The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. VII] O F S C O T L A X D 299
CHAPTER VII.
'S\OKX\—(con/inued).
Clan Cameron.
An ancient manuscript history of this clan commences with
these words— " The Camerons have a tradition amoncr them,
that they are originally descended of a \'ounger son of the ro}'al
family of Denmark, who assisted at the restoration of king
Fergus II., anno 404. He was called Cameron from his crooked
nose, as that word imports. But it is more probable that the\-
are of the aborigines of the ancient Scots or Caledonians that
first planted the countr\-." With this last conclusion I am full)-
disposed to agree, but John Major has placed the matter beyond
a doubt, for in mentioning on one occasion the clan Chattan and
the clan Cameron, he says. " Ha; tribus sunt consanguinese."
They therefore formed a part of the extensive tribe of Moray,
and followed the chief of that race until the tribe became broken
up, in consequence of the success of the Macintoshes in the
conflict on the North Inch of Perth in 1396. Although the
Macphersons for the time submitted to the Macintosh as captain
of the clan, the Camerons seem to have separated themselves
from the main stock, and to have assumed independence.
The earliest possession of the Camerons was that part of
Lochaber extending to the east of the Loch and river of Lochy,
and was held by them of the lord of the Isles ; their more
modern possessions of Locheil and Locharkaig, which lie on the
west side of that water, had been granted b}- the lord of the
Isles to the founder of the clan Ranald, by whose descendants
it was inhabited. As the Camerons are one of those clans
whose chief bore the somewhat doubtful title of captain, we are
led to suspect that the latter chiefs were of a different branch
from the older famih', and had, in common with the other clans