Scotland/Scots > Reminiscences of a Highland parish

THE HIGHLAND PEASANTRY.
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watched the countenances of the group as they
conversed apparently on some momentous ques¬
tion. This I afterwards ascertained to be, which
of them should go forward and speak for the
others. One woman was at last selected ; while
the rest stepped back and hung their heads,
concealing their eyes with their tattered tartan
plaids. The deputy slowly walked towards the
rather large official committee, whose attention,
when at last directed to her, made her pause.
She then stripped her right arm bare, and, hold¬
ing up the miserable skeleton, burst into tears
and sobbed like a child! Yet, during all these
sad destitution times, there was not a policeman
or soldier in those districts. No food riot ever
took place, no robbery was attempted, no sheep
was ever stolen from the hills; and all this though
hundreds had only shell-fish, or “ dilse,” gathered
on the sea-shore to live upon.
The Highlander is assumed to be a lazy animal,
and not over honest in his dealings with strangers.
I have no desire to be a special pleader in his behalf,
notwithstanding all my national predilections in his
favour. But I must nevertheless dissent to some