672. A single page, etc. Scott says: "A Highland chief, being as
absolute in his patriarchal authority as any prince, had a corresponding
number of officers attached to his person. He had his body-guards,
called Luichttach, picked from his clan for strength, activity, and
entire devotion to his person. These, according to their deserts, were
sure to share abundantly in the rude profusion of his hospitality. It is
recorded, for example, by tradition, that Allan MacLean, chief of that
clan, happened upon a time to hear one of these favorite retainers
observe to his comrade, that their chief grew old. 'Whence do you infer
that?' replied the other. 'When was it,' rejoined the first, 'that a
solider of Allan's was obliged, as I am now, not only to eat the flesh
from the bone, but even to tear off the inner skin, or filament?' The
hint was quite sufficient, and MacLean next morning, to relieve his
followers from such dire necessity, undertook an inroad on the mainland,
the ravage of which altogether effaced the memory of his former
expeditions for the like purpose.
"Our officer of Engineers, so often quoted, has given us a distinct list
of the domestic officers who, independent of Luichttach, or gardes de
corps, belonged to the establishment of a Highland chief. These are,
1. The Henchman. 2. The Bard. See preceding notes. 3. Bladier, or
spokesman. 4. Gillie-more, or sword-bearer, alluded to in the text. 5.
Gillie-casflue, who carried the chief, if on foot, over the fords. 6.
Gillie-comstraine, who leads the chief's horse. 7. Gillie-Trushanarinsh,
the baggage-man. 8. The piper. 9. The piper's gillie, or attendant, who
carries the bagpipe (Letters from Scotland, vol. ii. p. 158). Although
this appeared, naturally enough, very ridiculous to an English officer,
who considered the master of such a retinue as no more than an English
gentleman of £500 a year, yet in the circumstances of the chief, whose
strength and importance consisted in the number and attachment of his
followers, it was of the last consequence, in point of policy, to have
in his gift subordinate offices, which called immediately round his
person those who were most devoted to him, and, being of value in their
estimation, were also the means of rewarding them."