BY

NE of the oldest instruments for grinding corn is the quern, or bràth, as it is called in Gaelic. It was used among all who cultivated the soil, and it is only within recent years that its use has been restricted to a few of the Hebridean Isles and one or two remote parishes on the mainland of Scotland. various travellers who visited the Highlands during the last century, and made "observations," record the use of the hand-mill or quern, despite the fact that in 1284 a law was enacted by Alexander III. forbidding the use of "hand

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mylnes" (hand-mills) in Scotland. The enactment ran as follows:-"That na man sall presume to grind quheit, maisloch, or rye, with hand-mylnes, except to be compelled by storm, and be in lack of mylnes quhilk should grind the samen and gif any man contraveins this our prohibition, he sall tyne his hand-mylnes perpetuallie." Long ago the Gael ground his own corn and baked his own meal. His mode of operation was expeditious, if somewhat primitive. A few sheaves of corn were taken, and the grain switched out of the ear and put in a pot on the

fire to dry.

This hurried process is called eararadh, while corn prepared by the usual kilndrying process is known as ealachadh. A still quicker mode of drying was to set the sheaves standing against each other, and set fire to the straw. This was known by the name of gradan, from grad, quick, and meal made of the grain so dried was called min-ghradain.

The operation of grinding with the quern was usually performed by two women, sitting opposite each other on the floor. Underneath the quern was spread a piece of cloth, or a dried hide, called craicionn bràthain, to keep the meal clean. In course of time hand-mills were superseded by mills driven by water-indeed, some of the

larger querns were driven by water in Shetland and other places. Mills were built in each barony, and the laird, to secure the multure or miller's fees, was anxious that all querns should be destroyed, a fact which accounts for the almost complete disappearance of the handmills. "The miller on every lairdship," says Logan, "had usually a croft for his support, besides the legal multures and sequels, i.e., perquisites of the miller and his men." Scots law, thirlage is the servitude by which lands are astricted to a particular mill, being bound to have their corn ground there on certain terms. The district or lands thus bound are termed the sucken, and the payments

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are the multure or quantity of grain or meal exacted by the heritor or his tacksman, and the sequels are those quantities given to the servants under the name of knaveship, bannock, and loch, or gowpen. The tenant paid a certain measure out of every boll to the chief, half that measure to the miller, and a quarter to the gille-muilinn, or miller's man. These exactions were frequently the cause of considerable friction between the various parties, as may be learned from the writers of the articles on the Highland Parishes in the "Old Statistical Account" of Scotland.

Song was essential to the operation of grinding corn, and several quern croons, or songs, have been preserved. The following may interest our musical readers:

A curious dispute regarding the erection of a mill on the Mackintosh estates took place in 1660, and one, moreover, which is interesting as proving that the clans did not always offer a blind or slavish obedience to their chiefs. It would appear that the Mackintosh of the day erected a mill which, although on his own estate, was alleged to be injurious to one belonging to Cluny Macpherson lower down the stream. Remonstrances between the rival chiefs having proved of no effect, it was resolved to appeal to arms, and the Crois tàra was sent through the country to raise Clann Mhuirich. The contending parties met each other at the site of the intended mill, but Mackintosh, finding himself inferior in numbers, sent down to the laird of Grant for a reinforcement. This chief was young and inexperienced, and offhand promised the support desired. His clansmen, however,

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stills the

THE MILL WHEEL,

FLORA MACDONALD IN AMERICA.

By J. P. MACLEAN.
(Continued from page 107.)

ENERAL MACDONALD

was fully aware that he could not put his threat into execution, for he had been informed that the minute-men were gathering in swarms all around him; that Colonel Caswell, at the head of the minute-men of Newbern, nearly eight hundred strong, was marching through Duplin County, to effect a junction with General Moore, and that his communications with the warships had been cut off. Realising the extremity of his danger, he resolved to avoid an engagement, and leave the army at Rockfish in his rear, and by celerity of movement, and crossing rivers at unsuspected places, to disengage himself from the larger bodies and fall upon the command of Colonel Caswell. Before

marching he exhorted his men to fidelity, expressed bitter scorn for the "base cravens who had deserted the night before," and continued by saying "If any amongst you are so faint-hearted as not to serve with the resolution of conquering or dying, this is the time to declare themselves." The speech was answered by a general huzza for the King, but from Cotton's corps about twenty laid down their arms. The army decamped at midnight, crossed the Cape Fear, sunk their boats, and sent a party fifteen miles in advance to secure the bridge over South River, from Bladen into Hanover, pushing with rapid pace over swollen streams, rough hills, and deep morasses, hotly pursued by General Moore. Perceiving the purpose of the enemy, General Moore detached Colonels Lillington and Ashe to reinforce Caswell, or if that could not be effected, then they were to occupy Widow Moore's Creek Bridge.

