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The Gael—His Characteristics and Social History. 291
sivo exactions. We may, however, couiidcutly expect a speedy
Rolutiou of tliis difficulty from the legishitive enactments about to
be passeil in Parliament, where so mucl-. intei'est is excited in tlu;
subject of the laiul question.
Uonoxir. —Next to the noble fidelity of the Gael I will place
Ids hiij^h sense of honour. This distinguishing and beautiful trait
of character in the Gael we sometimes hear stigmatised as Highland
pride. A sense of pleasure derived from tlie remembrance
and rehearsal of deeds of bravery, of examples of genc^rosity and
of noble actions, may indeed bo termed laud;ible pride, and in this
sense of the term we may take honour and Highland pride to be
synonymous. As the honour of parents reflects on tlieir children,
so in the wider sense the honour belonging to the clan, whether
tlerived from its chief or from the noble deeds of its individual
members, reflects on the whole l>ody. Here we have strong
motives to urge individuals to perserve in tact, and liand down
unsullied the good name and character of their family, whether in
its limited or in its wider sense. Here, also, we find the reason
of what appears to our southern neighbours to be the silly family
connection, and the long line of ancestry in which the Celt takes
so nuich pride. From this source likewise springs that stimulus
to individual eftbrt on the part of each member of the clan to
emulate the good deeds of his ancestors, and to e.schew in his own
person whatever might tend to bring disgrace on his family name.
Female honour and virtue were held as specially sacred, and the
utter sense of degradation of shame and isolation of the unfortunate
and unha])py female who had lost her virtue is strongly
painteJ in the pitiful wail of her who said
Bithidh mi tuilleadh gu tiiirseach deurach.
Mar eala bhan 's i an deigh 'reubadh,
Guileag bais aic' air lochan feurach,
A's each gn leur 's iad an deigh 'treigsinn.
Hospitality.— Highland hospitality is pi-overbial, and among
our ancestors it must have appeared in the light of a sacred duty.
Whether this duty is any other than that which is imposed by our
duties as Christians, and rendered stronger by the necessities of
circumstances may be a question, but certain it is that to a genuine
Gael the pleasure of dispensing his hospitality, equals, if it does
not surpass, tliat of the recipient of his favours. So imperative
was the duty of hospitality that feuds and bitter dissensions were
frequently su})pressed in order to discharge with becoming honour
and dignity the paramount duty of host.
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