Blair Collection > Treatise on the language, poetry, and music of the Highland clans

212 THE MUSIC
and Lochetive, and that from Lochotive the boundary ran by a line, less dis-
tinctly marked, between the sources of the waters that ran in different directions,
(thus " sheering wind and water," as Dandie Dinmont would have described it,)
to Penvahl ; from Penvahl to Galashiels ; from Galashiels, by the Catrail or war-
path, to Berwick. This differs slightly from the boundary laid down by Mr
Skene ; but I am convinced, even at this day, there is so clearly perceptible a
difference in personal appearance, dialect, or pronunciation, (which in effect is
much the same thing, a different pronunciation being the original cause of
different dialects,) poetry, and music, between the people on either side of that
line, as really to justify my adhering to my own opinion on this subject ; for
although the people of the plains or lowlands of Caledonia had so much inter-
course, by inter-marriages, &c. with the Gothic families both of England and
Lochlin, they differ from them decidedly until this day, especially in their
appearance. I mention elsewhere that the colony of Ulster Cruithne, who
settled in Galloway, were also divided from their neighbours by a catrail or
war-path, drawn from the head of Lochryan, by Kempshill, Sanquhar, and
Carlisle ; and I have been assured, on good authority, that there was a marked
difference in appearance, dialect, poetry, and music, between the people on
either side of that March when the " Highland host" were quartered in Ayr-
shire ; for, strange, as it may appear, I was intimately acquainted with a clergy-
man, Mr Inglis of Kirkoswold, who when a boy was tutor to the family of
Maclean of Drimmin, and knew a gentleman (the great-grandfather of that
family,) who had been captain of a company in the Highland host. From this
venerable old man, Mr Inglis received much information in reference to the
conduct and character of the Loyalists and Covenanters of that day, which had
the effect of giving him more modified views of both parties than was usually
expressed by Presbyteriam clergymen of the old school. In short, all party-
writers allow their feelings to point them, and therefore deal in exaggerations.
This intelligent old gentlemen told Mr Inglis that in the small clachan in
Galloway they spoke the same Gaelic at that time that was spoken in
Ardnamurchan.
In personal appearance, dialect, poetry, and music, there is a striking
afiBnity between the people of the north of Ireland and the Caledonians ; and I
believe that a similar resemblance, especially in personal appearance, is perfectly
visible between the Scottish Lowlanders and the people of the south and west
of Ireland. There is in topographical names and ancient poetry sufEcient
evidence that the ancient Caledonians and Britons spoke the same dialect;
and as William M. Moxou, Esq., chief Accountant of Inland Eevcnue, has
kindly sent me some Welsh poetry and melodies, with phonetic spelling, I
will now submit these to the reader, and which, on a careful comparison, prove
without doubt that the poetry and music of Caledonia and AVales have at this
day a clear affinity the one to the other.