Cattle raiding was a common practice of the poorer clans of the West Highlands, and Badenoch was protected as early as the 17th century by an organized 'cattle watch' lead by a prominent clansman. There are accounts of encounters with MacDonalds and MacGregors in which blood was spilled. In 1744 Ewan Macpherson of Cluny organized a deterrent to such threats on sound insurance principles which found acceptance over a large part of the Eastern Highlands.

      Ewan of Cluny's service was to provide a body of men, known as a 'Watch' who would undertake the prevention of cattle reiving and the recovery of beasts stolen by reivers from owners, who contributed an assessment for this service.

      The Contract for the subscribers in Badenoch provides that losses suffered shall be reported within forty-eight hours to the outposts of the Watch located at the following points:
           On the North of the Spey below Dalnashalg (in Glen Banchor) at the Town of Dalnashalg;
           On the North of the Spey, above Dalnashalg at Garvamore;
           On the South of the Spey below Ruthven: prior to Michaelmas (29th September) at the Sheal Cruibh (which must be in the neighbourhood of Allt na Craoibhe situated below Loch an Duin at the top of Gaick Forest): and after Michaelmas, at Lynaberach (in Glentromie, below Gaick);
           On the South of the Spey above Ruthven, at Dalchunnie (Dalwhinnie);
at which points one or more of the Watch will be stationed.

      These points cover the principal routes in and out of Badenoch except down the Spey itself, viz.: Glen Banchor, Corrieyarrick, Gaick and Drumochter, respectively. It will be noted that during the Winter -- the Contract running from Whitsunday (15th May) to Whitsunday -- the outpost at Gaick was withdrawn from Gaick into Glentromie for obvious reasons.

      The formal contracts ran for specified periods, and committed Cluny to provide men to protect the cattle of the other parties, recover them if stolen and refund their value if not found, in consideration of an undertaking to pay an agreed assessment, based on the values of the properties involved. The contracts further provide that Cluny's obligation is subject to the victims of theft reporting their losses within a fixed period of' forty-eight hours to his outposts stationed at certain agreed points so that steps could be taken without loss of time to recover the lost animals. The parties are urged to prevent the sheltering or support of persons of bad character and it is significant that Cluny is prohibited from employing in the Watch any man west of Atholl or Badenoch or generally anyone of bad character under a money penalty. All legal precautions are taken to ensure punctual payment of the assessments and on the other hand Cluny agrees to the retention of the sums due to him in cases of loss until such loss has been made good. Provisions are made for the valuation of beasts lost and not recovered.