The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

352
The Highland Monthly.
When the droves at length drew near the place where
the tryst would hold, the duties of the topsmen and drivers
became very difficult. The roads within a radius of many
miles of the scene of action being occupied by cattle, it often
happened that a field of grass could scarcely be obtained for
love or money. Loud and angry altercations between rival
officials were the order of the day everywhere. And at this
stage the owners of droves generally took the command in
person.
In writing of the cattle trade, I must not omit to
mention what may be called the alliances of the road, for
they form a very pleasing feature in the social life of the
period. In their practical bearing they closely resemble
those leagues of hospitium that belonged to classic times.
I refer to that unwritten treaty, that instinctive bond of
friendship which used to subsist among certain tacksmen,
nay, sects of tacksmen, along the great drove roads, in con-
sequence of which they mutually furthered each other's
interests These alliances were recognised as a matter of
course by their servants, and loyally observed even among
them. However they might be entered into by parties
originally, they frequently descended for several generations.
Two anecdotes may be set down here as bearing upon
this point, and then, without further parley, we must hasten
to rejoin Mark Teviot and his companion lest they may
reach the Gallows Knowe, and part ere we have any
opportunity of listening to their discourse, with which I
intend to raise the curtain upon my story.
A lowland farmer made extensive purchases of cattle at
a fair in the far north, with the intention of sending them
forward immediately to a certain tryst, but unfortunately
he had indulged, in the course of the day's bargaining, so
freely in John Barleycorn that he became quite incapable
of making the necessary arrangements for his herd. While
in this plight, a tacksman from whom he had bought some
beasts came to the rescue of the inebriated stranger. He
got his cattle collected and sent some of his own shepherds