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