Carmina Gadelica, volume 2, Alexander Carmichael

Gérôme TAILLANDIER

This study aims at showing the relationship between Fer benn in "Buile Suibhne" with the ancient deer cult of Siberia as described by A.F. Anisimov in his 1963 paper "Cosmological concepts". This relationship involves a spread of this cult from Siberia to Ireland through the Indo-European branch after its separation from the Indo-Iranian one about 2.000 B.C., which means the end of the proto-Indo-European former unity. This origin could well be the Afanasievo culture, a proto-Indo-European one due to the Repin migration starting on the river Don from -3.700 onwards, which will provide a permanent relationship between east and west for hundreds of years. The Maikop cylindrical seal in jade-stone (nephrite) which cannot be older than the third millenium B.C. according to Nekhaev, figuring a stag in front of a tree, could be a precious testimony and a harbinger of the totemic cult of ancestors among the ancient Hittites in the shape of a deer. We'll follow the t...

(h lOJ^ -\Q CARMINA GADEUCA ORTHA NAN GAIDHEAL Carmina Gadelica Hymns With and Incantations Illustrative Notes on Wo?-ds, Rites, Dying and Obsolete : Orally Collected and Customs, in the and Islands of Scotland and Translated Highlands into E?iglish By Alexander Carmichael Volume Oliver and II Boyd Edinburgh Tweeddale Court London: 33 Paternoster Row, E.C.4 : 1928 PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BV AND BOYD, EDINBURGH WV^ -.30 i., /, o ^ r- !"i ORTHA NAN GAIDHEAL URNAN AGUS UBAGAN LE SOLUS AIR FACLA GNATHA AGUS CLEACHDANA A CHAIDH AIR CHUL CNUASAICHTE BHO BHIALACHAS FEADH GAIDHEALTACHD NA H-ALBA AGUS TIONNDAICHTE BHO GHAIDHLIG GU BEURLA, LE ALASTAIR MACGILLEMHICHEIL CONTENTS INCANTATIONS UIBE PAGE 122. Eolas iia Faic, a Mhic 123. Eolas na A 's a Chriosda Ru Eolas a rinn GilleCaluira 126. Eolas an Deididh chuir Bride bhoidheaoh 127. Eolas na 128. Eolas sgiucha Feithe Rann a rinn ban-naomh Bride 129. Eolas sgocha Feitli Paidir Moire a h-aon 130. Eolas an t-Sniamh Char Bride mach 131. Eolas ri 3 Rose 5 for Rose 7 rose deathly, deadly, swollen for swollen Breast 9 The charm made by Gillecaluim Toothache Charm The incantation put by 11 lovely Bride for Jaundice 13 For the jaundice, for the spaul Charm for a bursting Vein 15 The rune made by the holy maiden Charm for bursting Vein 17 Rosary of Mary, one Charm of the Sprain 19 Bride went out an t-Sniamh Chaidh Criosda for Thou Charm Budha Air bhuidhe, air dhuibhe Rose Tliou rose windy, swelling, deadly Charm 125. Eolas at Cioch for Behold, Son and Christ Charm ru eugail, aogail, atail Ob a Charm Charm Ruaidh ruadh ghaothar, atar, aogail 124. Eolas na A Ruaidh croich 132. Eolas an t-Sniamh Chaidh Criosd a mach Charm for Sprain 19 Christ went on the cross Charm for Sprain Christ went out 21 CONTENTS PAGE Fath Fith 133. Fàth-Fith Fath Fath fith 134. Sian a Charm Bheatha Bhiian Cuirim an seun air 135. Sian a Bheatha do chom I 136. Sian Bride 137. Sian Charm 35 The charm put by Bride Mac 37 Chan gradhach duit eolas 141. Eolas a Who suil ? Bheum Shula Uibe ri ri 145. Eoir SpeU ri m' 45 I Eye for Evil for the place this Charm 53 Eye charm 55 to for the Evil Whoso t-suil laid mine eye Eye is Seumas is Thainig dithis a mach 59 Peter and James and John Eoin 147. Mallachd 57 on thee the eye Charm 146. Eolas 49 The fair spell that lovely Mary sent shuil Sula be co rinn duit an Peadair 43 eye ? eye covered thee Charm Shuil Beum evil trample upon the eye An Shul Cuirim an obi seo thwart the Counteracting the Evil Eye thu Uibe gheal chuir Muire mhin 144. Obi shall Exorcism of the Eye I 142. Cronachdain Suil suil 41 for thee Thwarting the Evil Eye cronachduinn Saltraim air an t-suU Churnaich 39 not love knowledge to thee A love charm 140. Cronachduinn Suil thilleas by Mary on her Son Love Charm Eolas gradhaidh dut Co a sain put It is Gradhaidh 139. Eolas The Love Charm 138. Eolas Gradhaich 33 charm Sain Sian a chuir Moir air a Ge place the St Bride's 26 charm on thy body of the Lasting Life I will nam buadh Sian a chuir Bride 143. of the Lasting Life place the Charm Bhuan Cuirim sian a bheatha bhuan 22 fith A Malediction There came two out 61 CONTENTS Bheim Shuil 148. Eolas a Saltruighidli mis air 149. an Spell of the Evil t-suil Obi nan Sul Oba ri 151. Oba ri Ob ri Ob m' shuil Shul slea- Fionn-Faoilidh Cuireara fionn-faoilidh uraam 156. Eolas Ge 157. Chasachan Buainidli mi an dearg-chasachan 158. An Eidheann-Mu-Chrann Buainidh mis 159. Eolas an Torranain Buainidh mi an torranan 160. An Torraiian Buainidh mi an torranan 161. Eolas an Torranain Buainidh mi an torranan 162. An I Eye Eariiaid Shith Buainidh mi an earnaid spell the great will 69 white Mary sent The Fionn-Faoilidh 73 ' 75 ' I place the ' fionn-faoilidh ' on Spell to thee the envy The Red-Stalk 77 will I the little red-stalk The Tree-entwining Ivy I will will of the P'igwort will 87 pluck the figwort The Charm I will cull of the P'igwort 91 the figwort The Fairy Wort Pluck 78 pluck the figwort The Figwort I 77 pluck The Charm I me 75 Whoso made Pluck 71 pluck the gracious yarrow The Counting of the Stye Why came the one stye Envy Tnu be co rinn duit an tnu An Dearg The 67 Spell of the Counteracting aigli Cunntas an t-Sleamhnain Am Eye spell fair-white Spell of the C'uim an tainig an aon mlinan 65 place this spell to mine eye The a chuir Moire mhor-gheal Buainidh mi a chathair 155. I Spell of the Sul 153. Eolas a Chronachaidh 154. 63 Eye Spell of the ri Oba mho-ghil 152. 61 Incantation of the seeing eye Shul Cuirim an oba seo Eye upon the eye I Incantation for the Eye Obi nan geur shul 150. Trample will I the fairy 93 wort CONTENTS 163. ' CONTENTS PAGE 178. A 179. A Chloimh Chat The Catkin Wool Buainidh mi a chloimh chat Chloimh Chat Bhun Deirg An ainm 181. Eolas Pluck 182. Eolas a Eolas ta 183. An ' nis air leirg Ghalar Fhuail agam air a ghalar fhuail 's an stringlein Biodh sian a choin-choille Ora Cuithe An is Pol a dol seachad 188. Calum-cille, Peadail, agus Pol 's mi dol dh' an Roimh 189. Eolas a Mheirbhein Eolas a rinn 190. Eolas Mu 125 have a charm for the gravel I ' 127 Strangles A horse in strangles Spell of the Be the ' Fox 129 wood-dog spell of the 131 drive the kine within I of Mary 133 Mary The Hind Peadail La domh The Gravel Charm Ditch of Eilid Bha 121 123 The Ditch Mhoire Feith Mhoire 187. Red Water of the Father of love Prayer of the Cattle-fold Cuiream tan a steach 186. Feith name 119 myself the catkin wool Red Water Charm I am now on the plain The 184. Sian Sionnaich 185. In The Stringlein Each will I Incantation of Athar caoimh Bun Deirg Ta mis a pluck the catkin wool The Catkin Wool Buainidh mi f hin a chloimh chat 180. Eolas a will I 119 Calum Chnamh Chir dh' ith thu fiar nan naodh 137 Peter and Paul were passing by Columba, Peter, and Paul 137 A day as I was going to Rome The Indigestion Spell The spell made of Cud Chewing Charm If 139 Columba 141 thou hast eaten the grass beann 191. Eolas a Chrannaehain Thig na saor, thig 192. An Eoir a chuir Moire Eoir a chuir Moir Oighe Charm of the Churn Come will the free, The Charm sent of 142 come Mary The charm sent of Mary Virgin 1 53 CONTENTS 193. UIc a dhean Ulc a dhean 194. Frith mo Lochd mo lochd Mhoire The Wicked who would me Augury of Mary Dia faram, Dia fodham God MEASGAIN 196. An Oigh is agus an Leanabh 198. Dia na Dia na Dia na greine Gile, gile, Dia na Greine Dia na greine 199. Tearuinteachd nam fial Deir Calum-cille ruinn 200. Coistrig An 201. Am Mathar An Fear a Cheusadh 203. 'd uair labhair a bhean bhorb Manaidh Moch maduinn Luan 204. Moch La Luan Casg Moch La Luan Casg 205. Manadh nan Eala Chuala mi guth binn nan eala 206. Miracle of Christ The 163 Virgin and Child 167 The Virgin was seen approaching of the God God of the God Moon of the moon, 167 God of the sun God of the sun Moon of the moon, 169 169 Safety of the Generous Columba tells us, that 171 Be the great God between He who was Crucified 173 Thou who wert hanged upon the tree That Cock Coileach sin Sin first Mother"'s Consecration Dia raor bhi eadar Fhir a chruchadh air a chribh 202. The God 197. Dia na Gile gile, 159 God under me Joseph and Mary went Mairi Chunnacas an Oigh a teachd Dia na over me, MISCELLANEOUS 195. Ciad Miarail Chriosd Chaidh Eosai 155 The wicked who would do me harm Manaidh Chuala mi chuthag gun bhiadh It 177 was then spoke the rude woman Omens Early on the morning of Early Easter 179 Monday Monday Early on the day of Easter Omen I of the Swans 183 heard the sweet voice of the swans Omens I 181 Monday 185 heard the cuckoo with no food CONTENTS 207. An Ri 208. The Tuis la do shlainte Poem Duan nan Daol Trath bha Ti nan dul to choLU 209. 210. 211. fo choill Poem Taladh Lullaby bhain-tighearna bhinn 213. Righinn Is nam Buadh Am hUI ! uiU ! O ! Breid Mile failte dhut fo d' bhreid 216. Fuigheal .... Mar a bha Notes 193 Little beetle, httle beetle 195 The Melodious Lady-Lord 203 Who is she the melodious lady-lord Queen of Grace 209 Killmoluag 214. Cill-Moluag ! of the Beetle 193 wood Smooth her hand min a bas UiU Christ was under the Thou white swan 212. Ban-Tighearna Bhinn i 188 the Being of glory of the Beetles When Duan an Daoil A dhaolag, a dhaolag Co 187 of the Beetles When Poem Duan nan Daol D uair bha Criosda Eala bhan thu 215. Incense In the day of thy health Uill ! hiU 211 ! The Kertch A thousand Fragment As Names of the Reciters of the Poems it uiU ! O ! 212 hails to thee 217 was 221 374 IV UIBE INCANTATIONS UIBE EOLAS NA RUAIDH When this charm is appHed, the point of a knife or a needle, or the tongue of a brooch or of some other sharp instrument, part affected. The part is pointed threateningly at the then spat upon and crossed three times in the names is AIC, a Mhic a Chriosda, 's Cioch do Mhathar air at Thoir-sa Cuir-s' fois Cuir-s' Faic fein 'S tu i, a rug dh' an chich, an crion an t-at Thoir-sa fois dh' an chich, an crion an t-at. Righinn, am Mac, Cuir-sa casgadh air a chich, Cuir-sa crionadh air an at Cuir-sa casgadh air a chich, Cuir-sa crionadh air an at. Faic thus Is tu i, losda, Righ nan dul Cuir-sa casgadh air a chich, Cuir-sa crionadh air an uth ; Cuir-sa casgadh air a chich, Cuir-sa crionadh air an uth. Chithim, thubhairt Criosda, Is nithim mar Bheirim 'S [122] is fiu, fois dh' an chich, bheirim sith dh' an uth Bheirim 'S fois dh' an chich, bheirim sith dh' an uth. INCANTATIONS CHARM FOR ROSE of the three Persons of the Trinity, whether udder of a cow. when Mary took The legend says tliat be the breast of a it and she said rose (erysipelas) in her breast, to Jesus Behold, Son and Christ, The breast of Thy Mother swollen ; Give Thou peace to the breast. Subdue Thou the swelling Give Thou peace to the breast. Subdue Thou the Behold it swelling. Queen, thyself, Since of thee the Son was born. Appease thou the Subdue thou the breast, swelling; Appease thou the Subdue thou the breast, swelling. Thou it, Jesu, Thou art King of life Appease Thou the breast. Subdue Thou the udder Appease Thou the breast, Subdue Thou the udder. See Since ; ; I behold, said Christ, And I do as is meet, I give ease to the breast. And rest to I the udder ; give ease to the breast, And woman Mary and Jesus were walking rest to the udder. : or the together UIBE EOLAS NA RUAIDH ;*) RUADH ghaothar, atar, aogail, Fag an taobh agus an Sin an carr 's an Agus fag a Seal], chioch. a Chriosd, a bhean Agus a cioch air at, Seall fein 'S tu A tac sin, lar, i, Mhuire, rug am Mac. ruadh ghaothar, aogar, iota. Fag a chioch agus am bac, Agus sin a mach, Slan gu robh dh' an chich, Crion gu robh dh' an at. Teich a bhradag ruadh, Teich gu luath a bhradag. At a bha 's a chich, Fag a charr 's a chioch, Agus sin a mach. [123] INCANTATIONS CHARM FOR ROSE Thou rose windy, swelling, deadly, Leave that part and spot. There is the udder in the ground, And leave the breast. See, Christ, the And woman her breast swollen. See her thyself, Mary, It Thou was thou didst bear the Son. rose windy, deadly, thirsty. Leave the breast and the And take thyself spot, off'; Healed be the breast, Withered be the swelling. Flee thieving red one, Flee quickly thieving one. Swelling that was in the breast. Leave the udder and the breast, And VOL. II. flee hence. UIBE EOLAS NA RU RU eugail, aogail, atail. Fag uth na ba Fag uth na ba caisne, cait-cinn. Fag, fag a phait Agus sin, tar pait eil ort. A ru rag, rudaidh, Dur an uth a mhairt, Fag an t-at 's an t-utha, Teich gu grunn na claiche. Cuirini ru ri Cuirim clach clach, ri lar, Cuirim bainne an uth, Cuirim sugh an ar. [124] INCANTATIONS CHARM FOR ROSE Thou rose deathly, deadly, swollen, Leave the udder of the white-footed cow, Leave the udder of the spotted cow. Leave, leave that swelling. And Thou betake thyself to other swelling. rose thrawn, obstinate. Surly in the udder of the cow. Leave thou the swelling and the udder, Flee to the bottom of the stone. I place the rose to the stone, I place the stone to the earth, I place milk in the udder, I place substance in the kidney. UIBE EOLAS AT CIOCH OLAS a rinn Gille-Caluim A dh' aona bho na caillich, Air ruaidh, Air air chruaidh, air chradh, at, air pat, air Air dhair, mam. air cliairr, air bhleoghan, Air tri corracha crith, Air tri corracha cnamh, Air tri corracha creothail, Na ob e do bhruid, Na diult e do mhne, Na tar e 's an Domhnach. Eolas a rinn Fionn Da fial. dhearbh phiuthair. Air ruaidh, Air at air chruaidh, ciche. [125] INCANTATIONS CHARM FOR SWOLLEN BREAST The charm made by Gillecaluim, On the one cow of the cariin, For rose, for hardness, for pain. For swelling, for For uzzening, lump, for growth, for udder, for milking, For the three corracha ' For the three ' For the three corracha ' Do Do Do not deny it to wife. not withhold The charm made To For it on Sunday. of generous Fionn, his very sister. rose, for hardness, For swelling of creothail,' to beast. it not refuse crith,' corracha cnamh,' breast. UIBE 10 EOLAS AN DEIDIDH The teeth of ancient human skeletons found [126] stone coffins and other enclosures, in This is in marked modern human remains, whicli are generally much impaired if not whoUy absent. But there must have been toothache and even artificial teeth in ancient times, as indicated by the mummies in Egypt and the toothache charms and toothache wells in the Highlands. One toothache charm and one toothache well must suffice to illustrate this. The toothache well is in and without good and complete. enclosures, are usually contrast to the teeth of the island of North Uist. It is situated 1 95 feet above the sea, at the foot of a hill 757 feet high, and nearly three miles in the moorland from the nearest townland. The place is while the well B is variously Air chnoidii, A Ifrinn teann ifrinn da ifrinn mair ghoimh, chnoidh a rinn Deud Gu mo 's is mo da da domh Air mhir, air Air mhair, li, shieling m'' dheud, theiun. theann ; cheann. chir, air air chnodaich. chuan, air chorsa. air lionn, air liogradh. fold, Tobar Chuidh- dheud. deistinn, mo maireann mi-fein mo dheud am air chinn, DOIGHEAN EILE Air ' lion, air chorcraich, air Air deudach fad as ordag Mathar De, Air mhir, air Am known a chuir Bride bhoidheach Komh Deud 'Cuidh-airidh,' called INCANTATIONS 11 TOOTHACHE CHARM airidli,' well of the shieling fold, ' Tobar an deididh,' well of the toothache. Tobar ' na cnoidh,' well of the worm, and ' Tobar cniiimh fliiacail,' well of the tooth worm, from a belief that toothache is caused by a worni in the tooth. The general name of the well is Tobar Chuidh-airidh,' well of the shieling The pilgrim fold, to distinguish it from other healing wells throughout the Isles. suffering from toothache must not speak, nor eat, nor drink, after beginning the ' pilgrimage after three draughts of the well of Cuidh-airidh are till name of God, and in name of Christ, and in name of Spirit. Some persons profess to derive no relief, some profess to and some profess to derive complete derive partial incantation put by lovely Bride Before the On thumb of the Mother of God, on wort, on hemp. lint, venom, for teeth. For worm, for The worm that tortured me, my head, my teeth. In the teeth of Hell hard by The teeth of hell distressing me. The teeth of hell close to me As long as I myself shall last May my Variants teeth last in my ; head. — On On On in relief, from toothache after drinking the relief water of the well of Cuidh-airidh. The drunk lint, on comb, on agony. sea, on ocean, on coast. water, on lakes, on marshes. U>BE 12 EOLAS NA BUDHA The following scene was described to [127] me by Angus MacEachain, herdsman, Staonabrig, South Uist, one of the chief actors in the episode. The daughter of a farmer in the neighbourhood was ill with jaundice. The doctor of the parish was attending her, but she was becoming worse instead of and her end seemed near. Her distressed parents sent for Aonas nan Angus of the exorcisms, and he came. The man examined the girl and announced that she was possessed of the demon of the jaundice, but that he would expel the demon and cure the girl. He requested the mother to put on a big fire, the sisters to bring a tub of clear cold water, and the father to bring the plough All this was promptly done. irons, evil spirits being unable to withstand iron. The exorcist placed the plough irons in the fire, displaying much solicitude that they should be red-hot. The room was darkened and the eyes of the patient were bandaged that the eyes of the body might be subjective to the eyes of the mind. Directed by the exorcist, the mother and sisters placed the back of the girl to the front of the bed, and laying it bare left the room, the man securing the door after them. Making a clanging noise with the plough irons as if to drive away the jaundice demon, the man replaced the share in the better, ' gisrean,' fire and put the coulter in the water. to take the red-hot share out of the the icy-cold coulter and placed IR bhuidhe, air it Then pretending he took up fire, along the spine of the dhuibhe, air arnach, Air a ghalar-dhearg, air a ghalar-shearg, Air a ghalar-tholl, air a ghalar-lom, Air a ghalar-dhonn, 'S air A air a gach galar a dh' bhi an aorabh\ba No an sgath gamhna. ghalar-bhonn, f haodadh INCANTATIONS 13 CHARM FOR JAUNDICE patient, loudly commanding the demon to depart. The girl screamed in evident agony, calling on the Mother of Christ and on the Foster-mother of Christ, and on own mother, to come and her the father of in streams evil, rescue her from the brutal treatment of black the brother of demons, and to see and her While loudly calling was burnt flesh to the jaundice off how her Angus blood was flowing her back, la}ing her backbone bare. demon to depart, the expert exorcist threw the red-hot share into the tub of water, adding to the already abundant noise in Against the remonstrances of the father, who said that Angus knew what he was about, the mother and sisters burst open the door, calling on Mary Mother to rescue the maltreated girl, and on Calumcille to redress her wrongs. Whether the cure was due to her simple faith in the exorcist or to the shock the room. ' to her nervous system I do not know,' continued the narrator, but in a few days She is grateful, but shy of me ever since, probably ' the girl was up and about. remembering the hard things she said. She will always believe that I exercised some occult power over the jaundice demon. The case of this girl was as bad as any I have seen. She had been an attractive, comely girl, with a winning expression and a clear complexion, but she had become yellow-black instead of rosy-red.' Angus MacEachain told of this without a smile on his lips, and though his similar cases with much humour, but eyes sparkled, and his countenance glowed with evident appreciation of the scenes. For the jaundice, for the spaul, for the bloody For the red disease, for the withering disease, For the bot disease, for the skin disease, For the brown And disease, for the foot disease, for every disease that In the constitution of cow Or adherinor to stirk. might be flux, UIBE 14 EOLAS SGIUCHA FEITHE ANN [128] a rinn ban-naomh Bride Dh' an mharaiche chrubach, Air ghlun, air lug, air chuagas, Air na naodh galara gith, air na tri jalara cuara, Na ob e do bhruid, na diult e do mhne. Chaidh Criosd air each, Bhrist each a chas, Chaidh Criosd a bhan, Rinn Mar Gun e slan a chas. a shianuich Criosd sin, slanuich Criosd seo, Agus na 's mo na seo, Ma 's An t-eolas a rinn Caluni-cille, e thoil a dheanamh. Air eorlain a ghlinne. Do sgocha feithe, do leum cnamha Tha thu tinn an maireach. diugh, bithidh thu slan am INCANTATIONS 15 CHARM FOR A BURSTING VEIN The rune made by the To the lame mariner, holy maiden Bride For knee, for crookedness, for crippleness. For the nine painful diseases, for the three venomous diseases. Refuse not to beast, deny it it not to dame. Christ went on a horse, A horse broke his leg, Christ went down. He made As whole the Christ leg. made whole that, May Christ make whole And more than this. If it be His this. will so to do. The charm made by Columba, On the bottom of the glen. For bursting of Thou art ill vein, for dislocation of bone to-day, thou shalt be well to-morrow. UIBE 16 EOLAS SGOCHA FEITH AIDIR Moire a h-aon, Paidir Moire a dha, Paidir Moire a tri, Paidir Moire a ceithir, Paidir Moire a coig, Paidir Moire a sia, Paidir Moire a seachd, Seachd paidriche Moire gu brath Eadar cradh agus ceart, Eadar bonn agus braigh, Eadar slan agus feart. Chaidh Criosd Sgiuch a air as, cas, Thaiuig e bhan Shlanuich e cas Mar Gun slanuich e seo, Agus na Ma ; a shlanuich e sin 's 's mo na e thoil a seo dheanamh. [129] INCANTATIONS CHARM FOR BURSTING VEIN Rosary of Mary, one, Rosary of Mary, two, Rosary of Mary, three. Rosary of Mary, four, Rosary of Mary, five. Rosary of Mary, six, Rosary of Mary, seven, Seven Rosaries of Mary ever Between pain and Between sole ease, and summit, Between health and grave Christ went on an ass, She sprained her foot, He came down And healed her foot As He healed that May He heal this. And greater than this, If it be His will to do. 17 UIBE 18 EOLAS AN T-SNIAMH [iso HAR Bride mach Maduinn mhoch, Le caraid each Bhris each a chas, Le uinich och, Bha sid mu seach, Chuir cnamh ri cnamh, i Chuir i Chuir i Chuir i feoil ri feoil, feithe ri cuisle ri feithe, cuisle ; Mar a leighis ise sin Gun leighis mise seo. EOLAS AN T-SNIAMH Chaidh Criosda ri croich, Sgiuch cas eich Thainig Criosda ri lar, Shlanaich a chas. Mar Gun a shlanaich sin slanaich seo, Ma e thoil a dheanamh, A uchd Ti nan dul, 's Agus Triuir na Trianaid, Ti nan dul, Triuir na Trianaid. [131 INCANTATIONS 19 CHARM OF THE SPRAIN Bride went out In the morning early, With a pair of horses One broke his leg, With much ado. That was apart. ; She put bone to bone, She put flesh to flesh, She put sinew to sinew. She put vein to vein As ; she healed that May I heal this. CHARM FOR SPRAIN Christ went on the cross. Sprained the leg of a horse Christ Whole became As that was May If this His the leg. made whole become whole. will be so to do. Through the bosom And ; came to the ground. of the God of of the Three of the Trinity, The God of life. The Three of Trinity. life, UIBE 20 EOLAS AN T-SNIAMH HAIDH Criosd a mach Maduinn moch, Fhuair e cas nan each 'Nan spruilleach bog Chuir e smior ri Chuir e smuais Chuir e cnaimh smior, ri sinuais, ri Chuir e streabhon Chuir Chuir e fail ri fuil, e creais ri creais, Chuir feoil ri feoil, Chuir e fionn ri craicionn, ri fionn, Chuir e blath ri blath, Chuir e fuar ri fuar a leighis Righ Is dual Ma 's streabhon, e saill ri saill, Chuir e craicionn Mar ri e feith ri feith, Chuir Chuir e cnaimh, gun nam buadh leighis e seo, e thoil fein a A uchd Ti dheanamh. nan dul, Affus Tiur na Trianaid. sin [132 INCANTATIONS 21 CHARM FOR SPRAIN Christ went out In the morning early, He found the legs of the horses In fragments soft He put marrow to marrow. He put pith to pith. He put bone to bone, He put membrane to membrane, He put tendon to tendon. He put blood to blood, He put tallow to tallow, He put flesh to flesh. He put fat to fat. He put skin to skin, He put hair to hair. He put warm to warm. He put cool to cool, As the King It is in If it of power healed that His nature to heal be His own will to do Through And VOL. II. the this. it. bosom of the Being of of the Three of the Trinity. life. UIBE 22 FATH-FITH ' FÀTH-F1TH used. ' They and ' fith-fàth ' [iss] are interchangeable terms and indiscriminately are applied to the occult power which rendered a person invisible and which transformed one object into another. Men and women were made invisible, or men were transformed into horses, bulls, or stags, while women were transformed into cats, hares, or hinds. These transmutations were sometimes voluntary, sometimes involuntary. The fith-fath was especially serviceable to hunters, warriors, and travellers, rendering them invisible or unrecognisable to enemies and to animals. Fionn had a fairy sweetheart, a daughter of the people of the mounds, but Fionn forsook her and married a daughter of the sons of men. The fairy was angry at the slight put upon her, and she placed the wife of Fionn under the fithThe wife of Fionn bore a son in the fath spell in the form of a hind of the hill. The mother possessed so island of Sanndraigh in Loch-nan-ceaU in Arasaig. to mortal eyes ' ' ' ' much of the nature of the hind that she licked the temple of the child when he was born, but she possessed so much of the nature of the woman that she only gave one lick. But hair like the hair of a fawn grew on the part of the temple of the child which the tongue of the hind-mother had touched. And because of this patch of fawn's hair on his temple the child was called Oisein,' the fawn. While still a boy Ossian followed Fionn and the Feinne to the hunting-hill to chase the mountain deer. In the midst of the chase a magic mist darker than night .came down upon the hunters, blinding them from one another and from their surroundings no one knew where was another or where he was himself. Hunt- wandering came over Ossian, and he wandered wearily alone, and at last in a deep green glen surrounded by high blue hills. As he walked found himself along he saw a timid hind browsing in a green corrie before him. And Ossian thought to himself that he had never seen a creature so lovely as this timid But the spirit of the hunt was hind, and he stood gazing upon her with joy. strong upon Ossian, and the blood of the hunter was hot in his veins, and he drew his spear to throw it at the hind. The hind turned and looked at Ossian and gazed upon him with her full wistful grey eyes, more lovely and alluring Do not hurt me, Ossian,' said the hind I am thy than the blue eyes of love. mother under the " fith-fath," in the form of a hind abroad and in the form of a woman at home. Thou art hungry and thirsty and weary. Come thou home And Ossian accompanied the hind step by step with me, thou fawn of my heart. The hind opened a leaf in a till they reached a rock in the base of the hill. door in the rock where no door seemed to be, and she went in, and Ossian went door-leaf in her. She closed the the rock and there was no appearance in after of a door. And the graceful hind became transformed into a beautiful woman, like the lovely woman of the green kirtle and the locks of gold. There was light in the bower in the bosom of the ben like the light of trath-nona la leth an ' — ' ; ' ' ' INCANTATIONS 23 — noontide on midsummer day. Nor was it it the light of the moon, nor was it the Hght of the star of guidance. His mother prepared food and drink and music for Ossian. And she placed food in a place of eating for him, and she placed drink in a place of drinking for him, and she placed music in a place of hearing for him. Ossian took of the food and of the drink and of the music till he was full satisfied— his seven full satiations. After feasting, Ossian said to his mother, ' I am going, mother, to see what Fionn and the Feinne are doing in the hunting-hill.' And his mother placed her arm around his neck and kissed Ossian with the three kisses of a mother, and then she opened the door-leaf in the door of the bower and allowed him out. When she closed it there was no appearance of a door in the rock. Os.sian had been feasting on food and drink and music in the bower with his mother for the space of three days, as he thought, but he had been in the bower for the space of three years instead. And he made a song, the first song he made, warning his mother against tiie men and the hounds of the Feinne. In his Leahhar IVa Feinne Iain Campbell of Islay says that he had received fourteen versions of this song of Ossian. Six of these had been sent to him by the present writer. One of these versions was obtained from Oirig Nic Iain Eflric or Effie Mac Iain— lineally descended, she said, from Alexander Mac Iain, chief of the massacred Macdonalds of Glencoe. Effric Mac Iain was not tall, but she was very beautiful, intelhgent, and pleasant. I obtained a silver brooch from her which, she said, had come down t-samhraidh the light of the sun, ' nor was — like herself brooch is through the generations from the massacred chief of Glencoe. and beautifully chased, though much worn. ANAS OISEIN D'A MHATHAIR mo WARNING TO HIS mu 'n eirich grian ort. Bheir mi hoirion ho a hau, Arise ere the .sun arises on thee. Eho hir ir i-ibhag o, Na hao hi ho a ro hau. I 's tu mo mhathair ibhail sliabh 1 's tu 1 's mo ort icill ort 's 'n tig mhathair 's gur a fiadh thu, an teasach. If thou be Travel the gur a fiadh thu, If romh fhearaibh Fianna. tu rao icill mu mhathair 's gur a fiadh thu, romh chonaibh Fianna. theid thu do choiribh dona, licill ort romh ghniamh nan conu, )naibh conachar, conaibh confliach, iad air mhire-chatha romhad. my MOTHER mother and thou a deer. Ir thou be niy tu rich 1 OSSIAN'S mhathair 's gur a fiadh thu, Bheir mi hoirion ho a hau, I 's The circular mother and thou a deer. hills ere the heat of the hunt. thou be my mother and thou a deer. Beware thou the men of the Feinne. thou be my mother and thou a deer, Beware thou the hounds of the Feinne. If go to hurtful corries, Beware thou the deeds of the hounds. Hounds of uproar and hounds of rage. If thou shouldst And they in battle-fury before thee. UIBE 24 Seachainn Caoilte, seachainn Luath, Seachainn Bruchag dhubh nam bruach, Seachainn saigh an earbail dhuibh. Bran mac Buidheig, narah nam Agus Geolaidh dian nan damh. Ma fiadh, romh chlanna Baoisge, ' ' ' ' ' Leide mac Liannain, beag ri sgath creaige. da chu dliiag air lothain aige. eagal air nach tig thige. Is fearan ATH Shouldst thou go to low glens. Beware thou of the Baoisge Clan, The ' Baoisge Clan and their hounds. Twelve hundred of numbered men. His own blade in each hero's hand. His own hound after each man. And they on the thong of ' Lide son of Lian And a little manikin in shade of a rock. While twelve dogs he has on leash. And he fears the hunt will not come to him. fith Ni mi ort, Le Muire na frithe, Le Bride na brot, Bho chire, bho ruta, Bho nihise, bho bhoc, Bho shionn, 's bho mhac-tire, Bho chrain, 's bho thorc, Bho chu, 's bho chat, Bho mhaghan masaich, Bho chu fasaich, Bho scan foirir, Bho bho, bho mharc, Bho tharbh, bho earc, Bho mhurn, bho mhac, Bho iantaidh an adhar, Bho shnagaidh na talmha, Bho iasgaidh na mara, 'S ' ' 's Is iad air eil aig Is ' ' ' an cuid con. Da chiad diag a dh' aireamh fhear, A lann fein an laimh gach laoich, A chu fein an deigh gach fir. Is ' ' theid thu do ghleannaibh iosal, Faicill ort Clanna Baoisge Avoid Caoilte,' avoid Luath, Avoid black Bruchag of the banks. Avoid the bitch of the black tail, Bran son of Buidheag,' foe of deer. And little Geolaidh keen of stags. bho shiantaidh na gailbhe. ' ' INCANTATIONS Ma theid thu do bheannaibh mora, Faicill ort romh Chlanna Morna, 25 Shouldst thou go to the great bens. Beware thou of the Morni Clan, ' ' an cuid con, Da chiad diag a dh' aireamh fhear A lann fein an laimh gach laoich. The Ma Shouldst thou go to the high bens. Beware thou of the Gaisge Clan, The Gaisge Clan and their hounds. Twelve hundred of numbered men. His own blade in each hero's hand. Clanna Morna 's theid thu do bheannaibh arda, Faicill ort romh Chlanna Gaisge, Clanna Gaisge an cuid con. Da chiad diag a dh' aireamh tliear, A lann fein an laimh gach laoich. Ma 's gu fairir frithe, romh Chlanna Frithir, theid thu Faicill ort Clanna Frithir an cuid con. Da chiad diag a dh' aireamh fhear, A lann fein an laimh gach laoich.' 's Fath Morni Clan and their hounds. Twelve hundred of numbered men. His own blade in each hero's hand. ' ' ' ' Shouldst thou go to the haze-land forest. Beware thou of the Frithir Clan, The Frithir Clan and their hounds. ' ' ' ' Twelve hundred of numbered men. His own blade in each hero's hand. fith make on thee, By Mary of the augury, By Bride of the corslet. From sheep, from ram, From goat, from buck. From fox, from wolf. From sow, from boar. From dog, from cat, From hipped-bear. From wilderness-dog. From watchful scan,' From cow, from horse. From bull, from heifer. From daughter, from son, From the birds of the air. From the creeping things of the From the fishes of the sea, From the imps of the storm. Will ' ' I ' earth. UIBE 26 SIAN A ' SiAN and ' or ' seun ' is BHEATHA BHUAN [i34] power used to ward away injury, charm was common, and examples of its occult agency, supernatural to protect invisibly. Belief in the efficacy are frequently told. A woman at Bearnasdale, in Skye, put such a charm on Macleod of Bearnaray, Harris, when on his way to join Prince Charlie in 1745. At CuUoden the bullets showered upon him Uke hail, but they had no When all was lost, Macleod threw off his coat to facilitate his flight. effect. His faithful foster-brother Murdoch Macaskail was close behind him and took up the coat. When examined it was found to be riddled with bullet-holes. But not one of these bullets had hurt Macleod A woman at Bornish, South Uist, put a charm on Allan Macdonald of Clanranald when he was leaving to join the Earl of Mar at Perth in 1715. But Clanranald took a lad away against the will of his mother, who lived at Staonabrig. South Uist. The woman implored Clanranald to leave her only son, and she a widow, but he would not. Then she vowed that Ailean Beag,' Little Allan, as Clanranald was called, would never return. She baked two bannocks, a little bannock and a big bannock, and asked her son whether he would have ! ' little bannock with his mother's blessing, or the big one with her cursing. The lad said that he would have the Httle bannock with his mother's blessing. So she gave him the little bannock and her blessing and also a crooked sixpence, saying, Here, my son, is a sixpence seven times cursed. Use it in battle against Little Allan and earn the blessing of thy mother, or refrain and earn her cursing.' At the battle of Sheriffrauir blows and bullets were showering on Allan of Clanranald, but he heeded them not, and for every blow he got he gave three. When the strife was hottest and the contest doubtful, the son of the widow of Staonabrig remembered his mother's injunction, and that it was better to fight with her blessing than fall with her cursing, and he put the crooked sixpence in his gun. He aimed, and Clanranald fell. His people crowded round Clanranald weeping and wailing like children. But Glengarry called out, An diugh gu aichbheil, am maireach gu bron,' — To-day for revenge, to-morrow for weeping,' and the Macdonalds renewed the fight. Thirsting for revenge they fell upon the English division of Argyll's army, cutting it to pieces and routing it for several the ' ' ' miles. Wlien Clanranald's foster-father was asked only reply was, ' Bu duine an de e ' — ' He was a whom he wept and man yesterday.' watched, his INCANTATIONS 27 Allan Macdonald of Clanranald was called 'Ailean Beag,' Little Allan, in contradistinction to men. some of his predecessors If apparently short of stature, active, gallant of bearing, who had been exceptionally big he was exceedingly broad and powerful, and greatly beloved by his people. After the failure of Dundee in 1689 Clanranald lived in France for several years. There he made tlie acquaintance of Penelope, daughter of Colonel Mackenzie, governor of Tangiers under Charles II. Clanranald married Penelope Mackenzie and brought her home. He also brought a French architect, French masons, and French freestone to build a new house at Ormacleit. The house took seven years in building and was occupied for seven years. On the night of the battle of Sheriffmuir, when its owner was killed, the house was burnt to the ground through the kitchen chimney taking fire. Some days previously Lady Clanranald had told some guests that she had had a vision that her eyes melted away in scalding water and that her heart burned up like a live coal, and she feared some dire double disaster was to befall her. * Tota mhor Ormacleit the great ruins of Ormacleit, stand high and ' — picturesque on the monotonous far-reaching raachairs of the Atlantic side of South The gables are high-pointed, and the wings being at right angles to the main building, the ruins show to admirable advantage in the long level landscape. The freestone forming the corners, doors, and windows is of peculiar hardness, and of a blue tint. The farm of Ormacleit had been tenanted during many years by Mr John Uist. kinswoman of Flora Mrs Maclellan was a lady of great beauty, excellence, historical knowledge, and good sense. She had the happiness, a few years before she died, of handing to her chief and relative. Admiral Sir Reginald Macdonald of Clanranald, some jewellery that had been found in the ruins of the castle. The jewellery in all probability had been the property of Penelope Mackenzie, the lady of the gallant Clanranald of the '15, and for whom Penelope Macdonald had been named. Maclellan, whose wife was Miss Penelope Macdonald, a Macdonald and of her chief Clanranald. [pp. 28-31. UIBE 28 SIAN A BHEATHA BHUAN UIRIM Agus an seun air air do chom, do shealbliachd, Seun Dhe nan dul Chum do thearmaid. n seun a chuir Bride nan ni u mhuineal min Dhornghil, An seun a chuir Moire niu Mac, Eadar bonn agus broghaid, Eadar cioch agus glun, Eadar cul agus broth, Eadar braigh agus bonn, Eadar suil agus folt. Cliar Mhicheil air do thaobh, Sgiath Mhicheil air do shlinnean, Ni bheil eadar neamh Na bheir buaidh air is lar Righ nan Cha reub lainn thu, Cha mhill muir thu, Cha teum mnaoi thu, Cha treann duin thu. Brat Chriosda fein uniad, Sgath Chriosda fein tharad, Bho mhullach do chinn Gu buinn do chas. gras. INCANTATIONS 29 CHARM OF THE LASTING LIFE I PLACE the charm on thy body, And on thy prosperity, The charm of the God of life For thy protection. The charm that Bride of the kine Put round the The charm Between fair that sole neck of Dornghil, Mary put about her Son, and throat. Between pap and knee. Between back and breast. Between chest and Between eye and The The sole. hair. host of Michael on thy side, shield of There is Michael on thy shoulder, not between heaven and earth That can overcome the King of grace. No spear shall rive thee, No sea shall drown thee. No woman shall wile thee, No man shall wound thee. The mantle of Christ Himself about thee. The shadow of Christ Himself above thee. From the crown of thy head To the soles of thy feet. UIBE 30 Ta seun Cha De teid ort a nis, gu brath ort ailis. Theid thu mach an ainm do Righ, Thig thu steach an ainm do Phriomh, Is le Agus Dia nan dul thu nis gu h-uilidh, leis na Cunihachdan comhla. Cuirim an seun seo nioch Di-luain, An ceum cruaidh, druiseach, droigheach, Falbh a mach Is 's an seun na biodh bonn eagail Diridh tu cirein nan tu an eala chiuin Cumhnar tu d' stuc, Dionar tu a thaobh do Is mu ort. 's chuil, a bhlar, am measg nan ar, Seasaidh tu troinih choig ceud. Is bidh feircirich an Seun De umad Feun De tharad sas. chom, INCANTATIONS God The charm Thou shalt of Thou Thou shalt go forth shalt come never is on thee now, know place this disgrace. name of thy King, name of thy Chief, thou now belongest wholly, in in in To the God of life And to all the Powers I 31 together. charm early on Monday, In passage hard, brambly, thorny. Go thou out and the charm about thy And be not the least fear upon thee. Thou body, shalt ascend the crest of the hill, Protected thou shalt be behind thee. Thou art the calm swan in battle. Preserved thou shalt be amidst the slaughter, Stand thou canst against And five hundred. thine oppressors shall be seized. The charm of God about thee The arm of God above thee ! UIBE 32 A BHEATHA BHUAN SIAN UIRIM Mu V An sian a creagan air an laigh an spreidh, Gun A A le buaidh suas le luaths eirich suil sughadh Air ceannard an tighe Gun 's le le beannachd, leannachd, gun suil mhoir, choig an deannaid. feith farmaid air teaghlaich a bhaile, gach droch-bhuil, Bu dhualta dhuibh-se Ma 's 's slan. ghnu, gun tnu, gun fharmad, suil bhig, Gun seo, beo eirich iad nuas Gun Gun Sughaidh mise bheatha bhuan, crodh luath, leathann, Ian, ^s gach droch-bhuaidh dhaibh-san. mhallaich teanga duibh, Bheannaich cridhe duibh Ma ghonaich suil duibh, Shonaich run duibh. Tionndanam is teanndanam, Culionn cruaidh is creanndagaich Air an caoire boirionn Fad nan naodh 's 's air an laoighe firionn. nan naodh fichead bliadhna. [135] INCANTATIONS 33 THE CHARM OF THE LASTING LIFE I WILL place the charm of the lasting life, Upon your cattle active, broad, and full. The knoll upon which the herds shall lie down. That they may rise from it whole and well. Down Up with success, and with blessing, with activity and following. Without envy, without malice, without ill-will. Without small eye, without large eye. Without the five eyes of neglect. I will On suck this, the sucking of envious vein the head of the house, and the townland families, That every evil trait, and every evil tendency Inherent in you shall cleave to them. If tongue cursed you, A heart blessed you ; If eye blighted you, A wish prospered you. A hurly-burlying, a topsy-turvying, A hard hollying and a wan withering To their female sheep and to their male calves, For the nine and the nine score years. UIBE 34 STAN BRIDE IAN a chuir Bride M'a M'a Is nam buadh, mise, m'a cire, m'a buar, capuill, Moch Gan Bho Bho [136] is m'a cathmhil, ni'a cual, anamach dol dachaidh is uaith. cumail bho chreagan, bho chleitean, ladhara 's bho adhaircean a iana na Creige Ruaidh, bho Luath na Feinne. Bho lannaire liath Creag Duilionn, Bho iolaire riabhach Beinn-Ard, Bho sheobhag luth Torr-an-Duin, Is fitheach dur Creag-a-Bhaird. Bho mhada-ruadh nan cuireid, Bho mhada-ulai a Mhaim, Bho thaghan tocaidh na tuide, "S bho mhaehan udail a mhais. Bho gach ceithir-chasach Agus guireach da sgiath. spui reach, cheile, INCANTATIONS ST BRIDE'S 35 CHARM The charm put by Bride the beneficent, On her goats, on her sheep, on her kine, On her horses, on her chargers, on her herds, Early and late going home, and from home. To keep them from rocks and ridges. From From the heels and the horns of one another, the birds of the And from Luath Red Rock, of the Feinne. From the blue peregrine hawk of Creag From the brindled eagle of Ben-Ard, From the swift hawk of Tordun, From the surly raven of Bard's Creag. From the fox of the wiles, From the wolf of the Mam, From the foul-smelling fumart, And from the restless great-hipped From And Duilion, bear. every hoofed of four feet, from every hatched of two wings. UIBE 36 SIAN IAN [137] a chuir Moir air a Mac, romh mharbhadh, Sian sian romh lot, Sian eadar cioch agiis glun, Sian eadar glun agus lore, Sian nan tri sian, Sian nan coig sian, Sian nan seachd sian, Eadar barr do chinn Agus bonn do chos. Sian nan seachd paidir, a h-aon, Sian nan seachd paidir, a dha, Sian nan seachd paidir, a tri, Sian nan seachd paidir, a ceithir, Sian nan seachd paidir, a coig, Sian nan seachd paidir, a sia, Sian nan seachd paidir, a seachd Ort a nis. Bho chlaban do bhathas, Gu dathas do bhonn, Ga d' chuniail o d' chul, Ga d' chumhn o t' aghaidh. Clogad slainne mu Cearcul comhnant d' cheann, mu bhraigh, d' Uchd-eididh an t-sagairt mu Ga an comhrag nan namh. d' dhion an cogadh Ma's ruaig dhuit, 's oig, o d' bhrollach, thaobh do chuil, Buaidh na h-Oigh ga do chomhnadh dluth, Sear no siar, siar Tuath no no sear, deas, deas no tuath. INCANTATIONS 37 SAIN The sain put by Mary on her Son, Sain from death, sain from wound. Sain from breast to knee, Sain from knee to foot. Sain of the three sains, Sain of the five sains, Sain of the seven sains. From To the crown of thy head the soles of thy feet. Sain of the seven paters, one, Sain of the seven paters, two, Sain of the seven paters, three, Sain of the seven paters, four, Sain of the seven paters, five. Sain of the seven paters, six. Sain of the seven paters, seven Upon thee now. From the edge of thy brow. To To To thy coloured soles. preserve thee from behind. sustain thee in front. Be the helmet of salvation about thine head. Be the corslet of the covenant about thy throat. Be the breastplate of the priest upon thy breast. To shield thee in the battle and combat of thine enemies. If pursued, oh youth, from behind thy back. The power of the Virgin be close to succour thee, East or west, west or east, North or south, south or north. VOL. II. C 2 UIBE 38 EOLAS GRADHAICH The people quote many [138] proverbs relating to love and to love charms. ' Is — Twins are lunacy and love. Is ionann an galar gaoil agus an galar caothaich,' — Alike the complaint of love and the comleth-aoin an caothach agus an gaol,' ' plaint of madness. HAN eolas ' Duinidh gaol mile suil ach duisgidh gradhach duit Uisge thraghadh tronih shop, Ach gradli an fhir [te] Le bhlaths a tharsainn Eirich Gu moch leac 's thig riut, ort. an Domhnach, comhnard pleatach Beir leat currachd sagart, Agus puball beannach. Tog sid Ann an air do ghualainn sluasaid mhaide, Faigh naoi gasa roinnich Air an gearradh le tuaigh, Tri cnamhan seann-duine, Air an tarruinn a uaigh, Loisg iad air teine crionaich, Is dean gu leir 'n an luath. Crath an dearbh bhrollach do leannain, An 'S aghaidh gath gaoth tuath, theid mis an rath, Nach falbh am 's am baran duit, fear [bean] sin uat. INCANTATIONS 39 LOVE CHARM cuig mile farraaid,'— Love wiU close a thousand eyes but waken five thousand jealousies. The lucky bones are the joint of the big toe of the right foot and the nailan old man. These are said to be the first part of the human body to decay. joints of the left foot of It is not love knowledge to thee To draw water through a reed. But the love of him With his warmth [her] thou choosest, to draw to thee. Arise thou early on the day of the Lord, To the broad Take with flat flag thee the biretta of a priest, [fox-glove And the pinnacled canopy. Lift them on thv shoulder In a wooden shovel, Get thee nine stems of ferns Cut with an axe, The three bones of an old man. That have been drawn from the Burn them on a fire of faggots. And make them all into ashes. Shake it in grave, the very breast of thy lover, Against the sting of the north wind. And I will pledge, and warrant thee. That man [woman] will (?) [butter-bur never leave thee. (.