determination which struck terror into every breast—'Mackenzie, if you or any of your assembled guests make the slightest movement, as I live, by the great Creator of the universe I will instantly pierce you to the heart.' Mackenzie well knew by the appearance of the youth, and the commanding tone of his voice, that the threat would be instantly executed if any movement was made, and tremulously exclaimed—'My friends, for the love of God stir not lest I perish at the hands of my inveterate foe at my own table.' The appeal was hardly necessary, for all were terror-stricken and confused, sitting with open mouths, gazing vacantly, at each other. 'Now,' said the young hero, 'lift up your hands to heaven and swear by the Long, am Bradan, agus an Lamh Dhearg (the ship, the salmon, and the bloody hand) that you will never again molest my father or any of his clan.' 'I do now swear as you request,' answered the confused chief. 'Swear now,' continued the dauntless youth, 'you, and all ye round this table, that I will depart from here and be permitted to go home unmolested by you or any of your retainers.' All with uplifted hands repeated the oath. Young Glengarry released his hold on Mackenzie's throat, sheathed his dirk and prepared to take his departure, but was, extraordinary to relate, prevailed upon to remain at the feast and spend the night with the sworn enemies of his race and kindred, and the following morning they parted the best of friends. And thus, by the daring of a stripling, was Glengarry saved the fearful doom that awaited him. The youth ultimately became famous as one of the most courageous warriors of his race. He fought many a single combat with powerful combatants, and invariably came off victorious. He invaded and laid waste Glenmoriston, Urquhart, and Caithness. His life had been one scene of varied havoc, victory, ruin, and bloodshed. He entered into a fierce encounter with one of the Munros of Fowlis, but ultimately met the same fate at the hands of the 'grim tyrant' as the greatest coward in the land, and his body lies buried in the churchyard of Tuiteam-tarbhach."

ALASTAIR OG.

(To be Continued.)

The Gaelic Society of Inverness.—The following are the newly elected office-bearers for 1876:—Chief—Professor Blackie; Chieftains—Mr Charles Mackay, builder; Mr Alexander Fraser, accountant; and Bailie Noble, Inverness; Honorary Secretary—Mr Wm. Mackay, solicitor; Secretary—Mr William Mackenzie, Free Press Office, Inverness; Treasurer—Mr Evan Mackenzie, solicitor, Inverness; Council—Mr Alexander Mackenzie, of the Celtic Magazine; Councillor Huntly Fraser; Mr James H. Mackenzie, bookseller; Mr James Fraser, C.E.; and Mr Lachlan Macbean; Librarian—Mr Lachlan Macbean; Bard—Mrs Mary Mackellar; and Piper—Pipe-Major Maclennan, Inverness. The following members have been elected since the beginning of the year:—Mr A. R. Munro, 57 Camphill, Birmingham; Councillor D. Macpherson, Inverness; Mr W. A. Mackay, bird-stuffer, do.; Mr Jonathan Nicolson, Birmingham; Major William Grant, factor for the Earl of Seafield, honorary; Mr Donald Macleod, painter, Church Street, Inverness; Mr Hugh Shaw, tinsmith, Castle Street, Inverness; Rev. Lachlan Maclachlan, Gaelic Church, Inverness; Mr Archibald Macmillan, Kaituna, Havelock, Marlborough, New Zealand; Mr William Douglas, Aberdeen Town and County Bank, Inverness; Mr Donald Macdonald, farmer, Culcraggie, Alness; Mr Andrew Mackenzie, ironmonger, Alness; Mr Hugh Mackenzie, postmaster, Alness; Mr William Mackenzie, factor, Ardross; Mr W. Mackenzie, solicitor, Dingwall; Captain Alex. Matheson, Dornie, Lochalsh; Mr Christopher Murdoch, gamekeeper, Kyleakin, Skye; Mr Norman M'Raild, Caledonian Canal, Laggan, Fort-Augustus; Mr James Hunter, Bobbin Works, Glengarry; Mr Fergusson, schoolmaster, Guisachan; Mr Maclean, schoolmaster, Abriachan; Mr D. Dott, Caledonian Bank, Inverness; and Dr Farquhar Matheson, Soho Square, London. Mr Alex. Mackenzie, of the Celtic Magazine, on the 17th February, resigned his connection with the Society's Publishing Committee, as convener of which he edited, last year, vols. III. and IV. of the Society's "Transactions."

Dictionary of the Welsh Language.—We are glad to learn that a Dictionary of the Welsh language is in preparation, compiled from original sources by D. Silvan Evans, B.D., Professor of Welsh at University College, Aberystwyth, Wales, and late Editor of the "Archæologia Cambrensis." Professor Evans is a Celtic scholar of high repute, and his work will, we are assured, prove a great acquisition to the student of Philological Science.

THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDERS GOING TO CAROLINA.

The sunny plains of Carolina was the first emigration field taken advantage of by the Scottish Highlander. And there is no denying that his temporal interests required a change for the better. Oppressed with poverty in his own wild glens, in the endeavour to eke out an existence from the returns of a soil the reverse of fertile, or from the produce of a small flock of trifling value, or from the precarious productions of stormy lochs, the honest Gael becomes gradually convinced that his condition might be much improved in the genial climes recently opened up. With this in view he gives a willing ear to the kindly suggestions of those who sought to promote his welfare; and he resolves at length, in acting upon these suggestions, to rupture the ties that bound him to his home, and to face a voyage which was then regarded as the highest test of courage, but which can now be accomplished in as little time, and with as little concern as a voyage in those days from Mull or Skye to the banks of the Clyde.

It has often been said that the Highlander is wanting in a spirit of adventure, and that in consequence there is still a great amount of poverty and wretchedness at home, which might easily be remedied by a little more pluck in taking advantage of the rich soil of colonial fields. This phenomenon, which is only too true, has its explanation in a strange mystic spell of attachment to the native heath with all its associations. This is proverbially true of the Highlander in distinction from all other nationalities, and it cannot be ignored by those who wish to see him emigrate to countries where he can soon raise himself, by a little industry, to a position of affluence and independence which he never dreamed of in his native country.

Even the physical aspect of his native scenery has a charm for the Gael which can never be lost. His very heath in autumnal bloom spread out like a gorgeous carpet, towering summits, wild cascades, birch and rowans, verdant hill sides, browsing flocks, bounding deer, soaring eagles, and the vast expanse of land