my new regiment, a sudden suspicion seemed to seize the officers, who promptly sent out the mess, sergeant to see and report what state I was in. After my explanation, which was regarded as satisfactory, I restarted my tune, for the playing of which the officers indicated their approval.” CHAPTER XI. THE PIPER AS A MAN OF PEACE. “Dear to the Lowland reaper, And plaided mountaineer— To the cottage and the castle The Scottish pipes are dear— Sweet sounds the ancient pibroch O’er mountain, loch, and glade; But the sweetest of all music The pipes at Lucknow played.” —_Whittier._ Clan pipers—Chief’s retinue—At weddings—Pipers prohibited—In sorrow—At funerals—Queen Victoria’s funeral—To lighten labour—The harvest dance—The shepherd’s pipe—In church architecture—In church services— As a call to church—Ministers and the pipes—Falling into disrepute— “As proud as a piper”—Jealousy of the old masters—“As fou as a piper”—An Irish piper. The pipers of old were hereditary pipers, and lived from generation to generation in the family of the chief who ruled their clan. They were trained from childhood to the use of the pipes, and grew up as retainers of the family, whose services no chief would dare to dispense with. They were often sent by their employers to the great masters of Highland music for instruction, and when they were old they acted as mediums through which all that was best in Celtic lore and music was passed down to future generations. The piper was, in the days of his splendour, a living exhibition of his clan’s glory and greatness. Every chief had a piper. “It’s a poor estate,” said the piper of Glengarry, in 1801, to a lady who asked him why he did not work some in his leisure time, “that cannot keep the laird and piper without working.” Not only was the piper not expected to work; he had lands for his support, and was of superior rank to the other members of his chief’s retinue or “tail.” He accompanied his chief everywhere, and with the harper—when there were harpers—had a right to appear at all public meetings. The “tail” of a chief of the old time was rather an interesting company. Its composition, according to Sir Walter Scott, was as follows:— The henchman, or right hand man. The _filidh_ or bard. The _bleadaire_ or orator, whose duty it was to make harangues to the great folks his chief visited. The _gille-mor_ or armourer, who carried his sword, target, and gun. The _gille-casfhliuch_, who carried the chief on his back over the brooks. The _gille-comshreang_, who led his chief’s horse in difficult paths. The _gille-truisernis_, who carried his knapsack. The _piobair_ or piper.