Red and white book of Menzies

A.D. 1502-1508.
THE VENERABLE CHIEF.
149
Menzies' possessions, and from it, looking east, a view of the whole Appin or
strath, as well as Grandtully Castle, Aberfeldy, Castle Menzies, Weem, the
Appin-na-Dliu ; as also Garth Castle and Carnban Castle to the north and north-
west ; the castle of the Isle of Loch Tay, and Castle Mains at Ardeonaig to the
south-west — all these, with Castle Comrie, could, by a beacon-fire on Drummond
Hill, be alarmed, and the whole force of Clan Menzies, cadets and followers,
could be brought out in a few hours. In the time of Wallace and Bruce this is
believed to have greatly assisted them when a force was wanted for any sudden
attack or urgent service, the whole country within signal of Drummond Hill being
held by the Siol na Meinerich. This old fortress is known by the Gaelic
name of Tun-auch-Tliual. The hill of Drummond being one of the finest for
outline in the whole region, it has been an object of admiration to the artist
and poet ; and it is of it and " The Vale of Menzies " that the Perthshire bard
thus speaks : —
" With beauty, basking in a blaze
Of loving light ! Sweet, quiet Weem !
Fair as the ocean-bird that plays
Round Rock May ; how brightly gleam
Your hamlet walls, 'neath crag and tree,
Abrupt and leafy ! Fair to see
Are ' Menzies Ancient ' woods so gay
With varied green, stretching away
O'er Drummond Hill, whose graceful sweep
Is circled with a single streak
Of silvery mist.
Each glaring hill-top brightly shines,
A mimic /Etna, with its crest
Of curving flame. The forest gleams
One twinkling glow of varied hue.
The frightened night-bird, hastening, screams,
And seeks the dells of Appin Dhu ;
The startled deer on Dmmmond Hill
Crowd, wondering at the distant show ;
And 'wildered eagles, hurrying, yell,
Beyond the wilds of Ben-y-Glo ! "
— H. Miller.
" The district of Rannoch, for which the ancient charters of the Menzies' were
renewed in 1502-10, formed at this time the south-west section of the Caledonian
Forest, which extended from Glencoe to Braemar, and from Glenlyon to Spey in
Inverness-shire, covering a tract of upwards of 2100 square miles. A remnant of
it still remains in hoary pines, which have weathered the storms of countless
winters, and are scattered at wide intervals over the region ; there are also patches
of native Rannoch fir, with a stretch of about 10 miles of birch along the north
side of the loch. Under ground are trunks of giant oak, and many roots
of birch and fir keeping possession of their old seats. Sir Robert Menzies
had also" in his list of possessions Loch Errochd, around which were many
broken men of the Clan Gregor ; but, unless when led out by men like
Neil Stewart of Garth, they were always at peace with Clan Menzies, whom
they considered kinsmen. Concerning Loch Errochd — which is in the north-
west of the barony (now parish) of Fortingall, and stretches into Laggan,
Inverness-shire — there is a curious tradition, which says that the space which the