-') ; UIBE 40 EOLAS GRADHAIDH OLAS [139] gradhaidh dut, Uisge thraghadh thromh shop, Blaths an fhir [te] thig riut, Le ghradh a tharsainn Eiricli Gu ort. moch Di-domhnaich, chomhnard chladaich Beir leat beannach pubaill, Agus currachd sagairt. lie Deannan beag a ghriosaich An iochdar do bhadain, corr a ghruaigean Dornan Ann an sluasaid mhaide. Tri cnamhan seann-duine, An deigh an creann a uaigh, Naoi goisne reann-roinnich, An deigh an treann le tuaigh. Loisg iad air teine crionaich Is dean gu leir diubh luath am broDach broth do leannain, An aghaidh gath gaoth tuath. Crath Rach ruaig rath an alachd, Car nan coig cuart, 'S bheirim brath Nach falbh is am baran duit fear [bean] sin uat. ; INCANTATIONS 41 LOVE CHARM A LOVK charm for thee, Water drawn through a straw, The warmth of him [her] thou love.st. With love to draw on thee. Arise betimes on Lord's day, To the flat Take with And A rock of the shore thee the pointed canopy, the cap of a priest. [butter-bur [fox-glove small quantity of embers In the skirt of thy kirtle, A special handful of sea-weed In a wooden shovel. Three bones of an old man, Newly torn from the grave. Nine stalks of royal fern. Newly trimmed with an Burn them on a fire And make them all into axe. of faggots ashes Sprinkle in the fleshy breast of thy lover, Against the venom of the north wind. Go round the ' rath ' of procreation. The circuit of the five turns. And I will vow and warrant thee That man [woman] shall never leave thee. (?) (?) ; UIBE 42 CRONACHDUINN SUIL The results of the evil in yawning and vomiting and in a general The countenance assumes an appearance grim, eye appear dishirbance of the system. gruesome, and repulsive — 'greann, greisne, grannda.' This formula for removing the effects of the evil eye male to female, from female to male, and Before pronouncing transmitted. [140] it is is handed down only efficacious fi-om when thus over the particular case of sickness, the operator proceeds to a stream, where the living and the dead alike pass, and lifts name water, in ladle of metal. of the Holy Trinity, into a On The of copper, are put in the ladle. this rhyme is wooden In no case ladle. the is and then made, and returning, a wife's gold ring, a piece of gold, of silver, sign of the holy cross repeated in a slow recitative manner is — the name of the animal under treatment being mentioned towards the end. person or In the case of an animal a woollen thread, generally of the natural colour of the sheep, ,0 a thilleas cronachduinn is tied suil.' Tillidh mise tha mi 'n duil, Ann an ainm Righ nan dul. Tri seachd gairmeachdain co ceart. liabhair Criosd an dorusd na catlirach ; Paidir Moire a h-aon, Paidir Righ a dha, Paidir Moire a tri, Righ a ceithir, Paidir Moire a coig, Paidir Righ a sia, Paidir Paidir Moire a seachd ; Tillidh seachd paidrichean Moire Cronachduinn Co dhiubh suil, bhitheas e air duine no air bruid. Air marc no air earc Thusa bhi na d' h-ioma shlainte nochd, [Ail t-ainm] An ainm an Athar, a Mhic, 's an Spioraid Naoimh. Amen. ; ; ; INCANTATIONS 43 THWARTING THE EVIL EYE round the The consecrated water tail. over the head and backbone. then given as a draught, and sprinkled is cow In the case of a the horns and the space between the horns are carefully anointed. The remnant of previously, is the water, no drop of which must have reached the ground poured over a corner stone, threshold or rock, which is tinguish whether it man or be a a many turns in a man's dark wily heart adhere, the heart of a woman women in the ' many more Who In thwart name if dis- a man, the ladle, significant of the ' iomadh a woman, only the silver and gold if if men's hearts were and turns and twists thwart the shall I shall — — but as gold and silver to copper and brass. Highlands say that be found to contain ; : being to that of man— not in this case, 'as moonlight unto sunlight and as water unto wine Old Experts profess to woman who has laid the evil eye copper adheres to the bottom of the upturned car,' other immovable stone flag, or said to split if the sickness be severe. King of Three seven commands Spake Christ eye women. .'' life. so potent. door of the city in the Mary Pater bare they would methinks, it, of the evil laid wiles than those of one, Pater King two, Pater Mary three. Pater King four. Pater Mary Pater King Pater five. six, Mary seven Seven pater Maries The Whether On Be thou will thwart evil eye, it be on man or on beast. horse or on cow in thy full health this night, [The name] In name of the Fatlier, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. UIBE 44 EOLAS A BHEUM SHULA ALTRAIM air an t-suil, Mar a shaltrais lach air luin, Mar a shaltrais eal air burn, Mar a shaltrais each air uir, Mar a shaltrais earc air iuc, Mar a shaltrais feachd nan dul, Mar a shaltrais feachd nan Ta Ta Ta [141] agam air, agam air, neart teine agam air, Ta neart torruinn agam air, Ta neart dealain agam air, Ta neart gaillinn agam air, Ta neart gile agam air, Ta neart greine agam air, Ta neart nan reul agam air, Ta neart nan speur agam air, Ta neart nan neamh Is nan ce agam air, Neart nan neamh Is nan ce agam air. neart gaoith neart fraoich Trian air na clacha glasa dheth, Trian air na beanna casa dheth, Trian air na h-easa brasa dheth. dul. INCANTATIONS 45 EXORCISM OF THE EYE I TRAMPLE upon the eye. As As As As As tramples the duck upon the lake, tramples the swan upon the water. tramples the horse upon the plain. tramples the cow upon the ' iuc,' tramples the host of the elements, As tramples Power of wind I the host of the elements. have over it. Power of wrath I have over Power of fire I have over it. it, Power of thunder I have over it. Power of lightning I have over it. Power of storms I have over it, Power of moon Power of sun Power of I I have over have over stars I have over Power of firmament I it. it. it, have over it, Power of the heavens And of the worlds I have over it. Power of the heavens And A A A of the worlds I have over it. portion of it upon the grey stones, portion of it upon the steep hills, portion of it upon the fast falls, [third UIBE 46 Trian air na liana maiseach dheth, 'S trian air 'S i a mhuir mhoir shalach, fein asair is fearr A gu ghiulan, mhuir mhor shalach, Asair An ainm An ainm An ainm is fearr gu ghiulan. Tri nan Dul, nan Tri Numh, nan uile Run, Agus nan Cursa comhla. INCANTATIONS A portion of And The The In In name name name And upon the fair meads. a portion upon the great salt sea, She herself In it 47 is the best instrument to carry great salt sea, best instrument to carry of the Three of Life, of the Sacred Three, of all the Secret Ones, of the Powers together. it. it, ; UIBE 48 CRONACHDAIN SUIL HURNAICH Thurmaich [142] suil thu, bial thu, Runaich cridh thu, Smunaich miann thu. Ceathrar a rinn du-sa trasd, Fear agus bean, Mac agus mum Triuir cuiream riu 'g an casg, Athair, Mac, Spiorad Cuiream fianuis Numb. chon Moire, Mathair-chobhair an t-sluaigh, Cuiream Muime fianuis Cuiream fianuis Ostal oirthir 'S chon Bride, Chriosda is nam buadh, chon Chaluim, chuain, cuiream fianuis chon Chon gach naoimh is flathas, gach aingil tha shuas. Ma's e fear a rinn do lochd, Le droch shuil, Le droch run, Le droch ruam, ; INCANTATIONS 49 COUNTERACTING THE EVIL EYE An A A A eye covered thee, mouth spoke thee, heart envied thee, mind desired thee. Four made thee thy Man and cross, [? have done thee harm wife. Youth and maid Three will I send to thwart them. Father, Son, Spirit Holy. I appeal to Mary, Aidful mother of men, I appeal to Bride, Foster-mother of Christ omnipotent, I appeal to Columba, Apostle of shore and And I To all If it saints be a With With With sea. appeal to heaven, and angels that be above. man that has done thee harm. evil eye, evil wish. evil passion. UIBE 50 Gun tilg thu dhiot gach olc. Gach mug, Gach gnug, Gach gruam, 'S gum Ri linn Dhol a An bi thu gu math gu brath, an snathle seo d' dhail onair De mu'n agus Agus Spioraid ioic cuart, los, bhi-bhuain INCANTATIONS Mayest thou cast off each ill, Every malignity, Every malice. Every harassment, And mayest While thou be well for ever, this thread Goes round thee. In honour of And God and of Jesus, of the Spirit of balm everlasting. 51 UIBE 52 UIBE RI SHUL IBE A [143] gheal chuir Muire mhin, nail air allt, air muir, Air bhrig, air 's 's air tir. ghat fharmaid, Air mhac armaid. Air fiacaill coin-ghiorr, Air siadhadh coin-ghearr, Air tri chorracha-cri, Air tri chorracha cnamh, Air tri chorracha creothail, 'S air lion leothair lair. f.'' leobhar Ge be co rinn dut an t-suil, Gun laigh air fein, Gun laigh air a thur. Gun laigh i air a spreidh. Gun laigh air a shult. Gun laigh air a shaill, Gun laigh air a chuid, Gun laigh i air a chlainn, Gun laigh i air a bhean, Gun laigh i air a loinn. i i i i i Clomhaidh mise an Somhaidh mise an Iniirichidh mi t-suil, t-suil, 'n t-suil, A thri feithean feiche, 'S teang eug an iomalain. Tri maighdeana beaga caomh, A rugadh 's an aon oidhche Ma's beo dh'an Beo bhith triuir sin air d' ire-sa, ri Criosd, an oidhche nochd, bheothaich bhochd. INCANTATIONS 63 SPELL FOR EVIL EYE The fair spell that lovely Over stream, over Mary sent. sea, over land. Against incantations, against withering glance, Against inimical power. Against the teeth of wolf. Against the testicles of wolf. Against the three crooked cranes, Against the three crooked bones, Against the three crooked And Whoso made to May it lie upon May it lie May it lie May it lie May it lie May it lie May it lie May it lie May it lie upon his house, upon his flocks, upon his substance. upon his fatness, upon his means, upon his children, upon his wife, upon his descendants. subdue the eye, suppress the eye, And I will [? thee the eye,' I will And creothail," himself. I will The ' against lint 'leolhair' of the ground. banish the eye. three arteries inviting (?), the tongue of death completely. Three lovely little maidens. Born the same night with Christ, If alive be these three to-night, Life be anear thee, poor beast. VOL. II. D 2 long lint UIBE 54 OBI RI SHUIL UIRIM Mar A an obi seo shuil. a dh' orduich Ti nan dul, uchd Pheadail, a uchd Phoil, An treas Sil, a Mhoire, Sii, a Phadra, righ nan reachd, ob is fearr fo'n ghrein. sil, a Biiride, Sil, a Chalum-chille chaoimb, Sil, a Chiarain naoimh Air bhuadh larach, An ri m'' [144] air nam feart. chruadh lamha, cath tearmaid, an cath farraaid, Air gach mac da math Bidh Mac De leis d' an teid, an treuin armachd. A uchd Athar, A uchd Mic, A uchd Spioraid Naoimh. Amen. INCANTATIONS 55 CHARM FOR THE EYE I PLACE this charm to mine eye, As the King of life ordained, From the bosom of Peter and Paul, The third best amulet under the sun. Pour Mary, pour Bride, Pour Patrick, king of laws. Pour Columba the kindly, Pour Ciaran, saint of power. For victory in battle, for hardness of hand. In battle of defence, in battle of offence. On every son with whom it shall go well. The Son of God will be with him in full armour. From From From the bosom of Father, the bosom of Son, the bosom of Holy Spirit. Amen. UIBE 56 EOIR BEUM SULA E be CO rinn duit an Gun Gun Gun curn i t-suil. air fein. curn i air a thur. curn i air a spreidh, Air a chaillich mhungaich, Air a chaillaich mhiongaich, Air a chaillaich mhangaich, 'S air A dh' eirich 'S a 'S a seilbh suil 'n 's a chaillich gheur-luirg, a nihaduinn, a seilbh, 'n a seoin, Nar a leatha a buaile fein, Nar a leatha leth a deoin, A chuid nach ith na Gun na h-eoin. ith fithich di. Ceathrar a rinn duit an t-suil. Fear agus bean, mac agus murn ; Triuir a thilgeas diot an tnu, Athair agus Mac, agus Spiorad Numh. Mar a thog Criosd Thar bharra nam Gun ann Gach am meas, preas, a thogas e dhiot-s' a nis cnid, gach tnu, gach farmad, Cn la'n diugh gu la deireannach do shaoghail. [145] ; INCANTATIONS 57 CHARM FOR THE EVIL EYE Whoso May May May On On On On laid on thee the eye. it lie upon it lie upon his house. it lie upon his flocks. himself, the shuffling carlin. the sour-fiiced carlin. the bounding carlin, the sharp-shanked carlin. Who arose in the morning, With her eye on her flocks, With her flocks in her seoin,' May she never own a fold, ' May The she never have half her desires. part of her which the ravens do not eat. May the birds devour. Four made to thee the Man and Three who The eye, dame, youth and maid will cast oft' thee the envy. Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. As Christ lifted the fruit. From the branches of the May He now lift off thee bushes, Every ailment, every envy, every jealousy, From this day forth till the last day of thy life. UIBE 58 EOLAS E AD A III Triuir Dh' is is [146] Seumas Eoin, is binne beuis an gloir, eirich a dheanamh na h-eoir, Ronih mhor dhorus na Cathrach, Ri glun deas De a Mhic. Air na feara fur-shuileach, Air na bana bur-shuileach, Air na siocharra seanga sith, Air na saighde siubhlach sibheideach. Dithis a rinn dut dibhidh Fear agus bean le sul, nimh agus tnu, Triuir a chuirim an urra riu, Athair, agus Mac, agus Spiorad Ceithir ghalara fichead an aorabh duine Dia A t' O'n d' an sgrid, Dia fhuil, la''n a V duigh d' an sgroid, Dia 's d' Numb. bruid, an sgruid, fheoil a d' chnaniha cubhra caoin, 's gach la thig, gun tig la crich do shaoghail. INCANTATIONS 59 CHARM Peter and James and John, The three of sweetest virtues in glor}'. Who arose to make the charm, Before the great door of the City, By the right knee of God the Son. Against the keen-eyed men. Against the peering-eyed women. Against the slim, slender, fairy-darts, Against the swift arrows of furies. Two made to thee the withered eye, Man and woman with venom and envy. Three whom I will set against them. Father, Son, and Spirit Holy. in the constitution of man and God scrape them, God search them, God cleanse them. From out thy blood, from out thy flesh, from out thy Four and twenty diseases beast, fragrant bones. From this day and each day that comes, be done. till Ihy day on earth UIBE 60 MALLACHD IIAINIG A [m] mach dithis a Catlirach Neobh, Fear agus bean, A dheanadh nan oisnean. Mallaich dha na beana bur-shuileach, Mallaich dha na feara fur-shuileacli, Mallaich dha na ceithir saighde, guineach, guid, Dh' f haodadh a bhi 'n aorabh duine 's bruid. EOLAS A BHEIM SHUIL The [us] following fragment was copied from an old manuscript and sent to Saltruighidh mis air an t-suil, Mar a shaltruigheas eal air tigh Ta neart gaoithe agam air, Ta neart greine agam air, Ta neart Mhic Righ Neamh Agus talmhainn agam nocht, air, Trian air na clacha glasa, * * 'S trian air Is i fein * * a mhuir mhoir. acfhuinn is me by fearr 'g a ghiulan. [traigh ? INCANTATIONS 61 A MALEDICTION Therk came two out From the City of Heaven, A man and a woman, To make the uisnean.'' ' Curses on the blear-eyed women. Curses on the sharp-eyed men, Curses on the four venomous arrows of disease. That may be in the constitution of man and beast. SPELL OF THE EVIL EYE the Rev. as ' Angus Macdonald, KiUearnan, Black Anna Chairabeul ' Isle. The Trample I upon the eye, As tramples the swan on a bare house, Power of wind I have over it, The power of the Son of the King of Heaven And A of earth I portion of it * And name reciter's is given — Ann Campbell. * have over [strand it, on the grey stones, * [third * a portion on the great sea. She herself is ? the instrument most able to bear it. UIBE 62 OBI ^j^^ NAN SUL BI nan geur [149] shul, V\« ^^^ "*" .-ilU Obi Re nan reul-iul, uile re, ^^K/ Obi Dhe nan dul, Obi Re nan uile \vljf/ ^^^ Jtl nan V)\i& re, dul. Obi Bhride nan ciabh oir, Obi Mhoire mhin-ghil Oigh, Obi Bheus nan Obi Dhe na uile bheus, gloir, Obi Bheus nan Obi Dhe na uile bheus, gloir. Obi Pheadail agus Phail, Obi Airil 's Eoin a ghraidh, Obi Dhe nan uile dhe, Obi Dhe nan gras, Obi Dhe nan uile dhe. Obi Dhe nan gras. Feill Mhairi, Feill Feill shagart agus Feill Chriosd, Dhe, chleir, Righ nam feart, Dhiongaich anns a ghrein a neart, Feill Chriosd, Righ nam feart, Dhiongaich anns a ghrein a neart. INCANTATIONS INCANTATION FOR THE EYE Incantation of the seeing eye, Incantation of the guiding star, Incantation of the King of Incantation of the God of all kings. life. Incantation of the King of Incantation of the God of all kings. life. Incantation of Bride of the locks of gold, Mary Incantation of the beauteous Incantation of the Virtue of Incantation of the God Virgin, all virtues, of glory. Incantation of the Virtue of aU virtues. Incantation of the God of glory. Incantation of Peter and of Paul, Incantation of Ariel and John of love, Incantation of the Incantation of the God God Incantation of the Incantation of the of all gods, of grace. God God of all gods, of grace. Feast of Mary, Feast of God, Feast of cleric and of priest. Feast of Christ, Prince of power. Who established the sun with strength, Feast of Christ, Prince of power. Who endowed the sun with strength. UIBE 64 OBA UIRIM Mar RI an oba seo SHUL ri m' shuil, a dh' orduich Rif^h nan dul, Oba Pheadail, oba Pholl, Oba Sheumais, oba Eoin, Oba Chaluini-chille chaoimh, Oba Phadra sar gacli naoimh, Oba Bhride bhith nam ba, Oba Mhoire mhin nan agh, Oba tromla, oba treuid, Oba lomra, oba spreidh, Oba nolla, oba ni, Oba sona, oba sith, Oba troga, oba treuin, An treas oba is fearr fo'n ghrein, Oba bhuadha nan Tri Bhuadh, Athar, Mic, Spioraid buan. [150] INCANTATIONS SPELL OF THE EYE I PLACE this spell to mine eye, As the King of life ordained, Spell of Peter, spell of Paul, Spell of James, spell of John, Spell of Columba benign, SpeU of Patrick, chief of saints, Spell of Bride, tranquil of the kine. Spell of Mary, lovely of the joys. Spell of cows, spell of herds. Spell of sheep, spell of flocks. Spell of greatness, spell of means. Spell of joy, spell of peace, Spell of war, spell of the brave. The third best spell under the sun. The powerful spell of the Three Powers, Father, Son, Spirit everlasting. VOL. II. 65 UIBE 66 OBA RI SUL BA mho-ghil, A chuir Moir Oighe, Chon ighinn Dorail, Nan or-bhi cuach, A A A A nail air mor-thir, nail air oir-thir, nail air log-thir, nail air cuan, Chon Chon Chon Chon casga sula, Chon Chon Chon Chon tilleadh breotaich, casga dula, casga tnutha, casga fuatha, tilleadh greotaich, tilleadh sreotaich, tilleadh ruaidh. [151] INCANTATIONS SPELL OF THE EYE The spell fair-white, Sent of To Mary Virgin, the daughter of Derail, Of the golden-yellow Hither on main-land. Hither on coast-land. Hither on lake-land. Hither on ocean, To To To To To To To To thwart eye. thwart net, thwart envy, thwart hate. repel ' breotaich,' repel ' greotaich,' repel ' sreotaich,' repel rose. hair, 67 UIBE OB RI SHUL B [152] a chuir Moire mhor-gheal Gu Bride mhin-gheal, Air muir, Air Ge air tir, air li, 's fiacail coin-ghiorr, be co leag ort an Gum much Gum much Gum much i ''s rachd f barmaid, air siadha coin-ghearr. t-suil, air fein, i air a thur, i air a spreidh. Clomhadh mis an t-suil, Somhadh mis an t-suil, Tri teanga tur nan iomlan, Am feithean a chridhe. An eibhlean imileig. A uchd Athar, A uchd Mic, A uchd Spioraid Naoinih. INCANTATIONS 69 SPELL OF THE EYE The spell the great To Bride the lovely For white Mary sea, for land, for water, For teeth of wolf, sent fair, and for withering glance, for testicle of wolf. Whoso laid May May May it oppress himself. it oppress his house. it oppress his flocks. on thee the eye. Let me subdue the eye. Let me avert the eye. The three complete tongues of fullness, In the arteries of the hearb. In the vitals of the navel. From From From the bosom of Father, the bosom of Son, the bosom of Holy Spirit. UIBE 70 EOLAS A CHRONACHAIDH UAINIDH A mi a chathair aigh bhuain Criosd leth-laimh. le Thainig Ard Rigli nan aingeal Le ghradh 's le f hath os mo chionn. Thainig losa Criosda steach Le Le Air bliochd, le blachd, le barr, laoigh bhoirionn, le ais. mhoir. suil bhig, air suil Air uachdar cuid Chriosd. An ainm Ti nan dul Cum rium do ghras, Crun Righ nan aingeal, Bainne chur an nth Le ''s laoigh bhoirionn, Gun robh Gun chall Gun chall an ar, le al. agaibh fad nan seachd bliadhna laogh, gun chall bainne, niaona no caomh charaid. [iss] INCANTATIONS SPELL OF THE COUNTERACTING I WILL pluck the gracious yarrow That Christ plucked with His one hand. The High King of the angels Came with His love and His countenance above me. Jesus Christ With With On female calves, with milk product. small eye, on large eye, Over In came hitherward milk, with substance, with produce, Christ's property. name of the Being of life Supply me with Thy grace, The crown of the King of the angels To put milk in udder and gland. With female calves, with progeny. May you have the length of seven years Without Without loss of calf, witiiout loss of milk. loss of means or of dear friends. 71 — ' — UIBE 72 CUNNTAS AN T-SLEAMHNAIN [154] The exorcism of the stye is variously called ' Cunntas an t-Sleamhnain Counting of the Stye, 'Eolas an t-Slearahnain ' Exorcism of the Stye, and ' Eoir an t-Sleamhnain Charm of the Stye. ' — ' When making — some sharp-pointed instrument, thumb and With each question the operator makes a feint with the instrument at the stye, going perilously near the eye. The sensation caused by the thrusting is extremely painful to the sufferer and even to the the charm the exorcist holds preferably a nail, or the tongue of a brooch or buckle, between the forefinger of the right hand. observer. The reciter assured the writer that a cure immediately follows the operation. Possibly the thrusting acts upon the nervous system of the patient. Ordinarily the exorcist omits mentioning the word ' sleamhnan first two times, abbreviating thus ' ' after the : C'uim an tainig a dha an seo Gun a tri an seo ? Why came the two here Without the three here ? 'UIM an tainig an aon sleamhnan, Gun an da shleamhnan an seo .'' Cuim an tainig an da shleamhnan, Gun na tri sleamhnain an seo Cuim an tainig na tri sleamhnain, Gun na ceithir sleamhnain an seo .'' .'' C'uim an tainig na Gun na ceithir sleamhnain. coig sleamhnain an seo .'' C'uim an tainig na coig sleamhnain, Gun na sia sleamhnain an seo Cuim an tainig na sia sleamhnain, Gun na seachd sleamhnain an seo ? Cuim an tainig na seachd sleamhnain. Gun na h-ochd sleamhnain an seo Cuim an tainig na h-ochd .sleamhnain, Gun na naodh sleamhnain an seo Cuim an tainig a naodh. No aon idir an seo .'' .'' .'' .'' — INCANTATIONS 73 THE COUNTING OF THE STYE After the incantation the Lord's Prayer repeated is intoned, and the following is : ' Paidir a h-aon. Paidir a dha. Paidir a tri. Paidir a ceilhir, Paidir a coig. Paidir a sia. Paidir a seachd. Paidir a h-ochd. Paidir a naodh. Paidir a h-aon Pater one, Pater two, Pater three, Pater four, Pater five, Pater six, Pater seven, Pater eight, Pater nine, Pater one And eight, 'S a h-ochd. Pater of Christ the kindly Paidir Chriosda chaoirah Be upon thee to-night, Ort an oidhche nochd. Pater of the Three of life Paidir Tri nan dul Upon thine eye without harm. Air a shuil gun loclid.' This seems to indicate that the Lord's Prayer was originally repeated nine times. ^VHY came the one stye, Without the two styes here ? Why came the two styes. Without the three styes here ? Why came the three styes. Without the four styes here ? Why came the four styes, Without the five styes here ? Why came the five styes. Without the six styes here ? Why came the six styes. Without the seven styes here ? Why came the seven styes. Without the eight styes here ? Why came the eight styes, Without the nine styes here Why came the nine. Or one at all here ? .'' — ! UIBE 74 AM FIONN-FAOILIDH [i55] UIREAM fionn-faoilidh umam, A thraoghadh feirge falamh, A chumail rium mo chliu, Fad O 's a bhios mi biu air talamh. Mhicheil ! glac mo lamh, Liobh rium cairdeas De, Ma is e, 0, Criosd eadar mis Ma tha mi-run no di-run air Criosd a bhi eadar mis is mo is were obtained in Tiree from a ! sgath, e EOLAS TNU lines e is e, O, Criosd eadar mis These mo namh, tha mi-run no di-run air Criosd a bhi eadar mis [156] woman known the daiigliter of Maoldomhnuich, rendered Ludovic.' many such runes, but was forgetting them. ' as This Nic "aldomhnuich, ' woman had known MaolDomhnuicli is one of tlie many personal names originating in the Celtic Church, now rare elsewhere, but still current in the Western Isles. Some of these names with their meanings are interesting. MaolDomhnuich means the tonsured of the Lord,' MaolCiaran 'the tonsured of Ciaran,' MaolPadniig 'the tonsured of Patrick,' MaoICalum the tonsured of Columba,' MaolMicheil ' the tonsured of Michael,' MaolBride tlie tonsured of Bride,' MaolMoire ' the tonsured of Mary.' Maollosa, 'the tonsured of Jesus,' is the MaUse and Malsie of Sir ' ' ' Ge be CO rinn duit an tnu, Fear dubh, no bean fionn, Triuir cuirim riu ga chasg Spiorad Nunih, Athair, Mac. — ! INCANTATIONS 75 THE FIONN-FAOILIDH' I PLACE the To To preserve to While O fionn-faoilidh ' ' on me, drain wrath empty. me my I shall live Michael grasp ! Vouchsafe to If there be me fame. on earth. my hand, the love of God, ill-will Christ be between or ill-wish in mine enemy, me and him, me and him Oh, Christ between ! If there be ill-will or ill-wish concerning me, Christ be between me and it, me and Oh, Christ between it ENVY SPELL Walter Scott, and the Malisu of the Earls of Strathearn. near the east entrance to Macneilltown, Barra, is called an anchorite of the name who Uved there and whose The island is also called ' Eilean nam ' A precipitous island Maoldomhnuich from ' cell is still to fiadh,' isle of the deer, be seen. from the ancient MacneiUs of Barra having had deer there. There is hardly an island however remote, or an ocean-girt rock however precipitous, throughout the stormy Hebrid seas, that does not show touching traces of the courage The and devotion of these self-denying anchorites. writer often took pleasure in visiting these almost inaccessible rocks tracing their cells. Whoso made to thee the envy. Swarthy man or woman fair, Three Holy I will send to thwart Spirit, Father, Son. it and — UIBE 76 AN DEARG CHASACHAN UAINIDH An lion mi an dearg-chasachan [157] aic, a bhuain Bride mhin tromh glaic, Air buaidh shlainte, air buaidh chairdeas Air buaidh thoileachais, Air buaidh droch run, air buaidh droch shul, Air buaidli chronachais. Air buaidh droch bheud, air buaidh droch bheus, Air buaidh ghonachais, Air buaidh droch sgeul, air buaidh droch bheul. Air buaidh shonachais Air buaidh shonachais. AN EIDHEANN-MU-CHRANN BuAiNiDH mis an eidheann-mu-chrann, Mar Mar a bhuain Moire Bainne chur an uth Le le a leth-laimh, a dh' orduich Righ nan dul, 's an ar, laoigh bhreaca, bhoirionn, bhailgneach, Mar a thubhradh anns an dailgneachd. Air an laraich sec gu ceann A uchd Dia nan dul 's la 's bliadhna, nan cursa comhla. [158] — INCANTATIONS 77 THE RED-STALK Pluck The will I the little red-stalk of surety, lint the lovely Bride drew through her palm, For success of health, for success of friendship, For success of joyousness. For overcoming of evil mind, for overcoming of evil eye, For overcoming of bewitchment. For overcoming of overcoming of evil deed, for evil conduct, evil words, For overcoming of malediction. For overcoming of overcoming of evil news, for For success of blissfulness For success of blissfulness. THE TREE-ENTWINING IVY I WILL pluck the tree-entwining ivy. As Mary plucked with her one hand, As the King of life has ordained. To put milk in udder and gland. With speckled fair female calves. As was spoken in the prophecy, On this foundation for a year and a day. Through the bosom of the God of life, and of all the powers. — ' UIBE 78 EOLAS AN TORRANAIN The figwortis known as ' farach dubh,' farach donn,' ' ' farum,' ' [i59] forum," fothlus,' ' nan cnapan,' lus nan clugan,' clugan,' cluganach,' lus an torranfarach dubh ain,' torranach,' and torranan. The names are descriptive black mallet, farach donn brown mallet farum and forum are probably forms of farach.' Fothlus and fotlus '—crumbs, refuse, scrofuloas, lus nan ' fotlus,' ' lus ' ' ' ' ' ' Probably the name On — ' ' ' ' ' ' ' torrann,' ' an torranain lus ' torranan,' ' ' ' — plant of the thunderer. tarranan,' are variants of Taranis, of the thunder god of the Gauls. the mainland the figwort islands for bruises, is known On magical powers. its and to cuts — ' of the clusters, tarrann,' ' ; ' ' — plant ' : ' ' ' clugan ' and the tuber plant was placed on the cow for its medicinal properties, the mainland the leaf of the plant and tumours. to sores fetter, and is In the islands the under the milk boyne, and over the byre door, to ensure milk in the cows. Having intoned the incantation of the " torranan " a blessed plant. is It grows is gift of torranan,' the reciter said The hill. It is full peace and power, and Its root is stalk of the plant as large as the breast of a as the driven snow of the and of the ' in sight of the sea. of four bulbs like the four teats of a cow. the arm, and the bloom in the applied woman, and is — ' The a cluster as long as as pure white of the milk of grace and goodness fills with the filling and ebbs with the meet to cull the plant with the flow and not with the ebb of the restless sea. If I had the " torranan " it would ensure to me abundant milk in my cow all the year. Poor as I am, I would rather than a Saxon pound that I had the blessed " torranan." I went away to John the son of Fearachar, who knows every plant that comes through the ground, to see if he would get me the " torranan " of power. But John's wife said " No," and that I was only ebbing It is therefore tide. an " oinig," a .silly woman. The jade John Beaton, known as John, son of Fearachar, son of John, son of Niall Dotair,' Neil the Doctor, was a shepherd by occupation but a botanist by instinct. He knew Gaelic only, and he knew no letters, but probably he knew more about plants and plant habitats and characteristics than any other man in Scotland. He lived in close communion with Nature, and loved plants as he loved his ! ' children — with could dim. A a warm abiding love which no poverty could cool and no age Gaehc proverb says : — ' Bu ' — that was hereditary to — heredity will cleave the rock; dual da sin him: and: — Sgoiltidh an dualchas a chreig' ' — ; INCANTATIONS and again the rocks. : — 79 — Theid dualchas an aghaigh nan creag heredity will go against John Beaton was a striking confirmation of these sayings, being ' ' and botanical doctors who left their impress on the minds and on the language of their fellow-countrymen. He was descended from a long line of botanists descended from the Beatons of Skye, who were descended from the Beatons of They Islay. in turn were descended from the Beatons of Mull, who are said to have come down from Beatan, the medical missionary of the Columban Church of lona. These Beatons produced many eminent men, among them James his still greater nephew David, the Cardmal Archbishop of St Andrews, and, through the Barons Livingstone of Bachuill, Lisraore, David Livingstone, physician, missionary, traveller and explorer. Mary Beaton, mentioned in the song of the Queen's Four Maries, was also of these Beatons Beaton, Archbishop of Glasgow, and : ' Last night tliere were four Maries, This night there shall be but three There was Marie Beaton and Marie Seaton And Marie Carmichael and me.' The people of Mull say that this distinguislied scholar, the late Lords of the Isles were also physicians and to the of the Mull family, but the The Beatons were hereditary she was of the Islay Beatons. to the Mary Beaton was Hector Maclean, and other Islay men, claimed that to other great insular Kings of Scotland, ' leighean,' physicians, and mainland whom chiefs. They they visited periodically. Payments for some of these visits are recorded in the Exchequer Rolls. The Beatons left many MSS. on medicine and on medicinal plants. Some of these are in the Advocates' Library, some are in private possession, and many are known to liave been lost. Some of the most beautiful sculptured stones in lona. Mull, Islay, and elsewhere, are over the tombs of Beatons. Several of the Beatons of Mull and Islay went to Paris and other Continental Some of these remained cities to complete their medical and theological studies. abroad and rose to positions of distinction. The name is still to be met with in France French form of Bethune. in the Scotland retained that form of the name. his settled in of the family. Skye as leech One of this mouth of He of the Beatons on returning to settled in Fife. A descendant of Macleod of Macleod, founding the Skye branch family was known as Fearachar Leigh,' Fearachar to ' Lighiche,' Farquhar the Physician. the One Dunvegan Loch, He ' held the small estate of Husabost, near for his services. He had a medical MS. valued and so careful was he of this manuscript, that when he himself came up to Dunvegan by boat he sent a trusted man-servant on horseback round by land with the manuscript. John Beaton, the shepherd of Uist, was descended from this Fearachar Leigh.' John Beaton was too old and too rheumatic to move from home, but he at sixty milch cows ; ' UIBE 80 its flower, leaf, stalk, and root, and its situation in and the writer, with marvellous fullness and accuracy, though he had not been to Benmore nor seen the torranan for many years previously. He said that there were only two plants of it there, and that these were near one another on Benmore and overlooking the sea. He explained the described the 'torranan,' Benmore, to his son ' various medicinal uses of the plant, but smiled at John Beaton died in This was in 1877. 1881, its aged ' alleged magical powers. one of nature's 92, scientists and of nature's gentlemen. In 1896 his son, Fearachar, sent me the two plants from Benmore in South Uist. One of them I gave to Professor Bayley Balfour of the University of Edinburgh, The following tradition the people of Ireland the is who kindly current in Uist way identified the plant for me. : — The Pope sent Torranan to teach But the people of Ireland would not of salvation. whom they beat and maltreated in various ways. Torranan God to deliver him from the Irish, and shook the dust of Ireland off He betook himself to his coracle and turned it sun-wise, in name of receive Torranan, prayed to his feet. God, and in name of Christ, and in name of Spirit, praying the Teora Naomh,' Holy Three, to send him when and where and whichever way they listed and had work for him to do but not again to Ireland. The man was driven about hither and thither on the wild waves in his frail coracle no one knows how long or how far. But an Eye was on his prow, and a Hand was on his helm and the tide, and the wind, and the waves combined to take him into the little creek of ' — Cailigeo in Benbecula. The situated between the islands of South Uist and axis being at right angles to the axis of these islands— one end Island of Benbecula North Uist, its is on the Minch, the other on the Atlantic. tide is out, hence the Gaelic name indicated in the hill between the name is ' It is fordable on both sides Beinn-nam-faoghla ' when — ben of the fords. the The near the centre of the island and nearly in a direct — It is called Ruaidhbhal,' Ruaival red hiU, from the and the Norse fell a hill. Ruaival is the only hill in Benbecula. It is cone-shaped, flat and level on the top, and 409 feet in height. The sloping sides are flushed with heather, while the flat summit is green and grassy. The summit commands an extraordinary view of fords and channels, line Gaelic ' ruadh ' fords. — red, ' ' ' ' ' and mainlands, seas and lakes, and of moors and machairs in the most marvellous manner with shallow pools, tarns, and lakes scattered broadcast beyond count, beyond number. Probably the world does not contain anything more disorderly than the distribution of land and water in and around Benbecula. When Torranan was ascending the round red hill of Ruaival to survey his surroundings and to ascertain his whereabouts, his breast was sore from thirst, islands, peninsulas broken up and dotted over for he to had had no water to drink since leaving for water to quench his thirst, and lo God Ireland. ! And Torranan prayed the red rock before him rent — INCANTATIONS asunder, and from the fissure a clear : At his appointed time revolving. The sun these shades of night dispels. The rock, its rugged breast dissolving. Gives up to earth The water was Torranan thus of cold water issued. rill pre-experienced the truth of Goethe's words ' 81 its hidden wells.' and pleasing to taste, and Torranan drank his seachd and he blessed the rill from the rent rock and called it Gamhnach — farrow cow. Agus ghuidh Torranan air Dia mor nan dul nach d'reathadh a Ghamhnach gu brath an diosg And Torranan beseeched the great God of the elements that the " Gamhnach " might never go dry.' And ever since then all pilgrims who go to the Gamhnach' and drink of the rill give a choice green sath ' — seven fair to see ' satiations, ' ' ' ' — ' ' leaf to the ' farrow cow ' in memory of refreshing drink to the holy its man who — came to teach the people of Innis Cat Isle of the Caty — the way of salvation. The man rejected of the people of Ireland became the accepted missionary of the people of Uist. He wished to build his prayer-house on Cnoc Feannaig,' the knoll of the hooded crow, within sight and hearing of the wild waves of Cailigeo ' ' ' where he had been driven ashore from began to gather stones to build himself Accordingly he his perilous voyage. a prayer-house on the knoll. But the stones that Torranan collected on the knoll during the day, the spirits transferred by night After a time Torranan gave up the to the island in the lake adjoining. imequal contest, saying that will of God on the little it for him to set his will against the Then Torranan built his prayer-house was not meet as revealed by His angels. island within hearing but not within seeing of the green seas and white waves of Caihgeo. And when the house was made Torranan dedicated the labour of his hands and the subject of his prayers to God and to Columba. The lake containing the islet on which the seafarer lowered, and what was formerly an island The oratory said to have been built extension of the original building. is now a built his oratory now is peninsula jutting into the lake. by Torranan is This extension a ruin. is The ruin shows said to have been an made by Amie, daughter of Ruairi mac Allan, High Chief of Lorn, and wife of John of Islay, Lord of the Amie, but not R.N., to whom Isles. Shell lime is used in the extension ascribed to the in the original structure ascribed to Torranan. Lady Captain Thomas, the antiquities and archfeology of the Outer Hebrides owe mucli, said that the part of the church ascribed to Torranan might well belong to tlie The Columban churches are believed to have been usually But there were no wattles nor wood of any kind in Uist Consequently, in this and similar situations the so late as Columba's time. Columban brethren and followers had to depart from their usual practice, and Columban period. constructed of wattles. build of stone. The lake containing the peninsula on which Torranan built his prayer-house, is called Loch Chaluim-chille — Columba's Loch. It only dedicated to Columba, VOL. II. ' ' y — UIBE 82 covers an area of some few acres and is Cairns and crosses of no great depth. many knoUs and hillocks surrounding the lake. But no trace of cairn nor of cross now remains. These pious offerings of a grateful people and of a bygone age to the memory of the saint have been secularised and utilised in studded Uie making roads and A had wished in building culverts. house was afterwards built on Cnoc Feannaig, where Torranan religious to build his prayer-house. a dwelling-house, and Torranan is It is now, and has been for centuries, probably the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. is represented on the West in the island of ' Tarransey,' Tarran's In this small rocky glaciated island of the Atlantic there were two small island. now remains but the foundations, with a small The churches are beautifully situated on the churches, of which nothing burying-ground attached to each. sea-shore near one another, and look across to the ice-rounded mountains of Harris and Uist, while in the far-away blue distance are seen the serrated calcined of Skye. hills One of these simple churches with dedicated to Saint Tarran and called TeampuU Tharrain ' its ' burying-ground was — the Temple of Tarran, and Cladh Tharrain '—the burial-place of Tarran. The other church and buryingground were dedicated to Saint Ce, or Keith, and were called TeampuU Che the burial-place of Ce. The temple and the Temple of Ce, and Cladh Che burying-ground of Tarran were exclusively for the use of women, while the ' ' ' ' ' — temple and burying-ground of Ce were exclusively for the use of men. coidd not be violated with impunity. St Tarran's, or the body of a woman in If the This rule body of a man were buried St Ce's, the guardian spirits of in the temples and burying-grounds thrust forth the obtruded corpse during tlie night, and it was found in the morning lying stiff and stark above-ground. In North Uist there the stone of Ce. Saint Ce is represented on is a tall obelisk called Clach Che ' ' the East by ' Beinn the island of Ce, and — Che'— Benachie, ' Dail name Che ' the hill of Ce, ' Innis Che" — Inchkeith, — Dalkeith, the plain of Ce. by the Pope to Skene thinks that Ternan was a disciple of Palladius, with whom he is confounded. Ternan was buried at Liconium or My Toren of Tulach Fortchirn, in Ui Felmada, and Druim Cliab in Cairbre.' Skene thinks that Liconium was the old name of Banchory-Ternan on the river Palladius is the the Irish and rejected usually assigned to the missionary sent by them. ' Dee in Aberdeenshire. The feast of St Ternan is the 12th of June. St Ternan was a seafarer, visiting many countries. — Like St Brendan of Clonfert, He is spoken of as Torranan ' Torranan lasting, deedful, over a wide buan bannach darler lethan longach shipful sea.' Many popular stories and distinctive names attach to him. The plant named after him is popularly supposed to grow only near the sea which Torranan loved. The small rill from which Torranan obtained a drink is named Gamhnach,' farrow cow a cow that does not carry a calf, but which ' ' — ' INCANTATIONS 83 gives milk of good quality and continuous but small in quantity. Probably it tlie leaf of worship the 'Gamhnach,' to Another curious thing are called ' is ' offer only the leaf of the ' ' torranan that two streams into which the ' ' to the Gamhnach ' rill. runs na Deathachan,' the Dees, and that two lakes into which these Loch nan Deathachan fo dheas,' the Loch of the Dees Loch nan Deathachan fo thuath,' Loch of the Dees to the Dee and Deathachan are plurals of dia,' god. Were these rivers streams flow are called to the south, and north. ' ' At present the any plant is given to the Gaiuhnach in offering. was permissible for pUgrims who came to drink the water and to blade of any grass or ' ' worshipped as gods ' ' ' ? St Ternan forms a connecting-link between the Dees of Benbecula and the Dee of Aberdeen. [pp. 84-85 UIBE 84 EOLAS AN TORRANAIN ^UAINIDH mi an tonanan, Le toradh mara Lus nan agh 's 's tir, nan sonas e, Lus a bhainne mhi. Mar a dh'' orduicli Righ nan Brigh a chur an cich 's righ, an carr, mar a dh' orduich Ti nan dul, Sugh a chur an uth 's an ar, 'S Le bliochd, le blachd, le bladh, Le cobhan, le orahan, 's le ais, Le laoigh bhoirionn, bhreac, Gun laoigh f hirionn ac, Le al, le agh, le toradh, Le gradh, le baigh, le sonadh. Gun fear mi-run, Gun bhean mi-shul. Gun ghnu, gun tnu, gun Gun mhaghan masach. Gun chu fasaich. Gun scan foirinn Dh' f haighinn Anns an greim air a chugain teid seo, Torranan nan sionn, Toradh ga chur ann, Le al, le agh, toirinn, le sonas. INCANTATIONS 85 THE CHARM OF THE FIGWORT I WILL pluck the fig wort, With the fruitage of sea and land, The plant of joy and gladness, The plant of rich milk. As the King of kings ordained, To put milk in pap and gland, As the Being To of life ordained. place substance in udder and kidney. With With With milk, with milkiness, with butter milk, produce, with whisked whey, with milk-product, speckled female calves. Without male calves, With progeny, with joy, with With fruitage. love, with charity, with bounty, Without man of evil wish, Without woman of evil eye. Without malice, without envy, without Without hipped bear, Without wilderness dog. Without scan ' ' toirinn,'' foirinn,' Obtaining hold of the rich dainty Into which this shall go. Figwort of bright lights, Fruitage to place therein, With VOL. II. fruit, with grace, with joyance. F 2 UIBE 86 AN TORRANAN UAINIDH mi an torranan, Le toradh mara 's tir, Ri lionadh gun traghadh, Le d' laimh, a Mhoire mhin. Calum caomh da m' sheoladh, Odhran naomh da m' dhion, 'S Bride nam ban buadhaeh Cur bhuadh anns an Mar a dh' orduich Righ nan righ, Bainne chur an Mar cicli 's an carr, a dh' orduich Ri nan dul, Sugh a chur an uth Ann Ann Ann Ann 's an ar. an uth bruc, an uth brae, an uth mure, an uth marc. Ann an Ann an An ni. uth urc, uth arc, uth gobhar, othasg, agus caora, Maoiseach, agus mart. [160] INCANTATIONS THE FIGWORT I WILL pluck the figvvort, With the fullness of sea and land, At the flow, not the ebb of the tide, By thine hand, gentle Mary. The kindly Colum directing me. The holy Oran protecting me. Whilst Bride of women beneficent Shall put fruitage in the kine. As the King of kings ordained. To put milk in breast and gland, As the Being of To put sap in life ordained, udder and teat. In udder of badger. In udder of reindeer, In udder of sow (?), In udder of mare. In udder of sow (?), In udder of heifer, In udder of goat, ewe, and sheep. Of roe, and of cow. 87 UIBE 88 Le Le Le Le bliochd, le blachd, le bladh, bair, le dair, le toradh, laoigh bhoirionn, bharr, al, le agh, le sonadh. Gun fear mi-ruin, Gun bhean mi-shuil, Gun ghnu, gun tnu, Gun aon donadh. An ainm nan ostal deug, An ainm Mathar De, An ainm Chriosda fein, Agus Phadruig. [da INCANTATIONS With milk, with cream, with substance, With rutting, with begetting, with fruitfulness, With female calves excelling. With progeny, with joyance, with blessing. Without man of evil wish. Without woman of evil eye, Without malice, without envy, Without one evil. name of the apostles twelve, name of the Mother of God, In name of Christ Himself, In In And of Patrick. 89 — — UIBE 90 EOLAS AN TORRANAIN UAINIDH [lei] mi an torranan, Le mile beannachd, le mile buaidh. Bride bhith dha chonall dhomh. Moire mhin dha thoradh dhomh, Moire mhor, Mathair chobhair an t-sluaigh. Thainig na naoi sonais, Le na naoi marannan, A bhuain an torranain, Le mile beannachd, Le mile beannachd, Lamh le mile buaidh- le mile buaidh. Chriosda liom, Fath Chriosda rium, Sgath Chriosda tharam, Tha mo Tha mo lus allail an alios a bhuain lus allail an alios a bhuain. An ainm Athar ais, An ainm Criosda Phais, An ainm Spiorad grais, An agallaich mo bhais, Nach fag mi gu Luan An agallaich mo bhais, Nach fag mi gu Luan. —— — INCANTATIONS 91 THE CHARM OF THE FIGWORT I WILL cull the figwort, Of thousand blessings, of thousand virtues, The calm Bride endowing it to me. The fair Mary enriching it to me, The great Mary, aid-Mother of the people. Came the nine joys. With the nine waves. To cull the figwort. Of thousand Of thousand blessings, of thousand virtues blessings, of thousand virtues. The arm of Christ about me. The face of Christ before me. The shade of Christ over me. My My In In In noble plant is being culled noble plant is being culled. name name name Who of the Father of wisdom, of the Christ of Pasch, of the Spirit of grace. my death, Doom Who in the struggles of my death, Will not leave me till Doom. in the struggles of Will not leave me till UIBE 92 AN EARNAID SHITH UAINIDH mi an earnaid, Le earlaid a bruth, Chur barrlait air gach Fad 's is Earnaid Mo earnaid sliith, ainreit. i. earnaid shith, niarach an neach dh' Ni bheil Nach [162] ni niu am bi, iadhadh grein, bheil di-se le buaidh reidh. Buainidh mi a chraobh urramach Bhuain Moire mhor, Mathair chobhair an t-sluaigh, Chur dhiom gach sgeula sguana, sgulanach, Dim-bith, dim-baigh, dim-buaidh, Fuailisg, guailisg, duailisg, doilisg, Gun teid mi dh' an fhuar lie fo''n talanih. INCANTATIONS 93 THE FAIRY WORT Pluck With the fairy wort. will I expectation from the fairy bower, To overcome every oppression, As long be fairy wort. as it Fairy wort, fairy wort, I envy the one who has thee. There is But to her a sure victory. is Pluck nothing the sun encircles, will I mine honoured plant Plucked by the great Mary, helpful Mother of the people. To cast oft' me every tale of scandal and flippancy, Ill-hfe, ill-love, ill-luck. Hatred, Till I go falsity, fraud and vexation. in the cold grave beneath the sod. ; UIBE 94 EARll THALMHAINN [163] UAINIDH mi an earr reidh, Gum bu cheinide mo chruth, Gum bu bhlathaide mo bheuil, Gum bu gheinide mo ghuth. Biodh mo ghuth mar ghath na Biodh Gum Gum Gum Gum mo bheuil eiii h-uile duine, leoin duine mi. AN EARR-THALMHAINN BuAiNiDH mi an earr reidh, Gum Gum Gum Gum Gum bu treuinide mo bhas, bu bhlathaide mo bheuil, bu ceumaide mo bu h-eilean mi bu carraig mi chas air muir, air tir, Leonar liom gach duine, Cha grein, nan subh. bu h-eilean mi air muir, bu tulach mi air tir. bu reuil mi ri ra dorcha, bu lorg mi dhuine cli, Leonaidh mi a Cha mar leon duine mi. [164] ; INCANTATIONS 95 THE YARROW I WILL pluck the yarrow fair. That more benign shall be my face, That more warm shall be my lips, That more chaste shall be my speech. Be my speech the beams of the sun, Be my lips the sap of the strawberry. May 1 be an isle in the sea. May I be a hill on the shore. May I be a star in waning of the May I be a staii' to the weak, Wound can I every man, Wound can no man me. moon. THE YARROW I WILL pluck the yarrow fair, That more brave shall be my hand, That more warm shall be my lips. That more swift shall be my foot May May That I an island be at I a rock be on land, I can afflict No man can sea. any man. afflict me. — UIBE 96 ACHLASAN CHALUIM-CHILLE Saint John's wort is known by various names, the plant in the minds of the people : all significant [les] of the position of — 'achlasanChaluim-chille,' armpit package of Columba; caod Chaluim-chille,' hail of Columba seun Chaluim-chille,' charm of Columba; 'send Chaluim chUle,' jewel of Columba; 'alius Chaluimchille,' glory of Columba ; alla-bhi,' alia Mhoire,' noble plant of Mary ' ; ' ' ' ; alla-bhuidhe,' noble yellow plant. ' Possibly these are pre-Christian terms to which are added the endearing names of Mary and Columba. Saint John's wort is one of the few planLs still cherished by the people to ward away second-sight, enchantment, witchcraft, evil eye, and death, and to ensure peace and plenty in growth and of the tlie house, increase and prosperity in the fold, and fruition in the field. women and in the John's wort, however, is The plant vests of the effective only When this occurs expressed secretly secured in the bodices when the plant the joy of the finder is is left great, mise m' achlasan, achan ri nio Righ, Chosga fuath nam fear fiila, Chosga meanm nam ban bith. Buainidh mise m' achlasan, Mar achan ri mo Righ, Gur liom-sa buaidh an achlasain Thar gach neach a chi. Buainidh mise m' achlasan, Mar achan An ris an Tri, sgath Triura nan gras, Affus Moire Mathair los. armpit. Saint accidentally found. : UAINIDH Mar is men, under the and gratefully — INCANTATIONS SAINT JOHN'S ' Gun Without search, without seeking Please God and Christ Jesu sireadh, gun iarraidh Dheoin Dhia agus Chriosda Am bliadhna chan fhaigheas ! This year bas. when found prized An ti Cha There bhi is gu brath gun ! shall not die. auguring peace and The person who discovers it says : Saint John's wort. Saint John's wort, Happy those who have thee. Whoso gets thee in the herd's fold. Shall never be without kine. bi. ail, ni.' among a tradition his person Christ, am a gheobh an cro an I in the fold of the flocks, prosperity to the herds throughout the year. 