. 
But  suddenly  and  in  a  single  night  they  lost 
their  good  condition,  and  became  lean  and 
famished;    and,  feed  them  as  he  might,  the 

*  See  my  Legends  of  Glen-Urquhart  in  Trans, 
of  Inverness  Gaelic  Society,  Vol.  II.  (1873), 
for  the  Gaelic  version  of  the  Tale  of  the  Big 
Smith. 


r>fi 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


•Smith  found  it  impossible  to  improve  their 
appearance.  At  that  time  the  fairies  of 
Urquhart  had  their  favourite  retreat  at  Tor-na- 
sidhe  (Tornashee),  near  Pohuaily.  The  Smith 
had  one  of  theiu  for  his  le't-iiviii-<ithe,  or  fairy- 
love,  and  as  he  rambled  with  her  one  day  in 
the  woods,  she  informed  him  that  her  fellow- 
fairies  had  stolen  his  beautiful  cows,  and  that 
the  lean  kiue  which  gave  him  so  much  concern 
were  crod'i-sHlii\  or  fairy-cattle.  Furious  with 
rage,  he  hastened  home,  and,  armed  with  an 
axe,  rushed  mto  the  byre,  determined  to  slay 
the  unearthly  herd.  But  before  he  could 
strike  a  blow  the  cattle  drew  their  heads  out 
of  their  halters  and  escaped  into  the  open. 
Seizing  the  hindmost  by   the  tail,  the   Smith 


sped  with  them  till  they  came  to  Carn-an-Rath, 
in  Ben-a-Gharbhlaich,  near  Achuababan.  As 
they  approached  the  cairn,  its  side  opened,  and 
the  cattle  rushed  in,  with  the  Smith  at  their 
heels.  On  coming  to  a  spacious  chamber, 
which  glittered  with  precious  stones,  and  was 
filled  with  articles  of  rarest  value,  the  animals 
were  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  changed  into 
ordinary  fairies,  who  desired  the  astonished 
Smith  to  choose  what  he  pleased  for  his  own. 
In  a  remote  corner  of  the  chamber  stood  a  little 
shaggy  filly  (lotli  p/iea/lni/ac/i),  of  which  he  had 
heard  his  fairy-love  speak  as  one  of  extra- 
ordinary power;  and  he  replied  that  he  would 
take  the  filly.  "A  tooth  out  of  your  informant's 
mouth,"  said  the  fairies :  but  they  kept  their 


UKiini.\llT     CASTI.E     AND     klOEL',     I.CIL'H     NESS. 


word  and  gave  him  the  /<it/i  iiheallayucli,  and 
strictly  enjoined  him  to  use  her  only  in  the 
plough.  The  Smith  promised  obedience,  and 
went  away  with  the  shaggy  filly.  For  many 
years  she  was  a  marvel  in  the  Glen,  and  a 
blessing  to  the  inhabitants — 

Threabhadli  i  Acbadh-nani-bo, 

'S  an  Lurga-iiihor  bho  cheann  gu  ceaini  ; 

Mar  sin  's  an  Gortan-Ceapagach, 

Mu  'n  leagadh  i  as  an  crann  If 

But  one  day  the  Smith  put  the  filly  in  a 
cart,  for  the  purpose  of  removing  manure.  He 
had  broken  his  promise  to  the  fairies,  and  her 
wonderful  power  left  her  for  ever. 


In  the  days  of  the  Smith,  a  dispute  'as^  to 
their  marches  arose  between  the  Glen-Urquhart 
people  and  the  Erasers  of  the  Aird.  The 
Frasers  pushed  their  boundary  Une  forward 
in  the  direction  of  Urquhart,  to  a  point 
immediately  behind  the  township  of  Achin- 
temarag,  and  sent  a  strong  force  of  young  men 
to  maintain  it  in  spite  of  their  opponents. 
The    Smith    and    four    of    his    sons    quietly 


t  Old  lines  which  may  be  rendered — 
Achnababan  she  could  plough 
And  Lurganiore  from  east  to  west  ; 
Likewise  Gorstan-keppagach, 
And  still  plough  on  without  a  rest  I 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


approached  the  young  men,  ami  requested 
them  to  return  to  their  own  ((luntry.  On 
their  refusal  a  fight  began,  in  which  several  of 
the  Erasers  were  killed,  and  the  rest  were  driven 
across  the  march  claimed  by  the  Urquhart 
people.  That  march  has  ever  since  been 
acknowledged  by  the  Lovat  tenantry,  and  the 
affair  is  commemorated  by  Clach  a'  Ghobhainn 
Mhoir-  -the  Big  Smith's  Stone — to  this  day. 

It  happened  about  this  time  that  one  of 
Lochiel's  followers  slew  a  man  in  Lochaber, 
and  tied  to  I'rquhart,  where  he  found  shelter 
and  employment  with  the  Smith  at  Polmaily. 
Lochiel  heard  that  the  fugitive  was  in  the 
Glen,  and  sent  men  to  bring  him  back.  But 
he  cut  his  hair  short,  and  shaved  his  face 
clean;  and,  altheugh  the  Lochaber  men  saw 
him  as  he  worked  at  the  anvil,  they  failed  to 
recognise  him,  and  returned  home  without 
him.  But  it  soon  reached  the  ear  cif  Lochiel 
that  the  Gille  Maol— the  Bald  Young  Man; 
whom  they  had  seen  in  the  smithy,  was  the 
object  of  their  search ;  and  he  was  very  wroth 
at  the  Suiith  and  the  people  of  Urquhart, 
and  resolved  to  make  a  raid  upon  them. 
Accordingly,  he  and  a  great  many  of  the  Clan 
Cameron  came  and  seized  the  Castle.  But  not 
daiing  to  meet  the  Big  Smith  and  his  sons  in 
fair  tight,  he  sent  for  Gille  Phadruig  Gobha, 
the  Smith's  son-iu-la^\ ,  and  p)romised  to  give 
him  the  lands  of  Polmaily  as  his  own,  if  he 
brought  him  the  Smith  and  his  sons,  dead  i  >r 
alive.  "Choose  out  for  me  two  score  of  your 
bravest  and  boldest  men,"  replied  Gille  Phad- 
ruig Gobha,  yielding  to  the  temptation,  "  and 
I  shall  be  their  guide  tonight."  The  Smith's 
sons  slept  in  a  barn  which  stood  on  the  hillock 
at  Polmaily  which  is  still  known  as  Torran  nan 
Gillean  the  Young  Men's  Knoll  and  at  mid- 
night the  traitor  and  a  party  of  Camerons 
quietly  left  the  Castle,  and  proceeded  to  Pol- 
maily, with  the  intention  of  killing  the  sous, 
and  then  overcoming  the  father.  Some  of  the 
Camerons  remained  at  the  door  of  the  barn, 
while  the  rest  entered  and  attacked  the  sleepers, 
who,  being  without  their  swords,  were  all  slain, 
except  the  youngest,  whose  back  was  broken, 
and  who  afterwards  bore  the  name  of  An 
Gobha  Crom,  or  the  Hump  backed  Smith. 

While  the  work  of  treachery  and  blood  was 
going  on  at  Torrau  nan  Gillean,  the  Smith's 
wife  dreamt  that  a  big  black  sow,  with  a  litter 
of  young  ones,  was  undcrimning  the  founda 
tions  of  the  barn.  She  dreamt  the  dream 
three  times,  and  then  roused  her  husband,  and 
implored  him  to  go  and  see  whether  all  was 
well  «ith  theii'  sons.  Sword  m  hand,  he 
proceeded  to  the  barn,  and  rushed  on  the 
Lochaber  men.  They  tied  for  the  Castle,  and 
he  followed,  cutting  them  down  at  every  lilow. 


Observiug  his  souin-law  in  their  midst,  he 
made  eftbrts  to  reach  him,  whereupon  the 
traitor  cried,  "  '6'  mi  fhein  a  l/i'anii  .'    'S  mi  J'/iein 

a  th'atin  .' "  "  It  is  I !  It  is  I '  "  '■  I  know  it  is 
you,"  rephed  the  Smith,  at  the  same  time 
striking  oft'  the  dastard's  right  ear,  and  placing 
it  in  his  trembling  hand  as  he  crossed  the 
stream  ever  since  called  Allt  Ciille  Phadruig 
Gobha;  "  I  know  it  is  you  ;  deliver  that  letter 
to  Mac  Dhomhnuill  Duibh  §  and  tell  him  I 
shall  breakfast  with  him  at  In'eak  of  day." 
But  before  daylireak  Mac  Dhomhnuill  Duibh 
had  left  the  Castle,  and  was  far  on  his  way  to 
Lochaber. 

Returning  to  the  barn,  the  Smith  found  all 
his  sons  dead,  except  the  Gobha  Crom.  His 
heart  broke  with  sorrow,  and  before  long  the 
Glen  of  Urquhart  knew  him  no  more. 

Such  is  the  story  of  the  Big  Smith  of  Pol- 
maily as  it  has  come  down  to  us  through  the 
mists  of  the  past.  V^'e  do  not  find  the  hero's 
name  in  the  legal  proceedings  which  followed 
the  Great  Raid  of  l.^i-T,  and  which  are  narrated 
in  my  book  on  Urquhart  and  Glenmoriston ;  but 
nevertheless  they  furnish  a  certam  corrt)boration 
of  the  tale,  in  so  far  as  they  show  that  among  the 
sutierers  in  Polmaily  were  William,  son  of 
the  Snuth ;  Fair  John,  son  of  Donald,  son  of 
the  Smith  ;  and  Baak  (Beatliag),  daughter  of 
Gowry,  or  the  Red  Smith.  It  is  thus  beyond 
doubt  that  a  race  of  armourers  flourished  at 
Polmaily  in  the  olden  time;  and  the  Gobha 
Mor  of  tradition  is  more  than  the  mere  creation 
of  Celtic  imagination.]! 


t  According  to  tradition,  the  Macmillans  of  Urqu- 
hart— Claim  'Ic  'Ills  Mhaoil — are  descended 
from  this  worthy, 

§  The  patronymic  of  Lochiel. 

II  A  sept  of  Macdonalds,  in  Urquhart,  are  still 
known  as  Sliochd  a'  Chobhainu  Mhoir,  the 
Race  of  the  Big  Smith.  A  spot  near  Torna- 
shee  is  known  as  Ceardaich  a'  Ghobhainn 
Mhoir,  the  Big  Smith's  Smithy. 


William  Maokay. 


CLAN     NEWS. 


Clan  Chattan  Association.— Alarge  and 
intluential  meeting;  of  members  of  the  Clan  Cliattan 
met  in  the  lioyal  Hotel,  Princes  Street,  Edinb>u-gh 
—Mr.  Jvhn  Mackintosh  in  the  chair.  A  Uu-<,'e  and 
representative  committee  was  ajipointed,  with 
instructions  to  draw  out  new  rules  and  form  a 
branch  in  Edinburgh  of  the  Clan  Chattan  Associa- 
tion—Chief, Mackintosh  of  Maoikntosh.  Mr. 
Andrew  Mackintosh,  H.M.  Customs,  Leith,  was 
apiiointed  Interim  Secretary. 


58 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


^ 


TO      A      SPRIG      OF      HEATHER. 


Oh  Scotia  !  country  of  Highlands  and  Bens, 
With  fair  glens  sloping  down  to  the  sea, 

Long,  long  years  of  exile  but  rivet  more  fast 
The  ties  which  attract  me  to  thee. 

What  care  I  for  Indian  sunshine  and  show, 
For  orient  summer  and  smiles  ? 

On  the  world's  wide  face  are  no  fairer  scenes 
Than  the  seas  of  the  Western  Isles. 


Thou  bonny  wee  purple,  feathery  ticjwer, 

Thou  hast  traversed  the  ocean  wide, 
Aud  hast  brought  me  a  message  of  peace  and  hope 

From  the  bonny,  braid  hillside. 

As  I  view  thee  I  picture  the  grand  old  Ben, 

In  its  autumn,  purple  hue, 
And  in  fancy  can  hear  the  grouse's  whirr, 

And  the  scream  of  the  wild  curlew. 

The  Cushie's  note  sounds  sweet  from  the  wood. 
And  the  salmon's  splash  from  the  stream. 

While  the  sunlight  glintin'  o'er  bracken  and  whin 
Gives  a  glorious  and  golden  gleam. 

The  eagle  soars  o'er  the  Ben's  grand  crest. 

The  mavis  pipes  sweet  on  the  hill, 
Whilst  nature  adoreth  her  maker  and  God 

With  a  solemn  and  rapturous  thrill. 

I  thank  thee  then,  friend,  for  this  wee  purple  sprig 
For  it  bringeth  fair  mem'ries  to  me, 

And  while  toiling  on  here,  mid  a  nation  of  slaves. 
It  recall  eth  bright  thoughts  of  the  free. 

As  I  lay  thee  aside,  thou  wee  purple  tipped  spray. 
With  a  sigh  for  auld  Scotland's  grey  shore, 

A  tear  falls  unbid  on  thy  feathery  face, 
And  I  murmur  "  Lochaber  no  more." 

F.  A. 


LETTERS    TO    THE     EDITOR. 


THE    CLAN     CHISHOLM    STANDARD- 
BEARER    AT    CULLODEN. 

"Mo   RUN    GEAL    OO." 

To  the  Editor  of  the  Celtic  Month! ij. 

Sir — In  connection  with  Mr.  Angus  Mackintosh's 
poetical  contribution  on  the  above  subject  in  your 
September  issue,  I  now  send  you  a  few  additional  notes. 
It  is  strange  that  people  who  claim  to  be  natives  of 
this  district  should  think  "  C.  F."  signifies  Catherine 
Fraser.  The  name  of  the  lady  referred  to  was 
Christina  Ferguson,  a  domestic  servant  with  The 
Chisholm  of  the  day,  whom  William  Chisholm,  being 
a  paragon  of  manly  beauty,  had  no  difficulty  in 
wooing  and  winning. 

When  the  crisis  of  the  '45  arose  William  seems  to 
have  been  more  far-seeing  than  his  chief,  and 
considered  the  probable  result.  Hence  his  hesitation 
in  joining  the  clan  at  its  muster,  but  the  taunt  from 


Chirsty  goaded  him  so  that  he  set  out  to  overtake  his 
clansmen,  whom  he  overtook  above  Bunchrew,  and 
immediately  marched  to  the  front  and  reported 
himself  to  his  chief.  "  Thkinig  thu  'Uilleam. 
Thainig  a  ghaolaich.  Dh'  aithnich  mi  gu  'n  deanadh 
Cirstie  gnothach  — Gabh  a'  bratach." 

I  have  heard  several  contradictory  accounts  of 
William's  disappearance — one  is  to  the  eftect  that  he 
was  seen  to  leave  the  field  of  battle  at  the  head  of  a 
detachment  of  the  clan.  Certain  it  is,  however,  tliat 
he  never  came  home  to  gladden  Chirsty's  eyes.  I 
am  of  the  belief  that  he  fell  fighting  beside  his  chief. 

Regarding  Chirsty  it  may  be  mentioned  that  she 
was  a  native  of  Ross  shire,  and  when  quite  a  young 
girl  entered  The  Chisholm's  service,  and  was  a  great 
favourite  with  the  family.  She  was  an  enthusiastic 
Jacobite,  as  was  also  her  master,  hence  her  sarcasm 
at  poor  William.  But  she  had  good  reason  to  repent 
her  words.  What  is  perhaps  not  so  well  known  of 
her  is  this,  that  she  was  never  known  to  compose  a 
line  before  or  after  this  beautiful  effusion  "  Mo  run 
geal  og" — see  supplement  to  Mackenzie's  Beaulies. 


{ 


THE     OELTIC     MONTHLY. 


59 


The  fact  is,  ber  mind  gave  way  uniler  lier  iloep 
grief,  and  she  became  an  object  of  pity,  bnt  was 
highly  respected  by  the  neighlionrs. 

jl;„il,i.  Jamks  Frasek. 

[Mr.  P'ra.ser  kindly  sent  us  a  photo  of  tli<'  slab  which 
his  father  erected  in  memory  of  "Mo  run  geal  og,'' 
bnt  as  it  was  much  too  faint  for  reproduction  Mr. 
1).  P.  Menzies,  F.SA  ,  Scot.,  has  favoui'ed  ns  with 
tlie  followins  pen  and  ink  copy  of  tlie  memorial. — 


lineage.  lie  is  the  direct  descendant  of  hubel  Ban, 
(Udduthel,  one  of  the  most  noted  beauties  in  the 
lligldands  in  her  day,  and  her  descendants— his 
ancestors — distinguished  themselves  locally  in  the 
Rebellion  of  the  '45,  and,  if  my  memory  serves  ine 
right.  Hugh  F'raser,  of  Gleudoo,  referred  to  in  the 
sketch,  who  had  for  years  been  a  fugitive,  was  the 
author  of  a  well-known  Gaelic  song  sung  till  this  day 
in  the  Highlands. 

Trusting  you  will  excuse  me  for  thus  encroaching 
upon  your  valuable  space,  but  I  felt  that  scant  justice 
had  been  done  to  my  old  ami  honom-oil  friend. 


D.  Ciiisnoi.ir. 


SiK — I  was  much  interested  in  the  letter  \>\  ray 
well-known  clansman,  Mr.  Colin  Chishohn,  on  the 
poem  "Mo  run  geal  og."  Mr.  Angus  Mackintosh,  as 
was  natural,  evidently  accepted  a  prevalent  tradition 
in  Strathglass  in  his  day  ami  mine.  I  was  glad  to 
see  that  Mr.  Colin  Chi.sholm  wrote  with  fairness  ami 
perhaps  justice  to  the  poet.  I  must  say,  however, 
that  I  am  rather  disappointed  with  Mr.  Davidson's 
biographical  sketch  of  Mr.  Mackintosh.  The  sketch 
is  so  bare  and  inadecjuate  as  if  the  poet  were  writing 
his  autobiography.  I  have  known  Mr.  Angus 
Mackintosh  and  indeed  the  whole  family  for  about 
thirty  years,  and  I  think  his  claim  to  appear  in  your 
])ortrait  gallery  is  better  than  you  suppose.  Mr. 
Mackintosh  for  about  a  score  of  years  has  been 
contributing  poems  of  recognized  merit  to  both 
Scottish  and  English  papers.  Many  years  ago  hi' 
contributed  what  I  shall  designate  a  prose  poem  on  a 
Welsh  valley  to  a  monthly  published  there,  which 
was  admittedly  the  article  of  that  issue.  His  poetry 
lias  appeared  in  the  Forestry  Journal,  and  (j^uite 
recently  in  the  "  Northern  Chronicle  "  he  had  a  poem 
on  Loch  Moy  which  was  inimeasurably  superior,  I 
consider,  to  anything  which  appeared  in  that  popular 
joiu'nal  for  many  a  year. 

I  may  likewise  say  that  the  poet's  genealogy  given 
in  the  sketch  is  eiiually  scant  and  mi>agre.  But  his  is 
what  I  might  perhaps  term   a  somewhat  romantic 


PRIZE     TRANSLATION. 


THE     PARTING     OF     PRINCE     CHARLIE 
AND     THE     HIGHLANDERS. 


From  the  Gaelic  i.if  Alk.\a.nliek  Machonalu 
(MiW  Mhiujhstif  Ala.stnh;. 


Translated  by  "  Ahrach."* 

The  Prinoe. 

World  of  traitors  !  death  far  ranging 

Blast  your  homes  with  fire  and  aword  ! 
Fortune's  wheel,  for  ever  changing, 

Makes  us  fly  yon  rebel  horde. 
Driven  far  by  fear  unwonted 

Over  glens  and  heath-clad  hills. 
We  shall  gather  yet  undaunted 

When  again  the  pibroch  thrills. 

Courage,  then,  my  people  dearest  1 

God  will  take  our  grief  away  ; 
Let  your  hope  be  strongest,  clearest, 

In  the  One  wlio  is  our  stay  ! 
Still  remain  devoted,  royal, 

Fasting,  prayerful,  mournful,  warm  ; 
Each  to  all  be  true  and  loyal, 

So  shall  heal  our  deadly  harm. 

I  must  now  re-cross  the  ocean, 

Highlanders,  my  loved  .and  brave  ; 
Yet  my  faith  in  your  devotion 

Holds  unshaken  to  the  grave. 
We've  encountered  many  dangers — • 

Grim  encounters,  too,  they  were  ; 
For  a  time  we  must  be  strangers. 

But  a  swift  return  I'll  dare. 


This  Translation  received  the  First  Prize  at  the 
recent  Mod  of  the  Comtinn  Gaidhmhich.  The 
translator  is  P>ev.  W.  M.  Whyte,  Edit,  Aberdeen, 
sou  of  llr.  Robert  Whyte.  Fort- William. 


GO 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY- 


Your  reward  sliall  then  be  royal — 

You,  my  heroes  tried  and  true, 
Faithful,  worthy,  brave  and  loyal, 

Daring  all  that  men  could  do. 
Head  and  body  torn  from  other, 

Such  are  you,  now  scattered  wide  : 
Yet  be  strong  ;  take  heart  together  ; 

Wait  for  the  returning  tide. 

The  Highlanders. 

Prince  and  Chief,  our  spirits  languish, 

All  undone  with  bitterness — 
Royal  James's  son  in  anguish  ! 

Charlie  Stewart  in  distress  ! 
Driven  from  us  by  misfortune, 

We  are  left  behind  to  mourn. 
Death  to  wear  the  sword  and  tartan, — 

Go,  in  God's  name,  but  return  ! 

Blessings  manifold  attend  thee, 

God  thee  keep  where'er  thou  be. 
Land  and  sea  and  sky  befriend  thee — 

Is  our  earnest  prayer  for  thee. 
Though  adversity  us  sever 

On  the  hither  side  of  death. 
Peace  be  with  thee,  Prince,  for  ever — 

Come  again,  life's  very  breath  ! 

Gone  our  helm,  our  canvas  tattered, 

Chartless,  anchorless  are  we, 
Compass  gone,  and  hull  storm-liattered. 

Drifting  aimless  on  the  sea. 
Helpless  in  our  desolation, 

Head  and  foot  our  bodies  lack, — 
Let  no  weary  preparation 

Long  delay  thy  coming  back. 

The  Prince. 

Let  the  hearts  of  all  the  Highlands 

Bless  Clan  Donuil,  friends  in  need  ! 
Through  the  mainland  and  the  islands, 

Foremost  they,  in  word  and  deed. 
Many  a  mile  we  moved  together. 

Blood-hounds  baying  to  our  death. 
Over  mountain,  sea  and  heather  ; 

Y'et  God  saved  us  from  all  scaith. 

Yours  the  hand,  by  God's  good  blessing 

Saved  me  from  blood-thirsty  men, 
When,  upon  our  trail  liard-pressing, 

Foemen  swarmed  in  hill  and  glen. 
Proof  of  loyalty  you've  given, 

Unforgotten  be  your  fame — 
First  beneath  the  arch  of  heaven 

To  sustain  me  when  I  came. 

The  Highlanders. 

Dark  the  day  and  sore  the  sorrow 

Rends  from  us  our  Royal  Chief  ; 
Ours  shall  be  a  glorious  morrow, 

When  thy  coming  ends  our  grief. 
Eyelids  red  with  tear-drops  burning, 

Hearts  all  weak  and  faint  shall  be. 
Till  the  day  of  thy  returning — 

Love  and  blessing  go  witli  thee ! 


The  Prinie. 

Comrades  true,  heart-wrung  with  sadness. 

Let  your  tears  no  longer  fall  ; 
You  shall  yet  be  filled  with  gladness 

As  mj-  life-guards  round  WTiitehall. 
When  those  crouching  rebels  tremble. 

Hidden  in  their  sheltering  den, 
Y'ou  in  honour  shall  assemble. 

Glad,  triinnphant,  free  again. 


HIGHLAND     SOCIETY     NEWS. 

County  or  Sutheiu.and  Association  (Glasgow)-/- 
This  Society,  which  has  just  been  formed  under  such 
favourable  auspices,  has  now  fairly  settled  down  to 
the  work  of  the  session.  The  office-bearers  are  as 
follows : — Hon.  Presidents,  The  Duke  and  Duchess  of 
Sutherland;  Hon.  Yice-Presidents,  John  Mackay, 
C.E.,J. P.,  Hereford,  and  Colonel  Duncan  Menzies, 
1st  Sutherland  Rille  Volunteers ;  President,  Bailie 
Alexander  Murray ;  Vice-Presidents,  Rev.  Robert 
Munro,  M.A  ,  B  D  ,  W.  Sutherland  Hunter,  Dr.  John 
Gvmn,  Angus  Morrison,  John  Munro,  Hanley,  and 
Donald  Munro,  Manchester ;  Secretary,  A.  C.  M. 
Macrae,  14  Great  George  Street,  Billhead  ;  Treasurer, 
A.  G.  Sutherland,  223  Dumbarton  Road,  and  a 
committee  of  sixteen  members.  The  membership  is 
already  over  seventy, — A  largely  attended,  meeting 
was  held  in  the  Trades'  Hall,  on  20th  ult.,  when  Mr. 
John  Mackay,  Editor,  Cdtic  Monthly,  delivered  a 
lecture  on  "Gaelic  Song  and  Music,"  which  was 
illustrated  in  an  interesting  manner  by  examples  of 
the  various  kinds  of  Gaelic  songs,  tastefully  rendered 
by  Miss  Lizzie  B.  Mackay,  and  others.  The  Duchess 
of  Sutherland  is  to  lecture  to  the  Society  on  15th 
January,  her  subject  being  "The  Home  Industries  of 
Sutherland." 

Clydebank  Highland  Association, — The  Second 
Annnal  Gaelic  and  English  Concert  takes  place  in  the 
Public  Hall,  Clydebank,  on  Thursday  Evening,  28th 
November — Ex-Bailie  Donald  Munro,  J. P.,  in  the 
chair. 

Glasgow  Jura  Association  hold  their  Annual 
Social  Gathering  in  the  Waterloo  Rooms,  on  4lh 
December- -Rev.  David  Johnstone,  presiding. 

The  Skye  Association  have  arranged  to  hold 
their  Annual  Social  Gathering  in  the  (Jueen's  Rooms, 
on  Oth  December. 

Gaelic  Society  oi'  Glasgow. — Tliere  was  a  large 
attendance  of  prominent  Glasgow  Celts  at  the  opening 
meeting  of  the  session,  when  the  President,  Professor 
(  ainplii'll  Black,  delivered  a  learned  discourse  on 
"Sniiic  Traces  of  Eastern  Mythology  in  certain 
Celtic  Superstitions."  The  next  meeting  will  be  held 
in  the  Beligious  Institution  Rooms,  on  26th  November, 
when  Professor  Mackinnon  will  lecture  on  "  Hymns 
of  the  Gael."     All  are  invited  to  attend. 

The  Annual  Gaelic  Concert  of  the  Gaelic 
Society  of  London  was  a  great  success,  hundreds 
being  turned  away  unable  to  find  seats.  Mr.  John 
M.tckay,  J. P.,  Hereford,  presided,  and  gave  a  stirring 
address. 


MALCOLM      MACGREGOR 


GENEALOGICAL     TREE 

OF   THE 

DUNAN  FAMILY 
MACCRECORS 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

.  '     A  ummim  for  highlmdehs. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MAGKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.  4.  Vol.  IV.] 


JANUARY,     1896. 


[Price  Threepence. 


MALCOLM  MACGREGOR,  DUNAN. 


(pra|HE  subject  of  this  sketch  is  not  less 
V^  interesting  as  an  individual  for  his 
^=^  many  social  qualities  ^than  as  a  land- 
mark in  the  history  of  his  clan  and  eoimtry. 


A  native  of  the  Sh'os  Min  of  Rannoch,  v^here 
he  spent  nigh  eighty  years  of  his  life,  he  was 
the  last  direct  descendant  of  the  old  M  acGregor 
Chiefs  to  tarry  on  the  "native  heath"  so  long 
held  by  them  at  the  point  of  the  sword  ;  and 
from  which  went  forth  the  victors  of  Glenfruin 
in  the  spring  of  1602  to  cover  themselves  with 
glory,  and  at  the  same  time  bring  all  of  theii- 
name  under  Royal  proscription  and  most 
inhuman  persecution. 

Born  at  Bailf-Nvdha  in  Rannoch  in  1809 
Mr.  MacGregor  is  in  his  eighty-seventh  year. 


HKARfi      IIF       R.\NN0UH. 

Shewinn- burjiny:  ^^round  of  the  Rannoch  MacGre^^ors,  and  the  fort  in  the  lake  where  MacGregor  of^Dunan  resided  : 
times  of  stress,  and  where  Alister  of  Glenstrae  took  refuj^e  during  tlie  persecution  followintr  the  Battle  of,GIenfrui 
before  he  was  decoyed  across  the  Borders,  and  to  his  doom,  by  Argyll. 


still  hale  and  hearty,  full  of  song  and  good 
fellowship. 

He  is  the  son  of  Patrick  (marked  B  on  the 
tree),  who  became  at  the  untimely  death  of 
l^uncan  (marked  A)  the  Head  of  the  House  of 


Dunan,  and  the  lineal  representative  of  the 
ancient  Glenlyon  Chiefs  (see  "Memoirs  of  Clan 
Gregor,"  by  K.  MacLeay,  M.D.,  .3rd  ed.  p.  72). 
Maternally  he  came  of  the  essentially'niilitary 
family  of  Learagan  MacGregors.     His  mother 


62 


THE     OELTIC     MONTHLY. 


was  Margaret,  daughter  of  Malcolm  MacGregor 
of  Learagan,  and  sister  of  Major  Robert  Mac- 
Gregor, and  Captain  Duncan — 60th  Regiment 
— killed  on  the  battlefield.  General  Sir 
Duncan  MacGregor,  of  shipwreck  fame,  \v,as 
his  mother's  cousin. 

Personally  Mr.  MacGregor  was  noted  in  his 
younger  days  for  his  strength  and  remarkable 
physical  endurance.  But  it  is  for  his  social 
qualities  that  he  will  be  best  remembered- 
rememl lered  as  a  man  equally  at  home  whether 
as  leader  of  youthful  revelries  or  the  director 
of  the  deliberations  of  maturer  years.  And 
many  who  may  chance  to  see  this  notice,  alas  ! 
now  Scattered  far  and  wide,  will  be  reminded  - 
with  mingled  feelings  of  pleasure  and  sadness  — 
of  the  happy  hours  spent  in  his  company,  when 
his  house  was  the  rendezvous  of  young  and  old 
alike,  and  where  ancient  lore  alternated  with 
music,  dance,  and  song.  He  was  himself  a 
vrUling  and  sweet  singer,  as  well  as  a  volumi- 
nous composer  of  songs,  and  had  a  most 
remarkable  memory  for  aU  kinds  of  poetry — 


particularly  Celtii^  verse,  to  which  he  has  largely 
contributed. 

Mr.  Macdlregor  married  in  his  forty-fifth 
year  Margaret,  daughter  of  Gregor  MacGregor 
of  Learagan,  and  has  five  children — four  sons 
and  one  daughter — who  may  be  accounted  as 
among  the  jnirest  of  the  old  MacGregors,  who 
adhered  to  their  name  and  country  in  times  of 
proscription  and  most  cruel  persecution.  Three 
of  the  sous  are  in  the  medical  profession  and 
one  in  business,  and  the  daughter  has  devoted 
herself  to  her  father  in  his  old  age. 

It  is  with  regret  we  take  our  leave  of  this 
genial  worthy,  not  less  on  personal  grounds 
than  because  we  feel  we  are  shaking  hands 
with  the  spirit  of  a  p>ast  age,  when  people  lived 
merrily  to  the  music  of  hearts  full  of  chivalry 
and  generous  emotions,  to  which  the  hum  of 
the  loom  and  the  jingle  of  jewels  are  but  sorry 
sounds 


"  Snididli  lent  a  lautch  miiii  liiimih. 


Editor 


/^ 


MO      DHUCHAIS. 


Far  am  faicear  an  crodh  luolach 
'GJionaltradli  'an  lag  'san  Inb, 

'Us  damh  rioghail  donn  nan  cabar 
Ann  an  glaicean  gorm  nan  stuchd. 

Far  an  cumlidaich  ceo  mar  currachd 
Miillacli  creaf;ach,  maol  nam  beann, 

'S  far  an  cluinnear  guth 'nan  .sruthan  — 
Borbhan  cenlmhor  feadh  nan  gleann. 


Ged  is  boidheach  torach  Sasnnn, 

Far  a  bheil  mi  'n  drasd  a'  ti'imli, 
Ann  am  bruadar  's  trie  mi  sinbhal 

Glinn  mo  dhuchais,  mar  bn  gn^tli. 

Glinn  na  sruthan  'us  na  fuaran, 

Luban  uain'  'us  'beamitean  .'ird  ; 
Far  an  eluinnear  toirm  nam  fheadan 

Agus  oran  binn  nam  biird. 

Tha  gacli  glac  'us  cnoc  nam  shealladli, 
Ann  an  smuain,  mar  ann  an  dealbb, 

'Us  na  fleasgaicli  og  a  b'eol  domh 
Anns  na  Ikithean  sona  dh'fUalbh.  . 

Dh'  fbalbh  na  laithean  ud,  's  na  gilleun, 
Aeli  'am  cuimhne  ni  iad  tJimh 

'S  bi  na' laithean  daonnan  soilleir 
'Us  na  gillean,  ug,  mar  bha. 

Anctts  Maikinto.sh. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


c,:; 


THE      SWEETEST      BITE. 

An  Incident  in  the  Life  of  Sii;  Ewkn 
Cameron  of  Lochiel. 


UlR    EWEN   CAMERON,    tbe   XVIL    ..f 

R      Lochiel,  is  oie  of  the  outstanding-  figures  in 
''     the  iuiTials  "i  thu  Clan  Canici-on.     At  his 


ileath  he  was  ninety  years  of  age,  and  as  the  times 
in  which  he  lived  were  stirring,  he  was  an  active 
participator  in  making  history.  To  do  justice  to 
his  adventurous  life  would  occupy  far  more  space 
than  a  magazine  aiticle  allows.  There  is 
however,  one  incident  in  his  career  which  will 
doubtless  interest  the  readers  of  the  Celtic 
Mo  lit  Ml/. 


l,OCHIEI/S     KNCOUNTER     WITH     THE     ENGLISH     OFFICER. 


When  Cromwell  sent  General  Monk  to  assume 
the  command  in  Scotland,  Monk  effected  as 
much  by  judicious  diplomacy  as  bj'  force  of 
arms.  He  used  every  endeavour  in  his  power 
to  secure  the  support  of  Lochiel,  who  was  one 


of  the  most  distinguished  Chiefs  that  adhered  to 
the  royal  cause.  Among  other  tempting  baits, 
the  offer  was  made  to  buy  the  estate  of  Glenlui  and 
Loch  Arkaig  for  him  ;  to  pay  all  his  debts,  and 
give  him  whatever  post  in'the  army  he  jJeased. 


64 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


But  this  was  declined.  All  this  diplomacy  was 
ii)effectual :  Lochiel  could  uot  be  bribed.  Monk 
tiien  tried  a  different  ex])edieDt.  He  resolved  to 
|ilace  a  strong  garrison  at  luverlochy,  in  the 
very  heart  of  the  Cameron  country,  and  thus  ■ 
liave  Lochiel's  estate  at  his  mercy.  Colonel 
iiryan  was  made  g-overnor,  and  he  had  2,000 
effective  troops  in  liis  garrison,  who  vvei'e 
commanded  by  the  most  slcilful  officers  that 
Monk  could  select.  The  garrison  liad  a,  large 
following  of  workmen  and  .servants,  with  their 
wives  and  children.  A  few  days  after  lii.s 
arrival,  the  governor  sent  out  a  detachment  of 
300  men,  in  two  boats,  to  cut  down  some  oak 
trees  and  bring  in  fresh  pr(5visions.  One  of  the 
boats,  with  160  men,  anchored  at  the  opposite 
shore  of  the  loch,  while  a  boat,  with 
HO,  besides  officers  and  workmen,  anchored 
at  Lochiel's  side  of  it.  Lochiel,  with  3.5  or  at 
most  38  men,  watched  them  from  under  cover  of 
a  wood,  so  near  that  he  could  count  the  number 
of  those  on  the  boat  and  note  that  the  workmen 
carried  axes  and  other  t(jol8.  After  a  long 
consultation  with  his  Clansmen,  Lochiel  resolved 
to  attack.  Half  of  his  band  carried  bows,  and 
were  excellent  archers,  whilst  the  others  had 
muskets.  They  attacked  at  the  village  of 
.^.chadelew,  and  tlie  garrison  party  firing  too 
soon,  the  Clansmen  were  on  them,  liefore  they 
could  reload.  The  Camerous  fought  with  their 
itroadswords,  while  the  soldiers  clubbed  with  their 
muskets.  The  latter  fought  long  and  desperately, 
but  at  length  they  gave  way  and  retreated. 

It  was  on  this  occasion  that  the  well-known 
incident  occurred,  which  gave  Lochiel  ''the 
sweetest  bite  he  ever  had  in  his  life."  Lochiel, 
alone  and  unattended,  had  been  pursuing  some 
of  the  enemy,  whom  he  followed  into  a  wood. 
The  oiScer  in  command  of  the  party  was  of  the 
number,  and  had  concealed  himself  in  a  bush, 
where  he  was  not  observed  by  Lochiel.  The 
English  officer  suddenly  sprang  out  and  attacked 
him  as  he  |iassed,  threatening  to  avenge,  by 
instant  death,  the  slaughter  of  his  men.  liochiel, 
sword  in  hand,  received  him,  and  the  combat 
was  long  and  doubtful.  Each  fought  for  his 
life,  and  as  they  were  both  animated  by  the 
same  fury  and  courage,  so  they  seemed  to 
manage  their  swords  with  like  dexterity.  The 
English  officer  had  the  advantage  in  streng(ih 
and  size,  but  Lochiel,  exceeding  him  in  nimble- 
ness  and  agility,  in  the  end  tripped  the  sword 
out  of  his  opponent's  hand.  But  he  was  not 
allowed  to  make  use  of  this  advantage,  for,  his 
antagonist  rushing  upon  him  with  incredible 
quickness,  they  closed  and  wrestled  till  they 
both  fell  to  the  ground,  locked  in  each  other's 
arms.  In  this  posture  they  struggled  and 
tumbled  up  and  down,  till  they  got  fixed  in  the 
channel  of  a  brook,  between  two  straight  steep 


Itanke,  which  then,  by  the  drought  of  summer, 
happened  to  be  dry.  Here  Lochiel  was  in  a 
most  desperate  situation,  for,  being  undermost, 
he  was  not  only  crushed  under  the  weight  of  his 
antagonist,  a  very  heavy  man,  but  was  also 
badly  hurt  and  bruised  hj  the  sharji  stones  in 
the  bed  of  the  rivulet.  Their  .strength  was  so 
far  spent  that  neither  of  them  could  stir  a  limb. 
The  Englishman,  being  uppermost,  at  last 
recovered  the  use  of  his  right  hand,  seized  a 
ilagger  that  hung  at  his  belt,  and  made  several 
attempts  to  stab  Lochiel,  who  all  the  time  held 
him  fast,  while  the  narrowness  of  the  place 
where  they  lay,  and  their  ]teculiar  pesition, 
rendered  it  very  difficult,  and  indeed  impossible, 
at  once  for  tlie  Englishman  to  effect  his  purpose. 
At  length  he  made  a  \iolent  effort  to  disengage 
himself,  and,  raising  his  head,  he  exposed  his 
neck.  Lochiel  now  got  his  arms  released;  with 
his  left  hand  he  suddenly  seized  and  held  his 
opponent's  right,  while  with  his  own  right  he 
grasped  his  enemy's  collar.  He  then  sprang  at 
the  Englishman's  extended  throat,  which,  he 
used  to  say,  "  God  had  put  in  his  mouth."  biting 
right  thnjugh  the  windpipe  and  keeping  such  a 
hold  that  he  brought  away  the  mouthful. 
"  This,"  he  said,  "  was  the,  sweetest  bite  I  ever 
had  in  my  life."  His  face  \*i'as  covered  all  over 
with  the  warm  blood  that  flowed  from  the 
wound.  Repairing  to  the  river-side  to  wash  the 
blood  from  his  face,  Lochiel  found  his  men  chin 
deep  in  the  water  in  pursuit  of  the  English 
soldiers.  He  offered  quarter  to  the  pursued  and 
they  all  submitted. 

Many  j-ears  afterwards,  when  attending  at 
Court  in  London,  Lochiel  went  into  a  barber's 
shop  to  get  his  hair  and  beard  dressed,  and, 
when  the  razor  was  passing  over  his  throat,  the 
chatty  barber  observed,  "  You  are  from  the 
North,  sir."  "  Yes,''  said  Sir  Ewen,  "  I  am ; 
do  you  know  people  from  the  North  ?  "  "  No," 
replied  the  irate  barber,  -'nor  do  I  wish  to;  they 
are  savages  there.  Would  you  lielieve  it,  sir, 
one  of  them  tore  the  throat  out  of  my  father 
with  his  teeth  ?  1  only  wish  1  had  the  fellow's 
throat  as  near  me  as  I  have  your's  just  now." 
Sir  Ewen  afterwards  said  it  was  the  only  time 
he  ever  experienced  the  sensation  of  fear,  as  he 
felt  the  edge  of  the  steel  gliding  over  the  part  so 
particularly  threatened. 

KirWn.illnr.lv  JOHN     CaMERON. 


Clan  Ca.meron  Society. — The  Annual  Social 
Meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  in  the  Waterloo 
Rooms  on  I'Jth  ult.— Lochiel,  Chief  of  the  Clan,  in 
the  chair.  There  was  a  large  attendance.  Among 
those  supporting  the  chairman  were  Provost 
Cameron,  Kirkintilloch,  Messrs.  Nicol  Cameron, 
John  Cameron,  S.S.C,  John  Cameron  K^lan  Bard), 
Patrick  Cameron  (Corrychoillie) ,  etc.  The  chairman 
delivered  a  most  interesting'address. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLt. 


w 


uiy  readers  will  jnm  inf  IVn-  a  tow 
momeuts  iii  a  short  iiuaginary  '  'liristmas 
>lul/,y  I  sliall  tell  theui  of  the  Devil 
aud  his  augels  in  my  native  parish  of  Urqiihart 
and  Glenmoriston,  a  subject  which  has  before 
now  been  the  theme  of  many  a  weird  tale  on 
winter  nights. 

It  is  true,  coujrades  of  the  crilidh,  that  the 
Devil  does  not  now  trouble  us  in  this  parish  so 
often  or  as  nuich  aa  he  was  wont  to  do.  Yet,  we 
cannot  say  that  he  has  quite  left  us.  His 
appearances  are  still  too  frequent,  and  there  is 
not  a  man  among  us  who  does  not  know  him  by 
his  familiar  names  of  An  Diabhal,  An  Droch 
Spiorad.  An  Droch  Rud,  An  Namhad,  An 
Kiabhach  that  is,  The  Devil,  The  Evil  Spirit, 
The  Evil  Thing,  The  Enemy,  The  Speckled  One. 
In  unpious  imitation  of  the  Godhead,  he  consists 
of  three  persons,  the  Black  Devil,  the  Speckled, 
and  the  A\'hite, — the  latter  being  the  most 
dangerous,  not  only  on  account  of  his  excessive 
share  of  evil,  but  also  because  of  his  hypocrisy 
and  the  difficulty  of  distinguishing  him  from 
an  angel  of  light. 

As  might  be  expected  the  Devil  has  in  all 
ages  been  the  great  enemy  of  the  preachers  and 
teachers  of  Christianity.  How  he  went  about 
his  work  of  obstruction  may  be  gathered  from 
the  following  true  story.  Early  in  the  present 
century  a  pious  elder  was  urgently  called  upon 


(lU  a  dark  luglit  lo  visit  a  dying  man  in  the 
parish  who  had  not  led  the  most  exemplary 
of  lives.  The  elder  hastened  towards  the 
suti'erer's  house,  but  his  progress  was  soon 
interrupted  by  the  cries  of  a  child.  Making 
for  the  spot  from  which  they  came,  he  found 
an  infant  lying  under  a  bush,  apparently  in 
great  disti'ess.  To  wrap  it  in  his  plaid  and 
take  it  on  his  back  was  but  the  work  of  a 
moment,  and  he  again  pressed  forward  to 
administer  the  consolations  of  reUgion  to  the 
sutt'ering  sinner.  Hut  by-and-by,  as  he 
ascended  a  steep  hill,  his  burden  became  so 
heavy  that  be  was  forced  to  sit  down  on  a  bank 
and  rest.  When  he  tried  to  resume  his  journey 
he  found  it  impossible  to  rise,  aud  he  then 
looketl  behind  and  saw,  to  his  amazement,  not 
the  child,  but  a  great  hideous  monster  which 
glared  upon  him  with  ilaming  eyes,  and 
clutched  him  with  hcjrny  fiugers  about  the 
throat  until  he  was  well  nigh  strangled.  The 
good  man  at  once  realized  that  this  was  the 
Evil  One  endeavouring  to  keep  him  away  from 
the  death-bed,  aud  he  invoked  the  aid  and 
protection  of  the  Trinity  whereupon  the 
enemy  disappeared  in  a  flash  of  fire.     Hurrying 

*  Ci'Uidh,  pronounced  kai'ij,  a  tireside  social 
gathering  fur  story,  song,  riddle,  or  other 
entertainment. 


6fi 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


on,  the  elder  soon  reached  the  dying  man,  and 
■was  the  means  of  bringing  peace  to  his  soul 
before  he  closed  his  eyes  for  ever. 

The  Devil's  motive  in  harassing  pious  men, 
and  obstructing  them  in  their  work  of  mercy 
and  love,  is  not  far  to  seek ;  but  it  is  not  so 
easy  to  understand  why  he  delighted  (as  he 
did)  in  harassing  and  destroying  those  who 
had  entered  his  own  service.  In  our  parish  a 
hundred  years  have  not  yet  passed  since  a 
factor  who  did  the  Devil's  woi'k  by  jjersecuting 
and  evicting  the  righteims,  was  suddenly 
pounced  upon  by  the  Fiend  in  the  dead  of 
night,  and  beaten  to  death.  About  the  same 
time  Eobhain  Ban  a'  Bhocain — Fair  Ewen  of 
the  Gobhn — was  mercilessly  done  to  death  by 
him.  Ewen,  who  was  a  Glenmoriston  man, 
entered  into  an  unfortunate  paction  with  Satan, 
under  which  he  bound  himself  to  serve  him, 
and  to  render  an  account  of  his  stewardship 
every  night  before  cock-crow.  For  a  time 
Ewen  faithfully  carried  his  jiart  of  the  contract, 
and  met  his  master  nightly.  But  the  latter 
grew  more  and  more  exacting,  and  Ewen  began 
to  repent.  He  tried  to  break  off  his  nocturnal 
interviews ;  but  no  matter  where  he  was  when 
the  dreaded  hour  arrived  something  within 
him  forced  him  to  keep  the  tryst.  To  get  rid 
of  his  tormentor  he  sailed  for  America.  But 
at  sea  the  Evil  Thing  met  him  as  on  shore, 
and  he  troubled  him  so  cruelly  in  America  that 
he  was  glad  to  come  back  to  the  old  coimtry. 
After  his  return  the  meetings  were  for  a  period 
kept  as  before,  but  at  last  Ewen,  driven  to 
desj)air,  arranged  with  certain  of  his  neigh- 
bours that  they  should  pass  a  night  with  him 
in  his  house,  and  prevent  his  going  out—  by 
force,  if  necessary.  The  friends  accordingly 
sat  with  him.  As  the  fateful  hour  approached 
Ewen  became  restless,  and  felt  impelled  to 
leave.  His  companions  refused  to  let  him  go, 
and  in  the  end  bound  him  hand  and  foot. 
And  then  arose  a  high  shrieking  wind  that 
shook  the  very  foundations  of  the  house,  and 
strange  sounds  and  noises  were  heard  which 
became  so  terrible  that  Ewen  was  released. 
The  unfortunate  man  walked  forth  into  the 
dark.  He  did  not  return,  and  next  morning 
his  dead  body  was  foimd  stark  and  stiff  on  a 
neighboiuing  heath. 

In  his  work  of  evil  in  the  parish  the  Devil 
was  in  the  past  ably  assisted  by  his  angels;  and 
very  ugly  angels  some  of  them  were — hideous 
hags  and  goblings — and  witches  who,  if 
possible,  were  more  hideous  still.  The  great 
place  of  meeting  of  the  Urquhart  witches  was 
An  Ciavsach  (The  Harp),  a  rock  on  the  shore  of 
Loch  Ness,  within  the  boimds  oi  the  farm  of 
Tychat.  There  they  could  be  seen  congregated 
on  certain  nights  under  the  presidency  of  their 


ISIaster,  who  sat  on  a  ledge  of  the  rock,  and 
when  not  engrossed  in  more  serious  business, 
played  to  them  on  bagpipes  and  stringed 
instruments — which  circumstance  gave  the 
rock  its  name.  Marvellous  was  the  effect  of 
his  music  on  the  decrepit  old  women.  They 
danced  and  flung  as  no  maid  of  sixteen  ever 
did,  and  indulged  in  pranks  and  cantrips 
which  the  lythest  athlete  could  not  touch. 
But  the  meetings  were  for  business  as  well  as 
for  pleasure,  and  on  receiving  their  instructions 
from  the  President  the  women  dispersed  and 
proceeded  to  carry  out  his  behests.  Their  evil 
influence  was  exercised  quietly  and  in  secret, 
involving  the  objects  of  their  attention  in 
misfortune,  sometimes  in  death.  As  is  well 
known  the  an-p  crradh  the  clay  corpse  -was 
their  favom-ite  instrument  of  torture  and 
destruction.  Its  merits  have  not  yet  been 
forgotten.  Within  the  last  quarter  of  a  century 
two  such  images,  stuck  with  pins,  have  been 
discovered  in  the  parish. 

But  bad  though  the  witches  were,  the  hags 
and  goblins  were  worse  still.  I  shall  only  refer 
to-night  to  two  of  them — the  hag  known  as 
Cuilleach  a  CInalhaich,  and  the  goblin  kno^vn  as 
Lav  Bhan  Choin-Dho.  Cailleach  a'  Chrathaich 
— the  Hag  of  the  Craach,  a  wild  and  moun- 
tainous district  lying  between  Corrimony  and 
Glenmoriston — was  the  most  powerful  and 
most  dreaded  of  the  Devil's  angels  in  the 
parish.  She  revelled  in  the  blood  of  men,  the 
Macmillans  being  especially  the  objects  of  her 
fierce  malice.  Her  manner  was  to  accost  some 
lonely  wayfarer  across  the  wilds,  and  secretly 
deprive  him  of  his  bonnet.  As  he  travelled  on 
in  ignorance  of  his  loss,  she  rubbed  the  bonnet 
with  might  and  main.  As  the  bonnet  was 
worn  thin  by  the  friction,  the  man  grew  weary 
and  faint,  until  at  last,  when  a  hole  ajjpeared 
in  it,  he  dropped  down  and  died.  In  this  way 
fell  at  least  five  Macmillans  within  the  last 
hundred  years — and  aU  were  found  in  the 
heather  without  a  mark  of  violence  upon  them. 
Few  indeed  escaped  from  her  toils.  One 
evening,  Donald  Macmillan  from  Balmacaan 
met  her  at  Oragan  a'  Chrathaich,  and  exchanged 
a  passing  salutation  with  her.  He  went  on  his 
way  unaware  of  the  fact  that  she  had  taken  his 
bonnet.  His  eyes  were,  hewever,  soon  opened, 
and  he  hastened  back  to  the  Cragan,  where  he 
found  her  rubbing  his  head-gear  with  great 
vigour-.  A  terrible  struggle  took  place  for  its 
possession,  in  which  he  in  the  end  j)rev£iiled; 
but  as  he  hurried  away  she  hissed  into  his  ear 
that  he  would  die  at  nine  o'clock  on  a  certain 
evening.  \Vhen  the  evening  arrived  his  family 
and  neighbours  gathered  round  him,  and 
prayed  and  read  the  scriptures — the  hag's 
words  were,  however,  to  be  fulfilled,  and  as  the 


FRANK     ADAM. 


*rHE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


67 


clock  struck  the  fatal  hour,  he  fell  back  into 
his  chair  and  expireil. 

The  goblin  to  which  I  have  referred — Imi- 
Bliau  Choiii'-Dlui,  or  the  White  Mare  of  Corri- 
Dho — was  uot  so  terrible  as  the  Hag  of  the 
Craach,  but,  nevertheless,  she  was  for  genera- 
tions the  cause  of  nuich  troulile  to  the  farmers 
of  Urquhart  and  (TlenuKiriston.  If  they  let 
loose  a  horse  anywhere  within  the  wide  bounds 
of  the  parish  it  was  almost  certain  to  make  off 
and  seek  the  White  iMare's  society.  At  last 
the  people  met  and  resolved  to  destroy  her. 
A  large  number  of  the  oldest  and  swiftest 
among  them  accordingly  formed  a  ring  ai'ound 
her  usual  haunts,  and  gradually  closed  in  upon 
her  until  she  had  apparently  no  way  of  escape. 


One  of  them,  Alasdair  Cutach  (Alexander  the 
Short),  a  member  of  the  Clann  Iain  Chaoil  of 
Glenmoriston,  was  bold  enough  to  seize  her  by 
the  tail.  He  had  reason  to  repent.  The  Mare 
rushed  furiously  through  the  crowd,  dragging 
behind  her  the  wretched  Alasdair,  who,  to  his 
horror,  found  himself  unable  to  let  go  the  tail. 
On,  on  she  tiew,  followed  by  the  fleetest  of  her 
would-be  capturers,  until,  after  a  run  of  many 
miles,  she  came  to  Ruigh  an  t-Slochdain  Duibli, 
in  the  mountain  region  between  Aehnagonenm 
and  Urcpihart.  There  she  and  /vlasdair 
disappeared.  Next  day  his  mangled  corpse 
was  found  on  the  moor.  She  has  never  since 
been  seen. 


I  could  continue  to  speak  of  the  Devil's  work 
in  the  parish,  and  of  the  doings  of  his  angels- 
the  fames  even  having  l>een  pressed  into  his 
service — but  I  daresay  j-ou  have  had  enough 
of  them  for  one  evening.  The  night  is  dai'k 
and  some  of  you  have  far  to  go,  and  your  paths 
are  not  unknown  to  our  great  Enemy.  Go 
straight  home,  looking  neither  to  the  right  nor 
to  the  left  and,  above  all,  look  not  behind,  no 
matter  what  sounds  may  reach  your  ears,  or 
with  what  temptation  you  may  be  tempted. 
Should  anything  evil  meet  you,  address  it  not, 
l)ut  draw  a  circle  around  you  in  the  name  of  the 
Trluity,  and  across  that  line  it  cannot  come 
until  it  has  to  disappear  at  cock-crow.  Good 
night;  and  may  He  who  was  himself  tempted, 
and  prevailed,  and  who  delivers  from  evil, 
shield  us  from  all  harm  during  this  His  own 
Christmastide. 

I,,,,,.,,,..,.  WiLLI.iJI    M.\CKAY. 


FRANK     ADAM,     SOURABAYA,    JAVA. 


t^^.T  has  often  been  said 
^&  of  Highlanders  that 
=£  the  further  they  are 
removed  from  their  native 
land,  theii-  love  of  country 
and  the  associations  of 
home,  become  all  the  more 
intensified.  In  the  Dutch 
island  of  Java,  with  absol- 
utelv  nothing  in  it  to  remind  one  of  the 
Highlands  of  Scotia,  Mr.  Adam  has  spent 
many  years  of  his  Ufe,  wearing  the  Highland 
dress  on  festive  occasions,  and  keeping  in 
touch  with  the  Celtic  movements  in  the  old 
coimtry.  Mr  Adam  comes  of  the  Gordon 
clan.  He  was  born  in  Glasgow,  and  was 
educated  at  the  Glasgow  Academy  and 
University,  His  father  left  Scotland  early  in 
the  centui-y  to  seek  his  fortune  in  Java,  and  it 
was  during  a  visit  which  his  parents  paid  to 
the  old  country  that  the  subject  of  our  sketch 
was  born.  His  maternal  grandfather  was  an 
officer  in  the  British  Navy  during  the  expedi- 
tion which,  in  the  time  of  Bounaparte,  wrested 
Netherlands  India  from  the  combmed  French 
and  Dutch  forces  Thereafter  he  became  the 
owner  of  a  group  of  sugar  estates  in  Java,  ajid 
married  the  daughter  of  a  high  Dutch  official. 
In  1875  Mr.  Adam  went  out  to  Java  in  the 
service  of  a  large  Scotch  firm  of  East  India 
Merchants.  Since  that  time  he  has  spent  most 
of  his  life  in  the  east,  and  is  now  the  head,  in 
Java,  of  one  of  the  Scotch  firms  there.  In 
these  years  he  has  travelled  a  great  deal,  and 
has   visited    the    Straits    Settlements,    China, 


68 


THE    OELTIO    MONTHLY. 


Japan,  Ceylon,  Burmah,  America,  and  Canada, 
and  everywhere  he  has  had  the  good  fortune  to 
meet  leal-heai-ted  Highlanders  whose  "hearts 
warmed  to  the  tartan."  Naturally  his  experiences 
have  been  vai'ied.  During  the  last  Transvaal 
War  vfith  the  Boers  at  the  Cape,  the  relations 
of  the  British,  in  Java,  with  their  Dutch 
neighbours,  were  not  of  the  most  amicable 
natui-e.  Mr.  Adam  has  not  pleasant  recollections, 
therefore,  of  the  time  of  the  Battle  of  Majuba 
HiU !  He  has  experienced  earthquakes  and 
volcanic  eruptions,  the  most  memorable  of  which 
was  the  awful  eruption  of  Krakatoa  moimtain, 
near  Batavia,  when  40,000  persons  perished. 

There  is  one  matter  upon  which  Mr.  Adam 
takes  credit  to  himself,  and  which  shows  his 
Highland  enthusiasm.  In  the  Dutch  island  of 
Java  he  has  been  the  means  of  founding  a  group 
of  coffee  estates,  and  to  each  of  these  he  has 


given  the  name  of  some  Highland  glen,  "  Grlen 
Nevis  "  being  the  first  oi  the  group.  In  future 
ages  the  philologists  will  doubtless  wonder  how 
these  Celtic  place-names  originated  in  such  an 
unlikely  spot. 

Since  his  retm-n  to  Scotland  Mr.  Adam  has 
met  with  a  severe  accident.  The  enforced 
leisui'e  thus  given  him  he  has  devoted  to  the 
preparation  of  a  most  interesting  and  valuable 
work  on  the  septs  of  the  various  clans,  with  full 
particulars  regarding  their  chiefs,  branches, 
crests,  pipe  tunes,  badges,  (Gaelic  and  English 
names).  Altogether  the  work  is  a  perfect 
storehouse  of  clan  information,  and  as  it  will 
soon  be  published  it  is  siu-e  to  receive  a  hearty 
welcome  at  this  busy  Celtic  season.  We  hope 
we  may  be  favoured  with  many  other  Highland 
works  from  his  able  pen. 

Editor. 


OUR      MUSICAL      PAGE. 


^aISVJ'ANALD,  son  of  Allan  6g — better  known 
^^^  by  his  patronymic  of  Mac-'ic-Dlmgliail — 
^^^^  MacDonell  of  Morar,  was  famed  for 
his  strength.  He  was  also  an  excellent  musician 
and  could  play  the  dai-sach  and  fiddle  with 
equal  facility  and  grace,  while  he  excelled  as 
an  exponent  of  pipe  music.  On  one  occasion 
he  had  to  meet  Mac  DJibmull  Duibit  (Lochiel)  on 
business  at  Achnacarry.  On  his  way  thither 
he  and  his  servant  called  at  the  mill  near 
Corpach,  where  the  miller  took  the  liberty  of 
playing  some  trick  upon  him.  Ranald  had  a 
speedy  revenge  however,  for  seizing  the  mill 
wheel  he  lifted  it  out  of  its  bearings  and  put  it 
completely  out  of  gear. 

When  nearing  Achnacarry  a  wild  bull  came 
foaming  towards  him  and  his  servant — and 
Ranald  concluding  that  the  infuriated  animal 
had  been  let  loose  in  order  to  attack  him,  he 
decided  to  stand  his  ground.  Seizing  the  bull 
by  the  horns  he  twisted  them  both  otf  and  did 
not  content  himself  till  he  had  killed  the 
animal.  To  commemorate  the  incident  he 
composed  the  tune  which  became  the  march  or 
Sjiatdseai ac/id  oi  Clann  DtmuiU  a'  Uliiaij/iad,  viz: 
An  t-arbh  breac  dearg — The  red  brindled  bull: — 

'Se  'n  tarbh  breac  dearg, 

'Se  'n  tarbli  breac  dearg, 

'Se  'n  tarbh  breac  dearg  a  mharbh  mi . 

'Se  'n  tarbh,  'se  'n  tarbh, 

'Se  'n  tarbh,  "se  'n  tarbh, 

'Se  'n  tarbh  breac  dearg  a  mharbh  mi. 

It  was  in  Ranald's  time  that  the  Spectre  of 
the  Headless  Bodj' — Colainn  gun  cheami,  was 
often  seen  hovering  about  Morar  House,  and 
the  Mi/e  reid/i,  or  Smooth  Wile,  which  is  within 
a  thort  diBtance  of  the  family  mansion,  was  its 


favourite  promenade  in  the  dark  hours  of  mid- 
night, when  spuits  walked  abroad.  The  peojjle 
of  the  district  considered  it  prudent  to  avoid 
that  portion  of  the  road  after  nightfall.  The 
spectre  was  never  known  to  assaO  more  than 
one  person  at  a  time,  and  it  had  a  special  liking 
for  attackmg  such  as  were  renowned  for  their 
strength.  On  one  occasion  it  had  attacked 
Ranald  of  Morar's  foster-brother,  one  of  the 
most  powerful  men  in  the  district,  his  body 
being  found  the  next  day,  and  the  barrel  of  his 
gim  twisted  and  knotted  as  if  it  had  been  a 
piece  of  pliable  rope.  Ranald  was  vexed  and 
enraged  at  the  manner  in  which  his  brother 
had  been  treated,  and  he  vowed  over  the  muti- 
lated body  that  he  would  avenge  his  death. 
His  opportunity  was  not  long  in  coming ;  for 
returning  home  about  midnight,  he  heard, 
while  passing  the  most  eerie  part  of  the  Smooth 
Mile,  a  harsh  voice  demanding  ' '  Is  that  you 
Ranald  og ) "  "  It  is.  Bless  and  protect  us ! " 
"I  am  the  Headless  Body — Colainn  gun  c/ieann 
— I  kUled  your  foster-brother  yesterday,  and  I 
win  make  short  work  of  you  tonight"  They 
got  into  grips,  and  after  a  tough  fight,  which 
lasted  till  neai-  the  break  of  day,  Ranald  6g 
seized  it  and  folded  it  imder  his  arm  as  a  piper 
folds  his  bagpipes  [n'nn  e  pasgadh  na  /iwba  air) 
with  the  intention  of  di-agging  it  to  the  light, 
so  that  he  might,  if  possible,  discover  its  nature. 
The  spectre  feared  the  coming  dawn,  and  in 
its  extremity  exclaimed — "Let  me  go."  "I 
will  not  let  thee  go  '  explained  Ronald,  as  he 
tightened  his  hold.  "Let  me  go,  and  I  will 
give  thee  a  fold  of  cattle,  and  land  to  graze 
them."  "  I  have  that  without  your  aid,  and  I 
will  not  let  thee  go."     •■  Let  me  go  and  I  will 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY 


69 


leave  Morar  for  ever."  "  If  thou  wilt  vow  and 
swear  that  by  altar,  book  and  candle,  I  shall  let 
thee  go."  The  spectre  on  bended  knees  vowed 
to  leave  those  regions  for  ever,  and  it  has  kept 
its  vow.     On  being  liberated  it  tlew  towards 


the  Misty  Island  singing  the  following  Gaelic 
ditty.  The  words  and  air  are  now  used  as  a 
fairy  lullaby  in  the  West  Highlands. 

FlONN. 


BEALACH     A'     MHORBHEINN 

Key  G.      Modeiafo,  hcatin;i  twice  m  tin-  hik 


THE     PASS    OF    THE     MORVEN. 


il 

'  I  r  :  n  :  r  I  s  :  — 

'S  fada  bhuara  flihi 

Fare  ye  well  noo, 

I 

I  r  :  n  :  r  |  s  :  — 

'S  fada  bhiiam  fhin 

Fare  ye  well  noo, 


I  r  :  r  :  f  |  n  :  r  :  d 
bonii  Beinn  Eadarainn; 
lofty     Ben     Ederin, 

I  r  :  r  :  f  |  n  :  r  :  d 
bonn  Beinn  Eadarainn ; 
bonnie     Ben     Ederin, 


I    r  :  n  :  r  I  s  :  —  : 
'S  fada  bhuam  fhin 
Fare  ye   well    noo, 


I  r  :  n  :  f  I  n  :  —  :  d 
Bealach  a'  Mliurbheinn 
Paas  o'  the  Mor  -  ven. 


I  r  :  f  :  n  I  ri  :  r  :  d  I  Si  :  li  :  d  I  r  :  —  :  d  ( 
'S  fada  gun  teaganih  bhuam  Bealach  a'  Mhiirbheinn. 
Farewell  for   ever   dear       Pass   of   the   Morven. 


|r;n:  r|s :— :— 
Bho  bhonn  t,'U  bonn, 
Green  are  thy  knowes. 


I  1  :  s  :  f  I  s  :  f  :  n 
bonn  Beinn  Eadarainn, 
bonnie    Ben    Ederin, 


I  r  :  n  :  r  I  s  :  — 
Bho  bonn  gu  bonn 
Cosey   thy   howes. 


r  :  n  :  f  |  n  :  —  :  d 
Bealach  a'  Mhorbheinn 
Pass    o"   the    Morven, 


ir:n:r|s:  —  :  s 
'S  fada  bhuam  fhin 
Bare   are   the   knowes 


1  :  s  :  f  I  s  :  f  :  n  |  r  :  f  :  n  |  tn  :  r  :  d  |  s,  :  1,  :  d  |  r  :  -  :  d  || 
bonn  Beinn  Eadarain,  'S  fada  gun  teagamh  bhuam  Bealach  a'  Mhorbheinn. 
awa  frae   Ben  Ederin,     Cauld   are    the   howes   awa   frae   thee,    Morven. 


Bho  chill  nam  beann,  bonn  nam  bealaichean, 
Bho  chill  nam  beann,  Bealach  a'  Mhorbheinn  ; 
Bho  chill  nam  beann  bonn  nan  bealaichean — 
'S  fada  gun  teagamh  bhuam  Bealach  a'  Mhorbheinn. 

Ciil  nam  monaidhean  bial  nam  bealaichean  ; 
Cul  nam  monaidhean  Bealach  a'  Mhorbheinn, 
Ciil  nam  monaidhean  bial  nam  bealaichean — 
'S  fada  gun  teagamh  bhuam  Bealach  a'  Mhorbheinn. 


Smooth  are  the  hills  roun'  thee,  Ben  Ederin, 
Pure  are  the  rills  rushing  down  Morven  ; 
Rough  are  the  hills  far  frae  Ben  Ederin, 
Dark  are  the  rivulets  far  frae  thee,  Morven. 

Knowes  and  rough  hills  far  frae  Ben  Ederin, 
Howes  and  dark  rills  far  frae  thee,  Morven, 
Are  na  like  thine,  thou  bonnie  Ben  Ederin, 
Are  na  like  thine,  thou  Pass  o'  the  Morven. 


HIGHLAND    SOCIETY     NEWS. 


The  Glasgow  Skye  Association  held  their 
Annual  Gathering  in  the  Queen's  Rooms  on  6th 
ult.,  Mr.  Cecil  Kennard,  of  Ostaig,  in  the  chair, 
who  was  supported  by  Colonel  Williamson,  Lieut. - 
Colonel  J.  Machines,  Dr.  Magnus  Maclean,  Mr. 
Hugh  Macleod,  etc.  The  hall  was  crowded.  The 
chairman  and  Dr.  Maclean  delivered  rousing 
addresses.  The  ball  which  followed  was  a  brilliant 
spectacle,  many  of  those  present  wearing  the 
Highland  dress. 

Gaelic  Society  or  Glasgow. — There  was  a 
large  turn  out  of  prominent  Highlanders  at  the  last 
meeting  of  this  Society  to  hear  an  address  from 
Professor  Mackinnon  on  "Gaelic  Hymns."  The 
lecture  proved  a  most  interesting  one,  and  led  to 
an  equally  pleasant  discussion. 

The  Clydebank  HKiHLANO  Association  held 
their  Annual  Concert  in  the  Public  Hall,  on  28th 
ult.,  Ex-Bailie  Munro,  J.P.,  in  the  chair.  The  hall 
was  filled  to  overdowing,  and  the  concert  proved  a 
great  success. 

The  Clan  MacInnes  are  taking  steps  to  form  a 
Society  in  Glasgow. 


Edinburoh  Skye  Association. — This  Associa- 
tion has  just  been  formed,  and  a  Social  Meeting, 
under  the  presidency  of  Reginald  Macleod  of 
Macleod,  C.B.,  was  held  in  the  Literary  Institute, 
on  .5th  December,  which  was  well  attended. 


GAELIC  CHRISTMAS  &  NEW  YEAR  CARDS. 


We  are  glad  to  learn  that  the  success  which 
attended  the  introduction  of  these  novelties 
last  year  has  caused  Mr.  Whyte  to  secure  cjuite 
a  variety  for  the  present  season  They  all 
bear  Celtic  designs,  vdth  appropriate  Gaelic 
mottoes,  while  the  cards  themselves  are  works 
of  art  equal  to  any  that  are  manufactured  in  or 
out  of  Germany.  As  there  is  likely  to  be  a  large 
demand,  eai'ly  apphcatioii  should  be  made  to 

Mr-     MEliIISTf     -Vtf'M'VTE, 

4    BRIDGE    STREET,    GLASGOW. 


70 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


TO     CORRESPONDBNTS. 


Ml  Co,nmu,.iratio,is,  on  literary  and  business 
matters,  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  Mr.  .TOBft 
MA.CKAT,<J  Blythsu-ood  Drive,  Glasgow. 

TERMS  OP  SUBSCRIPTION.— The  CELTIC 
MONTHLY  mil  be  sent,  post  free,  to  any  part  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  Canada,  the  United  States,  and  all 
countries  in  the  Postal  Union— for  one  year,  4s. 


The 


Celtic   Monthly. 

JANUARY,  1896.  

OOJSTTEIWTS- 


Malcolm  MacGreoor,  Dunan  (with  plate),    -       -               -  61 

A  QHUNN  MO  DIICCHAIS  (Gaelic  poem),    .        -        -        -        -  U2 

The  Sweetest  Bite  (illustrated),    ------  03 

The  Devil  in  Urqcuart  and  Glenmoriston  (illustrated),  65 

Frank  Adam,  Java  (with  plate), 67 

OnR  MoBiCAL  Paok— Bealach  a'  -MiioRiiiiRiN— The  Pass 

OF  THE  MORVEN, ^^ 

HiOHLASD  Society  News. 09 

To  our  Readers, '" 

CLIINV  AND  LadV   ClUSV  Or  THE   '45,   AFTER  Cl  LLODEN  (illlls.),  71 

The  LATE  Colin  Chiseiolm,  Inverness  (with  p.iitrait),         ■  73 

Lieut. -Colonel  John  MacInnes,  Glekdariet,,      -       -       -  74 
RE\nEW— Records  of  the  Clan  and  Na.me  of  Ferousson, 

Feroisox,  and  Feroi's, 74 

The  Highland  Brigade  at  Waterloo,  Fart  XVII.  (illus.),    ■  75 

The  Lords  of  Lociiaber,  Part  XL  (illuBtrated),  ■       -       -  78 

My  Native  Shoke  (poem), SO 

Letter  to  the  Editsr— A  Suooestion,          .       ...  SO 

WE  WISH  OUR  FRIENDS  AT  HOME  ANO  ABROAD 

A  MERRY   CHRISTMAS  AND  A  HAPPY  NEW  YEAR. 


OUR     NEXT     ISSUE. 

Next  month  we  will  give  plate-portraits  of  Major 
General  C.  S.  Tliomason,  R.E.,  India,  so  well 
known  as  an  authority  on  pipe  music,  and  whose 
oreat  work  on  Piolniireaclid  (Cedl  Mdr),  is  soon  to 
be  published ;  also  Colonel  A.  Forbes  Mackay,  of 
Carskey,  Kintyre,  and  Mr.  Donald  Campbell 
Macpherson,  of  Madras,  India.  Several  interesting 
articles  will  also  appear,  including  "The  Stewarts 
of  Appin  at  CuUoden,"  with  which  will  be  given  a 
fine  reproduction  of  the  Stewart  banner,  which, 
after  seventeen  men  had  fallen  under  it  at  CuUoden, 
was  cut  from  the  pole  and  carried  safely  to  Morven 
by  Donald  Livingstone.  "The  Loch  of  Shame" 
(illustrated)  is  the  title  of  a  paper  describing  an  old 
Sutherlandshire  custom,  and  various  other  attrac- 
tive contributions,  in  jirose  and  verse,  will  find  a 
place  in  our  next  issue. 

Notice  to  Suu.scridbrs.  —  Wi;  lieij  to  remind 
Sitb.'«rih<  ,-stl,<,t  tl.fir  <n„li;i„ifion.i  for'Vulume  IV. 
a-re  mnr  /,.„,,  jm.-^l  ilm  ,  ■iinl  ire  Iwpe  that  they  will 
favvnr  usbyftiiirnnliiin  tliriii  (d  once. 

Celtic  Monthly,  Volume  HI. — As  our  third 
Volume  is  now  completed,  and  as  we  are  only  able 
to  supply  a  few  complete  bound  copies,  several  of  the 
monthly  parts  being  already  out  of  print,  those  who 
wish  copies  might  kindly  communicate  with  us  without 
delay,  to  prevent  disappointment.  The  price  is  10/-, 
post  free,  and  orders  should  be  sent  at  once  to  the 
Editor. 


Clan  Mackay  Society. — The  Annual  Business 
Meeting  was  held  at  Edinburgh  on  21st  ult.— Mr. 
George  J.  Mackay,  Ex  Mayor  of  Kendal,  President, 
in  the  chair.  There  was  a  large  attendance.  Mr. 
John  Mackay,  Hon.  Secretary,  read  the  Report  on 
the  past  year's  work,  which  showed  that  last  session 
was  the  most  successful  since  the  Society  was 
started.  There  had  been  a  large  increase  in  the 
membership.  Mr.  James  R.  Mackay,  C.A., 
Treasurer,  reported  that  the  total  funds  now 
exceeded  £900,  and  that  he  had  already  received 
a  considerable  sum  from  new  members  since  his 
accounts  were  audited.  Both  Secretary  and 
Treasurer  were  thanked  for  their  valuable  services 
to  the  Society.  The  following  officebearers  for 
the  new  session  were  then  elected — Chief,  Lord 
Reay,  G.C.1.E.,D.C.L.;  Chieftain  of  Clan  Aberigh, 
Rev.  James  Aberigh-Mackay,  D.D. ;  President, 
Councillor  William  Mackay,  F.S..\.,  Scot.,  Inver- 
ness ;  Vice-Presidents,  Ale.xander  Mackay,  Charing 
Cross,  J.  W.  Mackay,  Bank  of  Scotland,  John 
Mackay  (Ben  Reay),  W.  D.  Mackay,  R.S.A., 
Donald  Mackay.  Edinburgh,  and  Robert  Gunn 
Mackay,  London  ;  Hon.  Secretary,  John  Mackay, 
Editor,  Gdtic  Monthltj,  9  Blythswood  Drive, 
Glasgow;  Assistants,  John  Mackay  and  George 
Mackay;  Assistant  Secretary,  A.  R.  Mackay,  10 
Graham  Street,  Edinburgh  ;  Treasurer,  James  R. 
Mackay,  C.A.,  Glasgow,  and  an  influential  council. 
Bards  and  Pipers  were  also  elected. 

The  Secretary  moved  that  persons  bearing  any  of 
the  clan  sept  names,  or  descended  from  Mackays, 
be  admitted  as  "Associates."  A  very  interesting 
discussion  took  place,  and  the  motion  was  carried 
unanimously.  Persons  bearing  any  of  the  following 
names,  or  those  descended  from  Mackays  on  the 
female  side,  may  join  the  Clan  Mackay  Society-- 
Bain  (in  any  of  its  various  forms),  Poison,  Mackie, 
Macphail,  Mackee,  or  Mackey,  MacGhie,  MacCrie, 
MacCay,  Neilston,  etc.  We  shall  be  glad  to  hear 
from  any  of  our  readers  desirous  of  joining.  Terms 
of  Subscription  are,  Lite  Associates,  £3  3s.;  Extra- 
ordinary, 10|6  per  annum  ;  Ordinary,  2/()  per 
annum. 

A  large  number  of  new  members  have  been 
enrolled  of  late,  including  the  following  life- 
members — Sir  James  Lyle  Mackay,  K.C.I.E.,  Lady 
Reay,  Professor  J.  M.  Mackay,  M.A.,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  James  L.  Aberigh-Mackay,  India,  Miss 
Joan  Mackay,  Paris,  Captain  Hugh  Mackay, 
Provost  Andrew  Mackay,  Major  A.  Y.  Mackay. 
John  Mackay,  Editor,  Celfie  Monthly,  George 
Mackay,  Edinburgh,  George  Duncan  Mackay, 
Inveralmond,  Thomas  Mackay,  Largs,  James  fl. 
Mackay,  London,  Thomas  Mackay,  Coleraine, 
Donald  Hugh  P.  Mackay,  and  Eppe  Roelef  Mackay, 
Amsterdam,  Holland.  The  life-membership  of  the 
Society  is  now  close  on  100. 

Mr.  John  Mackay,  Editor,  Celtic  Monthly,  has 
received  from  Mr.  John  Mackay,  C.E.,  J.P.,  Here- 
ford, a  cheque  for  £00  towards  the  Clan  Bursary 
Fund.  Mr.  Mackay  has  now  contributed  over 
£200  to  the  Mackay  Bursary. 

Clan  MacLean  Society. — A  largely  attended 
meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  in  the  Waterloo 
Rooms  on  13th  ult.,  when  Mr.  Neil  Maclaine 
delivered  a  lecture  on  "The  Macleans  of  Coll," 
which  was  illustrated  by  an  interesting  series  of 
views  of  the  island  on  the  magic  lantern. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


71 


CLUNY  AND  LADY  CLUNY  OF  THE 
'45,  AFTER  CULLODEN. 


By  Alexander  Macphersox,  Kingussie. 


III. 


'■  How  short,  how  gay,  how  bright  the  sniile, 

That  cheered  their  morning  ray  ! 
How  dark,  how  cold,  how  loud  the  storm 

That  raging  closed  their  day. 

On  iihtJ)iimiir's  heath  a  comet's  blaze 

Deceived  their  dazzled  sight  ; 
On  bleak  Cidloilen'.s  bloody  moor 

It  sunk  in  endless  night." 

From  Mrs.  Oraid  nf  Lajrjans  Eh-ij\i. 

Afl^ERE  is  a  letter  found  quite  recently  in 
vIp^P  the  Cluny  charter  chest,  written  by 
—  —  Lady  Climy  to  her  only  son,  Duncan, 
who  was  born  in  17-18  in  a  kiln  on  the  Cluny 
estates,  where  the  homeless  mother  was  at  the 


LAGG.^N,  .  BADENOCH. 

time  obliged  to  take  shelter.  When  this 
touching  and  remarkable  letter  was  written  the 
son  was  only  in  his  thirteenth  year.  The  letter 
is  dated  "  Camiivire,  '27th  Aprile,  1761,''  and  is 
addressed  on  the  cover  "Mr.  Duncan  Mac- 
pherson,  student  att  Mr.  Hector  Eraser's  Scool 
att  Inverness,  North  Britain."  She  signs  the 
letter,  it  will  be  seen — apparently  as  a  matter 
of  precaution — in  her  maiden  name  of  "  Janet 
Eraser :" — 

My  Dear  Child, 

I  would  have  made  a  return  to  your  letter 
of  the  2nd  Deer,  last  sooner,  but  did  not  incline  to 
disturb  your  studies,  at  least  not  too  often  ;  when 
you  have  some  more  experience  of  what  you  are 
about,  I  shall  make  you  more  regular  answers. 

Your  hand  of  write  pleases  me  very  well,  as  does 
your  stile  and  orthographic,  and  tho'  you  have  had 
Uxilium  to  the  last  two  articles,  it  does  not  at  all 
surprise  me ;  your  age  and  the  short  time  you  have 
been  with  Mr.  Hector  make  a  sufficient  apologie 
for  your  not  being  yet  perfect  in  these  necessary 
and  usefull  qualifications. 

Nothing  in  this  world  can  be  so  agreeable  to  me 
as  the  accounts  your  master  gives  of  you,  particu- 
larly of  your  Application.  Your  making  a  figure 
in  the  world  depends  upon  that  single  circumstance, 
and  your  early  endeavours  in  your  yet  tender  years 
aftbrds  me  hopes  of  the  consequences.  I  have 
great  reason  to  be  thankfull  that  you  are  under  the 
tuition  of  so  able  a  director  who  has  your  Instruc- 
tion so  much  at  heart,  and  as  an  addition  to  my 
happiness,  I  find  Mrs.  Eraser  acts  a  most  Motherly 
part  towards  you.  God  Almighty  reward  them 
both  for  cheerfully  and  prudently  supplying  the 
places  of  those  who  Naturally  ought  to  be  your 
guids.  A  few  years  will  make  you  more  sensible 
of  the  benefits  of  your  present  Settlement  than  you 
can  yet  be.     However,  I  hope  you  have  some  little 


72- 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


i-etiections  of  this  nature  in  your  own  mind.  I 
found  you  a  most  tractable  and  obedient  child  the 
short  time  I  had  you  at  my  disposal,  which  gave 
me  even  then  good  Impressions  of  you,  but  my 
then  sentiments,  being  at  this  distance  of  time 
confirm'd  by  so  worthy  a  Judge  as  Mr.  Hector, 
afl'ords  me  Infinite  pleasure.  I  return  again  to 
Application.  Never  lose  sight  of  the  meaning  of 
that  word.  It  is  every  thing.  You  cannot  yet 
forsee  the  advantages  that  are  Acquir'd  from  it  ; 
that  will  steal  upon  you  by  degrees.  You  cannot 
expect  to  be  a  scholar  all  at  once.  It  is  the  work 
and  studie  of  a  few  years  that  will  bring  you  to 
some  degree  of  perfection.  Notwithstanding  of  all 
I  have  said  iipon  this  head,  1  don't  desire  you  to 
apply  so  closs  as  to  be  a  Slave  to  application.  I 
always  make  allowances  now  and  then  for  amuse- 
ments and  diversions,  in  order  to  relax  and  recruit 
your  spirits. 

It  is  natural  to  suppose  that  you  incline  and 
have  a  certain  pleasure  in  going  every  vacancy  to 
see  your  friends,  and  I  have  a  reluctancy  to  thwart 
or  contradict  your  innocent  inclinations  ;  at  the 
same  time  I  woul'd  much  incline  to  abridge  that 
visit  to  once  in  the  two  years,  and  when  you 
happen  to  go  to  the  Country,  be  sure  to  return 
before  the  school  convenes,  so  as  to  be  upon  equal 
terms  with  your  Comrades,  for  I  look  upon  it  as  a 
loss  that  you  shou'd  be  absent  at  the  very  first 
lesson.  I  suppose  you  are  now  beginning  to  under- 
stand a  little,  the  meaning  of  the  word  emulation, 
without  a  certain  degree  of  which  it  is  not  easie  to 
be  a  Scholar  ;  if  it  happens  that  you  do  not  go 
home  in  the  vacancy,  you  can  be  very  usefully 
employed  Ln  running  over  what  you  have  formerly 
gone  thorrow,  in  learning  Geographie,  or  in  what- 
ever your  master  prescribes,  still  amusing  yourself 
with  plenty  of  play.  I  don't  give  you  these 
councels  with  a  design,  that  they  shou'd  be 
absolutely  obeyed.  I  refer  every  Circumstance  of 
them  to  Mr.  Hector's  wise  conduct  preferable  to 
any  other,  he  being  best  acquainted  with  your 
humour,  Genious,  and  constitution,  as  I  am  certain 
he'll  act  suitabely,  and  which  will  both  please  and 
satisfy  me.  For  my  satisfaction  acquaint  me  what 
notions  you  have  of  the  parts  of  Speech  and  of 
Syntax  or  construction,  as  also  the  way  and  manner 
you  are  generally  employed  every  day.  It  is  very 
agreeable  for  me  to  know  that  you  have  been  taken 
notice  of  by  these  great  people  you  mention  ;  they 
have  done  you  and  me  honour.  1  incline  you 
continue  to  Acquaint  me  from  time  to  time,  who 
inquires  about  you  and  shows  you  Civilities, 
perhaps  some  time  or  other  I  may  have  it  in  my 
power  to  thank  them.  Let  me  know  what  you 
please  about  your  Uncles,  and  our  other  friends, 
particularly  about  the  Major  whose  safe  arrival  at 
home  gives  me  great  joy,  as  it  must  do  to  his 
concerns,  particularly  to  his  Nephew  little  Dunkie, 
whoes  intrest  and  prosperity,  if  he  is  a  hopefull 
boy,  which  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt,  he  will 
always  have  at  heart,  and  don't  forget  I'ncle 
Sandie,  of  whom  I  never  hear  anything.  This 
letter  has  swell'd  far  beyond  my  design'd  brevity; 
I  allow  'tis  too  wearisome  and  too  difficult  for  a 
young  Gentleman  of  your  experience  to  answer, 
but  as  I  know  you  have  a  very  good  and  kind 
assistant  to  consult  with,  who  in  his  own  way  will 
direct  and  explain  everything  to  you,  that  alone 


encourages  me  to  say  so  much,  which  is  the  only 
appologie  I  have  (to  make,  and  which,  I  hope,  he 
and  you  will  take  as  a  satisfying  one.  Make  ray 
Compliments  in  the  sincerest  Manner  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fraser,  and  tell  the  former  that  it  is  neither 
Neglect  nor  disrespect  that  hinders  me  from 
writing  him,  but  that  I  suppose  he'll  think  there  is 
enough  said  at  this  time  for  both,  and  show  him 
besides,  that  by  the  Information  I  have  of  his  way 
and  manner  of  teaching  youth,  &c.,  he  may  be 
justly  compared  to  Quintilian.  Time  as  I  said 
befor  can  only  make  you  sensible  of  your  present 
happiness.  I  pray  God  you  continue  to  make  the 
proper  use  of  it.  You  are  just  now  in  the  Critical 
season,  wherein  you  ought  to  acquire,  what  if 
Neglected,  will  never  hereafter  be  recovered. 
Therefore,  make  the  best  you  can  of  precious  time 
while  you  are  yet  young  and  have  so  valuable  an 
opportunity. 

My  dear  child  I  kiss  and  embrace  you,  as  yoar 
sister,  who  is  very  well,  also  does.  Remember  me 
in  the  kindest  manner  to  Colector  Colvin  and  his 
sisters,  and  tell  them  that  I  am  very  much  oblidged 
to  them  for  their  Civilities  to  you.  Tell  them  also 
that  Mr.  Hlair  and  his  Lady  are  very  well.  Ask 
their  commands  for  their  sister  when  you  write  me. 
May  God's  blessing  and  mine  perpetually  attend 
you. — I  ever  am,  my  dear  child,  your  most  loving 
and  aft'ectionate  mother, 

(Signed)         Janet  Fr.a.sek. 

Campvire,  27th  .iprile,  17(J1. 

P.S. — I  still  Impeach  myself  for  writing  a  child 
so  long  a  letter,  shall  therefore  only  desire  an 
answer  to  a  part  of  it  first,  and  that  sometime  in 
the  month  of  June  next,  and  to  the  remainder  in 
August  or  September  following.  Let  your  return 
be  sent  by  the  regular  post,  and  let  the  postage  be 
pay'd  to  London,  in  which  event  I  shall  have  it  in 
less  than  fifteen  days,  whereas  if  it  is  sent  by  a 
ship  I  may  want  it  fifteen  weeks,  and  perhaps 
never  come  to  hand.  Address  thus.  To  Mrs. 
Fraser,  to  the  care  of  Mr.  David  Gregorie,  Mert  at 
Campvire.  I  am  sure  you  will  never  forget  the 
tender  care  your  nurse  Janet  Nickolson  had  of  you 
for  four  or  five  years  when  you  were  very  young. 
Her  sister  here  sends  you  a  thousand  blessings. 
Place  all  your  postages  to  your  Uncle's  accompt. 
Compliments  to  all  enquiring  friends. 

Completely  worn  out  by  the  exposui-e  and 
privations  he  had  undergone  for  so  many  years, 
Cluny  died  at  Dunkiik  on  30th  January,  1764, 
in  the  fifty  eighth  j-ear  of  his  age,  and  on 
account  of  his  close  adherence  to  the  Protestant 
faith  was  buried  in  the  garden  of  the  Car- 
melites there. 

"  Oh  !  never  shall  we  know  again 

A  heart  so  stout  and  true — 
The  olden  times  are  passed  away, 

And  weary  are  the  new. 
The  fair  white  rose  has  faded 

From  the  garden  where  it  grew ; 
And  no  fond  tears  save  those  of  heaven, 

The  glorious  bed  bedew. 
Of  the  last  old  Scottish  cavalier, 

All  of  the  olden  time!" 

(Tu  be  continued). 


THE     OKLTIC     MONTHLY. 


THE     LATE     COLIN     CHISHOLM, 
INVERNESS. 

tAELDUM  has  guoi.1  reasim  to  mourn  the 
loss  of  this  warm-hearted  and  patriotic 
Highlander,  which  took  place  at  his  resi- 
dence, Namur  Cottage,  Inverness,  on  L'SJth  Novem- 
ber, 1895.  Colin  Chisholm  was  born  at  Lietry, 
a  township  in  Glen- 
cannich,  Strath- 
glass,    in     1806.  

He  was  the  eldest 
of  a  family  of 
eleven  sons  and 
four  daughters. 
In  183.5  he  ob- 
tained an  appoint- 
m  e  n  t  in  the 
Customs,  and 
proceeded  to  Liver- 
pool, where  he 
remained  till  1842, 
when  he  was 
transferred  to 
London.  AVhile 
in  Liverpool  his 
bosom  friend  was 
the  venerable 
Evan  MacColl, 
the  Lochfyne  bard, 
now  resident  in 
Canada,  hale  and 
hearty  in  his  SStii 
year.  He  was  also 
well  acquainted 
with  John  Mac- 
Kenzie  of  The 
Beauties  of  Gaelic 
Poetry.  On  his 
removal  to  London 
Mr.  Chisholm 
attached  himself 
to  the  Gaelic 
Society  of  London, 
and  was  in  close 
fellowship  with 
such  kindred 
spirits  as  James 
Logan,  of  the 
Scottish   Gael,   and  '  ~~"        ~ 

John  Cameron 
MacPhee.       He 

was  President  of  the  Loudon  Gaelic  Society  from 
1869  till  he  left  Loudon  in  1876,  and  took  np 
his  residence  in  Inverness,  He  became  an  active 
member  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness,  and 
contributed  many  valuable  and  interesting  papers 
to  the  Transactions  of  that  Society. 

As  an  ardent  land-law  reformer  he  ap)ieared 
before  Lord  Napier's  Commission  in  1883,  aud 
gave    most    raluable    evidence    regarding    the 


clearing  of  the  _  glens.     He  also  gave  evidence 

before  the  Deer  Forest  Commission  at  Beauly  in 

1893.     Mr.  Chisholm  was  a  devout  and  e.Kam- 

plary  member  of  the   Roman   Catholic  Church. 

He  was  beloved  by  all,  for  he  was  courteous  and 

cultivated,   generous  and   manly — ■'  A    rare   old 

Highland  gentleman,  all  of  the  olden  time." 

Despite   his  long    residence  in    England   Mr. 

Chisholm  retained 

his  native  (iaelic, 

which     he     spoke 

with  great  force  & 
purity.  He  liked 
to  apjiear  in  the 
H  ighlaud  dress, 
and  we  have 
seen  him  engage 
heartily  in  the 
Reel  of  Tulloch 
long  after  he  had 
reached  the  Psal- 
mists "three  score 
years  aud  ten." 
t)n  that  memorable 
occasion,  which, 
doubtless,  several 
of  our  readers  will 
recall,  some  one 
made  reference  to 
the  Psalmists  pro- 
nouncement, when 
old  Colin  remarked 
"  Cha  rohh  fhios 
ail/  Daibliidh  air  an 
t-seorsa  dhaoine  'hha 
's  na  Gaidheil  'n 
uair  a  labhair  e 
mar  sin."  (The 
Psalmist  did  not 
know  the  kind  of 
men  the  Gaels 
were,  when  he 
spoke  so).  Sur- 
rounded by  kindrtd 
spirits  old  Colin 
was  on  that 
occasion  in  high 
glee,  and  we 
recollect  with  how 
much  reverence  he 
remarked  "  Fhaic 
sibh  a  chuirdean 
tha  iiu  cho  riaiutcldt  leis  a  clnddenchd  so,  agus  chu 
toillichte  a  bhi  leibh,  yed  a  chithinii  geuta  neimh 
wsgailte  gu  farsuinnfial  agus  Idu  c/iuireadh  agam 
dul  a  stigh  bhiodh  leisg  orm  ur  fagail.  It  was 
characteristic  of  the  man  that  he  should  desire  to 
have  pipe  music  at  his  funeral,  and  this  wish  was 
loyally  carried  out,  when  his  remains  were  borne 
to  the  plaintive  strains  of  Cumha  na  Cloinne  to  their 
last  resting  place.  A  chuiddc  Pliarvas  dha.    FlONN, 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


MEUT.-COLONEL     JOHN     MACINNES, 
GLENDARUEL. 


|pj^|HERE  is  uot  a  more 
y^  popular  Higli- 
-■d^  lander  in  Cowal 
than  Mr.  John  Maclnnes, 
Schoolmaster  of  Glen- 
daruel.  He  is  a  native  of 
the  parish  of  Sleat,  Isle  of 
Skye,  where  he  received  his 
early  education.  Having 
shown  an  intelligence  and  aptitude  for  studj' 
above  his  fellows,  his  parents  sent  him  to  the 
Church  of  Scotland  Training  College  in  Edin- 
burgh, where  he  distinguished  himself.  After 
leaving  College  he  was  appointed  to  a  school  at 
Benderloch,  but  soon  afterwards,  after  a  stiff 
competition,  he  was  successful  in  securing  the 
parochial  mastership  to  the  parish  of  Kihnodan, 
and  at  Glendaruel  he  has  remained  ever  since. 
Mr.  Maclnues  is  an  enthusiastic  Highlander, 
and  when  dressed  in  the  Highland  garb  one 
would  go  a  long  way  before  he  saw  a  finer 
specimen  of  the  Gael.  He  is  a  fluent  Gaelic 
speaker,  and  reads  and  writes  the  language 
correctly  and  well.  He  is  specially  fond  of 
Gaelic  songs,  and  the  spirit  and  taste  with 
which  he  renders  some  of  our  popular  melodies 
is  infectious.  In  his  early  youth  the  writer  of 
this  brief  notice  had  the  honour  of  being  Mr. 
MacLmes'  boyhood  friend,  and  well  do  I 
remember  the  enthusiasm  and  skill  which 
young  Maclnnes  showed  in  all  manly  exercises 
—shinty,  fishing,  sailing,  shooting,  etc.  Shinty 
was  real  iomain  then,  and  there  were  few  who 
could  equal  my  old  friend  in  speed,  dexterity 
and  strength  in  those  days. 

In  Volimteering  Mr.  Maclnues  has  for  many 
years  past  taken  a  special  interest.  He  joined 
the  5th  Volunteer  Battalion  Argyll  and  Suther- 
land Highlanders  as  a  private  in  November, 
1866,  and  after  passing  through  the  various 
ranks  was  j^i'omoted  Honorary  Lieutenant- 
Colonel,  0th  July,  1892,  in  the  same  mouth 
receiving  the  long  service  Vohuiteer  Decoration. 
He  has  made  militai-y  science  a  real  study,  and 
has  passed  through  the  coiu-se  at  the  School  of 
Instruction  at  WelUngton  Barracks,  and  holds 
tii-st-class  certificates  for  tactics,  etc.  In  April, 
1892,  the  members  <if  his  old  company,  "E," 
presented  him  with  a  handsome  Silver  IMounted 
Oak  Liejueur  Case,  and  a  Silver  Biscuit  Box  for 
Mrs.  Maclnues,  as  a  mark  of  esteem.  There 
is  not  a  more  popular  man  in  the  regiment 
than  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

In  addition  to  the  above  duties,  Mr.  Mac- 
lnues holds  (juite  a  numl)er  of  other  important 
appointments — he  is  a  Fellow  of  the  Educa- 


tional Institute  <>f  Scotland,  and  a  member  of 
the  Sanitary  Association  of  Scotland.  The 
Parishioners  of  Kihnodan  are  peculiarly  for- 
tunate in  possessing  an  official  whose  qualifica- 
tions are  of  such  a  high  order. 

Mrs  Maclnues  is  also  Highland — a  Robert- 
son of  Loch  Tayside — and  she  is  as  enthusiastic 
in  Gaelic  matters  as  her  esteemed  husband. 
They  have  three  daughters  and  a  son. 

Eiiiiii)iii"ii.  A-  !'•  Forbes  ("Lonach"). 


R  E  V  I  EW. 

Records  of  the  Ol.\n  ahu  Name  of  Fbrousson, 

FeRUUSON,    -4ND    FeRCU.S,    El)ltEl)    FOR    THE    ClAN 

Fergus(s)o]n    Society    by   Jame.s   FERGtT.soN  anh 
Robert  Menzib.s  Feruusson.    Edinburgh:  Daviu 

DOTGLAS. 

If  the  Clan  Ferguson  Society  had  done  nothing 
more  than  publish  this  handsome  and  exhaustive 
work  on  the  Records  of  the  Clan,  it  would,  at 
least,  have  amply  justified  its  existence.  We  are 
always  glad  to  welcome  new  works  which  add  to 
our  knowledge  of  the  past  history  of  onr  mountain 
land,  and  it  required  little  more  than  a  hasty 
glance  through  this  volume  to  be  assured  that  the 
Clan  Ferguson  had  published  a  book  which  would 
be  valued  by  all  students  of  Highland  liiatory. 
Brietiy,  it  is  a  work  extending  to  over  000  pages, 
the  various  chapters  dealing  with  early  notices  of 
the  name,  and  sketches  of  the  most  notable  clan 
families  in  Scotland,  England,  Ireland,  and  abroad. 
Coloured  plates  of  the  clan  tartan,  and  the  crests 
and  arms  of  the  leading  families  are  given,  while 
throughout  the  chapters  are  profusely  illustrated. 
But  these  remarks  can  only  give  the  most  inade- 
quate idea  of  the  vast  mine  of  the  most  curious  and 
valuable  information  that  is  contained  witliin  the 
covers  of  these  "Records."  The  Editors  ha.ve  had 
their  heart  in  the  work,  and  they  have  done  their 
part  well.  Every  source  of  information  seems  to 
have  been  thoroughly  examined,  every  Ferguson 
Charter  Chest  and  Parish  Register  ransacked,  and 
no  labour  seems  to  have  been  spared  to  make  the 
volume  worthy  of  the  clan,  and  a  credit  to  its 
compilers.  Even  the  topography  of  the  clan  lands 
receives  attencion,  and  the  Bibliography  of  the 
name  occupies  over  fifty  pages. 

In  our  limited  space  it  is  uot  possible  to  enter 
into  a  criticism  of  this  volume— even  did  space 
permit  we  are  not  sure  that  we  would  have 
anything  to  say  except  in  praise.  We  read  the 
"Records"  with  the  greatest  possible  pleasure, 
and  we  hope  that  every  member  of  the  clan  .who 
reads  these  remarks  will  secure  a  copy  of  thfe 
volume  at  once,  and  we  feel  certain  that  he  wilPbe 
delighted  with  his  purchase. 

The  N.atives  of  Jura  held  their  Annual 
(iathering  in  the  Waterloo  Rooms  on  llth  ult.— 
Rev.  D.  Johnstone,  presiding.  There  was  a  good 
attendance.  The  chairman,  Ex-Provost  Ferguson, 
Govau,  and  Mr.  Henry  Whyte  delivered  addresses. 
Tlie  proceedings  passed  ott'  very  successfully. 


LIEUT.-COLONEL     JOHN      MACINNES. 


THE     UELTIU     MONTHLY. 


^"^"l  KJ--     70,?.. 


THt'^m^m --^^' 


Part    XV^H. — (ConlinaeAl  fi-um  pwje   41)). 

The  miGHLAND  Brigade,   Quatre  Bras, 
Waterloo. 

Anecdotes,    Traits,    &c. 
The  Brave  Major  Menzies  of  the  4;2nii. 

^-^j^T  the  battle  on  the  16th  .June  this 
Ami^  gallant  oflicer,  preferring  to  tight  on 
^^M.  foot  in  front  of  his  men  when  in  square 
resisting  cavalry,  had  given  his  horse  to  a  little 
drummer  boy  of  the  regiment  to  hold.  The 
Major  was  a  tall,  powerful  Highlander,  and  an 
excellent  swordsman.  Cuirassiers  and  lancers 
came  on,  and  the  lighting  was  severe.  The 
Major  received  several  wounds  by  sword  and 
lance,  and  at  last  from  loss  of  blood  fell  near  a 
brave  private,  Donald  Mackintosh,  of  his  corps, 
who  was  mortally  wounded  at  the  same  instant. 
The  httle  drummer  boy  left  the  horse  to  assist 
poor  Donald;  a  lancer  seeing  the  horse 
unattended  thought  him  a  fair  prize  and  made  a 
dash  for  him.  This  did  not  escape  the  watch- 
ful and  keen  eye  of  the  dying  Highlander,  who, 
with  all  the  provident  spirit  of  the  morality  of 
his  country,  "ruling  strong  even  in  death," 
groaned  out,  "  Hoot  man,  ye  manna  tak'  that 
beast,  t  belangs  to  oor  Major  here."  The 
lancer,  imderstanding  nothing  of  his  "brogue," 
and  respecting  less  his  writhing  gestures, 
seized  the  horse.  Donald,  with  a  last  exj)iriug 
effort,  took  up  his  nmsket  and  shot  him  dead — 
next  moment  the  brave  fellow  fell  back,  and 
expired  content.  An  officer  of  the  cuirassiers, 
at  this  time  observing  our  poor  Major  still 
bestirring  himself,  rode  up,  and  stooping  from 


his  horse,  aimed  to  dispatch  him  with  his 
sword.  Our  resolute  Major  seized  his  leg,  and 
grappled  with  him  so  stoutly  that  he  pulled 
him  off  his  horse  upon  him.  Another  lancer 
observing  this  struggle  galloped  up,  and,  to 
relieve  his  officer,  attempted  to  spear  the 
Major,  who,  by  a  sudden  jerk  and  desperate 
effort  placed  the  Frenchman,  in  the  very  nick 
of  the  necessity,  in  his  arms  before  him,  who 
received  the  mortal  thrust  below  his  cuirass,  and 
in  this  condition  continued  lying  upon  Menzies 
with  his  sword  in  his  hand  for  near  ten 
minutes.  The  Major,  unconscious  that  he  had 
received  a  death  wound,  expected  all  this  time 
to  receive  his  own  at  his  hand.  At  last  the 
French  officer  raised  himself,  ran  and  staggered 
a  few  yai'ds,  and  then  fell  to  struggle  or  to  rise 
no  more.  Another  private  of  his  regiment  now 
came  up  and  asked  his  Major  what  could  be 
done  to  assist  him.  •'  Nothing,  my  good  friend, 
but  load  your  piece  and  finish  me."  "  But 
your  eye  (said  the  brave  fellow)  still  looks 
lively;  if  I  could  move  you  to  the  9'2nd  fighting 
near  by  yonder,  I  think  you  would  yet  do 
well."  With  the  aid  of  a  fellow  soldier  he  was 
moved  as  the  man  proposed,  and  soon  seen  by 
an  intimate  friend,  Colonel  John  Cameron  of 
the  92nd,  who  instantly  ordered  him  every 
succour  possible.  A  blanket  and  four  men 
carried  him  a  little  to  the  lear.  While  the 
gallant  fellows  were  raising  him  Colonel 
Cameron  exclaimed,  "  God  bless  you,  Menzies, 
I  must  be  off—  the  devils  are  at  us  again — I 
nnist  stand  up  to  them."  He  did  so,  defeated 
them  by  a  charge  of  bayonets,  and  pursuing 
them  a' little  off  the  field  was  laid  low  by  a  shot 
from  the  window  of  a  little  farm-house  he  was 


^(l 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


at  the  moment  passing.  Thus  the  brave 
Cameron  finished  his  mortal  career  of  glory, 
an  honour  to  his  country,  an  honour  to  the 
British  army. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  add  that  the  brave  Major 
survived  some  years,  wearing  the  honourable 


decoration  and  marks  of  sixteen  severe  wouncls 
received  in  this  arduous  and  unequal  conflict, 
and  lame  too  from  a  severe  wound  received  at 
the  storming  of  Badajos. 

The    Editor   of   the   "  Waterloo";KoU   CaU" 
(1890),  says  this  is  a  mistake,  as  he  died  from 


.MA.JOR     .MKNZIKS     I'l  I.I.ICli     TIIK     KKK.NL  II  ,\l  A.N      FIlo.M  'lll.s     lluKSK, 


his  wounds,  not  long  after,  at  Brussels.  A 
pension  of  £100  a  year  was  granted  to  his 
widow. 

The  Gordons  wknt  to  Fight. 
A  Highland  soldier  of  the  92nd   who  had 
been  wounded  at  Quatre  Bras,  was  lying  on 
the  pavement,  under  the  shade  of  a  house  in 


the  streets  of  Brussels,  patiently  waiting  till  he 
could  be  attended  to.  An  English  gentleman 
spoke  to  him,  and  praised  his  gallant  conduct 
and  that  nf  his  fellow  soldiers.  ''  Hoot  man !  " 
i-eplied  the  gallant  Scot,  "  what  did  we  gang 
there  to  do,  but  to  light'?  what  for  wad  ye  mak 
sic  a  din  about  the  like  o'  that." 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


77 


"Napoleon." 
At  Quatre  Bras  six  soldiers  of  the  i'2nd  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  aniongst  whom 
was  a  little  lad,  Smith  Fyfe,  about  live  feet 
high.  The  French  geuei-al  on  seeing  this 
diminutive  looking  lad  is  said  to  have  lifted 
him  up  by  the  ccillar,  and  exclaimed  to  the 
soldiers  near  him,  "Behold  the  sample  of  the 
men  of  whom  you  seem  afraid !  '  The  lad 
returned  a  few  days  afterwards  dressed  in  the 
uniform  of  a  French  grenadier,  and  was  saluted 
by  the  name  of  Napoleon,  which  he  retained 
until  he  left  the  regiment. 

The  Death  of  Sir  R.  Macara,  at  (^uatre  ]5ras. 

It  has  been  previously  remarked   that   the 

French   fought  at  Quatre  Bras  with  terribh^ 


ferocity.  Here  is  corroboration  of  it  from  the 
"Koll  Call  of  Waterloo,"  1890.  "The  death 
of  Sir  R.  Macara  at  Quatre  Bras  was  iuex- 
]jressibly  sad.  He  was  wounded  about  the 
middle  of  the  engagement,  and  was  in  the  act 
(if  being  carried  off  the  field  by  four  of  his 
men  (42nd),  when  a  party  of  French  cavalry 
unexpectedly  surromided  and  made  them 
prisoners.  Perceiving  by  his  decorations 
that  he  was  an  officer  of  rank  they  immediately 
cut  him  down,  with  his  attendants." 

Bravery  of  the  Cameron  Men.        ">ii 

The  loss  sustained  by  the  79th  on  the  16th 

and  18th  June  was  479  men  and  officers,  out 

of   77(i    who   marched   to   Quatre    Bras,    thus 

exceeding  by  one  that  of  any  other  regiment  in 


FAHMH(irSE     OK     H(i["(;clMOXT. 


the  army,  the  3rd  Battalion  of  the  1st  Foot 
Guards  alone  excepted.  This  grand  battalion 
was  almost  amiihilated. 

How  the  "  Cameron  men  "  fought  at  (i)uatre 
Bras  and  Waterloo  is  testified  by  the  number 
of  their  killed  and  wounded."  It  is  also 
recorded  that  when  all  the  field  officers  and 
captains  had  Ijeen  disabled  during  those  days, 
theremams  of  the  regiment  were  finally  led  on  to 
victory  by  Lieutenant  Cameron,  a  nephew  of 
Sir  Allan,  the  Colonel-in-Chief  ("Waterloo 
Roll  Call").  This  was  probably  Lieutenant 
Alexander  Cameron,  who  was  promoted  to  a 
company  (Mihtarv  Gazette)  subsequent  to 
Waterloo,  and  afterwards  to  the  brevet  rank  of 
Major,  for  his  very  conspicuous  gallantry  and 
conduct  on  that  memorable  occasion. 


Piper  Kenneth  Mackay  plays  "Cooadh  no  sith." 
When  the  79  th  and  the  other  regiments 
forming  Kempt's  brigade  had  repulsed  the 
first  attack  of  the  French,  and  advanced  in 
pursuit  of  them  down  the  slope,  a  body  of 
cavalry  which  came  up  to  the  support  of  the 
retreating  infantry  were  perceived  in  front. 
The  several  regiments  of  the  brigade  formed 
squares.  During  this  formation  Piper  Kenneth 
-Mackay,  a  brave  Reay  countryman,  stepped 
outside  of  the  bayonets,  and  continued  to  play 
round  the  front  of  the  squares  the  well-known 
poinilar  air  ''  Ci>y,ulh  n.,  sith"  (peace  or  war) 
with  the  most  inspiring  effect.  The  French 
did  not  come  on.  The  brigade  retired  to  their 
former  position  on  the  road. 

(To  be  continiiedj. 


78 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


THE  LORDS  °f  LOCHABER 


T.D.riACDON/KLD  . 


Part     XI.    XIampaic™     in     the-    North     The 
Battle  of  Glenliyet — Alasdair  (;n'ES  his 

BOND    OF    SERVICE    TO    AbGYLE. 

{Continued  from  page  53). 

fN  the  year  1492,  at  the  instigation  of 
Huntly,  Alasdair  spoiled  and  laid  waste 
—  the  lands  of  Grant  of  Ballindalloch,  in 
Strathspey.*  In  the  following  year  he  wasted 
and  spoiled  the  lands  of  the  Mackintoshes, 
after  which  he  seized  the  Castle  of  Inverness. 
He  was,  however,  obliged  to  evacuate  it  before 
the  end  of  the  year,  owing  to  the  want  of 
provisions,  with  the  loss  of  one  of  his  sons,  and 
another  officer  named  Gorrie  Dubh,  both  of 
whom  were  taken  prisoners  and  hanged  f  In 
1594  he  joined  the  rising  of  the  Catholic  Earls, 
led  by  Himtly  and  Errol,  against  Argyle,  and 
fought  at  the  Battle  of  Glenlivet,  where 
Argyle's  forces  were  routed  with  gi'eat 
slaughter.^  This  battle  is  also  called  the 
Battle  of  Altchonlochan,  from  the  name  of  a 
brook,  on  the  banks  of  which  it  was  fought. 
Argyle  lost  500  men  (killed),  among  whom 
were  his  two  cousins,  Lochnell  and  Auchan- 
breck,  and  also  the  Chief  of  the  MacNeills. 
The  battle  is  notable  for  the  stubborn  stand 
made  by  the  Clan  Mac  Lean,  who  fought  on  the 
side  of  Ai'gyle,  whose  army  consisted  of  no  less 
than  10,000  men,  while  Huntly  and  Errol  had 
less  than  one  fifth  that  number,  consisting 
mainly  of  the  immediate  followers  of  Huntly 
and  Errol,  almost  all  horsemen,  and  the 
MacDonells  of  Keppoch,  and  the  MacPhersons, 
the  latter,  under  the  command  of  Cluny,  formed 


the  right  -wing.  Besides  the  MacLeans  and 
the  MacNeills,  Argyle  was  also  assisted  by  the 
Mackintoshes,  Grants,  and  MacGregors.  Bad 
generalship  must  certainly  have  had  something 
to  do  with  so  signal  a  defeat  when  he  had  such 
odds  in  his  favour.  Treachery  on  the  part  of 
some  of  Argyle's  allies  is  also  alleged.  "So 
sure  had  Argyle  been  of  the  success  of  his 
enterprise  that  he  had  made  out  a  paper 
apportioning  the  lands  of  the  Gordons,  the 
Hays,  and  all  who  were  supposed  to  favour 
them,  among  the  chief  officers  of  his  army. 
This  document  was  found  among  the  baggage 
which  he  left  behind  him  on  the  field  of  battle.'  § 

In  1595,  however,  the  fortunes  of  Huntly 
were  again  at  a  low  ebb,  and  the  Earls  of 
Argyle  and  Lennox,  acting  with  the  authority 
of  Pai'hament,  were  reducing  his  vassals  to 
obedience.  Commissioners  representing  the 
two  Earls  met  at  Achindown  Castle,  and  there 
made  agreements  with  several  of  Himtly's 
former  alUes,  among  whom  was  Alasdair-nan- 
Cleas. 

Agreement  between  certain  Commissioners 
of  Archibald,  seventh  of  Ai-gj'le,  on  the  one 
part,  and  Alexander  MacRanald  of  Keppoch 
on  the  other,  1595,  from  the  original  in  the 
Charter  Chest  of  Sir  John  Campbell,  of  Airds 

*  Sir  Robert  Gordon's  History,  p.  217. 

t  Gordon's     History,    p.    218  ;       MS.S.     of     the 

Camerons;  Later  History  of  the  Mackintoshes; 

MS.S.  History  of  the  Gordons,  p.  183. 
X   Hi.story    of    King    James    the    Sixth,    p.    338  ; 

Gregory's  History,  p.  2.57. 
§  Keltie's  History,  p.  109, 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


79 


and  Arduaiiiurcban,  Bart,,  representative  of  Mr. 
afterwai-ds  Sir  Donald  CaiiipV)ell,  one  of 
Argyle's  Commissioners  : 

"  The  Heidis  of  apiiointnient  lietwix  Alexuiider 
Campbell  of  Loclinaiiel!,  and  Mr.  Donald  Cam]ibell, 
Comniissionavis  for  tlie  right  noble  and  potent 
Lord,  Archibald,  Earl  of  Argyle,  on  the  one  pairt, 
and  Alexander  MacRanald  of  Cappoche  on  the 
uther  pairt  :  at  Achinton,  the  third  of  November, 
15'.l.-). 

Imprimis — Alexander  MacRanald  of  Cappoche 
]iromissis  faithfullie  to  become  ane  trew  and  a 
faidd  servand  to  the  noble  and  potent  Lord 
Archibald,  Erie  of  Argyle,  in  all  tymis  heireftir, 
againis  all  persone  or  personis,  his  Majestie  onlie 
exceptit:  and  for  fnllfillment  of  the  same,  he 
presentlie  giftis  his  sone  Angus  MacRanald  in  plaig 


for  service,  and  to  rem.ane  ay  and  i(uhill  the  .said 
Alexander  gill' ane  sufficient  profF  of  liis  .service  to 
the  said  noble  Lord  ;  and  in  caice  the  said  noble 
Lord  be  nocht  content  with  this  plaig,  he  finds 
Alexander  Campbell  of  Lochnanell,  John  Oig 
BI'Aeii  of  Ardnamnrchan,  John  Campbell,  Tutor 
of  Inverawe,  cautioneris  and  full  debtouris  for  the 
entering  of  his  eldest  sone  and  air  callit  Ranald 
betwix  the  date  heirof  and  the  twyntie  twa  day  of 
this  instant  moneth  of  November,  as  ane  niair  sure 
plaig  (for)  the  said  Alexander  MacRanald  of 
Cappoche,  his  entrie  and  service. 

