The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

176 THE HIGHLANDERS [part ir
In order to explain the nature of the arrangement in which
the clans have been placed, it will be necessary to recall
to the recollection of the reader, that one great feature of the
system of history established in this Work is, that previous to the
thirteenth century the Highlanders of Scotland were divided into
a few great tribes, which exactly corresponded with the ancient
earldoms, and that from one or other of these tribes all the
Highlanders are descended. Accordingly, the different clans
will be found under the name of the ancient earldom, or tribe, of
which they originally formed a part, and, throughout, the relation
of the different clans to each other will be accurately maintained.
Before entering, however, upon the history of the High*land
clans, it may not be amiss to notice an objection which may be
made to this view of their origin.
In the early part of this Work it has been demonstrated, so
far as a fact of that nature is capable of demonstra-
The Pictisli
origin of the tion, that the modern Highlanders are the same
Higliland clans . •ii-ii tt-ii
contradicted peoplc With those who mhabitcd the Highlands of
by tradition. -,,,.,.,
Scotland in the ninth and tenth centuries, and that
these inhabitants were not Scots, as is generally supposed, but
were the descendants of the great northern division of the Pictish
nation, who were altogether unaffected by the Scottish conquest
of the Lowlands in 843, and who in a great measure maintained
their independence of the kings of that race. It has also been
shewn that these Northern Picts were a part of the Caledonians,
the most ancient inhabitants of the country, and that they spoke
the same language, and bore the same national appellation,
with the present Highlanders. Now to this idea, it may be
said, that the traditionary origins at present existing among
the clans are radically opposed, and that it is difficult to believe
that, if such was their real origin, a tradition of an opposite
nature could exist among them. At first sight this objection
will appear a serious one ; but that arises, in a great measure,
from not duly investigating the nature and history of the
Highland traditions.
In examining the history of the Highland clans, the enquirer
will first be struck by the diversity of the traditionary
Highland origins assigned to them. He will find them to have
traditions.
been held by some to be originally Irish, by others