Lairds of Glenlyon

THE LAIRDS OF GLENLYON. 10$
the eccentric chief of Clan Donnochie (Robertsons) had a
great deal of common sense, and rejoiced, though a zealous
Jacobite, at the prospect opened up to his loved and dis-
tracted fatherland. The opening up of a market for the fir-
wood of Rannoch was also an arrangement touching him
personally. From this source he drew considerable sums
during the remainder of his life.
The following extract of " Lybell of Mod. and Locality —
Mr. Fergus Ferguson Agt. the Heritors of Fortingall and
Killiechonan, 1727," affords an authentic glimpse of the
social condition of the people and state of the country at the
beginning of the eighteenth century. The parish of Fortin-
gall was just like its neighbours, so that it may be taken as
a fair description of most Highland parishes at that time : —
" George, &c. — Forasmuchas it is humbly meant and shown to us
by our lovitt, Mr. Fergus Ferguson, minr. of the Gospell at the united
paroches of ftortingall and Killiechonen, Moderator of the Presbitry of
Dunkeld, and Mr. John Dundas of Philypston, advocate, procurator
for the Church of Scotland, that the forsaid united Parishes are of
a very Large Extent, the one Extreme part thereof, from the Church
of ffoitingall where the minr's manse is, to the outmost parts of the
lands of Balfracks, is five miles due east ; the oyr Extreme is the
head of Glenlyon, which from the said Kirk is Distant ten miles west :
The united Parish of Killiechonen is Distant from that of ffortingall
seventeen miles North-west ; and it being customary for people there
to goe to the Shealls both in summar and winter, at that time the
people of Glenlyon are about twenty miles from the Church of ffortin-
gall, and those of Ranoch twelve miles from the Kirk of Killiechonen.
In the forsaid united parishes there are four places for publick wor-
ship — viz., at Breano in Glenlyon, Eight miles west from the Church
of ffortingall, and Kinloch-Ranoch, Eight miles and ane half from the
parish Church, and Killiechonen thirteen miles and ane half from the
parish Church — which places the minr. supplys by preaching Services
both summar and winter. Then betwixt the Kirk of ffortingall and
Killiechonen there is a long tract of hills, and through the parish