Secondlie — -Alexander  MacRanald  of  Cappoche 
promesis  faithfullie  to  cum  himself  to  the  Erie  of 
Ergyle  ])ersonallie  betwix  the  date  hereof  and  the 
twenty  fyve  of  December  nixt,  to  niak  sufficient 
securitie  to  ray  Lord  for  his  leill  and  trew  service  ; 
provyding  allwayes  that  the  said  noble  Lord  send 


ane  assurance  to  JM' Ranald  incontinent  to  the 
effect  that  ather  himself ^or  his  brother  may  have 
frie  access  and]  recess  to  dv  his  turnes  with  my 
Lord  betwix  this  daye  and  daite  and  the  foirsaid 
twyntie  fyve  day  of  December  : — Provyding 
allwayse  that  the  said  noble  Lord  deliver  noeht 
M'Ranald's  plaig  to  no  man  except  to  ane  speciall 
friend  of  his  Lordshippis  awin  kin  and  surname." 
(Then  follows,  in  Keppoch's  own  handwriting); — 
I,  Aleistar  MakRanald  off  Gargavache  grantis  me 
to  byde  at  all  heidis  above  writtine,  ]irovyding 
allwayis  that  I  geit  my  Lord'Argyllis  bond  that  his 
Lordship  will  maintein  'and  defend  me  to  all 
kyndlie  possessionnis  that  I  may  "clam  kyndness  ii; 
Sic  Subscribitnr,  Alastek  M.akR.\nalii, 
off  Gargawache."ll 


In  this  deed  Alasdair  gave  bis  bond  of 
service  to  Argyle,  aiid  also  bis  son,  Angus,  as 
a  pledge  for  tbe  due  fiillilment  of  the  condi- 
tions of  the  bond,  in  return  for  which  he  claimed 
protection  and  maintenance  from  Argyle  in  all 
the  lands  and  possessions  to  which  be  laid 
claim.  This  was  after  tbe  flight  of  Huntly. 
How  long  Alasdair  considered  this  bond 
binding  the  sequel  will  show. 

GoUectanea  de  Rebus  Albanicis,"  edited  by  lona 
Club,  Vol.  1.,  part  III.,  p.  20(>. 

(Ih  be  continued). 


so  THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY 

MY     NATIVE     SHORE. 


(WITH    A    MERRY    CHRISTMAS    &    A    HAPPY    NEW    YEAR.) 


My  foot  is  on  my  native  shore, 

Once  more  by  God's  benign  decree, 
And  pleasant  sure  it  is  once  more 

My  long-loved  native  shore  to  see  ; 
Though  other  shores  that  I  have  known, 

More  fertile  fields  may  justly  claim, 
Where  fairer  flowers  and  fruits  are  grown. 

Yet  atill  to  me  they're  not  the  same. 
But  only  dull  and  tame. 

A  world  of  wealth  could  never  change 

My  fondness  for  my  native  land. 
Which  neither  glory  could  estrange. 

Nor  yet  misfortune's  ruthless  hand  ; 
For  meaner  passions  come  and  go. 

And  one  by  one  they  cease  to  please. 
While  deeper  currents  gently  flow, 

Unchanged  by  either  calm  or  breeze, 
And  stronger  far  than  these. 

What  though  the  clime  be  wild  and  cold, 

Though  clouds  surround  the  mountain  side. 
What  though  the.  snows  of  Winter  fold 

The  rugged  landscape  far  and  wide ; 
Ask  of  the  eagle  of  the  hill, 

Would  he  prefer  the  lowland  plain, 
And  he  would  answer  loud  and  slirill, 

Could  he  the  gift  of  speech  obtain, 
In  undisguised  disdain. 

I've  wandered  far  through  South  and  North, 

And  roamed  at  random  East  and  West, 
But  yet  'mong  many  lands  of  worth, 

My  own  by  far  I  deem  the  best ; 
Though  true,  indeed,  that  others  may 

Be  rightly  reckoned  grand  and  fine. 
Yet  still,  however  grand  and  gay, 

However  bright  their  beauties  shine. 
They're  not  to  me — like  mine. 

Let  swarthy  sons  of  swarthy  lands 

Lie  languid  under  balmy  shades, 
I  envy  not  their  sultry  strands. 

Nor  love  their  dusky  heathen  maids  ; 
For,  truth  to  tell,  their  dingy  hue 

Upon  my  senses  soon  would  pall. 
Nor  have  I  seen  one  fair  to  view. 

Nor  beauty  who  among  them  all. 
Could  lead  my  heart  in  thrall. 

Give  me  the  bracing  mountain  breeze, 

And  not  the  fever-stricken  plain. 
For  I  abjure  the  vile  disease 

That  saps  the  life  with  secret  bane  ; 
Then  let  them  have  their  sunny  clime. 

And  pestilence  in  simple  fee, 
While  I  in  peace  would  spend  my  time, 

Along  the  heath  with  footsteps  free, 
Beside  the  blue  lone  sea. 

Full  many  a  yea,r  has  passed  away, 
Since  first  I  left  my  native  shore. 

And  dark  has  since  been  tinged  with  grey, 
While  many  a  friend  is  now  no  mora ; 


On  every  shore  beneath  the  inn. 

Where'er  on  earth  the  wild  winds  blow, 

There  lies  the  dust  of  more  than  one. 
That  I  was  wont  full  well  to  know. 
In  days  of  long  ago. 

The  ocean  wide  contains  the  bones 

Of  many  more  than  I  can  tell, 
Whose  fate  has  filled  with  tears  and  groans 

The  hearths  and  homes  they  loved  so  well  ; 
For  not  in  life's  fast  fading  eve. 

Were  they  ordained  in  peace  to  die. 
But  doomed  in  youth,  without  reprieve. 

Among  the  raging  waves  to  lie. 
Through  regions  far  and  nigh. 

They're  gone,  and  few  are  left  behind 

On  shores  where  they  were  born  and  bred, 
And  so  I  often  call  to  mind 

Soft  memories  of  the  bygone  dead  ; 
And  tears  unbidden  sometimes  rise, 

As  I  look  back  through  joy  and  pain. 
And  seem  to  see  before  my  eyes 

Their  form  and  presence,  clear  andplain. 
Appear  in  life  again. 

Ah,  yes,  they're  dead — the  scenes  alone 

Are  all  that  now  remains  to  me, 
And  yet  I  love  each  rock  and  stone, 

'Bove  all  the  lands  beyond  the  sea ; 
And  though  I  cannot  climb  the  crest,  *■ 

Nor  scale  the  mountains  as  of  yore, 
Yet  still  I  wish  them  all  be  blest, 

And  hail  with  tender  love  once  more, 
My  own  dear  native  shore ! 

In  1890  the  author  of  this  song,  in  two  days,  climbed 
the  Volcano  Popocatepetl,  18,000  feet,  the  highest 
mountain  on  the  whole  North-American  Continent, 
and  within  three  or  four  thousand  feet  of  the 
highest  climb  ever  made. 

J.  MacGrbgor,  M.D., 

I.oiuion.  Surgeon-Major. 


LETTER    TO    THE     EDITOR. 

A     SUGGESTION. 

To  The  Editor,   Celtic  Monthly. 

Sir — Will  you  kindly  grant  me  space  to  put 
before  your  readers  an  idea,  which  I  am  convinced 
would,  if  carried  out,  not  only  be  of  individual 
benefit,  but  give  stimulus  and  consolidation  to  the 
whole  Celtic  movement.  The  scheme  is  this  : — 
The  formation  of  a  band  of  Highland  brotherhood, 
as  far  as  possible  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  whereby 
Highlanders  desiring  knowledge  respecting  any 
district,  or  going  to  reside  therein,  could  apply  to 
the  nearest  brother  thereto  for  information  and 
advice.  As  Ilit^hlanders  are  generally  poor,  this 
would  be  a  very  cheap  and  ett'ective  method  of 
helping  one  another.  Personally,  I  shall  be  very 
glad  to  undertake  the  ofiice  for  this  district,  or 
even  county.  A  list  of  those  willing  to  lo  act 
90uld  be  printsd  quarterly,  or  other  periods  as  you 
consider  best,  in  the  Celtic  Monthly. 
I  am,  etc., 
Karr  Lodge,  I'ovtm:  A.  "MACKINTOSH. 


MAJOR-GENERAL     C.    S.    THOMASON. 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

^  MA04ZINFv   FOR   HIGHLANDERS. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MACKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.  5.  Vol.  IV.] 


FEBRUARY,     1896. 


[Price  Threepence. 


MAJOR-GENERAL      C.     8.      THOMASON, 
R.E.,     BENGAL. 


Ipj^jIlE  uaine  Thoiuasmi  is  not  a  coininou  onr 
X^  anywhere,  but  we  are  familiar  with  its 
'^r^  Uaelic  form  Mac  Tliomais,  as  well  as  it.s 
Lowliiud  equivalents,  Thomson  and  MacTavish. 
The  subject  of  our  sketch  claims  the  hardy 
Norsemen  as  his  forefathers — the  family  lieiug  at 
one  time  connected  with  Shetland.  Ilis  father, 
who  was  born  in  1804,  entered  the  Bengal  Civil 
Service,  and  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-nine  was 
appointed  Lieutenaut-(  Governor  of  the  X.W. 
Proviuce.s,  a  position  he  held  till  his  death  in 
1853.  His  interesting-  biography  has  been 
written  by  Sir  Richard  Temple  in  "  Kniers 
of  India  Series."  He  was  married  to  a 
daughter  of  J.  W.  Grant  of  the  Bengal  Civil 
Service,  laird  of  Elchies,  in  Strathsjjey — an 
enthusiastic  player  on  the  inoh-mlwr.  The 
subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  at  Azimgavh, 
N.  W.  Provinces,  in  1833,  and  was  fortunate 
enough  to  be  taken  to  Strathspey  at  an  early 
age,  and  here  he  imbibed  his  love  for  everything 
Highland;  '.earned  to  sing  Gaelic  songs,  and 
play  the  bagpipes,  and  the  flute.  He  received 
his  Commission  in  the  Engineers  in  1852,  and  at 
Chatham  he  began  to  study  piobaireachd  under 
Murray  of  the  78th  Highlanders,  and  Sandy 
MacLennau.  Coming  to  Edinburgh  he  put 
him.self  under  the  tuition  of  Sandy  Camei'on  of 
piobaireachd  fame,  and  by  the  end  of  1854,  when 
he  sailed  to  India,  he  had  with  him  the  largest 
collection  of  Cedl-mor  then  known — which  alas, 
was  destined  to  destruction  shortly  afterwards 
at  the  Mutiny  at  Delhi  In  1857.  He  took  an 
active  part  in  the  suppression  of  that  mutiny, 
suffering  considerable  hardships  and  privations. 
He  was  stationed  at  Delhi  at  the  time,  and  saved 
his  life  only  by  a  marvel.     After  a  fortnight's 


wandering  in  the  jungle  and  numberless  hair- 
bieadth  escapes  he  managed  at  ilast  to  reach 
Kurnoui,  seventy  miles  from  Delhi.  Here  he 
joined  the  British  force  iimsterhig  for  the  Siege  of 
Delhi,  and  was  present  at  every  action  until  the 
town  was  captured. 

In  1800  he  came  home  witli  liis  family  to 
Liiggan,  where  he  remained  for  three  year.s. 
The  family  migrated  to  India  in  1872. 

Ever  since  the  mutiny  he  has  been  endeavouring 
to  recover  his  musical  losses,  with  considerable 
success — thanks  to  Sir  (xeorge  Grant  of  Ballin- 
dalloch  and  others.  Referring  to  this  the  Major- 
( General  remarks  — "  When  at  home  on  my  second 
furlough  in  1S7(I-71  the  Ballindalloch  piper  was 
Donald  Mackay,  pupil  of  first  John  MacKenzie, 
and  then  Donald  Cameron.  With  imitual  benefit 
to  both  of  us  during  these  two  years,  Donald 
jMackay  and  myself  worked  iit  ihe  piabaii-eachdan 
which  he  had  been  taught,  and  also  at  a 
valuable  M.S.  collection,  the  property  of  Sir 
George.  Donald  Mackay  won  the  gold  medal  at 
Inverness  in  1872.  To  my  great  sorrow,  as 
jiiper  to  H  R.H.  the  Prince  of  Wales,  he  died  at 
the  end  of  1893.  He  had  by  correspondence 
been  helping  me  most  generously  in  the 
preparation  fo]-  the  press  of  Ceul-^nor,  my  collec- 
tion of  piobaireachdan,  in  the  editing  of  which, 
with  an  abbreviated  system  of  notation,  I  have 
been  engaged  since  my  retirement  from  official 
life  in  1888."  This  great  work  is  now,  we 
midei'staud,  almost  ready  for  the  press.  We 
have  seeu  a  list  of  the  tunes,  some  180  in  all, 
and  altogether  Cehl-mor  will  be  the  finest 
collection  of  pibrochs  ever  published. 

The  Major-General  in  1858  mari-ied  Miss  de 
Boisragon,  a  descendant  of  an  ancient  Huguenot 
family — her  mother  was  a  Scotcli  lady,  Miss 
Maxwell  of  Dalswinton.  He  has  a  family  of 
two  sous  and  three  daughters.  Both  sons  are  in 
the  Indian  service,  and  as  might  be  expected 
they  can  both  play  the  pipes.  His  eldest  son, 
who  was  a  most  accomplished  piper,  died  from 
cholera  in  1890. 

FlONS. 


S2 


THE     OELTlC     MONTHLY. 


CLUNY     AND     LADY     CLUNY     OF     THE 
'45,    AFTER     CULLODEN. 


By  Alexander  Macpherson,  Kinuussie. 


IV. 


"  All  uair  bha  'n  saoghal  bruailleanach, 

'Us  gluasad  air  luchd  iiathsaichean 

'N  uair  bhiodh  an  cinn  gun  chluasagan, 

Gun  t^mh  le  buaile  's  bathaichean, 

Thug  Eoghan  sgi-iob  'thoirt  fuasglaidh  dliuimi, 

'Us  ghlais  e  suas  a  Ghaidhealtachd, 

'S  cha  'n  iarradh  iad  mar  bhuachiiillean 

'S  an  Taobh-tuath  ach  na  fasaichean. 


Fivn 


■  Stiafhimishie's"    Ehyij. 


ipiPiHE  following  letter  communicatiug  par- 
V5^  ticulars  of  the  closing  scene  in  the  life 
^^^^  of  the  brave  and  devoted  chief— worn 
out  by  his  terrible  sufierings  in  the  cause  of 
"the  hapless  Stewart  line,"  and  "sick  unto 
death"  of  the  long  and  weary  exile  from  his 
native  hills — is  very  touching,  indicating,  as  it 
does,  his  dying  solicitude  for  his  wile  and 
daughter,  and  his  anxiety  as  to  the  payment  of 
any  debts  he  might  be  owing  at  Dunldi-k. 
The  letter  is  addressed  to  "  Archibald  Campbell 
Frazer,  Esqre.,  Craven  Street,  London,"  of  the 
family  of  Abertarff,  and  an  intimate  friend  of 
the  Cluny  family.  The  letter  was  found  among 
the  Abertai-ff  papers,  and  transmitted  by  the 
late  Mr.  Eraser  of  Abertarft"  to  "  Old  Cluny  " 
(the  father  of  the  present  Chief)  on  12th  June, 
1869,  "to  remain,  where  it  should  be,  at 
Cluny  Castle:" — 

Dunkerque,  31.st  Janiy.,  1704. 
Dear  Sir, 

Ever  since  I  wrote  you  last,  your  frind 
Cluny  has  been  gradually  declining,  till,  (juite 
attenuated,  he  at  lenth  breathed  his  last  yesterday 
morning  between  8  and  0  o'clock.  Some  days 
before  his  death  he  sent  for  Mr.  Haliburton,  Mr. 
Blair,  and  me,  and  recommended  his  Lady  and 
Daughter  to  our  care,  begging  as  his  last  request 
that  we  would  send  them  over  to  London,  as  soon 
as  could  decently  be  done  after  his  decease,  and 
that  we  should,  after  their  dejjarture,  dispose  of 
the  Household  furniture  in  order  to  pay  any  debts 
he  may  be  owing  on  this  side.  The  lady  seems 
resolved  to  follow  this  injunction,  and  will  probably 
set  out  in  about  14/d  hence,  but  shall  let  you  know 
more  exactly  when  once  the  time  is  settled.  I 
need  not  discribe  to  you  how  disconsolate  both 
she  and  her  daughter  are  upon  this  melancholy 
occasion.  I  regret  'tis  not  in  my  power  to  bo  of 
such  use  to  them  as  I  could  wish,  being  still 
contined  with  my  legg,  but  both  Mr.  Haliburton 
and  Mr.  Blair  are  acting  the  part  of  reall  frinds 
towards  them.  Tlie  Corps  is  to  be  hurried  this 
evening  in  a  private  manner  in  the  Garden  of  the 
Cariuehtes,  which  the  Lady  prefers  to  a  Publick 
buriall  attended  with  tlie  honours  of  War.  Be 
assured  nothing  in  my  power  shall  be  wanting  to 


assist  your  distressed  frinds,  and  that  I  am  with 
gi-eat  sincerity,  dear  sir,  your  most  obedt.  and 
hunib.  servt., 

(Signed)         David  Gkeoorie. 

As  the  concluding  verse  of  the  beautiful 
Gaelic  elegy — Cumha  do  Eobhan  Mau-a-Pliearsain, 
Tighearna  Chlaaiiiidli,  Ceaiiu-Viiiiiidh  C/daiin- 
Chatain,  an  ludr  a  chualas  sgeul  a  bliais  amis  an 
Fhraing" — by  Lachlan  Macpherson  of  Strath- 
mashie,  has  it: — 

"  Ach  dh'fhalbh  e  iiis  a's  dh'fhiig  e  sinn, 
'S  CO  chaisgeas  lamh  na  h-eucorach  ! 
Ged  fhaicteadh  'choir  'g  a  s;irachadh, 
Gu'n  chain  sinn  lamh  ar  treubhantais. 
Mo  bheannachd  suas  do  Phurras  leis, 
Bho  'n  dh'  f  hill  am  has  'n  a  e'ideadh  e, 
'S  a  dh-aindeoin  righ  a's  Parlamaid, 
Riiin  Righ  nan  Gri'isan  reite  ris." 


Which  may  be  feebly  rendered: — 

Now  he  hath  gone,  and  we  are  reft, 

With  none  to  shield  from  threatened  harm. 

Though  right  be  seen,  most  sore  beset, 

That  arm  of  might  is  lost  for  aye; 

Our  blessings  go  with  him  on  high, 

Since  death  hath  wrapped  him  from  our  view. 

And  niaugre  King  and  Parliament, 

The  King  of  Kings  found  rest  for  him. 

Notwithstanding  repeated  efforts,  Cluny's 
grave  at  Dunkirk  -so  far  away  from  the  hills 
of  his  native  Highlands,  which  he  knew  and 
loved  so  well — cannot,  alas '.  now  be  traced. 
In  a  letter,  dated  18th  September,  1895, 
received  from  the  British  Vice-Cousul  at 
Dunku'k,  he  writes  as  follows: — 

"  In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  11th  iiist. ,  I  am 
desired  by  the  Consul  to  state  that  the  Carmelite 
Monastery  in  the  garden  of  which  Cluny  Macpherson 
was  buried  no  longer  exists.  The  building  was 
pulled  down  many  years  ago,  and  there  is  no 
record  of  any  monuments  which  may  have  been 
erected  in  the  burial  ground  adjoining  the  monas- 
tery. On  the  other  hand  no  trace  can  be  found  in 
the  Church  Registers  of  the  death  of  Cluny 
Macpherson,  as  at  the  date  mentioned  by  you 
Roman  Catholics  only  were  taken  heed  of,  for 
purposes  of  registration  by  the  clergy." 

And  yet  after  all  the  terrible  reahty,  as  it 
proved  to  Cluny,  of  "  Ufe's  fitful  fever,'  he 
sleeps  well  in  that  lonely  grave  "  on  Flander's 
shore,"  until  "  the  day  break  and  the  shadows 
flee  away."  It  is  no  exaggeration  to  say  that 
the  name  of  a  more  chivalrous  and  truly  heroic 
Chief  than  Cluny  of  the  '4-5  is  not  to  be  found  in 
the  annals  of  Highland  history,  nor  one  who— 
come  weal  or  come  woe — adhered  with  more 
unswerving  fidelity  and  devotion  to  the  cause  of 
the  unfortunate  House  of  Stewart,  even  when 
that  cause  was  irretrievably  lost.  The 
undaunted  fortitude  and  courage  with  which 
he  endured  such  terrible  hardships  when  burnt 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


out  of  hearth  and  home,  aiul  hunted  like  a 
wild  beast  iu  the  luuuutaiu  fastnesses  of 
Badenoc-h,  for  the  long  period  of  nine  years 
after  the  Battle  of  Ciilloden,  have  been  already 
referred  to.  His  memory  is,  indeed,  worthy  of 
being  tV)ndly  cherished,  and  held  in  hououi'ed 
remembrance,  by  every  true  hearted  member 
of  the  Clan  Chattau. 


Holding,  as  Highlanders  do,  the  right  of 
sepulture  in  high  veneration,  it  was  a  great 
additional  grief  to  Cluny's  clansmen  and 
friends  that  his  honoured  remains  could  not  be 
taken  home  to  rest  beside  those  of  his  fathers 
in  the  hallowed  churchyard  of  St.  Columba  at 
Kingussie.  Throughout  the  Highlands  at  the 
time   there   was   a  strong    prejudice    against 


^ 


^"i^ 


MK.MolCIAI.     SToNK     I.S     TlIK     AM'IKNT     ClURCILY  AKII     OF     ST.     (JOLUMliA 
AT     KINiilSSli;     WllKKi;     I.AHV     rl.l  W     OF     Till;       i:.     I.IKS     lU'KIELl. 


disturbing,  on  any  consideration,  the  mortal 
remains  of  any  friend  however  dear  which 
had  been  duly  consigned  to  the  dust.  And  yet 
so  poignant  was  the  grief  of  the  clan  that  the 
last  resting  place  oi  their  beloved  Chief  should 
be  the  grave  of  an  exile  far  from  home  and 
iindred  in  a  foreign  land,  that  a  devoted  clans 
Woman  of  the  time  thus  forcibly  expressed  her 


feelings  iu  the  old  mother-tongue,  so  dear  to 
all  true  Highlanders :  — 

"  Na  in  bu  niliise  dn  dluioin'-uaisle, — 
•  led  blieiriiin  cluas  e  beartas  — 
Clia  b'e  giseagan  an  t-sluaigh, 
Bliiodh  eadar  mi  's  an  cuan  a  shracadh, 
Ghabliainn  an  t-sidu  mu  mo  clduasau, 
•'S  ttoiltiun  an  cuan  air  a  tharsuiun, 


u 


tMe  oeltio    monthly 


'Schithinn  cnaimliean  Eoghainn  Ruaidh 
An  carraigh  Chluainidh  an  tasgaidli." 

Which  may  be  translated :  — 

Were  I  the  chief  men  of  your  clan, — 
Though  I  would  curtail  my  riches — 
Despite  the  people's  notions, 
I  would  cleave  the  waves  asunder; 
I'd  expose  my  head  to  tempests, 
I'd  trace  the  broad  expanse  of  ocean, 
To  see  the  bones  of  fair-haired  Ewen 
Laid  in  Cluny's  tomb  in  safety. 

Cluny's  gentle-hearted  and  sorely  afflicted 
widow,  soon  after  his  death,  returned  to 
Badenoch,  and  dying  in  April,  1765 — little 
more  than  a  year  afterwards — her  remains 
were  laid  to  rest  in  the  Oluny  burial  place. 
Mrs.  Grant  of  Laggan  thus  gives  expression  to 
the  feelings  of  the  grief-stricken  and  widowed 
mother  on  leaving  Dunkirk  after  the  death  of 
Cluny,  along  with  her  young  daughter,  and  their 
faithful  Highland  retainer,  from  whose  aged 
and  quivering  Ups,  many  years  afterwards,  the 
touclung  words  were  inspired ; — 

"  Not  long  upon  that  alien  shore 

My  banished  master  pined; 
With  silent  gi-ief  we  saw  his  corpse 

To  common  earth  consigned. 

No  pibroch  led  the  loud  lament, 

No  funeral  train  appeared  ; 
No  bards  with  songs  of  mighty  deeds 

The  hopeless  mourners  cheered. 

When  midnight  wore  her  sable  robe 

We  dug  his  humble  grave  ; 
Where  fair  Naixissus  droops  its  head 

And  darkest  poppies  wave. 

We  strewed  the  tomb  with  rosemary, 

We  watered  it  with  tears  ; 
And  bade  the  Scottish  thistle  round 

Erect  his  warlike  spears. 

And  soon  we  left  the  fatal  spot, 
And  sought  our  native  shore; 

And  soon  my  lady  blest  her  son, 
And  clasped  him  o'er  and  o'er. 

'  On  thee,  my  son  '  (she  fondly  cried), 
'  May  happier  planets  shine  ; 

And  niayst  thou  never  live  to  brook 
A  fate  so  hard  as  mine. 

'  And  mayst  thou  heir  thy  father's  worth. 

But  not  his  hapless  doom  ; 
To  honour  and  thy  country  true, 

Mayst  thou  his  rights  resume. 

'  And  when  my  weary  eyes  shall  close. 

By  death's  long  slumber  blest. 
Beside  my  dear-loved,  long-lost  home 

For  ever  let  me  rest.' 

She  spoke  and  died — in  yonder  grave 

Her  dear  remains  are  laid  ; 
Let  never  impious  murmur  rise 

To  grieve  her  hovering  shade. ' 

(To  be  ciiutimted). 


HIGHLANDERS. 

•  Clanua  lum,  Gaidliinl  ri  iiwi'dlihh  <i  clu 


Hark!  from  the  mountains  the  pibroch  is  pealing, 
Down  thro'  the  glens  see  the  bright  tartans  wave; 

Clansmen  are  gath'ring  from  clachan  and  shieling, 
List  to  their  shouting  the  song  of  the  brave. 

Clionia — 
Shoulder  to  shoulder,  brave  lads  of  the  heather. 

Stand  side  by  side,  gallant  sons  of  the  free ; 
True  Highland  hearts  can  be  cowardly  never, 

Shout  for  Prince  Charlie,  'S deoch-slidnfe  an  RUihl 

Cameron,  Eraser,  MacDonald,  and  Drummond, 
Macintosh,  Stewart,  MacGregor,  MacLean; 

Bravely  ye  fought  for  the  cause  ye  were  summon'd. 
Bravely  ye  fell  on  CuUoden's  dark  plain. 

Shoulder  to  shoulder,  brave  lads  of  the  heather. 
Sleep  side  by  side  'neath  the  cold  Northern  sky  ; 

True  Highland  hearts  can  be  cowardly  never, 
Yours  the  proud  motto  ' '  to  conquer  or  die. " 

Sons  of  the  mountains,  your  deeds  live  in  story, 
Highlanders  ever  were  famous  in  fight ; 

Waterloo,  Alma,  add  fame  to  your  glory, 
Lucknow  remembers  your  conquering  might. 

Clwnu-i— 
Shoulder  to  shoulder,  brave  lads  of  the  heather, 

Stand  side  by  side  with  your  face  to  the  foe ; 
Victory  follows  the  wave  of  your  feather. 

Honour  awaits  you  wherever  you  go. 

Sheath'd  is  the  claymore,  the  war  pipes  no  longer 
Skirl  out  their  wild  notes  to  the  echoing  blast ; 

Feuds  are  forgotten,  new  friendships  grow  stronger, 
The  heather  and  wild-rose  are  blended  at  last. 

Shoulder  to  shoulder,  brave  lads  of  the  heather. 
Stand  side  by  side  with  bold  resolute  mien; 

True  Highland  hearts  can  be  cowardly  never. 

Be  true  to  your  country,  youi-selves,  and  your 
Queen. 


N.B.— As  this  song  will  shortly  be  set  to  music,  the 
copyright  is  reserved  by  the  author. 

W.  Drummond-Norie. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


86 


THE  LORDS  °f  LOCHABEK 


T.D.nACDONALD  . 


Part    XII. ALASHAIB-MiN-CLEAS  CONTDfCED He 

JOINS  THE  Rebellion  of  Sib  James  Mac- 
Dt  NALi) — Eewaeds  offered  for  his  appre- 
hension— Escapes  to  Spain — He  is  recalled 
BY  THE  King — Pardoned  and  Pensioned. 

fiN  1598  Alasdair  joined  the  rebellion 
'i  instigated  by  Sir  James  ^MacDonalcl 
— '  of  Islay,  and  was,  in  consec^uence, 
summoned,  along  with  Angus  of  Islay  (Sir 
James's  father),  and  other  Chiefs,  to  appear 
personally  before  Lord  Scone  at  LoehkUkerran 
(Campbeitowu),  on  the  20th  July,  1605.  He 
was  recjuested  to  give  his  obedience  and  find 
sureties  for  payment  of  His  Majesty's  rent,  and 
to  bring  with  him  and  exhibit  the  title  deeds 
for  the  lands  claimed  by  him  in  the  Highlands. 
If  he  should  fail  to  obey  the  proclamation 
power  was  given  to  the  comptroller  to  pursue 
him  mth  fire  and  sword,  and  to  declare  his  title 
deeds  null  and  void.*  It  can  easily  be 
imagined  how  little  Keppoch  thought  of  the 
latter  threat.  Title  deeds  he  had  none  save 
his  good  right  hand  and  sword.  Later  on, 
probably  owing  to  his  bond  to  Argyle  being 
BtUl  in  force,  and  possibly  as  an  excuse  for  not 
attending  to  the  summons  issued  by  Lord 
Scone,  "he  assisted  the  former  against  the 
Clan  MacGregor,  as  did  also  Lochiel,"f  but 
"many  of  the  MacDouells  and  the  Camerons 
refused  to  take  parL|  This  was  before  the 
restoration  of  Huntly.  The  last  of  the  Mac- 
Gregors  who  were  killed  in  Lochaber  are  said 
to   have  been  buried  near  a   small  mountain 


stream,  just  below  Tirandris  House.  Two  pine 
trees  were  planted  to  mark  the  spot,  which  is 
within  a  small  enclosure. 

Alasdair  and  his  son  Eanald,  and  young 
Clanranald,  contrived  the  escape  of  Sir  James 
MacDonald  of  Islay  from  the  castle  of  Edin- 
burgh, Eanald  of  Keppoch  having  procured  a 
dujjlicate  key  to  his  cell.  They  were  met 
( lutside  by  a  party  of  Keppoch's  clansmen,  who 
conducted  them  by  the  moor  of  Eannoch  to 
Lochaber,  free  from  all  immediate  apprehension. 
Keppoch  and  Sir  James  proceeded  to  Morar 
and  Knoydart,  and  thence  to  Sleat,  in  Skye, 
where  they  had  a  lengthened  conference  with 
Sir  Donald  Gorm  MacDonald,  after  which  the 
both  of  them  crossed  over  to  the  Island  of 
Eigg,  where  the  clan,  led  by  CoU  MacGUlespic, 
gave  them  an  enthusiastic  reception  §  In  1615 
a  reward  of  5,000  merks  each  was  ofl'ered  for 
the  bodies  of  Sii-  James  MacDonald,  Alasdair- 
nan-Cleas,  and  Eanald,  his  son,  dead  or  aUve. 
But  there  were  none  to  betray  them.  Another 
sum  of  5,000  merks  was  ofl'ered  for  Coll 
MacGiUespic,  Sir  James's  cousin. 

Alasdaii-  again  accompanied  Su-  James  when 
he  opposed  Argyle's  forces  at  Tarbert;  when 
he  landed  in  KintjTe  and  sent  the  Fiery  Cross 

*  Records   of   Priv}-   Council ;    Skene ;    Gregory's 

History ;  Haddington  Collections. 
t  Record  of  Privy  Council,  1012. 
X  Gregory's  History,  page  347. 
§  See   Letters   of   Lord   TuUibardine   and   of    Sir 

Ruari    MacLeod,    etc..    Advocate's     Library, 

Edinburgh. 


PO 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


to  summon  the  vassals  of  Argyle  to  take 
charters  of  their  lands  from  him.  Sir  James's 
effort  was  not  successful,  and  lie  and  his  allies 
had  to  beat  a  retreat.  He  and  Keppoch,  and 
Somhairle  Mac8heumais,  another  MacDonald 
leader,  escaped  to  the  island  of  Inchchol,  on 
the  coast  of  Ireland.  Sir  James  having  after- 
wards gone  hiding  in  Antrim,  Kepjioch  and 
his  son  Ranald  returned  to  Lochaber  about  the 
end  of  December. 

A  commission  was  given  to  Lord  Gordon, 
Huntlj''s  son,  to  seize  Keppoch  and  his  son. 
who  were  ;known  to  be  concealed  in  Lt)chaber, 
and  the  offer  of  a  reward  of  5,000  merks  for 
their  bodies,  dead  or  alive,  was  re]ieiited.* 
Lord  Gordon  was  suspected   nf  nut  luitiL'-  tun 


active  in  executing  his  commission,  and  a 
second  commission  was  consequently  given  to 
Huntly  himself,  accompanied  by  a  special 
charge  in  the  King's  name  that  he  and  his  son, 
Lord  Gordon,  should  iminediately  undertake 
the  execution  of  it.  But  whatever  efforts  were 
made  to  this  end,  there  were  none  of  them 
successful. 

In  July,  1(518,  Keppoch  and  Lochiel  were 
outlawed,  and  a  third  commission  was  granted, 
on  this  occasion  to  Mackintosh  of  Mackintosh, 
charging  him  to  proceed  with  tire  and  sword 
against  Keppoch  and  his  son  Hanald.  In  his 
eagerness  to  execute  this  commission,  .Mac- 
kintosh gave  offence  to  Lord  Gordon,  who 
(•niipripifiitly    procured   a   recall   of   the    com- 


RSCAPK    01- 


mission  to  Mackintosh,  and  received  authority 
to  act  himself  against  Keppoch's  eldest  son, 
Ranald.  Keppoch  had  by  this  time  escaped 
to  Spain,  along  with  his  second  son,  Donald 
Glas,  where  they  joined  Sir  James  MacDonald, 
who  preceded  them  there. t  "Here,  strange 
to  say,  the  three  MacDonalds  were  soon  after 
joined  by  their  arch  enemy,  the  Earl  of  iVrgyle, 
whose  personal  history,  after  the  year  101.'),  is 
a  striking  instance  of  the  mutability  of  human 
affairs."! 

In  1820  Keppoch  and  Sir  .lames  were 
recalled  from  Spain  by  the  King,  and  on  their 
amval  in  London  the  former  received  a  pension 
of  1,000  merks,  and  the  latter  one  of  2,000 
merks.     In  1621  the  Kinsr  wrote  to  the  Rrivv 


FKO.M     hlllNBriCOlI     CASTI.K 


Council  in  favour  of  these  two  Chiefs,  sending 
at  the  same  time  ample  remission  for  all  their 
past  offences,  to  lie  passed  under  the  Seal  of 
Scotland.  To  this  the  Council  made  many 
objections,  urging  the  danger  of  permitting 
Chiefs  of  such  note  to  be  at  liberty  in  the 
Highlands  before  proper  security  had  been 
found  for  their  obedience.  Sir  James's 
remission  passed  the  Seal  in  the  month  of 
October,  but  some  arrangement  seems  to  have 
been  made  to  prevent  his  visiting  Scotland. 

*  Records  of  Privy  Council,  .Tan,,  l(il(i. 

t  Records  of  Privy  Council,  l(il,S  ;  MS.S.  History 

of  the  Camerons. 
t  (iregory,  page  79!l. 

fTa  ho  on»i;n,iP,l\. 


LIEUT.-COLONEL     A.     FORBES      MACKAY, 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY 


R7 


LIEUT.-COLONEL    A,    FORBES    MACKAY. 


IJ^IEUT.-COLONEL    A. 
J^   FORBES  MACKAY, 
^=1    whose    portrait    is 
given  this  month,  is  the  only 
son   of  the  late   Mr.    J.   A. 
Arackay.  of  Bhickcastle,  Miil- 
lothiai) ;    his  mother  was  a 
(langliter  of  John  M'Millan 
IM'Neill  of  Carskey,  in  Kin- 
tyi'e.     He  man-iHi]    Mabel,  daughter  of  Cosmo 
Innes,  Esq  ,  Principal  Clerk  of  Session,  and  has, 
with    other   issue,    Cosmo.      The    Colonel    was 
educated  at  Rugby  and  Edinburgh  University  ; 
he  served  in  the  02nd  Gordon  Highlanders,  of 
which    he   was    Adjutant,   was    present    in  the 
Crimea   at   the    Evacuation  of  Sebastapol,   and 
sub-secjueutly — before   retiring   altogether    from 
the  array — held  high  post  in  the  staff  in   India. 
He  is  of  the  Scourie  branch  of  the  Clan  Mackay, 
and  the  representative   of  the  old   M'Neills  of 
Carskej",   who  were   on   the    side   of   the   Lsia 
Macdonalds  in  the  long  ago  troubles,  and  who 
saved  only  a  moiety  of  the  old  Carskey  lands. 
Highland  bred,  he  looks  it,  a  typical  specimen 
of  the  race,  and  is  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  all 
that  savours  of  the  land  of  the  mountain  and  the 
Hood.     He  loves  dearl}'  all  that  pertains  to  the 
Highland  people  and  their  home,  and  it  may  be 
justly  said   that  all   those  who  have   come    in 
contact  with  the  gallant  (!olonel  dearly  love  him; 
he  is  amazingly  popular,  and  deservedly  so.     A 
keen  politician,  and  the  most  doughty  organiser 
of  the   Conservative  forces  in  Scotland,  yet  he 
has  no  enemy  ;  his  eloquence  is  remarkable,  and 
there  is  no  such  good  sjieaker  on  that  side  as 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  ;    the  voice  is  clear 
and    resonant,    the    matter    well   selected,    the 
fashion  of  delivery  deliberate  and  highly  persua- 
sive.    Naturally  these  gifts  .serve   him  on  the 
Town    Council    of    Edinburgh,    where    he    fitly 
represents  the  CJeorge's  Square  ward.    Edijjburgh 
is  very  fortunate  in  its  possession  of  a  Councillor 
of  such  standing,  of  such  weight,  of  such  private 
and  public  estimation.     He  is  one  of  the  out- 
standing members  of  the  Clan  Mackay  Society, 
with   which    he   has    been    actively    associated 
since   its    formation,    and    it   is    interesting    to 
mention  that  his  father  was  at  the  head  of  the 
Clan     Mackay     Society     which     flourished     in 
Glasgow    in    1808,   and  of  the  quaint  rules  of 
which  the  Colonel  possesses  a  copy.     He  is  an 
Ex-Vice-President  of  the  Society,  and  enjoys  a 
popularity  among  his  clansmen  enjoyed  by  few 
of  the  name.      When  attired  in  the  Highland 
dress  it  is  difficult  to  say  whether  he  adorns  the 
dress    the    most,   (jr    the    dress    adorns    him. 


Colonel  Mackay  has  lived  usefully,  has  lived 
well,  and  has  his  reward  in  the  love  and 
the  admiration  of  all  who  know  him. 

Seana  Charaid. 


THE     LOCH      OF     SHAME. 

An    Ancient    Sutherlandshiee    Custom. 


^AA  MONG  the  few  curious,  old  world  customs 
'S^^  which  in  Scotland  survived  the  advance 
J^-^  of  education,  and  the  frown  of  the 
clergy,  must  be  included  that  which  still 
obtains  in  the  Parish  of  Farr,  in  the  exti'enie 
north  of  Sutherlandshire.  A  short  distance 
from  the  river  Naver — famous  for  its  splendid 
salmon  fishing,  and  the  favourite  Spring  haunt 
of  Mr.  William  Black,  the  novelist — is  a  small 
loch,  known  to  the  natives  by  the  name  Mo 
Naire,  a  Gaelic  word  which  means  "My  Shame." 
Like  most  places  of  interest  it  has  a  remarkable 
story  associated  with  it,  which  is  worth  relating, 
as  it  explains  the  origin  of  the  ancient  custom 
which  I  intend  to  describe. 

Very  many  years  ago  Strathnaver  was 
celebrated  for  its  fertility,  and  the  large  niunber 
of  brave  stalwart  clansmen  who  defended  it. 
The  people  who  inhabited  the  strath  belonged 
to  the  Aberigh.  a  branch  of  the  warlike  Clan 
Mackay.  A  certain  woman  who  was  possessed 
of  a  number  of  charmed  pebbles  which  could 
cure  any  disease,  came  from  Ross-shire  and 
settled  among  the  Mackays,  who  are  said  to 
have  derived  much  benefit  from  the  curative 
power  of  the  stones.  A  man  of  the  name  of 
Murray,  it  seems,  became  iuspLred  by  a  wicked 
desire  to  possess  these  holy  stones,  and  one  day 
as  the  woman  was  walking  near  the  river,  he 
attempted  to  force  her  to  give  them  to  him. 
Freeing  herself  from  his  grasp  she  fled,  and  he 
started  in  pursuit.  Finding  that  she  could  not 
escape,  she  came  to  a  small  pool  of  water  into 
which  she  flung  her  charms,  exclaiming,  with 
much  indignation,  in  Gaelic,  ^^Mo-naiiel  Mo- 
naireV  (my  shame!  my  shame!)  Lnniediately 
the  water  began  to  increase  in  quantity,  until  at 
length  what  was  at  one  time  a  mere  pool 
broadened  and  deepened  until  it  became  a  fair 
sized  loch,  in  the  depths  of  which  the  pebbles 
were  for  ever  safe  from  the  saciUegious  hands 
of  the  robber. 

The  healing  qualities  which  the  charms  were 
supposed  to  possess  were  believed  to  have  been 
bestowed  upon  the  waters  of  the  loch,  and  in 
time  the  remarkable  cm-es  which  were  per- 
formed by  persons  suffeiing  from  diseases 
coming  into  contact  with  its  waters  made  its 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


fame  kuowu  all  over  the  Highlauds  and 
Islands.  Strange  to  say  there  are  only  four 
days  upon  which  it  would  be  efficacious  to 
bathe  in  Loch  Monar.  These  are  the  first 
Mondays  in  February,  May,  August,  and 
November.  On  other  days  it  is  supposed  there 
is  no  special  virtue  in  the  water,  but  on  the 
dates  mentioned  there  is  no  limit  to  its  healing 
powers. 

For  reasons  which  may  be  readily  understood 
few  jieoi^le  visited  the  loch  in  February  or 
November,  but  in  the  other,  and  I  may  add 
warmer  months,  people  from  all  the  surrounding 
counties,  and  from  Orkney  and  Shetland, 
resorted  thither,  to  bathe  in  the  health-giving 
waters  of  this  modern  "  Pool  of  Siloam." 


Strange  to  say  the  rules  which  had  to  be 
observed  by  the  intending  bather  were  some- 
what curious  and  strict.  The  patient  must  be 
at  the  loch  not  later  than  midnight ;  he  must, 
after  the  hour  has  arrived,  dip  three  times  into 
the  water,  drinlv  a  little  of  it,  and  then  as  a 
thanks-offering  throw  a  small  piece  of  silver 
into  the  lake,  as  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the 
old  lady  who  conferred  such  a  boon  upon 
suffering  humanity.  These  regulations  being 
duly  observed,  the  jjatient  was  expected  to  be 
far  out  of  sight  of  the  loch  ere  the  day  dawned, 
otherwise  he  would  derive  no  benefit  from  his 
ablutions. 

Many  people  who  visited  the  lake,  and 
followed  the  traditional  prescription,  have  gone 


A     OMMPSE     OK    TUIC     .M.\CKAV     rOrNTRV     AT     lIULN'If'U. 


home  declaring  that  they  were  cured  of  their 
aUmeut.  It  is  easy  to  understand  a  cure  in  a 
case  of  this  sort.  Faith,  doctors  will  tell  you, 
has  perhaps  more  to  do  with  a  person's 
recovery  from  an  illness  than  either  medicine 
or  attention.  If  a  person  thinks  he  is  getting 
better,  why,  he  trill  get  better !  If  he  is 
despondent  and  is  sure  that  he  is  doomed  to 
die,  it  is  not  unhkely  that  he  will  reaUy 
succumb.  The  cold  water,  the  pecuUar 
associations  of  the  j)lace,  and  a  confidence  in 
the  efficacy  of  the  cm-e  are  all  that  are  essential 
to  make  a  man  believe,  after  he  has  followed 
the  time-honoured  prescription,  that  he  never 
felt  better  in  his  life. 


It  may  be  thought  that  at  this  late  date  no 
one  would  put  much  faith  in  these  superstitious 
notions.  But  it  is  a  fact  that  people  do  still 
come  from  long  distances,  and  bathe  in  the 
waters  of  Loch  Monar,  fully  believing  that 
there  is  virtue  in  it  sufficient  to  ciu-e  any 
disease,  and  permit  them  to  retm-n  to  their 
houses  restored  in  health.  This  is  one  very 
ancient  custom  which  has  not  succumbed  to 
the  advance  of  education,  or  the  sneers  of  the 
cynic.  If  this  loch  were  drained,  what  a  haj)py 
hunting  groimd  it  would  prove  to  the  Axiti- 
quaiy,  who  would  find  in  it  coins  and  valuable 
objects  belonging  to  several  centuries. 

Iain  MacAou)H. 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


89 


OUR      MUSICAL      PAGE. 


fiT  is  impossible  to  say  who  composed  the 
)  following-  song,  which  has  stood  the  test 
— '  of  centuries.  MacKenzie  in  his  Beauties 
(if  Gaelic  Poet)!/  says  "  This  fine  little  song  is 
attributed  to  a  Highland  Sappho  of  the  thirteenth 
century.  Burns  became  so  enamoured  of  it,  on 
hearing  it  sung  by  a  lady,  that  he  immediately 
wrote  verses  to  the  air,  and  it  then  became 
known  for  the  first  time  to  the  I'^nglish  reader. 
To  the  same  poet's  taste  we  ai'e  indel^ted  for  the 


beauties  of  simple  melody,  and  to  the  same  lady's 
singing  we  owe  the  "Banks  of  the  Devon" 
from  "Bannarach  dlionn  a  chritidh."  Pattisou,  who 
gives  a  translation  of  the  song  in  his  Gaelic  Bard<, 
adds  that  the  authoress  married  her  Gilte  diibli, 
ciar-dubh  in  the  end.  The  set  of  the  melody  now 
given  is  that  common  to  the  We.st  Highlaiuls. 
The  translation  is  by  the  late  Professor  Blacki<', 
and  has  been  slightly  altered  to  suit  the  melody. 

PlONN. 


AN     GILLE     DUBH,     CIAR-DUBH     THE     DARK     GREY     LAD. 

Key    F.      }fiiderati>,   beatiiiri  twice  in   the  measure. 


■  Si 
Cha 
O'er 

1     d      :  -  .  r  :     d     | 
dbir-ieh          mi 
moorland       and 

n      :     s 
bruthach, 
mountain 

:      1       1 

's  cha 

I 

s     :  -  .  n  :     r     | 
shiubh-ail        mi 
wander           in 

d     : 

nioin 
sad 

-  :     Si 

-  teach, 

-  ness. 

.  Si 

d      :  -  .  r  :     d     1 

f      :     - 

:      s 

.1    .  V-.:.t    :      1      1 

1       : 

—     :     S 

Gu  'n 
My 

d'  fhalbh  nio     ghuth 
voice      without 

cinn 
song 

"s  cha 
and  my 

sheinn           mi 
heart      without 

or 
glad        . 

an 

ness 

'S  cha 
From 


chaidil 
Monday 


Id':- 

uair 

Sunday 


ta 


.f 


luan 
slumber 


1       I 


may 


Dbmh 

cheer 


1.  ! 

nach 
me 


'S  an 
While 


:  -  .li  :     d 
gille  dubh, 

thoughts   of  my 


ciar 
brown 


:      f 

dubh. 

haired 


I     :  -.  d 

'tighinn 
laddie 


r  I 
fo  m' 
are 


nal.  <t,l  lib. 

d     :     f     : 

iiidh, 
near, 


'S  an 
While 


n    :  -  .  d  :     n 

gille         dubh, 

thoughts     of  my 


ciar 
brown 


:      f 
dubh, 
haired 


n     :  - .  d  :     r     | 
'tighinn       fo  m' 
laddie  are 


d     : 

iiidh. 
near. 


Is  truagh  nach  robh  mise,  's  an  gille  dubh,  ciar-dubh. 
An  aodann  na  beinne  fo  shilleadh  nan  siantan  ; 
An  lagan  beag  f:\saioh,  na  'n  Mtegin  diamhair 
'S  cha  ghabh  mi  fear  liath  's  e  'tighinn  fo  m'  iudh. 

(iu  'n  nlainn  deoch-sUint'  a  ghille  dhuibh  chiar-dhuibh 
Do  dh'  uisge  nan  Ion,  oho  deonaeh  's  go  b'  fhion  e, 
Ged  tha  mi  gun  or,  thagu  lebir  'tighinn  'g  am  iarniidh, 
'S  cha  ghabh  mi  fear  liath  's  e  'tighinn  fo  m'  iiiiUi. 

Mo  ghille  dubh  hoidheach  ge  gorach  le  each  thu, 
Dheanainn  do  phosadli  gu  'n  deiiin  da  nio  chkirdean, 
Shiubhlainn  leat  fada  feadh  lagan  is  fhisach, 
'S  cha  ghabh  mi  fear  liath  's  thu  tighinn  fo  m'  iiidh. 

Mo  ghille  dubh  laghach,   's   neo-raoghainn  leara   d' 

fh%ail, 
Na  'm  faicinn  an  cnideachd  thu  thaghainn  roimh  ch.'ich 

thu  ; 
God  fliaicinn  coig  mil',  air  chinnt  gu  tu  b'  fhearr  leani, 
'S  cha  ghabhainn  fear  liath  's  thu  tighinn  fo  m'  uidh. 


Oh  1  might  he  be  with  me,  my  brown-haired  laddie, 
'Neath  the  drift  of  the  mountains,  ami  I  'neath  his 

plaidie  ; 
From  the  bray  of  the  blast  he  will  shelter  and  cheer  me, 
And  I'll  not  take  the  grey-beard  while  Donald  is  near. 

I'll  drink  to  my  laddie,  in  water  as  cheerly 
As  in  French  wine  or  Spanish,  that  men  love  so  dearly; 
Tis  true,  I've  no  purfles  nor  pearlings  to  deck  me, 
But  I'll  not  take  the  grey-beard  while  Donald  is  near. 

My  handsome   young   laddie,    though   evil   tongues 

blame  you. 
In  father's  and  mother's  despite  I  will  claim  you  ; 
O'er  moorland  and  mountain,  with  Donald  I'll  wander  ! 
I'll  not  take  the  grey-beard  while  Donald  is  near 

From  the  lads  in  the  clachan,  all  mustered  together, 
I'd  pick  out  my  Donald,  and  look  on  none  other  ; 
From  twice  twenty-thousand  I'd  take  my  brown  laddie, 
I'll  ne'er  take  a  grey-beard  while  Donald  i.?  near. 


90 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY 


TO    CORRBSPONDBNTS.  making  this  condition  with  regard  to  the  prize  for 

AH    Vummiiiiications,   on    literary    and    btislnes*  the     most    Correctly     dressed     Highlander,     is,     to 

matters,  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  Mr.  JOHh  encouraae  the  use  of  the  Highland  dress  not  only 

JUACKAT,  9  Btythswood  Drive,  Glasaow.  by  g„iaii  boys,  but  also  by  big  boys. 

'  ®  '  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  old  pupils  of  other  schools, 

TERMS    OF    SUBSCRIPTION.—  The    CELTIC  who  take  an  interest  in  the  revival  of  the  use  of 

MONTHL  Y  will  be  sent,  post  free,  to  any  part  of  the  the  graceful  Highland  garb,  may  follow  the  example 

United   Kingdom,    Canada,    the    United   States,  and  all  set  by  our  Academical  friend  ! 

countries  in  the  Postal  Union -for  one  year,  I^.  Clan  Mackat  Society.— The  Annual  Monthly 

^ Meeting  of  this  Society  was  held  in  the  Religious 

~~^             '^                           ^/T^  ^  Institution    Rooms,  on  19th  December — Mr.  Alex- 

THE      Celtic      Monthly.  ander  Mackay,  Vice-Presldent,  in  the  chair.     Two 

FEBRUARY,  1896.  applications    for    assistanee    were    considered    and 

~^-~ ^^--j — -   — ^— ;-.  >^;tj^  , ^.— ,-— ^^ — donations  granted.     Mr.  John  Mackay,  Hon.  Secy., 

C  O  re  ^"  E  n  T  s.  delivered  a  lecture  on  the  Septs  and  Branches  of 

the  Clan  Mackay,  in  which  he  gave  an  account  of 

MA..OR-GBSERAI,  C.  S.  Thomason,  R.E.,  Benoai,  (with  plate),    SI  tj^gj;.  origin^   and  related  a  number  of  interesting 

Cluny  and  Ladv  Clusy  op  the  45,  AiTRR  CoLLODEN  (illu8.),    82  traditlous  regarding  them.     A  discussion  followed, 

Highlanders  (poem),       -       -       - '^^       in  which  several  clansmen  took  part.  

Thb  Lords  OF  LooHABER,  Part  XII.  (illustrated),         -       -       86  . -■ 

LiEuT.-CoLONEL  A.  Forbes  .MACKAV  (with  plate),         •       -      87  Edinburgh    MEETING.- Fhe    January    meeting 

THE  LOCH  or  SHAME  (illustrated), 87  was  held  at  o  St.  Andrew  Square    on  H>th  ult.— 

Our   Musical   Paoe-An   oille   dubh,   ciardubh-Tue  Mr.   John   Mackay   (Ben  Reay),   Vice  President,  m 

Dark  Gret  Lad 89  the  chair.     The  attendance  was  the  largest  of  any 

To  OBR  Readers,      -       - 90  clan    meeting    ever    held    in    Edinburgh.      It    was 

The  Stewarts  ok  Appin  at  Culloden  (illustrated),     -       -       91  intimated  that  the  Annual  Social  Gathering  was  to 

MiAK.v  AN  T-sAiQHDEiR  Ghaelich  (poem),      ....      93  take  the  fomi  of  a  conversazione,  to  be  held  in  the 

Walter  Shaw,  London  (with  plate), 94  Freemasons'  Hall,   treorge  Street,   on  Friday,  13th 

The  Highland  Brioade  AT  Waterloo,  Part  XVIII.  (illus.),  -       95  March — Mr.   George    J.    Mackay,  J. P.,   Ex- Mayor 

lAis  Breachd  of  Calavat  Castlf,  (illustrated),  •       -      ■       97  of  Kendal  (retiring  President),  in  the  chair.     Mr. 

The  Mermaids  Tears  (poem), 99  John  Mackay,   Secretary,  read  a  most   interesting 

Reviews, -     luu  paper  contributed  by  Mr.  John  Mackay,  C.E.,  J.P. , 

Obituary,                             1"^'  Hereford,    on    "  Rob   Donn    Mackay — the    Gaelic 

•  Bard  of  Lord  Reay's  country."  A  discussion 
OUR  NEXT  ISSUE.  followed,  in  which  a  number  of  Reay  countrymen 
Next  month  we  will  give  plate  portraits  of  Mr.  took  part,  and  John  Mackay  of  the  93rd  High- 
Alexander  Mackay,  Charing  Cross,  Glasgow,  Ex-  landers — an  old  veteran  of  the  "  Thin  Red  Line'' 
President  of  the  Clan  ^lackay  Society ;  the  late  Sir  and  the  Indian  Mutiny — sang  one  of  Rob  Bonn's 
Alexander  M'Donr.ell,  lineal  descendant  of  the  songs.  It  being  stated  that  a  descendant  of  the 
famous  Coll  Kiotach  Macdonald;  and  Dr.  A.  H.  famous  bard  was  in  distress  in  Durness,  a  grant  was 
Mackay,    B.Sc. ,  F.S.Sc,    etc..    Superintendent    of  made  to  him  from  the  funds  of  the  Society.     The 

Education  for  Nova  Scotia,  Canada  ;  with  biogra-       meeting  was  most  enthusiastic.  *        |     ^ij^ai) 

phical  sketches.     In  addition  to  these  a  number  of  County  of  Sutherland  Assoc hation  (Gla.-sgow) 

very  interesting  illustrated  contributions,  in  prose  —There  was  a  large  and  influential  meeting  of  this 

and  verse,  will  be  given.  Association  in  the  Religious  Institution  Rooms,  on 

Celtic  Monthly,  Volume  111. — As  our  third  15th  ult.,  Mr.  Angus  Morrison  in  the  chair.  A 
Volume  is  now  completed,  and  as  we  are  only  able  paper  on  "The  Home  Industries  of  Sutherland," 
to  supply  a  few  complete  bound  copies,  several  of  the  contributed  by  the  Duchess  of  Sutherland,  who 
monthly  parts  being  already  out  of  print,  those  who  was  unfortunately  unable  to  attend  personally,  was 
wish  copies  mightkiiiiUy  communicate  with  us  without  read  by  Mr.  John  Mackay,  Editor,  Celtic  MoiMilij, 
delay,  to  prevent  disappointment.  The  price  is  10/-,  and  was  greatly  appreciated  by  the  many  ladies  and 
post  free,  and  orders  should  be  sent  at  once  to  the  gentlemen  present.  The  paper  gave  rise  to  a  most 
Editor,  9  Blylhswood  Drive,  Glasgow.  instructive  discussion,  in  which  the  following  took 
THE  KILT  AND  THE  BAGPIPES.  part :-Messrs.  Wm.  JJIunro,  Alex  Mumo,  Dr. 
George   Gordon,   Dr.   Dingwall,  and  others.     iVlr. 

,,7    ,         ,,    ,          11          1    ..,     rn             A      J  John  Mackay  replied  on  behalf  of  Her  Grace.     The 

We  hear  that  an  old  pupil  of  the  Glasgow  Academy,  i      i.        r  ..i.'    i     j.        •     j.    i  ii            ^■ 

1     ,   1           „    4.  ■   i        i  ■       11  Tj-  1  1      1        i.1  usual  votes  of  thanks  terminatea  the  meeting, 
who  takes  a  great  interest  in  ail  Highland  matters, 

has  intimated  his  intention  of  presenting  to  his  old  Clan  Grant  Society.— At  the  Annual  Busmess 

school  two  handsome  gold  badges,  to  be  competed  Meeting  held  lastmonth,Mr.  James  Grant,  HiUhead, 

for  at  the  School's  Annual  Athletic  Sports.     One  of  ^^^   re-elected   President,    and   Mr.   John  Grant, 

the  badges  is  for  "The  most  correctly  dressed  Secretary.     A  concert  and  dance  has  been  arranged 

Highlander;"  the  ..ther  is  for  "Proficiency  in  ^  take  place  in  the  Assembly  Rooms,  Bath  Street, 

Bagpipe    Playing."      The   badges   must   be   won  «"  28th  February,  .Mr.  James  Grant  to  preside, 

three  times  before  they  become  the  property  of  the  Obituary. — We  regret  to  intimate  the  death  of 

holder.      The  badge  tor  pipe  j)laying  is  open  to  Mr.  James  Campbell  of  Craigniah,  which  took  place 

boys   of   all   ages.      That   for   the   most   correctly  in   Edinburgh   last   month  ;     and    Mr.    and    Mrs. 

dressed  Highlander  is  open  to  boys  of  eleven  years  Campbell  Macpherson,  of  Bandon,   Cork,  both  of 

•of  age  and  upwards.     The  object  of  the  donor  in  whom  died  at  Dalkeith. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY, 


91 


THE   STEWARTS   OF  APPIN 
AT  CULLODEN. 

By  Duncan  Livingstone,  Ohio,  U.S.A. 


"There    ne'er   for  the  crown   of  the   Stuarts   was 
fought 
One  battle  in  vale,  or  on  mountain  deer-trudden, 
But  dearly  to  AppLn  the  glory  was  bought, 
And  dearest  of  all,  on  the  field  of  Culloden." 
Tlie  Ettrick  Sliepherd. 

raCT|HE  Stewarts  of  Appiii  always  remained 
V^  loyal  to  the  old  line  of  kings,  and  were 
^^^      "out"    in    all   the    "risings"   previous 


to  the  '45.  They  were  among  the  first  to  join 
Prince  Charlie  at  Glenfinnan.  Dugald  Stewart, 
then  Chief  of  the  Clan,  was  a  boy  of  tender 
years,  and  being,  on  that  account,  unable  to 
take  the  field,  it  was  consequently  led  by  the 
next  in  rank,  Charles  Stewart,  fifth  of  Ardsheal. 
The  strength  of  the  force  which  he  brought 
into  the  field,  is  variously  estimated  at  from 
250  to  360  men,  and  consisted  chiefly  of 
Stewarts,  M'Colls,  M'Larens,  Cai-michaels, 
M'Innes,  ilLeays  or  Livingstons,  M'Lityres, 
and  M'Conuacks  or  Buchanans.  J'he  clan 
distinguished  itself  at  Prestonpans,  Clifton, 
and  Falkirk. 


THE    ANCIENT     BANNER     OF     THE     STEWART.S 
CARRIED     OFF    THE     FIELD     LY     UON'ALD 


jF     API'IN,     Wlllrll     WAS     TOKX     FIKIM     THE     I'dl.E^AND 
LIVINGSTONE     AT     THE     BATTLE     OF     CULLODEN. 


At  Culloden  they  numbered  about  300  men. 
although  in  a  Life  of  Cumberland  the  strength 
of  the  corps  is  only  placed  at  200.  The  writer 
has  a  faint  recollection  of  hearing  the  two 
older  people,  hereinafter  referred  to,  say  that 
the  corps  on  the  evening  before  the  battle,  or 
perhaps  a  day  or  two  prior,  received  a  fresh 
contingent,  numbering  about  100  men,  although 
he  knows  of  no  historical  authority  for  the 
tradition. 


At  Culloden  the  clan  was  in  the  first  hne  of 
the  Highland  army,  which,  enumerating  from 
right  to  left,  consisted  of  the  men  of  Athole, 
the  Camerons,  the  Stewarts  of  Appin,  Frasers, 
Macintoshes.  MacLachlans,  MacLeans,  Koy 
Stewart's  regiment,  Farquharsons,  Clanranald, 
Keppoch,  and  Glengarry.  The  first  line  of 
Cumberland's  ai'my,  enumerating  from  his 
left  to  right,  consisted  of  Bui-rel's  (the  4th), 
Munro's  (the  37th),  Scots  Fusiliers  (the  21st), 


92 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Price's  (the  14tb),  Cholmondley  (the  34th),  and 
Eoyal  Scots  (the  1st).  Two  pieces  of  artillery 
were  placed  between  every  battalion,  and  three 
on  the  right,  and  three  on  the  left  of  the  second 
line.  In  the  second  line,  in  the  same  order, 
were  Wolfe's  (the  8th),  Semphill's  (the  25th), 
Bligh's  (the  20th),  Ligonier  (the  48th).  and 
Fleming  (the  35th).  In  the  thii-d  line,  Blakney 
(the  27th),  Batterean  (the  13th),  and  Howard 
(the  3rd).  Each  of  the  foregoing  battalions 
numbered  about  five  hundred  men.  In  the 
rear  wer«  Cobham's  Dragoons  (the  11th),  and 
about  six  hundred  Campbells.  The  right 
■wing,  the  Athole,  Lochiel  and  Appin  regiments 
were  opposed  by  Burrel's,  Munro's,  and  the 
Scots  Fusiliers,  the  first  two  of  which  were 
supported  on  the  left  by  cavalry  and  on  the 
right  by  artillery ;  Wolfe's  and  Blakney 's 
regiments  being  drawn  up  in  two  lines  in  the 
rear  of  the  interval  between  Mimro's  and 
Burrel's. 

The  opposing  lines  were  about  five  hundred 
yards  apart,  and  the  first  half-hour  of  the  battle 
consisted  of  artillery  firing  between  the  two 
forces.  The  artillery  of  Cumberland  which  was 
superior  to  that  of  the  Prince,  told  with  terrible 
effect  on  the  dense  masses  of  the  clans,  and 
made  them  impatient  and  furious  for  the  onset. 
The  placing  of  the  MacDonalds  upon  the  left, 
instead  of  upon  the  right — the  position  which 
they  had  claimed  in  all  battles  from  the  time 
of  Bannockburn — had  insulted  these  clans, 
which  constituted  a  considerable  j)ortion  of  the 
Highlanders  in  the  Prince's  army,  and  made 
them  so  mutinous  that  even  their  chiefs  were 
unable  to  control  them.  At  last,  the  Mackin- 
toshes, who  were  in  action  for  the  first  time, 
unable  to  longer  brook  imavenged  the  slaughter 
of  their  kindred  by  the  artillery,  without  orders 
broke  from  the  line,  and  charged  the  enemy. 
Their  example  was  immediately  followed  by  all 
the  clans  to  their  right,  Lord  George  Murray 
leading  them,  and  soon  by  all  the  clans  in  the 
first  line,  excepting  the  MacDonalds.  Of  this 
terrible  charge,  in  which  in  a  few  moments, 
whole  families  were  swept  out  of  existence, 
Chambers,  in  his  excellent  work  on  the 
PebelUon,  says: — 

"  It  was  the  emphatic  custom  of  the  High- 
landers before  an  onset  to  pull  down  their 
bonnets  over  their  brows,  so  as  to  insure  them 
against  falling  oft'  during  the  melee.  Never, 
perhaps,  was  this  motion  done  with  so  much 
emphasis,  as  upon  the  present  occasion,  when 
every  man's  forehead  burned  with  the  desire  to 
revenge  some  dear  friend  who  had  fallen  a 
victim  to  the  murderous  artillery.  A  Lowland 
gentleman,  who  was  in  the  line,  in  afterwards 
speaking  of  the  occasion,  said  it  was  with  some- 
thing of  a  feeling  akin  to  awe,  that  he  viewed  the 


terrific  and  more  than  natural  expression  of 
rage  and  vengeance  which  glowed  on  evei-y 
cheek  and  gleamed  in  every  eye,  as  he  surveyed 
the  extended  line  at  this  moment. 

"Notwithstanding  that  the  front  line  of 
infantry  poured  forth  their  unceasing  fire  of 
musketry — notwithstanding  that  the  cannon, 
now  loaded  with  grape  and  shot,  swept  the 
field,  as  with  a  hail  storm — notwithstanding 
the  flank  fire  of  Wolfe's  regiment — onward, 
onward,  went  the  Highlanders,  headlong, 
flinging  themselves,  rather  than  rushing  upon 
the  line  of  the  enemy,  which,  indeed,  they  did 
not  see  for  the  smoke,  until  involved  among  the 
ranks.  All  that  courage,  all  that  despair  could 
do,  was  done ;  they  did  not  fight  like  living,  or 
reasoning  creatures,  but  like  machmes  under 
the  influence  of  some  uncontrollable  passion,  or 
principle  of  action. 

"  The  howl  of  the  advance,  the  scream  of  the 
onset,  the  thunders  of  the  musketry,  and  the 
din  of  the  trumpets  and  di'ums,  confounded 
one  sense,  while  the  flash  of  the  fire  arajs,  and 
the  glitter  of  the  burnished  bayonets,  dazzled 
and  bewildered  the  other.  It  was  a  moment 
of  agonizing  suspense,  but  only  for  a  moment, 
for  the  whirlwind  does  not  sweep  the  forest 
with  greater  rapidity  than  the  Highlanders 
cleared  the  first  line.  They  swept  through 
that  frail  barrier  as  easily  and  instantaneously 
as  the  bounding  cavalcade  brushes  through  the 
morning  labors  of  the  gossamer  which  stretches 
across  its  path.  Not,  however,  with  the  same 
consciousness  of  the  result,  for  almost  every 
man  in  the  front  rank,  chief,  gentleman,  and 
clansman,  fell  before  the  deadly  weapons  they 
had  braved,  and  although  the  enemy  gave  way, 
it  was  not  until  every  bayonet  was  bent  and 
bloody  with  the  stiife.  The  first  line  had  been 
completely  swept  aside,  and  the  assailants 
continued  their  impetuous  advance,  until  they 
came  near  the  second,  when,  being  almost 
annihilated  by  the  profuse  and  well-directed 
fire,  the  shattered  remains  of  what  had  been 
but  a  short  time  before  a  numerous  and 
confident  force,  at  last  succumbed  to  their 
destiny  by  giving  way  and  flying.  Still  a  few 
pressed  on,  resolved  to  die  rather  than  to 
forfeit  their  well  acquired  and  dearly  estimated 
honour.  They  rushed  on,  but  not  a  man  ever 
came  in  contact  with  the  enemy.  The  last 
survivor  perished  ere  he  reached  the  bayonets 
of  the  second  line." 

One,  who  signs  himself  as  "An  eye  witness 
to  most  of  the  facts,"  writing  in  1748,  in 
referring  to  the  charge  by  the  Stewarts  and 
Gamer ons,  says  ; — 

"They  broke  between  the  grenadiers  of 
Burrell  and  Mum-o,  who  had  given  them  fire 
when  at  the  muzzle   of  their  guns.      When 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


93 


witbiu  two  yards  of  the  camion  tbev  received  a 
discharge  of  eai'tridge  shot,  while  those  who 
crowded  into  the  opening  made  by  the  havoc 
received  a  full  tire  from  the  centre  of  BUghs. 
Those  who  survived  possessed  themselves  of 
the  cannon,  and  attacked  the  regiments,  sword 


in  hand;  but  M'olfe's  and  Fleming's  wheeled 
to  the  left  of  Burrell's  and  Bligh's  and  Semple's, 
and  made  such  a  continued  hre  on  their  front 
and  riank  that  nearly  all  the  right  wing  which 
broke  in  were  killed  or  wounded." 
(To  be  ciiiitinnedj. 


kt 


Na  mi-thuigibli  mi,  'chiiirdean, — 

Cha  "n  e  c^ineadli  mo  mliiaiin, 

No  cur  seirbhis  nan  curaidh 

Fo  eas-nrrani  's  neo-mhiadh  ; 

"S  dearbh,  cha  toigh  leam  an  t-iasgacli, 

Biodh  ann  driamlach  no  lion, — 

'S  ann^^a  chleachd  mi  'bhi  'm  "bhuacliaill" 

Aig  ceann  shuas  Loch-nan-ian. 

Gu  'm  bheil  seii-bliis  ar  diithcha 
Ceart  'u.s  cliuiteacli  gu  leoir, 
'S  mur  b'e  fagail  mo  dhachaidli, 
Leam  bu  nihatli  i  re  m'  bheb; 
"S  e  'bhi  'g  ionndrainn  nan  gleannaibh 
Far  'n  do  chleachd  mi  'bhi  6g, 
'S  'bhi  cho  fad'o  mo  chaomh-the, 
Dh'  fhag  mi  daonnan  fo  lei'ai. 

'Sheonaid  chunnabhallach,  iiilhdh. 
Thlachdmhor,  thlath-shuileach,  ghrinn, 
Ged  "thu'irt  ciVch  "an  te  dhubh"  rivit, 
'S  geal  mar  ghruth  thu  dhomh  fhin  ; 


/^ 


MIANN    AN    T-SAIGHDEIR 
GHAELICH. 


Ged  'tha  mis'  air  a'  Ghalldachd, 
'S  ann  'tha  m'  annsachd  mu  Thuath — 
Th-  mo  bhreith'  agus  m'  araich, 
Tlv  a'  chairdeis  '.s  an  truais  ; 
Tir  nam  beanntaichean  corrach, 
Tir  na'  lochan  's  nam  bruach  ; 
Tir  nan  caileagan  bbidheach, 
'S  tir  ann  oigearan  suairc'. 

'S  e  cruaidh-fhortan  gun  fhios  ilomh 

Riamh  'clniir  mise  do  'n  Arm, 

Luaidhe  dhii'-glilas  a  ghiiilan, 

Mar  ri  f  iidar  dnbh-ghorm  ; 

Ged  is  ciatach  dath  sgirlaid, 

'S  ge  robh  airdeas  "n  a  lorg, 

B'  fhekrr  'bhi  'g  iasgach  an  Geiixr-locli, 

Dh'  aindeoin  gabhadh  no  stoirm. 

B'  bg  'thug  mise  mo  ghrkdh  dhuit, 
'S  tu  'n  a  d'  phaisde  's  na  glinn, 
'S  sinn  ag  eisdeachd  le  furan 
Cuach  'us  uiseag  a'  seinn. 

'S  trie  'am  bruadar  mi  'faicinn 

Thusa,  'chailin  mo  ghaoil, 

Thu  'am  breacan  "n  a  d'  shuaineadh, 

'S  mise,  "luaidh,  ri  do  thaobh  ; 

Crodh  's  laoigh  bheaga  'bhi  Ikimh  ruinn, 

'G  ith  an  sath  feadh  an  fhraoich, 

'S  na  h-ebin  lurach  le  caithream 

'Seinn  'am  barraibh  nan  craobh. 

Sud,  a  ghraidh,  b'e  ar  cleachdadh 
Ann  an  gleannaibh  nan  ge'ug, 
Mu  'n  do  dh'  fhag  mi  tliu,  Shebnaid, 
Air  son  gh'jir-mhiann  gun  che'ill, 
Mu  'n  do  ghabh  mi  an  t-astar 
'Thug  cho  fad'  mi  'thlr  ch^in  ; 
Ach  na  'm  faighinn  mo  dhiirachd, 
Cha  b'  fhad',  'riiin,  mi  uait  fein. 


94 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


B"fhe;irr  ^'ii  'in  faigliiim  lu  cabhaig 
Naiglieachd  iiihath  o'n  taobli  tuath — 
Tir  mo  ghaoil  'bhi  'g  a  h-aiseag, 
Gun  dad  leth-bhrath*  do 'n  tsluagh  — 
Gach  beinn,  cnoc,  agus  aonach, 
Achadh,  raon,  agus  chian, 
Abhuinn,  sriith,  agus  nior-loch, 
'Chaidh  le  foimeart  'thoirt-uath'. 

Sud  an  sge'ul  "chuireadh  aiteas, 
Agus  aighear  neo-ghann, 
Air  feadh  gliarbhlacli  'us  cliladacli, 
Air  feadh  shrathaibh  'us  ghleann; 
Rachainns'  dhachaidh  do  'n  Ard-thir, — 
Tlia  mi  'ghnath  oirre  an  geall, — 
Agus  phosainn  thu,  Sbeonaid, — 
Sud  mo  mhiir-mhiann  gach  ain ! 

■*■  More  properly,  li-itli-hlnvifh. 

Caberfeiuh. 


WALTER      SHAW,      LONDON. 

Hon.   President,  Clax  Chattax  Assoiiatiox. 


^jjajIBR.  SHAW  is  a  Forfarshire  man,  having 
^W^h  been  born  at  the  Mains  of  Strathmar- 
■^'^  tine,  near  Dundee,  on  27th  Jul}',  182  L 
He  was  educated  at  Dundee,  and  at  the  T'uiver- 
sities  of  St.  Andrews  and  Edinburgh.  After 
serving  a  law  apprenticeship  in  Dundee,  and  in 
the  offices  of  several  of  the  most  eminent 
Writers  to  the  Signet  in  Edinburgh,  Mr.  Shaw 
commenced  business  as  an  Accountant  in 
Dundee,  where  he  was  fairly  successful,  but 
after  a  couple  of  years  he  decided  to  go  to 
London,  where  he  would  find  greater  scope  for 
his  energies.  He  spent  eleven  years  in  London, 
most  of  the  time  in  charge  of  a  large  Parliamen- 
tary business  in  Westminster,  but  having  an 
offer  to  go  further  away  he  went  to  Peru  in  the 
service  of  the  Pacific  Steam  Navigation  Company 
of  Liverpool,  his  headquarters  being  at  Callao. 
Here  he  served  for  a  number  of  years  as  Secretary 
of  the  Company,  after  which  he  was  made  the 
Company's  Auditor,  and  in  this  capacity  his 
duties  took  him  occasionally  to  some  seventy 
potts  in  the  Republics  of  Colombia,  Ecuador, 
Peru,  Chili,  and  Bolivia,  where  he  saw  a  great 
deal  that  was  worth  seeing.  He  was  also  the 
first  Secretary  of  the  largest  Floating  Dock  in 
the  world  at  that  time — the  Anglo- Peruvian  one. 
Mr.  Shaw  resided  in  Peru  for  over  twenty-five 
years,  and  he  looks  upon  those  years  as  the 
happiest  in  his  life.  A  year  after  the  war 
between  Peru  and  Chili  was  over  he  returned  to 
England,  where  after  a  period  of  idleness  and 
leisure  he  removed  to  Glasgow,  and  entered  the 
service  of  a  large  and  successful  Engineering 
Company.  The  headquarters  of  the  concern 
having  been  removed  to  Loudon,  Mr.  Shaw  went 
there  also  and  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the 
( 'ompany,  which  re.siponsilile  position  he  still  holds. 


It  was  wiiiie  residing  in  (ilasgow  that  the 
Clan  Chattan  Association  was  formed,  and  Mr. 
Shaw  did  much  to  promote  its  success.  He  is 
at  present  an  Honorarj'  President.  He  is  also 
President  of  the  Council  of  the  London  Forfar- 
shire Association,  which  is  considered  to  be  one 
of  the  most  vigorous  and  influential  of  the  many 
Scottish  organizations  in  the  Metropolis. 

It  m.aj'  be  interesting  to  mention  that  during 
his  long  stay  in  Peru  Mr.  Shaw  had  many 
narrow  escapes  from  Earthquakes,  Tidal-waves, 
and  Revolutions.  lie  was  the  means  of  saving 
the  life  of  a  President,  whom  he  got  off  in  the 
dead  of  night  to  a  British  man-of-war,  which 
sailed  at  once.  Five  years  elapsed  before  the 
fugitive  ventured  to  return  from  England  to  his 
native  land.  Not  long  since  the  Consul  General 
for  Peru  in  London,  the  grandson  of  the  President 
in  question,  seeing  Mr.  Shaw  in  one  of  the  St. 
James'  Halls  during  a  lecture  the  Consul 
was  giving  on  his  own  countrj',  referred  at  the 
meeting  to  the  incident  of  the  escape,  saying  that 
the  family  were  under  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude 
for  the  service  which  had  been  rendered.  .Mr. 
Shaw  has  seen  another  President,  who  had  just 
usurped  the  position,  hung  from  the  highest 
towers  of  the  Cathedral  of  Lima. 

The  subject  of  our  .sketch  has  six  sons  and 
one  daughter.  The  two  eldest  sons  have  been 
for  many  years  in  Sydney,  the  third  is  now  (>u 
his  way  to  Iquique  in  South  America,  where 
two  of  his  brothers  already  are,  and  the  sixth 
assists  his  father  in  the  business  in  London. 

Mr.  .Shaw,  although  over  .seventy  years  of 
age,  is  as  fine  a  specimen  of  the  sturdy  Scot  as 
oi:'e  could  find  anywhere.  He  rises  at  -5  a.m.  (a 
habit  ac(juired  in  Peru)  and  gfjes  to  business 
with  the  earliest  train,  and  seems  as  active  and 
energetic  as  ever  he  was. 

That  he  may  be  long  spared  to  enjoy  health 
and  strength,  and  to  help  on  the  cause  of  the 
Gael,  is  the  earnest  wish  of  his  many  friends  at 
home  and  abroad 

Glasgow.  W.  G.  Davidson. 

Clan  Chattan  Association. — There  was  a 
crowded  attendance  at  the  conversazione  given  bj' 
this  society  in  the  liath  Hotel.  Captain  William 
Mackintosh,  President,  occupied  the  chair,  and  was 
supported  by  Messrs.  W.  G.  Davidson,  Secretary, 
D.  A.f  S.  Mackintosh,  E.  Macbean,  H.  G. 
Gillespie,  etc.  A  very  enjoyable  concert  was  given, 
which  was  followed  by  a  dance. 

Gla.sgow  Caithness  Associ.atiox. — The  Sixtieth 
Annual  Gathering  was  held  in  the  Queen's  Rooms 
on  17th  ult.,  Mr.  William  C.  Coghill,  President,  in 
the  chair.  The  hall  was  crowded.  The  mention  of 
Dr.  Jameson's  name  by  the  chairman  in  his  addres.s 
was  received  with  loud  cheers,  which  showed  that 
the  gallant  doctor  has  won  the  admiration  of  the 
sturdy  Caithness  men  by  his  coiu'age  and  intrepity. 
The  proceedings  prfived  a  great  success,  and  the 
assembly  was  a  particularly  lai'ge  one. 


WALTER     SHAW. 


THE    oeltk;    monthly. 


95 


WAGIVVY  cyip. 


& 


Part   XVITT. — {Coutinned  fnrm  page   77). 

The  Highland  Brigade,   Qhatre  Bras, 

Waterloo. 

Anecdotes,    Traits,    &c. 


The  Brave  Ma.jor  Menzier  of  the  4'2nd. 
The  EMrEBOR  cf  Eussl\  aduhbes  the 

HlftHLANDERS. 

V'N  the  24th  July,  ISl.'i,  Wellinoton's  army 
was  reviewed  by  the  Emperors  of 
Austria  and  Russia  the  King'  of 
Prussia,  the  distinfjuished  allied  commanders, 
and  a  great  conc<iurse  of  Biitish  and  foreign 
nobility.  The  Highland  regiments,  from  the 
]ieculiar  picturesqueness  of  their  uniform, 
their  waving  plumes,  their  kilts  and  tartans, 
their  smartness  in  going  through  the  various 
movements,  became  the  observed  of  all 
observers,  and  the  "  Soldats  Ecossais."  were 
the  theme  of  conversation  all  round.  To 
military  and  non-military  men,  to  the  ladies 
especially,  the  equipment,  the  miUtary  bearing, 
the  martial  apjiearance  of  ■'  Les  braves 
Ecossais,"  with  their  wonderful  warlike  music, 
was  the  talk  of  the  "Prussian  Salons"  for 
many  days. 

Shortly  after  the  Review,  in  compliance  with 
a  special  request  from  the  Emperor  of  Russia, 
who  was  personally  desirous  of  examining  the 
dress  and  equipment  of  the  Highland  regiments. 
Sergeant  Thomas  C'ampbell  of  the  grenadiers, 
a  man  of  gigantic  stature,  Private  John  Fraser, 
and  Piper  Kenneth  iVIackav.  all   of  the  7flth, 


accompanied  by  a  like  number  of  each  rank 
from  the  ■42nd  and  92nd  Highlanders, proceeded 
to  the  Palais  Elysee.  in  Paris,  then  the  residence 
of  the  Russian  Emperor,  Alexander.  The 
following  account  of  what  passed  at  this 
presentation  and  inspection  has  been  rendered 
by  Sergeant  Campbell : 

"  In  the  month  of  August,  1815,  1  was 
ordered  to  proi^eed  with  Private  Fraser  and 
Piper  Kenneth  \Tackay  to  the  Palais  Elysee  in 
Paris,  then  the  residence  of  the  Emperor  of 
Russia,  when  we  were  joined  by  Sergeant 
MacGregor,  Private  Munro,  and  Piper  Mac- 
kenzie of  the  42nd  Royal  Highlanders,  and 
Sergeant  Grant.  Private  Logan,  and  Piper 
Cameron  of  the  92nd  Highlanders.  About 
half-anhour  after  our  arrival  at  the  Palace, 
Lor<l  Cathcart  sent  a  valet  to  conduct  us  to 
the  grand  hall,  where  we  met  his  Lordship, 
whom  I  immediately  recognised.  He  was 
pleased  to  order  me  to  take  charge  of  the  party 
while  he  went  to  the  Emperor,  to  acquaint  him 
with  our  arrival ;  .and  in  about  ten  minutes 
after,  the  Emperor  entered  the  hall,  accom- 
panied by  his  two  brothers,  as  well  as  Prince 
Blucher,  Count  Platoff,  and  several  other 
distingushed  personages.  The  Emperor  made 
a  very  minute  inspection  of  us,  and  his  curiosity 
led  him  to  call  upon  me  (as  being  the  most 
robust  of  the  party)  to  step  to  the  front  when 
lie  ordered  the  rest  to  sit  down.  As  soon  as  I 
stepped  to  the  front  I  was  surrounded  by 
the  astonished  nobility,  and  the  Emperor 
commenced  his  inspection  and  questions  as 
follows:  First  he  examined  my  appointments 
and  drew  my  sword;  inquired  if  I  coiild  perform 
any  exercise  with  that  weapon,, which  I  told 


96 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


him  I  could  not,  and  at  the  same  time  Lord 
Cathcart  made  a  remark  that  it  was  a  deficiency 
in  the  British  army  he  had  never  taken  into 
consideration  before.  Second — he  examined 
my  hose,  gaiters,  legs,  and  pinched  my  skin, 
thin  king  I  wore  something  under  my  kilt,  and 
had  the  curiosity  to  lift  my  kilt  so  that  he 
might  not  be  deceived.     The  questions  were, 


If  I  was  present  at  the  actions  of  the  IGth, 
17th,  and  18th  June  ?  How  many  officei'S  and 
men  the  regiment  lost  on  the  16th,  17th,  and 
18th  June  >.  Whether  I  was  in  Egypt  ?  If  we 
wore  the  kilt  in  winter,  or  if  we  did  not  feel 
cold  in  that  season"?  If  I  was  married?  If 
my  pai'ents  were  alive  ?  etc. 

The  Emperor  then  requested  Lord  Cathcart 


HIGHLANDERS     I'A- 


UK     VILLAGE    OF    OOSSELIES     AFTER     WATf;RLO0. 


te  order  me  to  put  John  Eraser  through  his 
"  IManual  and  Platoon"  exercise,  at  which 
performance  he  was  highly  pleased.  He  then 
requested  the  Pipers  to  play  up,  and  Lord 
Cathcart  desired  them  to  play  the  Highland 
tune  "  Coijadk  no  s'lth,"  which  he  explained  to 
the  Emperor,  who  seemed  highly  delighted 
with  the  musicj 


After  the  Emperor  had  done  with  me,  the 
veteran  Comit  Platoff  came  up  to  me,  and, 
taking  me  by  the  hand,  told  me,  in  broken 
English,  that  I  was  a  good  and  brave  soldier, 
as  all  my  countrymen  were.  He  then  pressed 
my  hand  to  his  breast,  and  gave  me  his  to 
press  to  fmine.  Aiter  all  was  over,  I  was 
ordered  to  take  the  party  to  Lord  Cathcart's 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


9? 


quarters,  where  we  Lad  refreshmeut  and 
received  a  piece  of  money  from  his  Lordship, 
and  also  his  approbation  for  our  appearance, 
etc. 

(Signed)       Thomas  Caiipbell, 

Sergeant,  79  th  Highlanders. 
Highlanders,  Black  and  Dressed  ld;e  Wojien. 
Travelling  one  iine  day  in  September,  1852, 
from  Brussels  to  Charleroi,  an  elderly  lady 
nicely  dressed  was  my  visards  companion  in  a 
railway  carriage  compartment.  Coming  to 
Hal  station  and  knowing  that  Waterloo  was 
directly  eastwards,  I  asked  the  lady,  by  way 
of  commencing  a  conversation,  how  far  was 
Waterloo  from  Hal.  Eeply  was,  three  leagues. 
Thinking  she  might  belong  to  the  district  m_y 
next  inquuy  was  to  that  effect.  ''  Yes,"  said 
she,  "  I  lived  all  my  life  in  Gosselies."  This  is 
a  xdllage  twelve  mOes  south  of  Waterloo, 
Judging  from  her  appearance  she  might  be 
from  fifty  to  sixty  years  of  age.  I  next  asked 
if  she  recollected  the  battle  fought  at  Waterloo. 
"I  do  very  weU,  I  was  at  the  time  thirteen 
years  old."  You  must  have  heard  the  roar  and 
rattle  of  the  cannons  firing  all  day.  "Yes, 
we  could  hear  them  distinctly,  it  was  Uke 
continuous  thunder."  Were  you  not  greatly 
frightened.  "  Yes,  we  were,  we  could  do  no 
work  all  daj',  but  sit  at  our-  doors  with  our 
hands  about  oiu-  knees,  waiting  events,  but  it 
was  next  day  we  had  the  worst  fright."  How 
was  that,  Madame.  "  Oh,  when  the  British 
army  passed  thi-ough  the  village."  I  hope, 
Madame,  they  did  you  no  harm.  "Not  the 
least  in  the  world,"  she  repUcd,  "  but  they 
gave  us  a  terrible  fright,  they  were  all  black 
and  dressed  hke  women;  we  all  ran  up  stairs 
and  peeped  at  them  through  the  upper 
windows. '  I  am  sm-prised  to  hear  you  say 
that  there  were  black  troops  in  the  British 
army.  "  Oh  !  yes,  the  lady  replied,  all  black 
not  a  white  spot  about  any  of  them,  except  the 
white  of  their  eyes  which  we  could  see  as  they 
looked  up  at  us,  in  marching  through. "  Surely, 
Madame,  they  must  have  been  Prusssians. 
"  No,  no,  they  were  English,  dressed  like 
women,  with  short  petticoats  (jupons),  their 
faces,  their  hands,  theu'  bare  legs,  quite  black, 
and  lucky  it  was  for  us  they  were  English,  had 
they  been  Prussians  they  would  have  mmxlered 
us,  for  they  knew  we  were  favourable  to  the 
French  and  to  Napoleon-"  I  am  confident, 
Madame,  that  there  were  no  English  black 
troops  at  Waterloo,  but  I  am  very  pleased  to 
hear  you  say,  that,  whether  the  black  troops 
were  EngUsh  or  not,  they  did  you  no  harm. 
"  No  harm  at  all,  said  she,  beyond  giving  us  a 
terrible  fright,  we  had  never  seen  such  men 
before."  Were  the  officers  black  too.  "  ^es, 
there  was  not  a  white  man  amonast  them." 


These  "  black  troops ''  were  the  gallant 
Highlanders,  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating 
French,  aU  so  begrimed  with  the  powder  smoke 
from  their  own  and  the  enemy's  guns,  that  to  the 
rural  Belgians,  they  did  appear  black.  When 
the  fighting  was  over  at  9  p.m  the  brave 
fellows,  tired,  weary,  exhausted,  lay  down  on 
the  field,  and  at  early  dawn  were  sent 
in  pursuit,  no  water  being  near  to  wash 
themselves. 

"  Honour  to  the  brave, 

Tlie  brave  that  are  no  more." 


(To  be  cuncluded). 


IAIN    BREACHD    OF    CALAVAY    CASTLE. 

A  Lei  SEND  OF  South  Uist. 


|nP||HE  island  of  Calavay  (Caliadh  mkat/ij, 
V^  which  evidently  means  the  good  anchor- 
'-'==^  age,  or  harbour,  in  is  situated  on 
the  west  side  of  the  entrance  to  Lochboisdale, 
South  LTist,  That  Calavay  received  its  name 
on  account  of  the  safe  and  good  harbour  or 
anchorage  Lochboisdale  affords,  we  have  no 
doubt  whatever;  for  in  it  vessels  of  almost 
every  size,  from  the  tiny  yawl  to  the  full  rigged 
ship,  have  taken  shelter,  and  rode  with  ease  at 
their  anchors,  in  all  kinds  of  weather. 

On  a  rock  on  the  north  west  j)romoutory  of 
Calavay  island  are  the  ruins  of  an  ancient  castle, 
of  which  we  are  sorry  to  say  little  or  nothing  is 
now  accurately  known.  The  name  of  its 
famous  founder  (for  famous  he  must  have  been), 
or  for  whom  it  was  erected,  history  and 
tradition  are  aUke  silent.  That  it  was  built, 
however,  in  turbulent  times,  and  possessed 
almost  impregnable  defensive  powers,  is  proved 
hj  the  immense  thickness  and  solidity  of  its 
walls,  and  in  those  days  a  commanding  and 
unassailable  position. 

But  although  tradition  is  silent  regarding 
the   founder   of   Calavay   Castle,  it   is  not  so 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


regarding  its  last  occupier,  who,  it  says,  was  a 
man  of  gigantic  size  and  herculean  strength, 
called  lain  Breachd,  or  John  Speckled,  Ijeing 
so  named,  we  believe,  because  his  face  was 
pitted  by  small-pox.  In  his  time  Calavay 
Castle  was  garrisoned  by  a  band  of  the  most 
reckless  and  tierce  men  that  that  period  could 
jiroduce — they  could  only  be  equalled  in  daring 
boldness  and  heartless  cruelty,  by  their  lawless 
chief,  lam  Bieachd,  whose  behests  they  obeyed 
and  executed  with  the  utmost  alacrity.  This 
Avild  band  of  rapiuers  repeatedly  swept  the 
islands  from  end  to  end,  carrying  away  what- 
ever stock  they  choose,  disisosing  of  them  to 
passing  vessels,  and  on  the  mainland,  at  good 
prices,  lain  Breavlai  and  his  band  ^yere  thus 
a  constant  terror  and  alarm  to  the  inhabitants 
of    the    Outer    Islands,    who    would   as   soon 


see  the  evil  spirit  among  them  as  the 
'•  wild  man  of  Calavay  Castle  and  his  men  " — 
they  were  hated  to  the  utmost  degree. 

In  their  extremity  the  Chiefs  of  the 
neighbouring  Isles  made  many  combined 
attempts  to  overthrow  Iain.  Bmiclid  and  his 
band — they  engaged  him  in  deadly  combat  in 
the  open  field  and  b\'  stratagem,  but  always 
failed  with  heavy  loss.  All  those  condicts, 
therefore,  served  only  to  add  more  fuel  to  the 
fire  which  was  already  burning  fiercely  in  the 
outlaw's  breast,  so  that  he  committed  acts  of 
still  greater  atrocity,  if  that  were  possible, 
than  before.  But  his  fearful  depredations  at 
length  came  to  a  crisis  -the  j)oor  people  were 
goaded  to  the  heart — they  could  stand  his 
behaviour  no  longer.  They  therefore  deter- 
mined   to    reduce    his    garrison    or    die    in 


JF    (_\\I.A\A> 


urn    I  1ST 


the  attempt.  The  immediate  cause  of  this 
determination  on  their  part  arose  out  of  the 
following  circumstance: — 

Iain  Breachd  and  a  number  of  his  followers 
went  on  one  occasion  to  the  island  of  Benbecula, 
and  "  lifted  "  many  of  the  best  cattle  on  that 
island.  Among  them  were  those  belonging  to 
a  certain  BanUoch  (Beculite),  which  were  tended 
by  his  daughter,  a  beautiful  maiden  still  in  her 
teens.  This  young  woman,  on  seeing  her 
charge  driven  away  in  so  high-handed  a  fashion, 
made  such  a  gallant  attempt  to  retain  her 
cattle  that  lam  Breadid  resolved  to  take  her 
also.  He  accordingly  seized  the  fair  maiden, 
and  despite  her  fearful  struggles  and  imploring 
entreaties  for  liberty,  she  was  caniod  to,  and 
made  a  captive  in  Calavay  Castle.  This  act  so 
e.vasperated    the    feelings   of   the    friends   and 


relations  of  the  uuhapjjy  girl  that  they  earnestly 
ajjpealed  to  the  whole  people  of  the  Isles,  and 
begged  of  them  to  take  immediate  steps  for 
the  restoration  of  the  captive  to  liberty.  This 
appeal  was  not  made  in  vain,  for  it  received  the 
hearty  support  and  sympathy  of  the  Chiefs  of 
the  people  in  the  Uists  and  Barra,  whose 
feelings  of  indignation  were  roused  to  the 
utmost  pitch,  so  that  they  decreed  that  Calavay 
Castle  must  be  reduced  forthwith,  and  its 
lavpless  commander's  proceedings  stopped  for 
ever,  at  whatever  cost. 

In  terms  of  the  foregoing  decree,  upwards  of 
three  hundred  warriors  collected  on  a  given 
day  at  Calavay  Castle,  and  demanded  the 
immediate  release  of  the  girl  and  the  surrenderof 
the  cattle,  on  condition  that  theii'(the  garrison's) 
lives  would  be  spared,  which  amnesty,  however, 


I'HE     CELlJC     MONtHLV. 


9i) 


would  uot  be  extended  to  their  Captain,  lain 
Bieaclid,  and  that,  if  those  terms  were  not 
agreed  to  they  would  not  be  responsible  for 
the  life  of  a  single  man.  This  demand  was.  as 
might  be  expected,  received  by  the  garrison  l_>y 
a  loud  shout  of  derisive  laughter,  followed  by  a 
blinding  volley  of  barbed  arrows.  To  conquer 
such  a  stronghold,  except  by  stratagem,  the 
besiegers  saw  at  a  glance  was  utterly  impossible, 
as  a  handful  of  men  could  easily  defend  it 
against  any  attacking  body  that  could  be 
brought  against  it.  To  accomplish  their  design 
they  had  therefore  to  resort  to  the  follovring 
ingenious  manu'uvre: 

Under  the  feint  of  starving  the  garrison 
they  besieged  the  castle  closely  round 
about,  while  their  real  object  was  to  discover 
the  part  of  it  in  which  the  captive  maid  was 
confined.  Theu'  trick  was  successful  on  the 
second  day  after  the  siege  was  laid,  for  they 
noticed  theii'  fair  one  attentively  watching  them 
at  one  of  the  highest  windows  of  the  castle  on  the 
landward  side.  No  signs  of  this  recognition  were 
made  by  either  party ;  for  she,  brave  girl,  accu- 
rately comprehended  their  intentions,  and  acted 
accordingly.  The  siege  was  stubbornly  con- 
tested, notwithstanding  the  continuous  deadly 
showers  of  arrows  poured  upon  them  from  the 
castle,  till  the  wind  veered  round  and  blew 
right  upon  the  window  of  the  captive  maid's 
room  Immediately  it  did  so,  the  whole  host, 
with  the  exception  of  about  a  score  of  sturdy 
warriors,  gathered  to  the  opposite  side  of  the 
castle  in  boats,  on  which  they  made  a  feint  deter- 
mined assault,  thus  drawing  most  of  the  besieged 
to  that  side  to  defend  it.  This  done,  a  large 
quantity  of  heather,  which  had  been  collected 
for  the  purpose,  was  kindled  by  the  little  band 
of  men  referred  to.  The  wind  carried  the 
smoke  in  a  dense  volume  to  the  castle :  and,  in 
the  midst  of  the  smoke,  about  a  dozen  of  those 
men  crept  noiselessly  up  to  the  walls  right 
under  the  girl's  window,  where  one  of  them 
stood  erect,  while  a  second  man  with  great 
difficulty  got  up  and  stood  on  the  first  man's 
shoulders,  and  a  third  on  his,  and  so  on  till  the 
window  was  reached,  when  the  gui  was  brought 
out,  and  gently  lowered  to  the  ground,  and 
quickly  conducted  to  one  of  the  galleys. 
Immediately  afterwards  a  ciuautity  of  heather 
was  thrust  in  at  the  open  window,  and  set  on 
fire.  In  a  few  minutes  Calavay  Castle  was  in 
liames — a  burning  mass  that  could  not  be 
extinguished — no  earthly  power  could  now 
save  it. 

As  soon  as  the  besieged  foimd  that  their 
stronghold  was  doomed  to  destruction,  they 
attempted  to  save  their  lives  by  flight.  They 
descended  in  hot  haste  from  the  embrasures 
and  battlements  to  the  main  entrance,  expecting 


if  they  got  clear  of  the  burning  pile  to  cut  a 
passage  easily  enough  through  the  enemy  before 
the  foe  would  well  know  of  this  intended  flight. 
But  in  this  they  were  miserably  disappointed, 
for  no  sooner  was  the  building  in  flames — for 
all  was  pre-arranged — than  the  besiegers  drew 
close  to  the  walls,  and  carefully  guarded  every 
outlet,  and  sj)eared  every  soul  that  attempted 
to  escape,  so  that  all  the  garrison,  with  one 
solitary  exception,  either  perished  in  the  flames, 
or  fell  by  the  sjsears  of  the  enemy.  In  this 
manner  then  did  Calavay  Castle  fall  into  ruins, 
and  it  has  not  been  repaired  to  this  day. 

Strange  to  relate,  the  individual  who  escaped 
the  fate  of  his  comi'ades  was  none  other  than 
the  notorious  Captain,  Iwu  Breaclid  himself. 
How  he  succeeded  in  making  his  escape  through 
such  a  bristling  wall  of  spears  as  surrounded  it  is 
simply  miraculous,  but  it  is  j)retty  certain  that 
ere  he  did  so  manj'  a  brave  warrior  fell  before 
him  to  rise  no  more.  On  gaining  the  mainland 
of  South  Uist  he  ran  as  swift  as  he  could  over 
hill  and  dale  in  the  direction  of  Boisdale,  and 
on  reaching  a  little  valley  a  short  distance 
south  of  Messrs.  D.  Ferguson  &  Son's  residence 
at  South  Lochboisdale,  he  felt  so  exhausted 
that  he  sat  down  under  the  shade  of  a  huge 
boulder  to  rest  himself  for  a  little  (for  this  he 
could  do  with  perfect  safety,  ere  his  enemies 
could  possibly  come  up  to  him),  and  impercei)- 
fibly  fell  asleep.  Being  observed  in  that 
position  shortly  afterwards  by  a  powerful  man 
Ijelonging  to  Barra,  who  had  been  watching 
the  proceedings  at  Calavay,  and  who  happened 
to  have  no  weapon  of  warfare  in  his  hand;  and 
who,  not  wishing  to  lose  the  opportunity  which 
now  presented  itself  to  him  of  destroying  Iain 
Biraclai,  he  rolled  the  boulder  over  upon 
the  sleeper,  killing  him  almost  instant- 
aneously. The  place  where  this  happened  is 
called  Beahidi  lain  to  this  day.  The  man  who 
slew  lain  Biuadul  is  said  to  have  been  one  of 
the  MacNeils  of  Barra.  Some  allege  he  was 
the  chief's   brother. 

LOLhboisdale.  A.    B.    M'LeNN.\N. 


THE      MERMAID'S     TEARS. 

.A.    LeijENI)    Ol'    Io>'.4. 


From  deeps  imkuown,  o'er  rocks  and  weeds, 
Niglitly  slie  sought  tlie  lonely  bays  ; 

Wliere  pacing  slow  to  tell  his  beads, 
The  Saint  scarce  dared  his  eyes  to  raise. 

He  knew  she  was  no  mortal  maid 

Who  loved  him,  eager,  yet  afraid. 

The  rippling  waves  that  kissed  the  beach 

Whispered  her  language,  low  and  sweet ; 
For  ah  I  she  knew  not  human  speech, 


100 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


No  human  heart  within  her  beat. 
No  bright  immortal  soul  looked  through 
Those  gentle  ej'es  of  darkest  bhie. 

Down  in  tlieir  ocean  caves,  bedecked 
With  glittering  gems  and  costly  shells, 

Her  sisters  laughed  and  sang,  nor  recked 
How  oft  she  left  the  crystal  wells 

To  seek  the  land,  love-tryst  to  keep, 

But  with  no  dweller  of  the  deep. 

'Oh,  love  of  mine!  thy  face  is  fair, 

Yet  art  thou  soulless  and  unblest ; 
How  can  1  save  thee !  can  1  dare 

To  win  for  Ihee  eternal  rest? 
To  ask  a  living  soul ;  the  prize 
Withheld  from  thee  in  Paradise.'' 

Softly  the  waves  crept  to  the  shore. 
Their  music  miu-mured  in  his  ear 

Her  wordless  answer  o'er  and  o'er, — 
"Beloved,  I  am  happy  here. 

Seek  not  another  life  for  me. 

The  life  is  bliss  when  shared  with  thee." 

Three  nights,  three  days,  at  Mary's  shrine 
Prostrate,  he  pleaded  for  his  love. 

The  "  flower  of  light,"  the  spark  divine, 
Whose  power  could  \nn  her  life  above. 

With  tears  and  prayers  he  vowed  to  shun 

Her  presence,  when  the  boon  was  won. 

"  Dear  Mother  Mary,  I  beseech 

Bestow  the  gift  thy  servant  craves, 
A  human  heart  and  human  speech 

Grant  to  this  daughter  of  the  waves, 
A  living  soul,  that  she  may  rise 
Through  love  and  death  to  Paradise." 

And  lo  !  in  visions  of  the  night 

He  saw  the  Queen  of  Heaven  come  down, 
Upon  her  breast  the  "flower  of  light," 

The  living  soul, — love's  seal  and  crown. 
Then  weary,  vigil-worn,  he  slept. 
While  on  the  shore  the  sea-maid  wept. 

She  wandered  where  the  billows  rocked 
Hia  hliiita  by  the  trysting  stone ; 

The  sea-birds'  screams  her  sorrow  mocked, 
"Alone,"  they  seemed  to  cry  "alone." 

Through  churning  waves  and  tossing  wrack. 

Her  laughing  sisters  called  her  back. 

When  from  the  sleep  by  Mary  given, 
The  Saint  arose  his  love  to  find, 

By  lightening-tiash  the  clouds  were  riven, 
The  storm  king  rode  upon  the  wind. 

The  breaker's  crash,  the  thunder's  roll. 

With  dread  and  anguish  filled  his  soul. 

Wildly  he  seai'ched  each  well-known  place. 
Called  her  in  Mary's  blessed  name. 

No  more  he  saw  her  lovely  face. 
For  never  more  to  laud  she  came. 

The  soul  he  strove  so  hard  to  gain 

And  won  at  last,  was  won  in  vain. 

But  oft,  as  rolled  the  heavy  years, 
lie  heard  her  singing  in  the  bay, 
Ov  traced  her  by  her  bitter  tears, 

That  on  his  pathway  frozen  lay. 
And  when  at  last  he  died,  her  dirge 
Rang  wildly  o'er  the  moaning  surge. 


On  lone  lona'a  sacred  shore 

Those  pearly  tears  by  storms  are  cast. 

In  legends  of  the  days  of  yore 
Is  told  this  story  of  the  past ; 

Of  her  for  whom  a  soul  was  given 

Wlio  knew  not  earth  and  won  not  heaven. 

Note. — The  legend  of  the  origin  of  the  pebbles, 
locally  known  as  "The  Mermaid's  Tears,"  is  a  very 
pretty  and  touching  one.  It  was  told  me  by  a 
lady,  but  I  have  taken  considerable  liberty  in 
transcribing  it,  as  the  version  given  by  my  friend 
was  too  bold  to  permit  of  a  literal  transcription. 
Janet  A.  IM'Culloi-'H. 


REVIEWS. 

The  Blairuowrie  Annual  for  ISttlJ  is  as 
attractive  as  usual,  the  articles,  stories,  and  poems 
being  racy  and  well  written,  and  the  illustrations 
are  numerous  and  nicely  printed.  The  Atiiiiial  is 
published  by  the  Blairgowrie  Parish  Church  Literary 
Association,  and  is  intended  to  keep  former  members 
who  are  scattered  to  the  uttermost  ends  of  the 
earth,  in  touch  with  home  and  kin.  We  trust  it 
meets  with  the  success  its  merit  deserves. 

CoiNNEArH  'U.S  COILLE,  OrAIN  AOU.S  DuAIN 
GhAIIiHEALACH,  LE  AlA1S1)AIR  Ma^iohomhnuill, 
Inbhirnis.  Northern  Counties  Printing  and 
Publishing  Co.mpahy,  Ltd. — This  a  handsomely 
got  up  volume  of  Gaelic  Songs  which  should  be  in 
the  hands  of  every  Highlander  who  loves  his  mother 
tongue.  We  understand  the  book  has  already  had 
a  most  encouraging  leceptiou  in  the  north,  and  we 
trust  that  when  its  merits  become  known  to  our 
countrymen  at  a  distance  it  will  soon  find  its  way 
to  the  larger  Gaeldom  across  the  seas,  in  Canada, 
Australia,  and  other  Colonies.  The.se  are  songs 
intended  to  be  sung,  and  have  therefore  the 
recommendation  of  brevity,  a  feature  which  many 
of  our  Gaelic  bards  unfortunately  ignore.  Those 
of  our  readers  who  desire  copies  ^3|-  post  free)  should 
apply  to  the  author,  Mr.  Alasdair  Macdonald,  70 
Tomnahurich  Street,  Inverness. 

OBITUARY. 

The  Hon.  Edward  Magj'hekson,  of  Gettysbuko, 
U.S.A.  has  passed  away,  and  the  Clan  Chattan 
laments  the  loss  of  one  of  its  most  gifted  sons. 
For  many  years  he  was  Clerk  of  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  his  services  were  of  the 
greatest  national  importance.  He  was  equally 
distinguished  in  literature  and  science.  Although 
born  on  American  soil,  "  his  heart  was  Highland.' 
In  1809  Mr.  Macpherson  visited  Scotland  to  recruit 
his  health.  He  spent  one  night  with  the  late  Cluny, 
at  Cluny  Castle,  and  that  recollection  was  one  of 
the  brightest  in  his  life.  In  a  letter  dated  February, 
1894,  to  Provost  Macpherson,  Kingussie,  he  refers 
to  his  brief  visit  to  Badenoch  in  the  follo^ving 
terms — "  My  mind  often  reverts  to  that  most 
pleasant  incident  of  my  trip,  and  dwells  on  Kin- 
gussie, the  Spey  and  Badenoch  with  a  warmth  of 
feeling  that  cannot  be  analysed.  My  health  is 
poor,  and  I  never  again  expect  to  see  Scotland. 
Mr.  Macpherson  greatly  appreciated  the  Celtic 
Mduthbi,  and  we  have  received  many  letters  in 
which  he  expressed  the  great  pleasure  he  derived 
from  reading  in  our  pages  the  history,  traditions, 
and  romance  of  the  land  of  his  fathers. 


ALEXANDER      MACKAY 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

A  MAGAZINE   FOR   HIGHLANDERS. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MACKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.  6    Vol.  IV.] 


MA.RCH,     1896. 


[Price  Threepence. 


ALEXANDER     MACKAY,     GLASGOW. 

E.x-Pkesiuent,  Clan    MacivAV    Snciiriv. 


'E  aie  pleased  to  lie 
able  this  mouth 
to  add  to  our 
''Gallery''  the  portrait  u( 
Mr.  Alexauder  Mackav, 
Charing  Cross,  Glasgow,  a 
geutlemau  whose  name  has 
been  so  long  familiar  to 
clausmen  in  all  parts  of  the 
world  as  one  to  who.se 
efforts  the  great  success  and  i)rosperity  of  the 
Clan  Mackay  Society  is  largely  due. 

Mr.  Mackay  was  born  in  Glasgow,  ami  is  sole 
partner  of  the  well-known  firm  of  A.  &  B. 
Mackay.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Halkirk, 
Caiihness,  where  his  progenitors  had  migrated 
from  Lord  Reay's  country — Duthaich  Mhic  Aoid/i. 
He  was  a  Waterloo  veteran,  and  served  hi.s 
country  faithfully  and  well  in  the  ranks  of  the 
gallant  42nd  Highlanders,  and  fought  at  Quatre 
Bras  and  Waterloo  under  the  Ked  Hackle  of  the 
Black  Watch.  He  died  while  the  subject  of  our 
sketch  was  young,  and  our  youthful  clansman 
had  to  commence  the  battle  of  life  at  the  early 
age  of  eleven.  Seven  years  later,  in  186.J,  he 
started  business  on  his  own  account,  his 
operations  being  confined  to  the  home  trade  only. 
His  efforts  having  met  with  gratifying  success, 
he  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  export  trade 
in  spirits  which  was  then  in  its  infancy,  and 
after  a  long  and  stiff  fight  he  succeeded  in 
establishing  a  connection  in  distant  parts  which 
completely  dwarfed  his  former  business  opera- 
tions. The  two  famous  brands  which  are 
indentified  with  Mr.  Alackay's  firm — "  The 
Glenfalloch'  and  "Mackay's  Liqueur  Whisky" — 
are  now  of  world-wide  reputation.     Not  content 


with  the  market  nf  India  and  Bmiua,  the 
Australian  Colonie.s  and  New  Zealand,  he  sought 
and  succeeded  in  finding  adventure  and  supremacy 
in  romantic  Yok<ihama,  Tidu-ran  and  Bangkok  ; 
and  the  Caliph  of  Bagdad  can  treat  himself  to  a 
"nip"  of  ''Glenfalloch"  as  easily  as  if  he  were 
living  in  St.  Mungo's  City  ! 

Mr.  Mackay  is  rather  fond  of  telling  a  some- 
what amusing  story — which  has  its  tiagic  side, 
however — showing  that  there  is  a  genius  in  the 
family  for  the  maTuifacture  of  whisky.  His 
grandfather  was  a  great  smuggler  in  his  day 
(most  of  our  grandfathers  wei'e !),  and  ran  a 
"  snia'  still"  in  Halkirk  parish,  the  fame  of 
which  had  travelled  far  across  the  Oid.  The 
Gaugers  had  tried  lo;ig  and  hard  to  find  the 
place,  but  without  success.  One  night  an 
unusually  fine  "browst"  was  on,  and  his  son 
had  kept  watch  for  three  days  anil  three  nights. 
LTnable  to  keep  awake  any  longer  the  lad  fell 
asleep,  and  the  preventive  oflicers  swooped  down 
on  the  still  and  oajjtured  the  whole  concern. 
When  the  youth  discovered  the  mischief  which 
his  negligence  had  wrought,  and  moreover, 
when  he  rellected  upon  the  "mild  chastisement" 
which  his  irate  father  would  undoubtedly 
administer  at  the  first  interview,  he  decided  to 
po.stpone  that  encounter  as  long  as  pdssible. 
He  came  south  and  joined  the  gallant  42nd,  and 
possibly  felt  less  fear  in  facing  Napoleon's 
Cuirassiers  at  Waterloo  than  he  had  in  meeting 
his  parent.  So  that,  we  maj'  take  it,  the  making 
of  a  sujierior  "sma'  still"  blend  runs  in  the  blood! 

^Vheu  we  had  the  honour,  seven  years  ago,  of 
issuing  an  appeal  to  the  Clan  Mackay  to  form  a 
Society,  Mr.  Alexander  Mackay  was  among  the 
first  to  respond,  and  he  has  never  ceased  to  take 
an  active  share  in  tlie  work  of  the  Society  since 
its  inauguration.  He  has  taken  a  deep  interest 
in  the  establishment  of  a  system  of  light  railways 
in  the  Highlands,  and  the  erection  of  suitable 
harbours  in  the  north  of  Sutherland.  It  was 
principally  through  his  advocacy  that  a  petition 
was  presented  to  tlie  Guxernment  by  the  Clan 
Mackay  Society,  which,  Ijacked  up  by  representa- 
tions hum  other  <[uarters,  eventually  resulted  in 


102 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


three  harbours  being-  erected  in  the  Reay 
country.  It  is  pleasing  now  to  learn  that  a 
light  railway  is  being  constructed  down  Strath 
Halladale.  Two  years  ago  Mr.  Mackay  was 
elected  President  of  the  Society,  and  presided  at 
the  Annual  Social  Gathering  last  held  in 
Glasgow.  He  is  one  of  the  most  popular 
members  of  the  clan,  and  when  arrayed  in  the 
Highland  garb  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a 
clansman  who  wears  it  more  gracefully. 

Mr.  Mackay  is  Vice-Chairman  of  the  Cancer 
Hospital,  which  is  the  only  one  in  Scotland,  and 
is  deeply  interested  in  a  large  extension  which 
will  add  immensely  to  the  usefulness  of  that 
institution.  It  has  been  often  regretted  by  his 
friends  that  he  did  not  take  a  more  active  share 
in  municipal  affairs,  his  business  occuping  so 
much  of  his  [personal  attention.  We  believe, 
however,  that  there  is  every  probability  of  Mr. 
Mackay  being  induced  soon  to  devote  himself 
more  to  City  matters,  and  we  feel  sure  that  his 
presence  in  the  City  Council  will  be  a  distinct 
gain  to  that  distinguished  body.  EDITOR. 


MANU      FORTI 


THE     CLAN      MACKAY. 


