Fairs were indeed held on the debatable land for the necessary interchange of commodities.

But to those fairs both parties came prepared for battle; and the day often ended in bloodshed.

Thus the Highlander was an object of hatred to his Saxon neighbours; and from his Saxon neighbours those Saxons who dwelt far from him learned the very little that they cared to know about his habits.

When the English condescended to think of him at all,--and it was seldom that they did so,--they considered him as a filthy abject savage, a slave, a Papist, a cutthroat, and a thief, [323] This contemptuous loathing lasted till the year 1745, and was then for a moment succeeded by intense fear and rage.

England, thoroughly alarmed, put forth her whole strength.