 the Inverness Harriers, and the racing is referred to on page 113. Those present on October 24th, 1817, included Lord and Lady Huntly, Lord and Lady Saltoun, Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Stewart Mackenzie of Seaforth, Colonel and Mrs. Macdonald of Glengarry. The latter appeared in full Highland costume, with belted plaid, broadsword, pistols, dirk, etc. Horse races were held at Fort George, chronicled as a novelty, and much appreciated.
1. Plate value 50 guineas An easy victory.
Mr. Fraser, Culduthel, b.g., Martin Luther - 1. 1.
Mr. Gifford, b. mare, Louisa - 2. 2.
2. A match for 30 guineas.
Mr. Sheppard's Bay Mare - 1.
Captain Fraser's brown horse - 2.
3. Sweepstake for a Subscription Purse.
Mr. Eache's horse - 1.
Mr. McAndrew's b. mare - 2.
Captain Sinclair's horse - 3.
This year public dissatisfaction with the management is manifest in the columns of the press; the meeting was stated to be heavily in debt, although high prices were made for certain things, viz., 1s. 9d. for a cup of coffee. In 1818 on October 21St, the Huntlys, Mackenzies, and Frasers of Lovat sent large supplies of venison, muirfowl and ptarmigan. Arrears of subscription were called in, and Mr. Mackenzie remained secretary.
The year 1819 was under the chairmanship of Lord Saltoun, and there was a long discussion as to the secretaryship, but Mr. Mackenzie was reappointed eventually. A large portrait of Lady Huntly was presented to the ballroom. As a sidelight upon the educational status of the neighbourhood it is noteworthy that out of twenty-two thousand inhabitants, only about three thousand could read English or Gaelic.
In 1820 the absence of the life and soul of the meeting, Lord Huntly, is recorded. There was a good attendance, the chairmen being Mr. Macleod of Cadboll, Sir James Dunbar, and Sir William Gordon Cumming. Game was presented by neighbouring families.
The new secretary appointed this year was Mr. Affleck Fraser, of Culduthel.
1821 saw an earlier gathering, on September 20th. "An unusually great concourse of a fashionable company." Mrs. Maclean of Cariacon sent a fine turtle, as also Mr. William Falconer of Inverness. Game was sent by Lovat, Relig, and John Windsor, Esquire, the race course being arranged for games, etc.
We note a thin attendance for 1822, but other interesting events occurred. At Duneancroy (of which the translation is "the level stretch by the Hill of Birds") games are held after the meeting, under Glengarry. He presided in all his glory and had the field almost wholly to himself, "the other judges probably conceiving themselves ill qualified to decide in matters which lay altogether between the chief and the gentlemen of his tail." What, may say some Saxon Duinhe-wassal (English gentleman), is the exact meaning of "tail "?
The tail is a retinue of followers which usually accompanied a chieftain when he paid visits to those of equal rank with himself. There was the henchman or right-hand man, then the bard or poet, then the bladier or orator to make harangues, then the gillymore or armour-bearer to carry sword, target and gun, then the gilly casfluich to carry him on his back through sikes and brooks, then the gilly-comstrain to lead his horse in rough places, then the gilly-trush harnish to carry his knapsack, concluding with the piper and his man and a dozen "boys of the belt" for odd requirements of the Laird.
A foot race of eight miles was run in fifty minutes, the winner reaching the tape minus any particle of clothing!
Another event was the throwing of a boulder of eighteen stone weight over a bar five feet off the ground. A mere stone-mason did this feat, all the other "pretty men" being foiled. A contingency of this competition was the rupture of blood-vessels or breaking of backs.
Most remarkable, however, was the tearing of three cows limb from limb, after they had been felled and stunned by a sledge-hammer. Even the most expert of the competitors took four or five hours in "rugging and riving," tooth and nail, before bringing off the limbs of one cow. Payment was made at the rate of five guineas a joint, so that (so runs the narrative) "We hope the rise in the value of black cattle will make the Glengarry men some small amends for the fall of ewes and wedders at Falkirk Tryst, lately noticed by their Chief."
This sarcasm shows that not much love was lost between the local press this year and Glengarry!
A writer of this period remarked that "Southron delicacy might have turned up its nose at the rather paradisical costume of the runners in the foot race." Eight started, not absolutely in McNab's nightgowns, whatever might be whispered amongst the ladies, but in shirts of rather ample dimensions, considering the comparatively recent adoption of this Saxon luxury in this country. They proved their high antiquity in various ways, and besides, bore ample tokens of having seen abundant service since last year's great bucking washing at Invergarry. Four of them came in "skelpin-naked." Limitations of space prevent me from quoting further criticisms of this festival, but a perusal of the Inverness Courier for 10th October will well repay the trouble of those further interested.
In 1823, owing to the death of a lady friend, the Marquis of Huntly was absent from the dinner of sixty.
An account of the races may not be without interest.
£50 given by the Meeting.
Weight for age. 1 mile heats.
1. Sir Alex. Ramsay's Meeta - 4 years - 1. I.
Mr. W. M'Dowell Grant's b.g. Moureath, aged - 2.
2. Match for 50 guineas each, h. ft. 6 st. 7 lb. 1 mile.
Mr. M'Dowell Grant's br. g. Governor, 6 years - 1.
Mr. Fraser of Lovat's b.g. Cockney, aged - 2.
3. Match for 50 guineas each. P.p. 9 stone. 1½ miles.
Lord Huntly's ch. m. by Idle Boy, 5 years - 1.
Mr. Newton's br. g. Malcolm Graham, 4 years-2. An easy win.
£50 given by Lord-Lieutenant for horses bred in the counties connected with the meeting.
2 mile heats. Weight for age.
1. Mr. Shepperd's br. m. Shepherdess by Troilus, named by Mr. Fraser of Culduthel. W.O.
Mr. F. Mackenzie, junr., of Gairloch's blk..m. Gipsy, drawn.
2. Port Stakes of 15 guineas each. 5 forfeit for Ponies not exceeding 13 hands. 8 st. each. Mile heats. 11 subscribers.
Mr. D. Mackintosh's W.S. br. p. - 1.
Lord Huntly's Highland Lassie - 2.
Lord Saltoun names Jenny from Toun - 3.
Mr. Mackay's Bl. p. distanced - 4.
Referred to the Newmarket Jockey Club.
3. Match for 50 guineas each p.p. 13 st, 1 mile and distance.
Mr. W. M`Dowell Grant's b.h. Llewellyn, aged - 1.
Mr. F. Mackenzie junr., Gairloch's ch. g. Ruby by Petronius - 2.
Gentlemen riders. Won by half a neck.
Match for 50 guineas each p.p. 1 mile.
Mr. F. Mackenzie's Gipsy - 1.
Mr. Frazer's Shepherdess - 2.
Northern Meeting. Stakes of 30 guineas.
Weight for age. 10 forfeit. 2 miles. 13 subscribers.
Mr. Farquharson's Meeta. W.O.
Sir A. Ramsay's b.c. Marshal Blucher, drawn.
£50 given by the M.P. for the county.
Sir A. Ramsay's b.c. Marshal Blucher - 1.
Mr. M'Dowell Grant's b.g. Governor - 2.
A well contested race.
A match of 50 guineas each.
2 ft. Half-mile heats.
Mr. Grant's Llewellyn - 1.
Mr. Mackenzie's b.g. - 2.
A match of 50 guineas. 1 mile.
Mr. Davidson junr. of Tulloch's b.g.- 1.
Mr. Grant of Radcastle b.g., rode (sec.) by Mr. Mackenzie junr. of Gairloch -