'Allabhi, aUabhi, Mo niarach a neach dh' WORT Saint John's wort, Saint John's wort, Achlasan Chaluim-chille, It is specially 97 the people that Saint Columba carried the plant on because of his love and admiration for him who went about preaching and baptizing the converted, clothed in a garment of camel's hair and fed upon locusts and wild honey. I WILL cull my plantlet, my As a prayer to To To quiet the wrath of men of blood, check the wiles of wanton women. I will cull As King, my plantlet, a prayer to my That mine may be Over King, its power all I see. I will cull my As a prayer plantlet, to the Three, Beneath the shade of the Triune of grace. And II. of Mary the Mother of Jesu. G UIBE 98 ACHLASAN CHALUIM-CHILLE UAINIDH mi mo choinneachan, Mar choinneamh ri mo naomh, Chasga fuath nam fear foille, Agus boile nam ban baoth. Buainidh mi m' achlasan, Mar achainidh Gur liom-sa buaidh an achlasain, ri m' Righ, Thar gach neach a Buainim an duille chi. gu h-ard, Mar a dh' orduich an t-Ard Righ, An ainm Tri Naomh nan agh, Agus Moire, Mathair Chriosd. [les] INCANTATIONS ST COLUMBA'S I WILL pluck what I PLANT meet. communion with my As in To stop the wiles of wily men, And saint, the arts of foolish women. pluck my Columba plant, As a prayer to my King, That mine be the power of Columba 's I will Over every one I will I see. pluck the leaf above. As ordained of the High King, In name of the Three of glory. And of Mary, Mother of Christ. plant. UIBE 100 ACHLASAN CHALUIM-CHILLE CHLASAIN Gun Chaluim-chille, sireadh, gun iarraidh, Achlasain Chaluim-chille, Fo m' righe gu siorruidh ! Air shealbh dhaona. Air shealbh mhaona, Air shealbh mhianna, Air shealbh chaora, Air shealbh mhaosa, Air shealbh iana. Air shealbh raona. Air shealbh nihaora. Air shealbh iasga, Air shealbh bhliochd Air shealbh shliochd Air shealbh bhlar Air tir, air lir, is bhuar, is is shluagh, bhuadh, air cuan, Trid an Tri ta shuas, Trid an Tri ta nuas, Trid an Tri ta buan, Achlasain Chaluim-chille, Ta mis a nis da Ta d' bhuain, mis a nis da d' bhuain. [i67] INCANTATIONS ST COLUMBA'S PLANT Plantlet of Columba, Without seeking, without searching, Plantlet of Columba, Under my arm for ever ! For luck of men. For luck of means, For luck of wish (?), For luck of sheep. For luck of goats, For luck of birds, For luck of fields. For luck of shell-fish, For luck of fish. For luck of produce and kine, For luck of progeny and people, For luck of battle and victory, On land, on sea, on ocean. Through the Three on high. Through the Three a-nigh. Through the Three eternal, Plantlet of Columba, I cull thee I cull VOL. II. now, thee now. 101 UIBE 102 EALA-BHI, EALA-BHI ALA-BHI, Mo eala-bhi. am bi, mo latnh dheas, mo lamh chli, niarach neach aig Buaineam thu Teasdam thu Ga ba Cha [les] co a le le gheabh thu bhi e gu brath gun 'n cro an ni. ail, INCANTATIONS SAINT JOHN'S Saint John's wort, Saint My John''s wort, envy whosoever has thee, I will I WORT pluck thee with will preserve thee Whoso my right hand, my left hand, with findeth thee in the cattle fold, Shall never be without kine. 103 —— —— ! UIBE 104 AN CRITHIONN The [i69] gu bheil an crithionn crion air a chroiseadh tri turais banned three times. The aspen is banned the first time because it haughtily held up its head while all the other trees of the forest bowed their heads lowly down as the King of all created things was being led to Calvary. And the aspen is banned the second time because it was chosen by the enemies of Christ for the cross upon which to crucify the Saviour of mankind. And the aspen is banned the third time because [here the reciter's memory failed people of Uistsay that the hateful aspen ' ' is ALLACHD ort, a chrithinn chrann Ort a chrochtadh Righ nam beann, 'S na bhualtadh tarrann gun lann, "S bha 'n sparradh cheusda sin Bha 'n sparradh cheusda Mallachd ort, a chrithinn Ort a chrochtadh Righ lobairt Firinn, Is fhuil Uan gun gle theann sin gle theann. chruaidh truaill, na taosg a taom' a nuas Fhuil na taosg a taom' a nuas. Mallachd ort, a chrithinn chrin ! Ort a chrochtadh Righ nan righ, Is mallaichte gach suil a chi. Mar Mar ! nam buadh, mallaich i thu, a chrithinn chrin mallaich i thu, a chrithinn chrin ! — — — INCANTATIONS 105 THE ASPEN him]. Hence the ever-tremulous, ever-quivering, ever-quaking motion of the guilty hateful aspen even in the stillest air. Clods and stones and other missiles, as well as curses, are hurled at the aspen The by the people. always took of he saw it. his No reciter, a man of much natural intelligence, said that he bonnet and cursed the hateful aspen in crofter in Uist would use aspen about harrows, or about his farming implements of any kind. his all sincerity wherever plough or about his Nor would a fisherman use aspen about his boat or about his creels or about any fishing-gear whatsoever. Malison be on thee, O aspen tree ! On thee was crucified the King of the mountains, In whom were driven the nails without clench, And that driving crucifying was exceeding sore That driving crucifying was exceeding sore. Malison be on thee, On O aspen hard thee was crucified the Sacrifice of Truth, Lamb His blood in streams His blood in streams Malison be on thee, O ! King of glory. without blemish. down pouring down pouring. aspen cursed ! On thee was crucified the King of kings, And malison be on the eye that seeth thee. If it maledict thee not, thou aspen cursed If it maledict thee not, thou aspen cursed ! ! — UIBE 106 SEAMARAG NAM BUADH [170] Some of the people say that the four-leaved shamrock is the shamrock of luck. Others maintain that the shamrock of luck is the five-leaved shamrock. This is a very rare plant and much prized when found. The shamrock of luck must be found, like many of the other propitious plants, gun sireadh, gim iarraidh ' without searching, without seeking. When — ' thus discovered the lucky shamrock is warmly cherished and preserved as an invincible talisman. ' Seamarag nan buadh,' shamrock of luck, is often lovingly called seamarag beannachd,' shamrock of luck and of blessing. ' nam buadh agus nam SHEAMARAG A fas fo nam buadh, bhruaich Air na sheas Moire shuairce, Mathair De. Tha na seachd sonais. Gun sgath donais Ort, a mhoth-ghil Nan gath grein Sonas slainte, Sonas chairde, Sonas taine, Sonas treuid, Sonas mhac, Mhurn is mhin-gheal, Sonas siocha, Sonas De Ceithir dhuilleagan na luirge dirich, Na A nam meanglan ceud, La Fheill Moire, luirge dirich a friamh sheamarag gheallaidh Buaidh is beannachd thu each re. [coi^ — ! ' INCANTATIONS 107 SHAMROCK OF LUCK seamarag nan 'seamarag an deocain,' shamrock of the 'deocan,' seamarag an deocadain,' shamrock of the deocadan,' and simply deocan and It is also called ' searaarag nan each," horse shamrock, ' searrach,' foal shamrock, ' ' ' ' deocadan. Immediately after birth the foal throws up a pale soft substance resembling a sponge or the seed-cells of the cod. This sponge-like substance coughed up by the newly-born foal is variously called deocan, deocadan, deocardan.' The people bury this in the ground, believing that the lucky shamrock grows from it ' ' as the nettles grow from human remains, whether buried in the pure in the pure peat moss on the mountain-side. shelly sand on the sea-shore or Thou shamrock of good omens, Beneath the bank growing Whereon stood the gracious Mary, The Mother of God. The seven joys are. Without evil traces, On thee, peerless Of the sunbeams one Joy of health, Joy of friends, Joy of kine, Joy of sheep, Joy of sons, Daughters and fair, Joy of peace, Joy of God The four leaves of the straight stem, Of the straight stem from the root of the hundred Thou shamrock of promise on Mary's Day, Bounty and blessing thou art at all times. [five rootlets, UIBE 108 SEAMARAG NAM BUADH SHEAMARAG nan duilleag, A sheamarag nam buadh, A sheamarag nan duilleag, Bha A aig Muire sheamarag Is ailinde fo bhruaich, mo ghraidh, snuadh, B' e mo mhiann Thu bhi fas air m' uaigh, anns a bhas, B' e mo mhiann Thu bhi fas air m' uaigh. anns a bhas, [ni] INCANTATIONS THE SHAMROCK OF POWER Thou shamrock of foliage, Thou shamrock of power, Thou shamrock of foliage, Which Mary had under the bank. Thou shamrock of my love. Of most beauteous I hue, would choose thee To grow I on my in death. grave, would choose thee To grow on my in death. grave. 1Ò9 UIBE 110 AM MOTHAN The mothan ' ' of the people. (bog-violet ?) It is used [172] one of the most prized plants is in the occult science promoting and conserving the happiness of the in people, in securing love, in ensuring life, in bringing good, and in warding away- evil. When the ' raothan ' is used as a love-philtre, the woman who gives it goes upon her left knee and plucks nine roots of the plant and knots them together, The woman places the ring in the mouth of ring. forming them into a cuach the girl for whom it is made, in name of the King of the sun, and of the moon, and of the stars, and in name of the Holy Three. When the girl meets her lover or a man whom she loves and whose love she desires to secure, she puts the ring in her mouth. And should the man kiss the girl while the mothan is in her ' ' — ' mouth be becomes henceforth her bondsman, bound infinitely finer ' to her everlastingly in cords than the gossamer net of the spider, and infinitely stronger than adamant chain of the giant. The mothan is placed under parturient women to ensure delivery, and It is sewn by it is carried by wayfarers to safeguard them on their journeys. women in their bodice, and by men in their vest under the left arm. Thug mi am mothan beannaichte do An old woman in Benbecula said the ' ' : — ' Ruaraidh i-uadh mac Raoghail Leothasaich as a Cheann-adeas agus e air a thuras do Loch-nam-madadh, dol ga fhiachain air bialabh an t-siorram agus fhuair e dheth ge do — I gave the e co ciontach 's a chionta ri mac peacaich blessed " mothan " to red Roderick son of Ranald of Lewis ' bha ' UAINIDH mi am mothan suairce, Mar a bhuain Righ buadhach domhan An ainm Athar, agus Mic, agus Spioraid ; buan, Bride agus Moire, agus Micheal romham. Mi anns a bhlar ghabhaidh dhearg, Anns an traoghar gach fraoch is fearg, Aobhar gach sonais, agus gach solais, Sffiath an Domhnaich dha m' dhion. ; ' HI INCANTATIONS THE MOTH AN' from the South-end (of Uist), and he on his journey to Lochraaddy to be tried before the sheriff, and he got off although he was as guilty of the guilt as the son of a sinner.' Ach a ' Chairistine carson a thug sibh agaibh gun robh e ciontach — Saoilidh ? mi am mothan fein dh'an duine agus fios nach robh e ceart dhiiibh a dhol But, Christina, why did you give the '• mothan " to the man ga dheanamh when you knew that he was guilty ? I think myself it was not right of you to go and do it O bhidh 's aodaich a ghraidhean mo chridhe agus a ghaoilean mo dhaoine, cha b' urra dhomh fhein dhol ga dhiultadh. Bhoinich e orm, agus ' ' ! ' ' ! bhochain e orm, agus bhoidich e orm, agiLS chuir e rud Righ na gile am laimh, agus na greine, agus nan corracha ceuta, curra, de 's fhein a gh' radh no b' urra O ! a dhomh dheanamh agus an duine dona na dhubh-eigin na dhearg- theinn agus na chruaidh-chas '— O food and clothing! thou dear one of my and thou loved one of my people, I could not myself go and refuse him. He besecched to me, and he swelled to me, and he vowed to me, and he placed a thing in ray hand, and oh King of the moon, and of the sun, and of the beautifid, sublime stars, what could I myself say or do, and the bad man in his black trouble, in his red difficulty, and in his hard plight I remembered Bacon and was silent. ' heart, ! ! ' To drink from harm. the milk of an animal that ate the a If man makes bainne na bo ba a dh' ith a miraculous escape am mothan that ate the " mothan." I am not sure what the plant I ' is ' — ' He drank mothan it is ' ensures immunity said of him, ' Dh' the milk of the guileless — perhaps the bog-violet. WILL pluck the gracious 'mothan,' As plucked the victorious King of In name of Father and of Son and Bride, and I in the field the universe of Spirit everlasting, Mary, and Michael, before me. of red conflict. In which every wrath and fury are quelled, The cause of The all joy and gladness. shield of the Lord protecting me. ol e cow UIBE 112 AM MOTHAN UAINIDH mi [173] am mothan, Luibh nan naodh alt, Buainidh agus boinichidh, Do Bhride bhorr Buainidh mi A 's dh' a Dalt. am mothan, Righ nam feart, dh' orduich Buainidh agus boinichidh. Do Mhoire mhor Buainidh mi A am 's dh' a Mac. mothan, dh' orduich Righ nan dul, Bheir buaidh air gach foirneart, Is ob air obi shul. INCANTATIONS THE 'MOTH AN' Pluck will I the ' mothan,' Plant of the nine joints, Pluck will I To Pluck and vow me. noble Bride and her Fosterling. will I the ' mothan,' As ordained of the Pluck and vow me. will I To Pluck great will I As ordained King of power, Mary and the ' her Son. mothan,' of the King of life, To overcome all oppression, And the spell of evil eye. 113 UIBE 114 AM MOTHAN UAINIDH An luibh mis am mothan luachmhoire is [i74] suairce, 's an torn, Dulagan nan seachd sagart, 'S an agallaich a ta Gur liom an Fad 's ciall a bhios 's n' an com. an codhail. am mothan liom. CEUS-CHRANN NAM BUADH A cHEUs-CHRANN cliaomh nam buadh, A naomhaich Mac Moire Mac Moire fuil [ns] naomh an Uain, nam buar, min, Dalta Bride mor, Mathair chobhair an t-sluaigh. no Ni bheil tur, Ni bheil cith, Ni bheil led, Ni bheil frith, tir, no cuan, no li, no fruan, Nach bheil domh-sa reidh, Le comhnadh ceus nam buadh, Nach bheil domh-sa reidh, Le comhnadh ceus nam buadh. INCANTATIONS THE 'MOTHAN' I WILL pluck the gracious ' Plant most precious in the That mine be the And mothan,'' field, holiness of the seven priests, the eloquence that is within them. That mine be their wisdom and While the mothan is mine. ' their counsel. ' THE PASSION-FLOWER OF VIRTUES Thou passion-flower of virtues beloved. Sanctified by the holy blood of the Lamb, Son of Mary Foster Son of Bride of kine. fair, Son of Mary great, helpful Mother of the people. There is There is no lake, no ocean. There is no pool, no water, There is no That By is no earth, no land. forest, not to me no steep. full safe. the protection of the passion-flower of virtues. But By is to me full safe, the protection of the passion-flower of virtues. 115 ' — UIBE 116 GARBHAG AN T-SLEIBH ARBHAG an t-sleibh air mo [ne] shiubhal, Chaneirich domh beud no pudhar; Cha mharbh garmaisg, cha dearg iubhar Cha riab grianuisg no glaislig uidhir mi. AN DEARG-BHASACH Ceiosd ag imeachd 'S mi, [nv] le ostail, a briste tosd thubhairt e ' Ciod e ainm na lusa seo ' Is e An ? ainm na lusa seo dearg-bhasach, Bos deas De a Mhic Agus a chos chli.' [chasach — ; INCANTATIONS 117 THE CLUB-MOSS The club-moss is on my person, No harm nor mishap can me befall No sprite shall slay me, no arrow shall wound No fay nor dun water-nymph shall tear me. THE RED-PALMED Christ walking with His apostles, And breaking silence He said What is the name of this plant ? ' ' The name of this plant is The red-palmed, The right palm of God the Son ' And His left foot.' [stalked me, UIBE 118 A CHLOIMH CHAT UAINIDH Mar mi a chloimh chat, a bhuain Mathair Chriosda tromh glac. Air bhuaidh, Air chual, Gun Gun Gun Gun 's air bhuar, air bhleoghanii, air chall uan, thoradh na tana, gun chall maosa, chall bo, chall gun chall caora, gun chall lara. chall laogha, maona, gun chall carda, A uchd Ti nan 'S nan cursa comhla. dul, A CHLOIMH CHAT BuAiNiDH mi fhin a chloimh chat, An bhuain Bride mhin tromh glac. lion a Air bhuaidh, air bhuar, air thoradh, Air dhair, air chairr, air bhleoghann. Air laoigh bhoineann bhailgionn. Mar [178] a thubhradh anns an deailgne. [179] INCANTATIONS 119 THE CATKIN WOOL I WILL pluck the catkin wool, As plucked For luck, For herds, Without Without Without Without Mother of Christ through her palm, for increase, for cattle. loss of lamb, without loss of goat, loss of loss From And the for kine, for milking. without loss of sheep, loss of cow, without loss of mare, calf, of means, without loss of friends, the bosom of the God of life, the courses together. THE CATKIN WOOL Pluck The For will I myself the catkin wool, lint the lovely Bride culled through her palm, success, for cattle, for increase, For pairing, For female for uddering, for milking, calves, white bellied. As was spoken in the prophecy. UIBE 120 EOLAS A BHUN DEIRG In making [180] the incantation of the red water, the exorcist forms her into a basin. She places this basin cow or other animal affected, and throws the N urine into water. ainm Athar caoimh, An ainm Mic na caoidh, An ainm Spioraid Naoimh, Amen. Muir mor, muir ruadh, Neart mara, neart cuain, Naoi tobraiche Mhic-a-Lir, Cobhair ort a Casg a chur Ruith a chur [An shil, air t-f huil, air t-fhual. t-ainmJ] two pahus under the urine of the INCANTATIONS 121 INCANTATION OF THE RED WATER away the demon of the complaint. Having washed her hands in clean cold water, the woman forms them into a trumpet. She then faces the rising sun, and intones the incantation through the trumpet preferably running water, to carry as loudly as she can. name name In name In of the Father of love. In of the Son of sorrow, of the Sacred Spirit. Amen. Great wave, red wave, Strength of The sea, strength of ocean, nine wells of Mac-Lir, Help on thee Put stop to pour. to thy blood. Put flood to thy urine. [The name.] UIBE 122 EOLAS BUN DEIRG A mis a nis air leirg, Traogh' fraoich Deanamh [i8i] is feirg, bhun eolas a deirg, Dh' an bho bhailg dhuibh. Air bhlioclid, air bhlaclid, air bhlalh, Air omhan agus ais, Air slaman agus slaig. Air im, air cais, air griith. Air aghar agus agh, Air damhair agus dair, Air taghar agus tan, Air rathaich agus ruth. Naoi tobraiche Mhic-an-Lir, Cobhair ort a Casg a chur shil, air t-f huil, Ruith a chur air t-f hual, A bho bhuar, dhubh. Muir mor, Eas ruadh, Casg fuil, Ruith fual. INCANTATIONS RED WATER CHARM I AM now on the plain, Reducing wrath and Making To fury, the charm of the red water, the beauteous black cow. For milk, for milk substance, for milk produce. For whisked whey, For curdled milk, For butter, for milk riches. for milk plenty, for cheese, for curds. For progeny and prosperity. For rutting time and rutting. For desire and kine. For passion and prosperity. The nine wells of Mac-Lir, Relief on thee to pour. Put stop to thy blood. Put run to thy urine, Thou cow of cows, black cow. Great Red sea. cascade, Stop blood. Flow urine. 123 UIBE 124 EOLAS A GHALAR FHUAIL OLAS ta agam air a ghalar fhuail. Air a ghalar a ta buan Eolas ta agam ; air a ghalar dhearg. Air a ghalar a ta garg. Mar a ruitheas abhuinn fhuar, Mar a mheileas muileann luath, Fhir a dh'orduich Casg tir is muir, air fhuil, ruith air fhual. An ainm Athar, agus Mic, An ainm Spioraid Naoimh. [iss] ; INCANTATIONS 125 THE GRAVEL CHARM I HAVE a charm for the gravel disease, For the disease that I is have a charm for the red For the disease that As runs a is perverse disease, irritating. river cold, As grinds a rapid mill. Thou who didst ordain land and Cease the blood and In let flow name of Father, and of Son, In name of Holy Spirit. sea, the urine. ' ' UIBE 126 AN STRINGLEIN ACH 's an stringlein,' Orsa Calum-cille. ' Tillidh mis e,' Thubhairt Criosd. ' Moch Di-domhnaich ? Orsa Calum-cille. ' Romh eirigh ghreine,' Thubhairt Criosd. ' Tri postachan anns an tobar,' Orsa Calum-cille. ' Togaidh mis iad,' Thubhairt Criosd. ' An leighis sin e ? Ors Eoin Baistidh. ' Barantaich e,' Thubhairt Criosd. [183] ' INCANTATIONS 127 THE STRANGLES ' A HOESE in strangles,' Quoth Coluniba. ' 1 will turn it,' Said Christ. On Sunday morning Quoth Coluniba. ' 'Ere rise ' ? of sun,' Said Christ. Three pillars in the Quoth Columba. ' ' I will lift well,' them,' Said Christ. ' Will that heal him Quoth John the ' Assuredly,' Said Christ. ? Baptist. UIBE 128 SIAN SIONNAICH The [i84] fox was the plague of the people of the Highlands, killing their sheep as the wolf killed their cattle, and as the foumart killed their fowls. From the wildness of the land and the sparseness of the people, the Highlands were the natural habitat of beasts and birds of prey and other noxious creatures, which took the much time and trouble to subdue. Much could be written of the intelligence of the fox. One of the tales illustrating this intelligence is known as Sionnach na Maoile '—the Fox of the people ' Mull [of Kintire]. This fox never committed destruction near his He make home— always sometimes ten or twenty miles. caused much injury to the sheep that he attacked, and to the dogs that going considerable distances to his raids, When pressed, the fox leaped over a certain precipice and the dogs The dogs were found dead on the rocks below, but not the fox, who in due time turned up as before. Nothing could be seen from above nor from below the precipice to account for the immunity of the fox. No shelf or ledge could be seen whereon the fox could leap, and the people were puzzled. But the fox-hunter was not satisfied, and procuring ropes, he went down the precipice and examined it carefully. He found a sapling mountain ash growing out of the rock, and marked as if to distinguish it from the saplings of ordinary ash, bramble, plane, and other woods which were growing in the neighbourhood. And he chased him. leaped over after him. lODH sian a choin-choille, Mu chasaibh an t-sionnaich, Mu nihiann, mu ghoile, Mu shlugaid a ghionaich, Mu chorr fhiacail chorraich, Mu chorran a mhionaich. Biodh sian an Domhnaich mu chaorail, Sian Chriosda chaoimh-ghil, chaoin-ghil, Sian Mhoire mhin-ghil, mhaoth-ghil, Romh Romh romh dhaonail, romh chona shaoghail, chona, romh iana, chona shithil, Far an t-saoghail a bhos, far an t-saoghail thall. ' INCANTATIONS 129 THE SPELL OF THE FOX found that by bending the marked mountain ash to a certain degree from perpendicular and at a certain angle to the plane of the precipice, it its touched a narrow thread-like sinuous ledge that might yield a precarious footing to a cat, to a marten, or possibly to a fox. and down the cliff. This ledge led The fox-hunter cut the marked away to other ledges sapling, securing it, up however, When the next havoc of the sheep had occurred, and the next had followed, the fox was found dead at the foot of the the marked mountain ash in his mouth Choosing the tough mountain in its place. pursuit of the fox precipice, ! ash sapling in preference to the other less tough saplings showed sagacity, leaping from the precipice and seizing the sapling in mid-air to arrest his fall showed courage, and taking the precipice at an angle by which to get the sapling to land him in the only possible spot showed intelligence of a high order in the The scene of this story has ever since been called Creag an t-Sionnaich fox. ' — precipice of the fox. The conduct of this ri Kintire. ' fox gave rise to sionnach ruadh Maol Chinntire,' 'Co Co siogada seolta ri ri ' Co carrach — as cunning as the fox of ' Bheir e leis a chreaig sibh — He will lead you over the cliff as mar a thug an the fox led the hounds. the spell of the wood-dog, the feet of the fox, his heart, on his liver, his gullet of greediness. his surpassing pointed teeth. the bend of his stomach. Be the charm of the Lord upon the sheep-kind. The charm The charm of Christ kindly-white, mild-white. of Mary lovely-fair, tender-fair. Against dogs, against birds, against man-kind. Against fairy dogs, against world dogs. Of VOL. the world hither, of the world thither. II. the Mull. sionnach na Maoile,'— as great-great-great-grand- fatherish as the fox of the Mull. sionnach na todhlairean,' sayings of the people, crafty as the red fox of the Mull of sionnach na Maoile,' sinn seanarach Be On On On On On many — as I UIBE 130 ORA CUITHE UIREAM [185] tan a steach Air bhearn nan speach, Air ghuth mairbh, Air ghuth tairbh, Air ghuth dair. Air ghuth na ba ceire Cionnara, ceannara, cairr, Clach mhor bhun sgonnaig Gun faothachadh, gun lomadh, Na taodaiche tromaidh Bhi slaodadh Gon An ri dronnaig bhur tig latha geal t-Athair, am am Mac, tairr, mair. an Spiorad Naomh, D'ar caomhnadh, d'ar comhnadh, Gun comhlaich mise no mo 's d'ar tiileadh, dhuine sibh. INCANTATIONS PRAYER OF THE CATTLE- FOLD I DRIVE the kine within The gateway On On On On of the herds, voice of the dead, voice of bull, voice of pairing, voice of grayling cow White-headed, strong-headed, of udder. Be the big stone of the base of the couple Without ceasing, without decreasing. As a full-weighted tether Trailing from the hunch of your rump. Till bright daylight The comes in to-morrow. Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, Save you, and shield you, and tend you, Till I or mine shall meet you again. 131 ;; ;; UIBE 132 FEITH MHOIRE [186] Flat moorland is generally intersected with innumerable veins, channels, and Sometimes these are serious obstacles to cattle, more especially to ditches. cows, which are accurate judges. When a cow hesitates to cross, the person driving her throws a stalk or a twig into the ditch before the unwilling animal and sings the Feith Mhoire,' Vein of Mary, to encourage her to cross, and to ' assure her that a safe bridge is and the thorn. The stalk may be wood except the wild before her. grass except the reed, and the twig of any All these are forbidden, or ' crossed of their ungracious conduct to the Gracious One. it carried the sponge dipped in vinegar the aspen because it held up EITH its ; ' of any corn or fig, the aspen, as the people say, because The reed is ' the fig-tree because of crossed its ' because inhospitality ; head haughtily, proud that the cross was made Mhoire, Feith Mhoire Casa curra, Casa curra Feith Mhoire, Feith Mhoire Casa curra fothaibh, Drochaid urra romhaibh. Chuir Moire gas ann, Chuir Bride has ann, Chuir Calum cas ann, Chuir Padra clach f huar. Feith Mhoire, Feith Mhoire Casa curra, Casa curra Feith Mhoire, Feith Mhoire; Casa curra fothaibh, Drochaid urra romhaibh. ; ;;; INCANTATIONS 133 THE DITCH OF MARY — — wood, when all the trees of the forest all save the aspen alone bowed heads in reverence to the King of glory passing by on the way to Calvary ; and the thorn-tree because of its prickly pride in having been made into a crown for the King of kings. Notwithstanding, however, the wand of safety and the hymn of the herdsman, a cow driven against her will sometimes sinks into the ditch while crossing. This may necessitate the assistance of neighbours to extricate her from her helpless position. Is e fear na bo Hence the proverb of its their : — ' — an fheith an tos It is the man of the cow himself who shall go The practice of throwing down the wand and repeating the into the ditch first. Cha hymn gave rise to a proverb among the more sceptical of the people dean thu feith Mhoire orm-s' idir a mhicean Thou wilt not make a vein of Mary ' upon me at all, sonnie. fein theid ' 's : * — ' Ditch of Mary, Ditch of Mary Heron legs, Heron legs ; Ditch of Mary, Ditch of Mary Heron under you. legs Bridge of warranty before you. Mary placed a wand in it, Bride placed a hand in it, Columba placed a foot in Patrick placed a cold stone. Ditch of Mary, Ditch of Mary Heron Heron legs. legs Ditch of Mary, Ditch of Heron legs Mary under you. Bridge of warranty before you. it, — ' ; ; UIBE 134 Chuir Muiril inirr ann, Chuir Uiril mil ann, Chuir Muirinn 'S fion ann, chuir Micheal ann buadh. Feith Mhoire, Feith Mhoire Casa curra, Casa curra Feith Mhoire, Feith Mhoire Casa curra fodhaibh, Drochaid urra romhaibh. ; ; INCANTATIONS Muirel placed myrrh in it, Uriel placed honey in Muirinn placed wine And Michael placed 135 it, in it, in it power. Ditch of Mary, Ditch of Mary Heron Heron legs. legs; Ditch of Mary, Ditch of Heron legs Mary under you, Bridge of warranty before you. ; ; ; UIBE 136 AN EILTD HA Peadail Is eilid ' Tha ''s [187] Pol a dol seachad, is an ro a cur laoigh a breith,' osa Peadail eilid Chi mi gu bheil,' osa Pol. Mar a thuiteas a duille bho 'n chraoibh, Gun ann a thuiteadh a seile gu lar, ' An ainm Athar an aigh agus Mhic an aoibh. Agus Spiorad a ghliocais ghraidh Athar an aigh agus Mhic an aoibh, Agus Spioraid a ghliocais ghraidh.' CALUM-CILLE, PEADAIL, AGUS POL La domh 's mi dol dh' an Roimh, Thachair orm Calum-cille, Peadail, agus Pol, Is e comhradh a bh' aca 's a thachair bhi 'n am beul, Laoigh bheura, bhoirionn, bhailgionn, Mar thubhradh anns an dailgionn. Air an laraich seo gu ceann A uchd Dia nan dul Triath nan triath 's is nan la 's uile bliadhna, bhuadh, nan Cumhachdan siorruidh shuas. [m] ; INCANTATIONS 137 THE HIND Peter and Paul were passing by. While a hind in the path was bearing a fawn ' A hind ' I see it is so,' said ' As her is Paul. foliage falls So may her placenta In name of And ; bearing there,' said Peter from the fall tree. to the ground. the Father of love and of the Son of grace. of the Spirit of loving wisdom ; Father of love and Son of grace, And Spirit of loving wisdom.' COLUMBA, PETER, AND PAUL A I DAY as I was going to Rome, forgathered with Columba, Peter, and Paul, The talk that they Was loud-lunged, white-bellied, female calves, As was spoken On this had and that happened in the in their mouths. prophecy, foundation for a year and a day. Through the bosom of the God of life and all the hosts, Chief of chiefs and of the everlasting- Powers above. ;; ; UIBE 138 EOLAS A MHEIRBHEIN OLAS Dh' Air Air Air [i8 a rinn Calum, aona bho caillich, a chraillich, air a ghaillich. a bholg, air a cholg. a mheirbhein Air a ghalar ghir. Air a ghalar chir, Air a ghalar nihir, Air a ghalar tolg. Air an tairbhein Air a ghalar chil. Air a ghalar nihil, Air a ghalar lioil, Air a ghalar dhearg. Air a mhearchann Sgoiltidh mi an crailleach, Sgoiltidh mi an gaiileach, Sgoiltidh mi am bolg, Sgoiltidh mi an colg, Agus marbhaidh mi am meirbhein Sgoiltidh mi an gir, Sgoiltidh mi an Sgoiltidh mi am cir, mir, Sgoiltidh mi an tolg, Agus falbhaidh an Sgoiltidh mi an Sgoiltidh mi am Sgoiltidh mi an tairbhein cil, mil, lioil, Sgoiltidh mi an dearg, Is seargaidh am mearchann. ; : ; ; ; ; ; INCANTATIONS 139 THE INDIGESTION SPELL The spell made of Columba, To the one cow of the woman, For the crailleach,'' for the gum ' For the bag, for the ' colg,' For the indigestion (?) For For For For For the flux disease. the cud disease, the 'mir' disease, the For the For For For For ' tolg disease, ' the surfeit the ' cil ' mil ' (?) disease, ' disease. the water disease. the red disease, the madness (?) I will cleave the I will cleave the I will cleave the bag, I will cleave the And I will kill ' crailleach,' gum ' colg,' the indigestion I will cleave the flux, I will cleave the cud, I will cleave the I will cleave And drive the ' mir,' ' tolg,' away the I will cleave disease, surfeit (?) the ' cil,' I will cleave the ' mil,' I will cleave the water, I will cleave the red. And (?) wither will the madness (?). disease, UIBE 140 EOLAS CHNAMH CHIR This incantation is said over an animal suffering from surfeit. three times, representing the Three Persons of the Trinity. eating too much [190] grass or from drinking too A dh' ith thu Nan naodh Ma cow is from or other animal nan naodh beann, meall, nan naodh toman, allt, nan naodh lodan, Ghruaigein thruaigh na maodail cruaidh, Cnamh, a A fiar water, the repeated dh' ol thu sian nan naodh steallt, Nan naodh A much It is If the surfeit luaidh, do chir. Ghruaigein thruaigh na maodail cruaidh, Cnamh, a luaidh, do chir. INCANTATIONS 141 CUD CHEWING CHARM chew the cud on being appealed affected begins to to. If the animal does not begin to chew the cud, the cause of swelling must be sought for otherwise, and the appropriate incantation appUed. If thou hast eaten the grass of the nine bens, Of the nine If thou hast Of the Poor ' of the nine hillocks. fells, drunk the water of the nine nine streams, of the nine lakelets. Gruaigein " of the hard paunch. Loved one, chew thou thy cud. Poor ' Gruaigein ' of the hard paunch. Loved one, chew thou thy cud. falls, — ! ' ' — ! ' UIBE 142 EOLAS A CHRANNACHAIN An evil eye or an stream or a Sir ' ' evil spirit is [i9i] powerless across water, especially across a running tidal water. Eoghan Dubh Lochiall feud with Mackintosh of Moy ' — Black Sir about lands Ewen Cameron in Lochaber. ' of Lochiel, was at Gormshul mhor na Moighe '^great Gormul of Moy, the celebrated witch, wished the foe of her chief and of her race. to destroy Lochiel, But, though she nursed her wrath and pursued her course day and night, she could not accomplish her purpose, as running water lay between herself and the object of her hatred. knew way of Lochiel and, although brave to recklessness, he prudently kept out of the this, But on one occasion when Lochiel was returning from a away on the blue horizon away was he, not long was she in reaching him the witch-woman. conference at Inverness, great Gormul saw him far but, if far Gormul — GoRMSHTit ' Ceum Lochiall ' ann, eudail Eoghain.' ' — Step on, beloved Ewen.' Lochiei. Ceum ann thu fhein, a chailleach, 'S ma 's a h-eudar an ceum a ' ghabhail, Ceum ; : — Step on thou thyself, carhn, And if it be necessary to take the step, A step beyond thee a bharrachd aig Eoghan. for Ewen. Ewen Cameron was one of the bravest men in Albain, and one of the best Many a brave Saxon man he met without quailing, and many a hero he laid low, but this fi-oward woman was trying him severely, and Sir walkers in Gaeldom. he was anxious to be rid of her with the least delay of time and Uie least betrayal The witch-woman observed this and the more desperately he pressed on space, the more she pressed on him, while she herself appeared to be only making cas ceum coilich feasgar fann foghair agus a sgroban Ian — the footstep of a cock on a gentle autumn eve when his crop is full. of fear. ; ' ' Gormshul — ' Ceum 'S a Gormul— ann, eudail Eoghain, Righ Goileara 's a Righ Geigean Is fhada fhein o'n latba sin ' Step on, thou beloved Ewen, And oh King Goileam and King ! Geigean ! Long indeed since that day ' — — — INCANTATIONS LOCHIEI.^ ' Step on thou LOCHIALL ' 143 Ceum ann thu fhein, a chailleach, 'S ma 's a h-eudar an ceura a And thyself, carlin, must step the if be taken, ghabhail, A Ceiim a bharrachd aig Eoghan.' Remembering that occult step beyond thee for Ewen." power could not operate across running water, Lochiel The first stream he saw and plunged into it. suddenly swerved aside to the witch, chagrined at the escape of the prey she called after him Durachd rao chridhe dhut, A ghradh nam fear, The his The wish of mine heart to Thou best-beloved of men, ' a Lochiall.' Lochiel LocHiALL ' immediately safe, GORMUL GOHJISnUL ' had thought : Durachd do chridhe, chailleach, Dh'an chlaich ghlais ud thall.' ' thee, Lochiel.' — The wish of thine heart, carlin, Be upon yonder grey stone.' pillared grey stone on the bank of the river to which Lochiel pointed with Gallant courtier though he was. Sir Ewen sword rent from top to base ! Cameron waited to show but scant courtesy to great Gormul of Moy. The influence of an evil spirit commanded by an evil mind is believed to retard or wholly to prevent butter trom coming upon tlie cream in the churn. This evil influence was used by one away woman against another in order to spirit the butter from her neighbour's churn to her could only be done if own carried across a stream, however small, loses its This, however, churn. no stream ran between the two women. A power and occult kindUng fire for is ineffective away milk, cream, butter, or other milk product. The following story was told me in 1870 by Mor Macnelll, cottar. Glen, Barra. in spiriting Sometimes the substance semblance. On is spirited out of the milk, nothing being left but the one occasion a household peats, none remaining at home but in Skye were at the peat-moss the housewife and a tailor and the sons of the house. The housewife was up in the ben churning, and the making who was making clothes for the father ' tailors. fire. He ' tailor was down in the on the meal-girnel, cross-legged, after the manner of Presently a neighbour woman came in and asked for a kindhng for her 'butt' sewing. sat When She took the kindling and went her way. leaped down, and taking a live cinder from the fire, she went out, the tailor placed it in the water-stoup below the dresser, and with a bound was back again cross-legged on the raealgirncl sewing away as before. In a little while the woman came back saying that she failed to kindle her The it tailor leapt in the resumed fire, and asked for another kindling, down again and took another live which she took. cinder out of the fire and put water-stoup below the dresser, and, with a spring to the meal-girnel, his work. The woman came a third time saying that she had failed to ;;;; ;; ; UIBE 144 kindle her fire, and soon as she had placed it in the for the third time she took a kindling left, and went her way. the tailor leapt down, and taking a hve cinder from the As fire, water-stoup as he had done before, and then springing to the top if nothing unusual had occurred. Towards evening the housewife came down in sore distress, saying O Mary and Son, am I not the sorely shamed woman, churning away at that churn the of the meal-girnel sat cross-legged sewing as live-long day till my spirit is broken and — my arms are weary, and that utterly failed to bring butter on the churn after all ! O Mary EOLAS A CHRANNACHAIN y^, HIG na saor, thig ; Thig na daor, thig Thig na caor, thig Thig na maor, thig Thig na faor, thig Thig na baor, thig ; Thig Thig Thig Thig Thig Thig Thig na gaor, thig na caoch, thig na caon, thig na caomh, thig na gaol, thig Thig Thig Thig Thig Thig Thig ; na claon, thig fear a churraig bhuidhe, Chuireas am muighe na saora. na daora, na caora, na maora, na faora, na baora, Thig na gaora, Thig na caocha, ' na ruith. ! I Mary, have fair ; ;; ;; ;; ; INCANTATIONS Mother of grace hear the end of ! what this do when the people come home ? shall I churning till with that the woman my the day of the water-stoup below the dresser and see And 145 death ! ' I shall thy butter be there,' said if never Place thine hand in tlie tailor. placed her hand in the water-stoup as directed, and and each time brought up a large lump of butter as fresh and fragrant as the beauteous butter-cups in their prime. The clever three successive times, and fair tailor had counteracted the machinations of the greedy neighbour woman by placing the live cinders in the water-stoup. CHARM OF THE CHURN Come Come Come Come Come Come Come Come Come Come Come Come Come That will the free, will the come bond, come come will the will the maers, come will the blade, bells, come come hounds, come wild, come mild, come; kind, come loving, come will the sharp, will the will the will the will the will the will the squint, will ; ; come ; he of the yellow cap, will set the churn a-running. The free will come. The bond will come, The bells will come. The maers will come. The blades will come. The sharp will come, The hounds will come. The wild will come. ; UIBE 146 Thig na caona, Thig na caomha, Thig na Thig na gaola, claona, Thig lonia Ian na cruinne, Chur a mhuighe na ruith Thig Cahim caonih na uidheam, ; 'S thig Bride bhuidhe chruidh. Tha glug a seo, Tha glag a seo, Tha glag a seo, Tha glug a seo, Tha slug a seo, Tha slag a seo, Tha slag a seo, Tha slug a seo, Tha seilcheag mhor bhog a seo, Tha brigh gach te dhe'n chrodh Tha rud is foir na mil is beoir, Tha bocan buidhe nodh a seo. a seo, Tha rud is fearr na choir a seo, Tha dorn an t-sagairt nihoir a seo, Tha rud is fearr na chairbh a seo, Tha ceann an duine mhairbh a seo, Tha rud is fearr na fion a seo, Tha Ian cuman Cairistine Do mhiala boga bine seo, Do mhiala boga bine Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuinneag, thig; seo. ; ; INCANTATIONS The mild will come, The kind will come, The loving will come, The devious will come. The brim-full of the globe To 147 come, will churn a-running set the The kindly And the golden-haired Bride of the kine. Columba come will in his array, A splash here, A plash is here, A plash is here, A splash is here, A crash here, is is A squash is here, A A A squash is here, crash is here, big soft snail The is here. sap of each of the cows A A bogle yellow and fresh A thing better than right The A of the big priest fist here. is here, is is of the dead man thing better than wine The Of here, here, thing better than the carcase The head A is thing better than honey and spruce, full live Of is is is here, here, here. of the cog of Caristine things soft and fair are here. live things soft and Come, thou churn, come Come, thou churn, come ; fair are here. ;;; ; ; UIBE 148 Thij;, a bhitheag thig, a ; bheathag Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuthag ; ; thig, a Thig, a chuinneag, thig ; Thig, a chuinneag, thig ; Thig an cheathag ; fliosgag a adhar, 'S this caillcaj; a chinn-duibli. Tiiig, a chuinneag, thig ; Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig an 'S thig Ion, tliig an smeol, an ceol as a bhrugh ; Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chait chaothaich, Chur faoch air do ruch ; Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuinneag, thig. Thig, a nihaduidh, 's caisg do phathadl) Thig, a chuinneag, thig ; Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a bhuichd ; thig, a nuichd Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a dhiola-deirce Is deistiniche ruichd Thig, a chuinneag, thig; Thig, a chuinneag, thig ; Thig, gach creutair acrach. Is dioil tart do chuirp. ; : ;;;; ; ;; ; INCANTATIONS Come, thou life ; come, thou breath (?) 149 ; (?) Come, thou churn, come Come, thou churn, come; Come, thou cuckoo ; conic, thou jackdaw ; Come, thou churn, come; Come, thou churn, come; Come Come will the little lark from the sky. will the little carlin of the black-cap. Come, thou churn, come Come, thou churn, come Come Come will the merle, come will the mavis, will the music from the bower Come, thou churn, come Come, tliou churn, come Come, thou wild cat. To ; ; ease thy throat Come, thou churn, come Come, thou churn, come. ; Come, thou hound, and quench thy thirst Come, thou churn, come Come, thou churn, come Come, thou poor come, thou naked Come, thou churn, come ; ; ; Come, thou churn, come Come, ye alms-deserver Of most distressful moan ; Come, thou churn, come Come, thou churn, come Come, each hungry And 11. creature. satisfy the thirst of thy body. K 2 ; ;;;; ; UIBE 150 Thig. a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuinneag, thig 'S e 'S Dia duileach a chuir oirnn, chan ora caillich le luibh. Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a Mhuire mhin-ghil, Is dilimich nio chuid ; Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuinneag, thig ; Thig, a Bhride bhith-ghil. Is coistrig brigh mo chruidh. Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuinneag, thig Am maistreadh rinn Moire, Air astradh a ghlinne, A lughdachadh a boinne, A mheudachadii a h-ime ; Blathach gu dorn, Im gu uileann Thig, a chuinneag, thig Thig, a chuinneag, thig. ; ;; ;; INCANTATIONS Come, thou churn, come Come, thou churn, come It is the And God ; of the elements who bestowed on not the charm of a carlin with plant. Come, thou churn, come Come, thou churn, come; Come, thou fair-white Mary, ; And endow to me my means come ; Come, thou churn, come ; C^ome, thou churn, Come, thou beauteous Bride, And bless the substance of my Come, thou churn, come Come, thou churn, come The churning made of Mary, In the fastness of the glen. To To decrease her milk, increase her butter Butter-milk to wrist. Butter to elbow 151 ; Come, thou churn, come Come, thou churn, come. kinc. us. — a ; UIBE 152 AN EOIll OIR A CHUIR MOIRE [i92] a chuir Moir Oighe, Dh' an chaillich bha chomhnuidh Air orrlain a ghlinne, Air fircacha fuara Air orrlain a ghlinne, Air fireacha fuara. Chuir i eoir ri seile, Chon meudach a h-ime, Chon lughdach a bainne, Chon tachradh a tuara — Chon meudach a h-ime, Chon lughdach a bainne, Chon tachradh a tuara. [The nun referred to is Brigit, of railkniaid of a mountain-side ; whom Broccau's llijmu says, ' She was not a she wrought in the midst of a plain.' The second an echo of one of the miracles attributed to her in the same hymn when the first dairying was sent with the first butter in a hamper, it kept not from bounty to her guests, their attachment was not diminished,' explained further as follows Brigit serving a certain wizard was wont to give away nuich butter in charity. This displeased the wizard and his wife, who came on her stanza is ' : without notice. stave ' Brigit had only a small churning ready and she repeated this store-room of fair God, a store-room which my King — "My store-room, a has blessed, a store-room with somewhat therein. ' " May Mary's Son, my friend, come to bless my store-room which ray King has blessed, a store-room with somewhat therein. ' " May Mary's Son, ray friend, come to bless my store-room. The may there be plenty with Him. who hast power over all these things Prince of the world to the border ' " O my Prince, cry unforbidden — with thy right hand this store-room." ! Bless, O God— —— INCANTATIONS 153 THE CHARM SENT OF MARY The cliann sent of Mary Virgin, To the nun who was dwelling On the floor of the glen, On the cold high moors On the floor of the glen, On the cold high moors. She put spell to saliva. To increase her butter. To decrease her milk, To make plentiful her food To increase her butter, To decrease her milk. To make plentiful her food. She brought n half cliuining to the wizaril's wife. " That is good to fill a big hamper!" said the wizard's wife. "Fill ye your liamper," said Brigit, "and God will put somewhat therein." She still kept going into her kitchen and bringing half a making thereout and singing a stave of these staves as she went back. If the Iiampers which the men of Mimster'possessed had been given to her she would have filled them all. The wizard and his wife marvelled at the miracle which they beheld. Then said the wizard to Brigit "This butter and the kine which thou hast milked, I offer to thee and thou shalt not be serving ' : ; me but 'Serve the Lord." mother's freedom. Said Brigit: "Take thou the kine, but give me my " Behold thy mother and the kine and Said the wizard whatsoever thou shalt say, that poor and the needy ; : will I do." ; Then and the wizard was baptized and " he was See Broccans Hymn, told at greater length hlherniciis, vol. ii., p. Brigit dealt out the kine to the 331, etc. in the note. Also Lismore Lives, pp. 18-19, 34-35, 150-151, 158-159 of this St Brigit as recorded in the above books. p. full of faith.'" Thesaurus Palwu- 186-7 ; volume with incidents compare also in the Life of UIBE 154 ULC A DHEAN MO LOCHD [193] poems were obtained from Isabella Chisliolm, a travelling tinker. Chisholm was still tall and straight, fine-featured, and freshcomplexioned. She was endowed with personal attraction, mental ability, and astute diplomacy of no common order. Her father, John Chisholm, is said to have This and otiier Though old, Isabella been a pious, prayerfid ' LC man ' — terms a dhean Gun gabh not usually applied to his class. mo e 'ii Isabella lochd galar glue gloc, Guirneanach, gioinieanach, guairneach, Gaornanach, garnanach, gruam. Gum Gum Gum Gum Gum bu bu cruaidhe c na chlach, bu duibhe e na 'n gual, bu luaithe e na 'n lach, bu truime e na 'n luaidli. gointe, gointe, geuirc, gairbbe, guiniche e, Na'n cuilionn cruaidh cnea-chridheacli, Gum bu gairge Seachd seachd e na'n salann sion, sionn, searbh, sailte, uair. A A A tarabal a nail, A dreocbail a suas, A breochail a muigh, turabal a null, treosdail a sios, A geochail a staigh, Dol a mach minic, Tishinn a steach ainmic. INCANTATIONS 155 WICKED WHO WOULD ME HARM 'IHE Chisholm had none of the swarthy skin and far-away look of the ordinary gipsy. But she had the gipsy habits and the gipsy language, variously called 'Cant,' Shelta,' Romany,' with rich fluent Gaehc and linglish. She had many curious ' ' spells, runes, and hymns, that would have enriched Gaelic literature, and many rare words and phrases and expressions that wouldhave improved the Gaelic dictionary. The wicked who May he take the would do me harm [throat] disease, Globularly, spirally, circularly, Fluxy, pellety, horny-f^rim. Be Be it harder than the stone. it blacker than the coal. Be it swifter than the duck, Be it heavier than the lead. Be it fiercer, fiercer, Than Be it sharper, harsher, more malignant. the hard, wound-ciuivering holly. sourer than the sained, lustrous, bitter, salt salt. Seven seven times. Oscillating thither. Undulating hither. Staggering downwards, Floundering upwards. Drivelling outwards. Snivelling inwards. Oft hurrying out. Seldom comin<j in. UIBE 156 Sop an luib gach laimlic, Cas an cois gach cailbhe, Lurg am bun gach ursann, Sput ga chur 's Gearrach fhala ga chairbinn. le cridhe, le crutha, le cnaniha, Le gruthan, le sgumhan, lo Agus sgrudadh cuisil, ugan sganiha, is arna, Dha mo luchd-tair agus tuaileis. All ainni Dhia nam feart, uam gach olc, A shiab 'S a dhion mi Bho lion mo Agus le neart, luchd-freachd fiiathachd. INCANTATIONS 167 A wisp the }3ortion of each hand, A foot in the base of each pillar, A leg the prop of each A Hux driving and dragging him. A dysentery From jamb, of blood from heart, from form, from bones, the liver, from the lobe, from the lungs. And a searching of veins, of throat, and To my contemners and traducers. In name of the God of might. Who warded from me every And who shielded me evil. in strength. From the net of my breakers And destroyers. of kidneys, — UIBE 158 FRITH MHOIRE The 'frith," augury, was a species of divination enabling the to see into the unseen. This divination was condition of the absent and the augury was made on the sunrise. went to [194] first lost, made frithir,' augnrer, to ascertain the position and was applied Monday ' to man and beast. and The of the quarter and immediately before The augurer, fasting, and with bare feet, bare head, and closed eyes, the doorstep and placed a hand on each jamb. Mentally beseeching the God of the unseen to show him his quest and to grant him his augury, the aiigurer opened his From straight in front of him. objects within his sight, he eyes and looked steadfastly the nature and position of the drew his conclusions. lA faram, Dia fodham, Dia romhani, Dia am dheoghainn, Mis air do shlighe Dhia, Thus, a Dhia, air mo luirg. Frith rinn Muire d'a Mac, lobair Bride Am fac thu ri i, a glac. a Kigh nan dul Ursa Righ nan dul gum ? fac. Frith Muire da muirichinn fein, Trath dha bhi Flos firinn gun Gum faic Mac Muire A Le re ri fios mi cuairt, breuige. fein min-ghil, na bheil uam. Righ nan dul, shulachadh domh-s' na bheil uam, gras nach falnaich, nui m' choinneamh, Gu brath nach smalaich 's nach doillich. — INCANTATIONS 159 AUGURY OF MARY Many men and Islands were famed augurers, and many and extremely curious, are still told of their divinations. The people say that the Virgin made an augury when Christ was missing, and that it was by means of this augury that Mary and Joseph ascertained that Christ was in the Temple disputing with the doctors. Hence this divination the augury of Mary; and frithireachd Mhoire,' the is called 'frith Mhoire," auguration of Mary. in the Higlilands stories, realistic, romantic, — The ' frith ' of the Celt is akin to the ' frett surnames Freer, Frere, are modifications of this name claim ' ' of the Norseman. frithir,' augurer. Probably the Persons bearing that their progenitors were astrologers to the kings of Scotland. God God I — ' on over me, God under iiie, God behind me, before me, Thy path, Thou, O O God, God, in my steps. The augury made of Mary to her Son, The offering made of Bride through lier palm, Sawest Thou it. King of life .'' Said the King of life that The augury made by Mary When He He for her saw. own offspring. was for a space amissing, Knowledge of truth, not knowledge of falsehood. That I shall truly see all my quest. Son of beauteous Mary, King of Thou me eyes to With grace that shall Give That .shall see all never my fail, life, quest, before mo. never quench nor dim. V MEASGAIN MISCELLANEOUS ' MEASGAIN 162 CIAD MIARAIL CHRIOSD This poena was obtained in MacmiUan, Malcolm from 1891 [195] crofter, MacmiUan was then an old man. He heard this and many other poems when a boy from old people who, when evicted in Uist, emigrated to Prince Edward's Island, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, Grimnis, Benbecula. and other parts of the Canadian Dominion, and HAIDH Eosai is Mairi Chon aireamh a 'S Ann an Bha 'n Gon a ranuig iad coille tiugh. Is caille dithis a siubhal slighe, CO dearg Sin an t-ani an robh Anns an robh ghabh Bha i Is labliair ' i miann Mairi nialda, ris na subh. ise torrach, giulan Righ nan gras, air sliosrach Le guth nan cuach. anns a choille bha miosan Bha Is suas, chaidh eoin an geall caithream air na miosan an aigh. ri Eosai, miamh, Tabhair miosan domh, Eosai, Gon caisg mi mo mhiann/ Is labhair Eosai 'S an cradh cruaidh na chom, ' Bheir mi Ach CO is 'uit ri Mairi, miosan, a Mhairi, athair dha d' throm ? " MISCELLANEOUS 163 THE FIRST MIRACLE OF CHRIST to Australia. lore with These old people took great quantities of traditional Gaelic their new homes, some of which still lingers among Many original and translated songs of the Highlands and sung among these settlers, whose hearts still yearn towards their theiu to their descendants. Islands are motherland. Joseph and Mary went To the numbering up, And the birds began chorusing In the woods of the turtle-doves. The two were walking the way, Tdl they reached a thick wood, And in the wood there was fruit Which was as red as the rasj). That was the time when she was great, That she was carrying the King of grace. And she took a desire for the fruit That was growing on the gracious Then spoke Mary slope. to Joseph, In a voice low and sweet, ' Give to me of the That And And ' I fruit, may quench my Joseph, desire.' Joseph spoke to Mary, the hard pain in his breast, I will give But who is thee of the fruit, Mary, the father of thy burthen .'' MEASGAIN 164 Sin 'd uair labhair an Leanabh, A mach as a bru, Lub a sios gach geug aluinn, Gon caisg mo Mhathair a ruth.' ' ''S o 'n mheanglan Chon Lub 'S a mheanglan is airde, is isde, iad a sios gon a glun, ghabli Mairi dhe na miosan Ann am An fearann fiosraidh a ruin. sin thuirt Eosai 'S e Ian aithreacliais ri Mairi, trom, Is ann air a ghiulan a tasa, Righ na glorach 's nan grasa. ' Beannaicht thu, Mhairi, Measg mnai gach fonn. Beannaicht thu, Mhairi, Measg mnai gach fonn.' MISCELLANEOUS 165 Then it was that the Babe spoke. From out of her womb, Bend ye down every beautiful bough, Tliat my Mother may quench her desire.' ' And from the bough that was highest, To the bough that was lowest, They all bent down to her knee, And Mary partook of the fruit In her loved land of prophecy. Then Joseph And ' he It is full said to carrying The King Mary, of heavy contrition, Him thou art. of glory and of grace. Blessed art thou, Mary, Among the women of all lands. of all lands.' Blessed art thou, Mary, Among the women L2 MEASGAIN 166 AN OIGH AGUS AN LEANABH HUNNACAS an Oigh a teachd, Criosda gu h-og na h-uchd, Ainghle a lubadh dhaibh umhlachd, Righ nan dul a dubhradh gur ceart. An Oigh is or-dhealta cleachd, An t-Ios is ro ghile na 'n sneachd, Searapha ciuil a seinn an cliu, Righ nan dul a dubhradh gur ceart. DIA NA GILE DiA na gile, Dia na greine, Dia na cruinne, Dia nan reula, Dia nan dile, tir, is neamha, Dh' orduich dhuinne Righ na 'S i 'S e Moire mhin chaidh is diuir a chur air chul, chaidh reul an iuil an aird gu much. Dh' fhoillsich fearann, dh' Dh' a glun, Ti nan dul a chaidh na h-uchd, Chaidh durch 'S air feile. fhoillsich fhoillsich fonn, doltrom agus struth, Leagadh bron is thogadh fonn, Chaidh ceol air bonn le clar is cruth. MISCELLANEOUS 167 THE VIRGIN AND CHILD The Virgin was seen approaching, Christ so young on her breast, Angels making them obeisance. The King of glory saying it is just. The Virgin of gold-bedewed The Jesu whiter than snow, locks, Seraphs of song singing their praise. The King of glory saying it is just. GOD OF THE MOON God of the moon, God God of the globe, God God of the waters, the W^ho ordained Marv of the sun, of the stars, to us the who went upon her knee, life who went upon her It was It was the King of fair Darkness and tears were And and the skies, King of promise. land, lap, set behind, the star of guidance went up early. Illumed the land, iUumed the world, Illumed doldrum and current. Grief was laid and joy was raised. Music was set up with harp and pedal-harp. ; MEASGAIN 168 ^ DTA NA lA na GILE, DIA gile, Dia na NA GREINE [i98] greine, Dh' orduich dhuinne Mac na meine. Muire niin gheal air a glun, Criosda Righ nan dul Is 'n a h-uchd. mise an cleireach stucanach, Dol timcheall nan clach stacanach, Is leir dhomh Is leir dhonih ainghlean Is leir dhomh A tighinn air tulach, is leir air dhonih traigh, an t-snamh, calpa cuimir, cruinn, tir le cairdeas duinn. TEARUINTEACHD NAM FIAL [i99] This verse, the only verse of the poem he could remember, was obtained from John Kane, a native of Ireland. John Kane had many traditional stories of Saint Columba showing that he being dead yet speaketh.' These stories were ' Dkir Calum-cille ruinn, Dh' ifrinn gu brath nach tar am fial Ach luchd na meirle 's luchd nam mionn, Caillidh siad an coir air Dia. ; MISCELLANEOUS 169 GOD OF THE MOON, GOD OF THE SUN God of the moon, Who The God fair Mary upon her Christ the King of I am of the sun, ordained to us the Son of mercy. knee, life in her lap. the cleric established. Going round the founded stones, behold shores, 1 behold mansions, I behold angels floating, I behold the shapely rounded colunui Coming landwards I in friendship to us. SAFETY OF THE GENEROUS vivid and graphic, tlie probable and improbable, possible and impossible, blend- ing and diffusing throughout. CoLUMB.