—called in Gaelic _Clann Raing_—were anciently called _Clann Duille_, being descended from one of the progenitors of the Clan Mac Lean called _Cudulligh_, or _Cu-duille_. They were pipers to the Mac Leans of Duart, the High Chief of the Clan, and became pipers to the Mac Leans of Coll after the Duarts lost their lands, when Sir John Mac Lean was chief in the beginning of the eighteenth century. They were hereditary pipers from time immemorial, and the most noteworthy incident associated with them of which we have any authentic record occurred when the great Dr. Johnson visited their island. The piper who played every day while dinner was being served attracted the doctor’s attention, and he expressed admiration of his picturesque dress and martial air, and observed that “he brought no disgrace on the family of Rankin.” We have few dates connected with the Rankins, but we have on record a letter from a John Mac Lean, on the garrison staff of Fort-William, Bengal, written in January, 1799, which states that thirty years before “Hector Mac Laine was piper to John Mac Lain of Lochbuoy, and was allowed to be the first in Scotland.” This “Mac Laine” was probably a Rankin. Like so many of the others, America provided them, too, with an ultimate home, the last hereditary Rankin emigrating to Prince Edward Island. THE CAMPBELLS were pipers to the Campbells of Mochaster, in Argyllshire, and they, too, were indebted to Patrick _Og_ Mac Crimmon for a good deal of their training. The latest record of them in their official capacity is to be found on a tombstone, in Bellside Churchyard, Lanarkshire, erected by Walter Frederick Campbell of Isla and Shawfield, an M.P. in the year of grace 1831, over his piper, John Campbell. Besides those mentioned, there were famous, if not actually hereditary, pipers in different parts of the Highlands. A branch of the Mac Gregors established a school in Rannoch, and, the Mac Phersons of Cluny and nearly all the other Highland chiefs of any note had excellent pipers, many of whom produced pieces of considerable merit. But the hereditary pipers have all passed away long ago, with the passing of that phase of life which was necessary to their existence. Their names, however, are still names to conjure with, and are likely to be so long as a love for their music remains a prominent trait of Highland character. CHAPTER XIX. SOME LATTER DAY PIPERS. “Ours the strains renowned in story, Of peaceful hall or deadly corrie, Would you call to field or foray, Melt to love or rouse to glory? Sound our mountain melody.”