Caswell, designing the purpose of the enemy, changed his own course in order to intercept his march. On the 23rd, General Macdonald thought to overtake him, and arrayed the Highlanders in order of battle, with eighty ablebodied men, armed with broad-swords, forming the centre of the army; but Caswell, being posted at Corbett's Ferry, could not be reached for want of boats. The Royalists again were in extreme danger, but at a point six miles higher up the Black River they succeeded in crossing in a broad shallow boat, while Maclean and Fraser, left with a few men, and a drum and a fife, amused Caswell.

Lillington, on the 25th, took post on the east side of Widow Moore's Creek Bridge; and on the next day Caswell reached the west side, threw up a slight embankment, and destroyed a part of the bridge. A Royalist who had been sent into his camp, under the pretext of summoning him to return to his allegiance, brought back the information that he had halted on the same side of the river as themselves, and could be assaulted to advantage. Caswell was not only a good woodsman, but also a man of superior ability, and believing that he had misled the enemy, marched his column to the east side of the stream, removed the planks from the bridge, and placed his men behind trees and such embankments as could be thrown up during the night. His force now amounted to a thousand men, consisting of the Newbern minute-men, the Militia of Craven, Dobbs, Johnston, and Wahe Counties, besides the detachment under Lillington. The men of the Neuse region, their officers wearing silver crescents upon their hats, inscribed with the words, "Liberty or Death," were in front. The situation of the Highlanders was again perilous, for while facing this army, Moore, with his regulars, was close upon their rear. The Highlanders, anticipating an early victory, decided upon an immediate attack. Macdonald was confined to his tent by sickness, and the command devolved upon Donald Macleod, who began the march at one o'clock on the morning of the 27th, but owing to the time lost in passing an intervening morass, it was within an hour of daylight when they reached the west bank of the creek. Without resistance they entered the ground, but seeing Caswell's forces on the opposite bank, they reduced their columns and formed their line of battle in the woods. Their rallying cry was "King George and broad-swords," and the signal of attack was three cheers, the drum to beat, and the pipes to play. While it was still dark, Macleod, with a party of about forty, advanced, and at the bridge was challenged by the sentinel asking "Who goes there?" He answered-"A friend." "A friend of whom?" "To the King." Upon

this the sentinels bent their faces down to the ground. Macleod, thinking they might be some of his own command who had crossed the bridge, challenged them in Gaelic, but receiving no reply, fired his own piece, and ordered his party to fire also. All that remained of the bridge were the two logs which had served for sleepers, permitting only two persons to cross at a time. Macleod and Captain John Campbell rushed forward, and succeeded in getting over. The Highlanders that followed were shot down on the logs, and fell into the muddy stream below. Macleod was mortally wounded, but was seen to rise repeatedly from the ground, waving his sword, and encouraging his men to come on, till twenty-six balls penetrated his body. Campbell was shot dead, and at the same moment a party of militia, under Lieut. Glocum, who had forded the creek and penetrated a swamp on its western bank, fell suddenly upon the rear of the Royalists. The loss of their leader, and the unexpected attack upon the rear, threw them into confusion, when they broke and fled.

The battle lasted but ten minutes. The Highlanders lost seventy killed and wounded, while the patriots had but two wounded, one of whom recovered. The victory was complete and lasting. The power of the Highlanders was thoroughly broken. There fell into the hands of the Americans, besides 850 prisoners, 1,500 rifles, all of them excellent pieces, 350 guns and short bags, 150 swords and dirks, two medicine chests recently from England (one valued at £300 sterling), 13 waggons, with horses, a box of Johannes and English guineas, amounting to about 75,000 dollars.

Some of the Highlanders escaped from the field of carnage by breaking down their waggons and riding away, three upon a horse. Many who were taken confessed that they were forced and persuaded contrary to their inclinations into the service. The soldiers taken were disarmed and then dismissed to their homes.

On the following day, General Macdonald and nearly all the chief men were taken prisoners, amongst whom was Allan Macdonald of Kingsburgh and his son, Alexander.

