Ossian Collection > Romance of the Highlands

INTRODUCTION. ix
Our native land has a wonderful history, and every
one should know the story of her greatness. Intertwined
and inseparable from it is "The Romance of the
Highlands."
The Gael has had many historians, but fresh
evidence and research have brought much to light, and
there is yet room for a new up-to-date history of his
country. Skene, Stewart, Logan and others have added
much to our knowledge of these matters, and their works
deserve all the encomiums that can be given them. Story
writers have been still more numerous, and these have
been able to weave into their narratives much of the folk-
lore of the people. A meet nurse for the novelist is to be
found in this —
" Land of torrent, lake and stream,
Wild sea cliff, and corry ;
Land of mist and legend old,
Music, song and story."
Nothwithstanding the many sources of information
which are available, there is, and always has been, a
considerable ignorance of the picturesque people of the
Highlands — their story, their habits and their customs.
At a meeting of The Scottish History Society, held
in Edinburgh recently, Mr. Evan M. Barron struck a
right note when he said that the Highlands had been
looked upon as a wild fringe on the borders of a civilised
country, and this view is, to some extent, still held.
People were apt to look upon the Highlanders as wild
men always eager for war and pillage. He could take any
part of Scottish History and prove that at that time there