history of the mackenzies-第79章
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In 1720 his Majesty's representatives made a movement for asserting their claims upon the property。 In William Ross of Easterfearn and Robert Ross； a bailie of Tain； they found two men bold enough to undertake the duty of stewardship in their behalf over the Seaforth property； the estates of Grant or Glenmoriston； and or Chisholm of Strathglass。 Little； however； was done that year beyond sending out notices to the tenants； and preparing for more strenuous measures for next year。 The stir they made only produced excitement； not dismay。 Some of the duine…uasals from about Lochcarron； coming down with their cattle to the south…country fairs； were heard to declare that the two factors would never get anything but leaden coin from the Seaforth tenantry。 Donald went over the whole country showing a letter he had got from the Earl； encouraging the people to stand out at the same time telling them that the old Countess was about to come north with a factory for the estate； when she would allow as paid for any rents which they might hand to him。 The very first use to be made of this money was to bring both the old and the young Countesses home immediately to Brahan Castle； where they were to live as they used to do。 Part of the funds thus acquired； Murchison used in keeping on foot a party of some sixty armed Highlanders； who； in virtue of his commission as colonel； he proposed to employ in resisting any troops of George the First which might be sent to Kintail。 Nor did he wait to be attacked； but in June； 1720； hearing of a party of excisemen passing near Dingwall with a large quantity of aqua vitae； he fell upon them and rescued their prize。 The collector of the district reported this transaction to the Board of Excise； but no notice was taken of it。
In February； 1721； the two factors sent officers of their own into the western districts； to assure the tenants of good usage； if they would make a peaceable submission but the men were seized； robbed of their papers； money； and arms； and quietly sent across the Frith of Attadale； though only after giving their solemn assurance that they would never attempt to renew their mission。 Resenting this procedure the two factors caused a constable to take a military party from Bernera Barracks； Glenelg； into Lochalsh； and； if possible； capture those who had been guilty。 They made a stealthy night…march； and took two men； but the alarm was given； the two men escaped； and began to fire down upon their captors from a hillside； then they set fire to the bothy as a signal； and such a coronach went over all Kintail and Lochalsh as made the soldiers glad to beat a quick retreat。
After some further proceedings； all ineffectual； the two factors were enabled； on the 13th day of September； to set forth from Inverness with a party of thirty soldiers and some armed servants of their own； with the design of enforcing submission to their claims。 Let it be remembered that in those days there were no roads in the Highlands； nothing but a few horse…tracks along the principal lines in the country； where not the slightest effort had ever been made to smooth away the natural difficulties of the ground。 In two days the factors reached Invermoriston； but here they were stopped for three days； waiting for their heavy luggage； which was storm…stayed in Castle Urquhart； and there nearly taken in a night attack by a partisan warrior bearing the name of Evan Roy Macgillivray。 The tenantry of Glenmoriston at first fled with their cattle； but afterwards a number of them came in and made the appearance of submission。 The party then moved on towards Strathglass； while Evan Roy respectfully followed； to pick up any man or piece of baggage that might be left behind。 At Erchless Castle； and at Invercannich； seats of the Chisholm； they held courts； and received the submission of a number of the tenants； whom； however； they subsequently found to be 〃very deceitful。〃
There were now forty or fifty miles of the wildest Highland country before them； where they had reason to believe they should meet groups of murderous Camerons and Glengarry Macdonalds； and also encounter the redoubtable Donald Murchison himself； with his guard of Mackenzies； unless their military force should be sufficiently strong to render all such opposition hopeless。 An arrangement having been made that they should receive an addition of fifty soldiers from Bernera； with whom to pass through the most difficult part of their journey； it seemed likely that they would appear too strong for resistance and； indeed； intelligence was already coming to them； that 〃the people of Kintail； being a judicious opulent people； would not expose themselves to the punishments of law；〃 and that the Camerons were absolutely determined to give no further provocation to the Government。 Thus assured； they set out in cheerful mood along the valley of Strathglass； and； soon after passing a place called Knockfin； they were reinforced by Lieutenant Brymer with the expected fifty men from Bernera。 There were now about a hundred well armed men in the invading body。 They spent the next day （Sunday） together in rest； to gather strength for the ensuing day's march of about thirty arduous miles； by which they hoped to reach Kintail。
At four in the morning of Monday； the 2d of October； the party went forward； the Bernera men first； and the factors in the rear。 They were as yet far from the height of the country； and from its more difficult passes； but they soon found that all the flattering tales of non…resistance were groundless； and that the Kintail men had come a good way out from that district in order to defend it。 The truth was； that Donald Murchison had assembled not only his stated band of Mackenzies； but a levy of the Lewis men under Seaforth's cousin； Mackenzie of Kildun； also an auxiliary corps of Camerons； Glengarry and Glenmoriston men； and some of those very Strathglass men who had been making appearances of submission。 Altogether he had； if the factors were rightly informed； three hundred and fifty men with long Spanish firelocks； under his command； and all posted in the way most likely to give them an advantage over the invading force。
The rear…guard； with the factors； had scarcely gone a mile when they received a platoon of seven shots from a rising ground near them to the right； which； however； had only the effect of piercing a soldier's hat The Bernera company left the party at eight o'clock； as they were passing Lochanachlee； and from this time is heard of no more； how it made its way out of the country does not appear。 The remainder still advancing； Easterfearn； as he rode a little before his men； had eight shots levelled at him from a rude breast…work near by； and was wounded in two places； but was able to appear as if he had not been touched。 Then calling out some Highlanders in his service； he desired them to go before the soldiers and do their best； according to their own mode of warfare； to clear the ground of such lurking parties； so that the troops might advance in safety。
They performed this service pretty effectually； skirmishing as they went on； and the main body advanced safely about six miles。 They were here arrived at a place called Ath…na…Mullach； where the waters； descending from the Cralich and the lofty mountains of Kintail； issue eastwards through a narrow gorge into Loch Affric。 It was a place remarkably well adapted for the purpose of a resisting party。 A rocky boss； called Torr…a…Bheathaich； then densely covered with birch； closes up the glen as with a gate。 The black mountain stream； 〃spear…deep；〃 sweeps round it。 A narrow path wound up the rock； admitting of passengers in single file。 Here lay Murchison with the best of his people； while inferior adherents were ready to make demonstrations at a little distance。 As the invading party approached； they received a platoon from a wood on the left； but nevertheless went on。 When； however； they were all engaged in toiling up the pass； forty men concealed in the heather close by fired with deadly effect； inflicting a mortal would on Walter Ross； Easterfearn's son while Bailie Ross's
