The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands

CHAPTER XIX
FOLK-TALES OF HIGHLAND HOSPITALITY
HOSPITALITY, even to this day, has remained one
of the great and enduring characteristics of the
Highlanders and the Hebrideans. But folk-tales of
such Highland Hospitality—to give this characteristic the
title by which it has become proverbial throughout the world
—are not numerous, probably because the mere giving of
such was regarded as usual and common-place, rather than
as something extraordinary, and therefore deserving of
special recognition and commemoration.
Yet, traditionary tales of the giving of Highland
Hospitality in very exceptional circumstances have been
handed down to us, such as that concerning MacGregor of
Glen Strae, which actually is founded upon fact, and which
I take the liberty of repeating hereafter largely in the words
in which it appears in Wild Driinmlhain: The Road to
Meggernie & Glen Coc, one of my earlier books. It was
upon this tale that Sir Walter Scott based much of The Lady
of the Lake. At Coilantogle Ford, the old-time crossingplace
on the River Teith, Roderic Dubh, having safely
conducted James Fitz-James through watch and ward, and
" far past Clan Alpin's outmost guard," revealed himself to
be the head of a rebellious clan. It was at this spot that
Roderic, now having discharged his trust in good faith,
summoned the Knight of Snowdoun to mortal combat
" See, here, all vantageless I stand,
Armed, like thyself, with single brand
For this is Coilantogle Ford,
And thou must keep thee with thy sword."
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