Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

FOOD OF THE HIGHLANDS. 339
scarcely be named ; as their use is almost limited to St.
Kilda; altlioug-h there are many other situations where
the example of those active people might be followed
with advantag-e.
But there is really no reason why their animal food
should be so restricted. It will scarcely be argued that,
although they are contented with oatcakes and potatoes,
it would not be an improvement if they possessed, at
least some proportion of a better diet, though that
should not consist of beef and mutton. When they have
adopted my projected improvement, and arrived at
leeks or beans, I hope the reformer who follows me
will teach them to say, or sing, " O quando uncta, satis
pingui, ponentur oluscula lardo." Why should they
not have bacon to their cabbage ; I know not. But it is
not likely they will ever arrive at that till they have
shown energy enough to provide cabbage for their bacon.
They may fancy they dislike pork, if tliey please : but if
they do, it is certain that Ossian was not a Highlander,
and they must then renounce all claims to a descent from
Fingal. Indeed I think this argument ao-ainst the Hioh-
land origin of Ossian's Poems quite insurmountable,
though I happened to overlook it formerly ; and if they
really mean to prove their lineage and claims, I recommend
them to take to pig meat as fast as possible. There
can be no question that Fingal had a seat in Valhalla, with
his father Trathal, and his grandfather Trenmor, and his
son Ossian, and his grandsons Uilin, Carril, and Rhyno,
voices of the days of old. It is equally certain that they
breakfasted, dined, and supped, upon the boar Scryniner,
and that the Goddess Gna was the housekeeper. To be
sure, it would be against the liberty of the subject to
cram the modern Fingalians with this diet, by force, as
you do a sausage ; particularly as Dr. Kitchener con-
siders forced meat unwholesome ; but I think when once
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