The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

i8o THE HIGHLANDERS [part ir
to think that the genealogies contained in the MS. are perfectly
authentic for the last fourteen generations, or as far back- as the
year looo A.c, but that previous to that date they are to be
fabulous. ^
regarded as altogether
Upon the whole, the only inferences which can be legitimately
drawn from the MS. are, ist—That there was at that
time an universal belief in the Highlands, that the Highland
clans formed a distinct people of the same race, and acknow-
ledging a common origin. 2dly —That the clans mentioned in
the MS. apparently consist of three great divisions ; the clans
contained in each division being more closely connected among
themselves than with those of the other divisions. The first
consists of the Macdonells and other families descended from
them. The seco7id, of those clans which are said by the MS.
to be descended from sons or brothers of Fearchar Fada, and
who inhabit principally the ancient district of Moray. The
third is formed by the principal Ross-shire clans, together with
the clan Alpin, who are brought from Cormac Mac Oirbertaigh.
The next system of traditionary origins which
The second .
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general tradi- was Hitroduced uito the Highlands, and which suption
deduced -
,
, 117theciansfrom
planted the lormer, mav be termed the heroic system,.
the heroes of .",,,.
Scottish and and may be characterized as deducing many of the
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Irish history.
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1
1
Highland clans from the great heroes in the fabuloushistories
of Scotland and Ireland, by identifying one of thesefabulous
heroes with an ancestor of the clan of the same name.
This system seems to have sprung up very shortly before the
date of the MS. before referred to, and to have very soon
obtained credit in the Highlands, probably in consequence of
the effect of its flattering character upon the national vanity.
We can trace the appearance of this system in some of the clans
contained in the MS. of 1450. It seems to have been first
adopted by the Macdonalds, who identified two of their ances-
tors, named Colla and Conn, with Colla Uais and Conn of the
hundred battles, two celebrated kings of Ireland. In the
Macneills we actually see the change taking place, for while
they have preserved their descent in the MS. according to the
Irish system, they have already identified their ancestor, v/ha
^ See infra, chap. ii.