The Highlanders of Scotland - Clan Strachan Society

CHAP. IX] OF SCOTLAND 359
of all the barons of that house to the same deep system of
designing pohcy by which they attained their greatness.
It would be inconsistent with the limits of this work to
follow the history of this family farther, and the omission is
of the less importance, as during the early part their history
is identic with that of all the other Highland clans of no
great notoriety ; while in the later part, when they began
to rise upon the ruins of the great families of the Isles, it
becomes in some degree the same with that of the Highlanders
generally, and consists principally of the details of a policy
characterised by cunning and perfidy, although deep and far-
sighted, and which obtained its usual success in the acquisition
of great temporal grandeur and power.
Arf/is.
Gyronne of eight, or, and sable.
Myrtle.
Principal Seat.
Originally the lordship of Garmoran, afterwards Lochow.
Oldest Cadet.
Maccailinmore, or Campbell of Lochow, now Duke of Argyll, was oldest
cadet, but has been at the head of the clan since 1427.
Previous to 1427,
Chief.
MaCarthur Campbell of Strachur.
Force.
In 1427, 1000. In 1715,4000. In 1745, 5000.
v.— Caithness.
The northern districts of Scotland were those which were
most early exposed to the ravages of the Norwegians, and it
was in these districts where they effected their first permanent
settlement in Scotland. But the nature of the country itself
had always a considerable influence upon the effect produced
on the population by the Norwegian settlements. Where the
country was open and exposed the population was in general
altogether changed, and in process of time became purely
Norse ; but where the conquered districts possessed in whole
or in part the mountainous, and at that period, almost inac-
cessible character of the rest of the Highlands, the actual