Ossian Collection > Romance of the Highlands

40 tHE ROMANCE OF THE HIGHLANDS.
These were not all, but it gives a fair idea of an
average "tail" of a Highland chief. Their duties are
well described by Evan Dhu in "Waverley," who took
good care to explain the meagreness of his own "tail"
as being a chieftain only. His chief's "tail" he explains
thus. "There is his henchman or right hand man ; then
his bard or poet ; then his bladier, or orator to make
harangues to great folk whom he visits ; then his gillie-
more or armour bearer to carry his sword, and target and
his gun ; then his gillie-casfluich, who carries him on his
back through the sikes and brooks ; then his gillie-
comstrain to lead his horse by the bridle in steep and
dangerous paths ; then his gillie-trushharnish to carry
his knapsack ; and the Piper and the Piper's man, and
it may be a dozen young lads besides that have no
business but are just boys of the belt to follow the laird,
and do his honour's bidding."
In addition to this there was yet another body of
men. These were professional swordsmen, chosen from
the best families, and experts in all sorts of athletic
games. It was their duty to follow the chief wherever he
went, in order to exhibit the abilities of his clan. This
company was called "The Luchdtacht" by the High-
landers.
At meal times, and at entertainments of all sorts,
the chief occupied the seat at the head of the table, while
the principal men and ordinary tenants were arranged
towards the foot, taking their places according to their
right of precedence.
The choicest, and the most carefully prepared of the
food circulated about the head of the table, but further
down they were of a coarser nature. The viands con-
sisted principally of mutton, beef and goats flesh, but the
domestic pig being an abhorred, unclean animal, pork
was not in evidence. The inferiors contented themselves