OCTOBER 193 



the vicissitudes of Highland life in the seventeenth 

 century. Thus in June 1691 the following: 



'There came two or three parties off Hielanders, one of 

 them caryed away a great many cattell out of Aitnoch. . . . 

 The partie was strong, betwixt fiftie and three score. . . . 

 The nixt partie fell vpon my lands in the more and in the 

 breas (the moor and braes) off Altherg, when I wass at 

 Inshoch, and caryed such cattel as they found quit away: 

 about thirtie head and four piece of horss. . . . The third 

 partie fell upon my lands of Boath, but then I was at home 

 and sent my sone Archie and the lightest lads I hade after 

 them. They were overtaken in the breas of Strathherrick 

 and brought back. One of their boyes was likewayes catcht 

 and brought prisner. And just as this letter is a writting, I 

 have advertisement from severall friends off the brea of 

 Strathnairn that ther is a partie off five or six score 

 Lochabber men past by with them, who is like may make 

 ane onset this night somewher in our breas. If we knew 

 wher, we would endeavour to buckle a touch with them.' 



These light-footed Camerons of Lochaber were ever 

 the sworn scourges of the prosperous Campbells; and 

 such were the diversions of a country gentleman two 

 hundred years ago. As for the ladies, edifying litera- 

 ture was provided for such of them as had learning; 

 for Sir Hugh himself was rather bookish, and the 

 author of An Essay on the Lord's Prayer, published in 

 1704. The 'Inventar of Lady Calder her Books' 

 reveals nothing more trivial than The Book of Palm- 

 istry, The Art of Complaisance, and Ruthven's Ladies' 

 Cabinet Enlarged ; the bulk of it being made up with 

 such exhilarating matter as Sighs from Hell, Balm of 

 Gilead, and Calamy's Divine Meditation. 



