Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

OF THE

Western Highlands.

MURDOCH GAIR.

No. IV.

(Lond. Lit. Gaz.)

MACLAINE of Lochbuy, who was

the

killed in battle about three hundred years ago, left but one son, then an infant; and his uncle Murdoch, of Scallasdale, assumed his guardianship. He soon showed a disposition to take property to himself, and the unfortunate minor, after many hardships found his way to Ireland, where he was received with kindness in the house of O'Niel. The uncle, at home, was ignorant of his fate; and a report was industriously spread by the friends of the boy, that he had been drowned. Murdoch strengthened his interest by marriage with the daughter of Stewart, of Appin, a neighbouring family of great influence; and he calculated on enjoying, without interruption, his illgotten wealth.

The nephew, whose name was also Murdoch, did not, however, lose sight of his right. He was educated by the generous and princely O'Niel, of whom the bards of that day said, that "Guests were in the house of O'Niel more numerous than trees in the forest, and that he was more liberal of his means than the great sea of its shell fish." He was at a very early age distinguished for his intrepidity, and soon acquired much popularity among his associates. When he arrived at manhood, he obtained the consent of his patron to return to his native isle, with a select party of young Irish adventurers, who volunteered to follow his fortunes.

They landed in a sequestered place, still well known, and the young Lochbuy set forward alone, to reconnoitre the ground and collect information. He reached the vicinity of his native castle in the twilight. The cows were in the fold, and, passing by the dairymaid in the act of milking, the cow started and spilt the milk. The woman cried out, "God with Murdoch!" and the young stranger heard the words. It is still a custom in that country, that milk should be offered to every one who passes through a fold, and it was on this occasion offered to

Murdoch. He partook of this milk, and asked the woman what she meant

by the words "God with Murdoch," for he already knew that the usurper of his rights was unpopular. The woman sighed deeply, and he asked her name. When she had told it, he knew her to have been his nurse. He bared his bosom, and showed her a mole on his left breast, cautioning her to be guarded. The faithful nurse instantly recognized him. Her first husband, the foster-father of Murdoch, was dead, and she was then married to the doorkeeper of the castle, an office of great trust, and highly important to the purpose of the stranger.

His nurse proposed, that on the night following she should contrive that the calves should mix with the cattle at midnight, and she knew that their lowing would be heard within the castle. Her husband would open the gate to give her access to her charge, and the young Murdoch was to enter with his party and gag the door-keeper. The project succeeded, and the adventurous youth obtained possession of his paternal stronghold.

A

Murdoch Gair, (short Murdoch) an appellation by which he was afterwards distinguished, was soon joined by his people; but his uncle had been absent when the castle was taken, and he was determined to keep possession of the estate. Many skirmishes were fought between them, and many feats of valour are still related of both sides. pitched battle was at last fought, in which Murdoch of Scallasdale was assisted by the Stewarts of Appin, and the nephew, by the Macleans of Ross. The nephew was victorious; but the uncle still adhered to his claim. Murdoch Gair, however, by accident found the usurper sleeping in a cavern, and twisting a lock of his hair around bis dirk, on which his name was engraved, he stuck it into the ground, and thus left him. When the other awoke, he soon discovered what had happened, and exclaimed, "The son of my brother has conquered me at last! his generosity has done what his bravery

could not effect, and never shall my sword again be unsheathed against him!"

Murdoch Gair appears to have acquired a relish for war and plunder, as we find Abercromby, in his Martial Achievements of the Scots, states, that many years after this he played sad

havoc around the banks of Lochlomond, in company with a very remarkable person, who, in that narrative, is dignified with the designation of Allan Maclean, the robber. Murdoch died in the end of the reign of Mary Queen of Scotland.

THE FLORIDA.

Many of the vessels which formed the Spanish Armada, intended for the conquest of England, perished on the north and west coasts of Scotland. The ship Florida appeared to have been more fortunate than any of her consorts; she found her way to the bay of Tobermory, on the sound of Mall, one of the finest harbours in the world. Scotland being then a neutral country under James, the sixth of that name, the Spaniards considered themselves perfectly secure, and remained long in that station, repairing the damages they had sustained, and refreshing the crew and troops.

