Of Antiquity There Is Not More Knowledge In Col Than In Other
Places; But Every Where Something May Be Gleaned.
How ladies were portioned, when there was no money, it would be
difficult for an Englishman to guess.
In 1649, Maclean of Dronart
in Mull married his sister Fingala to Maclean of Coll, with a
hundred and eighty kine; and stipulated, that if she became a
widow, her jointure should be three hundred and sixty. I suppose
some proportionate tract of land was appropriated to their
pasturage.
The disposition to pompous and expensive funerals, which has at one
time or other prevailed in most parts of the civilized world, is
not yet suppressed in the Islands, though some of the ancient
solemnities are worn away, and singers are no longer hired to
attend the procession. Nineteen years ago, at the burial of the
Laird of Col, were killed thirty cows, and about fifty sheep. The
number of the cows is positively told, and we must suppose other
victuals in like proportion.
Mr. Maclean informed us of an odd game, of which he did not tell
the original, but which may perhaps be used in other places, where
the reason of it is not yet forgot. At New-year's eve, in the hall
or castle of the Laird, where, at festal seasons, there may be
supposed a very numerous company, one man dresses himself in a
cow's hide, upon which other men beat with sticks. He runs with
all this noise round the house, which all the company quits in a
counterfeited fright:
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