-v tells to us, that To hell the generous shall never go But those who They steal and those who swear. shall lose their right to God. — ! MEASGAIN 170 MATHAR COISTRIG The following lines are whispered of sons and daughters Outer N Isles for the Dia iiior when [aoo] by mothers into the ears homes in the leaving their towns of the south and for foreign lands. bhi eadar do dha shlinnein, Ga do chonihnadh a falbh 's a tilleadh, Mac Moire Oi<rhe bhi an coir do chridhe, S an Spiorad foirfe bhi ort a sileadh O, an Spiorad foirfe bhi ort a sileadh [Aoidh [ Una [ Thorcuil [Shorcha [ Thnsrail [Shlainte. ! — MISCELLANEOUS — 171 MOTHER'S CONSECRATION Probably they are the home among the hills last accents of the mother's voice — heard in the far-away clothed with mist or on the machair washed by the sea that linger on the Gaelic ear as it sinks in the sleep that knows no waking. Be To protect thee in thy going and in thy coining, Be tlie the great And God between thy two shoulders, Son of Mary Virgin near thine heart. be the perfect Spirit upon thee pouring Oh, the perfect Spirit upon thee pouring [Aodh [Uiia [Tonjuil [Light [Tascal [Health. MEASGAIN 172 AM FEAR A CHEUSADH The two in following poems were got in Kintail. They [201] are obscure themselves, and the dialect of Kintail in which tliey were recited HIR a chruchadh air a chribh, Fhir a chiosadh Nis bho dh' Gabh f has le fhaosaid, a ri m'' Chan ioghnadh domh Is minn an mi aosda, Dhia nior is t-sluaigh, liath, mo mi an clab-goileam bochd ! truais. lochd, bua'al], Ri m' oige gun robh mi baoth, Ri m' aois gu bheil mi truagh. Mac Seal mu'n taine Bha Gun ri, 'n ce gun Gun gun ro, chro, De, na lodruich dhuibh. gun re, chre, gun chruth. Shoillsich fearann, shoillsich fonn, Shoillsich an Shoillsich trom f hairge ghlas, an cruinne ce gu leir, Ri linn Mhic De tigh'nn gu teach. Sin 'd uair labhair Moire nan gras, An Oigh bhaigheil a bha ghnath glic, 'D uair thug Eosai dhi-se ghradh, Bu mhiann leis bhi 'n a lathair trie. [binn MISCELLANEOUS 173 HE WHO WAS CRUCIFIED increases their obscurity. The reciters repeated them as one poem, but were uncertain whether tliey were one or two poems. Thou who wert hanged upon And Now the tree. wert crucified by the condemnation of am grown old and grev. Take to my confession-prayer, O God that tlie I ! pity. No wonder to me great is my wickedness, I am a poor clattering cymbal, In my youth I was profane. In my age I am forlorn. A time ere came The the Son of God, earth was a black morass, Without star, without sun, without moon, Without body, without heart, without form. Illumined plains, illumined hills. Illumined the great green sea. Illumined the whole globe together. When the Son of God came to earth. Then it was that spoke the Mary of grace, The Virgin always most kindly and wise, When Joseph gave to her his love. He desired to be often in her presence. people, — — MEASGAIN 174 Bha cumhnant eadar Eos agus Oigh, Ann Gum an ordugh dligheach Le seula Chair iad leis Righ Mor nam chleir a steach niach. Thainig aingeal na dheigh ' Eosai, ciod e 'n : gleus a th' ort P" Fhuair mi boirionnaeh bho Cha dual donih ' ; a dh' orduich an t-Ard Righ Mor, Phos iad mu'n taine ' feart. gu Teampull De, Far an robh a Mar ceart, biodh cuis ga cur air doigh Eosai, fuirich ri do 'n chleir, fein a bhi ceart/ cheil, Chan nodaidh dhuit beud a radh, Gur h-e tK agad an Oigh ghlan. Air nach deachaidh ' Ciamar a chreideas mi Agam fein, mo 'D uair a laigh mi sin nuar sios ri Bha leanabh beo a lamh/ le fear ! uat tha ? fios guar briosg fo crios.' — " MISCELLANEOUS A 175 compact there was between Joseph and Virgin, In order well-becoming and just, That the compact might be confirmed By the seal of the Great King of virtues. They went with him to the Temple of God, Where the clerics sat within As ordained of the Great High King, They married ere they came out. ; An angel came afterwards ' ' I Joseph, got a : — excited thou woman from It is ' why .' the clerics. not natural for me to be calm.' Joseph, abide thou by thy reason. Not enlightened of thee to find fault. What thou hast gotten is a virgin pure, On whom man never put hand.' ' How I When A can I believe that from thee .'' my grief! have knowledge me down by her shoulder myself, I laid living child beneath her girdle throbbed.' — ; MEASGAIN 176 AN COILEACH IN ' 'd uair am Cuir 'S labhair a bhean bhorb mo na coirb a rinn Is iad SIN chreach, breugaire sios fo lorg, bidh do bheatha nios dha m' theach. An coileach sin agad 's a phoit, Air a phronnadh cho broit ri cal, Cha teid am breugadair an sloe Gon an goir e air an sparr/ Chair an coileach air an sparr, Chairich e dha sgiath Ghoir Is e thainig An dream mo Righ bho Is li nan a chorp, 'n chroibh. nach miannach Luchd nam breug B' annsa r ann gu blasdar, binn, leis is luchd le Dia nam mionn an urnuigh fhior rossr a ruitli gu teann. [202] — ; MISCELLANEOUS 177 THAT COCK It was then spoke the rude 'It was the wicked Drive the And liar woman who made my ruin, down below the beam, thou shalt be welcome to my house. That cock thou hast in the pot, Chopped as broken as the kail, The liar shall not go to the pit Till he shall crow upon the spar.' The cock went upon the spar. He placed his two wings to his body. He crew sweetly, melodiously, And my King came from the tree. The people not liked of God Are those who lie and those who swear Rather would And He have the genuine prayer water from the eyelids flowing swiftly. MEASGAIN 178 MANAIDH [203] people believed in omens of birds and beasts, fishes and insects, and of men and women. These omens were innumerable, and a few only can be mentioned. The fi'iher would deem it a bad omen to meet a red-haired woman when on his way to fish and were the woman defective in mind or body, probably the man The ; would return home muttering strong adjectives beneath OCH his breath. maduinn Luan, Chualas meaghal uan, Agus meigead eunaraig, Seimh am shuidhe crom, Agus cuthag liath-ghorm, 'S gun am biadh am bhronn. Feasgar finidh Mhart, Chunnas air lie mhin, Seilicheag shlim, bhan, Agus an clacharan fionn Air barr a gharraidh toll, Searrach seann larach Spagail 's a chula rium. Dh' aithnich mi fein 'n an deigh Nach eireadh a bhliadhna liom. On the other MISCELLANEOUS 179 OMENS hand, it was lucky for a girl to find the red hair of a woman in the nest certain birds, particularly in the nest of the wheatear. ' Gruag ruadh boirionnaich. Fiasag liath firionnaich. Ruth agus rath na leirist Gheobh an nead a chlacharain.' The red hair of a woman, The grey beard of a man. Are love and luck to the sloven Who [bhigirein gets thera in the nest of the wheatear. [tit. Early on the morning I of Monday, heard the bleating of a lamb, And the kid-like cry of snipe. While gently sitting bent, And the grey-blue cuckoo. And no food on my stomach. On I the fair evening of Tuesday, saw on the smooth stone, The snail slimy, pale. And the ashy wheatear On the top of the dyke of holes. The foal of the old mare Of sprauchly gait and its back And I knew from these That the year would not go to me. well with me. of MEASGAIN 180 MOCH LA LUAN CASG OCH La Luan Casg, Cliunna mi air Lach is A eala sal bhan siiamh le cheile. Chuala mi Di-mart Eunarag nan trath, Meannanaich 's 'S ag an ard eigheacli. Di-ciadain bha mi Buain na feamain-chir. Is chunna mi na Ri Db' aitlmicb mi Gun tri eirigh. robb an air ball iinirig ann, Beannacbd nach biodb ann An deijrli sin. Comraig Bhride bbith, Comraig Mlioire mhin, Comraig Mhicbeil nihil, Dbomh fhi' 's dba m' eudail, Dhomh f hi' 's dha m eudail. [204] MISCELLANEOUS EARLY EASTER MONDAY Early on tlie A duck and a white swan Swim I day of Easter Monday, saw on the brine I together. heard on Tuesday The snipe of the seasons, Bleating on high And calling. On Wednesday I had been Cutting the channelled fucus, And then saw I the three Arising. I knew immediately That a flitting there was, Blessing there would not be After that. The girth of Bride calm, The girth of Mary mild, The girth of Michael strong. Upon me and mine, Upon me and mine. 181 — MEASGAIN 182 MANADH NAN EALA HUALA Ann mi guth biiin nan [205] eala, an dealachadh nan trath, Glugalaich air sgiathaibh siubhlach, Cur nan cura dhiubh gu h-ard. Glirad sheas mi, cha d' rinn mi gluasad, Suil dhan tug mi bhuam co bha Deanamh iuil air an toiseach ? Righinn an t-sonais an eala bhan. Bha seo air feasgar Di-aona, Bha mo smaontan air Di-mart Chaill mi mo chuid Bliadhn o'n Ma chi Moch 's thu eala 's mo dhaona Aona air sin gu brath. Ui-aona, a mhaduinn fhaoilidh, agh, Bidh cinneas air Do bhuar do chuid 's do dhaona, cha chaochail a ghnath. — MISCELLANEOUS OMEN OF THE SWANS I HKAKD the sweet voice of the swans. At the parting of night and day, Gurghng on the wings of travelling. Pouring forth their strength on high. I A quickly stood me, nor look which Who I made gave from me I should be guiding in front The queen move, forth ? of luck, the white swan. This was on the evening of Friday, My I thoughts were of the Tuesday lost my A means and my kinsfolk year from that Friday for ever. Shouldst thou see a swan on Friday, In the joyous There morning dawn. shall be increase Nor on thy means and thy kin. shall thy flocks be always dying. 183 MEASGAIN 184 MANAIDH HUALA mi chuthag Chuala mi am Chuala mi "n 'S gun bhiadh am bhroinn, 's fearan am barr a chroinn, suaircean shuas amis a choill, chuala mi nualla cumhachag na h-oidhche. Chunna Chunna Chunna Chunna An 'S [206] mi 'n mi 'n t-seiliche air lie mi 'n t-uan "s a chula rium, mi an clachran eunarag 's luim, searrach le thulachain rium. air gharadh tuill. mi 'm shuidhe cruinn, dh' aithnich mi f he' nach teidheadh A bhliadhna lioni. MISCELLANEOUS 185 OMENS I HEARD the cuckoo with no food I lieard the stock-dove I heard the sweet singer And I in in tree, heard the screech of the owl of the night. saw the lamb with his back to me, I saw the snail I saw the foal I saw the wheatear on a dyke of I saw the snipe while sitting bent, I stomach, the copse beyond, I And my on the top of the on the bare flag-stone, with his rump to me, holes, foresaw that the year would not Go well with me. ;; MEASGAIN 186 AN TUIS I la [207 do shlainte, Cha dean thu crabhadh, Cha tabhair thu taine, 'S cha tar thu tuis Ceann an ardain, Cridhe na gabhachd, Beul gun fhaigheani, 'S Ach cha nar leat cuis. thig do gheamhradh. Is cruas do theanndachd. Is bidh do cheann mar Am Do Do Is meall 's an uir luth air failing, chruth air f hagail, tu na do thraill, Air do dha ghlun. MISCELLANEOUS 187 THE INCENSE In the day of thy health, Thou Thou wilt not give devotion, wilt not give kine, Nor Head wilt thou offer incense ; of haughtiness, Heart of greediness, Mouth unhemmed. Nor ashamed art But thy winter And And come, the hardness of thy distress, thy head shall be as The Thy will thou. clod in the earth strength having failed, Thine aspect having gone, And : thou a On thrall. thy two knees. ; MEASGAIN 188 DUAN NAN DAOL There are many curious legends and When dubhan,' or sacred beetle. Him beliefs current in the Isles his met the sacred about the ' cearr- enemies were in search of Christ to put and the gravedigger beetle out on a The Jews asked the Proud to be asked, and beetles if they had seen Christ passing that way. anxious to conciliate the great people, the gravedigger promptly and volubly He passed here yesterday evening, when I and the people replied Yes, yes to death, they beetle foraging expedition in search of food for their families. ' : ! of the townland were digging a grave and burying the body of a field-mouse said the sacred beetle come to an untimely end. You lie you lie was a year ago yesterday that Christ the Son passed here, when my children and I were searching for food, after the king's horse had passed.' that had ' ! ' ' ' ! it Because of killed his when seen ; ready ofBciousness against Christ, the gravedigger is always while for his desire to shield Christ, the sacred beetle is spared, but because he told a is he lie is The sacred always turned on his back. covered with a strong integument like a knight encased in armour. quently he is beetle Conse- unable to resume his position, and he struggles continually, waving something which his feet in the effort to touch him will assist to rise. It is unlawful to pass by the sacred beetle without putting him on his back, but should he succeed in rigliting himself, In some places the gravedigger is it is grave of the grandmother of the person The The to following somewhat unlawful to molest him further. he killed because otherwise who similar legend will is also current in Uist : — anti-Christians were pursuing Christ, wishing to kill Hira. a townland where a crofter was winnowing corn on the crofter placed Christ under the went The crofter hide Him more heap of grain into the barn to bring out effectually. profane the passes him by. to conceal more grain Him from came The good Christ hillock. his enemies. to place over Christ to In his absence the fowls attacked the heap of corn They were round the heap and over the and ducks feeding as rapidly as they could. The ducks contented themselves with eating and tramping the corn. Not so the hens they scattered the corn about with their feet as they ate, so that the hidden Christ was under whicli Christ was hidden. heap — hens : exposed to view when the crofter returned. to Christ in His distress, it was left ever that she should be sever-toed ; In consequence of this disservice as a heritage to the hen and to her seed for that she should be confined to land ; that — — MISCELLANEOUS she should dislike and lightning no oil ; hail, rain, sleet, and snow 189 that she should dread thunder ; that dust, not water, should be her bath ; that she should have with which to annoint herself and preen her feathers she should have only one life and only one joy And because the duck contented herself vrith in life ; and finally, that — the joy of land. eating the corn without exposing was left to her and her descendants ever more that she should be web-footed, and not be confined to land that she should rejoice in hail and rain and sleet and snow; that she should rejoice in thunder and the person of Christ, it ; lightning ; that water not dust should be her bath with which to anoint herself and preen her feathers ; ; that she should have oil that she should have three and three joys — the joy of earth, the joy of air, and the joy of water nay, life and a fourth joy the joy of under the water that she should be most dressed when the hen was most draggled that she should be most joyous when the hen was most miserable that she should be most hopeful when the hen was in most despair that she should be most happy when the hen was in lives ; — a fourth ; ; ; ; most dread ; that she should dance with joy when the hen quaked with When the hen hears thunder she trembles as the aspen and hurries terror, screaming and screeching the while. ' Tha do chridh air chrith Mar chirc ri torruinn.' The converse dances to her ' true of the duck. is own Is coltach ' port-a-bial thu 'S a fiughair ri ri tunnaig torruinn.' in Hence the saying Thine heart is quivering Like a hen in thunder. When she hears thunder she rejoices and — mouth music. ' fear. home This gave Thou rise to the art like a saying duck Expectant of thunder. [pp. 190-191 ' MEASGAIN 190 DUAN NAN DAOL RATH bha Ti nan dul Agus daoibhidh De thuirt daolaire na doill, Ris an daol ' fo choill, air a dheigh, Am facas seach Mac mo 's an dealan-de ? an diugh no ghaoil-sa — Mac De 'n raoir, ? 'Chunnas, chunnas,'' os an daol, ' ' Cearr ! Mac na cearr ! saorsa seach an de/ cearr thu fhe/ Os an cearr-dubhan feach ' A ; bhliadhna mhor choii an de Chaidh Mac De seach.' ; MISCELLANEOUS 191 POEM OF THE BEETLES When And the Being of glory was in retreat, wicked men in pursuit of Him, AVhat said the groveller of blindness, To the beetle and the butterfly Saw ye The Son passing to-day or yestreen, ' ' We of my love —the Son of God The Son Wrong ! of freedom pass yesterday. wrong ! wrong art thou,' Said the sacred beetle earthy ' A "' ? saw, we saw,' said the black beetle, ' ' ? big year it was yestreen Since the Son of God passed.' — ' ' MEASGAIN 192 DUAN NAN DAOL UAIR bha Criosda fo choill, Agus naitnhdean Is e thiiirt Am ' 's an dealan-de ' Mac na Breug ! Mac De ? ghaol-sa, Chunna, chunna/ • a dheigh, foil], facas seach an diugh no 'n raoir, Mac mo ' air faochaire na Ris an daol [209] ors an daol, saorsa seach an de/ breug ! breug ! Orsa cearran ere nan each, • A bhliadhna mhor chon an de, Chaidh Mac De seach.' DUAN AN DAOIL A DHAOLAG, a dhaolag, An A cuimhne de ? leat an la 'n de ? leat an la 'n dhaolag, a dhaolag. An cuimhne A [210] dhaolag, a dhaolag. An cuimhne leat an la 'n de Chaidh Mac De seachad ? ' MISCELLANEOUS 193 POEM OF THE BEETLES When Christ was under And tlie wood. enemies were pursuing Him, The crooked one of deception, Said to the black beetle and the butterfly- ' ' Saw ye pass to-day or yesterday, The Son of my love, the Son of God ? We saw we saw said the black beetle, The Son False ! false Said the ' ' ! ' ' ' ! A full ! of redemption pass yesterday.' false ! little clay beetle of horses, year yesterday, The Son of God went by.' POEM OF THE BEETLE Little beetle, little beetle, Remeniberest thou yesterday .'' Little beetle, little beetle, Rememberest thou yesterday ? Little beetle, little beetle, Rememberest thou yesterday The Son of God went by .'' ! MEASGAIN 194 TALADH The swan fasting is [211] To hear it in the morning much to be desired. To see a favourite bird and of good oraen. — especially on a Tuesday morning — is seven, or a multiple of seven, swans on the wing ensures peace and prosperity for seven, or a multiple of seven years. In windy, snowy, or wet weather swans weather they blue lift fly high above, their ; fly low, but in cahn, bright, or frosty but even when the birds are only specks in the distant notes penetrate to earth below. soft, silvery, flute-like Swans are said to be ill-used religious ladies under enchantment, driven from homes and forced to wander, and to dwell where most kindly treated and their ALA bhan thu, Hii hi 'S ho ho ! truagh do charamh, Hu 'S ! hi ! ho ho ! truagh mar tha thu, Hu hi 'S t-fhuil Hu Hu ! ho ho ! a V fhagail, hi ! hi ! ho ho ! ho ho ! Eala bhan thu, Hu Cian o hi ! ho ho ! d' chairdiu, Hu hi ! ho ho Bean do mhanrain, Hu hi ! ho ho ! MISCELLANEOUS 195 LULLABY where least molested. veneration, and the feelings of the A woman it They are therefore man who would regarded with loving pity and injure a swan would thereby hurt the community. found a wounded swan on a frozen lake near her house, and took home, where she set the and fed and improved, and the broken wing, dressed the bleeding the starving bird with lintseed and water. The woman had an feet, ailing child, wounds of the swan healed the health of the child believed that her treatment of the swan caused the recovery of her child, and she rejoiced accordingly and composed the following lullaby to her restored chUd :— as the woman Thou white swan, Hu hi ! ho ho ! Sad thy condition, Hu hi ho ho ! ! Pitiful thy state, Hu Thy hi ! ho ho ! blood flowing, Hu Hu Thou hi ! hi ! ho ho ! ho ho ! white swan, Hu hi ! ho ho ! Far from thy friends, Hu Dame hi ! ho ho ! of thy converse, Hu hi ! ho hoi ! MEASGAIN 196 Fan am nabachd, Hu Hu hi hi ho ho ! ! ! ho ho ! Leigh an aigh thu, Sian Hu hi mo phaisdean, Hu hi Dion o 'n Hu Hu Mar ! ho ho ! ho ho bhas hi Greas gu ! 1 e, ho ho ! ! slain t e, hi ! ho ho ! is ail leat, Hu hi Hu hi Pian is ho ho hi ho ! ! anradh Hu hi Dh'' fhear Hu Hu Mile ! ! ! ho ho ! do sharuich, ho ho hi ! hi ! hi ho ! ! failt ort, Hu Buan is Hu hi ! ho ho slan thu, hi ! ho ho ! Liim an aigh dhut, Hu hi ! ho ho ! !! MISCELLANEOUS 197 Remain near me, Hi hi ho ho ! Hu hi ho ho ! Leech of gladness thou, Hu Sain hi my ho ho little child, Hu Shield ! hi ! ho ho ! him from death, Hu hi ! ho ho ! Hasten him to health, Hu As thou hi ! ho ho ! desirest, Hu hi Hu hi ! ! ho ho hi ho ! ! Pain and sorrow Hu To hi ! ! thine injurer, Hu hi Hu hi! ! A ho ho ho ho hi ! ho! thousand welcomes to thee, Hu hi ho ho ! ! Life and health be thine, Hu The age Hu VOL. II. hi ! ho ho ! of joy be thine, hi I ho ho ! N 2 !! ! ! MEASGAIN 198 Anns gach Hu Hu Furt aite, hi ! ho ho hi ! hi Neart hi ! ! dha, is fas Hi ho ho ho ! nas dha, is Hu hi Buadh na Hu larach, hi Anns gach Hu Hu ho ho ! ho ho ! ! ait dha, hi ! ho ho hi ! hi ho ! ! Moire Mhathair, Hu hi ho ho ! Mhin ghil aluinn, Hu Bhi da lii ho ho ! 1 d' bhriodal, Hu hi ! Bhi dha d' nihanran, Hu hi Bhi dha Hu Bhi dha Hu ho ho I ! ho ho d' lithiu, hi ! ho ho ! d' arach, hi ! ho ho ! MISCELLANEOUS In every place, Hu Hu hi ! hi ! ho ho hi ho ! ! Peace and growth to him, Hu hi ho ho ! ! Strength and worth to liim, Hu hi ho ho ! ! Victory of place, Hu hi ho ho ! ! Everywhere to him, Hu Hu ho ho hi ! hi ! hi ho ! ! The Mary Mother, Hu hi ho ho ! ! Fair white lovely, Hu hi ho ho ! Be fondling Hu hi thee, ho ho ! Be dandling Hu hi ! Be bathing Hu hi Be rearing Hu hi ! ! thee, ho ho ! thee, ! ho ho ! thee, ! ho ho ! 199 ! ! MEASGAIN 200 Bhi dha d' dhion Hu hi ! Bho lion ho ho ! do namhu Hu hi Hu hi ! ; ho ho ! ! ho ho ! Bhi dha d' bheadru, Hu Bhi dha Hu Bhi dha Hu hi ! ho ho d' naisdiu, hi ! ho ho ! d' lionu hi ! ho ho Leis na grasu Hu Hu ! hi ! hi ! ! ; ho ho hi ho ! ! Gaol do mhathar thu, Hu hi ! ho ho ! Gaol a graidh thu, Hu hi ! ho ho ! Gaol nan ainglilean thu, Hu Ann am Hu Hu hi ! ho ho ! Paras hi ! ho ho hi ! hi ho ! ; ! ! ! ! MISCELLANEOUS Be shielding thee Hu From hi ho ho ! hi ! hi ! ho ho ! ho ho ! Be caressing thee, Hu ho ho hi ! Be guarding thee, Hu ho ho Hu The ! thee hi ! ho ho ! hi ! hi ! ho ho hi ! ho love of thy mother, thou, Hu hi ! ho ho ! love of her love, thou, Hu The ! the graces Hu Hu The hi filling With ! the net of thine enemy Hu Hu Be 201 hi ! ho ho ! love of the angels, thou, Hu hi ! ho ho ! In Paradise Hu Hu hi! ho ho! hi hi ! ho ; MEASGAIN 202 BAN-TIGHEARNA BHTNN [212] Two of these were in There were many religious houses Benbecula — one at throughout the Isles. and one at Baile-nancailleach,' Nuns'-town. These houses were attached to lona, and wei-e ruled and occupied by members of the first families of the Western Isles. Probably their insularity secured them from dissolution at the time of the Reformation, for these communities lingered long after the Reformation, and ceased to exist ' Baile-rahanaich,' Monk's-town, ' simply through natural decay. It is said home from that two nuns had been visiting a sick woman. the moorland to the townland, they heard the shrill When returning voice of a child and the soft voice of a woman. The nuns groped their way down the rugged rocks, and there foimd a woman soothing a child in her arms. They were the only two saved from a wreck — the two frailest in the ship. The nuns took thera home to Nunton. The woman was an Irish princess and a nun, and the child an Irish prince, ag.ainst whose life a usurper to the throne had conceived a plot. The holy princess fled with the child-prince, intending to take him for safety to Scandinavia. The two nuns are said to have composed the two following poems. One version of the story says that the child grew up and succeeded to the throne in Ireland another that he died in the North Sea, and that he was buried ; in North Ronaldsay, Orkney. During the three centuries of the Norse occupation there was much cordial communication between Scotland and Ireland, and much, but not cordial communication between Ireland and Scandinavia. Norsemen infested the east of Ireland and west of Scotland. There were plots and counterplots and wars innumerable between invaders and invaded, the ends of the beam ascending MO i bhain-tighecariia bliinii, An bun Am an tuini, beul an tuim Chan alca, Cha lacha, Chan eala, 'S chan aonar ? [fhalc i. MISCELLANEOUS 203 THE MELODIOUS LADY-LORD and descending inflicting in sore Ultimately the Irish succeeded in quick succession. a crushing defeat on the Scandinavians at the battle of Clontarf. Clontarf is situated on Dublin Bay, a few miles below the city. much extent and It is In the adjoining sea a is a spit or bar emitting curious sounds during certain conditions of tide and wind. The low-lying plain of great sounds resemble the bellowing of a fertility. bull, and hence the name ' Cluain tarbh,' Clontarf, the plain of bulls. was fought on Good Friday, 23rd April, 1014. by their celebrated warrior-king, Brian Boroimhe, monarch of There all Ireland, and the Danes by their Celto-Danish Prince, Earl Sigurd. was indescribable havoc on both sides. The slaughter, as seen from the walls of Dublin, is described as resembling the work of mad reapers in a field of corn. The famous The Irish were battle of Clontarf led fell. Tliis was foretold him by his mother, Audna, daughter of King of Ireland, when she gave him the Raven Banner of Battle at Earl Sigurd Carroll, ' Skidda-myre, now Skidden, in Caithness. Audna ' Raven Banner would always bring victory to the owner, but death to the bearer. At the battle of Clontarf every man who took up the Raven Banner fell. At last no one would take it Seeing up. this, told Sigurd that the Sigurd himself seized the banner, saying, "Tis meetest that the beggar himself should bear thereafter Sigurd Irish fell, slaughtered and with him the Norse power the defeated three centuries of cruel wrong. his friends in the his bag.' in Ireland. Immediately The victorious Danes with all the concentrated hate of The fall of Earl Sigurd was made known to North through the fore-knowledge of the Valkymar, the twelve weird sisters of Northern Mythology, of whom Gray sings in his Sisters.' Who At At she the melodious lady-lord, is the base of the knoll, the mouth of the wave Not the ale. Not the duck. Not the swan. And not alone is she. .'' ' Fatal MEASGAIN 204 Co i Am Am bhain-tighearna bhinn, bun an tuim, beul an tuim ? Chan fhosga, Cha lona, Cha smeorach, Air gheuig Co i i. bhain-tighearna bhinn, Am bun an tuim. Am beul an tuim Cha tarman An Co i Am Am ? tuirim t-sleibh i. bhain-tighearna bhinn, bun an tuim. beul an tuim ? Cha bhreac air a bhuinne, Cha mhoineis na tuinne, Cha mhuirghin-mhuire Na Co i Am Am Ceit i, bhain-tighearna bhinn. bun an tuim,i beul an tuim ? Cha bhainisg na cuigeil, Chan ainnir na fuiril, Cha bhainnireach bhuidhe Na spreidh i. MISCELLANEOUS Who At At she the melodious lady-lord, is the base of the knoll, the mouth of the wave ? Not the lark. Not the merle. Not the mavis, On the bough Who At At is she. she the melodious lady-lord, is the base of the knoll, the mouth of the wave ? Not the murmuring ptarmigan Of Who At At the hill she. she the melodious lady-lord. is the base of the knoll. the mouth of the wave Not the Not the Not the Who is .'' grilse of the stream. seal of the wave. sea Of May At At is maiden is she. she the melodious lady-lord. the base of the knoll. the mouth of the wave ? Not the dame of the distaff. Not the damsel of the lyre. Not the golden-haired maid Of the flocks is she. 205 — MEASGAIN 206 Co i Am Am bhain-tighearna bhinn, bun an tuim, beul an tuim ? Bain-tighearna bhinn, Bhaindidh mhin, Ighinn righ, Ogha righ, lar-ogh righ, lon-ogh righ, Dubh-ogh righ. Bean righ, Mathair Muime I righ, righ, taladh righ, Is e fo breid aic. A Eirinn a shiubhail Gu An i, Lochlann tha fiughair aic. Trianaid bhi siubhal leath H-uile taobli a theid i H-uile taobli a theid i. — MISCELLANEOUS Who At At is she the melodious lady-lord. the base of the knoll, the mouth of the wave ? Melodious lady-lord, God-like in loveliness. Daughter of a king. Granddaughter of a king. Great-granddaughter of a king, Great-great-gianddaughter of a king. Great-great-great-granddaughter of a king, Wife of a king. Mother of a king. Foster-mother of a king. She lullabying a king. And he under her plaid. From Erin she travelled, For Lochlann May is bound. the Trinity travel with her W^hithersoever she goes Whithersoever she goes. 207 MEASGAIN 208 RIGHINN NAM BUADH [213] S min a bas, Is fin a cas, caomh a Is Is caoin cruth. a guth, Is binn a cainn. Is grinn a meinn, Is blath sealladh a Is tlath 'S a broUach graidh-gheal a snanih Mar Is sul. meaghail a gnuis, naomhar an oigh is Ta Ta Ta Ta a com or-dhealta cul, Le maotharan og am bonn nan Gun Gun 'n chra-fhaoileag air bharr nan tonn. stuc, Ion dhaibh le cheil fo chorr nan speur, sgoth fo 'n ghrein bho 'n namhaid. Mhic De da comhdach, Mhic De da seoladh, briathar Mhic De mar bhiadh sgiath ciall reul 'n a leirsinn mhoir Ta duibhre na h-oidhche Ta an lo dhi a ghnath 'n Ta Moir oigh nan gras ''s Le na seachd graidh Na 'g seachd graidh di fein, di. dhi mar shoillse a sholas, a h-uile h-ait, a comhnadh, Va comhnadh. an lo, MISCELLANEOUS 209 QUEEN OF GRACE Smooth her hand, P'air her foot, Graceful her form. Winsome her voice. Gentle her speech, Stately her mien. Warm the look of her eye, Mild the expression of her face. While her lovely white breast heaves on her bosom Like the black-headed sea-gull on the gently heaving wave. Holy is the virgin of gold-mist hair. With tenderest babe at the base of tlie bens, No food for either of them under the arch of No shelter under the sun to shield the sky. them from the foe. The shield of the Son of God covers her. The inspiration of the Son of God guides her. The word of the Son of God is food to her. His star is a bright revealing light to her. The darkness of night is to her as the brightness of The day to her gaze is always a joy. While the Mary of grace is in every place. With the seven beatitudes compassing her. The seven beatitudes compassing her. day. MEASGAIN 210 CILL-MOLUAG A ceremony CURIOUS Lismore. ILL! Co When hill! chill was [214] current in the Island several boys gathered together, uill! of two O! an tcid seo ? Cill-Moluag an Lios-mor, Far an cinn na cnoimheagan Uill! hill! uill! Co chill an ! O! teid seo ? Cill-Moluag an Lios-mor, Loisealam na greine. Uill! hill! uill! Co chill O! an teid seo ? Cill-Moluag an Lios-mor, Boid nach dean e eiridh I After more questions and more answers, the boy was carried round in procession sunwise to a wailing march, in which was then laid upon a rock or knoll for an altar. all the boys joined. The boy After more singing and more ! MISCELLANEOUS 211 KILLMOLUAG boys seized a third by tlie liead and heels, from side to side sang an eerie ciiant over First Boy Uill In Second Boy hill ! what ! uill and swaying hira hira. ! ! kill shall this go ? In Killnioluag of Lismore, Where the maggots grow Uill! hill! uill! In what ! O! kill shall this go ? In Kilhnoluag of Lismore, Fairest 'neath the sun. Uill ! hill In what ! uill ! O I kill shall this go ? In Killmoluag of I^isniore, I vow he shall not rise ceremonial the victim was laid in some convenient hollow for a grave, to the The writer was an what the drama represented he does not know. music of another eerie lament and the laughter of the boys. actor in this boyish drama, but ' MEASGAIN 212 AM BREID [215] Am bbeid,' the kertch or coif, was a square of linen formed into a cap and donned by a woman on the morning after her marriage. It was the sign of wifehood as the stiora,' snood, was the emblem of maidenhood. The linen of the kertch was pure white and very fine. The square was arranged into three angles symbolic of the Trinity, under whose guidance the young wife was to walk. From this it three-cornered cap. The kertch was fastened is called currachd tri-chearnach ' ' ' ' — to the hair with cords of silk or pins of silver or of gold. very becoming and picturesque. people as beannach — breid ban — white — pinnacled kertch It is kertch ' : ' ' ; mentioned ' ; ' crun '—the shapely coif of the three crowns. ' Nar a La 'S no clachain, nar a faicear do chlann Dol gu teampuU ' ' Na baistidli.' dhomh It is also ' ; ; ' breid ' breid breid cuirair nan tri spoken of in many songs. fein Upon feast-day or church-day. And never be seen thy children Going Were I to the temple of baptism. to obtain to myself Thu le beannachd na cleire, Gur a mis a bhitheadh reidh Thee with the blessing of the It is I who would be joyous Ri bhi faicinn do bhreid An ceud Domhnach.' At The clerics. seeing on thee thy kertch first Sunday. A cul dualach, Her Ann an And in clustered folds has my beloved. And though beautiful it seems within the 'S ' 'm faighinn and ; ' Never on thee be seen kertch faicear ort breid feille have been of the sayings of the — hair kertch — kertch on props breid cuailean breid an crannaig' cuimir nan crun,' the shapely coif of the crowns It is said to many in camlach, cuachach, sguaib aig m' eudail, ge boidheach e 's an stiora a suas Cha mheas an cuailean breid e. Giir a matli thig breid ban Air a charamh beannach dhut, Agus staoise dh' an t-sioda mhin, 'G a theannadh ort.' The song from which escapes to this last verse is It hair in coils, curled, curved. Well becomes thee the white kertch, Placed pinnacle-wise. cords of the fine silk Binding it upon thee. And quoted had curious wanderings and narrow — from Lochaber to Lahore, from Lahore to Lochalsh, and from Lochalsh Skye and Uist. It snood would not look worse beneatli the kertch. was taken down at Howmore, South Macaulay, better known as Peggie Robertson and ' Uist, from Peggie Peigi Sgiathanach '—Skye MISCELLANEOUS 213 She came from Sleibhte riabluicli nam ban boidlicach,'— brindled Sleat women, and well uplield the reputation of her native place, for she was a tall, straight, comely brunette, with beautiful brown eyes and hair like raven's plumage, smoothed on snow.' She had accompanied her master and Peggie. ' of the beautiful ' mistress. Captain and Mrs Macdonald, Knock, Skye, on a visit to Sir John Sir John was famed for his symmetry, bravery, Macrae, Airdantouil, Loclialsh. and accomplishments. He inherited the musical talents of the Macleods of Raarsey, and could play a phenomenal number of musical instruments. He was wont to say that there was no music for the house equal to Highland music, nor instrument for the field equal to the Higliland bagpipe. Sir John had been military attache to his cousin, the Marquis of Hastings, when he was GovernorGeneral of India. From Sir John Macrae, Peggie Macaulay heard the words of this song and an account of how he got them. he was sent with despatches to a distant fort. Sir John said that when As he was Hearing in India the gate under cover of night, he was surprised to hear a Gaelic song once heard in childhood and often sought since. When he reined in his horse to listen, the sentry stopped The answer was given in Gaelic, and the sentry was his song and challenged. Macrae was just in time to rouse the Governor from his surprised in his turn. fancied security and to lead the garrison to repel an attack, in which the singer Eoghan Cameron fell after killing seven sepoys single-handed. Sir John Macrae died soon after Peggie Macaulay heard him singing the song, and she died soon after the song was taken down from her dictation by the present writer. Sir John Macrae called this song, treas biladh na h-Alba, — the third lullaby of Alban, and as sung by bright Peggie Robertson it merited ' praise. [pp. 214-215 O 2 ; ! MEASGAIN 214 AM BREID ILE failtc (Ihut fo d' bhreid, Ri do Luth re is Do gu robh thu slan, laithean dhut le sith, pharas le An tus An tus do lo iarr do ni bhi fas. do chomh-ruith is tu og, Ti nan dul, Cha churani dha nach toir e ceart Gach An foil is feart a bhios 'nad run. coron-ceile a chuir thu suas, Is trie a fhuair e buaidh do mhnai Bi-sa subhailc ach bi suairc, Bi-sa stuam an lid 's an laimh. Bi-sa fialaidh ach bi glic, Bi-sa misneachail ach stold, Bi-sa bruithneach ach bi balbh, Bi-sa caiuiGÌneach ach coir. Na dean criontaireachd an toirt, Na dean brosg ach iia bi fuar, Na labhair fos air neach ge h-olc, Ma labhrar ort na toir-sa fuath. Bi-sa gleidhteach air h-ainm, Bi-sa sgeimineach ach suairc, Lamh Dhe biodh air h-eilm, An deilbh, an gniamh ''s Na bi gearanach fo an smuain. d' chrois, Siubhail socair fo chopan Ian, A chaoidh dh'an olc na toir-sa speis, 'S le do bhreid dhut ceud mile failt MISCELI.ANEOUS 215 THE KERTCH A THOUSAND hails to thee beneath tliy kertch, During thy course mayest thou be whole, Strength and days be thine in peace, Thy paradise with thy means increase. In beginning thy dual race, and thou young, In beginning thy course, seek thou the Fear not but He Thine every God of life, will rightly rule secret need and prayer. This spousal crown thou now hast donned, Full oft has gotten grace to woman. Be thou virtuous, but be gracious, Be thou pure in word and hand. Be thou hospitable, yet be wise. Be thou courageous, but be calm. Be thou frank, but be reserved. Be thou exact, yet generous. Be not miserly Uo in giving, yet be not cold. Speak not ill of man, though ill he be. If spoken of, show not resentment. not flatter, Be thou careful of thy name, Be thou dignified yet kind, The hand of God be on thine helm, In inception, in act, and in thought. Be not querulous beneath thy cross. Walk thou warily when thy cup is full, Never to And evil give thou countenance. with thy kertch, to thee a hundred thousand hails !! 216 ! MEASGAIN FUIGHEAL [216] AR a bha, Mar Mar Gu a tha, a bhitheas bra til, A Thrithinn Nan gras Ri traghadh, 'S ri lionadh A Thrithinn Nan gras Ri traghadh, 'S ri lionadh ! !! MISCELLANEOUS FRAGMENT As As it As it was, it is, shall be Evermore, O Thou Triune Of grace With the ebb. With the How, O Thou Triune Of grace With the ebb. With the flow. 217 NOTES ETC. NOTES A Abhr, ahhra, fat, rich, oily ; 'cloimh abhvais,' oiled wool, wool prepared spinning; 'ablirta,' 'abhrtacli,' for ' abhrtadh,' a feast, festival, rich entertainment. Abhr, aur, prayer — King (?). A place at the base of ' Beinn Rigli Coinnich ' — Ben of Kenneth's Mount, or ' Beinn airidh Coinnich Kenneth's shieling, in South Uist, is called ' Auratot,' ' Aura' The spot is green and grassy, and contains tobhte,' prayer ruin. the remains of an oratory, which was used by seafarers before and after voyaging. A font and other ecclesiastical objects have been ' for aurtige found among the ruins. Cf. ' aurtech,' gen. bendchopar ind aurtige,' on the roof of the oratory. Windisch's ÌV'òrterbuch. Perhaps merely a diphthongised form of ' or," prayer, ' ' ; — — as in 'abhran,' "^oran." The ancht)r in the West is often a stone. A form of anchor in olden times was a cylinder made of heather ropes bound strongly together, closed at one end and filled with stones. This Acair, anchor. anchor was called 'mogais,' cylinder. lit. ' on At anclior, 'air chruaidh,' hard,' fast. Adhamhnan, Adamnan. There are several dedications in Scotland to There is a Port Adhamhnain,' port of Adamnan, St Adamnan. A cross called ' Crois Adhamhnain,' in lona. Mull, and Lismore. cross of Adamnan, stood above the port of Adamnan in lona, and there is a Crois Adhamhnain,' cross of Adamnan, in North Uist. This cross is incised on a large ice block at which the saint is said to have stood when preaching the first Gospel message to the The people are said to have cut the cross on the side natives. and set the stone on edge in honour of the occasion. There is a ' Srath Adhamhnain,' Strath Adamnan, in Strathfillan. Near Strath of Adamnan is ' Beinn Chaluim,' mountain of Columba. Adamnan was the successor and biographer of Columba. ' ' ' NOTES 222 At, sheep. Cuir a stigh an ' with Greek aix, loch. the island. ' ' Ai seems to mean white, whiteness ' an abyss, a place or person Ged tha thu 'n diugli ad aibheis fhuar, Bha thu uair ad aros righ. Aicil, Perhaps coiuiected perhaps akin ; aigh/ beautiful. Aibheis, eibheis, ' put in the sheep. 