Ossian Collection > Poems of Ossian

the Poems of Ossian. 33
The seats of the Highland chiefs were neither
disagreeable nor inconvenient. Surrounded with
mountains and hanging woods, they were covered
from the iucleraeney of the weather. Near them
generally ran a pretty large river, which, discharg-
ing itself not far off, into an arm of the sea, or
extensive lake, swarmed with variety of fish. The
woods were stocked with wild fowl; and the heaths
and mountains behind them were the natural seat
of the red deer and roe. If we make allowance for
the backward state of agriculture, the valleys were
not unfertile; affording, if not all the conveniences,
at least the necessaries of life. Here the chief
lived, the supreme judge and lawgiver of his own
people; but his sway was neither severe nor unjust.
As the populace regarded him as the chief of their
blood, so he, in return, considered them as mem-
bers of his family. His commands, therefore,
though absolute and decisive, partook more of the
authority of a father than of the rigour of a judge.
Though the whole territory of the tribe was con-
sidered as the property of the chief, yet his vassals
made him no other consideration for their lands
than services neither burdensome nor frequent.
As he seldom went from home, he was at no ex-
pense. His table was supplied by his own herds,
and what his numerous attendants killed in hunting.
In this rural kind of magnificence, the Highland
chiefs lived for many ages. At a distance from
the seat of government, and secured by the inac-
cessibleness of their country, they were free and
independent. As they had Uttle communication
with strangers, the customs of their ancestors
remained among them, and their language retained
its original pm-ity. Naturally fond of military
fame, and remarkably attached to the memory of
their ancestors, they delighted in traditions and
songs concerning the exploits of their nation, and
CJ))ecially of their own particular families. A suc»
c 2