The nation was wholly illiterate. Neither bards nor Senachies
could write or read; but if they were ignorant, there was no danger
of detection; they were believed by those whose vanity they
flattered.
The recital of genealogies, which has been considered as very
efficacious to the preservation of a true series of ancestry, was
anciently made, when the heir of the family came to manly age.
This practice has never subsisted within time of memory, nor was
much credit due to such rehearsers, who might obtrude fictitious
pedigrees, either to please their masters, or to hide the
deficiency of their own memories.
Where the Chiefs of the Highlands have found the histories of their
descent is difficult to tell; for no Earse genealogy was ever
written. In general this only is evident, that the principal house
of a clan must be very ancient, and that those must have lived long
in a place, of whom it is not known when they came thither.
Thus hopeless are all attempts to find any traces of Highland
learning. Nor are their primitive customs and ancient manner of
life otherwise than very faintly and uncertainly remembered by the
present race.
The peculiarities which strike the native of a commercial country,
proceeded in a great measure from the want of money.
