I A Gossip on a Sutherland Hill-side 259 



and yet abuses the Catti of that ilk on every occasion, 

 and exalts the Sutherland Catti beyond all cess. 

 Even the name of the Clan-Chattan is a stumbling- 

 block to him ; and he is by no means clear whether 

 they are so called from the name of their original 

 German sept, or from the fact of their chief having 

 literally whipped his weight in wild cats on his first 

 arrival in the country of his adoption. This great 

 fight took place A.D. 91. Don't be afraid, Donald, 

 I will hold it tight. 



' The Catti and Usepii were expelled from Ger- 

 many for killing of a Roman generall with his legions. 

 At their first arrival at Corry Vale, in the river of 

 Unes (a commanding haven in that country), their 

 captaine went to the shore to recreate himself and 

 spy the land, when he was suddentlie invaded by a 

 company of monstrous big wild catts, that much en- 

 domaged and molested the country. The fight 

 between them was cruell, and continued long ; yet 

 in the end (very grievousHe wounded in severall 

 places of his bodie) he killed them all, with great 

 danger of his lyff. From thence the Thanes and 

 Erles of Cattey, or Sutherland, even unto this day, 

 do carie on their crest or bage, abowe their armes, a 

 catt sitting with one of his feett upward, readie to 

 catch his prey. Some do think that from this 

 adventure this country was first called Cattey, for 

 catt in old Scottish (or Irish language) signifieth a 

 catt. But I do rather incline to their opinion who 

 think that as Murrayland was so called from the 



