60 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



and was built in 1729, on the Lovat estate, to overawe certain clans who were 

 inclined to disturb the peace by supporting the exiled family of Stuart in their 

 claims to the throne. In 1746 it was taken by the Highland clans, and partly 

 demolished, but, afterwards reinstated, it became for some time the head-quarters 

 of the royal army.* The garrison is now become unnecessary ; and, some years 

 ago, orders were given to dismantle the ramparts and transfer the ordnance to 

 Fort George measures which were carried into effect. 



The hill of Suidh-Chuiman is crossed by the great military road from Inverness 

 to Fort Augustus; and on its very summit, within two yards of him, the tourist will 

 observe a small cairn such as is commonly found where persons have perished 

 from the inclemency of the weather, or died suddenly. On this spot, it is said, 

 one of the chieftains of the Clan Cummin, -j- so powerful in their day, while on 

 the way to visit some of his dependants, fell sick and died. Here, any disastrous 

 event is perpetuated by a cairn in the Alps, by a cross erected on the spot. 



Among the traditions relative to events which took place in this neighbourhood 

 at the calamitous period of "forty-five," one is thus perpetuated: Cameron of 

 Lochiel, having joined Prince Charles, was followed by his whole clan a measure 

 which involved them in ruin. The royal army, after its victory on the field of 

 Culloden, as already mentioned, was stationed at Fort Augustus, from which 

 point small detachments were sent in different directions to plunder and lay waste 

 the country. In Lochaber, they drove away all the cattle, J burnt the houses, 



When taken possession of by the royal army, it became the centre of gaiety and fashion. Amidst the 

 fatigues and hardships which the soldiers had to suffer, says a writer of that day, " the brave Duke makes 

 all about him as jovial as the place will possibly admit of." In a letter, dated from the fort, June 17th, 

 the writer gives some account of the royal pastimes. " Last Wednesday," says he, " the duke gave two 

 prizes to the soldiers to run heats for, on bare-backed galloways taken from the rebels, when eight started 

 for the first, and ten for the second prize. Tftse galloways are little larger than a good tup, and shew 

 excellent sport. Yesterday his royal highness gave the soldiers' wives a fine Holland smock to be run for 

 on these galloways, also bare backed, and riding with their limbs on each side the horse, like men. Eight 

 started, and there were three of the finest heats ever seen ! The prize was won with great difficulty by 

 one of the Old Buffs' ladies. In the evening, General Hawley and Colonel Howard ran a match for twenty 

 guineas, on two of the above shelties (or ponies), which Hawley won by about five inches." Strutters' 

 Hist. Scots Mag. 1748. 



t The whole distict of Badenoch was originally the property of the Comyns, (or Cummins,) who, at an 

 early period of Scottish history, were one of the most powerful families in the kingdom. It is matter of 

 doubt at what time and in what manner this family, which came from England in the time of David I., 

 acquired possession of so much wealth and influence; but we find John Comyn first noticed as lord of 

 Badenoch in the reign of Alexander III. See Parochial Statistics. 



I " We hang or shoot," says an officer, writing from Fort Augustus, " every one that is known to 

 conceal the Pretender ; burn their houses, and take away their cattle, of which we got a thousand head 

 within these few days past ; so that if some of your Northumberland graziers were here, they would make 

 their fortunes." liny. " We had near twenty thousand head of cattle brought in, taken from the rebels 



