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

134 HISTORY OF THE HIOHLANDS.
mask of coiiciliation and friendship. This was the natural result of the
inefficiency of the laws which could afford no redress for wrongs, and
which, therefore, lefl every individual to vindicate his riglits with his own
hand. The feeling of revenge, when directed against rival tribes, was
cherished and honoured, and to such an extent was it carried, that
there are well authenticated instances where one of the adverse parties
have been exterminated in the bloody and ferocious conflicts which the
feuds occasioned.
As the wealth of the Highlanders consisted chiefly in flocks and herds,
" the usual mode of commencing attacks, or of making reprisals, was by
an incursion to cai-ry off the cattle of the hostile clan. A predatory ex-
pedition was the general declaration of enmity and a command given by
the chief to clear the pastures of the enemy, constituted the usual letters
of marque."* These creaclis, as such depredations were termed, were
carried on with systematic order, and were considered as perfectly justifiable.
If lives were lost in these forays, revenge full and ample was
taken, but in general personal hostilities were avoided in these incursions
either against the Lowlanders or rival tribes. These predatory expedi-
tions were more frequentlj^ directed against the Lowlanders, whom the
Highlanders considered as aliens, and whose cattle they, therefore, con-
sidered as fair spoil at all times. The forays were generally executed
with great secrecy, and the cattle were often lifted and secured for a con-
siderable time before they were missed. To trace the cattle which had
been thus carried off, the owners endeavoured to discover their foot
marks in the grass, or by the yielding of the heath over which they had
passed ; and so acute had habit readered their sight, that they fi-equently
succeeded, in this manner, in discovering their property. The man on
whose property the track of the cattle was lost was held liable if he did
not succeed in following out the trace or discovering the cattle; and if he
did not make restitution, or offer to compensate the loss, an immediate
quarrel was the consequence. A reward called Tasffal money was
sometimes offered for the recovery of stolen cattle; but as this was considered
in the light of a bribe it was generally discouraged. The
Camerons and some other clans, it is said, bound themselves by oath
never to accept such a reward, and to put to death all who should re-
ceive it.
Resides the Creachs there was another and a peculiar class of forays
or spoliations called Cearnachs, a military term of similar import with
the Catherens of the Lowlands, the Kernes of the English, and the
Catervae of the Romans. The Cearnachs were originally a select body
of men employed in difficult and dangerous enterprizes where more than
ordinary honour was to be acquired ; but, in process of time, they were
employed in the degrading and dishonourable task of leving contribu-
tions on their Lowland neighbours, or in forcing them to pay tribute or
• Stewart's Sketrhts. 1. 3;'.