'Chi mi ai air loch a mhuilinn/ I see a swan on the mill 'Chi mi ai air ailn an eilein/ I see a swan on the loch of Ai, swan. to ai,' a goat. a form of ' faicill,' in ruins or unkempt. Though thou art to-day a ruin cold, Thou wert once the dwelHng of a king. circumspection. quick motion. Co Co luath ri aigne nam the thoughts of the foolish women. Aigne, the (bird) swft, anything of unusually luath an ris aigne,' as quick as the swift. ban baoth,' as swift Ailbh, most Ailinde, as ' ' as rock foundation, anything hard, al, beautiful. aUne,' ' The people ailindeach,' use aildiche,' ' Ailineachd rana na Greuige. ' ' ' solid, rigid, many immovable. forms of this superlative, aluinnde,' and others. The beauteousness of the woman of Greece ' (Helen). fire, glowing glowing peat. Aingeal, aigheal, aitheal, athal, light, flame, Cf. ' aithine,' ' Aingeal AingU,' ' ' ' Cnoc athaine,' ' occurs in Aingil,' ' aine,' fire, many place-names, as Carn Aingil,' in ' Tom fire, Aingil,' Lochaber, Lismore, angel. ' Dun Islay, Lewis, and other places. As the names the places stand high. Dun Aingil in Lochaber is situated on the side of a mountain 686 feet above the sea, and is lona, Muckairn, Uist, indicate, also called ' Cladh ChoireU,' St Cyril's Burial-ground. This lis the knoU known to me used as a place of burial, though at Muckairn a Cnoc Aingil or Tulach Aingil adjoins the burying-ground, 105 feet above sea-level, called by some 'Cladh only ' aingil ' ' ' ' ' Cyril's Burial-ground, and by others ' Cladh Easbuig Bishop Harold's Burial-ground. Harold was the first bishop of the see of Argyll and the Isles, disjoined from that of Choireil,' EaraU,' Dunkeld in 1200. Cnoc Aingil ' ' in lona his 'Life of Columba,' is a green knoll Adamnan on a sandy plain. says that angels were converse with Columba on this knoll, and lliat wont In to during drought the brethren carried the tunic of the saint round the knoll singing psalms and rejieating prayers the while, whereupon copit)us rain — ; ' NOTES 223 Pennant mentions that the people of lona rode sunwise round ' Cnoc Aiiigil on St Michael's Day. Probably these knolls were places of sun-worship and fireworship, which were current in the West as they are in the East. In a poem composed over two centuries ago, ' aingeal is twice used for fire fell. ' ' — Bha ' 'n The jagged spor bhcarnach, gheur, thana, flint, sharp, thin. Am beul snaip air dheagh theannadh. Was in the snap mouth well Ged dhomh dhiult tini Ri ord. Nan tugadh tu aingeal Chuirinn cunnart air anam, Ged cliaillinn ris gearran I Aingeal had placed his soul in jeopardy, I had lost by it a garron In the moot. meaning ' fire current in some districts though is The word obsolete in others. is borrowed into Scots and applied neuk being from 'an iuc,' to the hearth, as 'ingle,' 'ingle-neuk' ' fire Though 'Samhod.' ' bound, Though thou didst refuse me To the hammer. Hadst thou given the fire aingeal — 'n iuc,' the corner, the angle. The is not unknown to At an inn visited by Burns an angel was painted above the door. The house was kept by a husband and wife whose names were Peace and Grace. When Burns revisited the idea of an angel guarding the door literary art. place he found the angel gone, the husband dead, and the wife more gracious lines tlian graceful, on which he composed the following : ' Wlien Peace and Grace lived in this place. An angel kept the door Now Peace is dead, the angel's And Grace is grace no more. the angel Ariel. the youth Airil The people speak fled. of Airil nan og,' Ariel of nan og,' Ariel beauteous of the youth, and other endearing terms. Those who were under his care enjoyed perpetual youth and perpetual beauty. Ariel is called the 'city of Judah,' 'the .strength of God,' 'the lion of God,' and other Airii, ; ' ' ail favoured names. mUk, mUk preparation Ais, wisdom. Ais, (See Ale, ' Ais na ' ; mna dainty, delicacy, nectar, ambrosia. sithe,' the wisdom of the fairy woman. cnoc.') f hale, Jalc. (alca tarda), In some and in some districts 'ale' is applied to the razor-bill to the guillemot (uria troile). The razor- bOl and the guillemot resemble one another closely, and at some — — — ; NOTES 224 can only be distinguished liy the practised eye. In Cornwall both birds go by the name of ' murr/ from the sounds they emit. The guillemot, however, is slightly larger and more graceful, and its bill is long, pointed, and smooth, while that of distance the razor-bill the shape, A is shorter, The point. more rounded, and more furrowed towards eggs, like the birds, resemble one another in and markings. size, man, went under the had come to Lewis from Mull. crofter in Lewis, a shrewd, sensible name of He Alcag,' Little 'Ale.' ' Mackenzie of Lewis and he had frequent wit-combats, generally On one occasion Mackenzie, with whom the man was a favourite, and a friend met the Alcag returning from Stornoway with a pot on his head, when Mackenzie said, I will pay you the price of the pot if you wUl allow me to make a rmie upon you without retorting,' and proceeded to the discomfiture of the former. ' ' ' : ' Thainig thugainn, air muir a nail, Eoin fiadhaich air sgadan cuain A Muile, 's ge fada thall,' B' olc an dream, daibh bu dual. There came to us over sea hither Wild birds after ocean herring From MuU, and though far away, Bad the breed, to An Alcag a braigh a Chaolais Caobaidh i fear a h-araich, Asgartach nan daoine baotha, The Little Ale Aircleach, aoireach, mi-narach.' A A Will peck at the hand of its rearing, refuse of all ill men found, The needy, shameless this satirist. : B' f hearraceannach air an fheill, ge 'S Cha do cheum, fhuair thu i reis gun li-uallaeh foi' d' Better to have bought replied cubhaidh do gach saoidh nach bord a chailc, Cha mhiside a chruaidli a h' aghart, Eisemeil Cha is taiside tu It behoves the man who is not secure. socrach, bhith na f hulangach, sar-f haclach. Is buinidh a dh' f hear a bhios na aire A bin 'n eisemeil fear dha chomhnadh. am market : A Is gilide in the reproach. The man Is it Though lightsome be thy step beneath it, Thou hast not got a span of it without toibheum.' ' hereditary. Mackenzie's friend added Wretched pot of little worth. phoit dhona gun ro-f heum, To ' them from the head of the Sound 's an aire, do laoch a tobhart.' To be enduring and clioice-worded. And the man who is in straits To defer to him who aids him. The board is the whiter for the chalk, The steel is not the worse for being tempered. Deference and thou in straits. not weakness in hero to give. Is this kind were frequent between chiefs and clansmen, probably to the advantage of both. Combats of —— NOTES 225 Altakh, nurture, nourish, bring up. ' Acha Tiii is mor But Thou Being of great glory, Nurture Thou the young seed, Reft of prop, and of rocii Behind them. St Kilda song. gloir. an siol og, Ta gun tagsa, gun sgor Acuildaibh.' Altaicii fein Amadan-De, ' God's butterfly, — In some districts the term fool. Sometimes applied to giddy, amadan-leith,' grey fool. is foolish children. (See Aona, Aoin, Aoine, Fast, Friday. Ao7i, Arna Moire, kidney of Mary is ' ; ' Di.') tearna Moire,' saving of Mary. This a square, thick Atlantic nut, sometimes found indented along and forming a natural cross on the nut. across, the indentations mounted in silver and hung round the neck as Every nurse has one which she places in the hand It is occasionally a talisman. of the woman and distract her attention. and much venerated. to increase her faith was consecrated on the Arrais, evil, wicked, altar demon. Cf. arracht,' spectre. ' Ath-aodach, alhaodach, second clothing, second-hand clothing. wearing a new ' suit is addressed Is cuir an Enjoy the clothing, Pay the nail t-athaodach.' With some people A person : Meal an greann, Paigh an sainns, An It hansel, And send thither The old clothing. athaodach means new cloth, the explanation being that the wool is first 'aodach na caora,' the sheep's clothing, and afterwards man's clothing ' ' : ' Meal Enjoy and wear the second clothing, an t-athaodach. Sguiridh tathaich an taileair.' is caith The tailor-visiting shall cease. B Badhar, placenta of cow. Bainisg, a female satirist, a songstress, a singing naiad woman, and ' ; from ' ban,' eisg,' satirist. Baireachd, quarrelling, wrangling. Balg bannaig, bannock bag the sacred shrine in which the Host was carried the bag in which the Christmas gifts, the Easter gifts, and VOL. II. P ; ; NOTES 226 The 'balg bannaig the gifts of other sacred seasons were placed. is now used to carry the and carollers at Christmas New ' given to various kinds of food-stuffs Year. A place in Badenoch is called Creag a bhalgaire,' rock of the rogue. The fairies came down and carried a newly-born child up this rock and away to fairy- Balgaire, thief, rogue, robber, the fox. ' land. Ballan, a teat, a cup, tub, vessel. bainne,' milk tub ' ; ' Ballan buirn,' water tub ballan blathaich,' butter-milk tub ; ; ' ballan ' ballan binndeachaidh/ the vessel in which milk is placed to ciu-dle for ' ballan binndichte,' cheese press ' ballan stiallach,' stocks 'ballan iocshlaint,' vessel of healing, in which, according to the old tales, was kept the balsam for restoring to health and to life ' Cur nam ballan,' applying those wounded or killed in battle. the cups, is a term used in cupping for rheumatism and kindred cheese ; ; complaints. ; This fragment of Highland surgery practised in outlying places, and with much is occasionally success. Bannag, Christ, Eucharist, a cake, gift, offering, a wish, a blessing. Cf. bonnach,' a bannock, cake. Certain cakes are made in certain ways and at certain seasons, and all significant, as bannag,' ' breacag,' ' bonnach,' bonnach' ' ' boise,' ' dearnagan,' ' poilean," or moilean.' ' The bannag,' are made on the ' and ' moilean palm of the hand. There must be no 'fallaid,' loose meal left from a former baking, used. If the fallaid is put back in the meal-chest, the ' cailleach,' carlin, will come and sit in the chest, eating up all the luck of the family, and will not leave till five o'clock in the morning. This is called 'a mhionaid mhi-fhortanach,' ' bonnach-boise,' ' dearnagan,' ' ' ' the unfortunate minute. When the bannag is finished it is placed on the left palm, and the thumb of the right hand is turned round sunwise through the centre. This is as a preventive of witchcraft. The 'bannag is symbolic of Christ, and is broken and eaten by the family with becoming reverence and solemnity. After the bamiock has been ' ' cooked the mother takes up the 'clach bhannag,' bannock-stone, against which the cake was supported before tlie fire, and tenderly hands it to her daughters, in emblem of Christ. The ' dearnagan and the moilean are not perforated. TJie former is given to girls, and the latter, which is thicker, is given ' to boys. ' ' — — NOTES 227 The first Monday after Christmas is called Diluain bannaig/ Monday of the bannock, while tlie first Monday of the New Year ' is ' Diluain sainnseU/ hansel Monday. woman, a masculine woman, an amazon Bansgal, an unmarried ; a whale, leviathan. 'a.d. 891. "A banscal was cast ashore by the sea in Albaj whose length was 195 feet. The length of her hair was 17 feet, of a finger of her hand 7 feet, of her nose 7 feet. She was all white as a swan." Annals of Ulster. ' ' ' Barlait, barrlait, check, hindrance, prevention, suppression. Beairdean, ordinarily 'boitean,' a pottle, a bottle, a buttle, a bundle of hay, straw, or reeds. Beall, heoll, bright fire, glowing flame, a little fire, glowing word common Bean-nigh, bean-itighidh, washer, embers in Uist. wash-woman — hence Cf. ; Eng. also ' beollag,' ' 'bale-fire.' nigheag,' little washer ' nigheag na h-ath,' little washer of the ford nigheag bheag a bhroin,' little washer of the sorrow. This is the naiad or water-nymph who presides over those about to die, and washes their shrouds on tlie edge of a lake, the bank of a stream, or the stepping-stones of a. ford. While washing the shroud the water; ; ' nymph sings the dirge, and bewails the fate of tlie doomed. The nigheag is so absorbed in her washing and singing, like the black-cock in his gyrations and serenading, that she is sometimes captured. When this occurs she will grant her captor three ' ' requests. Hence when or phase of a man is specially successful in some work said of him, 'Moire! fhuair an duine chuid a b'fhearr dh'an nigheig agus thug i dha a thri ragha miann' Mary the man got the better of the 'nigheag and she gave him life, it is ! ' his three choice desires. Ann am marbh-thrath na h-oidliche bha gUle-cas-fliuch Mhic a dol dachaidh chon an Dun-bhuidhe am braigh Bheinn-a-faoghla. Agus d' uair a bha e siaradh an loch CO chunnaic e roimhe air fath a chlachain ach gum b' i a bhean-nighe a nigheadh agus a strulladh, a gul agus a gal. ' 'ic Ailean Mor nan Eilean A A leineag bheag bhais na dorn mialaran broin na beul. Chaidh 'gille-cas-fliuch gu fiath failidh air a cul agus rug e air nigheag 'n a ghlac. " Leig as mi," orsa nigheag, " agus thoir cead mo choise dhomh agus gu bheil am fabhan dotha tha dluth dha — NOTES 228 t-fhiasaig chiaru an annar stad a cliairtidh air anail cliur mo m' shroin agus gum bu deoine "Cha le m' chridhe aile tuise cubhraidh ceathach nam beann." leig mi as thu," orsa gille-cas-fliuch, " gun geall thu dhomh mo bhraghaid. Is mor gum annsa le ragha miann." "Chiinnim iad a dhuine dhona," orsa nigheag. "Tha, thu dh' innseadh dhomh co dha tha thu nigheadh na tliri leineige agus a seirm na duaineige, thu thoir dhomh mo ragha ce, agus thu chumail tachair todhair an croic a bhail againn am fad agus a mhaireas bodach Sgeh'-rois dha thuiream." "Tha mi nigheadh na leine agus a seinn na duaine do Mhac 'ic Ailean Mor nan Eilean, agus cha teid e tuillidh ri bheo mhaireann shaoghail a Thilg gille-cas-fliuch null no a nail air clachan an Duin-bhuidhe." an leine bhais a muigh dh'an loch air barr a ghaise agus leum e dhachaidh na dheann a chon taobh leaba Mine 'ic Ailean. Dh' inns e chuile car mar a chunna agus a chuala agus a dh' eirich Leum Mac 'ic Ailean na chruinn chruaidh leum na sheasadh dha. bonn as an leaba f hraoich agus dh' orduieh e bo a spadadh agus curachan a chur air doigh. Spadadh bo agus rinneadh curachan agus chaidh Mac 'ic Ailean as an eilean a null thar an loch gu tirmor agus cha do thill e riamh tuillidh dh' an Dhun-bhuidhe am braigh Bheinn-a-faoghla.' ' In the dead watch of the night ' gUle-cas-fliuch,' wet-foot man, of Great Clanranald of the in the upland of Benbecula Isles, was going home — ben of the to Dun-buidhe And when he was foi'ds. whom should he see before him in the vista on the 'clachan,' stepping-stones, but the washer-woman of the ford, washing and rinsing, moaning and lamenting westering the loch, Her Her ' Gille-cas-fliuch ' little shroud of death in her hand. plaintive dirge in her mouth. went gently and quietly behind " Let seized her in his hand. me go," said ' ' nigheag ' and nigheag,' " and give me the freedom of my feet, and that the breeze of reek coming from thy grizzled tawny beard is anear putting a stop to the breath Much more would my nose prefer, and much of my throat. rather would my heart desire, the air of the fragrant incense of the mist of the mountains." " I will not allow thee away," said 'gille-cas-fliuch,' "till thou promise me my three choice desires." man," said 'nigheag.' "That thou wOt tell to me for whom thou art washing the shroud and crooning the dirge, that thou wilt give me my choice spouse, and tliat thou "Let me hear them, ill — ; — ; NOTES keep abundant seaweed wilt in the as the carle of Sgeir-rois shall 229 creek of our townland as long " continue his moaning." I am washing the shroud and crooning the dirge for Great Clanranald of the Isles, and he shall never again in his living life of the world go thither nor come hither across the clachan of Diinbuidhe." ' Gille-cas-fliuch threw the shroud of death into the loch on the point of his spear, and he flew home hard to the He told everything that he saw and bedside of Clanranald. heard and that befell him. Clanranald leaped his hard round leap on to his feet from the heath-bed, and he ordered a cow to be felled and a little coracle to be made ready. A cow was felled accordingly, and a little coi'acle was constructed in which Clanranald went from the island over the loch to the mainland, and he never again retui'ned to Dun-buidhe in the upland of ' Benbecula.' Beinn a ' mount of c/ieo, songs The term mist. Am beinn a cheo. ann In the 'n Na bho Is Na truagh nach robh mi 's mo ghaol. ri taobh beinn a cheo. Mo nigh'nn donn ho hu. ill u ho Probably ' ill On is hi o. I and my true love, mount of mist. brown maid ho liu, the side of the My Hi ' vo Would were au.' beinn a cheo of mist, together, Callain cile, hi o.' Muigh Hi mount And we two ar dithis, Challain cile, 'S sinn ' occurs in the following old : ill u ho ill au. name and not a particular a general Eilean a cheo,' the Isle of mist, has come into use as a poetic name for Skye. term. Similarly Beithir, adder, ' thunderbolt, lightning, a destructive deity serpent, dwelling in caves, corries, and mountain fastnesses. scholar Ewen Maclachlan makes his beautiful elegy ' Bu on effective his friend Professor The great use of this figure in James Beattie : aillidh Thou wert the apple tree of the garden, Never more so beauteous shall grow Dealt an t-samhraidh mu blathaibh. Luisreadh dhuileag mu chracaibh a The dews of summer bathed its blossom, With abundant foliage spreading over its A tu craobh ubhal a gharaidh, chaoidh cha chinnich ni 's fo'n ghrein, geug VOL. beneath the sun. branches II. P 2 — NOTES 230 Ach dubh-dhoireann a gheamli- tliilg raidli A bheithir theintidh le srann as an But the black tempest of winter threw The levin bolt with a whirr from the speur, Is thuit Is uile an gallan ur rionihach, mhaise ghrad chrion air an And And sky. the handsome fresh sapling all its the grass. fhcur.' A fell, beauty quickly withered on family of two elderly brothers and a sister in Benbecula were known Na from their frequently The destruction of the na beithrcach ort During a terrible thunderstorm, as the thunderbolt upon thee three were sitting round their fire, a thunderbolt came crashing through the roof of their little cottage, filling the room with a glare of light and a smell of suljihur, and the inmates with terror. saying as ' : ' Beitlirich/ the thunderbolts, ! Sgrios ' — ! None of the three ever used their singular imprecation again. Some people allege that the serpent bursts the belly in bringing forth its young, hence the term used by one scold to The bursting of the serpent another ' Sgoltadh beithreach ort ! ' : on thee ' There ! is — a similar belief regarding the salmon, hence Sgoltadh bradain ort ! ' — The bursting of the salmon upon thee : ! Spruce beer is obtained from the spruce whisky was obtained from the birch tree. Spruce was much used in olden times, and is often mentioned the old songs and sayings of the people. Beoir, spruce, spruce beer. tree, as in ' Beoir Mil is is donih agad. bainne buaile.' brailis b'eol A lover addresses ' Gur a Na Ge Spruce and wort I know were thine. Honey and milk of cattle-fold. his love milse do phog Sweeter is thy kiss Than honey and spruce, Though we were drinking From glasses. mil agus beoir. robhas 'g an ol A gloineachan.' tliem Bialag, a person in front of another person on horseback. brown beast, the otter, especially the female otter. The otter is also called ' dobhran,' from dobhar,' Dobhar-chu,' water-dog, is confined to the male otter. water. Biasl duhh, biasl donn, black beast, ' ' Otters and seals are instructive and interesting, and become attached to those who river, in the lake, feed them and teach them. and in the retrievers bring birds. sea, They and bring the fish much fish in the ashore as — ' ; NOTES Mar dhobhran am beul uisge, Mar sheobhag am bun sleibhe. Mar chu chon cait, mar chat chon 231 As an otter at the mouth of water, As a hawk at the base of hill. As a dog to a cat, as a cat to a mouse, luch, Bidh bean mic gu mathair-cheile. 'mouth of melody,' Binne-hheul, The people say p. 8.) and the field, bheul ' So a. son's wife to mother-in-law. character in Gaelic story. that the birds of the fishes of the sea stood sang. is still and listened when Bile-Binn,' musical mouth, ' female character in the is i. also the ' Binne- name of a tales. Biolair, biorbis, water-cress, water-plant, The (Vol. the beasts of the air, from ' ' bir,' bior,' water, and dubharfrom 'dobhar,' water, and 'lus,' plant -'biolair Moire,' water-cress of Mary. It was much prized, and was used as food, as medicine, and as an occult agent. ' plant. lus,' lus,' and water-cress also called is following old chorus The word More sweet On ; ' bionn ' is bith,' world, globe, Tlie nearest ' lift, this me her voice than mavis summer time maid. fionu,' fair. the atmosphere, the lieavens element, and term to to the plains in Ho my love, he my love. My love she is the beauteous a form of Bilh-eulrom, light-element, the ' occiu-s in tlie : Is binne liom a guth na'n smeoracli Air na lointibh ri la ciuin Ho rao leannan, he mo leannan. Is i mo leannan an te bhionn.' Possibly ' — 'durlus,' Bionn, symmetrical, well-featured, beauteous. ' dobhar-his,' •' ' eutrom,' known to me liglit, is ' ; from buoyant, volatile. bith-braonach,' dewy- world, a term which occurs in a lament composed bj' a maiden on The song is very old and was sung to a weird old air by a girl in the island of Miunghlaidh (Mingalay), Barra, in August 1868. As the girl reliearsed the history and sang the song her fine features glowed with subdued animation .-ind sympathy for the distressed her lover slain by her three brothers. very beautiful. It maiden. ' Tha mo ghradh My lover De mu But if 's a gharadh lios. chan ann le fios. Marcaich an eich chrudhaich ghlais. tha, Shiubhlainn am bith-braonach leis. is in the garden of flowers, not with knowledge, Rider of the well-shod grey steed, I would travel the dewy-world with him. he is it is fish, bird, or beast that has died from want or from disease from blian,' blanch. In Uist ' blianach,' blianadh,' is applied to exhausted land, especially to mossy land and to land overlaid with Blianach, a ' drift-sand or shell-sand. ; ' NOTES 232 Bliochd, milk, whey, wliey when ' skimmed ; milk, sour In Assynt bleachd is the general term for dairy produce. 'mlicht,' cognate with English 'milk.' bliochd E. curd in the milk, milk that has lost any of Ir. ' or ' its original character. ' Bochd, poor, indigent, weak, sick. In the islands of Barra, ' poor, is declined in the same manner as ' boc,' a buck. na buic a bhi lionar ' Na ' — Worse beirt a dol a suas, ' bochd,' Is misde are the poor for being numerous. na buic a dol a sios ' — The rich going up, the poor going down. from bochd,' swell. The mi bochuin,' mios buchuin,' the month of swelling. May is also known as mi Moire,' mios Moire,' the month of Mary, and buchuin Moire,' the swelling of Mary. Bochuin, swelling, bursting, protruding month of May is called ' ; ' ' ' ' ' Bochuin, the sea, the ocean. Bochuin, the ripple at the bow of a moving boat. Boisileag, palmful, a small palmful of water palm of the hand hence basaidh,' a the two palms placed side by side. Brae, curve, the curve of the Bmc, a ; from basin, ' ; ' ' bois,' ' the bas,' baslach,' the full of wave immediately before breaking. bellow, the roar of the stag. Brae, branch, applied to the horns of the deer. Brae, reindeer, red-deer, fallow-deer, deer in general. (Vol. i. p. 52 fi.) The reciter, Catherine Mackintosh, said that brae was creatair mor bracach 's na duthchan thall a big branchy-horned creature The reindeer was in Scotland in the countries beyond (the sea). ' ' ' ' till tlie — beginning of the thirteenth century, probably reindeer moss grows on the Scottisli mountains. implied in the following fairy lullaby, fiadh ' ' known later, and The reindeer as ' Bainne is nam :— Air bainne Air bainne Air bainne nam fiadh a thogadh mi. nam fiadh a shealbhaich. nam fiadh fo dhruim nan On milk On milk On milk sian, Air bharr nan sliabh The 's nan garbhiach.' On of deer I was reared. of deer was nurtured. of deer beneath the ridge of storms. crest of hill and mountain. late J. G. Campbell, minister of Tiree, held that a race Lapps lived similar to the in Scotland about the Glacial period. In 18G9 the writer ojiened an underground house at Valacuidh, North Uist. him to see In 1871 the late Iain F. Campbell of Islay accompanied it. Mr Campbell was familiar with Lajips .and Lapp — NOTES 233 dwellings, and he said that this underground structure was entirely Fragments of horns, bones, shells, were submitted to Sir Richard of reindeer horns and bones among similar to those of the Lapps. and other debris found in the house Owen, who discovered bits mentioned in the following fragment, evidently the composition of one of the Macdonalds of the Isles, several of whom were poets them. Brae,' ' is : ' A nighean nan righ roiseal Thou daughter oidhche do oirnne bhios On the Ma 's fear beo mi an Duntuilm Theid mi toirleum da d'earrais. tu eiad bruicean tadhal bruach, Ciad dobhran donn, dualaeh Gheobh tu nach Gu ciad damh will Thou alliiidh tu ciad steud stadach. bruaill Thou am A Barr wilt get otters native of streams, an hundred wild stags that of the high glens. Thou wilt get an hundred and swift, steeds stately An hundred reindeer intractable in summer, And thou wilt get an hundred liuminelled red hinds, am buabhall That will not go in of winter. Faoilleach geamhraidh.' ' gifts. banks, An hundred brown maol, ruadh, teid is an hundred badgers dwellers will not come To the green pastures an t-sarahraidh. gheobh tu ciad maoUseach Nach man I be in Duntulm go bounding to thee with wilt get in allt. luath, 'S I tig Ciad brae wedding thy that If living innis ard ghleannaidh. Gheobh night on us. bhanais, Gheobh of the king of bright-lit mansions. soluis, An stall in the Wolfmonth few miles south-west of Inveraray there is a hill called brae,' Barr a bhrac Ridge of the deer, ridge of the nam — ' ' reindeer. Biac/ul, ' putrescence, malt Braieh,' ' ; putrefaction, braicheadh,' effervescence, malting ' ; fermentation. brachadh,' ' braehach,' Brachd assumes the form of and other forms. bruchd,' a term applied in the Outer Isles to the red seaweed cast on the shore and collected in heaps and allowed to ferment. Bruchda dubh,' bruga dubh,' black putrefaction. ' braehag,' ' ' ' ' ' Brachd, fat, rich, Bradan, salmon. qualified it is generous. The simple term is confined to the salmo salar, but The turbot applied to the turbot and the sturgeon. 'bradan brathain,' round salmon, quern-like salmon, while the sturgeon is called bradan leatiiann,' broad salmon, ' bradan bacach,' lialting salmtui, and bradan cearr or ' gearr,' is called ' ' ' NOTES 234 left-sided or broad salmon. of the tions ' and stiorasg are modificaLike the salmon proper, the Stireaii English sturgeon. ' ' ' sturgeon ascends rivers to spawn. ' Bradan breithinn the salmon of knowledge touched by Fionn. ' — ominous to see a dead fish when going to fish, to see a a dead bird when going to shoot, or to see a dead beast when going to hunt. (Vol. i. p. 314.) Even sickly, weakly, maimed, or old persons were shunned when going to fish, shoot, or hunt, and men otherwise shrewd and sensible would turn home in It is Were displeasure if such crossed their path. a woman with red would be deep and long. This is the colour of hair attributed to Judas Iscariot, for whom the people have a personal hatred. meet them to hair La Bhrath,' Gu brath,' till doom, for ever The Clacha Brath of lona were put round, they continued to move the Day of Judgment Bralh, doom, judgment. Day ' Brclth, a ' ; of Judgment. and as long as woiUd not come. ' their mutterings ' ' quern, handmill, anything round, anything that has no end. Bonnach brathain,' a round salmon, turbot ; ' breideachag, Breideag, kertch, ' bannock ' ; bradan brathain,' a round liabag bhrathain,' round flounder. woman little of the kertoh from ; ' breid,' breideach,' kertched. ' Bainne breun,' soured milk, Breun, sour, acid, fermented, putrid. Travellers in Greece, Palestine, Syria, and fermented milk. other pastoral countries of the East, speak of the soured, fermented milk used by the people of those lands. The traveller in Uist may probably be offered milk similarly affected, but may not be Seeing this, the kindly woman will say, ' Cha able to take it. You do not like soured milk ? Our toigh leibh bainne breun ? men prefer it sour, and the more sour the more they like it.' Throughout tlie Shetland Isles whey is soured and used as ' — name a beverage under the of 'bliind.' Cf. 'koumiss' of the otlier countries. Brian, bnain, angel, arcliangel, god, divinity, hence god of evil ; a ' a ' thou god bhriain bhriain term of exclamation. A Mhicheil Coivi ! ' ! ' a bhrian dhonais also Brian, ! ' thou god 'Michael one of the Rliys' Hibherl Lectures. ! ' ! thou 'tri ' ! 'a bhriain Choibhi demon god ! ! ' thou god Cf. Gaulish Brennos, dee dana,' three gods of fate. See — - ' NOTES 235 Breannun, Brendan. St Brendan was a voyager going long journeys west and north in his missionary zeal. According Brianain, to Matthew Arnold's poem on St Brendan, the short saint saw Judas Iscariot sitting on an iceberg in the far nortli. On inquiry he found that on account of his having given his cloak to a beggar, Judas was allowed an hour's respite from burning pain, and selected an iceberg as likely to be the most comfortable place. Malcolm Maclean, smith, Ceanntangval, Barra, said that Brendan asked to be buried beside his beloved anam-chai'a,' Malcolm soul friend, Moluag in Lismore, and tiiat this was done. Maclean, who was a man of quiet wit, natural intelligence, and ' independence of mind, told A man dwelt at Mor,' me the following story : — Domhull Dubh Baile-na-creige, near St Brendan's church and called ' Domhull Dubh,' sometimes ' burial-place in Barra. Domhull Dubh had opinions of his own about Saints and Days, in consequence of which he and the priest of St Brendan had occasional rubs, sometimes bordering on angerThe man was neighbourly and industrious, but some said sceptical Saints' and irreligious, barely observing the Sunday, and hardly even the Feast Day. On went when others becomingly Dubh went away to plough. the day of the holy Brendan, to nn)rning mass, Domliull He chose a hollow out of sight, where he thought he might work unseen and unmolested of man, or of woman, or of tell-tale child, not thinking that the eye of Brendan would see him, nor that the wrath of Brendan woidd be upon him for disturbing his and breaking his day. sooner had Domhull Dubh called his horses to go on than a 'ceo draoi,' magic mist, came down, dark as the shroud) of death, hiding the horses before him, and the ' crom-nan-gad,' single Feeling that he had offended the Saint, he plough, in his hand. called on his name rest No : ' A Bhrianain ! Tog dhiom an The ft)g lifted, a Bhrianain Brendan ! but instead of ! O Brendan ! Lift off nie the mist. ceo. liis stout, steady, short-eared, long- maned, long-tailed garrons, he had but slim, frail, long-eared, short-maned, shoit-tailed asses before him in the furrow, and instead of his plough he had now but his wife's distaff in his hand, while he himself had dwindled down to a mere manikin no bigger than a dwarf. Domhull Dubh Mor marvelled much at the — — ' — NOTES 236 and was transformation, make thinking to perplexed what soi'ely to But, do. the best of the worst, he called to the asses to Immediately the magic mist came down, rendering the him as black as the sea around the cuttle-fish, hiding the asses in front, and the distaff in his hand. Again he called on the Saint go on. light around : ' A Bhrianain a A dheoin Dliia ! 's Tog Brendan O Brendan With God's will and men's wish. Bhrianain a mhiann dliaoiue, ! ! dhioni an ceo. Lift ! me from the fog. The fog cleared away, but instead of the asses and the distaff he had now long-eared, maneless, tailless coneys in front of him, and his wife's spindle in his hand, while he himself was no bigger than Domhull Dubh marvelled much at the a fairy man of the knoll. transformation, and was sorely perplexed what to do. He, however, began again to plough, but again the magic mist descended. Being now convinced that he had offended the Saint, he earnestly called upon ' A his name Bhrianain a Bhrianain Eisd ri mo bhriathran. dheoin Dhia 's a mhiann dhaoine, Tog dhiora an ceo.' ! ! A in contrition of heart Bi-endan ! Listen to O Brendan my prayer, With God's Lift from will me : ! and men's desire. the fog. Domhull Dubh Mor having shown repentance of soul and a spirit of prayer, the fog lifted up, and instead of the coneys and the now his own sturdy garrons in front of him and own good plough in his hand, and he himself, from being as small as a fairy man of the knoll, was become himself again. When Domhull Dubh Mor fomid that he could not contend against the Saint, he was much cast down, and wended his way home fo naire, 's fo mhasladh 's fo rudha gruaidh under shame, spindle he had his ' ' — and disgrace, and flushing of cheek. His neighbours found him out and mocked him, while his best friends upbraided him, saying that it was futile for a sinner to contend against a Saint, and that he deserved all that had come upon him, and more, for disturbing the rest of the blessed Brendan, and breaking his holy day. But there was one who did not upbraid Domhull Dubh Mor, but who cleaved to him the more closely the more he was reviled, and who sang in her heart if not with her voice : ' My loving dark-haired one, Let sharp tongues assail thee, One fail heart will not That knows to be true. thee ' NOTES 237 Dark-haired one, dark-haired one. poor, poor we be. Though No rich old Like thee, The comely young man could please rae love, like thee.' Dubh wife of Domhull ran to tlie priest, and sake of the Holy Motlier, the Virgin of sorrows, to come and sprinkle 'the water' on Domhull, and remove from him the ban of Brendan. besought him for the Let Domhull Dubh Mor revel in liis agony,' said the priest, he shows by his good deeds contrition for his evil ways.' But the good priest c;ime notwitlistanding, and, after administering a rebuke to Domhull Dubh, sprinkled on him the water of peace, and bade him go and give alms to the poor and the needy made in the image of God, and sin no more. ' ' till 'Chunna Brianain Domhull Dubh, Is faide an Ge mor la 's an diugh na 'n de, gun cunnta tu dha d' ni Is beag ara pris Mhic an tigh De. Cha dean mis, no ciob, no uan, Cha dean curachd, buain, no feur, Cha dean marc, no earc, no buar, Dhusa buanachd la an eug. Tha suil Bhrianain ort Tlia chruth a am 's How many soever thou wouldst count of thy flocks. Small is their price in the house of God's Son. No No No goat, no sheep, no Iamb, sowing, no reaping, no grass. horse, no cow, no cattle. Shall avail thee on the day of death. The eye of Brendan muig, dubhradh ort Brendan saw Black Donald, Longer is to-day than (was) yesterday. an His form chlaidhe geur a chon do sgruid, Ann an is on thee in frown. darkening on thee in the cloud. neul, Tha is taigh na diumb 's na pein. His sword is sharp to scourge thee. In the house of wrath and pain. Treig a dhaolaire do chealg, Treig do mhearrachain is do bhreuig. An tearapull De dean-sa t' earb. Forsake, thou grub, thy deception. Forsake thine errors and thine evil ways. In the temple of God place thou thy An In liberal tithes reliance. deachu fial 's an nasgu deirc. Threig an t-aithreachan a chearb. Mhic Thill chon tearmad teach De, Air altair fein thug deirc dha ainm, and in free alms. The penitent forsook He On his errors. sought the protection of the house of God's Son, His own altar he gave alms to His name. 'S bha ait nearah. is aoibh air ainghle And there was joy and delight on the angels of heaven. — ' — ' ' : is more NOTES 238 In the Roman Catholic isles of the West the Sunday observed, and the Saints' Days are less observed than was the some years case A ago. Protestant girl from South Uist married a miller in South Some time after the marriage a Roman Catholic companion young wife came to visit them. On Sunday the miller and his wife went to church, and, there being no Roman Catliolic service in Harris, the friend stayed at home. On their return from church the young couple found their guest busily baking. The young wife chided her friend, who replied, in much astonishment O Mhoire Mhoire nach tu tha gun doigh a nighean A Righ chunna mise mnathan <a bhail againn fhein a fuinne La Feile gun ghuth air La Domhnach O Mary Mary art not thou the girl without reason King I saw the women of oiu* own townland baking on a Saint's Day, to say nothing of the Lord's Day Harris. of the ' ! ! ! ! ! ' ! ! ! ! ! Broth, breast, breast-bone, stem of ' brollach,' breast. broth,' hence 'duine brothach,' swollen up with anger, pride, or from some other cause. eruption, rash, pimples, swollen, projecting a ' Cf. man ; burn dearg,' red water ' galar dearg,' red ' earnach ' earna dhearg,' red murrain dhubh,' ' earnach dhubh,' black murrain. The red and the black murrain are two stages of this disease, which is produced by several causes. On the mainland it is generally caused by the cattle eating the young leaves of shrubs and trees, especially the bog myrtle, the alder, and the birch, and by drinking water impregnated with them. In the Isles the disease is caused chiefly by eating the Bwi-dearg, red swelling disease ' ; fala,' ' ; ; rotiindifolid). Wherever sundew prevails red common. A place in South Uist is known as Bogach na marsh of blood, from the |irevalence of sundew and its sundew pleura ; earna dhearg,' deadly {drosera ' is effects. Bun-Jeann, hun-feam, buii-feainiin, rumj>-tail, root of the rump. A wolf was destroying the sheep of the crofters of Kintail. Two old men went to kill it. One entered the den of the wolf, while the other stood guarding the entrance. When the wolf came home the man at the entrance seized him by the tail as he was entering his den and held him fast. The man within called out : ' The 'lUeChriost chaim. One-eyed Co dhruid an Who toll ? other answered ' Gillchrist, closed the hole ? : Ma bhriseas am bun-feann, Bith fios sin aig do sgall. If the rurap-tail should break, Thy skull shall know that. — — NOTES 239 water. In Sccits and English the Gaelic 'burn' means a river, and occurs as a river-name, as do also the Gaelic uisg,' abhuinn,' in Esk, Avon, and other forms. Burn is used in the following lullaby Bum, ' ' ' ' : Brochan buirn, buirn, buirn. Brochan buirn gheobh mo leanabh, 'N uair a bheireas a bho rahaol, Gheobh mo ghaol brochan bainne.' CaiUeac/i, a ' woman, a single Porridge of water, water, water, Porridge of water shall my child get, When the hummel eow shall calve My darling shall get porridge of milk. woman, an old woman, a carlin, a woman without offspring, a nun the counterpart of ' bodach,' carle also a supernatural of malign influence dwelling in dark caves, woods, ; ; and corries a period of time. ; Cailleach uisg,' water woman, water carlin akin to the bean and many other water divinities with which the old Highlanders invested their lakes, streams, and waterfalls. The term 'cailleach uisg' is ap])lied to a diseased potato containing only water. According to some people, 'cailleach' as a period of time is the first week of April, and is represented as a wild hag with a venomous temper, hurrying about with a magic wand in her withered hand switching the grass and kcejnng down vegetation, to the detriment of man and beast. When, however, the grass upborne by the warm sun, the gentle dew, and the fragrant rain overcomes the 'cailleach,' she flies into a terrible temper, and throwing away her wand into the root of a whin bush, she disappears in a whirling cloud of angry passion till the beginning of April comes again, saying as she goes ' nigh,' ' uraisg,' ' ' ; peallaidh,' : • Dh' f hag e mhan It It escaped It Dh' fhag e eadar rao dha lamh mi. Dh' fhag e bial mi, dh' fhag e cul It 'n ard mi, mi, Dh' fliag e me it escaped me above, escaped me between my two hands, escaped me before, it escaped me mi, dh' fhag e escaped below, behind, cadar mo dha shul mi. Dh' fhag e shios mi, dh' fhag e shuas mi, Dh'fhag e eadar mo dha chluasmi. Dh' fhag e thall mi, dh' fhag e bhos mi, Dh' fhag e eadar mo dha chos mi. It me between my two escaped me down, it eyes. escaped me up, It It escaped me between my two ears, me thither, it escaped me esciiped hither, It escaped me between my two feet. — ! NOTES 240 Thilg mi Am 'n bun slacan druidh donai crin preis I cruaidh nach tlie driiidic evil wand base of a withered hard whin bush. conuis, Far my threw Into fas fionn na Where foiii- sliall not grow ' fionn ' nor ' foin- nidh,' nidh, Ach fracan froinnidh feurach.' But fragments of grassy froinnidh.' ' a loop, a curve, a circle, a sanctuary, an imaginary circle described with the hand round himself by a person in fear, danger, Cairn, cam, or distress. is a term of frequent occurrence among caim Dhe,' the sanctuary of God ' caim Chriosd,' the encompassing of Christ 'caim Mhoire mhin,' the encircling of ' Rinn mi caim Mhoire the gentle Mary, and many other forms. orm fein,' I made the sanctuary of Mary on myself. ' Rinn mi caim na Cro-Naoimhe,' I made the sanctuary of the Sacred Heart. This making of the sanctuary is not confined to illiterates nor to Catholics. A distinguished scholar and rigid Protestant told me that he often found himself unconsciously making the 'caim.' I had the following story from a woman who evidently accepted ' Caim,' a sanctuary, the people, as — ' ; ; it in its literal A aspect : flocks, met a lasgaire loinneil,' handsome young man, on the lone hillside. The man pressed his suit upon the maiden but though pleased with his appearance, and charmed with his manner, she kept shy of him, and tried to evade him. He asked her to lift some of the sheep droppings rolling down towards them, and to satisfy him she did so, and lo they became balls of glittering gold, shining and sparkling in the maiden, tending her father's ' ; bright light of the sun, like the fireflies of night. The youth told the maiden that this was only a small part of what he could do for and, pressing his suit the hai-der, asked her to meet him again. But through her long downcast eyelashes the girl thought that she could discern what seemed like hoofs instead of feet, witii clay in their crevices and earth on their edges, and there appeared also to be fragments of rabhagach,' water-reeds, in his moist hair, and she feared in her heart that he might be the each-uisge,' waterThe maiden was horse, of which her mother had warned her. her ; ' ' sore afraid, and, fearing meet the man to say ' No,' tremblingly promised to again. On getting home the girl told her mother, and her mother told her father, and her father told the pears-eaglais,' priest. ' It is ' the devil with his lures,' said the good jn-iest, ' and we must meet — '; NOTES him and stoutly. I will I myself \vill Name in go with thee and with thy daughter, bring the Book, and They went, and the 241 we will make the blessed sanctuary.' priest took the Book, and made the ' caim of the Sacred Three, and of the sanctified saints, and of the siidess angels. man Presently the young in finest arrived, clothed from garb and gaudiest array, and right full head to heel of seductive smiles and enticing words. He tried to come near them, and went round and round three successive times, but could not come through the ' caim Chriosda chaoimh sanctuary of Christ the kindly. And again, and again, and yet again the prideful young man tried to come near, but again, and again, and yet again failed because of tlie blessed 'caim.' Then the big cock crowed, and the young man, defeated, fled vrith a roar, flames of forkling fire more deadly than the fangs of the serpent issuing from his ears, eyes, nostrils, and heels, and showing his form anew. The aflrighted girl, trembling like the leaf of the aspen tree^ looked in her hand, and lo the erstwhile pellets of glittering gold were become filth, and in disgust she threw them away. Is e'n tarbh baoidhre bh'ann, a ghraidh mo chridhe, agus caim losa Mine Mhoire mhin bin cadar siniie agus e agus gach gniomh graineil agus gach bair duaichnidh.' It was the bull of lust, thou love of my heart, and may the sanctuary of Jesus the Son of the gentle Mary be between us and him and each unsightly thing and unseemly strife.' ' Cam and its inflections occur in the names of many places widely apart, as Caim,' a bay, and also a stream, in Arasaig, and the hamlet of ' Bun-na-caime Caim,' a river in Rannoch Cam,' the river upon which Cambridge stands and Camel,' 'cam-thuil,' crooked flood, a river in Cornwall. From 'cam' comes cambar,' a place of burial. There is a place of burial called ' Cambar in the island of St KUda, and another in the island of Bearnaray, Harris. The daughter of a widow in North Uist died in Bearnaray. The weather being stormy and the people unable to bury the girl among her kindred, the distressed mother appealed to Columba ' — ! ' — ' ' ' ' ; ' ' ; ' ' ' : ' A Chahim-chille an Sannda, Nar leig mo laogh an Charabar Oh ! ! Columba Allow not my Sannda, love to Cambar. in There is a dedication to Columba in Sannda, North Uist, in which three chiefs of the Macdonalds of the Isles are buried, VOL. II. Q NOTES 242 including ' Dubh/ Black Archibald, who murdered own path to the chiefship. Gilleaspa two brothers his to clear his Caimeineach, caimineach, saving, economical from ; ' caimeiii,' ' caimin,' small. Caimldetichadii, cuingleaciiadh, restraining, confining, trapping ' ; hemming caimh,' in sheep ' ; hemming ; white, clear, bright, Cairbre. This 'Cairbre' men ' is a frequent the name slain in battle to ' means ' ; a sanctuary. pure. fair, is Cairbre en- ' Caimir, a fold, a stockade in which flocks were safeguarded Caiti, in, caimhleachadh chaorach,' ' caimleachadh bhreac,' guddling trout. caimhil,' to confine name in Gaelic lore. of the hero who In Gaelic mythology, carried the souls of the flathanas,' heaven. a charioteer, from ' cairb,' a chariot, a thing that carries. It was customary to place a wax candle, a gold coin, a hammer, and a pair of scales with the body in the grave. The candle was to light the pilgrim 'thar abhuiini dubh a bhais,' across the black river of death, tlie coin to pay duais a asgair,' the services of the ferryman the hammer, chon bualadh dorus nam flathas,' to knock at the door of heaven and the scales, 'chon cothromachadh an anama,' to weigh the soul. Some years ago the Atlantic waves exposed to view a grave in Cladh Aruinn, an ancient burial-plot in the small island of Keilligrey, in the Sound of Harris. The grave contained a large skeleton, a small hammer, and a pair of small scales. Candlesticks have also been found in graves. When the news reached the people of Lismore that their beloved St Moluag was dead, twenty-four of the strongest men of the island travelled to Ardclach and brought home the body and buried it beneath the altar of his church in the centre of the churchyard. About the close of last century, while opening a grave about this place, a tripod gold candlestick was found. Calcined bones, stones, and wood came up in tlie debris where the tripod was discovered. The church, crowded with people, had been burned by the Norsemen. The tripod may have formed part of the altar furnishing of the church, or it may have been buried with St Moluag. It is said to have been plain, but beautifully formed. The people gave the candlestick to the highly popular General Campbell of Lochnell. What became ' ; ' ; NOTES of at the it not known. The 243 dispersion of the general's extensive collection Some of his things went to the British authorities of the is Museum. Museiun allowed the writer to examine candlesticks in their possession, some of which had been found in graves, but they did not know whether tlie candlestick of St Moluag was among them. Cairo, flesh, a person. Cairdc, convenient, suitable, appropriate ; as being of kin. Caisean-nchd, a strip of skin from the breast of a sheep killed at New Year, and other sacred festivals. The strip is and no knife must be used in removing it from the flesh. It is carried by the carollcrs when they visit the houses of the townland, and when lit by the head of the house it is given to each person in turn to smell, going sunwise. Should it go out, hand it becomes it is a bad omen for the person in whose Christmas, oval, extinguished. The inhaling of the fumes of the burning skin and wool talisman to safeguard the family from fairies, is a witches, demons, and other uncanny creatures, during the year. Two such strips were placed face to face to form a bag. Probably this was the 'uilim,' the sacred bag for alms. (Vol. i. p. 126 /f.) wake, watch, harass the labour recpiired of a crofter holding under a tacksman. Throughout the Highlands and Islands the chiefs and proprietors generally rented out large tracts of land to relatives, These were called ' fir gabhail,' connections, and friends. gavelkind men, fir baile,' townland men, tacksmen, in Ireland middlemen. The tacksmen retained the best land in their own immediate possession, sub-letting the remainder to tenants of varying degrees at exorbitant rents. Besides exacting high rents, the tacksman exacted labour so many days from each crofter throughout the year. It would not be profitable, were it possible, The reader interested can find to describe these things here. them in Travels in the Western Isles, by the Rev. John Lane Buchanan, and other works. The lot of the crofter holding under the proprietor might be hard enough, but that of the crofter holding mider the tacksman was infinitely harder. This wrung from the hearts of the people Caitliris, ; ' — NOTES 244 many sayings, as, of the servant is ' Is Gille ghille ' measa na'n diobhal is worse than the Bad don an gabhalach. Ach tha don an donuis Anns an ath-ghabhalach.' In many ' —The servant devil. is the tenancy, evilness of the evil one But the Is in the sub-tenancy. extensive districts cleared of people the proprietor was able to say that he never had crofters in these places. This was true in word but not in spirit, the crofters having been the sub-tenants, or the sub-sub-tenants, of the proprietor's tenant. Calanas, wool or flax or silk working, from the raw material to the The women of the Highlands are famous at crow of the old cock being their call to morning prayer and ' eident calanas.' There are crofter houses in the West in which from ten to twenty pairs of blankets are laid past These apart from the current requirements of the household. become useful when the daughters of the family are getting married. (Vol. i. p. 294 /.) finished ' cloth. calanas,' the first Cahim-cille, St Columba, was probably the greatest man that Ireland ever produced. He was a man of splendid presence, and had a magnificent voice, and a wonderful fascination over the minds For several centuries Columba was the patron saint of superseded in the south by St Andrew, through the He influence of Margaret, the Saxon wife of Malcolm Canmore. is still virtually the patron saint of the Highlands, and is held Thursday of the second week of June in the highest veneration. sacred to Colimiba, and by implication every Thursday is throughout the year is propitious for man, beast, and enterprise. of men. Scotland, till This is expressed in many sayings. Even the furies, the fairies, the witches, the people of the evil eye, and of druidry, were Oblation cakes are baked for powerless for evil on Thursday. (Vol. i. pp. 162, 163.) St Columba's Day as for other festivals. St Columba's reliquary, the breac-beannach,' speckled peaked one, was intrusted to the keephig of the Abbey of Arbroath, and ' from about 1420 Aberdeenshire. its It is custodians now at Caoibean, the five or six inches of the beginning of the Caoincag, caoinleag, web ; Drum in warp uncrossed by the weft at were the Irvines of Monymusk. 'caob,' a piece. caoineac/iag, cnoinleachag, caoidhcag, weeper. — — NOTES mourner ; from caoin,' ' weep, and who are applied to the naiad 245 These names caoidh/ mourn. ' foretells the death of and weeps Unlike ' nigheag,' ' caoineag cannot be approached nor questioned. She is seldom seen, but often heard in the liOl, in the glen, and in the corrie, by the lake, by for those slain in combat. ' Her mourning and weeping and much anxiety to the stream, and by the waterfall. much cause trepidation to night-farers, parents whose sons are in the wars. Wlien a mournful cry is Who is that the heard, and the remark is made, Co tha sid ? ' ' — — .'' Who but caoineachag.' Co ach caoineachag Who but little caoineachag Co <ach caoineachag bheag a bhroin of the sorrow. The sorrowing of caoineachag was much feared before a foray, an expedition, or an impending battle. It is said that she was heard during several successive nights before the answer invariablj' is, ' ' ' ' — ' ' * ' ' Massacre of Glencoe. This roused the suspicions of the people, and notwithstanding the assurance of the peace and friendship of the soldiery, many of the people left the glen and thus escaped Fragments of the dirges sung the fate of those who remained. by 'caoineachag before the massacre are current in that valley of the dark shadow of death ; ' ' Tha caoineachag bheag a bhroin. dortadh deoir a sula. gul 's a caoidh cor Clanii Domhuill, Fath nio leoin nach d' eisd an cumha.' ! ' ' oaoine.ichag of tlie sorrow pouring the tears of her eyes, Little A A us caoineadh am bcinn a cheo, Tha gul is glaodhaich am beinn a Tha caoidh Is Weeping and wailing the Tha fate of Clandonald. Alas my grief! that ye did not heed her cries. lliere is in the mount weeping and calling in the gloom and grief of mist, Tlicre is mount of mist, cheo, Tha bur ' is baoghal, tha raurt maoghal, fuil ga taomadh am is beinn a There is death and danger, there is maul and murder, There is blood spilling in the mount of cheo." mist. Caor, red, red beri'ies, red sparkles, red bodies of a globular form probably from ' ' tha an duine era,' red, crimson. na chaoire dearga ' Caora teine,' teine,' fire sparkles the man is in ; ; red Caor,' is specially apjilied to the berry of the being the most common. The berry as well as the wood of the mountain ash was used to safeguard animals, and especially to avert mishap to bearing animals sparkles of fire. mountain ash, VOL. IL ' it Q 2 ; NOTES 246 ' 'S ' A Lair dhubh bhreabach, Feadh nan creagan, Lair dhubh bhreabach, i na A ruith.' A Lan an Chum duirn de chaora dearga a teanacsa. 