But this,
although a plausible, would nevertheless be an erroneous supposition.
The person here considered as a bastard, and described as such, was by
no means viewed in the same light by the Highlanders, because, according
to their law of marriage, which was originally very different from the
feudal system in this matter, his claim to legitimacy was as undoubted
as that of the feudal heir afterward became. It is well known that the
notions of the Highlanders were peculiarly strict in regard to matters
of hereditary succession, and that no people on earth was less likely to
sanction any flagrant deviation from what they believed to be the right
and true line of descent. All their peculiar habits, feelings and
prejudices were in direct opposition to a practice which, had it been
really acted upon, must have introduced endless disorder and confusion,
and hence the natural explanation of this apparent anomaly seems to be,
what Mr. Skene has stated, namely, that a person who was feudally a
bastard might in their view be considered as legitimate, and therefore
entitled to be supported in accordance with their strict ideas of
hereditary right, and their habitual tenacity of whatever belonged to
their ancient usages.
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