Blair Collection > Critical dissertations on the origin, antiquities, language, government, manners, and religion, of the antient Caledonians, their posterity the Picts, and the British and Irish Scots

302 Mo'nuinettts of Antiquity
of a large family cup or fhell. This draught was
in their language called a Drink of UJkehai : and
the gueft had no looner finilhcd that potion than
he was preCented with a crooked horn, containing
about an Eng ilh quart, of ale. If he was able to
drink all that off at a time, he was rather liighly
extolled, than condemned in the leafl for intem-
perance.
The births of their great men were attended
with no rejoicings or feafting by the old Ht bri-
dians. But their funerals were celebrated with
great pomp, and followed with magnificent en-
tertainments : all the Chieftains of the neighbour-
ing tribes attended on fuch occafions, and came
accompanied with a numerous retinue of their firft
men,. and all well armed. After inviting people
ofru<:!i rank from their refpedive habitations to
perhaps a difbant ifland, it was incumbent on thofe-
principally interefted in the folemnity, to difplay
the utmoil magnificence of expence.
At the funeral procelT.on, the men belonging to
the different Chieftains were regularly drawn up,
taking their i)laces according to the dignity of
their leaders. They marched forward with a flow
pace, and obferved great decorum. A band of pi-
pers followed the body, and in their turns played
tunes, either made for that occafion or fuitable to
it. Great multitudes of female mourners kept as
near the coffin as pollible, and made the moft la-
mentable bowlings, tearing their hair and beating
their breads. Some of tliele, after the paroxyfms
of their zeal or affeded grief, had in fome" meafurc
fubfided, fung the praifes of the deceafed in ex-
temporary rhimes. Tho male relations and de-
pendents thought it unmanly to fhed tears, or at
leuft