The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
CHAPTER I.
Traditionary Origins of the Highland Clans—History of Highland
Tradition—Succession of False Traditions in the
Highlands—Traces of the Oldest and True Tradition to
BE found—Effect to be given to the Old Manuscript
Genealogies of the Highland Clans.
In the second part of this Work, it is proposed
to examine
the history, individually, of the different clans of the Gael of the
Highlands of Scotland, to trace the origin of each, their distinctive
designations, descent, branches into which they have
subsequently spread out, and the affiliation of the different clans
with respect to each other, with such particulars of their earlier
history as may seem to be supported by good evidence.
It has been considered unnecessary to load these accounts
with the more recent details of family history, as possessing in
themselves little variety or interest to the general reader, and
in no respect affecting the main object of this Work— namely,
that of dispelling the obscurity and inconsistencies in which the
early history of the Gael has been involved. When the outline
has been distinctly traced, and the subject reduced to'what it is
to be hoped may appear a well-founded system of history, that
outline would admit of being easily filled up, and the notice of
each individual family brought down in full to the present time,
were such details compatible with the necessary limits of a Work
of the present description.