'Sina black mare a-kicking, the rocks. black mare a-kicking, And she a-running. Among handful of red rowan berries To safeguard And ruith.' her, she a-running. Caorrann, caon'unn, rowan, mountain ash. The rowan was homestead. sacred, and used many forms about in the a rowan sucker, or ' flcasg caorruinn,' a rowan wand, was placed over the lintels of the barn, byre, stable, sheep-fold, and lamb-cot, as a safeguard against ' Failean caorruinn,' malicious spirits. A twig of rowan was coiled and placed beneath the milk boynes to keep the milk from being spirited away. A fire of rowan was sacred, and therefore the festival cakes were cooked with rowan faggots or witchcraft and into a circlet other sacred wood. A coffin, or a bier, or the spokes on which treated with especial reverence ' made if A chraobh chaorrainn sin 's an dorus. Thou Theid thu fotham-sa dh'an chill. Cuirear m' aghaidh ri Dundealgan, 'S deantar dhomh-sa carbad grinn.' it rowan My face And is in was the burial place, be put toward Dundealgan, a beautiful bier shall be made for me. shall of a peculiarly rich carmine colour glandular organ carried, tree before the door, Thou shall go imder me to Carr, cairr, flesh, coarse flesh, the flesh of the seal which was of the mountain ash. ; and the whale, udder, the the which the milk of mammals is collected shingle on mountain-tops. ' a bhi dubh na bhi donn. a bhi donn na bhi ban. a bhi ban na bhi ruadh. Ni bheil air an ruadh Ach gur fearr e bhi shuas na Is fearr Better be black than be brown. Is fearr Better be brown than be fair. Better be fair than be red, Nothing can be said for the red Is fearr But that charr.' 'tis better to be there than the flesh. name of a spade much used in the Western from ' cas,' leg, and crom,' bent. The * cas-chrom is well adapted for ground of tough surface, but not for ground already broken in and pulverised. Cas-chrom, bent-spade, the Isles Cat-cinn, ' ; inflorescence on shrubs and trees ' ; spots in the liair of animals. Càthaith, cleaning corn in the barn with two open doors opposite each — ' NOTES a draught. other to cause ' fasgnadh Calhadh, lair,' ' is ground-drift sheet of rain corn the winnowed is outside, the word used. snow, snow cahhnadh, cahha, If 247 ' ; ; ' - wreath, snow-drift, cabha- ' cabha-sian,' a visible storm of rain, a white cabha-mara,' sea-drift. Cathu, calhudh, an offensive smell, especially fi'om fish newly salted, or from skate when becoming ' high.' Cc, in cruinne-cc, this present world. Cc, spouse, companion, friend, devotee. ragha ce ' ' Thu dhomh-sa mo thoir — You to give me my choice spouse. A form of ' ceile, spouse, partner. CI; Keith, St Keith. Ccabhar, ce'ar, sky, cloud, upper slight clouds, wind; 'ceairidh,' 'ciridh,' cirrus clouds. Gobhar Ghlas,' Grey is used in the story of the During the absence of the goat the fox discovered the two kids carefully hid under the grass in the hollow by the mother when she left for the foraging. The fox ate the kids, and while they were still bleating in his stomach the goat In answer to the distressful cry and reproachful looks returned. of the mother the fox said The term ' Goat. : ' Air an dreighinn, air an dris, Air an uisge ruith 's an eas, Air an adhar os do chionn. Air an talamh os do bhonn. Air a ghrian anns an iarm. Air a ghealach seachad siar. Air na reultai anns a chi'ar. Ni 'm facas riamh do chuid meann.' This is One boy a form of asseveration says to another : ' — Lift thine hand and give By the thorn, by the bramble. By the water in the waterfall. By the sky above thine head. By the earth beneath thy foot, By the sun in the firmament. By the moon in its westing, By the stars in the lift, I never saw thy set of kids. common among boys at play. Tog do lamh agus thoir do mhionnan The boy thus commanded thine oath. This oath is called 'mionnan a mhadaidh ruaidh/ the asseveration of the red dog and mionnan a mhadaidh ruaidh dh'an ghobhair ghlais,' the asseveration of the red dog to the grey goat. repeats the lines of the fox. ; Ceacharra, obstreperous, strong man. unmanageable miry M.Ir., 'cecharda,' Ceal, same, similar, similar colour, hue. ; ; ' duine ' ceacharra,' dirty; stingy. head- ; NOTES 248 Ceal, ridge cliff, ; ' na cealaichean/ ridge of Ceal, end, finish, complete. Cuir ceal ' ' bhan,' Cearradan,' cearrdaman,' ' ' cearr-fhiollan,' Possibly insect. cearraman,' ' ceard-fliioUan,' gearr-daolan,' thick-set black one, broad ' p. ' cearran,' ' ' cearrallan,' left' gearr-dubhan,' (Vol. beetle. little cearna- cearr-dubhan.' ' ' name should be the it. left-sided little black ceard-dubhan,' seem to be forms of the ' It is also called sided ' put an end to wrong or Cearr-duhhan, the sacred beetle, the one. cliffs. air,' ii. 188/:) Co ard Is ann 's 's Ccasg, floss However high the gun seol an cearr-dubhan, a ghlar a thuiteas e.' ; an animal with long supernatural It is in the beetle soars. filth it falls. hair or wool, a sheep flossy creature of great beauty, half-woman a fresh-water mermaid, with hair long and flossy. a tuft of fine lint ' ; ceasg sioda,' a tuft of fine silk ; ' a ; half-grilse ' Ceasg lin,' ceasg cloimhe,' a tuft of fine wool. Ceigeach, shaggy, having long ' ' matted hair ; a sheep, a goat. a chul na creige Chaora cheigeach an robh bhrigh.' He Dhannsadh na gobhair cheigeach. Dance would the shaggy Thug took with him behind the rock The shaggy sheep of substance. e leis Mheigeach, bhailgean, Dhannsadh 's na minn bheaga. 'S bheiceadh ri na caUbhean.' goats, Bleatful, spotted, Dance would the And little kids, curtsey to the wattles. May, as now understood. There were at least four periods of time called ' Ceitein.' These were the ' Ceitein Earraich,' the Spring Ceitein ' Ceitein Samhraidh,' the summer Ceitein ' Ceitein Oinnsich,' foolish woman's Ceitein and Ceitein Geamhraidh,' Ceitein, ; ; ; the winter Ceitein. autumn or ' Probably there was a Ceitein, although it is not Ceitein Oinnsich,' Ceitein of a mistake for ' ' ' Ceitein Foghraidh,' now known among the people the foolish woman, is probably ; Ceitein Oinich,' liberal Ceitein, the Ceitein of autumn, when Nature was generous and food abundant. ' Monday omen for Ceiid Diluain an raithe,' the first of the quarter. This was In order to appease any evil spirits that might be hovering about in the air above or lurking about in the earth beneath, a living creature was thrust outside by the first person who rose in the morning, The awaiting spirits seized the and the door shut again. a lucky day, a day of good the people. propitiatory sacrifice thus offered to them, which was generally a cock or hen, a drake or duck, or a cat, rarely a dog. If this — — NOTES offering to the night spirits 249 were neglected, some mishap would occur. ' A The chiad Diluain dh'an gheamhradh first Monday of the cold winter fhuar daor a Is mi duais nan phaigh Dearly did pay the reward of the I chaseThe yellow-haired man of sealg Fear buidhe, ban, bu ro-ghlan snuadh Air taobh na beinne fuar 's e marbh.' brightest hue On the side of the mountain cold and dead. from ceus,' and 'craim,' tree. The people say that drops of the sacred blood fell upon the plant at the foot of the Cross, and that hence the semblance of the cross on the flower and the name Ceus-chrann, ceus-chrannd , passion-flower, crucifying tree ' ; crucify, given to the plant. Cillorn, cilleorn, Cioh, sheep as ' ; an urn, a sacred hence caora,' ' 'ciobair,' cire,' ' ceasg,' different kinds, sexes, critics vessel. The sheep has shepherd. ' several names, These are generic terms, the ai.' and ages having special names. Modern of Highlanders allege that there were no sheep in the Highlands till they were introduced by Lowland farmers towards The statement is as much the end of the eighteenth century. opposed to truth as innumerable other statements from the same sources. Don Pedro de Agala, who wrote in 1498, speaks of the vast flocks of sheep in Scotland, and especially in the Highlands. Cosmo Innes and other writers confirm the statement. It is surprising, indeed, to find that there were such flocks of sheep, considering the destruction to which they were exposed by wild-cats, pole-cats, marten-cats, foxes, wolves, and birds of prey. During the Commonwealth, a tax of one mark was levied on every sheep in This pressed heavily on those who had large flocks of Scotland. ' Iain dubh nan cath Black John of the battles, as Highsheep. ' — landers loved to call Montrose — abolished this impost. For this Highlander praises Montrose's great commander, Alexander Macdonald, better known to Highlanders as ' Alastair Alexander, son of left-handed Coll mac Cholla Chiotaich relief a grateful ' * Dia — leat, Alastair 'ic Cholla, Ismordothromadammeasgdhaona, Gloir dh'an Mhae thu thighinn a dh'Alba, Cha phaigh sinne marg air shealbh chaora.' : God be with thee, Alexander son of Coll, Great is thy weight among men, Praise to the Son that thou hast to We come Alban, shall not flocks. pay a mark for our sheep ; NOTES 250 Highlanders regard the sheep as blessed because Christ speaks of himself as the Shepherd, and of His people as His sheep. On this account they treat the sheep with loving care, and speak of it as of a familiar friend. Ciob, club-rush, flaky peat. Closan, diminutive of a basket. cios,' ' Scottish ' The cassie.' ' ciosan' made of reeds, rushes, rib-grass, bent, bent roots, straw, hazel, It is made in two forms. birch, or willow. One form is small and is a bee-hive. circular, like basket. The other form This the side. in Argyll this form is This is called 'ciosan mine,' meal large and spherical, vrith an opening is called ' ciosan cloimhe,' wool cassie. In called 'murlag' and 'murlach.' Another form ciarachan.' of wool basket is called It is open at the top, bulges out in the middle, and again tapers in towards the base. Another kind of basket is called maois,' Anglicised maize. It is flat, oblong", or circular, and now made of willow, but formerly Perhaps the term maois,' for basket, is from of reeds or rushes. ' Maois,' Moses, the law-giver, whose cradle was made of bulrushes. The maois is now made of one uniform size, and is principally used as a measure for herrings. The Shetland Isles, like the Outer Isles, being destitute of wood, the ciosan there, called caisie,' caizie,' is made of the stems of thistles, dockens, and ragwort. is ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Cir, are, ciridh, ' sheep, a cud-chewing animal ; in use in the Outer Hebrides, and in the Isle of Man. comb. The comb was an article of importance in olden times. mentioned in the old tales and represented on the sculptured stones, and is found in the ancient cists among the bones of the When thus found it indicates that the grave was that of dead. Gir, It is Bride is frecjuently represented combing sometimes with a comb of gold and sometimes a lady, probably of rank. her golden hair, with a comb of Citk, citke, cuithe, a mass, a quantity, a shower, bank of water an a bank of fog ' cithe buirn,' a ' cithe ceo,' Citheal, silver. cuidhe, probably a form of ' ; ' ciall,' ' ; cithe sneachd,' a cithe,' a drizzle bank of snow the mass, the world mass. reason, prudence, wisdom. Cilhcal, cidheal, cibheal, ciall, giall, jaw, jaw-l>one. ; — NOTES 251 The wheatear is facetiously Padruig/ bird of the Feast of Patrick, because The people speak of the wheatear as 'slant/ Clacharan, cloichirean, wheatear, stone-bird. called ' fear na Feill he appears then. sained, as, they say, he lies dormant during winter. Ornithologists It has not been the privilege of are not agreed on this point. the \vTÌter to see the wheatear dormant, but he has conversed with several reliable men who assured him that they had so seen it. Donald MacMurdoch, crofter, Bailemeadhonach, Islay, said that he and his boys were clearing away a fail-dyke in midwinter, when they came upon great numbers of wheatears in hollows in the turf. The birds were stiff and cold, and to all appearance dead. The boys took home a bonnetful of the wheatears and placed them on the floor round the fire. Bj' degrees the apparently dead birds began to show signs of and to rise to their feet, and to flap their wings, though evidently weak and dazed. Many flew out at the open door to fall witli the falling snow, others died, Donald MacMurdoch is a while some lived for several days. most intelligent man, and a very observant naturalist. Donald MacColl, foxlnniter, Glencreran, said that one winter, early in the century, a long stretch of undermined bank fell down on the road. Among the debris of roots, moss, and gravel there were masses of wheatears, apparently dead. There had been long-continued frost, followed by a sudden thaw and abnormal heat. The birds exposed to the warmtli of the sun showed signs of reviving life. Boys and girls took home many of the dormant returning and life, to fly about, People birds and brought them to life before tiieir home fires. from distant places came to see the strange phenomenon. Donald MacCtill visited the place several times, and he was an entirely trustworthy man and a minute observer. Clar, clarsack, harp, harp stave. the Highlands and Islands and proverbs are • ' of sayings about harps and harpers Piobair an aona phuirt. 'S clarsair ' full an t-seana The harp was common throughout down to modern times. The poems phuirt.' The And the harper of the old tune. Chan eil tend am chlarsaich, Bho 'n a dh' fhag mo run mi.' There Dheanadh Eoghan Koglian would Nan If others clarsaichean cuireadh cacha ceol annt.' : piper of the one tune, Since is not a chord in ray harp, lover has left me. my make harps would put melody in them. — ; ' NOTES 252 All the chief families and religious houses had harpers attached to them. A piece The harpers, like the other were paid officials, of land at Torrloisg, in Mull, in kind. Peighinn a chlarsair,' the harper's pennyland. Another piece of land at Cnoc-an-torrain, in North Uist, is called Croit nan clarsair,' the croft of the harpers, while a family of Macdonalds are known is called ' ' 'Clann a as the chlarsair,' A clarsairean,' the harpers. children jilace 'Na harper, and of the near Beauly called is ' Carn a chlarsair,' the cairn of tlie harper. Probably this harper was attached to the Priory of Beauly or to Castle Brahan. In Lismore there is a place called Croit nan clarsair,' the croft of the harpers, and a well called 'Tobar nan clarsair,' tlie well of tlie harpers. It is likely that the harpers in Lismore were attached to the church of St Moliiag, tlie cathedral of tlie See of Argyll and the Isles, and built during the episcopate of Bishop ' Carmichael, generally called an ' t-Easbuig Ban,' the ftiir-haired bishop. ' * Cadal a chlarsair Seachd raidhean gun The fhaireacli.' The Cadal a chlarsair leisg Seachd raidhean na bliadhn.' ' C'ait Nach The am sleep of the lazy harper Seven quarters of the year. Where may be the tunes The harper will not recall bheU na puirt an clarsair ? ursgeil last sleep of the harper Seven quarters without knowing. ? harper of note in the Highlands was Roderick Morrison, He was a man of good family and education, and was known as a celebrated musician, not only tliroughout Scotland, but in England and Ireland. harper to Macleod of Macleod. Cleachd, hair, ringlet, An ' old song says of hair, wool, or lint fillet Chuir 'S i suas a gruag an cleachd. bha shnuagh air dhreach an oir.' Cleid, quip, Cleit, ; the hair dressed. : prank, trick, fillip, She put up her hair in form, its hue was of the lustre of gold. And sharp stroke. a ridge, a backbone, a door bar, land surrounded high-water, an island, a rock, a from Norse cliff; by the sea at Kletir, a rock, an eminence. 'Cleit' often occurs as a prefix and as a Ormacleit,' Orm's ridge, in South Uist place-names. ' Cleite na dubhcha,' ridge of the black dye, in Harris ' Na Cleitean," the ridges, in Kintyre the Clett Rock in Caithness a cliff, suffix in ' ; ; ' ' ; — NOTES ' Gàdaig/ Cleite the ' ' of cliff ' Gadag,' St Kilda. Banais loirteach," St Kilda Wedding I and manikin On crest of Cleite Gadaig, His harness well established. And I in charge of it. 'Cleite na comhla,' bar of the door KUda birds, peats, This term occurs in : Would were Is truagh nach robh mi 's giullachan Air miillach Cleite Gadaig, Acuinn air a sunnaradh, Is mise bhi gu h-aird oirr.' in St 253 ; 'cleit/ a hut, store, the for the small structures in name which the people store and provender. Cliath, stockade, wattle, creel, pannier, hurdle, In olden times ' cliath ' hamper, harrow. included a strong stockade, constructed wood or wattle, to safeguard raeanbh chrodh,' small cattle, and sheep, from the ravages of wild animals. When 'caol,' oziers, were unattainable and the enclosure was built of stones, it was called ' cro,' pen. of ' Cloimh-chal, catkin, cat-wool, the inflorescence of the birch, the beech, the willow, and other trees. The catkin wool was twined three-plied cord, and that into a circle, and placed into a under the milk boyue to safeguard the milk against unseen powers. triple cord symbolised the Trinity, and the circle eternity. The Clomh, clomhadh, counteract, subdue, surmount, overcome. hill, council, court, wisdom, sense. The Celts held their meetings in the open air, and the word for the knoll on which the meetings were held came to denote the meeting itself. Trial by jury was not known in England before the Norman Conquest, some say not before the time of Henry III. In Scotland trial by jury was common long before this. Cutting a cross on a tree, digging a trench on a hill, or erecting a stone on a plain, denoted that the king in person signified the decision of the council. In the Higlilands the jury were the clansmen and the judge the chief of the clan. In some districts the chiefs appointed judges to act for them. These were called breitheamh,' The office was as a rule hereditary. The Anglicised brehon.' best known of these brehons were the Morrisons of the Western Isles, generally called ' Na breithimh Leodhsach,' the Lewis brehons, who are still spoken of with admiration. These hereditary jurisdictions were abolished after the '45, the chiefs Cnoc, knoll, ' ' ' ' being compensated. The origin of the Council of St Kilda goes back beyond ; NOTES 254 tradition to the peopling of the island itself, while the rules of the Woe council are inelastic as brass. who would The betide the crofter propose an iota of change on the ways of the fathers mod/ ' council, Sunday. meets on the All are allowed ' ! cnoc,' knoll, every morning except attend, but only householders to to speak. The and discussions are varied, animated, forcible, all affecting the immediate interests of the people. Perhaps the matter before the little community is when to begin to manure or till the ground, sow seed, cut turf, pluck sheep, shear corn, lift eggs, kill What one does all do. All speak together, birds, or go a-fishing. man he strides on the knoll and the lung-power of the people of St Kilda being of the most admirable qualit}', the confusion of every to and voices his loudest, irrespective of his neighbour, as fro ; great. is But the lung-power of even a St Kilda man has its limits, and these having at length been reached, the confusion of voices subsides, and the people peaceably and promptly decide their action for the day, hastily go in to breakfast, and leisurely come out to work. An observer would think, not unreasonably, that these people were quarrelsome and ill-tempered quite the reverse, however. The members of this simple, lovable little community are most kind and attached one to the other, the joy of one, or the grief of ; another, being the joy or the grief of ' The cnoc ' ' is often spoken of in prose and poetry, comhairle,' hill of counsel counsel ; ' cho glic wisdom. ' An ; 'cnoc na droch comhairle,' duine cnocach,' a shrewd a shrewd hard ' all. Escaped the severed workl by happy stealth, A skiff their navy and a rock their wealth. Rough as the stormy elements they brave, Fearless they ride upon the heaving wave.' ri man ; ' cho glic leanabh cnoc ais,' bhathas a roinn na ceil fein air a chnoc, Nan d'f huair mise mo chuid fhein Cha robhas anns an tein s' a nochd.' la Cha robh mi 'Cnoc' in the text (Vol. intelligence. i. man ; ri cnoc,' as ' — ' hill Cnoc na of evil duine cnocach cruaidh,' wise as a council knoll as wise as the child of the knoll of The day that sense was apportioned I myself was not on the hillock. Had I received mine own share I would not be p. 6) in this strait to-night. implies wisdom, good sense, — ' NOTES came I to know tliis in a curious 255 manner, after I had despaired of getting at the true meaning. Lachlan Maedonald, crofter, Benbecula, a man of great natural and industry, often praised my wife, and on one occasion added, ' She was on the knoll the day that sense was but some portioned.' I paid no heed to the phrase at the time sixteen years afterwards I went from Edinburgh to the Outer Hebrides and various other places, to try to ascertain the meanings of words and phrases occurring in these poems. The following summary is translated and condensed from Lachlan Macdonald's prose poetry intelligence, ability ; : ' Bha righinn na toinisg a tuinne An Grianan Aluinn una chroinn. Far am 'S far faiceadh i 'n nach faiceadh saoghal fuidir uile. a loinn. The maiden-queen of wisdom dwelt In Beauteous Bower of the single tree. Where she could see the whole world, her beauty sec. And where no fool could Great grief was on the queen of fairy-land at seeing the want And the fairy queen put her lips to the fairy flax, and every blade and plant, every frond and flower, and every bush and tree throughout the wide world breathed an invitation to the daughters of men to come to the knoll, and that she, the fairy queen, would give them wisdom. Much commotion followed this invitation, the whole womanworld heaving and moving like the hill of the ant, the byke of the wasp, or the hive of the bee. The proud scorned, the foolish laughed, but the thoughtful sighed. Some said that they were wiser than the fairy queen herself, others that they had wisdom enough already. But many dames and damsels came to the knoll, some to see, some to be seen, and some to seek wisdom. Presently the queen of fiiiry-land ap]ieared, holding in her hand the 'copan Moire,' cup of Mary, the blue-eyed limpet-shell, containing the ' ais of wisdom. 'The lovely little queen was arrayed in all the beauteous irridescent hues of silver, emerald green, and mother-of-pearl. ' of wisdom in the daughters of men. ' ' ' " Loveliness shone around her like light, Her steps were the music of songs." a grace of form and a charm of manner all her own the queen held up the 'copan Moire,' and invited all the women of the world to come and partake of the 'ais.' A derisive wave moved over maids and matrons, like a wave of light over the green and golden corn. But to all who sought wisdom in their hearts the fairy queen gave of the ais to each according to ' With fairy ' ' ; NOTES 256 none was left. Many came to the knoll wisdom left for them. That is why some women are wise and some are otherwise. " And by my father's hand, and by my grandfather's hand, and by mine own two liands to free them, your lady must have been there on the knoll when the queen of fairy-land distributed the 'ais' of wisdom, and the gracious (]ueen must have given to her a goodly portion from tlie beautiful cup of the lovely Mary of grace." her faith and desire, till too late and there was no ' Coibki, Coibhe, Coivi, tlie traditional archdruid of the Celts. ' Ge faisge leac Is faisge [Really Cuich, coc, ' Though near be the stone to the ground. Yet nearer is the hand of Coivi. ri lar. lamh Choibhi.' coc/i, Coimhdhe," God, the Lord.] ' cochul, a case, seed-vessel, husk, sheath, sln-ine, screen. Coich anama,' soul-shrine Coig, five. One ; ' coich na cno,' the sheath of of the sacred numbers, but not so common tlie nut. as three, Crog nan coig miar,' hand of five fingers ' cas fuamliaire mor nan coig ceaim, nan coig miar,' foot of five toes nan coig meal, agus nan coig muineal,' the big giant of tlie five heads, the five humps, and the five necks. Car nan coig cuart,' the turn of the five circuits a lucky circuit. When a boy is making a hole in tlie ground for a ball, he swings round on his heel five times. 'Tha coig coigeamh an Eirinn agus coig coigeamh an Sratheireann, ach is fearr aon choigeamh Eireann na coig coigeamh There are five-fifths in Erin and five-fifths in Srath-eireann seven, and nine. ' ; ' ; — ' ' Stratherin the — (Stratlidearn), but better is one-fifth of Erin than five-fifths of Stratherin. Coitchionn, coitcinn, caitciiin, general, communal, a common grazing. Possibly the form of the term. the Cathkins Braes, near Glasgow, may have been the common In the island of Tiree ' caitcinn ' is grazing of the surrounding villages. Conair, a blessing, a crown, a path, a course, a haven, a plant, a circle, a rosary. ' lomhaidh is conair Moire,' image and rosary of meangain,' a plant mentioned in the ' Mary ; ' Conair Muilearteacli.' Conal, conall, love, friendship, the guardian spirit of cliildhood, the Cupid of the Gael. A child had got wild moor, when lost in the mist a storm came on. and was benighted on the But the good Conal took — NOTES ; 257 the child by the hand and led him to safety. The following verse is part of a poem composed to the protecting spirit : ' Fhuaradh dha-san blaths is Oidhche nan seachd sian, Found conail. On for him were warmth and love, the night of the seven elements, him a bower, Whereunder he was sheltered. Con.il found for Fhuair Conal dha-san creagan, Fo'n do ghabli e dian.' endowment, corn, ear of Conal, conail, fruitage, fruitfulness, corn. Cormag, Camtag, Connac, St Cormac. There were several saints of this name, tlie most celebrated being the learned Cormac, king of Mmister, who wTote a Gaelic Glossary much prized by Celtic scholars. Probably the Cormac of these poems was the friend of Columba. Corrachd, a promise, a very sacred promise, a death promise, entreaty. Irish ' coraidheacht,' security, bail, guarantee, recognisance. A young maiden in Uist promised a young man that she would meet him on the machair. But the maiden rued her promise and remained at home. The yomig man was lifted,' and when moving with the hosts in the sky above the girl's liome, he was heard to The word occurs in the following song. ' ' ' :— sing ' Bheil thu nochd air son na corrachd ? Mhorag bheag an cum thu rium cath Gu ' Morag wilt thou hnkl battle with me ? Wilt thou to-night keep thy promise ? Morag wilt thou hold battle with me ? And that the dart is towards thee. Mhorag bheag an cum thu rium cath ? bhcil an gath dha l-" d' ionnsuidh. Bheil thu nochd air son na corrachd ? Bheil thu nochd air son na coinneamh Bheil thu nochd air son a chath 'S an t-saighead grad dha ? ? Art thou Art thou Art thou And d' ionn- red ; ' ; promise ? this night for the tryst ? this night for the battle that the arrow is fast ? towards thee. suidh. Cra, blood this night for the hence red. ' Cra-diiearg,' blood-red cra-gheal,' light red. ' Cra ' ' ; cra-dhubh,' dark enters into place and animal names, as Cra-leacainn,' red slope, the name of a place situated near Loch Fyne ; ' cra-rionnach,' red mackerel, tumiy fish ' cra-chu,' ' cra' cra-chluasach,' red-eared red dog, the fox fhaoOeag,' red gull, the black-headed gull generally called 'ceann-dubh' and 'ceann-dubhan,' black-headed; ' cra-ghiadh,' red goose, shell-drake. This beautiful bird is common in the Outer Isles Uist being known as ' Uibhist nan cra-ghiadh,' ' ; ; — Uist of the shell-drakes. VOL. II. R — —— —— — NOTES 258 John Mncdonald, 'Ian Lom/ poet-laureate says ' Dol gu uidhe chuain Gu iarraidh, Nan Of the cra-ghiadh.' again II., siuil rithe And bho Uibhist lift sails Of the quake, tremble, Mhaighstiv Alastair,' : With the sweat of eyebrows pouring, cra-ghiadh.' Creaii, criun, wild, desire, Uist Place behind you yonder point, Cuiribh fothaibh an rudha ud. fallus mhailghean a sruthadh. Le togaibh little shell-drakes. Alexander Macdonald, 'Mac poet-laureate to Prince Charlie, says Nan we could Pleasantly as To brindled Uibhist bheag riabhach And 'S Charles Going the way of the ocean fliiadhaich, Mar bu chubhaidh dhuinn ' to : suffer, to her from Uist shell-drakes. upheave, tear up, excavate. Creodach, paralysis of the limbs in horses. Creiibh, person, Edinburgh his of the Isles died iu wraith appeared to his people at Duntulm the following night, and said ' When Macdonald body, corpse. : Bha mi 'n Dun-eideann an de, Tha mi 'm thalla fein an nochd, 'S meud a ghoinebhein anus a ghrein. Chan eil ann mo chreubh a lochd.' I was in Edinburgh yestreen, I am in mine own hall to-night, And as much as the mote in the sun, There is not of harm in my corpse. The girdle is much spoken of and prized. When the young wife of the king of Lochlann, a daughter of Crios, girdle. the king of France, eloped with generous Ailde of the golden hair, Fionn sent a princess (according to some versions his own daughter) to offer compensation to the injured husband. The damsel mentioned to the king the many tilings he would receive in atonement, and among them the girdle ' Gheobh tu siud is ceud crios, Cha teid slios rau'n teid iad aog, Leighisidh iad leatrom is sgios Seudan riomhach nam ban saor.' * Crios-feile,' kilt girdle, a leather or the kilt in position. Isles Thou wilt get that and an hundred girdles, Nor loin round which they go shall die, They will relieve burden and lassitude The lustrous jewels of the noble women. A when working on similar strap woven strap used to keep used by is the strand, in the field, women in the or travelling the moors. Crioslachan bag suspended from the crios or girdle. There are no nuts now in the Outer These are found underlying Isles, but abundance of nut shells. Kock underlying peat-moss is peat-moss and glacial deposits. Crioslachan, a chnoj' a girdleful of nuts. ' ' ' — — — NOTES 259 corroded, while that under ghieial deposit is perfectly preserved and highly polished, the striae speaking as clearly as do Egyptian cylinders. Crilhionn, crilhinn, aspen from ; Highlanders to quiver. crith,' ' not use aspen in any form either on land or sea. the poem composed by first will said that Ross, the Gaelic Burns, was on the When aspen and the willow. It is a child he was in a boat which was by storm upon a shelterless, uninhabited island. The thole-pins broke, and no wood to replace them grew in the island except caoldubh,' black willow, and aspen. Tradition says that the white willow was transformed into black \villow because of the wickedness that went on among it, and that the aspen was ' crossed The boatmen for its want of reverence to Christ. would use neither aspen nor black willow for oar-pins, and the people had to remain on the island till rescued. William Ross, driven ' ' then a ' child, said Is ineinig : a thachair ann an eilean Alas, to L'ro, ' ; cro-sheilg," a hiding-place for hunters cro-chuile,' a recessed pen, a more hills, An ' And aspen col, fold, hiding-place, place of protection cot ' fall pen [iiiairg isle ' ; vile, worthless, forbidden. cro-laogh,' calves' ' ; cro-dhion,' sanctuary ; the hollow between two or in a place-name. Uist song says : Cha teid rai do chro nan gobhar, Cha teid mi do chro nan uan, Cha teid rai do chro nan caorach, Bho n dli" fhalbh mo ghaol uam.' • upon an Where hind is never born. Where nothing is but willow Far nach beirear earba, ach seileach salach. 'S crithionn grad an tairmisg.' Gun dad ann Crothadh," enclosing I will 1 will I will not go to the fold of the goats, not go to the fold of the lambs, not go to the fold of the sheep, my Since ' ; crothadh lover uan,' gone from me. is enclosing lambs ; blood ; 'crothadh arbhair,' enclosing corn, ingathering crop. L'ro, ' heart, death, occasionally cro-leapa,' bier, and mistakenly used death-bed ; ' cro-leine,' shroud for ; ' ' era,' Cro Naomh/ Sacred Heart. A lament of intense passion and great beauty, composed by a Seathan mac Righ Eireann,' hapless maiden on her slain lover — — says ' ' John, son of the king of Ireland, Cha tugainn dh' an Mhoire mhin I thu, Cha tugainn a dh' losa Criosd thu, Cha tugainn dh" an Chro Naoimh thu.' I I : would not give thee to the gentle Mary, would not give thee to Jesus Christ, would not give thee to the Holy Heart. — , NOTES 260 A well at Drimmore, in South Uist, is called ' Tobar Cro Naomh,' Well of the Holy Heart. All who drank of its refi'eshing and curative waters i)laced a votive offering in the cairn beside the Another well of the same name is in Sannda, in North Uist. This one, however, cannot be located, the extensive and once well. populous district being now almost uninhabited. A Teampull Cro Naomh,' and Tradition says that it was built as a ' nasgadh deirce,' vow-offering, by a Saxon who, when in peril in the North Sea, vowed that if saved he would build a temple to He was cast upon the Christ wherever he might be cast ashore. wild coast of Gauslan, and built the temple on the spot where he ruin at Gauslan, in Lewis, is Temple of the Holy Heart. It measures eighteen feet by nine. is called ' situated above the shore, up prayer for his deliverance. In recent years the tenant of the farm removed the stones of the temple to build a fold for offered his cattle. Crodh-mara, sea-cows. ' and crimson-eared, Cra-chluasach,' 'corc- chluasach,' purple-eared, are terms applied to a species of cattle with red ears which are alleged to be descended from sea-cows. Some of these cattle have one or both ears scalloped, and are hence called ' Probably these red- torc-chluasach,' notch-eared. eared cattle are descended from the old Caledonian white cattle, whose ears were red. The Caledonian cattle are also called 'earc iucna,' notched cattle. Several sea-cows came ashore at Struth, Obbe, Harris. The sea-maiden was tending the sea-cows, and singing the following song as she sent them back to the sea and away through the Sound of Harris ' : A A A Chualas nuall an ciian Canacli, Bo a Tiriodh, bo a Barraidti, Bo a He, 's bo a Arainn, 'S a Cinntire uain a bharraich. Caillear, caillear, caillear Caillear Gumag, caillear low Guileag, Lost Guail- caillear buaile. Islay, a will of Canna, cow from Barra, cow from Arran green Kintyre of birches. Cuachag,' be 'Gumag,' lost will be ' Guamag,' Lost wiU be 'Guileag,' lost will be 'Guaillionn,' lionn, 'S in the sea Tiree, a Lost, lost, lost will be Cuachag, Guaraag, caillear heard And from ' Caillear is cow from cow from Cruinneag dhonn iia And brown fold. ' Cruinneag ' of the cattle- ' NOTES Theid mi, theid mi, theid mi Mhuilc, Theid rai dh' Eire nam fear fuileach, Theid mi Mhannain bheag nan 261 will go, I I will culaidh, S go will go, I will I to Mull, men, to Eirin of the bloody go to Man little of the wherries, mi ceura dh'an Fhraing chunnart. theid Caillear, caillear, caiUear Dubhag, Caillear go will I caillear 's And cha will I go France and no to mishap. Gorag, Dothag, Lost, lost, lost will be Gorag,' will be Dubhag,' lost will be Dothag,' Lost will be ' Muileag,' lost will be Lost ' ' ' Caillear Muileag, caillear Moileag, Moileag,' ' Muirneag dhonn an 'S caillear And brown Muirneag or- ' fhuilt.' Club, ' of the golden hair. crT(l>a, cru/xnuiii, pi. recess. The 'crub' is a The entrance to it is a small bed crubachmi, recess in the thickness of the wall. opening a little The crub ' ' above the floor ; from now seen except not is ' crub,' crouch. in the old dwelling-houses of St Kilda or in the old sheiling bothies of Lewis.' Cndl, harp. ' Gaelic, and ' 'croit,' Probably the crwth.' clar," or ' 'cruit'; name clarsach,' Irish, from is 'crot,' ' now used are the names meant two dift'erent Welsh, 'croit'; curve. crot,' Cruit ' sj'nonymously, Probably instruments. ' but cruit was applied to the small harp used by ladies, and clar,' or ' clarsach,' to the large pedal harp used chiefly by men. ' ' Cuir do cheanna nail 'n a mo dliail. 'S gun seinninn dhut clar is Place thine head near In the island of Luing there fort of the harp, me hither, That I may play thee pedal harp and small harp. cruit.' is an old fort called Dun-cruit,' and a glen near Oban called Gleann-cruitein,' ' ' which may mean the glen of the harper, or the glen of the kingfisher. (' Cruitein,' crouched one biora cruitein,' water crouched one and bior an iasgair,' fisher point, are the Gaelic names of the beautiful kingfisher.) In Colonsay there is a place called ' Lag a chruiteir,' hollow of the harper and in Loch Roag, ; ' ' ; ; Lewis, a place called Criilli, ' An Cruiteai',' form, feature, symmetry. value upon form, not only in The the harper. old Higlilanders placed woman but in man. They much said that the father gave form, the mother mind, to the child. many proverbs among There are the people bearing upon these physiological matters. ' Tus ratha rogha dealbh. Uirghill mhaith is deagh labhraidh.' VOL. IL The beginning of prosperity choice form, Good speech and good delivery. R 2 NOTES 262 Crut/iach, placenta of mare. Cuanal, flocks, cattle, horses, slieep, and goats ; generally the younger generations. Cuart, circuit; 'cuart claidh,' circuiting the burying-ground Mhicheil,' Michael circuiting, the circuit ground on St Michael's Day; 'cuart 'cuart time,' time circuit; p. ; 'cuart made round the buryingcladaich,' 'cuart duine,' man's shore circuit; life. (Vol. i. 198 J. Cunrlachadh, circuiting, encompassing, surrounding, making a sanctuary. cuarCuartachadh a chlaidh,' circuiting the burying-ground tachadh cladh nan athraichean,' circuiting the burying-ground This is done on St Michael's Day, and is probably of the fathers. ' ' ; a remnant of ancestor-worship, while 'dol deiseil a chlaidh,' going sunwise round the burial-ground, represents sun-worship. ' Cuartachadh teaghlaich,' encompassing the family. This is the term used for family worship in the counties of Ross, Cromarty, Sutherland, and Caithness. ' Cuartachadh baUe,' circuiting the townland. Being tenants at will, and liable to eviction^ the crofters erected no fences round their fields consequently when the crops were in the ground they had to guard them by night and by day from their own and their neighbours' herds. During the day the townland herdsman tends the animals and keeps them from the crops, but by night the townland is patrolled by a man from each of two families taken in rotation. These men ; ' cuartaiche,' circuiters. If the townland be a large duty coming at long intervals is not much felt, but in a small townland the night watching becomes oppressive. In crofting townlands adjoining deer forests, geese, duck, or other are called one this game resorts, the men patrol their crops all night to safeguard them, and kindle fires where incursions are most feared. Should damage result through the remissness of these two men, the two The families represented are responsible and make reparation. damage done is appraised by men set apart and sworn for the purpose. The is security of land tenure given by the recent Crofters Act putting an end to the necessity for circuiting the townland crops, as already fences, houses, drains, ments are rapidly progressing. and other land improve- NOTES the Western Ciigallacli, Is The word friend. is common in Isles. Cu-fasach, cu-fasaich, wolf, ' bosom a lover, a sweetheart, a Ctiat, 263 lit. wilderness dog. precarious, unstable, uncertain. cugallach an t-sealg. Precarious cearbadach an t-iasg. Cuir do luhuinighin anns an talanih. Cha d' fhag e fear falamh riamh.' This sentiment is the hunting. Unreliable the fishing, Place thy trustance in the land, Is It never left characteristic of the Celt, is man the land primarily and a man empty. who of the sea secondarilj' of choice and a seaman of necessity. Nevertheless, is —a a man of landsman when the Celt does take to the sea, probaljly he is unexcelled as a boatman, as a mariner, or as a navigator. is computed that two-thirds the seafaring men and probably these An elsewhere. islesmen of the tlie East. That It t)f of the Clyde are Celts and of Celtic descent, will compare favourably with their impression West is prevails in many places that class the are not boatmen equal to the coastmen of not my experience, extending over a long Of period of close observation of both. the two the islander is the more daring, more active, and more expert boatman. This was many times acknowledged to me by East Coast men fishing on the West Coast. The East Coast man is a fisherman by choice inherited through many centuries the West Coast man is a from compulsion. The sea of tlie West Coast is more tidal, many generations and fisher ; more stormy, and more dangerous than that of the East Coast, and the natives do not take to it from choice. They have many Unstable the Is corrach gob an dubhan sayings against it : — ' ' — point of the fish-hook. ' Good Is math an cobhair an t-iasg. Ach is don an sobhal an t-iasg.' is the help of the fishing, But a bad barn is the fishing. Cugan, food, choice food, dainty. ' Cha ' Cugan a tig cugan No cream comes air cuid cait.' on the The choice food of the chait chaothaich.' cat's portion. wild-cat. Cugar, cugarbhad, male cat, male wild-cat, hero, gallant, champion. ' Cugarbhad Mor righ nan is the title cat,' of a weird story — Great Cugarvad, king of the full cats, of graphic scenes and elliptical runes, interesting to the mythologist and the grammarian. ; NOTES 264 Cu-gearr, short dog, wolf names are applied from ; ' cu,' dog, and to the wolf, as ' ' Several gearr,' short. cu-faol,' ' faol-chu,' madadhwood dog ' ' alla-mhadadh,' wild-dog eu-coille,' ' coille-chu,' bladair,' blad,' mouth madadh-mor,' mor-mhadadh,' big dog mouther. In 1427, Parliament passed an Act calling upon all bai'ons It was not, however, till 1743 that to exterminate the wolf. the wolf became extinct in Scotland. This was effected near Feith-ghiuthais by Macqueen of Poll-lochaig on Findhorn, chief alla,' ; ' ' ; ' Macqueen died of that name. property, Cuid, ; share. The ' ; ' in 1797. of clothes the deceased became the Those of the rich went to the higher perquisite of the clergy. Angry and those of the poor to the lower clergy. sometimes occurred over the clothes of the dead, even over those of the dying, leading to unbecoming scenes and clergy, disputations to ' many An satirical sayings. sagart 's The an cleireach 's a mhod.' A sadadh a cheile ' Cha ghreann ri mo This cloth re Do shagart no chleir. Ach 's greann gu brath Dha m' Dhomhallan gradhach Cuileagan, feast, feast Cuilidh, treasury, magazine, priest m secret fein.' ; place, secret repository. ' and the clerk Dusting each other from not, in in court. my time, For priest nor for cleric, But cloth it is for evermore For mine own little Donald beloved. ' cuil,' retreat, Cuilidh is a corner. sanctuary rath,' ; treasury from ' cuil,' a of prosperity ' cuilidh Mhoire,' treasury of Mary, ajiplied in the Barra Isles to the sea, from which the people derive most of their livelihood. ' Cuilidh mhic Ciaran,' the treasury of the son of Ciaran in na h-Eileacha Naomha. Cuisil, caisil, caisiol, The a fort, a stronghold, a case, a bier, a bier on which the dead and dying were battlefield was called The want of wood ' caisil-chro,' ' coffin. removed from the blood bier. cuisil-chra,' burying dead either without coffins or in stone cists. It was only when the American timber trade began and wood was cast on their wild shores, or could be got from the South, that the use of Before then there was a 'cro-leapa, coffins became general. dead-bed, in every townland to convey the body to the grave Old men in Lewis speak of the last ' cro-leapa being buried with in the Isles necessitated the people their ' the last body carried in it. — ' ' NOTES 265 Cuithe, fold, cattlefold, enclosure, cattle enclosure, a stronghold. ' Cha Is mi dh'an Chiiithe Chreagach, cheist air Anndra, teid beag mo B'annsa Horn am fleasgach fearail. Na fear breac le seann-chrodh.' will not go to Cuithe Creagach,' But little is my love for Andrew, Rather would I the manly youth, Than a pock-marked man with ' I old cows. A do not know where ' Cuithe Creagach,' rocky fold, is. cognate name, ' Cuithe Clachach,' stony fold, is in Middlecjuarter, North Uist. ' Cuitiie Fhraing,' Quiraing, enclosure of Francis, in Skye, is well known. I Culag, a person behind another person on horse-back, generally a woman sitting sideways behind a man. back place, back wing to a dwelling. The ' culaist and the cultaigh are synonymous terms in Lewis, where this It is used for keeping farm adjunct to the dwelling is frequent. produce, farm gear, fishing gear, or for sleeping, and often for all Culait, culaist, ' ' these purposes. Curach, corach, curachau, coracle, little coracle. The coracle a boat is whose framework, called crannaghail,' is made of wicker, lath, or cane, and covered with skin, canvas, or rubber. Columba is supposed to have come to Scotland in a boat of this description. On landing in lona, Columba, it is said, buried his boat above the beach, to remove the temptation of returning to Ireland. The place where the boat was buried is called ' Port a Churaich,' Port of the Coracle. There is a raised ridge, the shape of an up-turned boat, covered, like the surrounding machar, with short green grass. The ridge is called An Curach,' ' ' the coracle. The 'Chan coracle is often mentioned in old songs mi bata no curach Tir a mhurain a seoladh. A f haic I : see neither boat nor coracle From. the Land of the bent-grass sailing. (The people of neighbouring islands called Uist ' Tir a mhurain," the land of the bent-grass, and the people ' Muranaich,' bentEven the people on the east side, wliere there is grass people. no bent, apply the name to those on the west, where this grass grows.) A ' An small grassless island on the east side of Barra Curachan,' the valilla is little coracle. The poetically called 'curachan na of the fairy woman. is called shell of the beautiful blue mna sith,' little coracle — ' ! NOTES 266 ' The fairy woman of the green of gold, could steer her little fair kii-tle, and of the lovely locks blue coracle adroitlj' and wisely on the crest of the black-blue green-white waves, though the wind of the hill should be tearing the goat from the rock, the beard from the buck, and the heath from the hill.' Currachd sagairt, monkshood, possibly usually called ' currachd manaieh.' Curran cruaidh, hemlock, called ' Harris, ' de-theodha hard carrot. lit. cruaidh curran ' and ' ; in ; In Uist the hemlock is mungach mcar in Lochaber, in Lismore, ' ' ' ; ith-teodha.' In his Gaelic Na7nes of Plants, Cameron suggests that 'iteodha' means feather-foliaged. Probably ' ith-teodha means hot-eating, ' from ' ith,' eat, and ' teodha,' hot, the plant causing a bvn-ning sensation in the throat. The Highlanders used a plaster of hemlock for the cancer. The plaster was applied to the part It is said to have been effective in the earlier stages affected. of the disease, extracting the cancer with its innumerable roots and rootlets, and leaving a hollow where it had been. The process of extraction is said to have been extremely painful, the somid of the tearing out of the roots of the cancer being like the snapping of linen thread. old extraction Cu-sith, fairy of dog, dog of the spirit-world. of the ancient Celts in animals as well as When men of the spirit-world. Clanranald resided at Nunton, in Benbecula, two were tending calves one night fada,' the This indicates the belief men known as 'an tigh many things before They sat talking of when suddenly two strange dogs rushed long house. the brightly burning in a building fire, and right round the house, to the consternation of the men and the terror of the calves. The dogs were leashed together on a leash of sUver bespangled with gold and brilliant stones that sparkled in the bright moonbeams and the light of the A voice was heard in the air without calling fire. into : ' Sitheach-seang, sitheach-seang Siubhal-bheann, siubhal-bheann Dubh-sith, dubh-sitii Slender-fay, slender-fay I Cuile-ratli, cuile-rath Cu-gorm, cu-gorm ! Mountain-traveller, mountain-traveller! Black-fairy, black-fairy ! Lucky-treasure, lucky-treasure ! Grey-hound, grey-hound Seek-beyond, seek-beyond ! ! ! Sireadb-thall, sircadh-thall When ! ! ! the dogs were thus recalled they rushed out, the men NOTES following as soon And 267 they had recovered their scattered wits. as there in the bright blue sky they beheld a multitudinous hawks on hand. The was filled with music like the tinkling of innumerable silver bells, mingled with the voices of the sluagh,' hosts, calling to their hounds. The men were so astonished that they could only remember a few of the names they heard. These were the spirits of the departed on a hunthig expedition, travelling westwards beyond the ' Isle of the nuns,' beyond the ' Isle of the monks,' beyond the Isle of ' Hirt,' beyond the Isle of Rockal," and away and away towards ' Tir fo thuinn,' the Land under waves ' Tir na h-oige,' the Land of youth and Tir na h-aoise,' the Land of age, beneath the great western sea. ' Turas math dhaibh agus deagh shealg 's O Righ na gUe 's na greine 's nan coiTacha reula cubhra is iad fein a chuir an gniomh 's an giamh, 's barrachd 's ni 's leoir, air fir 's air laoigh ChlannRaghail.' Fortune follow them and luck of game and oh. King of the sun, and of the moon, and of the bright effulgent stars it was they who put fear and fright, and more than enough, on the men and the calves of Clanranald. host of spirits, with hounds on leash and air ' ' ; ; ' — ! — — ! D Dailghin, prophecy, foretelling dailgneachd,' auspices, prophetic vision, occurs in my version of the Children of Uisne.' dailgionn, ' ; ' Dais, a musical instrument. Daol, daolag, beetle, black beetle, gravedigger. This beetle remorselessly killed in the Highlands. In some places this done to prevent grandmother, but it ' in Uist it is killed because of (Vol. ii. p. 188 its officiousness ff.) {dea'adK), act of drying up. Tha'n lir a deabhadh.' The water Dealan-Dc, butterfly, golden butterfly flame, lightning of is from molesting the grave of the person's in helping to betray Christ. Dcabhadh is ; and ' ; lit. fire of is God drying. — ' dealan,' fire, De,' God. The golden butterfly is held God come to bear the souls sacred. It is said to be the angel If it be of the dead to heaven. ' NOTES 268 seen in or near the house where a person is dead or dying, the omen is good, and the friends rejoice. If it be not seen, a substitute is made by rapidly twirling a fire-pointed stick, moving the while from the dead or dying person towards the door or window. This is called 'dearban De,' 'dealan De.' The ancient Egyptians represented the emerging from the as a butterfly body sometimes from the soul leaving the chrysalis, mouth of the dead. Dearb, dairb, an insect of the beetle tribe. Deaig, an impression ; hence, Cha d'fhuair mi dearg ' impression I cannot —an a make an wound — deargadh impression of ' Dairbeart,' water beetle ; glowworm. 