Re: Tulas: Confusing Terminologies & A Modest Proposal

From: ian_hammond_cooper <ian_hammond_cooper_at_...>
Date: Fri, 22 Mar 2002 11:45:46 -0000

John Hughes wrote:
> WILDS: hunting and summer grazing lands largely outside the tula,
nominally claimed by a clan or a bloodline, but largely unpatrolled and often used by more than one clan for at least part of the year.

Hmmm. First I like the term shielings for summer pasturage associated with transhumance in highland areas. Second I don't know that the shielings themselves are 'disputable' they are marked by permanent dwellings, it is just that their occupation is seasonal. There is the likelihood that our clan might well inhabit one valley, another clan the next, ands the ridgeline is a no-man's land between the two, used by other clans as well. I agree that they are uninhabitated and less patrolled in autumn-winter.

An evocative description of life in the shielings is here

http://www.heartlander.scotland.net/hpstory/..%5Chpstory% 5CLife_story_02.htm

As an aside I'm toying with the idea that the wyter's ability to 'percieve' an area depends on clan folk living in, moving through, or patrolling the area. The less frequently travelled an area the dimmer it is to the wyter's perception. (To my mind it is sort of like computer strategy games like Warcraft, where the fog of war quickly stops you geting updates for changes in areas that you have no units in). Not sure, but it is an idea.

Ian Cooper