INVERNESS-SHIRE. 123 



many of the hills run to over 3,000 ft. More than 

 two rifles seldom go to the hill, and the usual kill 

 is from 38 to 40 stags, which in the season of '93 

 averaged 15 stone 2 lbs. clean. 



Some time about the middle of the sixteenth century 

 a tragedy, arising out of the following circumstances, 

 took place in the fastnesses of Monadhliah mountains. 

 Some of the clan MacNiven having insulted a 

 daughter of Cluny Macpherson, a very large force of 

 that powerful sept surprised the MacNivens, and in 

 a furious battle nearly the whole of this latter clan 

 was killed ; only eighteen men survived, who, escap- 

 ing to the recesses of the Monadhliah mountains, 

 built themselves a strong house, to which as a further 

 protection they added a secret room built behind 

 the back of the fire-place, thus gaining additional 

 safety with warmth at the same time, and in this 

 secret den these eighteen men lived undiscovered 

 for some years, getting their subsistence by 

 lifting cattle and poaching deer. At last their 

 house was found out, while the frequent cattle 



