MacAlixters, MncKnans, MacNaba,' IVrHcIntyrea,
MacKeachans, MacKeclinies, and MacAplibs — a
Ibt which iiiroluntarily reminds us of thi: sunorooB
names of the Brazilian t rib ev, Tupinikins, Tupigus,
Tupinayes, and Tupinanibas. But excluHive of
these descendants of MacDoiiald, and, indeed, in a
degree of public importance far superior to many
of them, were the clans whose chief* had held of-
fices of trust under the Lord^j of the Isles, and who
nowattaiiied a formidable independence, augmented
by the shares which tbey had been able to secure
in the wreck of tlie principal family. Such were
the MacLeans, long lieutenants of the Lords of the
Jsles ; the MacKenzies, who had already obtained
many grants from regal favour; the Camerons,
tbe KlacNeila, the Macintoshes, and many other
dans which had liillierto been subjected to the re-
gal tribe of Clan Colla. The Kings of Scotland
favoured this division of power, upon the grand
political maxim of dividing in order to command ;
but although the sepEiratian of the tribes was very
complete, it by no means appears that the authority
of the HDTereign was increased in proportion. It
was true, indeed, that, being no longer under one
common liead, the Highland clans were not so
capable of disturbing' the general peace of the king-
dom ; but when political circumstances concurred
to unite any number of chiefs i



d bj the Mae-



L



43

the mounttkin eruption broke out with as inadi rio-
lence as under the Lords of the Isles. Mean while
the internal feuds of the tribes became, if possible,
more deaclly than before ; and thoug-h those who
were of Lowland origin, and connected with the
crown, gradually gained ground upon the others,
it was not without the must desperate struggles.
