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

lO-l HISTORV OP THE HIGHLANDS
as General Stewart remarks, silver buttons were frequently found, whiph
liad come down to them as an inlieritance of long descent. The same
author observes, that the reason for wearing tlicse buttons, which were
of a large size and of solid silver, was, that their value might defray the
expense of a decent funeral in the event of the wearer falling in battle,
or dying in a strange country and at a distance from his friends. The
oftieers of Mackay's and Munroe's Highland regiments, who served
under Gustavus Adolphus in the wars of sixteen hundred and twenty-
six, and sixteen hundred and thirtj'-eiglit, in addition to rich buttons,
wore a gold chain round the neck, to secure the owTier, in case of being
wounded or taken prisoner, good treatment, or payment for future
ransom.
Although shoe buckles now form a part of the Highland costiniie,
they wore unknoiiii in the Highlands one liundrcd and fifty years ago.
The ancient Highlanders did not wear neckcloths. Their shirts were
of woollen cloth, and as linen was long expensive, a considerable time
elapsed before linen shirts came into general use. We have heard an
old and intelligent Highlander remark, that rheumatism was almost, if
not wholl3', unknown in the Highlands until the introduction of linen
Blurts.
It is observed by General Stewart, that " among the circumstances
which influenced the military character of the Highlanders, their pecu-
liar garb was conspicuous, « hich, by its freedom and lightness, enabled
them to use their limbs, and to handle their arms with ease and celerity,
and to move with great speed when employed with either cavalry or
light infantry. In the wars of Gustavus Adolphus, in the civil wars of
Charles I., and on various other occasions, they were often mixed with
the cavalry, affording to detached squadrons the incalculable advantage
of support from infantry, even in their most rapid movements." " I
observed," says the author of 'Memoirs of a Cavalier,' speaking of the
Scots army in sixteen hundred and forty, " I observed that these parties
had always some foot witli them, and yet if the horses galloped or pushed
on ever so forward, the foot were as forward as they, which was an ex-
traordinary advantage. These were those they call Highlanders ; they
would run on foot with all their arms, and all their accoutrements, and
kept very good order too, and kept pace ^vith the horses, let them go at
what rate they would."
Among the different costumes with which we are acquainted, none
can stand comparison with tlie Highland garb for gracefulness. Tlie
nice discernment and correct taste of Eustace preferred it to the formal
ajid gorgeous drapery of the Asiatic costume. Its utiliti/, now that
such a complete change has been effected in the manners and con-
dition of the people, may be questioned, but it must be admitted on all
hands, that a more suitable dress for the times when it was used,
not have been invented.
could
The dress of the women seems to require some little notice. Till