Page:The Celtic Review volume 3.djvu/24

Rh stormy or raging sea. Clann Maelanfaid would, in the course of time, become Clann Vulonai or Clann ’Lon-ai.

The meaning of Wyntoun’s lines seems to be this:—

The fact that ha is a short syllable in Gaelic does not prove that Wyntoun would not have put the accent on it. We find him elsewhere making dreaming rhyme with the king and collation with this question. These rhymes are perfect when we make ing and on long or accented syllables.

Wyntoun states that the chieftains of the men who had fought on the North Inch of Perth were Shaw, the son of Ferchar, and Christy, the son of John. We have no ground for believing, or even supposing, that these men were the Kenkinnies or hereditary chiefs of their respective clans. It may, indeed, be regarded as absolutely certain that they were not. They were simply the chieftains or commanders of the men that took part in the combat. Shaw is the personal name which I have given in the genealogies as Seth. Christy is a shortened form of Gilchrist. Seth, son of Ferchar, was the captain of the Clan Kevill champions, whilst Gilchrist, son of John, was the captain of the Clan Millony champions. Of course, it is probable in the highest degree that the two clan chiefs, Lachlan Mackevill and Ewen Macmillony were present as spectators.

Tradition affirms that Seth, the son of Ferchar, was known as Seagh Sgor-fhiaclach, or Shaw of the buckteeth. Who he was we do not know as a matter beyond doubt. It is possible, however, that he was a son of the Ferchar Mac Toschy who was disturbing the mental repose of the Bishop of Aberdeen in 1382.

I can see no valid reason for thinking that the Clan Chattan and the Clan Millony had a common origin. They seem to have been all along two distinct tribes. So far as fighting qualities were concerned, both could fight like Highlanders, and like the Kelts that crossed the Alps long before the days of Napoleon, and helped themselves to the best things they could find in the City of Rome.