According to a letter dated April 22, 1776, General Donald Macdonald, Colonel Allan Macdonald, of Kingsburgh, his son Alexander, Major Alexander Macdonald, besides fifteen captains, one lieutenant, and five minor officers, including the chaplain, Rev. John Bethuine, all of the Highland army, were sent prisoners to Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, at its session in Philadelphia, held May 25, 1776, ordered the Highland prisoners, naming each one separately, to be "safely kept in close con

finement until discharged by the honourable Congress or this committee." Washington exerted his power to have General Macdonald exchanged, but as General Sir William Howe refused to recognise his rank in the army, the unfortunate General was long a prisoner. On September 23, Washington, in a letter to General Howe, said "I had no doubt but Mr. Macdonald's title would have been acknowledged, having understood that he received his commission from the hands of Governor Martin; nor can I consent to rank him as a major till I have proper authority from Congress, to whom I shall state the matter upon your representation." That body, on September 30, declared "That Mr. Macdonald, having a commission of BrigadierGeneral from Governor Martin, be not exchanged for any officer under the rank of Brigadier-General in the service of the United States or any of them."

On the way from North Carolina to Philadelphia, while resting at Petersburg, May 2, 1776, Kingsburgh wrote the following letter:

SIR,-Your kind favor I had by Mr. Ugin, (?) with the Virginian money enclosed, which shall be paid if ever 1 retourn, with thanks, if not, I shall take to order payment. Colonel Eliot, who came here to receive the prisoners, confined the General and me, under a guard and sentries, to a roome; this he imputes to the Congress of North Carolina not getting Brigadier Lewes (who commands at Williamsburg) know of our being on parole by your permission when at Halifax. If any opportunity afford, it would add to our happiness to write something to the above purpose to some of the Congress here, with directions (if such can be done) to forward said orders after us. I have also been depossessed of the horse I held, and hath little chance of getting another. To walk on foot is what I never can do the length of Philadelphia. you can do in the above different affairs will be adding to your former favours. Hoping you will pardon freedom, wrote in a hurry, I am, with real esteem and respect, houble. Sir, your very obedient servant, ALLEN MACDONALD.

What

On 28th June, 1776, Allan Macdonald of Kingsburgh was permitted, after signing a parole and word of honour, to go to Reading, in Berks County. At the same time the Committee of Safety resolved "That such prisoners from North Carolina as choose, may be permitted to write to their friends there, such letters to be inspected by this committee; and the jailer is to take care that all the paper delivered in to the prisoners be used in such letters, or returned him." This action was approved by the Continental Congress on July 9th, which further ordered that Kingsburgh be released on parole. On the 15th his son Alexander was released on parole, and allowed to reside with him. Every attempt was made, on the part of the Americans, to exchange the prisoners, but the latter were

unfortunate in not having some one intercede in their behalf among the British officials. At last Kingsburgh was permitted to go to New York and intercede in his own behalf, and during the month of November, 1777, effected his own exchange, and then proceeded to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

As already noted, the rebellion of the Highlanders in Nova Scotia ended in a fiasco. Flora Macdonald was soon aroused to the fact that the battle was against them, and her husband and son had been thrown into the jail at Halifax. It appears that even she was brought before the Committee of Safety, when she exhibited a "spirited behaviour." Sorrows, indeed, rapidly accumulated upon her. A severe typhus fever attacked the younger members of the family, and two of her children died, a boy and a girl, aged respectively eleven and thirteen, and her daughter, Fanny, was still in precarious health from the dregs of a recent fever. By the advice of her imprisoned husband, she resolved to return to her native country. Fortunately for her, she secured the favour and good offices of Captain Ingram, an American officer, who promised to assist her He furnished her with a passport to Wilmington, and from thence she found her way to Charleston, from which port she sailed to her native land in 1779. In this step she was partly governed by the state of health of her daughter Fanny. Crossing the Atlantic, with none of her family but Fannyher five sons and son-in-law actively engaged in the war-the Scottish heroine met with the last of her misfortunes. The vessel in which she sailed engaged a French privateer, and during the conflict her left arm was broken owing to her being She refused to thrown violently on the deck.

go below, but remained with the men, cheering them on, and exhorting them to be faithful. In a few years, she truthfully said, she had served both the House of Stuart and the House of Hanover, but had been worsted in the cause of each. For some time she resided at Milton, where her brother built her a cottage, but on the return of her husband they again settled at Kingsburgh, where she died March 5, 1790. (Concluded.)

A GRAND GAELIC AND SCOTTISH CONCERT is to be held in the Waterloo Rooms on Friday, 6th April-Lord-Provost Chisholm presiding. The programme is the most attractive ever submitted to a Highland audience. Tickets (23 and 1s) can be had from the Editor, Celtic Monthly, 1 Blythswood Drive. THE most suitable and picturesque dress for boys is the kilt; it has twice the wearing qualities of any other costume. This season it promises to be more popular than ever. R. W. Forsyth, Renfield Street, makes a specialty of the Highland costume, and can supply an artistic dress in any tartan.