Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 7, 1899

104
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
was the largest that has taken plane in the
district for many years. The deceased gentle-
man's connection with the country, as head of
the Conchra branch of the MacRaes of Kintail,
being very familiar to all the people of the place,
as he was brought up amongst them at Ardin-
toul, and the memory of his father. Major Colin
MacRae, who died in 18lil, is still refeired to
in terms of esteem and respect. The fact that
the people turned out in such large numbers to
pay their last homage to the representative of a
former prominent family in that district shows
that the loyal clan feeling is yet far from extinct
in the Highlands, and this iiumifcstatiin «( it
has been vei'y highly appreciated by the deceased
gentleman's widow and family. About 25 years
ago he took up liis residence at Karnes Castle in
the Island of Bute, and his (jiiiet gentlemanly
demeanour gained for him the esteem of all
with whom he came in contact. As was said
of him by the Rev. Mr. Dewar, p-<risli minister
of North Bute, on the Sunday after his demise :
" He was in every way a typical Highland
gentleman." During his residence in Bute he
was appointed a Deputy-Lieutenant for the
county, and also a Justice of the Peace.
i:fiiin~<rat. Ill I'are.
KAMES CASTLE, ISLE OF BUTE.
THE BOG-MYRTLE.
Clan Campbell's Badge.
&'VE sung of the heather, Clan Donald's loved
The oak of the sons of the axe and the targe,
Mackay's bonnie bulrush by Naver that waves,
And Gregor's blue pine tree the tempest that braves.
And now I would hie to the shores of Loch Fyne,
And the daisy flecked valleys of castled Artjyle,
To sing of the sons of the famed Cailein Mor,
Whose badge is the myrtle, whose crest is the boar.
On the pages of story for ages shall shine.
The name of the martyr'd brave faithful Argyle ; *
A name to his countrymen hallowed and dear ;
A name that his clansmen for aye shall revere.
Of that house yet another the Scot does admire,
Who answered a Saxon queen's threat with true fire,
"Ere the shores of my country your hunting ground
bounds,
I'll away to the North and let loose my stag-
hoiinds." t
* Archibald, Earl of Argyll, who sufl'ered martyr-
dom for the religious freedom of Scotland.
t Mac Cailean M5r's retort to Queen Charlotte's
threat of turning Scotland into a hunting ground.