The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. IV] OF SCOTLAND 57
In the fourth place.—We have proved that tJie northern Picts
occupied the zvhole of the Highlands as late as the end of the ?tinth
century ;—we have shewn that they spoke the same language,
and bore the same national name as the Highlanders did ;—and
lastly, we have traced the Highlanders as in possession of the
Highland districts, up to the ver}' period in which we had previously
found these districts inhabited by the northern Picts.
These facts then, supported as they are by evidence of no
ordinary description, lead us to this simple result, that the
Highlands of Scotland have been inhabited bv the same nation
from the earliest period to the present day. And that while the
tribes composing that nation have uniformly styled themselves
Gael or Albanich, they have been known to the numerous
invaders of the country under the various appellations of
Albiones, Caledonii, Picti, Dicaledones, Cruithne, Northern Picts,
Reddschankes, Wild Scottis, and Highlanders.