A history of the Highlands and of the Highland clans : with an ...

UJSTOKV Of THE KIUHLANDS.
Uuinb.irtoii, Stirling, Perth, Angus, Aberdeen, Banff and Moray, and
the whole counties of Argyle, Bute, Inverness, Nairn, Ross, Cromarty,
Sutherhiiid and Caithness, and the Hebrides. This boundary may be
defined by a line commencinij at Aidmore in Dumbartonshire, running
along the southern verge of the Grampians to Aberdeenshire, and
from thence through BaniF and Elgin to the sea shore, cutting off the
lowland portions in these three districts. This line then skirts the
shores of the Moray Frith till it reaches the north-eastern point of
Caithness at tlie eastern opening of tlie Pentland Frith ; then proceeds
along the southern side of that Fritli sweeping round St. Kilda so as to
include the wliole cluster of islands to the east and south as far as
Arran ; and then stretching to the Mull of Cantyre it re-enters the
mainland and euds at Ardmore in Dumbartonshft-e.
The maritime outline of this boundary, particularly on the north and
west, is remarkably bold and rocky, and the mainland is deeply indented
by bays and arms of the sea. The interior of the country within the
Grampian range is grand and picturesque. Lofty mountains whose
summits are seldom to be distinguished from the mists or clouds whicl:
envelope them, steep and tremendous precipices, and glens watered by
mountain streams or diversified by winding lakes, and occasional
sprinklings of beautiful woods, impress the mind of the traveller with
just ideas of the sublime and beautiful as displayed by the hand of
nature in that romantic and poetical region. But no where is the wild
and magnificent scenery of the Highlands seen to greater advantage
than from the summits of Benlomond, Benlawers and the other ele-
vated points of the Grampians. These mountains like the rest are often
either covered with clouds or skirted with mists. Of a bleak and barren
aspect, and furrowed by channels deep and rocky, their summit
present scarcely any appearances of vegetation, but a thin covering of
stunted heath, the residence only of birds of prev or of the white hare
and ptarmigan, is to be found a little lower down. Below tins inhos-
pitable region the mountain deer and moor-fowl have fixed their abode
among more luxuriant heath, interspersed with nourishing p;isture on
which feed numerous flocks of sheep. The romantic glens at the
base of these mountains are well peopled, and contain a vast number of
flocks and herds which form the staple wealth of the country.
Although the people of Caledonia were certainly in a higher state of
civilization than that desc-ribed by Dio and afterwards by Herodian,
it must be admitted that they knew little of the arts of social life and
had advanced but few stages beyond the savage state. Their division
into tribes or clans engendered a spirit of reciprocal hostility which
prevented any political union or amalgamation of their common interests
and it was only when a foreign foe threatened their existence that a
sense of danger forced them to unite for a time under the military
authority of a Pendragon or chief elected by common consent. Their
subjugation therefore b the Romans under Agricola, as far as thai
viiforinns commander pushed Ills conquests, is not to bv wondered
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