'dairbeag,' tadpole; 'deairbean/ fish impression on ; ' ; ' deargadh,' eisg,' Cha I toir ploughing. did not get mi deargadh an air/ it. Dearras, dearrais, obdurate, venomous, the serpent. ' Thig an dearrais as an toll. The serpent will Dears/ml, Darthula, the wife of Naoise, and the Many (Vol. come from the hole. type of affection. places in the Highlands are called after this beautiful lady. p. 8.) i. Deis-de, girth, sanctuary, God ward, a place of safety, a point in 'tig' where the boy within is secure and cannot be touched, from ' deas,' right hand, and De,' of God. ' Deor, deoir, diuir, tear, tears. Is tu an deora Deor, pilgrim, traveller, wayfarer, a poor person. diuir,' an Deor,' Thou art the miserable poor. truagh ' ' — ' ' Probably Deer and almoner, hence Dewai', a personal name. the famous Book of Deer got their names from ' deor,' almoner. The Barons Livingstone of Bachuill, Lismore, were almoners to the church of St Moluag in Lismore, the cathedral church of the See of Argyll and the Isles, founded in 1200. They were known as 'deora,' almoners, while the site of the old residence of the family is still called ' Larach taigh nan deora,' the site of the house of the almoners, and the brae below the house as 'Bruthach taigh nan deora,' the declivity of the house of the These almoners were also keepers of the staff of St Moluag, and assessors and collectors of the tithes of the Whenever the custodian of the staff appeared with the diocese. staff as the emblem of his ofiice, due obedience was given to him almoners. NOTES within his own special jurisdiction. 269 Some interesting traditions current concerning some of the barons and their travels and the staff of the saint which they carried about, and to which miraculous powers were attributed. The custodian of the staff are still of St Moluag possessed a freehold estate for his varied services. The estate was of considerable extent, but is now reduced to Domliull Dubh nan Donald of Airds. Sir Donald Campbell was a He was an ecclesiastic natural son of Campbell of Calder. when ecclesiastical affairs in Scotland changed complexion with the facility of the kaleidoscope, and Donald Campbell changed with them. When Catholicism was in the ascendant he was a Catholic, when Episcopacy superseded he was an Episcopalian, and when Presbyterianism was promising he was all for He was nominated, possibly appointed, Presbyterian parity. but not consecrated. Bishop of Argyll. Donald Campbell was a small piece of land thi-ough the fraud of ' Black Ard,' man but utterly miscrupulous as to the His conduct towards Baron Livingstone of Bachuill, Baron Carmichael of Sguran, and other small proprietors in his neighbourhood, shows him to have been a of great means whereby ability, to attain his ends. man of extraordinary stratagem, duplicity, and rapacity. Dr David Livingstone was descended from these Barons Livingstone of Lismore, through a member of the family who a had settled in Mull. The great traveller resembled his kinsmen and clansmen in Lismore in a remarkable manner, physically, mentally, and morally. The present venerable Baron Alexander Livingstone of Bachuill has been taken for his famous namesake. The Bai'on however is taller, being nearly six feet in height. The ' Clann an Leigh,' ' Clann an Leighean," children of the physicians, Livingstones of Bachuill, are said to be descended, the famous Beaton physicians of Mull, Islay, Skye, and Reay, from Beatan, the Columban medical missionary of lona. 'Sgoiltidh an dualchas a chreag (Vol. ii. p. 78^.) Heredity like ' — David Livingstone cleaved his way through rocks harder than any that his kindred had ever faced. The Campbells of Bail-an-deor, in Lorn, were almoners to tlie Priory of Airdchattan. They were big powerful men. One of them is still spoken of as 'An Deora mor,' the big almoner, and lieora mor Bliail-an-deor,' the big almoner of the townland will cleave the rock. ' of the almoner. NOTES 270 Robert Burns' ancestor was a Campbell descended from Walter Campbell, Bogjoram, Kincardine. It is almost if not wholly certain that this Walter Campbell was the son of the ' Deora Mor/ and had to flee from home on account of the storm he raised against himself, under extreme provocation, in his treatment of the 'cliar Sheanchain,' strolling satirists. Here again heredity asserts itself, several of these Campbells of BaU-an-deor having been poets in olden and in modern times. Near Bail-an-deor The Ruskins were in is the home of the ' Rusgain,' Ruskins. Glenlonain from time immemorial. Many of sculpture have been found lying scattered about in pieces various places in this beautiful seen. still ' Rusgan exists ' means among the were 'luchd Some of these are A still tradition old people of the place that the Ruskins ceaird,' artisans schools of sculpture glen. peeler, bark-peeler, hewer. in ; the 'draoinich,' sculptors. Highlands. One There were of these was in Lochawe, a few miles from Glenlonain, the Innis draoinich means isle of the artisans, isle of the sculptors from ' innis,' isle, and ' draoineach,' sculptor. Within a few hundred yards of Innis-draoineach is ' Innis-ail,' beautiful isle. There had been a house of Cistercian nun-sisters here, and an ancient burying-ground. There are ancient sculj)tured stones here, probably unexcelled for beauty of design and of execution. Jewellery in gold and silver from designs on these ancient Celtic sculpturings is used by royalty. ' Ciorsdan Dhugliuill f higheadair,' Christina, daughter of Dugald the weaver, was the last of the Ruskins of Glenlonain. Her father was Dugald MacCalman, and her motlier was a Ruskin the last of the name. The tradition of the Clerks of Duntannachain, Glenlonain, was that John Ruskin was descended from the Ruskins of Glenlonain. The Clerks were descended from educated parents and were an educated and intellectual family, one of them being ' Innis-draoinich,' liome of the Ruskins. ' ' — — the late Rev. Archibald Clerk, LL.D., the accomplished Celtic The father was the learned farmer spoken of by Dr scholar. Macleod in his Reminiscences of a Higidand Parish, and the mother was Margaret Carmichael, Lisniore, sister of Captain Dugald Carmichael, of the 72nd Highlanders, 'the father of marine botany and the friend of Sir William Hooker. The members of this family were unanimous in saying that John Ruskin was descended from a Ruskin who went south in one of ' — the expeditions from — — NOTES 271 Argyll, and who remained south. They who lived near said that the last of the Ruskins of Glenlonain writer mentally and them strongly resembled the distinguished physically. Di, day. There is much lore connected with the days of the Moon Luan mall,' tardy paighear Di-luain mall e,' it will be paid on tardy Monday Monday never. The people will not begin important work on Monday lest it should be tedious That which is begun on Monday, An rud ri 'n toisichear Di-luain, week. Di-luain/ ' ; ' Luan,' Monday, ; ' ' — : ' Bithidh e luath, no bithidh e mall.' They ' Is It will also avoid finisliing the shearing mi-shealbhach moch Di-luain Unlucky A dhol a bhuain na maighdinn.' (The ' maiden ' be quick or To go it will be slow. on Monday, saying it is on early Monday to the shearing of tlie maiden. the last sheaf of corn cut for the season, and is is dressed and decorated with flowers and placed in the best room in the house till spring, when given to the horses in their it is work and luck of flaring for luck of corn, and to safeguard first them mishap.) The people therefore begin and finish any important work on Saturday. On the other hand, Monday is a good day to travel against : ' The expedition of Saturday Imirich Sathurna rau thuath. Imirich Luan mu dheas, Ge nachbitheadli again ach an t-uan. 'Sann Di-luain a dh'fhalbhainn to the north, Theexpeditionof Monday to the south, Though I should only have the lamb, It is on Monday I would go with it. leis.' North and south I'epresent respectively unlucky and lucky. ' Di-mairt,' Tuesday, Mar's day, is a lucky day to begin cutting ' Mart gu corn, or doing any work requiring a sharp instrument. gearradh,' Tuesday for cutting. In Uist m;irriages always take place on Tuesday or Thursday. ' Di-ciadaoin,' Wednesday, the day of the first fast, from 'ciad,' first, and 'aoin,' fast Friday being the second and pi'incipal fast. Wednesday was considered a lucky day. — ' Charobh Ciadaoin riarah gun ghrian, Cha robh geamhradh riamh gun smal. Cha robh NoUaig Mhor gun f heoil. Cha robh bean da deoin gun raliac' Thursday Never was Wednesday without sun, Never was winter without gloom, Never was New Year without flesh, Never was wife willingly without son. di-eadar-aoin,' the day between the day between the two fasts. Being dedicated to the beloved Columba, Thursday was propitious for all good work, especially for work connected with sheep, cattle, ' fasts Di-ardaoin,' ' ; di-eadar-da-aoin,' i ; ' — —— — NOTES 272 and wool-working. go forth to battle ' — good day to be born, to It is a Day Day La gii breith, la gu bas, La chur gais chon na raeirgh.' Witches and ' and Di ' 'aoin,' fast. to bear, day to die. h-aoine,' Friday, day of the The people were avei'se to the first to to place the staff to the banner. or of flocks, or of anything, on a Friday. especially the and things are powerless on Thursday. all evil Di-aoin/ die, : Monday or the fast, from Sunday of the first ' day, di,' counting of men, Monday or Sunday, quarter, was the auspicious day for counting flocks. ' Thuirt a Mliuirae Nach e'n ri Aona bha mo Shlan'ear, 'g an aireamh. His Foster-mother said to ray Redeemer, it was not tlie Friday they were That counted, Ach an Luan an tus an raithe. But the Monday at the beginning of the quarter. No an Domhnach, La na Sabaid.' Or the Day Lord's Day, the of the Sabbatli. Next to these, and sometimes preferred to them, was Thursday, the day of Columba. unlucky and banned because Christ was put to death It is not permissible to begin ploughing, reaping, If cutting peats, clipping sheep, nor even to cut hair on Friday. peat-cutting is begun on Friday, some one will remark, Tha cuidThere is eigin an seo an diugh nach faic a mhoine seo loisgie Friday is on that day. ' ' — some one here to-day who wUl not see these peats burnt. All feel more than they say. No burial occurs on a Friday, nor anj' other work necessitating the use of iron. Even the fairies were not allowed to appear on Friday ' Luchd nan : triisganan uaine. nan tulachan cluanach reidh. Beannachd nan sion 's nan siubhal dhaibh An diugh an Aona s clia chluinn 'S iad sinn.' The tribe of tlie green mantles, And of the hillocks reijoseful and smooth, The blessing of the spell (?) and of the travelling be theirs To-day is Friday and they cannot hear us. There are many sayings about Friday An Aona an aghaidh na seachdain.' The Friday against the week. Friday threatening, 'Aona bagarrach, : ' ' Sathurna deurach." An Aona an aghaidh na glaic' 'Ma gheobh 'n a Aona na bhial e.' ' Saturday tearful. The Friday If the against the grasp (palm). Friday gets will rain. it in its mouth, i.e. it —— ' —— ' NOTES Till recently no iron was used 273 in the harrow for harrowing the corn, nor in the dibble with which the potatoes were planted. It was permissible, therefore, and even commendable, and plant on Friday sow to : ' Aona gu fas, Mart gu gearradh.' On Friday for growing. Tuesday for cutting. the other hand, the 'reiteach,' formal betrothal, always takes place in Uist on Frida}'. Di-sathuirn,' Saturday, Saturn's day, ' by implication 'Sathurna gun athadh, gun iasad, gun seachdain gasda, geal. End shiny. grianach.' ' without reproach, without borrowing, without debts, of a week gladsome, bright, sun- Saturday f hiachan, Deireadh never praised except is : An autumn Gealach Sathurna foghair Gabhaidh an caothach seachd Saturday moon Will take (give uairean.' :-) madness i.e. madness seven times, will be seven times worse. ' 's Ma thoisicheas a bhuain Bithidh e seachd bhuain.' ' Enough Once in gealach ur Shathurn na seachd bliadhna.' Is leoir Truth ' Di-sathurna Sathurna giui If is new moon on Saturday the reaping begin on Saturday be seven Saturdays before It will it is reaped. Deireadh nan seachd Sathurn ort ! ' The end of the seven Saturdays upon thee ' the the seven years. Sonas nan seachd Sathurn ort ! ! The joy of the seven Saturdays upon thee ! — used derisively. These are maledictions much resented, though their meaning now not is quite clear. ' Di-domhnaich,' Sunday, day of the lucky day to be born Lord. Sunday was a ; ' Leanabh an Domhnach Comhnartach ceum. The child born The child of the Lord's Day Even of step. 'between watches' sees the unseen. child born on the stroke of midnight has second-sight. The 9 p.m. is the most unlucky time to be born. A to ' mother closed go away Na falbh 's an Luan, Na gluais 's a Mhart, An Ciadaona daobha, An Daorn dalach. VOL. n. all days of the week to her son who wished : Go not on the Monday, not on the Tuesday, Move The Wednesday is false. The Thursday dilatory, S —— ; NOTES 274 An Aona mi-bhuadha, An Sathurna mi-ghradhach, ' — Leig dhiot sgriob na truaighe ; Cha dual dut falbh am maireach Friday is unlucky. Saturday is unloving, Give up thy journey of misery Unseemly for thee to go to-morrow An Domhnach gu The Lord's Day fois tamha.' Another version says Domhnach eirig dh' an Re, Sunday Diluan na eirich moch, Dimairt ar agus eug, Diciadain creuchd is croch, Diardaoin daoch agus lochd, Diaoin ire na di-bhuaidh, Cha dual dut falbh a nochd.' Much more is for peaceful rest. : tribute to the King, Monday arise not early, Tuesday is slaughter and death, is wounds and blood, Wednesday Thursday is hateful Friday of dire and evil, ill-deed, Ill-timed to leave to-night. week might be added. folk-lore on the days of the Di-baigh, dim-haigh, loveless, merciless ; from ' want di,' of, and ' bagh,' love, mercy. Di-biih, dim-bith, lifeless, luckless Dochaidh, comparative of more hopeful, more Doiiisg, vexation, ' dogli,' from ; ' ' di,' want dòigh,' trust ; of, and ' bith,' life. hence more trustful, likely. annoyance, grief, state of death. Domhnach Ceusda, Easter Sunday, Crucifying Sunday from Domhnach,' Lord's Day, and the old genitive of ceusadh,' crucifying. The people say that the sun dances on this day in joy for a ' ; ' risen Saviour. Old Barbara Macphie once, during her long life. at Dreimsdale And saw this once, but only the good woman, of high natural described in poetic language and with religious fervour what she saw or believed she saw from the summit of intelligence, — Benmore Bha ghrian or-ghil an deigh eirigh air sgeith nam a caochladh dath uaine, purpaidh, dearg, beann mora agus cra-dhearg, geal, gile-gheal, agus oir-gheal, mar ghloir Dhe nan Bha i a dannsadh a sios agus a suas dul do chlanna dhaona. : ' — i gradhach nam was after rising on the green, crests of the great hills, and it was changing colour purple, red, blood-red, white, intense-white, and gold-white, like the glory of the God of the elements to the children of men. It was dancing up and down in exultation at the joyous resurrection ann an gairdeachas buadh.' — The ri aiseirigh aigh Slanuighear glorious gold-bright sun — of the beloved Saviour of victory. 'To be thus privileged, a person must ascend to the top of hill before sunrise, and believe that the God who the highest — NOTES 275 makes the small blade of grass to grow makes the large, massive sun to move.' Dornan, a handful, a glove without separate fingers. ' doirneag,' a roimd pebble, a handful of a pebble. ' beum,' ' slathag,' ' dlo,' ' sineag,' ' God who the same is ' Dornag,' ' Dornan,' some of the names glac,' are applied to a handful of corn cut with one stroke of the reaping- Three hook. stalks of corn are used to bind a handful, are twenty-four handfuls in tlie ' and there raoid,' sheaf. Dorn-gheal, Dor-gheal, Whitehand. This was the name of the man who clothed ' — Murdoch Murachadh Mac the son of Brian, in his war vestments, and equipped him with his war weapons. The description of this Brian ' equipment is an extraordinary piece of word-painting — probably misurpassed. DrSbkachd, debauchery, indelicacy of speech from ; ' drabii,' dark, black, smut. Dris, drills, bramble. The bramble was much valued by the old The fruit Highlanders, and where not indigenous was cultivated. was used for food, the root and an infusion of the Alone, and in combination for dyeing, leaves was used for medical purposes. with the ivy and the rowan, the bramble was placed above the lintel of the byre door to ward away witches and evil sjiirits. spoken of — 'an druise beaimaichte the blessed a branch of the bramble was the wand with which Christ hastened the ass when going into Jerusalem, and the rod with which He drove the money-changers from the It is bramble. as ' It is said that Temple. The bramble ' Is fearr Is fearr is mentioned an druise na 'n draighionn, an draighionn na 'n donas.' 'Am fear a readhadh 's an druise domh. Readliainn 's an draighionn da.' in several proverbs : Better the bramble tlian the black-thorn. Better the black-thorn than the devil. He who would go I would go in the bramble forme, in the thorn for him. Duailisg, fraud, deceit, stubbornness. Diiine, 'the mortal one,' man, husband, counterpart of ' bean,' woman, mother man of children, and the of children. !! — NOTES 276 E Eala, ' swan. eal, at, ' eala ghlas/ grey There is it swan fair swan Its size, its eala-gheal,' white swan brown swan, cygnet. welcome in the Western Isles ; ' ; eala-dhonn,' ' ; no bird of passage so as the swan. give Eala bhan/ beauty, its mysterious, plaintive melody, a semi-sacred character in the eyes of the people. It is interesting to see swans feeding, and varieties of small ducks, chiefly teal, jerking in and out among them, busily picking up the The swans animalcula and fragments brought up by the swans. take no notice of the ducks, but treat them with even when the ducks pass under their indifference, dignified bills and necks. In severe winters swans Isles. When will flap the come in large flocks to the Western the freezing of the water seems imminent the swans water with their wings to keep an open space, taking When they are frozen out of the lake they the work in turn. betake themselves to the estuaries of the sea. Swans, like geese, in wedge-shaped flocks, often at a high altitude. But even when the flock is only an indistinct haze their striking melody fills the air. To see sever;il hundreds of these beautiful birds together, as they sail rather than fly overhead, is a sight one would not willingly forget, while their liquid voice is like the music of the long-ago echoing through the cloistered cells of memory. But the swan sings its most beautiful melody as its own death The following imitations of the swan's song were taken dirge. down from; old people in Uist who lived beside lakes on which swans remained for half the year, and to whom swans and their ways were familiar fly : ' Guile, guile Mo chasa Guile 'S mi ! guile, guile ! My feet so black, dubha, gi, guile gi And fein gle gheal. Guile go, guUe go Turas mo dhunaidh, myself so white, ! Guile, guile guile, guile Thug mi a dh' Eirinn, ! Journey of ruin. ! me to Erin, Guile go, guile go Spuilleadh mo chulaidh. Guile gi, guile gi Robbed was ray robe. Struilleadh rao leine, Spoiled was That took ! my shirt. !!! ! ! ! ! NOTES Guile, guile, guile go Ruisgeadh Guile mo 277 ! Bared was bhothan, my bower. gi, guije gi Lotadh mo [cheud ghaol Guile go, guile go Leonadh mo phiuthar. clieile, Torn was my Wounded ray sister. spouse, [first love ! Guile, guile, guile gi Muirneig na Guile Maiden of joy. feile. gi, guile gi Leonadh mo 's Guile, guile, guile, guile mo mhathair chan Guile go, guile go Sgeula mo rahulaid. 'S Yea, and wounded bhrathair. my brother, ! And eiricli. ray mother may not rise. ! Guile Tale of my sorrow. gi, guile gi Thug mi a That took me dh' Eirinn. Guile, guile ! guile, guile Guile gi guile gi Guile, guile guile, guile Guile go guile go to Eire. ! ! ! ! Another version ' Gu Gu Mo Mo Mo ! ! is :^ Gu Gu bhi gi, bhi go, thuras dubh. Mar dhealaich sinn ! thuras dubh thug mi dh' Eire, Mo bhi gi, Guth na Gu Gu gu bhi h-eala, bhi gi, I go air ! guth an eoin, gu bhi go na h-eala an go. took to Erin, My hard pain. How we parted chruaidh leir, dhealaich sinn Mar Gu vi ! Mo A vi gi, My black journey. My black journey. My black journey. How we parted My black journey thuras dubh, thuras dubh. ! loin.' Gu vi gi, gu vi go Voice of the swan, voice of the bird, Gu vi gi, gu ! go Voice of the swan on the vi ! lake. Probably the mention of Ireland is in reference to the story of The Ciiildren of Lir,' one of the three great ' Sorrows of Story' telling.' Although the singing of the swan is not generally acknowledged it is a widespread and an old belief. Several of the Latin poets speak of it, and mention of it is also to be found in German and Russian authors. C/. Miillenhoff 's Allerluniskunde, where an interesting accoimt is given of the song of by ornithologists, the swan. VOL. II. S 2 — — — NOTES 278 There are many references the swan ' eala tuillidh gu tursach This is the song of I shall henceforth be sorrowful, tear- ful, Like to the white swan after she is wounded, Singing her death dirge on a reedy lake, When all the others have forsaken her. bhan an deigh a reubadh. Guileag bhais aic air lochan feurach, 'S each uile an deigh a treigsinn.' ' in Gaelic poetry to : Bithidh mi deurach, Mar ' true to nature. Sweet are the birds beside the sea. Sweet are the swans upon the lake. Sweeter to me the voice of my love binn na h-eoin an coir na mara. Is binn na h-eala tha air an Ion, Is binne leam-sa guth mo leannain 'N uair a theannas i ri ceol,' Is When she sings a melody. In Uist the vow took a Vows were made upon the swan. Vows of constancy were made on righinn na negative form. ' h-ealt,' the queen of the bird-kingdom Feumaidh mi ghruag a ghearradh, a dhubladh. Mo bhoid gu gramail thoir dh' an eala, Feuch am mair mo chliu mi.' rao I to must needs tonsure And my hair, my repentance. My vow give firmly to the swan, To see if my fame will cleave to me. Is m'aithreachas Dunbar, Court poet swan : James double IV., speaks of vowing upon the : ' I wad gif all that ever I have. To that condition, so God me save. That ye had vowit on the swan Ane year to be Johan Tamson's man.' The swan was vowed upon the swan.' in England also : — Edward ' vowed on — Green's History. The word ' eala ,' is also applied to a pillared stone, a sanctuary, but probably in this case it is old Gaelic ' elad,' ' ealadh,' a tomb. There are stones so called in Lismore, lona, Crinan, Fortrose, and elsewhere. That in Lismore is near the church, formerly the choir of the cathedral. A criminal who reached the ' eala was safe for a year and a day, or until he paid the ransom. If the ransom was not paid by the expiry of that time, the criminal was tried at ' Druim na Bithe,' ridge of judgment, a few hundred yards west of the ' eala.' After the trial the accused was led back to the stone. If acquitted he was led sunwise round the sanctuary and liberated. If condemned, he was led three times withershins round the stone and then taken to ' Druim na croiche,* — ' NOTES 279 ridge of the gallows, a few hundred yards to the south. In lona, nam marbh,' port of the dead, where the dead were landed for burial in the holy isle, there is a raised platform called ' The platform is in the form of an altar, and the dead eala.' at ' Port and placed upon it called eala were The poetess Mairearad NicLachuinn has were carried three times simwise round of sanctuary. places 'dhol air tir air The Ear, east. known All the stones before burial. an Ealaidh,' it me to ' ' to land at the 'eala,' in lona. old people paid much attention to the orientation of their dwellings and temples. ' ' An An ear 's an Eastward and westward iar dachaidh The is fearr.' Mo Is And teampuU De a cheann 'S 's an morning the temple of Witli ear.' Eararadh, seeking, searching. maidne,' best homestead. Mine own little bower With its eye in the sun, bhruthain bheag fein 'S a shuil 's a ghrein. ' search Air ' ; eiriridh,' eiriridh head its in God the east. on the search wool chloimh,' ; - ' eiriridh seeking ; 'eiriridh dhaoine,' seeking people. parched grain. When corn, especially here or This used to it is beaten to take off the awn. be done with the naked feet, generally by women, so as not Hence the reference in the to bruise or break the grain. dance song Eararach, barley, eiririch, is dried : ' Ta "S bogadh ris na beiririch, gun dannsadh cho sodanach, 'S ge d' bhiodh i pronnadh eiririch. i 'S ' chuile te cho togarrach i Domhull, 'S e Domhull a 'S e Domhull, 's e DomhuU, rinn a bhanais ainmeil A 's e rinn a bhanais ' As if tramping parched corn. 'Twas Donald, 'twas Donald, 'Twas Donald made the wedding 'Twas Donald, 'twas Donald, That made the famous wedding Domhull, 'S e Each damsel is so blithely Bowing to the beiririch,' And she would dance as lightly, ! ! ! In Shetland the parched grain and the meal from ' burstin,' it ! are called probably from the tendency of the grain to burst in the process of drying. worn by women in the was made of tartan, but generally is mentioned in a song sung by earasaid of ' iomairt.' The Boswell at Rararsay. The subject of the song is Prince Charlie, over whom Highlanders lost their heads and their hearts. Earasaid, a wide mantle that used to be Highlands. Occasionally ' it ' ; NOTES 280 ' ioma maighdean sparasach. Dha math dh' an tig an earasaid. Eadar Baile-mhanaich's Caolas Bharr There Is An is many a haughty maiden, To whom becomes the earasaid,' From Monkstown to Barra Sound ' deigh ort In love of thee ; Tha tighinn fotham, fotham, fotham, Tha tighinn fotham, fotham, fotham, Tha tighinn fotham, fotham, fotham, Tha tighinn fotham eirigh. I Tha an Eadailt There are some in Bheagram dhiubh. There are some in Isle of cuid 's an Fhraing dhiubh, Tha cuid an 'S chan eU An Eilean la 's I I teagaisg nach bi from 'earc,' a cow, and Caledonian cattle. France and cow kind 'iuc,' ; ' earc iue/ notched cow, a notch, possibly applied to the Earnach, arnach, red-water in cattle, red pleura, bloody Earrlait, rich soil, Italy, Beagram, Nor is there a preaching day But is in Killpheadair a band of them. Cille-pheadair trend dhiubh.' Earc, a heifer, cow, beast of the must arise, arise, arise, must arise, arise, arise, must arise, arise, arise, I must arise and wield the claymore. flux. ground manured one year and productive the next, productive animals, prosperous undertaking. Eidhion, ' iadhahi, Iadh-shlat ' and iadh-shlat, eidh-sklaf, is more often and more eidhion mu chrann, correctly applied to ivy. the honeysuckle. one of the many sacred shrubs of the Celts. It is used and by lovers as an emblem of fidelity. An old man in Uist said that he used to swim to an islet in a lake in his neighbourhood for ivy, woodbine, and These, sometimes separately and sometimes mountain ash. combined, he twined into a three-plied 'cuach,' ring, which he placed over the lintel of his cow-house and imder the vessels in his milk-house, to safeguard his cows and his milk from witchcraft, evil eye, and murrain. The term ' iadh-shlat is used by old people, and occurs in old Ivy is as a protective for milk, milk products, flocks, ' poetry. ' The two to the damsel gave love, Thug an dithis dh'an ainnir gaol, Ach air GoU bha a gorni-shuil chaon. But on GoU was her lovely blue eye, B'e fath a h-aislig e 's an oidhche. He was the subject of her dreams by night, 'S fath a broin an cos nan coilltean. And the cause of her sighs in the depths of the woods. ! — ! NOTES A Dhuarain c'uim a sheas A Ghoill c'uim a thuit A Dhuarain c'uim an cualas Duaran, why didst thou stand ! Luaidh air Fhuaradh an do shliochd ailleag, 's i 281 ! why didst thou fall Duaran, why was ever heard Goll, riamh Praise of thy race ! The bronach. ! was found, and she lovely damsel in grief. Is beo eha bhuainte bho a gaol A beul And i, would not be torn from her living lover, r'a bheul, a h-uchd r'a Her uchd. lips to his lips, her breast to his breast, A And a iadhadh iTiighe geal 'g Mar iadh-shlat mu As stoc aosda. her white arm twining round hira the twining-wand around the aged tree. down 1860 from Kenneth Kenneth Morrison was tlien blind and old, but he remembered many beautiful and These he rare old poems with more or less completeness. heard when a boy at the 'ceilidh,' of whicli he gave many graphic was fragment This Morrison, taken Mhiginis, Trithion, in Skye. descriptions. In Norse mythology Aigir is king of the sea, god of the ocean. In Celtic mythology he is king of the dwarfs, god of the misers. In Arran, ' iasg eigir is a small fish, a dwarf fish, and 'iasgach eigir' is a poor fishing, whether for the night or for the season. In Barra, ubh eigir is a small egg, a dwarf egg, while ' uibhean eigir,' dwarf eggs, is a term applied to the eggs of the Eigir, Aegir, a god, a deity, a king. ' ' ' smallest sea and land birds. wrongly ' seigir,' is applied to the little gull, an and more commonly to the kittiwake, the smallest permanent British gull. ' Eigire giuUain is a puny boy ' eigire bodaich,' a miserly ' carle eigire truagh dume," a mean, miserable man. Teom ' Eigir,' occasional visitor, ' ; eigir' eigir,' ; ' is a small dole; 'deirc eigir,' a miserly donation. ' miserable alms; Tiodhlac eigir ' is 'tiodhlac applied to an D uair bha an duine ann an gabhadh ann an anradh cruaidh thug e boid agus briathar gun toireadh e tiodhlac toighe agus nasga deirce. Fhuair an duine as a ghabhadh bais agus as an anradh chruaidh agus thug e tiodhlac illiberal religious oblation. ' bais agus ! agus deirc ach b'e sin deirc a bhroin agus tiodhlac eigir 'When the man was in death straits, and in hard plight, he ' — ' NOTES 282 vowed and asseverated that he would give oblation and free alms. The man got out of the death straits, and out of the hard plight, and he gave oblation and alms, but that was the alms of sorrow and the puny oblation ! Besides ' Lioc a Eigir ' in South Uist, there is ' Laimrig Eigir,' landing-place of Aigir in North Uist, and there are in Benbecula ' Loch Eigir,' Eigir,' lake of Aigir, ' Eilean Eigir,' island of Aigir, the reef of Aigir, and ' lol Eigir,' ' Sgeir the fishing-place of Aigir. The lake is small and full of small brown trout. The island merely a rock on which some grass grows. It is the resort of the black-headed gull and of the Arctic tern in their season. An old clachan,' path of stepping stones, connects the rock with the shore, and indicates that the fishing-place was known is ' to people in olden times. Leac Eigir is mentioned in a secular poem taken down in 1870 from Fearachar Beaton, shepherd, Corradale, South Uist. The poem is old and of geological interest. It describes scenes and changes which have occurred in the relative position of sea and land, and in the climatic and economic conditions of Uist. The poet had either a prophetic eye for the future or an observant eye for the past. The poem professes to have been composed by The a woman of whose age even tradition failed to account. woman was known during the centuries as 'Cailleach bheag an ' ' fhasaich,' little historian, in Uist carlin of remarked the wild. to the The woman oldest old woman when his great-great-grandfather was woman did not take offence at her implied great said 'seanachie,' that she had been an a boy. The age, and she : 'When I was a "marcag mullaich," little summit-rider, Heisgeir was the peninsula of Ei, in Benbecula, and joined to South Uist and to North Uist. South Uist was joined to Barra, and North Uist was joined to Harris, and this Long Island was called " Innis I would leave my little brown Cat," Island of the Cat or Caty. bower beneath the shelter of " Creag nam brath," in Heisgeir, when the little brown brindled lark of Mary bounded to the ear of heaven to herald the dawn, and I would ride my white sturdy garron and reach my green grey bothy in Corradale as the swift russet stag rose from his lair to shake the dew-drops from his horns.' This and mucli more had been in verse, but the fragment that — NOTES follows form ' is all 283 that the narrator could remember the original in : 'Duair bha an f hairge mhor 'Na coiUe choinnich ghlais. Bha mis am mhuirneig oig, Bu bhiadh miamh maidne dhomh Duileasg Lioc a Eigir, Agus creamh an Sgoth, Uisge Loch-a-Cheann-dubhain, Is iasg an lonnaire-mhoir. B" iad siud mo ragha beatha-sa fad 's a bhithinn beo. Am Chuirinn mo naoi imirean lurach lin An gleannan grinn Chorradail, Is thogainn mo chrioslachan chno Eadar dha Thorarnis.' What time the great sea Was a grey mossy wood, I was a joyous little maiden, My wholesome morning meal The dulse of the Rock of Agir And the wild garlic of Sgoth,' of ' Loch-a-Cheann-dubhain,' the fish of lonnaire-mor,' ' The water And ' Those would be ray choice sustenance As long as I would live, i I would sow In the And little my nine lovely rigs of lint trim glen of Corradale, would lift ray skirtful of nuts Between the two Torarnises. I All the places mentioned are in South Uist. Corradale is a deep green glen between Hecla and Benmore facing the Minch. There are several underground dwellings and rock caves of much interest in the neighbourhood of Corradale. One of these caves is Uamh nan Tighearnan,' the cave of the gentlemen, where the gentlemen of South Uist met once a year for sport and ' enjoyment. Lower down is ' Uamh a Phrionnsa,' the cave of the prince, where Prince Charlie and some of his followers lived for several weeks after the disasters of Culloden. It is a small and breadth. The floor is There are no crofters in Corradale now nor within many miles, but during the time of the Prince the whole of this region was full of crofter families. I have the names of eightytwo crofter families who were evicted from the district of Corradale some years afterwards. The Prince and his followers lived there on such homely fare as these hospitable people could give, and moved about among their houses. Occasional supplies of linen and other luxuries were brought to them by the gentlemen of Barra, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, and Skye. While the Prince was in Corradale all the people not only of South Uist but of all the neighbouring islands knew that he was there. The writer saw and spoke with men and women whose fathers and mothers had seen and succoured the Prince. The whole of these faithful people of Corradale, and hundreds more were evicted and driven to all ends of the earth— many of them to die moral and physical deaths in the slums of Glasgow cave, being only a few feet in depth a steep slope. — ' NOTES 284 and other cities — order to add their in lands of tacksmen, extensive already land to the one of these being the parish minister. Torarnis, Torrarnis, Torrannis, the point of Thor, the point is There are two places of this name in South and in the neighbourhood of one another, both famed for of the thunderer. Uist, bere. There are no nuts there now, nor anywhere in Uist, nor bushes nor trees of any kind nothing but long reaches of sessile sand here and there overlying long stretches of compacted peat. Hazel-nuts in great quantities have been found in Uist lying on the glacial rock. In many places round the west side of the Outer Hebrides the remains of trees of various sizes have been found at low-water embedded in the hard peat moss underlying — pure sand. mentioned in a poem taken down in 1869 from South Uist. The poem purports to the overflowing of the Atlantic and the submerging of Torrarnis woman a foretell is Lianacuith, at certain places, including ' Torrarnis of the bere, Torrarnis an eorna, 'S am muir raor m'a raeadhon.' With the great sea round its middle. walls of the churches shall be the fishing-rocks of the 'The people, while the resting-place of the dead shall be a forest of among whose mazes the pale-faced mermaid, the marled and the brown otter shall race and run and leap and gambol tangles, seal, " Like the children of ' This prophecy is to men at play. " some extent verified, for vast tracts of lands some places the remains of dykes, houses, and woods, and in and churches, can be seen along the coast at low-water. Carlyle speaks in Heroes and Hero- Worship of the boatmen on the Yorkshire Ouse calling out when the river is in flood ' Eager is also known Eager is coming Eager is coming on the Severn. In this case the idea is that of the Norse giant. A deity of this name is also god of the muses in Celtic mythology. ! ' ' ! Eimir, the wife of Cuchulainn. story. Eoir, spell, Eolas, (Vol. i. eoisle, knowledge. is the type of beauty in Gaelic p. 8.) charm, incantation. eoilse, She ' a spell, 'Eoir' in Lewis, 'eolas' in Uist. charm, incantation, magic, exorcism, NOTES 285 Eorlain, earlaiii, arlain, floor, bottom, lower part, a glen that slopes The three planks on to a narrow compass, from 'earr,' limit. — each side of the keel of a boat are called eorlain,' na h-eithir bottom of the boat, in this case from ' ' ' — ' eorlain earrlain,' keel. Eimarag, snipe, snipe, The snipe is 'sained,' is goat-bird, from 'eun,' bird, 'gobharag,' little little As many as some of them goat. names are applied thirteen Gaelic to the in reference to the kid-like cry of the bird. one of the seven dormant birds of the people. It and more feared than liked by nightfarers. (See Memmanaicii.') Fabhradh, swirl, whirl, eddy. — the venomous Fad-buinii, door-step, lit. grassy turf was, as buinn is ' is ' Fabhradh nimheil na gaoithe 'n ear ' of the east wind. swii-1 sole-sod. The name when originated a Fadalso applied to a wooden, but not to a stone step, which it occasionally, the door-step. still is ' called 'starsaeh.' Fadhdach, black, blackness, confusion ' cf. ; fadhbhag,' ' fadhtag,' cuttle-fish. Fad-seilhk, possession sod, infeftment ; the sod or handful of earth given by the seller to the buyer of land. Faileagaii, into meadows, many little lawns combinations, as the wall of a thatched house ' fal,' divot.s, in some places ; ' from ' fal,' foid-fail,' ' ' ; sod, turf. ' Fal ' enters the sod laid on the top of garradh-fail,' turf-dyke, fail-dyke ; sgrath.' dead bird, dead fish, dead seal or dead whale, any creature found dead on the sea or shore. Fairig, Fairir, far-thir, probably 'oirthir,' border, coast. Falach fuinn, land hiding from falach,' hiding, and ' fuinn,' oblique Thainig ceo draogh air na fearaibh, agus rinn of ' foiui,' land. ; ' ' iad falach fuinn land hiding. ' — Magic mist came upon the men, and they made — ' NOTES 286 Falc, flood, flooding, bathe, dip. ' Tobar Tiobartain nam buadh A chasgas gach falc is fiial. The well of Tiobartain of efficacy To quell flood and gravel. An In remotest isle of the ocean. On the very verge of the great eilean iomartach a chuain Am iomal fior an domhain domain. mhoir.' on the west side and in the south end of South Uist. According to tradition, the well of Tiobartan was famous in olden times, pilgrims resorting to it from afar. Then a man brought his sick horse to it, and the spirit of the well fled shrieking, and never returned. The well is in the machair, near the sea, and is now filled up with drift sand. The term 'Tobar Tiobartain or Tobar Tibirt is curious as showing a dujilication Tiobar of words. means a well, synonymous with tobar.' Tobar Tiobartain might mean well of wells.' There is Aber Tibirt at the head of Loch Tiacais in Morvern. 'Tobar nan naoi beo,' the well of the nine lives. This well is said to have kept nine children alive during a famine. Healing and holy wells are very numerous in the Highlands, as elsewhere in Britain, scarcely a district being without one or more. Much interesting lore is connected with these wells, and with their curative powers and the rites observed at them. 'Tiobartan' is ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' — Falluinn, falluing, garment, mantle, robe. ' Faodaidh luchd Gun an The robe was ' ' nam falluinne dearga, calg a bhi fuilteach. The tribe of the red robes [deer] Need not have their hair bloody. asseverated upon Air m' f halluinn fhein tha.' A nighean donn nam meal-shuilean. Air m' f halluinn thug mi speis dhut.' Upon mine own robe it is. Brown maiden of the liquid eyes, By my robe I gave thee love. Famh-bhual, famh-fhual, lamh-fhual, water-mole, from ' famh,' mole, and ' bual,' water. Several names are applied to the water-shrew, water-mole 'lamh-fhual,' 'labh-alan,' water-vole, and ' bad-alan,' water-vole. Probably labh and lamh,' arise from the influence of the n of the article on asjiirated famh,' mole. The names of the water-mole have their counterparts in the names of the land-mole. 'Famh,' 'fomh,' mole; 'famh-uir,' as 'famh-bhual,' ; ' ' ' ' earth-mole Perthshire. ; ' famh-thalmhan,' ground-mole, ' dith-reodha The 'famh-bhual,' the mole of the water, counterpart of the 'famh-uir,' the mole of the earth. moles resemble one another in ' is in the The two appearance and habits, but not — ' NOTES 287 The land-mole abides under the earth, living upon and earth-insects, and moving about under tlie earth with surprising speed. The water-mole abides under the water, living upon water-plants, water-roots, and water-insects, and moving about under the water with marvellous rapidity. The mysterious water-mole was much dreaded by the people. Its touch was supposed to cause paralysis, mortification, and death. In the inimitable burlesque of Brigis Mkic Ruaraidh, the poet warns his friends against allowing the trouserless man to the moorland lest the water-shrew should come and strike him. in habitats. earth-plants, earth-roots, ' Na Do Do bho bhail e. mhointeach nan coileach, Mu'n tig an labh-alan 'S guiu buail i e.' The not allow liim from townland. of grouse cocks, Lest the water-mole should come And smite him. leigibh who To moorland and underground structures go under ' famhair and ' fuamhaire,' giant. A man much addicted to burrowing underground is called famh,' mole ' famhair and fuamhaire,' giant. Perhaps the famhair,' 'fuamhaire,' was the Titan of the Celt, the Cyclop of his underground structures, and the Fomorian of his history. giants the names of live in caves ' famh,' mole, ' ' ' ' ' ; Faochaire, a knave, a betrayer, a perjurer, Judas a curve, from which also ' ' ' Co cama ri cruim na faochaig.' Co cama ri faochag dhubh a from ; ' faoch,' faochag,' periwinkle. As crooked as the worm of the whelk. As crooked as the black whelk of the chladaich.' strand. — morally oblique. ' Hair curving fair, Curly winding brown. Fait faochaidh fionn. lubaidh donn.' Cama Faoigh, faig/i, Joig/i, thig, ' Chan f haoigh The wool thigging, genteel begging. It is e. not a thigging. web had not been obtained by ' thigging,' which Middle Ages, nor is it yet wholly extinct. In 1414 the Scottish Parliament passed an Act against thiggers and ' sorners,' these being the social pests The thing begged was indicated as faoigh eorna,' of the period. for the was a common practice in Britain in the ' ' ' barley thigging; proverb says ' Chan i chruidh,' cattle thigging. An ; mhuc A gheobh 'faoigh is fearr fear na faoighe. It is ' not the best pig That the man of the thigging gets. old ' — " ' ' NOTES 288 When went the sons and daughters of the higher classes married, they faoighe,' a-thigging, to help them to set up in the 'air Others followed their example down to the lowest grade. world. The man writer conversed with an old of ninety-nine years of age who went round thigging with the daughter of his chief after her marriage. The lady, who was very lovely, rode a beautifid black pony, and my informant was her coiseachan,' footman. She and her husband were well received and hospitably entertained everywhere, and after an absence of some weeks they returned ' home with a miscellaneous herd, enough to stock a large farm. Faoilleach, Faoilleach, FaoiUheachd, possibly 'the Carnival Season,' but folk-etymology, leaning upon ' makes wolf, faol,' it wolf-month.' ' During this proverbially hard period the wolf, driven from wood and mountain, approached dwellings. There are many sayings about this pressing period of the year ' Mi Month of Faoillich, Naoi la Gearrain, Seachdain Feadaig, Seachdain Caillich, Tri la Sguabaig, Suas an t-earrach These ! [sharp, ravenous, tearing wind. Nine days of ' Gearran,' [galloping wind, like a garron. A week of A week of ' Feadag,' [sharp, piping wind. ' Cailleach,' [a Three days of ' Sguabag, Up with the Spring few semi-calm days, soughing blast which [the ushers in the spring. ! weather under the names of animals and Here we see myths in the making. Tri la luchair 's Tri la Faoilleach ' : Faoilleach,' lines personify the other figures. ' ' Three days of Dog-days in Wolf-month, Three days of Wolf-month in Dog-days. an FhaoiUeach, 's an luchar. ' Thubhairt an Gearran ris an FhaoU- The ' C'ait, a ghaoil, an gamhuinn bochd " Fhir a chuir mi chon an t-saog? ' Where, ' Thou who ' said to the ' Faoil- Chuir mi mhaodal air an stochd." " Och mo leireadh," ors an Ceitein, " 'S truagh an eirig a thig ort. I Nan d' fhuair raise bogadh chluas dheth, Had ris a chnoc." The people ' O my grief,' said ' Great the ransom upon thee. ! heat I the ' Ceitein,' at all got hold of his ears, would have sent him up the I disliked love, the lean stirk ? didst send me into the world, placed his paunch upon the stake.' hail, Chuir mi suas e Gearran leach,' leach, " in the hill.' deeming Faoilleach,' it unnatural. ' Faoilleach, Faoilleach, crodh air ' Caoidh us caoineadh dheanadh ' Faoilleach,' cattle flee- Weeping and wailing mis, to Faoilleach, Faoilleach, crodh am ' I would make it, Faoilleach, ' ' Faoilleach,' cattle flee- ing to bushes. preas, Gaire caomha dheanainn Faoilleach,' ing from heat. teas, ris.' Laughter and hail I would make to it. — NOTES 289 voracious one, began the day before the Faoilleach," and is on this account called the mother of the Faoilleach Gobag mother of the Gobag Gobag Gobag mathair FaoiUich The ' Gobag,' ' ' ' ' ! ! mharbh a chaor agus a chaol- ' : ! lean lamb, uan, A ' ' ! Wolf-month cold, That didst kill the sheep and the fuair, A ' mharbh ghobhar a ghlas That didst ri dha, Agus an gamhuinn breac The ri aon trath. And ' kill the grey goat in two watches, the speckled stirk in one. old people wished to have the furrows filled three times during the Wolf-month 'Ian uisge, Ian sneachda, Ian tugha nan full of water, full of snow, full of the thatch of the taighean — ' — houses. Far, the preposition 'on' used in compounds, e.g. 