CARRICK CLAN CREST BADGES Clans consisted generally of "native men" and "broken men". The "native men" were those related to the Chief and to each other by blood ties. This blood relationship is an important fun- damental in the clan system and was a strong element in the patriarchal system of government, all being bound together in a common Interest. The clan also contained septs or branches com- posed of clansmen who had become powerful or prominent in some way, and founded families almost as important as that of the Chief. The "broken men" were individuals or groups from other clans who had sought and obtained the protection of the clan. Acknowledgements to "Clans & Tartans of Scotland" (Collins, Glasgow)