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Smuggling in the Highlands. 265
much later, perhaps sixty years aj^o, and the beverafjt* wliisky.
The laird of Mihiaii:, near Ahicss, visited his nei,i,dibour the laird
of Nonikiln. Time wore on, and the visit was pi-olonged until
late at night. At last the sugar got done, and toddy is not very
palatable without sugar. In those days no shop was neai-er than
Tain or Dingwall, and ic was too late to send anywhere for a sup-
ply. Convivialities were threatened with an abrupt tei'niination,
when a happy thought found its way into Nonikiln's befogged
brain. He had bee-hives in the garden, and honey was an excellent
substitute for sugar. A skep was fetched in, the bees were
robbed, and the toddy bowl was replenished. The operation was repeated
until the bees, revived by the warmth of the room, showed
signs of activity, and stung their spoileis into sobriety.
(^reich, I understand, relates this story with great gusto.
Dr Aird,
There can be no doubt that till the latter jjart of last century,
wine, ale, rum, and brandy were more used than whisky. Tan
Lom, who died about 1710, in his song " Moch 's mi 'g eiridh 'sa
Mhaduinn " mentions " gucagan fion," but makes no reference to
whisky. Lord Lovat having occasion to entertain 24 guests at
Beaufort in 1739, writes— "I have ordered John Forbes to send
in horses for all Lachlan Macintosh's wine, and for six dozen of the
Spanish wine."— (Transactions, Vol. XII). Colonel Stewart of
Garth writing about 1820, says—
"Till within the last 30 years,
whisky was less used in the Highlands than rum and brandy, which
were smuggled from the West Coast. It was not till the beginning,
or rather towards the middle of last century that spirits of any kind
were so much drank as ale, which was then the universal beverage.
Every account and tradition go to prove that ale was the principal
drink among the country people, and Fi-ench wines and brandy
among the gentry. Mr Stewart of Crossmount, who lived till his
104th year, informed me that in his youth strong frothing ale from
the cask was the common beverage. It was drunk from a circular
shallow cup with two handles. Those of the gentry were of silver,
and those used by the common people were of variegated woods.
Small cups were used for spirits. Whisky house is a term unknown
in Gaelic. A public-house is called Tigh-Leinne, i.e., ale
house. In addition to the authority of Mr Stewart, I have that
of men of perfect veracity and great intelligence regarding everything
connected with theii- native country. In the early part of
their recollections, and in the time of their fathers, the whisky
drank in the Highlands of Perthshire was brought principally
from the Lowlands. A ballad composed on an ancestor of mine
in the reign of Chai'les I., describes the laird's jovial and hospit-