Upon the occasion alluded to, a party of Caterans carried off
the bridegroom, and secreted him in some cave near the mountain of
Schehallion. The young man caught the small-pox before his ransom could
be agreed on; and whether it was the fine cool air of the place, or the
want of medical attendance, Mac-Nab did not pretend to be positive; but
so it was, that the prisoner recovered, his ransom was paid, and he was
restored to his friends and bride, but always considered the Highland
robbers as having saved his life by their treatment of his malady.
NOTE 14.--RE-PURCHASE OF FORFEITED ESTATES
This happened on many occasions. Indeed, it was not till after the total
destruction of the clan influence, after 1745, that purchasers could be
found who offered a fair price for the estates forfeited in 1715,
which were then brought to sale by the creditors of the York-Buildings
Company, who had purchased the whole, or greater part, from Government
at a very small price. Even so late as the period first mentioned,
the prejudices of the public in favour of the heirs of the forfeited
families threw various impediments in the way of intending purchasers of
such property.
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