The Florida was, no doubt, an object of great interest and curiosity in that remote situation, and all the principal families in the neighbouring country and islands were received on board as visitors, where, tradition says, they were hospitably and splendidly entertained. Elizabeth, the ever watchful and well-informed Queen of England, had intelligence of the Florida through her ambassador at the Scotch court, and it was ascertained that this ship was extremely valuable: she had on board a large sum of money intended for the pay of the army; she contained, besides, a great quantity of costly stores. The law of nations should have protected the Florida from injury; but Elizabeth resolved on her destruction; and it was accompanied by one of the most atrocious acts, perhaps, ever recorded of any civilized government. The English ambassador soon found an instrument suited to his purpose, and his name was Smollet, We regret to state, that he was an ancestor of the celebrated writer of that name, who himself alludes to this circumstance in one of his novels, apparently unconscious of the inference which followed. This agent of the

English Queen spoke the Gaelic language, and wore the Highland dress. He went to Mull as a dealer in cattle, and easily found his way on board the Florida, where he formed an intimacy, and, along with other strangers, had frequent opportunities of seeing every part of the ship. He at length found a convenient time for his diabolical object, and placed some combustible substance in a situation where it was likely to produce the desired effect. He immediately got ashore, and made the best of his way southward.

He had travelled to a distance of six or eight miles, when he heard the explosion of the Florida; and the spot where he stood is still marked for the execration of mankind. The ship was blown up, and nearly all on board perished. Together with the crew and troops, many of the first men in the country were destroyed by this perfidious and bloody act, which reflects eternal disgrace on the planners, and infamy on the perpetrator. Tradition states, that the poop of the ship was blown to a great distance, with six men, whose lives were saved. Maclean, of Duart, had procured some cannon from the Florida, for the purpose of battering the castle of a neighbouring chieftain; and a few Spanish gunners, who assisted in that service, were preserved by their absence from the ship.

This melancholy story, which would have formed a memorable æra in a more public place, is still, in that country, a fertile source for traditionary tales.

The universal belief among the more illiterate natives is, that one of the Spanish Infantas, who is said to have been on board the Florida, became enamoured of Maclean, and that his wife had employed a person to blow up the

ship; thus transferring that crime from the Queen of England to the wife of their chief, who was, indeed, very unpopular. It is alleged, that the body of the Infanta had been found, and buried with great pomp in that vicinity; that a ship had afterwards been sent by the Spanish Government to convey her remains to Spain. It seems, in collecting these remains, the last joint of one of her royal highness's ring fingers could not be found; and it is said that her ghost has often been seen searching for this bone by torchlight. This circumstance is frequently mentioned as authority for the pious caution with which the Highlanders preserve the relics of their deceased friends.

Some Spanish mares and horses had been landed, to pasture, and these remained in the island of Mull. The breed of horses in Mull has ever since

been superior, and it still continues so, probably from this cause.

The English ambassador at Madrid having procured information of the precise amount of the treasure which had been on board the Florida, a ship of war was sent by the English Government to Tobermory in the beginning of the eighteenth century with divers, for the purpose of recovering the specie. The wreck was soon found, and many articles were raised,but no money was acknowledged. The ship, however, never returned to England, and it was suspected that she had taken refuge in France, for evident reasons.

In the year 1787, the celebrated diver, Spalding, made an attempt to recover this treasure, but he failed entirely as might have been expected, the remains of the ship having sunk into the clay, and totally disappeared.

THE PHYSICIAN.--NO. XIII.
(New Mon.)

OF THE INFLUENCE OP THE WINDS ON HEALTH.

occasions contagious fevers, and the experience of all succeeding physicians proves, that the air, when impregnated with damp vapours, produces dangerous diseases of that kind. Hence it is easy to infer, that Spring would be prolific in such diseases, but for the prevalence at that season of high winds which dispel these vapours and purify the air.

