CHAPTER VI.--LANGUAGE AND DRESS.

Gaelic called Irish--Gairloch dialect--Not dying out--Knowledge of English increasing--Old people still unable to speak English--Gaelic phrases in English--Gaelic literature in Gairloch--Should Gaelic be discouraged?--Ancient dress in Gairloch--Belted plaid or truis--Separate form of the kilt--Antiquity of the kilt--Highland dress proscribed--Subterfuges--Discouraged homespun fabrics--Kilt common in Gairloch in early part of nineteenth century--Sir Francis Mackenzie on the kilt--Now fallen into disuse--Present dress of men--Gairloch hose--Dress of women--The mutch--Maiden's headdress--Dr Mackenzie on maiden's hair and on mutches 125