J. F. Campbell Collection > Our Scandinavian forefathers

settled in Britain, and to what an extent our national character must
therefore depend on them. Our language is an evidence to the same
effect. It is loosely said to be of Saxon origin, but the Scandinavian
element in the English tongue, is at least as great as the Saxon; and so
close is the affinity of Norwegian to our provincial dialects (which,
of course, show best the original fountain-head of a people's speech)
that I have it on the authority of one who has resided many years
in Norway, that even now, though the language has changed
with them, as well as with us — that even now, one able to speak
good Ayrshire Scotch can, after a fashion, make himself understood
there. Of course, one who could speak the real Caithness, and all
the more if with the peculiarities of Canisbay, would get on far
better.
Now, before going on to sum up and set forth the character of
those of whose achievements I have said so much, it strikes me that
a single word of caution may not be out of jjlace. In skimming thus
over the history of a warlike time, some minds, at least, are apt to
be taken up only with its ghtter and romance. And it is, perhaps,
not wrong that in describmg, and in hearuig it described, there should
be some sympathy with this romantic element. Yet let us not for-
get that under aU this there lay suffering the most terrible,
cruelty and bloodshed, treachery and rapine, which seemed but
little to the men of that day, but the very thought of which would
be soul-harrowing in ours. With all its evils, this is an age unspeak-
ably in advance of that. Yet without that, what we enjoy could
not have been arrived at ; even as it is on the foundation of the age
in which we live, that the time will come when our cruelties, and
lies, and treacheries (would that our eyes were opened to see them
now) wiU be banished from the earth. For thus, age after age,
slowly and with many an apparent check, yet ever surely, is that
promise being fulfilled that the world shall be brought back to peace,
and purity, and love, through the ever-working Spirit of Him who
has come and died to save it.
Now, then, for a few words on the Scandinavian character ; they
were increased by new retainers flocking to the banner of the successful invader. Moreover,
there are few tracts of the Highland coast where detached colonies of Norwegians did not
settle. The people, for instance, of I)ciRNE.ss,;are almost as purely Scandinavians as those of
Thurso ; though being surrounded by Celts on all sides, they have come to use the Gaelic
language. The case is similar aU along the east coast of Sutherland, from Helmsdale south-
wards. Indeed, in most parts of the coast of the north Highlands, you find a strip of land
some few miles broad, inhabited by Scandinavians, who, in character and appearance, are to
this day easily distinguishable from the people of the interior.
Besides, the position of leadership which these colonists occupied, even more than their
actual numbers, has modified the Highland character.
It is to the relation thus subsisting between the two races that I would ascribe much of
the genealogical turn characteristic of the Highlands ; or at least much of the desire on the
part of all to show some blood-connection with the chief. It arose from the wish to make
out that one belonged to the conquering and not to the conquered race.
I conclude this note by quoting a few words from Dr Gustaf Kombst ; perhaps the best
authority we have on general ethnography. "The higher classes of the inhabitants in the
Highlands have either the marks of pure Teutonic origin— viz , large, taU figure, blue eyes,
and fair or reddish hair ; or they bear at least the marks of a cross breed, in which the Teu-
tonic prevails Ln the frame of body, and often, also, in the occurrence of bluish or grey eyes,
though the hair and complexion may be dark. Also among the lower classes, a great many
individuals of pure Teutonic character occur, the majority being, undoubtedly, a cross breed
in which on the whole, the Teutonic character prevails."
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