The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

564
The Highland Monthly.
Beann," with such effect that we could in imagination see
the green knolls and heathery corries of Beinn Dorain
abounding in game and deer, or the old gamekeeper, on
returning home from the south, lamenting the changes
that had come over the scenes of his youth, and his
inability to take part in the chase any more.
This being the educational state of matters, it is no
wonder that the people resorted to any device that would
satisfy that craving for knowledge which is inherent in every
human breast. Hence their assembling in certain houses to
discuss the latest news that was conveyed perhaps by one
who had been recently in the parish town, which had
generally some form of communication with the south, or
perhaps gleaned from the parish teacher, who was usually
the happy recipient of a weekly newspaper.
All matters were discussed at the CeilidJi; the prospects
of next harvest, or fishing season, the chances of war or
peace, births, marriages, deaths and ghosts, any thrilling
piece of news that found its way into the place, and as a
matter of fact all the local gossip. Thus the Ceilidh-house
became a nest where storLes and scandals of all kinds were
hatched and circulated ; and I have often seen the closest
ties of friendship suddenly snapped by an injudicious
remark made at these nightly gatherings. It was this feature
of the Ceilidh, combined with the habit of laziness it
engendered, that made it so pernicious.
In every township certain houses were chosen for the
Ceilidh. The suitableness of the house depended on many
circumstances, "chiefly the size and accommodating facilities
of the " but," and the character of the owner of the house.
The essential testimonials in the latter case were a cheer-
ful and tolerant spirit, and a love of imparting and receiving
gossipry. Thus Aonghas Ban being considered the greatest
newsmonger in the township of which I write—and his claims
to that distinction were indisputable—his house was at
once fixed on as being the best adapted for the nightly
gathering. The assemblage at Aonghas Ban's was