Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 7, 1899

42
THE CEI/nC MONTHLY
Kioto and Tokio, the ancient and modern
capitals.
When Mr. M'Vean an-ived in Japan, the
revolution which abolished the Tyconate, and
restored the Mikado to full power, was in
progress, and much fanatical hatred of foreigners
existed, chiefly among the Samurai or hereditary
official and military classes of all ranks, and
many murderous attacks were made on
foreigners. This rendered travelling and resi-
dence in the interior extremely unsafe, and until
the revolution came to an end, and order was
again restored, all work in the interior was
carried on by the foreign engineers under the
protection of escorts of native soldiers. During
this time, even in Tokio, the capital, Mr.
M'Vean's hou.se was furnished with a permanent
guard, and in walking or riding out Le was
always attended by two mounted men of the
Bete Gumi Guard, who were responsible to the
Government for his safety.
In addition to the survey Mr. M'Vean had
for a time charge of the architectural and
buildings office of the Public Works Depart-
ment. At this time the stafl under his charge
numbered about three hundred in all, including
ten European assistants, the remainder native
surveyors, and a corps of cadets, sons of
Japanese officers, being educated for the work.
He also established a complete Government
Meterological Office, containing, in addition to
the usual instruments, a set of seismograjjhs for
registering time and duration of earthquakes,
and other phenomena relating to them. Japan
being specially subject to earthquakes, some of
the most violent and appalling description,
excellent ojiportunities are obtained for studying
them. On leaving Japan Mr. M'Vean received
the thanks of the Government for his services.
Mr. M'Vean has thrice visited the United
States and Canada, where he has many relations,
and travelled extensively in these countries,
visiting, among other places, the district in
Upper Canada where the majority of emigrants
from his father's parish had settled, and meeting
there many old friends ; he was greatly pleased
to find nearly all of these j)eople in a flourishing
and prosperous condition. He also visited tlie
great Sioux Indian reservation in Dakotah and
spent some weeks with the Indians, afterwards
furnishing sketches and an account of the tribe
to the London Graphic at the time of the Indian
rising which occurred on this reservation shortly
after his visit, when some severe fighting took
place between these Indians and the United
States troops.
After his wanderings Mr. M'Vean returned
to his native county and settled down at Kil-
finichen, Isle of Mull, which he rents from the
Duke of Argyll. He has represented his native
parish in the County Council of Argyll since
1889, and is a J. P. for the county, and last year
received the Diamond Jubilee Medal from Her
Majesty for service in the Royal Body Guard
for Scotland.
Mr. M'Vean married in the year 1868. Mis.
M'Vean is a daughter of the late Alexander
Cowan, Edinburgh, owner of the extensive
paper mills in Valleyfield, near Edinburgh,
founded by his father about 1770. In 1811 the
mills were temporarily acquired by the Govern-
ment as barracks for the French prisoners of
war, many being confined there, and numerous
deaths occurred among them. Mr. Cowan
afterwards erected a handsome monument to
their memory, which still stands overlooking
the valley.
Mr. M'Vean's oldest son, Donald, following
the profession of many of his ancestors, entered
the army through the Royal Military College,
Sandhurst, and is now an officer in the Indian
army (45th, Rattray's Sikhs), and served on the
N. W. Frontier during the late war while
attached to the 21st P. I., for which he receives
a medal and bar.
Mr. M'Vean's oldest daughter is married to
J. H. Gubbins, C.M.G., one of the Secretaries
of Her Majesty's Legatioir in Tokio, Japan.
Alexander, second son of Mr. M'Vean, is in the
Hudson Bay Company's service, and presently
stationed at Fort Chimo, Ungavo, the company's
most northern post in Labrador. His youngest
son is still a student.
MELODIOUS MINSTREL OF MY
NATIVE LAND.
(In affectionate remembrance of Evan MacCull,
Esq., the Bard of Lochfyue ; author of "The
Mountain Minstrel," " Clarsach nam Beann," &o.
Died July 24, 1898. Inscribed, with warmest
sympathy, to his widow aud family).
Melodious minstrel of my native land,
A\"hose wealth of comradeship full thirty years
Was mine, with all that friendship leal endears ;
Thou, crowned with ninety yeais, has crossed life's
strand.
We grieve not, for thee 'tis rest, reward.
Thou knowest now what we yet hope to know.
Thy gold harp's strains blend with the Heavenly
flow —
Not here is stilled the numbers of the bard.
Thy fame was noble on both sides the sea,
in every land thy melodies are sung.
In English pure or tunesome Gaelic tongue.
Through all a sweet pervading harraouy.
While Findhorn rushes and while Beauly sprays,
ShaU cherished be thy soul-inspiring lays.
Duncan Macgregor Crerar