Ossian Collection > Defence of the Scots Highlanders, in general; and some learned characters, in particular

f 230 )
a yery needful accomplifliment in a man
who bordered on a country, and even fhire,
inhabited by Fianich j all Fifefhire is
called F I Au, an alarmed country, as if the
natives of this rich country were continually
on their watch, to proted their private pro-
perty from the furrounding plunderers, who
.waited their opportunities to break in upoi;
jhis fertile garden of North Britain, to ftrip
the inhabitants of every thing valuable,
cfpecially of their cattle. Fife anciently
was fuppofed to comprehend all the beauti-
ful plains, from the Carfe of Goure : on the
north of the Tay, to Falkirk on the fouth
of the PouU river, (ridiculoullly called Bo-
dotria) by the admirers of the Romans.
So much in proof of the exigence of a fet of
gentlemen and vaflals, who were denomina-
ted FiANs, as an agnomen given them by
way of diftindiion from their other names -,
many of which prenomens, from the ruft of
time, and the gradual influence, and corrup-
tion of ignorant and inaccurate fpeakers of
the language, appear now in the mouths of
people, clothed in a garb feemingly flrange
and