that the ideas of pain predominate in almost every mind。 What is
recollection but a revival of vexations； or history but a record of
wars； treasons； and calamities？ Death； which is considered as the
greatest evil； happens to all。 The greatest good； be it what it
will； is the lot but of a part。
That they should often see death is to be expected； because death
is an event frequent and important。 But they see likewise more
pleasing incidents。 A gentleman told me； that when he had once
gone far from his own Island； one of his labouring servants
predicted his return； and described the livery of his attendant；
which he had never worn at home； and which had been； without any
previous design； occasionally given him。
Our desire of information was keen； and our inquiry frequent。 Mr。
Boswell's frankness and gaiety made every body communicative； and
we heard many tales of these airy shows； with more or less evidence
and distinctness。
It is the common talk of the Lowland Scots； that the notion of the
Second Sight is wearing away with other superstitions； and that its
reality is no longer supposed； but by the grossest people。 How far
its prevalence ever extended； or what ground it has lost； I know
not。 The Islanders of all degrees； whether of rank or
understanding； universally admit it； except the Ministers； who
universally deny it； and are suspected to deny it； in consequence
of a system； against conviction。 One of them honestly told me；
that he came to Sky with a resolution not to believe it。
Strong reasons for incredulity will readily occur。 This faculty of
seeing things out of sight is local； and commonly useless。 It is a
breach of the common order of things； without any visible reason or
perceptible benefit。 It is ascribed only to a people very little
enlightened； and among them； for the most part； to the mean and the
ignorant。
To the confidence of these objections it may be replied； that by
presuming to determine what is fit； and what is beneficial； they
presuppose more knowledge of the universal system than man has
attained； and therefore depend upon principles too complicated and
extensive for our comprehension； and that there can be no security
in the consequence； when the premises are not understood； that the
Second Sight is only wonderful because it is rare； for； considered
in itself； it involves no more difficulty than dreams； or perhaps
than the regular exercise of the cogitative faculty； that a general
opinion of communicative impulses； or visionary representations；
has prevailed in all ages and all nations； that particular
instances have been given； with such evidence； as neither Bacon nor
Bayle has been able to resist； that sudden impressions； which the
event has verified； have been felt by more than own or publish
them； that the Second Sight of the Hebrides implies only the local
frequency of a power； which is nowhere totally unknown； and that
where we are unable to decide by antecedent reason； we must be
content to yield to the force of testimony。
By pretension to Second Sight； no profit was ever sought or gained。
It is an involuntary affection； in which neither hope nor fear are
known to have any part。 Those who profess to feel it； do not boast
of it as a privilege； nor are considered by others as
advantageously distinguished。 They have no temptation to feign；
and their hearers have no motive to encourage the imposture。
To talk with any of these seers is not easy。 There is one living
in Sky； with whom we would have gladly conversed； but he was very
gross and ignorant； and knew no English。 The proportion in these
countries of the poor to the rich is such； that if we suppose the
quality to be accidental； it can very rarely happen to a man of
education； and yet on such men it has sometimes fallen。 There is
now a Second Sighted gentleman in the Highlands； who complains of
the terrors to which he is exposed。
The foresight of the Seers is not always prescience； they are
impressed with images； of which the event only shews them the
meaning。 They tell what they have seen to others； who are at that
time not more knowing than themselves； but may become at last very
adequate witnesses； by comparing the narrative with its
verification。
To collect sufficient testimonies for the satisfaction of the
publick； or of ourselves； would have required more time than we
could bestow。 There is； against it； the seeming analogy of things
confusedly seen； and little understood； and for it； the indistinct
cry of national persuasion； which may be perhaps resolved at last
into prejudice and tradition。 I never could advance my curiosity
to conviction； but came away at last only willing to believe。
As there subsists no longer in the Islands much of that peculiar
and discriminative form of life； of which the idea had delighted
our imagination； we were willing to listen to such accounts of past
times as would be given us。 But we soon found what memorials were
to be expected from an illiterate people； whose whole time is a
series of distress； where every morning is labouring with
