Ossian Collection > Sketches descriptive of picturesque scenery, on the southern confines of Perthshire

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employed, till within little more tHaa
half a century paft ; and even private
individuals piqued themfelves, till within
thefe very few years, on reciting confi-
derable portions of this ancient Poetry.
Robert Macniel, an old man ftill living,
in this diftrid, can yet recite the long
poem v/hich records the invaiion of Ma=-
nos, King of Lochlin ; and his repulfe
by Fingal. S. MacLachlane, flill living
here, can recite the Poem called Bas
Fhraoicli, which was tranflated by Jerome
Stone, almoft word for word as it is given
by Henry Mackenzie^ Efq. in the Report
on the Poems of Ollian.
The Mufic of the Highlanders is con-
genial with their general habits and cha-
ra(5ler. It is, for the mofl part, not only
plaintive, but even melancholy. Lament s,
as they are called, or funeral dirges, con-
ftitute a very important, and favourite
branch of Highland muiic. There are
fome exquilite airs, chiefly in this flyle
of melancholy ; and perhaps there are
few who will not admit the Pathos of
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