THE     MACKAY     BIDOE, 

The  sportsman  now  roams  o'er  the  Sutherland  hills. 
And  down  where  the  Naver  runs  clear  ; 

And  the  land  a  brave  race  had  for  cent\iries  owned 
Is  now  trod  by  the  sheep  and  the  deer. 

The  halls  where  our  ancestors  first  saw  the  light, 
Now  blackened  in  ruins  they  lie, 


And  the  moss-covered  cairns  are  all  that  remain 
Of  the  once  pleasant  homes  of  Mackay, 

Happy  homes  by  an  alien's  base  mandate  o'erthrown 

Tender  maidens  and  brave,  stalwart  men. 
Were  ruthlessly  scattered  like  leaves  in  a  gale, 

Far  away  from  their  dear  native  glen. 
Brave  clansmen  who  fought  in  fair  liberty's  cause, — 

In  the  lowlands  of  Holland  they  lie  ; 
For  foremost  in  battle,  and  second  to  none. 

Has  aye  been  the  Clan  of  Mackay. 

Not  yet  are  they  silenced,  though  peaceful  they  be, 

And  though  far  from  the  green  mountain  side, 
They  meet  in  the  city  of  famous  renown 

On  the  banks  of  the  dark  flowing  Clyde. 
With  hearts  still  undaunted,  and  beating  as  true 

As  when  under  a  northern  sky 
They  grasped   their   claymores,   when   the   slogan 
they  heard. 

And  followed  the  flag  of  Mackay. 

Unflinching  they  bore  the  proud  ensign  aloft, 

While  their  foemen  the  penalty  paid. 
And  the  same  noble  spirit  inspires  them  to-day 

Their  poor  broken  clansmen  to  aid. 
The  aged  and  weak  they  have  sworn  to  protect 

By  the  "Strong  Hand"  and  kind,  watchful  eye, 
For  faithful  in  friendship  and  valiant  in  war 

Has  aye  been  the  Clan  of  Mackay. 

Then  flock  to  the  standard  and  join  the  i-oU-call, 

Once  more  the  old  banner'*  unfurled  ; 
The    slogan's    been    sounded,   and    kinship    been 
claimed 

By  the  clansmen  all  over  the  world. 
Exiled  or  at  home,  love  of  coimtry  and  clan 

Are  feelings  we'll  never  let  die  ; 
"  Defy  and  defend,  stand  true  to  the  end," 

And  honour  the  name  of  Mackay. 

Bridge  ot  Allan.  ELIZABETH   MaCKAT. 

Clan  Maokinnon. — The  Social  Gathering  was 
held  in  the  Berkeley  Hall,  on  14th  ult., — Major 
Francis  A.  Mackinnon,  J.P.,  eldest  son  of  the  chief, 
in  the  chair,  who  was  supported  by  Rev.  D.  D. 
Mackinnon  (clan  historian),  Speldhurst,  Messrs. 
Duncan  Mackinnon  (London),  Andrew  Mackinnon, 
Duncan  Mackinnon  (Glasgow),  and  other  notable 
clansmen.  Spirited  addresses  on  clan  topics  were 
delivered  by  the  chairman,  Rev.  D.  D.  Mackinnon, 
and  others,  and  a  very  pleasant  evening  was  spent. 
The  gathering  dispersed  after  giving  hearty  cheers 
for  the  gallant  chairman  and  his  charming  lady, 
who  is  of  the  ancient  house  of  Maclean. 

The  Gla.sgow  Ross  and  Cromarty  Association 
held  their  Social  Gathering  in  the  Queen's  Rooms, 
on  13th  February, — Sir  Hector  Munro,  Bart.,  of 
Foulis,  Chief  of  the  Clan  Munro,  in  the  chair.  The 
hall  was  crowded.  Mr.  Arthur  Bignold  of  Loch- 
rosque  and  Sherifl'  Strachan  addressbd  the  meeting, 
and  their  speeches  were  eloquent  and  patriotic. 
An  assembly  followed. 

Gla.sgow  Cowal  Shinty  Club. — The  Right  Hon. 
Lord  Lovat,  Chief  of  the  Clan  Fraser,  has  consented 
to  preside  at  the  Annual  Concert  of  this  famous 
Shinty  Club,  to  be  held  in  the  Waterloo  Rooms, 
Glasgow,  on  Wednesday,  25th  March.  The  pro- 
gramme is  a  specially  attractive  one,  and  speeche8 
will  be  delivered  by  prominent  Celts. 


THE    OELTIC     MONTHLY. 


103 


RODERICK     MACLEOD,     INVERNESS. 


§>0R.  RODEKICK  AJACLEOL),  who  was 
J^b  successful  in  winning  the  gold  medal 
—  ''^  for  solo  singing  at  the  last  Oban  M6d, 
is  a  native  of  Elphin,  a  secluded  little  village 
in  the  wilds 
of  Assyut, 
Sutherland- 
shire.  Descen- 
ded pater- 
nally from  the 
Maoleods  of 
Geanies,  and 
by  his  mother 
from  the  As- 
sy n  t  M  a  c- 
1  e  o  d  s ,  the 
subject  of  our 
sketch  may 
be  looked 
upon  as  a 
typical  repre- 
sentative of 
h  is  c la  n. 
Having] ,  re- 
ceived a  very 
serviceable 
education  at 
the  local 
.school  Mr. 
M  a  c  1  e  o  d , 
when  sixteen 
years  of  age, 
decided  to  go 
out  into  the 
great  world 
and  see  what 
fortune  had 
in  store  for 
him.  He 
travelled  all 
the  way  to 
Dingwall, 
where  he 
secured  a 
situation  as  a 
draper's  assis- 
tant, and  after 
serving  for 
four  years 
removed  to 
Inverness,    to 

act  as  manager  for  a  firm  theie.  After  a  tiim- 
he  went  south  to  Edinburgh,  but  had  not  been 
long  in  the  service  of  his  firm  wlien  he  was  sent 
to  Inverness  to  manage  a  branch  of  the  Inisiness 
which  had  been  started  in  the  Highland  Metro- 
polis.    His  efforts  were  entirely  successful,  and 


ill  course  of  time  he  had  the  great  pleasure  of 
acquiring  the  business  for  himself.  He  now 
owns  two  of  the  largest  ready-made  clothing 
establishments  in  Inverness. 

Mr.  Macleod's  leisure  is  principally  devoted 
to  the  study  of  Gaelic  music,  and  as  an  inter- 
preter of  Gaelic  song  lie  has  no  superior.  To 
hear  Mr. 
Macleod  ren- 
der some  of 
our  favourite 
Gaelic  melo- 
dies is  a  reve- 
lation to  those 
whose  opinion 
of  our  High- 
land music 
had  been 
formed  from 
hearing  un- 
trained voca- 
lists attempt 
to  sing  these 
beautiful 
songs.  Mr. 
Macleod  is  a 
member  of 
Mr.  Roddie's 
celebrated 
Church  Choir, 
efc  sometimes 
conducts  in 
his  absence ; 
he  is  also 
one  of  the 
leading  solo- 
ist in  the 
Inverness 
Choral  Union. 
Naturally, 
during  the 
winter  his 
services  are 
in  frequent 
demand  to 
assist  at  con- 
certs; and  he 
has  had  the 
honour  of 
appearing  at 
the  Annual 
Concert  of 
the  London 
Inverness- 
.sliire  Association,  and  the  Concert  of  the  Gaelic 
Mod  recently  held  in  Glasgow,  on  both  occasions 
receiving  an  enthusiastic  ovation.  He  is  a 
member  of  council  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inver- 
ness, which  does  such  excellent  work  by  the 
publication  of  its  annual  "Transactions." 


loi 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


-:;;iiiai^^ 


JOHN  HACKAY  e 


/^r<-'-^- 


Pakt   XIX. — [Continued  fium  paye  97). 
The  Highland  Brigade — Quatre  Bras, 

Waterloo. 


^3?«N  coucluding  the  "  Waterloo  Campaign," 
^P  and  the  story  of  the  Highland  Brigade. 
^=?  in  the  arduous  contests  of  the  16th  and 
18th  June,  1815,  impartial  justice  must  be 
done  to  the  whole  of  the  armj'  commanded  by 
Wellington,  composed  as  it  was  of  hetero- 
geneous masses  of  various  nationalities,  thus:  — 

Artillery.      Cavalry.     Artiller\". 

1— British,  15,181     5,843     2,967 

2 — King's  German 

Legion,  3,801 

3 — Hanoverians,  10,258 
4 — Bruuswickers,  4,586 
5 — Nassauers,  2,881 

6— Dutch  Belgians,  13,402 


1,991 
497 
866 


526 
465 
510 


3,205     1,177       32 
Total,     49,609  12,402     5,645     150 
Fronting  these. 
Napoleon's  army 
consisted  of  47,579  13,792     7,529     246 

Here  we  see  only  23,901  British  of  all  arms 
on  the  field,  while  the  Dutch  Belgians  contin- 
gent numbered  17,784.  It  is  needless  to 
speculate  what  the  result  might  have  been  had 
this  large  proportion  of  Dutch  Belgians  been 
replaced  by  a  corresponding  number  of  British 
or  German  troops.  The  fact  abundantly 
testifies  to  the  heroic  firmness  and  enduring 
courage  with  which  the  brave  British  aud 
Germans  stood  the  brunt  of  this  remarkable 
contest,    and,    be    it    remembered,    with    the 


unquestionably  finest  army  that  Napoleon  had 
ever  collected  together,  exclusively  formed  of 
one  nation-  -of  that  nation  whose  legions  had 
at  one  time  subjugated  nearly  the  whole  of 
Europe — imbued  with  inveterate  hatred  against 
its  foes,  cherishing  the  most  unbounded  devotion 
to  its  great  chief,  and  filled  with  an  ardent 
desire  of  restoring  the  fallen  glory  of  the 
Empire. 

In  a  still  greater  degree  did  these  feelings 
actuate  the  commanders  of  these  brave  comba- 
tants, while  watching  each  other  s  movements  of 
preparation,  and  minutely  scanning  the 
surface  of  the  arena  in  which  tactical  skiU, 
habitual  prowess,  physical  strength,  and  mere 
courage,  were  to  decide  not  only  their  own, 
but  in  all  probability  the  fate  of  Europe. 
Apart  from  national  interests  and  considera- 
tions, and  viewed  in  connection  with  the  opposite 
characteristics  of  the  two  illustrious  chiefs,  the 
approaching  eventful  contest  was  contemplated 
with  anxious  solicitude  by  the  whole  military 
world,  aud  need  this  create  surprise  when  we 
reflect  that  the  struggle  was  one  for  mastery 
between  the  far  famed  Conqueror  of  Italy  and 
the  victorious  Liberator  of  the  Peninsula, 
between  the  triumphant  Vanquisher  of  Europe 
and  the  bold  and  successful  Invader  of  Southern 
France ! 

Of  the  conduct  of  the  British  infanti-y  in  this 
campaign,  of  its  heroic  valour,  its  indomitable 
resistance,  its  proud  defiance,  and  its  admirable 
discipline,  previous  chapters  afibrd  abuiidauf 
testimony,  and  further  comment  woidd  M 
superfluous. 

The  superior  prowess  of  the  British  cavalry 
shone  most  conspicuously  on  this  great   day. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


10.1 


The  combined  charge  of  the  two  heavy  Brigades 
against  the  French  cavah-y  and  infantry  whieli 
attacked  Picton's  division  between  one  and  two 
o'clock,  whether  we  regard  the  brilliancy  of  its 
execution,  or  the  magnitude  of  its  success,  is 
perhaps  without  a  parallel  in  the  whole  war, 
1792  to  1SL5.  When  we  remember  the  prepon 
derance  of  the  enemy  in  that  arm,  the  frequency  of 
his  charges,  the  masses  with  which  he  advanced, 
it  is  impossible  to  advert  to  the  heroism  of  the 
cavalry  of  Great  Britain  without  at  the  same 
time  according  the  praise  so  deservedly  due 
to  the  skill  of  its  noble  and  brilliant  chief, 
Paget,  Earl  of  Usbridge,  M  ai-quis  of  Anglesea, 
who  was  the  life  and  soul  of  its  movements 


throughout  the  arduous  and  desperate  struggle, 
who  so  judiciously  economised  its  strength  that 
at  the  critical  moment  when  its  services  were 
required  for  securing  the  victory,  he  was  enabled 
to  bring  forward  two  fresh  brigades  which  per- 
formed those  services  in  a  style  the  most 
brilliant  and  effective  that  can  be  conceived, 
and  with  a  success  that  commanded  the 
admiration  of  all. 

Of  the  British  artillery  on  this  momentous 
day,  its  meritorious  conduct  cannot  be  exaggera- 
ted. It  had  to  contend,  as  has  been  shown, 
against  an  immense  preponderance  of  the 
number  of  guns  and  weight  of  metal.  It 
evinced   during   the   whole   day    a   degree    of 


THE    92\0    GORDON'     HIOHLAN'DERS     CAPTURING     ONE 


THE     E.AGLES    OF    THE     OLD     FFEiN'CH     GUARD. 


bravery,  zeal,  acti^ity  and  rare  intelligence  that 
can  never  be  surpassed,  and  nobly,  grandly 
sustained  its  long  and  honourably  acquired 
pre-eminence  in  the  Peninsula  and  elsewhere. 

Of  the  German  Legion,  infantry,  cavalry,  and 
artillery  it  is  impossible  to  speak  in  tei'ms  of 
too  high  praise,  suffice  it  to  say  that  their 
conduct  was  in  every  respect  equal  to  that  of 
the  British,  in  the  Peninsula  and  Waterloo. 

The  four  Hanoverian  brigades  were  but 
recently  and  hastily  raised,  yet  the  manner  in 
which  such  raw  soldiers  withstood  the  most 
fmious  assaults  by  the  gallant  and  well  discijj- 
lined  troops  of  Napoleon  would  have  conferred 
honour  upon  long  tried  veterans. 


The  Brmiswickers  were  all  young  soldiers; 
they  too  performed  an  honourable  part  in  the 
battle,  and  amply  avenged  the  fall  of  their 
Prince  at  Quatre  Bras. 

The  Nassau  brigade  conducted  themselves 
throughout  the  day  with  gi-eat  steadiness. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  cause  of  the 
supineness  of  the  Dutch  Belgians  at  Waterloo, 
whether  from  political  motives  or  otherwise, 
the  fact  of  such  supineness  is  too  well  attested 
to  admit  any  doubt;  as  to  the  value  to  be 
attached  to  theii-  cooperation  on  the  18th 
Jime,  in  the  tremendous  struggles  so  coui-age- 
iiusly  and  resolutely  sustained  by  the  other 
contingents  of  the  allied  armies,  and  it  becomes 


106 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


a  most  important  point  for  consideration  in  any 
calculation  of  the  relative  strength  of  the 
combatants,  one  half  of  the  Dutch  Belgians 
was  with  difficulty  prevented  from  abandoning 
the  field,  though  they  were  not  in  contact  with 
the  enemy,  the  other  half  joined  the  front  line 
in  the  left  of  JIaitland's  brigade  of  Guards  at 
the  time  of  the  general  advance. 

It  would  be  unjust  to  the  honour,  the  fame, 
and  the  glory  of  the  real  actors  in  the  memor- 
able scene  of  Waterloo  to  omit  putting  forth 
certain  imisortant  considerations  essential  to 
enable  an   impartial   public,  an   unprejudiced 


posterity,  to  arrive  at  a  correct  and  satisfactory 
conclusion  upon  points  hitherto  involved  in 
obscurity.  These  refer  chiefly  to  the  numerical 
strength  of  the  combatants,  the  relative  propor- 
tions in  which  the  troops  of  Wellington  were 
actively  engaged  with  the  French,  and  lastly 
the  extent  of  the  actual  share  taken  in  the 
battle  by  the  Prussians. 

A  very  simple,  and  at  the  same  time  a  rational 
mode  of  computing  the  I'elative  strength  of 
armies  is  by  placing  in  juxtaposition  their 
respective  number  of  battaUons,  squadrons, 
and  gims.     According  to  this  rule  the  British 


AFTER     THK"L)A,\<iKU.S„ 


IF"   WAR     AI!K 


)\  Kli,     HlKHHIGHLANIlJlSOLDlKK     KETl  KNS— T0i,HIS  7NATIVK;;;G1.KN, 


and  allies  as  previously  given  imder  the 
command  of  Wellington,  and  the  French  under 
Napoleon,  at  the  commencement  of  the  battle 
would  stand  thus.- — 


Total  British  and  AlHes, 

Deduct  Dutch  Belgians, 

as  now  combatants. 


Batt. 

73 


10 


Squad. 

98 


28 


Guns. 

156 


32 


British  and  Germans,  63         70         124 

French  under  Napoleon,        103       127         246 

Napoleon   about   one   o'clock   detached   two 
Ught  cavaliy  divisions  to  ^his  right  flank  as  [a 


corps  of  observation,  when  he  perceived  tooops 
showing  themselves  on  the  horizon  on  the 
heights  of  St.  Lambert,  between  three  and 
four  miles  to  the  eastward,  which  he  fondly 
hoped  Mere  some  of  Grouchy's  advance 
battalions,  but  turned  out  to  be  Bulow's 
Prussians.  The  opjjosing  forces  from  that 
hour  to  about  five  p.m.  stood  thus : — 


British  and  German  Allies,     63 
French,  103 

(To  be  conclvdedjy 


.Squad.        Guns. 

70         124 
106        234 


SIR     A,     MCDONNELL      BART. 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


107 


THE     RIGHT     HON. 
SIR     A.      MCDONNELL,      BART. 


r-|^]HE  following  account 
yn^  of  the  descendants 
^=^  of  the  famous 
Allister  McColl  Mac- 
Donald,  cannot  fail  to 
prove  of  great  interest,  not 
only  to  members  of  the 
great  Clau  Donald,  but  to 
all  Highlanders. 

The  Right  Hon.  Sir 
Alexander  McDonnell, 
Bart.,  M.  A.,  Christ  Church, 
Oxon,  of  Lincoln's  Inn, 
Barrister-at-Law,  late  a  Resident  Commissioner 
of  the  Board  of  National  Education  in  Ireland, 
and  a  member  of  the  Privy  Council,  died  on 
the  21st  June,  1875,  at  his  residence,  32  Upper 
Fitzwilliam  Street,  Dublin,  aged  eighty.  He 
was  eldest  son  of  the  late  James  McDonnell, 
M.D.,  of  Belfast  and  Murlough,  and  derived  his 
descent,  through  the  famous  Coll  Ciotacli 
McDonnell,  head  of  the  Clan  Iain  Mhfiir, 
from  the  MacDonalds,  Lords  of  the  Isles 
in  )Scotland.  Having  graduated  with  high 
honours  at  Oxford,  Sir  Alexander  was  called 
to  the  Bar  at  Lincoln's  Inn  in  1824,  and 
held  from  1839  to  1871  the  important  olKce 
of  Resident  Commissioner  of  National  Education 
in  Ireland.  Shortly  after  his  retirement  he  was 
created  a  Baronet  (Jan.  20,  1872),  in  considera- 
tion of  his  long  and  distinguished  career  in  the 
public  service  of  Ireland,  Esteemed  and 
beloved  by  all  classes,  he  passed  away  universally 
lamented.  Sir  Alexander  married,  in  1826, 
Barbara,  eldest  daughter  of  Hugh  Montgomery, 
Esq.,  of  Benvarden,  in  the  County  of  Antrim, 
and  relict  of  Richard  Staples,  Esq.,  and  was  left 
a  widower  in  1865.  As  he  died  without  issue, 
the  title  became  extinct. 

Although  Sir  Alexander  died  without  issue  it 
will  be  seen  by  the  following  extracts  from 
"Burke's  Peerage"  and  "Landed  Gentry"  that 
the  descendants  of  the  Chiefs  of  the  Clan  Iain 
Mhoir,  Lords  of  the  South  Isles,  Kintyre,  and 
Glens  of  Antrim,  are  still  well  represented  in 
Ireland. 

The  McDonnells  of  the  South  Isles,  Kintyre, 
and  Glens  of  Antrim,  called  the  Clann  lai'i 
Mhbir,  or  "  Clandonald  South,"  of  which  the 
Right  Hon.  Sir  Alexander  McDonnell  was  a 
direct  descendant,  derived  from  Iain  Mur,  second 
son  of  John,  Lord  of  the  Isles,  by  his  wife  the 
Princess  Margaret,  daughter  of  Robert  II., 
King  of  Scotland.  James,  VI.  Chief,  who 
married  a  daughter  of  the  Earl  of  Argyle, 
transferred  his  Irish  possessions,  in  Antrim,  to 


his    brother    Sorley-buie    (Somerled),   father   of 
the  first  Earl  of  Antrim. 

James'  eldest  larother,  Coll  Diib/i,  married  a 
daughter  of  Macquillan,  Lord  of  Dunluce,  and 
was  father  to  Gillespie  McDonnell,  Chief  of 
lona  and  Colonsay,  whose  son,  by  his  wife,  a 
daughter  of  O'Cahan  of  Dunseverick,  was  the 
famous  Co/I  Ciotndi,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the 
Clann  Iain  Mlivir  in  1646,  with  his  son  Sir 
Allister  McColl  McDonald,  Montrose's  cele- 
brated Lieut.-General,  who  commanded  the 
Highland  Clans  and  Lord  Antrim's  Irish 
Contingent  in  the  Civil  War,  in  Scotland,  in 
1646-7,  and  was  afterwards  Second-in-Command 
of  the  Royal  Forces  in  Ireland,  where  he  was 
killed  at  the  Battle  of  Knock-na-noss,  Co.  Cork, 
on  the  18th  of  November,  1647. 

Sir  Allister  left  two  sons  by  his  wife,  daughter 
of  MacAllister  of  Loup — Coll  of  Kilmore,  and 
Archibald,  an  officer  of  Lord  Antrim's  regiment, 
who  distinguished  himself  and  was  severely 
wounded  at  the  Battle  of  Aughrim.  The  latter 
married  a  daughter  of  Captain  Stewart  of 
Ridbay  Castle,  Glenariff,  and  had  issue,  but  are 
now  extinct,  in  the  male  line.  Coll,  the  elder 
son,  married  a  daughter  of  Magee  of  Murloch, 
Co.  Antrim,  and  had  a  son,  Alexander  of 
Kilmore,  who  was  great-grandfather  to  Sir 
Alexander,  and  his  brother,  John  of  Murloch, 
the  latter,  who  was  for  many  year*  a 
distinguished  member  of  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Board  of  Ireland,  died  in  1892  at  the 
advanced  age  of  ninety- six,  and  was  succeeded 
by  his  eldest  son,  James,  now  of  Kilsharvan, 
and  Murloch,  Co.  Antrim,  the  present  represen- 
tative and  head  of  this  family.  He  married  a 
sister  of  the  English  Lord  Chancellor,  Earl 
Cairns,  and  has  two  daughters.  Mr.  McDonnell, 
however,  had  four  brothers,  men  distinguished 
for  their  learning  and  eminence  in  their  respec- 
tive positions.  They  and  one  sister  all  married, 
and  have  several  sons  and  daughters.  Robert, 
F.R  S.,  married  Susan,  daughter  of  Sir  Richard 
McCausland,  and  left  one  son,  John;  Alexander, 
C.E.,  mariied  Isabella,  daughter  of  Mr.  Grenfell, 
and  has  several  sons  and  daughters  ;  Randal, 
Q.C.,  marrried  a  daughter  of  Mr.  John  Carlyle 
of  Belfast,  and  left  three  sons  and  a  daughter  ; 
Wilhelmina  married  Henry  Pilkington,  Q.C., 
D.L ,  of  Tore,  Co.  Westmeath,  and  has  several 
sons  and  daughters.  William  Randle  married 
his  cousin.  Miss  Reeves.  Mr.  McDonnell  has 
also  four  unmarried  sisters. 

Sir  Alexander's  grandfather  had  a  younger 
brother,  John  of  Kilmore,  Glenariff,  who  was 
grandfather  of  the  present  Colonel  John 
McDonnell,  D.L.,  of  Kilmore,  who  married  the 
Hon.  Madeline  O'Hagan,  daughter  of  the  late 
Lord  O'Hagan,  K.P.  She  died  s.p. ,  but  his 
niece,  Rachel  Mary,  only  surviving  child  of  his 


108 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


late  and  only  lirotlier,  Ali'xander,  married 
Henry  Thomas,  eldest  son  of  Mr.  and  the  Hon. 
Mr!5.  Silvertop,  of  Minster  Acre.s,  Northumber- 
land, and  has  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 

A  handsome  Marble  Statue  has  been  erected 
to  the  memory  of  Sir  Alexander  in  the  grounds 
of  the  National  Board  Buildings,  Dublin,  by  his 
numerous  friends. 

Glenaiin.  AlLAN    McDoNALD,    LL.D. 


NOTES     ON      THE      HIGHLAND     CLANS, 
THEIR    BADGES,    SLOGANS,    MUSIC,    &c. 

I'>V    FlONN. 


fN  the  following  notes  we  hope  to  lay  before 
our  readers  in  a  concise  form  much  that  is 
—  interesting  regarding-  the  various  Highland 
Clans.  There  seems  to  be  con.siderable  confusion 
regarding  the  badges,  probably  owing  to  the 
fact  that  many  of  the  |;laut8  are  so  much  alike 
that  without  a  knowledge  of  Botany  it  is 
impossible  to  discriminate  between  them,  or 
designate  with  exactness?.  In  these  circumstances 
we  have  in  several  cases  given  more  than  one 
badge,  and  we  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from 
representatives  of  such  clans  as  to  which  they 
consider  the  right  one,  or  that  most  commonly 
used  by  the  clau. 

The  Buchanans — Na  Canonaich. 
The  name  Buchanan  is  Both-chanan — the 
canon's  seat;  now  applied  to  a  parish  in  Stirling- 
shire. The  Badge,  or  Siiaic/ieantas,  is  variously 
given  as  Birch — Gaelic  Beatlui,  Whortleberry — 
Gaelic,  Lns  nam  braoiteag,  oi'  Dewcan  moiiaid/i, 
also  Oak,  Gaelic  Daracli.  The  war-cry  or 
slogan,  Cath-(jhairm  is  Clairinnis — an  island  in 
Lochlomond.  The  principal  line  became  extinct 
in  181fi. 

Till'.  Cajikhons — Na  (1am-siiruinich. 

The  name  Cameron  is 
evidently'  fi'om  Vaiii-shrbin — 
crooked  no-se.  In  a  MS.  of 
1467  they  are  designated 
Claim  Maclnnfluii'ili  or  CIhuii 
Ghilhtcamsln  -"n!— Clan  Mel- 
lony  or  (-'bin  Caincron.  The 
present  Chief  is  Donald 
Cameron,  XXI \'.  of  Lochiel,  born  18o5,  whose 
patronymic  is  Mac  Dhdmhnuill  Diiibh.  The  first 
Donald  Dul  ill  from  whom  the  Cameron  Chiefs 
take  their  ])atidiiyiiiic  was  XI.  of  Lochiel,  and  was 
present  at  the  Battle  of  Ilailaw,  1411.  The  Badge 
of  the  Clan  is  Crowberry — Gaelic  Deavcmj-lUliicli, 
according  to  some  authorities  Oak.  Wai-cry  or 
Cath-gliairm,  'Vldanna  nan  con  thiyibh  an  so  's 
gheibh  sibli  /mil — Children  of  the  hounds  come 


hither  and  get  llesh.  The  origin  of  this  savage 
war-cry  will  be  found  in  Celtic  Montlili/,  Vol. 
III.,  page.  46.  The  Salute  or  Faille' oi  the 
Clan  is  Faille  Sliir  Eobhan — Sir  Ewen's  Salute 
(XVII.  of  Lofhiel).  The  words  associated  with 
this  Faille  are  given  in  the  Gael.  Vol.  IV.,  page 
310.     We  quote  a  few  lines  only  :  — 

Bheil  thu  stigli,  bhean  a'  chinn  duibli, 

Thainig  E()bhan. 
Bheil  tliu  stigh,  bhean  a'  chinn  duibh, 

Thainig  E(ibhan — 

Faoilt  air  Ecibhan, 

FJiilt  air  Eobhan, 

Thainig  Eobhan. 
Bheil  thu  stigh  bhean  a'  chinn  duibh, 

Thainig  Eobhan. 
Bheil  thu  stigb,  tbig  a  muigh, 

Th;\iiiig  E/ibhan. 

The  Gathering  tune  or  C'ruiuneachadh  of  the 
Clan  is  Cruinneachailli  nan.  Cam-sbroiaeach  or  the 
(Jameron's  Gathering,  probably  the  older 
gathering  tune  is  Ceann-na-Drocbaide-moire — 
The  Head  of  the  High  Bridge.  This  bridge  is 
a  few  miles  belovsr  Spean  Bridge,  and  was  built 
by  General  Wade.  At  this  bridge  in  1745  the 
Highlanders  had  their  first  skirmish  with  the 
red-coats.  The  prisoners  taken  were  marched 
to  Glenfinnan,  between  two  columns  of  the 
Camerous  on  the  day  of  raising  the  Standard  of 
Prince  Charles.  The  March  or  Spaidsearacbd  of 
the  Clan  is  Piohdreuuhd  Dhvnihmill  Duibh — 
Pibroch  of  Donald  Dubh,  said  to  have  been 
composed  by  Donald  Balloch  of  the  Lsles,  and 
played  at  the  Battle  of  Inverlochy,  1431.  (For 
words  and  music  see  Celtic  Mont/di/,  Vol.  III., 
page  9.)  The  motto  of  the  Clan  is  Pro  Rege  et 
I'atria — for  King  and  Country.  The  title 
"  Lochiel "  as  ajiplied  to  the  Chief  dates  from 
1528.  There  are  various  liranches  of  the  Clan — 
among  them  are  : — • 

1 — The  descendants  of  Dr.  Archibald  Cameron, 

brother  of  the  (Jentle  Lochiel  of  1745. 
2 — The  Camerons  of  Fassifern. 
3 — The  Camerous  of  Worcester. 
4 — The  Camerons  of  Erracht. 
5 — The  Camerons  of  Inverailort. 
6 — The  Camerons  of  Callert. 
7 — The  Camerons  of  Lundavra. 
S — The  Cameron  of  Cuilcheima. 
'.I — The  Camerons  of  Gleunevis. 

Til  10  ('AtirBELLS — Na  Caimuf.dlaich. 

It  is  probable  this  Clan  derived 
its  name  from  a  facial  jieculiarity 
--Cdin-beid  wry-mouth.  The 
name  Campbell  appears  first  in 
1266  when  (iillespio  Cambell 
is   returned   in  the  Exchequer 

Rolls   as    holding   the   lands   of    Menstrie   and 

Sauchie,  in  Stirling. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


109 


Argyle. 
The  Argyle  Campbells  are  deceuded  from  Neil 
Campbell,  who,  about  129G,  was  made  King- 
Edward's  bailie  over  the  lands  from  Lochfyue  to 
Kilmartin,  in  Argyle.  Neil  married  Brace's 
sister,  and  the  Gaelic  pedigree  of  the  Argyle 
familj'  makes  this  Neil  Gampljell  son  of  Colin, 
son  of  Gillespie  (doubtless  the  Gillespie  referred 
to  above),  son  of  Dugal  Cambel,  son  of  Duncan, 
son  of  Gillespie,  son  of  Malcolm,  son  of  Duibhne, 
whence  they  are  called  Siol  'o  Duin.  We  may 
here  remark  tliat  the  Campbells  are  known  as 
Sinl  Diarmaid  or  the  descendants  of  the  famous 
Fingaliau  hero  Dermid  who  slew  the  wild  boar, 
and  hence  the  Crest  of  the  Clan — a  boar's  head. 
The  Chief  of  the  Clan  is  the  Duke  of  Arg-yle, 
born  182.3,  whose  patronj'mic  is  yfac-Cailein.  indr. 
Badge — Bog  Myrtle,  Gaelic,  Roid.  War-cry — 
"  Cruachan,"  a  mountain  in  Argyleshire.  Salute 
— Fai/le  'M/iarcuis — The  Marquis'  Salute. 
March — Bai/'  lonaraora — The  Town  of  Inver- 
araj'.  The  English  words  associated  with  this 
tune  are  "  The  Campbells  are  coming,"  which 
are  believed  to  date  ijack  to  about  1715.  The 
Lament  is  Cnmha  '  Mharciiis — The  Marquis' 
Lament.     Motto — A'e  obliviscaris — Dinna  forget. 

Bread.albane. 

This  is  the  leading  branch  of  the  Clan.  The 
Chief  of  this  branch  is  the  Earl  of  Breadalliane, 
whose  patronymic  is  Mac  Chailei/i  'ic  D/ionnach- 
aidh.  Badge — Bog  Myrtle,  Gaelic  Tfoz'rf.  March 
— Bodaich  nam  briogaisean — The  carles  with  the 
breaks — also  known  as  A  m/inat/ian  a  ghlinne  so 
— Wives  of  Wild  Coua-glen.  (For  words  and 
music  see  Celtic  Monthly,  Vol.  III.,  page  169.) 
Motto — Follow  me. 

The  other  branches  are  The  Campbells  of 
Cawdor  or  Calder,  now  repre.seuted  by  the  Earl 
of  Cawdor.  The  Campbells  of  Loudon.  The 
Campbells  of  Ardkinglass,  whose  patronymic 
was  Mac-an-Eaich.  The  Campbells  of  Dunstaff- 
nage,  patronymic  Mac  Annghais.  The  Campbells 
of  Barcaldine,  patronymic  Sliochd  Phara  hlnij. 
MacArthur  Campbells  of  Strachur,  patronymic 
Mac-'ic-Artair.  Campbells  of  Asknish,  patrony- 
mic Mac  lomhair.  The  (!ampbells  of  Monzie. 
(To  be  continued ). 


CUIMHNICH      BAS     AILPEIN! 

(  Remember  the  de.\th  of  Alpin.) 


JfelM*  MONG  the  old  clan  names  of  Scotland 
^jggM  there  are  few  of  greater  clistinction  or 
^^—  auticiuity  than  that  of  MacCorquodale. 
The  family  motto  is  "  Vivat  Eex "  (may  the 
King  Uve),  and  their  progenitor  was  Torquil,  a 
doughty  warrior,  of  Norse  extraction,  in  the 
army  of  Alpin,  King  of  the  Scots.     At  that 


time  the  Picts  and  the  Scots  were  striving  for 
supremacy  in  Scotland.  A  great  battle  had 
been  fought  between  the  Pictish  and  Scottish 
armies  on  the  banks  of  the  Carron.  In  this 
battle  the  Scots  were  defeated,  their  King 
Alpin  slain,  while  his  head  was,  by  the  victorious 
Picts,  carried  ol'f  to  their  fort  of  Camelon,  and 
there  exposed  upon  a  pole.  From  this 
degrading  position  the  head  of  King  Alpin  was 
recovered  by  the  gallant  ancestor  of  the 
MacCorquodales.  Under  cover  of  the  darkness 
of  a  murky  night  Torquil  evaded  the  Pictish 
sentinels,  scaled  the  waUs  of  Camelon,  and 
rescued  the  head  of  his  King,  which  he  bore 
back  to  the  camp  of  the  Scots. 

As  a  reward  to  Torquil  for  his  gallantry,  he 
was  granted,  by  King  Kenneth,  the  son  and 
successor  of  Alpin,  the  whole  of  the  northern 
shore  of  Loch  Awe,  from  Avich  to  Ard-an-aiseig, 
lying  east  and  west,  and  north  and  south  from 
Loch  Etive  to  Loch  Awe,  with  the  Awe  and 
Nant  as  boimdaries.  The  Chiefs  of  the 
MacCorcjuodales  were  styled  Barons  of  Fiona 
EUean,  from  the  island  on  which  their  castle 
stood. 

The  MacCorquodale  lands  have  now  passed 
into  the  possession  of  their  hereditary  foes,  the 
Campbells.  Though  landless,  however,  the 
family  has  a  record  and  a  motto  of  which  their 
posterity  may  well  be  proud. 

Java  FrA^^K    AdAM. 


Clan  Chattan  Association. — The  First  General 
Meeting  of  this  Association  was  held  on  Cth  ult., 
in  the  Royal  Hotel,  Edinburgh — Mr.  John 
M'Intosh  in  the  chair.  A  letter  of  apology  for 
absence,  and  one  intimating  a  subscription  of  £50, 
were  read  from  Mackintosh  of  Mackintosh,  Chief  of 
the  Clan  Chattan.  The  rules  and  bye-laws  drafted 
by  the  Provisional  Committee  were  approved,  and 
it  was  agreed  that  the  name  of  the  Association 
should  be  the  "Clan  Chattan."  The  office-bearers 
were  elected,  including  Mr.  Andrew  Mackintosh, 
H.M.C.,  19  Crighton  Place,  Hon.  Secretary,  and 
Mr.  J.  Douglas  Macintosh,  64  Princes  Street, 
Hon.  Treasurer. 

The  Annual  Conversazione  of  the  Clan  Chattan 
was  held  in  the  Windsor  Hotel,  Glasgow,  on  20th. 
ult.,  the  Chief,  Mackintosh  of  Mackintosh  presiding. 
There  was  a  distinguished  gathering  of  clansmen 
and  ladies,  and  everything  passed  ott'  most 
successfully. 

Clan  ]\Iackenzie. — We  believe  that  steps  are 
being  taken  to  reconstruct  this  Society ;  it  has  been 
defunct  for  sometime  past. 

The  Clan  MaoMillan  have  lost  one  of  their 
honorary  members,  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Alexander 
MacMillan,  tlie  famous  London  publisher. 

The  Natives  of  Aberfeldy  in  Glasgow  held 
their  first  Social  Gathering  on  the  27th  ult.,  Mr. 
D.  P.  Menzies,  F.S.A.,  Scot.,  in  the  chair.  The 
hall  was  crowded.  The  chairman  delivered  an 
interesting  address  on  the  liistorj'  and  traditions  of 
the  district. 


110 


THE     OELTIO     xMONTBLY. 


TO     CORRESPONDENTS. 

All  Cotnmunicntions,  on  Uturary  and  basines» 
matters,  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  Mr.  JOHS 
XACKAT,  9  Blythsu'ood  Drive,  Glasgow. 

-@- 
TERMS    OP    SUBSCRIPTION.— The    CELTIC 
MONTHLY  will  be  sent,  post  free,  to  any  part  of  the 
United   Kingdom,    Canada,    the    United   States,  and   all 
countries  in  the  Postal  Union— for  one  year,  4^. 


The 


Celtic    Monthly. 

MARCH,  1896. 


AiiE.xANDER  Mackat,  Glasgow  (with  platej,  -  101 

The  Clan  Mackay  (poem), 1112 

Roderick  Macleod,  Inverness  (with  portrait),      -       -       ■  103 

The  Htohland  Brigade  at  Waterloo,  Part  SIX  (illus.),     -  104 

Tire  RiaiiT  Hon  Sir  A.  .McDonnell,  Bart,  (with  plate),  .  107 
Notes  on  the  Hiquland  Clans,  tueir  Badges,  Slogans, 

Music,  &c., 10« 

CUIMHNICH   BAS  AlLPEIN  1— REMEMBER  THE  DEATH  OK  ALPIN,  1119 

To  DDR  Readers,      -       - 110 

Cluny  and  Lady  Ci.d;^y  of  the  '45,  after  Cl-lloden  (illus.).  Ill 

NA  SaIGIIDEARAN  G  lELACH  (poem), 113 

.ALEXANDER  H.    MACKAV,   HALIFAX,   NoVA   ScOTIA,    -  -  -  114 

A  Soldier's  Vow  (poem),         .■•-•-       ■  114 

The  Lords  of  Lochabrr,  Part  XIII.  (illustrated),       -       -  116 

A  Tradition  of  tue  Macleods  of  Drynoch,  Skye  (iUus.),  lis 

The  Stkwarts  of  Api-in  at  Cilloden  (illustrated),      ■        -  119 

OUR     NEXT     ISSUE. 

We  will  give  plate  portraits  of  Mr.  Theodore  Napier 
of  Melbourne,  Victoria,  in  the  Highland  costume  of 
the  period  of  Montrose  ;  Mr.  B.  A.  Fletcher  of 
Dunans,  Cowal;  and  C.  Donald  Macdonald,  Rosario, 
Argentine  Republic.  The  usual  variety  of  illus- 
trated contributions  will  also  be  given. 

Celtic  Monthly,  Volume  111. — As  our  third 
Volume  is  now  completed,  and  as  we  ate  only  able 
to  supply  a  few  complete  bound  copies,  several  of  the 
monthly  parts  being  already  out  of  print,  those  who 
wish  copies  might  kindly  communicate  with  us  without 
delay,  to  prevent  disappointment.  The  price  is  10/-, 
post  free,  and  orders  should  be  sent  at  once  to  the 
Editor,  9  Blythswood  Drive,  Glasgow. 

Mr.  John  0.  Mackay,  F.G.S.,  eldest  son  of  Mr. 
John  Mackay,  Hereford,  has  a  most  important 
illustrated  work  in  the  press  on  '■  Light  Railways," 
which  will  be  the  most  authoritative  volume  yet 
written  on  the  subject. 

Mr.  Alex.  Macbain's  "Etymological  Dictionary 
of  the  Gaelic  Language"  is  now  published.  It  is 
<he  most  correct  work  ever  published  in  tlie  language 
of  the  Gael. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  D.  P.  Menzies,  F.S.  A., 
Soot.,  for  the  use  of  the  interesting  engravings 
■which  are  rejiroduced  to  illustrate  the  Waterloo 
papers. 

THE  ciiAN  HISTORIAN  HONOURED. 
On  Tuesday,  28tli  .January,  two  important  events 
took  place  in  Inverness  which  will  interest  High- 
landers in  all  parts  of  the  world.  There  was  a 
large  gathering  in  the  Council  Chamber  to  do 
lionour  to  th.it   moat  genial  and  gifted   of   High- 


landers, Mr.  Alexander  Mackenzie,  the  Clan 
Historian.  Mr.  Mackenzie  has  worked  long  and 
faithfully  in  the  Gaelic  cause,  and  his  numerous 
histories  of  the  Highland  clans  are  monuments  to 
his  literary  energy  and  historical  research.  If 
anyone  deserved  well  of  his  countrymen  Mr. 
Mackenzie  is  the  man,  and  we  are  glad  to  think 
that  his  countrymen  have  shown  their  regard  for 
him  in  such  a  handsome  and  tangible  way.  Provost 
Macbean  presented  Mr.  Mackenzie  with  an  address 
and  a  cheque  for  £400,  as  a  testimony  of  the 
subscribers'  appreciation  of  him  as  a  man  and  a 
Highlander.  Mrs.  Mackenzie  was  at  the  same  time 
presented  with  a  hundsouie  gold  watch  and  chain. 
Mr.  Mackenzie  returned  thanks  for  the  handsome 
gifts  of  which  he  and  his  wife  had  been  the 
recipients,  and  made  some  interesting  references  to 
his  labours  in  the  field  of  Celtic  literature.  There- 
after he  entertained  the  company  to  a  cake  and 
wine  banquet  in  the  Palace  Hotel.  We  hope  our 
friend  may  live  to  add  many  more  volumes  to  his 
series  of  clan  histories. 

On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  the  Gaelic 
Society  of  Inverness  held  its  Annual  Dinner,  Mr. 
Baillie  of  Dochfour,  M.P.,  in  the  chair.  The 
croupiers  were  Messrs.  J.  L.  Robertson  and  Coun- 
cillor William  Mackay.  There  was  a  large  and 
influential  gathering  of  notable  Highlanders,  and 
sjiecches,  Gaelic  song  and  pipe  music  were  the 
order  of  the  evening.  We  are  indebted  to  Provost 
Macpherson,  Kingussie,  who  proposed  the  toast  of 
"The  Language  and  Literature  of  the  Gael,"  for 
his  kindly  reference  to  the  Celtic  MoHthhj.  In 
referring  to  former  Highland  magazines  he  said — 
"let  me  specially  commend  their  successor,  so  to 
speak,  that  bright  and  attractive  little  periodical. 
The  Celtic  Monthly,  at  present  so  admirably  con- 
ducted by  Mr.  John  Blackay,  Glasgow,  which  I 
believe  is  steadily  increasing  in  circulation  among 
Highlanders  both  at  home  and  abroad."  We 
appreciate  the  learned  Provost's  remarks,  and  hope 
that  the  Celtic  is  worthy  of  the  flattering  econiuni 
passed  upon  it. 

CLAN      NEWS. 

Clan  Maukay. — The  monthly  meeting  was  held 
in  Glasgow  on  2Uth  ult. ,  and  an  interesting  pajier 
on  "Rob  Donn  "  by  Mr.  John  IMackay,  Hereford, 
was  read.  The  Clan  Booklet,  extending  to  24 
pages,  is  now  published,  containing  list  of  over  4U(.) 
members,  and  full  i^articulars  of  the  work  of  the 
Society,  finances,  etc.  Quite  a  number  of 
"associates"  have  joined  recently,  among  the 
latest  being  Mr.  John  Poison,  J.P.,  Paisley  (of  the 
celebrated  firm  of  Brown  &  Poison),  who  enrolled 
as  a  life-member.  The  Social  Gathering  takes 
place  in  the  Freemason's  Hall,  Edinburgh,  on  13th 
inst.,  Ex-Mayor  George  J.  Mackay  of  Kendal,  and 
Councillor  William  Mackay,  Inverness,  officiating. 

The  Clan  Camtbell  held  their  Social  Gathering 
in  the  Trades'  Hall,  Captain  Duncan  Campbell  of 
Inverneill,  in  the  chair.  There  was  a  very  large 
attendance,  and  a  pleasant  evening  was  spent. 

Clan  Maclean. — A  paper  on  "  The  Macleans  of 
Dochgarroch,"  by  Mr.  C.  Fraser-Mackintosh,  was 
read  before^this  Society  on  14th  ult.;  and  on  March 
14th  a  concert  and  dance  are  to  be  held. 

The  Clan  Grant  have  arranged  for  a  Concert 
and  Dance  in  tlie  Assembly  Rooms,  on  28th  Feb. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Jll 


CLUNY     AND      LADY     CLUNY     OF      THE 
'45,     AFTER     CULLODEN. 


Bt  Alexander  Macpherson,  Kingussie. 


V. 

"  Am  fear  a  dh'  fhag  an  duthaich  so, 
Bu  mhath  air  cliul  na  cruadhach  e, 
Be  "n  Gaidheal  sgaiteach,  cliuiteach  e, 
'S  bu  diitlichasach  air  Cluainidh  e  ; 
B'e  'n  crannchur  croiseil,  diiibhalacli, 
A  dhruid  a  null  thar  chiiainteaii  e  ; 
Thug  teisteas  fir  thar  cheudan  leis. 
'  A  chaoidh  nach  nieud  a  bhuadhaich  jas. 


'.TfT-^  previous  papers  some  pai'ticulars  bave 
Op     been  giveu    of   the   sufferings   and   un- 

^  exampled  hardships  endured  bj-  Cluny 
and  Lady  Olimy  of  the  'l5  after  the  Battle  of 
Culloden.  Let  me  now  proceed  to  give  an 
account  of  some  of  his  providential  escap)es 
from  his  active  and  relentless  persecutors 
during  the  terrible  times  of  oppression  and 
cruelties  which  followed  that  sad  day's  disaster 
— cruelties  even  more  inhuman,  in  some 
respects,  than  those  we  read  of  with  such 
horror  in  the  present  day,  as  being  practised 
by  "the  unspeakable  Turk"  on  the  poor  long- 
sufl'ering  Armenians. 


THE    CAVE     IN     BEX     ALDER     IX     WHICH     I'RIXCE    CHARLIE,     LOCHIEL,     AXU 
FOUXD     REFCOE    AFTER    CULLODEX. 


I'LUXY     OF    THE 


"Oh  heavens!" — exclaimed  Captain  John 
iJacpherson  of  Strathmashie,  in  alluding  in 
1748  to  the  merciless  cruelties  perpetrated  on 
Prince  Charlie's  adherents  after  Culloden — 
"  Li  what  characters  wOl  what  follows  Vie  writ ! 
Murders,  burnings,  ravishings,  pluuderings '. 
Ane  amiy  of  fiends  let  loose  from  Hell  with 
Lucifer  himself  at  their  head !  Barbarities 
unheard  of — noe  distinctions  of  sex  or  age — 
cruelties  never  as  much  as  named  among  any 
people  who  made  profession  of  or  pretended  to 
Christianity,  and  all,  not  only  with  impunity, 
but  by  command.     Oh  !  "* 


Nothing,  it  has  well  been  said,  is  more 
remarkal:>le  in  the  history  of  the  Highlanders 
than  the  loyalty  with  which  they  clung  to  theu" 
kings,  theu-  chiefs,  or  the  leaders  who  for  the 
time  being  secured  their  affection.  A  finer 
example  could  not  be  given  than  the  incor- 
ruptible fidelity  of  the  men  of  Badenoch  to 
Cluny  of  the  '45  The  experiences  and  hair- 
breadth escapes  of  that  devoted  chief,  who  so 
enthusiastically  risked  life  and  fortune  for  the 

*  Vide  The  Lyon  in  Mourning  issued  by  the  Scottish 
History  .Society,  Vol.  II.  p.  93. 


112 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY- 


Bake  of  him  whom  he  considered  his  lawful 
King,  form,  next  to  those  of  the  Prince  himself, 
the  most  thrilling  incidents  in  the  history  of 
the  ill-fated  enterprise  which  terminated  so 
disastrously  on  the  bloody  moor  of  CuUoden. 

"  Through  all  the  glens,  from  shore  to  shore. 
What  wailing  went !  but  that  is  o'er — 
Hearts  now  are  cold,  that  once  were  sore 
For  the  loved  ones  lost  on  CuUoden." 

In  a  long  and  interesting  re\'iew  of  Glimpses  vf 
Church  ami  Social  Life  in  the  IIi<//i/ands  in  Olden 
Times,  which  recently  appeared  in  the  Times, 
the  reviewer  says : — 

"  There  was  a  jjrice  set  upon  Cluny's  head,  which 
would  have  enriched  even  one  of  the  richer  clans- 
men, beyond  the  dreams  of  his  avarice.  The 
haunts  of  the  Chief  were  well  known  ;  he  was 
always  attended  by  a  bodyguard,  and  surrounded 
by  a  swarm  of  outlying  spies.  Yet  he  lived  safely 
among  them  for  nine  years,  when  he  escaped  to 
France  to  die  in  exile.  He  was  always  changing 
Ms  quarters  and  accommodation,  sometimes,  like 
David,  he  had  his  habitation  in  caves,  and  some- 
times he  burrowed  in  cairns  with  the  wild  cats  he 
bore  as  a  crest.  One  of  his  common  haunts  was  a 
dry  but  utterly  dark  cellar,  entered  by  a  trap  door 
and  beneath  the  floor  of  a  kitchen.  But  his 
favourite  summer  residence  was  the  famous  cave  in 
Ben  Alder,  immortalised  by  Louis  Stevenson  in 
"Kidnapped."  .  .  .  The  family  was  fortunate 
in  having  its  lands  restored.  They  were  given 
back  in  the  next  generation,  thanks  to  the  interest 
and  generous  self-denial  of  a  Hanoverian  neighbour, 
who  might  have  had  them  for  himself.  We  have 
no  wish  to  disparage  either  the  fidelity  of  the  poor 
clansmen  or  the  generosity  of  that  gentleman. 
But  it  must  be  remembered  that  any  Macpherson 
who  had  turned  Judas  must  have  made  up  his 
mind  to  execration  and  expatriation.  His  name 
would  have  been  consigned  to  eternal  infamy,  and, 
had  he  dared  to  stay  in  his  native  glens  and  brazen 
it  out,  his  life  would  not  have  been  worth  a  week's 
purchase." 

In  the  remarkable  manuscript  preserved  in 
the  Cluny  Charter  Chest,  written  in  France 
about  the  year  1760,  to  which  reference  was 
made  in  the  December  number  of  this  maga- 
zine, there  is  the  following  graphic  description 
of  the  cave  in  Ben  Alder,  alluded  to  by 
Stevenson,  in  which  the  Piince  with  Lochiel 
and  Chmy  for  a  time  found  refuge: — 

"  About  five  miles  to  the  south-westward  of  his 
(Cluny's)  chateau  commenc'd  his  forrest  of  Ben 
Alder,  plentifully  stock'd  with  dear — red-hares, 
moorfoul,  and  other  game  of  all  kinds,  beside 
which  it  affords  fine  pasture  for  his  nnmberous 
flocks  and  beards.  There  also  he  keeps  a  harras  of 
some  hundred  mares,  all  which  after  the  fatal  day 
of  Culoden  became  the  pray  of  his  enemies.  It 
contains  an  extent  of  many  mountains  and  small 
valleys,  in  all  computed  about  12  miles  long  east 
and  west,  and  from  8  to  10  miles  in  breadth, 
without  a  single  house  in  the  whole  excepting  the 
necessary    lodges    for    the    shepherds    who    were 


charg'd  with  his  flocks.  It  was  in  this  forrest 
where  the  Prince  found  Cluny  with  Locheill  in  his 
wounds  and  other  friends  under  his  care.  Cluny 
observed  on  this  occasion  an  instance  of  the  Prince's 
never-failing  prudent  caution  and  presence  of  mind. 
Lord  Locheill,  he,  and  the  others  advanced  to 
receive  him  in  the  respectfull  manner  justly  due 
his  Royal  Highness  ;  '  My  dear  Locheill '  says  he 
immediately,  '  no  ill-plac'd  ceremony  at  present  I 
beg  of  you,  for  it  is  hard  to  say  who  may  at  this 
moment  eye  \is  from  these  surrounding  mountains.' 
How  soon  the  joy  conceived  on  seeing  the  Prince 
in  safety  and  in  health  gave  room  for  cooler  reflec- 
tions. Cluny  became  anxious  about  his  future 
health  and  safety.  He  was  afraid  that  bis  constitu- 
tion might  not  suit  vvith  lying  on  the  ground  or  in 
caves,  so  was  solicitous  to  contrive  a  more  comfort- 
able habitation  for  him  iipon  the  south  front  of  one 
of  these  mountains,  overlooking  a  beautiful!  lake  of 
12  miles  long.  He  observed  a  thicket  of  holly- 
wood  ;  he  went,  viewed,  and  found  it  fit  for  his 
purpose  ;  he  caused  immediately  wave  the  thicket 
round  with  boughs,  made  a  first  and  second  floor 
in  it,  and  covered  it  with  moss  to  defend  the  rain. 
The  uper  room  serv'd  for  salle  a  manijer  and  bed- 
chamber, while  the  lower  serv'd  for  a  cave  to 
contain  liquors  and  other  necessaries  ;  at  the  back 
part  was  a  proper  hearth  for  cook  and  baiker,  and 
the  face  of  the  mountain  had  so  much  the  colour 
and  resemblance  of  smock,  no  person  cou'd  ever 
discover  that  there  was  either  fire  or  habitation  in 
the  place.  Round  this  lodge  were  placed  their 
sentinels  at  proper  stations,  some  nearer  and  some 
at  greater  distances,  who  dayly  brought  them 
notice  of  what  happened  in  the  countiy,  and  even 
in  the  enemie's  camps,  bringing  them  likewise  the 
necessar)'  provisions,  while  a  neighbouring  fountain 
supplied  the  society  with  the  rural  refreshment  of 
pure  rock  water.  As,  therefore,  an  oak  tree  is  to 
this  day  rever'd  in  Brittain  for  having  happily 
sav'd  the  grand  uncle,  Charles  the  Second,  from 
the  pursuits  of  Cromwell,  so  this  holly  thicket  will 
probablie  in  future  times  be  likeways  rever'd  for 
having  saved  Prince  Charles,  the  nephew,  from  the 
still  more  dangerous  pursuits  of  Cumberland,  who 
show'd  himself  on  all  occasions  a  much  more  inveter- 
ate enemy.  In  this  romantick  humble  habitation  the 
Prince  dwelt.  When  news  of  the  ships  being 
arrived  reached  him,  Cluny  convoyed  him  to  them 
with  joy,  happy  in  having  so  safely  plac'd  so 
valuable  a  charge  ;  then  retum'd  with  contentment, 
alone  to  commence  his  pilgrimage,  which  continued 
for  nine  years  more.  And  now  notwithstanding  the 
very  great  ditt'erence  of  his  present  situation  and 
circumstances  to  what  they  once  were,  he  is  always 
gay  and  chearfull ;  consious  of  having  done  his 
duty,  he  defys  fortune  to  make  him  express  his 
mind  unhappy,  or  so  much  as  make  him  think  of 
any  action  below  his  honour." 

"And  dear  to  my  heart  are  the  chivalrous  ways, 
And  the  kindly  regards  of  the  old  Highland  days, 
When  the  worth  of  the  Chief  and  the  strength  of 

the  clan, 
Brought  glory  and  fame  to  the  brave  Highlandman." 

According  to  the  narrative  of  Donald 
Macpherson  of  Breakachy  given  in  The  Lyon  in 
Monming,  aO  about  Prince  Charlie  "  during  his 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


113 


abode  in  Benalder  of  Bailenocli,  were  Locheil, 
Cluny,  Locbgarry,  Dr.  Cameron,  and  Break- 
acbie;  one  x\llan  Caiiierou,  a  young  genteel 
lad  of  Calard's  family,  who  was  principal 
servant  t<i  Locbeil;  and  four  servants  belonging 
to  Cluny,  particularly  James  Macphersou,  bis 
piper,  Paul  Macpberson.  his  boi'se  keeper, 
Murdoch  and  Duncan  JMacpherson.  This 
Murdoch  the  Prince  generally  called  Murieb, 
who,  and  Paul  could  speak  no  English,  and 
were  commonly  employed  in  carrying  provisions 
from  Breakacbie." 

Let  me  express  my  hearty  obligations  to  that 
patriotic  Highlander,  and  excellent  amateur 
artist,  Mr.  Cameron  Swan  of  Holland  Park, 
London,  for  the  photograph  of  the  celebrated 
cave  at  Ben  Alder— the  iirst  of  that  cave,  so 


far  as  I  am  aware,  ever  taken,  While  on  a 
visit  to  Badeuoch  in  December  last  he  specially, 
in  company  with  Dr.  Campbell  of  Laggan, 
braved  the  terrors  of  a  stormy  winter  day  in 
the  wild  and  solitary  region  of  Ben  Alder,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  the  photograph,  in  order 
that  it  might  be  reproduced  as  an  illustration 
to  this  paper.  In  the  letter  from  Mr.  Cameron 
Swan  accompanying  the  photograph  he  saj-s:  — 
"  The  principal  cave  is  the  one  I  am  pointing 
to,  and  there  are  smaller  ones  on  either  side. 
I  imagine  the  Prince  occupying  the  centre 
cave,  with  Cluny  and  Breakachy  on  the  one 
side,  and  Lochiel  and  Dr.  Archiliald  Cameron 
on  the  other.  ' 

f'/o  1)1'  coiititiiieilj. 


NA    SAIGHDEARAN     GAELACH. 


Seisd — 
Hoiriiinn  lio,  mo  run  na  gaisgicli, 
Hi  ho  ro,  mo  rim  na  1,'aisgieh, 
Mo  run  gaisgich  luath'  an  fhe'ilidh — 
Na  fir  ghle'usd'  'tha  tigli  'n  fainear  dhouili. 

So  na  h-amaibh  a  tha  cianail, 

Bagairt  cogaidh  'n  Ear  's  an  lar  oirnii  ; 

Tha  clann  daoine  'fils  neo-ohiallach, 

Dh'  fhalbh  an  rian  uath'  mar  na  dheanuailili 

Ach  a  dh'  aindei>in  crna.s  no  campar 
'Tlia  do  Bhreatunn  aig  an  am  so, 


'S  coir  dhuinn  uile  'bhi  ro-thaingeil 
Do  na  suinn  ud — hichd  nam  breacan. 

Sud  na  leoghain  fhuilteach,  re'ubacli, 
'S  minig  'choisinn  buaidh  's  an  t-streiip  iad  ; 
Dhaibh  bu  dual  'bhi  'n  cruadal  e'uchdach, — 
'S  mor  am  feum  rinn  iad  do  Bhreatunn. 

Bu  bheag  m"  fharmad  ris  an  namhaid 
'Bheireadh  ionnsaidh  air  na  Gaidheil — 
Na  fir  thapaidh,  ghrada,  laidir, — 
B'  fhekrr  do  "n  namh  ud  'bhi  fo  'n  talamh. 

Le  'n  cuid  piob  'us  brataich  sbreannrach, 
Lnaidhe,  fiidar,  's  lannaibh  teann  orr', 
Bhiodh  droch  coinneamli  air  na  naindidibh 
'Thogadh  gi'eann  air  laoich  nan  gleannaibh. 

Cha  bhi  eagal  oirnn  no  curam 
On  'n  tig  masladh  air  ar  diithaich, 
Ma  bhio.s  Ci'ich  a  leth  cho  fiiighail 
Ris  na  diiilaich — luchd  nam  breacan. 

R.  Fr-'Vser  Mackbnzie. 


114 


THE     CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


ALEXANDER     H.     MACKAY,     HALIFAX, 
NOVA    SCOTIA. 


^^  LEX.  HOWARD 
^^  MACKAY,  B.A., 
Mh.  B.Sc,  LL.D.,  F.R. 
S.C,  F.S.Sc.  (London), 
Superintendent  of  Educa- 
tion for  the  Province  of 
Nova  Scotia,  and  President 
of  the  Dominion  Educa- 
tional Association  (of 
Canada),  was  born  May 
19th,  1848,  at  North  Mount,  Dalhousie,  Pictou 
County,  Nova  Scotia.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Alexander  Mackay,  was  born  in  Sutherlandshire 
in  1T6'2.  His  .second  son,  John,  the  father  of 
the  subject  of  our  sketch,  was  born  in  1810,  and 
with  the  rest  of  the  family  left  the  ])arish  of 
Rogart  for  America  in  1822.  The  brig 
"  Harmony  "  bore  them  to  the  port  of  Pictou, 
in  Nova  Scotia.  The  new  homestead  lands  were 
taken  up  about  fifteen  miles  inland.  His 
maternal  grandfather,  John  MacLean,  was  born 
in  the  North-west  of  Scotland  about  1758.  His 
youngest  daughter,  Barbara,  was  born  at 
Roger's  Hill,  in  Pictou  County,  in  182.3,  and 
married  John  Mackay  in  1847.  Alexander  was 
the  eldest  of  a  large  family,  several  of  whom 
have  won  distinguished  positions  already.  In 
1865  he  was  prevailed  upon  by  the  trustees  of 
the  public  school  in  the  section  in  which  he  was 
a  pupil,  to  accept  the  mastership  for  a  year. 
His  success  determined  his  future  career.  In 
the  following  year  he  took  a  jnofessionil  course 
in  the  Provincial  Normal  School,  and  in  1873 
graduated  with  special  honours  in  Mathematics 
in  the  University  of  Dalhousie  at  Halifax. 
Immediately  after  he  received  the  appointment 
of  Principal  of  the  Annapolis  Academy,  and 
thereafter  successively  filled  the  same  office  in 
Pictou  Academy,  and  the  Metropolitan  Academy 
in  Halifax.  In  1891  he  was  appointed  Superin- 
tendent of  Education  for  the  Province.  During 
all  these  years  he  was  actively  engaged  in 
scientific  and  literary  studies.  In  1880  he 
received  the  degree  of  B.Sc,  with  first-class 
honours  in  Biology;  and  in  1892  the  University 
of  Halifax  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  LL.  D. , 
the  first  occasion  on  which  the  degree  was 
bestowed.  He  was  editor  of  the  Educational 
Review  from  1887  to  1891,  and  has  been 
President  of  the  Provisional  and  Dominion 
Educational  Associations,  the  Summer  School  of 
Science,  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee 
of  the  British  Association,  a  Fellow  of  the 
Royal  Society  of  Canada,  a  Governor  of  the 
University  of  Dalhousie,   a  member  of  many 


other  Foreign  and  Canadian  Scientific  Societies, 
and  Lecturer  in  the  LTniversity.  He  was  also 
appointed  one  of  the  Hon.  Vice-Presidents  of 
the  World's  Educational  Congress  at  Chicago  in 
1893. 

That  he  loves  to  think  of  the  old  country, 
and  is  anxious  to  keep  in  touch  with  his  clans- 
men, was  evident  from  the  fact  that  when  the 
Clan  Mackay  Society  was  started  his  was  among 
the  first  names  entered  upon  the  Life-member- 
ship list. 

In  religion  he  is  a  Presbyterian  of  the 
"  higher  criticism  "  type,  and  is  an  elder  and  a 
member  of  the  Senate  of  the  Presbyterian 
Theological  College.  In  1882  he  married 
Maude  Augusta,  only  daughter  of  Dr.  George 
Moir  Johnstone,  M.R.C.S.  (London),  of  Pictou. 
They  have  two  children,  G.  M.  Johnstone,  born 
1883,  and  Barbara  Lois,  born  in  1886.  He 
takes  no  part  in  local  politics,  but  the  Superin- 
tendent has  enthusiastic  faith  in  the  development 
of  the  "  Greater  Britain "  as  the  possible 
organizer  of  the  future  Federation  of  the  World 
and  the  Parliament  of  Man. 

Editor. 


A     SOLDIER'S     VOW! 

"CnuUch  an  Eirjh." 

The   78th    Highlanders   at   the   Well   or 

Cawnpore. 


Silent  the  Highland  soldiers  stood,  with  bared  and 

reverent  head, 
No  word  they  spake,   no  prayer  they  said,  beside 

the  murdered  dead. — 
With  flashing;  eyes  and  knitted  brows,  and  bursting 

hearts  of  pain. 
They'd  sought  in  all   that  slaughtered   town   one 

living  tiling  in  vain. — 
Was  it  for  this  they   bore   the   brunt   of   India's 

sweltering  heat  ? 
Was  it  for  this  they'd  fought  and  bled,  and  toiled 

with  aching  feet. 
O'er  desert  sands,  'neath   scorching  suns,   weary, 

athirst,  and  faint. 
Had  borne  the  long  and  toilsome  march,  nor  uttered 

one  com]3laint  ? 
Men  who  had  faced  the  cannon's  mouth  and  never 

thought  to  quail. 
Who'd  charged  those  guns  and  silenced  them  'mid 

bullets'  rattling  hail  ; 
They  who  had  seen  their  foes  go  down  like  bent 

and  broken  reeds. 
Line  upon  line  as  ripened  corn  before  the  scythe 

recedes. 
Before  that  cursed  work  of  hell  broke  down  and 

sobbed  aloud, 
And   for  the   victims   of  that   well  their  oath  of 

vengeance  vowed  1 


A.      H.      IVIACKAY. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


115 


Then  rose  a  veteran  soldier,  spake  in  accents  brief  As  loud  and  deep  in    sonorons  (ones  their  Boldier 

and  stern,  vow  they  tot)k, 

His    visage    pale,     his    deep-set   eyes  thro'    lured  For   every   shining   silken    tliread    of    that    bright 

lashes  burn,  severed  hair. 

With   gesture  tierce  he  dashed  aside  the  hot  and  A   dusky  rebel   life  should   die   in   wild   and   deep 

scalding  tear,  despair! 

The  first  his  hardy  manhood  shed  for  many  a  long,  Nor  deem  those  hardened   hearts  tlmt  kissed  with 


long  year. — 
"  Up!  comrades,  up!  is  this  a  time  for  men  to  weep 

or  rave, 
When  living  voices  cry  for  aid  from  out  a  living 

grave  / 
Could  tears  give  back  our  butchered  dead  or  spare 

one  dying  groan, 
Our  very  blood  had  turned  to  salt  e'er  deeds  like 

these  were  shewn, 
But  sound  instead  the  slogan's  peal,  and  beat  the 

loud  alarm  ! 
For  we  have  need  of  strength  of  heart,  and  man- 
hood's strength  of  arm  ; 
Then  let  your  cl.iymores'  edge  be  keen,  and  let  your 

aim  be  sure, 
And  brace  your  hardy  sinews  up,  in  patience  to 

endure 
The    hurried    march,   the    weary    road    that    yet 

before  you  lies, 
And   think  at  every  forward  step  their  blood  for 

vengeance  cries." 


tears  the  golden  tress, 
And  vowed  a  woman's  bitter  wrongs  their  manhood 

should  redress. 
In  every  true  born  Scottish  heart  is  woman's  truest 

shield, 
"  Lambs  in  their  quiet  domestic  life,  but  lions  in 

the  field ! " 

How  did  they  keep   their  sacred  vows,  that  hardy 

northern  band  I 
How  did  they  fight  their  desperate  way,  how  keep 

their  gallant  stand  ! 
The    Charbagh  bridge,  the  Kaiser   bagh,  the   last 

and  daring  fight. 
Fought  inch  by  inch  from  early  dawn  to  deepest 

shades  of  night  ; 
With   ringing   cheer.s   that   spake    to    those    long 

waiting  hearts  at  last, 
"They  come,  they  come,  the  kilted  lads!    thank 

God  I — the  pipers'  blast." 
Thro'  ranks  of  death  they  cut  their  way,  shoulder 
to  shoulder  still ! 
From  out  his  heart  he  drew  with  care  a  tress  of      And   every  forward  step  they  make   their  sacred 

long  bright  hair,  vows  fulfil. 

The  only  relic  left  of  one  they  knew  both  good  and       Yet,   of  the  gallant  spirits  there  who'd   knelt  by 

fair.  Cawnpore's  Well, 

"  Now   by    our   vows  of  chivalry  that  bind  each       Upon  a  dozen  conquered  fields,  a  third  in  combat 

Scottish  hand,  fell ! 

And  by  the  earliest  breath  ye  drew  on  that    fair 

Scottish  land. 
By  every  jagged  mountain  peak,  by  every  tree  that 

waves. 
By  every  blade  of  grass  that  gi'ows  green  on  your 

fathers'  graves, 
Take     every    man  his    portion    out,     luitil     each 

golden  thread, 
]s  laid  upon  a  soldier's  heart,  that  grew  on  that 

young  head  ; 
Shoulder  to  shoulder  !  Highland  men,  up  with  the 

claymore's  point. 
And  pray  yon  distant  heaven  above,  your  trusty 

blades  anoint, 
For  you  have  sworn  a  holy  vow,  and  ta'en  a  sacred 

trust, 
God  bless  your  fiashing  eyes  afire!    God  bless  the 

bayonet  thrust ! 
And  guard  the  gallant  band  that's  bound  for  Luck- 

now's  brave  relief. 
Where  kindred  lives  in  peril  dire  await  in  fear  and 
grief." 


The   gates   are   wide — the   conquerors  come,    with 

hoarse  and  ringing  cheers, 
And  hands  clasp  brother  hands  across  a  misty  veil 

of  tears. 
God  bless  the  wa\'ing  tartan  plaids  !   the  Highland 

hosts  are  in. 
And  loud  and  clear  the  slogan    peals   above   the 

cannon's  din. 
In  broken  ranks  that  told  too  well  their  kiss  in 

dauntless  men. 
The  brave-st  of  the  brave  stood  there,  from  m.nint, 

and  hill,  and  glen, 
Where  all  stood  out  as  heroes — no  single  man  was 

best. 
So  they  pinned  the  cross  of  valour  on  one  chosen 

comrade's  breast, 
He  held  it  for  his  comrades,  for  each  such  deeds 

had  done. 
That  every  kilted  soldier  there  Victoria's  cross  had 

won. 
And  the  proudest  meed  of  courage  that  ever  has 

been  known, 
Then  leapt  [from  every  ready  sheath,  the  fiash  of      Was  given  a  Highland  regiment,  in  the  cross  on  all 

glittering  steel,  bestown. 

As  on  the  blood-stained  earth  the  rows  of  kilted 


soldiers  kneel. 
Uplifted  in  each  strong  right  hand  the  bayonets' 

flashing  gleam 
Played  in  the  eastern  sunlit  rays  like  some  bright 

mountain  stream  ; 
No  wavering  nerve  tlie  steady  glint  Jof  [thatjbrave 

phalanx  shook, 


Alice  C.  MacDonell, 

Of  Keppoch. 


[It  will  doubtless  interest  our  readers  to  leara  that 
a  volume  of  poems,  entitled  "  Lays  of  the  Heather," 
by  Miss  A.  C.  MacDonell,  of  Keppoch,  is  now  in  the 
press,  and  we  hope  that  it  will  have  a  hearty  reception 
from  Highlanders. — Ed.j 


116 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


THE  LORDS  °f  LOCHABER 


T.n.nACDONALO. 


Part  XIII. — Alasdaik-nan-I'i.eas  continue)' — 
Pardoned  and  Pensioned — Ranald  Og — 
Angus,  killed  at  Ci  rra-Chobmaig — Donald 
Glas     the     Second,     XI.     1623 — Argvle 

invades    LoCHABER    and    BADrNOCH. 

{Cnjitiniieil  from  poije  86). 
^y^AT   the    same    time    Keppoch    appeared 

WSJ 


y  before  the  council,  trusting  to  a  six 
^^JL  months'  protection  he  had  received 
from  the  King,  dated  October  19th,  1621.  He 
proposed  visiting  Lochaber,  but  was  refused 
leave  until  he  found  sufficient  security  for  his 
obedience  to  the  laws  when  he  got  there.* 
Evidently  he  succeeded  in  satisfying  the  council 
on  this  point,  fo.'  he  was  soon  afterwards  in 
Lochaber,  in  peaceable  jjossession  of  his  estates. 

In  the  month  of  July,  1621,  a  commission 
vpas  given  to  Lord  Gordon  against  Lochiel  and 
his  clan,  and  a  proclamation  was  made  charging 
aU  the  men  in  Lochaber  and  P)adenoch  to 
concert  with  Lord  Gordon  in  the  execution  of 
it.  Lord  Gordon  at  the  same  time  received  a 
commission  against  Ranald  Og,  Keppoch's 
eldest  son,  who  had  been  outlawed,  and  who 
remained  concealed  in  Lochaber  ever  since 
1615. t  Neither  of  these  commissions  was 
enforced,  probably  because,  as  Gregory's 
says,  "  both  Lochiel  and  Keppoch  were  vassals 
of  Huntly's,  and  the  latter  only  undertook  the 
commissions  to  prevent  the  interference  of 
Mackintosh,  who  would  have  pressed  them  to 
the  extreme." 

Alasdair-nan-Cleas,  whose  stirring  history 
extends  over  a  period  of  fifty  years,  was  married 


to  a  daughter  of  iVlacDougall  of  Lorn,  and  had 
issue: — 

1. — Ranald  Og,  whose  name  has  been  so 
frequently  mentioned  in  connection  with  his 
father's  exploits,  liut  who  did  not  succeed,  as 
will  be  afterwards  explained. 

2. — Donald  Glas  the  Second,  who  succeeded 
as  Chief. 

3 — Alasdair  Buidhe,  who  succeeded  his 
brother  Donald. 

i  Angus,  who  was  mentioned  as  having 
been  given  as  pledge  to  Argyle,  with  his 
father's  bond  of  service.  He  was  married  to  a 
daughter  of  Sir  James  of  Islay,  and  became 
the  progenitor  of  the  Achnacoichean  cadets  of 
the  family. 

,5. — Another  son,  who  was  taken  prisoner  at 
the  Siege  of  Inverness,  in  1593,  and  hanged, 
along  with  Gorrie  Dubh. 

Alasdair-nan-Cleas  was  not  succeeded  by  his 
eldest  son,  Ranald,  who  was  an  outlaw  and  an 
exile  in  Spain  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death. 
This  Ranald  was  married  to  a  daughter  of 
MacLean  of  Duart,  and  had  a  son  named 
Angus;  but  although  this  son  was  of  age  at  the 
time  of  his  grandfather's  death,  even  he  was  not 
chosen  to  succeed,  another  instance  of  how  the 
choice  of  the  clan  could  over-rule  the  law  of 
primogeniture.      Ranald,    who    has    been    so 

*  Reg.  of  Privy  Seal,  XCVII.,  109  ;  and  Letters 
from  the  Council  to  the  King.  June  7th,  1631, 
and  21st  and  28th  March,  1022. 

t  Reg.  of  Privy  Council,  Jan>iary,  February,  and 
March,  1(;21. 


THE    CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


11? 


{renuently  iiieutioued  iu  couuectiou  with  bis 
father's  exploits,  was  a  fugitive,  with  a  price 
upon  his  head,  all  his  Hfe.  He  was  for  a  long 
time  hiding  iu  a  cave  by  the  side  of  Loch 
Treig,  where  Sir  James  AlacDonald  of  Islay 
kefit  him  company  for  a  while,  he  also  being 
under  the  ban  of  the  law.  The  cave  is  still 
known  as  Uamh  Raouuill  Oig.  Tradition 
assigns  to  him  a  part  in  the  discovery  and  the 
exposure  of  the  then  contemplated  Spanish 
invasion  of  England,  for  which  information  he 
was  to  have  been  pardoned  by  the  King,  but 
that  he  died  on  arrival  in  London,  on  his  way 
to  be  received  into  the  good  graces  of  his 
Sovereign.  His  son,  Angus  (already  mentioned), 
headed  the  party  of  the  clau  who  went  foraging 


in  Stirlingshire  iu  the  year  1()40.  On  their 
way  home  again,  laden  with  booty,  they  were 
waylaid  by  the  Campbells  of  Breadalbane,  the 
Clan  Menzies,  and  the  MacNabs,  at  a  place 
near  Killiu,  in  Perthshire.  The  traditional 
account  of  the  battle  that  followed  is  tn  the 
eli'ect  that  the  Keppoch  men  managed  to  retain 
their  booty,  but,  being  hotly  pursued,  they  had 
to  leave  their  leader,  Angus,  badly  wounded  in 
a  bothie,  at  a  place  called  Corra-Chormaig,  not 
far  from  the  scene  of  action.  Here  he  was 
soon  afterwards  discovered  by  the  Campbells, 
who,  of  course,  put  an  end  to  his  sufferings. 

The  chosen  Chief  of  the  clan  was  Donald 
Glas,  the  second  Chief  of  that  name,  and 
second  son  of  Alasdair-nan-Cleas.     At  the  time 


GLEN     J^rEAX.     Li)LI1.\1;KU. 


of  his  succession,  about  IGSO,  the  districts  of 
Lochaber  and  Badenoch  were  being  swept 
with  tire  and  sword  by  the  Earl  of  Argyle. 
The  Earl  had  obtained  a  command  from  the 
Covenanting  Parliament  to  "  root  out "  from 
there  their-  ''intestine  enemies."  In  this 
congenial  work  Argyle  spent  the  summer  of 
1640. J;  James  Gordon,  in  his  "History  of 
Scottish  Affairs,"  says: — "It  was  his  (Argyle's) 
intention  to  swallow  up  Badenoch  and  Li)chaber, 
and  the  lands  belonging  to  the  MacDuuells, 
natives  of  the  place,  and  hated  by  Argyle.  He 
had  got  some  hold  upon  Lochaber  and  Badeuoch 
the  last  year,  1639,  as  a  cautionary  pledge  for 
some  of  Himtly's  debts,  for  which  he  had 
become    engaged    as    cautioner    to    Huntly's 


creditors.  By  this  means  his  title  was  legal  in 
case  of  breach  of  condition  by  Huntly,  yet  at 
the  same  time  he  could  not  pretend  so  much 
against  Huntly,  therefoi-e  this  expedition  against 
the  Highlanders  was  prosecuted  for  advance- 
ment of  his  own  designs.  Bearing  this  expedi- 
tion of  Argyle's  in  mind,  it  is  no  wonder  that, 
four  years  afterwards,  when  Coll  MacGillespuig 
heralded  the  advance  of  Montrose,  Donald 
Grlas  of  Keppoch  should  respond  hy  sending 
the  "  Fiery  Cross "  through  the  Braes  of 
Lochaber. 

t    Hill's  Histnl-y. 

(To  be  continuedj. 


118 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHtl?. 


A    TRADITION     OF    THE     MACLEODS 
OF     DRYNOCH,     SKYE. 


fN  the  seventeenth  century  there  raged  a 
fierce  feud  between  the  Macleods  of 
—  Harris  (who  were  also  the  Macleods  of 
Dunvegan),  and  the  Maedonalds  of  North 
Uist.  The  latter  island  at  the  time  lielonged 
to  Lord  Macdouald  of  the  Isles.  The  iNIacleods 
went  on  a  raiding  expedition  to  North  Uist, 
with  the  intention  of  carrying  oft'  a  "  creaeh  " 
or  spoil  of  cattle  and^sheep.  Thejleader  of  the 
Macleods  was  one  Mac  Dlwrnhnuill  Glilais  (sou  of 
Donald  Glas)*.     The  leader  of  the  North  Fist 


men  was  one  Macdonald  of  Kingsburgh,  a  well- 
known  farm  in  Skye,  and  he  was  known  as 
Mac-[an-  ic-Sheumais  (son  of  John,  son  of 
James),  as  the  other  leader  on  the  Macleod 
side  was  known  as  Mac  Dhomhnuill  Ghlais  (son  of 
Donald  Glas). 

The  day  before  Afac-[a7i-'ic-Sheu»ia>s  had 
arrived  in  Uist  to  resist  the  raiding  expedition 
of  the  Macleods,  Afac  Dliomhntiill  G'/i/uu  had 
collected  a  considerable  number  of  cattle  with 
the  intention  of  removing  them  to  Harris,  which 
was  a  country  of  the  Macleods.  The  ^lacleods 
had  the  collected  cattle  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Carinish,  Uist.  The  Maedonalds  being 
informed  of  this  went  in  search  of  the  raiders, 


UlJ^T     WO.MliiN     ShNOlXG     A     UAULKING     SOiNG     TO    DKOVVN     THE     GROANS 
OF    MACDONALD    OF    KINGSBURGH. 


whom  they  found  at  the  dawn  of  day  roasting 
an  ox  in  the  old  chapel  (now  in  ruins)  called 
"TeampuU  Charinish."  The  North  Uist 
Maedonalds  led  by  Kingsburgh  challenged  the 
Macleods  to  the  open  field,  and  fight  foot  to 
foot  and  eye  to  eye.  The  challenge  was 
immediately  accepted  by  Mac  DhumJinuill  GItials 
and  his  Macleods.  Both  parties  met  on  a 
swamp,  a  few  hundred  yards  from  the 
"temple,"  known  from  the  day  the  battle  was 
fought  to  this  day  as  Fdth'  iia/ula,  the  vein  or 
stream  of  blood,  for  the  colour  of  the  stream 
was  changed  to  a  bloody  hue.  The  swamp 
was  intersected  by  a  shallow,  natural  drain  or 
hollow  from  east  to  west,  through  which  the 


water  ran.  The  Maedonalds  arrayed  them- 
selves on  the  north  side  and  the  Macleods  on 
the  south  side  of  the  water,  and  now  the  battle 
began.  The  arms  were  bows  and  arrows  and 
swords,  probably  axes  also. 

For  a  considerable  time  the  day  was  un- 
decided. At  last,  however,  the  Macleods  began 
to  give  way,  and  were  ultimately  defeated. 
Mac  Dhomlmnill  Glilais,  their  leader,  made  for 


This  Donald  Glas  must  have  lived  in  early  times; 
several  families  are  descended  from  him,  and  are 
distinguished  liy  the  Skye  people  in  having  the 
patronymic  "  ic  Dho'il  Ghlais  "  added  to  their 
names.  Drynooh  was  the  farm  held  by  one 
family. 


The     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


119 


the  shore,  was  chased,  overtaken,  and  beheaded 
on  a  sandbank,  called  to  this  day  Oitir  'ic 
DhoinhniiiU  Ghlaia  (sandbank  of  son  of  Donald 
Glas).  All  the  Macleods  that  survived  made 
for  the  Sound  of  Harris  and  got  across  to  their 
own  country. 

After  the  tight  was  over,  to  the  regret  of  the 
Macdonalds,  it  was  found  that  i\fi(c-[an-ir- 
Sheumais  had  been  wounded  in  the  heel  by  an 
arrow.  He  was  removed  to  his  foster-mother's 
house  at  Carinish,  where  he  lay  in  the  bed  in 
great  agony,  giving  expression  to  his  pain  by 
moans  and  groans.  His  foster-mother  repeatedly 
requested  him  not  to  complain,  as  it  was 
unbecoming  in  a  Maedouald  to  flinch,  even  in 
the  severest  pain.  But  the  suflerer,  being 
unable  to  endure  the  anguish  uncomplainingly, 
she  gathered  in  a  number  of  women,  and  set 
them  to  fulling  or  thickening  cloth  in  the  house 
(in  Gaelic  Inathndh),  hoping  that  the  singing 
which  invariably  accompanied  that  form  of 
occupation  would  drown  the  groans  and  sighs 
of  the  sutfering  man. 

She  herself  extemporized  a  song  for  the 
occasion,  in  the  chorus  of  which  the  numerous 
women  joined,  and  in  which  she  celebrated  the 
bravery  of  her  foster-son  of  Kingsburgh,  who 
of  course  was  the  wounded  man.  She  no  doubt 
hoped  the  praise  of  her  song  would  somewhat 
soothe  the  sufferings  of  her  foster-son. 

A  Mliic  Iain  'ic  Sheumais 
(Son  of  John,  aon  of  James) 
'S  e  do  sgeula  th'air'm'  aire. 
(Your  condition  is  known  to  me.) 

Chorus — "  Hei  ho  na  ro  o  haugho 
Haugheille  na  haougho." 

Bha  full  do  chnirp  churaidh  a  bruchadli  tro  'n 

an  art 
(The  blood  of  thy  pure  body  is  oozing  tlu'ough 

the  bandages) 
Bha  mi  fhein  ga  siighadh  g\is  do  thiichadh  air 

m'aineal. 
(I  myself  was  sucking  it  till  my  breath  became 

hoarse.) 

More  of  the  words  of  this  weird  song  are  not 
known  to  my  informant,  the  Rev.  John  MacLean, 
Bracadale. 

Several  arrow-heads  have  been  found  at  the 
spot  where  Macdonald,  Kingsburgh,  is  said  to 
have  fallen. 

My  grandmother  having  been  a  Blacleod  of 
Drynoch,  it  was  with  some  interest  I  visited  the 
ancient  buiial  ground  on  the  banks  of  Loch 
Harport,  in  which  the  Drynoch  Alacleods  {i-'/ann 
Dhtmi/iKuill  G/iliiit<)  were  wont  for  centuries  to 
bury  their  dead.  A  cluster  of  trees  marks  the 
lonely  spot,  and  a  wall  encloses  it.  Inside  are 
the  ruins  of  an  old  chapel  of  small  dimensions, 
4  yards  by   9  yards,   internal  measurements. 


Two  inscribed  tombstones  are  noticeable.  I  will 
give  the  inscription  on  one  of  them  : — 

"  Here  rests  the  corpse 

OP 

JOHN     McLEOD     OF     DRYNOCH, 

WHO    DIED 1G88. 

AND    OF    HIS    SPOUSE 

(!.     CAMPBELL. 

He  was  son  of  Dt  nalu  Glas  McLeod,  killed 
AT    Caeinish  ;    also    John,    son    of    Alexander, 

AND  HIS  spouse,  M.  McLeOD,  ALSO  INTERRED 
UNDER  THIS  STONE,  WHOSE  SON  NoRM.AN  DIED  IN 
GlENELO     IS     BURIED     THERE,    ALL     OF     THE     FaEM 

OF  Drynoch." 

This  is  a  transcript  from  the  stone.  The 
place  is  not  used  for  burial  purposes  now. 

It  is  lielieved  that  only  the  body  of  Donald 
Glas  lies  in  this  burial  ground :  it  is  known 
that  his  head  was  '  on  show  '  until  recently  in  a 
chapel  near  Carinish,  the  scene  of  his  death, 
where  the  Macdonalds  were  wont  to  worship. 

SUve  LoCKHART    BoGLE. 


THE  STEWARTS   OF  APPIN 
AT   CULLODEN. 

By  Duncan  Livingstone,  Ohio,  U.S.A. 


{Continued  from  ihmjc  93.) 

f.N  speaking  of  the  valor  of  the  clans  at 
'  Culloden,  Lord  Mahon  says; — "  No- 
—  where,  not  by  their  fathers  at  Bannock- 
burn,  not  by  themselves  at  Preston  and  Falkirk, 
not  in  after  years  when  discipline  had  raised 
and  refined  the  valor  of  theii-  sons,  not  on  the 
shores  of  the  Nile,  not  on  that  other  tield  of 
victory,  where  their  gallant  chief  with  a 
prophetic  shroud  (it  is  their  own  superstition) 
high  on  his  breast,  addressed  to  them  only 
these  few  words  :  — '  Highlanders,  remember 
Egypt ! ' — not  in  those  hours  of  triumph  and 
glory  was  displayed  a  more  tirm  and  resolute 
bravery  than  in  this  defeat  at  Culloden."' 

Fourteen  of  the  colors  belonging  to  the 
Prince's  army  were  captured  by  the  enemy, 
and  for  which  a  reward  of  sixteen  guineas  each 
was  paid. 

According  to  Chambers,  in  order  to  put  a 
great  public  indignity  upon  the  honor  of  the 
insurgents,  these  disconsolate  emblems  of 
departed  glory  were,  on  the  Gth  day  of  June, 
1746,  carried  by  a  procession  of  chimney-sweeps 
from  the  castle  to  the  Cross  at  Edinburgh,  and 
there  burned  by  the  hand  of  the  common 
hangman,  with  many  suitaWe  marks  of  indig- 
nity and  contempt. 


120 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


The  colors  borue  by  the  Stewarts  of  Appin 
and  the  Mackintoshes  were,  however,  saved  both 
ig  the  saline  manner. 

Logan,  in  his  "  History  of  the  Highland 
Clans,"  in  speaking  of  the  part  taken  by  the 
former   in   the   Battle   of  Culloden,   states :    - 

•'Appin,  the  chief,  had  not  gone  out;  and 
Stewart  of  Ardsheal  led  the  clan,  which  evinced 
its  usual  bravery.  He  escaped  from  Culloden, 
but  a  great  number  of  his  officers  and  men 
were  killed  and  wounded  in  their  impetuous 
charge  on  the  cannon  and  Scots  Fusiliers, 
before  whom  they  were  planted.  When  the 
standard-bearer  was  slalu,  one  of  the  corps 
called  Mac  an  t  ledh,  from  Morven,  tore  the 
banner  from  the  staff,  and  wrapping  it  around 
his  body,  carried  it  off.  ' 

Li  the  "  History  of  the  Stewarts  of  Ap23iu,'' 
written  by  John  H.  J.  Stewart,  F.S.A.,  Scot., 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Duncan  Stewart,  late 
92nd  Highlanders,  the  authors  say:  — 

"The  regimental  colors  borue  by  the  Stewarts 
of  Appin  at  Culloden  is  still  in  possession  of 
the  head  of  the  Ballachulish  branch  of  the 
family.  It  is  of  light  blue  silk,  with  yellow 
saltire,  or  cross  of  St.  Andrew,  the  dimensions 
being  five  feet  hoist,  with  a  ily  of  six  feet  seven 
inches.*  Its  gallant  bearer,  one  of  the  Ardsheal 
family,  was  killed  and  the  banner  is  stained 
with  his  blood  It  bears  the  marks  of  having 
been  torn  from  the  color  staff,  which  accords 
with  JNI'Ian's  account,  that  when  the  standard 
bearer  was  slain,  one  of  the  corps,  called  Mac 
an  t-ledh,  from  Morven,  tore  it  from  the  staff, 
and  wrapping  it  around  his  body,  made  good 
his  retreat  from  the  field.  The  banner  thus 
escaped  the  fate  of  those  twelve  Highland  clans, 
which  were  taken  at  Culloden,  and  burned  at 
the  Market  Cross  on  the  0th  of  .Tune  following." 

It  is  evident  that  the  authors  of  the  foregoing 
account  knew  but  little  of  the  person  above 
referred  to  as  Mac  an  t  ledh.  He  was  Domh- 
nuill  Mac  an  Leigh,  or,  as  he  would  be  called  in 
English,  Donald  Livingstone.  He  was  known 
among  his  friends  and  acquaintances  in  Morven, 
by  the  Gaelic  sobriquet  of  Domhnuill  Molach, 
on  account  of  his  thick,  heavy,  curly  hair  and 
beard.  The  Gaelic  name  of  Livingstone  seems 
to  be  spelled  in  many  different  ways  ui  that 
language — Maclnlaidh,  Maclnledh  and  Mac- 
Dhunleibhe,  Mac  an  Leigh,  as  well  as  others, 
while  some  have  abbreviated  and  anglicised 
the  name  into  MacLeay,  instead  of  taking  the 
Lowland  name  of  the  original  progenitor  of 
that  sept,  and  of  which  the  Stewarts  in  their 
history  of  the  clan,  give  the  following  account; — 

"  This  family  of  Livingstone,  commonly  called 
the  Barons  of  Bachuil,  received  in  early  times  a 
grant  of  lands  in  Lismore,  which  they  still  hold 
as  keepers  of  the  Bishop  of  Lismores  crozier, 


or  baculum,  called  in  Gaelic  "Bachuil  Mor." 
The  crozier  was  given  up  by  them  a  few  years 
ago  to  the  Duke  of  Argyle,  when  he  granted  a 
confirmation  of  their  title  to  their  old 
possessions.  The  sept  of  MacLeay,  or  Living- 
stone, seems  to  have  been  very  anciently  seated 
in  Appin,  where  they  held  lands  as  tenants  of 
the  Stewarts,  and  have  always  followed  their 
banners  to  war.  At  Culloden  four  of  the  name 
were  killed  and  one  wounded.  l>avid  Living- 
stone was  of  this  race,  and  some  of  his  relations 
still  reside  in  Appin,  Mr.  Livingstone,  of  Port- 
na  crois,  being  the  nearest  of  kin.  Dr.  David 
Livingstone  writes  of  himself  :  — 

"Our  greatgrandfather  fell  at  the  Battle  of 
Culloden,  fighting  for  the  old  line  of  kings." 

The  story  of  the  preservation  of  the  Appin 
banner  at  Culloden  the  writer  has  often  heard, 
when  a  child,  from  two  nieces  of  Donald 
Livingstone,  Mrs.  Mary  Livingstone  Boyd,  and 
Sarah  Livingstone  Burke,  who  got  the  same 
from  the  lips  of  Donald  himself.  The  former, 
Mrs.  Boyd,  died  in  the  early  part  of  the  sixties, 
and  the  latter,  Mr  i.  Burke,  in  the  early  part  of 
the  seventies,  both  at  a  ripe  old  age.  They 
were  daughters  of  his  brother,  Eoghan,  or 
Ewan. 

He  also  heard  it  when  a  child,  and  after 
arriving  at  manhood,  from  eight  other  descen- 
dants of  Ewan.  among  whom  the  story  is  well 
known,  as  well  as  from  several  persons  familiar 
with  the  traditions  of  Morven. 


It  will  be  noticed  from  the  illustration  given  in 
last  issue  that  there  is  the  rip  of  a  bullet  across 
the  standard,  as  well  as  other  rents  received  in 
battle. 

('I'll  he  concluded). 


The  Anolo-Sa.von  FnNER.4L  is  the  startling 
title  of  a  paper  which  was  rec.ently  rejid  by  Mr.  D. 
A.  S.  Mackintosh  before  the  Clan  Chattan  Associa- 
tion, and  now  published  in  pamphlet  form.  Mr. 
Mackintosh's  purpose  is  to  prove  that  the  British 
people  are  not  .\.nglo-Sa.N;ons,  and  their  language 
not  Anglo-Saxon,  and  he  enters  into  the  subject 
with  such  vigour,  and  with  such  an  abundance  of 
convincing  arguments,  that  when  we  reach  the  end 
of  the  paper  we  feel  convinced  that  after  all  we  are 
not  of  the  great  Saxon  race,  but  by  blood  and 
speech  the  true  sons  of  the  Gael!  It  only  Mr. 
Mackintosh  can  convince  our  English  friends  that 
they  are  Celts  he  will  have  dune  a  good  service  to 
the  Gaelic  cause.  The  pamphlet  is  a  most  interesting 
one,  brimful  of  curious  facts  in  history  and  topo- 
graphy, and  reflects  much  credit  upon  its  author. 

Surgeon-Major  J.  MacGregor,  M.D.,  has  been 
elected  a  director  of  the  Clan  (Jregor  Society.  He 
is  t<i  preside  at  the  l^iisley  Gaelic  Club's  Gathering 
on  (jth  March,  and  the  Lewis  an<l  Harris,  in  the 
(Queen's  Rooms,  on  1 2th  March. 


V/u^0-^^^t-^  Cya 


^Z^^^!>L 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

^  MAGAZINE  FOR  HIGHLANDERS. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MACKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.  7.  Vol.  IV.] 


APRIL,     1896. 


[Price  Threepence. 


THEODORE      NAPIER. 


Plp|ll  E  name  Napier  is  not,  so  far  as  we  know, 
VfS'  ;i  Gaelic  one,  and  tlie  family  itself  has 
'-■  J^  long  been  regarded  as  Lowland.  Tradi- 
tionally the  name  and  family  are  derived  from 
noiiald,  the  second  son  of  one  of  the  early  Celtic 
Kiirls  of  Lennox,  who  distinguished  himself  by 
his  bravery  in  fighting  against  the  Danes 
who  had  invaded  the  country,  and  was  as  an 
honour  thereupon  called  Nae-Peer  hy  the  King. 
Be  this  true  or  not,  it  is  certainly  as  probable  as 
the  tradition  regarding  the  origin  of  the  Hay 
family. 

The  Lennox  is  the  seed-bed  of  all  the  families 
of  Napier,  including  the  Kincardineshire  branch 
to  which  Mr.  Theodore  Napier  belongs.  His 
father,  Thomas,  was  born  in  1802,  at  Marykirk 
(formerly  called  Aberluthnot),  and  when  a  youth 
was  sent  to  London  to  learn  business  habits  in 
the  oiSce  of  a  relation.  There  he  joined  the 
Caledonian  Society  and  delighted  to  wear  the 
dress  of  his  Country.  His  uncle  did  not  appreciate 
the  garb  and  signified  to  his  nephew  that  he 
must  either  cease  to  wear  it,  or  leave  his  employ. 
Boy  of  eighteen  as  he  was  his  decision  was  to 
return  to  Scotland  rather  than  give  up  wearing 
the  dress  of  his  ancestors.  Mr.  Naj:)ier  has 
a  painting  of  his  father  in  lull  Highland  costume 
of  this  period,  1820,  painted  by  himself.  The 
condition  Scotland  was  in  before  the  Reform 
Bill  of  18.32  was  passed  was  not  conducive  to 
retain  high  spirited  men  in  the  Countrj',  and  in 
that  very  year  he  left  for  Australian  shores, 
then  a  very  uninviting  place,  to  better  his 
fortune.  His  success  as  a  Colonist  was  marked, 
and  he  made  his  home  near  Melbourne,  in  the 
Colony  of  Victoria,  where  the  whole  of  his 
family  was  born,  and  where  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  was  born  in  1845.  At  the  age  of  four- 
teen  years  the  family  came  to  Scotland  on   a 


visit,  and  Mr.  Napier  remained  for  more  than  six 
years  for  education,  at  Edinburgh,  spending 
four  year.s  at  the  High  School  and  University. 
Oq  returning  to  Australia  about  the  age  of 
twenty  he  spent  several  years  on  a  sheep 
station  in  North  Queensland,  and  then  made  his 
home  in  Victoria,  residing  at  Essendon,  a 
suburb  of  Melbourne.  For  six  years  he  was  an 
efficient  member  of  the  crack  Melbourne  Rifie 
Club,  of  which  he  was  Vice-President ;  also  a 
founder  of  the  Caledonian  Society  of  Melbourne, 
of  which  he  was  also  a  Vice-President  shortly 
before  visiting  Scotland.  He  had  also  the 
honour  of  forming  the  Scottish  National  Associa- 
tion of  Victoria,  of  which  he  is  now  the  President, 
which  has  for  its  object  the  maintenance  of 
Scottish  rights  and  honour,  and  the  ol)taiiiiiig  of 
a  National  Parliament  for  Scotland,  in  conjunction 
with  the  parent  Association  in  Scotland.  lu  the 
spring  of  1893  Mr.  Napier  re-visited  Scotland, 
with  his  young  family,  and,  after  an  absence  of 
nearly  thirty  years,  was  delighted  to  tread  once 
more  the  hallowed  soil  of  ancient  Alban,  and 
visit  many  historic  scenes,  and  places,  which 
when  a  youth  he  had  failed  to  see.  The  High- 
lands and  Islands  of  Scotland  more  particularly 
liave  been  frequented  by  him  during  his  three 
years  residence  in  this  country,  and  from  Muckle 
Flagga  Lighthouse  in  the  far  north  of  the 
Shetlands,  to  lonely  St.  Kilda  in  the  west,  he 
has  made  the  best  use  of  his  time  here.  Shortly 
after  his  arrival  in  Scotland  he  was  reijuested  by 
the  Committee  of  the  Baunockburn  Bore  Stone 
to  unfurl  the  royal  standard  of  Scotland  from  the 
Hagstaff  of  the  Bore  Stone  on  the  field  ol 
Bannockburn,  on  the  24th  June,  1893,  in  honoui 
of  the  noble  stand  made  by  our  ancestors  there 
against  the  English  invailers  on  the  24th  June, 
1314.  This  honour,  which  he  shared  with  Mr. 
Wallace  Bruce,  the  U.S.  Consul  in  Edinburgh, 
Mr.  Napier  ranks  as  the  most  prizeil  by  him  in 
liis  life,  and  he  treasures  up  as  an  heirloom  the 
llag  which  he  had  the  honour  then  to  unfurl. 
Need  we  say,  Mr.  Napier  wore  the  full  Highland 
dress  on  that  auspicious  occasion  ;  and  well  he 
might,  for  eighteen  Highland  Chiefs  a'id  Clans 


132 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


were  gathered  to  aid  the  Bruce  at  BaDnockburn. 
The  Highland  costume  is  Mr.  Napier's  erery 
day  garb,  and  nothing  will  ever  induce  him  to 
discard  it.  It  is  a  point  of  honour  with  him 
to  wear  it.  During  the  spring  of  1894  Mr. 
Napier  joined  a  conducted  excursion  party  for  a 
three  month's  tour  in  Egypt,  Palestine,  etc. 
Although  warned  by  the  conductor  that  it  might 
cause  some  unusual  interest  to  the  natives,  he 
determined  not  to  abandon  the  garb  of  old 
Alban  for  the  sake  of  the  Turk.  In  most  of  the 
places  visited  the  dress  was  startling,  if  not 
entirely  novel,  but  not  inconvenient.  At  Smyrna, 
hapijening  to  go  out  by  himself,  he  was  run  in 
by  the  Turkish  police  and  detained  in  custody 
for  a  few  hours,  having  been  mistaken  for  a 
brigand  I  Possibly  the  tucked  up  appearance  of 
the  hveacwi-an-fheile  might  account  for  this 
mistake. 

As  to  politics,  Mr.  Napier  is  not  a  party  man. 
His  party  is  his  Country,  and  his  aim  is  that  the 
local  and  national  affairs  of  Scotland  shall  be 
managed  by  a  National  Parliament  of  his  own 
countrymen.  It  is  this  that  has  attached  him 
to  the  Scottish  Home  Rule  Association,  of 
which  he  is  both  a  Vice-President  and  Vice- 
Chairman. 

Since  Mr.  Napier's  arrival  in  Scotland  he  has 
been  elected  a  Fellow  of  the  Society  of  Anti- 
quarians, besides  being  President  of  the  Celtic 
Union,  and  has  interested  himself  much  in 
Highland  and  Antiquarian  lore. 

The  following  description  of  Mr.  Napier's  dress, 
weapons,  etc.,  will  doubtless  interest  many 
readers : — 

The  portrait  represents  Mr.  Napier  as  vearing 
the  garb  that  was  worn  by  Highland  chiefs  and 
noblemen  of  the  time  of  Montrose  and  Dundee, 
from  the  middle  to  the  end  of  the  seventeeath 
century  ;  the  period  during  which  the  Highland 
dress  assumed  its  most  brilliant  character. 

He  wears  the  belted  plaid  or  breacan- 
an-fheile  of  the  Lennox  tartan,  a  red  and 
green  tartan  with  double  white  stripes  crossing 
the  green  sets,  and  double  crimson  stripes 
crossing  the  red  sets.  It  is  represented  in  D. 
"W.  Stewart's  "  Old  and  Rare  Tartans,"  and  is 
there  described  as  a  tartan  depicted  in  a  sixteenth 
century  painting  of  the  Countess  of  Lennox,  the 
mother  of  Lord  Darnley,  altheiugh  by  Mr.  Heath 
and  others  believed  to  be  Queen  Mary  herself. 
The  doublet  is  a  short  tunic  of  azure  blue  cloth, 
slashed  on  red  silk,  and  richly  embroidered  and 
passmented  with  crimson  silk  and  gold  in 
Celtic  design,  after  the  portrait  of  Donald  Gorme 
in  the  "  Costume  of  the  Clans." 

From  the  belt  is  suspended  an  Andrea  Ferara 
claymore  of  the  same  century,  with  a  broad- 
plated  basket  hilt.  The  pistol  is  a  very  elaborate 
antique  steel  silver  inlaid  and  engraved  one  of 


the  Donne  tyj^e.  The  dirk  is  a  facsimile  of  a 
fine  old  specimen  belonging  to  Mr.  Millidge. 
The  large  raised  silver  brooch  fixing  the  plaid  is 
a  re]3roduction  of  the  famous  "  Brooch  of  Lorn," 
now  in  the  possession  of  MacDougall,  of  Dunolly. 
The  powder  horn  is  a  flat  Highland  one  of  the 
same  period,  with  silver  mounts  and  Celtic 
carving. 


CLUNY  AND  LADY  CLUNY  OF  THE 
'45,  AFTER  CULLODEN. 


Bt  Alexander  Macpherson,  Kingussie. 


VI. 


Cha  bu  bhrais  gun  reusan  e 
'S  cha  mhb  bu  leumach,  goracli  e, 
Bhiodh  Ikmh  a'  casg  na  h-eucorach 
'S  lamh  eile  treun  's  a'  chuir  aige. 
Bha  truas  a's  iochd  ri  feumaich  ann, 
"S  b'i  sith  a's  reit  a  b'  ordugh  dha, 
'S  cha  'n  fhaca  mis  le  m'  leirsinii, 
No  neach  fo  'n  ghrein,  ri  foimeart  e. 

From  ''  Strafhiiuishie's"  Eleyy. 
jaJS^?  OTJND  the  Castle  of  Cluny  before  the  '45,  at 
Cl^r  different  distances,  we  are  told  "  were 
^i^^  the  seats  and  habitations  of  his  friends 
and  followers,  who  respected  and  rever'd  him 
as  their  common  father;  with  pleasure  they 
received  his  commands,  which  from  the  ties  of 
affection  and  from  a  personal  esteem,  they 
obeyed  as  a  duty.  In  points  of  property  his 
decisions  were  acquiesced  in  with  cheerfulness; 
he  was  the  arbiter  of  their  differences,  the 
reconciler  of  their  animosities,  nor  was  there 
any  one  marriage  or  a  death-bed  settlement 
believed  valid  without  his  approbation." 

In  the  second  volume  of  Bishop  Forbes's 
Li/on  ill  Miiurning,  recently  issued  by  the 
Scottish  History  Society,  a  long  and  interesting 
statement  of  facts  connected  with  the  '45  is 
given,  from  the  pen  of  Captain  John  Macpher- 
son of  Strathmashie.  In  that  statement  it  is 
related  that  "  in  June,  1746,  after  all  was 
quiet  of  our  side,  arms  delivered  and  submission 
to  the  prevaihng  power  given,  the  Earl  of 
Loudoun,  who  lay  at  Shirroemore  (a  place 
about  three  miles  distant  from  Cluny)  with 
1000  militia,  detached  about  300  of  them  under 
the  command  of  Captains  Hugh  and  George 
M'Kays,*  with  orders  to  bum  the  house,  etc., 
of  Cluny,  which  orders  they  did  faithfully 
execute.  For  they  not  only  burnt  the  house 
itself  with  such  office-houses  as  were  near  it, 
but  all  the  houses  that  they  apprehended 
belonged  to  it  at  a  good  distance  from  it.  It 
was    a    most    pretty,    regular,    well  contrived 

*  The  sons  of  Lord  Reay  of  the  time, 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


123 


house  as  any  be-north  the  river  of  Tay :  double 
built  in  the  new  way,  only  about  two  years 
before,  pavilion  roof'd  with  two  pretty  pavilions 
joined  to  it  by  colonades,  and  consisted  of 
eighteen  fire-rooms." 

After  the  castle  was  thus  burnt  down, 
"Cluny's  wife  and  his  children  in  the  cradle 
were  reduced  to  wander  from  cottage  to 
cottage,  scarcely  finding  a  place  to  shelter 
themselves  from  the  iujurie  of  the  weather. 
His  aged  father,  venerable,  and  respected 
throughout  the  whole  country,  soon  sunk  under 
the  weight  of  so  many  misfortunes,  and  he  was 
deprived  of  this  so  valuable  a  comforter  in  his 
adversities." 

A  number  of  traditions  are  still  floating  in 
Badenoch  as  to  Cluny's  marvellous  escapes  for 


such  a  long  period  from  his  relentless  perse 
cutors.  The  following  account  has  been 
compiled  in  a  condensed  form  mainly  from  the 
narrative  given  by  Colonel  Duncan  Macpherson 
(his  only  son)  in  a  letter  written  by  him  shortly 
before  his  death  in  181 T  to  General  Stewart  of 
Garth,  a  copy  of  which  has  been  fortunately 
preserved  in  the  Cluny  (.'harter  Chest.  In  that 
letter  Colonel  Duncan  states  that  he  had  the 
information  regarding  his  father  "  from  a  person 
who  was  well  known  to  possess  a  strong 
memory,  of  undoubted  veracity,  and  who  was 
himself  an  eye  witness  to  many  of  the  circum- 
stances" related  in  the  letter.  As  already 
stated  Cluny  remained  in  Badenoch  for  the 
long  period  of  nine  years  after  the  Battle  of 
Culloden.     During  that  period  every  exertion 


/Jl^J^/ur^ryi  c/  fA'/tUC 


ttettt'  t^J-^  *^  17^^  ''/rurtc.cn^T-ii<A  tflf  it4^cn-tM/iQ  /rem.  ^hf_  ,j£x>Un 

J  ^  lMlI^  h^'  /'/^  ^J  ^      O/^^  /v  U  iK^:--) 

FAC-SnillE    OF    PRINCE    CHARLIES     LETTER    TO    CLUNY     OF    THE    ■4r>. 


was  made  to  apprehend  him,  and  a  reward  of 
a  thousand  guineas,  in  addition  to  the  command 
of  a  company,  ofl'ered  to  any  person  that  would 
take  him  dead  or  alive.  What  is  rather 
remarkable  is,  that  after  the  lapse  of  sis  or 
seven  years  his  persecutors  instead  of  relaxing, 
actually  redoubled  their  vigilance,  and  placed  a 
detachment  of  soldiers  in  almost  every  town  in 
the  parishes  of  Laggan  and  Kingussie — a 
measure  so  strongly  resembling  that  adopted 
previous  to  the  Massacre  of  Glencoe  as  to 
induce  some  timid  people  to  leave  the  country. 
As  an  active  oflBcer  who  understood  the  Gaelic 
language,  Sir  Hector  Munro,  then  an  ensign  in 
the  army,  had  been  selected  for  this  service, 
and  his  conduct  afterwards  proved  him  fuUy 
qualified  for  such  a  command.     Besides  being 


a  Highlander  himself,  Munro  was  Cluny's 
bitter  personal  enemy — the  fire  of  the  Mac- 
phersons  at  the  Battle  of  Falkirk  having  killed 
Munro's  father  and  brother.  To  enumerate 
the  various  attempts  made  by  Munro,  and 
other  officers,  to  capture  Cluny,  would,  it  is 
related  in  his  son's  letter,  have  filled  a  volume. 
Let  me  confine  myself  to  three  or  four  examples, 
l^roviug,  as  they  do,  that  it  required  more 
than  ordinary  ability  on  the  part  of  Cluny,  and 
unbounded  attachment  on  the  part  of  his  clan, 
to  protect  him  under  such  circumstances,  for  so 
long  a  period.  After  numberless  attempts  and 
failures  Ensign  Munro  (whose  headquarters 
were  at  Ruthven,  near  Kingussie),  foimd,  that 
whenever  he  ordered  his  men  under  arms, 
intimation  of  the  fact  was  immediately  conveyed 


124 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY 


to  Cluny.  Accordiugly,  one  night,  when  he  had 
reason  to  believe  the  C!hief  would  be  at  home, 
Munro  had  his  men  in  readiness  next  morning 
at  one  o'clock,  and  he  himself  went  to  bed 
without  indicating  any  intention  of  moving  that 
night.  At  the  time  appointed  he  rose,  and  as 
he  knew  that  he  could  not  unbolt  the  door 
without  the  knowledge  of  some  person  in  the 
house,  he  jumped  out  at  a  window  on  the  second 
floor  into  a  back  garden,  to  the  imminent  danger 
of  his  neck,  and  joined  his  men,  who  slej)t  in  a 
bam,  without  disturbing  a  soul  about  the  house. 
He  also  ordered  a  party  from  Dalwhinnie  to 
approach  Cluny  from  the  Breakachy  meadow  ; 
one  from  Garvamore,  by  the  Balgowu  road :  a 
third  was  discerned  from  the  heights  of  Cluny  : 
whOe  his  own  party  should  advance  by  Uvie. 
So  well  were  his  j^lans  arranged  and  his  orders 
executed  that  the  four  detachments  met  at  the 
same  instant  at  Cluny  House.  No  attempts, 
however  well  planned,  could  succeed  against  a 
chief,  where  every  individual  in  the  district  was 
on  the  alert  for  his  preservation.  A  poor  man 
(•John  Macpherson)  on  the  farm  of  Nuide,  having 
heard  the  clashing  of  arms,  jumped  out  of  bed, 
and  without  waiting  to  dress  himself  went 
immediately  to  give  intelligence.  By  the  time 
he  reached  Biallid  he  was  seized  with  a  stitch 
in  his  side,  in  consequence  of  over-exertion,  so 
that  he  had  no  alternative  but  to  call  up  another 
man  in  his  place,  and  notwithstanding  the 
utmost  exertion,  this  second  express  only  arrived 
at  Cluny  ten  minutes  before  the  soldiers.  Climy, 
as  they  expected,  was  at  home,  and  at  that 
moment  his  situation  was  truly  perilous.  He 
first  attempted  to  make  for  the  hills,  but  here 
be  found  tlie  clashing  of  arms  before  him.  He 
then  proposed  to  cross  the  Spey  at  Beallatorstie, 
but  as  he  approached  the  ford  he  saw  the 
glancing  of  firelocks  entering  from  the  opposite 
side.  There  was  thus  great  and  pressing  danger 
facing  him  in  every  direction,  so  that  he  felt 
constrained  to  lie  down  under  the  bank  of 
the  river,  not  more  than  twenty  i:)aces  from 
where  the  soldiers  forded.  There  he  lay  till 
they  were  tired  of  searching  for  him.  As  soon 
as  they  departed,  he  went  to  a  place  of  greater 
security. 

At  another  time  .Munro  had  suspected  that 
Cluny  would  be  at  the  christening  of  a  child  of 
Hugh  Macpherson  of  Uvie.  lAIimro  accord- 
ingly surrouiKlcd  the  house  with  a  strong  party 
liefore  daylight,  and  such  was  his  courage  that 
he  forced  himself  in  through  a  window,  into  a 
room  where  he  supposed  the  Chief  would  be  in 
bed.  Fortunately,  for  hims(4f,  he  only  found 
the  minister  before  him,  for  Cluny  was  always 
well  armed,  and  fully  resolved  never  to  be 
taken  alive. 

(To  be  contiiiyedj. 


