240 A HUNDEED YEAES 



a centenarian. He was buried in the Gairloch church- 

 yard. He is said to have been a remarkably handsome 

 and powerful Highlander. He literally flayed an 

 important part in the many fights which took place 

 during the earlier part of his career. 



John Mackay, the only son of Eory, was born at 

 Talladale in 1656. He was not blind from birth, as has 

 been erroneously stated, but was deprived of his sight 

 by smallpox when about seven years old . He was known 

 as Iain Dall (Blind John) or an Piobaire Dall (the Blind 

 Piper) . After mastering the first principles of pipe music 

 under his father's tuition, he was sent to the celebrated 

 Macrimmon in Skye to finish his musical education. He 

 remained seven years with Macrimmon, and then returned 

 to his native parish, where he assisted his father in the 

 ofi&ce of piper to the laird of Gairloch. 



After his father's death he became piper to Sir 

 Kenneth Mackenzie, the first baronet of Gairloch, and 

 after Sir Kenneth's death to his son, Sir Alexander, the 

 second baronet and ninth laird of Gairloch. He com- 

 bined the office of bard with that of piper. Iain Dall 

 retired when in advanced years, and Sir Alexander 

 allowed him a good pension. Like his father, he married 

 late in life. He had but two children — Angus, who 

 succeeded him, and a daughter. After he was super- 

 annuated, he passed his remaining years in visiting 

 gentlemen's houses, where he was always a welcome 

 guest. Like his father, he lived to a great age. He died 

 in 1754, aged ninety-eight, and was buried in the same 

 grave as his father in the Gairloch churchyard. He 

 composed twenty-four pibrochs, besides numberless 