IT seems to be the effect of a particuJar Providence, that we are usually visited in Spring by high winds and storms. Indeed, upon the whole, I cannot for my part consider the winds so pernicious to health as they are commonly accounted, or coincide with Hoffman when he says, that "God has placed his chemical laboratory in the earth, whence issue winds and malignant effluvia." Essential as it is But, it may be objected, do not these that we should live in a pure air, if we winds bring noxious vapours along would remain healthy, so essential is it with them? This case is possible that there should be winds to purify enough. Darvieux relates, that Barut our atmosphere of the many noxious was formerly rendered very unhealthy vapours, which would but too speedily by the sea-winds, but that, to screen it corrupt and infect our juices. In from them, an Emir caused pines to be Spring, the warm breath of milder planted, and these trees keep off the breezes opens the bosom of the earth, pernicious marine exhalations, so that which was closed throughout the win- the place is now as healthy as any part ter. The changeableness of the wea of the surrounding country. When the ther fills the atmosphere with aqueous Illyrians, apprehensive of a pestilence, vapours. The beneficial frost which consulted Hippocrates on the means of purified it in winter, now leaves us; preventing it, he took advantage of and we should therefore have just rea- this enquiry, and warned the Greeks to son to apprehend unwholesome air and guard against the winds which blew malignant diseases in Spring, did not from Illyria; "for," said he, "bestorms supply the place of frost and yond those mountains rages the plague, cleanse the atmosphere. Hippocrates, and these are the passes of those mounin his time, observed, that a wet Spring tains. At such and such a time, the

winds of the dog-days will blow and bring with them pestilential effluvia into Greece: therefore close up those passes." By this counsel he rescued Greece from the danger of the plague; and the whole prediction rested on the knowledge which Hippocrates had of the course of the regular winds which were accustomed to blow into Greece. Had he in this case quieted their alarms, and assured them that these winds, which were otherwise accounted salubrious, would not do them any injary, he might have brought a dreadful calamity on his country. It is only in the case of winds which recur regularly at a particular season, that such anticipations can be formed. When, on the other hand, irregular winds waft pestilential effluvia along with them, this danger cannot be foreseen; and in this manner the winds may, under certain circumstances, prove as detrimental to health, as in others they are beneficial.

contrary, first sweeping as it does over a vast continent, it is generally of a dry nature, and our invalids are but too sensible of its pernicious effects upon them. A physician, therefore, is liable to involve himself in many contradictions by pronouncing unconditionally on the qualities of the winds. The celebrated Hoffmann considered the east and north-west winds as salubrious, and the west and south as unhealthy. What would our invalids say, if I were to assure them in the very words of that eminent physician, that "the east wind renders body and mind more alert, improves the appetite, sharpens the senses, invigorates the fibres, and imparts a lively colour?" Boerhaave was more cautious. He would not venture to determine the properties of a wind till he was acquainted with the country into which it was to blow, and its whole vicinity. Frommond relates extraordinary things of the south wind when it blows in the Azores. This objection warns me, then, not "The inhabitants," says he, "then go to bestow on the winds in general about as melancholy as if some great greater or more unqualified praise than misfortune had befallen them. The they deserve. So little as we can as- little children stay within doors quite sert without qualification, that this or dull: none of them are to be seen runthe other kind of food, drink, or medi- ning about and playing in the streets. cine is absolutely wholesome or perni- But as soon as the north wind again cious,so little can the same thing be said begins to blow, all is once more life of the winds. The winds render the air and bustle." Who would be so bold of a certain country healthy or unheal as to set down the south winds in genethy, according as they bring with them ral, on the strength of this observation, from different regions certain vapours, as an enemy to our comfort? and in which produce a change either from what a delectable situation we should the better or worse in the atmosphere be placed by a Persian, if he were to of that country. If damp sea-winds add to Frommond's observation the blow over an arid, parched tract, they result of his own experience respecting improve its atmosphere, which dry the west and south-west winds? It is winds, on the contrary, would deterior- known that in Persia these winds, ate; but the self-same winds would when they pass over heated rocks and produce the very contrary effect, if it marble mountains, carry along with were a low, damp, and swampy region. them hot and suffocating vapours; and It is generally hazardous to pretend to that, to avoid their dangerous effects, determine the qualities of winds in ge- people are obliged to lie flat on the neral. We cannot positively assert, ground, and in that situation to endure for example, that an east or a north heat and anxiety, if they would not wind is dry, and that a west or south drop down dead on the spot. It is onwind is damp; for if an east wind has ly in the night-time and on rivers that to traverse an extensive, low, and they are able to withstand it, and for swampy plain before it arrives at a this reason the Persians are not fond of certain country, it must fill the atmos- travelling by day. This extreme dryphere of the latter with damp and de-ness of the air in Persia is probably the leterious effluvia. With us, on the cause of a circumstance which Varro