CHARLES     DONAL.D     MACDONALD, 
ROSARIO,    ARGENTINE    REPUBLIC. 


pnP||HERE  are  few  parts 
W^  of  the  world  where 
^^^  a  representative  of 
the  Clan  MacDonald  is  not 
to  be  found.  In  common 
with  their  fellow  High- 
landers, they  seek  fickle 
fortune  on  the  most  dis- 
tant shores,  and  where  success  can  be  achieved 
through  perseverance  and  ability,  the  Highland 
clansman  is  pretty  sure  to  make  an  honourable 
position  for  himself.  This  month  we  intend 
introducing  to  our  readers  a  worthy  member  of 
the  MacDonald  clan,  who,  although  living  in  a 
far  country,  loves  the  hills  and  glens  of  the 
Highlands  with  an  intensity  which  only  the 
exile  can  sufiiciently  understand. 

Mr.  C.  D.  MacDonald  belongs  to  the  Islay 
branch  of  the  clan.  His  grandfather  settled  in 
Greenock,  and  it  was  from  that  busy  town  on 
the  Clyde,  that  his  father,  Mr.  Charles  Mac 
Donald,  sailed  for  8onth  America,  some  thirty- 
three  years  ago.  There  he  hoped  to  make  a 
fortune,  but  instead  lost  all  he  had,  and  seventeen 
years  passed  before  he  saw  his  native  land 
again.  Returning  to  South  America  in  1880, 
he  was,  along  with  his  partner,  Mr.  Arthur 
Guthrie,  murdered  on  his  cattle  ranch,  after  a 
severe  fight  with  his  assassins,  on  12th  April, 
1891.  Mr.  MacDonald  was  enthusiastic  in  his 
love  of  his  clan,  and  was  deeply  learned  in  its 
history  and  traditions.  As  a  youth  he  was  an 
ensign,  and  held  a  commission  in  the  Royal 
Renfrewshire  Volunteers.  His  second  son,  Mr. 
0.  D.  MacDonald,  whose  portrait  we  have  much 
pleasure  in  giving,  was  born  in  1868.  He  acted 
for  some  time  as  private  Secretary  to  Mr. 
Cameron-Corbett,  M.P.  for  Tradeston,  Glasgow, 
and  was  also  brought  up  to  business  habits  in  a 
merchant's  ofiice  in  London.  In  1889  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  Argentine  Bank,  and  has 
acted  both  as  manager  and  accountant  at  the 
important  Ijranch  at  Eosario,  where  his  services 
have  been  so  much  appreciated  at  head-quarters 
as  to  be  specially  complimented.  Mr.  MacDon- 
ald's  talents  are  .specially  adapted  for  the  pro- 
fession which  he  has  chosen,  and  we  have  no  doubt 
that  before  long  he  will  have  earned  fresh  laiu'els 
and  higher  honours.  Last  summer  he  ])aid  a 
visit  to  Scotland,  spending  most  of  his  holiday 
among  the  Highland  hills,  where  he  found  that 
keen  enjoyment  which  only  those  who  have 
been  long  absent  in  distant  lands  can  fully 
appreciate  when  they  find  themselves  in  7'/r  ikiih 
Beanu,  's  nan  0/ennii,  's  nan  Gitisgenc/i. 

Editor. 


CHARLES     DONALD     MACDONALD. 


THK     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


125 


Zf-Si^      J 


TRADITIONS    OF    THE     COLQUHOUN 
COUNTRY. 


By  F.  Mary  Colquhoun. 


M/^?N  the  wooded  shores  of  Loch  Lomond. 
Vir"l)  where  so  often  ■'  gloom  and  glon* 
ASs^  meet,"  there  are  naturally  many 
traditions  of  romance  and  of  tragedy.  Numbers 
of  these  are  veiy  hazy  in  their  antiquity, 
but  we  may  perhaps  be  allowed  to  touch 
on  several  of  compai-itiYely  modem  date  in 
connection  with  the  Colquhouns  of  Colquhoun 
and  of  Luss. 

These  two  famihes  were  merged  into  one  in 
the  reign  of  King  David,  1383,  by  the  inter- 
marriage of  Sii-  Robert  Colquhoun,  5th  Laird 
of  Colquhoun,  with  the  daughter  of  Godfrey, 
6th  Laird  of  Luss,  who  was  named  the  "  Fair 
Maid  of  Luss." 

Passing  on  for  nearly  a  hundred  years  we 
may  notice  that  Sir  John  Colquhoun  (Knight), 
9th  of  Colquhoun  and  11th  of  Luss,  was  a 
witness  of  several  Charters,  notably  of  one  of 
King  James  III.,  dated  Edinburgh,  October 
14th,  1475,  granting  to  the  Cathedral  Church 
of  Glasgow,  "  for  his  singular  devotion  to  St. 
Kentigern  ('or  St.  Mimgo'),  and  to  that  Saint's 
mother.  Saint  Tenew,  and  towards  the  said 
Cathedral,  three  stones  of  wax,  in  which  it  had 
stood  infefted  from  ancient  time — to  be  raised 
annually  from  the  lands  of  Uddingston,  in  the 
Lordship   of   Bothwell   and   shire   of  Lanark, 


GLIMPSE    OF    THE    COLQUHOUN    COUNTRY 
AT    GLENFRUIN. 


before  these  lands  had  Ijeen  appnipriated  to 
the  Crown,  but  which  had  been  detained  by 
their  possessors  for  some  vears  past  for  the 
lights  of  St.  Kentigern,  and  St.  Tenew,  his 
mother. '' 

Two-and-a-half  stones  were  to  be  distributed 
for  the  lights  of  the  first  mentioned  Saint,  in 
that  Cathedral  Chm-ch,  upon  his  sepulchi-e. 
and  half  a  stone  was  to  be  distributed  upon  the 
sepulchre  of  Saint  Tenew  in  the  Chapel,  where 
her  bones  reposed. 

This  Charter  His  Majesty  granted  Sir  John 
for  his  "  extraordinary  devotion  towards  Saint 
Kentigern,  Patron  of  the  Cathedral  Church." 

It  is  therefore  fitting  that  one  of  the  old 
burving-places  of  the  Colquhouns  of  Luss  is  to 
be  found  in  Glasgow  Cathedral  near  the  middle 
of  the  south  wall,  and  "  the  masonry  over  the 
grave  being  high  and  sculptured,  it  is  very 
easily  seen  even  in  the  dim,  imcertain  light 
which  seems  to  add  a  new  sanctity  to  the 
stillness  and  solemnity  of  the  place." 

How  BL.\CK  Hugh  MaoGregok  guarded  ms 
Prisoners. 


We  need  not  here  advert  to  the  feuds  of  the 
Colquhoims  and  MacGregors  as  so  much  has 
been  wi-itten  of  them  by  others,  and  as  those 
wars  have  long  been  amicably  arranged,  and 
their  diflerences  settled  when  Sii-'^  James 
Col(iuhoun  "footed"  the  "Highland  Fling" 
in  concert  with  Sir  John  Atholl  MacGregor  on 
the  summit  of  Ben  Lo  nond,  shaking  hands 
cordially  at  the  close  of  the  dance. 

An  incident,  however,  in  connection  with 
those  battles  may  be  told,  as  recently  related 
by  the  Marquis  of  Lome:  — 

After  the  conflict  at  Glenfruin  forty  students 


12(5 


THE    CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


from  a  College  in  Dumbarton,  of  the  Clan 
Coliiuhoun,  who  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
MacGregors,  were  placed  for  safety  in  a  barn, 
and  given  over  to  a  man  named  "Black  Hugh" 
to  guard. 

When  his  Captain  next  saw  "  Black  Hugh  " 
he  inquired  what  he  had  done  with  his  charge. 

Hugh  rephed  by  drawing  his  dirk  from 
his  belt,  and  shaking  it  above  his  head, 
saying — "Ask  that  dirk,  and  God's  mercy 
what  has  become  of  them." 


"May  God  look  on  us,"  said  MacGregor,  "if 
you  have  killed  the  lads,  no  mention  shall  be 
made  of  a  MacGregor  henceforth." 

He  then  hurried  to  the  barn,  where  he  found 
all  the  youths  had  been  butchered. 

MacGregor  turned  angrily  on  "Black  Hugh," 
saying,  "  Why  have  you  done  this  ? "  Hugh 
answered,  "  After  the  lads  had  been  for  a  time 
in  the  barn  they  became  turbulent.  I  do  not 
know  why,  but  they  spoke  a  great  deal  of 
English  and  I  could  not  understand  a  word  of 


L.\DY    HELEN'     SL'THERLAXI: 
From  tki 


what  they  said,  and  I  shook  the  dirk  at  them, 
and  told  them  in  Gaelic  to  keep  quiet,  which 
they  should  have  understood,  but  they  would 
not,  and  attempted  to  get  out  in  spite  of  me. 
It  seemed  to  me  1  might  just  as  well  lose  my 
own  life  as  let  the  prisoners  escape,  and  as  they 
came  forward,  one  by  one  I  killed  them  as 
c|uickly  as  they  got  within  reach.     1  do  not 


B.\RT.,     25th     OF     LUSS. 


know  what  it  means,  but  every  one  of  them  as 
he  was  pierced  with  the  dirk  seemed  to  call 
out  something  like  "  God's  mercy  !  " 

"  It  was  not  to  hiu't  them,  nor  to  keej)  them 
prisoners,  but  to  protect  them,  that  I  sent  you 
to  the  barn,"  sternly  replied  MacGregor. 

It  was  only  then  that  Hugh  perceived  that 
he  had  blundered. 


THE    OELTIO    MONTHLY. 


127 


All  the  MacGregors  regretted  the  event,  and 
MacGregor  himself  was  gi-eatly  distressed. 

Saint  Ivessog. 

A  paper  ever  so  short,  on  Loch  Lomond, 
must  contain  reference  to  the  distinguished 
IMissionary  Bishop,  Saint  Kessog,  who  came 
with  the  devoted  band  from  the  great  monastic 
schools  of  Ireland  to  plant  the  Christian  Church 
in  Scotland,  in  the  5th  and  succeeding  centuries. 

Saint  Kessog  was  of  Boyal  lineage  like 
Columba,  and  came  of  that  dynasty  which  held 
the  commanding  Rock  of  Cashel  his  birth-place. 

Space  forbids  our  lingering  on  the  early 
days  of  Kessog,  and  so  we  pass  on  to  the  last 
years  of  his  Ufe. 

Of  all  Loch  Lomonds  thirty  islands,  Inch 
lonaig,  "the  Colquhouus'  Deer  Forest,"  is  the 
lovUest,  and  it  is  on  its  shores  that  the  yews, 
or  rather  their  descendants,  from  which  many 
a  bow  and  arrow  were  furnished  for  Bruce's 
armies,  flourish. 

It  is  said  that  one  of  these  bows  and  a  shaft 
of  arrows  were  presented  by  King  Robert  to  a 
'•  Priest  soldier,"  and  successor  of  Kessog  of 
Levenax,  at  Bannockburn. 

But  it  was  on  Inch  na  Vanach,  "  Island  of 
the  Monks,"  Kessog  sought  a  resting  place. 

The  pine,  the  rowan,  and  the  hazel  grow 
there  in  rare  luxuriance,  while  the  birches  and 
alders  "weep  and  wave"  on  the  loch  from  the 
islet  which  was  honoured  in  being  a  sanctuary 
of  the  martyr  Bishop. 

There,  outside  his  modest  Chapel,  he  would 
ring  his  little  bell  in  calling  to  the  holy  offices 
of  the  faith,  that  l)ell  which,  down  to  the 
ISth  century  was  held  in  so  great  veneration 
in  "the  Levenax,"  for  we  find  that  so  late  as 
the  year  1765,  James,  Earl  of  Perth,  was 
restored  in  the  lands  of  Bainachillis  with  the 
Chapel  and  holy  bell  of  Saint  Kessog.  Since 
then  the  saintly  bell  has  ceased  to  chime. 

How  long  Kessog  lived  in  Inch  na  Vanich,  or 
how  his  death  was  compassed,  is  not  known. 

Tradition  asserts  that  he  fell  l)y  the  hand  of 
assassins  at  Baudry,  or  suffered  martyrdom 
there  for  the  truth.  Alas!  that  some  of 
earth's  lovliest  spots  should  have  been  witness 
to  such  scenes  of  cruelty  and  bloodshed  ! 
(To  be  continued). 


THE     GREY      BOTHY. 

An  ARoYLLsmRE  Story. 


.Fj^lHE  storm  was  fearful,  and  the  three  men, 

a?l^     strugghng  on  exposed  to  the  fury  of 

=*^     the   wild   gusts   from    the   loch,   could 

scarcely  keep  theu-  feet.     The  fine  snow  stung 


like  a  whip-lash  and  whirled  hither  and  thither. 
The  three  belated  sportsmen  had  several  miles 
yet  between  them  and  "the  house."  Suddenly 
the  middle  one,  a  mere  lad,  stumbled,  then 
stopped. 

"  Its  no  use,"  he  panted,  "  I'm  dead  beat,  I 
can't  go  another  yard."  His  gasping  breath 
attested  the  truth  of  his  words. 

"Keep  up,  Rupert,  boy,"  the  elder  man  said 
cheerily,  "we  can  make  for  Munro's  farm,  it's 
only  a  mUe  or  two.'' 

But  the  lad,  weakened  by  a  recent  iUness, 
soon  gave  in  again,  plucky  as  he  undoubtedly 
was. 

"Look  here,  Ian,  we  are  just  abreast  of  the 
old  bothy  on  the  hill,  we'll  have  to  go  there," 
the  other  man  said  qtiickly  in  a  low  tone,  not 
meant  for  the  boy's  ear.  "  No !  anywhere  but 
there,"  Ian  said  ciu'tly.     But  the  lad  had  heard. 

"  Any  roof  is  better  than  this  storm ;  surely 
Cameron  you  are  not  afraid  ? ''  he  said  painfully. 

Cameron  set  his  teeth  but  made  no  reply. 
A  wilder  blast,  a  louder  shriek  of  the  wind 
seemed  to  decide  him.  He  wheeled  round 
abruptlj',  "Come  on  then,  Alan,  if  any- 
thing happens  it  is  not  m//  blame,"  he  said, 
as  he  turned  and  begun  to  toil  up  the  hillside. 
Alan  took  Rupert's  arm  and  followed. 
Evidently  Cameron  knew  the  way,  for,  after  a 
cUmb  of  ten  minutes  or  so,  a  low,  rude  hut, 
standing  in  a  httle  cleft  was  reached,  All  was 
dai'k,  but  as  they  shut  the  door  behind  them  a 
curious  sound  became  audible,  a  low,  sighing 
sound,  unutterably  mournful.  Dark  as  the 
interior  was  they  could  make  out  a  rough  settle 
beside  the  deserted  hearth,  and  here  the  thi-ee 
sat  down;  two  of  them  at  least  thankful  for 
the  shelter,  for,  unpromising  as  it  looked,  the 
hut  was  dry,  under  foot  as  well  as  overhead, 
and  the  door  good.  Cameron  struck  a  vesta 
and  looked  at  his  watch — "  Half  past  eight,  I 
thought  it  was  much  earlier,"  he  murmured, 
"  In  a  hour  or  two  the  storm  may  slacken  and 
let  us  get  home,"  Alan  Baird  said  cheerfully. 
"HaUo!  here  is  Rupert  sleeping  already,"  he 
added,  as  the  lad's  head  sank  upon  his  shoulder. 

"Let  huu  sleep,"  said  Ian  Cameron  gruffly, 
"and  the  less  you  and  I  talk  the  better." 

The  vesta  burnt  out,  the  grey  darkness  fell 
again,  and  with  folded  arms  the  two  men  sat, 
their  regular  breathing  the  only  sound  audible 
in  the  hut,  besides  the  eerie  moaning. 

The  shriek  of  the  %\ind  in  the  corries  and 
chasms  of  the  lonely  moim  tains  never  di-o^vued 
l/iat  soimd.  The  ears  that  listened  would  fain 
have  shut  it  out  but  could  not.  Ceaseless, 
di-eary,  it  filled  the  dark  shelling  with  a  strange, 
imkuown  terror. 

The  minutes  passed,  the  young  Englishman 
slept  from  sheer  weakness  and  weariness ;  he 


128 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


had  joined  the  others  in  theii*  sport  that  day, 
though  they  had  been  sure  his  strength  was 
not  equal  to  the  toOsome  climbing.  Cameron 
and  Baird  sat  beside  him  in  sUence — not  even 
smoking — they  had  no  desire  for  cigars  or 
pipes  in  that  melancholy  place.  It  was  past 
ten  by  Cameron's  watch  when  the  storm  seemed 
to  have  reached  its  worst.  Soon  afterwards  it 
seemed  to  be  subsiding,  but  the  curious 
moaning  sounded  louder. 

"It  is  time  we  were  going,"  said  Cameron 
restlessly,  "  I'll  look  out,  Alan ;  but  don't  wake 
the  boy  just  yet." 

As  he  drew  the  door  open  a  fierce  blast  of 
wind  rushed  into  the  shelling ;  a  long,  loud 
scream  rang  out.  A  sovietliimi,  vague,  intangible, 
formless,  seemed  to  pass  in  on  the  wings  of 
the  tempest.  Cameron  staggered  as  though  a 
blow  had  been  dealt  at  his  breast,  and  his 
breath  came  in  quick  gasps.  A  moment's  pause 
and  he  had  dashed  back  into  the  hut,  seizing 
Rupert.  "Come  out  Alan — for  the  love  of 
heaven  come  out  at  once,"  he  yelled,  as  he 
dragged  the  stuisified  lad  with  herculean 
strength  towards  the  door.  Alan  sprang  up, 
and  together  they  got  Rupert  outside,  as  the 
door  of  the  hut  clanged  to  behind  them. 

The  storm  had  suddenly  ceased  its  raging ; 
the  snow  lay  pretty  deep,  but  no  more  was 
falling,  and  in  the  dark  clear  sky  innumerable 
stars  twinkled.  The  two  men  supporting  the 
boy  plunged  down  the  steep  hillside,  and  the 
road  was  soon  reached.  As  they  looked  back, 
the  hut  they  had  just  Cjuitted  stood  out,  a  grey 
spot  on  the  vast  white  expanse ;  its  roof  and 
sides  without  a  speck  of  white  u]5on  them. 
Ian  Cameron  drew  his  breath  hard. 

"  Always  the  same — the  curse  must  cling  to 
it  for  ever,"  he  muttered. 

"  Come  along  now !  we  can  reach  Munro's 
ia  less  than  an  hour,"  he  said  aloud,  and 
set  forward  as  rapidly  as  the  drifted  snow 
peirmitted. 

By  midnight  the  three  were  sitting  by  a 
rousing  fire  ia  the  cosy  farm  j'^iilour.  the 
supper  over  and  their  host  (a  sturdy  Highland 
farmer)  handing  round  tumblers  of  steaming 
hot  toddy.  He  had  been  briefly  told  of  their 
sheltering  in  the  bothy  and  of  their  precipitate 
retreat,  but  made  no  comment. 

"  Tell  the  story  of  the  Grey  Bothy,  Munro," 
said  Ian  Cameron  grimly.  "Until  to-night 
Mr.  Baird  would  not  beheve  that  the  place  was 
uncanny.  Mr.  HUlgar,  being  an  Englishman, 
thinks  me  superstitious  of  course."  Munro 
hesitated,  looking  rather  uncomfortable,  but  a 
nod  from  his  landlord  decided  him.  He  began 
at  once — "  It  was  in  my  grandfather's  time 
that  CoU  M'Kinnon  came  home,  paid  oil"  from 
a    Highland   regiment    that    had    fought    at 


Waterloo.  CoU  had  lost  two  fingers  in  the 
battle,  but  he  was  in  his  prime  and  took  service 
with  my  grandfather  as  shepherd.  He  built  the 
Grey  Bothy  for  himself,  and  meant  to  marry 
bounie  Katie,  his  fellow-shepherd's  daughter. 
But  a  day  or  two  before  the  wedding  a  foreign 
woman  came  here  asking  for  him.  She  was  a 
wee  bit  of  a  thing  but  handsome  in  her  way, 
as  dark  as  a  gipsy,  and  queerly  dressed.  She 
could  not  speak  GaeUc,  but  they  knew  she 
wanted  Coll,  for  she  held  up  her  brovm  hand 
with  two  fingers  turned  down.  She  was  seen 
to  go  to  the  sheiUng,  but  she  was  never  seen 
again.  After  the  wedding  Katie  suddenly 
went  home  to  her  father,  she  would  not  live 
with  Coll.  She  had  been  a  pretty,  fair  haired 
lassie,  but  she  returned  to  her  people  a  grey- 
haired,  feeble  woman,  and  she  died  in  a  few 
weeks.  She  would  neither  speak  of,  nor  see 
Coll  after  she  left  the  bothy." 

"By  and  by  it  got  about  that  he  never  slept 
in  his  house:  but,  wet  or  dr3',  summer  or  winter, 
spent  the  dark  hours  on  the  hills.  No  one 
visited  him,  he  never  asked  a  creature  to  enter 
his  door.  One  terrible  winter  he  was  found 
dead  in  a  snow-drift,  and  since  then  nobody 
has  lived  in  the  bothy :  those  that  tried  never 
stayed  more  than  one  night.  It  is  a  strange, 
but  undoubted  fact  that  however  fierce  the 
snowstorm  may  be,  not  a  flake  sticks  to  its 
walls  or  hes  on  its  roof,  neither  has  it  fallen 
into  decay,  it  is  the  same  just  now  as  it  was 
sixty  years  ago.  If  anyone  remains  there  after 
eleven  o'clock,  it  is  said  they  either  die  or  go 
mad,  for  the  moaning  of  the  foreign  woman, 
who  was  murdered  there,  never  stops  day  or 
night.  That's  the  story,  gentlemen:  have  I 
told  it  rightly,  Mr.  Cameron '?  " 

"  Quite  correctly,  3Iunro :  thank  you  for 
repeating  the  tale.  Now  we  wiU  get  to  bed, 
for  we  must  start  early  to-morrow." 

The  Grey  Bothy  still  stands  in  its  sheltered 
cleft  in  the  lonely  hills,  as  strong  and  untouched 
by  time  as  ever,  and  carefully  avoided  by  all 
whose  occupation  or  pleasure  leads  them  into 
its  neighbourhood.  But  where  its  exact 
situation  is  I  am  boiuid  in  honour  not  to 
divulge.  JvNEr  .V.    'SV-Gvll  och. 


Gaelic  Society  of  London. — This  flourishing 
Society  held  its  annual  dinner  in  the  Holborn 
Restaiu-ant,  on  25th  February.  There  was  a  large 
turn  out  of  notable  London  Gaels,  the  Earl  of  Dun- 
more  presiding,  and  addresses  were  delivered  by 
Mr.  J.  E.  Baillie,  M.P.;  Mr.  D.  N.  Niool,  M.P.  ; 
Dr.  Norman  H.  Forbes,  of  Forbes  ;  Rev.  Ale.xander 
Macrae  (Wandsworth);  Mr.  John  Mackay,  Hereford, 
etc.  The  entire  proceedings  were  most  enthusiastic, 
and  reflect  credit  upon  the  arrangements  made  by 
the  able  secretaries,  Messrs.  W.  A.  Martin  and  A. 
Dunbar. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


129 


NOTES     ON      THE      HIGHLAND     CLANS, 
THEIR    BADGES,    SLOGANS,    MUSIC,    &c. 

By  Fionn. 


Clan  Chattan — Clann  Chataix. 
raPJiHE  liisfcoiical  Clan  Chattan  flourished  in 
y^  tho  15tli,  16th,  and  early  17th  centuries. 
(j^S  TJig  earliest  contemporary  mention  of 
the  clan  is  in  the  Gaelic  MSS.  of  1450-07,  wlien 
it  is  called  "  Claim  an  Toisigh  i  [that  is]  Clann 
Gillacatan'' — the  "Mackintoshes  or  Clan  Gilli- 
catan  "  or  Chattan.  In  1460  and  1467  we  hear 
of  Duncan  Mackintosh,  captain  and  chief  of 
Clan  Chattan  ;  the  Dean  of  Lismore  knows  the 
clan  as  "Cattanich  agis  Toissich";  and  M'Vurich 
enumerates  the  "  powerful,  active,  numerous, 
arrogant  Mackintoshes  around  tlie  cliief  of  Clan 
Chattan  "  in  the  muster-roll  of  clans  that  stood 
by  John,  last  Lord  of  the  Isles.  Their  posses.s- 
ions  lay  from  Locliaber  right  across  mid  Inver- 
nessshire  to  Petty,  but  both  they  and  their 
cliief  held  of  the  powerful  earls  of  Huntly  and 
Moray. 

The  historical  clan  was  a  confederation  really, 
but,  barring  the  M'Leans  of  Dochgarrooh,  the 
component  septs  were  all  clearly  descended  from 
the  same  clan  or  tribal  stock.  It  was  only  the 
peculiarity  of  the  clan's  situation  that  did  not 
allow  them  to  amalgamate  into  one  name,  like 
the  Mackenzies,  Erasers,  Macdonalds,  Campbells, 
and  Macleods.  Their  chief  was  under  the  supci- 
iority  of  Huntly  and  Moray.  He  never,  during 
the  palmy  days  of  chiefship  and  clanship  (14((0- 
1000),  attained  to  that  independent  position-- 
holding  of  the  crown — which  alone  could  enable 
him  to  weld  the  members  into  a  complete 
working  unit.  Nor  did  Huntly  latterly  let  him. 
He  detached  the  Macphersons  of  Badenoch  from 
the  general  body  of  the  Clan  Chattan  in  1543 
and  onwards,  and  this  is  really  the  origin  of  the 
dispute  as  to  the  chiefship.  Though  the  Mac- 
jihersons  returned  to  the  Clan  Chattan  fold  in 
1609  in  a  "Clan  Chattan  Bond,"  owing  to 
Huntly's  fickle  policy,  they  never  more  acted 
cordially  with  the  Mackintoshes,  nor  was  it 
necessary  any  longer  to  do  so,  for  most  of  the 
leading  families  were  rapidly  acquiring  pro- 
prietary rights  over  the  lands,  held  as  tacksmen 
by  their  ancestor's. 

The  1609  Bond  gives  us  the  real  cumponents 
of  Clan  Chattan.  These  were — Mackintoshes, 
Macphersons,  Macqueens,  Macbeans,  [M'Leans 
of  Dochgarroch],  Macgillivi-ays,  Shaws,  and  also 
the  Macphails.  The  Faiquharsons  of  Braemai- 
are  an  early  off-shoot,  and  sporadic  names  like 
Gow,  Gillander,  and  Clark  are  claimed.  Thfre 
seems  to  be  good  reason  to  believe  that  Davidson 
also  formed  a  part  of  the  Macpherson  clan, 
though  the  whole  name  of  Davidson  is  of  much 
wider  connotation  than  attaches  to  Clan  Chattan. 


The  name  Cattanach,  as  we  .saw,  interchanges 
with  Mackintosh  in  the  oldest  records.  About 
1000  the  habitat  of  these  septs  mostly  lay  tiius  : 
Mackintoshes  all  over  the  Clan  Chattan  country; 
Macpherson  in  Badenoch  and  in  Strathnairn, 
Petty,  ikc. — indeed,  it  may  be  que.stioned  if  the 
original  "  parson  "  was  not  from  the  vicinity  of 
Inverness ;  Macqueens  in  upper  Strathdean  ; 
Macbeans  in  Dores  and  thereabouts  ;  Shaws  in 
Rothiemurchus  and  Strathnairn  ;  Macgillivrays 
in  Strathnairn. 

In  the  above  sketch  we  have  adhered  strictly 
to  what  can  be  proved  as  historic  facts  outside 
any  of  the  clan  histories  and  legends.  Were  we 
to  admit  these,  we  should  at  once  be  launched 
on  the  tumultuous  waves  of  the  disputed  chief- 
ship  of  the  Clan  Chattan. 

The  Clan  Cliuttan 
Association  with 
Mackintosh  of  Mac- 
kintosh as  its  chief, 
was  founded  in 
1893,  and  has  al- 
ready attained  a 
firm  footing.  Its 
head  quarters  are 
in  Glasgow,  the 
Hon.  Secretary 
being  Mr.  W.  G. 
Davidson,  51  West 
Regent  Street,  a 
branch  or  centre  has  recently  been  formed  in 
Edinl)urgh  and  several  others  are  contem])lated. 


AN  (^H.\TTAN  ASSOCIATIO 


An  organization  bearing  the  generic  title 
"The  Clan  Chattan"  has  been  recently  founded 
for  the  purpose  of  having  the  whole  clan 
organized — with  Cluny  Macpherson  of  Cluny 
Macpherson  as  chief.  This  organization  hat; 
centres  at  Edinburgh,  (Mr.  D.  Macpher.son, 
23  Broughton  Place,  Edinburgh,  Local 
Secretary,)  and  in  Badenoch  (Provost  Mac- 
pherson, Kingussie,  Local  Secretary,)  while  the 
Clan  Secretary  is  Mr.  N.  C  Macpherson,  Broom - 
hall,  Bearsden.  near  Glasgow 

/'To  be  continveih 


130 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


TO      CORRESPONDENTS. 

All  Commiiuicatiimi,  on  literai-y  and  business 
matters,  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  Mr.  JOHH 
IttACRAT,!}  nh/thswood  Drive,  Glasgow. 

TERMS  OP  SUBSCRIPTION. ~  The  CELTIC 
MONTHLY  will  be  sent,  post  free,  to  any  part  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  Canada,  the  United  States,  and  all 
countries  in  the  Postal  Union — for  one  year,  IiS. 


Th  e 


Celtic    Monthly. 

APRIL,  1896 


TnEoD«RE  Napier  (with  plate), 

ClUNT  and  LaDT  ClUSY  ok  the  '45,   AfTRR  (JILLODEN  (illus.), 

Charles  DoNAiD  MacDonald,  RosARio  (with  plate),    - 
Traditions  of  tub  Coi.quhous  CorNTUv  (illustrated),  - 

The  Gbet  Botiit, 

Notes  on  the  Highland  Clans,  their  Bapcks,  Slogans, 

Mrsic,  &c., 

To  oi'r  Readers,      -       - 

Tub  Stewarts  or  A?i*in  at  Cllloden  (illustrated). 
The  Highland  Brigade  at  Waterloo,  Part  XX.  (illus.). 

Address  to  the  Bagpipes  (poem), 

F.  Marv  Colquhocn  (with  plate), 

There's  nothing  in  the  garish  day  (poem), 

Di'nstaffnage  Castle,  Locii  Etive  (poem). 

The  Lords  of  Lochaber,  Part  XIV.  (illustrated), 

Joy  go  with  my  love  (])oem),         -..-.. 

Oi'R  MrsicAL  Page— Mo  nighean  donn.  iuiohhieach— Mv 

imO^TI-HAIRED  maiden, 


OUR     NEXT     ISSUE. 

Plafe  Portkaits  will  be  given  of  Sir  Hector 
Munro,  Bart.,  of  Foulis,  Chief  of  the  Clan  Munro  ; 
Colonel  Alan  J.  Colquhoun,  R.  A.,  Edinbnrgb  ;  and 
Miss  Jean  MacFarlane  Scott,  a  representatii-e  of 
the  ancient  house  of  MacFarlane.  Quite  an  attrac- 
tive variety  of  new  and  interesting  illustrated 
contributions  will  appear  in  oiirMay  issue,  including 
two  original  complete  Highland  stories,  from  the 
pens  of  well  kno'wii  writers. 

Claji  Cameron. — The  monthly  meeting  of  this 
clan  took  place  in  the  Assembly  Rooms,  on  3rd  ult., 
when  Dr.  Cameron,  Fettercairn,  lectured  on  "  Clan 
Origins,  Territories,  and  Histories,"  illustrated  with 
lime-light  'views. 

Clan  Grant. — The  annual  re-union  was  held  in 
the  Assembly  Rooms,  on  28th  Feb.,  Mr.  Francis  J. 
Grant,  W.S.,  in  the  chair.  There  was  a  large 
attendance.  The  chairman  gave  an  interesting 
address  on  the  origin  and  early  history  of  the  clan ; 
and  Mr.  James  Grant  also  addressed  the  meeting. 

Clan  Mackenzie. — An  iateresting  lecture  was 
delivered  to  this  society  by  Mr.  .lames  Mackenzie, 
F.S.A. ,  Scot.,  in  the  Trades' Hall,  on  27th  Feb.,  the 
subject  being  "  Clan  Life  and  Customs." 

"  Reh  and  White  Book  of  Menzie.s." — Mr.  D. 
P.  Menzies,  F.S.A. ,  Scot.,  has  received  from  the 
"  Privy  Purse  "  the  sum  of  five  guineas,  being  Her 
Majesty  the  Queen's  subscription  for  a  copy  of  this 
valuable  work. 

The  Paisley  Gaelii'  Club  held  their  annual 
social  gathering  on  6th  March,  Surgeon-Major  John 
MacGregor,  M.D.,  in  the  chair.  The  hall  was 
crowded.   The  chairman  delivered  a  spirited  address 


on  current  Celtic  topics,  and  Dr.  A.  C.  Cameron  of 
Fettercairn,  also  made  an  interesting  speech. 

Death  or  a  notable  Hichlanher  in  Siam. — 
It  is  with  sincere  regret  that  we  have  to  record  the 
death  of  Mr.  R.  K.  Black,  Bangkok,  Siam.  He  was  a 
native  of  Mull,  and  a  most  enthusiastic  Highlander. 
His  letters  to  ourselves  were  usually  written  in 
Gaelic,  of  which  language  he  had  a  complete 
mastery.  Curiously,  we  have  just  received  a  letter 
from  our  friend,  Mr.  Frank  Adam,  who  is  now  on 
his  way  to  Java,  in  which  the  sad  death  of  Mr. 
Black  is  referred  to  in  a  somewhat  remarkable 
connection.  Mr.  Adam  says:  —  "The  mail  before  I 
left  home  brought  a  letter  from  my  young  brother 
in  Bangkok,  Siam.  It  contained  a  gratifying,  though 
very  sad  tribute  to  the  verses  of  mine  on  "  A  Sprig 
of  Heather,"  which  you  were  kind  enough  to  insert 
in  the  CMh-  recently.  There  was,  it  seems,  in 
Bangkok  a  very  enthusiastic  young  Highlander 
named  Black,  a  native  of  Mull,  and  a  subscriber  to 
the  Celtic.  It  seems  that  when  the  mail  came  in, 
bringing  the  Veltir,  which  contained  my  verses, 
signed  "  F.A.,"  Black  brought  the  magazine  round 
to  my  brother,  and  asked  him  if  the  verses  were 
written  by  me.  He  was  very  pathetic  over  them. 
That  same  night  poor  Black  took  cholera,  and  next 
day  my  brother  helped  to  bury  him.  '  His  coffin,' 
ray  brother  writes,  '  was  literally  smothered  in 
heather,  which  had  been  left  over  from  the  Scotch 
ball.'  " 

Mackay.— At  Tortola,  W.I.,  on  the  12th  Feb., 
of  malarial  fever,  Alexander  Robert  Mackay,  the 
Commissioner  of  the  Virgin  Islands,  son  of  the  late 
Hugh  Macka}',  of  Sandwood  and  Kinlochbervie, 
J.P. ,  county  Sutherland,  and  of  Mrs.  Mackay,  18 
Moray  Place,  Edinburgh.  Mr.  Mackay  was  a  lite 
member  of  the  Clan  Mackay  Society,  and  was  well 
known  in  the  Reay  country. 

The  Clan  Chattan. — A  large  meeting  of  this 
newly  organised  Society  was  held  in  the  Religious 
Institution  Rooms,  Rev.  D.  M.  Macgillivray,  M.A., 
in  the  chair.  Apologies  for  absence  were  read  from 
the  Chief — Cluny  Macpherson  of  Cluny  ;  Colonel 
Maepherson,  of  Glentruim  ;  Mr.  John  Macpherson- 
Grant,  yr.,  of  Ballindalloch,  etc.  The  chairman 
spoke  at  some  length  on  the  objects  and  aims  of  the 
Society,  as  set  forth  in  the  rules,  and  congratulated 
the  members  of  the  Society  on  the  enthusiasm 
already  evinced  in  its  welfare  and  growth,  which 
was  phenomenal.  The  Secretary  intimated  that 
upwards  of  200  members  were  already  on  the  roll 
of  membership. 

The  Lewis  and  Harris  Gathering  was  held  in 
the  Queen's  Rooms,  on  12th  ult.,  Surgeon-Major  J. 
MacGregor  presiding.  There  was  a  good  turn  out, 
and  the  re-miion  passed  oft'  very  successfully. 

The  Natives  of  Mull  and  Iona  completely 
filled  the  St.  Andrew's  Hall  on  the  28th  ult.,  Mr.  J. 
W.  Mellis,  of  Gruline,  Mull,  presiding.  Addresses 
were  delivered  by  the  chairman,  and  Rev.  N.  Mac- 
Dougall.  The  energetic  Secretary,  Mr.  J.  M. 
Murray,  is  to  be  congratulated  on  the  complete 
success  of  the  gathering. 

LoNiiON  Invbrne.ss-shire  AssOfiATiON.  —  The 
last  Cinderella  Dance  of  this  season  >vill  be  held  in 
the  Grand  Saloon,  Freemason's  Tavern,  on  Saturdav, 
2Sth  M.'irrh. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


131 


THE      STEWARTS      OF     APPIN 
AT     CULLODEN. 

By  Duncan  LnTSGSTONE,  Ohio,  U.S.A. 


[Cimtinued  from  pwje   120.) 

"  Shades  of  the  gallant  and  the  brave, 

Who  faithful  to  your  Stuart  fell, 
No  trophies  mark  your  common  grave. 

No  dirges  to  your  memories  swell  ; 
But  generous  iiearts  \vill  weep  your  fate, 

\\Tien  far  has  rolled  the  tide  of  time, 
And  bards  unborn  shall  renovate, 

Your  fading  fame  in  loftiest  rhyme." 

John  Grieve. 


fit  would  be  inferred  from  the  language  used 
by  both  Logau  and  M'lan,  in  their 
—  accounts  of  the  incident,  that  as  soon  as 
Dugald  Stewart,  the  standard-bearer,  was  shot 
down,  Livingstone  took  up  the  flag  and  tore  it 
from  the  staiY;  but  such  was  not  the  case. 
Dugald  Stewart  was  killed  in  the  charge;  after 
the  Highlanders  failed  to  break  the  second  line, 
and  the  retreat  began,  some  member  of  the  clan 
took  up  the  flag.  The  tire  of  the  enemy  was  then 
directed  against  the  color  bearer,  and  one  after 
another  was  shot  dowji,  almost  as  fast  as  the 
colors  would  be  taken  up,  imtil  in  all,  seventeen 
were  killed  under  it  Donald  Livingstone  then 
turned  back,  under  fire,  to  where  it  lay,  and 


AlllN     KI;Ki.  TEt'     (IX     THE     FIELU 


IF    Ln.I.OiPEN. 


snatching  it  wp,  carried  it  safely  from  the  field. 
Though  under  full  fire  of  the  enemy  during 
this'time  he  escaped  without  a  scratch.  The 
banner  itself  indicates  that  it  was  cut,  not  t'lm, 
from  the  stall".  The  writer  never  heard  the 
persons  above  referred  to  say  anything  about 
the  banner  being  cut,  or  torn  from  the  staft'. 
The  impression  conveyed  to  him  by  ]Mrs.  Boyd, 
Mrs.  Burke,  and  the  others  most  familiar  with 
the  story,  is  that  the  flag  was  cumbersome, 
heay;\'  and  difficult  to  carry,  and  on  that 
account  incommoded  the  retreat  of  the  bearer, 
and  caused  him  to  lag  behind,  thus  exposing 
him  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  It  is  probable 
that  when  Donald  saw  this,  in  order  to  facilitate 


his  retreat,  he  cut  it  from  the  stall'.  When  a 
council  of  war  was  held  by  the  Prince  and 
Chiefs,  after  the  Battle  of  Culloden,  and  Charles 
came  to  the  conclusion  that  he  would  no  longer 
prosecute  the  war,  but  disband  the  army,  the 
men  of  Appin  then  disbanded,  and  after  the 
Highland  fashion,  started  home  separately, 
each  man  to  shift  for  himself.  Donald  took  the 
banner,  and  on  his  joui-ney  home  to  Appin 
came  suddenly  upon  an  EngUsh  soldier,  an 
officer,  who  was  fishing  in  one  of  the  numerous 
streams  with  which  the  country  abounded. 
Supposing  that  he  had  fallen  into  an  ambuscade, 
he  started  to  run,  when  the  officer  called  on 
him  to  halt,  and  at  the  same  time,  struck  at 


132 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


him  with  the  fishiug  pole  and  liue.  The  hook 
passed  entirely  through  Donald's  nose;  he 
drew  his  dirk,  cut  the  line,  and  when  he  and 
the  officer  parted,  tradition  saj'S  there  was  one 
less  soldier  in  the  army  of  King  George. 
Donald  was  unable  t(3  get  the  hook  out  of  his 
nose  until  he  reached  Appin,  where  it  was  cut 
out. 

The  flag  was  by  him  taken  home  to  Appin, 
and  it  is  supposed  that  Ardsheal,  before  he 
escaped  to  France,  left  it  for  safe  keeping  with 
Alexander  Stewart  of  Ballachulish,  in  whose 
family  it  has  ever  since  remained. 

It  is  a  singular  fact  that  the  banner  of  the 
Macintoshes,  the  second  clan  to  the  Stewarts' 


left,  was  saved  in  substantially  the  same 
manner.  Eneas  Macintosh,  in  his  notes,  says 
that  when  the  standard  bearer  was  shot  dead, 
a  comrade  seized  the  colors,  tore  them  from  the 
pole,  wrapped  them  around  his  breast  and 
carried  them  safely  from  the  field.  (See  Notes 
on  Auldearn,  Hoy,  and  Culloden.  by  David 
Cameron,  Highland  Monthli/,  Vol.  V,  No.  51, 
page  185  Published  by  Duncan  Campbell 
and  Alexander  MacBain,  Jime,  1893.) 

David  Livingstone  lies  buried  in  the  Gill,* 
the  old  parish  bui-ying  ground  of  INIorven,  and 
his  grave  is  marked  with  a  granite  stone.  He 
had  two  children,  Robert  and  Anna,  but  the 
writer  does  not  know  whether  they  married 


STONKS  .M,\RKING  THE  GRAVES  OK  THE  STEWARTS  OF  APPIN  AND  OTHER  CLANSMEN  WHO  FELL  AT  CCLLODEN. 


and  left  any  descendants.  The  former  was 
known  in  Morven  by  the  Gaelic  sobriquet  of 

*  Being  desirous  of  reproducing  in  the  Cdtk 
Monthhj  a  photograph  of  the  stone  covering  the 
remains  of  this  gallant  clansman,  we  applied  to 
Mrs.  Stuart  of  Dalness,  but  found  that  a  photo  was 
not  to  be  had.  This  lady,  liowever,  kindly  procured 
for  us,  from  the  Rev.  Donald  Macfarlane,  Minister 
of  Morven,  a  copy  of  the  inscription  upon  the 
ancient  stone  of  the  Livingstones  in  the  Cliurchyard 
of  Morven,  which  is  as  follows  ; — "Here  lyes  the 
corps  of  John  Livingstone  who  dyed  in  the  year 
1757  aged  57  years.  This  tomb  is  intended  also  for 
the  remains  of  Anna  Machines  his  spouse.  This 
stone  was  erected  by  Donald  Livin"stone  their  son." 
Mr.  Macfarlane  adds  that  the  Donald  Livingstone 


who  erected  the  tombstone  was  standard  bearer  at 
Culloden,  but  there  is  no  separate  stone  or  inscrip- 
tion to  his  memory.  The  stone  is  m  an  excellent 
state  of  preservation.  At  the  top  is  the  Livingstone 
coat  of  arms,  well  sculptured.  Underneath  the 
inscription  a  skull,  hour  glass  and  trumpet  are 
represented.  There  are  lineal  deecendants  of  the 
Livingstones  still  surviving.  Dr.  Livingstone,  the 
traveller,  was  related  to  him. 

We  have  also  to  express  our  indebtedness  to  Mr. 
John  Stuart,  the  jiresent  custodier  of  the  Appin 
hratach,  for  kindly  supplying  us  with  photographs 
of  this  ancient  clan  relic.  He  mentions  that,  by 
a  curious  irony  of  fate,  the  colours  of  Burrell's 
regiment,  which  opposed  the  Appin  regiment  at 
Culloden,  and  the  Stevvart  colours,  are  deposited  in 
the  same  box. — Ed. 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


Rob  Mac  Dhoinhml  M/iolmch.  Donald,  at  the 
time  of  the  Battle  of  Culloden,  was  about 
seventeeu  oi'  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  and 
his  brother  Angus  went  out  with  Alexander 
Stewart  of  Invernahyle,  when  he  came  back  to 
the  Highlands  to  recruit  after  the  victory  of 
Prestonpaus.  Angus  Livingstone  was  killed  at 
Culloden  under  the  following  circumstances  : 

Following  the  battle,  immediately  after  they 
had  left  the  field,  one  of  his  comrades,  a 
particular  friend,  who  had  been  wounded  in 
the  charge,  and  was,  on  that  account,  unable 
to  keep  up  vrith  the  main  body  of  the  clan,  was 
about  to  be  overtaken  by  some  three  or  four 
of  the  enemy  (troopers,  I  believe),  who  had 
advanced  beyond  Cumberland's  main  line.  He 
called  out  to  Angus  to  come  back  and  help  him. 
The  latter  then  left  the  main  body  of  the  claTi, 
retiu'ned  to  assist  his  friend,  and  succeeded  in 
protecting  his  retreat,  until  he  in  safety  reached 
his  comrades :  but  was  himself  killed  by  the 
enemy.  Although  I  heard,  I  cannot  now 
reeall  the  name  of  the  jierson  thus  rescued, 
but  he  got  back  safe  to  Morven. 

When  Cimiberland  sent  troops  to  Morven  to 
punish  the  inhabitants  for  the  part  taken  by  a 
large  number  of  them  in  the  rebellion,  Donald 
and  the  rest  of  the  family  tied  to  the  wilds  of 
xirdnamurchan,  where,  according  to  the  High- 
land adage,  they  "  listened  to  the  wind  on  the 
hUl,  till  the  waters  abated." 

The  Stewarts  of  Appiu  according  to  several 
authorities,  suffered  the  most  of  all  the  clans 
engaged  in  the  Battle  of  Culloden.  Of  the 
fifty  or  sixty  of  that  name  who  took  part  in 
that  engagement,  twenty-two  were  killed,  and 
twenty-five  wounded.  The  following  is  a  Ust  of 
the  killed  and  wounded,  made  out  by  Alexander 
Stewart  of  Invernahyle,  and  which  is  still 
preserved  in  the  Achancone  branch  of  the 
family  : 

Ardsheal's  family: — Killed — John  Stewart,  of 
Benmore ;  John,  son  to  Alexander  Stewart,  of 
Acharn,  James,  son  of  Alexander  Stewart,  of 
Acharn ;  John  Stewart ;  John  Stewart :  Dimcan 
Stewart,  uncle  to  Ardsheal ;  and  Dugald 
Stewart,  the  standard  bearer  (8).  Wounded — 
WiUiam  Stewart,  Alan  Mohr  Stewart,  and 
Wilham  Stewart  (3). 

Fasuacloich's  family : — Killed — James  Stew- 
art, from  Ardnamurchan,  and  Alan,  his  son  (2). 
Wounded — James  Stewart,  uncle  to  Fasna- 
cloich ;  James  Stewart,  younger,  of  Fasnacloich; 
John  Stewart,  son  to  Fasnacloich ;  John 
Stewart,  son  to  Duncan  Stewart  (4). 

Achnacone's  family :  — Killed — Alexander 
Stewart,  brother  to  Achnacoue;  Duncan 
Stewart  (2). 

Invemahyle's  family: — Killed — Alexander 
Stewart,  son  to  Ballachulish ;  Donald  Stewart, 


nephew  to  Invernahyle ;  Duncan  Stewart ; 
John  Stewart,  from  Balquidder  (4).  Wounded 
— Duncan,  Donald,  Dugald,  and  Alan  Stewart, 
nephews  to  Ballachelish :  John  Stewart,  from 
Ardnamurchan;  Charles  Stewart,  from  Bohallie; 
Alexander  Stewart,  of  Invernahyle ;  James 
Stewart,  brother  to  Invernahyle ;  Duncan 
Stewart,  from  Inverphalla ;  Donald  Stewart, 
from  Annat:  AIolU  Stewart,  who  died  in  the 
East  Indies:  and  John  Stewart  (12) 

Stewarts,  followers  of  Appiu  ; — Killed — 
Dimcan  Stewart,  from  SIuU:  John  Stewart, 
alias  Mac  Alan :  Malcolm  Stewart :  Dugald 
Stewart;  Donald  Stewart ;  Robert  Stewart  (6) 
Wounded — Duncan,  Hugh,  and  John  Stewart, 
from  Glenlyon.  John  Stewart,  alias  Mac  Alien 
Bhan ;  Duncan  Stewart,  ahas  Mac  Alan ; 
Robert  Stewart  (0).  Making  a  total  of  twenty- 
two  Stewarts  killed  and  twenty-five  wounded. 

Followers  of  Appin: — Ivilled — McColls,  18: 
MacLarens,  13:  Oarmichaels,  6:  MacCombichs, 
5;  i\J  aclntyres,  5 ;  Maclnneses,  4;  Maclldews 
or  Blacks,  1  :  Maekenzies,  i ;  MacCorquodales, 
1;  Hendersons,!:  MacCormacks  or  Buchanans, 
5;  McRankens,  1;  MacLachlans,  2;  MacLeays 
or  Livingstones,  4 ;  MacArthurs,  1 ;  and 
George  Baldane,  nephew  to  Laurick,  Ardsheal 
having  married  Haldane  of  Lanrick's  sister. 
Total,  70.  Wounded— McColls,  15:  Mac- 
Larens, 4  :  Oarmichaels,  2  ;  MacCombichs,  3 ; 
Maclntyres,  5  ;  Maclnneses,  2  ;  Maekenzies,  3 : 
Mac  Uchaclers,  1 ;  Hendersons,  1 :  MacCor- 
macks or  Buchanans,  1 ;  Camerons,  1 :  Mac- 
Donalds,  1 ;  MacLeays  or  Livingstones,  1 . 
Total,  40.  Making  a  total  of  95  killed  and 
G2  wounded,  out  of  about  300  men. 

On  September  17th,  1746,  Ardsheal  succeeded 
in  getting  on  board  a  vessel,  and  escaped  to 
France,  where  he  died  at  Sens,  March  15th, 
1757.  During  the  time  he  hved  there,  his 
tenants  paid  a  double  rent,  one  to  the  agents 
appointed  by  the  government  over  the  forfeited 
estates,  and  the  usual  rents  called  for  by  their 
leases,  to  Ardsheal,  in  order  to  support  him  in 
e.xile.  It  is  hardly  necessai'y  to  add  that  the 
latter  were  cheerfully  and  voluntarily  paid  by 
his  clansmen.  He  was  thus  enabled  to  dispense 
hospitality,  and  render  assistance  to  some  of 
his  companions  in  exile  less  favourably  situated. 
[Concluded.] 

The  County  of  Sutherand  Association  (Glas- 
gow) have  arranged  to  hold  a  social  meeting  in  the 
Berkeley  Halls,  on  Wednesday,  '22nd  April.  Tickets 
are  only  to  cost  6d.  each,  and  a  large  attendance  is 
exjiected. 

The  Edinbukcjh  Camanachd  Club  held  their 
annual  assembly  in  the  Queen  Street  Rooms  on  6th 
ult.,  and  was  attended  by  about  120  ladies  and 
gentlemen.  The  proceedings  were  of  tlie  most 
enjoyable  nature,  and  showed  that  there  is  still  a 
good  deal  of  vigour  in  the  veteran  club. 


134 


THE    OfiLTIC     MONTHLY. 


THE'    :  :v  .l-a^- 
jam  nAC}fs/^]^ji^ 


f^.H'r^ 


'.':'!^e>'^''''t' 


Part   XX. — [Continued  from  ;)rt//e"'10G). 

The  Highland  Brigade — Quatre  Bras, 

Waterloo. 


syfe*-  BOUT  sis  o'clock  Napoleon  detached 
^^M  Lobau's  corps  and  the  young  Guards  to 
^M^  oppose  the  Prussians,  and  Wellington 
some  time  later  brought  Chasscs  Dutch 
Belgians  into  line,  to  fill  up  spaces  between  his 
British  and  German  attenuated  battalions,  so 
that  towards  six  to  seven  p.m.  the  relative 
strength  of  the  opposing  forces  stood  thus : — 

B.itt.        Squart.        Guns. 

Total  British  and  all  Allies,  75  98  150 
French  in  front  of  British,      80       106         186 

Of  the  assistance  derived  by  Wellington  from 
this  augmentation  of  Dutch  Belgians  being 
brought  into  line,  nothing  need  here  be  said, 
the  foregoing  story  tells  its  own  tale.  The 
Dutch  Belgian  cavalry,  of  which  there  were 
3,205  merely  served  to  make  up  numbers,  and  were 
not,  for  sufficient  reasons,  brought  into  the 
fighting  line,  hence  the  brunt  of  all  the  cavalry 
contests  devolved  exclusively  upon  the  British 
and  German  Dragoons 

The  co-operation  of  the  Prussians  has  been 
detailed  in  previous  chapters.  It  was  expected 
by  WelUngton  much  sooner,  but  setting  aside 
all  considerations  of  the  delay  that  attended 
the  arrival  of  Blucher,  it  is  equally  doubtless 
that  the  tardiness  of  that  co-operation  had  a 
more  decided  influence  in  the  general  result  of 
the  battle.  Many  militai'y  ai-guments  may  be 
advanced  as  to  the  result  of  the  Prussians 
coming  into  full  contact  with  the  French  right 


earlier  than  six  o'clock.  No  doubt,  had  the 
Prussians  succeeded  an  hour  earlier  in  driving 
the  French  out  of  Planchenoit,  combined  with 
the  general  advance  of  Wellington's  forces,  the 
whole  French  opposed  to  the  Prussians  would 
have  been  compelled  to  surrender  at  discretion, 
since  their  retreat  would  have  been  cut  otf  by 
the  British  advance. 

As  to  the  actual  share  which  the  Prussians 
had  in  the  battle,  it  may  be  affirmed  that  the 
contest  maintained  by  the  Prussians  under 
Bulow  against  Lobau's  troops  and  a  portion  of 
the  Imperial  Guard  was  most  obstinate  and 
sanguinary,  but  after  all  it  is  undeniable  that 
the  blow  which  decided  the  victory  was  that 
given  by  Wellington  in  defeating  for  the  last 
time  the  grand  attack  of  the  Imperial  Guard, 
and  instantly  following  up  that  defeat  and 
boldly  attacking  and  penetrating  the  centre  of 
Napoleon's  lines,  sustaining  it  by  the  general 
advance  of  the  whole  army.  Yet  is  equally 
true  that  the  powerful  diversion  effected  by  the 
Prussians  diminished  the  strength  of  the 
French  confronting  the  British  forces.  In 
short,  and  in  fact,  both  British  and  Prussians 
admirably  and  honourably  performed  the 
respective  parts  assigned  to  them,  the  one 
holding  its  defensive  position  with  uuparallelled 
bravery  and  unmitigated  perseverance,  until  its 
great  chief,  having  defeated  the  last  desperate 
effort  of  his  great  opponent  to  force  his  line, 
leads  his  whole  army  instantly  onward  and 
prevents  the  possibility  of  a  rally.  Blucher's 
operations  made  the  effect  of  Wellington's 
advance  more  decisive,  and  the  victory  more 
complete  by  vigorous  pursuit.  Thus  was 
consummated  the  tactical  solution  of  the  plan 


THE    OKLtIC     MONTHLY. 


135 


which  had  been  with  so  much  fore  sight  auJ 
skill,  strategically  preconcerted  by  WellLugtou 
and  Blucher. 

From  the  contemplation  of  the  triumph,  the 
glory,  and  the  result  of  such  a  battle,  we  are 
impelled  to  turn  our  thoughts  upon  the  sad  and 
melancholy  spectacle  of  the  awfully  severe  losses 
sustained  bj'  both  the  victors  and  the  van- 
quished, whose  heroic  exertions  and  noble 
endurance  could  not  but  be  attended  witli 
immense  sacrilice. 

The  British  and  Allies  had  to  deplore  a  loss 
in   killed,    wounded,    and    missing    of    nearly 


ir),000  men  and  3,000  horse. 

The  Prussian  loss  at  Waterloo  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing  was  6,775  men  and  752 
horses,  which  tests  the  severity  of  their  three 
hours  struggle  with  the  French.  The  losses 
of  the  French  have  never  been  accurately 
ascertained,  but  have  been  computed  at  30,000 
in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

Llst  of  Scottish  Officers  who  fought 
IN  THE  Waterloo  Campaign. 

Abercrombie,  1 ;  Adair,  1 ;   Adam,  2  ;  Aird,  1 ; 
Alexander,   3 ;    Allan.  4 ;    Anderson,   7 ;    Ai-m- 


SAD  NEWS  VRl>M  TIIF.  I  11,1  H  iH    »  \TKl:L< 

strong,  9 :  Baillie,  1 :  Bain,  1 ;  Baird,  3 ; 
Bruce,  3  ;  Brown,  23  ;  Black,  i ;  Buchanan,  -  ; 
Callander,  2 ;  Camenm,  17 ;  Campbell,  31 ; 
Cargill,  9 ;  Carmichael,  3  •,  Carruthers,  3 ; 
Cathcart,  2 ;  Chambers,  4: ;  Chishohn,  3 ; 
Christie,  2;  Clarke,  16;  Cockburn,  3;  Coch- 
rane, 3 ;  Colquhoun,  1 :  Colville,  2  ;  Cowan,  1 ; 
Craig,  1;  Crawford,  5;  Crichton,  1:  Crowe,  2: 
Gumming,  1 ;  Currie,  1  ;  Dallas,  2 :  Dal- 
rymple,  1 :  Davidson,  2  ;  Dick,  1 ;  Dickson,  3 : 
Douglas,  8;  Drummond,  4;  Duff,  1 :  Duncan,  1; 
Dundas,  1;  Elliott,  4;  Erskine,  4;  Finlayson.  1; 
Fleming,  1;  Fletcher,  1:  Forbes,  5;  Fraser,  17; 


Gardner,  2 :  Gallie,  1 ;  Gillespie,  1  :  Glen 
dinning,  1;  Gordon,  11;  Graham,  7:  Grant,  11 
Gregory,  3  ;  Gunn,  1 ;  Guthrie,  1 ;  Halkett,  2 
Hall,  4;  Hamilton,  11;  Hay,  5;  Henderson,  5 
Hepburn,  1 ;  Home,  3 ;  Hood,  I ;  Hope,  2 
Home,  1  ;  Horner,  1 :  Hiune,  3 ;  Innes,  4 
Johnstone,  15 ;  Keith,  1 ;  Kennedy,  5 ;  Kerr,  4 
Kidd.  1 ;  Knox,  1 ;  Lamont,  1 ;  Lennox,  2 
Leslie,  5  ;  Lindsay,  5  ;  Little,  1 ;  Lochart,  3 
Luntlie,  1 ;  Logan,  4 :  MacArthur,  2 ;  Mac 
Aulay,  1 ;  ilacCulloch,  1 ;  MacDiarmid,  1 
MacDonald,  20;  MacDougall,  4;  MacGlashan,  2 
MacGregor;  3;    Macintosh,  3;    Maclntyi-e,  2; 


130 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Mackay,  5 ;  MaeKeBzie,  9 ;  MacLaehlan,  2 
MacLfiren,  1:  MacLeod,  7;  MacMillan,  1 
MacMunn,  1:  MacNab,  3;  MacNair,  1 
MacNeil,  3;  MacPbee,  1;  MacPherson,  9 
MacKae,  1 :  MacAlister,  3 ;  MacBean,  3 
MacFarlane,  1 :  Mackie,  3 ;  MacKinlay,  1 
MacKinnon,  1 ;  Maitland,  4 ;  Malloch,  1 
Malcolm,  1 ;  Munu,  1 :  Martin,  8  :  Meuzies,  2 
Miller,  8  :  Milne,  3  ;  MacLines,  1 :  Moffat,  2 
Moneypeunj',  1 ;  Montgomery,  1 ;  Moray.  1 
Munro,  5;  Murdoch,  2;  Mm-ray,  3;  Nicolson,  2 
Ord,  2;  Orr,  2;  Patterson,  1;  Patou,  1 
Pringle,  1;  Ramsay,  2;  Reid,  3;  Robertson,  11 
Eobson,  1 ;  Ross,  13  ;  Roy,  1 ;  Rutherford,  1 
Ryrie,  1;  Saltoim,  1;  Scott,  11;  Shaw,  5 
Simpson,  4  ;■  Sinclair,  G :  Smith,  6 ;  Stuart,  20 
Telford,  1 ;  Thompson.  7  ;  Todd,  2  ;  Trotter,  1 
Urquhart.  1;  Waters,  2;  Wallace,  4;  Wemys,  2; 
Williamson,  2  ;  Young,  4. 


4^ 


[Concluded.] 


Come   under  my   arm,    till  our   clansmen    we 
gather, 
And  make  the  rocks  ring  to  thy  Ooiiadh-iia- 
sifh. 

Come  under  my  arm.  my  heart  let  me  press  to 
thee. 
And  gather  our  clan  from  each  mountain 
and  glen, 
Come  under  my  arm,  how  I  long  to  caress  thee. 
And  sound  the  proud  march  of  the  Cameron 
men. 


ADDRESS      TO      THE      BAGPIPES. 

By  PirE-MA.TOR  Riuhakh  Stewart, 
7'Jth  Cameron  Highlander.s. 


Come  imder  my  arm,  delight  of  my  fathers 
And  wake  thy.  wild  echoes  with  war-notes  so 
shrill, 
Come  under  my  arm,  thou  pride  of  the  bravest, 
And  gather  our  clan  from  each  heath-covered 
hill. 

Thou  hast  oft  led  to  glory  the  pride  of  our 
Nation, 
While  foemen  have  trembled  to  hoar  thee 
from  far, 
Midst  death  and  midst  danger  with  carnage 
surrounded 
Thy  notes  mingled  wild  with  the  deep  clang 
of  war. 

Come  under  my  arm,  O  how  deeply  I  love  thee! 
Thy  wild  notes  of  war,  O  sweet  miisic  to  me ! 


Tliy  notes  were  loud  heard  in  the  far  land  of 
Egypt, 
At  Egmont-ap-Zee  midst  the  cannon's  loud 
roar. 
And   at  famed    Waterloo  midst  the  trumpet- 
sound  blended, 
You  have  wailed  o'er  the  brave  who  would 
battle  no  more. 

Come   under   my  arm,   may  that   d.ay  be  far 
distant 
Which    will   sever   our   ties   with    my   own 
gallant  corps. 
Yet  laid  on  my  bier  let  this  wail  be  pl.ayed  o'er 
me, 
Alas!  I'll  return  to  "Lochaber  no  more." 

Stirlinj;  C.a.st.lc,  .r.anualy,  18(il. 


[We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  Norman  Graham,  Edin- 
burgh, for  the  above  verses  on  the  Highland 
Bagpipes.  They  were  composed  in  1861,  but 
were  never  before  published,  we  believe. — Ed.] 


F.      MARY      COLQUHOUN. 


THE     CELTTC     MONTHLY. 


187 


F.      MARY      COLQUHOUN. 


THERE'S     NOTHING     IN     THE     GARISH 
DAY. 


la^lSlSS  F.  MARY 
^Hl)  COLQUHOUN  is 
— '=i  a  member  of  one 
of  the  most  ancient  aucl 
distinguished  of  our  High- 
land chieftain  families — 
the  Colquhouus  of  Colqu- 
houn  and  Luss.  Her 
father  was  John  Colquhoim, 
the  famous  sportsman,  best 
known  perhaps  to  Scotsmen  as  the  author  of 
that  ever  interesting  work  "  The  Moor  and  the 
Loch,"  her  mother  being  the  authoress  of 
"Rhymes  and  Chimes."  Miss  Colquhoun 
is  therefore  cousin  to  Sir-  James  Colquhoun, 
Bai't,  the  estimable  Chief  of  the  Clan.  The 
subject  of  our  sketch  has  distinguished 
herself  in  various  spheres,  but  her  tastes 
ai-e  tlistinctly  literary,  for  she  has  pub- 
lished several  works,  both  in  prose  and 
verse,  which  show  that  she  is  gifted  with  a 
HteraiT  genius  of  no  common  order.  Among 
her  best  known  works  may  be  mentioned 
"Songs  of  Chi'istiau  Warfare,"  "A  Commimion 
Afternoon,"  "The  author  of  'The  Moor  and  the 
Loch,'"  "Ridley  Herschel,"  "St.  Kessog  and 
his  Home,"  etc.  Recently  she  published  a 
most  attractive  little  volume  of  Highland  stories 
entitled  "A  Bit  of  the  Tartan,"  which  met 
with  a  most  flattering  reception.  Naturally, 
Miss  Colquhoun  is  intensely  Highland  in  her 
sympathies,  and  to  her  there  is  no  j)lace  so 
romantic  or  beautiful  as  the  coimtry  of  her 
clan,  stretching  along  "The  Bonnie  Banks  o' 
Loch  Lomon'."  She  is  deeply  learned  in  the 
old  time  traditions  of  the  district,  and  has 
kindly  promised  to  contribute  a  series  of 
sketches  to  the  Celtic  (the  first  of  which  appears 
in  this  issue),  which  cannot  fail  to  interest  all 
members  of  the  clan.  It  may  also  be  mentioned 
that  she  is  bardess  to  the  Clan  Colquhoun 
Society. 

It  may  be  also  interesting  to  add  that 
Mrs.  Walford,  the  popular  novelist,  is  a  sister 
of  JNIiss  Colquhoun,  while  other  two  sisters  are 
married  to  notable  Highlanders,  Rev.  Dr. 
Norman  IMaeleod  of  Inverness,  and  Mr.  CViliu 
Macrae,  of  Colinton,  Chief  of  the  Clan  ilacrae. 
Another  sister  is  wife  of  the  accomplished 
Vicar  of  Cobham,  Kent.  Her  brother.  Colonel 
Alan  J.  Colquhoun,  R.A.,  late  of  the  gallant 
42nd  Royal  Highlanders,  "Black  Watch,"  and 
now  Culonel  of  the  Edinburgh  Artillery  Militia, 
is  well  known,  and  I  understand  the  Editor 
intends  giving  his  portrait  and  a  biographical 
sketch,  in  the  next  number  of  the  Celtic 
Monthly, 

Glasgow.  Neh,  Campbell  Colquhoun. 


Translation  of  a  Gaelic  soiig  composed  by  Kob  Donn, 
the  Reay  country  bard,  "as  l)y  Kirsty 
Brodie,"  Colonel  Mackay's  sweetheart,  after  he 
had  gone  off  to  the  West  Indies. 

There's  nothing  in  the  garish  day, 
Since  thou  hast  gone  across  the  sea, 
I  fold  my  heart  and  lay 
As  treasure  hid  my  love  for  thee. 

Tho'  I  should  call  would'st  thoii  return 
From  that  far  land  of  which  1  hear  ? 
What  tho'  my  love  Uke  fire  doth  burn, 
None  sees  me  shed  the  silent  tear. 

None  sees  me  shed  the  silent  tear, 
For  love  and  theft  are  close  allies. 
And  none  but  thee  shall  know  how  dear 
The  passion  burns  that  purities. 

Return,  return  to  me  from  far. 
Lest  poison  in  thy  chalice  hide, 
Lest  that  the  sun  thy  beauty  mar. 
Lest  other  love  thy  heart  divide. 

Lest  other  love  thy  heart  divide, 
The  very  thought  is  bitter  woe. 
For  life  and  love  go  side  by  side — 
How  could  1  live  if  it  were  so  '. 

Then  go  my  thoughts  across  the  sea, 
I  ask  of  him  such  love  who  wakes 
To  guard  and  quicken  thine  for  me, 
And  keep  us  for  our  true  love's  sake. 
Late  of  Durness.  RoBINA   FiNDLATEU. 


DUNSTAFFNAGE     CASTLE, 
LOCH      ETIVE. 

In  lonely  grandeur  frowns  the  ancient  keep, 
Around  its  roofless  towers  the  wild  wind  sings  : 

Upon  the  shore  the  loch's  blue  waters  sleep, 
Or  lashed  bj'  winter  storms  to  fiu-y,  flings 

Its  foam  aloft, — o'erhead  the  eagles  sweep 
Majestic,  sailing  slow  on  wide  spread  wings. 

Orim  sentinel,  spared  from  the  historic  past 

Unvanquished,    faithful   through   the    countless 
years, 
Through  changing  dynasties,  whose  records  vast 
Were  written  on  its  stones  in  blood  and  tears. 
When  might  was  right, — when  war  and  hate  held 
fast 
In  iron  grip  that  knew  not  ruth  or  fears. 

How  many  moons  have  silvered  Lora's  tide  ? 

How  many  sunsets  flushed  the  eternal  snows 
On  mountain  heights,  since  in  theu-  rugged  pride 

The  massive  walls  of  the  great  fortress  rose  / 
Since  the  wild  slogan  rang,  and  side  by  side 

The  clansmen  torrent-like  swept  down  their  foes. 

Those  days  of  power  are  gone! — why  slupuld  we 
wail  / 
Or  wake  the  echoes  of  this  solitude 
With  vain  regrets  ! — the  Sassenach  and  Gael 

Have  buried  with  the  past  each  bitter  feud. 
Let  dark  oblivion  drop  a  softening  veil, 
Even  as  the  ivy  hides  time's  havoc  rude. 

Janet  A.  M'Culloch. 


13R 


THE     CELTIC    MONTHLY 


THE  LORDS  °f  LOCHABER 


T.D.nACDONhLn  . 


Part  XIV. — Second  Battle  of  In\-erlochy — 
Iain  Lom — Alasdair  MacColla  and 
Montrose — Joins  Charles  II. — Wars 
WITH  Cromwell. 

(Contimied  from  paije  117). 

fN   that  year,   1644,  he  joined  Coll  IMac- 
Gillespuig  with  his  clan. ''     In  the  Carse 
MSS.,  in  the  Bodelian  Library,  Oxford, 

there  is  a  letter  from  Colonel  James  MacDonald, 
of  Alasdaii-  MacColla's  regiment,  giving  an 
account  of  the  events  of  the  times.  Among 
other  things  it  says  that  "after  the  defeat  of 
the  Covenanters,  near  Aberdeen,  September 
13th,  1644,  Alasdair  MacColla  came  to  Blair 
Castle.  Colonel  James  was  sent  to  Loehaline, 
■where  he  was  joined  by  the  Captain  of  Clan 
Ranald  and  his  men,  and  by  the  Clan  Eanald 
of  Lochaber,  etc.,  all  of  whom  went  with 
Alasdair  MacColla  to  lay  waste  Argyle's  lands ; 
then  they  went  on  to  Lochaber,  Glengarry,  and 
Fort  Augustus,  till  hearing  of  Argyle's 
approach,  they  returned  on  their  march 
and  attacked  Argyle  and  his  army  at  Inver- 
lochy,  on  Sunday,  2nd  February,  1645,  gaining 
a  brilliant  victory." 

This  account  is  in  agreement  with  the 
contention  that  Montrose  did  not  command  in 
person  at  this  Battle  of  Inverlochy,  and 
Napier's  "  Memoirs  of  Montrose,"  page  483, 
Vol.  II.,  confirms  it.  Napier,  who  was  himself 
a  kinsman  of  Montrose,  says: — "The  Clan 
Campbell  in  full  gathering,  Hke  an  exasperated 
bee-hive,  numbering  with  the  Government 
troops  about  300,f  confronted  Keppoch,  Clan 


Eanald,;^  ^Glengarry,  %  Lochiel,  MacPherson, 
MacGregor,  and  Strowau,|  with  at  least 
contingents  of  their  septs,  Sunday,  February, 
2nd,  1645.  .  .  .  The  military  power  and 
prestige  of  Argyle  perished  for  ever." 

Colonel  James  MacDonald,  alias  O'Neil,  from 
whose  letter  the  first  account  of  this  battle 
here  given  is  taken,  is  the  same  whom  the 
historians,  who  allege  that  Montrose  com- 
manded in  person,  say  was  in  command  of  the 
reserve.  He  should  therefore  surely  know 
who  was  in  chief  command. 

Iain  Lom,  the  famous  bard  of  Keppoch,  who 
brought  the  news  of  Argyle's  advance  on 
Lochaber  to  the  Highland  army  at  Fort 
Augustus,  and  whose  celebration  of  the  victory 
in  Gaelic  song  is  so  well-known,  makes  no 
mention  of  Montrose.  Yet  Iain  Lom  was  an 
undoubted  admii-er  of  Montrose,  and  he 
immortalised  his  name  in  verse  with  unstinted 
praise.  §  In  any  case  Alasdair  MacColla  proved 
himself  not  only  an  able  ally,  but  essential  to 
the  success  of  Montrose.  Without  his  aid 
Montrose  proved  a  failure.  But  our  desire 
here  is  simply  to  record  the  fact  that  Donald 
Glas  of  Keppoch  and  his  clan  formed  part  of 
the  Highland  army  at  this  battle.  The  battle 
was  a  disastrous  one  to  the  Clan  Campbell,  no 


'^  Spalding. 

t  This  is  evidently  a  misprint  for  3000,  the  undis- 
puted strength  of  Argyle's  force. 

J  Robertson  of  Struan. 

§  Iain  Lom  and  other  distinguished  members  of  the 
clan  will  be  fully  dealt  with  later  on. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


139 


less  than  1000  of  the  name,  besides  over  500  of 
their  allies,  are  said  to  have  been  left  dead  on 
the  field,  a  number  equal  to  the  whole  of  the 
Highland  army. 

In  164(5  Donald  Glas  and  the  Captain  of  the 
Clan  Ranald  had  1300  men  ready  to  assist  the 
King,  in  conjunction  with  the  Manjuis  of 
Antrim.*  Douald  Glas  joined  the  KoyaUst 
forces  soon  afterwards,  and  shared  all  their 
perils.  Charles  II.  was  crowued  at  Scone  on 
the  1st  January,  1651,  but  on  the  23rd  of  the 
preceding  month  Parliament  approved  of  a 
list  of  Colonels  for  the  different  regiments  of 
horse  and  foot  about  to  be  raised.  Those 
approved  of  for  the  Highlands  and  Isles  were 
"  ^MacDonald,  the  tutor  of  MacLeod,  Clan 
Eanald ;  the  tutor  of  Keppoch,  the  laird  of 
Lochaber;  the  tutor  of  SlacLean,  Lochiel, 
MacNeil  of  Barra,  Lachlan  Mackintosh,  and 
the  laird  of  Jui'a."t 

It  will  be  seen  that  Douald  Glas  is  here 
styled  "  the  tutor  of  Keppoch,"  probably  in 
acknowledgment  of  the  fact  that  he  had  an 
elder  brother,  or  nephew.  But  the  fact 
remains  that  he  was  then  the  acknowledged 
Chief,  and  that  he  retained  possession  of  it,  he 
and  his  descendants.  He  and  his  clan  were 
among  the  body  of  Highlanders  who  "  particu- 
lai-ly  distinguished  themselves:j;  during  the 
engagement  between  Charles'  troops  and  those 
of  Cromwell,  fought  between  the  North  Ferry 
and  Inveikeithing  on  the  20th  July,  1651. 
The  Scots,  however,  had  to  give  way,  the  Chief 
of  the  MacLeans  and  about  a  hundred  of  his 
clan  being  left  dead  on  the  field. 

Donald  Glas  was  also  present  at  the  Battle 
of  Worcester,  fought  on  the  3rd  September  of 
the  same  year.  At  this  battle  Charles'  forces 
numbered  only  14,000,  of  whom  2,000  were 
Englishmen  who  have  been  accused  of  being 
only  lukewarm  in  his  cause.  Opposed  to  them 
were  over  30,000  of  CromweU's  trained  and 
disciplined  "  Ironsides."  "  The  King  himself, 
at  the  head  of  the  Highlanders,  fought  wth 
great  bravery :  his  example  animated  the 
troops,  and  had  he  been  supported  by  Leslie's 
cavalry,  as  was  expected,  the  issue  of  the 
struggle  might  have  been  different.  As  it 
was,  the  Royal  army  was  completely  defeated, 
and  the  King  had  to  provide  for  his  personal 
safety  by  dight.§  CromweU  himself  admits 
this  battle  to  have  been  "  as  stiff  a  contest  for 
fom'  or  five  hours  as  ever  he  had  seen." 

Donald  Glas  returned  to  Lochaber  un- 
scaithed,  and  along  with  Clan  Ranald,  Glen- 
garry, and  Lochiel,  refused  to  come  to  terms 
with  Cromwell's  Lieutenant  in  Scotland.  The 
rest  of  the  kingdom  was  by  this  time  wholly 
subdued,  when,  in  the  summer  of  1652, 
General  Monk  directed  three  distinct  parties 


to  cross  the  mountains  with  the  view  of  forcing 
the  Highlanders  to  lay  down  their  arms. 
Colonel  Lillnirn  advanced  from  Inverness 
towards  Lochaber  on  the  one  side,  and  (Jeneral 
Dean  led  his  troops  from  Perth  in  the  same 
direction  on  the  other,  and  Colonel  Overton 
landed  in  Kintyre  with  a  force  from  Ayr."|| 
"  But  they  were  all  obliged  speedily  to  retrace 
their  steps,  amid  the  jeers  and  laughter  of  the 
Highlanders."*^ 

Tradition  assigns  to  Donald  Glas  a  part  in 
the  insurrection  under  the  Earl  of  Glencairn 
in  1653  :  and  indeed,  as  history  records  the 
fact  that  his  neighbouring  Chiefs,  his  colleagues 
through  all  the  campaigns  imder  Charles  II., 
Glengarry  and  Lochiel,  were  two  of  the 
(Jlencairn's  favourite  Lieutenants,  it  is  difficult 
to  imagine  him  being  absent.  But  there  are 
no  records  of  what  part  (if  any)  he  played  in 
that  rising. 

He  died  about  the  year  1656.  His  wife  was 
a  daughter  of  Forrester  of  Kilbeggie,  and  by 
her  he  had  issue: — 1 — Alexander,  his  heir; 
2 — Ranald,  murdered  along  with  his  brother 
in  1663  ;  3 — A  daughter  who  died  unmarried. 


*  Letter  from  Charles  11.,  then  Prince,  at  St.  Ger- 
mains,  to  Marquis  of  Antrim,  ajiproving  the 
project. — Hill's  History,  Note,  page  274. 

t  Bal.,  Vol.  IV.,  pp.  210-212. 

+  Keltie. 

§  Keltie's  History,  page  289. 

II  Keltie's  History,  page  281. 

%  Balfour,  Vol.  IV.,  page  349. 


JOY    GO    WITH     MY     LOVE. 


Oh,  joy  go  with  my  love 

In  his  marching  to  the  war, 
With  the  ribbon  blue  above. 

And  the  slogan  sounding  far, 
With  the  white  rose  at  his  brow 

Making  sweet  the  misty  way, 
Oh,  joy  go  with  my  love  now, 

Go  with  him  night  and  day  I 

Oh,  joy  go  with  my  love, 

Like  the  princely  bridle's  ring 
Leading  through  the  bLrken  grove, 

Many  a  claymore  following, 
With  the  white  rose  at  his  brow 

Making  light  the  darkening  way, 
Oh,  joy  go  with  my  love  now, 

Go  with  liim  night  and  day ! 

Sakah  Robertson  Matheson. 


GovAN  Highland  Association. — A  grand  concert 
and  ball  are  to  be  held  in  the  Masonic  Hall,  on 
Tuesday,  7th  April,  at  7.30  p.  m. ,  Mr.  John  Mackay, 
Celtic  Monthly,  chief  of  the  association,  in  the  chair. 


140  THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 

MO     NIGHEAN     DONN,     BHOID  HEACH- MY     BROWN-HAIRED     MAIDEN. 


Key  B1). — Modcnito. 

1  :  s,     id     :  -.t,  11,     :  s,     1 

d      :  -  1  S, 

:  s. 

1    d      : 

-.r  1  f     :  n        r      :  - 

■    1  r 

Sbisii.         Ho   i6.  mo     nighean  donii, 

bhoidheach, 

Hi 

ri,  mo 

nighean  donn,    bhoidheach, 

Chorus.     Ho   rd,  my      brown-haired 

maid     -     en, 

Hee 

ree,  ray 

brown-haired     maid 

■     en, 

i  :  af   1    s      :  f     1 n    :  s     1 

s,      :  -  1  d 

:  i 

In      : 

-  1  r    :-.d     Id      :   - 

■    1    - 

Mo      chaileag      lagliach, 

bhoidheach, 

Cha 

phos     ■ 

•     ainn      ach     thu. 

My      bonnie,       winsome 

mai     -     den, 

I'd 

wed 

none      but    thee. 

A  Plieigi  dhonn  nam  bhith-shnl, 
Gur  troui  a  thug  mi  grJidh  dhuit  : 
Tha  d'  iomhaigh  ghaoil,  'us  d'  ailleachd, 
A  ghnkth  tigh'nn  fo  m'  iiidh. 

Cha  cheil  mi  air  an  t-saoghal 
Gu  bheil  mo  mhiann  's  mo  ghaol  ort  ; 
'S  ged  chaidh  mi  uait  air  faondradli. 
Cha  chaochail  mo  run. 

'N  uair  bha  mi  ann  ad  hxthair, 
Bu  shona  bha  mo  Ikithean — 
A'  sealhliachadh  do  mhimrain, 
'Us  iille  do  ghniiis. 

Gniiis  aoidheil,  bhanail  mhalda 
Na  h-oigh  a's  caoimhe  nadur  ; 
I  suau'ce,  ceanail,  baigheil, 
Lkn  grais  agus  muim. 

Ge  lurach  air  a'  chabhsair 
Na  mnathan  oga  Gallda, 
A  righ  !  gur  beag  mo  gheall-s' 
Air  bhi  sealltainn  'n  an  gniiis. 

'S  ann  tha  mo  rim  's  na  beanntaibli. 
Far  bheil  mo  rlbhinn  ghreannar, 
Mar  ros  am  fiisach  Shamhraidh , 
An  gleann  fad  o  'shiiil. 


Thine  eye  with  love  is  gleaning  ; 
Thy  face  with  beauty  beaming  ; 
AVhen  waking,  or  when  dreaniin,', 
My  thoughts  dwell  on  thee. 

Forget  thee  will  I  never, 
But  I  will  love  thee  ever  ; 
Though  many  miles  us  sever, 
I'm  still  true  to  thee. 

When  I  was  staying  near  thee, 
Thy  presence  sweet  did  cheer  me  ; 
And  charming  'twas  to  hear  thee 
Sing  gaily  and  free. 

Of  cheerful,  comely  features  ; 
Of  gentle,  kindly  nature  ; 
There  ne'er  was  living  creature 
More  lovely  than  thee. 

Though  Lowland  girls  are  fine,  love, 
E'n  some  may  say  divine,  love. 
There's  none  can  thee  outshine,  love. 
Or  lure  me  from  thee. 

For  'mong  the  hills  she's  dwelling, 
Where  chrystal  streams  are  welling; 
Like  rose,  all  flowers  excelling. 
The  maiden  for  me. 


Ach  'n  uair  a  thig  an  Samhradh, 
Bheir  mise  sgriob  do  'n  ghleann  ud, 
'S  gu  'n  tog  mi  leam  do  'n  Ghalldaohd, 

Gu  h-annsail,  am  fliir. 
Gaelic  words  from  Sinclair's  "  Obanakjhb."    Translation  by  Mr.  M.  MacFarlank,  Paisley. 


When  summer  comes  again,  love, 
F'U  seek  your  Highland  glen,  love. 
Mine  own  to  make  you  then,  love. 
And  take  thee  with  me. 


CLAN     MACKAY    SOCIETY. 


The  kiohth  annual  social  fiATHERiNG  was  held  in  the 
Freemasons'  Hall,  Edinburgh,  ou  13th  March,  Councillor 
William  Maokay,  Inverness,  pi'esident,  in  the  chair. 
There  was  a  very  large  gathering  of  the  clan  and  friends, 
the  hall  being  crowded.  Among  those  present  were 
Sheriff  Eneas  .1,  G.  Mackay,  Colonel  A.  Forbes  Maokay, 
Dr,  George  Mackay,  Messrs.  John  Mackay  (Ben  Reay), 
W.D.  Mackay,  U.S.A.,  John  Jlackay,  Hun  Seci/.,  A.  R. 
Mackay,  Assl.  Secy.,  James  R.  Mackay,  Thomas  A. 
Mackay,  Donald  Mackay  "Strathnaver,"  John  Mackay, 
Alex.  Mackay,  LL.D. ,  Colonel  Alan  J.  Cokjuhoun, 
R.A.,  Surgeon-Major  John  Macgregor,  M.D.,  Rev. 
Robert  Blair,  D.D.,  and  representatives  from  the  various 
clau  societies  and  shinty  clubs,  etc.  Tea  and  cake  were 
provided  and  served  by  a  committee  of  ladies  of  the 


clan,  presided  over  by  Mrs.  Sheriff  Mackay.  The 
learned  chairman  delivered  an  eloquent  address,  in 
which  he  reviewed  the  past  history  of  the  society,  and 
the  useful  work  it  has  performed,  aud  commented  upon 
the  present  flourishing  state  of  its  membership  and 
funds.  He  considered  it  a  very  great  honour  to  have 
been  chosen  as  president  of  the  society.  An  attracti\  e 
programme  of  vocal  and  pipe  music  and  Highland 
dancing  was  then  gone  tln'ough.  Colonel  Forbes  Mackay 
proposed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  chairman,  and  a  special 
cheer  for  his  wife  (a  daughter  of  John  Mackay,  Here- 
ford) who  was  present,  which  we'e  given  with  great 
heartiness.  Three  rousing  cheers  were  also  given  for 
Mr.  Mackay,  Hereford,  the  "grand  old  man"  of  the 
Maokay  clan,  which  sufficiently  expressed  the  liigh 
respect  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  clansmen.  The 
chairman  returned  thanks  for  these  expressions  of 
goodwill.     A  dance  followed,  which  was  well  attended. 


SIR      HECTOR      MUNRO,     BART. 


LADY      MUNRO. 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

A  MAGAZINE  FOR  HIGHLANDERS. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MACKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.  8.  Vol.  IV.] 


MAY,     1896. 


[Price  Threepence. 


SIR     HECTOR     MUNRO    OF     FOWLIS, 
BARONET. 


|p|R|HE  three  leading  names  in  the  County  of 
y^  Ross  are  those  of  Mackenzie,  Eoss,  and 
'or^  Munro.  All  have  been  land  owners  in 
the  county  for  hundreds  of  years,  and  all,  with 
that  curious  perverseness  prevalent  two 
centuries  ago  have  had  assigned  to  them  an 
Irish  origin,  just  as  many  Lowland  Scots  have 
a  mythic  Norman  ancestry. 

For  myself  I  desire  neither  supposititious 
Irish  nor  Norman  descent,  nor  if  I  have  the 
blood  of  either,  boast  of  it,  inclining 
rather  to  take  my  stand  on  Japhet.  Therefore, 
the  tradition  that  the  Munros  were  first  Bun- 
roes,  originally  dwellers  at  the  foot  of  the  river 
Ko,  in  Donegal,  and  afterwards  Mimroes  from 


their  residence  at  the  head  of  the  Ro  does  not 
approve  itself.  The  name  as  known  in  Gaelic, 
"  na  Roich,"  ignores  both  '■  Bun  "  and  "  Mun," 
limits  itself  to  the  plural  of  the  final  Ro  or 
Roe,  and  it  must  be  left  to  GaeHc  philologists 
like  Rector  Macbain  of  Inverness,  to  settle  the 
true  significance  of  the  word. 

The  first  Munro  in  Ross  is  stated  to  have 
been  Donald,  and  the  name  of  his  possession  is 
over  eight  hundred  years  later,  still  clung  to  by 
old  people  in  Ross  as  Ferrindouald,  or  the 
portion  of  Donald.  Three  generations  bring 
us  to  Robert  the  4th  Fowlis,  whose  daughter 
Anna  married  Angus  de  Yle,  and  was  mother 
of  John,  last  independent  Lord  of  the  Isles. 

Donald  the  5th  erected  in  1154  the  Tower  of 
Fowlis,  the  oldest  jjrivate  building  within  the 
county. 

Robert,  8th  Fowlis,  in  company  with  the 
Earls  of  Ross  and  Sutherland,  fought  at 
Bannockburn,  and  while  receivmg  no  haiTQ 
himself,  had  the  misfortime  to  lose  his  eldest 
son,  George.  This  George's  son,  also  called 
George,  fell  at  Hahdon  Hill,  23rd  July,  1333. 
George,  12th  Fowlis,  was  in  the  year  1454 
killed  at  the  well-known  fight  of  Bealach-na- 
br6ig. 

WUliam  14th  for  various  good  services 
was  knighted  by  James  IV.  Sir  William  had 
a  Commission  of  Justiciary  within  the  Coimty 
of  Inverness,  was  killed  in  1505  by  Ewen  vie 
Allan,  for  which  the  latter  was  executed  at 
Elgin  in  his  sixtieth  year. 

Robert  lOth  fell  at  Puikie,  8th  September, 
1547. 

Robert  17th,  styled  Mor,  was  one  of  the 
most  celebrated  of  his  house,  reigning  for 
forty-one  years,  1547- 15S8.  He  was  Bailie  to 
the  King  over  the  Earldom  of  Eoss,  and 
Lordship  of  Ardmeanach.  He  voted  in  the 
Parliament  of  15(10  for  the  overthrow  of  the 
Ancient  Church,  and  for  the  ratification  of  the 
of  the  Scottish  Confession  of  Faith.  A  family 
of  Beatons  or  Bethunes  were  hereditary 
surgeons  to  the  famUy,  and  this  Robert  gave  to 
Neil  Beaton  a  heritable  tack  of  the  lauds  of 


142 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY- 


Culmaskeach.  The  family  of  Beaton  spread  in 
Ross-shire,  and  also  made  a  home  in  Skye,  and 
a  vei-y  interesting  little  book  on  the  Bethimes 
and  their  ramifications  was  lately  privately 
printed  by  Mr.  Bethune  Baker,  Barrister,  one 
of  the  farnily. 

The  Munros  and  a  section  of  Mackintoshes 
as  far  back  as  14:54:  met  as  foes  at  Clachua- 
harry,  near 
Inverness.  A 
subsequent 
inter -marriage 
having  re- 
moved any  ill 
feeling,  the 
close  connec- 
tion was  again 
renewed  by  the 
marriage  of 
Robert  Ifith 
to  Margaret 
Ogilvie  of 
Findlater,  re- 
lict of  the  ill- 
fated  Wilham 
Mackuitosh  of 
Mac  kin  tosh, 
judicially 
murdered  at 
Strathbogie  by 
order  of  the 
Earl  of  Huntly 
Robert  died 
in  November. 
1588,  and 
was  such  an 
extreme  Pro- 
testant, that  he 
would  not  per- 
mit his  remains 
to  be  interred 
at  Fortrose 
near  his  pre- 
decessors, and 
left  orders  to 
be  buried  at 
Kiltearn,  where 
su  bsequeut 
lairds  are 
interred.  The 
lairds  of  Mac- 
kintosh,   of 

whom  four  in  succession  met  with  violent 
deaths  in  course  of  the  Kith  century,  were  so 
harassed  and  troubled  that  on  more  than  one 
occasion  their  charters  and  papers  had  to  be 
placed  in  friendly  custody.  Robert  Mor's 
receipt  for  some  of  them,  without  date,  but 
necessarDy  prior  to  1588,  is  in  these  terms : — 

"  I  Robert  Monro  off  Fowlis  granttis  me  to 


KOliLI.S     C.\STLE,     ROSSSHIRK 


have  resanit  fra  ane  honourabill  man,  Lauch- 
land  M'Kintose  of  Dunnachin,  the  charttouris 
with  the  instrument  of  sesyng  of  the  samyn  on 
all  and  haill  the  landis  of  Glenroy  Glenlowyu- 
town  fforam  and  Locharkak  with  the  stewartric 
of  the  haill  lordship  of  Lochquhaber ;  and  als 
hes  resanit  the  awadenttis  of  the  baronie  of 
Bewfuird  with  the  instrument  of  the  samyn 
quhilkis  awa- 
denttis  ver 
warye  will 
kepit  befor  my 
resait  quhilk 
ewidenttis  is 
gevin  me  in 
custodia  befor 
thir  witnes 
honorabill  men 
James  M'Kin- 
those  of  Gask, 
Hector  Monro 
of  K u 1 d a r - 
more,  WiUiam 
M'Queen,  per- 
sone  of  Assint, 
and  Dougall 
M'fersone  in 
Esse,  with 
others   dyvers. 

(Signed) 
Robart  Mo'ro 
of  Fowlis  " 
<  'ol  Robert 
Munro  was  the 
19th  Baron, 
commonly 
known  as  the 
Black  Bai'on  of 
Fowlis.  He 
succeeded  15th 
February, 
1603,  and 
married  1st, 
Margaret, 
eldest  daugh- 
ter of  Lord 
Duffus,  by 
whom  he  had 
on'e  daugh- 
ter, and  2nd, 
an  English- 
woman, Mary 
Wyre.  He  is  well  known,  like  his  cotemporary 
Donald,  1st  Lord  Reay,  in  whose  regiment  he 
served  as  Colonel,  as  a  strong  supporter  of 
Gustavus  Adolphus.  The  great  le\y  of  High- 
landers in  the  Swedish  King's  support  took 
place  in  1(520,  and  Colonel  Munro's  account 
termed  "  Munro,  his  expedition  with  the  worthy 
Scots  regiment  called  Mackays,"  pubUshed  in 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


113 


London,  1637,  is  of  considerable  interest. 
Colonel  Munro's  exertions  for  the  Protestant 
religion  put  him  to  great  pecuniary  straits, 
and  turned  out  very  unfortunately  for  Mac- 
kintosh and  some  others  who  had  been  security 
for  hun,  and  who  had  to  "  pay  the  piper  "  as 
late  as  the  time  of  Sir  John  23rd,  then  heir  of 
entail  in  possession  of  Fowlis.  Sir  John  was 
known  as  the  "Presbyterian  Mortarpiece,"  and 
easily  allowed  his  scruples  as  to  paying  his 
predecessors'  obligations  to  prevail. 

Robert  19th  died,  without  issue,  of  wounds 
received  at  Ulm,  in  March,  1633. 

Robert's  brother.  Hector,  who  succeeded, 
was  created  a  Baronet  of  Nova  Scotia  in  1G34;. 

Sir  Robert,  22nd  Baron  of  Fowhs,  succeeded 
as  heir  of  entail,  being  the  descendant  of 
Colonel  John  Munro  of  Obsdale,  second  son  of 
Robert  Mor,  before  mentioned.  He  served  in 
Ireland,  and  is  best  known  as  the  friend  and 
patron  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hogg  of  Iviltearu, 
whom  he  supported,  though  subjected  himself 
after  the  Restoration  to  fines  and  imprisonment. 

Sir  John  23rd,  already  mentioned  as  the 
"  Presbyterian  Mortarpiece,"  succeeded,  and  is 
described  as  a  good  soldier,  but  so  corpulent, 
that  if  he  lay  down  it  took  five  or  six  men  to 
raise  him  up. 

Sir  Robert  25th  is  one  of  the  few  prominent 
Highlanders  who  fell  on  the  Hanoverian  side 
during  the  insurrection  of  1745.  He  was 
killed  at  Falkirk,  17th  January,  1746,  and 
buried  there,  having  sat  in  Parliament  as 
member  for  the  Northern  Bm-ghs. 

Sir  Harry  26th  was  educated  at  Dr.  Phihp 
Doddridge's  Academy  at  Northampton,  having 
Mr.  Oilbert  Robertson,  afterwards  Minister  of 
Kincardine,  as  his  tutor.  It  is  recorded  that 
he  was  a  profound  scholar  and  composed  a 
commentary  on  the  Psalms.  He  married 
Anne,  daughter  of  Hugh  Rose  of  Kilravock, 
and  died  12th  Jime,  1781,  being  succeeded  by 
Sir  Hugh  27th.  Sir  Hugh's  career  was 
uneventful  publicly,  while  his  chequered  private 
life  gave  rise  to  much  LU  feeling  and  litigation 
with  the  next  heu-  male  and  of  entail.  He 
Hved  chiefly  in  London,  and  formed  what 
would  be  held  in  England  to  be  an  ii-regular 
marriage  with  an  EngUsh  woman,  Jane, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Law.  Lady  Munro 
on  a  visit  in  1803  to  the  North  was'  drowned 
whUe  bathing  off  FowUs  point,  to  Su- 
Hugh's  great  grief.  She  left  two  children,  a 
son  who  died  in  infancy,  and  a  daughter,  Mary 
Seymour.  Through  the  malevolent  inter- 
ference and  suggestions  of  busy  bodies,  it  came 
to  Sir  Hugh's  ears  that  the  next  heir,  Mr. 
Charles  Munro,  descended  of  George,  brother 
of  the  3rd  Baronet,  intended  to  cUspute  the 
legitimacy  of  his  daughter,  Miss  Mary  Munro, 


then  next  heir  of  entaO.  This  idea,  fostered 
by  needy  limbs  of  the  law,  ended  in  a  tremeu 
dous  Utigation.  After  going  to  the  House 
of  Lords  the  case  was  finally  determined 
in  favour  of  Miss  Munro.  Sir  Hugh  died  3nd 
May,  1848,  and  Miss  Mimro  survived  only  a 
few  months,  dying  12th  January,  1849.  Sir 
Charles,  who  succeeded,  lived  until  1886.  He 
was  in  the  45th  (Sherwood  Foresters),  and 
fought  under  Wellington  in  the  Peninsular 
Wars,  and  got  the  medal  and  sis  clasps — was 
one  of  the  party  who  composed  the  "  forlorn 
hope "  at  Badajoz.  The  medal  is  in  the 
possession  of  Sir  Hector  at  Fowlis.  He  was 
succeeded  by  his  son  Charles,  well  and  popularly 
known  in  the  North.  Sir  Charles  Munro,  born 
in  1824,  served  in  the  Ross-shire  Militia  as 
Captain,  and  many  years  Major,  Rossshire 
Volunteers,  and  died  29th  February,  1888, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  his  eldest  son,  the 
present  Sir  Hector  Munro,  Lieutenant-Colonel 
in  the  3rd  Battalion  Seaforth  Highlanders, 
who  is  a  popular  and  esteemed  country 
gentleman,  taking  an  active  part  in  county 
matters,  and  a  Uvely  interest  in  the  weU- 
being  of  the  people  of  his  estates,  in  which 
last  he  is  well  supported  by  Lady  Munro, 
eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  Stirling  of  Fau'burn. 
Sir  Hector  was  educated  at  the  Academy,  and 
University  of  Edinburgh,  and  has  had  the 
management  of  the  estates  since  1875.  He  is 
^'ice-Chairman  of  the  Count}'  Council,  and 
C'hairman  of  the  Mid  Ross,  his  own  district, 
and  of  the  School  Board,  etc.  Sir  Hector  is 
also  an  ardent  Freemason,  and  been  for  seven 
years  Provincial  Grand  Master  of  the  Province 
of  Ross  and  Cromarty,  and  was  for  several 
years  Master  of  the  Fingal  Lodge  of  Dingwall. 

Sir  Hector  made  a  very  favourable  impression 
as  chairman  of  the  recent  gathering  of  the 
men  of  Ross  in  Glasgow,  and  while  the  Clan 
Munro  have  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with 
their  present  head,  38th  of  his  house,  High- 
landers generally  cordially  desu-e  continued 
success  and  prosperity  to  the  honoured  family 
of  Fowlis.  The  heir  apparent  is  about  a  year 
old. 

To  the  great  regret  of  the  family  and  of 
antiquarians  generally,  many  of  the  Fowlis 
papers  have  been  lost  or  destroyed ;  and  it  is 
understood  amongst  these  interested,  that 
many  were  maliciously  destroyed  by  persons  in 
whose  keeping  they  happened  to  be  after  Miss 
Munro's  death  in  1849,  and  for  the  purpose  of 
prejudicing  Sir  Charles  29th. 

Mr.  John  Munro,  the  weU-Known  factor  of 
Fowlis,  fortunately  had  made  notes  and 
extensive  extracts  from  the  Fowlis  papers  with 
the  object  of  publishing  a  history ;  and  from  a 
MS.  in  possession  of  the  late  Mr.  D.  Muni'o  of 


U4 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Allan,  a  short  genealogical  account  was 
published  in  Inverness  in  1805.  I  may  observe 
that  Sir  Charles,  then  Mr.  Mum-o,  writing 
from  London,  12th  October,  1836,  refers  to 
and  quotes  an  account  of  the  light  at  Clachna- 
harry,  as  from  "  an  old  manuscript  book 
written  by  Sir  John  \iunro  of  Fowhs  in  1683." 
It  is  believed,  hewever,  that  ample  material 
still  remains  for  a  comprehensive  and  satisfac- 
tory history  to  be  edited,  say,  by  a  gifted  man 
such  as  Dr.  Gustavus  Aird,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped 
Sir  Hector  Munro  will  have  this  in  view. 

nr,n„n,m«l    Iiivi-.ness  C.     FrASER-MaCKINTOSH. 


HIGHLAND     PEN     AND     HIGHLAND 
SWORD. 


fT  has  been  said  that  if  the  North  Pole  is 
ever   reached  a    Scotsman  will   be  fouud 
there  '     Well,  I  doubt  not  that  this  will 

prove  to  be  the  case,  for  there  are  few  places  in 
the  world  which  Scotch  enterprise  has  left 
unexplored.  A  long  absence  from  my  native 
country  has,  unfortunately,  given  me  more 
experience  of  the  Southern  Cross  than  of  the 
Northern  Lights.  However,  I  have  found  that 
Scotch  enterprise  is  as  keen  beneath  the  light  of 
the  Southern  Cross  as  it  is  under  the  rays  of  the 
Aurora  Borealis.  In  the  course  of  my  wanderings 
I  have  come  across  the  Scot  and  his  descendants 
located  in  many  a  strange  place.  I  remember 
meeting,  in  the  interior  of  one  of  the  islands  of 
the  Netherlands  East  Indies,  an  individual, 
black  as  a  sloe,  and  unable  to  sjseak  a  word  of 
English.  This  worthy,  however,  rejoiced  in 
the  name  of  ''  MacGillivray,"  and  was  proud  of 
his  crest  with  its  motto,  "Touch  not  the  cat  hot 
the  glove."  However,  I  am  wandering  from  my 
iubject,  so  must  haste  back  to  it. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  it  has  been 
impossible  to  keep  a  record  of  the  struggles 
against  fortune  of  the  gallant  Highlanders,  who, 
in  consequence  of  their  devotion  to  Prince 
Charlie,  were  forced  to  leave  their  native  country 
in  the  dark  days  which  followed  the  '4.5.  The 
history  of  their  doings  and  those  of  their 
descendants  would,  if  written,  form,  I  fancy,  a 
large  and  interesting  library.  I  shall  give  one 
instance  of  how  a  Highland  family  regained, 
by  the  pen,  some  of  the  possessions  which  the 
fortune  of  the  strord  had  deprived  their  ancestors. 
I  hope  that  other  readers  of  the  "  Celtic  "  may 
be  able  to  relate  similar  instances,  and  thus 
initiate  a  series  of  what  will,  1  trust,  prove  very 
interesting  articles. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  present  century  the 
Chief   and    representative  of  one  of  the  West 


Highland  clans  set  sail  for  the  golden  East. 
His  ancestor  had  taken  a  leading  part  in  the 
stirring  events  of  the  '4.5,  and  his  clan  had  been 
out  for  Prince  Charlie.  As  a  consequence  of 
the  backward  swing  of  the  pendulum  the  clan 
suffered  deeply,  while  its  Chief  paid  for  his 
loyalty  to  the  Stuart  cause  by  the  loss  of  lands 
and  money.  The  heir  of  this  narrative  set 
himself  to  repair  the  fallen  fortunes  of  his  family. 
With  that  object  in  view  he  sought  voluntary 
exile  in  the  Dutch  East  Indies.  These  were  the 
days  when  the  pagoda  tree  still  flourished,  and 
when  fortunately  the  mail  steamer  and  the 
telegraph  cable  were  unknown.  Time  rolled  on 
and  fortune  was  kind  to  the  exile.  He  founded 
a  large  commercial  house  (which  still  bears  his 
name)  in  one  of  the  Dutch  Indian  possessions, 
took  to  himself  a  wife,  and  amassed  a  large 
fortune,  as  well  as  a  fine  collection  of  Eastern 
curios.  At  length  the  object  of  his  exile  was 
achieved,  and  with  a  light  heart  and  well  lined 
pockets  the  Chief  was  able  to  make  preparations 
for  turning  his  back  on  the  island  of  his  exile, 
and  seeking  again  his  native  isle,  the  birth-place 
of  his  clan.  When  all  was  ready  for  his 
departure  the  Chief  purchased,  or  chartered,  a 
vessel,  freighted  her  with  his  collection  of  curios, 
and  with  a  large  portion  of  his  fortune  in  specie. 
Accompanied  by  his  family  and  a  few  friends  he 
sailed  for  home.  It  was,  however,  alas!  decreed 
that  he  should  "return  to  Lochaber  no  more," 
for  his  ship  did  not  reach  home,  and  to  this  day 
has  never  been  heard  of ! 

Happily,  however,  the  mystery  does  not  end 
here.  The  brother  and  successor  of  the  lost  Chief 
followed  his  predecessor's  footsteps  in  the  paths 
of  commerce,  with  success.  He  was  able  to 
end  his  days  in  the  old  country,  and  his  son  now 
reigns  in  the  ancestral  home  of  his  father's  clan. 

.[„va.  Frank  Adam. 

[We    presume    the    foregoing    refers    to     the 
Maclain«s  of  Loehbuie. — Ed.] 


The  Clan  Chattan. — Mr.  Ian  Macpherson  Grant 
presided  at  the  General  Business  Meeting  of  this 
Society  held  in  Edinburgh.  There  was  a  large 
attendance.  Arrangements  were  made  for  the  first 
Annual  Social  Gathering  of  the  Clan  to  be  held  in 
Glasgow  in  May,  at  which  the  Chief  (Oluny)  will  he 
present.  The  Glasgow  Branch  of  this  Clan  held  a 
very  successful  Concert  in  Glasgow  on  '24th  March, 
Ex-Bailie  Duncan  Macpherson  presiding.  The  hall 
was  crowded,  and  a  very  pleasant  evening  was  spent. 

Clan  MacMillan  — At  the  Annual  General 
Meeting  held  recently  the  Rev.  Hugh  MacMillan,  M.  A  , 
LL.D.,  was  re-elected  Chief  of  the  Society  ;  President! 
Mr.  Donald  MacMillan,  Partick ;  Treasurer,  Mr. 
Donald  MacMillan.  Main  Street,  Anderston;  and 
Secretary,  Mr.  W.  S.  MacMillan,  102  Bath  Street. 
Very  satisfactory  reports  were  read. 


COLONEL     ALAN     J       COLQUHOUN, 


THE    OELtIC     MONTHLY. 


145 


COLONEL     ALAN     JOHN     COLQUHOUN. 


)pTCT|HERE  ai'e  few  repie- 
V5^  sentatives  of  the 
"^■^^  aiicieut  Clan  Colqu- 
liiiiiu  better  known  oi'  more 
liig'hiy  respected  among- 
Highlanders  and  Lowlauders 
alike  than  the  subject  of 
this  brief  sketch.  Culonel 
Colquhoim  .served  his  country 
for  ten  j'ears  in  the  gallant 
"  Black  Watch,"  and  now  commands  the  Edin- 
burgh Artiller_y  Militia.  He  i.i^  a  trustee  of  the 
Soldiers'  Home  at  Piershill  Barracks,  and  an 
elder  in  St.  (ieorge's  Parish  Church,  Edinburgh. 
He  had  the  honour  of  receiving,  in  1893,  the 
Saxe-Ernestine  Order  from  the  Duke  of  Saxe 
Coburg  and  Gotha,  a  decoration  which  lew  have 
been  granted.  Naturally,  Colonel  Cohjuhouu 
takes  a  deep  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Clan 
Colquhoun  Society,  of  which  he  is  Vice-President, 
and  we  think  much  of  the  prosperity  of  this 
useful  Association  is  due  to  the  great  personal 
interest  which  the  Chief,  Sir  Jame.s,  and  the 
various  members  of  the  Luss  family,  take  in  its 
work  and  progress.  The  various  philantrophic 
and  benevolent  institutions  of  Edinburgh  occupy 
much  of  his  attention.  He  married  in  1884 
Justine,  second  daughter  of  Mr.  Kennedy  of 
Underwood,  Ayrshire,  and  has  two  sons  and 
three  daughters. 


Glas-o 


Nioir,  C.  CoLi^UHuuN. 


LETTER     TO    THE     EDITOR. 


The  Chief  of  the  Clan  MacR.^e. 

Newark-on-Treiit. 
In  the  April  number  of  the  Ci:ltlc  Muiitlily  there  is 
a  statement  made  with  regard  to  the  Chief  of  the 
Clan  MacRae  which  it  would  seem  de.sirable  to  have 
corrected  in  the  next  issue  of  the  magazine,  if  tlie 
space  can  be  ati'orded  tor  that  purpose.  For  many 
years  the  genealogy  of  the  Clan  MaoRae  has  been  a 
subject  of  the  greatest  interest  to  the  writer,  and 
he  has  spent  time,  and  taken  trouble  to  get 
information  regarding  the  descent  of  the  difl'erent 
families  from  "  Finlay  dubh  MacGilichrist,"  the 
supposed  founder  of  the  clan  in  Kintail,  down  to 
the  present  day.  (Jn  no  occasion  has  he  been  able 
to  find  mention  made  of  the  clan  being  assembled 
under  a  chief  of  their'  own,  or  any  reference  even 
made  to  such  an  individual.  It  would  appear  that 
each  family  came  into  prominence  in  Kintail 
according  to  the  individual  merits  of  its  members. 
In  the  fighting  which  was  continually  taking  place 
between  the  ditl'erent  clans,  and  families  in,  and 
about  Kintail,  the  MacRaes  are  generally  alluded 
to  as  if  they  were  present  in  small  numbers, 
independently,  not  as  a  clan  under  its  chief. 


Even  at  the  time  of  the  Battle  of  Sherilihiuir 
(November,  1715)  when  the  Clan  MacRae  was 
assembled  in  probably  greater  numbers  than  at 
any  other  time,  and  when  it  was  almost  extermina- 
ted on  the  field,  the  MacRaes  are  mentioned  as 
forming  part  of  the  three  Kintail  regiments  under 
the  Earl  of  Seaforth,  "High  Chief  of  Kintail,"  and 
not  under  any  chief  of  their  ovtu.  The  writer's 
great-great-gi-andfather,  John  MacRa  of  Conchra, 
Lochalsh,  who  was  killed  on  the  field  along  with 
most  of  the  other  gentlemen  of  the  clan  and  their 
followers,  was  holding  a  Major's  counnission  in  one 
of  Seaforth's  Kintail  regiments,  and  the  writer  has 
not  found  any  reference  whatever  made  to  a  chief 
of  the  clan,  though  there  were  assembled  there 
members  of  all  the  principal  families  of  the  name, 
and  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  if  a  chief  had  been 
recognised  at  all,  he  would  have  been  mentioned 
on  that  occasion.  The  conclusion  the  writer  has 
come  to,  is  that  there  never  was  a  recognised 
Chief  of  the  Clan  MacRae  when  the  MacRaes 
existed  as  a  clan,  though  of  late  years  the  designa- 
tion has  sprung  into  existence  and  been  used  by 
some  people  who  think  that  every  clan,  large  or 
small,  must  necessarily  have  had  a  chief,  and 
accordingly  bestow  the  title  on  the  representative 
of,  possibly  the  only  family  of  the  name  they 
happen  to  have  heard  of.  If  any  of  the  readers  of 
the  Celtic  Moidhlji  can  show  proof  of  a  recognised 
Chief  of  the  Clan  MacRae  ever  having  existed,  no 
dtiubt  the  MacRaes  of  the  present  day  would  be 
glad  to  hail  his  representative  as  such.  Apart 
from  the  question  of  the  chiefship  of  the  clan 
comes  the  question  as  to  who  represents  the 
(supposed)  founder  of  the  Clan  MacRae  in  Kintail — 
Finlay  dubh  MacGilichrist !  This  is  claimed  by  the 
representatives  of,  at  least,  three  families  of  the 
name,  namely : — 

Tlie  MacRaes  of  Couclira,  Luclialsh,  in  the  person 
of  Colin  MacRae,  Esq.,  of  Camden,  South  Carolina, 
U.S.A.,  head  of  Conchra  family  and  12th  in 
descent  from  the  said  Finlay  dubh  MacGilichrist, 
and  after  him  in  the  person  of  his  brother,  Duncan 
MacRae,  Esq.,  J.P.,  D.L.,  Kames  Castle,  Isle  of 
Bute. 

The  MacMaia  of  Iiurrhiuite,  Loch  JjitUh,]Te-pTCsen- 
ted  by  Colin  George  Macrae,  Esq.,  Moray  Place, 
Edinburgh,  head  of  the  Inverinate  family  and  1 4th 
in  descent  from  Finlay  dubh  MacGilichrist. 

The  MacHacs  of  Toilishich,  Uleii.':hicl ,  represented 
by  Farquhar  Macrae,  Es(i.  (in  India),  head  of  the 
Torlishich  family  and  14th  in  descent  from  Finlay 
dubh  MacGilichrist. 

John     MacRae, 
Late  Captain,  1st  Batt.  "The  Black  Watch." 

[We  may  mention  that  the  reference  in  our  last 
issue  to  Mr.  Colin  G.  MacRae  being  chief  of  the 
clan,  was  added  to  the  sketch  by  ourselves,  as  we 
have  frequently  heard  Mr.  Macrae  referred  to 
in  this  connection.  This  seems  only  another 
instance  of  the  uncertainty  and  confusion  which 
seem  to  exist  in  regard  to  the  indentity  of  the 
chiefs  and  heads  of  many  ancient  clan  families. 
Captain  MacRae's  letter  cannot  fail  to  be  of 
interest  and  service  to  those  of  our  readers  who 
make  a  study  of  such  matters. — Editor.] 


U6 


TfeiE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


TRADITIONS    OF    THE     COLQUHOUN 
COUNTRY. 


By  F.  Mart  Colquhoun. 


[Continued  from  page  127.) 

^^  TRADITIONARY  legend  narrates  that 
(^^x  Saint  Kessog  suffered  martyrdom  in  a 
^M=  foreign  land,  and  that  hjs  remains, 
being  enbalmed  with  sweet  herbs,  were 
brought  for  interment  to  the  church  of  his 
adoption,  which  then  bore  the  name  of  Clachan- 
ubhd,  "the  black  hamlet. "  One  of  the  herbs 
sprang  up  from  his  grave  and  spread  itself 
over  the  wall  of  the  church,  a    circumstance 


for  which  the  Parish  took  the  name  of  Lus,  a, 
word  which  in  Gaehc  signifies  a  plant  or  herb. 
This  herb,  it  is  added,  continued  to  flourish  so 
long  as  the  old  church  stood,  but  when  it  was 
pulled  down  it  perished.  The  church  thus 
became  celebrated,  and  numerous  devotees 
went  to  it  in  pilgrimage  for  the  performance  of 
religious  duties. 

St.  Kessog  then  became  the  tutelar  Saint  of 
the  Church  of  Luss,  and  was  held  in  profound 
reverence  in  the  whole  district  of  the  Lennox, 
and  in  other  places,  his  anniversary  being  duly 
observed  on  the  10th  of  ilarch.  A  mile-and-a- 
half  to  the  south  of  the  present  Parish  Church 
of  Luss,  in  Bandry.  on  the  Luss  Road,  on  the 
east  side,  was  the  cairn  called  "  Carn  na 
Cheasaig,"  or  the  cairn  of  St.  Kessog. 


