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Social History
of the Highlands
Hospitality
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| In no country was "the savage virtue of
hospitality" carried to a greater extent than in the Highlands, and never did
stranger receive a heartier welcome than was given to the guest who entered a Highland
mansion or cottage. This hospitality was sometimes carried rather too far, particularly in
the island of Barra, where, according to Martin, the custom was, that, when strangers from
the northern islands went there, "the natives, immediately after their landing,
obliged them to eat, even though they should have liberally eat and drank but an hour
before their landing there." This meat they called Bieyta'v i.e. Ocean meat. Sir
Robert Gordon informs us that it was a custom among the western islanders, that when one
was invited to another's house, they never separated till the whole provision was
finished; and that, when it was done, they went to the next house, and so on from one
house until they made a complete round, from neighbour to neighbour, always carrying the
head of the family in which they had been last entertained to the next house along with
them. |
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