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number of three hundred； scattered as far as the eye can reach；
in the most agreeable confusion。 As the soil and climate of the
Highlands are but ill adapted to the cultivation of corn； the
people apply themselves chiefly to the breeding and feeding of
black cattle； which turn to good account。 Those animals run wild
all the winter； without any shelter or subsistence； but what they
can find among the heath。 When the snow lies so deep and hard；
that they cannot penetrate to the roots of the grass； they make a
diurnal progress； guided by a sure instinct； to the seaside at
low water； where they feed on the alga marina； and other plants
that grow upon the beach。
Perhaps this branch of husbandry； which required very little
attendance and labour； is one of the principal causes of that
idleness and want of industry； which distinguishes these
mountaineers in their own country。 When they come forth into the
world； they become as diligent and alert as any people upon
earth。 They are undoubtedly a very distinct species from their
fellow subjects of the Lowlands； against whom they indulge an
ancient spirit of animosity； and this difference is very
discernible even among persons of family and education。 The
Lowlanders are generally cool and circumspect； the Highlanders
fiery and ferocious：' but this violence of their passions serves
only to inflame the zeal of their devotion to strangers； which is
truly enthusiastic。
We proceeded about twenty miles beyond Inverary； to the house of
a gentleman； a friend of our conductor； where we stayed a few
days； and were feasted in such a manner； that I began to dread
the consequence to my constitution。
Notwithstanding the solitude that prevails among these mountains；
there is no want of people in the Highlands。 I am credibly
informed that the duke of Argyle can assemble five thousand men
in arms； of his own clan and surname； which is Campbell； and
there is besides a tribe of the same appellation； whose chief' is
the Earl of Breadalbine。 The Macdonalds are as numerous； and
remarkably warlike： the Camerons； M'Leods； Frasers； Grants；
M'Kenzies； M'Kays； M'Phersons； M'Intoshes； are powerful clans； so
that if all the Highlanders； including the inhabitants of the
Isles； were united； they could bring into the field an army of
forty thousand fighting men； capable of undertaking the most
dangerous enterprize。 We have lived to see four thousand of them；
without discipline； throw the whole kingdom of Great Britain into
confusion。 They attacked and defeated two armies of regular
troops accustomed to service。 They penetrated into the centre of
England； and afterwards marched back with deliberation； in the
face of two other armies； through an enemy's country； where every
precaution was taken to cut off their retreat。 I know not any
other people in Europe； who； without the use or knowledge of
arms； will attack regular forces sword in hand； if their chief
will head them in battle。 When disciplined； they cannot fail of
being excellent soldiers。 They do not walk like the generality of
mankind； but trot and bounce like deer； as if they moved upon
springs。 They greatly excel the Lowlanders in all the exercises
that require agility； they are incredibly abstemious； and patient
of hunger and fatigue； so steeled against the weather； that in
travelling； even when the ground is covered with snow； they never
look for a house； or any other shelter but their plaid； in which
they wrap themselves up； and go to sleep under the cope of
heaven。 Such people； in quality of soldiers； must be invincible；
when the business is to perform quick marches in a difficult
country； to strike sudden strokes； beat up the enemy's quarters；
harrass their cavalry； and perform expeditions without the
formality of magazines； baggage； forage； and artillery。 The
chieftainship of the Highlanders is a very dangerous influence
operating at the extremity of the island； where the eyes and
hands of government cannot be supposed to see ＇and＇ act with
precision and vigour。 In order to break the force of clanship；
administration has always practised the political maxim； Divide
et impera。 The legislature hath not only disarmed these
mountaineers； but also deprived them of their antient garb； which
contributed in a great measure to keep up their military spirit；
and their slavish tenures are all dissolved by act of parliament；
so that they are at present as free and independent of their
chiefs； as the law can make them： but the original attachment
still remains； and is founded on something prior to the feudal
system； about which the writers of this age have made such a
pother； as if it was a new discovery； like the Copernican system。
Every peculiarity of policy； custom； and even temperament； is
affectedly traced to this origin； as if the feudal constitution
had not been common to almost all the natives of Europe。 For my
part； I expect to see the use of trunk…hose and buttered ale
ascribed to the influence of the feudal system。 The connection
between the clans and their chiefs is； without all doubt；
patriarchal。 It is founded on hereditary regard and affection；
cherished through a long succession of ages。 The clan consider
the chief as their father； they bear his name； they believe
themselves descended from his family； and they obey him as their
lord； with all the ardour of filial love and veneration； while
he； on his part； exerts a paternal authority； commanding；
chastising； rewarding； protecting； and maintaining them as his
own children。 If the legislature would entirely destroy this
connection； it must compel the Highlanders to change their
habitation and their names。 Even this experiment has been
formerly tried without success In the reign of James VI a battle
was fought within a few short miles of this place； between two
clans； the M'Gregors and the Colquhouns； in which the latter were
defeated： the Laird of M'Gregor made such a barbarous use of his
victory； that he was forfeited and outlawed by act of parliament：
his lands were given to the family of Montrose； and his clan were
obliged to change their name。 They obeyed so far； as to call
themselves severally Campbell； Graham； or Drummond； the surnames
of the families of Argyle； Montrose； and Perth； that they might
enjoy the protection of those houses； but they still added
M'Gregor to their new appellation； and as their chief was
deprived of his estate； they robbed and plundered for his
subsistence。 Mr Cameron of Lochiel； the chief of that clan；
whose father was attainted for having been concerned in the last
rebellion； returning from France in obedience to a proclamation
and act of parliament； passed at the beginning of the late war；
payed a visit to his own country； and hired a farm in the
neighbourhood of his father's house； which had been burnt to the
ground。 The clan； though ruined and scattered； no sooner heard of
his arrival than they flocked to him from all quarters； to
welcome his return； and in a few days stocked his farm with seven
hundred black cattle； which they had saved in the general wreck
of their affairs： but their beloved chief； who was a promising
youth； did not live to enjoy the fruits of their fidelity and
attachment。
The most effectual method I know to weaken； and at length destroy
this influence； is to employ the commonalty in such a manner as
to give them a taste of property and independence。 In vain the
government grants them advantageous leases on the forfeited
estates； if they have no property to prosecute the means of
improvement The sea is an inexhaustible fund of riches； but the
fishery cannot be carried on without vessels； casks； salt； lines；
nets； and other tackle。 I conversed with a sensible man of this
country； who； from a real spirit of patriotism had set up a
fishery on the coast； and a manufacture of coarse linen； for the
employment of the poor Highlanders。 Cod is here in such plenty；
that he told me he had seen several hundred taken on one line； at
one hawl It must be observed； however； that the line was of
immense length； and had two thousand hooks； baited with muscles；
but the fish was so superior to the cod caught on the banks of
Newfoundland； that his correspondent at Lisbon sold them
immediately at his own price； although Lent was just over when
they arrived； and the people might be supposed quite cloyed with
this kind of diet His linen manufacture was likewise in a
prosperous way； when the late war intervening； all his best hands
were pressed into the service。
It cannot be expected； that the gentlemen of this country should
execute commercial schemes to render their vassals independent；
nor； indeed； are such schemes suited to their way of life and
inclination； but a company of merchants might； with proper
management； turn to good account a fishery established in this
part of Scotland Our people have a strange itch to colonize
America； when the uncultivated parts of our own island might be
settled to greater advantage。
After having rambled through the mountains and glens of Argyle；
we visited the adjacent islands of Ila； Jura； Mull； and Icomkill。
In the first； we saw the remains of a castle； built in a lake；
where Macdon