SECTION II.

SYSTEM OF CLANSHIP.

Circumstances which rendered the state of society in the Highlands peculiar-Patriarchal sway of the chiefs-Influence of feelings resulting from consanguinity-Military strength of the clans-Influence of the unbroken succession of chiefs of the same line.

THE division of the people into clans and tribes, under separate chiefs, whose influence remained undiminished till after the year 1748, constitutes the most remarkable circumstance in their political condition, and leads directly to the origin of many of their peculiar institutions, sentiments, and customs. The nature of the country, and the motives which induced the Celts to make it their refuge, almost necessarily prescribed the form of their institutions. Unequal to contend with the overwhelming numbers, who drove them from the plains, and, anxious to preserve their independence, and their blood uncontaminated by a mixture with strangers, they defended themselves in those strong holds which are, in every country, the sanctuaries of national liberty, and the refuge of those who resist the oppressions and the dominion of a more powerful neighbour. Thus, in the absence of their monarchs, and defended by their barrier of rocks, they did not always submit to the authority of a distant government, which could neither enforce obedience, nor afford protection. The division of the country into so many straths, valleys, and islands, separated from one another by mountains, or arms of the sea, gave rise, as a matter of necessity, to various little societies; and individuals of superior property, courage, or talent, under whose banners they had fought, or under whose protection they had settled, naturally became their chiefs.

Their se

cluded situation rendered general intercourse difficult, while the impregnable ramparts with which they were surrounded made defence easy.

Every small society had arms sufficient for its own protection, artizans of skill enough to furnish the rude manufactures required within their own territory, pasture for their cattle, wood for every purpose, moss and turf for fuel, and space for their hunting excursions. As there was nothing to tempt them to change their residence, to court the visits of strangers, or to solicit the means of general communication, every society became insulated. The whole race was thus broken into many individual masses, possessing a community of customs and character, but placed under different jurisdictions. Thus every district became a petty independent state. The government of each community, or clan, was patriarchal, a sort of hereditary monarchy, founded on custom, and allowed by general consent, rather than regulated by laws. Many members of each clan considered themselves, and were actually, branches and descendants of the same family. The central stem of this family was the chief. But the more these connections of blood and friendship tended to preserve internal harmony, the more readily the clans broke out into violence on occasion of any external injury or affront. The general laws

The feudal system, which had obtained such general influence over all the east and south of Europe, did not extend to the inaccessible districts where the remains of the Celts had taken shelter. In Wales, in Ireland, in the western and middle borders of Scotland, and in the Highlands, the patriarchal government was universal. Opposed to this was the feudal system of their Saxon invaders, who established it as far as their power extended. It was long the policy of the Scottish legislature to oppose the feudal government, and support the power exercised by the chief, jure sanguinis, over the obedience and service of his clan, while the power assumed by the feudal superior of his freehold was disregarded. In this manner the Duke of Gordon, feudal superior of the lands and estates held by the Camerons, Macphersons, Macdonells of Keppoch, and others, had no vassalage or command over these clans, who always followed the orders of their patriarchal chiefs, Locheil, Clunie, Keppoch, &c.

affording no protection, turbulence, aggressions, and reprisals, necessarily resulted. In this state of agitation, all knowledge of letters was lost, except among a few; but a kind of knowledge scarcely less efficient was preserved by means of the Bards and Senachies, or the Elders of the Tribes. With very few laws, and no controlling power to enforce the execution of the few which they had, they presented the rare spectacle of a people so beneficially influenced by the simple institutions and habits which they had formed for themselves, that, with all the defects consequent on such a state, they were prepared, with a little cultivation, to become valuable members of society.

In this insulated state, with a very limited admission of strangers, intermarriages and consanguinity were the natural consequence; and many members of the clan bore the same name with the chief. * In this manner a kind and

