304 Notes on Sport and Travel n 



of turning over their heads in foul weather, after the 

 manner of ancient females reckless of their ankles, or 

 of younger ones who fear not criticism. When in 

 action they tucked these same petticoats into the 

 sustaining belt the best way they could. 



Pennant, who was a careful observer, and much 

 to be depended on in matters not too grave, saw 

 garments (if indeed they may be called garments, 

 seeing how little wit or decency goeth to the fram- 

 ing of them) of this fashion worn by the Northern 

 Irish in the year 1790. 'Their Brechan or Plaid 

 consists of twelve or thirteen yards of a narrow stuff 

 wrapped round the middle, and reaches to their knees. 

 It is often fastened round the middle with a belt, and 

 is then called " Brechan feil," but in cold weather 

 (mark this, my masters !) is long enough to wrap round 

 the body from head to feet' I would fain see the 

 Highland soldiers of our gracious Queen performing 

 this manoeuvre on a foul field-day in Hyde Park with 

 their kilts ! — and this is often their only covering, 

 not only within doors, but on the open hills during 

 the whole night. ' It is frequently fastened to the 

 shoulders with a pin, often of silver, and before with a 

 brotche, like the Fibula of the Romans ' ; which like 

 enough it often was, for whence could such poor knaves 

 get such rare goldsmiths' work, but from the stores 

 the Vikinger had harried from the southern parts ? 



Pennant also saw the gentleman walking about 

 in his ' truis,' breeches and stockings made of one 

 piece. He also knew that the ' feilbeg,' or little 



