Page:The Celtic Review volume 3.djvu/22

Rh, William Mowat, John and Donald de Cowts, with their adherents; David de Rose, Alexander and John Macintalyur, Adam and John Robson, with their adherents; Duncan Neteraulde, John Mathyson, with their adherents; and Morgownde Ruryson, and Michael Mathowson, with their adherents. The Stewarts and the Duncansons belonged to Athole. Robert de Athole was the chief of the Duncansons or Robertsons of Struan. The Macnairs held the lands of Foss in Strathtummel, and the Aysons the lands of Tullimet in Strathtay. The Mowatts and Cowts belonged to Buchan. David de Ros, or as the name would be written to-day David Rose, was chief of the Roses of Strathnairn. Slurach may possibly be an English form of Sgor-fhiaclach, the man with the buckteeth.

In 1396 two clans that had been at variance for some time agreed to settle the points in dispute by a combat between thirty men on each side. The fight took place on the North Inch of Perth, September 28, 1396, before King Robert III. and his nobles. The men on the one side were evidently as strong, ferocious, and determined as the men on the other side. The result of their fierce contest was that forty-eight of them were killed and ten or eleven severely wounded.

Traditional history renders it certain that the combat must have taken place between the Clan Chattan and the Clan Cameron, between two branches of the Clan Chattan, or between two branches of the Clan Cameron. There are no other clans that claim a connection with it. According to Skene and A. M. Mackintosh, it was between the Clan Chattan and the Clan Cameron, whilst according to Charles Fraser-Mackintosh it was between the Davidsons and the Macphersons. In an Act of the Parliament of Scotland in 1594, we find the Clandonnachie, Clanchattan, Clanchevill, Clanchamron, and other clans mentioned. We find no further reference to the Clanchevill. They must then have adopted another surname. I suspect that if a diligent search were made for them a large number of them would be found hidden in the midst of the Clan Vuirich tent.

When we take into consideration all the circumstances connected with the combat of 1396, it becomes extremely