expedients for the evening； and where all mental pains or pleasure
arose from the dread of winter； the expectation of spring； the
caprices of their Chiefs； and the motions of the neighbouring
clans； where there was neither shame from ignorance； nor pride in
knowledge； neither curiosity to inquire； nor vanity to communicate。
The Chiefs indeed were exempt from urgent penury； and daily
difficulties； and in their houses were preserved what accounts
remained of past ages。 But the Chiefs were sometimes ignorant and
careless； and sometimes kept busy by turbulence and contention； and
one generation of ignorance effaces the whole series of unwritten
history。 Books are faithful repositories； which may be a while
neglected or forgotten； but when they are opened again； will again
impart their instruction： memory； once interrupted； is not to be
recalled。 Written learning is a fixed luminary； which； after the
cloud that had hidden it has past away； is again bright in its
proper station。 Tradition is but a meteor； which； if once it
falls； cannot be rekindled。
It seems to be universally supposed； that much of the local history
was preserved by the Bards； of whom one is said to have been
retained by every great family。 After these Bards were some of my
first inquiries； and I received such answers as； for a while； made
me please myself with my increase of knowledge； for I had not then
learned how to estimate the narration of a Highlander。
They said that a great family had a Bard and a Senachi； who were
the poet and historian of the house； and an old gentleman told me
that he remembered one of each。 Here was a dawn of intelligence。
Of men that had lived within memory； some certain knowledge might
be attained。 Though the office had ceased； its effects might
continue； the poems might be found； though there was no poet。
Another conversation indeed informed me； that the same man was both
Bard and Senachi。 This variation discouraged me； but as the
practice might be different in different times； or at the same time
in different families； there was yet no reason for supposing that I
must necessarily sit down in total ignorance。
Soon after I was told by a gentleman； who is generally acknowledged
the greatest master of Hebridian antiquities； that there had indeed
once been both Bards and Senachies； and that Senachi signified 'the
man of talk；' or of conversation； but that neither Bard nor Senachi
had existed for some centuries。 I have no reason to suppose it
exactly known at what time the custom ceased； nor did it probably
cease in all houses at once。 But whenever the practice of
recitation was disused； the works； whether poetical or historical；
perished with the authors； for in those times nothing had been
written in the Earse language。
Whether the 'Man of talk' was a historian； whose office was to tell
truth； or a story…teller； like those which were in the last
century； and perhaps are now among the Irish； whose trade was only
to amuse； it now would be vain to inquire。
Most of the domestick offices were； I believe； hereditary； and
probably the laureat of a clan was always the son of the last
laureat。 The history of the race could no otherwise be
communicated； or retained； but what genius could be expected in a
poet by inheritance？
The nation was wholly illiterate。 Neither bards nor Senachies
could write or read； but if they were ignorant； there was no danger
of detection； they were believed by those whose vanity they
flattered。
The recital of genealogies； which has been considered as very
efficacious to the preservation of a true series of ancestry； was
anciently made； when the heir of the family came to manly age。
This practice has never subsisted within time of memory； nor was
much credit due to such rehearsers； who might obtrude fictitious
pedigrees； either to please their masters； or to hide the
deficiency of their own memories。
Where the Chiefs of the Highlands have found the histories of their
descent is difficult to tell； for no Earse genealogy was ever
written。 In general this only is evident； that the principal house
of a clan must be very ancient； and that those must have lived long
in a place； of whom it is not known when they came thither。
Thus hopeless are all attempts to find any traces of Highland
learning。 Nor are their primitive customs and ancient manner of
life otherwise than very faintly and uncertainly remembered by the
present race。
The peculiarities which strike the native of a commercial country；
proceeded in a great measure from the want of money。 To the
servants and dependents that were not domesticks； and if an
estimate be made from the capacity of any of their old houses which
I have seen； their domesticks could have been but few； were
appropriated certain portions of land for their support。 Macdonald
has a piece of ground yet； called the Bards or Senachies field。
When a beef was killed for the house； particular parts were claimed
as fees by the several officers； or workmen。 What was the right of
each I have not learned。 The head belonged to the smith