The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. VI] O F S C O T L A N D 79
CHAPTER VI.
General History of the Highlands,, from the Accession of
Malcolm Kenmore to the Termination of the History of
the Highlanders as a Peculiar and Distinct People, in
THE abolition OF HERITABLE JURISDICTIONS AND THE INTRO-
DUCTION OF Sheep Farming.
The Norwegian kingdom of Scotland, which had lasted for thirty
years, terminated with the death of Thorfinn in the
-^
A.D. 10G4.
- ,.,,..
notwithstanding its great extent and
year 1064 ; and
duration, and the important effects which it must have produced
upon the population of the country, that kingdom has
been most unaccountably passed over in silence by every native
historian. The truth of its existence at the same time does not
depend upon the authority of the Sagas alone, although that
authority would in itself be sufficient to establish with certainty
the occurrence of any event at this period ; for the ancient
Saxon historians, in narrating the events of Siward's campaign
against Macbeth, expressly mention that he had to contend
against an immense force of Scots and NortJivien, and that
in the battle which ensued, many of the Angles and of the
Danes fell, distinctly shewing, that at this time the Danes must
have possessed a considerable part of the country, and that
Siward's expedition was directed against them as well as against
the Scots. The extensive possessions of Thorfinn did
o^Tho^un** not upon his death descend to his sons, but, with the
reverte.f'to* exccptioii of their original kingdom in the Orkneys,
chtefs!*^'^^
reverted to the native chiefs, who by hereditary right
were entitled to rule over them. " Then many domains
which the earl had conquered/"^// off, and their inhabitants sought
the protection of those native chiefs who were territorially born ^
^ The word odalborinn, here trans- properly be expressed in English it is
;
"
lated territorially horn, has a much natus ad hajredium avitum, sc. recta
stronger signitication, which cannot linea a primo occupante."