EFFIGY     OF    ST.     KESSOG     AS     FOUND     IN     HIS    CAIRN. 


In  the  middle  of  last  century,  when  the 
military  road  along  Loch  Lomond  was  formedj 
this  cairn  having  been  partly  removed,  a  large 
stone,  carved  as  a  recumbent  effigj'  for  the 
tomb  of  an  ecclesiastic,  was  discovered  there. 

The  stone  effigy,  and  a  stone  fort  beside  it, 
which  appertained  to  the  Chapel  at  Rossdhu, 
are  now  preserved  in  the  modern  Chapel  built 
by  the  j)resent  Chief.  This  medieval  successor 
of  St.  Kessog  represents  a  Bishop  La  Abbot, 
mitred  and  habited,  in  eucharistic  vestments 
alb,  stole,  tunic,  chasuble,  manijjle,  and  amice. 

When  gazing  at  the  serene  features  of  the 
Celtic  Saint,  we  can  imagine  how  he  almost 
welcomed  the  death-wounds  which  paved  the 
road  to  his  victorious  rest,  and  made  him  more 
like  his  Lord.  We  can  fancy  his  rapt  look 
into  the  glories  of  an  opened  Heaven,  and 
almost  hear  his  earnest  voice  praying  for  his 
murderers,  like  St.  Stephen,  and  like  a  greater 
than  he,  who  cried  with  His  last  breath 
"Father  forgive  them,  they  know  not  what 
they  do." 

Perhaps  the  dark  deed  was  done  when  the 
shades    of    evening    were    approaching,    the 


moon  in  her  autumn  glow  on  the  brow  of 
Ben  Lomond,  and  casting  her  pale  beams  over 
the  still  lake. 

Nature  would  almost  hold  her  breath :  the 
devoted  disciples  of  their  noble  teacher  would 
utter  a  bitter  cry — "  My  Father  !  my  Father  ! 
the  chariots  of  Israel  and  the  horsemen 
thereof ! "  while  notes  of  rejoicing  were  being 
sounded  in  the  Heavens  from  those  who  had 
been  led  thither  by  him,  who  had  then  gained 
the  martyr's  crown ! 

We  cannot  close  this  brief  sketch  of  Loch 
Lomond  without  noticing  the  tragic  death  of 
the  late  Sir  James  Colquhoun,  December  18th, 
1873,  who  was  drowned  in  its  deep  waters 
with  four  of  his  '■  keepers."  He  had  gone  to 
Inch  lonaig  to  shoot  deer  for  the  Christmas 
gifts  to  the  poor  on  his  estates.  The  boat, 
being  heavily  laden  with  the  deer,  and  the 
"  keepers  '  not  being  the  usual  well  experienced 
oarsmen,  was  upset  in  a  squall,  on  the  home- 
ward passage  to  Rossdhu. 

The  loch  was  dragged  in  every  direction, 
and  Sir  James'  body  was  recovered  by  the 
barge  of  the    Duke   of   Montrose,   under  the 


THE    OELTIO    MONTHLY. 


147 


charge  of  the  ^Dulve's  keeper.  Two  of  the 
bodies  still  lie,  doubtless,  in  some  of  the  rock 
ledges  of  the  deep  loch,  but  the  remains  of  the 
other  keepers  were  found  near  the  body  of  Sii- 
James. 

Sir  ,)  ames  and  his  brother,  the  distinguished 
author  of  the  "  Moor  and  the  Loch,"  and  the 
third  brother,  WilUam,  were  the  sons  of  the 
'good"  Lady  Colquhoun,  who  bade  farewell 
to  them  saying — "Meet  me,  I  charge  you,  at 
the  right  hand  of  the  Throne  of  God."     All 


three  listened  to  that  charge,  and  have  years 
ago  met  that  good  mother  in  glory. 

I  hope  I  may  be  allowed  to  finish  this  part  of 
my  inadequate  sketch  of  the  "Colquhoun 
country"  with  the  "Luss  setting"  of  the 
"Bonnie  Banks  o'  Loch  Lomon'." 

By  yoii  bonnie  banks  an'  by  yon  bonnie  braes, 
Whaur  the  sun  beams  bricht  on  Loch  Lomon', 

Whaur  we  twa  hae  pass'd  sae  mony  blithe  days. 
On  the  bonnie,  bonnie  banks  o'  Loch  Lomon  1 


'.\STLE,     I.O('lI     I.iiMUNh 


siu   .i.A.MKs   coLi.n  iiorx,    i;art. 


Refrain — 

Oh  I  ye'll  gang  tlie  hie  road,  an'  I'll  gang  the  laigh 

road, 
.\n  I'll  be  in  Scotland  afore  ye  ! 
For  me  an'  my  true  luve  will  yet  meet  again. 
On  the  bonnie,  bonnie  shores  o'  Loch  Lomon'  ! 

We'll  meet  whaur  we  parted  in  bonnie  Luss  glen, 
'Mang  the  heathery  braes  o'  Loch  Lomon', 


Starts  the  roe  frae  the  pass  an'  the  tox  frae  his  den, 
While  abune  gleams  tlie  mune  thro'  the  rowan  I 

Wi  yer  bonnie  Land-shoon  an  yer  buckles  sae  clear. 
An  yer  plaid  owre  yer  shouthers  sae  rarely, 

Ae  glance  o'  yer  e'e  wad  chase  awa'  iny  fear, 
Sae  winsome  are  yer  looks,  O  my  dearie  I 

(To  be  continued). 


Formation  of  a  Celtic  Society  in  Fobfau. — 
On  9th  inst.  a  number  of  gentlemen  met  in  the  Drill 
Hall  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  Celtic  Society,  ovor 
twenty  being  present.  Mr.  A.  Mackintosh,  V-.in 
Lodge,  presided,  and  Provost  MacDougall,  the 
chairman,  and  several  others  addressed  the  mei'tiiig. 
A  resolution  was  passed  unanimously  to  form  a 
Society  in  Forfar,  and  after  a  committee  had  been 
appointed  to  frame  rules,  etc.,  the  meeting  adjourned 
for  a  fortnight. 


Glasgow  Cowal  Shintv  Club. — The  Annual 
Concert  was  held  in  the  Grand  Hall,  Waterloo  Rooms, 
on  25th  March — Bailie  Alexander  Murray  in  the 
eh.air.  The  hall  was  completely  fdled,  over  1000 
persons  being  present.  Tlie  proceedings  were  of  the 
most  pleasant  description  ;  and  the  ball  was  also  well 
attended.  The  success  of  the  concert  may  be  taken 
as  an  indication  that  the  splendid  record  of  this  club 
has  earned  for  it  the  hearty  support  of  Highlanders 
in  this  city. 


14:8 


TSE    CELTIC    MONTHLY 


REVIEWS. 


Through  the  Buffer  State,  a  record  of 
recent  travels  through  borneo,  slam,  and 
Cambodia,  by  Surgeon-Major  John  MaoGregor, 
M.D.  London:  F.  V.  White  &  Co.  The  author 
of  this  important  work  requires  no  introduction  to 
the  readers  of  the  Celtic  Monthlij,  nor  indeed  to  any 
Highland  audience.  His  contributions  to  Gaelic 
and  English  literature  are  of  permanent  value,  and 
the  most  cerapetent  authorities  admit  that  his 
latest  work  is  the  most  important  book  of  travel  of 
the  season.  The  most  successful  books  are  those 
which  are  entertaining  as  well  as  instructive,  and 
Surgeon-Major  MacGregor  has  produced  a  work 
which  combines  these  essentials  in  a  remarkable 
degree.  In  its  pages  the  distant  lands  of  Borneo, 
Siam,  and  Cambodia  are  described,  the  habits  and 
customs  of  their  inhabitants  gracefully  touched 
upon,  while  the  Major's  own  personal  e.xperiences, 
often  of  the  most  amusing  character,  add  a  piquancy 
to  the  volume  which  makes  it  doubly  interesting. 
In  the  very  limited  space  at  our  disposal  this  month 
it  is  impossible  for  us  to  enter  upon  greater  details 
— suffice  it  to  say  that  the  volume  e.xtends  to  about 
300  closely  printed  pages,  is  illustrated  with  a 
number  of  fine  process  plates,  is  attractively  bound, 
and  thoroughly  deserves  the  large  sale  and  hearty 
welcome  which  have  been  already  extended  to  it. 
To  our  readers  we  would  merely  say,  do  not  forget 
to  order  a  copy. 

Lyra  Celtica,  an  Anthology  of  Represen- 
tative Celtic  Poetry,  Edited  by  Elizabeth  A. 
Sharp,  with  Introduction  and  Notes  by 
William  Sharp.  Edinburgh  ;  Patrick  Gedde.s 
AND  Colleagues. —The  publication  of  this  hand- 
some and  valuable  volume  is  one  of  the  practical 
results  of  the  Celtic  renascence.  It  is  a  collection 
of  translations  of  ancient  Irish,  Alban,  Gaelic, 
Breton,  Cymric,  and  modern  Scottish  and  Irish 
poetry.  The  beauties  of  our  Gaelic  muse  have 
been  too  long  hid  from  the  sight  of  the  philistine 
Saxon,  and  the  publication  of  a  choice  selection  of 
suitable  translation.s  will  be  welcomed  by  High- 
landers and  Lowlanders  alike.  The  compiler  has 
shown  rare  taste  and  judgment  in  the  selection  of 
examples,  which  cover  pretty  well  the  whole  field 
of  Gaelic  poetry.  We  take  it  as  a  compliment  to 
the  Celtk  Muiitldy  that  so  many  of  the  examples 
given  of  the  modern  and  contemporary  Scoto-Celtic 
period  should  have  been  selected  from  the  pages  of 
this  magazine.  We  are  pleased  to  note  that  contri- 
butions which  have  appeared  in  our  pages  from  the 
pens  of  Misses  Alice  C.  MacDonell,  Amice  Mac- 
Donell,  Mrs.  Sarah  Robertson  Jlatheson,  Mr. 
Henry  Whyte  (Fionn),  etc.,  are  honoured  with  a 
place  among  the  productions  of  the  representative 
Celtic  poets  of  the  present  day.  There  is  just  one 
remark  that  we  might  venture  to  make  here,  not  so 
much  in  regard  to  i;/ra  Celtica,  as  to  the  tendency 
of  the  Highland  literature  of  the  present  day,  and 
that  is,  we  fear  that  too  much  is  being  made  of  the 
solemn  side  of  the  Highlander's  nature.  To  read 
some  recent  books  and  newspaper  articles  one 
would  fancy  that  the  Gael  of  to-day  was  a  miserable 
groaning,  moping  creature,  whose  very  shadow 
was  a  source  of  terror  to  liira.     The  Highlander  no 


doubt  has,  like  every  human  being,  his  solemn 
moments,  but  he  is  by  no  means  a  duU,  ghiomy 
fellow.  He  loves  the  pipes  and  the  merry  Highland 
dances,  he  throws  more  robust  nhandun  into  his 
amusements — such  as  shinty  for  instance — than 
you  will  find  anywhere  else  in  the  kingdom — in 
fact  touch  the  mainspring  of  his  nature  by  music  or 
by  any  incitement  and  he  becomes  immediately  as 
lively  and  amusing  as  his  kinsman  of  the  Emerald 
Isle.  Professor  Campbell  Black,  the  other  evening, 
hitofi'the  "Celtic  Gloom"  very  neatly.  A  High- 
land Reel  was  being  danced  to  a  large  gathering  at 
the  Glasgow  Cowal  Shinty  Club  Concert,  and  while 
the  audience  was  excitedly  encouraging  the  dancers 
to  greater  efforts,  the  -ivitty  Professor,  with  a 
twinkle  in  his  eye,  remarked  to  his  neighbours 
"  There's  a  sample  of  Highland  renascence  gloom 
for  you!  They  don't  look  as  if  they  sufl'ered  from 
melancholia!" 

We  hope  that  we  will  hear  no  more  of  this  topic — 
the  only  gloom  that  we  ever  found  in  the  Highlands 
was  that  associated  with  a  large  section  of  the 
Highland  clergy,  who  if  allowed  to  e.xercise  their 
will  would  do  their  best  to  make  the  Highland 
people  the  "gloomy,  sorrow-laden"  race  that 
English  tourists  go  north  m  search  of,  but  never 
find.  Lijiii  CeUicii  is  by  no  means  a  refle.x  of  the 
"weird"  side  of  the  Celt,  but  a  book  which  will 
give  pleasure  and  amusement.  It  is  most  attrac- 
tively got  up,  and  is  worthy  of  a  place  on  every 
Highlander's  book-shelf. 

Mr.  David  Glen,  8  Grebnside  Place,  Edin- 
burgh, has  just  published  parts  1  and  2  of  his 
Collection  of  Ancient  Piobalreachd  or  Highland 
Bagpipe  Music.  Each  part  contains  thirteen  of  our 
most  celebrated  pipe  tunes,  a  list  of  which  were 
given  in  our  last  issue.  This  is  the  first  time  that 
piobrach  music  has  been  published  at  a  popular 
price,  and  Mr.  Glen  deserves  to  be  well  supported 
in  his  enterprise.  Each  part  can  be  had  for  4/-,  or 
any  separate  tune  for  1/-. 

Mr.  (ilen  has  also  published  a  large  volume 
containing  the  largest  collection  extant  of  Quick- 
steps, Strathspeys,  Reels,  and  Jigs — -over  800  tunes 
are  given,  relating  to  every  Highland  clan  and 
county.  That  this  authoritative  work  has  met 
with  a  generous  support  is  evidenced  by  the  fact 
that  it  is  now  in  its  eighth  thousand.  We  are  glad 
of  this  opportunity  of  recommending  Mr.  David 
Glen's  bagpii>e  music  publications  to  the  notice  of 
our  readers — when  in  want  of  any  particular  tune, 
or  desirous  of  procuring  a  reliable  collection  of 
Highland  music,  they  could  not  do  better  than 
apply  to  Mr.  Glen,  who  will  be  always  able  to 
supply  their  wants. 

The  Caledonian  Medii^al  Journal  for  April 
is  entirely  devoted  to  contributions  from  Highland 
doctors  on  that  much  debated  and  most  attractive 
subject  "Old  Highland  Remedies  and  Supersti- 
tions." The  various  articles  artord  most  amusing 
reading,  the  remedies  being  often  of  the  most 
startling  nature.  After  perusing  these  articles  our 
personal  feeling  is  that  we  cannot  be  sufficiently 
thankful  that  we  live  in  a  age  when  small-jjox  is  no 
longer  cured  by  an  application  of  "  fried  mice,"  or 
toothache  by  contact  with  a  ' '  rusty  nail  taken  from 
a  coffin  in  a  churchyard.  " 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


14? 


NOTES     ON      THE      HIGHLAND     CLANS, 

their  badges,   slogans,   music,  &c. 

By  Fionx. 


Clan   Chattan — C'lann  Chatain. — Continued. 

IpjraiHE  name  Catan,  or  GiUe-Chatain,  means 
V^  the  servant  of  St.  Catan,  which  denotes 
l.j^  "little  cat,"  and  the  crest,  motto  and 
armorial  bearings  of  the  clan  bear  evidence  that 
this  was  understood  to  be  the  meaning  of  the 
name.  Each  orgamization  admits  as  members 
such  as  bear  any  of  the  following  surnames  : — 
Cattanach,  Clark,  Crerar,  Davidson,  Farquharson, 
Gillespie,  Gillies,  Gow,  Macbean,  Macbaiu, 
Macgillivray,  Mackintosh,  Macphail,  Maepher- 
8on,  Macqueen,  Noble,  Shaw.  We  shall  refer 
to  these  names,  as  they  apjjear  in  the  ordinary 
alphabetical  order,  which  we  propose  to  follow. 

CmSllOLM .SlOSALACH. 

The  Chisholms,  strictly  speaking,  are  not  a 
Highland  clan,  as  the  chief  hailed  from  Rox- 
burgh, where  the  estate  of  Ghisholm  still  retains 
its  ancient  name.  The  first  (if  the  de  C/ns/io/nis 
went  north  in  the  fourteenth  century  and  became 
Constable  of  Urquhart  Castle.  The  chief  is 
called  in  Gaelic  An  Soisalac/i,  and  is  the  only 
Highland  chief  entitled  to  have  "The"  prefixed 
to  his  name.  The  badge  of  the  clan,  according 
to  some  is  Fearna,  alder,  according  to  others 
Raineach — the  fern.  Salute — Failte  an  t-Siosal- 
aieh — The  Chishohn's  Salute.  Lament — Cumha 
an  t-Siosalaich — The  Chisholm's  Lament.  Motto 
—  Vi  ant  virtutte — By  virtue  and  valour. 

Clark  or  Clerk — Cleireach. 

The  Clerks  are  a  sept  of  the  Clan  Chattan. 
They  are  of  ecclesiastical  origin.  We  have  also 
Mac  a'  ChUirich — which  in  the  south  takes  the 
form  MacChlery. 

The  CoLi,)iinouNS— Clann  a'  CnOMPAiciL 

Colquhoun  is  a  place  name. 
In  the  reign  of  Alexander 
IL  Malduin,  Earl  of  Lennox 
grants  charter  of  the  lands 
of  Colchoim  to  Humphry 
Kirkpatrick.  He  was  the 
first  to  bear  the  surname 
Colquhoun.  Sir  Humphry 
Colquhoun,  twelfth  Laird  of 
Luss,  acquired  the  heritable 
Coronorship  of  Dumbartonshire  in  L583.  He 
fought  the  bloody  battle  of  Glenfruin  against 
the  MacGregors  in  1602,  in  which  he  was 
defeated  with  the  loss  of  200  men,  hence, 
doubtless,  the  Lament  of  the  clan, — Rnaig 
Ghlinnfrw'n — The  rout  of  Glenfruin. 


Sir  Humphry  Colquhoun,  XVIL  of  Luss, 
married  a  daughter  of  Houston  of  that  ilk,  by 
whom  he  had  a  daughter  only,  Annie,  who  iu 
1702  marrieii  James  Grant  of  Pluscardine, 
second  son  of  Grant  of  that  ilk  ;  and  being 
resolved  that  the  young  people  should  succeed 
him  in  his  whole  estate  and  honours,  in  1704  he 
resigned  his  baronetcy  to  the  Ci-own,  and 
obtained  a  new  grant,  to  himself  in  life  rent,  to 
his  daughter  and  son-in-law  in  fee,  providing 
that  their  heir.s  should  adopt  the  name  and  arms 
of  Colquhoun,  and  that  the  estates  of  Grant  and 
Luss  should  never  be  conjoined.  Sir  Humphry 
died  in  1715,  and  was  succeeded  by  James 
Grant  as  Sir  James  Colquhoun ;  buc  his  elder 
brother  dying  without  issue  in  1719  he  succeeded 
to  the  estates  of  Grant,  and  resuming  that  name 
was  succeeded  in  the  estates  of  Luss  by  his 
second  son.  Sir  Ludovick,  who  on  the  death  of 
his  elder  brother,  unmarried,  also  succeeded  to 
the  estates  of  Grant,  and  that  of  Luss  went  to 
hLs  younger  brother,  from  whom  the  present 
Laird  of  Luss  is  de.scended.  The  [)reseut  Chief 
of  the  Clan  is  Sir  James  Colquhoun,  12th  Bart, 
of  Colquhoun  and  Luss,  born  1844 — principal 
seat,  Rossdhu  House,  Luss.*  Branches — 
Tillyquhoun,  Cam.stradden,  Killermont,  Gars- 
cadden,  Kennuoir,  Kilmardenuy,  Barnhill,  Dun- 
yelder.  The  Badge  of  the  clan,  according  to 
some,  is  the  Sauch  Tree  or  WilU>w~Sei/eac/i, 
according  to  others,  Braoileag  nan  con — Dogberry. 
Gathering  tune,  Ceann  na  Drochaide  bige — The 
Head  of  the  Little  Bridge.  March,  Caismeachd 
'yh/oinn  a'  Chompaich — The  Colquhouns'  March. 
Motto,  Si  je  puis — If  I  can.  War-cry  or  Slogan, 
Cnoc  Ealacliain. 

A  Clan  Society  was  formed  a  few  years  ago — 
the  Secretary  is  Mr.  N.  C.  Colquhoun,  64  Couper 
Street,  Glasgow. 

*  For  portrait  and  sketch  of  Chief  see  Celtic 
MmMly,  Vol.  II. ,  page  61. 

fTo  bn  continued). 


Mb.  James  A.  Ghisholm,  of  the  Eastern  Telegraph 
Company,  and  a  prominent  member  of  the  London 
Caithness  Association,  has  been  appointed  Assistant 
Secretary  of  the  Highland  Society  of  London.  There 
were  many  applicants  for  the  post. 

The  Blackie  Memorial.— The  sum  already 
subscribed  for  this  deserving  object  is  still  far  short 
of  the  amount  required,  and  an  appeal  is  again  made 
to  Highlanders  to  contribute.  Subscriptions  should 
be  sent  to  the  Hon.  Treasurer.  Mi-.  James  MacDonald, 
W.S.,  21  Thistle  Street,  Edinburgh,  or  the  Hon. 
Secretary,  Mr.  George  Macphail,  W.S.,  Edinburgh. 

"Manson." — A  correspondent  is  anxious  to  learn 
particulars  as  to  the  origin  and  history  of  this  name. 
It  is  common  in  Caithness,  and  doubtless  Mr.  Thomas 
Sinclair,  or  some  other  Caithnessian  learned  in  county 
matters,  will  be  able  to  supply  the  information  desired. 


150 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


TO     CORRBSPONDBNTS. 

All  ConitnitnicationSf  on  literary  and  business 
tttatters,  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  Mr.  tJOHN 
STACKAT,  9  Blythswood  Drive,  Glasgotc. 

TERMS  OF  SUBSCRIPTION.— The  CELTIC 
MONTHLY  will  be  sent,  post  free,  to  any  part  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  Canada,  the  United  States,  and  all 
countries  in  the  Postal  Union — for  one  year,  4s. 

The   Celtic    Monthly. 

MAY,  1896. 


Sir  Hector  Munro  ok  Fi.wlis,  Bart,  (with  plates),     -  141 

Highland  Pen  and  Highland  Sword, 144 

€oLONEL  Alan  John  Oolquiioun  (with  plate),      -        .        -  145 

Letter  to  the  Editor— The  Chief  of  thb  Clan  MacRae,  145 

Traditions  of  tub  Colquuoun  Country  (illustrated),  ■       -  146 

Keviews, -       -       -       .  14S 

Notes  on  the  Highland  Clans,  their  Badges,  Slogans, 

Music,  Ac, 149 

To  our  Readers, 150 

The  Uoval  Scots  Crevs,  Part  I.  (illustrated),     -        -        ■  161 

CLUNT  and  LadT  ClUSY  of  the  '45,   AFTER  CuLLODEN  (illus.),  163 

The  Hon.  John  M'iiENZiE,  New  Zealand  (with  plate),       ■  156 
An  Old  Highland  Boundary  Dispute,  and  how  it  was 

Settled  (poem),      -       -       .       -       _       .       .       -  157 

A  LA.ST  Century  "Nf-w  Woman,''          -       -       -        -        ■  157 

How  THE  Thistle  became  the  Badge  of  Scotland  (illus.),  159 


OUR     NEXT     ISSUE 

Will  contain  i^late-portraits  of  Mr.  and  the  Hon. 
Mrs.  F.  A-  Maokinnon,  Folkestone;  Mr.  Arthur 
Bignold  of  Lochrosque,  Ross-shire  ;  Dr.  Norman  Flay 
Forbes  of  Forbes,  Tunbridge  Wells ;  and  Miss  Jean 
MacFarlane  Scott  (held  over  from  this  issue).  A 
short  serial  illustrated  article  on  "The  Highland 
Claymore,"  by  Mr  Drummond  Norie,  will  commence 
in  our  next  number ;  and  the  usual  variety  of 
interesting  contributions  will  also  be  given. 

'■The  Campbblls  are  Coming." — Mr.  Kenneth 
Mathieson,  Jr.,  Glendevon,  writes  us  saying  that  this 
popular  air  was  composed  "at  a  place  near  the  foot  of 
Lomond  Hill  in  Fife,  in  allusion  to  a  march  of  the 
clan  in  that  direction,"  and  that  "in  these  days  of 
tlie  'Celtic  Renascence'  we  of  the  Central  Highlands 
can't  afford  to  let  any  composition  get  the  credit  of  a 
West  Coast  origin  to  which  we  have  a  prior  claim." 
Clan  Mackay  Note.s.— Members  of  the  Clan  will 
be  glad  to  learn  that  two  of  the  Councillors  of  our 
Society  have  just  received  important  appointments. 
Lieut.  William  Mackay,  Glasgow,  has,  out  of  a 
large  number  of  applicants,  been  the  successful 
candidate  for  the  Chief  Constableship  of  Rothesay. 
He  is  a  native  of  Caithness,  as  is  also  another  of 
our  members,  Mr.  Jolin  Mackay,  who  is  Chief 
Constable  of  Bute — so  that  both  county  and  town 
have  Mackays  as  Chief  Constables.  Lieut.  Mackay's 
removal  will  be  a  severe  loss  to  the  Society,  for  he 
has  always  been  one  of  our  most  active  members. 
Mr.  Thomas  A.  Mackay,  of  the  British  Linen 
Company  Bank,  Edinburgh,  has  been  promoted 
lo  be  Agent  at  the   Inverness  branch.     The  Edin- 


burgh council  can  ill  ati'ord  to  lose  such  an  energetic 
and  accomplished  member  of  council. — At  St. 
Mary's,  Edinburgh,  on  8th  iilt..  Dr.  George 
Mackay,  son  of  Surgeon-General  George  Mackay, 
M.D.,  was  married  to  Ehse  Marjory  M'Hardy, 
second  daughter  of  Colonel  M'Hardy.  On  the 
evening  before  the  marriage  Dr.  Mackay  was 
presented  with  a  handsome  silver  "  loving  cup " 
from  the  members  of  the  clan,  as  an  expression  of 
their  esteem  for  him,  and  in  acknowledgment  of 
the  many  valuable  services  which  he  has  rendered 
to  the  Society. — Mr.  Hugh  Mackay  Matheson, 
Banker,  London,  has  contributed  five  guineas  to 
the  Society  as  a  "  Life  Associate,"  and  a  similar 
sum  to  the  clan  bursary. 


GLENGARRY. 


I  sab  an'  1  sigh  for  the  days  gane  bye, 

An'  my  heart  has  tint  a'  smilin', 
Sae  I  weary  sair  an'  I  greet  wi'  care, 

For  the  joy  o'  love's  beguilin'; 
The  roses  sae  red  frae  my  cheeks  hae  tied, 

Nae  mail-  i'  the  glen  1  roam  in. 
An'  a'  the  day  lang  whaure'er  I  should  gany 

I  sing  frae  the  daw  to  the  gloamin', — 


Thr  uvr  hiir„irs  n,,r  ,r,,'  //,,    ,r,hl  Howers  ,inm; 
An'  the  SHI,  sliinrs  hn.-ht  ,,i  lll,„iiurnj, 
But  Buiudd  iiiij  aia  luUl  luccr  cuine  again, 
To  my  lane,  lane  hame  in  Olengarry. 

We  baith  vowed  to  love  by  The  Ane  above. 

An'  we  pledged  our  troth  for  ever, 
But  the  loveless  sea  has  ta'en  him  frae  me, 

To  come  to  his  love,  oh  !  never  ; 
My  heart  noo  is  deid  an'  cauld,  cauld  as  leid. 

An  hope's  bonnie  licht  is  failin', 
I  dream  he  is  near  but  a'  that  I  hear. 

Is  the  win'  frae  the  wild  sea  wailin', — 

The  WL-e  1,111  iil.'s  roir  a,,' th,'  irihl  tlmms  ,)ruw 
An' thr  ,.»„  ,s/,,,„,.  I,n<hl  ,„  c;/r,w""'",    ' 
But  l>,i„„l,l  ,„,j  aiH  ,r,ll  „,rrr  r,unv  a.j,iui. 
To  my  lane,  lane  liamv  in.  Gknyariy.' 

Sunderland.  WiLLIAM    AlLAN. 


The  Glasgow  Celtic  Society  Challenge  Cup, 
which  some  ten  years  ago  was  so  keenly  contested 
for  by  the  various  clubs,  is  now  offered  for  competi- 
tion among  Shinty  clubs  in  Lanark,  Dumbarton, 
and  Renfrewshires,  and  the  Lothians.  An  effort  is 
being  made  to  arrange  an  inter-city  contest  between 
Glasgow  and  Edinburgh  clubs,  which  if  carried  out 
will  do  much  to  renew  an  interest  in  the  game,  ai'.d 
would  certainly  attract  a  great  crowd  of  spectators 
to  witness  the  match.  Pai'ticuhirs  can  be  had  from 
Colonel  C.  Macdonald  Williamson,  l'J4  West 
George  Street,  Glasgow,  Secretary  to  the  Celtic 
Society. 

Celtic  MoNrHLV,  Volu.me  HI.,  tastefully  bound, 
can  still  be  had,  price  10/-  (post  free),  apply  Editor, 
Celtic  Monthly,  9  Blythswood  Drive,  Glasgow,  W. 


THE    OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


151 


Eegevientai  Badges. 
1—  IPP|HE    Thistle,  within  the  cii'cle  of   St. 
Wi^ji     Andrew;  Motto,  Nemo  me  impune 
^^*^     lacessit. 
2 — Au  Eagle,  the  word  "  Waterloo,"  Legend, 
'■  Second  to  none." 

"  Second  to  none  "  the  gallant  Scots  Greys 
has  ever  proved  itself  to  be  since  it  became  a 
regiment.  For  dash  and  bravery  in  the  field, 
and  good  conduct  in  qnai'ters  this  beau  ideal 
of  a  regiment  has  always  been  "  second  to 
none,"  surpassing  many. 

In  Gennany,  Belgium,  France,  it  acquii'ed 
and  maintained  a  character  notable  for  good 
conduct  and  orderly  habits,  qualities  that  soon 
attracted  the  notice  and  apjjreciation  of  the 
French,  amongst  whom  they  were  quartered 
after  Waterloo.  They  were  wont  to  say,  "  Ces 
hommes  aux  chevaux  gris,  qu-ils  sont  bons 
gai'cous,  si  doiix,  si  gentils "  (These  men  with 
the  grey  horses,  what  good  fellows,  so  mild,  so 
nice). 

A  Belgium  nobleman,  remai'king  upon  the 
conduct  of  the  troops  quartered  throughout 
Belgium  prior  to  Waterloo,  stated,  "Amongst 
these  respectable  warriors,  the  Scots  Greys 
deserve  to  be  particularly  commemorated,  and 
this  honourable  mention  is  due  to  their  discijs- 
line,    their,   miltlness,    their    patience,    then- 


humanity,  and|  their   bravery   almost   without 
examjile. 

"  On  the  IGth  and  18th  June,  their  valom- 
was  displayed  in  a  manner  the  most  hercjio. 
Multiplied,  constant,  and  almost  unheard  of 
l^roofs  were  given,  I  do  not  say  merely  of 
coui-age,  but  of  devotion  to  their  country,  quite 
extraordinary  and  sublime.  Nor  must  we 
forget  that  these  men,  so  terrible  in  the  field  of 
battle,  were  nuld  and  tranquil  out  of  it.  The 
Scots  Greys  in  escorting  the  French  prisoners 
on  the  evening  of  the  18th  showed  compassion 
to  these  imfortunate  victims  of  war,  while  as 
yet  the  result  of  that  decisive  day  was  unknown 
and  perhaps  uncertain." 

This  is  high  praise,  and  corroborates  public 
opinion  in  both  France  and  Belgiiun. 

This  estimable  National  Corps  had  its  origin 
in  thi-ee  troops  raised  by  Graham  of  Olaver- 
house  in  1G78  to  assist  him  in  suppressing 
conventicles.  Three  years  later  other  thi-ee 
troops  were  added,  and  incorporated  under  the 
name  and  style  of  "  The  Eoyal  Regiment  of 
Scots  Dragoons."  It  shared  with  Claverhouse 
the  defeat  of  Drumclog,  the  only  one  it 
sustained  in  two  centui-ies. 

It  was  with  Monmouth  at  Bothwell  Bridge. 
In  1688  it  was  summoned  to  England,  and 
placed   by    James   the    II.    with   some   other 


153 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


cavalry  regiment  under  the  command  of 
Graham  of  Claverhouse,  now  Viscomit  Dundee. 
James'  army  was  assembled  at  Salisbury. 
William  Prince  of  Orange  had  then  landed  at 
Torbay.  The  general  welcome  given  by  all 
classes  to  the  hero  of  Protestantism  convinced 
James  that  resistance  would  be  futile.  He 
therefore  oi'dered  his  army  to  retire  upon 
Reading,  and  he  himself  fled  to  London. 
No  sooner  had  the  King  gone  than  his  General, 


Lord  Feversham  directed  the  army  to  disband. 
The  •'  Scots  Greys  "  were  in  a  dilemma,  left 
without  pay  or  provisions  in  the  midst  of 
people  that  were  hostile  to  them,  but  the  Prince 
of  Orange  having  come  up,  soon  satisfied  them, 
and  shortly  after  took  them  into  his  own 
service,  and  quartered  them  in  various  places 
in  Oxfordshire.  Their  Colonel,  the  Earl  of 
Dunmore,  adhering  to  James,  was  replaced 
by  Sir  Thomas  Livingstone,  an  officer  of  high 


1743— ROYAL     SCOTS     DRAGOONS     OS    THE     MARCH— SHOWING     UNIFORSl     OF    THE     PERIOD. 


reputation  in  the  Scots  Brigade  in  the  service 
of  Holland. 

General  Hugh  Mackay,  being  by  William 
appointed  Commander-in-Chief  in  Scotland, 
the  Royal  Scots  Dragoons  were  ordered  to 
march  to  Edinburgh. 

Several  of  its  officers  were  Jacobites,  and 
wished  to  entice  the  regiment  to  go  over  to 
Dundee  as  soon  as  a  favourable  opportunity 
occurred.       Dundee    was    in    Lochaber    and 


Badenoch.  Mackay  went  there  to  oppose  him, 
taking  the  Scots  Greys  with  him.  When  he 
was  rajjidly  moving  upon  Dundee's  forces  the 
plot  was  discovered.  The  officers  implicated 
were  immediately  aiTested  and  sent  prisoners 
to  Edinburgh.  The  yoimg  officers  and  men 
remained  true  as  steel  to  their  dutj'  as  soldiers. 
The  regiment  afterwards  went  into  cantonments 
at  Inverness. 

Li  the  spring  of  1690  General  Buchan,  who 


TJEte    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


15S 


had  been  sent  over  by  James  from  Ireland  to 
take  the  conmiand  of  the  Highland  forces  after 
the  mortifying  repiiJse  at  JJimkeld,  mustered 
about  I'iOO  men  and  marched  down  Strathspey. 
With  a  singular  want  of  tact  and  judgment  lie 
encamped  upon  the  Haughs  of  Croradale,  a 
spot  open  to  attack.  Sir  Thomas  Livingstone 
with  several  troojjs  of  the  "  Greys  "  was  lying 
eight  miles  down  the  Speyside.  He  received 
notice  of  Buahan's  march,  and  determined  to 
attack  him.  Collecting  all  the  infantry  he 
could  gather  together,  and  taking  four  troops 
of  his  cavah-y,  he  marched  for  the  Haughs  of 
Cromdale,  which  he  reached  in  the  early  dawn 
of  the  1st  of  May.  Crossing  the  river  he 
instantly  dashed  forward  amongst  the  sleeping 
Highlanders,  who  had  been  partially  aroused 
by  the  sentinels. 

A  most  singular  scene  was  now  witnessed, 
some  were  seen  half-naked  running  away,  others 
quite  panic  struck  and  with  only  their  shirts  on, 
disposed  only  to  escape,  while  a  great  number 
shouting  then-  "  war  cry;"  fought  sturdily  with 
claj-more  and  targe  as  they  retired,  without 
any  clothing,  so  complete  was  the  surprise. 

Livingstone's  horse  mingled  fiercely  with 
them  and  did  terrible  execution  with  their  long- 
straight  swords,  for  there  was  now  bitter  animos- 
ity between  the  adherents  of  the  old  and  new 
Governments.  In  one  little  hamlet  a  party  of 
Macdonalds  defended  themselves  with  the 
gi-eatest  resolution,  though  not  a  man  among 
them  had  the  least  particle  of  clothing  on  his 
body. 

The  very  commanders  were  taken  by  surprise 
as  much  as  the  men.  Buchan  escaped  in  his 
shirt  and  night  cap,  without  his  wig,  hat,  coat 
or  sword.  Cannon  ran  away  with  nothing  on 
him  but  his  shirt.     It  was  a  complete  stampede. 

From  these  sad  pictures  of  civil  broils  and 
futile  attempts  of  carrying  on  warlike  opera- 
ions,  we  turn  with  pleasure  to  the  more 
honourable  and  stirring  scenes  of  war  waged 
by  Britaui  and  its  alhes  against  the  aggressive 
ambition  of  Louis  XIV.  Early  in  1694  the 
Scots  Greys  and  other  cavalry  regiments 
embarked  for  Flanders,  and  joined  King 
William's  army  in  Brabant.  Soon  after  they 
arrived  they  were  twice  engaged  in  skii'mishes 
with  the  French  horse,  and  each  time  routed 
them. 

In  1695  King  William  undertook  the  siege 
of  Namur,  a  fortress  deemed  the  strongest  in 
Europe.  It  was  defended  by  ditches  and 
ravelines,  and  its  citadel,  or  castle,  situated  on 
a  high  and  craggy  rock  had  then  the  reputation 
of  being  impregnable,  and  its  bastions  and 
batteries  towered  in  their  strength  above  the 
gaunt  blue  coloured  streets  of  the  city  below. 
Steep  on  all  sides  the  rock  is  yet  fortified  to 


perfection,  and  has  a  deep  well  with  two 
springs  of  very  good  water.  From  a  military 
point  of  view  it  is  of  very  great  importance. 
To  Cohoru's  batteries,  Louis,  when  it  came 
into  his  hands  a  few  years  before,  added  aU 
the  latest  masterpieces  of  Vauban,  and  over 
one  of  its  gates  he  placed  a  vaunting  inscription 
challenging  the  alhes  to  wrest  it  from  the 
grasj)  of  France. 

(To  he  Clint anied). 


CLUNY     AND      LADY     CUUNY     OF     THE 
'45,     AFTER     CULLODEN. 


Bt  Alexander  Macpuerson,  Kingussie. 


VIL 


"Cha  bu  duine  giirach  e, 
A  chuireadh  bbsd  a  threubhantas  ; 
Mu  'nadur  gu  dearbh  b'  eblach  mi, 
Bha  cuid  de  m'  sheorsa  dh'  eireadh  leis  : 
Ma  'a  buidlieann  ghasd  an  comhraig  sibh 
Bidh  na  Nam  an  conihniudh  beusach  dhuibh, 
'S  ma  's  bratach  thais  an  comhstri  sibh, 
Cha  chluinnear  bebil  a'  se'is  iimaibh.  " 

,^5?.N  accordance  with  the  desire  esjiressed  by 
MK  -'^'""^"^  CharUe  that  the  Chief — outlawed 
■===.'  though  he  was — should  remain  m  the 
Highlands,  to  guard,  as  far  as  possible,  the 
interests  of  the  Royal  exiles,  Cluny  prolonged 
his  perilous  stay  in  Badenoch  for  a  period  of 
nine  years  after  Culloden,  thereby  subjecting 
himself  not  only  to  the  risk  of  capture  and 
death  on  the  scatfold,  but  to  the  most  terrible 
hardships  and  privations.  During  that  long 
jieriod  his  haunts  were  numerous.  There 
were  natural  eaves  in  Ben  Alder,  Meall-a- 
Chuaich,  and  other  high  mountains  which  he 
frequented  in  simimer  In  the  cold  seasons  he 
had  artificial  caves  at  Ralia,  Biaindmore, 
Nessiutully,  and  Strathmashie.  At  Raha  his 
cave  was  dug  under  the  floor  of  the  house  of 
his  kinsman,  Macpherson  of  Ralia,  but  as  that 
house  was  liable  to  more  than  ordinary 
suspicion,  Cluny  never  remained  there  very 
long.  At  Biallidmore  the  cave  was  made 
under  the  floor  of  a  sheep-cot  belonging  to 
Donald  Macpherson,  a  particular  confidant, 
and  there  Cluny  frequently  took  refuge,  having 
every  reliance  on  the  fidelity  and  prudence 
of  Macpherson  and  his  brothers.  While  at 
Bialhdmore  he  could,  besides,  enjoy  ahnost 
daily  the  society  of  his  clansmen,  "Banchor" 


1:.4 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


and   "  Ralia,"    whose   residences   were  iu    the      Nessiutully   he   fouud   the   greatest  "/quietness 
immediate    neighbourhood.      But    it    was    at     and  security,  until  the  cave  was  accidentally 


Tomb  ok  the  !5Tu\rt.s   in   st.    i'etkks,    ko.mk. 


discovered  by  a  trifling  fellow  who  divulged      it.     This  cave  was  made  by  James  Dubh  Leslie 
the  secret,  and  Cluny  never  afterwards  occupied      and  his  brother  Peter  in  a  sequettered  part  of 


THE     OELTIC     MONTHLY. 


i5i 


the  Nessiutully  wood.  They  wrought  at  night 
only,  and  all  the  soil  was  carefully  put  into 
sacks  and  carried  to  the  river  Spey.  The 
inside  of  this  cave  was  carefully  lined  with 
deal;  the  roof  being  covered  with  tanned 
hides,  with  a  layer  of  gravel,  the  whole  being 
covered  over  with  green  sods.  Within  were 
placed  a  comfortable  bed,  a  table,  two  chairs, 
and  a  press,  with  a  small  pane  of  glass  to  give 
hght,  and  the  whole  was  so  ingeniously  con- 
trived and  executed  as  to  make  a  discovery 
almost  impossible.  Naturally  enough  Cluny 
could  not  readily  forgive  the  fellow  that 
deprived  him  of  the  onlj'  comfortable  lodging 
he  had.  All  his  haunts  were  well  laiown  to 
every  gentleman  in  the  country,  and  he  was 
occasionally  a  guest  with  many  of  his  tenants, 
on  whose  prudence  he  could  rely.  He  never, 
however,  allowed  more  than  one  family  at  a 
time  to  know  the  place  of  his  concealment,  so 
that  the  most  of  his  followers,  if  asked  by  his 
enemies,  could  truthfully  declare  that  they 
were  ignorant  of  his  whereabouts,  and  thereby 
save  themselves  and  him  from  being  subjected 
to  any  risk  that  could  be  avoided.  If  by 
accident  he  was  observed  by  any  person  not  in 
the  secret  he  would  immediately  change  his 
quarters.  There  were  only  four  that  knew 
where  he  was  to  be  found  on  all  occasions,  viz  : 
James  Macpherson  (his  own  piper),  Samuel 
Macpherson  from  Breakachy,  and  the  two 
Leslies  already  mentioned.  These  four-  brought 
him  provisions  and  other  necessaries,  and  it 
was  to  them  that  his  friends  applied  when 
they  had  anything  particular  to  communicate 
to  him.  When  any  extraordinary  movement 
of  troops  was  observed,  application  was 
immediately  made  to  one  of  the  four  to  know 
whether  Cluny  was  in  any  danger.  Should  he 
have  the  misfortune  to  fall  into  the  hands  of 
his  enemies  it  was  fully  intended  to  attempt  to 
retake  him  by  force.  From  all  the  circum- 
stances it  is  evident  that  he  could  not  have 
been  so  long  concealed  without  the  entire 
supjiort  of  his  clan 

On  another  occasion  when  Cluny  was  at  a 
small  house  inhabited  by  the  family  after  the 
castle  was  burnt  down,  the  house  was  suddenly 
surroimded  by  a  party  of  soldiers,  or  red-coats 
as  they  were  then  called.  Ensign  Munro  who 
commanded  the  party  had  received  such  correct 
information,  and  managed  matters  so  secretly, 
that  there  was  no  possibility  of  Cluny  making 
his  escape.  His  presence  of  mind,  however, 
did  not  forsake  him.  He  stood  firm  and 
collected,  and  although  under  the  imminent 
risk  of  being  caj)tured  and  suffering  an 
ignominious  death,  he  dehberately  stepped  into 
the  kitchen,  where  a  servant  man  happened  to 
be   sitting   and   exchanged  clothes  with  him. 


All  this  was  the  work  of  a  moment.  When 
Munro  rode  up  to  the  door,  Cluny  without  any 
hesitation  ran  out  and  held  the  stirrup,  while 
Munro  dismounted  and  walked  the  horse  about 
during  the  time  that  officer  searched  the  house. 
When  Munro  came  out,  Cluny  again  held  the 
stirrup,  assisting  Munro  to  mount.  The 
supposed  servant  being  asked  if  he  knew  where 
Cluny  was,  immediately  answered  he  did  not, 
and  if  he  did  he  would  not  tell.  "I  believe 
you  would  not,"  replied  Munro.  "You  are  a 
good  fellow    -here  is  a  shilling  for  you." 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  Cluny  possessed 
vigilance  and  foresight  in  no  ordinary  degree. 
Many  instances  might  be  related  in  the  way  of 
proving  that  he  had  a  considerable  knowledge 
of  human  nature,  yet  the  result  proved  that 
any  particular  precautions,  in  so  far  as  his  own 
clan  were  concerned,  were  quite  unnecessary. 
Notwithstanding  the  big  reward  offered  for  his 
captui-e,  dead  or  alive,  only  one  man — an 
alien — attempted  during  the  nine  years  of 
Cluny's  outlawry  and  stay  in  Badenoch,  to 
betray  him,  and  that  man  was  obliged  to  fly 
the  country  and  never  afterwards  returned. 

One  circumstance  relating  to  the  Chief  is 
worth  alluding  to.  James  Leslie  formerly 
mentioned  was  met  by  a  party  of  soldiers  as  he 
returned  from  one  of  Cluny's  caves,  and  as  he 
had  a  tablecloth  and  some  dishes  in  his 
possession,  they  rightly  concluded  he  had  been 
with  some  victuals  to  Cluny,  and  thi'eatened 
him  with  instant  death  unless  he  led  them  to 
the  Chief's  hiding-place.  Leslie  declared  that 
he  knew  nothing  about  Cluny,  and  had  not 
seen  him  for  twelve  months.  The  red  coats 
desired  the  worthy  man  to  give  his  oath  to 
that  effect,  and  he  accordingly  swore  point 
blank  on  a  drawn  sword  (a  mode  of  swearing 
held  most  sacred  in  the  Highlands  at  the 
time)  that  he  did  not  know  where  the  Chief 
was,  and  had  not  seen  him  for  twelve  months 
previously.  Being  asked  where  he  had  been 
with  the  dishes  he  declared  that  he  had  been 
with  the  breakfast  of  people  casting  peats. 
Let  us  hope  that  the  saving  of  Climys  hfe 
justified  the  oath,  and  that  the  untruth  was 
ultimately  pardoned  to  his  devoted  follower. 

Another  well  authenticated  incident  deserves 
to  be  recorded.  On  one  occasion  as  the 
soldiers  were  returning  from  a  fruitless  search 
for  Cluny,  they  met  on  the  road  a  young  lad 
who  was  carrying,  what  proved  on  inspection, 
to  be  a  savoury  dinner  of  venison.  Concluding 
that  this  was  intended  for  the  Chief,  they 
threatened  the  boy  with  immediate  death  if  he 
did  not  conduct  them  to  Cluny's  hiding-place- 
After  leading  the  party  for  several  miles  over 
the  hills,  the  rigonr  of  his  captors  somewhat 
abated,   and   the   boy's   spirits    beginning    to 


156 


I'HE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


revive,  he  asked  them  questions  about  theu- 
arms  and  accoutrements.  Li  jsarticular,  he 
expressed  great  vponder  at  the  weapon  the 
drummer  carried,  and  in  broken  English  asked 
what  sort  of  animal  they  carried  in  so  large  a 
cage.  Amused  at  the  question,  the  drummer, 
in  reply,  beat  a  tattoo,  which  aftbrded  great 
delight  to  the  Highlander,  who  offered  the 
dinner  he  was  carrying  if  the  drummer  would 
allow  him  to  handle  the  wonderful  instrument. 
The  drummer  slipped  off  the  belts  l)y  which 
the  drum  was  suspended,  and  hung  them 
round  the  boy's  neck.  No  sooner  did  the  boy 
get  possession  of  the  drum  than  he  seized  the 
drum-sticks,  and  with  no  feeble  hand  j)lied 
them  till  the  hills  far  and  wide  echoed  with 
the  sound,  and  the  soldiers  called  on  him  to 
desist.  They  soon  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the 
cave,  where  the  Chief  had  been  concealed,  but 
only  to  find  it  empty :  the  distant  roll  of  the 
drum  had  warned  him  of  the  approach  of  the 
soldiers  in  time  to  enable  him  to  escape.  The 
disappointment  of  the  men  and  their  leader 
was  great,  but  no  suspicion  fell  on  the  lad,  in 
whose  innocent  appearance  there  was  nothing 
to  suggest  the  clever  device  by  which  he  had 
saved  his  master. 

(To  be  continued). 


THE      HON.      JOHN      M'KENZIE, 
NEW     ZEALAND. 


fTCTiHERE  are  few  more  patriotic  and  wanii- 
X^  liearted  Highlanders  than  the  genial 
*~'=^  subject  of  our  sketch.  The  Hon.  John 
M'Kenzie  is  a  native  of  Ross-shire,  having  been 
born  ou  the  estate  of  Ardross  in  1838.  After  a 
curriculum  at  the  parish  school  young  M'Kenzie 
worked  for  some  time  ou  his  father's  farm,  but 
resolving  to  try  his  fortune  in  some  distant  land, 
he  selected  New  Zealand  as  the  scene  of  opei'a- 
tion,  whither  he  sailed  in  1860.  The  district  of 
Otago  being  almost  a  purely  Scotch  settlement, 
he  naturally  leaned  towards  his  own  countrymen, 
and  settled  with  the  other  "  canny  Scots "  in 
Otago,  and  took  up  employment  on  a  station, 
similar  to  that  with  which  he  was  accustomed  in 
the  old  country.  In  course  of  time,  liowever,  he 
determined  to  start  farming  on  his  own  account, 
and  with  this  end  in  view  took  up  land  at  Shag 
Valley,  Otago,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since 
and  reared  a  handsome  family  of  sons  and 
daughters. 

The  quiet  pursuits  of  a  country  farmer  did  not 
afford  scope  for  his  energy,  and  his  friends 
encouraged  his  aspiring  to  public  life.  The  first 
positions  of  this  nature  held  by  him  were  Clerk 


and  Ti'easurer  to  the  local  Road  Board,  as  also 
Secretary  to  the  School  Committee. 

In  1868  he  unsuccessfully  contested  with  Mr. 
George  M'Lean  a  seat  in  the  Provincial  Council, 
but  was  soon  afterwards  elected  to  that  body, 
and  held  his  seat  until  the  abolition  of  the 
Provincial  .system  of  Government.  He  also  had 
a  seat  on  the  County  Council,  was  Property  Tax 
Assessor  for  the  district,  and  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace.  In  1881  Mr.  M'Kenzie  entered  the 
House  of  Representatives,  and  two  years  later 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Otago  Education 
and  Land  Boards.  His  first  appointment  in  the 
House  was  that  of  whip  in  the  Stout-V^ogel 
(Government  of  1884-7,  and  when  the  late  Hon. 
John  Ballance  formed  his  Cabinet  at  the  general 
election  in  1890  he  offei'ed  him  the  Portfolios  of 
Minister  of  Lands  and  Immigration,  tog'ether 
with  that  of  Agriculture,  and  Commissioner  of 
Forests,  which  multifarious  offices  he  still  retains. 

The  "  Honourable  John,"  as  he  is  popularly 
known  throughout  the  Colony,  is  a  fine  specimen 
of  the  Highlander,  standing  over  six  feet  in 
height  and  well  proportioned — a  manly  and 
courteous  bearing,  and  intense  love  for  the 
Gaelic  language  and  Gaeldom,  with  a  keen 
appreciation  of  wit  and  humour — is  a  credit  to 
the  Highland  race  at  home  and  abroad. 

At  the  last  general  election  he  defeated  Mr. 
Scobie  M'Kenzie,  Conservative,  with  o%'er  300 
of  a  majority.  At  one  of  the  meetings  a  lady 
asked  the  "  Hon.  John  "  which  of  the  M'Kenzie 
tartans  she  was  to  vote  for?"  The  reply 
instantly  came — "The  true  M'Kenzie,  without  a 
streak  of  Scobie  in  it." 

He  is  also  the  pos.sessor  of  a  valuable  gold 
watch,  presented  to  him  by  his  first  constituency 
for  his  faithful  services. 

Mr.  M'Kenzie  is  Cliief  of  the  Gaelic  Society 
of  New  Zealand,  having  succeeded  the  late  Rev. 
Dr.  Stuart  of  Dunedin,  and  ou  his  first  official 
visit  to  Napier  was  entertained  at  a  bancjuet  and 
presented  with  an  address  of  welcome  by  the 
Hawkes  Bay  Highland  Society,  in  which  he 
was  alluded  to  as  the  Gaelic  champion  of 
Australasia. 

"  Saoghalfada,maireaiin,  btiaii.  d/ia." 

John  Mukk.\y  Gijaiiam 
NewSud.  (tJlaverhouse). 


Clan  Cruise. — Pull  particulars  will  be  found  in 
our  advertising  pages  of  a  joint  Clan  Cruise  which 
has  been  arranged  to  take  place  to  Campbeltown  on 
the  9th  May.  A  large  attendance  of  all  the  Clan 
and  County  Societies  is  expected. 

The  London  Inveuness-shiue  Association  con- 
cludes tlie  session  with  the  Annual  Dinner,  which  will 
be  held  on  Wednesday,  2Uth  April,  Sir  R.  B.  Finlay, 
Q.C.,M.P.,  in  the  chair. 


HON.     JOHN      M'KENZIE. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


157 


AN     OLD 

HIGHLAND      BOUNDARY      DISPUTE, 

AND     HOW     IT     WAS     SETTLED. 


A     LAST    CENTURY     "NEW     WOMAN. 


On  the  banks  of  the  Glass  a  story  is  told 
Regarding  a  dispute  about  marches  of  old, 
Between  the  stout  Chief  of  that  green  winding  vale 
And  lordly  Mackenzie,  the  Chief  of  Kintail. 
Tho'  the  dirk  and  claymore  were  then  high  in  repute 
As  the  means  for  deciding  each  feud  and  dispute. 
Those  Chiefs  being  ingenious  and  peace  loving  men 
Employed  two  old  women  of  three  score  and  ten. 
'Twas  agreed  that  the  women  should  at  the  same 

hour 
Start  from  Erchless'  old  castle  and  Donan's  grey 

tower, 
And  the  spot  where  they  met  should  for  aye  be  the 

bounds 
Of  the  two  noble  Chieftains'  far-reaching  grounds. 


Ere  the  sun's  morning  rays  shone  upon  the  tix'd  day, 
The  women  with  escorts  were  up  and  away  ; 
Each  bent  upon  widening  her  Chieftain's  domain. 
And  resolved  the  renown  of  her  clan  to  maintain. 
Where   bald  Scoor-na- lapich  looks  down   from   on 

high 
On  the  lochs  and  green  corries  around  it  that  lie, 
Near  Longart,  Glencannich,  each  other  they  view. 
And,   like  magie,  the  sight  seems  their  youth  to 

renew. 
Their  stooped  figures  straighten,  their  eyes  flash 

with  tire. 
They  forget  the  connnands  of  their  Chiefs  in  their 

ire  ; 
But  remember'd  are  rivalries  bitter  and  old. 
When  dirks  were  unsheath'd  by  the  shieling  and 

fold. 
The  groxmd  intervening  they  cover  like  deer. 
Soon  leaving  their  escorts,  amazed,  in  the  rear; 
They  meet,  and  they  clutch  at  each  other's  grey 

hair, 
And  rend  with  their  shrill  Gaelic  curses  the  air. 


They  strike  and  they  scratch,  they  tug  and  they 

tear. 
Till  their  faces  are  bleeding,  and  bosoms  are  bare  ; 
Till  with  tags  of  torn  tartan,  and  grey  hair,  the 

gi'ound 
Is  strewn,  as  with  raven  pluck'd  feathers,  around. 
When  the  escorts  arrived  on  the  scene  of  the  fray. 
On  the  brown,  broken  heather  the  combatants  lay, 
Panting,  exhausted,  and  gi'imy  with  dust. 
Yet,  each  able  to  shake  at  the  other  her  fist. 


Thus,  the  boundary  dispute  was  settled  that  day. 
But  from  it  has  sprung  one  regarding  the  fray  : 
In  Strathglass  it  is  said  the  Strathglass  cailleach 

won, 
In  Kintail — that  their  cailleach  the  other  outshone. 


Hatfield,  Herts. 


AjSTOUS   MACKIJiTOSH. 


"  ^If.'LL  have  some  say  iu  the  matter — that 
^P     ye  may  be  sure  of.     I'll  uot  be  chaffered 

^  for  Uke  one  of  your  stirks  when 
ye  send  it  to  the  market." 

"  Ye'll  just  have  to  be  Uke  other  lasses 
Helen — wait  till  ye're  speu'ed  for." 

"  Will  I  ? — not  me.  I'll  soon  find  a  way  of 
letting  the  right  man  know,  when  I  find  him — 
and  the  wrong  ones  will  just  have  to  take  '  no  ' 
for  all  their  speiiing." 

''  Ye  think  so  now  my  lass  when  ye're  but 
twenty ;  but  wait  till  ye're  thirty  and  an  auld 
maid.     Y'e'U  not  be  so  doity  then." 

"  Well,  if  I  am  an  auld  maid  ye'U  not  suffer 
by  it.  Hamish  will  get  as  much  that  way  as 
the  other." 

"  But  the  lad  likes  ye,  and ."     But  the 

speaker  had  to  stop  for  he  was  alone. 

The  girl  who  had  protested  so  vehemently 
was  Lady  Helen  Maclean,  an  orphan  and  an 
heiress,  the  greatest  catch  in  the  matrimonial 
market  of  the  time;  the  man  was  her  uncle 
and  guardian,  an  impecunious  Highland  peer. 
Had  Lady  Helen  lived  in  our  day  she  would 
certainly  have  been  a  "  new  woman "  of  the 
best  type,  for  she  knew  that  ajjart  from  her 
wealth  she  was  worth  having  for  her  own  sake, 
a  fact  of  which  her  guardian  was  profoundly 
ignorant.  He  mistook  independence  for  pride 
of  position — frankly  expressed  opinion  for 
impudent  forwardness,  and  (as  she  was  not 
pretty)  thought  both  out  of  place.  He  knew 
nothing  of  the  strong,  loyal  heart  that  lay 
beneath  the  firm  wUl,  and  was  vainly  trying  to 
secure  the  heiress  for  his  son — a  match  most 
repugnant  to  his  ward. 

They  were  travelhng  to  Sutherlandshire  to 
attend  the  wedtling  of  a  relative.  In  those 
days — the  middle  of  last  century — journeys 
were  tedious,  therefore  visits  were  prolonged; 
the  Earl  and  his  niece  expected  to  remain 
several  weeks. 

Sir  Ewen  Mackay's  house  was  lively,  the 
guests  were  numerous,  and  the  yoimg  heiress 
received  much  attention.  Only  one  man  held 
aloof,  Captain  Fergus  Gunn,  the  handsomest 
but  also  the  poorest  of  the  gentlemen  there. 
He  never  sought  to  monopolize  Lady  Helen  as 
the  others  did,  paid  her  no  special  attention, 
instead  rather  avoided  her,  and  the  result  was 
what  might  have  lieen  exjiected.  She  fell 
deeply  in  love  with  the  one  man  who  did  not 
pester  her  with  fiattery ;  but  nobody,  least  of 
all  Captain  Gunn,  suspected  her  feelings. 

A  few  evenings  before  the  wedding  there 
had  been  a  dance  and  games  for  the  young 
people,  and  a  group  of  them  stood  talking  and 
laughing  before  retu'ing. 


158 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


"  Helen  says  she'll  ask  the  man  herself  when 
she  finds  him — she'll  not  wait  like  the  rest  of 
us,"  the  bride  observed,  with  a  rather  malicious 
laugh. 

"  WiU  you  really  go  down  on  your  knees  and 
ask  a  man  to  marry  you,  Helen?"  questioned 
Flora  Gordon  in  shocked  tones,  as  the  rest 
joined  in  the  laugh. 

"I  wish  she  would — to  one  man  I  know," 
young  Ewen  Mackay  remarked  meaningly. 

Helen's  colour  rose  as  the  chorus  of  "  would 
you,  Helen?"  "what  will  you  saj'?"  and  similar 
queries  came  from  the  girls,  but  she  stood  her 
ground  bravely. 

"I  should  find  some  way  of  asking  if  I 
really  wished,"  she  answered  laughing.  "  But 
I've  got  to  find  my  man  first,  you  know." 

"He's  not  here  then?"  cried  several  girls  at 
once ;  and  Helen  laughed  and  coloured  again. 
For  one  instant  her  eyes  in  their  merry 
pretended  search  met  those  of  Fergus  Gimn, 
but  nobody  noted  the  glance,  and  the  young 
man  himself  thought  nothing  of  it.  His  pride 
and  poverty  alike  forbade  any  idea  of  trjang  to 
■win  the  heiress,  but  he  stood  near  her  imcon- 
cemedly  while  the  glasses  of  muUed  wine  were 
handed  round,  and  bowed  with  the  rest  of  the 
men  when  she  passed  out. 

"Have  you  lost  a  glove,  Helen?"  enquired 
Flora  Gordon,  observing  that  her  friend's 
right  hand  was  bare." 

"  Oh !  I'll  find  it  again,''  answered  Lady 
Helen  indifferently,  as  she  said  good  night. 
But  after  Miss  Gordon  was  gone  she  paled 
and  flushed  strangely  more  than  once.  And 
just  then  in  his  room,  a  few  steps  from  her, 
Fergus  Gunn  stood  staring  at  a  long,  white 
silk  mitten  he  had  found  in  his  pocket,  and 
his  face,  at  first  puzzled,  suddenly  grew  scarlet; 
he  dropped  the  article  as  though  it  had  burnt 
his  fingers.  But  second  thoughts  are  generally 
best.  Captain  Fergus  picked  up  the  glove  and 
for  hours  sat  gazing  into  the  fire,  absently 
smoothing  the  silken  '</'/</«  d'  amour"  lying 
across  his  knee.  So  it  came  to  pass  that  Lady 
Helen,  drinking  her  usual  morning  draught 
of  new  milk  (there  was  no  such  thing  as  the 
getting-up  cup  of  tea  in  those  days),  found  in 
the  tumbler  the  torquoise  ring  that  had  erst- 
while adorned  the  hand  of  her  chosen  lover. 
She  had  got  her  answer,  and  sooner  than  she 
expected.  The  unique  courtship  was  very 
happy,  the  stolen  interviews,  quite  unsuspected, 
were  very  sweet.  Captain  Fergus  proved  a 
most  ardent  lover ;  he  soon  began  to  under- 
stand the  noble  character  of  the  girl  who  had 
flung  conventionality  aside  for  his  sake,  while 
she  discovered  what  an  honourable,  gallant 
gentleman  she  had  given  her  heart  to.  On  the 
■wedding  night  when  the  festivity  was  at  its 


height,  they  met  by  appointment  in  the  deserted 
picture  gallery. 

"If  I  ask  ye  from  the  Earl,  he'll  call  me  a 
fortime-hunter  to  my  face,"  said  the  yoimg 
man  ruefully,  "yet  have  ye  I  must  and  will, 
my  dear." 

"  Ife'll  just  have  to  run  away  with  me, 
Fergus,"  the  girl  said,  laughing  softly. 

"  And  be  denounced  as  a  land  louping  thief," 
he  replied  "  Nay,  my  lassie,  ye  had  better 
for  that  matter  run  away  with  me,  and  so  shut 
youi-  uncle's  mouth." 

Lady  Helen  blushed  in  the  darkness,  she 
was  shy  for  aU  her  high  coarage.  But  the 
courage  sustained  her. 

"If  I've  dared  so  much  already,  I  may  e'en 
dare  that  too,"  she  said  bravely,  as  he  kissed 
her. 

It  was  noticed  that  Lady  Helen  was  in  high 
spirits  that  night,  also  that  Captain  Gunn 
talked  long  with  the  Rev.  Peter  Sutherland, 
who  having  come  a  long  distance  to  perform 
the  cermony  was  staying  for  the  wedding 
supper.  Brides  of  last  century  did  not 
generally  depart  at  once,  so  it  was  the  following 
day,  immediately  after  dinner,  that  the  family, 
guests,  and  servants  assembled  to  see  the 
newly  married  pair  drive  off  in  the  bridegi'oom's 
stately  coach,  laden  with  luggage  and  escorted 
by  many  retainers.  Neither  Lady  Helen  nor 
Captain  Gunn  were  among  the  assembled 
guests,  but  as  the  prolonged  gaiety  of  the 
preceding  evening  had  kept  a  few  others 
invisible,  no  notice  was  taken  of  their  absence. 
The  amazement  of  the  company  may  be 
imagined  then,  when  the  pair  were  seen 
approaching  in  most  extraordinary  fashion. 
Lady  Helen  in  her  dark  velvet  riding  pelisse, 
and  broad  hat  with  ostrich  feathers,  was 
mounted  upon  one  of  her  own  carriage  horses, 
while  sitting  behind  her  on  the  pillion,  his 
handsome  face  serenely  looking  over  her 
nodding  plumes,  was  Caj)tain  Gunn.  For  a 
moment  the  onlookers  were  dumbfounded, 
but  the  Earl  recovered  himself  and  rushed 
forward. 

"  Lady  Helen  Maclean !  what  means  this 
foolery  ? "  he  cried,  hoarse  with  passion.  I 
aye  thought  ye  a  bold  hussey,  but  I  never 
counted  ye  shameless.  What  means  this  I 
say  ? " 

Lady  Helen  brought  her  ambling  steed  to  a 
halt,  looked  calmly  behind  and  spoke  to  her 
companion,  who  instantly  dismounted  and 
lifted  her  tenderley  to  tena-firma.  Then  she 
turned  cooly  to  her  irate  kinsman  : — 

'■  Let  me  present  to  ye  my  husband,  my 
lord,"  she  said,  sweeping  him  a  profoimd 
curtsey.  "  I  am  not  Lady  Helen  Maclean,  but 
Lady   Helen   Gunn.     We   were   married  just 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


159 


two  hours  ago  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kutherland." 

The  state  of  matters  was  plain ;  cheers  and 
laughter  maddened  the  already  fiu-ious  Earl. 

"Ye  scoundrel!  ye  traitor!"  he  raved,  "Ye've 
run  away  with  her,  and  she  imder  age.  If 
there's  law  in  Scotland  ye  shall  dearly  rue  your 
work  of  this  day." 

His  niece  confronted  him  with  cahn  audacity. 

"  Ye  make  a  little  mistake  my  good  uncle," 
she  said  sweetly.  "  He  did  not  run  away  with 
me,  I  ran  away  with  him." 

The  real  situation  dawned  upon  the  company. 
Cheers  and  laughter  rang  out,  hands  were 
shaken,  good  wishes  and  eougratulations  were 
showered  upon  the  errant  pair.  The  Earl  fled 
into  the  house  to  vent  his  fury  unseen,  leaving 
his  niece  mistress  of  the  position. 

"  Egad,  I  wish  ye  had  run  off  with  me, 
Helen,"  young  Ewen  remarked,  "  but  I  don't 
grudge  ye  to  a  better  man  for  all  that." 

"  Ye're  a  brave  lass,  Helen,  my  dear,  though 
ye'fdid'  take  the  bit  between  your  teeth,  and 


we'll  have  as  good  a  wedding  supper,  and  as 
blythe  a  dance  as  we  had  last  night,"  Sir  Ewen 
Mackay  declared,  as  he  saluted  the  new  bride 
and  led  her  in. 

"Did  you  ask  him?  Did  you  go  down  on 
youi"  knees  ?  What  did  you  say  1  What  did  he 
answer  ?  '  Flora  Gordon,  Margaret  Munro,  and 
the  other  young  ladies  all  asked  in  a  breath. 
But  Helen  only  looked  mischievously  at  her 
husband,  who  I'eturned  the  look,  and  both 
laughed,  though  the  curiosity  of  the  damsels 
was  not  gratified.  Lady  Helen  and  her 
husband  were  a  supremely  happy  pair;  neither 
ever  regretted  that  unusual  elopement,  and  the 
independence  and  loyalty  of  one  parent,  the 
personal  beauty  and  chivalrous  devotion  of  the 
other,  have  been  jjerpetuated  in  a  goodly 
number  of  descendants.  The  "  New  Woman  " 
is  aot  so  new  after  all ;  Lady  Helen  has 
proved  that  beyond  the  shadow  of  a  doubt. 

Janet  A.  M'Culloch. 


TUK     •TUrSTI.E     l;lllli( 


ST.^NLEY,     PERTHSHIRE. 


HOW     THE     THISTLE     BECAME     THE 
BADGE     OF    SCOTLAND. 


^^|VERY  true  Scotsman']  knows  that  the 
v|p!"i  badge  or  emblem  of  his  couutry  is  the 
^=^  thistle,  yet  it  seems  strange'tbat  so  few 
know  of  the  circumstances  which  induced  Scots- 
men  to   give   it    this    proud    distinction.      The 


story  is  a  very  old  one — it  takes  us  back  to 
those  wild  and  stirriug  times  when  the  High- 
landers, and  the  Danish  and  Norse  Vikings, 
struggled  for  supremacy  in  Scotland.  How 
that  prolonged  and  bloody  contest  ended  is 
recorded  in  history — the  Norse  power  was 
crushed,  and  the  Gael  won  and  kept  the  upper 
hand. 

The  district  of  Stanley,  in  Perthshire,  is  rich 


160 


THE    CELTIC   MONTHLY. 


in  legendary  lore,  aod  anyone  desirous  of  visiting 
"landmarks"  in  Scottish  history  could  not  do 
better  than  visit  this  part  of  the  country.  A 
short  distance  from  Stanley,  on  the  Pertli  road, 
there  is  a  trap  dylie  which  at  one  time  extended 
across  the  Tay.  It  is  called  the  "  Thristle 
Brig"  because  of  the  following  incident.  The 
Scottish  army  lay  encamped  near  the  banks  of 
the  river.  Desirous  of  surprising  them  the 
Norse  invaders  attempted  to  cross  the  river  by 
the  trap  dyke  in  the  night  time.  Happily  for 
the  Scotsmen  a  Norseman  trampled  with  his 
bare  feet  upon  a  thistle,  and  gave  an  ejaculation 
of  pain  which  immediately  aroused  the  Scots, 
who  grasping  their  weapons  attacked  the  enemy 
so  furiously  that  they  were  completely  routed. 


Hence  it  was  that  our  forefathers  adopted  the 
thistle  as  the  badge  of  Scotland,  and  what  Scot 
is  not  proud  of  it  ?  Evan  MacCoU  has  sung  its 
praises  in  sweet  flowing  Gaelic  verse,  which 
Mr.  Malcolm  MacParlane  translates  as  follows  : 

"  Langsyne  the  inyaders  cam  owre  to  our  shore, 
And  fiercely  our  thistle  they  scutched  and  they  tore; 
When  they  maist  thocht  it  deid,  'twas  then  it  up 

bore. 
And  it  bloomed  on  their  graves  quite  as  strong  as 

of  yore. 

My  blessing  be  yours !  is  there  Scotsman  ava 
Would  stan'  by  and  .see  ony  harm  on  ye  fa' .' 
Is  there  gentle  or  semple  wha  lives  in  our  land, 
Wad  refuse  to  drink  health  to  the  thistle  sae  grand.' 


''j^*^    **""  *^l^ 


••s^  "■  -.-ts*a 


THE     nVKE    ON     THE    T.W     AT     STANLEY. 


It  is  also  said  that  it  was  across  this  bridge 
that  the  Norse  Vikings  went  on  their  way  to 
Luncarty,  where  they  suffered  a  signal  defeat  at 
the  hands  of  the  natives.  A  stone  is  still  shown 
on  Denmark  field,  below  Luncarty,  where 
tradition  asserts  John  de  Luce  rested  himself 
after  the  battle.  It  is  also  believed  that  Macbeth, 
after  his  defeat  at  Drumbeth  by  Malcolm 
Canmore,  retreated  over  the  Tay  by  the  Thristle 
Brig. 

The  other  view  represents  the  dyke  which 
was  erected  for  the  jmrpose  of  raising  the  river 


to  supply  Stanley  Mills  with  water.  This  part 
of  the  Tay  is  a  favourite  haunt  of  the  fishermen. 
It  was  near  here  t.hat  John  Bright  catight  his 
last  salmon  ;  and  here  also  that  Leech  pictured 
"  Rriggs "  in  Punch  landing  his  first  salmon  in 
his  arms !  The  water  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
dyke  is  called  Burnmouth  water  and  belongs  to 
the  Duke  of  Atholl ;  while  below  the  dyke  is 
Stanley  water,  the  property  of  Colonel  Sandeman, 
a  grand-nephew  of  the  poetess  Lady  Nairn, 
authoress  of  "  The  Land  of  the  Leal,"  etc. 
fii-Kiwiv  W.  Sutherland  Hunter. 


Clan  Cameron. — At  the  Annual  General  Meeting  Cameron  mothers  or  grandmothers,  who  use  the 
held  in  Edinburgh  on  4th  ult.,  the  following  addition  name  Cameron  in  conjunction  with  any  other  sur- 
was  made  to  the  constitution — "Persons,  children  of      name,"  shall  now  be  admitted  as  members. 


bife'^*^'^'  -■    -*#""■'■ 


A.     MACKINNON. 


THE   HON.    MRS.    F.  A.    MACKINNON. 


ALINE  EMILY  HOOD  MACKINNON. 

ARTHUR    AVALON 


ALEXANDER  HOOD  MACKINNON. 
MACKINNON. 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

:4   MAGAZINE   FOR   HIGHLANDERS. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MACKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.  9.  Vol.  IV.] 


JUNE,     1896. 


[Price  Threepence. 


FRANCIS    ALEXANDER     MACKINNON. 


flRANCIS  ALEXANDER  MACKINNON 
was  bom  April  9tli,  1848,  and  is  the 
—  -1  eldest  son  of  William  Alexander  Mac- 
Kinnon, Acryse  Park,  near  Folkestone,  Kent, 
present  and  thirty-fourth  chief  of  the  clan, 
who  was  MP.  for  Rye  18.52-3,  and  for  LyminR- 
ton  1857-1863,  and  High  Sherifl'of  Kent  1885. 
He  was  educated  at  Harrow  and  St.  John's 
College,  Cambridge,  where  he  took  his  degree 
in  January,  1871.  He  is  a  J. P.  for  Kent,  and 
served  in  the  Royal  East  Kent  Mounted  Rifles 
(Yeomanry  Cavalry)  from  1870  to  1893,  when 
he  retired,  owing  to  ill  health,  with  the  rank  of 
Honorary  Major.  He  was  County  Councillor 
for  the  Elham  division  of  East  Kent  from 
January,  1889,  till  March,  1893,  retiring 
from  the  same  cause.  He  has  travelled  much 
in  China,  Japan,  Africa,  America,  etc.,  and 
was  a  member  of  Lord  Harris'  cricket  team  to 
Aubti-alia    in    1878.      He    was    a    first-class 


cricketer,  being  remarkable  for  fine  defensive 
powers  as  a  bat,  and  represented  Cambridge 
against  Oxford  in  the  famous  match  of  1870, 
when  the  latter  were  defeated  by  two  riois. 
He  was  for  ten  years  a  member  of  the  Kent 
County  Eleven,  1875-85,  and  was  President  of 
the  Kent  County  Cricket  Club  in  1889. 

Mr.  MacKinnon  has  always  taken  the  keenest 
interest  in  farming,  and  undertakes  the 
management  of  a  farm  on  his  father's  estate  in 
Kent.  He  is  deservedly  popular  with  all 
classes,  and  especially  so  among  the  agricul- 
tural laboui-ers.  He  resides  at  -10  Castle  Hill 
Avenue,  Folkestone. 

The  Honourable  Mrs.  F.  A.  MacKinnon  is 
the  eldest  daughter  of  Admiral  Lord  Hood  of 
Avalon,  G.C.B.  This  distinguished  peer  is  the 
second  son  of  Sir  Alexander  Hood,  Bart., 
sometime  M.P.  for  West  Somerset.  He  was 
born  in  1821,  entered  the  Royal  Navy  in  1836, 
and  retired  in  1889.  He  served  on  coast  of 
Syria,  1810  (Syrian  and  Turkish  medals  with 
clasp),  in  naval  brigade  at  Sebastopol  (medal 
with  clasp,  Turkish  medal  and  5th  class 
medjidie),  and  in  command  of  H.M.S.  "Acorn" 
(luring  the  China  War,  1857-8,  and  was  present 
at  the  action  of  Fatshem  and  capture  of  Canton 
(medal  and  clasp),  was  Du-ector  of  Naval 
Ordnance,  an  A.D.C.  to  the  Queen,  Second 
Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  1877-80,  in  command  of 
Channel  Squadron.  1880-1,  and  Senior  Naval 
Lord  of  the  Admiralty,  1885-9 ;  is  a  J.P.  for 
Somerset;  C.B.  1871,  K.C.B.  1885,  G.C.B. 
(military)  1889 ;  was  created  Baron  Hood  of 
Avalon,  Co.  Somerset  (Peerage  of  the  United 
Kingdom)  1892;  married,  1855,  Fanny 
Henrietta,  daughter  of  Sir  Charles  Fitzroy 
Maclean,  Bart.,  chief  of  the  clan,  by  whom  he 
has  two  daughters: — 

1 — Hon.  Emily  Isabel,  married  in  1888  F. 
A.  MacKinnon,  Esq.,  J.P.,  and  has  issue 
Alexander  Hood,  born  1892;  Arthur  Avalon, 
born  1893 ;  and  Aline  Emily  Hood,  born  1889. 

2 — Hon.  Fanny  Sophia. 

This  illustrious  family  has  had  thi-ee  Peer- 
ages and  two  Baronetcies  conferred  on  it  for 
services  rendered  to  the  British  Navy. 

DoNAU)  D.  MacKinnon. 


162 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


CLUNY     AND     LADY     CLUNY     OF     THE 
'45,    AFTER     CULLODEN. 


By  Alexander  Magpherson,  Kingussie. 


VIII. 


"  Clann  Mhuirich, 

Choisinn  urram  anns  na  blaraibh  ; 
Bha  iad  treim  bhualadh  bhuillean, 

Anns  gach  cunnart  is  buaidh-larach, 
Leis  an  t-srbl-bhrataich  uain'  tha  'n  CInainidh, 

Nacli  do  ghabh  an  riiaig  roimh  namliaid." 

fN  the  opinion  of  the  late  Dr.  Skene,  the 
distinguished  historiographer  for  Scot- 
—  land — who  has  been  justly  characterised 
as  "the  learned  and  most  accurate  of  all 
our  Highland  historians" — the  Macphersons 
"  possess  that  right  by  blood  to  the  Chief  ship  " 
(of  Clan  Chattau)  "  of  which  no  charters  from 
the  Crown  and  no  usurpation,  however  success- 
ful and  continued  can  deprive  them."  AUuding 
in  his  Highlanders  of  Scotland,  pubhshed  in 
1837,  to  the  active  share  the  Macphersons  had 
taken  in  the  Risings  of  the  '15  and  the  '45 
"  refusing  to  acknowledge  the  title  of  j\Iac- 
kintosh  to  be  either  Chief,  or  Captain  of  Clan 
Chattan,  and  asserting  their  ovm  preferable 
title,"  Skene  thus  writes: — 

"  In  the  latter  insurrection  the  name  of  Mac- 
pherson  has  become  celebrated  for  the  distinguished 
part  which  their  chief  took  in  that  ill-fated 
expedition,  but  perhaps  still  more  so  for  the 
conduct  of  the  clan  to  their  chief  after  the  defeat 
of  Culloden  had  terminated  the  hopes  of  the 
Stuarts,  and  exposed  Cluny  to  the  vengeance  of 
the  Government. 

"  There  is  perhaps  "—continues  Dr.  Skene — "  no 
instance  in  which  the  attachment  of  the  clan  to 
their  chief  was  so  vei'y  strikingly  manifested  as  in  the 
case  of  the  Macphersons  of  Cluny  after  the  disaster 
of 'the  forty-five.'  The  chief  having  been  deeply 
engaged  in  that  insurrection,  his  life  became  of 
course  forfeited  to  the  laws,  but  neither  the  hope 
of  reward  nor  the  fear  of  danger  could  induce 
anyone  of  his  people  to  betray  him.  For  nine 
years  he  lived  concealed  in  a  cave  at  a  short 
distance  from  his  own  house.  It  was  situated  in 
the  front  of  a  woody  precipice  of  which  the  trees 
and  shelving  rocks  completely  concealed  the 
entrance.  This  cave  had  been  dug  out  by  his  own 
people,  who  worked  by  night,  and  conveyed  the 
stones  and  rubbish  into  a  neighbouring  lake  in 
order  that  no  vestige  of  their  labour  might  appear, 
and  lead  to  the  discovery  of  the  retreat.  In  this 
asylum  he  continued  to  live  secure,  receiving  by 
night  the  occasional  visits  of  his  friends,  and  some- 
times by  day,  when  time  had  begun  to  slacken  the 
rigour  of  pursuit. 

"  Upwards  of  one  hundred  persons  were  privy  to 
his  concealment,  and  a  reward  of  one  thousand 
pounds  sterling  was  offered  to  anyone  who  should 


give  information  against  him,  and  besides,  as  it 
was  known  that  he  was  somewhere  concealed  upon 
his  own  estate,  a  detachment  of  eighty  men  was 
constantly  stationed  there,  independent  of  the 
occasional  parties  that  traversed  the  country 
throughout  with  a  view  to  intimidate  his  tenantry 
and  induce  them  by  force  or  persuasion  to  disclose 
the  place  of  his  concealment.  But  although  the 
soldiers  were  animated  by  the  hope  of  reward,  and 
their  officers  by  the  promise  of  promotion,  for  the 
apprehension  of  this  proscribed  individual,  yet,  so 
true  wei-e  his  people,  so  inflexibly  strict  to  their 
promise  of  secrecy,  and  so  dexterous-in  conveying 
to  him  the  necessaries  he  required  in  his  long 
confinement,  that  not  a  trace  of  him  could  be 
discovered,  nor  an  individual  base  enough  to  give 
a  hint  to  his  detriment.  Many  anecdotes  are  still 
related  in  the  country  of  the  narrow  escapes  he 
made  in  eluding  the  vigilance  of  the  soldiery, 'and 
of  the  fidelity  and  diligence  displayed  by  his  clan 
in  concealing  him  until,  after  ten  years  of  this 
dreary  existence,  he  escaped  to  France  and  there 
died." 

"After  his  death" — Skene  concludes — "the 
estate  was  restored  to  the  present  family,  in  whose 
possession  it  remains,  and  who  are  the  lineal 
representatives  of  the  ancient  chiefs  of  the  Clan 
Chattan." 

It  has  been  alleged  that  Dr.  Skene  sub- 
sequently changed  his  views  as  to  the  chiefship 
of  Clan  Chattan,  but  the  allegation  has  not  the 
shadow  of  a  foundation,  and  apparently  the 
wish  has  simply  been  "father  to  the  thought." 
In  an  autograph  letter  wTitten  by  him  on  4th 
March,  1889 — Little  more  than  three  years 
before  his  lamented  death — he  says: — "The 
only  thing  I  have  pubhshed  on  the  subject 
(i.e.  the  chiefship  of  the  Clan  Chattan)  is 
contained  in  my  original  work  on  The  Hiyh- 
landers  of  Scotland  now  out  of  print,  and  an 
allusion  to  it  in  Celtic  Scotland."  I  nccer  " — he 
concludes — "had  any  doubt  as  to  the  Macphersons 
of  Cluny  being  the  true  chiefs  of  the  Clan  Chattan." 
'The  allusion  to  which  he  refers  in  that  letter  is 
contained  in  the  first  edition  of  the  third 
voliune  of  his  Celtic  Scotland,  page  329,  and  is 
repeated  in  the  second  edition.  In  the  later 
edition,  published  only  about  two  years  before 
his  death,  there  is  a  foot-note  on  page  3G5  in 
the  following  terms : — 

"  In  the  main  the  author  has  seen  little  reason 
to  alter  the  distribution  of  the  clans  in  an  earlier 
work,  The  Jliiililan,Jer.s  of  Se„flaiul,  published  [in 
1837,  to  irhirh  Ihe  rro.lei-  !.'  rrferre,!  for  the\v  detoiled 
hisfoni." 

Pre-eminently  worthy  as  the  chiefs  of  the 
House  of  Cluny  have  always  proved  themselves 
of  such  loyalty  and  aftection,  the  "  imbounded 
attachment "  displayed  by  his  clansmen  to 
Cluny  of  the  '45,  which  "  no  gold  could  buy, 
nor  time  could  wither,"  has  continued  unabated 
on  the  part  of  the  clan  towards  the  successive 
chiefs  down  to  the  present  day. 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


163 


16i 


THE    CELTIC   MONTHLY. 


To  Cluny  of  the  '45  might  indeed,  mutatis 
mutandis,  be  appropriately  applied  Sir  David 
Brewster's  touching  epitaph  on  a  Scottish 
Jacobite: — 

"  To  Scotland's  King  I  knelt  in  homage  true, 
My  heart — my  all  I  give — my  sword  I  drew ; 

Chased  from  my  hearth,  I  reached  a  foreign  shore, 
My  native  mountains  to  behold  no  more — 
No  more  to  listen  to  Spa/s  silver  stream — 
No  more  among  its  glades  to  love  and  dream, 
Save  when  in  sleep  the  restless  spirit  roams 
Where  E\dhven  crumbles,  and  where  Pafaij  foams. 

From  home  and  kindred  on  Albano's  shore, 
I  roamed  an  exile  till  life's  dream  was  o'er — 
Till  God,  whose  trials  blessed  my  wayward  lot, 
Gave  me  the  rest — the  early  grave — I  soxight  ; 
Showed  me,  o'er  death's  dark  vale,  the  strifeless 

shore. 
With  wife,  and  child,  and  king  to  part  no  more. 
0  patriot  wanderer,  mark  this  ivied  stone. 
Learn  from  its  story  what  may  be  thine  own : 
Should  tjTants  chase  thee  from  thy  hills  of  blue. 
And  sever  all  the  ties  to  nature  true, 
The  broken  heart  may  heal  in  life's  last  hour, 
When  hope  shall  still  its  throbs,  and  faith  exert  her 

power." 

[T(i  be  con ti ID/I'd) 


The  scene  with  phantoms  of  that  stormy  past. 
Visions  of  strife  and  blood,  ambition  vast, 
.^n^L  deeds  of  mighty  heroes. — Ne'er  can  fade 
Those  lurid  memories  till  melt  the  snows 
On  heights  where  form  of  man  ne'er  shadow  cast, — 
Till  every  stone  of  thine  Time's  hand  has  laid 
Beneath  Loch  Linnhe's  waves,  whose  ceaseless  moan 
Mourns  for  thy  vanished  power,  thy  glory  Uown. 

Janet  A.   M'Culloch. 


DUi«JO   LLIE     CASTLE,     LOCH     LINNHE. 


Ruined  thy  towers  Donollie — chill  and  mute 
Those  halls  where  dwelt  a  noble  race  of  old. 
When   brave   MacdougaU   clansmen,   staunch   and 

bold, 
Gathered  around  their  chieftain  ere  the  foot 
Of  Sassenach  trod  the  heath, — or  poisonous  root 
Of  avarice  throve,  or  greed  of  alien  gold. 
From  thy  grim  battlements  the  banner's  fold 
Unfurl'd  by  wild  Atlantic  breezes,  flung 
Defiance  stern  when  through  Loch  Linnhe  swung 
King  Haco's  galleys,  and  the  war-cry  rolled 
It's  awful  summons  through  the  echoing  hills 
When  Gael  met  Norseman  'mid  the  combat's  throes. 
As  the  fierce  Lords  of  Lorn  upon  their  foes 
Rushed  liked  the  whelming  flood. — Now  memory 

fills 


ARTHUR     BIGNOLD,     LOCHROSQUE, 
ROSS-SHIRE. 


^/g^NE  of  the  subjects  of  our  monthly 
\i'j[|£lj  portraits  is  Mr.  Arthur  Biguold  of 
*'^s^  Lochrosque,  who,  although  a  resident 
for  more  than  twenty  years  in  Eoss-shire,  has 
only  recently  been  prominently  before  the 
public. 

Mr.  Bignold  is  a  son  of  the  late  Sir  Samuel 
Bignold,  formerly  member  for  the  city  of 
Norwich,  and  one  of  the  original  members  of 
the  Carlton  Club.  He  inherited  from  Sir 
Samuel  an  ample  fortune,  and  was  educated  at 
the  University  of  Cambridge,  where  at  Trinity 
Hall  he  won  an  open  scholarship  and  after- 
wards attained  the  degree  of  LL.B.,  his  name 
figuring  in  the  Tripos  List  of  1861. 

Mr.  Bignold  married  Miss  Lake,  an  Irish 
lady,  and  has  one  daughter,  married  to  the 
Marques  de  Torre- He rmosa,  by  whom  she  has 
two  children. 

Mr.  Bignold  subsequently  entered  the 
honourable  Society  of  the  Inner  Temple  but  was 
never  called  to  the  Bar,  electing  to  pass  most 
of  his  time  for  some  years  in  foreign  travels. 
When  in  England  Mr.  Bignold  paid  long  and 
frequent  visits  at  the  house  of  his  godfather, 
the  late  Duke  of  ^Yellington.  at  Strathtieldsaye, 
and  there  it  was  that  he  made  the  acquaintance 
of  the  late  Lord  Beaconsfield,  whose  guest  he 
was  at  Hughendeu  in  1867,  when  the  right 
honourable  gentleman  was  leader  of  the  House 
of  Commons. 

Among  the  improvements  on  his  own  estate 
Mr.  Bignold  has  successfully  accomplished  the 
hitherto  unattempted  task  of  the  acclimatisation 
of  Japanese  deer.  His  first  venture  was  to 
import  from  the  Himalayas  the  well-known 
sambur  and  axis,  but  owing  to  the  breeding 
season  being  in  the  depth  of  winter  this  attempt 
failed,  j-et  nothing  daunted  Mr.  Bignold 
accepted  from  Lord  Powerscourt  a  present  of 
six  Japanese  deer,  with  which  he  has  been 
highly  successful,  and  there  are  now  in  the 
forest  of  Achanault  a  herd  of  twenty-three 
Japanese  deer  strong  and  healthy,  and  with 
every  promise  of  spreading  in  time  over  the 


ARTHUR    BIGNOLD. 


rHE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


1G5 


Highlands.  It  should  be  remembered  that  a 
century  ago  the  fallow  deer  were  unknown  in 
the  north,  and  in  their  new  forest  the  Japanese 
deer  are  understood  to  have  developed  a 
partiality  for  the  ground,  which  augurs  well 
for  the  future.  This  experiment  has  excited 
great  interest  with  the  Royal  Zoological  Society 
of  London,  of  which  Air.  Bignold  is  a  Fellow. 
The  unostentatious  but  useful  work  of  his  later 
life  has  mainly  been  to  impi'ove  the  condition 
of  the  crofters  and  cottars  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  his  estates,  and  we  understand  that  he  is 
now  devoting  his  attention  to  the  welfare  of 


the  fishermen  on  the  north  coast  of  Scotland. 
Although  a  member  of  the  Carlton,  Junior 
Carlton  and  Constitutional  Clubs,  Mr.  Bignold 
is  eminently  Radical  in  his  social  opinions, 
proclaiming  as  his  motto  '"the  greatest  good 
for  the  greatest  number,"  whilst  his  devotion 
to  the  interests  of  Ross-shire,  the  glorious 
country  of  his  adoption,  is  well  known  and 
highly  appreciated.  It  may  also  be  mentioned 
that  he  has  been  recently  adopted  as  candidate 
by  some  of  the  Northern  Burghs,  and  was 
asked  to  contest  the  county.  It  ought  not  to 
go  unrecorded  that  he  has  erected  a  handsome 


I.0CIIR0S(;rE    CASTLE. 


church  on  his  property,  where  divine  service  is 
performed  throughout  the  year  every  alternate 
Sunday,  Mr.  Bignold  being  closely  identified 
with  the  Free  Kirk  of  Scotland. 

We  append  a  short  description  of  Loch- 
rosque  Castle,  a  sight  of  which  would  repay 
the  time  of  a  visitor  in  the  neighbourhood,  and 
which  is  open  to  the  view  of  the  public  during 
the  greater  portion  of  the  year.  The  estates 
of  Lochrosque,  Strathbran,  and  Achanault, 
which  extend  to  some  fifty  five  square  miles, 
contain  objects  and  landmarks  of  historic 
interest,  notable  amongst  them  being  Roder- 


ick's Leap  on  the  Grugie  river,  immortalized 
by  the  exploit  of  Roderick  of  Fairburn  who,  it 
is  averred,  leaped  over  the  river  from  rock  to 
I'ock  with  a  deer-hound  under  each  arm,  at  the 
spot  which  bears  his  name.  Also  in  the  valley 
of  the  Bran  still  stands  the  house  where 
AJistair  Scholar,  the  malefactor,  slept  the  night 
before  his  arrest  for  the  crime  for  which  he 
suffered  death  on  the  gallows  at  Tain.  Near 
the  road  in  this  strath  a  huge  cairn  is  visible 
marking  the  spot  where  five  years  ago  the  body 
of  the  stalker,  John  Maclennau,  was  found  two 
days  after  the  stag  had  pierced  him  through 


166 


THE    GiiLTIC     MONTHLY. 


and  through — poor  John  lies  buried  iu  the 
graveyard  of  Loch  Broom,  and  Mr.  Bignold, 
who  attended  the  funeral,  erected  a  tombstone, 
with  the  following  inscription,  to  his  memory: — 
"Tot  cervoruni  Victor  non  senectuti  sed  cervo 
cessit."  The  county  road  passes  for  fifteen 
miles  through  the  property,  and  some  two 
miles  from  its  western  extremity  stands  Loch- 
rosque  Castle  and,  seven  hundred  feet  above  it, 
a  small  artificial  loch  constructed  for  the 
manufacture  of  electricity,  the  water  being  led 
in  clay  and  u-on  pipes  to  the  turbine,  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  below  the  artificial  loch.  This 
is  the  greatest  fall  of  any  water  power  installa- 
tion in  the  British  islands.  The  electric  light 
is  utihzed  in  every  part  of  the  precincts,  whilst 
in  an  archway  is  seen  an  electrical  clock  which 
shews  the  time  at  night  from  far  off  in  the  hills. 
The  golden  eagles  iu  their  house  by  the  stables 
are  a  constant  source  of  amusement  to  the 
passing  tourist,  the  crag  where  their  parents 
buUt  their  eyrie  being  also  visible  from  the 
road.  The  wood  around  the  castle  has  yet  to 
grow,  for  the  oldest  trees  can  boast  no  moi'e 
than  seventeen  summers,  but  the  terraces  with 
their  Nairnshire  stone  steps  are  finished  to 
perfection  and  provide  a  dehghtful  promenade 
on  an  autumn  evening. 

Lochrosque  Castle  itself,  of  which  we  subjoin 
a  photograph,  though  erected  upon  an 
admirably  chosen  site  above  the  waters  of  the 
loch  whose  name  it  bears,  shews  at  a  glance 
that  it  has  been  the  subject  of  reconstruction 
and  additions,  but  what  it  loses  in  symmetry  it 
certainly  gains  in  comfort  and  convenience. 
The  view  from  the  battlements  of  the  eastern 


tower,  eighty-five  feet  in  height,  is  really  fine. 
On  this  tower  is  a  nautical  search-hght  of  a 
hundred  candle  power,  through  which  night 
can  be  almost  converted  into  day,  upon  any 
spot  where  the  rays  are  thrown.  It  is,  how- 
ever, the  interior  of  the  castle  which  is  so 
perfect,  probably  surpassing  any  house  in 
Scotland.  There  are  seven  recejation  rooms. 
The  two  ante  halls  of  the  castle  are  of  plain 
stone  with  oak  dados  and  ceilings,  and  from 
the  interior  of  the  two  a  door  opens  leading 
downwards  to  the  heating  chambers  which 
send  out  their  pipes  beneath  the  building  and 
upwards  to  a  winding  stair  of  some  hundi'ed 
stone  steps  to  the  battlement  above  the  tower. 
The  hall  itself  and  all  the  galleries  and  passages 
are  covered  with  ancient  Spanish  leather 
stripped  from  the  walls  of  an  old  house  in  the 
Netherlands,  whilst  the  ceiling  of  the  hall  is  of 
oUve-wood  from  Spain.  The  princijjal  stau-case 
is  of  carved  oak,  and  when  on  view  in  Aberdeen 
some  years  ago  was  greatly  admired.  The 
hbrai'y,  also  formed  entirely  of  Austrian  wains- 
cot, contains  many  presentation  copies  of  books, 
and  first  editions,  notable  amongst  which  is  a 
fine  copy  of  the  first  edition  of  the  plays  of 
Shakespeare.  The  long  drawing  room  divided 
by  a  marble  piUared  archway  is  the  feature  of 
the  house,  the  walls  being  draped  with  silk  and 
ornamented  with  real  silver  sconces  and  balus- 
trades. S^jace  prevents  a  description  of  the 
statuary,  which  is  magnificent,  and  of  the 
pictures,  but  to  a  connoisseur  it  would  be  a 
real  delight  to  examine  the  china  and  hard- 
stone  carvings  which  were  on  view  at  the 
South  Kensington  Museum. 


lAT     n|-     .\i;MS     OF     .MR.     lilCiNOLU 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


167 


Part  II. — (Continued  from  page  l:i;3^. 

|ppi|HIS  year  William  brought  into  the  field 
y^  a  great  army  of  124:,()0()  men,  with 
'^^  which  he  made  demonstrations  to  bring 
on  a  battle,  but  finding  Marshal  Villeroi  un- 
willing to  engage  he  determined  to  recover 
Namur,  leaving  a  portion  of  his  army  to 
confront  and  watch  the  movements  of  the 
French. 

Marshal  Boufflers,  finding  that  Namur  was 
threatened,  threw  himself  into  it  at  the  head  of 
a  cavalry  force,  a  body  of  sappers  and  miners, 
and  artillery,  increasing  the  garrison  to  16,000 
men. 

When  the  natural  and  artificial  strength  of 
Namur  are  considered,  the  quality  of  the  troops 
defending  it,  and  the  well-known  skill  and 
valour  of  the  Marshal  commanding,  the  attack 
on  Namur  may  be  deemed  an  undeniable  proof 
of  William's  courage  and  temerity,  but  he  had 
entire  confidence  in  the  indomitable  pluck  and 
courage  of  his  English  and  Scottish  soldiers 
fighting  at  close  quarters,  and  the  event 
justified  both  the  judgment  and  confidence  of 
the  soldier  King. 

The  Scottish  regiments  employed  at  the 
siege  were,  Coldstream  Guards,  Scots  Foot 
Guards,  Royal  Scots,  Edinburgh  Regiment 
(25th).  The  Scots  Greys  were  amongst  the 
cavalry  of  the  army  covering  the  siege 
operations. 

By  the  1st  July,  1695,  the  besiegers  closed 
in  on  every  side,  and  the  circumvallation  lines 
were  complete.  When  tidings  of  all  this  were 
reported  at  Versailles  they  caused  no  alarm, 


the  citadel  and  ramparts  were  known  to  be  of 
vast  strength,  the  magazines  stored  with 
provisions  and  all  kinds  of  munitions  of  war. 
Namur  was  considered  to  be  as  safe  as  the 
Bastille  in  Paris. 

The  siege  operations  were  vigorously  pressed 
by  William.  The  scientific  portion  of  them 
was  conducted  by  the  eminent  Dutch  military 
engineer  Cohorn,  who  had,  some  years  previous 
to  the  capture  of  the  place  by  Louis  XIV.  in 
1692,  greatly  increased  its  strength,  and  was 
now  spurred  to  exert  his  utmost  skill  to  retake  it. 

The  trenches  opened  on  the  2nd  July.  On 
the  sth  the  first  assault  was  made  by  contin- 
gents of  Dutch,  English,  and  Scottish.  General 
Ramsay  led  the  Scots.  They  encountered  a 
terrific  fire  without  returning  a  shot  till  they 
reached  the  enemy's  palisades,  then  they 
poured  in  a  volley  which  threw  the  French 
into  confusion.  The  palisades  were  instantly 
torn  down,  and  with  loud  shouts  the  assailants 
rushed  on  to  carry  the  second  covered  way 
with  pike  and  bayonet.  The  Dutch  wavered, 
but  the  Royal  Scots  came  to  their  support,  and 
flushed  with  success,  Dutch  and  Scots,  Guards 
and  Linesmen,  went  on,  and  won  the  covered 
way,  and  pursuing  the  enemy  to  their  own 
batteries  on  the  brow  of  the  hUl,  spiked 
the  gims,  the  French  seeking  refuge  in  some 
stone  pits  and  quarries. 


168 


tSE    OELfiO     MONTHLY. 


William,  in  person,  directed  this  attack. 
He  was  delighted.  He  called  the  attention  of 
the  Elector  of  Bavaria  who  was  near  him  to 
the  prowess  evinced  by  his  English  and 
Scottish  soldiers,  and  three  days  after,  writing 
to  the  prime  minister  in  London,  said,  "all  the 
troops  displayed  considerable  courage,  par- 
ticularly the  English,  the  Scottish,  and  one  of 
the  Dutch." 

On  the  16th  St.  Nicholas  gate  was  won.  On 
the  following  day  the  first  counterscarp  of  the 
ditch  was  attacked  by  the  British  Grenadiers. 
Rushing  to  the  glacis  and  casting  their 
grenades  over  the  palisades  into  the  covered 


way,  then  following  up  this  assault  with  spirit, 
the  red-coats  carried  the  counterscarp  in  the 
most  gallant  style.  Now  two  regiments  came 
to  their  aid,  but  when  the  gabions  were  being 
placed  upon  the  glacis  the  French  sprung 
several  mines  which  caused  terrible  havoc. 
Many  of  the  Guards  vaulted  over  the  palisades 
into  the  covered  way  and  used  their  swords 
with  incredible  bravery  till  a  lodgment  was 
fully  effected. 

On  the  22nd  July  a  new  battery  of  eighteen 
guns  arrived  fi-om  England.  Being  quickly 
placed  in  position  it  opened  fire  upon  the 
bastion  of  St.  Roche,  and  soon  battered   down 


r^.yT'??' 


/?t 


1«I3— Plil\  .^TK— .\HUCUIN(i     ORIlKlt. 


masses  of  the  stone-work,  but  it  was  found 
necessary  to  extend  the  lodgment  towards 
Portde-fer.  This  having  been  effected  the 
grand  assault  was  made  on  the  23rd.  The 
stormers,  led  on  by  the  gallant  Royal  Scots  as 
the  forlorn  hope,  rushed  on  with  great  fury. 
The  Scots  pressed  on  with  such  vigour  and 
spirit  that,  on  effecting  a  lodgment  and 
planting  their  flag  on  the  ramparts,  their  loss 
was  very  trifling,  the  reward  of  spirited 
audacity. 

On  the  24th,  while  preparations  were  being 
made  for  another  combined  assault,  a  white 


flag  was  seen.  All  tiring  ceased,  and  one  and 
all  were  on  the  "qui  vive."  Count  De  Guiscard, 
the  commandant  of  the  place,  advanced  from 
the  breach  flag  in  hand.  He  requested 
permission  to  confer  witli  General  Ramsay  for 
the  surrender  of  the  town  to  preserve  it  "from 
further  injury.  Terms  of  capitulation  were 
agreed  to,  and  signed,  and  in  the  evening 
Colonel  Lauder  with  his  Scottish  "  Mousque 
taires"  took  possession  of  Portde-fer  in  the 
presence  of  King  William,  while  old  Marshal 
Bouftlers  with  700  men  withdrew  into  the 
citadel,  having  in  three  weeks  lost  ui  defence  of 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


169 


the  place  5000   men  and  4000   by  desertion. 

Marshal  Villeroi  now  attempted  to  raise  the 
8iege  and  advanced  within  six  mUes  of  Namur. 
William  strengthened  his  covering  army  and 
proceeded  to  observe  Villeroi's  movements. 
Seeing  William's  dispositions  and  preparations, 
he  judged  it  too  hazardous  to  attack  and  risk 
the  issue  of  a  battle.  He  eventually  moved 
away  to  a  greater  distance,  leaving  his  brother 
Marshal  to  his  fate. 

William,  V)efore  commencing  operations  to 
reduce  the  citadel,  sent  the  Earl  of  Portland  to 
Marshal  Bouiflers  to  represent  to  him  that 
further  resistance  would  be  useless,  as  Villeroi 
had  retired      The  old  warrior  considered  that 


"  further  resistance "  was  necessary  "  for  the 
honour  of  France." 

Preparations  on  a  grand  scale  to  storm  the 
citadel  were  now  made.  The  20th  August 
was  fixed  upon  for  the  assault.  English  and 
Scottish  detachments,  Dutch  .Mackays  and 
Dutch  and  Bavarians  took  part  in  the  grand 
assault.  The  attack  was  fierce,  and  e(jually  tierce 
was  the  resistance.  The  Bavarians  having  given 
way,  two  huiub'ed  Scottish  volunteers  of  the 
Dutch  Mackay  regiment  highly  distinguished 
themselves.  Indignant  at  the  miscarrage  of 
the  left  attack  by  the  Bavarians,  they  forced 
their  way  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  through 
the  paUsades,  and  storming  a  battery  which 


IF    THE     HUTCH     JI.\('KAV     BEGI.MEXT,     IX     THE     SEKVICK     <>F     HOLLAXD 


did  terrible  execution  among  the  Bavarians, 
they  slew  the  gunners,  and  wheeling  round  the 
cannons  turned  them  against  the  enemy.  The 
other  attacks  were  successful. 

The  old  Mai-shal  had  done  his  best,  he 
became  convinced  that  he  had  done  enough 
''for  the  honoiu'  of  France,"  and  next  day 
asked  for  a  truce  of  forty-eight  hours  to  bury 
the  slain.  Before  the  last  corpse  was  interred 
he  oflered  to  capitulate,  if  not  relieved  within 
ten  days.  He  was  informed  to  surrender 
immediately,  or  prepare  for  an  immediate 
attack.  After  a  time  he  yielded  on  condition 
that  he  and  the  garrison  should  march  out 
with  the  honours  of  war. 


On  the  Ist  September  the  white  flag^  wa» 
hoisted  on  the  citadel,  and  the  great  fortress  of 
Namur  was  surrendered  to  William,  at  a  cost 
to  him  of  12,000  men  in  a  siege  of  ten  weeks — 
the  solitary  military  success  which  brightened 
his  career  in  his  wars  with  France. 

William  Eraser,  who  lost  an  arm  in  the 
trenches  by  a  cannon  shot,  lived  till  he  was  118 
years;  he  died  in  17G8.  David  Caldwell,  bom 
in  1689,  commenced  his  military  career  as  a 
drummer  boy  in  a  Scots  regiment,  ended  a 
soldier's  life  in  1796  at  the  age  of  107. 


fl'o  be  continued) 


170 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


TO     CORRESPONDKNTS. 

All  Communications,  on  literary  and  buainess 
matters,  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  Mr.  JOHN 
XACKAT,  9  Bltfthswood  Drive,  Glasgow. 

TERMS  OP  SUBSCRIPTION.  —  The  CELTIC 
MONTHLY  will  be  sent,  post  free,  to  any  part  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  Canada,  the  United  States,  and  all 
countries  in  the  Postal  Union — for  one  year,  4^. 


The 


Celtic    Monthly. 

JUNE,  1896 


COrJ'TElMTS. 

Fkan-cis  Alexaxdbr  MacKisno.v  (with  plates),     • 

Cluny  and  Lady  Clu.jv  of  the  '46,  aktrr  CuLiiODEK  (iUus.), 

Dtj'soLLiE  Castle,  Loch  Linshk  (poem),        .       .       -       - 

ARTDIK  BlOXOLD,  LoCUROSQIb,   Ross-sulRE  (with  plate). 

The  RoiAL  Scots  (Jrevs,  Part  II.  (illustrated),    - 

To  OUR  Readers, 

Cii'NV  Maci'herson  of  tub  '45  (poem),  .       .       -        . 

A  Tru'  to  Iuna  (illustrated;,  ■  ' 

Notes  on  the  Highland  Clans,  their  Badges,  Slogans, 

Music,  itc,      --.--.--- 
Traditions  op  the  Uolquhoun  Country  (illustrated),  - 
Norman  Hay  Fouiiks  of  Forbes,  Tunbridge  Wells,   - 

The  Highland  Sword  (illustrated), 

Memorial  of  a  Holiday  in  the  Highlands  (poem),    - 

Review,      ..-.-- 

Charles  Alfred  Stuart  Black,  M.A.  (poem),     - 
Our  Musical  Page— Is  trom  leam  an  aibidh— The 

Shieling  Song,        -       -       -       .        -       -       -       - 


incident,  for  the  Frasers  were  a  warlike  race  and 
left  their  mark  on  the  pages  of  Scottish  liistory. 
They  produced  warriors,  statesmen  and  scholars 
equal  to  any  of  their  contemporaries.  What  to  us, 
however,  has  proved  the  most  interesting  part  of 
this  bulky  volume,  is  that  devoted  to  the  life  and 
exploits  of  the  infamous  Simon,  Xlllth  Lord 
Fraser,  whose  strange  career  has  tuniished  material 
for  so  many  publications.  The  story  of  this  wicked 
old  man's  life  is  more  absorbing  than  a  romance. 
His  record  was  a  black  one,  varied  only  in  the 
nature  of  his  villainies,  yet  in  his  old  age,  when 
his  time  came  to  expiate  his  treason,  he  faced  death 
in  its  most  gruesome  form  on  Tower  Hill,  with  a 
smile  on  his  face,  and  a  jest  on  his  lips.  Mr. 
Mackenzie's  account  of  the  life  of  Simon  Lovat  of 
the  '45  is  specially  interesting  as  it  contains  many 
facts  not  generally  known,  the  result  of  original 
research  on  the  part  of  the  author. 

The  clan  historian  has  contributed  a  great  many 
works  of  permanent  value  to  our  Highland  litei  a- 
ture,  yet  we  may  fairly  look  upon  the  Frasvvs  as 
his  mwjnum  opus.  The  volume  is  attractively 
bound,  uniform  with  his  histories  of  the  Camerons, 
Mackenzies,  Macleods,  etc.,  and  as  the  edition  is 
ah-eady  pretty  well  exhausted  those  who  desire 
copies  should  order  them  at  once. 


OUR     NEXT     ISSUE 

Will  contain  plate  portraits  of  Captain  and  Mrs. 
John  MacRae  (of  Conchra),  Newark-on-Trent ; 
Mr.  H.  L.  Macdonald  of  Dunach,  near  Oban;  and 
Mr  .Alexander  Cameron,  Erricht,  with  biographical 
sketches. 

Lays  of  the  Heather,  bv  Alice  C.  Macdonbll. 
London:  Elliot  Stock.  —  Miss  Macdonell  requires 
no  introduction  to  our  readers,  for  she  has  contri- 
buted frequently  to  our  pages,  and  a  number  of  the 
poems  which  find  a  place  in  The  Lays  oftlw  Hintlu  r 
api^eared  first  in  the  pages  of  the  (.'rlfii:  Mniiflilii. 
There  are  over  tifty  lengthy  poems  in  the  book,  all 
of  considerable  poetic  merit,  and  dealing  with 
topics  of  Highland  interest.  The  volume  is  one 
which  is  sure  to  be  heartily  welcomed  by  High- 
landers. It  is  published  at  3;9,  post  free,  and 
orders  should  be  sent  to  Miss  A.  C.  Macdonell,  SO 
Cambridge  Street,  Eccleston  Square,  London,  W.C. 
The  History  of  the  Fraseks  of  Lovat,  by 
Alexander  Mackenzie,  M.J.I. — Mr.  Mackenzie 
is  to  be  gratulated  on  his  most  recent  addition  to 
the  series  of  Clan  Histories  with  which  his  name 
has  been  so  long  identified.  In  his  Uidonj  of  tlie 
Fraser.'i,  just  published,  he  has  surpassed  all  his 
previous  efibrts.  for  the  volume  extends  to  7G0 
pages,  and  in  addition  to  the  family  of  the  chiefs, 
includes  genealogies  of  no  fewer  than  twenty-six 
cadet  families  of  the  clan.  Mr.  Mackenzie  admits 
that  tliere  is  no  doubt  as  to  the  Norman  origin  of 
this  powerful  race,  and  traces  its  history  from  its 
earliest  appearance  in  the  south-east  of  Scotland  to 
the    present    day,    a    narrative    full    of    thrilling 


CLUNY     MACPHERSON     OF    THE    '45. 


[We  recently  invited  that  leal-hearted  Scot, 
Mr.  William  Allan,  M.P.,  to  write  a  song  for 
our  June  number.  W^e  received  the  song,  and 
the  following  characteristic  letter  which  we 
have  no  doubt  our  readers  will  enjoy  as  much 
as  we  did.  "  Son  of  the  Brave — '  A  song  for 
your  June  number !  Yes !  here  is  one  which 
may  suit  your  tartaned  pages.  '■  C'luny  of  the 
'45  1 "  has  always  a  fascination  for  me.  Some- 
how I  feel  I  should  have  hked  to  have  known 
that  grand  chief,  yea,  and  swung  a  claymore 
for  him  !  But  my  love  for  his  misfortimes  can 
only  be  shewn  in  a  song — you  have  it. 

May  a'  wlin  gi'e  ye  cause  to  mourn 
Be  drooned  deep  in  the  Loch  o'  Hourn. 

Amen.     Yours,  Wm.  Allan.] 

Cluny  Macpherson  1  the  redcoats  are  nearing, 

Fly  to  the  wilds  of  Benalder  again. 
The  gleam  of  their  steel  o'er  the  heath  is  appearing, 

Kiss  me  !  my  Cluny,  and  speed  away  fain  ; 
See  o'er  the  mountains  the  night-clouds  are  falling. 

Deep  lies  the  inist  on  the  breast  of  Craig  Dhu, 
Joy  of  my  heart !  love  and  duty  are  calling. 

Speed  !  Cluny  speed,  for  the  sake  of  the  true. 

Cluny  Macpherson  kissed  her  in  the  gloamin', 

God  of  the  brave  guide  his  footsteps  aright ! 
Safe  on  the  mountain  afar  from  the  foemen 

Cluny  Macpherson  shall  slumber  to-night  ; 
Charlie  !  Prince  Charlie  !  for  thee  we  must  sever, 

Tho'  homeless  and  landless  our  love  is  the  same, 
The  redcoats  may  crush  us  but  Charlie  shall  never 

Be  reft  of  a  friend  while  our  clan  has  a  name. 

