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I've just been reading an intriguing book called the "A Dance
called America" subtitled "The Scottish Highlands The United States and Canada"
By James Hunter, Mainstream Publishing, Edinburgh, 1994, reprint 1999. ISBN
181558 807 8.
The book was subsidised and has such intriguing chapter titles
such as "A hearty and intrepid race of men", "Such of them as did not die
while going across the ocean" and "Stand fast Craigellachie".
The book starts with the American Revolutionary Battle of
Moore's Creek, in which the author claims a Highland army defended Moore's Creek
Bridge. The book weaves in stories of Flora MacDonald, of
Drumossie Moore fame, and her husband. They speak of the Gaelic speaking
communities and the book shows powerful Scottish influences on American Canadian
history. I wonder from such a small and poor nation on the fringe of
Europe, what race of men could place such an imprimatur on the face of the
world, be it real or imagined. Fierce Australian
miners, battle for American Independence, significant roles on forging the
confederation of Canada, the West Indies scattered with Scots from Shirley
Heights to Guyana and places I am sure have not come to our attention. The
principal road to Hong Kong, built by Sinclairs, called Sinclair, is an amazing
legacy from a nation whose population hardly ever exceeded five
million.
Sinclair
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