ftorm the fummit, they gain only fo much ground; their enemies are fled to take poffeffion of the next rock, and the purfuers ftand at gaze, knowing neither where the ways of efcape wind among the steeps, nor where the bog has firmness to fuftain them: befides that, mountaineers have an agility in climbing and defcending, diftinct from strength or courage, and attainable only by ufe.

If the war be not foon concluded, the invaders are diflodged by hunger; for in thofe anxious and toilfome marches, provifions cannot eafily be carried, and are never to be found. The wealth of mountains is cattle, which, while the men stand in the paffes, the women drive away. Such lands at laft cannot repay the expence of conqueft, and therefore, perhaps have not been fo often invaded by.the mere ambition of dominion; as by refentment of robberies and infults, or the defire of enjoying in fecurity the more fruitful provinces.

As mountains are long before they are conquered, they are likewise long before they are civilized. Men are softened by intercourfe mutually profitable, and inftructed by comparing their own notions. with thofe of others. Thus Cæfar found the maritime parts of Britain made less barbarous by their commerce with the Gauls. Into a barren and rough tract no ftranger is brought either by the hope of gain or of pleasure. The inhabitants having neither commoditics for fale nor money for purchafe

chafe, feldom vifit more polifhed places, or if they do vifit them, feldom return.

It fometimes happens that by conqueft, intermixture, or gradual refinement, the cultivated parts of a country change their language. The mountaineers then become a diftinct nation, cut off by diffimilitude of fpeech from converfation with their neighbours. Thus in Bifcay, the original Cantabrian, and in Dalecarlia, the old Swedifh ftill fubfifts. Thus Wales and the Highlands fpeak the tongue of the firft inhabitants of Britain, while the other parts have received firit the Saxon, and in fome degree afterwards the French, and then formed a third language between them.

That the primitive manners are continued where the primitive language is fspoken, no nation will defire me to fuppofe, for the manners of mountaineers are commonly favage, but they are rather produced by their fituation than derived from

their ancestors.

Such feems to be the difpofition of man, that whatever makes a distinction produces rivalry. England, before other caufes of enmity were found, was disturbed for fome centuries by the contests of the northern and fouthern counties; fo that at Oxford, the peace of. ftudy could for a long time be preserved only by chufing annually one of the Proctors from each fide of the Trent. A tract interfected by many ridges of mountains, naturally divides its inhabitants into petty nations, which

which are made by athousand causes enemies to each other. Each will exalt its own chiefs, each will boast the valour of its men, or the beauty of its women, and every claim of fuperiority irritates competition; injuries will fometimes be done, and be more injuriously defended; retaliation will fometimes be attempted, and the debt exacted with too much intereft.

In the Highlands it was a law, that if a robber was sheltered from justice, any man of the fame clan might be taken in his place.

This was a kind

of irregular justice, which, though neceffary in favage times, could hardly fail to end in a feud, and a feud once kindled among an idle people with no variety of purfuits to divert their thoughts, burnt on for ages, either fullenly glowing in fecret mifchief, or openly blazing into public violence. Of the effects of this violent judicature, there are not wanting memorials. The cave is now to be feen to which one of the Campbells, who had injured the Macdonalds, retired with a body of his own clan. The Macdonalds required the offender, and being refused, made a fire at the mouth of the cave, by which he and his adherents were fuffocated together.

Mountaineers are warlike, because by their feuds and competitions they consider themselves as furrounded with enemies, and are always prepared to repel incufions, or to make them. Like the Greeks in their unpolished state, described by Thu

cydides,

cydides, the Highlanders, till lately, went always armed, and carried their weapons to vifits, and to church.

Mountaineers are 'thievifh, because they are poor, and having neither manufactures nor commerce, can grow richer only by robbery. They regularly plunder their neighbours, for their neighbours are commonly their enemies; and having loft that reverence for property, by which the order of civil life is preserved, foon confider all as enemies, whom they do not reckon as friends, and think themselves licensed to invade whatever they are not obliged to protect.

By a ftrict adminiftration of the laws, fince the laws have been introduced into the Highlands, this difpofition to thievery is very much repreft. Thirty years ago no herd had ever been conducted through the mountains, without paying tribute in the night, to fome of the clans; but cattle are now driven, and paffengers travel without danger, fear, or moleftation.

Among a warlike people, the quality of highest efteem is perfonal courage, and with the oftentatious difplay of courage are closely connected promptitude of offence and quickness of refentment. The Highlanders, before they were difarmed, were so addicted to quarrels, that the boys used to follow any public proceffion or ceremony, however feftive or however folemn, in expectation of the battle, which was fure to happen before the company difperfed.

Moun

Mountainous regions are fometimes fo remote from the feat of government, and fo difficult of accefs, that they are very little under the influence of the fovereign, or within the reach of national juftice. Law is nothing without power and the fentence of a diftant court could not be easily executed, nor perhaps very fafely promulgated, among men ignorantly proud and habitually violent, unconnected with the general fyftem, and accustomed to reverence only their own lords. It has, therefore, been neceffary to erect many particular jurifdictions, and cominit the punishment of crimes, and the decifion of right, to the proprietors of the country who could enforce their own decrees. It immediately appears that fuch judges will be often ignorant, and often partial; but in the immaturity of political establishments no better expedient could be found. As government advances towards perfection, provincial judicature is perhaps in every empire gradually abolished.

Thofe who had thus the difpenfation of law, were by confequence themfelves lawless. Their vasfals had no fhelter from outrages and oppreffions; but were condemned to endure, without resistance, the caprices of wantonness, and the rage of cruelty.

In the Highlands, fome great lords had an hereditary jurifdiction over counties; and fome chieftains over their own lands; till the final conqueft of the Highlands afforded an opportunity of crushing all the lol courts, and of extending the ge