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proper station。 Tradition is but a meteor； which； if once it
falls； cannot be rekindled。
It seems to be universally supposed； that much of the local history
was preserved by the Bards； of whom one is said to have been
retained by every great family。 After these Bards were some of my
first inquiries； and I received such answers as； for a while； made
me please myself with my increase of knowledge； for I had not then
learned how to estimate the narration of a Highlander。
They said that a great family had a Bard and a Senachi； who were
the poet and historian of the house； and an old gentleman told me
that he remembered one of each。 Here was a dawn of intelligence。
Of men that had lived within memory； some certain knowledge might
be attained。 Though the office had ceased； its effects might
continue； the poems might be found； though there was no poet。
Another conversation indeed informed me； that the same man was both
Bard and Senachi。 This variation discouraged me； but as the
practice might be different in different times； or at the same time
in different families； there was yet no reason for supposing that I
must necessarily sit down in total ignorance。
Soon after I was told by a gentleman； who is generally acknowledged
the greatest master of Hebridian antiquities； that there had indeed
once been both Bards and Senachies； and that Senachi signified 'the
man of talk；' or of conversation； but that neither Bard nor Senachi
had existed for some centuries。 I have no reason to suppose it
exactly known at what time the custom ceased； nor did it probably
cease in all houses at once。 But whenever the practice of
recitation was disused； the works； whether poetical or historical；
perished with the authors； for in those times nothing had been
written in the Earse language。
Whether the 'Man of talk' was a historian； whose office was to tell
truth； or a story…teller； like those which were in the last
century； and perhaps are now among the Irish； whose trade was only
to amuse； it now would be vain to inquire。
Most of the domestick offices were； I believe； hereditary； and
probably the laureat of a clan was always the son of the last
laureat。 The history of the race could no otherwise be
communicated； or retained； but what genius could be expected in a
poet by inheritance？
The nation was wholly illiterate。 Neither bards nor Senachies
could write or read； but if they were ignorant； there was no danger
of detection； they were believed by those whose vanity they
flattered。
The recital of genealogies； which has been considered as very
efficacious to the preservation of a true series of ancestry； was
anciently made； when the heir of the family came to manly age。
This practice has never subsisted within time of memory； nor was
much credit due to such rehearsers； who might obtrude fictitious
pedigrees； either to please their masters； or to hide the
deficiency of their own memories。
Where the Chiefs of the Highlands have found the histories of their
descent is difficult to tell； for no Earse genealogy was ever
written。 In general this only is evident； that the principal house
of a clan must be very ancient； and that those must have lived long
in a place； of whom it is not known when they came thither。
Thus hopeless are all attempts to find any traces of Highland
learning。 Nor are their primitive customs and ancient manner of
life otherwise than very faintly and uncertainly remembered by the
present race。
The peculiarities which strike the native of a commercial country；
proceeded in a great measure from the want of money。 To the
servants and dependents that were not domesticks； and if an
estimate be made from the capacity of any of their old houses which
I have seen； their domesticks could have been but few； were
appropriated certain portions of land for their support。 Macdonald
has a piece of ground yet； called the Bards or Senachies field。
When a beef was killed for the house； particular parts were claimed
as fees by the several officers； or workmen。 What was the right of
each I have not learned。 The head belonged to the smith； and the
udder of a cow to the piper： the weaver had likewise his
particular part； and so many pieces followed these prescriptive
claims； that the Laird's was at last but little。
The payment of rent in kind has been so long disused in England；
that it is totally forgotten。 It was practised very lately in the
Hebrides； and probably still continues； not only in St。 Kilda；
where money is not yet known； but in others of the smaller and
remoter Islands。 It were perhaps to be desired； that no change in
this particular should have been made。 When the Laird could only
eat the produce of his lands； he was under the necessity of
residing upon them； and when the tenant could not convert his stock
into more portable riches； he could never be tempted away from his
farm； from the only place where he could be wealthy。 Money
confounds subordination； by overpowering the distinctions of rank
and birth； and weakens authority by supplying power of resistance；
or expedients for escape。 The feudal system is formed for a nation
employed in agriculture； and has never long kept its hold where
gold and silver have become common。
Their arms were anciently the Glaymore； or great two…handed sword；
and afterwards the two…edged sword and target； or buckler； which
was sustained on the left arm。 In the midst of the target； which
was made of wood； covered with leather； and studded with nails； a
slender lance； about two feet long； was sometimes fixed； it was
heavy and cumberous； and accordingly has for some time past been
gradually laid aside。 Very few targets were at Culloden。 The
dirk； or broad dagger； I am afraid； was of more use in private
quarrels than in battles。 The Lochaber…ax is only a slight
alteration of the old English bill。
After all that has been said of the force and terrour of the
Highland sword； I could not find that the art of defence was any
part of common education。 The gentlemen were perhaps sometimes
skilful gladiators； but the common men had no other powers than
those of violence and courage。 Yet it is well known； that the
onset of the Highlanders was very formidable。 As an army cannot
consist of philosophers； a panick is easily excited by any unwonted
mode of annoyance。 New dangers are naturally magnified； and men
accustomed only to exchange bullets at a distance； and rather to
hear their enemies than see them； are discouraged and amazed when
they find themselves encountered hand to hand； and catch the gleam
of steel flashing in their faces。
The Highland weapons gave opportunity for many exertions of
personal courage； and sometimes for single combats in the field；
like those which occur so frequently in fabulous wars。 At Falkirk；
a gentleman now living； was； I suppose after the retreat of the
King's troops； engaged at a distance from the rest with an Irish
dragoon。 They were both skilful swordsmen； and the contest was not
easily decided： the dragoon at last had the advantage； and the
Highlander called for quarter； but quarter was refused him； and the
fight continued till he was reduced to defend himself upon his
knee。 At that instant one of the Macleods came to his rescue； who；
as it is said； offered quarter to the dragoon； but he thought
himself obliged to reject what he had before refused； and； as
battle gives little time to deliberate； was immediately killed。
Funerals were formerly solemnized by calling multitudes together；
and entertaining them at great expence。 This emulation of useless
cost has been for some time discouraged； and at last in the Isle of
Sky is almost suppressed。
Of the Earse language； as I understand nothing； I cannot say more
than I have been told。 It is the rude speech of a barbarous
people； who had few thoughts to express； and were content； as they
conceived grossly； to be grossly understood。 After what has been
lately talked of Highland Bards； and Highland genius； many will
startle when they are told； that the Earse never was a written
language； that there is not in the world an Earse manuscript a
hundred years old； and that the sounds of the Highlanders were
never expressed by letters； till some little books of piety were
translated； and a metrical version of the Psalms was made by the
Synod of Argyle。 Whoever therefore now writes in this language；
spells according to his own perception of the sound； and his own
idea of the power of the letters。 The Welsh and the Irish are
cultivated tongues。 The Welsh； two hundred years ago； insulted
their English neighbours for the instability of their Orthography；
while the Earse merely floated in the breath of the people； and
could therefore receive little improvement。
When a language begins to teem with books； it is tending to
refinement； as those who undertake to teach others must have
undergone some labour in improving themselves； they set a
proportionate value on their own thoughts； and wish to enforce them
by efficacious expressions； speech becomes embodied and permanent；
different modes and phrases are compared； and the best obtains an
establishment。 By degrees on