relates, on the authority of Xenophon, concerning the Persians; namely, that their bodies were so exceedingly meagre and dried-up, that they never had occasion either to spit or to blow their noses. Herodotus gives us another story on the same subject. He tells us, that owing to the drought of their climate the heads of the Persians are so brittle, that a stone thrown at them passes right through the skull; whereas those of the Egyptians are so hard, that no stone can make any impression on them. It may be so; we will not fall out with the writers of antiquity but I shall only say, if the Persians were to desire us to throw ourselves at full length on the ground whenever a south wind blows, how we should laugh at them!

Every town, then, and every country has its good and its bad wind, according to the nature of the atmosphere through which that wind has passed; and on this account I readily admit, that we cannot assert generally that all storms purify the atmosphere. If winds blow long, and without intermission, from unhealthy places, they are not beneficial to a country. But were I to be asked whether an uninterrupted calm or variable winds were more salubrious, I would give the preference to occasional storms. Every thing on this restless earth must have motion. It revolves itself upon its axis. The vegetables are shaken by the winds, and mountains and provinces by earthquakes. The sea would soon become putrid, were its waters not kept duly mixed by its incessant agitation. The whole animal kingdom is constantly in motion. Here are tribes which soar into the clouds and sport in the atmosphere-there are others which burrow in the ground. This species creeps, that hops, a third swims, and a fourth walks. Should the atmosphere alone, then, be able to repose without detriment?-No. Nature knew how to order matters better. She has charged impetuous winds to blow from every quarter, and seldom long together from one point. By their means she not only dissipates the stagnant vapours in the atmosphere, which are like the swamps in low valleys, but also keeps

incessantly mixing together vapours of totally different kinds; and she thereby improves the air in the same manner that a skilful cook mixes up a variety of ingredients, which,taken separately,are pernicious, in order to compound with them a dish that is wholesome.

tion:

Such is, then, the relation in which the winds stand to the health of mankind. But now we come to the quesWhat are the particular effects which they produce on every human body? Here a distinction is to be made. The winds operate on the human body, in the first place, inasmuch as they change the gravity and properties of the atmosphere; but in this respect they do not act in reality as winds. The second effect is, that which they produce inasmuch as they are air in motion; and it is on this point that I propose to subjoin a few remarks.

When the air is in rapid motion, it presses in the same manner as if it had become heavier on the surface of the human body: for it is a well-known axiom of natural philosophy, that the power of a body is augmented not only by the increase of its bulk, but also by the increased velocity imparted to it. This augmented pressure of the air particularly affects the lungs, especially of those who are weak in the chest ; and every body knows how difficult it is for a man walking against the wind, to get rid of the air that rushes of itself into the lungs. It is, therefore, necessary that such persons should be cautious not to injure the chest by too rapid motion against the wind.

The principal effect of winds, however, is, that they dispel the warm atmosphere which constantly surrounds the body, and in which, if it were visible, we should look like saints encompassed with a nimbus or glory :-or, in other words, the winds cool the human body. They would constantly suppress the transpiration so essential to health, if we were not to use some precaution to keep the pores open by an increase of the internal heat. To this end spirituous liquors and bodily exercise are subservient. When recourse is had to these means, the wind must rather tend to augment than to stop transpiration; for the transpiration of

« AnteriorContinuar »