THE CAMERONS OF RANNOCH.

THERE are, in Rannoch, two distinct septs of the Clan Cameron, viz. the Camerons of Camuserochd on the North, and of Camghuran on the South side of the Loch. The former are styled in the vernacular, Cloinn-ic-Mhartainn na Leitirach, and the latter, Cloinn-Ian-Cheir, and Cloinn-Ian-Bhiorraich.

The history of the Camerons of Camuserochd derives its interest both from their being representative of the ancient House of Letterfinlay in Lochaber, and from their intimate connection with the Macgregors of Ardlarich and Dunan, two of the principal families of the Clangregor. The iniquitous persecution of that brave clan, by the Government of the day, afforded their enemies of Lochaber the occasion for settlement on the sides of Loch Rannoch, and it is therefore necessary briefly to review the conditions which led up to an event so foreign to the spirit of the age as the peaceable intrusion of a hostile clan on the lands of a powerful neighbour.

At the instigation, to serve his own ends, of the crafty Earl of Argyll, Alister Macgregor of Glenstrae collected his clansmen of Rannoch, and marched, it is said, from Ardlarich, to ravage the country of the Colquhouns of Luss. The overthrow and slaughter of the Colquhouns, at the famous battle of Glenfruin, so creditable to the prowess of the Macgregors, was represented to King James VI. and his Council in a most distorted light—groundless charges of barbaric cruelty and wantonness being preferred against the clan and their chief. Alister soon found out, to his dismay, that he had been led into a trap, and that the wily Earl-a veritable wolf in sheep's clothing-whose tool he had been, was the first to turn on him. The unfortunate chief was arrested and executed, along with several of his principal clansmen, at the Market Cross of Edinburgh, in the year 1604. A commission of extermination was given to the Earl of Argyll, and other chiefs, against all who bore the name of Macgregor, and the ruthless manner in which it was carried out may be judged from the fact that instances are

related of payment of rents being demanded, not in the ordinary currency, but in so many heads of Macgregors. Not even the closest family ties afforded protection. Duncan Macgregor of Dunan, styled in the Decreta 1612, Doncha Mac Ianduy, who was married to a daughter of Cameron of Glenevis, being hotly pursued by his enemies, shortly after the battle of Glenfruin, in which he had taken part, is said to have sent his wife to her brother, to see if he would afford her any protection; but Glenevis, having, along with others, accepted the commission to extirpate the whole race of Macgregors, gave, as his advice, that both she and her husband could do nothing better than cut their own throats. The poor woman returned dejected and exasperated at the reception accorded to her, which she communicated to her husband, and he immediately set off to Ireland. He left his wife in his possessions of Camuserochd, where her subsequent treatment exemplifies the truth of the adage that the pen is mightier than the sword, and forcibly illustrates the melancholy mistake of the Clangregor in scorning all right to their lands save that of their own strong arm. During Duncan's absence in Ireland, where he remained seven years, the Laird of Menzies, who had long before obtained a Crown charter over them, gave a grant of Macgregor's possessions in Camuserochd to one of the name of Kennedy from Lochaber, known in the country as Gillandhurst-beg, and from whom the Kennedys or Clan Gillandhurst in Rannoch are descended. It appears that Duncan MacIanduy's wife still remained on the estate and was much oppressed by Gillandhurst, who obliged her to perform the most servile work for her livelihood. On her husband's return home, accompanied by his comrades in exile, Gillandhurst was summarily ejected, and, betaking himself to Castle Menzies, was speedily followed thither by Duncan. Macgregor, on being admitted into the audience chamber, is said to have been accosted thus by the Laird of Menzies:

"Suidh sios a MhicGrigair is leig le Gillandhurst suidhe suas." To which Macgregor responded—

"Suidh thusa sios a Gillandhurst-bhig is leig le MacGrigair suidhe suas," and, suiting his action to the word, took Gillandhurst by the neck, and thrust him to the door.

On this occasion, the Laird of Menzies is said to have offered

him an exclusive right to his possessions on very easy terms, which, however, Macgregor rejected with disdain; but, after expelling Gillandhurst, he continued to occupy the lands as before, unmolested. Duncan's daughter, Rachel, celebrated for beauty and the theme of Gaelic song, married, under romantic circumstances (of which presently), Donald Cameron of Blarachaorin, in Lochaber, son of Duncan Cameron of Letterfinlay, the progenitor of the Camerons of Camuserochd.

