could not conveniently lodge all his distinguished guests within
it, and had accordingly to arrange for some of them in the outhouses
as best he could. Kenneth did not arrive until Christmas Eve,
accompanied by a train of forty able bodied men, according to the
custom of the times, but without his lady, which deeply offended
Macdonald. Maclean of Duart had chief charge of the arrangements in
the house and the disposal of the guests. Some days previously he
had a disagreement with Kenneth at some games, and, on his arrival,
Maclean told the heir of Kintail that, taking advantage of his
connection with the family, they had taken the liberty of providing
him with lodgings in the kiln. Kenneth considered this an insult,
and, divining that it proceeded from Maclean's illwill to him, he
instantly struck him a blow on the ear, which threw him to the
ground. The servants in the house viewed this as a direct insult
to their chief, Macdonald, and at once took to arms. Kenneth,
though sufficiently bold, soon perceived that he had no chance to
light successfully or to beat a retreat, and, noticing several
boats lying on the shore, which had been provided for the transport
of the guests, he took as many of them as he required, sank the
rest, and passed with his followers to the opposite shore, where he
remained over night in the house of a tenant, who, like a good many
more in those days, had no surname, but was simply known by a
patronymic. Kenneth, boiling with passion, was sorely affronted at
the insult which he had received, and at being from his own house
at Christmas, staying with a stranger, and off his own property.
In these circumstances, he requested his host to adopt the name of
Mackenzie, promising him protection in future, so that be might
thus be able to say that he slept under the roof of one of his
own name. The man at once consented, and his posterity were ever
after known as Mackenzies.