Actually I had heard about this as well, that the Scottish bagpipes (which BTW were not invented there) were indeed considered instruments of war, and were banned along with the other formidable weapons of the Highlander.
While my own ancestry is of course Scottish, and admittedly diffused somewhat, I can tell you that a bit of Drambuie and some stirring bagpipe music brings forth that blood!
Actually that same effect was the effect the bagpipes brought out, and most certainly in monumentally more intense degree in those early Highlanders.
As Vandoo has noted, hearing those bagpipes certainly brought fear to those who knew what was to follow.
* on a lighter note I once saw a great cartoon with a Highlander playing his pipes and two young kids next to him, with one saying "well maybe if you stop squeezin' it mister, it'll stop screeching!".
On the note on the noise, in the great Noriega siege years ago, the Marines had him surrounded, and he was intent on fighting to the end......until they started the heavy metal over the loudspeakers..,,he caved in within hours!!!
Great post Vandoo!
I wasn't aware the Bedouins had these, but it seems bagpipes were known in the Middle East long before my Scottish forebearers had them.
All the best,
Jim