XVII. Hereditary Pipers of the Gairloch Family 177 XVIII. William Mackenzie and Malcolm Maclean 180 XIX. William Ross, the Gairloch Bard 183 XX. Alexander Campbell, Bard to Sir Hector 185 XXI. Alexander Grant, the great Bard of Slaggan 187 XXII. John Mackenzie of "The Beauties" 189 XXIII. Living Gairloch Bards 192 XXIV. The Poolewe Artist 200 XXV. James Mackenzie's Gairloch Stories 201 Chapter I. ANCESTRY AND NAMES. No traveller can claim even a moderate acquaintance with the parish of Gairloch unless he has acquired some knowledge of her Highland population. This part of our book is designed to help the reader in obtaining that knowledge; nevertheless it is not intended to supersede personal inquiry and observation. To the casual observer the people here differ very little from the inhabitants of other parts of Great Britain; a closer examination reveals peculiarities in their race, language, manners and customs, superstitions, religious observances, and other characteristics, well worthy the examination of all who resort to this romantic country. There is a common misconception on the part of English tourists who pay flying visits to the Highlands. Many of them suppose that the natives are of the same blood, and speak the same dialect, as the lowland Scot. Nothing could be further from the fact. To speak of a Highlander "as a Scotsman only," is, as Captain Burt says, "as indefinite as barely to call a Frenchman an European." The Highlander, though inhabiting a part of Scotland, is essentially different from the typical Scotchman. The apprehension of this truth, which will be illustrated in the following pages, is the first step towards the knowledge of the Gairloch Highlanders.