"Story and Song from Loch Ness-Side"

[128]

We will now introduce a few personages of a different type entirely, who figured in the history of our district. Among those comes first Colonel Alexander Ronaldson Macdonell of Glengarry. Glengarry, the hero of much that is interesting in Loch Ness-side song and story, stood high in the popular estimation as a Highland chieftain of the genuine old kind. His manner, his dress, his generosity, and urbanity were on every one's lips. Mac- Dougall, his own family bard, as well as Grant, the Glen- moriston bard, who were contemporary, vied with each other in sounding his praises. Allan simply adored his illustrious patron, and never lost an opportunity of sing- ing in his honour. Glengarry was well aware of his bard's partiality for him, and it is related that on an occasion while at some games at Fort-William, he prom- ised Allan the best cow in his herd if he would sing of the day's proceedings without reference to him. Allan replied at once:

Archie Grant, among numerous warm encomiums on Glengarry, says that Sir Walter Scott compared him to a king:

This had reference to Glengarry's visit to Edinburgh in 1822, with his brother of Waterloo fame, who were both [129] among the    nobility    meeting King George IV.    in the Scottish capital in that year.
Archie would fain make Glengarry heir to the King- ship of the Isles. In one of his compositions he refers to the Black Castle of Invergarry and its lord in the following terms:

Glengarry's famous duel with MacLeod was related as a deed of courage and heroism. The circumstances of that affair of honour may be worth relating. MacLeod, who was a lieutenant in the army, met Glengarry at a ball in Inverness, and a quarrel originated over a dance with a lady in the company. It was later on renewed, and Glengarry struck and kicked MacLeod. Some squabbling ensued, and eventually a meeting was arranged. A duel came off at Fort George in course, the weapons selected being pistols. Macleod was hit and seen to be wounded, but was considered not seriously injured. However, it turned out that he was badly hit, and he died about a month afterwards. Glengarry was tried in Edinburgh, but was acquitted.

[130] Stories of Glengarry's impulsiveness and impetuosity of temper were common, but equally so were evidences of his manliness, kindness, and justice. It was related that once he whipped a certain blacksmith from Fort Augustus for having persisted in seeking payment of his account from him, but that when the blacksmith, who brought the matter to Court, succeeded in winning his case, Glen-garry manfully complimented him on his pluck and per- severance. The chief was, above all things, full of the old-time sentiment of nationality - real, perfervid "duinealas".

There had been friendly relationships between the chiefs and peoples of Glengarry and Glenmoriston of old. They generally went to battle as one party, fought and conquered side by side, and for most made their respec-tive interests common ground for unity of purpose and action. They fought together at the famous Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689; were out together in the '15, and again in the '45. When the Glengarry of a later date met Archie Grant, the bard, on a certain day in Glen- moriston, he cordially shook hands with him, and referred gracefully to the old relationship between the families. Grant was, of course, exceedingly proud of the honour, and affectionately nursed the memory of the occasion till, his dying day. Our own father remembered having seen this Glengarry passing through the Glen on his way to pay a friendly visit to Strathglass, where his sister was married to the Chisholm of the day. He was accom panied by his son, Angus Dubh, and by twelve of his tenants, all dressed in full Highland costume, including arms, plaids, belts, buckles, feathers, etc. Glengarry and his son were on horseback. It was at once noticeable that the Colonel was a man of exceptional bearing and personality. He was the ideal Highland chief in word, in movement, and in manner.     He was the real [131] impersonation of the ancient and honourable institution of Celtic clan landlordism. The party rested at Aonach, where they had refreshments with Captain and Mrs MacDonell. This Captain MacDonell and his wife were natives of the Glen. The Captain had been in the army, and on returning took up residence at Aonach. At one time the Captain and his lady had throe of the Glen- moriston family living with them. They were sent there, accompanied by a nurse, to drink goat's milk, which was then considered a health requisite, and was, as such, much in demand for the children of the better- to do. The MacDonell family latterly resided at Livishy, where MacDonell's ancestors had been, according to Archie Grant, from time immemorial. Those Livishy MacDonalds were originally descended from one of the Macdonald families who ruled in Glenmoriston before the Grants.