A supposition has been entertained, that many changed their names, and assumed names different from that of the clan or family. This was not frequent, and proceeded from a custom, (very necessary where so many were of the same name,) of adding a distinguishing denomination to the Christian name: sometimes when a man, from respect or gratitude, named his child after a friend, it was continued to the descendants. But instances abound of the wide extension of the same name and clan by lineal descent. Of these the following is one : James Stewart, son of Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, second son of King Robert II. is said to have built the Castle of Garth, and settled there some time after the year 1390. There are now living in the district of Athole, within its ancient boundary, 1835 persons of the name of Stewart, descendants of this man, in the male line, besides numbers in other parts of the kingdom. The descendants through the female line being considerably more numerous, as few women leave the country, in proportion to the number of men who enter the army, and resort to different parts of the world, we have thus nearly 4000 persons now living in one district, descended of this individual. Facts of this nature are easily ascertained in the Highlands, where descent from honourable ancestors is not forgotten or neglected by the poorest individual. It may therefore be believed, that, in former times, the bond of friendship was close and strong, in societies where so much importance was attached to consanguinity. It has likewise been alleged, that the more

cordial intimacy, and a disposition towards mutual support, were preserved, in a manner totally unknown in modern times. To all, the chief* stood in the several relations of

ancient names and people must have been removed by violence, or extirpated to make room for the more recent clans. This opinion seems founded more on conjecture than on fact. Such changes often occur from natural causes. The name of Cunnison or Macconich was prevalent in Athol in the fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries; yet not an individual of that name now remains. All died out without violence or expulsion. In the same period there were twenty-four small landed proprietors of the name of Macraby, but not a man of that name is now to be found; nor is there even a tradition of one of them having ever been expelled, or destroyed by violence. All became extinct by natural causes. One of these Macrabys possessed Finlarig, afterwards one of the principal seats of the Glenorchy and Breadalbane family.

* It may be proper to mention, that many families of the same descent had two names, one common to the whole clan, as Macdonald, Macleod, &c. the other to distinguish a branch, which last was called the bun sloine, or genealogical surname, taken from the Christian name, or whatever designation marked the first man who branched off from the original family. In this manner, Campbell of Strachur is always called Macarstair or Macarthur, Campbell of Asknish, Macivor, and a tribe of the Robertsons in Perthshire, descendants from Strowan, are also called Clanivor; a tribe descended from Stewart of Garth are Clan Duilach, from their immediate ancestor, who was so denominated from his black eyes. Another tribe of the same family are called Camachas, from a bend or deformity in his leg, by which their ancestor was distinguished from others of his name. A class of the Stewarts of Appin are called Combich; and in this manner, through nearly all the clans, tribes, and families, in the Highlands; never, at the same time, forgetting the proper surname of their chief, or stem of their family. Thus, all the Macarthurs of Strachur are Campbells, as are all the Macivors of Argyleshire; while the Macivors of Athol and Breadalbane are Robertsons, and the Duilach, Camachas, and Combich, are Stewarts, and so sign their names, and are designated in all writings, while in common conversation the bun sloine, or genealogical surname, is their usual appellation. To a stranger, the accuracy with which these genealogical connections were preserved may appear ridiculous, but they filled up many idle hours very innocently with these researches and recitals, never failing to bring forward the best traits in the

*

* There is a very ancient clan of this name, quite distinct from the branch of the Campbells.

landlord, leader, and judge. He could call out the young men to attend him at the chace, and to fight under his banners—a mandate which generally met with ready obedience.

The zeal and courage which the Highlanders displayed in the cause of the Stuart princes, particularly in 1745, excited such alarm, and produced such extraordinary effects, as to give an exaggerated idea of their numbers. The peculiarity of their situation, and the sources of their power, which could no longer be despised, were minutely examined, and a memorial, * said to be drawn up by the Lord President Forbes of Culloden, was transmitted to Government, detailing the force of every clan, the tenures of every chieftain, and the amount of retainers which he could lead into the field. Having procured a copy of this document, I shall transcribe from it the enumeration of the strength of the different clans. This enumeration proceeds on the supposition that the chieftain calculated upon the military services of the youthful, the most hardy, and the bravest of his followers, omitting those who were infirm from age, those who, from tender years, or natural inability, were unable to carry arms, and those whom it was found necessary to leave at home, for conducting the business of the country. Besides the clans here enumerated, there were a number of independent gentlemen, who had many followers, but being what were called broken names, or small tribes, they are omitted in this report.

After treating of the general character of the Highlanders, the memorial particularizes each clan, and subjoins the following statement of their respective forces:

character of their relations, which had a strong influence on the character and honourable spirit of the people. Few men disclaim a relationship with persons of honour, worth, or high station. No claims of this nature were allowed to sleep by the Highlanders; and it is to be wished their conduct would continue, as formerly, to be influenced by the dread of disgracing the honourable race whose blood they believed filled their veins.

• See Appendix, C.