Duncan Macgregor of Dunan was succeeded by his son, Patrick, whose name occurs in the Leny Papers in September, 1655, and who is referred to in the Privy Council Records as Patrick Mac Doncha-vic Ianduy of Dunan in Rannoch. He purchased the wadset of the lands of Dunan and Kinnachlachar on tha 22nd April, 1675, under reversion of 5000 merks and the sasine; and the same wadset from Sir Alex. Menzies, is recorded 8th December, 1675. In the troublous times that followed the affair of Glenfruin, when the sanguinary enactments of the Privy Council against the Macgregors were little calculated to ensure respect for law and order, especially in the districts occupied by the proscribed clan, the shores of Loch Rannoch were frequently the scene of lawlessness and rapine. Abductions were as common then as are elopements now. Rachel Macgregor of Dunan, already alluded to as sister of Patrick and neice of Cameron of Glenevis, had, it would seem, many wooers, and, among the rest, a "gentle old bachelor" in Lochaber, said to be Raonal na Keppoch, son of Macdonald of Keppoch, whose addresses she despised and rejected. Determined, however, to gain his point, he conceived the project of carrying her off by force or stratagem. Accordingly, he induced about a dozen of his comrades, young men of good families in Lochaber, to proceed with him to Rannoch and take her, nolens volens, provided they got an opportunity. On arriving near Dunan in the evening, they lay in wait, and watched till they saw her walking alone in a birch wood near her father's house. The fellows then rose from their ambush, seized her, and carried her off across the mountains towards Lochaber, by an unfrequented path, so as to avoid pursuit. They entered a lonely bothy or sheiling, where Raonal, now that she was in his power, demanded her surrender to his suit, But, his appearance being anything

but prepossessing, and entertaining a natural repugnance to him, born, probably, of family feuds, Rachel would on no account consent to marry him. They tried all fair means to persuade the obdurate beauty, but to no purpose, when one, less principled than the rest, proposed, by way of punishment for her tenacity, that she should be dishonoured, and then allowed to return to her father if she pleased. Another objected to this brutal proposal, saying that it was as discreditable to themselves as it was shameful to the girl, and made the chivalrous suggestion that all the gentlemen present (and blackguards too, most likely) should be drawn up in line, and that she should be allowed to choose which of them she pleased for a husband. Expressing her heartfelt gratitude for his magnanimity, Rachel immediately fixed on himself; "as," said she, "you have given me proof of your humanity, generosity, and good sense, I choose no other than you." Cameron of Blarachaorin, the man of her choice, is said to have been an exceedingly handsome youth. Next day the marriage was solemnised by a priest at Lochaber, and a messenger at once despatched to Dunan to inform her father of her fate.*

The song "Air an Airidh 'm Braidh Raineach," the air of which is so beautiful, is said to have been composed on the occasion of Rachel Macgregor's abduction from Dunan,

THE HISTORY OF THE MACLEODS.
[BY THE EDITOR.]

(Continued.)

RORY MOR, shortly before this, got into special favour with James VI., who, on the 18th of May, 1610, wrote him a letter, requiring his assistance in an affair, the nature of which the King communicated to him through the Earl of Dunbar, and which, His Majesty said, "We shall not fail to remember when any occasion fit for your good shall be offered." King James, by a letter dated at Whitehall, the 5th of November, 1611, granted to Andrew, Bishop of the Isles, "all and whatsoever sums of money shall be resting, owing to His Majesty," by Roderick Macleod of Dunvegan, and several other Island and Highland chiefs therein mentioned, for their shares of whatsover taxations had been granted to His Majesty, within his kingdom, at any time preceding the first day of July, 1606.

Early in 1613, the King conferred upon him the honour of knighthood. In the month of June, His Majesty wrote no less than three separate letters, dated Greenwich, recommending Sir Roderick and his affairs, in the strongest terms, to the favourable consideration of the Privy Council. This year, Sir Roderick Macleod of Harris, Donald Gorm of Sleat, Hector Maclean of