[42] The following quotations from Mr Dunbar’s _Social Life in Former Days_, giving details of household furniture and expenses, may be taken as “a correct index of the comforts and conveniences” of the best off of the old Highland lairds; for as they refer to Morayshire, just on the borders of the Highlands, they cannot be held as referring to the Highlands generally, the interior and western districts of which were considerably behind the border lands in many respects:-- “SIR ROBERT GORDON’S ALLOWANCE FOR HIS LADY AND FAMILY, FROM DECEMBER 14TH 1740 TO DECEMBER 14TH 1741. Sterling. £ S. D. Imprimis, to 36 bolls malt, at 8 shillings and 4 pence per boll, 15 0 0 Item, to 36 bolls meal, at same price, 15 0 0 Item, to 10 bolls wheat, at 13 shillings and 4 pence per boll, 6 13 4 Item, to 12 beeves at £1 per piece, 12 0 0 Item, to meal to servants without doors, 9 7 6 Item, to servants’ wages within and without doors, 41 5 0 Item, to cash instantly delivered, 50 6 2 Item, to be paid monthly, £4, 4s., 50 8 0 ------------ £200 0 0 ------------ “_Servants’ Wages 1741._ Imprimis to gentlewomen 10 0 0 Item, to five maids, 5 6 8 Item, to two cooks, 5 0 0 Item, to two porters, 3 0 0 Item, to Robin’s servant, 1 0 0 Item, to the groom, 5 5 0 Item, to the neighbour, 3 6 8 Item, to three out-servants, 7 0 0 Item, to two herds, 1 6 8 ------------ £41 5 0 ------------ “INVENTAR OF PLENISHING IN THUNDERTON’S LODGING IN DUFFUS, MAY 25, 1708. “_Strypt Room._