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Taught/practised on:
THE CLANSMAN
(R8x32)
Derek Haynes RSCDS Book 32
1- 8
1s cross RH & cast off 1 place, 2s+1s dance ½ RH across & set
9-16
1s+2s
dance
R&L,
ending
with
Men
turning
Ladies
into
centre
to
form
line across
17-24
1s+2s dance the Targe:-
`17-18
1
st
&
2
nd
Ladies
¾
turn
RH
while
Men
dance
¼
way
round
anticlockwise
`19-20
1
st
Man with 2
nd
Lady & 1
st
Lady with 2
nd
Man full turn LH
`21-22
1
st
&
2
nd
Ladies
¾
turn
RH
while
Men
dance
¼
way
round
anticlockwise
`23-24
1
st
Man
with
2
nd
Lady
&
1
st
Lady
with
2
nd
Man
turn
LH
to
end
on sides 1s facing up & 2s facing down
25-32
2s+1s
set
facing
on
sides,
turn
to
face
partners
&
set,
1s
lead
up
crossing RH & cast to 2
nd
place on own sides
For
hundreds
of
years,
the
Highlander’s
means
of
defence
in
battle
was
the
targe
(Gaelic:
targaid).
This
was
a
circular
shield
of
wood
with
the
front
covered
in
tough
hide,
and
the
back
in
deer
or
sheepskin.
Targes
weighed
about
5
pounds
and
were
said
to
be
strong
enough
to
withstand
a
bayonet
thrust,
or
even
a
musket
shot!
The
front
face
was
decorated
with
brass
studs
and
plates
and
some
targes
had
long
lethal
spikes
set
in
the
centre
boss. The clansman could wear the targe on one arm and carry his dirk or pistol in the same hand.
However
at
Culloden
Moor
in
1746,
the
targe
did
little
to
stop
the
musket
balls
or
grapeshot
which
devestated
the
Highland
charge
in
this
final
battle
and
after
Culloden,
the
targe,
like
the
tartan
was
prohibited
and
almost
disappeared. Some very fine examples still remain in museums and private collections.