(Vol. iv., p. 107.)
I am not going to enter into the controversy respecting the antiquity of
the _Highland_ kilt and tartans, nor when and where they were invented.
But in reference to these questions, I beg leave to cite a passage,
which may be found in the second book of the _History_ of Tacitus, in
which is designated a garb having a very distinct analogy to the _trews_
and tartans of the Highland chiefs.
In lib. ii. sec. xx. the return of Cæcina from Germany into Italy is
thus described:--
"At Cæcina, velut relictâ post Alpes sævitiâ ac licentiâ, modesto
agmine per Italiam incessit. Ornatum ipsius, municipia et coloniæ
in superbiam trahebant, quod _versicolore sagulo, bruccas_ tegmen
barbarum, indutus, togatos adloqueretur."
Cæcina and Valens had been the Imperial "Legati" in Upper Germany, and
the former is thus described in lib. i. sec. liii.:--
"At in superiore Germaniâ, Cæcina decorâ juventâ, corpore ingens,
animi immodicus, scito sermone, erecto incessu studia militum
inlexerat."
So it seems that this handsome Roman, "great in stature," and "graceful
in youth," thought (like many of our modern fine gentlemen when they get
among the hills) the partycoloured plaid and barbarian clothing so
extremely becoming, that he was determined to set the fashion of wearing
it in Italy, and actually was intrepid enough to appear like a male
Bloomer before the astonished eyes of the "Togati," and to answer the
addresses of the "Municipia" and "Coloniæ" clad in this outlandish
costume.
I leave to more learned antiquaries the task of tracing this Celtic
habit, "in superiore Germaniâ," into the Scottish Highlands. For myself
I have little doubt that from the earliest division of the community
into septs or clans, the chiefs assumed the pattern of this "tegmen
versicolor" which best pleased them, and in course of time the pattern
distinguished the wearers as belonging to such and such chiefs. As to
the kilt, in all probability it was the apology for nudity.
The chiefs wore the trews, the humbler vassals or serfs either wore no
nether garments at all, or covered their loins with a scanty apron,
which gradually comprising more ample folds, has been modernised into
the kilt.
But I beg leave to put forward these speculations with all possible
modesty, feeling quite inadequate to discuss such momentous matters from
being only