The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. VIII] OF SCOTLAND 141
interesting specimen of the Highland harp of this period has
been preserved in the family of Lude. But besides the fact
of the harp having been in general use at this period, there
is complete evidence that it has been used in this country from
the most remote period. The country lying to the north of
the Firths of Forth and Clyde, including the greater part of
the Highlands, abounds in large pillars of stone, carved with
ancient sculptures, both intaglio and in relief These sculptured
pillars are evidently of very great antiquity, many of them even
antecedent to the introduction of Christianity, and they form a
most valuable and interesting record of the ancient manners
and customs of the country. Upon two of these erect stones
are found representations of the harp, exactly resembling the
Highland harp in their design and appearance. On the first
of these stones, the date of which is fixed from various cir-
cumstances to be of the ninth centur\', there is an armed figure
seated and playing on the harp. The other is of still greater
antiquity, and on it there appears a harp of an exactly similar
construction. The use of the harp appears to have rapidly
declined in the Highlands during the seventeenth century, in
consequence of the civil wars which commenced at that period^
and at length it was entirely superseded by the more martial
instrument, the bagpipe, the origin of which is altogether
unknown, although, from the character of the music, there is
greater probabiIit\- in supposing it an ancient instrument of
the Highlanders than of foreign introduction.
Besides the harp, the horn appears to have been in very
ancient use among the Highlanders. It is found on two of
these remarkable sculptured crosses, and in both cases it is.
apparently used in hunting.