Sunderland.  Wm.     ALLAN. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


A      TRIP      TO 


A^t;7^0^^'  that  the  brifrht,  long  summer  clays 
^b!\j|      have  come  again,  many  of  our  readers 

^  '^'  will  soon  have  to  decide  where  they 
will  spend  their  holidays  Some,  indeed,  do 
not  require  to  give  this  important  matter  mucli 
thought,  for 
the  romantic 
hills  and  glens 
of  the  High- 
lands possess 
too  great  a 
c  h  a  r  m  f  o  r 
them  to  think 
of  going  any- 
where else.  So 
far  as  we  are 
ourselves  con- 
cerned,  no 
matter  what 
plans  we  may 
have  formed  in 
the  earlj'  part 
of  the  year,  as 
soon  as  we  find 
ourselves  re- 
leased from  the 
duties  of  busi- 
ness and  the 
responsibilities 
of  con  due  tin).' 
our  'only  High- 
laudmagazine,' 
the  charm  of 
the  Sutherland 
bills  attracts 
us  thitbei',  as 
fast  as  the 
slowest  of  slow 
trains  will 
c  a  r  r  J'  us! 
Those  who  gu 
to  Sutherlan<  1 
by  train  always 
find  ample 
time  for  retlec- 
tiou!  But 
there  are  no 
doubt  many  of 
our  readers 
who  are  still  undecided  where  they  shall  go 
this  summer,  and  to  these  we  would  venture  to 
make  a  few  suggestions,  which  they  may  find 
useful.  There  is  no  place  in  broad  Scotland 
which  is  of  such  interest  to  Highlanders  as  the 
Island  of  lona.  To  them  lona  is  a  sacred 
place— it  is  the  ATecca  of  the  Gael,  for  it  was 
there  that  the  first   seeds   of   christianitv   in 


Scotland  took  root,  and  from  whence  it  spread 
its  branches  to  the  uttermost  corners  of  the 
earth.  Apart  from  its  historical  and  antiqua- 
rian interest  the  trip  is  a  most  delightful  one, 
including  as  it  does  a  visit  to  the  wonderful 
island  of  Staffa,  with  its  vast  caves  and  basaltic 
pillars. 

To  reach  Oban,  from  which  Mr.  David 
Macbrayne'e 
fine  steamer 
"  Grenadier  ' 
makes  a  daily 
trip,  the  tourist 
should  take  the 
"Columba"  at 
Glasgow  and 
enjoy  the  popu- 
lar sail  to  Ard- 
rishaig.  Here 
he  ma}'  con- 
tinue his  jour- 
ney through 
the  delightful 
scenery  of  the 
Crinan  Canal 
and  along  the 
shores  of  Lome 
to  Oban.  The 
"  Grenadier" 
leaves  Oban 
in  the  morn- 
ing, passing 
through  the 
Sound  of  Mull 
and  along  the 
romantic  coast 
of  Morven,  so 
rich  in  historic 
associations. 
SaiLLng  round 
the  northern 
point  of  the 
Island  of  JIull 
■Stafla  is  visi- 
ted, which  we 
shall  probably 
tlescribe  nest 
month,  and 
half-an  -  hour 
later  lona  is 
'.T    lo.NA.  reached.      I- 

Colmkill  or 
Colmkill,  meaning  the  Isle  of  the  Cell  of 
Columba  (V-cn/iimb-ci//)  was  the  name  given  to 
the  island  about  the  15th  century.  lona  is  a 
misreading  of  lova.  The  word  is  a  puzzle  to 
philologists.  The  island  is  called  in  Gaelic 
/,  or  /  Chalum  Chilh\  or  St.  Columba's  Isle. 
After  landing,  passengers  are  conducted 
by    the  ^  official    Guide    (appointed    by    the 


172 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


Duke  of  Argyll,  who  is  the  proprietor 
of  the  island),  to  the  ruius  of  the  Nuuueiy. 
Leaving  these  ruins  we  walk  along  what  was 
then  called  the  Street  of  the  Dead,  past  the 
Established  Church  and  Manse,  and  '■  M'Lean's 
Cross."  This  cross,  supposed  to  be  the  oldest 
in  Scotland,  is  one  of  360  said  to  have  been 
standing  on  the  island.  Of  these  only  two 
now  remain  entire — it  and  "St  Martin's," 
which  we  shall  see  in  the  grounds  of  the 
Cathedral. 

"  .         .         .  .         .         and  ill  loiias  piles. 

Where  rest  from  iiuirtal  coil  the  Mighty  of  the  Lsles." 

Entering  the  cemetery,  called  ReiUg  Odhrain 
(St.  Odhrain's  name  was  given  to  it  probably 
because  he  was  the  first  interred  there),  we  see 
the  groups  of  ancient  tombstones,  most  of  them 
carved  in  reUef,  which  are  of  great  historical 
and  antiqua- 
rian interest. 
There  are  said 
to  be  buried  on 
the  island  48 
Scottish  kings 
(including 
King  Coil  of 
Ayrshire),  4 
Lrish  kings,  8 
Norwegian 
princes,  and  3 
royal  infants, 
many  Lords  of 
the  Isles, 
bishops,  ab- 
b  o  t  8,  and 
priors,  The 
M'Leod  of 
M'Leod,      also 

chiefs  of  the  MacKinnons,  Macleans,  Macquar- 
ries,  and  other  clans.  The  last  king  buried  at 
lona  was  Duncan  I.  of  Scotland,  who  began  to 
reign  in  1034  a.d.,  and  was  murdered  by 
Macbeth  in  the  sixth  year  of  his  reign. 

Kosse — "  Where  is  Duncan's  body  V  " 
Macduff^"  Carried  to  Colme's  Kill, 

The  sacred  storehouse  of  his  predecessors, 
And  guardian  of  their  bones." 

— Shakespkare. 

The  first  enclosure  we  visit  contains  the 
tombstones  of  the  kings,  the  next  those  of  the 
chiefs,  and  later  on  we  see  many  stones  of 
equal  interest  within  the  Cathedral.  We  now 
enter  St.  Oran's  Chapel,  with  its  fine  Norman 
doorway  and  triple  arch.  It  is  the  most 
ancient  structure  in  the  island,  having  probably 
been  built  about  the  close  of  the  eleventh 
century.  Approaching  the  Cathedral,  we  see, 
opposite  the  west  doni-,  that  noble  monument 


known  as  ''The  lona  Cross."  This,  the  most 
perfect  of  the  remaining  two,  was  erected  to 
the  memory  of  St.  Martin  of  Tours,  who  lived 
in  the  sixth  century.  Close  to  the  west 
entrance,  beside  the  adjacent  angle  of  the 
cloister  is  a  small  chamber  called  St.  Columba's 
tomb,  and  here  the  Saint  and  his  servant 
Uiarmid  are  supposed  to  be  buried,  though 
Ireland  claims  that  the  bones  of  St.  C'olumba 
were  exhumed  and  reburied  in  County  Down, 
lona  Cathedral,  dedicated  to  St.  Mary,  and 
once  the  Cathedral  of  the  Diocese  of  the  Isles, 
was  built  in  the  early  part  of  the  thirteenth 
century  and  consisted  of  nave,  transepts,  and 
choir,  with  sacristy  on  the  north  side  of  choir 
and  side  chapels  on  the  south.  The  carving 
upon  the  columns  and  tombs  is  sharp,  well 
defined,  and  of  curious  purport,  and  the 
capitals  exhibit  bas-reliefs  similar  to  many 
found  in  Ireland.  One  of  the  carvings 
represents  the 
Crucifixion, 
another  Temp- 
tation,  and 
another  Sacri- 
fice. Adjoining 
the  Cathedral 
on  the  north 
are  the  ruins  of 
the  Conventual 
buildings,  of 
which  the 
portion  called 
the  Chapter 
House  is  the 
most  ancient 
and  remark- 
able. Over  it 
is  said  to 
have  been  the 
library.  Cloisters  of  perfect  symmetry  and 
probably  of  great  beauty  were  enclosed  on 
three  sides  by  the  nave,  one  of  the  transepts 
and  the  refectory.  The  length  of  the  Cathedral 
is  about  160  feet,  and  the  tower,  still  accessible 
by  a  winding  staircase,  is  about  70  feet  high. 
The  Monastery  lay  behind  the  Cathedral,  and 
north  of  the  ftlonastery  are  the  remains  of  the 
bishops'  house. 

When  St.  Columba  landed  from  his  coracle 
upon  the  silver  strand  on  Pentecost  Eve,  Anno 
Domino  563,  little  could  he  guess  how  his 
prophecy  would  be  fulfilled.  "This  place, 
small  and  mean  as  it  appears,  shall  be  honoured 
not  only  by  the  Kings  of  the  Scots  and  their 
people,  but  by  the  rulers  of  strange  nations, 
and  those  subject  to  them.  By  the  holy  men 
also  of  other  churches  it  shall  be  held  in 
reverence." 

The  Duke  of  Arg^■le  has  recently  had  some 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


1^3 


excavating  done,  displaving  the  original  fouu- 
ilations  and  plans  of  the  buildings,  and 
uncovering  many  splendidly  carved  stones  that 
have  lain  for  centuries,  covered  with  rubbish. 
Ion  a  has  a 
population  of 
2G0,  with  two 
churches,  Free 
and  Estab- 
lished. The 
Free  Church 
stands  promi- 
nently on  the 
point  at  Mar- 
tyrs' Bay,  so 
called  from  the 
fact  that  it  was 
at  this  place  in 
olden  times 
that  the  bodies 
of  those  who 
had  suffered 

martyrdom  were  landed,  when  brought  to  the 
island  for  interment.  The  Sound  of  lona, 
separating  lona  from  the  Ross  of  Mull,  is  here 


■HIGH1,.\N"L)E1; 


about  a  mile  wide.  The  geological  formation 
of  the  Ross  is  jJi'incipally  granite,  and  the 
quarries  there  supplied  the  red  granite  used 
in  the  construction  of  the  Albert  Memorial, 
Black  friars 
Bridge,  and 
the  Holborn 
Viaduct. 
Lovers  of 
nature  and 
antiquarians 
could  spend  a 
few  days  profi- 
tably at  lona, 
visiting  the 
Spouting  Cave, 
Port-a-Chur- 
raich  (the  spot 
where  St. 
Columba  lau- 
ded), the  Cell 
of  the  Culdees, 
the  Granite  Quarries,  and  the  Lighthouse 
Station  (for  Dubh-heartach  Lighthouse)  on 
Erraid  Island. 


notes    on    the    highland    clans, 
their  badges,  slogans,  music,  &c. 

By  Fionn. 


Ceeeae — Ceiathbar. 
IHF^I.HE  Crerars  are  from  Lochtayside  and 
Xl^  are  considered  a  sept  of  the  Clan 
^■^  Chattan.  Tradition  says  the  name 
arose  from  a  fugitive  who  sought  refuge  in  a 
mill  where  a  miller  was  sifting — oint/nadii, 
and  having  asked  the  miller  to  protect  him  he 
covered  his  clothes  with  meal,  and  taking  the 
riddle  or  sieve  from  the  miller  the  fugitive  was 
busy  at  work  when  his  pursuers  entered.  His 
disguise  was  so  complete  that  they  never 
suspected  him,  and  so  he  escaped. 

CtTMMrSaS Xa    CmilEINlCH. 

The  Cummings  belong  to  the  Norman  house 
of  (If  Comines,  a  territorial  name.  The  name 
also  takes  the  following  forms — Cumyu,  Com^n, 
Cumin,  and  Cummin.  They  migrated  north- 
ward in  the  earlier  part  of  the  thirteenth 
century.  The  clan  is  numerous  in  Aberdeen, 
Banfi',  and  Moray.  The  motto  of  the  clan  is 
"  Courage,"  the  Badge,  Cumin  plant — Gaelic 
liUS-MJtic-Cuimeiii. 


Davidsons — Clann  Da'idh. 

It  is  impossible  to  say  who  the  David^ 
Doibhidh  was  to  whom  this  clan  owes  its  name. 
It  is  more  than  likely  that  they  originally 
belonged  to  Rossshire,  for  the  chief  of  the 
elan  is  Davidson  of  TuUoch — but  whether  they 
are  the  same  as  the  sept  of  Clan  Chattan  known 
as  Clann  Dit'idli  it  is  difficult  now  to  determine. 
The  Badge  of  the  clan  is  the  Cranberry — 
Gaehc  Lus-n-im-braoi/emj.  Salute  or  Fuilte — 
"  Faille  TIngheavna  Tlmlach  " — Tulloch's  Salute. 

Deiiimonds — Na  Deumonaich. 

The  name  of  this  clan  is  the  oblique  form  of 
dniim — a  ridge.  They  appear  in  written 
records  during  the  thirteenth  centui-y.  James, 
fourth  Lord  Drummond,  was  created  Earl  of 
Perth  in  1605.  John,  the  second  Earl,  was 
taken  prisoner  at  Philiphaugh.  James,  fourth 
Earl,  was  Lord  Chancellor  of  Scotland.  He 
died  at  St  Germains  in  1716.  His  eldest  son, 
James,  opposed  the  Union;  and  was  "out"  in 
1715  as  well  as  in  '45,  for  which  he  was 
attainted.  The  title  was  restored  in  1853. 
The  chief  is  the  Earl  of  Perth — Patronymic 
All.  DnimoiHich.  Badge,  Wild  Thyme — Gaelic 
Liis  Mliic  )  'igti  Bliveatuiini.  March,  Spnidsearachd 
Dhivc  Phmht — The  Duke  of  Perth's  March. 
Motto,  "  Gang  warily." 

(  To  be  contiunedj. 


1Y4 


¥HE    CELTIC!    MONtHli^ 


TRADITIONS    OF    THE    COLQUHOUN 
COUNTRY. 


By  F.  Maey  Colqxjhodn. 


{Continued  from  page  147.) 

How    CoLQUHOUN   OF   LuSS   TOOK   DUMBARTON 

Castle. 

^NE  of  the  Loch  Lomond  traditions  is, 
that  a  King  of  Scotland,  having  lost  for 
a  time  the  Castle  of  Dumbarton,  which 
had  been  taken  possession  of  by  a  hostile  party, 
applied  to  Colijuhoun  of  Luss  to  recover  it  for 
the  Crown.  The  Chief  of  Luss  returned  answer 
"  If  I  can."  In  order  to  regain  this  important 
fortress  for  the  King,  Colquhoun  of  Luss  resorted 
to  a  stratagem,  getting  up  a  mock  chase,  by 
letting  loose  a  stag  on  the  level  near  the  castle, 
in  the  hope  that  this  vrould  attract  the  notice  of 
the  garrison  and  that,  on  observing  it,  they 
would  leave  the  tower  to  join  the  chase,  not 
suspecting  artifice,  and  thus  afford  an  opportunity 
of  recovering  it.  The  result  was  com[)letely 
successful,  the  garrison  dashing  forward  to  take 
part  in  the  exciting  sport.  During  the  absence 
of  the  soldiers  Colquhoun  of  Luss,  with  his 
followers,  took  possession  of  the  castle  and 
restored  it  to  the  King,  who  in  consequence 
granted  the  armorial  bearings  which  have  ever 
since  been  borne  by  the  Colquhouns  of  Luss, 
viz: — a  deer's  head  with  the  motto  "Si  je  puis," 
and  deer  hounds  as  supporters. 

Robert  the  Bruce  in  the  Colquhoun 
Country. 

The  lands  of  the  Colquhouns  were  often  trodden 
by  Robert  the  Bruce,  and  their  forests  are 
memorable  as  connected  with  one  of  the  most 
important  events  of  his  history.  It  was  when 
passing  through  those  woods  in  1313  that  a 
carjienter  named  Roland  met  him  on  his  way  to 
Dumbarton,  and  by  the  information  he  gave  him 
the  patriot  King  was  saved  from  becoming  the 
victim  of  a  stratagem  by  Sir  John  Monteith  of 
Rasky  to  betray  and  deliver  him  up  as  a  prisoner 
to  the  English  in  the  same  way  in  which 
Wallace  had  formerly  been  delivered. 

By  that  time,  under  the  Bruce  the  most 
important  stronghold.s  in  Scotland  had  ceased  to 
remain  in  the  hands  of  the  English,  but  Dum- 
barton Castle  still  held  out  against  him  governed 
by  Sir  John  Monteith,  who  would  only  surrender 
it  on  the  condition  that  the  Earldom  of  Lennox 
was  bestowed  on  him. 

Malcolm,   5th   Earl   of   Lennox,  one   of   the 


Brace's  most  staunch  friends,  agreed,  for  the 
love  he  bore  his  sovereign  to  make  the  sacrifice 
of  surrendering  his  great  Earldom. 

Monteith  invited  the  Bruce  to  come  and  take 
possession  of  the  fortress,  and  devised  the 
purpose  of  making  him  a  prisoner  when  in  the 
castle,  in  which  he  had  hidden  a  party  of  soldiers 
(Englishmen)  in  a  cellar,  a  ship  lying  off  the 
castle  to  sail  with  the  royal  prisoner  to  England. 
The  carpenter  who  met  Bruce  in  the  woods  of 
the  Colquhouns,  having  by  some  means  gained 
knowledge  of  the  plot  warned  the  King  of  his 
danger,  but  Bruce  nevertheless  proceeded  on  his 
journey,  and  reaching  the  castle  was  presented 
with  its  keys.  In  a  most  cordial  way  Monteith 
showed  him  through  the  fortress,  but  noticing 
that  there  was  a  cellar  into  which  he  was  not 
conducted  he  suspected  that  danger  lay  there, 
and  receiving  an  unsatisfactory  reply  on 
demanding  that  it  should  be  investigated  Bruce 
and  his  followers  forced  open  the  door,  where 
they  found  the  English  soldiers  were  concealed 
in  the  cellar,  fully  armed,  and  on  being  questioned 
separately,  they  confessed  the  conspiracy. 
Monteith  was  thrown  into  the  dungeon  he  had 
prepared  for  Bruce,  who  afterwards  generously 
forgave  him. 

How  irreparable  would  have  been  the  loss  to 
Scotland  had  the  stratagem  succeeded,  and  how 
changed  would  have  been  the  future  history  of 
the  Bruce,  who  would  most  likely  have  shared 
the  fate  of  the  noble  Wallace. 

On  the  18th  March,  1315,  King  Robert  the 
Bruce  granted  to  the  church  of  Luss  the  privilege, 
or  sanctuary,  round  that  church  for  the  space  of 
three  miles  on  every  side,  by  land  and  by  water, 
to  be  enjoyed  as  freely  as  any  liberty,  called 
"  Gyrth"  through  Scotland. 

The  privilege  of  "  Gyrth,"  or  sanctuary,  was 
the  protection  afforded  in  certain  places  from  the 
fierce  resentment  entertained  by  private  parties 
against  civil  and  criminal  culprits,  who  in  times 
when  there  was  no  regular  courts  of  justice, 
might  have  fallen  victims  to  personal  violence. 

The  Jews,  Greeks,  and  Roman  all  had  their 
sanctuaries,  and  Scotland  was  not  behind  them. 

It  is  probable  that  Robert  the  Bruce  granted 
the  privilege  of  sanctuary  round  the  church  of 
Luss  chiefly  for  the  sake  of  his  devoted  friend, 
Malcolm,  5th  Earl  of  Lennox. 

The  laird  of  Luss  was  also  a  staunch  friend 
and  suppoiter  of  the  Bruce,  and  often  shared 
those  fetes  and  festivals  gave  to  the  barons  and 
clergy  at  the  castle  of  Cardross. 

King  Robert  also  remembered  the  Lennox 
with  gratitude,  as  in  it  he  found  a  safe  retreat 
after  being  beaten  at  Methven,  and  he  often 
consoled  himself  in  the  pastime  of  hunting  and 
hawking  in  the  wooded  mountains  surrounding 
Luss. 


5?aE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


175 


The  date  of  the  erection  of  the  chajiel  of  St. 
Mary  at  Rossdhu  has  been  ascribed  to  the  12th 
century,  and  the  church  was  most  lilcely  used  as 
a  place  of  wor8hi|i  on  ordinary  occasions. 

Sir  .Tohu  ('ol(juhoun  of  Liiss,  the  patron  of  the 
church  at  Rossdiiu,  on  the  12th  of  April,  155G, 
presented  Sir  Thomas  Henderson  to  be  chaplain 
of  the  chapel  by  giving  him  a  missal-book,  a 


cup,  and  other  vestments  of  the  altar,  according 
to  the  form  and  tenor  of  the  same.  The  chapel 
is  situated  a  few  yards  to  the  north  of  the  old 
castle  of  Rossdhu,  and  below  the  stone  lloor  is 
one  of  the  burying  places  of  the  Colquhouns  of 
Luss. 

Near   Glen   Molachan,   at   the  head   of  Gieu 
Luss,  are  the  remains  of  a  chapel  dedicated  to 


St.  Michael.  A  few  gold  coins  found  in  its  wall 
fix  the  date  about  the  time  of  the  Reformation 
The  gold  coins  are  the  unicorns  of  King  James 
IV.  of  Scotland,  who  reigned  from  1488  to  1513. 
On  one  of  the  coins  is  a  unicorn  couchant  holding 
between  his  forelegs  an  armorial  shield,  having 
thereon  the  royal  lion  of  Scotland  within  a 
double  treasure.    The  circumscription  is  "  Jacobys 


Dei  Grocia  Res  Scot."  On  the  reverse  in  the 
centre  of  the  coin  is  a  star,  with  the  circum- 
scription   "  Esvrgat   Devs   Disipeut   inimici  ei." 

The  house  of  the  priest  who  officiated  at  this 
chapel  was  Edentagart,  in  Glen  Luss — on  the 
site   of   the    present   farmhouse   of    that  name. 

luch-a-Vanich,  or  the  ^Island  of  the  Monk's 
House,  is   the   most   conspicuous   of^.  all   Loch 


\u 


The    OELtiC    MOl^THLY. 


Lomond's  islands.  Saint  MacKessog  Nourished 
there  in  the  beginning  of  the  6th  century.  It 
has  been  described  as  a  region  for  holy  musings 
and  holy  contemplations.  The  hazel,  the  pine, 
the  birch,  and  the  rowan  grow  on  the  islet  in 
rare  luxuriance.  The  birds  and  all  liviug  things 
are  tame,  as  if  in  Eden,  there.  The  hares  leap 
playfully  among  the  skimming  swallows,  while 
the  roe  deer  glance  by  in  tameless  gladness. 

"  Even  the  stones  here  preach,"  are  the  words 
put  into  the  mouth  of  Saint  Kessog  on  Inch-a- 
Vanich,  by  Gait  in  one  of  his  works.  They 
remind  us  that  when  they  are  bright  and  dry 
the  heart  of  man  is  hard  and  arid  in  prosperity, 
and  when  they  are  moistened  by  only  the  dew 
do  they  not  prove  how  small  a  thing  it  is  that 
serves  to  sadden  the  human  breast?  Listen 
also  to  the  chiming  of  the  restless  waters,  which 
warns  us  that  though  life  is  flowing  swiftly 
away,  there  is  a  nobler  river  on  high,  "  the 
streams  whereof  shall  make  glad  the  City  of  our 
God !  " 

{Tu  lie  continued). 


NORMAN     HAY     FORBES     OF     FORBES, 
TUNBRIDGE     WELLS. 


a£^  a  leading  part  in  Celtic  movements  in 
SyM^  London  one  of  the  most  familiar 
figures  is  that  of   Dr.  Norman  Hay  Forbes  of 


Forbes.  The  doctor  was  born  in  India,  1st 
March,  1803,  and  is  the  second  son  of  the  late 
.Major  Frederick  M.  Hay  Forbes  of  that  ilk, 
Bengal  Staff  Corps,  and  great-grandson  of  the 
lUght  Hon.  James  Ochonchar,  XVII.  Lord 
Forbes  and  cousin  of  the  present  chief  of  the 
clan.  His  mother  is  Honoria  Matilda,  daughter 
of  the  late  Rev.  William  Knox  Marshall,  B  D., 
and  niece  of  the  great  Sir  Henry  Lawrence  of 
Indian  Mutiny  fame.  Mr.  Forbes  was  educated 
at  Bedford  Grammar  School,  and  Cambridge 
University;  and  received  his  medical  training 
at  the  Middlesex  and  St.  George's  Hospitals. 
Iq  1886  he  became  M.ll.CS.,  England,  also 
L  R.C  P.,  London ;  and  Fellow  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Surgeons  (Edinburgh),  in  1894. 
He  served  in  H.  M.  Army  Medical  Stati'  from 
1887  to  1890;  and  is  a  Fellow  of  the  Medical 
Society  of  London,  and  an  Honorary  Life 
Member  of,  and  Examiner  to,  St.  John 
Ambulance  Association.  He  is  now  resident 
at  Tunbridge  Wells,  where  he  devotes  himself 
to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  is  the 
author  of  several  scientitic  papers  on  medical 
subjects  in  the  Lancet. 

Mr.  Forbes  is  connected  with  quite  a  number 
of  the  leading  Highland  associations  in  London 
He  is  a  director  of  the  Highland  Society  of 
London,  a  member  of  the  Gaelic  Society,  at 
whose  last  meeting  he  read  a  very  interesting 
paper  on  the  "Highland  Bagpipes,"  which  was 
most  favourably  commented  upon  by  the 
London  press :  a  Governor  of  the  Scottish 
Corporation,  and  a  member  of  the  New  Spalding 
Club  of  Aberdeen,  and  of  the  London  Aberdeen, 
Banti'  and  Kincardine  Association  He  has 
contributed  from  time  to  time  to  the  Highland 
press  on  Celtic  subjects,  under  the  nom-de-plume 
"Li'mach" — the  war  cry  of  his  clan.  It  may 
be  interesting  to  mention  in  this  connection 
that  the  chief  of  the  clan,  Horace  Courtenay, 
Lord  Forbes,  is  the  Premier  Baron  of  Scotland, 
which  dates  so  far  back  as  1442,  standing  first 
on  the  LTnion  Roll.  In  the  days  of  Bruce  and 
Wallace  the  Forbes'  were  a  powerful  clan  and 
made  their  presence  felt  in  Moraj',  Banfl",  and 
Aberdeen.  They  took  part  in  the  Battle  of 
Harlaw,  on  July  24th,  1411. 

"  Some  rade,  some  raw,  and  some  did  K^ng, 

They  were  of  sma'  record  ; 
But  Forbe's  and  his  merrie  men, 

They  slew  thera  a'  the  road." 

Ilalln,!  of  the  Battk  of  Harlaw. 

The  clan  gathering,or  pibroch,  is  Calh  Ghlinn- 
Eurann — gather  Glennochty;  the  badge  is  the 
Plantagenet  Broom  (.^pavttnm  Scoparimn) ;  and 
the  motto  ''  Grace  me  guide." 

EniTOB. 


NORMAN     HAY     FORBES,    OF     FORBES 


\ 


tHE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


b)j  ^.Orunimond-Uorie 

Illustrated   hy  the  Authot 


"  Then  came  the  foes  forward  with  swords.  They 
mixed  their  rattling  steel.  Thro'  the  thongs  of 
Swaran's  shield  rushed  the  blade  of  Luno." — 
Ossian's  Cat)i-Lwhi. 

fN  tracing  the  history  of  the  ancient  races 
of  mankind  we  usually  find  that  the 
—  various  legends  and  traditions  upon 
which,  to  a  large  extent,  such  history  is  based, 
have  much  in  common ;  and  that  the  central 
point  of  interest  in  all,  is  to  be  found  in  the 
description  of  the  magical  weapons  veielded  by 
mythical  heroes  in  their  contlicts  with  human 
or  supernatural  enemies ;  and  of  these  weapons 
the  sword  undoubtedly  occupies  the  place  of 
honour. 

Nor  is  this  to  be  wondered  at ;  for  as  the 
nations  of  the  world  slowly  emerged  from  the 
barbarism  of  the  stone  age  it  was  the  all 
conquering  sword  which  gained  for  them  their 
place  amidst  their  more  civilized  fellows,  and 
helped  them  to  hold  that  position  when  they 
had  attained  it.  To  those  races  who  still 
remained  in  paltcolithic  darkness,  the  flash  of 
the  brOliantly  polished  blades  of  their  more 
enlightened  enemies,  must  have  appeared  as 
the  lightning  of  the  gods  against  which  their 
own  puny  weapons  were  useless  and  of  no 
avail.  Aiid  even  when  tribe  after  tribe,  and 
race  after  race  had  acquired  the  art  of 
fashioning  bronze  and  iron  into  implements  of 
warfare,  they  could  not  entirely  shake  off  that 
feeling  of  awe  and  reverence  with  which  the 


sword  had  always  been  regarded  amongst  them. 

Hence  it  is  that  we  find  the  Scythians  wor- 
shipping the  sword  as  a  god,  and  Herodotus 
tells  us  that  sacrifices  of  horses,  cattle,  and 
even  human  beings  were  made  to  it,  and  more 
victims  offered  than  to  all  their  other  deities. 
It  is  interesting  to  note  that  nearly  all  the 
weapons  discovered  in  Scythian  tombs  are  of 
bronze,  for  Herodotus  distinctly  states  that 
the  sword  worshipped  by  them  was  of  iron ;  a 
fact  which  would  lead  us  to  infer,  that  it  was 
the  metal  of  which  the  sword  was  composed, 
rather  than  the  weapon  itself,  that  rendered  it 
an  object  of  adoration. 

Among  the  Celtic  races  the  sword  has  always 
been  an  object  of  veneration,  and  it  is  more  than 
probable  that  the  early  inhabitants  of  these 
islands,  who  were  undoubtedly  of  Celtic  origin, 
worshipped  the  iron  sword  as  a  deity,  for 
to  them  iron  was  of  sufficient  rarity  to  be 
considered  magical ;  their  own  weapons  being 
entirely  of  stone  or  bronze. 

In  that  most  interesting  work  by  E.  F. 
Burton,  "The  Book  of  the  Sword,"  the  author 
tells  us  that  "the  warlike  old  Keltic  Gauls 
were  essentially  swordsmen;  they  relied  mainly 
upon  the  claidab.  When  they  entered  Europe 
they  had  already  left  behind  them  the  age  of 
stone,  and  they  made  them  blades  of  copper, 
bronze,  and  iron.  We  have  no  metal  remains 
of  the  pre-Keltic  aborigines  (Iberians  Basques, 
Finns)  except  their  pal;eoliths.  The  Fenni 
(or  Finns)  of  Tacitus  had  neither  swords  nor 
iron,  they  used  only  bows  and  stone  tipped 
arrows.  ...  A  Roman  origin  has  been 
ascribed  to  the  bronze  swords  discovered  in 
Britain,  but  many  leading  authorities  including 
Dr.  Evans  (author  of  the  "Ancient  Stone 
Implements  of  Great  Britain"),  give  them  a 
pre-Roman   origin."       The   first   part   of   this 


178 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY 


extract  of  course  specially  refers  to  the  Celtic 
tribes  of  Gaul,  but  in  the  opinion  of  the  writer 
of  this  article  it  is  an  open  question  whether 
the  stone  implements  found  in  the  Highlands 
of  Scotland  and  in  Britain  generally,  are  not 
the  production  of  our  ancient  Celtic  ancestors. 
The  subject  is,  however,  too  wide  for  discussion 
here  and  hardly  comes  within  the  scope  of  a 
paper  dealing  with  the  Highland  sword  alone. 
Leaving  therefore  the  question  of  pal.colithic 
weapons  for  some  future  occasion,  we  tind  the 
swords  used  by  the  early  Caledonian  Celt,  or 
more  i^roperly  speaking,  the  Gael  of  Albyn, 
were  of  bronze  with  blades  varying  from 
eighteen  to  twenty-eight  inches  long,  the  whole 
weapon  being  cast  in  one  piece.  These  swords 
have  been  frequently  discovered  in  the  High- 
lands ;  the  specimen  shown  in  the  illustration 
(Fig  1)  is  a  good  example  of  this  type ;  it  was 
dug  from  a  peat-moss  in  the  island  of  Shuna 
(Ai-gyllshire)  in  IST-l,  and  is  now  in  the  Kelvin- 
grove  Museum,  Glasgow.  The  sketch  of  an 
almost  identical  weapon  (Fig  2)  is  taken  from 
a  drawing  in  Major  Mas  Jahn's  "  I/ancll/uck 
einer  Oesc/iic/ite  dt-s  Kriegsiveseiis,  etc.,"  where  it  is 
described  as  a  Gallic  bronze  sword. 


MEMORIAL    OF     A     HOLIDAY     IN     THE 
HIGHLANDS. 


(To  be  continued). 


VOICES     OP     THE     HILLS. 

Hail   from   far,   ye   well-loved   mountains,   rolling 

streamSj'and  glassy  lake. 
Neither  soon  nor  lightly  fade  the  pleasant  memories 

that  ye  make  ; 
Flying  hours  of  happy  idlesse,  when  we  journeyed 

far,  to  roam 
Where  the  crag  and  woodland  hover  o'er  a  peaceful 

Highland  home, 
Where  the  tinkling  of  the  runlet  makes  a  music 

always  new, 
And  the  sun  of  eve,  descending,  reddens  o'er  great 

Benvenue. 


Pleasant,  in  the  dewy  morning,  with  companions 
forth  to  fare 

To  the  grand  road  on  the  hillside,  with  its  life- 
restoring  air ; 

Pleasant,  in  the  evening  stillness,  to  unloose  the 
tiny  skiff 

And  look  up  from  twiliglit  waters  on  Ben  An's  o'er- 
hanging  cliff ; 

Pleasant,  when  the  night  has  fallen,  tracing  thro' 
the  tales  of  yore, 

Old  romantic  visions  rising  on  their  own  beloved 
shore. 

Seven  were  we,  that  golden  summer,  in  your  sylvan 

fairyland. 
Seven  upon  the  mountain  summit,  ferny  slope,  or 

silver  strand ; 
Chief  the  bounteous  Dame  who  called  us  northward 

from  our  southern  nests. 
She  alert  to  guide  and  order,  we  to  do  her  kind 

behests  ; 
One  to  prove  a  gentle  presence,  loving  beauty,  song, 

romance  ; 
One  the  slender  listening  maiden,   happy  in   her 

silent  trance ; 
One  to  track  the  upward  pathways  on  the  moim- 

tain's  shaggy  side  ; 
One    the    brooding    absent    mother — rather    say, 

perennial  bride  ; 
One  to  draw   the   silver   harvest   from   the  lake's 

ungrudging  breast  ; 
One  the  inharmonious  rhymer  from  the  pastiu-es  of 

the  west. 

Nor  unpleasing,  in  the  dreamland  of  the  closing 

autumn  hours, 
Thoughts  of  thornier  sprays  that  mingled  erewhile 

with  our  roseate  bowers. 
Marshy   vapours,    rushing    rain-storms,    gathering 

shades,  and  home  not  near  ; 
Nymphs  on  slippery  steepness  clinging— up  or  down 

an  equal  fear  ; 
Aii-y  summits  yet  before  us  when  we  thought  the 

last  was  won. 
And  the  eyelid  heavy  laden  when  the  day's  long 

toil  was  done. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


179 


Ah!    to  read  the  wondi-oiis  wisdom  spoken   from 

some  glorious  hill, 
Once  in  joy  of  rapt  sensation,  in  the  spirit  echoing 

still ; 
Voices  from  the  far  off  summit,  sounding  from  the 

sUvery  flood ; 
Ever   waving   on   the   moorland,    ever   whispering 

from  the  wood  ; 
Voices,    could   we   only   hear    them,    grasp    their 

wondrous  how  and  why, 
What  their  source  and  what  their  issue,  and  their 

unveiled  mystery. 

Tell  us,  O  thou  streamlet,  hurrying  downward  with 

thy  myriad  leaps. 
Tales  about  thy  mystic  birthplace  up  among  those 

skyward  steeps  ; 
What  thy  message  to  our  spirits  as  thou  rushest  to 

the  plain. 
Through  the  woodland  to  the  pastures,  through  the 

city  to  the  main  ; 
Is  it  calm  or  tempest  waits  us,  when  we  reach  thy 

far  off'  crown. 
In  the  unknown  land  beyond  us,  whence  thy  waters 

sparkle  down  ! 

And  ye  overhanging  hill-tops,   that   we    deem   so 

hardly  won. 
Veiled  one  hour  in  driving  rain-storms,  now  all 

reddening  in  the  sun  ; 
Bathed  one  hour  in  sevenfold  splendour  of  a  magic 

rainbow  throne, 
Now  in  solemn  calmness  like  a  dream  immortalized 

in  stone  ; 
Now  so  near  that  almost  seems  it  as  a  short  half- 
hour  might  reach. 
Now  so  far  that  only  patience  seems  the  lesson  that 

ye  teach; 
Ye  for  ever  looking  heavenward,  yet  with  loving 

gaze  below. 
Tell  us,  O  ye  mighty  mountains,  all  the  secrets  that 

ye  know. 

Oft  in   winter   by   the   fireside,   in    that   witching 

evening  hour. 
Those  far  sights  and  sounds  shall  reach  us,  touch  us 

with  their  varied  power  ; 
Golden  threads  among  the  hoary,  solemn    streaks 

across  the  glow  ; 
Heaven's  Andante  joined  in  blessing  with  earth's 

dancing  Alhijro; 
What  besides  for  life  demand  we — than  a  purpose 

such  as  this' 
Not  the  simple  foolish  sporting  with  the  tones  of 

transient  bliss ; 
Not  the  butterfly  existence,   sipping  sweets  from 

every  flower, 
But  the  nobler  instinct  gathering  sweetness  for  a 

wintry  hour ; 
Thoughts    that    mount    with     footsteps     onward, 

upward,  to  the  beckoning  skies, 
Souls  by  heaven's  own  sun  made  brighter  with  the 

brightening  of  the  eyes  ; 
Old  as  the  eternal  mountains,  yet  with  freshness 

always  new, 
These  the  golden  grain  we  gather  on  the  slopes  of 

Beuvenue. 

Clifton.  A.    ClUNV    MaCPHERSON. 


REVIEW. 

The  Gesto   Collection    of    Hichland   Music, 

COMPILBIl     AND      ARRANGED      BY      KeITH      NoRMAN 

Macdonald,  and  dedk  ated  to  the  memory  of 
THE  M'Leods  of  Gesto. — Dr.  Macdonald,  by 
publishing  this  handsome  work,  has  presented  hia 
countrymen  with  what  we  may  fairly  describe  as 
an  ideal  collection  of  Highland  music,  embracing 
marches,  pibrochs,  quicksteps,  laments,  reels  and 
strathspeys,  and  the  choicest  of  our  Gaelic  melodies. 
Indeed,  Highlanders  cannot  be  too  grateful  that  a 
Gaelic  speaking  countryman,  who  understands  and 
appreciates  the  romance,  sentiment  and  genius  of 
our  Highland  music,  should  place  within  their 
reach  a  selection  of  the  finest  of  these  airs  free  from 
the  mutilations  of  the  foreign  or  Lowland  arranger. 
Of  late  years  the  Sassunnach  has  been  busy  among 
our  Gaelic  melodies,  which  he  has  attempted  to 
improve  on  "  scientific  principles."  The  result 
will  be  familiar  to  most  of  our  readers.  A  sweet, 
simple  lilt,  after  passing  through  the  scientific  mill 
of  the  arranger,  goes  ott'  into  an  unmusical  acrobatic 
performance,  eminently  calculated  to  make  the 
listener  distracted.  Dr.  Macdonald  has  done  good 
service  in  publishing  the  "Gesto  Collection,"  for 
the  airs  are  reproduced  exactly  as  they  were  sung 
in  the  Highlands  a  century  ago.  None  but  really 
first  class  melodies  are  given,  and  as  the  volume 
consists  of  some  250  of  these,  the  Gaelic  words 
being  given  with  most  of  the  songs,  the  value  of 
the  work  may  be  appreciated.  The  book  is  named 
after,  and  dedicated  to,  the  memory  of  that  famous 
musical  family,  the  M'Leods  of  Gesto,  Skye.  It  is 
handsomely  bound  in  blue  and  gold,  and  is 
published  cheaply  at  a  guinea.  Copies  can  be  had 
from  the  Editor,  Edinbane,  Skye,  or  Duncan  &  Co., 
Portree. 


CHARLES     ALFRED     STUART 
BLACK,     M.A., 

DIED  AT  CRAODOCK,  SOUTH  AFRICA,  FEBRUARY  3rd,  1896. 


"  Farewell,  a  last  farewell,"  we  cry  to  thee. 

True-hearted  friend,  across  a  wider  sea 

Than  any  beating  on  an  earthly  shore. 

And  musing  on  the  days  that  are  no  more, 

"  Is  this  the  end,"  we  ask  amid  our  tears 

"  Of  all  the  promise  of  thy  early  years — 

The  gracious  gifts  abundantly  bestowed. 

The  scholar's  mind,  the  ardent  soul  that  glowed 

And  shone  through  those  true  eyes  ?  Is  this  the  end 

Of  all  our  hopes  and  fears  for  thee,  sweet  friend  ? 
Thy  weary  search  for  health  denied,  is  past. 
And  peace  instead  of  pain  vouchsafed  at  last. 
Calmly  thou  sleepest  now,  for  all  thy  ills 
In  that  lone  grave  amid  the  alien  hills — 
Thy  early  grave,  O  friend,  which  evermore 
Shall  consecrate  for  us  that  distant  shore. " 

"  Not  this  the  end!"  and  hope  contends  with  pain, 

As  Spring's  return  brings  joy  to  Earth  again. 

And  so  we  strive  to  pierce  the  veil  close-drawn 

Before  our  sense,  and  realize  the  dawn 

That  gladdened  thy  freed  soul  amid  the  Light 

Ineffable,  the  unimagined  sight 

Of  that  pure  Presence,  the  fulfilment  meet 

Of  all  wherein  our  life  is  incomplete. 

R.  F.  Forbes. 


180 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


OUR      MUSICAL      PAGE. 


IS     TROM     LEAM     AN     AIRIDH -THE    SHIELING    SONG. 


|pT^,HE  following  song  is  the  composition  of 
yrS  Rob  Donn  Mackay,  the  well-known  bard 
^■^-  of  the  Eeay  country  in  Sutherlandshire. 
It  is  said  to  have  been  composed  in  the  following 
circumstances.  The  bard  was  deejjly  in  love 
with  a  young  woman  of  the  name  of  Annie 
M  orison.  He  had  often  sought  her  hand 
without  her  having  definitely  yielded  or  with- 
held her  consent.  On  one  occasion  he  took  his 
way  towards  the  Airidh  (or  mountain  jjasture) 
and  found  his  sweetheart  in  the  company  of 
"the  fair-haired  Smith" — John  Moray  by 
name.  The  bard  took  very  seriously  to  heart 
the  fact  of  his  beloved  going  with  another,  and 

Key  G.      Moderate. 


he  gave  utterance  in  song  to  his  feelings,  as 
bards  as  a  rule  do.  Most  bards  manage  to 
make  their  joy  and  their  sorrow  felt  in  words 
which  others  may  adopt  and  apply  to  their 
own  case.  Not  so  Rob  Donn.  He  composes 
for  the  particular  occasion,  and  hence  few 
bards  have  given  utterance  to  so  much  matter 
with  so  httle  of  general  interest  in  it.  Miss 
.M  orison  married  the  fair  haired  Smith  and  is 
said  to  have  rued  it.  The  translation  is  from 
Pattison's  "Gaelic  Bards."  The  air  is  from 
Rev.  P.  MacDonald's  Collection  of  Gaelic  Music. 
Fraser  of  Knockie  has  preserved  it  also. 

Malcolm  MacFarlank 


.  d  I    d     :ti.lil    d     :  li  .Si  I     n    :n.r\    n    :..-.l,l|     1     :  1  .s  |     1    :  s  .n  |     s    :  n.r|    d    :  — 

Is  trom  learn  an  ;\iridh  's  a'     ghair     so  tha  innt,  (iuna  phiiitiim  adh' fhagmi  bhi 'n  drasdair  mo  chinn, 
Oh !    sad  is  the  shieling,  and   gone  are  its  joys  I      All      liarsh    and    unfeeling    to    me    now    its   noise, 


.r,r  In     :  n  .r  |    n    :  n  .d   I     n    :  n.r  |    n    :  -  .n  |     m    :  1|  .ti  |    d    :   n  .r  i     d    :  ti  .li  |    d    :  — 

Annachaol-mhalach,  cliioeh-cliorrach,  shliob-cheannach,  chruinn;  Nighneaga'bheoilmhilis,  mhinranaich,  bhinn. 
Since   Anna — who   warbled   as   sweet   as   the   merle — Forsook    me,  my   honey-mouth 'd,   merry-lipped   girl  ! 


Heich  ! 
Heich  ! 


;    1    I    M 

mar     bha, 
how  I  sigh  ; 


I     1 


.d' 


n  .r  I    d    :    n.x 


ti.l,  I    1, 


air         ino     chinn,   A  dh' fhig  michocriiiteach'snach  stithdhomh  bhi'ginns' 
wliile    the    hour      Laz     -     ily,  lone     -     lily,    sad  -  ly,      goes      by  I 


Shiubhail  mis'  a'  bhuaile  's  a  suas  feaJh  nan  craobb, 
'S  gach  ait  anns  am  b'kbhaist  bhi  pagadh  moghaoil; 
'N  uair  chual  mi  'ni  fear  bkn  ud  's  e  mknran  r"  a 

mhnaoi, 
B'  fhearr  leam  nach  tiginn  lamh  riu  'nan  gaoith. 
Heich  !  mar  bha,  air  mo  chinn, 
A  dh'  fhag  mi  cho  craiteach  's  nach  stath  dhomh 
bhi  'g  inns'. 

O'n  chualas  gu  'n  ghluaiseadh  tu  uam  leis  an  t-saor, 
Tha  mo  shiiain  air  a  buaireadh  le  bruadairean  gaoil ; 
De'n  chairdeas  a  bha  'n  sud,  cha  'n  fhJiir  mi  bhi  saor; 
Gun  bhkrnaigeadh  lanih  riut,  tha  'n  gradh  dhomh 
'na  mhaor, 
Air  gach  truth  's  mi  ri  strith 

A   feuchainn   r'  a   aicheadh   's   e  fas   rium    mar 
chraoibh. 

Ach  Anna  bhuidhe  Dhomhnuill,  na'm  b"  eol  duit 

mo  111, 
'S  e  do  ghr;\dli  gun  bhi  ptiight'  leag  a  mhkn  uam 

mo  chli  ; 
Tha  e  dhomh  ad'  fhianuis  cho  gniomhach  's  nuair  chi ; 
Diogalladh  's  a'  smiisach,  gur  cinrrtach  mo  chridh'. 
Nis,  ma  tha  mi  'gad  dhith, 
Gu'ni  b'  fhekirrde  mi  p^g  uait  mus  filgainn  an  tir. 

Ach  labhair  i  gu  fidteagach,  ailgheasach,  rium — 
"Cha'n  fliair  <hu   bhi   l^mh  rium  a  ch.'iradh  mo 

chinn  ; 
Tha  sianar  'gam  iarraidh  o  bhliadhna  de  thim, 
'S  cha  b'  araidh  le  cJich  thu  thoirt  bJirr  os  an  cinn. 
Ha,  ha,  ha !  an  d'  fhas  thu  tinn  ? 
'N  e  'n  gaol  a  bheir  biis  ort  .'  gu'm  pkigh  thu  d'  a 
chinn." ' 


Last  week,  as  I  wander'd  up  past  the  old  trees, 

I   mourn'd,   while   I   ponder 'd,    what   changes   one 

sees  ! 
Just   then    the   fair   stranger   walk'd   by  with   my 

dear — ■ 
Dreaming,  unthinking,  1  had  wander'd  so  near, 
Till  "  Heich  !  "  then  I  cried, — when  I  saw 
The   girl,    with    her    lover,    draw    close   to    my 
side — 

"  Anna,  the  yellow-hair'd,  dost  thou  not  see 

How  thy  love  uriimpair'd  wearieth  me  ? 

'Twas  as  strong  in  my  absence  when  banish'd  from 

thee — 
As  heart-stirring,  powerful,  deep  as  you  see — 
Heich  !  it  is  now,  at  this  time. 
When    up    like    a    leafy    bough,    high    doth    it 
climb." 

Then,  haughtily  speaking,  she  airily  said, 

'•  'Tis   in   vain   for  you  seeking  to  hold  up  your 

head  : 
There  were  six  wooers  sought  me  while  you  were 

away  ; 
And  the  absentee  surely  deserved  less  than  they. 

Ha  !  ha  !  ha  !  are  you  ill  ? 
But  if  love  seeks  to  kill  you — bah !    small  is  his 

skill ! " 

Ach  !  ach!  now  I'm  trying  my  loss  to  forget  — 

With  sorrow  and  sighing,  with  anger  and  fret. 

But  still  that  sweet  image  steals  over  ray  heart ; 

And  still  I  deem  fondly  hope  need  not  depart. 
Heich  !  and  I  say  that  our  love, 
Firm  as  a  tower  gray,  nought  can  remove. 


CAPTAIN     JOHN      MACRAE. 


Mrs.     JOHN     MACRAE. 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

A   MAGAZINE  FOR  HIGHLANDERS.         '; 

Edited  by  JOHN  MAGKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.   10.  Vol.  IV.] 


JULY,     1896. 


[Price  Threepence. 


CAPTAIN     JOHN      MACRAE. 


,M^iAPTAIN  JOHN  MACRAE,  of  North- 
vl'.Ti'ii  gf'te,  Newark  on-Trent,  whose  portrait 
J^^  is  here  given,  is  the  second  son  of 
Duncan  MacRae,  Esq.,  J.P.  and  D. L.,  of 
Karnes  Castle,  Isle  of  Bute.  His  mother  is 
Grace,  daughter  of  the  late  Mr  Donald 
Stewart,  the  representative  of  the  Stewarts  of 
Overblairish,  in  Perthshire,  who  were  a  branch 
of  the  Stewarts  of  Garth.  He  was  born  at 
Meean  Meer,  in  the  Punjab,  on  the  31st 
December,  1861,  and  is  descended  from  the 
MacRaes  of  Conchra,  in  Lochalsh  (his  uncle, 
Mr.  Colin  MacRae,  of  Camdin,  U.S.A.,  being 
head  of  the  Conchra  branch  of  the  MacRaes  of 
Kintail),  an  old  Rossshire  family,  which  has 
hardly  been  without  a  representative  in  the 
British  army  for  considerably  over  a  century. 
His  grandfather.  Major  Colin  MacRae  of  the 


7.5th  Highlanders,  saw  much  service  in  India 
at  the  close  of  the  last  and  the  beginning  of 
the  present  century,  and  his  father,  who  was 
for  many  years  in  the  service  of  the  honourable 
East  India  Company,  went  through  the 
stirring  and  trying  times  of  the  Indian  Mutiny. 
His  great-great-grandfather,  John  of  Conchra, 
who  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  Jacobite 
rising  of  171.5  and  was  killed  in  the  Battle  of 
Sheriffmuir.  is  well  known  in  the  traditions  of 
Ross-shire  as  one  of  the  "Four  Johns  of  Scot- 
land." Captain  ]\IacRae  was  gazetted  on  the  5th 
1  )ecember,  1883,  to  a  Lieutenancy  in  the  first 
battalion  of  the  Royal  Highlanders,  better  known 
as  the  famous  'Forty-Second"  or  "Black 
"Watch,"  which  he  joined  on  the  12th  March, 
1884,  at  the  first  Zareeba,  some  miles  from 
Suakim  on  the  Red  Sea.  The  army  was  at  that 
time  confronting  the  Soudanese  Ai'abs  under 
Osman  Digna,  and  on  the  following  morning 
was  fought  the  Battle  of  Tamaai,  in  which  the 
Forty-Second  had  sixty  killed  and  about  an 
equal  number  wounded.  Captain  MacRae 
took  part  in  this  battle  and  in  the  subsequent 
skirmishes  of  that  campaign,  for  which  he 
received  the  Egyptian  Medal,  vrith  a  Clasp  for 
the  Battle  of  Tamaai  and  the  Khedive's  Bronze 
Star.  The  young  Lieutenant's  abilities  were 
soon  recognised  by  those  in  authority,  for  in 
Sejjtember,  1884,  he  was  appointed  Stall' 
Captain  and  boat  officer  in  charge  of  a  division 
of  the  boats  used  in  the  Nile  expedition  under 
General  Earle,  for  the  rehef  of  General  Gordon 
at  Khartoum,  and  on  the  10th  February,  1885, 
took  part  in  the  Battle  of  Kirbekan,  in  which 
the  Forty-Second  lost  many  officers  and  men 
in  killed  and  wounded,  including  Colonel 
Coveney,  General  Earle  also  being  among  the 
slain.  Captain  MacRae  was  awarded  Clasps 
for  this  battle  and  for  the  Nile  expedition,  and 
received  honourable  mention  in  despatches  for 
his  services.  In  the  following  year  he  moved 
with  his  regiment  from  Egypt  to  Malta,  and  in 
1889  he  came  home  to  the  regimental  depot  at 
Perth.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
Captain  in  1890,  and  in  the  same  year  was 


182 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


transferred  to  the  third  battahon  of  the  Royal 
Highlanders — the  old  Perthshire  Militia.  In 
1889  he  married  Isabella  Mary,  second 
daughter  of  the  late  Mr.  George  Gilstrap,  of 
Newark-on  Trent,  and  niece  of  the  late  Sir 
William  Gilstrap,  Bart,  of  Fornham  Park, 
Suffolk,  under  whose  will  Captain  John 
MacRae  assumes  the  arms  and  name  of 
Gilstrap,  in  addition  to  those  of  his  own 
family.  He  has  a  family  of  live  daughters,  and 
an  only  son  and  heir  called  John  Duncan 
George.  Captain  MacRae,  who  is  of  tall 
stature  and  commanding  presence,  is  a  good 
type  of  the  Highland  soldier,  and  that,  not 
only  in  appearance  but  in  sentiment  as  well, 
for  he  is  a  genuine  Highlander,  proud  of  his 
country  and  deeply  interested  and  well  versed 
in  the  best  traditions  of  his  race. 

London  ALEXANDER    MaCRAE. 


THE     PARTING    ON     THE     BRIDGE. 


The  river  ran  30  narrow,  tho'  deep,  and  cold,  and 

dark. 
It  took  the  old  atone  bridge  a  single  arch  to  span  : 
A  single  step  for  meeting,  a  single  step  to  part. 
And  the  river  getting  wider  as  it  swept  out  i'  the 

dark  ? 
We  scarce  knew  why,  sore  angered  each  took  the 

furtiier  shore, 
Too  proud  to  speak  the  word  so  soon,  forgiveness  to 
implore, 
A  span  to  come,  a  span  to  go. 
So  narrow  was  the  river's  flow, 
Tho'  deep,  and  cold,  and  dark. 

The  dews  of  eve  were  falling,  falling,  falling. 

The  fairy  dews,  the  summer  dews,  on  every  bud 

and  flower  ; 
I  heard  a  soft  voice  calling,  calling,  calling, 
Ochan  a  righ !  I  loved  him  so,  yet  shamed  to  own 

his  power  ; 
'Tie  the  large  blue  flowers  I'm  gathering, 
I  said,  '  And  not  regret 
Must  have  sent  the  dewdrops  splashing 
Till  they  left  my  cheeks  so  wet.' 
Oh !  the  river's  getting  wider  as  it  sweeps  out  i' 

the  dark. 
And  the  wee  stone  bridge  is  fading  out  beyond  the 
wooded  park. 

A  span  to  come,  a  span  to  go,. 
So  narrow  was  the  river's  flow 
Tho'  deep,  and  cold,  and  dark. 

The  heavy  clouds  are  drifting,  drifting,  drifting, 
The  dark  clouds,  the  night  clouds,  across  the  yellow 

moon ; 
So  witching  low  the  kelpies'  song  was  lilting,  lilting. 
Above  the  stream,  upon  the  winds,  a  weird  uncanny 


'  'Tis  hard  to  wander  out  alone 

Where  deep  and  chill  the  shadows  steal. 

He  could  not  hear  my  piteous  moan, 

I  never  heard  his  wild  ajipeal.' 

Oh  !    the  river's  getting  wider  a.s  it  sweejis  out  i' 

the  dark, 
And  the  wee  stone  bridge  is  blotted   out  forever 
from  my  sight. 

A  span  to  come,  a  span  to  go. 

So  narrow  was  the  river's  flow, 

Tho'  deep,  and  cold,  and  dark. 

The  sea  mist  was  blinding,  blinding,  blinding. 
The  sea  drift  that  tasted  salt  upon  the  lips  ; 
And  the  steep  brae  kept  winding,  winding,  winding, 
Down  where  the  wide  stream  met  the  sailing  ships. 
Above  the  clouds,  above  the  drift,  a  hmnan  soul  in 

flight! 
And  a  tender  voice  is  calling,  calling  in  the  dark, 
"Oh!  m'ulaidh  bhan,  'tis  you  to  wait,  the  river's 

down  in  spate, 
And  the  great  ship  is  passing,  passing  in  the  night." 
Oh  !  the  river's  up  and  swollen,  and  rushing  down 

sae  wide. 
There  is  no  bridge   for   crossing   when   the   river 

meets  the  tide ! 

A  span  to  come,  a  span  to  go, 
So  narrow  was  the  river's  flow, 
Tho'  deep,  and  cold,  and  dark. 

Where  the  river  ran  so  narrow,  tho'  deep,  and  cold, 

and  dark, 
It  would  have  ta'en  but  one  wee  word,  the  narrow 

stream  to  span  : 
A  single  word  lor  meeting,  and  never  more  to  part, 
Tho'  the  river  rushed  out  wildly  as  it  swept  out  i' 

the  dark. 
How  could  we  then  remember  the  ancient,  mystic 

lore, 
That  the  parting  on  a  bridge  meant,  to  part  for 
evermore. 

A  span  to  come,  a  span  to  go. 
So  narrow  was  the  river's  flow, 
Tho'  deep,  and  cold,  and  dark. 

Ali(;e  C.  MacDonell, 

London.  Of  Keppoch. 


The  Clan  Donna<'haidh  have  published  an 
interesting  little  booklet,  giving  full  particulars  of 
the  work  of  the  Society  since  its  inception,  a  list  of 
members,  which  indicates  that  the  clan  has  made 
excellent  progress,  and  a  financial  statement 
proving  that  there  is  the  handsome  sum  of  £12!) 
to  the  credit  of  the  Society.  Mrs.  Robertson 
Matheson,  the  energetic  Secretary,  deserves  credit 
for  the  prosjjerous  position  which  the  Society 
occupies. 

Clan  Maclean. — The  Memorial  Cross  which  the 
Clan  INIaolean  Association  have  erected  in  the 
Soiithern  Necropolis  at  the  grave  of  Lachlan 
Maclean,  Coll,  the  author  of  the  "History  of  the 
Celtic  Languages  "  and  a  number  of  kindred  works, 
is  to  be  unveiled  on  Saturday,  27th  June.  The 
ceremony  will  be  performed  by  E.x-Provost 
Maclean,  a  Vice-President  of  the  Association. 


THE     CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


18^ 


CLUNY     AND      LADY     CLUNY     OF     THE 
'45,     AFTER     CULLODEN. 


[5r  Alexandkk  MAcruEKsoN,  Kingussie. 


THE     SON     OF 


IX. 
CLUNY 


OF     THE     't." 


"  On  tliee  ray  son  "  (she  fondly  cried) 
May  happier  planets  shine  ; 

And  mayst  thou  never  live  to  brook 
A  fate  so  hard  as  mine. 


"And  mayst  thou  heir  thy  father's  worth, 

But  not  his  hapless  doom, 
To  honour  and  thy  country  true 

Mayst  thou  his  rights  resume  !  " 

•■^C^'  UCH  is  the  expression  of  the  loving  vrishes 
i/x^j  Mrs.  Grant  of  Laggau  puts  into  the 
'5^  mouth  of  Lady  Ckmy  of  the  '4.5  on  the 
return  of  the  latter  to  Badenoch  fi-om  Dunkirk, 
where  her  husband,  "the  devoted  Ewen  of 
Cluny,"  died  in  exile  in  17()i — wishes  which 
nearly  a  (juarter  of  a  century  later  were 
fortunately  realised.  Li  consequence  of  the 
prominent  part  that  distinguished  chief  had 


(Jlll^llNKL     DUNCAN     MACPHEH.SOX     OF     CLUNY. 
ITIIK     IIM.V     iSiJN     lip     CLUNY     OF     THB     4ol 


taken  in  the  '4.5,  and  his  enthusiastic  devotion 
to  the  Stewart  cause,  the  family  castle  which 
he  had  rebuilt  with  so  much  pains  two  or  three 
years  previously  was,  as  already  stated,  soon 
after  "  the  day  of  dool  on  bleak  CuUoden's 
bloody  moor,"  burnt  to  the  ground.  The 
Cluny  estates  were  at  the  same  time  confiscated, 
the  chief  himself  being  outlawed,  and  after- 
wards himted  like  a  wild  beast  in  the  mountain 
fastnesses  of  Badenoch  for  the  long  period  of 
nine  years. 

•'  I  think  of  the  days  of  Prince  Charlie 
When  the  North  spent  its  valour  in  vain. 


And  the  blood  of  the  brave  and  the  loyal 
Was  poured  at  Culloden  like  rain." 

The  son  of  Cluny  and  Lady  Cluny  of  the  '45 
(their  only  one)  was  born  in  1748  in  a  /.//'/ 
(near  the  blackened  ruins  of  the  castle),  where 
the  homeless  and  grief  stricken  mother  was,  at 
the  time  constrained  to  take  shelter,  and  for  a 
long  time  he  was  popularly  known  in  Badenoch 
as  DimnacJi  iia  It-ath,  or  Duncan  of  tlie  kiln.  Left 
in  the  Highlands,  under  careful  guardianship, 
after  his  father  and  mother  had  escaped  to 
France  in  1755,  it  was  to  him,  when  a  boy  of 
thirteen  years  old  at  school  in  Inverness,  that 


184 


THE     CELTIC    MONTHLY 


his  devoted  mother  wrote  from  Dunkirk  the 
touchiner  and  remai-kable  letter  quoted  in  the 
Celtic  for  January  last. 

As  generally  known,  it  was  the  famous 
William  Pitt,  "the  great  Commoner,"  who 
seeking,  as  he  said,  "  for  merit  wherever  it 
could  be  found"  made  it  his  boast  that  he 
"  was  the  first  minister  who  looked  for  it,  and 
found  it,  in  the  mountains  of  the  north!  I 
called  it  forth,"  he  continued,  "  and  drew  into 
your  service  a  hardy  and  inti"epid  race  of  men, 
men  who,  when  left  by  your  jealousy,  became  a 
prey  to  the  artifices  of  your  enemies,  and  had 
gone  nigh  to  have  overturned  the  State  in  the 
war  before  last.  These  men  in  the  last  war 
were  brought  to  combat  on  your  side:  they 
served  with  fidelity,  as  they  fought  with  valour, 
and  conquered  for  you  in  every  quarter  of  the 
world."  In  accordance  vdth  the  prudent  and 
generous  policy  initiated  by  that  eminent  states- 
man, young  Cluny  was,  in  his  early  manhood, 
oflered  and  accepted  a  commission  in  the  71st 
Regiment  (Fraser's  Highlanders)  and  took  a 
distinguished  part  in  the  American  War  of 
Independence,  proving  himself  a  true  represen- 
tative of  the  warrior  race  of  the  old  ('Ian 
Chattan.  In  an  interesting  letter  written  by 
him  a  few  weeks  before  his  death  in  1817,  to 
Colonel  (afterwards  General)  Stewart  of  (iarth, 
he  thus  describes  the  raising  of  the  famous 
regiment  in  which  be  had  so  long  served:  — 

"  With  regard  to  the  71st  Highlanders,  they  were 
raised  in  the  year  1775,  and  in  the  short  space  (if  I 
recollect  right)  of  three  months,  and  consisted  of 
two  battalions  of  1,000  rank  and  file  each.  The 
men  were  all  from  Scotland,  and  chietiy  from  the 
Highlands,  and  that  is  not  surprising  when  I  inform 
you  that  there  were  no  less  than  seven  chiefs  in 
the  regiment,  viz  ; — Lovat,  Lochiel,  Macleod, 
Mackintosh,  Chisholm,  Lamont  of  Lamont,  and 
your  humble  servant,  most  of  whom  brought  100 
men  to  the  regiment.  They  got  no  drilling  before 
they  embarked,  bvit  they  got  a  little  while  on  the 
voyage  to  America,  particularly  in  firing  ball  at  a 
mark,  at  which  they  were  very  expert  before  they 
landed.  They  had  only  one  fortnight's  drilling  on 
Staten  Island  before  they  were  engaged  with  the 
enemy,  and  upon  all  occasions,  whether  battle, 
skirmish,  or  rencounter,  from  the  day  they  were 
first  engaged  till  the  last,  that  is  to  say,  whatever 
the  general  success  or  fate  of  the  day  was,  that 
part  of  the  enemy  opposed  to  the  71st  always  gave 
way.  The  next  year  after  tliey  went  abroad  they 
had  200  recruits  sent  them,  and  out  of  the  2,200 
men  only  175  men  came  home  alire,  and  I  got  the 
out-pension  for  most  of  them,  being  at  that  time  a 
Colonel  in  the  3rd  Regiment  of  Guards,  and  had, 
fortunately  for  them,  every  opportunity  of  attending 
the  Chelsea  Board.  There  is  another  circumstance 
worth  mentioning,  when  the  regiment  was  inspected 
on  the  (3reen  of  Glasgow  they  had  150  supernum- 
eraries that  were  obliged  to  be  left  behind,  and, 
what  is  a  little  extraordinary,  most  of  the  companies 
had  three  or  four  men  who  stole  on  board  ship 


unknown  to  their  officers,  and  did  not  discover 
themselves  until  we  were  out  of  the  sight  of  land 
for  fear  of  being  sent  on  shore  again.  These  men 
followed  the  regiment  merely  out  of  attachment  to 
their  officers  and  comrades.  Lochiel  brought 
100  fine  Highlanders  from  Lochaber,  and  Mrs. 
Macpherson*  tells  me  that  the  Clan  Cameron  remit- 
ted Lochiel's  rents  to  him  while  in  France,  which  is 
certainly  much  to  their  credit." 

Browne  in  his  "  History  of  the  Highlands," 
relates  that  the  71st  Highlanders  were  in  1779 
' '  employed  in  an  enterprise  against  Boston 
Creek,  a  strong  position  defended  by  upwards 
of  two  thousand  men.  besides  one  thousand 
men  occupied  in  detached  stations.  The  front 
of  this  position  was  protected  by  a  deep  swamp, 
and  the  only  approach  in  that  way  was  by  a 
narrow  causeway.  On  each  flank  were  thick 
woods  nearly  impenetrable,  except  by  the  drier 
parts  of  the  swamps  which  intersected  them, 
but  the  position  was  more  open  in  the  rear. 
To  dislodge  the  enemy  from  this  stronghold, 
which  caused  considerable  annoyance,  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Duncan  Macpherson,  with  the 
first  battalion  of  the  71st,  was  directed  to 
march  upon  the  front  of  the  position,  whilst 
Colonel  Prevost  and  Lieutenant  Colonels  Mait- 
land  and  Macdonald,  with  the  second  battalion, 
the  light  infantry,  and  a  party  of  provincials, 
were  ordered  to  attempt  the  rear  by  a  circuitous 
route  of  many  miles.  The  combined  move- 
ments were  executed  with  such  precision  that 
in  ten  minutes  after  Colonel  Macpherson  had 
appeared  at  the  head  of  the  causeway  in  front, 
the  fire  of  the  body  in  the  rear  was  heard.  Sir 
James  Baird,  with  the  light  infanti^,  rushing 
through  the  opening  in  the  swamps,  on  the  left 
flank,  the  enemy  were  overpowered  after  a 
short  resistance." 

"O  thoughts  of  the  past!  ye  bring  sadness, 
And  vain  is  the  wish  that  once  more 

The  great  grassy  glens  that  are  silent 
Were  homes  of  the  brave  as  of  yore. " 

After  the  rents  had  been  appropriated  by 
the  Crown  for  the  long  period  of  thirty-eight 
years,  the  Cluny  estates  were,  through  the 
unwearied  exertions  of  James  Macpherson,  the 
translator  of  Ossian's  poems,  restored  to  the 
Cluny  family  in  1784.  High  in  favour  with 
the  Government  of  the  time,  the  estates  were 
offered  to  the  translator  himself,  but  with 
characteristic  genei'osity,  and  the  devoted 
feeUngs  of  a  true  clansman  towards  his  chief, 
he  declined  the  offer,  and  ultimately  succeeded 
in  placing  the  property  in  the  hands  of  the 
rightful  owner — the  son  and  heir  of  Cluny  of 
the  '45, 

*  Mrs.  Macpherson  was  a  daughter  of  Sir  Ewen 

Cameron  of  Fassifern. 

(  To  be  continued). 


H.     L.      MACDONALD. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


1S5 


H.     L.     MACDONALD.     OF     DUNACH. 


IJfpiHE  Maedoualds  of 
yWy  Dimach,  uear  Oban, 
^=^  trace  their  descent 
from  Hector  or  Eachann, 
2nd  son  of  Ruari  ]\[ac  Alain 
Macdonald,  III.  of  Clan- 
ranald,  and  thus  belongs 
to  that  distinguished  and 
powerful  branch  of  the  Clan  Donald  known  as 
the  MacEachains.  It  embraces  various  forms 
of  the  elan  name,  such  as  ilacEachinn,  Mac- 


keachin,  AlacAlister,  etc.,  and  many  of  its 
members  have  raised  themselves  to  positions  of 
eminence  in  various  VFalks  of  life,  esiaecially  in 
the  military  profession,  which  has  always  had 
a  charm  for  Highlanders  beyond  that  of  any 
other  pi-ofession  or  trade.  To  this  branch 
belonged  the  famous  ilarshal  Macdonald,  Duke 
of  Tarentum,  who  played  such  a  prominent 
part  in  the  wars  of  Napoleon  Bounaparte. 

The  MacDonalds  of  Dunach  may  therefore 
claim  an  ancient  and  honourable  ancestry. 
Dr.  Alexander  MacEachinu  (or  Macdonald), 
son  of  the  Hector  already  referred  to,  married 
Margaret,  daughter  of   Ranald    MacAlister  of 


DUNACH     HorSE     AXD    GROUNHS. 


Stratbaii'd,  Isle  of  Skye,  by  his  wife  Ann, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Macdonald,  VI.  of 
Kingsburgh.  Their  son,  Charles  Macdonald 
of  Ord,  in  Skye,  represented  the  family  on  the 
death  of  his  elder  brothers,  and  his  son,  Neil 
Macleod  Macdonald,  was  father  of  the  subject 
of  this  sketch.  He  married  Madeline,  daughter 
of  the  Rev.  John  Henry  Brown,  Vicar  of  Lang- 
ford,  Notts,  who  is  descended  from  an  old 
Yorkshire  family,  and  traces  her  descent  back 
to  a  Sir  John  Rudston,  Lord  of  the  Manor  of 
Hajtou,-  in  Yorkshire,  in  the  reign  of  King 
John,  A.D.  1205.  Charles  Macdonald  of 
Ord  married  Ann,  daughter  of  Captain  Neil 


MacLeod,  of  Gesto,  Isle  of  Skye,  the  well- 
known  authority  on  pipe  music.  He  pubUshed 
in  1828  a  small  book  containing  twenty 
piobaireachds  to  illustrate  the  MacCrimmon 
system  of  pipe  music  notation.  The  Gesto 
family  were  famous  Gaelic  musicians,  and 
Dr.  Keith  Norman  Macdonald,  of  Edinbane, 
Skye,  also  a  descendant  of  this  talented 
Highlander,  paid  a  graceful  tribute  to  Captain 
MacLeod's  memory  by  dedicating  to  him  his 
recently  published  "  Oesto  CoUection  of  High- 
land Music."  The  Dunach  family  is  worthily 
represented  by  its  present  head,  Mr.  H.  L. 
Macdonald.     He  was  born  in  1871  at  Attadale, 


1 86 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


ia  Ross  shire,  and  received  his  education  at 
Cargilfield,  near  Edinburgh,  at  Harrow  from 
1885  to  '90,  and  afterwai-ds  at  Trinity  Hall, 
Cambridge,  where  he  took  his  B.A.  degree  in 
Law  Examination  in  1893.  He  then  went  to 
India,  where  he  has  'spent  the  last  twc-and-a- 


half  years  in  indigo  jjlanting.  He  is  a  member 
of  that  splendid  cavalry  force,  the  Behar  Light 
Horse,  which  is  considered  the  finest  body  of 
volunteer  horsemen  Ln  India.  Mr.  Macdonald 
is  fond  of  all  sorts  of  athletic  exercises,  and 
when  at  Harrow  was  in  the  football  eleven,  and 


ulnacii    irousE— froxt-i'vikw 


represented  his  college  when  at  Cambridge, 
both  at  cricket  and  football,  being  captain  of 
the  latter  team.  He  is  also  a  proficient  per 
former  on  the  bagpipes,  thus  keeping  up  the 
musical  reputation  of  his  family. 


Mr.  Macdonald  has  returned  to  the  High- 
lands, where  he  has  received  a  very  hearty 
Highland  welcome  from  a  host  of  old  friends. 

EnrroK. 


BONNIE     STRATHDEARN. 


I  know  the  bright  sheen  of  the  pure  Arctic  snowflake, 
And  the  sweet  balmy  perfume  of  isles  in  the  sea; 

Where  the  people  all  feast  on  the  nourishing  hoe- 
cake — 
No  more  they  bring  comfort  or  pleasure  to  me. 

I  will  hie  me  to  where  the  howling  storm  gathers, 
And  sweeps  o'er  the  shieling,  the  clachan,  the 
cairn  ; 
To   the   home   of   my   youth,   where   slumber  my 
fathers. 
On  the  banks  of  the  Pindhorn,  in  bonnie  Strath- 
dearn. 

The   breath   of   the   tempest   my   nerve-force  will 
strengthen ; 

The  odour  of  heather  and  fragrant  green  pine 
Will  vivify  torpor  ;  my  lifetime  will  lengthen 

'Midst  scenes  so  romantic,  entrancing,  sublime. 


I    will    spread    me    a    couch    of    fresh    mountain 
heather; 
My  thirst  I  will  quench  with  a  draught  at  the 
spring  ; 
I  will  list  to  the  music  of  songster  in  feather  ; 
In   commune   with   nature,    her   charms   I    will 
sing. 

The  shades  of  my  sires  will  hover  around  me, 
And  the  dear  little  fairies,  who  danced  by  the 
streams  ; 
Tho'  wreckage  of  homes  may  grieve  and  astound 
me. 
The  friends   of   my   youth    I  may  meet  in  my 
dreams. 

The  years  may  be  few  till  my  tenure  is  ended — 
My  task  all  accomplished — from  labour  at  rest  ; 

I  will  follow  the  trail  of  those  who  ascended 
To  realms  beatific — the  home  of  the  blest. 

New  York,  P.    MacphERSON, 


THE     OKLTIC     MONTHLY. 


187 


CUAN      OF     THE      SPOILS. 

(A  Legend  of  Lochhroom,  Rcss-sHrar.) 


|JTP|jHE  Dun  of  Langwell  is  buUt  on  an  acute 
yf^  angled  promontory  formed  bv  the 
'-'=*>  junction  of  two  streams.  These, 
assisted  by  various  other  natural  agencies,  have 
cut  out  for  themselves  an  immense  ravine  from 
the  mica  schist  rock.  The  outer  defence  of  the 
Dun  is  built  on  the  brink  of  this  rock,  and  the 
walls  are  in  places  from  twelve  to  fifteen  feet 
thick,  formed  of  large  undressed  stones.  The 
architecture  of  the  building  has  been  a  curious 
one,  for  we  find  that,  while  the  outside  of  the 
wall  is  composed  of  large  stones,  the  centre  is 
made  up  of  long  slabs  all  standing  on  end, 
■with  here  and  there  a  big  roimd  boulder 
between  them.  Very  few  small  stones  seem 
to  have  been  used,  while  mortar  of  every  kind 
was  dispensed  with.  Inside  the  fort's  wall 
there  appeared  to  have  been  several  buildings 
of  considerable  size,  but  it  is  difficult  to  say  at 
this  time  of  day,  from  the  scanty  materials 
remaining,  whether  these  were  intended  for 
habitations,  and  if  so,  on  what  principle  they 
were  built.  During  the  last  two  centuries 
many  stones  were  taken  from  the  Dun  for 
building  several  of  the  crofters'  houses  in  the 
\icinity,  but  anyone  visiting  the  old  ruin  can 
easily  see  for  himself  that  it  must  have  been  a 
large  building 

Some  years  ago,  when  on  a  visit  to  this  part 
of  the  country,  an  article  of  mine  was  published 
in  the  i\oithe7-it  C/nunic/e  about  Dun  Conn  and 
its  legend.  In  it  I  casually  mentioned  the 
Dun  at  Langwell.  According  to  local  and 
popular  legend  Conn,  a  Norwegian  chief, 
erected  both  these  Duns  during  the  period 
that  the  Norsemen  held  sway  in  the  West 
Highlands.  Dun  Conn  is  built  on  a  high 
headland  overlooking  the  sea  at  the  foot  of 
Craigmore,  Keanchulish,  and  the  Dun  at 
Langwell  on  a  rock  very  similar  but  inland 
and  in  sight  of  Dun  Cuan.  Conn,  it  is  said, 
was  in  possession  of  both  Duns,  or  forts,  when 
he  met  with  his  tragic  end;  the  one  he  used  as 
a  sea  defence  and  the  other  as  his  mountain 
fortress.  After  his  death  his  followers  aban- 
doned the  neighbourhood,  while  both  Duns 
were  left  imoccupied.  It  is  stated,  however, 
that  owing  to  what  happened  to  their  chief  at 
Dun  Conn,  they  partly  demolished  it,  so  that 
it  could  not  be  used  again,  but  that  the  Dun 
at  Langwell  was  left  intact. 

Tradition  strongly  avers  that  a  subsequent 
tenant  of  Langwell's  Dun,  or  fort,  was  a 
notorious  robber,  or  creachadair,  who  committed 


many  diabolical  and  outrageous  crimes  in  the 
district.  He  was  known  by  the  sobriquets  of 
CiKin  Mm-  iia  Beiuiie,  Great  Cuan  of  the  hills, 
and  Cuan.  Mor  Ein'oniinc/i,  Cuan  the  big  Irish- 
man, which  names  indicate  that  he  was,  at 
least,  of  Irish  extraction.  It  is  said  that  he 
had  a  desperate  baud  of  outlaws  in  his  ser\'ice, 
and  many  vile  acts  of  atrocity  are  attributed  to 
them.  The  story  has  it  that  he  was  leader  of 
a  large  band  of  ruffians,  and  that  some  gross 
crime  was  committed  for  which  he  and  a 
number  of  his  followers  had  to  leave 
Ireland.  They  took  a  boat  and  lauded  at  the 
Summer  Isles,  which  are  at  the  mouth  of 
Lochbroom,  where  he  stayed  ior  some  time 
with  the  robbers  that  then  inhabited  these 
islands,  and  infested  the  coast  around,  as 
stated  by  George  Buchanan  in  his  Latin 
History  of  Scotland.  These  robbers  had  no 
doubt  seen  that  Cuan  would  be  likely  to  prove 
a  useful  member  of  their  band,  and  enticed 
him  to  go  as  a  raider  to  the  mainland.  Leaving 
the  Summer  Isles  he  landed  at  Keanchulish 
and  took  laossession  of  the  Dun. 

The  stronghold  from  its  natural  position 
being  impregnable  in  those  days  of  rude  war- 
fare, no  doubt  made  the  ruffian  and  his 
associates  more  exacting  than  they  would 
otherwise  have  been,  had  they  possessed  a  more 
defenceless  place.  It  is  said  that  he  made 
many  predatory  incursions  into  the  lowlands 
of  the  east  coast  of  Sutherlandshire  and  Eoss- 
shire,  from  which  places  he  jjossessed  himself 
of  many  a  good  bullock.  This  boot)'  he  seemed 
to  have  shared  with  his  comrades  in  the  Isles. 
The  route  that  he  generally  took  with  his 
plunder  from  the  low  country  was  by  Ardgay, 
Strathcarron,  Strathvache,  Strathculleuach, 
and  Rappach  to  Langwell,  by  glens  and  passes 
rising  by  degrees  from  the  sealevel  at  Ardgay, 
to  about  three  thousand  feet  on  the  heights 
above  Langwell. 

It  is  related  that  on  one  of  these  predatory 
expeditions  to  the  east  side  of  the  county,  he 
one  day  encountered  a  most  charming  young 
woman,  who  seemed  to  cast  a  much  greater 
spell  over  him  than  even  the  worth  of  her 
father's  cattle.  Cuan  was  in  the  act  of  taking 
away  the  cattle  when  he  met  her,  and  she  said 
that  the  cattle  were  her  father's.  He  left  them 
and  betook  himself  to  some  other  sphere  of 
operation  and  business.  On  returning  home 
he  could  not  rest  but  kept  thinking  about  her, 
and  at  last  declared  that  he  would  go  and 
carry  her  oti'  as  expeditiously  as  he  usually 
lifted  the  cattle.  Cuan  could  neither  rest  nor 
sleep  for  thinking  of  her.  He  waited  for  a  few 
nights  to  see  if  this  strange  feeling  called  love 
would  wear  away,  but  delay  only  seemed  to 
make  him  more  miserable, — 


188 


THE   CELTIC   MONTHLY. 


"  Time  but  the  impression  stronger  makes 
As  streams  their  channels  deeper  wear." 

At  last  he  could  stand  it  no  longer,  so  on  the 
third  day  after  seeing  her,  he  and  his  men 
sallied  forth  at  the  break  of  day.  After 
various  detours,  and  with  much  dexterity, 
Cuan  succeeded  before  the  following  day  in 
capturing  his  prize,  and  then  made  full  speed 
for  his  mountain  retreat,  where  he  arrived  in 
due  time.  Overjoyed  at  his  success,  and  his 
attendants  making  merry  at  the  same  time, 
he  had  neglected  to  take  the  ordinary  precau- 
tions to  see  his  place  properly  secured  as  was 
his  wont,  with  the  result  that  the  lady's 
friends,  who  had  come  after  them,  found  no 


difficulty  in  gaining  admission  by  the  outer 
entrance.  Poor  Cuau  was  seized  and  taken  to 
the  highest  summit  of  the  wall  and  mercilessly 
thrown  down  the  deep  chasm,  where  he  was 
dashed  to  pieces,  and  so  perished  this  much 
dreaded  personage  in  his  seeming  hour  of 
triumph. 

Cuan's  followers  escaped  by  some  back 
entrance  and  made  their  way  to  the  sea  at 
Keanchulish,  where  they  embarked  for  the 
Summer  Isles  to  join  the  outlaws  of  that  region. 
The  Dun  was  demolished  as  much  as  possible 
by  the  infuriated  friends  of  the  lady,  and  was 
not  again  occupied,  yet  the  ruins  still  provide 
a  good  shelter,  and  the  outer  wall  and  rock  on 


Vftsfevii'-'j 


KEANCnULISU,     WHERE    CUAN     I^ANDED, 


■which  it  is  built,  serve  also  as  a  safe  nesting 
place  for  the  raven. 

yjjNo  wonder  that  the  people  living  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Dun  should  have  looked  upon  it 
as  haunted,  for  they  often  had  good  reasons  for 
doing  so,  according  to  the  many  ghost  stories 
circulated.  The  peoj)le  of  the  old  township  of 
Gluach  had  got  so  familiar  with  the  dift'erent 
ghosts  connected  with  this  place  that  latterly 
the}'  thought  nothing  of  it.  The  good  people 
of  Strathcannard,  who  lived  nearly  opposite 
the  Dun,  are  said  to  have  heard  many  an 
eldritch  sound  coming  from  the  ruins  in  days 
gone  by.  The  following  story  is  said  to  be 
••  well  authenticated  !  " 


Two  men  were,  one  morning  early  in  spring, 
ploughing  in  a  field  near  it,  both  of  them  being 
very  thirsty.  One  of  them  expressed  a  wish 
for  a  drink  of  sowans  to  quench  his  thirst,  as 
also  did  the  other,  when  suddenly  there 
appeared  a  handsome  young  lady  carrying  a 
large  jug  fuU  of  sowans.  She  ottered  it  to  the 
man  who  had  first  spoken,  but  he  refused, 
saying  that  he  neither  wanted  herself  nor  the 
drink. 

"  Take  it,"  said  she,  "  it  will  do  j'ou  more 
good  than  your  mother's  milk."  However,  he 
refused  it.  She  then  gave  it  to  the  other,  who 
reluctantly  drank  of  it. 

"  Is  it  good  ?  '  she  asked. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


189 


•■  Yes,"  said  he,  "  I  never  enjoyed  anything 
better." 

'•  Good  shall  it  make  thee,"  said  she,  "  long 
life,  health,  wealth,  and  jirosperity  be  thine, 
but  he  who  refused  it,  after  expressing  his 
desire,  shall  never  taste  sowans  again." 

With  these  words  she  disappeared  in  the 
direction  of  the  Dun.  and  it  is  said  that  the 
man  who  refused  the  drink  died  that  night, 
while  the  other,  who  emigrated  to  the  Colonies, 
earned  great  fame,  and  died  a  very  old  man. 

Within  the  memory  of  the  present  genera- 
tion, the  nightly  visions  of  the  Dun  have  not 
been  seen.  Its  ghosts  have  departed,  as  they 
seem  to  have  done  everywhere  else,  and  the 
local  traditions  are  sharing  a  like  fate,  they 
are  fast  also  becoming  a  tradition.  Nowadays 
the  good  old-fashioned  Highland  ghosts  appear 
more  frightened  for  man  than  man  was  for 
them  fifty  years  ago. 

RVliiihnr.'h  GeORGB    MoRRISON. 


LETTER     TO    THE     EDITOR. 


SiK — I  hope  you  will  allow  me  to  express  a  few  of 
my  views  on  the  quality  of  material  which,  as  I 
think,  ought  to  appear  in  the  Celtic  Moiithly.  As 
a  magazine  I  think  the  (\'Uic  Motifhhj  ought  chiefly 
to  appeal  to  enlightened  Scotsmen,  especially 
Hiillilaiidfrs,  well  versed  in  the  history  of  their 
coinitry,  and  lovers  of  truth  as  regards  the  former 
state  and  condition  of  their  land. 

Sentiment  has  had  its  day.  We  are  sick  to  death 
of  speeches  at  snirfin  and  other  assemblages  of 
Highlanders  extolling  the  brave  and  heroic  deeds  of 
their  ancestors,  the  blameless  and  chivalrous  heroes 
of  the  olden  time,  etc.  Language  of  sucli  an  inflated 
nature  tends  to  convince  Southerners  of  the  inferior 
intelligence  displayed  by  such  speakers  and  their 
audiences,  when  it  is  known  that  Highlanders' 
accepted  family  and  clan  histories,  as  well  as 
histories  by  others  not  Highlanders,  prove 
them  from  the  earliest  times  to  have  been 
prcjne  to  rebellions,  treacheries,  and  internal 
feud.  There  were,  no  doubt,  brave  and  noble  men 
in  the  olden  times,  and  let  their  deeds  be  inillifullii 
recorded.  But  from  the  language  of  the  type  of 
speechinaker  (juoted  above,  one  would  imagine  the 
Highlanders  a  people,  the  most  iiiiii(teresfiii'i  on 
earth.  It  is  their  revengeful  tendencies  and  their 
animalism  that  make  the  Highlanders  interesting 
to  the  student  of  men,  or  to  the  artist  ;  and  so  with 
en-rij  people  at  their  stage  of  civilization — they  are 
true  men  with  men's  instincts,  which  are  not 
invariably  heroic.  What  is  often  the  only  quality 
t(j  be  admired  in  the  clan  tales  /  The  fortitude  and 
surt'ering  displayed  by  some  individual  in  the 
concealment  and  nourishment  of  the  true  heir,  in 
order  that  he  may,  when  grown  up,  succeed  to  his 
own,  and  take  vengeance  on  the  usurpers.  We 
also  find  the  devotion  of  the  clansman  to  his  chief. 
Apart  from  these  excellent  cliaracteristics,  there  is 
not  so  very  much  to  be  admired  in  the  ancient 
annals  of  the  clans,   except  courage,   which  is  the 


inheritance  of  most  primitive  races.  What  makes 
the  former  history  of  the  Highlanders  picturesque, 
paintable,  and  romantic  ?  It  was  the  spice  of  the 
wild  human  animal  about  them.  In  modern  days 
there  is  far  too  nnich  of  the  "  Mutual  Admiration 
Society"  in  the  (Jaels  who  write  about  themselves — 
"gas,"  it  really  is,  and  humbug.  It  is  largely 
observable  in  the  tales  and  clan  histories  written  at 
the  present  day  by  men  who  ought  to  know  better. 
If  the  subject  is  approached  in  the  true  spirit  and 
authorities  given  for  every  statement  and  opinion, 
the  interest  of  men  of  letters  will  be  drawn  to  the 
subject,  and  the  illtie  Moathlij  quoted  as  an 
itutliorifij  on  folklore,  historical  nmrntey,  etc. 

Why  is  it  that  "  Burt's  Letters  from  the  North  " 
(a  book  oti'ensive  to  many  Highlanders)  is  considered 
now  to  be  the  best  authority  on  the  state  of  the 
Highlands  in  the  first  halt  of  last  century  I  Simply 
because  the  man  states  what  he  saw  impartially,  or 
without  any  bias  on  the  Highland  side.  He  gives 
a  true  picture,  softens  down  nothing,  of  the  state  of 
the  country  as  he,  an  educated  Englishman,  saw  it. 

Let  readers  with  a  knowledge  of  Gaelic  and  who 
intend  to  record  a.  tale  or  bit  of  story,  either  quote 
a  reliable  MS.  on  the  subject,  or  if  near  the  spot  of 
the  occurrence,  get  st)nie  old  person  to  tell  the  story 
in  Gaelic  and  translate  literally  what  he  or  she  says 
into  English.  This  will  be  a  record  of  a  real 
tradition,  be  it  true  or  not,  but  how  inadvisable  to 
concoct  the  story  at  second  hand,  or  at  most  from 
some  source  not  so  direct  as  this.  It  is  possible 
still  to  obtain  at  first  hand  from  natives  many  old 
and  curious  tales  of  former  times.  Campbell  in 
his  "West  Highland  Tales"  has  shown  a  most 
excellent  example  of  how  it  ought  to  be  done. 

Hoping   some   of   your   readers   will   contribute 
some  tales  taken  down  in  the  manner  described. 
I  am,  yours  faithfully, 

Bushey,  Herts.  LoOKHART   BoGLE. 

The  Clan  Gregor  visit  their  Chief  on  the 
Channel  Fleet. — During  the  visit  of  the  Channel 
Fleet  to  the  Clyde  recently,  several  Directors  of 
Clan  Gregor  Society  embraced  the  occasion  to  pay 
a  visit  to  their  young  Chief,  Sir  Malcolm  MacGregor 
of  MacGregor,  Bart. ,  who  is  a  Lieutenant  on  board 
H.M.S.  "Majestic,"  Vice-Admiral  Lord  Walter 
Kerr's  flagship.  The  party  were  most  cordially 
received  by  ;Slr  Malcolm,  while  they  lieartily 
welcomed  their  Chief  to  the  Clyde.  Thereafter 
the  party  made  a  tour  roiuid  the  great  war  vessel. 
Sir  Malcolm  acting  as  cicerone,  who  described 
graphically  and  scientifically  the  latest  improve- 
ments and  inventions  in  the  armament  and  general 
details  of  the  "Majestic,"  which  are  alone  to  be 
found  in  this  the  most  recently  commissioned  line 
of  battle-ship.  Subsecjuently  the  company  adjourned 
to  the  officers'  quarters,  where  they  partook  of  Sir 
Malcolm's  hospitality,  and  conversed  tor  some  time 
on  the  afi'airs  and  prospects  of  the  Clan  Gregor 
Society,  which  was  founded  in  ly22  on  the  initiative 
of  the  host's  great-grandfather,  Sir  Evan  ,1.  Murray 
MrcGregor,  Bart.  Thereafter  the  party  went 
ashore  well  pleased  with  their  visit.  Amongst  the 
Directors  of  the  Society  present  were  Ex-Provost 
MacGregor,  Crietf ;  John  MacGregor,  Esq.,  Royal 
Exchange,  Glasgow  ;  John  MacGregor,  Esq., 
Solicitor,  Greenock ;  Captain  A.  Ronald  MacGregor, 
Glasgow,  etc. 


190 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


TO     CORRESPONDENTS. 

All    Communications,   on    literary    an 


business 
matters,  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  Mr.  .TOHN 
MA  CHAT,  9  Bli/thswood  Drive,  Glasgow. 

-®- 

TERMS    OP    SUBSCRIPTION.— TJie    CELTIC 

MONTHLY  wUl  be  sent,  post  free,  to  any  part  of  the 

United  Kingdom,    Canada,    the    United   States,  and  all 

countries  in  the  Postal  Union — for  one  year,  4s. 


The 


Celtic    Monthly. 

JVLT,  1896. 


spending  a  brief  holiday  with  his  wife  and  family 
in  Canada  and  Scotland,  where  he  visited  Suther- 
land to  view  the  ancient  home  of  his  clan,  he  has 
just  returned  to  Formosa  where  he  intends  to  spend 
the  rest  of  his  days.  His  sons  wear  the  Highland 
garb  in  "Far  Formosa,"  which  shows  that  distance 
only  makes  the  heart  turn  fondly  towards  the 
things  which  identify  the  Gaelic  race  among  all 
others.  Among  the  recent  additions  to  the  clan 
membership  may  be  mentioned  Mr.  W.  J.  Ansell, 
Durnaca,  Cyprus,  whose  grandfather,  David 
Maclvay,  R.E.,  fought  at  the  Battle  of  Waterloo. 

Clan    Menzies    Society. — Mr.  D.  P.  Menzies, 
Clan  Secretary,  has  just  received  ten  guuieas  from 
Mr.  Robert  Menzies,  Stirling,  as  a  donation  towards 
CSOX^'T'E'PXI'S.  the  clan  bursary  fund. 

Captain  John  MacRab  (witli  plates),      .       -       .       -       .  ISl  ^, 

Thb  Parting  ox  tub  Bridge  (poem),     ...       -       -  182 

CtDNT  AND  Lady  Cldny  of  the  '45,  aitrr  Cullodkn  (illus.),  183  »wt>      r\  ^      i-uc       ubatubd" 

H.  L.  Macdonald,  OF  DuN.icfi  (with  plate),  -       ■        •       ■  185  "LAYS      OF      THE      HEATHER. 

Bonnie  Strathdearn  (poem), 186  

CuAN  of  the  Spoils  (illustrated), 187 

Letter  to  the  Editor,    -..-.-      -      ■  189      To  the  Editor  ot  the  Celtic  Manthly, 

To  OUR  Rbadehb,      •       - 19U 

"Lays  OF  THE  He.mher"  (poem), 190       My  Uear  bir, 

The  Royal  Scots  Greys,  Part  III.  (illustrated),  -       -       ■  191  j  fggj  g^.^  j  ^^g  expression,  though  ill  a 

SiROEox-GENERAL  MiN.o,  C.B.,  M.D.,  LL.D.,  .^jg  .^  ^jjg  following  lines,  to  the  senti- 

London  (with  portrait), 194  ^       ii         i         i  n      tit-  a       rt 

The  Black  Fisher  of  Lochsannish  (poem),         -       •        ■      19.'.       ments     of  ^  aU     who     have     read     MlSS     A.^    O. 

DiiNCAN  MacOeeoor,  j.p  ,  arnqask  (with  plate),  ■  ■  190  MacDouell's  "  Lays  of  the  Heather,"  especially 
The  Highland  Sword  (illustrated),  -  -  ■  -  -  197  Highlanders,  who,  on  the  waves  of  fortune  or 
revibw-The  Lost  Pibroch,  •      - 198      misfortune,  have  been  carried  far  from  their 

Our  Musical  Page— "Chailin  og  nach  sticir  tiiu  m't—  ,•  , 

Young  maiden  will  vou  glide  MB?     ...       -      199       native  giens. 

=^  Like  the  fragrant  breath  of  summer 

Wafted  from  Lochaber's  braes, 
To  the  scattered  sons  of  Albyn 

Come  those  charming,  welcome  "Lays." 


GRAND  SUMMER  NUMBER. 

Our  ne.xt  issuu  will  take  the  form  of  a  Grand 
Summer  Number,  which,  both  in  regard  to  contri- 
butions and  illustrations,  will  be  the  most  attractive 
number  of  the  Celtic  yet  published.  Plate  portraits 
will  be  given  of  Mr.,  Mrs.,  and  Miss  Littlejohn  of 
Invercharron,  Rossshire  ;  Surgeon  General  Sir  W. 
A.  Mackinnon,  London  (a  native  of  Skye),  late 
Director  General  of  the  Army  Medical  Department  ; 
and  the  Marchioness  D'Oyley  (ne'e  Macdonald  of 
Keppoch),  Paris.  In  addition  to  these,  a  choice 
selection  of  interesting  illustrated  contributions,  in 
prose  and  verse,  will  be  given.  Our  eflbrts  to  make 
the  Celtu-  really  worthy  of  the  Highlands,  and  re- 
presentative of  the  best  of  its  present-day  literature, 
have  been  warmly  appreciated  by  our  countrymen 
ill  all  parts  of  the  globe,  our  list  of  subscribers  re- 
ceiving considerable  additions  each  month,  A 
great  deal  can  yet  be  done  by  our  readers  towards 
increasing  the  circulation  of  the  Monthly,  by  recom- 
mending it  to  their  Highland  friends.  We  will  be 
glad  to  send  circulars  to  such  as  are  willing  to  dis- 
tribute copies.  In  this  way  many  new  subscribers 
could  be  added  to  our  list. 

Clan  Mackay  Societv — A  very  distinguished 
clansman  has  just  enrolled  as  a  life  member  — we 
refer  to  the  Rev.  George  Leslie  Mackay,  D.  D. ,  of 
Formosa,  Japan.  Dr.  Mackay  published  recently 
a  most  interesting  volume  "In  Far  Formosa,"  in 
which  he  gave  an  account  of  his  many  years' 
experiences  as  a  missionary  of  the  Canadian  Pres- 
byterian   Church    in    that   distant   island.     After 


"  Lays,"  the  sluggish  pulse  that  quicken, 
Set  the  heart  with  tire  aglow, 

And  awaken  recollections 
Of  the  days  of  long  ago. 

Sunny,  happy  days  of  childhood 
(That  shall  never  more  return), 

When  we  romped  among  the  heather. 
And  we  paddled  in  the  burn. 

Fraught  with  story,  song,  and  legend, 

Noble  deeds  of  other  days  ; 
Love  of  country,  love  of  kindred. 

Are  those  sweet,  and  stirring  "  Lays." 

Soft  at  times  like  summer  zephyrs 

Passing  over  heath  and  lea, 
Or  a  Higliland  mother's  cronan 

To  the  child  upon  her  knee. 

And  at  times  they  sound  the  slogan. 
Or  the  piobrach's  martial  strain. 

And  the  heroes  that  have  vanished, 
Stand  before  us,  armed,  again. 

Long  may  Keppoch's  gifted  Bardess 
Wield  her  graceful,  charming  pen, 

Sing  of  Albyn's  glens  and  mountains, 
And  the  deeds  of  Highland  men. 


Hatfirld,  Herts. 


Angus  Mackintosh. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


191 


1678 


1896 


I   (eaEi: — lA^  i:';.:fti:.-,- — _ — . — ^JiZr!s^~"'  ;  ^-4j^ 


BY 


JOHNMACKAY.ce.jp.      '^^ 


HE  SErORD  . 


Pakt  III. — (Continued from  paye  169^. 

CTraHE  intrepidity  disjilayed  by  the  British 
w^  soldiers,  especially  the  Scots,  at  Stein- 
^•^^&  kerke,  Landen,  and  Siege  of  Namur, 
was  the  theme  of  admiration  of  all  the  foreign 
commanders,  whether  French,  German,  or 
Dutch,  in  fact  the  judgment  of  all  the  great 
warriors  whom  the  nations  of  Western 
Europe  sent  to  the  confluence  of  the  Sambre 
and  Meuse  was,  that  the  British  officer  was 
inferior  to  no  officer,  and  the  British  soldier 
to  no  soldier  in  Christendom. 

Next  year  the  Scots  Greys  were  encamped 
behind  the  canal,  between  Ghent  and  Bruges, 
watching  the  movements  of  Marshal  Villeroi. 
In  1697  peace  was  made  at  Eyswick,  and  in 
1G98  the  (jreys  returned  to  Scotland. 

In  1701  the  regiment  was  first  mounted 
on  grey  horses,  from  which  circumstance  it 
obtained  the  distinctive  appellation  by  which 
it  has  erer  since  been  so  famous.  The  "  Scots 
Greys "  is  an  appellation  revered  by  Scotland 
for  the  gallant  deeds  done  by  the  regiment  on 
every  field  of  fight  in  which  it  toot  part,  from 
the  surprise  of  Cromdale  1990,  to  the  Soudan 
in  1886,  nearly  two  centuries.  The  distinction 
of  having  grey  horses  given  it  was  conferred 
by  William  for  its  steadiness  and  gallantry  Ln 
the  four  years'  campaigning  in  the  Nether- 
lands. The  grey  horses  constitute  it  a 
distinctive  Scottish  cavalry  regiment — the  only 
one — a?  much  as  the  tartans  and  the  kUts  con- 
stitute the  Highland  regiments  to  be  Scottish, 
and  to  be  known  as  such,  by  friend,  and  feared 
by   foe — distinctions   which   have   created    an 


esprit  de  cor/is  such  as  has  never  been  surpassed, 
conducing  to  unfailing  valour,  uniformly  good 
discipline  and  invariably  good  conduct  in  battle 
and  in  quarters,  as  the  whole  history  of  the 
Scots  Greys  and  the  Highland  regiments 
testify.  The  bulk  of  mankind  is  more  or  less 
governed  by  sentiment  and  cherished  ancient 
ideas.  So  long  is  these  conduce  to  order,  to 
love  of  country,  and  pride  of  race,  and 
animate  the  soldier  in  the  day  of  battle,  on  the 
weary  toilsome  march,  in  the  cheerless 
uncomfortable  bivouac,  why  do  away  with  these 
talismen  1  why  meddle  with  distinctions  which 
have  become  national,  and  as  much  prized  by 
Scotland  as  by  her  gallant  soldiers  ?  Their 
distinctive  horses  and  distinctive  uniforms 
mark  these  regiments  to  be  Scottish.  No  War 
Office  tailoring  can  improve  them.  Were  the 
War  Office  ruled  by  common  sense  the  verdict 
would  be  "  let  well  alone  "  It  is  gratifying  to 
learn  that  the  rumour  of  the  2nd  lloyal  North 
British  Dragoons  being  about  to  be  deprived 
of  their  grey  horses  after  nearly  two  hundred 
years'  service  and  trial,  is  not  true.  The  Scots 
Greys  and  Highland  regiments  are  emblems  of 
their  country.  Scotland  regards  them  as  such, 
and  resents  tampering  with  her  regiments. 
The  whole  aflfair  is  not  a  military  question,  it 
is  a  Scottish  National  question. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  Scots  Greys  are  to 
be  linked  with  other  cavalry  battalions— be  it 


192 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


so,  but  let  them  preserve  their  present  distinct- 
ness. Many  years  ago  they  were  brigaded 
with  the  Royals  and  Inniskilliners,  constituting 
the  famous  '•Union  Brigade,"  and  what  brigade 
performed  more  doughty  deeds  at  Waterloo 
and  in  the  Crimea!  Fighting  generals  take 
care  how  to  link  troops  for  battle,  so  as  to 
sustain  national  emulation  and  keep  up  the 
spirits  of  the  men.  War  Office  officials  seem  to 
ignore  that  officers  and  soldiers  are  actuated  by 
sentiment  and  egpn't  </(■  coi/i'^.  In  no  service 
under  the  Crown  is  sentiment  or  esprit  (k  mrp^ 
so  much  cherished  and  cultivated  as  in  the 
Scottish     regiments,     and     it     would    be     a 


fatal  mistake  to  permit  anything  tending 
to  lessen  it  to  be  done.  The  gallant  Greys  is 
one  of  the  best  regiments  in  Europe.  Was  the 
War  Office  envious  or  jealous  of  it,  when  it  was 
rumoured  that  it  was  to  be  assimilated  to  other 
English  cavalry  regiments '?  Why  so  ?  It  is 
the  only  Scottish  cavalry  regiment  we  have. 
Let  it  remain  as  it  is.  The  regiment  itself 
disapproves  of  any  change.  Surely  that  is 
enough 

In  1702  the  Greys  were  despatched  to 
Holland  and  joined  the  allied  army  under  the 
command  of  the  famous  .Marlborough,  the  first 
General  of  his  time,  who  besieged  not  a  town 


but  he  took  it,  who  fought  not  a  battle  but  he 
won  it,  and  who  never  beat  a  retreat.  Opposed 
to  the  best  Marshals  of  France,  he  beat  them  all. 
He  ever  paid  the  closest  attention  to  the 
commissariat  and  supply  services  upon  which 
80  much  of  the  well  being  of  the  soldier 
depends.  Under  his  command  the  British 
soldier  attracted  universal  admiration,  so  well 
discij)lined,  so  well  clad  and  fed,  while  they  won 
the  good  will  of  the  inhabitants  by  their 
behaviour,  taking  nothing  without  payment. 
1 1  was  this  disciphne,  stiU  further  improved  by 
him,  that  gave  Marlborough  much  of  his 
supremacy    over    the    Marshals    of    France. 


AT     .\LliEKMH'T. 


In  his  first  campaign,  1702,  Marlborough 
out-manauvring  Marshals  Boufflers  and 
Tallard,  reduced  Venloo,  Euremond,  and 
Stevenswaert,  and  captured  Liege.  At  all 
these  sieges  the  (Jreys  had  so  distinguished 
themselves  that  at  the  close  of  the  campaign  a 
squadron  of  their  regiment  was  selected  to 
escort  Marlborough  from  Maestricht  to  the 
Hague. 

On  this  journey  an  incident  happened  that 
might  have  terminated  his  career  as  a 
conqueror.  He  descended  the  Meuse  in  a  boat 
accompanied  by  a  guard  of  twenty-five  men. 
At  Kuremond  he  was  joined  by  General  Cohora 


TfHE    CELTIC     MONTHLt. 


1!13 


in  a  large  boat  and  sixty  men.  the  Greys 
marching  along  the  banks  of  the  river.  During 
the  night  the  latter  lost  their  way.  At  the 
same  time  the  large  boat  outsailed  the  other, 
and  Marlborough  was  left  with  his  scanty 
guard  of  live  and  twenty  men.  In  this  situa- 
tion he  was  surprised  by  a  French  partizan 
from  Gueldi'e,  who,  vn.th  thirty-rive  men  was 
Im-king  among  the  reeds.  Suddenly  seizing 
the  tow-rope  they  rushed  on  board,  over- 
jjowering  the  guard.  Marlborough's  com- 
panions had  obtained  French  passes,  but  he 
himself  had  disdained  to  ask  such  a  favour 
from  an  enemy.  Preserring  his  wonted  calm- 
ness, however,  he  presented  his  captors  with 
an  old  French 'pass  in  the  possession  of  one  of 


his  attendants.  The  date  had  expired,  but  his 
unruffled  deportment  awakening  no  suspicion, 
the  pass  was  not  carefully  examined,  and  the 
adventm-ers  after  pillaging  the  vessel  permitted 
him  to  proceed  on  his  way.  Had  they  but 
scrutinised  the  pass  more  closely  the  Battle  of 
Blenheim  might  never  have  been  fought. 

In  1703  the  Scots  Greys  had  several  engage- 
ments with  the  enemy,  but  their  career  of 
distinction  may  more  justly  be  dated  from  the 
year  ensuing. 

In  this  campaign  Marlborough  was  con- 
tinually thwarted  by  the  Dutch  Generals  and 
Deputies  sent  to  control  the  operations  of  the 
army,  nevertheless  he  captured  Liinburg  and 
Gueldre,  and  gained  various  other  advantages 


OFFICER     OF     PIKKMEX.      (i  iF     THE     PKKInl)     (JF     M.\RLBOROrGH. )     ML'SKETEF;R. 


which  proved  to  the  French  Marshals  that 
they  had  to  do  with  a  militai-y  genius. 

In  the  spring  of  1704  Marlborough  deter- 
mined to  carry  the  war  into  Bavaria,  the 
Elector  of  which  was  the  close  ally  of  Louis 
14th,  and  thus  to  relie\e  \'ienna  from  the 
pressure  of  the  French  armies  By  a  series  of 
the  most  skilful  stratagems  he  hoodwinked  the 
French  Marshals  and  so  concealed  his  inten- 
tions from  them,  that,  by  his  rapid  marches, 
he  was  on  the  bank  of  the  Danube  before  they 
had  any  idea  that  he  left  the  Moselle. 

The  passage  of  the  Danube  was  protected 
by  a  large  army  under  the  command  of  the 
Elector  of  Bavaria,  who,   as  soon  as  he  per- 


ceived the  intention  of  Marlborough,  despatched 
10,000  infantry  and  2,500  cavalry  to  occupy 
and  intrench  the  heights  of  Schellenberg, 
which  completely  commanded  the  passage  of 
the  Danube  through  Donanwerth.  This 
position  was  of  formidable  strength.  Marl- 
borough attentively  noted  the  disposition  of 
the  enemy  as  well  as  the  local  jjeculiarities  of 
the  place,  and  having  completed  his  survey 
rode  back  to  meet  his  advaucing  troops.  He 
determined  to  attack  that  very  day.  To  those 
who  suggested  doubts  or  advised  delay,  his 
reply  was  "  the  delay  of  every  single  hour  will 
cost  the  loss  of  a  thousand  men." 
(To  be  continuedj. 


194 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


SURGEON-GENERAL    MUNRO,    C.B., 
M.D.,  LL.D.,     LONDON. 


i^lURGEONGENEEAL  MUNEO  is  the 
^^  son  of  the  late  William  Munro,  Inspec- 
'W-f'  tor-General  of  Hospitals,  and  was  born 
in  1823,  took  his  degree  at  Glasgow,  and 
L.R.GS.  in  Edinburgh,  in  1844,  and  was  made 
Hon.  LL.D.  of  Glasgow  University  in  1888. 

He  entered  the  Medical  Department  of 
H.M.  Army  in 
1844,  became 
Surgeon  in 
18  5  4,  and 
going  through 
the  regular 
steps  of  pro- 
motion, be- 
came Surgeon- 
General  in 
1876.  He 
served  in  the 
Kaffii-  War  of 
1846-7,  in  the 
Crimean  Cam- 
paign 1854-5, 
also  in  the 
Indian  Mutiny 
Campaign 
of  1857-8, 
and  with  the 
Euzufzai  Field 
Force  1863: 
was  mentioned 
in  despatches 
and  thanked 
by  the  Gover- 
nor-General in 
Council,  and 
created  Com- 
panion of  the 
Bath  in  1865 
— making  a 
total  service  of 
thirty -six  years 
— twenty-five 
of  which  were 
passed  on  For- 
eign Service  and  five  years  on  War  Service,  hav- 
ing been  present  at  fifteen  Battles  and  Engage- 
ments, and  at  the  Sieges  of  Sebastopol  and  Luck- 
now.  For  these  services  Surgeon-General  Munro 
has  received  the  following  decorations: — The 
Companionship  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath,  and 
the  fifth  class  of  the  Turkish  Order  of  the 
Medjidie;  the  medal  for  South  Africa,  the 
medal  and  three  clasps  for  the  Crimea,  with 
the  Turkish  War  medal ;  the  medal  and  two 
clasps  for  the  Indian  Mutiny,  and  the  medal 


and  clasp  for  the  Euzufzai  Campaign,  India, 
in  1863.  And  not  long  before  his  retirement 
he  received  the  reward  of  £100  a  year  for 
distinguished  military  service. 

These  are  the  bare  outlines  (but  they  speak 
for  themselves)  of  a  long  and  varied  public 
career,  and  of  a  life  of  great  usefulness  to  his 
fellow  men :  and,  although  many  of  these  have 
passed  away,  many  still  remain  who  can  and 
do  testify  to  the  value  of  the  services  rendered 
to  them  in  days  gone  by,  by  their  old  surgeon, 
comrade,  and 
friend.  And 
he  who  has 
been  brought 
through  these 
stirring  times, 
and  lived  this 
life  of  action, 
now  walks  in 
and  out  in  our 
midst,  modest- 
ly and  calmly, 
as  if  war  and 
pestilence, 
labour  and 
hardship  were 
things  wholly 
unknown  to 
him.  In  Sur- 
geon-General 
Munro's  '  Re- 
cnnls  (,f  Seirice 
ami  Ciiiniiiiiijn- 
III 1 1  ill  Many 
Lands,'  dedica- 
ted by  per- 
mission to 
H.  R.  H.  the 
Princess  Lou- 
ise, Marchion- 
ess of  Lome, 
he  tells  us  that 
his  eyes  are 
now  turned 
"  towards  the 
sunset,"  but 
the  outward 
man  does  not 
bear,  as  one  would  expect,  the  marks  of  the 
hard  life  that  has  been  gone  through,  and  his 
life  has  its  pleasures  still,  and  its  usefulness  in 
quiet  paths,  brightened  by  many  happy 
memories,  and  blessed  with  the  consciousness 
of  duty  done  and  rest  earned.  Smce  his  retire- 
ment from  the  Service  in  1881,  Surgeon-General 
Munro  has  become  known  to  many  as  the  author 
of  'Reminiscences  of  Military  Service  with  the  03rd 
Sutherland  Highlanders,'  and  of  'Records  of 
Service  and  Campaigning  in  Many  Lands' 


THE     OELTJO     MONTHLY. 


ion 


THE      BLACK 
FISHER     OF     LOCHSANNISH. 

(A  KixTVKE  Leoexd.) 


The  sunset  lies  red  on  the  sorrowful  shores. 

The  waters  are  touched  as  with  flame, 
The  gruesome  Black  Fisherman  bends  to  his  oars, 

And  calls  on  an  unhallowed  name. 
He  laughs  in  his  beard  as  he  chants  his  wild  lay, 

(Such  laughter  is  awful  to  hear), 
He  sings  of  the  kain*  that  ere  long  he  must  pay 

To  ransom  his  soul  for  a  year. 

"  The  Lord  of  the  Lost  looketh  well  to  his  gains. 

And  jealously  counteth  his  doles, 
He  knoweth  the  hour  when  his  vassals  their  kains 

Must  pay  as  the  price  of  their  souls. 
A  year  and  a  day  all  the  grace  they  may  win, 

Not  longer  the  Evil  One  waits, 
They  must  bring  him  his  due,  or  the  Father  of  Sin 

Shall  open  Hell's  pitiless  gates." 

"  And  not  from  the  waves  may  I  gather  the  spoil, 

(A  pure  maiden's  life  is  the  cost). 
From  the  land  I  must  win  by  my  craft  or  my  toil 

My  gift  for  the  Lord  of  the  Lost. 
I  must  win  me  a  maid  who  shall  give  me  her  love, 

Unaskedj^who  shall  bow  to  my  spell. 
And  deem  me  an  angel  of  light  from  above. 

Nor  wake  till  she  waketh  in  Hell." 

On  the  chill,  sullen  waters  the  coracle  rides. 

But  where  has  the  Black  Fisher  tied  I 
To  the  chief's  lonely  keep,  where  in  darkness  abides 

The  saintliest  maid  man  may  wed. 
Afar,  on  the  mountains  the  red  glory  dies, 

Fair  Ellen  sees  nought  of  its  light, 
Her  white  soul  is  dreaming,  but  ah  !  her  soft  eyes 

Are  sealed  in  perpetual  night. 

"Oh!  list  ye  my  women,  sweet  music  I  hear. 

Such  songs  as  might  herald  the  birth 
Of  Mary's  Blest   Babe  when  the  shepherds  drew 
near 

To  welcome  their  Lord  to  this  earth." 
High  swells  the  clear  strain,  gentle  Ellen  is  wrapped 

In  a  vision  of  beauty  and  bliss. 
Her  soul  in  a  trance  of  enchantment  is  lapped, 

Ne'er  knew  she  such  rapture  as  this. 

Fast  falls  on  Lochsannish  the  deepening  night, 
But  who^is  the  stranger  that  waits, — 


.\nd  silently  watches  the  tower  on  the  height, 
And  the  singer  who  chants  at  its  gates  ? 

Chill,  chill  blows  the  night  wind,  the  wild  waters 
moan. 
The  Black  Fisher's  spell  is  complete. 

Sweet  Ellen  steals  forth  in  the  darkness  alone, 
With  willing,  yet  lingering  feet. 

