REMINISCENCES OF SONEPORE. 291 



After supper the ladies sang Erse songs to which I listened as 

 an English audience to an Italian Opera, delighted with the 

 sound of words I did not understand. The family of Raasay 

 consists of the laird, the lady, three sons and ten daughters. 

 More gentleness of manners, or a more pleasing appearance 

 of domestic society is not found in the most polished countries." 



The elegance and plenty which surprised Dr. Johnson 

 were more than the Highland Lairds and Tacksmen could afford. 

 They fought and bled in every clime. The wail of the bagpipes 

 was heard all the world over where blood ran red. The flowers 

 of the glens were gathered to be strewed on every field. But 

 all the fighting abroad, culminating in the great struggle at 

 Waterloo, did not avail to preserve the " auld hous at hame." 

 Skill and capital swept away gentry and cottars. Their tillage 

 was thriftless, their stock-rearing antiquated, their resources 

 limited. Capital and skill came from the South. The age of 

 romance lapsed. That of forced sales and clearances began. 

 The fairies forsook the green, the water demons the lakes, 

 Kilted, masquerading, Englishmen now scatter their sandwich 

 papers by the deserted village well and the South-country 

 shepherd wanders, solitary, among his sheep. The Celt was 

 deported to the Cqlonies or driven to the shore. For his good 

 it is said. 



Mr. Macleod's father was the last of the Macgilliechal- 

 lums in Skye. He held land neither by the sword nor by 

 heritage. But for all that his influence over his countrymen as- 

 a clergyman and a leader was more extensive, real and 

 beneficent than that of any of his race. In later days his 

 commanding figure, beautiful white hair, deep-blue eyes, 

 and his countenance illumined by the light that never was 

 on sea or shore were powerful to impress. And behind 

 these was a keen, dialectic mind and a strong will. And 

 with them the courtesy and grace of a high-spirited Highland 

 gentlemen. No wonder the people worshipped him. 