There is a song of very great merit in praise of Colonel MacDonell which we have been able to pick up lately, and which should have a place here. Certain verses of this composition appeared on two separate occasions within the past few years in the columns of the "Oban Times" - on the first of these occasions from the pen of Mr M. Macfarlane. The song is understood to be the composition of a MacLean, a native of Tiree, and has been published in ''Clarsach na Coille,'' a col- lection by Rev. Mr MacLean-Sinclair, Nova Scotia, now, we understand, becoming scarce. It is usually preceded by a toast, and ais both are exceedingly interesting, we take the liberty of giving them here as follows:

This illustrious toast duly honoured, the singing of the song was proceeded with. The following, is by far the completest version of the words we have yet been able to procure:

The incident of Glengarry's appearance in the Glen was associated in our father's memory with his having, while, about the same time, a boy at Aonach, seen a horse passing through to Skye, which was said to have been the one that the Emperor Napoleon rode at the battle of Waterloo. The horse was understood to have been purchased for Lord Macdonald. He had the most distinct possible impression as to the horse having been of a dun colour, and a large beautiful beast, which his father and the man in charge could not get into the stable at Aonach, thus necessitating the horse taking a feed of corn outside. The Macdonald family, already referred to, and the people about, came to look at the animal, the subject of such an illustrious history. This would have been about the year 1820. While there may be honest enough doubt that the horse in this case was Napoleon's, there is none as to its probably belonging to Marshal Macdonald, Duke Tarentum, who was about the time on a visit to the land of his forefathers in the Western Isles. The inn at Aonach, as is well known, was a calling-place on the main road through the High lands to the West.

[136] Some time later a Highland gentleman, known popu larly by the name of "Gleann-a-Cuaich" ("Glen- quoich"), occasionally visited Loch Ness-side. "Gleann- a-Cuaich" was of the Clan Macrae, and for long occu pied the farm of Glenquoich, belonging to the Glen garry family. When they sold out, Macrae removed to Inverness district, where he passed much time in fishing and shooting, his favourite pastimes, and in which he enjoys the reputation in local memory of having excelled. After the lapse of some time, Macrae emigrated to Aus tralia, where he was understood to have done very well. "Gleann-a-Cuaich" was an excellent specimen of the typical Highlander - of a commanding and well set-up personality, and companionable and kind-hearted to a high degree. The following verses are said to have been composed to his praises by Allan MacDougall, Glen garry's famous bard and seanachie:

We must make passing reference to Roualyn Gordon Gumming, whose distinguished personality and adventures were on the lips of every one in our district. He was most popular with all. During his stay at Fort Augustus he made himself acquainted with most persons within miles around, and he was looked up to with admiration, and not a little pride, as one of the finest specimens of humanity ever beheld, even in the Scottish Highlands. His figure and bearing were simply magn ificent, and his manner most captivating. He was a born gentleman in the first degree, but looked down on none. To him everyone was a human being, and worthy of kindness and companoinship. He moved in iand out among the people for a time, and they always found him the essence of generosity, kindliness, and nobility. The tale of his heroic deeds abroad charmed the people, among whom it was related time and again, as, in a manner, similar to the romances of the ancient [138] Fingalian heroes. His daring was proverbial, and he absolutely feared nothing. He jumped off a high bridge into a deep pool beneath while at a funeral in Glengarry, quite regardless of the possibilities of danger from, injury or wet and escaped unscathed in one way or another. The story of his struggle with the bull on a field at Borlum was often told and re-told. He was crossing a certain park when the bull - a rather fierce and vicious animal - came bounding towards him. Roualyn never had any conception of fear, and knew not how to go aside from danger. He gave battle to the bull, and after a few turns, tumbled the beast on its broad back, fixing its horns in the ground. But the strain was enormous, and Roualyn, as we used to hear, spat out some blood. He was never, it was said, the same afterwards. He is understood to have stated that he never had experienced anything so difficult as to bring down the Borlum bull; though he had travelled far from home, and had been through dangers and adventures of no common kind. We heard only of one man who had the courage to wrestle with him. He was a Macdonald, a blacksmith from Invermoriston - he who fought and defeated the man Burke, who, as was cus tomary at a time in the past, sorned on Inverness till one strong enough to beat him could be found in the-town. That man was big Peter MacDonald, the smith, who first saw light in Achnanconeran.

An idea of the admiration and regard in which Roualyn was held in our district may be gathered from a composition by Archie Grant, the bard, in which much that is interesting in regard to Roualyn is set forth in full and fluent language. The poem is included in Grant's published works.

Chapter 8