-A^h!  what  can  avail  her,  or  succour  her  now, 

Who  goeth  unasked  to  her  doom  ! 
The  watcher  stands  calm  by  the  coracle's  prow, 

His  eyes  shine  like  stars  in  the  gloom. 
"  Haste  !  haste  thee  Black  Fisher,  the  time  draweth 
near, 

The  hours  of  thy  grace  will  be  done. 
Thy  kain  must  be  paid  ere  the  moon  shall  appear, 

Or  the  Lord  of  the  Lost  will  have  won." 

Loud  laughs  the  Black  Fisher — he  pauses  a  space, 
Then  thrusts  as  to  leave  the  dim  land. 

But  the  frail  barque  obeys  not,  it  rocks  in  its  place, 
Though  strives  he  with  foot  and  with  hand. 

"  Oh  !  haste  thee,  Black  Fisher  " — he  turns  him  at 
bay, 
(Small  grace  for  fair  Ellen  I  ween), 

He  springs  like  the  sleuth-hound  of  death  on  his 
prey- 
But  the  stranger  stands  calmly  between. 

No  longer  a  stranger  in  meanest  attire, 

His  garments  gleam  whiter  than  snow. 
That  stern  face  of  sorrow,  that  weapon  of  tire, 

Full  well  does  the  Black  Fisher  know. 
"A  vaunt  thee,  thou  servant  of  Satan  !  thy  spell 

Hath  failed; — thou  shalt  pay  thy  own  dole. 
For  thee,  even  now,  the  dread  portals  of  Hell 

Ya^vn  wide  to  receive  thy  lost  soul." 

Loud  shrieks  the  Black  Fisher,— the  wild  water 
leaps. 

The  coracle  flies  like  the  wind. 
On!  on  to  destruction's  dread  abyss  it  sweeps, 

For  the  pale  moon  is  rising  behind. 
The  old  raven  croaks,  o'er  Lochsannish  he  hies, 

He  scans  its  dark  bosom  in  vain. 
No  fisher,  no  boat  on  its  wave  he  descries, 

The  Lord  of  the  Lost  has  his  kain. 


*    "  Kain  " — Old  Scottish  for  tribute  to  a  superior. 

Note. — Many  legends  of  the  Black  Fisherman  were 
current  in  Kintyre.  Lochsannish  (the  Black 
Loch)  was  a  dismal  sheet  of  water  of  consider- 
able extent.  It  is  now  only  a  memory,  having 
been  drained  completely  and  its  area  converted 
into  smiling  fields  of  gi-ain  or  green  pastures. 
I  trust  my  somewhat  fanciful  rendering  of  the 
legend  may  be  found  amusing. 

Janet  A.  M'Culloch. 


Calvert's  Carbolic  Tooth  Powder,  P.4ste, 
and  Soaps  are  too  well  known  to  need  special 
remark,  but  to  tliose  who  have  not  tried  them  it 
may  be  said  that,  both  from  the  points  of  view  of 
health  and  comfort,  it  would  be  impossible  to  use 
better  articles. 


196 


¥HE    OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


DUNCAN    MACGREGOR,   J.P.,   ARNGASK. 


^^R.  DUNCAN  MACGREGOR,  of  Am 
^fflmh  gask.  Glenfarg,  Perthshire,  whose 
— '^  portrait  we  give  this  month,  is  a  scion 
of  one  of  the  most  notable  families  of  the  Clan 
Gregor — whose  members  have  made  their  mark 
in  the  present  day,  as  well  as  distinguished 
themselves  by  their  prowess  in  the  more 
sanguinary  struggles  of  the  days  of  long  ago. 

Mr.  MacGregor  was  born  at  Kinloch  Ran- 
noch,  and  received  his  education  at  the  village 
school,  and  the  Perth  Academy.  Thereafter 
he  served  a  four  years'  apprenticeship  with  a 


firm  of  Solicitors  at  Pitlochry,  but  not  finding 
law  to  his  liking  he  entered  into  a  business 
partnership  with  an  elder  brother  in  Edin- 
burgh. Six  years  later  he  begun  on  his  own 
account,  and  soon  succeeded  in  building  up  a 
most  flourishing  manufacturing  business.  Mr. 
MacGregor  cannot  join  with  his  clansmen  in 
the  refrain,  "we  are  landless,"  for  he  has 
purchased  the  charming  estate  of  Arngask,  in 
his  native  county,  which  is  rapidly  becoming  one 
of  the  most  popular  fashionable  summer  resorts 
in  the  district.  He  is  feuing  the  land  to  meet 
the  demand  for  houses,  and  otherwise 
developing  his  propert}^  He  occupies  quite  a 
number  of  public  offices  in  the  county,  among 


ARNGASK    HOUSE. 


others  he  is  a  Commissioner  of  Supply,  a 
Justice  of  Peace,  and  a  County  Councillor, 
having  defeated  Sir  Robert  D  Moncrieff  by  a 
large  majority  last  December.  He  is  also  a 
Parish  Councillor,  Chairman  of  the  Arngask 
School  Board,  etc 

Like  his  brother.  Dr.  Donald  MacGregor, 
late  M.P.  for  Inverness-shire,  the  subject  of 
our  sketch  is  a  keen  Liberal,  and  takes  an 
active  part  in  politics.  He  is  Vice-President  of 
the  Strathmiglo  Liberal  Association,  and  on 
the  executive  of  the  East  Perthshire  and  the 
South  Edinburgh  Liberal  Associations. 


Mr.  MacGregor  takes  a  very  hearty  interest 
in  all  matters  relating  to  the  welfare  of  his 
countrymen,  and  especially  his  own  clan,  and 
native  county.  He  is  a  Director  and  Life 
Member  of  the  Clan  Gregor  Society,  and  the 
Highland  Society  of  Edinburgh,  and  is  on  the 
committee  of  the  Edinburgh  Perthshire 
Association.  Nothing  would  give  him  greater 
delight  than  to  return  to  the  Highlands  and 
live  there  jjermaneutly,  in  the  hope  that  he 
would  be  able  to  do  something  to  amehorate 
the  lot  of  those  who  have  been  less  fortimate  in 
the  battle  of  life  than  himself.     Indeed,  his 


DUNCAN      MACGREGOR,     J  P, 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


197 


frieuds  eviDeet  that  before  long  the  genial  laird 
of  Amgask  will  settle  down  on  his  estate,  and 
devote  himself  to  eonuty  attairs  and  the 
development  of  his  property.  It  is  the  sincere 
wish  of  bis  many  friends  that  he  will  be  long 
spared  to  enjoy  that  leisure  to  which,  b}'  his 


untiring  industry  in  business,  he  is  so   well 
entitled. 

The  genealogical  tree  of  Mr.  MacGregor's 
family  appeared  in  our  January  issue,  along 
with  a  portrait  of  his  uncle,  Mr.  Malcolm 
MacGregor  of  Dunan.  Editor. 


by  ^.Orunimond-T^orie 

Illustrated   by  the  Author. 


(Continued  Jiom  puje  178). 

'^j^  T  what  period  in  the  history  of  the  Gael 
(SJ^^  of  Albyn  these  implements  of  warfare 
J^Mz  were  used,  it  is  impossible  to  say  with 
any  degree  of  certainty,  but  we  may  infer  from 
the  old  Gaelic  traditions  that  it  must  have 
been  at  a  very  remote  epoch,  for  all  the  Fin 
galiau  heroes  appear  to  have  been  armed  with 
weapons  of  iron  or  steel,  and  in  the  mythical 
tales,  or  s<jeulacli(hin,  of  the  Highlands,  repeated 
reference  is  made  to  the  claidheamli  ijeal  soluis 
(white  sword  of  hght)  as  the  most  cherished 
possession  of  giants  and  other  supernatural 
creatures. 

In  all  probability  it  was  during  the  transition 
jjeriod  when  iron  was  gradually  displacing  the 
more  primitive  but  still  useful  bronze,  that 
these  legends  had  their  origin,  for  we  can  well 
imagine  the  feelings  of  awe  with  which  the 
untutored  semi-savage  of  the  bronze  age  must 
have  regarded  the  bright  flash  of  the  burnished 
steel  sword  when  he  saw  it  for  the  first  time, 
and  learned  from  bitter  experience  how  power- 
less he  was  to  contend  against  its  might.     The 


unknown  is  always  mysterious,  and  so  the 
great  white  sword  was  invested  with  all  sorts 
of  magical  powers,  and  became  an  object  of 
fear  and  reverence  to  aU  who  were  not 
fortunate  enough  to  possess  one. 

Campbell  in  his  '•  Tales  of  the  West  High- 
lands "  says  "  In  these  (stories)  the  touch  of 
the  cold  steel  breaks  all  spells ;  to  relieve  an 
enchanted  prince  it  was  but  necessary  to  cut 
oft'  his  head :  the  touch  of  the  cold  sword  froze 
the  marrow  when  the  giant's  head  leaped  on 
again.  The  white  sword  of  light  which  shone 
so  that  the  giant's  red-haired  servant  used  it 
as  a  torch  when  he  went  to  draw  water  by 
night,  was  surely  once  a  bright  steel  sword, 
when  most  swords  were  of  bronze,  as  they  were 
in  early  times ;  unless  it  is  still  older,  and  a 
mythological  flash  of  lightning." 

In  the  Gaelic  stories  of  Righ  <«/  Easaidh 
Riui'jh  and  Si/ridncJid  Chini'iill  the  claidlieamh  (jeal 
solnk  plays  a  considerable  part,  and  we  find  it 
again  in  the  amusing  tale  of  Maol  a  Chliobrdn 
in  which  the  heroine  after  killing  the  giant's 
three  bald,  red-skinned  daughters;  stealing 
his  smooth,  golden  comb,  and  rough,  silver 
comb ;  drowning  his  bald,  rough-skinned 
lad ;  and  committing  other  outrages  upon  his 
family  and  property,  adds  insult  to  injury  by 
walking  oft"  with  his  sword  of  light,  and  winds 
up  her  adventures  by  persuading  the  much 
ill  used  giant  to  drink  more  water  than  was 
good  for  him,  so  that  he  burst. 


THE    CELtIC    MONTHLY. 


The  Fingaliau  epic  is  naturally  full  of 
allusions  to  the  sword,  if  the  Gaelic  word  taim 
may  be  taken  to  mean  that  weapon.  In  the 
various  translations  of  Ossianic  poetry  Imin  is 
indifferently  rendered  into  English  as  sword, 
blade,  and  occasionally  spear. 

*  '■  B'  fhearr  loinneadh  nan  faun,  an  crann  os  gach 
fiodh  " — 

"  Best  polished  spears,  no  wood  like  their  shaft." 
"  Chunnaic  mi  dealraiUi  do  lainne  's  b'  e  7n'  iiaill" — 
t"  I  have  seen  the  glitter  of  thy  blade,  and  'twas 
my  pride." 

"  'Us  (fheihheadh  e  fasgath  'its  caird, 

Fo  sijiVd'  dhrithlinneach  mo  hnune." 

"  And  he  should  find  shelter  and  friendship 

Beneath  the  glittering  sliade  of  my  sword." 


Latin  (Gen.  laiiiite)  means  literally  blade,  and  is 
(juite  distinct  from  claidheamk  (pronounced 
glaive),  which  means  sword,  pure  and  simple. 
The  latter  word  is  common  to  many  languages, 
as  (Lat.)  i/l(idiiis  ;  (Eng.)  (j/aire ;  (French)  (/laiir; 
(Breton)  c/'':e  andciaif;  and  is  probably  derived 
from  the  Latin,  for  undoubtedly  the  Romans 
possessed  the  sword  before  it  was  known  to 
the  Celts. 


The  exact  form  of  the  weapon  immortalized 
by  the  ancient  bards  is  unknown,  but  it  is 
probable  that  in  the  sword  shown  in  the 
drawing  ((Fig  3)§  we  have  a  specimen  of  the 
earliest  type  of  iron  claidheamh  mor  (literally 
'  big  sword,'  and  pronounced  very  much  like 
the  modern  word  '  claymore ')  used  by  those 
famous  Caledonian  warriors  whose  heroic  deeds 
form  the  central  theme  of  nearly  all  the  poetry 
attributed  to  Ossian. 


*  Ossian's  eulogy  on  Fingal  from  the  Dean  of 
Lismore's  Book. 

f'Address  of  Fingal  to  Oscar. " — Gillies'  Collection. 

1  Ibid. 

§  This  .sword  is  preserved  in  the  Museum  of  Anti- 
quaries, Edinburgh;  the  blade  is  34  inches  long. 

{Tv  be  cimtinued). 


REVIEW. 


"THE     LOST     PIBROCH." 

The  Lost  Pibroch,  and  other  Shelling  Stories,  by 
Neil  Munro.  Edinburgh  :  William  Blackwood  & 
Sons.  It  has  hitherto  been  the  misfortune  of  the 
Highlands  that  those  who  chose  the  "land  of  bens, 
glens,  and  heroes "  as  the  scene  of  their  novels, 
were  not  natives  of  the  soil,  and  in  many  cases  had 
little  sympathy  with  the  language,  manners  and 
customs,  and  traditions  of  the  people  regarding 
whom  they  wrote.  We  are  grateful  to  William 
Black  for  the  kindly  way  in  which,  in  all  his  novels, 
lie  has  spoken  of  Highlanders,  and  the  evident 
desire  which  he  manifests  to  faithfully  interpret 
the  sentiments,  and  peculiarities  of  manner  and 
speech  of  the  people  in  whose  midst  he  spends  a 
good  part  of  each  year.  His  romances  are  of  the 
Gaidheal  of  today,  he  seldom  ventures  into  the 
wild  romantic  period  of  Highland  history — of  the 
days  when  every  man's  best  friend  was  his  strong 
arm  and  trusty  clayuiore,  and  when  to- day's  act  of 
heroism  and  devotion,  was  followed  to-morrow  by 
an  unbridled  display  of  passion  and  revenge. 
Robert  Buchanan  has  found  inspiration  in  the  land 
of  the  Gael  —he  has  alternately  flattered  and 
uialigned  his  countrymen — and  they  could  have 
done  well  without  eitlier.  Any  Sutherland  man 
who  has  read  his  illnitured  and  utterly  untrue 
reflections  upon  the  people  of  Erribol  in  his 
"  Bride  of  Arranmore  "  would  sacrifice  a  good  deal 
to  get  near  enough  to — shake  him  I  One  feels  in 
reading  these  Hghland  romances  that  they  are 
wanting  in  one  important  essential,  and  that  is 
"local  touch."  It  re(|uires  one  who  has  been  born 
and  reared  in  the  Highlands,  who  speaks  the 
language,  and  has  imbibed  the  traditions  and  poetry 
of  the  country  from  his  earlier  years,  to  be  able  to 
do  justice  to  these  Highland  tales,  to  tell  them 
with  the  expression  and  vigour  which  would  make 
them  racy  of  the  soil.  We  have  long  waited  for 
the  native-born  novelist,  and  we  recognise  that  he 
has  at  last  arisen,  and  that  at  one  step  he  has  taken 
his  place  in  the  forefront  of  the  Scottish  school  ot 
romancers.     He  does  not  write  of  the  "kail-yard,'; 


THE    CKLTIC     MONTHLY. 


19!) 


or  the  "roof-tree" — -he  has  chosen  a  liekl  whose 
surface  has  not  yet  been  more  than  scratched  by  the 
literary  cas-cliroin. 

If  you  have  not  read  Mr.  Neil  Munro's  Tin-  Last 
P'dirueli  you  should  do  so  at  once,  if  you  do  not 
wish  to  miss  a  rare  treat.  The  stories  are  told  with 
a  vigour  and  graphic  touch  which  we  can  only 
compare  with  the  work  of  Rudyard  Kipling.  We 
know  of  no  other  literary  style  that  resembles  his — 
it  is  so  rugged  and  picturesque.  And  when  dealing 
with  the  home  life  of  his  countrymen,  of  their 
ali'ections,  passions,  and  sorrows,  no  one  is  more 
sympathetic,  or  more  truly  interprets  their 
feelings.  In  the  Laxt  Pibrocli  there  are  eleven 
stories,  the  lirst  giving  the  book  its  title.  They 
are  all  Loch  Fyneside  romances,  Mr.  Munro  being 
himself  a  native  of  Inveraray,  which  in  its  time  has 
seen  many  a  wild  rending  of  clans  and  tartans. 
TJii;  Lost  Pibroch  is  a  weird  story.  It  was  a  forgotten 
tune  of  the  days  of  claymore  and  targe,  of  invasions 
and  reprisals — its  notes  fevered  men  with  the 
desire  to  see  the  world,  to  fight,  to  die,  anything 
but  to  remain  still.  There  was  an  old  blind  man 
in  Half  Town,  named  Paruig  Dall,  who  could  play 
the  "  Piohaiiriii-lul  of  good  byes" — the  "tune  of 
broken  clans,  that  set  the  men  on  the   foray  and 


makes  cold  hearth-stones."  Paruig  was  induced  to 
play  the  magic  air — and  there  was  no  sleep  in 
Half  Town  tliat  night.  Next  morning  one  lad  said 
to  his  fellows  "  I  am  weary  enough  of  this  poor 
place,  with  nothing  about  it  but  wood  and  water 
and  tufty  grass.  If  we  went  now,  there  might  be 
gold  and  girls  at  the  other  end."  They  took  crooks 
and  bonnets  and  followed  fortune.  Their  fathers 
went  to  look  for  them,  and  "the  road  they  took 
was  the  road  the  King  of  Errin  rides,  and  that  is 
the  road  to  the  end  of  days."  A  day  came  wlien 
all  that  was  left  in  that  fine  place  were  but  women 
and  children  and  a  blind  piper. 

"  Am  I  the  only  man  here  ?  "  Paruig  asked,  and 
they  told  him  he  was.  "  'Then  here's  another  for 
fortune ! '  said  he,  and  he  went  down  through  the 
woods  with  his  pipes  in  his  oxter. " 

Such  are  the  rough  outlines  of  the  story,  with 
the  magic  charm  of  the  telling  left  out.  We  wish 
that  our  space  permitted  a  more  adequate  notice, 
for  we  have  derived  so  much  real  enjoyment  from 
this  charming  work  that  we  would  like  to  induce 
all  our  readers  to  share  our  pleasure.  The  book  is 
cheap  and  nicely  got  up,  the  beautiful  Celtic 
ornamentation  being  in  harmony  with  the  Celtic 
character  of  the  "  Stories  of  the  Shieling." 


OUR      MUSICAL      PAGE. 


JiJ^N  Shakespeare's  play,  Henry  V.,  Scene  IV., 
Ms  ^^  ^'^^  ^^"'y  beginning,  on  the  occasion  of 
=^  a  battle  between  the  English  and  French 
armies,  is  the  following  part  of  an  iutere.stiug 
dialogue  carried  on  by  Pistol  who  does  not 
understand  French,  and  a  French  soldier  who 
does  not  understand  English. 

Pistol — Yield,  cur ! 

French  soldier — Je  pense  que  vous  etes  le 
gentilhomme  de  bonne  quality'. 

Pistol — (^htality  call  i/ou  inc  '.  Construe  im-  !  Art 
thou  a  gentleman  ?     What  is  thy  name  !      Discuss. 

The  preceding  is  one  version.  Another  gives 
the  word.s  in  italics  thii.s — Caleu  o  custure  me. 
The  former  version  is  that  of  those  who  did  not 
understand  the  allusion  and  wanted  to  give  the 
words  some  meaning.  The  latter  is  understood 
to  be  the  words  as  originally  written  by  Shake- 
speare. These  same  words — Galen  o  custure  me 
— have  been  found  in  a  music  book  said  to  have 
belonged  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  as  the  name  of  a 
tune;  and  our  Irish  friends  recognise  in  them 
the  name  of  an  Irish  air.  I  think  it  was  Mr. 
John  Whyte  who  first  recognised  in  them  the 
name  of  a  Scottish  Gaelic  Oran  luaidli  or 
Waulkiug  Song,  preserved  in  Sinclair's  Oranaiche^ 
known  as  "  Chailin  og  nach  stiiiir  thu  mi." 
That  is  how  the  matter  stood  as  far  as  my 
information  went,  until  the  other  day  I  stumbled 
across  the  words  in  i|uestion  in  "The  Irish  Song 
Book,  with  Original  Irish  Airs,  edited  by  Alfred 
Perceval  Graves,"  in  which  at  page  111,  the  air 


of  a  song  translated  from  the  Irish  by  the  well- 
known  Irish  writer  Douglas  Hyde,  is  given  as 
"Calliuo  casturame  (Ooleen  oge  asthore)."  I 
wrote  Mr.  Graves  asking  what  was  the  source 
from  which  the  music  was  taken  and  for  such 
other  information  as  he  could  give,  and  the 
following  is  a  copy  of  his  reply  : — 

Athen;eum  Club, 
Pall  Mall, 
London,  W. 
My  Dear  Sir, 

The  air  in  question  was  taken  from 
Hoffman's  "  Ancient  Music  of  Ireland  from  the 
Petrie  Collection,"  Dublin,  Piggott  &  Co.,  112 
Grafton  St.,  1877.  There  it  is  acknowledged  as 
reprinted  by  permission  from  Vol.  II.,  page  793, 
of  W.  Chappell's  "  Popular  Music  of  the  Olden 
Time,"  and  purports  to  come  from  Queen  Eliza- 
beth's Virginal  Book.  But  though  this  and  a 
couple  of  other  Irish  airs  are  clearly  contemporary 
with  Elizabeth,  it  is  the  decided  opinion  of 
Fuller  Maitland  and  other  good  authorities  that 
the  Virginal  Book  was  not  Queen  Elizabeth's 
own.  Hoffman  quotes  a  good  note  from  Dr. 
W.  Stokes'  Life  of  George  Petrie,  the  famous 
Irish  antiquary  and  musician  (or  rather  collector 
and  student  of  Irish  music),  exactly  agreeing 
with  your  view  of  the  meaning  of  Pistol's 
"Calen  o  custure  me."  The  burden  to  the  air  as 
given  in  the  "  Handafulls  of  Pleasant  Delites  " 
and  copied  by  Malone  is  ■'  Calen  o  custure  me," 


200 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


which  is  an  attempt  to  spell  "Colleen  og:e 
asthore,"  or  "  Young  girl,  my  treasure."  It  is 
very  interesting  to  me  to  have  your  corroboration 
from  a  Highland  source  of  this  iiiterpietation  of 
"  Callino  casturame-"  In  "Songs  of  Old  Ireland," 
old  Irish  airs  harmonized  to  my  words  by  Dr. 
Charles  Viiliers  Stanford,  you  will  find  I  ha%'e 
myself  already  accepted  this  view  and  written  a 
lyric  founded  on  "  Colleen  oge  astore,"  in  which 
I  make  the  burden  "Colleen,  colleen  oge  asthore." 
I  have  recently  ascertained  that  Irish  songs  and 
dance  tunes  were  all  the  fashion  at  Court  at  one 
period  of  Elizabeth's  reign,  no  doubt  owing  to 
the  O'Neill  connection  and  perhaps  also  through 
Edmund  Spenser's  interest  in  the  Irish  Bards. 
Yours  very  truly, 

Alfred  P.  Graves. 

There  is  one  strange  mistake  in  Mr.  Graves' 
note  and  it  consists  in  his  saying  that  the  inter- 
pretation I  gave  him  of  the  words  in  question 
(Mr.  Whyte's,  quoted  above)  are  a  corroboration 
of  the  Irish  view.  It  appears  to  me  to  be  entirely 
otherwise.  "'Chailio  og  nach  (or  an)  stiiur  thu 
mi?"  is  an  entirely  different  thing  from  "'Chailin 
og  a  stor,"  and  it  is  impossible  to  give  a  preference 
to  the  latter  over  the  former  as  an  interpretation 
of  "  Callino  casturame."  The  air  may  or  may  not 
have  gone  to  England  through  Ireland.  But  it 
seems  to  me  that  if  the  words  had  been  originally 
those  of  an  Irishman  they  would  have  been 
Englified  thus,  "Callino  gasturame" — a ^r  instead 


of  a  c.  The  fact  that  they  have  a  c  where  g 
occurs  in  the  original  language,  shows  that  the 
English  ear  was  listening  to  a  harder  pronuncia- 
tion than  the  Irish  and  points  to  a  Scottish 
Gaelic  origin  ;  and  the  fact  that  the  song  whose 
burden  more  closely  agrees  wit^h  the  sound  of 
the  words  is,  or  was  quite  recently,  extant  in 
the  Scottish  Highlands,  strengthens  the  case 
very  much.  "  Colleen  oge  asthore  "  cannot  be 
maintained  any  longer,  in  face  of  these  facts. 
Indeed  it  is  a  matter  of  wonder  that  it  could 
have  been  pot  forward  even  in  ignorance  of 
them.  Is  there  not  in  Ireland  any  song  like  our 
"  'Chailin  og  an  stiiiir  thu  mi  ? ''  It  is  worth 
while  trying  to  find  out.  It  is  not  unlikely  that 
a  version  may  be  found  in  the  North,  among  the 
Gaelic  speaking  districts.  If  not,  the  Scottish 
claim  to  this  song  will  be  greatly  strengthened. 
I  would  like  to  see  further  enquiry  prosecuted 
by  Mr.  Graves,  Mr.  Hyde,  and  other  Irishmen 
who  cannot  fail  to  be  deeply  interested,  with  a 
view  to  finding,  if  there  ever  were  such,  the  real 
original  Irish  words,  and  also  to  see  musical 
Highlanders  making  search  for  the  real  air  to 
which  the  words  were  sung  in  the  Highlands. 
With  a  view  to  assisting  in  the  search  I  mean- 
time give  the  Scottish  version  of  the  words 
conjoined  to  the  air  as  it  appears  in  Mr.  Graves' 
book,  with  the  exception  of  very  slight  alterations 
at  the  tail  ends  of  the  lines. 

Malcolm  Mac  Farlane. 


'CHAILIN    OG    NACH    STIUIR    THU    Mi?-YOUNG    MAIDEN    WILL    YOU    GUIDE    ME. 


n:  —  :n  |  n:-.r:n   I    f:  — :   f|   n:  —  :r    I    r:  — :    r|  r  :-.n:  f   |   m:  —  :r   I   r:  —  :  — 
Chaidh  mi    shuiridh  air    nigh  'n  Rigli  Eirionn,  'Chailin  og       nach     stiiiir  thu     mi  > 


n  :  —  :  s  |  s_j_n^ :  d  I   t, :  —  :  r  I  r  :  ti  :  S|  I   S|  :  —  :  d  |  d  : -.r :  n   |   r  :  — :  d  |  d  :  —  : 
'S    cailin         thus',     is       buachaill'         mis'       A  chailin  ug         i  huiribh         o. 


Dh'iarr  a'  cliailin  ni  nach  b'  fheudar, 

Chailin,  etc. 

Caiiteal  air  gach  cnocan  gn'ine, 

Chailin,  etc. 

Muileann  air  gach  sruth  an  Eirinn, 

Chailin,  etc. 

Cat  air  'm  bi  tri  fichead  earbuU, 

Chailin,  etc. 


Thug  i  mionnan,  boid,  "us  briathran, 

Chailin,  etc. 

Nach  slneadh  i  a  taobli  ri  m'  chliathaich, 
Chailin,  etc. 

'N  uair  chuala  nu  na  briathran  g;\bhaidh, 
Chailin,  etc. 

Chaidh  mi  dhachaidh  mar  a  b'ubhaist, 

Chailin,  etc. 


I 


For  remainder  see  Sinclair's   Oranaiche,   page  21. 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

A   MAGAZINE   FOR   HIGHUNDERS. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MACKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.   11.  Vol.  IV.] 


AUGUST,     1896. 


[Price  Threepence. 


ALEXANDER      LITTLEJOHN,     J. P.,  D.L., 
OF     INVERCHARRON,     ROSS-SHIRE. 


.0^|HE  Celtic  renascence,  to  be  complete, 
y^  must  suggest  every  phase  of  the  old 
*-'^  Caledonian  life.  Our  men  of  letters 
have  at  last  conquered  Saxon  prejudice,  and 
find  their  most  responsive  audience  south  of 
the  Tweed. 

Our  historians  and  antiquaries  are  no  longer 
sneered  at  when  they  tell  us  that  thirteen 
centuries  ago  Gaelic  missionaries  established 
seats  of  learning  among  the  rude  tribes  of 
Alpine  Switzerland.  Highland  games  are  now 
held  in  almost  all  the  important  centres  of 
population,  which  revive  the   pastimes  of  our 


ancestors  and  do  much  to  maintain  a  friendly 
spirit  between  all  classes  of  the  community. 
The  Invercharron  Gathering  of  Eoss-shire  and 
Sutherland  Highlanders  bids  fair  to  excel 
its  older  rivals.  Each  year  new  and  attractive 
features  are  added.  Competitors  come  from 
all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  and  delighted 
spectators  crowd  from  every  district  of  the 
north. 

The  day  is  now  practically  recognised  as  the 
autumn  holiday  in  the  neighbouring  parishes, 
and  young  and  old  anticipate  the  event  with 
increasing  interest.  The  laird  himself  is  the 
life  and  soul  of  the  meeting ;  he  superintends 
every  detail,  and  aided  heartily  by  his 
committee,  the  arrangements  for  the  comfort  of 
visitors  and  convenience  of  athletes  are  practi- 
cally perfect.  Mr.  Little  John  is  a  native  of  the 
granite  city,  where  his  father  was  for  many 
years  the  head  of  a  large  banking  firm. 

His  early  ambition  pointed  to  the  profession 
of  arms,  but  pending  his  nomination  he  became  a 
student  of  medicine  in  the  Marischal  College 
and  University  of  Aberdeen,  and  here  and  in 
Trinity  College,  Dublin,  he  studied  with  such 
striking  success  that  he  quaUfied  for  graduation 
before  the  age  limit  at  which  he  could  be 
legally  "capped."  Chancing  to  be  in  London 
an  opportunity  arose  which,  appealing  to  his 
northern  enterprise,  resulted  in  his  becoming 
a  member  of  the  Stock  Exchange,  of  which 
important  institution,  the  nerve  centre  of  the 
commercial  world,  he  is  now  one  of  four 
trustees.  But  business  has  not  engrossed  his 
attention  nor  exhausted  his  sympathies.  He 
aids  with  kindly  interest  and  generous  help 
deserving  individuals  and  objects  throughout 
the  country. 

Since  coming  north  Mr.  Littlejohn  has  spared 
no  pains  in  beautifying  his  surroundings  and 
improving  the  houses  of  his  tenants.  His 
outlays  in  these  schemes  equal  the  purchase 
price  of  the  estate.  He  has  erected  fifty  miles 
of  fencing,  twelve  miles  of  stone  walls,  and 
constructed  three  miles  of  county  road,  and  has 
practically  relniilt  all  the  houses  on  the  estate, 


202 


THE     f'VA/T\0     MONT  FT  LY. 


All  his  workmen  are  insured  against  accidents, 
a  kindly  provision  for  working  men  which 
employers  of  labour  would  do  well  to  copy.  Mr. 
Littlejohn's  munificence  has  made  him  a  Gover- 
nor of  the  Caledonian  Asylum,  London  (which 
has  done  such  grand  work  in  aiding  the  orphans 
of  Scotsmen  who  have  fallen  in  defence  of  our 
nation),  the  Aberdeen  Infirmary,  the  Aberdeen 
Lunatic  Asylum,  and  its  Hospital  for  Incurables. 
He  is  also  Governor  of  the  Hospital  for  Incur- 
ables, the  Hospital  for  Epilepsy,  and  the  Scottish 
Corporation  of  London.  He  has  wiped  off  the 
debt  on  the  building  fund  of  the  Ross  Memorial 


Hospital,  Dingwall,  and  furnished  its  entrance 
lodge,  and  also  presented  a  loving  cup  to  the 
Easter  Ross  Farmers'  Club  for  social  ceremonies, 
as  well  as  elegant  vases  as  prizes.  He  has 
thoughtfully  recognised  the  claims  of  the 
cattle  tenders,  whose  work  is  often  forgotten  in 
the  distribution  of  honours,  and  for  these 
he  has  given  special  medals.  Best  of  all  has 
been  his  wise  and  kindly  provision  of  a  fund 
from  which  agricultural  labourers  in  temporary 
distress  receive  relief.  His  sympathies  with 
the  Lutellectual  need  of  the  neighbourhood  are 
witnessed  by  his  gift  of  one  hundred  guineas 


--0r 


INVKllUHARRON     HOISE 


towards  the  building  fund  of  the  Bonar-Bridge 
Library,  and  his  devotion  to  his  early  love,  the 
army,  by  a  donation  of  a  hundred  guineas  to  the 
Volunteer  Patriotic  Fvmd.  ^Ir.  Littlejohn's 
connection  with  Ross-shire  does  not  begin 
when  he  became  laird  of  Invercharron.  The 
virtues  of  Strathpefl'er  Spa  were  discovered 
and  brought  before  the  world  by  his  dis- 
tinguished grand-uncle,  Dr.  Thomas  Morison, 
of  Elsick,  Kincardineshire,  a  name  which  he 
carried  with  him  to  his  Strathpeffer  residence. 
His  mother,  who  was  devoted  to  good  works, 
had  as  a  near  ancestor  the   famous  classical 


scholar  the  Rev.  Richard  Bentley,  D.D.,  -Master 
of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge.  Her  father  was 
the  Erudite  Professor  Bentley,  who  held  the 
chair  of  Oriental  Languages  in  King's  College, 
Aberdeen. 

On  Mr.  Littlejohn's  estate,  the  gallant  and 
brilliant  Montrose  fought  his  last  battle,  and 
was  defeated.  When  brought  to  the  scaffold 
the  haughty  RoyaUst  scorned  the  religious 
ministrations  of  the  Covenanting  clergy.  The 
Rev.  Robert  Traill  of  New  Greyfriars,  Edin- 
burgh, one  of  those  unjustly  stigmatised  by 
Aytoun  in  his  rousing  ballad  as  the  "Grim 


MISS     LITTLEJOHN. 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


L'03 


Geneva  Ministers "  who  attended  the  great 
Marquis  at  his  last  moments,  was  an  ancestor 
(great  great-grand-uncle)    of     Mr.    Littlejohn. 

His  brother  is  David  Littlejohn,  J. P.,  D.L., 
Sheriff  Clerk  of  Aberdeenshu'e,  and  a  retired 
major  of  the  3rd  battalion  Gordon  Highlanders, 
who  was  a  midshipman  on  board  the  'Euryalus" 
in  the  Russian  War,  for  which  he  has  the 
medal.  Another  brother  is  the  liev.  C  P. 
Littlejohn.  M .  A.,  Vicar  of  St.  Benedicts  of  Corpus 
Christi  College,  Cambridge.  The  Rev.  William 
Burns,  whose  work  was  so  greatly  blessed  that 
he  may  well  be  called  the  Livingstone  of  China, 
was  a  cousin. 

Mrs  Littlejohn  is  a  daughter  of  the  dis- 
tinguished engineer,  Sir  George  Bruce,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Institution  of  Civil  Engineers,  and 
Officer  of  the  Legion  of  Honour,  who  has  left 
permanent  monuments  of  his  skill  on  the 
Continent,  Ladia,  and  Canada,  as  well  as  in 
England.  Sir  George  is  one  of  the  most 
potent  forces  in  English  Presliyterianism.  A 
lineal  descendant  of  the  saintly  preacher  of 
Ethrick,  Thomas  Boston,  Mrs,  Littlejohn 
delights  in  exercising  an  unobtrusive  charity, 
and  her  deeds  of  kindness  brighten  many  a 
humble  home  in  her  neighbourhood. 

The  rising  hope  of  the  house  bids  fair  to 
continue  the  family  tradition  of  kindness. 
Miss  Littlejohn  is  also  a  keen  sportswoman,  an 
expert  cyclist,  a  successful  photographer,  and 
some  excellent  articles  from  her  pen  which 
have  lately  appeared,  show  that  her  deUght  in 
outrdoor  life  has  in  no  sense  lessened  her 
literary  aptitude. 


Manse  of  Creich. 


R.  L.  Ritchie. 


THE     SCOTTISH     HIGHLANDER. 


fT  has  always  been  the  fate  of  the  Scottish 
Highlander   to   be    misunderstood    and 
misrepresented.     Few    historians    have 

had  a  good  word  to  say  for  him  To  the 
pedantic  Scottish  chroniclers  of  the  sixteenth 
and  seventeenth  centuries  he  was  a  savage 
robber,  a  ferocious  barbarian,  who  lived  by 
reiving  and  sorning  on  his  lowland  neighbours. 
In  165(5  Tucker,  after  reporting  Scotland  a 
barren  country,  a  poor  people,  generally  afflicted 
with  "slothe  and  a  lazy  vagrancy,"  declares 
that  in  the  Highlands  there  was  nothing  but 
-plaiue  downright  robbing  and  stealeing." 
Johnston  in  his  nisti,ri/  {njiud  Luing  (>.  i.,  p.  -'fS) 
is  no  less  severe.  "  Insulani  occidentales, 
immanitate  barbari,  feritate,  ignavia,  luxm-ia, 
superbia,    deterrinii — koruines    agrestes,    sine 


legibus,  sine  nioribus,  sine  urbium  cultu,  ac 
prope  omnia  humanitatis  et  religionis  expertes." 
Even  so  recently  as  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  the  most  extraordinary  notions  existed 
beyond  the  borders  of  Scotland,  as  to  the 
nature  and  character  of  the  Scottish  Kelt. 
There  was  blank  ignorance  on  the  one  hand. 
There  was  childish  credulity  on  the  other.  Dean 
Swift  records  his  surprise  at  meeting  two 
Highland  chief  who  could  behave  like  gentle- 
men. "I  dined  to-day,"  he  writes,  "with 
Lord  Treasurer  and  two  gentlemen  of  the 
Highlands  of  Scotland,  yet  very  polite  men " 
(Joiirniil  to  Stt'Ihi,  tJith  ^March.  171J).  The 
Chevalier  Johnstone  {^fe7noi)•s,  pp.  76-77)  relates 
that  it  was  commonly  said  during  the  Forty- 
Five  that  the  Highlanders  ate  children,  and 
made  them  their  common  food.  It  is  impossible 
to  deny  that  the  Scottish  Kelt  was  never  a  man 
of  peace.  He  was  primarily,  by  nature  and 
circumstances,  a  man  of  the  sword,  delighting 
in  war  and  hership, 

"  irapiger,  iracundus,  ine.xorabilis,  acer" 

"  A  fiery  etter-cap,  a  fractious  chiel, 
As  het  as  ginger  and  as  steive  as  steel." 

But  this  fact,  undeniable  in  the  light  of  history, 
has  blinded  his  critics  to  other — and  better — 
qualities,  which  he  possessed.  The  appreciative 
study  of  such  reliques  of  Mediaeval  Highland 
Ufe  as  remain,  prove  that  at  various  periods  of 
his  history,  the  Scottish  Kelt  attained  a  degree 
of  civilisation  for  which  he  does  not  receive 
credit. 

At  a  very  eai'ly  age  the  natives  of  the  High- 
lands and  Islands  became  famous  for  skill  in 
certain  arts.  In  the  seventh  century  an  ancient 
scold  mentions  as  a  proof  of  the  beauty  of  a 
certain  warrior's  mantle,  "  enn  sudreyskar 
spunnu — it  was  spun  in  the  Southern  Hebrides." 
There  are  traces  of  the  use  of  line  Unen  and 
silk  at  a  veiy  remote  period.  In  the  sixth 
century,  when  St.  Columba  was  buried  in  lona, 
his  body  was  wrapped  in  the  finest  Unen, 
"mundis  involutum  sindonibus."  The  Gaelic 
poems  have  frequent  references  to  the  use  of 
silk.  In  the  lament  for  Sir  Hector  Maclean,  of 
Duart,  Kachann  Rundli  nan  Cath,  Red  Hector  of 
Battles,  killed  at  Harlawin  lill,  the  poet  sings 

"  Abundance  was  in  his  hall, 

Wine  and  wax  and  silk  and  gold." 

Ian  Lorn  addressed  Sir  James  Macdonald, 
ninth  Laird  of  Sleat, 

"  Thou  art  of  the  race  of  thousands, 
Of  silk  and  pipes  and  silver  cups." 

Wax  lights,  Fi'ench  and  Spanish  wines  and 


204 


THE     OELriC     MONTHLY. 


brandy,  were  in  common  use  among  the  High- 
laud  chiefs.     Ian  Loni  speaks  of 

"  White  wax  tapers 
Burning  brightly 
Through  the  wide  hall. 
Resounding  with  the  feast." 

Alexander,  Lord  of  the  Isles  and  Earl  of  Ross, 
dining  in  Edinburgh  with  the  Earl  of  Orkney, 
was  asked  by  him,  "  What  light  was  wont  to  be 
burned  in  his  presence  ?  "  Macdonald,  turning 
to  his  attendant  who  was  standing  behind,  bade 
him  answer  the  question  of  the  Earl.  "  There 
is  no  light  but  wax  burned  before  Macdonald," 
was  the  clansman's  reply.  The  bards  refer  over 
and  over  again  to  the  abundance  of  wine  in  the 
Highlands.  In  the  households  of  the  chiefs  it 
was  drunk  out  of  golden  cups.  It  was  so 
plentiful  that  in  an  Act  of  the  Privy  Council 
in  1G16,  it  was  stated  that  wine  was  drunk  to 
excess,  "even  by  the  commonis  and  tenautis  of 
the  yllis."  As  late  as  172G,  Captain  Burt 
relates  that  French  claret  was  to  be  met  with 
almost  everywhere  in  public-houses  of  any  note, 
except  in  the  heart  of  the  Highlands  and 
sometimes  even  there."  Jewels  were  common. 
Buchanan  {Her:  Scot:  lib  i ),  writing  of  the  harps 
of  the  bards,  says,  "  multo  argento  exornent  et 
gemmis — they  adorn  them  with  much  silver  and 
with  gems."  "Tenuiores,"  he  adds,  "pro  gemmis 
cristallum  adhibent — the  poorer  minstrels  use 
cairngorm  stones  instead  of  gems."  When  the 
troops  of  the  commonwealth,  under  General 
Morgan,  seized  the  baggage  of  Sir  Ewen 
Cameron,  they  found  a  "  great  quantity  of  unsett 
diamonds."  {Memoirs  of  Lochicl,  p.  ISO.)  The 
arms  of  the  chiefs  were  often  mounted  with 
gold,  silver,  and  ivory,  by  native  artists.  Speak- 
ing of  some  finely  wrought  guns  in  the  i^ossession 
of  the  Seafield  family,  Charles  Sobieski  iStuart 
says,  "those  who  take  pleasure  in  referring  to 
foreign  artists  all  objects  of  superior  art  found 
in  the  Highlands,  would  have  attributed  those 
to  Paris  or  Milan,  had  not  the  name  and  place 
of  the  maker,  engraved  upon  the  lock,  borne 
e^^dence  of  the  native  workman,  "  Guillielmus 
Smith,  Ballechastail."  In  the  seventeenth 
century,  the  bonnets  and  helmets  of  the  chiefs 
were  frequently  plumed  with  white  ostrich 
feathers.  Their  plaids  were  made  of  Barcelona 
silk.  It  is  recorded  by  Sobieski  Stuart,  whose 
works  are  a  mine  of  information  on  Highland 
antiquities,  that  the  "Captain  of  Clanranald  in 
1745,  was  the  last  whose  plaids  were  of  this 
costly  material,  and  for  his  use  they  were 
mannfactured  in  Spain  according  to  the  patterns 
sent  from  Uist." 

The  Highlanders  at  one  time  possessed  a 
considerable  commerce.  In  1249,  according  to 
Matthew  Paris,  a  large  vessel  of  war  (uavem 
mirandam)  was  built  and  fitted  out  at  Inverness 


for  Hugh  de  ChastUlon,  Count  de  St.  Pol  and 
Blois.  Inverness,  Inverlochy,  and  Inverai'ay, 
were  early  centres  of  commerce,  In  the  six- 
teenth century  the  town  of  Inverness  maintained 
a  great  trade  in  the  skins  of  wild  horses,  red 
deer  and  roe,  and  the  furs  of  martens,  foxes, 
badgers,  weasels,  and  otters,  which  were  sold 
to  "  foreign  merchants  at  an  immense  profit  " 
{Bivthius  Scotor :  Hist:).  Inveraray  possessed 
a  similar  trade  for  "  all  kinds  of  merchandise 
and  wares."  A  large  traffic  was  carried  on  in 
timber.  Great  quantities  of  fir  trees  and  masts 
were  floated  down  every  year  from  the  forests 
which  covered  the  hUls  of  Ardgour  and  the 
neighboui-ing  district.  In  the  sixteenth  century 
the  fisheries  of  the  north  were  visited  by  ships 
from  all  parts  of  northern  Europe.  Yast 
quantities  of  fish  were  exported  not  only  into 
Holland,  France,  Germany,  and  Zealand,  but 
into  the  countries  bordering  on  the  Mediter- 
ranean, for  the  supply  of  Lent.  In  this  demand 
the  town  of  Inverness  atone,  as  appears  from 
the  burgh  records,  supplied  the  markets  of 
Holland,  France,  and  Italy  with  the  salmon 
of  the  Ness.  The  chamberlain  of  Simon  Fraser, 
eighth  Lord  Lovat,  who  died  in  1633,  exported 
to  France  the  salmon  from  the  Beauly  and 
other  waters  on  the  estates,  and  imported  in 
return,  wine,  spiceries,  and  sugar  (Uixtorii  of 
Fami/i/  if  Fraser,  4to,  Edin  ,  1825).  Many  other 
evidences  could  be  adduced,  which  go  to  prove 
the  existence  among  the  Scottish  Highlanders 
of  peaceful  activities,  which  are  not  generally 
recognised.  James  A.  Lovat  Fraser. 


I 


The  Gaelic  Society  of  Invernes.s  held  their 
Annual  Assembly  and  Concert  on  9th  July,  Rev. 
Dr.  Stewart  (Nether-Lochaber)  in  the  chair.  The 
hall  was  tastefully  decorated,  and  there  was  a  large 
attendance,  among  those  on  the  platform  being 
Councillor  William  Mackay,  Colonel  A.  Macdonald, 
Portree,  Messrs.  Alexander  Mackenzie,  Kenneth 
Macdonald,  Town  Clerk,  A.  M.  Rosa,  Dingwall, 
Thomas  Mackay,  B.  L.  Bank,  etc.  The  genial 
chairman  delivered  an  eloquent  address,  and  the 
programme  was  ably  sustained  by  Miss  Jessie  N. 
Maclachlan,  Mr.  Roderick  Macleod,  and  others, 
and  Mr.  Mackenzie  read  a  commemorative  ode  by 
Mr.  Neil  Macleod,  the  bard  to  the  Society. 

Surgeon  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  MacGregor,  M.D., 
has  gone  back  to  India  on  a  brief  visit.  On  his 
return  home  in  November  he  is  to  be  married  to  a 
young  lady  in  London,  when  his  many  friends  will 
have  an  opportunity  of  dancing  a  Highland  reel  ! 

Messrs.  Thoma.s  Hodge  &  Co.,  Anderston 
Cro.ss,  Glasgow,  have  just  published  a  handsomely 
got  up  Price  List  for  the  Autumn  Season.  It  con- 
tains full  particulars  of  their  immense  stock,  with 
hundreds  of  illustrations  of  the  leading  articles. 
Their  large  furniture  warehouse  has  now  been 
opened,  and  is  well  wortli  a  visit  from  such  as 
are  in  search  of  bargains.  Send  for  a  copy  of  their 
Illustrated  Price  List. 


SURGEON   C^NERAL   SIR  W.  /».    MACKINNON. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


205 


SIR     WILLIAM     A.     MACKINNON,     K.C.B. 


)^=ra|HE  subject  of  tbis  sketch  is  oae  of  the 
y^  best  tj'pes  of  Islaaders  of  the  a^^e. 
'^^  Every  real  Highlander  or  Islander 
beiag  naturally  a  gentleman,  defined  and 
distinct  from  his  fellows,  if  it  were  asked  to 
mention  any  locality  in  pre-eminence  where 
this  is  true,  the  Island  of  Skye  would  be 
certainly  named. 

Ths  islands  of  Inverness  shire  were  the  home 
of  four  ancient  families,  Macdonald,  Macleod, 
SlacKinnon,  and  Macneill,  and  these  names  still 
predominate.  The  family  of  MacKinnon  being 
very  ancient,  its  headship  is  of  course  ques- 
tioned, for  antiquity  in  a  clan  brings  the 
impostor  into  existence,  and  the  slenderer  his 
grounds,  the  greater  his  pertinacity.  The 
MacKinnons  and  others  must  put  up  with  this, 
and  console  themselves  by  recognising  in  it  the 
very  strongest  proof  of  antiquity. 

Sir  William's  father  and  grandfather  were 
both  ministers  of  Strath,  the  latter,  who  lived 
to  be  nearly  a  hundred  years  old,  recollecte<l 
seeing  Prince  Charles  in  Skye.  His  great- 
grandfather, maternally,  was  that  MacKinnon 
of  Corry  who  entertained  Dr.  Johnson  in  1773 
at  the  old  house  of  Corry. 

Sir  William  can  show  a  good  pedigree,  long 
connected  with  Skye,  and  is  par  I'.ivelleiice  a  true 
MacKinnon,  being  tifth  son  of  the  late  Rev. 
John  MacKinnon  of  Strath,  by  Anne,  eldest 
daughter  of  MacKinnon  of  Corrychatachan.  He 
was  bo)-u  in  the  year  183i(,  and  inclining  to 
the  medical  military  profession,  joined  the  army 
in  lS.5.'i.  and  after  the  usual  training  at  Fort 
Pitt-Chatham,  becoming  at  a  comparitively  early 
age  Assistant-Surgeon  to  the  42ud.  He  served 
with  that  famous  regiment  during  the  Crimean 
War,  1854:- 55,  being  present  at  Alma,  Bala 
clava,  Kertch,  and  Sebastopol,  for  which  he 
received  the  medal  with  three  clasps,  was 
appointed  Knight  Commander  of  the  Legion 
of   Honour,  and  received  the  Tiukish  medal. 

Afterwards  he  served  on  the  personal  stall' 
of  Lord  Clyde  in  India  during  the  Mutiny  of 
1857,  taking  part  in  the  Campaign  of 
Rohilcund  and  Oude,  and  fought  in  the  actions 
(if  Bareilly  and  others,  and  receiving  the  medal 
for  the  Indian  Mutiny.  What  the  famous  Sir 
Colin  Campbell  thought  of  Sir  William  may  be 
seen  by  the  following  letter : — 

"  Heathfield  Lodge, 
liracknell.  May  .Stli,  l,Sii2. 

Doctor  MacKinnon  being  about  to  proceed  on 
foreign  service,  I  cannot  allow  him  to  take  leave  of 
lue  without  bearing  my  humble  testimony  to  his 
excellence. 

He  served  with  me  in  Turkey,  in  the  Crimea, 
and  the  late  war  in  India,  and  certainly  I  have 
never  seen  a  more  valuable  medical  officer.  His 
devotion  to  his  duties,  his  skill  and  patience,  above 


all,  the  watchful  and  kind  interest  he  took  in  the 
men  of  his  regiment  (the  42nd)  justly  won  their 
att'ection,  and  impressed  them  with  tlie  very  highest 
opinion  of  him.  In  fact  an  intimate  knowledge  of 
Dr.  MacKinnon  gained  under  a  variety  of  circum- 
stances on  active  service,  enables  me  to  say  that 
his  superior  merits  as  an  officer  and  a  gentleman, 
make  him  an  ornament  to  the  medical  departmsnt, 
and  to  the  British  army.  (Signed)     Clyde." 

Sir  William's  next  service  was  in  New 
Zealand,  18(J2  1866,  as  Surgeon  57th  Regiment, 
was  appointed  Sanitary  Officer  and  Field  Sur- 
geon to  the  New  Zealand  forces,  and  was 
present  at  various  engagements  .  He  received 
the  Companionship  of  the  Bath,  and  was 
mentioned  in  the  despatches  for  Tauranga.  He 
also  got  the  medal  for  New  Zealand.  This 
letter  from  General  Sir  Duncan  A.  Cameron 
gives  some  idea  of  Sir  William's  services  in  the 
Crimea: — 

"  I  have  the  highest  opinion  of  Dr.  MacKinnon 
as  a  most  zealous  and  skilful  officer,  and  I  hid 
reason  to  be  satisfied  with  his  conduct  in  all 
respects  during  his  service  in  the  42nd  under  my 
command.  He  proved  himself  an  extremely 
valuable  officer  on  active  service,  and  was  so 
conspicuous  for  his  zeal  and  fearless  devotion  to  his 
duty  in  the  Crimea,  and  particularly  in  the  trenches 
at  the  Siege  of  Sebastopol,  that  I  was  induced  to 
recommend  him  for  the  decoration  of  the  Legion  of 
Honour.  (Signed)     D.  'A.   Cameron, 

r.ondoii.  -20111  Her..  ls,57.  Major  General. 

lu  1874  Sir  William  served  as  principal 
medical  officer  in  the  Ashantee  War,  being 
promoted  to  be  Deputy  Surgeon  General,  and 
receiving  the  medal.  He  was  present  at 
Amoaful  and  the  capture  of  Coomassie,  and 
was  mentioned  in  dispatches. 

As  a  Surgeon  Sir  William  has  a  distinguished 
record,  and  in  particular  in  New  Zealand,  his 
operation  for  gunshot  wounds  on  soldiers  and 
natives  were  much  appreciated,  particularly  by 
the  Maories.  He  was  Assistant  Professor  of 
Surgery,  at  Netley  for  seven  years.  Princi- 
pal Medical  Officer  at  Aldershot  and  Colchester, 
and  in  China  1879-80,  Malta  1881-82:  was 
five  years  head  of  the  medical  branch  of  the 
Director  Ceneral's  office.  Principal  Medical 
Officer  at  Gibraltar  1888  89.  In  the  latter 
year  he  attained  the  highest  possible  rank  of 
Director  General  Army  Medical  Department, 
and  was  made  K.C.B.  in  1S91,  after  a  brilliant 
service,  extending  over  forty-three  years,  finally 
on  7th  May,  1896,  retired  from  the  army.  The 
Secretary  for  War,  Sir  H.  C.  Baunerman,  on  3rd 
July  1894,  said  in  Parliament:  "  There  could  be 
no  more  efficient  or  just  Chief  of  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  Ai-my  than  Sir  William  Mac- 
Kinnon." 

During  the  Crimean  War  Sir  Wilham 
applied  for  a  combatant  commission  as  Ensign 
in  the  42ud.  This  was  granted,  but  as  the 
war  seemed  about  to  terminate  his  friends,  Sir 


206 


tHE     CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


Coliu  Campbell  and  Sir  D.  A.  Camerou  re 
commended  that  he  should  stick  to  his  position 
as  surgeon,  Sir  Colin  saying,  "  A  good  soldier 
was  spoiled  when  they  made  you  a  doctor." 

Of  his  father's  numerous  family,  there  only 
survive,  besides  Sir  William,  one  brother, 
Godfrej',  now  in  Austraha,  and  two  sisters. 
Miss  Flora  MacKinnon  and  Mrs.  Lydiard,  who 
at  Duisdale,  in  Sleat,  keep  up  the  traditional 
MacKinnon  hospitality  and  culture. 

Sir  WiUiam  has  a  good  service  pension  of 
£100  a  year  for  his  distinguished  service,  is  an 
Honorary  Surgeon  to  the  Queen,  and  LL.D.  of 
the  University  of  Glasgow,  where  he  matricula- 
ted. With  all  these  honours  Sir  WiUiam  is  a  man 
of  unassuming  manner  and  modest  disposition, 
an  Islander  to  the  back  bone,  proud  of  his 
origin,  as  his  countrymen  have  every  reason  to 
be  of  him. 

Lochardill,  Inverness.  C.    FrASER- MACKINTOSH. 


TRADITIONS    OF    THE    COLQUHOUN 
COUNTRY. 


By  F.  Mary  Colquhoun. 


[Continued  from  pa/je   176.) 

Robert  Colquhoiw,  A  Veteran  of  the  Clan — 
The  Fair  Maid  of  Luss — Sir  William  Murray 

and  his  Seventeen  Stalwart  Sons. 


THE    LATK     IlOIlKliT    COUJUIIOL'N. 


:f.M  N  Edinburgh  paper  on  May  27th,  1843 
i-r^^  had  the  following  notice  of  the  subject 
£f'^     of  these  remarks: — 

"Died  on  Inch  lonaig,  Loch  Lomond,  in  the 
house  in  which  he  was  born,  nearly  a  century 
before,  Robert  Colquhoun.  When  seven  years  old 
he  was  taken  into  the  service  of  Sir  James  and 
Lady  Helen  Colquhoun  of  Luss,  and  for  the  last 
few  years  of  his  life  it  used  to  be  his  proudest  boast 
that  he  had  served  four  of  the  Chieftains  of 
Colquhoun,  his  fealty  descending  unimpaired  from 
sire  to  son.  When  the  suns  and  snows  of  70  years 
had  rendered  him  less  able  for  active  duty,  he 
requested  to  be  allowed  to  end  his  days  in  the 
rugged  and  romantic  island  of  his  birth.  Dear  to 
the  old  Highlander's  heart  was  this  lone  isle.  Its 
rocks  are  shadowed  by  the  finest  yew  trees,  which 
in  ancient  times  supplied  the  country  with  bows; 
the  loch  around  it  is  deeper  and  more  blue. 

The  island  is  also  celebrated  amongst  the  clan  as 
having  been  the  scene  of  an  interview  between  the 
Chief  and  Rob  Roy,  which  ended  in  their  being  on 
the  best  terms  ever  after. 

The  funeral  of  the  old  man,  sublime  in  its  very 
simplicity,  was  truly  characteristic  of  himself. 
The  little  fleet  of  boats  all  abreast,  keeping  solemn 
time  with  their  oars  on  their  way  to  the  church- 
yard of  the  picturesque  village  of  Luss,  where 
surrounded  by  the  mountains  he  so  often 
climbed,  quietly  reposes  this  faithful  clansman  of 
the  '  Chiefs  of  Cohiuhoun.' " 

The  Fair  Maid  of  Luss. 

We  may  perhaps  be  allowed  to  notice  several 
of  the  "  Ladyes  "  of  Luss  of  foregone  genera- 
tions, beginning  with  the  "Fair  Maid  of  Luss," 
who  succeeded  her  father  as  the  seventh 
inheritor  of  the  estates.  She  married  Sir  J. 
Colquhoun,  and  the  four  sons  of  that  marriage 
all  took  the  surname  of  Colquhoun,  and  the 
family  of  Luss  was  thus  merged  in  that  of 
Colquhoun. 

In  a  bond  of  "  manrent,"  dated  Inchmoryne, 
5th  April,  1406,  by  Ai-thore  of  Ardenagappil  to 
Duncan,  7th  Earl  of  Lennox,  the  granter,  as  he 
had  no  seal  of  his  own,  borrowed  the  seal  of 
"  ane  nobil  mane  and  a  michti,  Wmfray  of 
Culqwone,  Lord  of  Luss,"  "to  set  thir  presentis 
letteris." 

"  On  this  seal  was  engraved  a  shield,  and  in 
the  middle  of  the  shield  was  engraved  the 
likeness  of  a  cross,  and  in  the  top  of  the  shield 
was  engraved  the  likeness  of  a  helmet,  and  to 
it  was  annexed  above  the  form  of  the  head  of  a 
stag,  and  in  the  circumference  of  the  seal  was 
written  '  Vmfridus  de  Culqwone.'  " 

The  death  of  Sir  Humphrey  most  likely  took 
place  soon  after  this  incident. 

One  of  the  daughters  of  Sir  Humphrey  was 
Mary,  who  married  Sir  Patrick  Houston  of 
that  ilk,  and  their  son  and  heir,  Sir  Peter,  fell 
at  Flodden  field,  9th  September,  1513,  with 
James  IV.  and  the  "llower  of  the  nobility  and 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


507 


Untitled  aristocracy "  of  Scotland  in  that  ill 
starred  battle ! 

About  sixty  .years  after  this  time  one  of  the 
sons  of  Sir  John  Colquhoun  (and  his  wife, 
Elizabeth  Dunbar,  formerly  Countess  of 
Murray),  was  Robert,  Bishop  of  Ai-gyll.  who 
was  previously  Rector  of  the  Churches  of  Saint 
Kessog  of  Luss  and  Kippen. 

One  of  the  sisters  of  the  Bishop  was  Mar- 
garet, wife  of  William  Murray,  7th  Baron  of 
TuUibai-dine.  Of  this  marriage  of  Sir  William 
Murray  and  ilargaret  Colquhoun  there  were 
seventeen  sons,  who,  it  is  said,  all  grew  up  to 
manhood. 


Tradition  tells  that  Sir  William,  the  progeni- 
tor of  the  Duke  of  Atbole,  and  bis  seventeen 
sons,  each  attended  by  «/»  servant,  and  the 
father  by  fico,  all  dressed  in  full  Highland 
costume,  armed,  and  followed  with  pipers,  came 
to  pay  a  visit  of  loyalty  to  their  Sovereign  King, 
James  II ,  on  a  temporary  sojourn  he  made  at 
Perth.  His  Majesty  being  unapprised  of  their 
coming,  some  of  the  Royal  household  hearing 
the  blast  of  the  "jjipes,"  and  noticing  a  body 
of  armed  men  at  a  little  distance  coming 
towards  the  abode  of  the  King,  feared  it  was 
some  alien  clan  who  intendeil  to  do  violence  to 
the  monarch,  an  alarm  which  was  not  unnatural 


I.NlH      D.SAic,     LiM  II      I.OMONIJ. 


when  it  is  remembered^that^King  James  I.  had 
been  murdered  at  Perth  so  recently  as  February, 
14IS(),  and  the  drawbridge  was  accordingly 
secured  and  the  gates  speedily  closed. 

But  the  panic  soon  subsided,  a  messenger 
having  been  despatched  to  ask  who  the  party 
were  and  what  was  their  object.  It  was  foimd 
they  were  the  Baron  nf  TuUibardine  and  his 
seventeen  sons  come  to  sh€w  their  devotion  to 
their  Sovereign 

They  were  accordingly  gladly  welcomed,  and 
received  a  hospitable  and  gracious  reception. 
The  Baron  providly  explained  he  was  the  father 
of  these  fine  young  men,  who  with  himself  had 


come  to  pledge  themselves  to  defend  the  person 
of  His  Majesty,  and  to  support  his  government. 

The  King  expressed  his  high  satisfaction 
with  their  devoted  loyaltj',  and  warmly  con- 
gratulated Sir  William  on  possessing  so 
numerous  and  promising  an  array  of  sons. 

There  are  stiU  at  Blair  Castle  some  i>ed 
curtains  of  Murraj'  tartan,  which  have  been 
handed  down  from  generation  to  generation, 
as  the  curtains  of  a  bed  in  which  the  seventeen 
brothers  slept.  The  bed  must  have  been  in 
the  shape  of  a  bell-tent,  and  the  feet  of  the 
brothers  lay  probably  to  the  centre  pole  I 
(To  be  continued). 


208 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


OUR      MUSICAL      PAGE. 


HORO      MHAIRI      DHUBH. 


^/^  MONG  the  numerous  Gaelic  airs  pub- 
(^^X  lished  by  various  collectors,  there  is  a 
J^^  very  great  number  to  which  there  are 
vporthless  words,  only  a  verse  or  two,  or  no 
words  at  all.  In  Albi/n's  Anthnlof///,  to  which 
reference  has  been  previously  made  in  this 
magazine,  there  are  some  fine  airs  so  circum- 
stanced, conspicuous  among  which  is  '■  Horo 
Mhairi  Dhubh."  The  music,  says  the  Editor, 
was  takea  down  from  the  siagiag  of  Misses 
Annie  and  Janet  MacLeod  of  Gesto,  Skye. 
The  words  were  composed,  it  is  affirmed,  to 
Mrs.  Macpherson  of  Ostaig,  by  a  maniac.  One 
of  the  verses  is  given,  and  it  is  as  follows:  — 

Cha  deau  rai  car  feum  ma  threigeas  mo  leannan  mi, 

Horo  Mtiairi  dhubh,  tioiindadh  rium ! 
A  bhean  a'  chid  dualaich  's  nan  cuachagan  camlag- 
acli  ; 


Horo,  etc. 
'S  a  Mhairi  ua'n  tigeadh  tu,  tliaitneadh  tu  rium, 
'S  a  Mhairi  na'a  tigeadh  tu,  thaitneadh  tu  rium, 
'S  a  Mhkiri  na'n  tigeadh  tu,  b'e  d>  bheith'  againn 
thu, 

Horo,  etc. 

The  Editor  of  Alh/u's  Anthnhig'i  was  evidently 
oa  good  terms  with  some  of  the  leading  lights 
of  literatui-e  in  the  Scottish  capital  in  his  day, 
and  he  requisitions  their  services  to  some  of 
the  tunes  published  by  him  In  this  case  he 
was  indebted  to  John  Wilson  (known  in  litera 
ture  as  Gbristopher  North),  whose  song  "The 
Seamew.'  given  below,  was  written  to  the  air. 
I  have  endeavoured  with,  I  am  afraid,  indifferent 
success,  to  render  a  similar  service  in  Gaelic. 

,.,,,,„,.,ii„  Malcolm   Mac  Farlane. 


SEONAID     NIC    AOIDH-JESSIE     MACKAY. 


Key  F. 


Air 
The 


1,       :      d 

feasgar 
stars    are 


cuim 
all 


d     : 

Ce'iteiii 
burn 


.  d 


n      :    -.  r 

'tournadii 
cheer 


iiy 


d      I      n      :    -.  f 
t-sle'ibhe, 
cheeri- 


Hug 

ly, 


eutrom 
Mhai     - 


dhu, 


cheuin 
turn 


au- 
to 


lar  ; 
nie ! 


Tha 
The 


1,      :     d     :     s,     I 
'ghrian  anns       na 
sea     -     mew         is 


'.d 


speuran 
mourn 


de^rrsadh 
drear       •       i 


d      I     n     :    -.  f 

gu  ceutach, 

ly,         drear     -      i- 


'Us 

ly, 


eunlaidh 
Ho 


-.f 


geugan 
Mhai     ■ 


dhu, 


seiiui 
turn 


d     I 


:  PI 

Tha  'n 
High 


s     :    -.1    :      t      I      d'     :    -.t 
t-allt       'ruith  do  'n  abhainn 

up  is  his  home,    on 


s     :      1      :      f 

caitlireamach, 
clitt's   nak      -      ed 


ceiilmhor, 
breast. 


:  s    I      s     :    -.  1    :      t     I     d'     :    -.  t 
Na  craoblian  fo  'u  diiiUoach, 

But  warm      is         hrr  plumage 


s  na 
that 


s      :     ri     :      d 

lusan  'fas 

blesseth  his 


I      r 


bi'iidheach, 
nest. 


:  f     I      s     :    -.  1    :      t      I      d'      :    -.  t 
Na  beanntan  's  na  gleanntan 

The  ice-winds         ne'er  blow  there, 


nam 
and 


maise 
soft    falls 


the 


oirdheirc, 
snow    there, 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


209 


'Us 


thaU 
Ho 


tn       :     -.  f 

clioinhnard 

Mhai     -     ri 


tha 
dim, 


nigh 
turn 


t(j 


d     :     - 

ghraidh. 


A   Sheonaid   Nic   Aoidh,   bidh  mo   dhurachd   a 

chaoidh  dhuit, 

A  mhaighdeaun  ghlan  aoidheil  'us  caoimhe  suil ; 

Tha  grinneas  do  dhijigheau  fa  m'  chonihair  an 

cbmhnuidh, 

'Us  fos  do  bhinn  chbrahradh  'tha  mbdhar  ciuin. 

Is  duilicli  leara  fe'in  mar  nach  d'  eirich  riamh  adh 

dhomh, 
'S  gur  suarach  mo  bhuannachd  'a  nach  buanaich  i 

h\  leam  ; 
Na'iu    biodh    agam    saibhreas,    sin    thoillinn    uait 
fabhar, 
'Us  rachainn  gun  athadh  'nad  dliail  a  nimn. 

Is  truagh  nach  do  stiuir  thu,  a  Phreasdail,  mo 
chiirsa, 
'Nad  chaoimhneas,  d'  a  h-ionnsuidh  an  tiis  mo 
re', 
Sin  bhithinn-sa  eudmhor,  deanadach,  gleusda 
An  aite  bhi  'guilleachd  roimh  cheann  na  re'is. 
Roimli  'n  ;\ni  so,  bha  dochas  'na  storas  's  na  mhaoin 

dorah, 
Bhiodh  doilgheas  an  la-'n-diugh  am  miireach  air 

faondradh, 
Ach  thainig  thu,  Sheonaid,  'us  leonadh  le  gaol  mi 
Nach  tarruing  gu  faochadh  mur  taobh  thu  riura 
fe'in. 

Tha  'm  feasgar  a'  ciaradh  o'n  tbeirig  a'  ghrian  as, 
Tha  rionnag  'san  iarmailt  03  cionu  an  diiin. 


Ebin  bhuchainn  a'  bbarraich  a'  casgadh  an  caith- 

ream — 

C  ar  son  tha  mi  'fantuinn  aig  taobh  a'  chiiirn  '. 

Siod  thall  air  an  re'idhlean  ud  m'  ulaidh  'us  m'  eudail, 

A'  mhaighdeann  fhior-uasal   nam  buadhan  's  naui 

beusan  — 
A  dheoin  no  a  dh'aindebin,  gur  daingeann  mo  speis 
di. 
'S  air  Naile  !  gu  'n  teid  mi  'na  Jail  a  nimn. 


Oh  !  once  smiled  my  dwellini;  cheerily,  cheerily. 

Ho  ro.  etc. 
Tho'  wild  waves  were  swelling  drearily,  drearilj'', 

Ho  ro,  etc. 
In  the  rock-girdled  bay,  as  I  anchored  my  skiti', 
A  sweet  voice  would  sing  from  the  top  of  the  cliff; 
Ere  the  last  notes  were  over. 
She  sprang  to  her  lover,  oh  ! 
Ho  ro,  etc. 

The  desert  is  sounding  drearily,  drearily, 

Ho  ro,  etc. 
But  the  red  deer  is  bounding  cheerily,  cheerily, 

Ho  ro,  etc. 
Away  to  his  lair  in  the  forest  so  deep, 
Where  his  hind  with  her  fair  fawns  is  lying  asleep. 
On  green  mossy  pillow. 
Like  summer  sea-billow. 
Ho  ro,  etc. 


AN     ADDRESS     TO     THE     MOUNTAINS. 


Ye  mountain  peaks  that  hold  your  heads  on  high, 
Unheedful  of  the  storm  that  gathers  near. 

To  you  I  come  before  my  days  pass  by, 

To  all  the  scenes  that  to  my  youth  were  dear  ; 

And  press  you  to  my  breast  with  love  sincere, 
And  unabated  by  the  whirls  of  time  ; 

Bright  dreams  will  dee,  and  friends  will  disappear, 
And  cheeks  grow  pale  by  blanching  age  and  clime. 
But  you  remain  the  same — invariably  sublime ! 

Far  have  I  roamed  across  the  swelling  seas. 

Far  have  I  wandered  over  scorching  plains, 
And  climbed  the  mountains — but  not  one  of  these 

Could  ever  weaken  the  enchanting  chains. 
That  early  bound  me,  and,  when  life  remains 

Shall  bind  me  still  to  your  unsullied  heath  ; 
And  when  at  length  the  weight  of  wars  and  pains 

Shall  bow  me  down  to  meet  the  hour  of  death. 

I'll  love  you  still  the  same,  e'en  with  my  latest 
breath. 

True  to  your  sons,  your  sons  are  true  to  you. 
With  stern  devotion  to  your  rugged  bounds, 

Nor  fortune's  wheel,  nor  distance'  misty  hue, 

Can  sever  from  their  hearts  your  classic  grounds ; 

For  who  did  ever  hear  the  stirring  sounds 

Wherewith  your  sons  went  forth  to  battle's  fray. 


But  straightway  felt  what  magic  spell  surrounds 
The  mount  and  moor,  where'er  his  footsteps  stray. 
Far  through  the  Frigid  Zone  or  India's  scorching 
ray! 

Methinks  I  hear  you  say  in  sounding  strain  : — 
"  We  bid  yoa  weJcume  to  iiiir  open  bread, 

The  mother  loves  to  see  her  sons  again, 

And  he  ivho  roams  perchance  she  loves  him  best, 

His  lie.art  remaining,  throughout  time's  long  test 
True  and  imsuUied  to  its  inmost  care; 

If  s^ich  be  thou,  Hie  heath  icilt  be  thij  crest. 
The  pine  thy  badge  as  erst  it  was  of  yore, 
And  OH  the  mountain  sAi  abide  for  evermore." 

I  come,  I  come, — and  fondly  lay  me  down 

With  childlike  trust  beneath  your  faithful  shade. 

No  more  to  roam  for  riches  or  renown, 

But  dwell  in  peace  by  stream  and  forest  glade, 

And  when  my  age-worn  limbs  deny  their  aid. 
And  darkness  settles  round  the  long  loved  land, 

And  from  these  orbs  both  sight  and  beauty  fade. 
Then  make  my  bed  along  the  shelving  sand, 
Hard  by  the  sounding  sea,  on  Scotia's  mountain 
strand. 


J.  MacGregok    M.D., 

Surgeon  Lieut. -Colonel. 


•210 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


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Tub  Roval  Scots  Greys,  Pavt  IV.  (lUustiated),  -       -             211  extensive  reader.      He  was  a  member  of  the  Clan 

A  LovAL  Foe  ;  An  Episode  OF  THE '45,         -       ■       -       -     213  Mackay  Society  since  its  formation,  and  two  years 

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The  Marchioness  DOvley  (plate  and  portraits),         •             216  Sutherlandshire    Association.        He     was     greatly 

Cluny  and  Lady  Cluky  of  the '45,  after  Cullodbs  (illus.).     217  esteemed  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 

CREAG   DHUBii,    Kingussie;  the   old    War-cry    of   Clan  ^^^    j^^^^^    CoLQUHOUN,    Bakt.  ,    OF    LusS,    has 

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NOTICE    TO     SUBSCRIBERS. 


IN      EXILE. 

'  The  Garden  that  I  love."— Alfred  Austin. 


1]' 


.4,s 


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No  terraced  slopes,  no  sunny  glades 

Has  the  Garden  that  I  love, 
But  purple  hills  with  sombre  shades 

Brood  o'er  it  from  above. 

No  silvery  fountains  at  high  noon 
Shower  forth  their  rainbow-spray, 

But  low  and  sweet  1  hear  the  tune 
Of  the  river  on  its  way. 

No  passion-flower,  no  lily  fair 

Its  splendid  blossom  rears  ; 
The  few  pale  petals  growing  there 

Are  watered  with  salt  tears. 

The  gorse  around  my  Garden  shows 

A  blaze  of  golden  sheen  ; 
Without,  the  wealth  of  summer  glows, 

Within  it,  graves  are  green. 

Ah,  pity  me  1  my  Garden  lies 

Full  many  a  mile  away. 
And  yet  I  ween  these  aching  eyes 

See  it  both  night  and  day. 

R.  F.  Forbes 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


211 


J  p.   ''^i^ 


FiKT   IV. — (CnNtniiiedjrovi  pwif  193y. 

^l^r  A.RLBOEOUGH  S  troops  had  now  come 
^ffl^h  up.  He  halted  and  pave  them  some 
■Jg^a^-T^iuje  to  rest.  They  were  then  put  m 
motion' for  the  heights  of  Schellenberg,  and  at 
six  in  the  evening  of  the  2nd  July.  170-1,  the 
attack  began,  t'nder  cover  of  a  tremendous 
cannonade  the  infantry  advanced  to  the  attack, 
supported  by  the  Scots  Greys  and  other  cavalry 
regiments  in  two  lines  in  the  rear.  The 
promptitude  and  decision  of  Marlborough 
confoimded  the  French  Bavarian  commanders, 
but  their  men  fought  hardily  and  gallantly.  The 
slaughter  was  terrible,  but  the  British  remained 
unshaken  and  forced  theu-  way  to  the  very 
foot  of  the  enemy's  works,  but  their  eflbrts  were 
so  exhaustive,  their  losses  so  severe,  that  the 
cavalry  were  brought  to  their  support,  and  the 
Scots  Greys  dismounted  to  act  with  the 
infantry.  Theu  the  whole  gallantly  rushing 
forward  tci  the  assault,  the  trenches  were 
captured  and  their  defenders  fled.  The  cavalry 
now  rushed  in,  and  galloping  on,  dealt  death 
on  every  side,  and  drove  the  hapless  fugitives 
into  the  Danube.  The  loss  on  both  sides  was 
severe.  British  5,500,  French  and  Bavarians 
9,500  killed  and  wounded,  attesting  the  com- 
pleteness of  the  defeat,  and  the  severity  of  the 
contest. 

Early  next  morning  Marlborough  took 
possession  of  Donauwerth,  and  on  the  5th  July 
he  crossed  the  Danube  in  five  columns.  On 
the  9th  he  passed  the  Lech  and  entered 
Bavaria.  ^Marshal  Tallard,  with  a  noble  army 
of  45,000  French  veteran  troops,  moved  forward 


to  the  assistance  of  the  Elector  of  Bavaria, 
and  joined  the  latter  near  Augsburg.  The 
combined  forces  then  proceeded  to  attack 
Prince  Eugene's  Lnperiahst  troops  before  he 
could  be  joined  by  Marlborough,  but  by  rapid 
marches  Marborough  outwitted  them  and 
joined  the  Prince  at  Hochstadt.  Here  the 
French  and  Bavarians  had  taken  up  a  strong 
position  near  the  ^-illage  of  Blenheim,  behind  a 
swampy  defile,  through  which  ran  the  small 
river  Nebel.  Their  force  consisted  of  60,000 
men,  Mai'lborough's  and  Eugene's  50,000. 

The  Battle  of  Blenheim  was  fought  on  the 
13th  August,  1704.  The  first  attack  was  made 
upon  the  village  of  Blenheim.  The  Scots 
(jreys  formed  part  of  the  attacking  body, 
commanded  by  the  gallant  Lord  Cutts,  and 
inflicted  considerable  loss  upon  the  enemy. 
The  assault  was  gallantly  made,  and  as 
gallantly  resisted,  the  fight  ebbing  to  and  fro 
for  several  hours  round  this  important  position. 
Meantime  the  battle  became  general  along  the 
whole  line  with  varying  fortune,  until  a  magni- 
ficent chaj'ge  of  cavalry,  conducted  by  Marl- 
borough in  person,  broke  through  the  centre  of 
the  French  in  spite  of  the  strenuous  and 
gallant  opposition  of  the  Irish  Brigade,  and 
decided  the  victory  in  favour  of  the  British  and 
their  ImpeiiaUst  allj%  Piince  Eugene.  The 
French  troops  posted  at  Blenheim  then 
attempted  to   escape.     Marlborough   was   too 


212 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


quick  for  them.  He  ordered  his  brother's 
division  of  infantry  to  attack  them  in  flank  and 
move  forward  in  their  rear,  while  General 
Lumley  with  the  Scots  Greys  attacked  them  on 
the  other  side.  Thus  surrounded  and  deprived 
of  all  hope  of  aid  twenty-four  battalions  and 
twelve  squadrons,  with  JIarshal  TaUard, 
surrendered.  Prince  Eugene  attacked  the  left 
of  the  French  Bavarians  with  his  usual  intre- 
pidity, and  was  met  with  equal  valour. 
Three  times  repulsed,  he  rallied,  and  brought 
his  men  again  to  the  charge.     At  last,  about 


8  p.m.,  the  enemy  gave  way,  and  all  was 
confusion,  battaUon  after  battalion  laving  down 
their  arms  at  the  command  of  British  officers. 
The  rout  of  the  French  and  Bavarians  was 
complete,  100  guns.  2-1  mortars,  129  colours, 
171  standards,  17  kettledrmns,  all  the  tents, 
coaches,  and  baggage  animals,  15  pontoons, 
2  bridges  of  boats,  24  barrels  and  8  casks  of 
silver,  a  vast  host  of  prisoners,  with  Marshal 
Tallard  and  many  officers  of  the  highest  rank, 
civil  ai.d  miUtary. 

The  author    of  the    "  Atlas  Geographicus  ' 


THE     SCOTS     GREYS— MAY,     18%. 


states  that  INIarshal  Tallard  was  descended 
from  the  family  of  Argyle ;  after  Blenheim  he 
was  a  prisoner  in  England,  where  he  had 
fonnerly  served  as  ambassador. 

This  very  decisive  blow  struck  at  Blenheim 
resounded  aU  through  Europe.  It  at  once 
destroyed  the  vast  fabric  of  power  which  it  had 
taken  Louis  the  lith  to  construct.  It  saved 
Austria  and  released  Germany.  It  suddenly 
raised  the  military  reputation  of  Great  Britain 
to  the  highest  pitch.  These  islanders,  it  was 
said,  are  really  the  same  in  spirit  and  courage 


and  intrepidity,  as  the  men  of  Crecy,  Poictiers. 
Agincourt,  and  Bannockburn;  and  Marlborough 
himself  was  regarded  as  the  most  illustrious  of 
military  commanders. 

Marlborough  pursued  the  broken  remnant  of 
the  French  right  away  to  the  Khine,  driving 
Marshal  Villeroi  before  him,  and  invested 
Landau.  During  the  siege  the  Scots  Greys 
formed  part  of  the  covering  force.  In  Septem- 
ber the  heir  of  the  Emperor  of  Germany  visited 
the  camp,  and  Marlborough  received  him  at  the 
head  of  this  splendid  regiment.     In  November 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


^13 


it  went  into  winter  quarters  in  Holland.  ICarl  v 
in  1705  it  joined  the  army  assembled  for  an 
expedition  up  the  Mosselle,  but  the  daring 
projects  of  Marlborough's  genius  were  frustra- 
ted by  the  incapacity  of  his  coadjutors  He 
thereupon  withdrew  his  army  into  the  Nether 
lands,  determined  to  force  the  enormous  lines 
constructed  by  the  French,  the  result  of  three 
years'  labour,  behind  which  were  posted  70,000 
men,  under  the  command  of  Marshal  Villeroi, 
one  of  the  ablest  of  the  llarshals  of  France. 

At  the  head  of  only  44,000  infantry  and 
cavalry  the  British  leader  determined  to  force 
this  stupendous  barrier.  By  skilful  strategy 
he  induced  the  French  llarshal  to  apprehend 
an  attack  upon  the  right  and  so  to  weaken  his 
left.  Discovering  a  vulnerable  point,  he  marched 
on  the  night  of  the  17th  July,  surprised  the 
French  outposts  and  broke  through  the 
entrenchments  with  three  solid  columns.  The 
alarm  was  now  given,  a  French  Marshal  made 
his  appearance  on  an  adjoining  ridge  with  20 
battalions  and  30  squadrons.  Marlborough 
launched  the  Scots  Greys  and  the  Inniskilleners 
at  them,  and  falling  on  them  with  a  terrible 
shock  scattered  them,  yet  not  without  some 
severe  lighting.  Marlborough  was  master  of 
the  lines,  and  Villeroi  when  he  arrived  on  the 
spot  perceived  that  his  only  hope  of  safety  was 
in  immediate  reti'eat. 

The  remainder  of  the  campaign  was  con- 
ducted with  Marlborough's  usual  skill,  but 
thwarted  in  every  movement  by  the  ignorance 
and  jealousy  of  the  Dutch  Generals,  he  was 
unable  to  accomplish  anything  of  importance. 
The  Scots  Greys  went  into  winter  quarters  in 
Dutch  Brabant 

In  the  campaign  of  1706  was  fought  the 
celebrated  Battle  of  Ramillies,  on  the  ■23rd 
May.  The  French,  under  the  command  of 
Marshal  Villeroi,  mustered  ()2,000  men.  The 
allies,  under  the  command  of  the  Duke  of 
Marlborough.  60,000. 

The  battlefield  was  an  undulating  and  partly 
wooded  plateau  separated  into  two  parts  by  a 
small  river.  The  eastern  portion  was  called 
JandrinoeuU,  the  western  was  known  as  Mont 
St.  Andree.  The  French  line  extended  from 
the  village  of  Ramillies  at  the  north-western 
point  of  Mont  St.  Andn-e  to  Autre  Eglise  at 
the  south  eastern,  an  extent  of  three  miles. 

Hoping  to  come  up  with  the  enemy  in  a 
country  which  alibrded  no  very  decided  advan- 
tage to  either  army,  Marlborough  ordered  the 
line  of  march  to  be  formed  early  in  the  morning, 
and  at  one  o'clock  a  detachment  of  the  Scots 
Greys  and  several  squadrons  of  other  horse 
swept  in  advance  through  the  undulating 
ground  upon  which  a  thick  fog  rested.  A 
heavy  and  incessant  rain  had  fallen  during  the 


night,  the  roads  were  rendered  extremely 
soft  and  heavy,  and  the  advance  of  the  columns 
was  slow  and  irregular.  Frequent  halts  were 
necessary  to  enable  the  rear  to  close  up,  an<l  in 
many  places  the  artillery  and  ammunition 
waggons  were  only  brought  on  by  dint  of  severe 
personal  exertion.  A  dense  fog,  peculiar  to  the 
level  pastures  and  wheat  and  flax  fields  of 
South  Brabant,  rendered  objects  very  indistinct. 
This  perplexed  the  General,  and  incapacitated 
the  patrols  from  doing  their  duty,  hence  for  some 
hours  he  received  no  reports  from  the  front. 

(To  be  cnntiiiued). 


A     LOYAL     FOE. 

.\k     EriSODK     OF     THE     '4.5, 


j^T^T  was  late  autumn  of  the  di.sastrou.^  "  '4')," 
^Ke  ''*'^''  ^I'^lcolm  Cameron  of  Dunriach  and 
J^  his  son  Kenneth  were  out  with  Prince 
Charlie.  Dunriach  was  one  of  those  ancient 
Ilighlaiiil  mansion,",  too  small  to  be  "  held  for 
the  Prince,"  but  large  enough  to  afford  a  hiding 
[ilace  if  need  were.  But  the  days  were  early 
yet,  nobody  knew  how  the  struggle  would  end, 
and  Scotland  and  England  alike  waited  breath- 
less for  the  issue,  while  the  Highland.s  .seethed 
with  the  fierce  faction-hatred  of  the  clans. 
Cameron's  nearest  neighbour  was  Hamish 
M'Naughton  of  Clachar,  but  M-Naughton  had 
declared  for  King  George,  theiefore  he  and  the 
master  of  Dunriach  were  now  sworn  foes. 

Dunriach  stood  on  a  projecting  point,  over- 
looking one  of  the  loveliest  lochs  of  Inverness- 
shire  ;  Clachar  was  on  the  opposite  shore.  The 
loch  was  narrow  between  them,  only  about  two 
miles  wide,  and  midway  a  huge  rock  called 
"Solan's  Rest"  rose  to  a  considerable  height. 
It  was  regarded  as  a  sort  of  boundary,  the 
fishing  on  either  side  being  strictly  reserved  for 
the  respective  estates.  The  rock  was  accessible, 
but  being  bare  and  exposed  was  seldom  visited. 

Cameron's  three  daughters  remained  in  the 
mansion.  The  laird  had  been  married  twice, 
but  was  a  widower ;  his  daughter  liy  his  first 
wife  ruled  the  household.  Margaret  was  a 
masterful  woman,  and  had  held  the  reins  since 
her  sisters  were  children,  and  children  she 
considered  them  still,  though  Christina  was 
twenty-one,  and  Flora  nineteen.  They  had 
silent  the  preceding  winter  in  Edinlmrgh,  where 
their  father  had  heifjed  the  .secret  scheming  of 
the  rebel  leaders,  but  only  Margaret  of  the 
sisters  had  gone  into  society.  She  seldom 
allowed  the  young  girls  to  be  seen.  She  was  a 
devout  Catholic  like  her  own  mother,  but  the 
late  lady  of  Dunriach  had  been  of  the   Protea- 


214 


THfi     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


tant  faith,  and  while  in  Edinburgh  the  girls  had 
gone  several  times  to  the  great  church  of  Grej'- 
friars  under  the  wing  of  the  gentle  mistress  of 
Clachar,  and  with  the  sanction  of  their  father, 
though  not  w,i^  Margaret's  But  that  was 
before  opposing  jirterests  had  raised  feud  between 
the  neighbours. .-^T he  laird  and  his  son  had  l^een 
absent  for  a  month ;  no  news  had  come,  and 
Margaret  was  getting  anxious. 

"  There  will  be  news,  madam, — news  from  the 
laird,"  announced  old  Donald  Mor,  the  principal 
man-servant  left,  as  he  bustled  into  his  ladies' 
presence  on  a  chill  Xovember  afternoon,  and 
Margaret  rose  in  haste  to  greet  a  young  man 
entering  behind  the  ancient  butler,  a  handsome 
young  fellow,  who  came  forward  bowing,  cap  in 
hand. 

"  Who  may  it  be  my  father  has  sent  i "  she 
asked. 

"  A  kinsman,  fair  cousin,"  he  answered, 
holding  out  a  letter  in  the  laird's  well-known 
writing.  As  she  took  it  he  bent,  and  with 
courtly  grace  kis.sed  her  fingers  She  coloured, 
smiling,  for  like  most  plain  women  she 
appreciated  a  delicate  compliment. 

"Whose  blood  is  this?"  she  cried,  turning 
pale,  as  she  noticed  a  broad  red  smear  upon  the 
paper.     "  Oh,  sir,  surely  it  is  not  my  father's  ( " 

"!' faith!  I  doubt  it  will  be  my  own.  I  had  a 
tussle  for  that  letter,"  he  said  laughing,  and  she 
noticed  a  deep  cut  upon  his  left  wrist  as  he  spoke. 

The  news  was  good,  her  father  was  well,  and 
Margaret,  her  mind  set  at  rest,  summoned 
Donald  and  bade  him  see  to  the  comfort  of  the 
unexpected  guest.  Her  father  had  a  relative  in 
the  Chevalier's  .service,  and  she  fully  understood 
the  young  man  was  his  son.  A  jileasaut  evening 
followed  the  supper,  the  new  cousin  was 
charming,  telling  anecdotes  of  the  Court  at 
St.  Oermains  (his  boyhood  had  been  spent  in 
France),  and  eie  they  separated  for  the  night  he 
had  i|uite  won  Margaret's  confidence. 

The  sisters  were  lingering  to  talk  over  the 
news  before  retiring,  when  Donald  Mor  tapi:ied 
at  the  door,  then  entered  softly,  making  a  sign 
of  caution  and  secrecy. 

"  There  will  be  treachery,  madam,"  he 
whis|jered.  "  This  man  will  be  no  Cameron,  he 
will  be  a  spy  of  the  base  German.  I  will  find  it 
out  myself.  He  will  be  writing  his  letters  now. 
We  must  secure  him,  madam  1 " 

"But  the  letter  he  brought — he  had  my 
father's  letter,"  said  Margaret,  hei'  heart 
throbbing.      "  How  came  he  by  t/iat  ?  " 

"  He  will  say  that  he  had  a  tussle  for  it"  was 
Donald's  answer,  and  his  mistress  grew  cold  as 
she  remembered,  but  Christina's  brow  darkened 
with  anger. 

"Pie  is  no  traitor  but  a  true  man,"  she  said 
hotly. 


"  Biirns  like  you  cannot  judge."  Margaret 
rebuked  her  sternly.  "  Come  Donald,  we  had 
best  consult  alone." 

They  jjassed  into  her  oratory  to  confer. 
What  would  she  decide  to  do  ?  the  girls  knew 
she  never  took  half-measures,  but  Christina  was 
still  unconvinced. 

"  Margaret  is  wrong,  he  is  no  traitor,"  she 
reiterated  to  Flora,  who  was  peering  through 
the  narrow  window.  The  girl  turned  a  ghastly 
face  upon  her  sisier. 

•'  The  house  is  surrounded,  Christina,"  she 
gasped.  "  The  German's  men  have  come  to 
harry  Dunriach." 

Thundering  blows  were  struck  upon  the  outer 
door,  a  hoarse  voice  was  audible  demanding 
entrance  "in  the  King's  name."  The  girls  clung 
to  each  other  speechless.  Margaret  and  Donald 
hurried  from  the  oratory,  and  in  the  midst  of  the 
uproar  the  guest  appeared.  Margaret  faced  him, 
her  eyes  blazing. 

"  You  are  no  Cameron,  you  are  a  German 
spy  ?"  she  cried  furiously,  "  a  traitor,  a  Judas  !  " 

"  I  am  no  spy,  no  traitor,  but  for  the  love  of 
heaven  leave  this  broil  for  me  to  manage.  As 
you  value  the  lives  of  your  nearest  and  dearest 
say  nothing  of  your  father's  letter.  Burn  it 
instantly.  I  see  it  in  your  gown,  I  was  coming 
to  warn  you."  He  spoke  rapidly  and  earnestly, 
his  eyes  fixed  steadily  upon  hers. 

She  turned  her  back  upon  him,  but  Christina 
sprang  forward,  snatched  the  letter  from  the 
bosom  of  her  sister's  dress  and  thrust  it  into  the 
burning  peat.s,  just  as  another  summons  to  o|ien 
was  heard.  Ere  it  could  be  obeyed  the  door 
crashed  inwards,  and  the  hall  was  filled  with 
soldiers  in  the  hated  Hanoverian  uniform.  The 
leader  stepped  forward,  holding  out  his  warrant 
to  Margaret. 

"  In  the  King's  name,"  he  said  curtly,  as  she 
took  it  Her  heart  died  within  her  as  she  read; 
it  was  a  warrant  to  search  Dunriach  for  Kenneth 
Cameron,  who  was  carrj'ing  treasonable  letters 
to  the  disaffected  clans  who  meant  to  join  the 
Prince.  Before  she  could  enter  any  protest  the 
guest  interfered. 

"  Why,  Foster,  is  it  you  ?  Tliere  is  no  one 
here  but  me.  I  have  had  hospitable  entoitain- 
ment  from  the.se  ladies  this  evening,  no  one  else 
has  been  here,"  he  said  coolly.  The  officer  looked 
disconcerted,  but  stood  firm. 

"  1  must  obey  orders,"  he  said  doggedly. 

"Of  course!  shall  I  accompany  you?"  a.sked 
the  other  cheerfully.  "The  keys,  my  friend." 
He  turned  to  Donald,  who  was  scowling  savagely, 
but  contrived  to  cast  a  swift  reassuring  glance 
at  the  ladies. 

The  search  was  long,  minute,  but  vain.  Ere 
it  ended  Margaret  was  vaguely  conscious  that 
she  was  glad  her  father's  letter  was  destroyed. 


TRE    CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


215 


Foster  was  a  lirutal  wretch,  though  somewhat 
held  in  check  by  the  guest's  presence.  Old 
Donald  had  disapjieared ;  she  knew  he  considered 
their  visitor  a  spy,  and  supposed  he  had  cunningly 
hidden  to  avoid  being  questioned.  Day  was 
near  ere  the  search-piirty  left,  the  guest  going 
with  them  to  the  gates.  Immediately  after 
Donald  reapjieared. 

''Where  is  our  kinsman?"  demanded  Mar- 
garet, uneas}'  she  scarce  knew  why. 

"  Where  he  will  not  spy  no  more,"  answered 
Donald  calmly.  Christina  screamed  ;  there  was 
blood  upon  the  man's  coat,  and  tliey  rushed  out 
to  find  their  guest  lying  unconscious,  the  blood 
streaming  from  a  wound  in  his  Iji-east;  Donald's 
dirk  had  struck  home.  They  thought  at  first 
he  was  beyond  all  aid,  but  found  to  their  relief 
that  the  dirk  had  been  turned  aside  by  a  packet 
in  a  secret  pocket.  Margaret  took  it  out,  a 
sharp  cry  escaping  her.  It  was  a  bundle  of 
despatche.s,  and  bore  Prince  Charles'  seal.  She 
held  it  out  to  let  Donald  Mor  see  it,  a  bitter 
sneer  on  her  lips.  "  You  were  wondrous  clever," 
she  said  contemptuously.  When  consciousness 
returned  Margaret  (accustomed  like  ladies  of  her 
time  to  doctoring  and  dressing  hurts)  realised 
that  though  desperately  wounded,  he  might 
recover  under  proper  care.  The  paiiers  had,  pvo- 
bably,  saved  his  life,  but  he  had  lost  much  blood. 

"  The  letters,  where  are  the  letters  !  "  he 
gasped,  a.s  soon  as  he  could  speak ;  and  her 
answer  was  to  lay  them  in  his  feeble  clasp. 
Weak  as  he  was  he  insisted  upon  speaking  the 
moment  they  were  alone,  a  chance  he  seemed 
to  have  eagerly  waited  for. 

•'J  am  no  s]iy,"  he  said  faintly,  "I  am  your 
kinsman  Hector  MNaughton,  my  mother  was 
your  mother's  cousin ;  but  I  am  for  the  King, 
not  for  the  Prince.  I  knew  nought  of  these 
papers  when  I  left  the  camp,  only  that  Foster's 
men  were  to  .search  Dunriach.  Foster  is  a 
savage  bully,  and  when  I  minded  of  the  modest 
lasses  I  had  seen  in  my  aunt's  care  in  Edinburgh, 
I  made  to  come  and  war^i  ye.  But  yesterday  I 
came  on  Kenneth  lying  disabled  in  a  deep  corrie, 
he  had  fallen  over  in  the  darkness.  In  binding 
his  hurts  I  discovered  the  papers  he  carried.  I 
had  to  take  them,  he  knew  that,  but  I  meant 
not  to  use,  only  to  destroy  them.  To  leave 
Kenneth  or  to  bring  him  here  was  to  throw  him 
into  Foster's  clutches  ;  he  bade  nie  tell  you  so 
•when  he  gave  me  your  father's  letter.  But  I 
got  m  )t  the  chance,  for  Donald  suspected  me.  I 
was  seeking  to  find  ye  alone  when  Foster  came. 
Had  he  seen  your  letter  my  doom  had  been 
sealed ;  I  dared  not  lea  re  liim  to  search,  I 
attended  him  for  your  interests.  Kenneth  is  on 
the  Solan's  Rock,  I  rowed  him  over,  feend  for 
him  now,  it  is  safe,  and  he  is  desperately  hurt. 
Take   the   pai^ers,"    he  held  them   out    as    he 


spoke,  "  ye  can  send  me  to  a  renegade's  death 
an'  ye  like  for  1  caruiot  do  my  duty  ;  my  hands 
cannot  destroy  the  pa|iers  so  I  give  them  into 
yours  to  do  as  you  may." 

He  thrust  the  packet  towards  her,  as  a  step 
was  heard  approaching.  Like  many  women  of 
high  spirit  Margaret  possessed  a  generous 
nature.  Without  an  instant's  pause  she  walked 
to  the  hearth,  dropjied  the  packet  into  the  heart 
of  the  blazing  fire,  and  watched  it  consume  to 
ashes.     Then  she  turned,  very  pale,  but  smiling. 

"  We'll  get  Kenneth  to  keep  ye  company 
now',"  she  said  gently,  and  once  more  he  kissed 
her  hand. 

In  a'lother  hour  Kenneth  was  safe  in  Dunriach, 
and  Donald  Mor's  remor.se  was  finding  expression 
in  untiring  attention  to  the  man  whom  he  had 
nearly  murdered. 

Neither  Kenneth  Cameron  nor  Hector 
M'Naughton  were  present  at  the  terrible  Battle 
of  Culloden.  The  rebellion  was  broken,  the 
Prince  a  fugitive  before  either  of  them  could 
wield  a  sword.  M'Naughton  of  Clachar  fell  in 
that  fearful  slaughter ;  Cameron  of  Dunriach 
relurneii  home,  one  of  the  very  few  pardoned  for 
their  share  in  the  Jacobite  rising.  Hector 
succeeded  his  uncle,  and  shortly  afterwards 
married  one  of  the  daughters  of  his  neighbour 
Dunriach.  But  the  new  lady  of  Clachar  was 
neither  the  beautiful  Christina  nor  the  gentle 
Flora,  but  the  true  hearted,  masterful  Margaret. 
She  was  nine  years  her  husband's  senior,  yet  the 
loving  devotion  given  to  the  plain,  noble  woman 
might  well  have  been  envied  by  a  queen  of 
beauty. 

Janet  A.  M'Cnxocii. 


FOUNDERING    OF    THE 

'DRUMMOND    CASTLE,'    OFF    USHANT, 

16th     JUNE,     1896. 

"I  heard  piteous  screams  for  'help!' — then — an 
awful  silence." — (one  of  the  survivors.) 


The  cry  is  all  !  the  horror  !  and  the  stare  ! 
O  human  agony  of  life  and  death 
Fighting  to  liee  aijiiiu  that  wild  last  breath — 
Our  young,  our  old,  our  bravest,  and  our  fair  I 
And  we — we  only  smiling  : — "They  are  there — 
Somewhere — not  far,  but  safe  and  iirarinf/  home," 
And  making  hap]iy  welcome  for  our  own 
With  some  dear  dreaming  liope  and  loving  care  1 

The  cry  is  all!  the  breezes  only  blow 

The  day  to  ev'ning  with  a  gentle  sigh. 

The  sea  is  singing  restlessly  and  low, 

As  if  its  soul  were  bursting  in  its  cry. 

We  heart  and  yet — O  God  we  catmot  know, 

That  quick,  thick-whispered,  ierrihle  "Good  bye.' 

UoulOLrnCbur-iNCr.  Ja.NIE    E.    B.    MAC1'HEKS0^, 


216 


tHE    CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


THE     MARCHIONESS     D'OYLEY. 

(NEE     MACDONALD     OF    KEPPOCIl.) 


f[^|HE  MARCHIONESS  D'OYLEY,  though 
yly'  bearing  a  French  title,  is  a  MacDonald 
'-'^  of  the  Keppoch  branch.  About  the  end 
of  last,  or  beginning  of  this  century,  many 
Lochaber  MacDonells  emigrated  to  Canada. 
Keppoch's 
brother,  Major 
Alexander,  and 
bis  son,  John, 
went  to  Prince 
Edward's  Is- 
land, where  he 
died,  as  also 
bis  son,  who 
never  married 
Some  others 
went  to  Mon- 
treal, Virginia, 
and  Baltimore. 
One  of  these, 
John  Mac- 
Donald,  born 
in  Antrim. 
Ireland,  in 
1783,  emigra- 
ted in  1801, 
and  settled  in 
Baltimore.  He 
married  in 
1818,  Mar- 
garet, daugh- 
ter of  Alex- 
ander O'Coul- 
ter,  of  Down. 
Ireland  (their 
arms,  'Ermine 
3  bars  azure' 
Crest,  'a  harpy 
guard  ppr.'). 
He  died  at 
Baltimore,  and 
was  buried  in 
theoldCathed 
ral  Cemetery. 
On  his  monu 
ment  is  the 
following  in 

scription.  "Inmemoriam.  John  MacDonald 
of  the  family  of  Keppoch,  who  died  8th  March, 
1824,"  etc. 

lie  left  one  child,  Alastair  MacDonald,  born 
in  181G,  who  married  in  1839  Annie,  daughter 
of  Thomas  Walsh,  Esq  ,  of  Cork,  Ireland  (arms, 
'  Argent  a  cher,  gu  between  3  broad  arrow 
heads  sable).  She  died  in  IS-tO  ;  Alastair  died 
in  1858,  and  both  are  buried  in  St.  Patrick's 


i^S 

"^^^^ 

ZjSy^-^ 

'•wyT^ 

HH^'^ 

•y^Bfej^M 

pp^ 

■  if-Wf 

'^i'^m 

^ 

TMwtLi 

'mmKi 

Hi^ 

'^ 

faCCKwV   UX^-^X^K^A. 

^  V!>^\ 

Cemetery,  Baltimore.  They  left  issue  two 
daughters :  the  eldest  Annie  Alexis,  the  subject 
of  the  present  sketch,  was  born  in  May,  1841; 
was  married  in  18G8  in  the  Cathedral  of 
Baltimore  to  John  Henry,  Blarquis  D'Oyley,  of 
Paris.  In  1874  Pope  Pius  IX.  granted  her 
the  privilege  of  having  a  private  Chapel  and 
Chaplain  in  her  residence :  and  in  1874  the 
Cross  of  Matron  of  the  Holy  Sepulchre  was 
conferred  on 
her  by  the 
Patriarch  of 
Jerusalem. 
Though  born 
in  America, 
the  Marchion- 
ess' Highland 
sympathies  are 
very  strong. 
She  takes  a 
warm  interest 
in  all  Celtic 
matters,  and 
has  inherited 
the  open- 
hearted  hospi- 
tality of  her 
race.  Their 
Chateau  of 
Sans  Souci — 
once  belonging 
to  the  Bourbon 
Princes — has 
been  converted 
by  the  artistic 
taste  of  the 
M  arquis,  into 
one  of  the 
most  beautiful 
residences 
about  Paris 
Here,  and  iu 
their  Paris 
home,  they 
keep  open 
house;  and  her 
Ladyship's 
genuine  kind- 
n  e  s  s,  and 
charm  of  man- 
ner, gather 
ai'ound  her  representatives  of  every  nationality. 
Many  musicians  and  artists  make  their  lirst 
step  on  the  ladder  of  fame  in  her  hospitable 
salons  But  she  has  a  specially  warm  welcome 
for  all  who  come  from  the  land  of  her  ancestors, 
all  the  more  if  they  wear  the  "  garb  of  old 
Gaul,"  in  which  she  has  always  dressed  her  boys. 
Their  first  visit  to  the  Highlands  was  about 
1873-4,  when  they  were  welcomed  as  Highland 


/ 

[ 

-  ^Hv 

y 

,.' 

/ 

/ 

v^    .. 

/ 

THE      MARCHIONESS     D'OYLEY. 

(NEE     MACIiONALt)     OF     K.EP1>IJCH). 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


•217 


laLBKKT     HAOri,,     COL'NT     linYLKV, 

cousins  by  Mrs.  MacDonell,  of  Keppoch,  and 
other  members  of  the  clan.  The  eldest  sou. 
Reginald  Donald  D'Oyley.  was  born  in  Paris  in 
1869,  baptised  in  the  Eoyal  Palace  of  Marlia, 
the  residence  of  one  of  his  sponsors,  H.R.H. 
^'ictoria  Ausgusta  de  Bourbon,  and  was 
educated  at  Stonj'hurst.  He  was  made 
■'  (-'americe  secret  de  Cape  et  d'Ejit-e  "  by  Pope 
Leo  XIII  in  188!l,  was  a  universal  favourite, 
but  died  at  Cannes  in  1889,  and  was  buried  in 
the  family  mausoleum  at  Versailles.  The 
second  son.  Gilbert  Eaoul,  Count  D'Oyley,  was 
born  in  February,  1875,  took  his  degrees  at 
the  Universitj'  of  Sorbonne,  Paris,  and  is  now 
considered  one  of  the  most  elegant  and  accom- 
plished swordsmen  in  France.  The  youngest 
son,  Alastair  Ivan  Ladislaus  Lucidus,  Viscount 
D'Oyley,  was  born  in  February,  1880,  a  fine 
boy,  likely  to  develop  all  the  manly  qualities  of 
his  ancestors. 

Josephine  M.  MacDoneij.. 


CLUNY  AND  LADY  CLUNY  OF  THE 
'45,  AFTER  CULLODEN. 


Br  Alexander  Macpueeson,  Kingiis.sie. 


X. 

THE     SON     OF     CLUNY     OF     THE     '4.-i 

Do  chinneadh  fein  Clann  Mhuirich, 
Bhiodh  iad  uile  gu  'd  ordiigh 


Fearail,  treiin,  ascaoiii,  fuileach, 
Sud  na  curaidli'  naoh  soradh, 
'Dol  ri  aodainn  a'  chatha, 
Claidh'  leathann  'nan  dbrn-san, 
Ann  an  aobhar  mac  d'  athar 
'S  iad  ,i,'un  athadh  gun  soradh. 

r.7|N  180-1  Colonel  Thornton,  of  Thornville- 
"iiV     Itoyal,  in   Yorkshire,  published  a  most 

'—  interesting  journal  of  a  visit  which  he 
paid  to  Badenoch  and  other  parts  of  the 
Highlands  about  twenty  years  previously.  In 
that  journal  the  Colonel  gives  the  following 
lively  sketch  of  the  rejoicings  which  took  place 
at  Pitmain — the  old  coaching  stage  near 
Kingussie — on  the  occasion  of  the  restoration 
cif  the  forfeited  estates  of  Cluny  of  the  '45  to 
Colonel  Duncan  IMacpherson — his  only  son. 
There  is  no  year  mentioned  in  the  journal,  but 
fiom  documents  preserved  in  the  Cluny  Charter 
Chest  it  is  clear  that  the  entertainment  took 
place  on  18th  September,  1781.  On  the  17th 
of  that  month  Colonel  Thornton  records  in  his 
journal  that  on  returning  to  Raitts  that  evening 
lie  "  found  a  very  polite  in\itation  from  Colonel 
-MacjDherson  and  the  clan  requesting  me  to 
dine  with  them  the  next  day,  which  was  set 
apart  for  general  festivity  and  rejoicing  on 
account  of  a  late  public  event,  considered  by 
them  as  a  most  advantageous  revolution  in 
their  favour."  On  the  ISth  he  records  that 
"  the  morning  was  taken  up  with  ordering 
illuminations  and  bontii-es  in  honour  of  the 
day,  and  the  housekeeper  was  directed  to  send 
to  Colonel  Maepherson  whatever  Raitts  afforded 
that  might  in  any  respect  pi'ove  acceptable  at 
the  feast  intended  to  be  given."  He  then 
proceeds — 

.  "On  our  arrival  we  found  a  large  party  of 
gentlemen  already  assembled,  and  the  area  full  of 
the  lower  class  of  the  Clan  Maepherson.  Other 
gentlemen  were  likewise  continually  ushering  in 
from  all  parts,  some  of  whom  came  about  sixty 
miles,  so  happy  were  they  to  testify  their  regard 
for  the  present  jiussessor  of  the  estate  ;  in  short  no 
words  can  express  the  joy  that  was  exhibited  in 
every  countenance.  The  ladies,  too,  not  that  1 
think  it  singular,  seemed  to  me  to  enter  more 
heartily,  if  possible,  into  the  joys  of  the  day  than 
the  men ;  the  tout  inatiuhlv  made  this  meeting 
interesting  enough.  At  most  public  meetings  there 
are  some  discontented  mortals  who  rather  check 
than  inspire  mirth.  The  case  here  was  quite  the 
reverse ;  with  tliat  perfect  innocence  which  abounds 
in  the  Highlands  joined  to  the  clannish  regard  not 
totally  removed  by  luxury  and  knowledge  of  the 
world,  every  individual  added  something,  and 
exerted  himself  to  promote  the  common  cause.  At 
five  o'clock  dinner  was  announced,  and  each 
gentleman  with  the  utmost  gallantry  handed  in  his 
tartan- dressed  partner.  The  table  was  covered 
with  every  luxury  the  vales  of  Badenoch,  Spey,  and 
Lochaber  could  produce,  and  a  very  substantial 
entertainment   it   was ;    game    of    all    kinds,   and 


21i* 


THE    OELTIC     MONTHLY. 


venison  in  abundance,  did  honour  to  Mr.  M'Lean 
who  supplied  it.  I  had  no  conception  of  any  room 
at  Pitmain  large  enough  to  dine  one-tenth  of  the 
party,  but  found  that  the  apartment  we  were  in, 
though  low,  was  about  .50  feet  long,  and  was  only 
used,  being  a  malt  kiln,  on  such  occasions.  When 
seated  no  company  at  St.  James's  ever  exhibited  a 
greater  variety  of  gaudy  colours,  the  ladies  being 
dressed  in  all  their  Highland  pride,  each  following 
her  own  fancy,  and  wearing  a  shawl  of  tartan  ;  this 
contrasted  by  the  other  parts  of  the  dress,  at 
candle-light  presented  a  most  gl.aring  coup  d'tcil. 
The  dinner,  being  removed,  was  succeeded  by  a 
dessert  of  Highland  fruits,  when,  I  may  venture  to 
say,  that  '  George  the  third,' — and  long  may  he 
reign ! — was  drank  with  as  much  unfeigned  loyalty 
as  ever  it  wa.s  in   London.     Several  other  toasts 


were  likewise  drank  with  three  cheers,  and 
re-echoed  by  the  inferiors  of  the  clan  in  the  area 
around  us.  The  ladies  gave  us  several  very  delight- 
ful Erse  songs  ;  nor  were  the  bagpipes  silent,  they 
played  many  old  Highland  tunes,  and,  among 
others,  one  which  is,  I  am  told,  the  test  of  a  piper's 
abilities,  for  at  the  great  meeting  of  the  pipers  at 
Falkirk,  those  who  cannot  play  it  are  not  admitted 
candidates  for  the  annual  prize  given  to  the  best 
performer.  After  the  ladies  had  retired  the  wine 
went  round  plentifully,  but,  to  the  honour  of  the 
conductor  of  this  festive  board,  everything  was 
regulated  with  the  utmost  propriety,  and,  as  we 
were  in  possession  of  the  only  room  for  dancing, 
we  rose  the  earlier  from  the  table,  in  compliance 
with  the  wishes  of  the  ladies,fwho  in  this" country 
are  still   more  keen    dancers  than  those    of   the 


CREAG     DIILIBH     CHLOINN    CHAT.\IN~(THE    W.^R-CEY    OF    THE    CLAN    CHATTAN). 


southern  parts  of  Britain.  After  tea,  the  room 
being  adjusted,  and  the  band  ready,  we  returned, 
and,  minuets  being  by  common  consent  exploded, 
danced  with  true  Highland  spirit  a  great  number 
of  different  reels,  some  of  which  were  danced  with 
the  genuine  Highland  fling,  a  peculiar  kind  of  cut. 
It  is  astonishing  how  true  all  these  ladies  danced 
to  time,  and  not  without  grace  ;  they  would  be 
thought  good  d.incers  in  any  assembly  whatever. 
At  ten  o'clock  the  company  repaired  to  the  terrace 
adjoining  the  house,  to  behold  as  tine  a  scene  of  its 
kind  as  perhaps  ever  was  exhibited.  Bcjntires  in 
towns  are  only  simple  assemblages  of  inflammable 
matter,  and  have  nothing  but  the  cause  of  rejoicing 
to  recommend  them,  but  here  the  country  people, 
vieing  witli  each  other,  had  gathered  together  large 


piles  of  wood,  peat,  and  dry  heather  on  the  tops 
of  the  different  hills  and  mountains,  which,  by 
means  of  signals,  being  all  lighted  at  the  same 
time,  formed  a  most  awful  and  magnificent  spec- 
tacle, representing  so  many  volcanoes,  which,  owing 
to  their  immense  height,  and  the  night  being  totally 
dark  and  serene,  were  distinctly  seen  at  the  distance 
of  ten  miles.  And  while  our  eyes  were  gratified 
with  this  solemn  view,  our  ears  were  no  less 
delighted  with  the  different  bagpipes  playing  round 
us,  when,  after  giving  three  cheers  to  the  King, 
and  the  same  to  Mr.  Pitt,  etc.,  we  returned  into 
tlie  ballroom.  At  one  I  withdrew,  took  some 
refreshment,  and  then  ret\irned  home,  highly 
delighted  at  having  passed  the  day  so  very 
agreeably." 


THE     OKLTIC    MONTHLY 


21D 


'  In  the  Cluny  Charter  Chest  are  preserved 
MS.S.  giving  a  detailed  hst  of  the  large  party 
present  at  the  banquet  and  the  names  of  the 
numerous  hills  throughout  the  wide  and  exten- 
sive district  of  Badenoch,  displaying  the 
"  magniticient  spectacle  "  described  by  Colonel 
Thornton.  Speaking  of  Pitmain  Inn,  where 
the  entertainment  took  place,  Dr.  Garnett,  in 
his  "  Observations  on  a  Tour  through  the 
Highlands,"  etc.,  published  in  London  in  1811, 
says : — "'  It  is  a  very  good  house,  and  adjoining 
to  it  is  a  better  garden  than  I  ever  saw 
belonging  to  an  inn,  if  we  except  some  of  the 
pubhc  gardens  near  London.  It  contained 
abundance  of  fruit,  of  which  we  were  invited  to 
partake  by  our  landlord,  a  good-natured  man, 
and  very  fond  of  boasting  of  his  intimacy  with 
the  nobility." 

