Hew Morrison Collection > Piobaireachd

l8o Piobaireachd : its Origin and Construction
that the fire of enthusiasm still burns brightly in the northern Highlands. On
" the Braes o' Mar," where the standard of Prince Charlie was unfurled about two
hundred years ago, the time-honoured custom of holding a real Highland Gathering
is still in vogue. Every year in September, on that romantic spot, the curtain is raised
on " The Gathering of the Clans," which appears as a dream, or a glimpse of a scene
performed hundreds of years ago. First come the Balmoral Highlanders with their
pipers, and each man carrying his Lochaber a.\e, then the Duff clansmen, and finally
the Farquharsons of Invercauld, all arrayed in their own tartans. The scene is one
of the fairest that ever eyes could look upon, and the background requires no artist's
brush to make it attractive to the audience : for the surrounding forests are gleaming
in the autumn sunshine, and the great giant peak of " Craig Gowan " is looming out
in the distance, from which many a royal blaze once lit the valley below. This
is the holiday of the season in the Mar district, and the Gathering is always graced
by the appearance of royalty and Scottish nobles. The clansmen and other High-
landers enter into the various competitions, and one can hear the sound of the
pipes re-echoed by the surrounding hills. The performers' skill is tested in the art
of bagpipe playing, and Piobaireachd, March, Strathspey, and Reel have separate
contests. There are competitions for Highland dancing, and many competitors
take part in the Highland Reel, Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Shean Triubhas, Jack
Tar, Hornpipe, and Jig. The stalwart Highlanders toss the caber, and wresthng is
also engaged in, as well as many other Highland pastimes. The whole area on
which the Gathering is held has a real Celtic appearance about it, and the atmosphere
in which competitor and spectator, and Highlander and Lowlandcr live in for the
short space of time stimulates a desire to encourage and promote the ancient customs
and amusements of the Gael.