Live Stock. 67 



at least .15,000, which is altogether a loss to land- 

 lords and farmers in the Highlands of .37,000 

 a-year." 



If Mr. Graham's statement can be accepted as even 

 approximately correct, the business of cattle lifting had 

 clearly been of considerable extent. At that date the 

 animals stolen would not have exceeded 3 in average 

 value, so that sixteen hundred at least must have been 

 stolen annually. Only in certain cases the Highlanders 

 apparently regarded reiving in the light of a serious 

 duty. Captain Burt speaks of their holding the 

 doctrine that they had a right to plunder their Low- 

 land neighbours, particularly the Moray lairds, on the 

 ground that their ancestors once owned the lands of 

 these same neighbours. A letter addressed by the laird 

 of Lochiel to the laird of Grant, the terms of which 

 follow, bears out this view, and at same time shows 

 that these forays were sometimes dangerous to both the 

 aggressors and their victims : 



RESPD. AND LOWING COUSIN. My heartly commendations 

 being mentioned to you. I have received your letter concerning 

 this misfortunate accident that never fell out the like between 

 our houses the like before in no man's days; but praised be God, 

 I am innocent of the same, and my friends, both in respect that 

 they went not in your bounds, but to Murray lands, where all 

 men taken their prey nor knew not that Moynes was ane Graunt, 

 but thought he was ane Murrayman, and if they knew him they 

 would not stor his land more than the rest of your bounds in 

 Strathspey, and, sir, I have gotten such a loss of my friends, 

 which I hope you shall consider, for I have aught dead already 

 and I have 12 or 13 under cure quhilk I know not who shall die 

 or who shall live of the saming ; so, sir, whosoever has gotten the 

 greatest loss I am content that the same shall be referred to the 

 sight of friends that loveth us both alike, and there is such a 

 trouble here amongst us that we cannot look to the same, for the 

 pi-esent tyme, until I witt who shall live of my men that is under 

 cure. So not further troubling you at this tyme, sir, you shall 

 not be offended at my friend's innocence, so I rest you. 



ALEXANDER CAM. of Lochyle. 



Glenlacharkeg, 18 October, 1645. 