(?'ci  be  cuntinued). 


CREAG      DHUBH,      KINGUSSIE. 

(Thk  <)I.i>  \V.4k-Ckv  ot  Ci.AN  Chattan) 


Rising  to  meet  the  kisses  of  the  sky, 
The  Ages  grey  upon  its  rugged  face — 
That  brave  old  pillar  of  a  brave  old  race 
Stands  out,  as  from  a  mist  of  days  gone  by, 
A  sculptured  echo  of  their  battle  cry. 
Pink-hushed  with  careless  wreath  of  heather-bolls. 
And  bright  witli  brimming  eyes  of  fairy-wells. 
That  burst  in  silver  tears  o'er  ledges  high, 
For  heroes  gone  ! — for  battles  lost  and  won  ! 
For  hearts  no  golden  bribes  could  tempt  or  turn, 
Against  their  Chief,*  who  served  fair  Scotland's  son, 
E'en  after  sorrow-mourned  CuUoden's  urn! 
Sfimil  fd.tt  ('rttiii  Dhii  !  tlie  olden  days  are  done, 
But  in  their  memory  we  live  and  burn ! 

*  Cluny  of  the  '4.5. 
BouloKne-sur-lller.  JaNIB    E.    B.    MAtTHBRSON. 


-SuJoy6 . 


by  ^.Orunimond-T^orie 

Illustrated   by  the  Author 


{Continued  from  pwje  198). 

Ip^HE  traditional  sword  of  Fingal  "  which 
v^  gives  no  second  wound "  (cha  d' J'liaij  e 
^^^  fuii/lieall  heuma)  may  have  been  a'weapon 
of  this  description.  The  legend  runs  that  this 
hero  on  one  of  his  expeditions  into  Scandinavia 
met  the  celebrated  smith,  Luno,  who  in  addition 
to  possessing  unrivalled  skill  as  a  maker  of 
armour  and  weapons  of  all  kinds,  was  also  a 
magician.  Before  this  Vulcan  of  the  north 
would  consent  to  forge  a  sword,  or  supply  a 


suit  of  armour,  he  was  wont  to  demand  from 
his  customers  the  exhibition  of  a  supernatural 
power  superior  to  his  own.  Fingal,  however, 
knew  nothing  of  the  magic  art,  and  when  Luno 
desired  him  to  make  the  usual  trial  he  uplifted 
his  sword  and  cut  oft'  the  skirts  of  the 
magician's  robe,  and  obliged  him,  bare  as  he 
was,  to  fly  before  him.  The  pursuit  was  a  long 
one,  for  Limo  coming  to  the  sea  walked  upon 
the  waves,  and  Fingal  had  to  foUow  in  a  sliip. 
The  chase  lasted  ten  days,  and  at  the  end  of 
that  period  the  magician  was  overtaken  in  the 
Isle  of  Skye,  where  he  was  forced  to  erect  a 
forge  and  make  both  shield  and  sword  for  the 
angry  chief.  From  this  circumstance  Fingal's 
sword  was  called  the  "son  ol  Luno;"  it  killed 
a  man  at  every  stroke,  but  fortunately  for  the 
chief's  enemies  it  was  only  used  in  times  of  the 
greatest  danger. 


220 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


In  MacPherson's  "  Ossian,"  reference  is 
repeatedly  made  to  this  magic  weapon,  and  if 
we  may  not  take  these  poetical  descriptions 
as  literally  accurate  translations  from  the 
Gaelic  originals,  we  cannot  but  admire  the  true 
Celtic  feeling  that  breathes  through  every  line 
of  them.  What  can  be  finer  than  the  following 
quotation  from  "  Temora "  describing  the 
appearance  of  Fingal: — "I  have  seen  his 
forward  spear.  It  is  a  meteor  of  death ;  the 
blood  of  thousands  is  on  its  steel.  He  came 
first  to  the  shore,  strong  in  the  grey  hail'  of  his 
age.  Full  rose  his  sinewy  limbs  as  he  strode 
in  his  might.  That  sword  is  bi/  his  side  which 
gives  no  second  wound.  His  shield  is  terrible, 
like  the  bloody  moon  ascending  thro'  a  storm." 

The  Scandinavian  origin  of  Fingal's  sword 
suggests  the  theory  that  the  double  handed 
claidlieaml(  mor  was  then,  for  the  first  time, 
introduced  into  the  Highlands  from  Norway  or 
Denmark.*  This  would  account  for  the 
magical  qualities  attributed  to  that  weapon,  as 
it  would  show  a  marked  superiority  over 
the  short  bronze  swords  then  fast  falling  into 
disuse. 

Writers  on  the  ancient  history  of  Scotland 
fix  the  Fingalian  era  approximately  in  the  third 
century,  and  it  therefore  follows  if  the  before 
mentioned  theory  is  correct,  that  about  this 
period  the  bronze  age  in  the  Highlands  was 
gradually  giving  place  to  the  reign  of  iron. 
The  Celtic  races  in  the  south  of  Britain  had 
undoubtedly  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  use  of 
iron  weapons  at  a  much  earlier  date,  for  we 
know  that  they  were  in  use  at  the  time  of 
the  first  Roman  invasion  under  Julius  Ciesar 
(B.C.  55-54),  and  Dr.  Evans,  a  most  reliable 
authority  on  the  subject,  says  that  "British 
iron  must  have  been  in  use  in  the  southern 
part  not  later  than  the  fourth  or  fifth  century 
B.C.,  and  that  by  the  third  century  the 
employment  of  bronze  for  cutting  instruments 
had  practically  ceased.' 

Whatever  may  be  the  exact  date  at  which 
the  great  double  handed  sword,  the  true 
claymore,  was  introduced  into  the  Scottish 
Highlands,  it  is  unquestionably  a  weapon  of 
of  the  greatest  antiquity,  and  there  is  nothing 
at  all  unreasonable  in  attributing  it  to  the 
period  named.  From  that  time  until  the 
seventeenth  centui-y  it  became  pre-eminently 
the  weapon  of  the  Highlanders,  who  were  not 
only  proficient  in  using  it  against  their  enemies 
with  terrible  effect,  but  were  also  highly  skilled 
in  forging  the  enormous  blades,  some  of  them 
over  fifty  inches  long,  with  which  it  was 
finished.  Many  are  the  stories  still  extant  in 
the  Highlands  of  wonderful  smiths  who  pro- 
duced splendidly  tempered  blades  without  the 
eid  of  fire.     These  weapons  were  known  as 


"  claidheamliaii  fuar-ianinn,"  i.e.  "cold  iron 
swords,"  from  the  fact  that  they  were  not 
forged  in  the  ordinary  way,  but  beaten  into 
shape  by  a  succession  of  rapid  blows  from  a 
heavy  hammer.  The  celebrated  hero  of  Glen 
Urquhart,  An  (ioblia  Mi>r  (the  Big  Smith), 
possessed  this  art,  and  was  famed  far  and  wide 
for  his  skill  as  an  armourer.  Warrior  as  well 
as  smith,  he  performed  many  brave  deeds  with 
the  Weapons  he  had  himself  forged,  and  a 
memorial  of  his  prowess  still  exists  in  the  huge 
boulder  known  locally  as  Clacli  a'  Gliohluiinn 
Mlinir  (the  Big  Smith's  Stone).  Probably  he 
was  a  MacDonald,  for  at  the  pi-esent  day  a 
family  of  this  clan  living  in  Glen  Urquhart  is 
known  as  S/ioc/id  a  Gliobhainn  Mhoii-  (race  of 
the  Big  Smith). 

At  Corpach,  on  Loch  Eil,  there  was  for  some 
centuries  a  famous  race  of  smiths  whose  blades 
were  known  and  jjrized  throughout  the  whole 
of  the  Western  Highlands,  and  in  Glen  LTrchay 
the  iMacNabs  of  Bar-chaistealan  were  for  a 
period  of  four  hundred  years  hereditary 
armourers  to  the  knights  of  Lochawe  As  late 
as  the  year  1785  a  member  of  this  family 
carried  on  the  same  trade,  modified  of  course 
to  suit  the  age  in  which  he  lived,  at  Baran, 
near  Dalmally,  and  produced  some  splendid 
specimens  of  dirks,  pistols  etc  ,  some  of  which 
may  still  be  seen  in  private  collections  of 
Highland  arms. 


*  It  may  be  that  the  famous  smiths  of  Scandinavia 
were  themselves  of  Celtic  extraction,  for  the 
famous  Luno  was  known  as  "Loan MaclibhuLn" 
(correctly  speaking  "  Lo'inn  mac  Liohliaidh," 
meaning  "brightness  the  son  of  ['ol'shing"), 
an  unmistakably  Celtic  name.  He  is  also 
known  as  the  "  Dark  Smith  of  Drontheim," 
and  forged  a  magic  sword  for  Olaf  of  Norway. 

(y'o  be  continued). 

The  Maclean  Cross,  erected  by  the  Clan  Mac- 
lean Association  in  the  Southern  Necropolis,  Glas- 
gow, to  the  memory  of  Lachlan  Maclean  of  Coll, 
author  and  poet,  was  unveiled  by  Mr.  Neil  Maclean 
(e.\ -provost  of  Govan),  vice-president  of  the 
Association,  on  Saturday,  27th  June,  before  a  large 
gathering.  The  ex-Provost,  in  an  introductory 
speech  delivered  in  Gaelic,  went  over  the  leading 
events  in  the  life  of  the  deceased,  referring  to  his 
great  enthusiasm  for  the  Gaelic  language.  Sjieeclies 
were  also  delivered  by  Councillor  MacNeish, 
Dunoon,  and  Messrs.  Henry  Whyte  (Fionn),  John 
Maclean,  Convener,  D.  Maclean,  Secretary,  Duncan 
Whyte,  Neil  Maclaine  and  Arch.  Sinclair. 

A  Clan  Grant  Celebration  in  Glen  Urijuihrt. 
— Mr.  &  Mrs.  John  Grant,  of  Oakbank,  on  1st 
August,  celebrate  their  Golden  Wedding,  and  the 
various  members  of  the  family,  all  of  wljorn  t)ccupy 
distinguished  positions  in  various  parts  of  the 
kingdom,  have  arranged  to  be  present  to  celebrate 
the  auspicious  occasion. 


THE  CELTIC  MONTHLY: 

■^  MAGAZINE  FOR  HIGHLANDERS. 

Edited  by  JOHN  MACKAY,  Glasgow. 


No.  12.  Vol.  IV.] 


SEPTEMBER,     1896. 


[Price  Threepence. 


DR.  KENNETH   MACKENZIE  CHISHOLM. 


B^f\^ENNETH  MACKENZIE  CHISHOLM, 
t*^?^,  M.D.,  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch, 
'st'^  is  a  Highlander  of  Highlanders,  iu 
descent,  sentiment,  and  genuine  love  of  his  race 
and  countrj'.  His  paternal  ancestors  were 
Chisholms  and  Erasers,  natives  of  Gairloch  for 
many  generations,  and  his  maternal  forbears, 
Maclennans  and  Macdoualds  from  the  parish 
of  Urray,  both  iu  the  county  of  Ross.  He  was 
born  on  the  24;th  May,  1843,  at  the  farm  of 
Conon  Mains,  on  the  east  coast  estate  of  Sir 
Kenneth  MacKenzie  of  Gairloch,  where  his 
father  was  then  in  the  service  of  Sir  Francis, 
Sir  Kenneth's  father,  but  when  young  Kenneth 
was  only  a  year  old  his  father,  Simon  Chisholm, 
removed  to  Gairloch  to  take  charge  of  Flower- 
dale  Gardens,  adjoining  the  beautifully  situated 
west  coast  residence  of  "  Clanu  Eachainu 
Euaidh."  In  this  position,  and  subsequently 
forester  as  well,  Simon  Chisholm  soon  became, 
and  continued  to  the  day  of  his  death,  one  of 
the  most  popular  men  on  the  Gaii-loch  property. 


At  an  early  age  Kenneth  went  to  the  parish 
school  and  remained  there  up  to  the  age  of 
fourteen,  when  he  left  for  a  school  near  Aultbea, 
some  twelve  miles  distant,  then  taught  by  Mr., 
now  Dr.  .John  Mackay,  practising  at  Cromarty, 
to  prepare  for  the  Training  College,  Edinburgh, 
to  which  he  repaired  in  1859,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  and  after  two  years'  training  there  for 
the  teaching  profession  he  returned  to  Gairloch 
and  was  at  once  appointed  master  of  Opinan 
school,  where  he  taught  the  "young  idea  how  to 
shoot "  for  the  next  eight  years.  His  own 
ambition  and  that  of  his  parents  at  this  time 
was  to  qualify  for  "  wagging  his  pow  in  a 
pu'pit,"  but  this  was  not  an  easy  matter  for  a 
young  man  whose  father  was  not  blessed  with 
too  much  of  the  riches  of  this  world,  and  to 
attain  the  object  in  view  entailed  no  small  self- 
denial  on  both.  To  provide  "the  sinews  of 
war"  for  attending  the  Arts  classes  at  the 
University  of  Edinburgh  for  one  session 
required  the  earnings  of  two  years'  teaching, 
and  that  was  how  it  had  to  be  done. 

Like  many  other  talented  young  students 
Kenneth  MacKenzie  Chisholm,  after  two 
sessions  in  the  Arts  classes,  gave  up  the  study 
of  Theology  for  that  of  Medicine.  This  was  a 
great  disappointment  to  his  parents,  especially 
to  his  mother.  He  then  sat  for  and  success- 
fully passed  the  preliminary  examination  for 
the  latter,  and  the  next  session  that  he  found 
himself  in  possession  of  the  necessary  means  to 
attend  the  School  of  Medicine,  Surgeon's  Hall, 
he  resigned  his  position  as  teacher  and  began 
his  medical  course.  At  the  close  of  his  first 
session,  in  1870,  he  went  to  England,  where  he 
acted  as  assistant  to  several  medical  men  diu'ing 
the  sessional  intervals,  and  with  the  money  thus 
earned  and  the  pecuniary  assistance  of  two 
generous  friends  he  made  rapid  progress  at 
the  School  of  Medicine,  where  on  several 
occasions  he  headed  the  prize  list,  and  never 
once  faUed  to  appear  in  the  honours  division 
of  his  year,  gaining  during  his  course  the 
following  class  distinctions : — the  gold  medal 
in  Anatomy;    the  same  in  Forensic  Medicine 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


and  Toxicology- :  1st  prize  in  Junior,  and  the 
same  in  Senior  Surgery ;  ^nd  in  •!  uuior  l\Iedi- 
cine;  and  3rd  in  Midwifery;  first-class  honours 
in  Chemistry,  in  Materia  Medica,  and  in 
Diseases  of  the  Eye.  Having  finished  the 
prescribed  course  he  sat  for  and  successfully 
qualified  as  L  K.C.P.,  L.R.C.S.,  and  L.M. 
Edin  ,  in  June,  1876. 

Soon  after  taking  these  degrees  he  was 
appointed  Parish  Medical  Officer  of  Knockbaiu 
and  Redcastle  in  his  native  county  of  Ross, 
where  he  resided,  at  Munlochy,  until  September, 
1877,  when,  having  meantime  married  a 
Lancashire  manufacturer's  daughter,  he  re- 
moved to  her  native  place,  Radclifi'e,  near 
Manchester,  where  he  has  established  a  highly 
respectable  and  substantial  practice.  His  two 
surviving  daughters  are  at  present  attending 
Owens  College,  Manchester,  with  the  object  of 
taking  the  B.A.  degree  of  the  "\^ictoria 
I'niversity,  and  afterwards  a  degree  in  Science 
and  Music,  for  which  they  have  displayed 
undoubted  abilitj-  and  aptitude. 

Dr.  Chisholm,  always  ambitious  of  securing 
a  University  degree,  which  he  was  debarred 
from  taking  during  his  College  course  owing 
to  the  difference  in  the  amount  of  the  fees 
payable,  proceeded  in  1884  to  the  University  of 
St.  Andrews,  where  after  a  searching  examina- 
tion he  secured  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Medicine.  He  is  a  member  of  the  British 
Medical  Association,  the  Medical  Defence 
LTnion,  the  Incorporated  Medical  Practitioners' 
Association,  and  of  the  Clinical  Society  of 
Manchester. 

That  he  commands  the  esteem  and  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens  is  apparent  from  the  fact 
that  he  is  Vice-Chairman  of  the  Kadclifte  Urban 
District  Council,  and  a  memlier  of  the  Board  of 
Guardians  of  the  Bury  Union,  Lancashire. 
He  is  also  an  enthusiastic  Freemason.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  very  pronounced  and  advanced 
Liberal,  and  is  an  ardent  admirer  and 
enthusiast  in  the  practical  furtherance  of  every 
movement  that  has  fi  ir  its  object  the  ameliora- 
tion of  the  condition  of  his  fellow  Highlanders. 
He  rejoiced  in  the  passing  of  the  Crofters'  Act 
in  1886,  and  the  appointment  more  recently  of 
the  Deer  Forest  Commission.  He  delights,  as 
every  good  Highlander  should,  in  reading, 
writing,  and  speaking  the  Gaelic  language,  and 
is  altogether  a  credit  to  his  native  parish  and 
the  race  to  which  he  is  so  proud  to  Itelong. 

inv.™...  A.  Mackenzie. 


The  Clan  Chattan. — We  understand  that  the 
first  Annual  Social  Gathering  of  this  Association  is 
to  be  held  in  Glasgow  in  October,  Cluny  Macpherson 
in  the  chair. 


REVIEWS. 

What  i.s  my  Taktan  ?  ok  The  Clans  oc  Siot- 

LANIi,     WITH    THEIR     SePTs     ANI>    DEPENDENTS,     BY 

Frank  Adam,  F.S.A.,  Si  ot.  Edinburoh  ;  W.  & 
A.  K.  Johnston. — In  compiling  this  most  complete 
and  valuable  work  Mr.  Adam  has  rendered  a  service 
to  his  countrymen  for  which  they  have  every  reason 
to  be  grateful.  No  one,  so  far  as  we  are  aware,  has 
ever  attempted  to  identify  and  classify  the  septs 
and  dependents  of  each  clan,  or  to  publish  in  a 
liandy  form  particulars  regarding  them  such  as  we 
find  in  Mr.  Adam's  book.  The  taek  to  which  he 
set  himself  was  one  of  no  ordinary  difficulty,  and 
the  author  has  our  hearty  congratulations  on  the 
satisfactory  result  of  his  labours.  The  first  four 
chapters  are  naturally  devoted  to  a  dissertation  on 
the  antiquity  of  the  Highland  garb  and  the  tartan, 
the  attempts  made  to  suppress  the  kilt,  and  the 
rise  and  decadence  of  the  Clan  System.  Then 
follows  a  list  of  the  clans,  showing  English  and 
Gaelic  appellation  of  the  clans;  clan  arms,  and 
origin  of  the  chiefs  ;  design.ations  of  chiefs  and 
chieftains  ;  badges,  list  of  distinctive  clan  pipe 
music,  slogans  (or  warcrys),  and  an  alphabetical 
list  of  clan  septs  and  dei^endents,  showing  the  clans 
with  which  they  are  connected  etc.  Persons  desirous 
of  knowing  \vhat  clan  they  belong  to,  and  what 
tartan  they  are  entitled  to  wear,  will  find  full 
particulars  in  lF7i(i^  /.s-  /»;/  Tuiidir!  Of  course,  it 
would  be  an  easy  matter  to  dispute  many  of  the 
conclusions  at  which  the  author  has  arrived,  but 
taken  altogether  Mr.  Adam  has  made  his  book  as 
perfect  as  it  was  possible  for  him  to  make  it,  and 
we  know  that  he  spared  no  pains  in  verifying  any 
facts  in  regard  to  which  he  had  any  doubt. 
Messrs.  W.  &  A.  K.  Johnston  have  brought  out 
the  work  in  a  most  attractive  form,  bound  in 
Gordon  tartan,  and  the  printing  and  get  up  of  the 
book  reflect  credit  upon  the  publisliers,  whose  most 
excellent  works  on  the  clan  tartans,  and  histories  of 
the  Highland  regiments,  have  had  such  an  immense 
sale  all  over  the  world.  (See  our  advertising  pages.) 
A  Man  in  the  F.ioki>s,  by  Andrew  Deir. 
London  :  Diijby,  Long  &  Co. — This  is  not  a  mere 
Guide  book  to  the  Land  of  the  Midnight  Sun  ;  it 
is  something  better — it  is  intended  to  amuse  as  well 
as  instruct.  t)ne  need  not  read  more  than  a  few 
l)ages  to  feel  that  the  humour  is  spontaneous  and 
enjoyable,  and  that  the  book  is  so  amusing  that 
one  would  like  to  read  it  right  through  without 
stopping.  It  is  descriptive  of  the  adventures  of  a 
party  of  Scots  on  a  trip  to  Norway.  They  evidently 
started  with  the  intention  of  enjoying  themselves, 
and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say  that  they  succeeded 
in  gratifying  their  desires.  Tliey  could  not  be 
made  to  see  the  serious  side  of  life — the  whole 
creation  seemed  to  be  specially  planned  out  to 
aflord  scope  for  their  amusement.  Mr.  Deir  has 
certainly  made  a  splendid  hit  with  .1  Man  in  tJic 
Fjordx,  and  the  reading  public  will  welcome  him  as  a 
humorist  of  exceptional  ability.  We  have  read  a  great 
deal  of  what  passes  as  humorous  literature  in  these 
times,  but  we  have  not  often  read  anything  we 
enjoyed  so  much  asMr.  Deirs  latest  work.  We 
hope  that  he  will  be  induced  by  the  success  of  this 
volume  to  write  anotheron  the  same  lines.  The 
fact  that  the  volume  is  already  in  its  fourth  edition 
is  sufficiently  convincing  that  it  is  a  decided  success. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


223 


TRADITIONS     OF     THE     COLQUHOUN 
COUNTRY. 


By  F.  Maey  Colquhous. 


being 
"Well 


(Continued  from  pinje   207.) 

^E  find  that  in  the  year  1648  a  romantic 
attachment     was    formed     between 

^fr^JS  John  Colquhoim  of  Luss,  called  the 
•'Black  Cock  of  the  West,"  and  Margaret 
Baillie,  the  rich  heiress  of  Lochend,  in  the 
county  of  Haddington.  Her  father  was  Sir 
Gideon  Baillie,  and  her  mother  was  Magdalene 
Carnegie,  daughter  of  David,  Lord  Carnegie, 
eldest  son  of  David,  first  Earl  of  Southesk. 

The  circumstances  connected  with  the 
beginning  of  his  acquaintance  with  his  "lady 
love  '  were  these : 

Several  guests  of  high  pretensions  were 
dining  at  Lochend  with  the  laird. 

Margaret,  who  was  then  very  young, 
present,  her  father  asked  her  in  jest, 
Maggie,  which  of  these  gentlemen  will  you  have 
for  a  husliand  ?  "  Without  a  moment's  pause, 
to  the  surprise  of  all  present,  she  answered, 
''The  Black  Cock  of  the  West,  father!  "  a  hint, 
as  it  has  proved  by  the  sequel,  not  thrown 
away  on  the  very  handsome  bai'onet.  Sir  John 
Colquhoun,  who  ever  afterwards  bore  the  sobri- 
quet so  bestowed  on  him  on  account  of  his 
black  locks,  glossy  as  the  wings  of  the  raven. 

His  portrait,  by  Sir  Peter  Lely,  is  in  the 
picture  gallery  at  Rossdhu,  and  represents  him 
as  a  singularly  fine  looking  man,  with  an  olive 
complexion  and  blue  black  hair. 

By  the  marriage  contract  between  M  argaret 
Baillie's  parents  it  was  j^rovided  that,  in  case 
there  should  be  no  sons  of  their  union,  their 
eldest  daughttr  should  succeed  to  the  estates, 
and  that  she  should  marry  a  person  bearing 
the  name  and  arms  of  Baillie,  and  that  with 
the  advice  of  four  nearest  of  kin  of  her  father 
and  mother.  Margaret  scorned  such  trammels 
of  her  attections,  and  held  true  to  her  hero  of 
the  west ! 

The  marriage  between  the  laird  of  Luss  and 
his  bride  was  celebrated  in  haste,  without  any 
previous  proclamation  of  banns  in  the  jDarish 
church.  This  most  likely  gave  rise  to  the 
report  that  they  had  eloped. 

The  bride  was  carried  olf,  with  her  willing 
consent,  to  Rossdhu  in  such  a  way  as  to  show 
that  she  had  run  oti"  with  him,  tint  he  with  her ! 
for  he  rode  behind  her  on  the  same  horse,  and 
thus  she  actually  reached  Rossdhu  before  her 
husband. 

The   reason   given   for   this   was,    that    the 


heiress  of  Lochend  being  a  ward  of  Chancery, 
John  Colquhoun  wished  to  avoid  the  con 
sequences  of  running  off  with  her  ! 

As  her  mother  and  step  father  were  friendly 
to  the  marriage,  this  report  of  an  elopement  is 
probablj'  without  foundation.  It  is,  however 
certain,  that  these  hasty  nuptials  were  not 
approved  of  at  a  time  when  the  ecclesiastical 
laws  were  so  strict  with  regard  to  marriage. 
It  is  reported,  however,  the  Commissioners 
of  Assembly  were  lenient  to  the  young  pair, 
and  the  committee  only  recommended  that  the 
mother  of  the  bride  should  "'confes  her  fault 
in  her  own  Paroch  Kirk." 

In  1718  Sir  Humphrey  Colquhoun  of  Luss 
died,  and  was  succeeded  by  his  daughter  Anne, 
who  married  James  Grant  of  Pluscardine, 
second  son  of  Ludovick  Grant  of  that  ilk,  on 
the  'iOthof  July,  1702 

The  family  of  Grant  is  of  great  antitjuity. 
It  was  powerful  in  the  reign  of  Alexander  II 
of  Scotland,  who  ascended  the  throne  in  1214, 
but  the  husband  of  the  heiress  of  Luss  only 
survived  a  year  after  their  marriage. 

His  eldest  brother,  Alexander,  who  was  a 
Brigadier  General  in  the  army,  succeeded  to 
his  father's  estates  in  1717,  and  became  the 
Chief  of  Grant. 

He  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  James, 
Lord  DouQ,  son  and  heir  of  Alexander,  6th 
Earl  of  Moray,  but  having  no  children  the 
estates  of  Grant  devolved  on  Sir  James 
Colquhoun  as  the  second  born,  but  now,  the 
eldest  son  of  Ludovick  Grant  of  <irant,  and  Sir 
James  resumed  his  paternal  surname  of  Grant 
and  dropped  the  surname  and  arms  of 
Colquhoun  of  Luss,  whilst  Ludovic,  the  second 
son  of  his  marriage  with  the  heiress  of  Luss, 
became  the  representative  and  possessor  of  the 
lands  of  Luss,  bearing  the  name  and  arms  of 
Luss  according  to  the  deed  of  entail,  his  elder 
brother,  Humphrey,  being  the  heir  apparent  of 
the  Grant  estates.  Sir  James  Grant  "  was  a 
gentleman  of  very  amiable  character,  beloved 
and  honoured  by  all  who  knew  him."  By  his 
wife,  Anne  Colquhoun,  who  died  at  Castle 
Grant  in  1724,  Sir  James  Grant  had  foui-teen 
children — sis  sons  and  eight  daughters. 

Another  of  the  "  Ladyes"  of  Luss  was  Lady 
Helen  Sutherland,  eldest  daughter  of  William, 
Lord  Strathnaver  (eldest  sou  of  John,  19th 
Earl  of  Sutherland),  who  died  in  1720.  This 
lady  married  Sir  James  Colquhoun,  and  their 
marriage  contract  was  signed  at  Edinburgh 
and  at  Castle  Grant.  June,  1740. 

Lady  Helen  was  in  the  23rd  year  of  her  age 
at  the  time  of  her  union  with  the  laird  of  Luss, 
who  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Major  of 
Lord  Sempill's  Highland  regiment  after  the 
Battle  of  Dettingen.     The  regiment  was  the 


224 


THE     OELTTO     MONTHLY. 


4211(1  Royal  Highlauders,  the  "Black  Watch." 
He  suffered  from  the  wounds  and  fatigues  of 
the  campaign  in  Flanders,  and  returned  before 
the  "  '45  "  to  Scotland.  The  town  of  Helens- 
burgh was  named  after  Lady  Helen  by  her 
husband,  and  many  of  the  squares  and  streets 
have  been  called  after  different  members  of  the 
Colquhoun  family. 

In    1774    Sir    James    began    to    build]  the 


present  mansion  of  Rossdhu,  as  the  old  castle 
was  not  considered  from  its  age  a  safe  dwelling. 
In  these  days  no  doubt  it  would  have  been 
restored,  instead  of  being  deserted  for  a  modern 
abode ! 

In  leaving  the  old  tower  for  her  new  home 
Lady  Helen,  who  survived  her  husband,  was 
deeply  affected,  and  her  grandson,  the  grand- 
father  of   the   present    Chief,   who   was   then 


— *^--t1 


:l!ANT     Ol'     I'M': 


seven  years  old,  remembered  that  she  shed 
tears,  saying  in  her  quaint  way  "It  was  a 
lucky  hole ! " 

Her  husband,  Sir  James,  a  very  fine  looking 
man,  was  held  in  great  favour  and  lo\ing 
esteem  for  his  personal  character.  It  was  he 
who  built  the  church  of  Luss  entirely  at  his 
own  expense,  laying  no  burden  on  the  other 
heritors.     His   influence    for   the   interests   of 


nt  Itim.Uni.   I.nch    /,.r,„„„„. 

religion  and  virtue  is  still  sensibly  felt,  so  it 
may  be  truly  said  of  him — "  Though  long  since 
passed  away  he  still  speaks  for  the  Master  he 
served  so  faithfully." 

Lady  Helen  was  much  esteemed  also.  She 
was  handsome,  slender  in  form,  and  engaging 
in  manners,  and  looked  well  after  her  family 
and  household.  She  was  very  particular  in 
having   everything   in    perfect    order,    and    a 


SURGEON-GENERAL     A.     H.     FRASER. 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


characteristic  stury  is  related  of  her  iu  regard 
to  this  quality  in  her  character. 

When  Dr.  Johnson  made  his  celebrated  tour 
to  the  Hebrides  he  paid  a  visit  to  Rossdhu. 

Having  been  drenched  iu  a  boating  expedi- 
tion on  Loch  Lomond  he  came  into  the  drawing 
room  with  the  water  splashing  out  of  his  boots. 
Lady  Helen  could  not  restrain  muttering 
"  What  a  bear  !  "  "  Yes,"  answered  one  of  the 
company,  "  he  is  no  doubt  a  bear,  but  it  is 
Krsiis  major ! " 

(To  be  ciintinued). 


SURGEON-GENERAL    A.     H.     FRASER. 


r^i  I'RGEUN-GEN- 
f«S;  ERAL  ARCHI- 
BALD HENRY 
FRASER  was  born  iu 
May,  1S27,  at  Arisaig, 
luveruess-shire.  He 
was  third  son  of  the  late 
John  Fraser,  forraerl_\' 
an  officer  iu  the  Glengarry  Fencibles,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  factor  for  the  Lovat  estates  iu 
Morar.  He  was  accidentally  drowned  in  July, 
1834,  while  retnrniug  to  Arisaig  from  the  Island 
of  Eigg,  and  iiis  body  was  never  recovered. 

When  about  two  years  of  age  the  subject  uf 
our  sketch  was  taken  on  a  visit  by  his  aunt,  Mrs. 
Henry  Butter(whose  husband  was  of  the  Faskally 
family),  and  only  retuiued  to  his  native  air  thirteen 
years  afterwards  to  recover  from  a  severe  iiluess. 
Some  j'ears  later  he  was  offered  by  the  late  Sir 
Alexander  Caaieron,  K.C.B.,  of  luverailort,  a 
commission  iu  the  medical  department  of  the 
army,  if  he  would  study  medicine,  and  having 
accepted  the  offer,  he  completed  his  studies  at 
(ilasgow  Andersoniun  College,  ijualifying  in 
August,  ISoO.  lie  next  passed  the  army  medical 
board  of  examination  in  Loudon,  and  was  sent  to 
Fort  Pitt,  then  tiie  largest  military  hospital  in  the 
kingdom,  where  he  did  duty  for  ovsr  a  montii, 
and  afterwards  was  transferred  to  Ciiatham.  In 
February,  1851,  he  was  appointed  Assistant 
Surgeon  to  the  iH'iid  Gordon  Uighlaiuleis,  then 
stationed  in  Ireland;  two  years  later  he  joined  tiie 
75th  regiment,  now  the  1st  Batt.  (rordon  High- 
landers, and  serveil  with  it  till  promoted  Staff- 
Surgeon,  2nd  class,  in  January,  1858.  Next  year 
he  exchanged  iuto  the  SSth  regiment,  and  in  IS?  1 
into  the  4lJth  regiment.  In  1877  he  was  selected 
for  administrative  duty  as  principal  meilical  officer 
with  the  British  troops  in  Burmah,  and  was  in 
the  same  year  promoted  Deputy  Surgeon-General. 
After  serving  in  various  parts  of  India,  during 
which  his  duties  were  often  incessant  and  of  the 
most    arduous    nature,    he    contracted    malaiial 


icvei',  and  was  transferred  in  la81  to  the  Rawul 
Pindee  Division.  In  the  following  year  he  was 
ordered  to  England,  aud  on  arrival  was  posted  as 
principal  medical  officer  at  the  Currugh  Cam|), 
from  which,  in  'S;!,  he  was  transferred  to 
Dublin  to  officiate  as  principal  medical  officer  for 
Ireland.  In  October,  '84,  he  was  orilered  to 
Gibraltar,  was  promoted  Surgeon-General,  and  in 
May,  '87,  was  placeil  on  retired  pay. 

Such  is  a  bare  resume  of  the  services  of  one  of 
the  most  able  and  distinguished  officers  in  the 
army  medical  service,  for  although  he  saw  little 
active  service,  he  had  fre(iuently  to  contend  with 
subtle  and  deadly  enemies  iu  the  shape  of  cholera, 
fever,  and  other  tropical  diseases,  aud  so  trying 
was  the  work  that  on  some  occasions  when 
himself  suffering  from  debility  resulting  from 
malarial  fever,  he  had  to  be  carried  through  the 
hospital  wards  iu  a'  doolie  so  that  he  might  be 
able  to  perform  his  duties.  Thanks  to  a  good 
constitution  he  never  completely  broke  down. 
Ilis  only  war  decoration  is  the  Indian  Mutiny 
Medal. 

In  November,  1851,  he  married  Jessie,  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Major  Duncan  Grahame  of 
Glenny,  Perthshire,  an  officer  who  had  served 
with  distinction  in  the  t>th  regiment  during  the 
Peninsular  War,  and  received  the  Peninsular 
Medal  with  six  clasps,  and  the  Portugese  Medal. 
Of  issue  there  were  five  sons  and  five  daughters. 
The  eldest  son  is  a  medical  practitioner  in 
Kansas,  U.S.A.  ;  second,  is  in  Alberta,  N.W.T., 
Canada ;  third,  a  Lieutenant  in  the  25th  K .  O. 
Scottish  Borderers ;  fourth,  a  Lieutenant  in  the 
Indian  Staff  Corps,  at  present  Adjutant  of  the 
Poonah  Horse ;  fifth,  died  from  the  effects  of  an 
accident  in  Rangoon  in  1877.  Of  the  daughters 
four  married  officers  iu  the  army,  and  the  fifth  is 
the  wife  of  Mr.  Charles  T.  G.  Knox,  of  the 
Ranfurly  family  Editok. 


AMONG     THE      HEATHER. 


I  lay  me  down  upon  the  purple  heath. 
While  all  around  me  biu'ns  the  regal  noon, 
Silent,  save  for  the  wild  bee's  drowsy  croon, 
And  vagrant  airs  that  scarcely  seem  to  breathe, 
Or  stir  with  passing  kiss  the  bells  that  wreathe 
My  scented  Oduch.      Joy's  voiceless,  wordless  tunc. 
Sings  to  my  trancpiil  heart,  that  all  too  soon 
May  throb  with  tiercer  pulses  hid  beneath. 
No  sign  of  man's  supremacy  is  here. 
No  trembling,  hunted  creature  refuge  seeks 
From  cruel  death  ;  o'er  the  far  mountain  peaks 
Drift  tlie  soft  tiliiiy  clouds  like  airy  dreams. 
And  deep  and  still  the  loch's  blue  jewel  gleams. 
Fair   heaven  smiles  to   fair  earth,   each  of   God's 
presence  speaks. 

JaNKT   A.    M'CULLOCH. 


226 


THE    CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


CLUNY     AND     LADY     CLUNY     OF     THE 
'45,     AFTER     CULLODEN. 


Bt  Alexander  Macpherson,  Kingussie. 


XL 

THE     SON     OF     CLUNY     OF     THE     '4:.. 

"Feadan  Dubh  Chlann  Cbataiii 

'S  fad  o  chvialas 
'S  buan  a  mhaireas 

'S  mor'  adh." 

(Clan  Chattan's  black  chanter 

That  sounded  afar, 
And  long  will  determine 

High  fortunes  of  war.) 

fN  1798  Colonel  .Macpherson,  who  had  then 
attained  his  50th  year,  married  his 
—  second  cousin,  Catherine  Cameron, 
daughter  of  Sir  Ewen  of  Passifern,  and  sister 
of  the  heroic  and  beloved  Colonel  John 
Cameron  who  fell  at  Quatre  Bras.  As  Sir 
Walter  Scott  in  his  Homeric  lines  has  it:  — 

"  Through  battle's  rout  and  reel. 
Storm  of  shot  and  hedge  of  steel. 
Led  the  grandson  of  Lochiel, 

Valiant  Passifern. 
Through  steel  and  shot  he  leads  no  more. 
Low  laid  'mid  friends'  and  foemen's  gore- 
But  long  his  native  lake's  wild  shore. 
And  Sunart  rough,  and  high  Ardgower, 

And  Morven  long  shall  tell. 
And  proud  Bennevis  hear  with  awe. 
How,  upon  bloody  Qaatre  Bras, 
Brave  Cameron  heard  the  wild  hurra 

Of  conquest  as  he  fell." 

Of  the  four  sons  of  the  marriage,  the  second — 
Cameron  Macjiherson — entered  the  service  of 
the  old  East  India  Comj^any,  and  died  in  early 
life.  Inheriting  the  martial  ardour  and  love  of 
chivalrous  adventure  prevaihng  for  so  many 
centuries  in  the  Macjiherson  country,  the  other 
three  entered  the  army  and  worthily  and 
honourably  maintained  the  ancient  fame  and 
mihtary  prowess  of  their  forefathers.  The 
eldest  son — "Old  Cluny  ' — long  so  popularly 
known  all  over  the  Highlands,  joined  the 
famous  Black  Watch  "of  song  and  story," 
afterwards  serving  in  the  Royal  Scots.  The 
third  son — Colonel  Archibald  Eraser  .Mac- 
pherson of  the  Madras  army — saw  much  service 
abroad,  and  acquired  distinction  for  signal 
gallantry  in  India.  On  his  return  to  his  native 
laud  he  received  a  gratifying  tribute  of  the 
respect  and  admiration  of  his  clansmen  and 
friends  in  the  shape  of  a  splendid  Highland 
banquet  at  Kingussie,  characterised  by  a  true 
display  of  the  most  patriotic  sentiments  on  the 
part  of  his  countrymen.  The  fourth  sou  -^ 
Colonel  John  Cameron  Macpherson,  the  name- 
sake of  his  famous  uncle,  the  hero  of  Quatre 


Bras — also  joined  the  Black  Watch,  dis- 
tinguishing himself  in  the  Crimean  War.  He 
was  reputed  to  be  oile  of  the  most  gallant  and 
daring  horsemen  of  his  time  in  the  British 
army.  On  his  tombstone  in  the  churchyard  of 
Stirhng,  where  he  died  in  1873,  it  is  recorded 
that  he  served  twenty-five  years  in  the  Black 
Watch,  and  was  engaged  at  the  Battle  of  the 
Alma  and  in  the  trenches  at  Sebastopol,  for 
which  he  received  the  Crimean  and  Turkish 
medals.  It  is  remarkable  that  two  of  Colonel 
John's  nephews  (sons  of  '•  Old  Cluny "),  then 
active  young  officers,  also  took  part  in  the 
Crimean  War — the  elder,  Colonel  Duncan, 
C.B.,  ultimately  attaining  the  command  of  the 
Black  N\'atch,  and  the  second,  Colonel  Ewen 
(the  present  Chief  of  Clan  Chattan),  the 
command  of  the  93rd  Highlanders.  On  both 
pensions  were  bestowed  for  "distinguished  and 
meritorious  services  "  in  the  army. 

As  indicative  of  the  kindly  and  considerate 
disposition  of  Colonel  Macpherson  (the  son  of 
Cluny  of  the  'L5)  and  his  regard  for  his 
tenantry  and  people,  so  characteristic  of  the 
House  of  Cluny,  the  following  extract  from  the 
letter  written  by  him  shortly  before  his  death 
to  General  Stewart  of  Garth,  portions  of  which 
have  been  ah-eady  quoted,  speaks  for  itself:  — 

"  I  am  clearly  of  your  opinion  that  much  of  the 
attachment  of  the  people  to  their  superiors  is 
unnecessarilj'  lost,  though  I  cannot  impute  the 
whole  blame  to  the  proprietors.  In  many  instances 
the  people  themselves  are  entirely  in  the  fault,  and 
in  other  cases  factors  abuse  the  trust  reposed  in 
them,  and  of  course  the  proprietor  gets  the  whole 
blame  of  their  oppressions.  You  have  given  two 
very  striking  and  opposite  instances,  which  may 
serve  to  illustrate  the  situation  of  landlord  and 
tenant  all  over  tlie  nation.  I  mean  Sir  George 
Stewart  and  the  Earl  of  Breadalbane.  The  one  has 
well-paid  rents  and  the  otler  (.if  a  large  sum  of 
money  besides  for  his  accommodation,  while  the  other 
with  difficulty  gets  one-tenth  of  his.  If  a  tenant 
has  a  fair  bargain  of  his  farm  it  is  an  absurdity  to 
suppose  that  one  bad  year  will  distress  him  ;  but 
when  the  rent  is  so  nicked  that  he  is  only  struggling 
in  the  best  of  times,  a  very  little  falling  off  in  prices 
or  seasons  will  totally  ruin  him,  and  I  am  sorry  to 
say  that  much  of  the  present  distress  is  to  be 
attributed  to  that  cause.  I  am  happy  to  have  it  in 
my  power  to  tell  you  that  my  rents  were  all  paid — 
that  is,  to  a  mere  trifle,  and  even  that  trifle  due  by 
a  few  improvident  individuals  who  would  be  e(|ually 
in  arrear  in  the  best  of  times.  The  Duke  of  Gordon 
has  not  received  more  than  one  half  of  his  rents 
either  in  Lochaber  or  Badenoch,  and  I  have  reason 
to  believe  his  Grace's  rents  were  paid  better  in  the 
low  country.  Belville  has  not  exceeded  one-tenth, 
and  though  I  do  not  e.vactly  know  in  what  propor- 
tion the  Invereshie  rent  was  paid,  yet  I  know  that 
it  was  a  bad  collection. 

The  conduct  of  the  family  of  Stafibrd  is  certainly 
unaccountable,  for  1  am  credibly  informed  that 
the  old  tenants  offered  a  higher  rent  than  those 
that     came     from     England,     consecpiently     they 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


22? 


are  losers  in  every  respect.  1  kimw  it  will  be 
siiid  by  those  who  are  advocates  for  depoimlating 
the  country  that  they  could  not  stand  to  their 
offer,  but  neither  could  their  successors,  for 
a  very  large  deduction  has  already  been  given 
them,  and  one  man  in  particular  has  got  tive 
hundred  pounds  down.  Upon  the  whole  it  is  clear 
tliat  the  Marquis  of  Statl'ord  was  led  into  these 
arrangements  (so  disgraceful  to  the  present  age)  by 
speculative  men  that  wish  to  overturn  the  old 
system  at  once,  without  considering  tliat  their  plans 
were  at  least  only  a[>plicable  to  the  present  moment. 


and  that  such  clianges,  even  if  necessary,  should  be 
done  gradually  and  with  great  caution.  I  cannot 
dismiss  this  subject  without  making  a  few  remarks 
(in  the  conduct  of  Lidy  Statlbrd,  and  you  will  be 
astonished  to  learn  that  when  her  old  and  faithful 
adiierents,  who  had  given  her  such  repeated  proofs 
of  their  attachment,  were  cruelly  oppressed  by  a 
f.ictor,  that  she  should  refuse  to  listen  to  their 
complaints  ;  and  when  that  factor  was  tried  for  his 
life  on  charges  of  cruelty,  oppression,  and  murder, 
it  is  most  unaccountable  that  her  ladyshiii  should 
e.vert   all   her   influence   to   screen   him   from   the 


MliS.    (.'\T1IKU)N1':    CAilEliO.N.    OK    .MACl'HEllSON,    r>.\Ul!HTEU    (IK    SIH 

KWE.V  C-A.MKRII.\  OF  K.\SSIKERV,  .\KU  WIFE   OF   COLONEL    DLXLAX 

MACl'HEaSOX  OF  CLITNY— THE  SON  OF  CLUNY  OF  THE    45. 

(F,..),!    Ih,-  (lri,,imll   r,i,„l,„.i  III  Cliiiiil  Cn.'-IU-.) 


l)unishment  which  he  so  richly  deserved.  I  have 
only  to  add  that  as  far  as  my  own  observations 
e.\tend  much  of  the  evil  complained  of  arises  from 
the  absence  of  proprietors  from  their  properties,  by 
which  they  are  in  a  great  measure  unacipiainted 
with  the  real  state  of  their  tenants,  and  consecpiently 
open  to  every  species  of  advice  and  misrejiresenta- 
tion." 

"  Happy  the  chief  who  in  .sucli  still  retreat, 

Nurses  the  memory  of  longcenturied  sires, 
Whose  faithful  people  go  with  forward  feet 


Where  his  eyes  flashes,  and  his  voice  inspires, 
Who  makes  the  hills  his  home,  and  reigns  a  king 
O'er  willing  hearts  who  love  his  sheltering  wing." 

Upon  Golouel  Macpherson's  unexpected 
death  in  1817  at  Cupar-Fife,  where,  after 
recovering,  as  was  supposed,  from  a  serious 
illness,  he  had  gone  to  visit  some  friends,  a 
beautiful  ( Gaelic  elegy  was  composed  by  Duncan 
Fraser,  IJalgown,  iu  the  parish  of  Laggan, 
unsurpassed,    it    is    believed,    in    the    Gaelic 


THE     OKLTIC     MONTHLY. 


language.     While  the  elegy  is  intended  after 
the  manner  of  a  bygone  time  to  express  the 
personal  feelings  of  Cluny's  bereaved  wife,  the 
bard  proceeds  to  give  a  general  vievp  of  the 
sorrow  of  the  whole  country,  when  the  tidings 
of  Cluny's  death  arrived.     The  original  is  given 
by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sinton,  the  esteemed  minister 
of  Dores,  so  well  known  as  a  collector  of  the  old 
songs  of  Badenoch,  in  the  Celtic  Magazine  for 
December,     1887.      It    consists     of     thirteen 
stanzas,  and  is  too  long  to  be  given  here  entire, 
but  the  first  and  last  verses  may  be  quoted  : — 
"01  gur  mis'  th'air  mo  sgaradh 
'S  cha-n  en  t-Earrach  a  liath  mi, 
Ach  na  ohaill  mi  an  Cupar, 
'S  mbr  mo  dliiiibliail  'ga  iargainn. 
Cliaill  mi  deagh  fliear  an-tighe, 
Ceannard  cheatharn  is  chiadan, 
'S  trie  a  bhuanaich  an  latha, 
An  'am  catha  'ga  dhioladh. 
#  *  *  *  * 

An  Tigh  Cliluainidh  nam  bratach, 
Bithidli  gach  aiteal  mar  b'  .'ibhuist 
Tha  a'  glirian  oirnn  a'  soillseadli, 
'S  tha  an  t-oighre  an  liithair. 
Oighre  dligheach  an  fhearainn, 
Tha  'na  leanabh  an  drasda, 
Saoghal  buan  an  deagh  bheatha. 
An  ait  d'  athar  gu  brkth  duit." 
The  following  prose  translation  of  the  elegy 
gives  but  a  very  faint  idea   of   the   touching 
pathos  and  beauty  of  the  original.     The  curious 
in   such   matters,   however,    will   find   in    the 
translation— comparatively  feeble  as  it  is — some 
picturesque  glimpses  of  life  and  manners  now 
almost  entirely  passed  away: — 

Torn  am  I  by  attliction  that  has  changed  my 
hair — made  grey  not  by  the  severities  of  spring  : 
'tis  the  calamity  that  overwhelmed  me  in  the  town 
of  Cujiar,  and  pierced  me  with  sorrow's  dart. 
There  lost  I  the  most  excellent  spouse — chief  of 
levied  bands,  who  often  gained  the  laurels  of  the 
day  in  time  of  waged  war.  Had  it  been  in  quarrel 
and  combat  that  thou  so  soon  wert  cut  oft'  from  us, 
many  a  banner  would  be  displayed  and  keen  edge 
drawn.  Ere  thou  should'st  know  distress  and 
gloom,  Mac  Shimi  of  the  Aird  would  come,  and  the 
hardy  Clan  Cameron,  together  with  the  Mackin- 
toshes and  Grants.  Thine  own  tribe,  the  Clan 
Vourioh,  would  be  all  at  thy  command— those 
manly,  bold,  fiery,  hard-hitting  heroes  who  never 
limch,  pressing  to  the  front  of  battle,  broadsword 
in  hand,  for  the  sake  of  thy  father's  son,  with  no 
fear  or  hesitation.  When  thou  wouldst  unfold  thy 
banner,  the  lioats  of  the  north  would  arise  with 
thee  ;  visible  to  all  the  strong-furred  cat  is  seen. 
Victory  would  go  with  thee  while  others  would  be 
routed.  Cause  of  my  woe,  to  tell  that  now  thou 
art  underneath  the  tombstone  cold.  Once  a 
thousand  men  and  pipers  would  assemble  at  thy 
levy,  yielding  to  the  authority  of  thy  cross-tara 
when  thy  wrath  arose.  Tliese  were  intrepid 
warriors  in  the  day  of  stern  requital,  who  would 
leave  many  a  bleeding  corpse  on  the  battlefield. 
Stroll"   ridor   of   mettlesome   steeds,   in    deeds    of 


hardihood,  in  tussle,  in  race,  in  leap,  thou  wett 
ever  first.  Well  did  thy  hat  and  cloak,  thy  boots 
and  silver  spurs  become  thee.  True  friend  wert 
thou  to  King  George,  when  drilled  companies  were 
armed.  Right  well  did  it  suit  thee  to  ajipear  in  the 
courts  of  justice — to  stand  out  for  the  right  and  to 
quench  malice.  Thy  word  alone  were  as  good  to 
me  as  though  confirmed  by  ink  ;  and  sure  am  I  that 
thy  home  is  in  Heaven  of  the  good  and  true. 

Thy  town  is  smokeless,  without  joy  and  merri- 
ment. The  doors  are  there  closed,  and  there  is  not 
the  wonted  stir.  Sad  to  me  is  the  wailing  of  thy 
peasantry,  like  a  flock  astray  in  the  desert.  No 
matter  who  strikes  them  now,  there  is  none  to 
rescue.  It  was  the  custom  of  thy  family  to  be 
social  and  bountiful — gentle,  patriotic,  kindly — 
having  great  favour  for  bards.  Wax  would  burn  in 
chandeliers  through  a  long  night,  while  thy  vassals 
([uaft'ed  the  ruddy  wine  from  full  hogsheads.  In 
thy  court  there  would  be  heard  the  strains  of  pipe 
and  harp — echo  answering  the  notes  of  numberless 
chanters.  Then  when  thou  wouldst  throw  out  thy 
banner,  the  cat  would  be  seen  aloft,  and  as  it  led 
onwards  triumph  would  attend. 

Nevermore  will  I  go  to  gathering  at  Christmas  or 
Halloween.  Nevermore  will  I  go  into  company. 
Rather  will  I  keep  aloof  and  sit  alone.  Ah !  did 
my  lord  come  back  restored  to  health  again,  no 
leech  would  be  needed  for  me  ;  then  we  both  would 
be  well.  They  were  not  withering  trees  that  were 
in  the  grove  where  thou  wert  reared  ;  they  were 
choice  saplings  that  grew  to  their  full  capacity. 
Cut  down  they  might  be,  but  ye  could  never  bend 
them  without  twisting  into  the  very  earth ;  like 
holly  tree  for  ever  fresh.  Numerous  roots  supplied 
their  growth. 

In  the  bannered  house  of  Cluny  all  will  yet  be  as 
of  old.  The  sun  still  shines  for  us.— an  heir  is  alive, 
the  rightful  heir  of  the  property,  though  yet  but  a 
child.  A  long  and  happy  life  to  thee  in  thy  father's 
place  ! 

In  the  beautiful  burial-place  of  the  family, 
within  a  short  distance  of  C'limy  Castle,  there 
is  a  marble  tablet  erected  to  the  memory  of 
Colonel  Duncan,  with  the  following  inscrip- 
tion : — 

"Sacred  to  the  meniory  of  Colonel  Duncan 
Macpherson  of  Cluny,  who,  on  the  1st  of  August, 
1817,  died  at  the  age  of  69,  respected  and  beloved 
as  a  Highland  Chief.  He  served  his  country  for 
upwards  of  thirty  years,  during  six  of  which  he 
commanded,  on  active  service  in  America,  a  bat- 
talion of  the  then  71st,  or  Fraser  Regiment.  This 
monument,  to  the  memory  of  an  afiectionate 
husband  and  father,  has  been  erected  by  his  widow 
and  children." 

"  Lord,  while  for  all  mankind  we  pray, 
Of  every  clime  and  coast, 
O  hear  us  for  our  native  land, — 
The  land  we  love  the  most. 

Our  father's  sepulchres  are  here, 

And  here  our  kindred  dwell. 
Our  children,  too — how  sliould  wj  lovo 

Another  land  so  well  (  " 

[Concluded.] 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


229 


OUR      MUSICAL      PAGE. 


(pPjHE  following  soug  with  its  pleasing 
S?^  melody  is  exceedingly  popular  through- 
^■^  out  tlie  Highlands.  It  was  composed 
by   Hector  MacKenzie,   a  sailor  belonging  to 


Ullapool,  Lochbroom.  He  composed  several 
other  songs.  He  died  about  the  middle  of 
the  present   century.     The   translation    is    by 

FioH7l. 


MO    CHAILIN     DILEAS     DONN  -MY     FAITHFUL     AUBURN     MAID. 

Key  F.     Mo,Ui;,i„,  ,rilh  expre^^n,,,. 


Oh, 


d  ,d  . 

:     r 

.,n 

1      1 

:     s    .,f 

1     n  ,d  .- 

:     1,   .,t, 

1      d 

Gu  ma 

slan 

a 

chi 

mi     mo 

ohailin 

dileas 

ilomi 

haiipy 

may 

I 

see 

thee,  my 

cailin 

deelis 

(lonn 

.S|    I  d,d.-  :   r  .,n  I  d'        :  t  .,d'  I   1  ., s  :   n  .s   I    1 

Bean  a'  chuailein  rt'idh     air  an     deise  dh'  eireadh  fonn, 
With  wavy     auburn       ringlets,     and     voice  of  sweetest  tone  ! 


-.d'  I  s  .,n  :  s.l^ld'.d'.-:  t  .,d' 
'S  i  cainnt  do  bheoil  hu  bhinne  leam  an 
Thy  plfasing  words  oft.  clieered  me,  and 


M   l.,s    :   n  .s   1     1       :    -.d'     1    s  .,1    :  s  .,n  I     1       :    s  .,f    I  n  ,d.-:  1,  .,ti  |    d 
uair  'bhiodh  m"  inntinn  trom,  'S  tu     thogadh  suas  mo    chridh  'n  uair  a  bhiodh  tu  'bruidhinn  rium. 
raised  my  heart  when  sad  ;  Thy     converse,  like  sweet    music,     my       spirits    would  maUe  glad. 


Gur  muladach  a  ta  mi 

'S  ini  nochd  air  kird  a'  chuain, 
'S  neo-shunndach  mo  chadal  dhomh 

'S  do  chaidreamh  fada  bhuam  ; 
Gur  trie  mi"ort  a'  smaointeach, 

As  d'  aogais  tha  mi  truagh  ; 
'Us  mur  a  dran  mi  d'fhaotainn 

Cha  bhi  mo  shaoghal  buan. 

Siiil  chorrach  mar  an  dearcag 

Fo  rosg  a  dh'iadhas  dliith  ; 
Gruaidhean  mar  an  caorann, 

Fo  'n  aodann  'tha  leam  cii'iin  ; 
Mur  d'  aithris  iad  na  breugan 

Gu'n  d'  thug  mi  fein  duit  rim  ; 
'S  gur  bliadhna  leam  gach  la 

O'n  uair  a  dh'fhJig  mi  thu. 

Tacan  mu'n  do  sheol  sinn 

Is  ann  a  thoisich  cjlch 
Ri  innseadh  do  mo  cbruinneig-sa 

Nach  tillinn-sa  gu  brath  : 
Na  cuireadh  sud  ort  gruaimean, 

A  luaidh  ma  bhios  mi  sikn, 
Cha  chum  dad  idir  uait  mi 

Ach  saigbead  ehruaidh  a"  Bhkis. 

Tha  'n  t-snaim  a  nise  ceangailte, 

Gu  daingean  agus  teann  ; 
"Us  their  luehd  na  fanaid  rium 

Nach  'eil  mo  phrothaid  ann  : 
Am  fear  aig  a'  bheil  fortan 

Tha  crois  aige  'na  cheann, 
'S  tha  mise  taingeil  toilichte 

Ged  tha  mo  sporan  gann. 


My  heart  is  torn  with  anguish 

This  night  upon  the  sea. 
And  restless  are  my  slumbers 

Since  far  away  from  thee. 
How  oft  my  thoughts  entwine  thee, 

Though  absent  from  my  view ! 
And  if  I  may  not  claim  thee. 

My  days  shall  be  but  few. 

Beneath  thy  pencilled  eyebrows 

Are  eyes  like  berries  blue, 
Thy  cheeks  are  like  the  rowans 

Of  red  and  ripest  hue  ; 
I  will  confess  with  gladness 

That  I  this  maid  adore, — 
Each  day  has  seemed  a  year 

Since  we  parted  on  the  shore. 

A  while  before  we  parted 

They  sought  to  grieve  thee  sore. 
And  said  unto  my  maiden 

I  should  return  no  more  ; 
Heed  not  their  cruel  slander 

My  love,  if  naught  betide, 
I'll  come  again  to  see  thee. 

And  claim  thee  for  my  bride. 

The  knot  is  tied  securely 

That  binds  me  to  my  dear. 
Though  mocking  foes  are  saying 

'Twill  bring  me  little  gear; 
The  man  who  weds  a  fortune 

Its  cross  has  oft  to  bear, 
So  I  am  quite  contented 

Although  my  purse  be  spare. 


230 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


TO     CORRESPONDENTS. 

All  Cotnmiinications,  on  literary  and  businest 
matters,  should  be  addressed  to  the  Editor,  Mr.  JOHN 
3IACKAY,  !>  BIythswood  Drive,  Olasgou). 

TERMS  OP  SUBSCRIPTION.— The  CELTIC 
MONTHLY  will  be  sent,  post  free,  to  any  part  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  Canada,  the  United  States,  and  all 
countries  in  the  Postal  Union — for  one  year,  4^. 


The   Celtic    Monthly. 

SEPTEMBER,  1896. 


COICTESJWTrS. 

Dr.  Kenneth  Mackenzie  Ciiisholm  {with  portraits),  -       -  221 

Reviews— What  is  mv  Tartan?— A  Man  in  the  F.iords,    -  222 

Traditions  of  the  Colql-houn  Country  (illustrated),  -       -  223 

SfRGEON-GENERAL  A.  H.  Fraser  (with  plate),       -         -         -  225 

A-MONG  THE  Heather  (poem),  - 225 

Clunt  and  Lady  Cll'nv  of  the  '45,  after  Ciilloden  (illus.),  22G 
OiR  Musical  Paoe— Mo  Ciiailin  Dileas  Doxs— My  Faithful 

AuiiURN  Maid, 229 

To  OUR  Readers, 230 

The  Rojal  Scots  Grevs,  Part  V.  (illustrated),  -  •  .  231 
The  (Jui'rch  in  the  Hishlaxds,  or  "  The  Scottish 

Highlander  " — Continued,    .-..-.  233 

The  M'Crisdles, 234 

Alexander  Macdonald,  of  Balranald  (witli  plate),    -       -  236 

FiNQAL'S  Weei'Ing  (poeui), -        -  237 

The  Highland  Sword  (illustrated), 2S8 

Letter  to  tub  Editor — Mk.  Boole  and  tub  Hiqiila;^d  Rack,  2:;9 

The  Targe  and  Claymore  (poem),         -       -       •       -       •  240 

NOTICE    TO    SUBSCRIBERS. 

With  this  issue  we  complete  our  Fourfli  Volume. 
As  ice  are  anxious  to  make  up  our  List  of  iiubsaihers 
for  Volume  V.  as  soou  as  possible,  uv  shall  feel  rireatly 
favoured  if  our  readers  will  hiiulhj  fnrn-anl  their 
awMal  subscriptions  {4j-  post  fin  )  nf  um; ,  to  the 
Editor,  Mr.  John  Mackay,  V  j;l,iflis,r<„id  Drive, 
Glasgow.  Siibscribers  miylit  kindly  (jirc  this  their 
immediate  attention. 

OUR     NEXT     ISSUE. 

With  the  CJctober  number,  which  commences  the 
fifth  vohiine,  we  will  present  our  readers  with  plate 
portraits  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Murray  Campbell 
of  Siam  (Mr.  Campbell  is  a  native  of  Rogart, 
Sutherland)  ;  Mr.  Donald  Matheson  of  Lews 
Castle,  Stonioway  ;  and  Rev.  D.  G.  Mearnss  of 
Disblair,  Oj'ne,  Aberdeenshire  ;  with  biographical 
sketches.  ] 

Next  month  we  will  commence  a  series  of 
interesting  articles  on  "The  Minor  Septs  of  Clan 
Chattan,"  the  opening  chapters  dealing  with  the 
Clan  MacGillivray,  which  will  be  illustrated  with 
pictures  of  places  and  objects  relating  to  the  clan. 
No  clansman  should  miss  reading  these  valuable 
historical  papers  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Charles 
Fraser-Mackintosh.  Mr.  J.  Hamilton  Mitchell  also 
contributes  a  series  of  papers  on  "Flora  Mac- 
donald," in  which  the  life  and  adventures  of  the 
Highland  heroine  are  described  in  an  interesting 
and  sympathetic  manner. 


This  issue  contains  a  four  page  supplement,  with 
title  page  and  index  for  Volume  IV. 

Celtic  Monthly,  Volumb  IV. — As  we  will  only 
be  able  to  supply  a  few  complete  bound  copies  i  f 
this  volume,  some  of  the  parts  being  already  out  uf 
print,  those  who  desire  copies  should  communicate 
^vith  us  at  once.  The  price  is  10/-  post  free,  and 
copies  can  be  had  from  the  Editor,  Mr.  John 
Mackay,  9  BIythswood  Drive,  Glasgow. 

The  Annual  Exhibition  and  Sale  of  the 
Highland  Home  Industries  Association  will 
take  place  at  Inverness  on  the  16th,  17th,  and  18tli 
September.  Here  may  be  seen  gathered  together 
home-made  products  of  Crofter  and  Cottar  industry 
from  all  parts  of  the  Highlands  and  Islands.  A 
more  interesting  Exhibition  our  readers  will 
nowhere  find,  and  we  can  strongly  recommend  such 
of  them  as  may  be  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Inver- 
ness, when  it  is  open,  to  pay  it  a  visit.  The 
Association  yearly  disposes  of  nearly  £1000  worth 
of  goods  at  its  Sale,  and  the  proceeds  are  a  welcome 
addition  to  the  meagre  income  of  many  poor 
Crofter  and  Cottar  families  in  the  Highlands  and 
Islands. 

A  Clever  Young  Highlander. — Many  of  our 
north  country  readers  ivill  be  pleased  to  learn  that 
the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  Hugh  Bannerman,  Southport 
(of  Helmsdale,  Sutherlandshire),  has  just  jjassed 
his  final  examination  for  the  M.B.,  CM. ,  Edinburgh 
University,  with  "  distinction."  He  took  tirst 
class  honours  in  six  subjects,  and  medals  in  three 
others,  which  is  surely  a  record  for  a  young 
Highlander  of  twenty-three  years  of  age.  Dr. 
Bannerman  has  been  appointed  one  of  the  resident 
physicians  of  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  and 
we  heartily  congratulate  him  on  his  success. 

Mr.  John  Murray  Graham,  Napier,  New 
Zealand,  who  left  for  the  Antipodes  for  the  benefit 
of  his  health,  writes  us  saying  that  he  has  much 
improved  recently.  His  many  friends  in  London 
and  elsewhere  will  be  glad  to  learn  of  his  recovery. 
Mr.  Graham  hails  from  Eilean  Lcudlntis,  and  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Napier. 
We  are  indebted  to  him  for  adding  the  names  of  a 
good  many  new  subscribers  in  New  Zealand  to  our 
list. 

Death  of  a  Brave  Young  Highlander. — Many 
Highlanders  in  this  city  would  be  sorry  to  notice 
in  the  papers  recently  that  young  Campbell  of 
Komgha,  South  Africa,  fell  in  the  fight  with  the 
Matabele  in  the  Mazoe  Valley.  He  was  the 
youngest  son  of  Mr.  A.  D.  Campbell  of  Komgha, 
South  Africa,  who  was  well-known  in  Celtic  circles 
in  Glasgow  some  twelve  years  ago.  Although  so 
far  distant  from  his  native  land,  his  love  for  the 
Highlands,  and  his  interest  in  Celtic  matters,  has  in 
no  way  dimmished.  In  a  letter  we  received  from 
him  not  long  ago  he  mentioned  that  his  young  son, 
although  only  seventeen  years  of  age,  had  gone  to 
join  his  brother  at  Salisbury.  Being  a  young  man 
of  spirit  and  daring  he  was  soon  in  the  thick  of  the 
fighting,  and  now  he  has  met  a  soldier's  death. 
Many  old  friends  here  will  sympathise  with  Mr. 
Campbell  in  his  bereavement. 

Clan  Chattan  Association. — This  Association 
will  hold  its  Annual  Conversazione  in  Glasgow  in 
<  )ctober,  Mackintosh  of  Mackintosh  in  the  chair. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


231 


Part  V. — (Continned  from  page  213>. 

^fcj^  T  last  receiving  a  report  that  several 
/^K*r  masses  of  horse  and  foot  were  seen  on 
JW^  the  plain  of  JMout  St.  Auchve,  Marl- 
borough rode  forward  to  reconnoitre.  The  fog 
had  not  dissipated  and  he  was  not  able  to 
determine  what  were  ViUeroi's  plans,  but  when 
he  had  proceeded  a  little  further  the  whole 
mystery  was  solved,  and  the  entire  army  of 
ViUeroi  was  seen  in  order  of  battle.  The 
practised  and  skilful  eye  of  Marlborough 
scanned  the  serried  ranks  and  dispositions  of 
the  enemy,  as  the  fog  bank  drew  upwards  like 
a  mighty  curtain,  and  the  May  sunshine  was 
reflected  on  the  lines  of  steel.  On  ijerceiving 
the  one  great  defect  in  them  he  hastened  back 
to  bring  forward  his  army  to  take  advantage 
of  it.  On  coming  up  Marlborough  directed 
his  attention  to  this  great  object,  and  the 
measures  he  adopted  for  the  purpiose  of 
effecting  it  proved  as  successful  as  they  were 
admirably  conceived. 

Marlborough  had  in  the  field  22  English 
battalions,  9  Scots,  43  Dutch  and  Germans, 
and  123  squadrons  of  cavalry,  which  he  formed 
into  two  lines.  At  one  o'clock  the  artillery  fire 
opened  on  both  sides.  Amid  this  cannonade 
Marlborough  made  a  feigned  attack  by  his 
right  on  the  French  left.  Villeroi  surmised 
this  to  be  a  real  attack  and  hastened  to 
strengthen  his  left  by  withdrawing  several 
brigades  from  his  centre.  This  was  the  line 
into  which  Marlborough  wished  to  lead  him. 
In  a  moment  he  sent  an  aide-de-camp  to  recall 


some  of  the  troops  he  sent  from  his  right  and 
return  to  the  real  point  of  attack,  and  now  the 
battle  began  in  earnest.  ViUeroi's  right  was 
attacked  with  indescribable  fury  by  infantry, 
cavalry,  and  artillery.  As  the  roar  of  battle  closed 
round  Eamillies,  Villeroi  became  aware  that  he 
had  been  out  manceuvred  in  the  very  beginning 
of  the  battle ;  he  now  saw  that  his  right  and 
not  his  left  was  in  danger,  and  he  exerted 
himself  to  the  utmost  to  repair  his  mistake. 
Dismoimtiug  twenty  squadrons  of  his  dragoons 
he  sent  them  to  reinforce  his  extreme  right. 
The  Dutch  cavalry  met  them  unexpectedly  and 
cut  them  to  pieces. 

The  first  line  of  the  French  cavalry  now 
came  on  and  made  a  furious  charge.  It  was 
charged  in  turn,  routed  and  broken.  Oyer 
heaps  of  dead  and  dying  men  the  second  line 
now  advanced  while  the  Dutch  column  was 
disordered  and  in  fierce  pursuit,  and,  for  an 
instant,  gave  Villeroi  some  hope  of  restoring 
the  battle,  but  at  this  very  moment  appeared 
the  redoubtable  Marlborough  at  the  head  of 
seventeen  squadrons  of  horse.  With  these  he 
instantly  charged  among  the  cuirassiers  and 
the  splendidly  mounted  and  accoutred  House- 
hold troops  of  France.  Sword  met  sword, 
steel  rang  on  steel,  and  saddles  were  fast 
emptied.  The  slaughter  was  great  on  both 
sides,   but  at  last   the   French   were   literally 


23i 


THE     OELTIO     MONTHLY. 


destroyed.  Amidst  the  dreadful  melee  Marl- 
borough was  nearly  taken  prisoner,  or  would 
have  been  killed  were  it  not  for  the  prompt  aid 
given  him  by  the  Duke  of  Argyll  and  General 
Murray.  The  Colonel  of  the  Royal  Irish 
Dragoons  mounted  him  upon  his  own  horse 
and  led  him  out  of  danger.  In  this  terrible 
conflict  the  Scots  Greys  highly  distinguished 
themselves.  They  were  opposed  by  the  French 
'•Regiment  du  Roi,"  whom  they  decimated, 
and  captured  the  Royal  Standard  of  France. 

Once  more  advancing,  the  allied  cavalry  were 
met  by  the  Bavarian  cuirassiers,  when  fresh 
squadrons  from  the  allied  right  appeared 
coming  on  the  spur  across  the  plain  and 
drawing  up  m  line  with  that  steadiness  which 
is  a  proof  of  discipline  and  valour.  The 
Bavarians  became  panic  struck  at  the  sight, 
wheeled  about  and  fled  to  the  rear.  The 
great  object  of  this  tremendous  struggle,  the 
possession  of  the  ridge,  surmounted  by  the 
tomb  of  Ottomond,  was  won. 

The  village  of  Ramillies  was  meantime  as 
bravely  defended  as  it  was  fiercely  assailed  by 
the  British  and  allies.  The  attacking  corps 
fought  their  way  among  the  houses,  then  they 
rushed  with  the  bayonet  upon  the  troops  who 
occupied  the  hedges  and  barricades,  and  soon 
made  themselves  masters  of  the  place 

In   this   action,   says    "  a   military   writer," 


UNIFORM     OF     PRIVATE, 
"The  Scotn  Grcyg,"  published  by  Messrs.  W. 


the  Dutch  troops,  and  more  especially  the 
Dutch  Mackay  regiment,  distinguished  them- 
selves by  their  extraordinary  gallantry. 

The  French  were  now  completely  defeated 
on  their  right  and  centre,  not  without  causing 
severe  loss  and  confusion  amongst  the  victors. 
Marlborough  halted  to  restore  order  in  his 
brigades.  Of  this  halt  Villeroi  hastened  to 
take  advantage  by  forming  a  second  line  out  of 
the  ruins  of  his  army,  but  he  soon  found  it 
could  not  be  done. 

The  allied  trumpets  once  again  sounded  the 
advance,  again  the  cavah-y  charged,  and  in  five 
minutes  the  whole  field  was  strewed  with  dead 
and  wounded  men,  riderless  horses,  and  fugi- 
tives flying  for  their  lives.  In  this  charge  the 
gallant  Greys  were  most  conspicuous.  Riding 
fast  and  furious  in  pursuit  they  rode  into  the 
streets  of  Autre  Eglise,  sabring  the  French 
right  and  left  before  them.  Galloping  through 
the  village  and  out  into  the  open  on  the  other 
side,  they  came  upon  their  former  opponents, 
the  "  Regiment  du  Roi."  They  surrendered 
immediately,  and  delivered  up  their  arms  and 
colours  to  the  exultant  Scots.  Having  secured 
the  colours  and  placed  a  guard  over  the 
prisoners,  the  remainder  of  the  Greys  were 
about  to  continue  the  pursuit  when  a  number 
of  the  prisoners  attempted  to  regain  their  arms. 
The  Greys  instantly  faced  about,  cut  down 
some  of  the  foremost  adven- 
turers, posted  a  stronger 
guard  over  their  prisoners, 
and  then  hastened  in  pursuit 
of  the  fleeing  French  and 
Bavarians.  The  battle  was 
now  won  after  five  houi's 
severe  fighting.  Alarlborough 
advanced  in  pursuit  with  his 
whole  army.  Broken,  dispiri- 
ted and  demoralised,  French 
and  Bavarians  were  in  full 
flight  in  various  directions, 
and  soon  became  panic  struck. 
Marlborough  pursued  till 
darkness  set  in,  then  halting, 
he  sent  on  his  light  cavalry 
who  continued  the  pursuit  all 
night,  tiU  the  spires  and 
walls  of  Louvain  were  seen 
brightening  with  the  rays  of 
the  morning  sun.  Ramillies 
was  another  Waterloo  The 
immediate  consequence  of 
this  great  \actory  was  the 
surrender  of  nearly  all  Bra 
bant,  while  the  gay  city  of 
Paris  was  overwhelmed  with 
consternation.  "Louis,"  says 
Smollett,    "  affected   to  bear 


i-  A.   K.  Johnston,  Bdinhufyh.) 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


•.>:?;? 


his  misfortime  with  composure,  but  the  con- 
straint had  such  an  effect  upon  his  constitution 
that  his  phy- 
sicians thought 
it  necessary 
to  prescribe 
frequent  bleed- 
ing. At  his 
Court  no  men- 
tion was  made 
of  military 
transactions 

In  this  de 
cisive  battle 
the  loss  of  the 
alhes  in  killed 
and  wounded 
was  3,638, 
while  that  of 
the  French 
was  13,000  in 
killed,  woun- 
ded, and  prison- 
ers, among 
them  many 
officers  of  high 
rank;  130 
colours  and 
standards,  the 

kettledi'ums  of  the  Mousquitaires  and  House- 
hold cavalry   were  captui-ed,  with  (JO  cannons, 


(/•■, 


UNIFOEM    OK 

■,'■  iml/lishcd  hii  .1 


8  mortars,  and  the  whole  of  their  tents  and 
One  of  the  privates  of  the  Scots 
Greys  woun- 
ded at  Eamil- 
1  i  e  s  was  a 
female,  a  native 
of  Ireland. 
Her  name  was 
Christian 
Davis.  Her 
husband  had 
enlisted  in  the 
army,  ^^'ith  a 
view  of  follow- 
ing him  with 
greater  facility 
she  assumed 
man's  attire. 
Unsuccessful 
in  her  quest 
f;  she  enlisted  in 

a  foot  regi- 
ment, and  in 
1702  joined  the 
Scots  Greys, 
serving  in  the 
campaigns  of 
'■'/'' J  that  and  the 
following 

years,  and  was  wounded  in  the  leg  at  Schellen- 

berg.  {Tu  be  cunUnued). 


PRIVATE,    1742. 
•cssrs.  W.  ct  .1.  K.  Jnhnsto. 


THE     CHURCH     IN     THE     HIGHLANDS. 

(Or  "The  Scottish  HiaHLAXDER '' — Cuntd.) 


|^^iHE  Scottish  Kelts  of  the  middle  ages  are 
V^  generally  represented  as  destitute  of 
^■J^  religion.  According  to  popular  impres- 
sions the  Highland  clans  lived  in  a  state  of 
pagan  dai-kness,  utterly  oblivious  of  their 
obUgations  to  God  and  the  faith.  The  many 
traces  of  religious  activity  that  still  remain 
throughout  the  Highlands  and  Islands  are 
quite  inconsistent  with  this  idea.  To  the 
observant  traveller  nothing  is  so  striking  as 
the  number  of  ecclesiastical  remains  in  localities 
where  they  might  have  been  least  expected. 
Holy  Kirk  was  as  busy  in  the  north  of  Scotland 
as  in  the  south.  Among  the  Scottish  High- 
landers, as  elsewhere  throughout  Christendom, 
the  passion  of  our  blessed  Lord  w^as  sung  by 
many  a  devoted  priest,  who,  each  in  his  humble 
way,  kept  alight  the  torch  of  the  Christian 
faith.  In  the  most  distant  parts  the  psalter 
was  chanted  in  the  Latin  tongue  by  monks  and 
friars,  who  set  up  the  banner  of  the  Catholic 
church,  and  conferred  on  their  savage  neigh 
boui-s  those  benefits  which  the  church  was 
ever  ready  to  deal  out  to  those  who  were  willing 


to  receive  them.  As  early  as  the  fourteenth 
century  there  were  to  be  found  in  the  remote 
island  of  the  Lews  two  priories  of  canons 
regular,  one  at  Scarinch,  subject  to  the  Abbey 
of  Inchaft'ray,  and  one  at  Rowdell,  subject  to 
Holyrood  Abbey  in  Edinburgh.  There  were 
priories  of  canons  regular,  subject  to  Holyrood, 
in  Colonsay  and  Oransay,  and  a  priory  of 
canons  regular,  subject  to  Inchaft'ray,  at  Strath- 
lillan,  north  of  Loch  Lomond.  At  Applecross 
there  was  a  foundation  of  St.  Malruve.  At 
Ardchattan  on  Loch  Etive,  and  at  Beauly,  there 
were  priories  of  Cistercians.  At  Saddell  in 
Cantyre  there  was  an  abbey  of  Cistercians. 
Dornoch  was  the  seat  of  a  cathedral  and  of  an 
hospital  of  Trinity  friars.  Rosemarkie  was  an 
episcopal  city  and  a  centre  of  ecclesiastical 
activity.  lona  piossessed  an  abbey  of  Cluniac 
Benedictines  and  an  nunnery  of  canonesses  of 
St.  Augustine.  Each  of  these  monasteries  and 
priories  (which  were  all  in  existence  as  early 
as  the  fourteenth  century)  was  filled  with  busy 
monks,  who  devoted  themselves  not  only  to  the 
maintenance  of  religion  and  learning,  but  to 
the  furtherance  of  the  material  well-being  of 
their  neighbours  and  dependents.  It  is 
difficidt  to  over-estimate  the  debt  which 
Scotland  owes  to  the  monks  both  as  ecclesiastics 


234 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY, 


and  meu  of  the  world.  Under  the  Benedictine 
rule  everj'  monk  was  compelled  to  learn 
some  trade.  Many  of  them  became  the  ablest 
artists,  writers, .  architects,  goldsmiths,  black- 
smiths, sculptors,  and  agriculturists  in  the 
khigdom.  They  cultivated  the  waste  lauds. 
They  made  wool.  The  wool  of  the  monks  of 
Newbattle  had  long  the  reputation  of  being  the 
best  in  the  mai'ket.  They  bred  horses.  Some 
abbeys,  like  Melrose,  possessed  manj'  hundreds 
of  them.  They  produced  honey.  They  culti 
vated  fruits  and  flowers,  particularly  the  rose. 
The  monks  of  Lindores  are  said  to  have  raised 
the  finest  pears  and  grapes  in  the  country. 
The  monks  of  Newbattle  were  the  first  to  mine 
for  coal.  The  monks  of  Dunfermline  worked 
for  lead  in  Clydesdale  and  for  coal  in  Pinkie, 
Inveresk,  and  Tranent  "The  monks."  says 
Gasquet  in  Ilenrii  the  Eiylith  and  tlie  Eii'//i.i/i 
MoiHisterii'.'i,  ''  were  not  merely  anchorites 
enclosed  in  narrow  walls,  but  were  att'ected  by 
all  the  movements  of  public  life.  They  were 
not  men  of  war,  but  like  the  kuight  and  the 
baron,  they  had  to  provide  meu  for  the  musters. 
As  great  landowners  they,  more  than  the 
yoemen,  were  concerned  in  the  crops  and  the 
weather.  They  resided  on  the  laud,  in  the 
midst  of  their  people,  and  the  barns,  farm 
houses,  and  cottages  were  no  less  objects  of 
their  care  than  the  roof  which  covered  their 
own  heads.  Beyond  this,  they  were  more  than 
landowners  to  those  rouud  about  them.  The 
advisers  and  teachers  of  all,  they  had  the  work 
now  undertaken  by  the  guardian,  the  relieving, 
officer,  the  parish  doctor,  and  the  schoolmaster." 
The  monks  of  lona  gathered  in  their  island 
home  a  magnificent  collection  of  manuscripts. 
So  extensive  and  varied  were  its  contents  that 
it  was  at  one  time  supposed  that  the  lost  books 
of  Livy  would  be  found  there.  Paulus  Jovius 
(Description  of  Britain,  Venice,  15^8)  relates 
"  it  is  also  reported  that  in  the  same  library 
(of  lona)  there  are  ancient  works  of  Roman 
history  from  which  we  may  expect  the 
remaining  decades  of  Titus  Livius,  which 
indeed  we  have  lately  heard  letters  from 
Scotland  have  promised  to  Francis,  King  of 
France."  So  stroug  was  this  expectation  in 
the  fifteenth  century  that  Aeneas  Sylvius 
(afterwai-ds  Pope  Pius  the  Second)  was  about 
t(j  undertake  a  journey  to  lona  to  make  search 
for  the  lost  books,  when  he  was  prevented  by 
the  confusion  which  followed  the  assassination 
of  King  .)  ames  the  First.  Not  only  in  lona, 
but  at  Beauly  and  Rosemarkie,  Dornoch  and 
Saddell,  libraries  were  to  be  found.  At  the 
Reformation  these  collections  disappeared  and 
the  treasures  of  the  monastic  scii/ii'nia  were 
scattered  over  the  land.  It  is  said  that  most 
of  the  library  of  lona  fell  into  the  possession  of 


the  Argyll  family.  The  following  morcemi  of 
history  points  to  the  ultimately  fate  of  the 
manuscripts  over  which  the  patient  monks  of 
lona  had  poi-ed.  ''  When  the  old  castle  of 
Inveraray,"  says  Sobieski  Stuart,  "was  taken 
down  to  make  room  for  the  new  building,  it 
was  remarked  that  many  old  books  appeared  in 
the  town,  and  that  long  after  the  surrounding 
peasantry  in  making  their  small  purchases  at 
the  little  merchant's  shop  -then  the  only  oue 
in  Inveraray — received  their  pennyworths  of 
salt  and  ounces  of  tobacco  wrapped  in  reumants 
of  ancient  writings — craiciouu  dealbhach — 
painted  vellum,  or  pages  of  dark  yellow  paper, 
covered  with  thick  black  letters.  When  the 
last  Duke  of  Montague  was  at  Inveraray  some 
of  these  remains  came  under  his  notice  and  he 
saw  some  remnants  of  the  manuscripts  '  used 
in  the  shop  as  suutt'  paper.'  "  It  is  melancholy 
to  read  such  facts  as  these.  The  lona  manu- 
scripts were  not  solitary  in  their  fate.  Other 
methods  of  destruction  were  resorted  to.  It 
is,  for  example,  stated  that  several  \ery  ancient 
manuscripts  of  the  Clanranald  collecfion  were 
cut  up  by  tailoi's  to  make  measures  of  the 
parchment.  The  destruction  of  the  Highland 
libraries  consequent  on  the  Reformation,  meant 
the  destruction  of  the  records  which  might 
have  enabled  future  generations  to  learn  some- 
thing of  the  work  of  the  church  among  the 
Kelts.  I'juough,  however,  is  known  to  prove 
that  Holy  Kirk  was  a  living  power  in  the  High- 
lands as  well  as  in  the  Lowlands,  and  that  the 
Highlanders  were  by  no  means  as  destitute  of 
the  ordinances  of  religion  as  is  generally 
supposed.  J.  A.  LovAT  Fbaser. 


THE      M'CRINDLES. 


fT  has  been  asked  '•  who  are  the  .M  'Criudles '.  ' 
and  the  writer,  who  has  undertaken  the 
—  task  of  throwing  some  light  on  their 
history,  has  had  the  usual  difficulty  caused  by 
the  phonetic  spelling  used  in  all  old  records, 
which  has  been  still  more  confused  by  local 
orthography,  leaving  the  mind  in  doubt  whether 
all  the  versions  given  can  possibly  apply  to  the 
same  person  or  family.  We  have  Bunuatyne, 
Ballendyne,  Bellenden,  Buntene,  Ballantyne, 
and  Vallantiue,  all  apparently  representing 
the  same  family  name,  and  such  names  as 
Makindoguhy,  MacUownache,  MKowloche, 
Makleud,  and  many  others  give  a  fair  sample 
of  the  orthography  of  the  sixteenth  century ; 
such  names  as  Bracunrug,  Balcanquall,  and 
C^uhytefurde  are  found,  and  have  to  be  traced 
more  by  sound  than  by  spelling.  Once  estab- 
lished they  have  to  be  located ;    one  ancestor 


THE    OELTIO    MONTHLY. 


111113'  be  traced  as  witness  to  a  deed,  and  another, 
and  more  fortunate  one,  may  figure  as  a  legatee 
of  the  testator's  "  best  stand  o'  silk  claithes," 
but  the  object  is  to  find  an  ancestor  old  enough 
to  be  acceptable,  and  this  has  not  by  any  means 
been  the  easiest  part  of  the  task,  and  the 
JM'Crindles  must  not  blame  the  author  if  he 
should  fail  to  satisfy  them  on  this  point,  as  the 
somewhat  limited  sources  of  investigation  at 
his  command  have  not  allowed  of  a  more 
extensive  study  of  the  subject.  However,  a 
beginning  having  been  made,  others,  with 
better  opportunities,  may  take  it  up  and 
complete  it. 

Although  M'Criudles  may  be  found  nearly 
everywhere  in  Scotland,  and  in  a  good  many 
places  much  further  from  home,  they  appear  to 
have  been  originally  from  Ayrshire,  where  the 
writer's  attention  was  first  called  to  the  name 
bj'  the  local  pronunciation  of  "  M'Uinnell "  in 
some  districts  and  "M'Ronall"  in  other.?,  the 
initial  letter  "C  "  and  the  "d"  being  eliminated 
in  both  cases;  the  "  C"  does  not  seem  to  be  of 
any  importance,  as  we  iind  it  as  a  mere  dupli 
cation  in  M'Clymont,  M'Clean,  and  many 
others ;  but  the  "  Rindle  "  thus  denuded  offers 
little  trace  of  similarity  to  any  other  name,  save 
that  of  Randle,  and  the  "  Konall "  of  some 
country  districts  opens  a  prospect  of  continuity 
through  the  anglicised  form  of  the  Gaelic 
Raonuill,  Ronald,  Ranald,  Raudle  This  angli- 
cising of  Gaelic  names  is  a  well  known  iact,  and 
the  writer  knows  of  a  family  of  Wrights  in  the 
Lowlands  who  take  their  own  family  name  of 
M'Intyre  when  they  visit  their  relatives  in  the 
Highlands.  M'Intyre  or  Macantsoair  -the 
carpenter's  son. 

Having  thus  explained  how  names  are  given 
and  taken,  changed  and  translated,  the 
M'Crindles  will  be  quite  prepared  for  the  shock 
to  their  nerves  which  may  be  caused  by  the 
statement  that  the  earliest  trace  of  their  clan 
or  name,  so  far,  is  "  Makrinnyll,"  which  does 
not  look  so  well  as  the  niore  modern  patronymic, 
and  there  is  little  consolation  in  the  fact  that, 
almost  contemporaneously,  they  figure  as 
"M'Crynnell."  About  1.520 15-2S  '-Duncan 
Makrinnyll,  chaplain,"  figures  in  a  trial  of  the 
Kennedys  for  the  slaughter  of  Robert  Campbell 
and  others.  "James  Makrinnyll  of  Barneil " 
is  mixed  up  in  some  of  the  Kennedy  feuds. 
James  M'Urynell  is  in  trouble,  with  others, 
about  a  defunct  Dutchman,  most  probably 
some  smuggling  fray,  for  Ayrshire  in  those 
days  did  a  fair  business  in  "honest  smuggling," 
and  the  Dutchman  is  not  easily  accounted  for 
in  any  other  way.  It  is  of  no  great  consequence 
that  the  Dutebmau,  from  his  name,  was  no 
Dutchman,  but  most  probably  a  Spaniard  ;  he 
is,  however,  of  no  great  interest  to  any  save 


James  M'Crynell,  and  having  established  what 
the  name  was  in  the  early  part  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  we  will  leave  James  and  his  Dutchman 
to  settle  the  point  of  the  hitter's  nationality  at 
their  leisure,  and  proceed  to  trace  the 
M'Rindles  and  the  M'Ronalds,  the  exact  point 
of  contact  between  which  does  not  yet  appear, 
and  as  we  do  not  wish  to  offer  our  own  opinion 
merely,  we  will  quote  from  Paterson's  History 
of  Ayr  and  Wigton,  both  to  establish  their 
origin  and  Ayrshire  connection. 

"Robert  Boyd  of  Trochrig  in  1G08  was 
served  heir  of  Trochrig,  Barneile,  M'Cryudle, 
and  Snaid. "  All  these  properties  are  situated 
near  to  Girvan.  Barneile  is  the  same  as  that 
already  mentioned,  and  Trochrig  and  M'C'ryndle 
are  contiguous :  the  latter  is  known  to  day  as 
M'Crindleston  or  Macrindleston,  showing  that 
long  prior  to  1608  the  M'Crindles  lived  there, 
and  gave  the  place  their  name,  and  as,  so  far, 
no  trace  has  been  found  of  them  so  far  back 
in  any  other  part  of  Scotland,  this  established 
them  as  an  Ayrshire  family,  and  an  old  Ayr- 
shire family. 

Now  for  the  name  ; — "  Sir  John  Kennedy  of 
Barneolin  was  served  heir  of  his  father's  lands 
of  Beltersane  and  Kiiiickiiiuielli.^,  1G16." 
Knockrinnollis  is,  of  course,  '■  the  hill  of  the 
M'Crindles,  the  Rinuellis  l)eing  the  plural  of 
Riuyll,  in  the  accepted  form  of  the  time. 

So  we  have  here  another  place,  in  the  same 
county  and  neighbourhood,  to  which  they  had 
given  their  name  in  the  year  IGIG.  The  same 
history  continues: — "John  Kennedy  of  Culzean 
was  served  heir  of  his  father  in  the  lands  of 
Beltersan  and  Knnckmnald  in  the  year  16.56." 
We  have  here  established  the  identity  of 
Kuockrinnellis  and  Knockronald.  and  what  is 
of  much  more  importance  to  the  Bl'Crindles  is 
that,  even  in  such  carefully  conducted  matters 
as  the  transmission  of  heritable  property,  the 
lawyers  accepted  Rinnyll,  Rynnell  fthe 
M'Crindles  old  Ayrshire  name),  as  interchange- 
able with  Ronald,  and  beyond  dispute,  and 
that  Kuockrinnellis  transmitted  as  Ivnock- 
ronald  was  a  good  transfer. 

Having  thus  established  their  true  name  and 
origin  for  them,  the  writer  takes  off"  his  hat 
to  the  '•  M'Criudles,"  wishing  them  long  life 
and  happiness,  merely  observing  in  closing 
that  there  were  '' Rannalsounes  "  also  in  Ayr- 
shire, which  may  have  come  from  a  common 
stock — the  MacRonalds  nr  Clanranald  of 
Kintyre,  between  which  place  and  the  Ayrshire 
coast  there  was  much  intercourse  in  the  old 
days,  as  historians  tells  us,  or  if  they  had  not 
told  us  it  would  have  been  all  the  same,  as 
Ayrshire  is  full  of  Kintyre  names,  and  this 
point  is  not  one  in  which  there  is  any  doubt. 

A,r  Joffi^    M'CrINHLE. 


2:iG 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


ALEXANDER      MACDONALD, 
OF      BALRANALD. 


(HE  Maeilooalds  of  Balranald  claim  a  very 
'i  ancient  and  honourable  lineage,  tracing 
'    their  descent  from  Alexander  Alacdouald, 


the  last  Earl  of  Ross,  and  brother  to  John,  last 
Lord  of  the  Isles.  He  was  succeeded  by  Hugh 
Macdonald  of  Sleat,  after  whom  came  Donald, 
commonly  called  Donald  Harrech,  who  is  said 
to  ha\e  possessed  half  the  estate  of  Macdonald, 
and  was  murdered  at  Dun  Scolpaig  by  Gilles- 
puig  Dubh.  The  following  genealogical  table 
of  the  family  will  doubtless  interest  manj'  of 
our  readers: — 

■i — Ranald  Macdonald,  Balranald  &  Griminish. 


5 — Angus 

6— Hugh 

7— John 

8— Donald 

9 — Alexander 
10 --Donald 
11 — Alexander 
12 — James  Thos 
13- 


Griminish  .t  Balishare. 

Balranald  .*.-  Griminish. 

do.  do. 

do.  &  Knockantorran. 

do.  &  Kirkibost. 

do.  .^  Heisker 

of  Lyndale,  etc. 

of  Balranald. 

and 


14- 


.ilexander,  of  Balranald,  Edenwood 

Overkellie. 
James  Alexander  Ronald,  yr.  of  Balranald. 


As  years  passed  the  family  increased  in 
importance  and  possessions,  and  formed 
alliances  with  many  of  the  leading  Macdonald 
and  other  clan  families  of  the  west  and  north 


IiAI.Il.\X.^LI)     llor.SK,     XOUTII     HIST. 


Highlands.  In  this  connection  it  is  interesting 
to  mention  a  curious  circumstance.  Donald 
Macdonald,  10th  of  Balranald,  married  Miss 
Macdonald  of  Aird,  and  through  her  the  estate 
of  Kinlochmoidart  should  have  passed  to  her 
husband  8  family.  This  is  sufficieutlj'  evident 
fmm  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  sent 
by  the  late  proprietor,  William  Robertson,  to  a 
relation  of  the  family — "  Strontian,  27th  April, 


1872.  My  uncle.  Colonel  Macdonald,  entailed 
the  estate  on  his  mother's  peojjle — rightfully  it 
should  have  gone  to  the  Balranalds.  My 
mother  told  me  she  knew  of  no  relation  of  the 
Kinlochmoidart  blood,  and  that  she  wished  her 
brother  to  entail  it  on  the  Kejspochs.  (Signed) 
William  Robertson." 

It  is  not  surprising  to  lind  that  many  of  the 
scions  of   this   branch   of   the    clan    followed 


ALEXANDER      MACDONALD. 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


237 


the  profession  of  iirms— some  to  liud  fame, 
and  others  a  grave,  on  foreign  shores. 
Alexander,  lltb  of  Bahanald  and  Ljndale,  was 
a  Captain  in  the  Bengal  Artillery.  '  He  raised, 
and  was  Colonel  of.  the  .Skje  Volunteers,  which 
were  afterwards  drafted  into  the  Glengarry 
Fencibles. 

Alexander  ilaedonald,  the  present  representa- 
tive of  the  bouse,  was  born  in  North  Uist  in 
February,  1831,  and  received  his  education  at 
Perth  Academy  and  Edinburgh  University. 
Early  in  life  he  started  farming,  and  is  at 
present  the  most  extensive  rearer  of  Highland 
cattle  in  Scotland.  He  resided  at  the  mansion 
house  of  Balranald  till  1877,  when  he  bought 
Edenwood  iu  Fifeshire,  and  four  years  later  he 
purchased  Overkelly. 


Two  years  ago  he  had  the  great  satisfaction 
of  becoming  proprietor  of  the  estate  of  Bal- 
ranald, with  which  his  family  have  been 
connected  for  so  many  generations,  and  from 
which  they  have  taken  the  name  by  which  they 
are  best  known  to  Highlanders.  We  give  a 
photo  reproduction  of  the  old  house,  which  will 
doubtless  interest  many  of  our  readers.  Mr. 
Macdonald  is  a  J.  P.  for  Inverness  and  Fife- 
shires.     In  politics  he  is  a  staunch  Conservative. 

He  married  first,  Margaret  Anne  C'hristina, 
daughter  of  Norman  M'Leod  of  Scalpay,  and 
secondly,  Margaret  Campbell,  daughter  of 
Major  Lyon  Mackenzie  of  St.  Martins,  and 
Kraelangwell,  Ross  shire,  and  has  one  son 
(James  Alexander  Ronald)  and  six  daughters.  '^ 

Editor. 


EDEXWOOIl     HOUSE. 


FINGAL'S      WEEPING. 

Fingal's  weeping  in  the  mist 

By  the  pool  that  watchful  even' 
Turns  into  a  targe  of  steel 

Shining  as  the  moon  in  heaven. 
For  the  great  wild  thistles  feel 

Tears  upontheir  purple  leaping, 
Every  tear  "an  amethyst — ■ 

Fingal's  weeping. 


Steals  the  stag  to  drink  serene 

At  the  wonted  pool,  as  trusting 
That  the  hunter's  bow  is  laid 

Where  the  hero's  dirk  is  rusting, — 
Fingal  looks,  as  through  its  shade, 

To  a  mound  where  men  lie  sleejiing, 
Men  whose  eyes  had  never  seen 

Fingal's  weeping. 

SAR.4n    RolSEKT.SON   MatHESON. 


238 


THE     CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


Su7or  6 . 

by  ^.Drunimond-noric 

IllustraleJ  by  tlic  Aiithtsr 


{ContinneAfroiii  jwg"  220). 

fSLAY,  which  was  for  some  centuries  the 
principal  seat  of  Highland  government 
—  under  the  powerful  Lords  of  the  Isles, 
produced  many  celebrated  armourers  and 
smiths  who  had  no  lack  of  emploj'ment  during 
the  stormy  times  of  the  14th  and  1 5th  centuries, 
and  the  L<u,n  II a  (Islay  blades)  acquired  no 
inconsiderable  fame  for  their  excellence.  The 
spot  where  the  forge  sti  lod,  and  the  rocks  from 
whence  the  ore  was  extracted,  may  still  be  seen. 
In  this  island  the  warlike  Macdonald  chiefs 
held  almost  regal  state,  and  their  household 
was  arranged  with  all  the  etiquette  and  order 
of  precedence  usually  observed  in  the  court  of 
a  reigning  monarch.  One  of  the  most  impor- 
tant officials  was  the  6'///'>  Mor,  whose  duty  it 
wasto  carry  the  (■/(»/(/ ('(/(helmet)  ajadclnidli'/niiili 
di(  laiinli  (two-handed  sword)  of  his  chief.  He 
was  selected  for  his  strength  and  proved 
courage,  and  on  account  of  his  arduous  duties 
received  a  double  share  of  provisions. 

So  little  is  known  respecting  the  authentic 
history  of  the  early  races  of  Caledonia  previous 
to  the  eighth  century  after  Christ,  that  it  is 
difficult  to  say  with  any  degree  of  certainty 
what  implements  of  war  were  in  general  use 
among  them,  but  we  may  fairly  asfcume  that 
among  the  chiefs  at  least,  the  clu'xUieamk  luor 
in  its  primitive  form  was  the  favourite  weapon. 
When  we  reach  the  firmer  groimd  of  the  14th 


and  15th  centuries  some  light  is  thrown  upon 
the  subject  by  contemporary  historians,  and  we 
have  also  the  important  evidence  of  the  lona 
stones  which  are  attributed  to  that  period.  In 
these  last  we  get  actual  representations  of  the 
swords  used  by  the  great  Highland  chieftains, 
and  may  compare  them  with  the  weapons 
discovered  from  time  to  time  in  various  parts 
of  the  country.  Fig's  Nos.  6  and  7,  both 
copied  from  stones  in  the  burying  ground 
of  St.  Oran,  lona,  are  typical  specimens, 
the  latter  showing  the  ornamental  scabbard. 
In  fig  8,  drawn  from  the  recumbent  effigy  of 
one  of  the  MacLeans  of  Coll,  also  in  lona,  we 
see  not  only  the  sword  itself  but  the  method  of 
drawing  it.  This  figure  is  especially  interesting 
on  account  of  the  accuracy  with  which  the 
sculptor  has  reproduced  the  details  of  dress 
and  accoutrements  worn  at  the  time.  Other 
forms  of  the  Highland  claymore  are  shown  in 
fig's  4  and  5  (see  July  issue),  both  being  drawn 
from  swords  actually  in  existence.* 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  sculptured 
stones  of  lona  have  been  attributed  to  the  14th 
and  15th  centuries,  that  is  to  say  from  the 
commencement  of  the  reign  of  Robert  the 
Bruce  to  the  death  of  James  IV.,  a  most 
stirring  period  of  Highland  and  Scottish 
history,  including  as  it  does  the  battles  of 
Bannockburn,  Invernahavon,  The  North  Inch, 
Harlaw,  Inverlochy  (1st  battle),  and  the 
Mackay-MacLeod  feuds  in  Sutherlandshire. 
In  all  these  conflicts  the  double-handed  clay- 
more in  the  hands  of  the  Highlanders  did 
great  execution,  although  it  was  not  confined  to 
Highlanders  alone,  for  at  the  time  of  the  Bruce 
and  Baliol  wars  this  weapon  was  in  general 
use  throughout  Scotland. 


*  Vide  Drummond's  "  Ancient  Scottish  Weapons." 


THE    CELTIC    MONTHLY. 


239 


Amonp;  the  earliest  historical  refei-ences  to 
the  Highland  sword  is  the  description  gi\en  by 
Andrew  ^V_vntolm  of  the  battle  of  the  North 
Inch  of  Perth  in  V.V.)(\.  He  says  referring  to 
the  combatants: — 

"  All  thai  entrit  in  liarreris, 

Wyth  bow  and  axe,  knyf  and  sword, 

To  deil  aniaiig  them  their  last  werd." 

Terrible  indeed  were  the  wounds  inflicted  by 
this  powerful  weapon.  "  Heads  were  clo\en 
assunder,  limbs  lopped  from  the  trunk.  The 
meadow  was  soon  llooded  with  blood,  and 
covered  with  dead  and  wounded  meu,"t 


t  Sir  Walter  Scott's  "Tales  of  a  Grandfather." 
Two  double-handed  swords  used  in  this  tight 
are  in  the  possession  of  the  Mackintosh  of 
Mackintosh  at  Moy  Hall.  The  sword  shown 
Fig  5  (July  issue)  is  practically  identical  with 
those  weapons. 

('/'()  be  continued). 


LETTER     TO     THE     EDITOR. 


To  the  Editor,  Crttk  MunfhUj. 
Mr.   bogle  and  THE  HIGHLAND  RACE. 
Sir, — Most  of  your  readers  will  be  amazed,  if  not 
amused,  at  Mr.  Lockhart  Bogle's  letter  in  your  issue 


of  this  month.  Not  tliat  the  obliquity  of  vision 
which  he  displays  therein  is  at  all  new  to  us.  We 
are  by  tliis  time  well  .iccustomed  to  the  species  of 
critic  who,  finding  the  feuds  and  forays  of  a 
thousand  years  compressed  within  a  few  score 
pages,  lacks  the  sense  of  proportion  which  would 
enable  him  to  set  these  red  and  striking  incidents 
in  their  proper  relationship  to  the  drab  and  incon- 
spicuous events  which  form  the  truer  history  of  a 
people,  but  which  the  historian  does  not  see  fit  to 
chronicle.  We  are  not  so  familiar,  however,  with 
the  strange  lack  of  tact  which  leads  Mr.  Bogle  to 
write  to  a  magazine  which  is  mainly  read  by  the 
compatriots  of  Livingstone  and  Lord  Clyde  and 
Norman  Macleod  and  Mackay  of  Uganda,  blandly 
inforining  its  readers  that  the  chief  characteristics 
of  their  race  is  treachery,  revengefnlness,  and  (as 
he  terms  it)  animalism  >.  That  liy  the  way,  however. 
Mr.  Bogle  is  an  artist ;  but  he  seems  to  lack 
that  sense  of  proportion  to  which  I  have 
referred,  and  to  be  unaware  that  there  is  such  a 
thing  as  perspective  in  history  as  well  as  in  drawing, 
and  that  the  battles  and  treasons  and  spoils  tliat 
crowd  its  pages  are  merely  outstanding  events,  often 
set  far  apart  in  the  great  plain  of  work-a-day  life. 
If  Mr.  Bogle  will  be  good  enough  to  i-e-peruse  his 
History  of  England  he  will  lind  that  it  is  largely 
a  chronicle  of  "  battle,  murder,  and  sudden  death," 
of  feud,  treachery,  cruelty,  and  greed.  What  more 
brutal  or  revengeful  feud  than  the  Wars  of  the 
Roses  I  Did  tlie  wildest  Highland  caterans  ever 
display  a  more  cold-blooded  ferocity  than  that  with 
which  Cromwell's  Englishmen  put  the  defenceless 
people  of  Drogheda  to  the  sword  ;  or  that  with 
which  Jeffreys  and  Kirke  stamped  out  the  Monmouth 
rising,  or  Cumberland  treated  the  Highlanders 
after  CuUoden  ;  And  is  there  an  act  in  Highland 
history  more  fiendish  than  that  of  the  English 
colonists  in  Tasmania,  in  the  present  century,  who 
got  rid  of  the  blacks  by  poisoning  them  wholesale 
like  rats  ( 

But  no  thoughtful  person  supposes  that  such  a 
record  gives  the  key  to  the  true  character  of  the 
English  people. 

^  Has  Mr.  Bogle  ever  read  Norman  Macleod's 
Stonj  (if  ,1  Hhjlihinil  PidIxIi,  and  if  so,  does  he 
think  that  the  kindly  and  good-humoured  folk  there 
portrayed  (and  portrayed  to  the  life),  at  all  corres- 
pond to  the  description  with  which  he  has  favoured 
us  ;  Do  the  kindly  and  witty  lines  of  Duncan  Biin, 
or  the  sweet  strains  of  Rub  Donn  (favourite  poets 
"f  the  Gael  as  they  are  and  were)  breathe  treachery 
and  revenge  and  slaughter  ?  Is  the  Beiim  Jlnniin 
of  the  former— the  poet  who  gave  expression  to  his 
own  and  his  countrymen's  love  of  nature,  50  years 
before  English  reviewers  had  begun  to  jeer  at 
Wordsworth — is  Beinn  Doiain  redolent  of  "ani- 
malism !  "  Was  the  treatment  of  the  Lowland 
people  by  the  Highlanders  in  the  Forty -five 
characterised  by  any  of  the  savagery  with  which 
Cumberland  treated  even  the  Highland  wounded  ! 
On  the  contrary,  the  "wild  "  Highlanders  displayed 
a  gentleness  and  moderation  which  was  not  at  all 
characteristic  of  European  armies  in  the  l.Sth 
century.  Had  it  not  been  so,  we  should  not  now 
have  some  of  our  best  Lowland  songs. 

Mr.  Bogle  will  admit  that  Dr.  Johnson  was  not 
prejudiced  in  favour  of  the  Highlanders.  Yet  this 
is  what  the  Smiter  of  Macpherson  said,  when  the 


240 


THE     CELTIC     MONTHLY. 


men  of  CnUoden  were  still  comparatively  young. 
"Civility  seems  part  of  the  national  character  of 
the  Highlanders."  "  The  girls  of  the  Highlands  are 
all  gentlewomen."  "  I  never  was  in  a  honse  [in  the 
Hebrides]  where  I  did  not  find  books  in  more 
languages  than  one."  "  More  gentlene.ss  of  manners 
or  more  pleasing  ajjpearance  of  domestic  society  is 
not  foinid  in  the  most  polished  conntries."  And 
nothingat  all  about  the  "animalism"  whichMr.  Bogle 
has  found  to  be  their  most  prominent  characteristic  ! 

Perhaps  Mr.  Bogle  will  be  kind  enough  to 
point  out  any  present  day  incidents  (for,  if  there 
is  anything  in  heredity,  we  cannot  yet  have  got 
rid  of  the  qualities  which  were  ingrained  in 
the  very  nature  of  our  great-grandfathers)  which 
stamp  the  Highlanders  as  chiefly  remarkable  for  the 
characteristics  with  which  he  has  branded  them  ; 
or  explain  how,  in  this  naturally  savage  race, 
chastity  and  order  and  absence  of  crime  are  so 
much  more  marked  than  in  the  case  of  their  Low- 
land neighbours.  Let  us  have  a  list  of  the  murders 
which  must  certainly  frequently  take  place  among 
a  race  that  is  celebrated  for  its  treachery  and 
revengefulness  and  "  animalism  I  " 

After  that  a  conqiarison  of  the  criminal  records 
of  Argyle  with  say  Renfrew  and  Norfolk  in  the 
last  century,  or  with  Lancashire  at  the  present  day, 
will  prove  interesting. — I  am,  &c., 

James  Ferouson. 
GiAsciow,  :iiitli  Jvnie,  1896. 


THE     TARGE    AND     CLAYMORE. 


The  race  of  the  Gael  were  dauntless  in  tight, 
They  fought  till  they  won,  or  perished  outright  ; 
Their  weapons  for  combat  were  targe  and  claymore — 
The  armour  in  battle  of  heroes  of  yore — 
The  arms  of  the  sires  the  heritage  were 
Of  sons  who  aspired  the  glory  to  sh.are  ; 
With  topaz,  with  silver,  and  carved  ebon  wood. 
Each  weapon  resplendent,  was  tried  and  found  good. 

From  the  belt  hung  in  sight  the  dirk  keen  and  true. 
The  garter  held  fast  the  trusty  sl.i'aii  dim  • 
The  targe  was  of  oak  and  Highland  bull  hide. 
Half  a  fathom  across,  and  long  as  'twas  wide  ; 
And  lest  that  its  timber  or  leather  should  fail, 
Afhxed  at  each  inch  was  a  strong  iron  nail  ; — 
No  weapon  for  carnage  that  mortals  can  wield, 
Has  ever  cleft  through  a  Highlander's  shield. 

The  claymore  was  tit  for  Goliah  of  Gath, 
'Twas  broad  and  'twas  long  and  supple's  a  lath  ; 
Well  poised  in  the  hand,  it  aye  bore  the  brunt. 
Midst  danger  and  death  'twas  always  in  front ; 
On  every  field  its  merits  were  seen. 
It  grassed  them  in  crowds — a  reaping  machine  : 
In  quiet  piping  times  they  hung  on  the  wall, 
Yet  ever  were  ready  to  answer  a  call. 

A  weapon  of  note  at  rest  in  its  sheath, 
Had  peacefully  hung  in  the  land  of  the  heath, 
Till  the  hills  were  ablaze  with  war's  beacon  tires  ; 
Then  Allistir  slung  on  the  arms  of  his  sires. 
Set  out  with  his  chief,  a  brave  loyal  henchman, 
Did  campaigns  unscathed,  then  met  with  a  French- 
man 


Who  laughed  at  the  sword— too  pond'n  ms  to  wield — 
And  failed  in  respect  for  the  man  or  his  shield. 

For  fawning  regard  he  cared  not  a  snufi, 
He  honoured  himself  and  that  was  enough  ; 
But  faith  in  his  armour  was  half  his  theology. 
He  therefore  demanded  a  humble  .apology. 
Or  swore  he  would  slay  the  slighter  outright. 
The  Frenchman  replied  "Sec  mo  jilcr  one  vill  fight." 
That  each  was  in  earnest  was  perfectly  plain  ; — 
The  chances  were  even  that  both  would  be  slain. 

Two  seconds  were  found  for  the  combative  pair. 

Conditions  arranged  complaisant  and  fair  ; 

The  code  k  duillo  was  carefully  heeded. 

The    trouble   being  weapons,   no   choice  was  now 

needed  ; 
The  Gaul  took  his  ground  with  a  sword  from  Toledo, 
And  meant  Mrs.  Sandy  to  soon  make  a  widow, — 
Intending  her  husband  to  quickly  impale  1 — 
Whilst  cleaving  in  two,  was  the  dream  of  the  Gael. 

The  Gael's  fierce  intention  was  hard  to  fulfil. 
The  Frenchman  could  fence  with  infinite  skill  ; 
No  one  could  parry  more  dext'rons  or  faster, — 
A  duelist  noted,  a  great  fencing  master  ; 
The  wounds  he  inflicted,  no  surgeon  could  cure, 
The  fight  would  be  fatal  to  Sandy  for  sure, 
Yet  fearless  was  he,  a  brave  hearted  Gael, — 
But  witches  and  ghosts  make  Highlanders  quail. 

The  men  toed  the  mark  without  much  ado, 

The  signal  was  given,  and  at  it  they  flew  ; 

The  gleam  of  the  claymore  flashed  swift  through 

the  air. 
Went  straight  for  the  foe,  but  the  foe  was  not  there. 
He'd  changed  his  position,  then  rushed  to  the  charge, 
But  Sandy  was  watchful  in  rear  of  the  targe  ; 
None  of  his  race  ever  wavered  or  ran 
He  cooly  took  time  to  size  up  his  man. 

The  Frenchman  was  frantic,  cautious  the  Scot, 
The  onslaught  was  fierce,  the  combat  was  hoi ; 
Like  flashes  electric,  bright  tongues  of  light. 
The  gleam  of  the  swords  illumined  the  fight ; 
Moiisic'ir  held  his  own  with  courage  and  skill, 
Brandished  his  weapon  and  fought  with  a  will  ; 
The  Gael  quite  undaunted  his  prowess  withstood. 
And  all  the  fine  thrusts  were  received  in  the  wood. 

The  Scotchman  was  active,  and  strong  as  a  horse. 
Cared  not  for  the  swordsman,  his  skill  or  his  force  ; 
Took  nothing  for  nothing — the  pauses  were  few, — 
Oft  shouting  in  Gaelic  "  Clan  Chattan's  Craigdhu," 
'Twas  hai-d  to  foretell  which  first  would  be  killed, — 
As  yet  not  a  drop  of  the  chtn-t  was  spilled  ; 
To  Sandy  'twas  just  like  fighting  a  ghost. 
No  sooner  he  had  him,  than  straight  he  was  lost. 

Cool  but  annoyed  at  the  fix  he  was  in. 
Our  hero  was  certain  in  time  he  would  win  ; 
So  quietly  kept  guard  till  the  sweet  by  and  bye. 
The  foeman  well  watched  with  the  tail  of  his  eye ; 
And  thus  was  the  Frenchman,  the  nimble,  the  bold, 
By  the  wiles  of  the  Scotchman  left  out  in  the  cold  ; 
"  Sacra  !  Mcra  I  mon  dmt !  "  he  shouted  and  swore, 
"Me  vill  fight  if  you  come  from  behind  your  round 
door." 

N„,v  Vnil;  P.    MaC'PIIBH.SON.    ,m