Neither of these
circumstances were true; but the laird thought it quite unnecessary
to undeceive his Highland host at the risk of bringing on a political
dispute in such a situation. This anecdote I received many years since
(about 1792) from the mouth of the venerable gentleman who was concerned
in it.
NOTE 12.--KIND GALLOWS OF CRIEFF
This celebrated gibbet was, in the memory of the last generation, still
standing at the western end of the town of Crieff, in Perthshire. Why
it was called the kind gallows, we are unable to inform the reader with
certainty; but it is alleged that the Highlanders used to touch their
bonnets as they passed a place which had been fatal to many of their
countrymen, with the ejaculation--'God bless her nain sell, and the Teil
tamn you!' It may therefore have been called kind, as being a sort
of native or kindred place of doom to those who suffered there, as in
fulfilment of a natural destiny.
NOTE 13.--CATERANS
The story of the bridegroom carried off by Caterans on his bridal-day
is taken from one which was told to the author by the late Laird of
Mac-Nab, many years since. To carry off persons from the Lowlands, and
to put them to ransom, was a common practice with the wild Highlanders,
as it is said to be at the present day with the banditti in the south of
Italy.
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