'farasg,' false fish, found dead on the sea or shore spent fish, as ' fara-bhreac,' fara-bhradan,' spent salmon ' fara-laogh,' false calf, spent trout fish ; ; monstrosity; place ; ' ' ; ' fara-ghaol,' false love; 'far-thir,' an out-of-the-way far-thagh,' ' amount of farm produce foireagh,' a certain allowed to farm servants in olden times. Farch, farch-chiuil, fairchU, a musical instrument, possibly the lute, probably the Fraoch,' taken The lyre. down ' is mentioned in the ' Lay of from Kenneth Morrison, Trithion, farch in 1861 ' Skye :— ' do shleagh na f haide B' slat Longer thy spear than the yard of the do Sweeter than the lyre of melody thy shiuil, sail, Bu bhinne na farch-chiuil ghuth, voice, A Snamhaiohe cho fath ri Fraoch Cha do shin a thaobh ri smth.' swimmer as swift as Fraoch Never stretched his side to flood. from the same root as ' farchin,' ' farch-chrann,' fara-chrann,' bread-toaster. Both being sharply curved, the one may have borrowed the name from the other, or both may have borrowed from a common source. Probably ' farch,' the musical instrument, is ' Fa, fàlh, vista, perspective, a long, narrow glen. a view far away. ' Chi mi fath na feidh mi fath dhiubh ' Ni 'm faic Probably cognate with of the deer. them. ' Chi mi, chi mi fad air faireadh, Air bharr na roide ruaidhe mac a tighinn o'n mhathair matliair a tighinn uaithe. Am Am This VOL. is II. air ' ' faire,' I ' ' Fath fad air falbh,' — see a distant view — Nor see a view of ' I I faircadh,' horizon. see, I see in the far vista On the top of the red bog-myrtle. The son coming from the mother. The mother coming from him. a riddle the answer to which is ' night and day.' T —— ' — ! — ! NOTES 290 Feaman-chir, feamain-chirein, feamain chireineach, the channelled fucus, This seaweed lies highest on the strand the last submerged by the flood, and first exposed by the ebb. the crested seaweed. is It more potash than any other seaweed, and on this much used by the people for poulticing and medicinal Boiled and mixed with meal it is given to cows and said to contain account is purposes. and poultry, principally in spring. calves, pigs Fearan, fearain, dove, stock-dove, wood-pigeon. Fhin, the arm, the hand, the hollow of the palm. Fideag, flute, whistle, whistling. ' Co shinneas an f hideag airgid — Mac rao righ air tir an Albain ! ' Fiodhag, JiotUiagach, bird-cherry. Who will play the silver flute The son of my king ashore The The people the wild fig-tree in popular lore. in Alban ! bird-cherry takes the place of say that the wild banned because of the incident of the barren fig-tree. They do not use it for any structural purpose, but in some districts a decoction of the wood is made for certain diseases in cattle. When MacMhuirich Mor' seized 'isean na beist,' the young of the beast, the mother besought him to give her back her young, and tliat she woidd perform for him whatever service he demanded. Never tliinking that she could accomplish such a thing, 'MacMhuirich Mor' asked the 'beast' to build him a house of nine couples, and to thatch it with the down and feathers of birds, no two feathers to be alike. The 'beast' was dismayed at the ransom demanded of her, but she set to work resolutely and completed her task before the old cock crowed. She could be heard in the midnight air cheerily singing as she flew about to and fro, the burden of her fig-tree is ' song being ' Sgrith ! sgrath ! sgolban Taobh taigh a chealgair The ' beast ' and sing Gach fiodh ' Turf ! To ! ! divot fiodh 's a fiod- Any 's a choill ach fiod- Any choill ach fiodh 's splint tree in the forest save the wild fig-tree, hagach, Gach and would then change the measure of her song, hagach, Gach ! the side of the house of the rogue tree in the forest save the wild fig-tree, a choill ach crithionn fiodhagach.' in the forest save the aspen tree, crainn, Druidhinn dreang, iubhar cam Any tree is The thorn of pain, the crooked yew, and the wild fig-tree. NOTES Fiolan, fiollan, Jeahan, a fly, 291 a worm, an insect, an animal, a parasite, the bot-fly. determine the precise meaning attaelied to Probably fiolan fionn is the ' fiolan gadfly ' fiolan donn,' the earwig fada,' long insect, the fiolan luachair," the lizard, centipede fiolan feoir,' the shrew It is difliciilt to ' fiolan in these ' incantations. ; ' ' ; ' ' ; ; ordinarily * dearc luachrach.' From the frequent mention must have been a common pest among the people. Probably sleeping much in the open air was conducive to this the insect depositing its eggs in the necks and faces of the people, as it deposits its eggs in the backs and rumps of cattle. The ' fiolan moves about ' eadar bian is sithionn," between skin and flesh, causing intense pain and suffering. The people applied poultices of water-cress and other plants to the part affected, and rubbed it with honey, hog's lard, and other specifics. Similar insect pests are common in South America, Africa, and India, causing much trouble, sometimes resulting in permanent injuries to natives and Europeans. ' Fiolag,' a of the ' a flighty person. fly, fiolan fionn,' it — ' Wine Fion, wine. frequently mentioned in old Gaelic lore, whisky is The following never. lines occm- in a song taken down in Miunghlaidh, one of the islands of Barra, in the summer of 1865 ' Is e :— mac Aoidh an duine treubhach, Ni e sioda dh'an chloimh Cheitein, 'S fion air bharr an fhraoich, Nam The son of Aodh He could make And wine from If b' flieudar.' Fionn-faoilidk, a plant, the English Fitheack, biadhtack, raven. name it is the brave man, silk of the May wool, the heather-top, were necessary. of which I do not know. Ravens are seldom gregarious, generally going in ones, twos, or threes. Occasionally they congregate in many hundreds when a dead animal is on the moor shore, when they gorge themselves by day and sleep flocks of on the At such times they become a nuisance people of the place, who try to capture one of them. the rocks by night. secured, the bird is on the carcase. tarred, painted, plucked or clipped, The rest of the ravens or in to the When and placed hold a court over the round it and talking loudly and After a time one goes forward and gives a peck simultaneously. at the hapless bird, then another and another, till the whole of them crowd round the victim and end him. Sometimes the ravens unfortunate bird, standing —— — ' — — NOTES 292 simply look at sail away as sOently and minute or two not a raven is injured one, and then tlie as variously as they came, till in a to be seen. Of man who a said is has arrived accidentally and opportunely it : ' Tha ' Fios fithich He fios fithich aige.' When gu roic' a raven is has raven's knowledge. Raven's knowledge to a feast. killed during nidification, the bereaved mate goes away, and after a short absence returns with another raven. When one of these is in turn killed, the other raven goes away and brmgs a new mate. This process is repeated till the third time, but if one be killed after that the remaining bird leaves the place and never returns. The term biadhtach,' feeder, is applied to the raven, and sometimes to a gluttonous man or boy. One of the Lords of the Isles was going along Bac, in Barra some say Greinetobht, North Uist, when he saw a black-haired, unkempt boy sitting at the edge of a cornfield husking ears of corn while basking in the sun and tending the cattle. Being a ready-witted poet, like many of the old Highland chiefs, the Lord ' — of the Isles said : 'A bhiadhtaich sin, s' a bhiadhtaich, Is math a chrimeas tu na diasan. Is e mo ghuidhe air Righ na cruinne Thu ' gun fhiacail.' The boy promptly replied bhi Ma 's gun ionga, Thou raven there, and thou raven. Right well thou nibblest ears of corn. It is my prayer to the King of the sphere That thou be without nail, without tooth. : a tusa Mag-omhnuill, dhut, Ca'n cualas riamh chinneadh Ag aoireadh giUe ma fear thou be the Macdonald, the Lord make thee recompense, Where was ever heard a man of thy If Gun dean an Domhuach a May dhiol dha d' name dhiasan (When the Lord of name MacDhomhnuill The ready wit and ' ' ? Satirising a is boy for ears of corn ? meant, and then onlj-, the pronomiced Mag-omhnuUI.') the Isles is ' the implied compliment in the rebuke pleased the Lord of the Isles, and under his care the boy rose to position and founded a family. A raven dance is ; and account of a similar occurrence, the time ' My curious. of seeing this privilege I once had the have never met with an quote the description written at as I wife and I : Mrs Carmichael and I were driving from Scolpaig to Newton, NOTES 293 Immediately on coming to the top of Cnoc 'ic North Uist. Eoghain looking across the " ob " bay within a bay of Geireann, we saw near the strand a number of ravens going through some shuttle-cock movements that puzzled us much. Intervening hillocks, windings of the road, and rapid driving prevented us for a time from having a continuous view of what was going on but having come to a place where we had a near and full view of the birds, we stopped our little phaeton, and watched their — — ; singular proceedings in breathless silence. ' There were ten or twelve ravens in all, I forget which, on the smooth green grass adjoining the dry strand, and about a hundred yards below where we stood. On a small elevation hard by stood a large, noble-looking raven, probably the MacCrimmon of his and piped a " port-a-bial," mouth-tune, loud, fast, and race, To this all the other ravens responded by running, and hopping, and jumping rapidly and regularly from certain given points in two opposite directions. "They reeled, they crossed," but I cannot say they "cleekit," like the witches in old Alloway furious. But they certainly went through certain movements and now singularly resembling the " Reel of Tulloch," and now absurdly like the " Lancers' Quadrille." While these strange movements were gone through by the ravens on the ground, another raven flew to and fro overhead, now making a wide circuit, now a narrow one, and now an angle, and evidently guarding against surprise. Ultimately this strange dance as ceased, having lasted, from I think I am justified in calling it Kirk. evolutions, — — the time we noticed the birds first, some eight or ten minutes. Immediately thereafter all the ravens flew away, not in a body, and in one direction, as their congeiicrs the crows would have done, but like a gang of thieves taken by surprise, all in different directions, and in various waj's, no two of them going together. I have been familiar with ravens all my life, and at various times and in various places have seen numbers of them together but I never before saw a ravens' quadrille, and probably shall never ; see the same thing again.' Farlos, farlus, fairleus, the egress of ' smoke-hole in the ridge of a house for the ingress of light, from 'far,' over, and smoke and the leus,' light. an abbreviated form of flathanas,' flaitheamhnas.' Sometimes taken to be flaitliinnis,' isle of the noble from flath,' VOL. II. T 2 Flathas, heaven, ' ' ' ' ; ; NOTES 294 noble, and 'innis,' This mysterious isle. away under lay far isle the western main and beneath the setting sun. There men and women retained perpetual youth, perpetual life, and perpetual love, amidst the chase, the song, F5, brink ; ' story. lump, mallet, pestle, the stone used in crushing the corn mortar. Foirich, foiriche, corn in the Foiritm, and the fo a bhais,' brink of death. ' pollag,' border land, debatable land, land held dispute in and therefore watched. Foiriridh, foirireadh, keen observation, anxious waiting, wake, watching the corpse. Forack, forch, Joirch, foiriche, a projection, a swelling, a rock, a reef in the sea, oi'dinarily called ' bogha.' These invisible reefs are sources of extreme danger along the Atlantic side of the Outer arms of the sea opening on the Atlantic. On a calm water is smooth, the sea may suddenly and noiselessly rise from five to fifteen feet, and then rusli along roaring for a distance of fifty or a hundred yards, falling down in a grand cascade. This sudden rising of the sea in the neighbourhood of sunken reefs has been fatal to many boats, among others to that of the Isles, and day, when in the chief of Ulva's isle in well known, and lies ' The Loch-nan-Ceall,' Mull. fatal reef half-way between Gribonn and Ulva ballad of 'Lord Ullin's Daughter' is founded upon is for the ; are fact, as all Campbell's ballads. Fosg, lark, ' from ' fosg,' open, bird of the open, Fosgag Moire,' fosgag Mhoire,' the little fosgag,' little lark, bird of the open sky. ' ' lark of Mary, endearingly applied to the skylark. ' The Tha fosgag bheag a cheileir ghrinn Os cionn mo chinn ri oran Cha dhuisg i dhomh-sa solas binn lark of melodious trill over my head singing But she will not awaken in me joy of music, And that my heart is sick in sorrow. 'S mo chridhe tinn an dolas.' porch Fosglan, a opening ' ; — porch ; fosglan ' am air fosg,' little Is ; an an opening on the ' anns an f hosg,' f hosglan,' the space above us ; in space. Freigh, fraigh, fragh, wall, partition, division, shelf. hand shadow, shadow pictures thrown on the ' Is duilich banas taighe Dheanamli air fraighibh fiisa.' Difficult 'Crog fraigh,' wall. it is liousewifery To make upon empty walls. — — NOTES 295 gnome, pigmy, elf, rock-elfin. The people apply the and its derivatives fridean,' frideag,' ' fridich/ to creatures which they allege dwell in the internal rocks and in the Frid, frldc, term fride ' ' ' ' innermost parts of the earth. They say that these gnomes eat and drink like men, and that it is not right to deprive them of the crumbs that fall to the ground. When crumbs of food or drops of milk fall on the floor the old people deprecate removing them, saying, Let it Mor ' * Gabh ealla ris, is ioma bial feumach tha feitheamh air many are the needy mouths awaiting it. MacMhuirich ' be, ' of Staoligearry was losing his cattle through As he mischance. a ' gnome mother sat on a rock musing over ' dosgaidh,' his losses he heard singing to her child Hush, thou dearie, hush, thou pet, Hush, thou darling of the rapid feet, MacVuirich s board is set, My darling will get corn and cream. Uist a lurain, uist a luaidh. Uist a chuilean nan cas luath. D uair a shuidhichear clar MhicMhuiricli, When Gheobh mo luran iodh is uachd.' 'MacMhuirich Mor' went home; and though he never went into his kitchen before, he went in that day. His baking-woman was making bread, and bits of dough and grains of meal were falling from her in the process. She took no notice of these till a piece fell from the bannock on her palm, and then she stooped down and lifted it. MacVuirich noticed her, and he went over and gave her a tap on the back of the hand with the switch he had, saying, Gabh ealla ris, a mhuirneag, is ioma bial feumach tha feitheamh air Leave it alone, maiden, many a needful mouth is waiting ' ' for — ' And it. as long as thou shalt stand in my house, never again remove the fragments of food from the floor they are the rightful dues of "fridich nan creag," the gnomes of the rocks.' And as long as MacVuirich lived he went daily to the knoll with an offering of crumbs of bread and drops of milk to the gnomes. Never again did 'MacMhuirich Mor' lose his kine or his sheep or his horses. We must remember the smallest of God's creatures if we are to thrive in this world below and to live in the world beyond,' and the aged narrator had acted on her belief throughout her long life, though she had never once seen nor ; ' heard the recipients of her bounty. Frith, augury, divination. Frith, small, small love, ghaol,' music, ' (Vol. ii. pp. 158, diminutive, infinitesimal frith-cheol ' frith-ghaoth,' 1.59.) —generally weak wind, min nan sitheaeh a prefix. ' ' Frith- frith-eheol,' low seang,' the soft music of the — — ; NOTES 296 slender fairies. ' garvles, matties, of ' small high-road; ' small footpath, fi'ith-ainm,' in fish fish implying sand-eels fish, frith-rathad,' Frith-iasg/ and to immature ' ; ' ; — generally applied to traigh frith-eisg/ strand by-name, tee-name; ebb small frith-thraigh/ contradistinction 'rathad to mor,' 'frith-bhuille,' small blow, 'frith-bhuille bhreabadair,' the small stroke of the weaver. The weaver who contents himself with a weak stroke of the makes flimsy cloth. Fruan, acclivity, steepness, a steep hill ; akin to ' sleay fraon.' Fuarag, a mixture of meal and cream, or of meal and milk, or of meal and water. In some districts the ' fuarag ' is called ' stapag.' Mar After the battle of Inverlochy in 1431 the Earl of in course of his flight was forced to seek food from an aged woman, who had nothing by her except mixed with cold water a little This he barley meal. in the heel of his shoe. On woman the regretting the poorness of the provision, the Earl said ' A Is math an cocair an t-acras meinig a dhean tarcuis air biadh. Fuarag eorn a sail mo bhroige ; Biadh a b' fhearr good cook is hunger ; Woe Is A a fhuair mi riamh.' to him who would depise food. mixture of barley-meal in the heel of my shoe Was the best food that I ever got. Fuath, a spectre, a kelpie, a demon, a water-fiend frequenting glens, rivers, and waterfalls. Fuidheag, thrum, the warp-thread, ten or twelve inches long, remaining unwoven at the Fuidir, fool, lout, end of the web. clown ; akin to ' fuidse,' coward, also to ' buidir,' a witling. The blood of a friend was drunk as a mark of affection. Campbell of Breadalbane and his son Colin slew Grigor Macgregor, the husband of Breadalbane's daughter, the lady Fidl, blood. When said ' : 'Chuir iad do cheann air stoc daraich, Is dhoirt iad t'fhuil gu lar Nan robh agam-s' an sin copan, Dh' olainn dhith mo shath.' ; Ann They placed thy head on a block of oak. And they poured thy blood to the ground Had I there a cup in my hand, I would have drunk of it my ; fill. Campbell, daughter of Donald Campbell, the entertainer of Prince Charlie at Scalpay, Harris, was exceptionally handsome. She was about to be married to Captain Allan Morrison I — — — ' NOTES He Crossbost, Lewis. 297 was drowned on the way to his marriage. a beautiful lament for her lover, in which Ann Campbell composed she says Is tniagh, ' : a Rigli ! nach mi bha lamh b'e King that ! na ob an On traigh I would drink a drink, gainsay I tha fhuil nuas that comes following occurs in a song composed by to her foster-son, ' Mac Iain 'ic ' Nic Coiseam : The blood of thy fragrant body do chuirp chubhraidh A drudhadh thromh t'anart, Bha mi fein ga sughadh Gon do thuch air m'anail. fuil Another song says ' Sheumais,' the famous warrior-poet of the Macdonalds, after the battle of Garnish in 1601 ' down from the hollow of thy throat. bhraghaid.' The who prefer. The blood do lag o it would, Not of the rich red wine of Spain, The blood of thy body, love, would liora. Bha were near whatever bank or creek thou art stranded, thu, ' I thee. eilb Dh'olainn le deoch ge b'oil each e, Cha b'ann a dh'fhion dearg na Spainne Fuil do chuim a ghraidh a b'fheurr An O Would, riut, Ge Was I soaking through thy myself was sucking it Till my linen, breath became hoarse. : Chasg mi do chreuchd, 'S iad gu leir ro lionmhor, 'S dh'ol mi d' fhuil chra, 'S i na b'fhearr na'm fion I stanched thy wounds. they all too numerous. I drank of thy red blood. More sweet to me than wine. And And liom. Shakespeare speaks of drinking the blood of a friend. Spenser tells of a case at Limerick where he saw a woman drink the blood of her foster-son on his being executed. Furadh, furaradh, fidrireadh, parching corn, a mode of drying grain ' Min to make the cakes for Christmas and other festivals. fhuiriridh,' parched-corn meal. Gais, goes, wisdom. Gais, spear, lance, spear-haft, flag-staff; 'gaise na brataich,' staff of the banner. GSis, plenty, abundance, food gestation. ; probably ' geis,' milk, milk produce, — ' — NOTES 298 Gainisg —diminutives, —a 'gaineseag' gainisgeag,' ' small divinity dwelling among reeds and marshes on the borders of lakes and banks of rivers, moaning and wailing before storms for the deaths that are to follow. ' Gainisgeag bheag a bhroin Little A sileadh deoir a sula.' Sliedding Gainisg,' sedge, ' is ' gainisgeag ' of the sorrow tlie tears of her eyes. the long coarse grass among which the naiad weeps and moans. Galar-bonn, bruised soles, a disease in the hoof of cattle caused by walking over hard, rough, stony ground. cows and difficult to cure. falls off, Garbhag an l-sleibh, akin to ' is troublesome to whereby the skin becomes corrupt and Galar-lom, a disease of cattle the hair It faileadh.' The club-moss was used club-moss. for fixing dyes, for strengthening the eyes, as an emetic and a cathartic, and was worn on the person as a talisman to ensure lawful love and peaceful journeying, and also for luck of lambs. Gannan, garman-uchd, weaver's beam, breast-beam. Angus Morrison, minister of Contin, Ross, was a man much given to wit and humour, which were generally expressed in rhyme. When dying he said to his wife Ochadan mar tha thu 'n diugh Is Aonghas dubh a dol gu bas, Cha dean e posadh no bais- ' Alas cha ! thy state to-day. And black Angus going to death, He will perform no marriage nor baptism, teadh, 'S : alas ! mho gheobh Nor thu dad bho chach.' shalt thou get aught from others. (This was during Episcopacy in Scotland, there being no marriage, baptismal, nor funeral fees in the Presbyterian Church.) present said : — ' Mr Angus discontinue these things death, the dying ' ì ! Mr Angus The ' man moved on Dealaichidh sinne ris an t-saoghal, Is dealaichidh an saoghal ruinn. Ach leanaidh am breabadair ris a leanaidh an t-slinn. is it A deacon not time for you to ruling passion being strong in his elbow and said : We shall part from the world. the world shall part from us, But the weaver shall cleave to his And gharman, Is ! beam. t-armadh ris an And the dressing shall cleave to the sleay. — NOTES 299 Gas, stalk, stem, column, a sapling, a stripling, a youth. ' Na gasain ura, siol nam The fiuran fresh youths, offspring of the dauntless, Bha Gearr, an diulnaicb anns an sganart. 'n squat, thick-set, short, names descriptive as name loch of this ' ' ; ' D uair is Cha strong. were heroes ' Gearr often ' in Ross, and another in Argyll. 'gearr,' occurs There ' in is a Gearr-chu,' squat 'gearr-f hiadh,' combat. in the deer, the gearra-breae,' short speckled one, the lesser black-backed guillemot grilse Who gearr-loch," short, broad loch. squat dog, the wolf; hare ' gearr,' ' ; ' gearr a chuain,' squat one of the ocean, the : e'n ron cu is 's an ruaig teid gearr a chuain as.' When the seal The hare is the hound .in the chase of the ocean [grilse] shall not escape. ' Thig a chuthag, thig an t-snag. Thig a chuile h-ian g' a nead, Thig a ghearr as a chuan. Ach cha tig, mo nuar! mo bhean.' ' The cuckoo will come, the night-jar come, Every bird will The hare But, woe me mine own come [grilse] will is will to its nest, come from the ocean, ! wife never. Gearr-bhall,' 'gearra-bhall,' the squat spotted one, the extinct is was a low-set bird, with a patch of white on each side of the head, and the name is descriptive. ' Gearra-chot and ' cota-gearr was a short coat or doublet like an Eton jacket, but with a short cut-away tail. It was made of tartan or of scarlet cloth, which was called 'cath-dath,' war- gair-fowl, the great auk. It ' ' The colour; 'cath-dath rioghail,' regal war-colour. 'cota-gearr' mentioned in a song taken down from a old woman in Uist in 18G6. She said tliat the song had been composed to one of the gallant ClauRanalds by a lady, after the battle of Aiddearn. is ' Luchd nan calpana Dha math fearail dh' an tig feile. Luchd nan cotaiche gearra. Liom a b'aithghearr bhur ceilidh, Luchd nan cotaiche gearra, Chit an dearrsa la greine. Thug sibh Dol a sios mionnan a Bhiobuill, gu Allt-eire, Nach de'adh Gun an The claidhe a dhubladh Righ Searlach.' cruinte battle of Men of the To whom manly kilt is limbs, becoming. Men of tlie short coats, To me short you stay, Men of the short coats. Gleaming in the sunny day. Ye gave your Bible oath, Going down to Auldearn, That no sword should be sheathed Till crowned was King Charles. Auldearn was fought, in May 1645, between the — ' -' NOTES 300 troops of the Commonwealth under General Hurry and the The veterans of Hurry Loyalist Highlanders under Montrose. were cut to pieces by the untrained Highlanders of Montrose — Hurry's slain being equal to the whole number opposed to him. ' Gearr/ Anglicised ' Gair/ is a siu-name derived from personal appearance. There were many men in the Highlands to whom One of these was ' Iain Dubh Gearr the epithet was applied. Macgregor, who composed the ' Reel of Tulloch.' Pei'haps the most memorable was one of the Macleans of Mull, and he is chiefly remembered through his son, who was a noted reiver and pirate. He is still spoken of in Gaelic song and story as ' Mac Iain Ghiorr.' A widow in Uist was milking her cow and singing a song, the burden of which was 'Chan fliaigh Mac The son of John Gearr from Mull Iain Ghiorr Ogha Ciaraig, shall not get thee, Granddaughter of Ciarag, great-granddaughter of Cruinneag. a Muil thu, iar-ogha Cruinneig. Just then the reiver sprang from a cleft in the rock behind the woman, and, seizing the cow by the horn, hurried her off to his summon galley ere the astonished owner could recover herself or The people say her friends. that the luck of Mac began to decline after he took the widow's only cow, met the fate he had long merited. Geas, gis, gets, spell, enchantment, exorcism, sorcery ' geiseag,' ' gisrean gisreagan,' spells ; ' ; Iain Ghioi-r till dim. at last he ' giseag,' gisreag,' a female exorcist, male exorcist. ' Geob nan geise,' lawn of the spells, one of several names applied to certain places where the people were wont to lustrate their cattle with fire, ammonia, water, and salt, and with prayers and incantations to safeguard them from evil influences. These lustrations were performed on the first day of the quarter, but especially on the first day of summer, 'an Ceitein Samhraidh,' and the first day of winter, 'an Ceitein ' gisrean,' a is Geamhraidh.' Geigean, Rigk Geigean, Geigean, applied to the man who King Geigean. This was the term presided over the death revels. These Lots were cast, and the man upon whom the lot fell was elected king of the revels, over which he reigned from midnight till the old cock crew. A tub of cold water was were held in winter. poured over his head and down neck were smeared uith soot. his throat, after When the which his face and man had been made as — — NOTES 301 formidable and hideous as possible, a sword, scythe, or sickle was placed ill hand his an emblem of as office. This ceremony was described to me by Mr Donald Mackay, He said he had seen it in the first minister of Cross, Lewis. decade of the century in his native parish of Creich, Sutherland. I have faUed to find any trace of the ceremony further south. A rhyme common ' 'S ' among boys mi o chri-chas, mi o chruai-chas, mi o Ghigean, mi o Ghuaigean, thig mi uat-s' ma dh'f haodas mi. Thaine Thaine Thaine Thaine Gigean and ' Geil, a ' I I I came came came came And I from from from from will : small peril, great peril, Geigean, Guaigean, come from thee if I can. Guaigean are probably forms of Geigean.' ' ' form of goU,' ' ' at play says I boil, bubble, a well, a spring, a fountain. obsolete in Scottish, but current in Manx Overlapping and forming a breakwater to the beautiful Geil,' a fountain, Gaelic. bay of Oban is is the green, hummocky island of Kerara. In the jmiction of a steep rocky declivity and a smooth green plain in an old keep of the ancient Macdougalls, lords of Lorn. is picturesquely situated and beautifully built, indicative of the artistic eye and the skilful hand of the builders. The old ruin is called Caisteal nan Geimhlean,' Anglicised The meaning deduced from the name is 'castle Geylaii Castle. of gyves.' The evident spelling and meaning are Caisteal nan Kerara is The keep ' ' Geilean,' castle of the fountains. Close to the base of the old keep is a phenomenal number of clear crystal springs, boiling and bubblmg and sparkling in the summer sun, like stars twinkling in the winter sky. ' Geilean,' bubbles, Waternish, Skye. ' Gets, is Mary applied to wells in Bracadale and in is Geil ar slainte, fath ar solais.' geisnean, gestation, beautifully and poetically called Fount of our health, source of our joy. gestators, gestating animals ; milk, mUk products. The term occurs in The singer a lullaby sung to a child in the island of said that a human mother tending her and nm'sing her child heard a fairy mother singing the song to her changeling in the fairy bower beneath the knoll : Lismore. flocks * — Cas a mhog-a A luirean, luirean. a luirean. Cas a mhog-a luirean. Air ular aig m' eudail. Lilting on the light foot, The light foot, the light foot, Lilting My on the light foot. dearie trips the floor. ' NOTES 302 Chuirinn ann an creadhail thu, Bhithinn f hin a feitheamh ort, ioma te bhiodh aighearach Nam bu leatha fhein Cas a rahog-a luirean, Thogainn would place thee I thu. Lilting on the light foot, etc. etc. air rao ghualain thu would I And Shiubhlainn eutrom uallach leat, 'S mis an te bhiodh uaibhireach, 'Tis A cuallach leat na spreidhe. Cas a mhog-a luirean, on the light foot, etc. would give thee mead and nectar, would give thee wine of the chalice, would give thee combs of honey. Lilting on the light foot, etc. Gels ' muigh buaile thee, Beside the flocks with thee. Cas a mhog-a A I I And luirean, etc' the white milk of the gestators. occurs in another lullaby recovered in Uist- fo sgath nan geug O ! Would that I and my baby were. Would that I and my baby were, Would that I and my baby were. Under the shade of the trees O ! tulaich, am buaile an In the fold of the buaile an tulaich, am buaile an the hill. In the fold of the hiU, in the fold of the hiU, am buaile an tulaich. tulaich. buaile an tulaich, an tulaich. Am geis gruain, bi O gruithim, is Of is ! Co fad 's a mhaireas gil Cha bhi fear na fialachd Gitk, pain in the wrist, navvies, ' gruain,' milk an intensive form of ' is geal,' white, in the fold of and crowdie, and of O used in the Outer Hebrides rift, the ; moon As long as moon and sun shall last The generous man shall ne'er be empty. grian falamh.' common among seamen, and others whose hill, In the fold of the hiU, in the fold of the hiU, a water-course on a mountain-side, a ' I I Am Gil, and hearty go with that would be prideful Bheirinn bin is brailis dhut, Bheirinn fin na cailis dhut, Bheirinn mire meala dhut. Is bainne geal nan geisnean. ' Am my slioulder. thee on lift light Lilting etc. Gur truagh nach mi 's mo leanu a bha, Gur truagh nach mi 's mo leanu a bha, Gur truagh nach mi 's mo leanu a bha, Am in the cradle. And I myself would tend thee. Many a woman would be joyful An thou wert her own. Is ' — ! fishermen, reapers, wrists are strained. much of anything as can be thumb and the middle finger, the span Glac, hollow of the hand, handful, as caught between the between these. Glaistic, glaisiig, ' Stic,' imp. half goat, glaisnig, glaislig, The ' glaistic ' is a water-imp, from 'glas,' water, a vicious creature, half woman, frequenting lonely lakes and rivers. She is much — — ' NOTES 303 MacUalrig many stories are told of her evil deeds. Mor/ Big Kennedy of Lianachan, Lochaber, was coming home He seized her and put her at night when he saw the glaistic.' on the saddle before him with his sword-belt round her waist, and when he got home he locked her in the 'cul-taigh,' backhouse. In the morning Big Kennedy heated the coulter of his dreaded, and ' ' plough and requested the ' glaistic to swear on the iron that she would never again molest man or woman in the place, and never more be seen in Lochaber while the sun shone by day When the ' glaistic stretched out her or the moon by night. ' ' hand and placed it on the coulter to give the required With a shriek of assurance, her hand was burnt to the bone. agony she flew out at the window and through the mist of the morning to the hillside beyond, and tliere she put out three bursts of the blood of her heart, which are still visible in the discoloured russet vegetation of the spot, and with each burst of blood the glaistig uttered a curse on Big Kennedy and on his lovely little ' ' seed for ever : Growth Fas mar an roinneach daibh. mar an hiachair daibh. 'S diombuan mar cheo nam beann.' ' The descendants is still And them, to them, unlasting as the mist of the Kennedy of Lianachan say hill. that the curse upon them. The word water. Glas, of Big like the fern to Wasting Hke the rushes Crion common is now rare in the — simple form, but is compounds, as Douglas, Duglas, from 'dubh,' black, Conglas, ' con,' fierce, and glas and ' glas,' water Finglas, 'glas,' and fionn,' white; 'an t-uisge glaiseach,' the river Glas, in ' ; ' ; ' in Strathglass. Glugalaich, gluglaich, gulping, gurgling, full of gulping; from 'glug,' The term is applied makes a liquid noise in the gidp. to ' Muigh ' who stammers, who who moves unsteadily, and person an animal suffering from throat disease. Glugalaich nan gamhna ghigach, Glugalaich nan gruaigean, Glugalaich nan gamhna glugach, Glun, a to throat, ri The gulping of the gulping stirks, The gulping of the hairy ones, The gulping of the gulping stirks, Out the face of Ruaival. mullach Ruaibhall. knee Chaidh Muire mhin gheal In the Islands air the a glun. ' The parturient fair Mary went upon her knee. white woman goes preferably the right knee, during delivery. upon her knee, Hence in figurative — NOTES 304 language the number of times a woman goes upon her knee is equivalent to the number of her confinements. dropsy in the throat affecting cattle and sheep, due to decay in the liver and kidneys. Glupad, Gobkar, gahhar, goat. common goat is This active and sagacious animal was once in the Highlands, but it now is rare. The eye of the as beautiful as that of the kindred gazelle. not escape the notice of the old people, This fact did who had many sayings about the goat Suil ' ghobhar ghean An aodann bhan Gu raealladh fhear.' Co cinnteach Goileam, Miann ba, braon. Miann caora, teas. Miann gobhar, gaoth fire, fire The The rocks. desire of the cow, dew, desire of the sheep, heat, Tlie desire of the goat, On creag.' kindling. men. As sure of foot As the goat of the speir Ann an aodann wile the this. Ri gobhar nan creag.' ' sportive goat women To Sometimes the women reverse ' The eye of the In the faces of wind the face of the rock. ' Righ goileam,' ' Goiridh,' fire king, king of the fire revels. Goiri, Goiridk, Godfrey. Godfrey, and ' Ruaraidh,' Roderick, are facetiously applied to the fox. Goisear, plural goisearan, guisers, waits, singing carols at Christmas, The New young men who go about Year, and other great festivals. guisers are dressed in vei-y long white linen shirts, and paper hats with flaps in front covering the face, for the eyes. These guisers represent crowiied kings and queens, popes, cardinals, mitred archbishops and bishops, cowled abbots and monks, priests and veiled nuns. In some places the guisers go about in small groups of twos, threes, or fours, in other places in large groups of tens, fifteens, in very tall white holes being made The 'ceann-snaodli,' leader, trails behind him or him a dried bull-hide which his followers strike witli clubs, singing and shouting, and making all the noise and din possible. They call at every door, especially at every door where anything good is likely to be got, singing chants, and announcing or twenties. carries over — ' NOTES 305 — — the good guisers have come, that they have never been here before, and tliat tliey are come now, not to beg nor to borrow, not to buy nor to steal, but to bless the house, the houseman, the housewoman, the household, and the fanri and that they plenishing. In the Outer Isles the walls of the houses are veiy thick, varying from four to eight and another feet. A facing of stone to the outside, the space stones, gravel, or earth. The is to the inside between being filled with corners of the building are rounded, and there are no gables, the low walls being level right round. The roof is raised from the inner facing of the wall, the rest behig laid over with turf and green grass, where pet sheep or lambs often graze, and occasionally wlien the building abuts on a bank, as is sometimes the case a courageous cow and calf or even a mare and foal. Two or three stone steps project from the wall near the door, to enable the family to ascend and descend when occasion requires. In suitable summer weather — — the women of the family take possession of these grassy wall spin, or knit, and look about them, while tlie household dogs sleep beside them in the sun. The principal object of these stone steps, however, is to enable the men to get tops, and sew, up to thatch and rope the house, ladders being short, rare, or non-existent. When the carollers arrive at a house they generally mount on the walls and go roimd on them singing, shouting, stamping, and striking the bull-hide. After this they get meat, meal, butter, cheese, crowdie, eggs, and any other good thing there may be in the house. They place and carry these in a tanned leather bag of lamb-skin or sheep-skin, called uilim,' and retire to some roomy dwelling, barn, or other building previously arranged. Here they hold a feast and a dance, to which they ' invite their girl friends. Greanndag,' a piece of cloth, woman in the quern song sons what clothing the husband with whom they were providing her had on, they replied Greann, cloth, rough-piled clothing. When a rag, a tatter. asked her three ' the senile : ' Luireag, Is is barlag, is greanndag, seann chraicinn brathain, claidhe air a leis. Claidhe air a leis Agus ! VOL. II. A rag, and a tatter, and a tunic, And an ancient quern skin, And a glave upon Iiis hip, A glave upon his hip ! U — — a NOTES 306 Grios, griosadh, profane swearing, swearing by God, by Christ, or by any of the host of heaven. a kindly interest in that pertained to them. all was made libation of milk who presided over cattle and took In return a to her when the women milked the Gniagack, a supernatural female cows in the evening. If the oblation were neglected, the cattle, notwithstanding all precautions, were found broken loose and in the corn and if still omitted, the best cow in the fold was fomid dead in the morning. The offering was poured on ' clach na gruagaich,' the ' gruagach stone. There is hardly a district in the Highlands which does not possess a 'leac gruagaich' 'gruagach,' flag-stone ^whereon the milk libation was poured. I have seen such stones in Arran, Kintyre, Gigha, Islay, Mull, Lismore, Kerara, Lorn, lona, Tiree, Coll, Barra, South Uist, Benbecula, North Uist, Heisgeir, St Kilda, Harris, Lewis, Sutherland, Ross, at Culloden, Cawdor, Lochaber, and in various other ; ' — — places. All these oblation stones are eiTatic ice-blocks. them have a Some which the milk was poured others have none, the libation being simply poured on the stone. In making the oblation the woman intoned a ruue of ' slight cavity into ; A ghruagach, a ghruagach, Brownie, brownie, Cum suas mo spreidhe, Cum sios an Guaigean, Cum uap an Geige.' Uphold my herds. Keep down the Guaigean,' Keep from them the Geige.' ' ' There is probably no district in the Highlands where the ' gruagach coidd not be fully described. A woman living in the remote island of Heisgeir described her so graphically and ' picturesquely moving about that in her the interested silvery light listener of the could almost see moon the kindly ' gruagach with her tall conical hat, her rich golden hair falling about her like a mantle of shimmering gold, while with a slight swish of her wand she gracefully turned on her heel to admonisli an imseen cow. At intervals he seemed to hear her mellow voice in snatches of eerie song as she moved about among the grassy ruins of the old nunnery all silent now of the holy ' — orisons of gentle sisters. Each district gives its own local colouring to the gruagach.' The following account was given to me by a woman at West Bennan in Arran in August 1895 The 'gruagach' lived at East Bennan in a cave which is still ' : — NOTES 307 — uamh na gruagaich cave of the gruagach/ and 'uamh na beiste cave of the monster. She herded the cattle called ' ' ' — ' of the townland of Bennan, and no spring-loss, no death-loss, no mishap, no murrain, ever befell them, while they throve and fattened and multiplied right well. The gruagach would come forth with the radiant sun, her golden hair streaming on the morning breeze, and her rich voice filling the air with melody. She would wait on a grassy hillock afar off till the people would bring out their 'creatairean,' creatures, crooning a lullaby the while, and striding to and fro. The following is a fragment of one of her songs ' ' : ' Ho, hi, ho mach na boidhean. Boidhean boidheach brogach bean! Ho, hi, ho ! Ho, hi, ho ! out the kine, Pretty cattle hoofed and horned, nach. Ho, ho hi, ! mach na boidhean. Crodh Mhicugain, crodh Mhicean- out the kine. Cows of Macugan, cows of Mackinnon, [Cook nain, Crodh MhicFhearachair mhoir a Bheannain, Ho, hi, ho mach na boidhean. ! Corp us cam Mharbh Ho, hi, iad ho ! air graisg na Beuria, orm mo cheile falaich. mach na boidhean. Cows of big Macfarquhar Bennan, Ho, hi, ho out the kine. of the ! Corpse and cairn to the rabble English, They have killed my hidden lover. Ho, hi, ho out the Idne. ! Ruisg iad mi gu ruig mo leine. Struill agus streuill mo leannan. Ho, hi, ho mach na boidhean. They have stripped me to my shift, They have clubbed and torn my lover, Oidhch an Arainn, oidhch an He, 'S an Cinntire uaine a bharraich. Ho, hi, ho mach na boidhean.' A night in Ho, ! hi, ho ! out the kine. Arran, a night in Islay, And in green Kintyre of birches. Ho, hi, ho out the kine. ! ! The people of Bennan were so pleased with the tender care took of their corn and cattle that they resolved her a linen garment to clothe her body and down They placed these on a knoll near sandals to cover her feet. the ' gruagach ' to give the ' gruagach ' and watched from afar. But instead of being grateful she was offended, and resented their intrusion so much She placed her left Arran and her right foot on Allasan,' that she determined to leave the district. foot on Ailsa Ben Bhuidhe making Craig, in this ' her stepping-stone While the to cross to the gruagach was in the act of moving her left foot, a three-masted ship passed beneath, the mainmast of which struck her in the thigh and mainland of Scotland or to Ireland. ' ' — — NOTES 308 The people overturned her into the sea. the ' gruagach and long ' Bennan mourned their own of and loudly, bewailed officiousness. Gruagach ' derision, to a so now applied is ' man long witli evidenced by these lines from an old ballad is I Cha ' Gruagach the also is ' : Daughter am of the heir of Dublin, I will not conceal, thou chief of spears, Inghean oighre Bhaile-cliath, cheilinn, a thriath nan lann, Do ghruagach Eilean nan eun Is ann a rug rai fein luo chlann.' ' and occasionally, in But that it was not always to a maiden, hair. To I the ' gruagach of the Isle of birds myself bore my children. name ' of a famous swordsman and athlete in the old tales. Gruaigean, a seaweed, lit. hairy one little and seaweed contains saccharine ' Miorcan in Lewis. This esculentd). {iilaria iodine, and is eaten raw. ' song — ' Glial, grief, ' ' curds butter mixed and ; ' gruth, In some districts of the South crowdie a mixture of meal and milk, or of meal and water, as in the and curds, is granulated crowdie, Gruiihim, Mo 'im,' butter. Ye'll crowdie a' chridh ga ghualadh Mi ga m* ghualadh Bhi 'g my consumed by grief a faicinn 's air 's meal away.' as by fire ga losgadh.' mi ga m' losgadh a thoisgeal.' : My heart consuming and burning. — Barra Song. consuming and burning To be seeing her on thy right hand. I crois air gach guala dheis,' a cross on every right shoulder; 'crois gheal air gach guala dheis,' a crois dhearg air gach white cross on evei'y right shoulder guala dlieis,' a red cross on every right shoulder. These are The red I do not know which is the correct one. variants. cross was the emblem of the knights of St John of Jerusalem, founded in the eighth century by Baldwin, king of Jerusalem. Gual, giiala, gnalain, shoulder ; ' ; (Vol. It i. p. 227.) was customary to paint a cross on the door of the house during a sacred Guailisg, ' false, festival. falsity, distorted, mentally, or physically. formation, cf. 'tuilisg,' epithetic. May It displaced, out of order morally, has a 'go,' lie, 'tuailisg'; perhaps the be for 'duailisg,' fraud, deceit. g at base. For in such case is — ! NOTES Gidm, ciiivi, 309 are 'Tha iad a deanamh guim making a conspiracy against for the dead was a profession among conspiracy, revolt, rebellion. an aghaidh a nihaoir ' —They the ground-officer. Mourning lament, weep. Gill, women. mourning woman, is the term applied to a 'Tuiream 'is specially applied to mourning professional weeper. tuiream bhais,' death-mourning. Similar terms for tbe dead are 'seis,' dirge, and 'seis bhais,' 'seisig bhais,' death-dirge, the Celts, as in the East, and was generally done by * Bean tuiream,' ; ' In death-wail. Ireland Anglicised 'keening.' this (Vol. i. is called p. 219.) In 1870 the writer prevailed upon a the tuiream ' ' was that of a crofter at widow and woman in Barra to do when young. The funeral Castlebay who had died leaving a young she had heard as weeping, caoineadh,' ' it As the several children. fimeral procession left the house the woman set up a plaintive cadence. At first her voice was low and tremulous, but gradually rose to a great height. The scene was striking. Below, on a tidal rock, was the castle now a roofless ruin, once the picturesque home of the Macneills of Barra, while the Atlantic waves dashed against the rocks, mingling their wailing with that of the ' bean tuiream,' of Ciosmal, weeping woman. An amusing story Dessary at is told in the neighbourhood of Glen Ceann Locharkaig, of weeping women who were paid ten shillings each for professional services at the funeral of two of General Wade's sang soldiers. To a sad and mournful air they : ' Ho, ro, hi, ho Dh' fhalbh na Sasunnaich, Ho, ! Hi, hu, ho, hi 'S dar a tig an t-aon A ! And may the day la thilleas never come when they shall return. Lochaber woman course Mhathair who ho Hi, hu, ho, hi iad.' In the ro, hi, The Saxon men are gone. ! ! of the in Glasgow was taken play exclaimed she co iad na mnathan tuiream.''' are they the weeping women to see Richard III. — 'Ach — But, a Mhoire Mary Mother! ? U 2 — ' — NOTES 310 Ichd, ichd, ic, a fi-ame put under a bee-hive. ' lodh is obsolete as a simple term, but current compounds, as ' iodlilaun,' corn enclosui'e, stackyard, from ' lann,' an enclosure ' iodh,' corn, and ' iodhlan,' a small strip of land under corn. The words ' iodldach and ' iodhlachadh are applied in Skye to all handling of corn, from cutting to stacking. * Tireadh,' ' tiriodh,' drying corn on a kiln. Tiree, 'Tir-iodh,' cornland, was the grange of the religious community of lona, as Trotarnis was the grange of the Macdonalds of the Isles, and as Lismore was the grange of the kings The name Tir-iodh,' of Barra-gobhan,' Latinised ' Beregonium.' lodh, corn, food. ' in ; ' ' ' ' land of corn, island, barley. ' ' ' singularly applicable to this low-lying, fertile is which is spoken of as ' Tir iosal an eorna Other popular sayings about Tiree are ' —low Tir na mine mine. The land of the Chuireadh That would bring peace sith air geocair.' fine meal, Tir na mine matha. Land of the good meal, Chuireadh gean That would give joy air cocair.' Bheireadli Tir-iodh an da bharr Mur land of : bhi eagal an da mhail. to to a glutton. a cook. Tiree would give the two crops Were it not the fear of the two rents. occurs in place-names in some other districts of the Highlands, and in several places in the county of Sutherland. The word All of these are good corn lands. being asked his name, said ' Dar bhitheas mi mi, Dar bhitheas 'n Tiriodh is Rob Donn, the Reay Gordanach When mi mi 'n Asaint Cataibh 'n in Tiriodh I am a is Leodach When Sutharlach When is I I am am in Assynt I am a in Cataibh I am a Sutherland, theid mi dhachaidh The am Macleod, bliitheas mi, Dar I Gordon, mi, Dar bard, : is Caoidheach mi.' When I go home I am a Mackay.' different places represent the districts of the clans and are all in named, the county of Sutherland. a fishing-rock on shore, a fishing-bank at sea in Uist, fishing with rod or line in a boat 'air chruaidh,' at anchor, in contraIn Shetland, 'iola,' 'eila,' distinction to 'maghar,' moving about. lol, tola, means ; fishing with a feather, whether moving or stationary. — NOTES 'Tola' frequent place-name in the Western a is fishing-bank near Barra of the cods ; a called is ' ' Isles. A lola-nam-bodach,' fishing-bank townland in North Uist Near fishing-bank of the shelling. called 311 called is ' lol-airidh,' PoUtil, in Skye, is a place lola-Phadruig/ the fishing-bank of Patrick, and 'lola- geoghamhna,' the fishing-place of the creek of the stirk while in the near neighbourhood is a precipice called ' lolagag.' This rock is mentioned in an old dance song ; : * A Phara bhig a rahic Iain Bhruis, Nach robh thu ann an The lolagaig is ' called bank of the great creatures bank of the sea-pigs, whales. Inid, Shrove, A Would thou wert ! island of Rockal, perhaps the mythic of the Barra people, ' Little Patrick, son of ; ' ' lola ! submerged Rocabarraidh ' ' nam miola nam muca lola John Bruce, lolagag in mora,' the fishingmara,' the fishing- Shrove Tuesday. The first Tuesday of the new moon, Tuesday of Shrove, Seven weeks from birth to death, Between Easter and Shrove. ohiad Di-mairt dh'an t-solus ur Di-raairt Inid, Seachd seachdainean o breith gu bas Eadar Casg is Inid.' In some places isean is ajjplied to the young of birds only, some to the young of all creatures, as in Uist, 'isean roin,' the young of the seal, and in Lewis, isean eich,' the 3'oung of the Isean. and ' ' in ' horse. luchd, uic, nook, angle, recess, slit, scallop, fissure. ' Earc iuchd,' slit-eared cows, ordinarily called 'tore chluasach,' notch-eared, or 'crodh mara,' sea-cows. A cliff in Benderloch is called 'Creag- niuchd,' evidently a corruption of 'creag an iuchd,' rock of the angle or recess, a descriptive name. was the name of one of the four children of Tuirenn. The mentioned in the touching lament of their father, who died waiting and watching for them when the ill stepmother had put them under druidism in the form of swans. ITichd, ITic, name ' is A chleirich a chladhaich an uaigh. Cuir lachaidh is Conn cruaidh ri mo thaobh, Cuir Iuchd mo ghraidh eadar mo dha lamh, 'S a chleirich aigh cairich rium Aodh.' Thou cleric who didst dig the grave, Put lachaidh and Conn hard by my side, Place Iuchd of my love between my close me two arms, And gracious cleric lay Aodh. to NOTES 312 Lack, The duck meant duck. known by mouth the long-tailed duck, which is names variety of descriptive caothail/ wailer ' ; a ' ; ian-binn/ : — ' of melody bird is beul-binn/ sweet ; ' lacha- ' ian blanched grey duck lacha-stiurach/ rudder-duck buchuinn preferably 'buch-f huinn song-bird of the sea, from liath/ ' ' ' ; ; — bird, ian,' ' ' buch,' ' boch,' swollen — (referring to the sea), and From cognate causes Mi Buchuinn,' month of swelling, month of 'f huinn/ gen. of 'fonn,' melody, refrain. May called is bursting forth, ' Buchuinn Moire,' swelling of Mary, and ' Buchuinn ' buidhe Moire nam buadh,' the yellow swelling month of the Mary of grace Buchuinn Bealltain,' swelling of Beltane Buchuinn buidhe Bealltain,' yellow swelling of Beltane c/., however, ' boch,' ' ; ' ; ; hey-day, ' its ' bochail,' proud, nimble. Lacha-stiurach,' rudder-duck, long tail manages is applied to the bird because resembles a long oar steering a boat. its tail amid the ^vild waves of the sea easy grace that the pheasant manages branches of the trees, and dance. The In colour it long-tailed is tlie duck its tail Yet the witli tlie among bird same the rough lady her train amid the mazes of the is singularly graceful and melodious. the water-wagtail, in form the pheasant, and in song the nightingale, of the sea. On arriving, from its summer sheiling in the north, at its winter homestead in the south, the long-tailed duck utters a few short syllables, sharp and impatient at the beginning, prolonged and modulated towards the e:id. The bird frequents the islands of Tiree and Coll, but is rarely seen elsewhere in the seas or sounds of the Inner Hebrides. It keeps to the open sounds of the Outer Hebrides, while its congener, the pin-tailed duck, keeps still further out and exclusively to the open Atlantic, being The two places most rarely seen within the Outer Sounds. familiar to me as the habitat of the long-tailed duck are the Sound of Barra and the Sound of Harris, forty-four miles apart. In crossing these stormy straits of the Atlantic, I often observed the evident enjoyment of these beautiful birds in the tumult of The more the stately mountainous waves, snow-white, waters. foaming, roaring, broke over them, the more evident their delight — NOTES in the battle of the billows, like a 313 band of maidens amidst a battle of flowers. In Tiree the people set small lines along the strand when the and other flat fish. When the tide is in the long-tailed ducks dive for fry and sand-eels, and are caught on the hooks and drowned. During a visit to my friend and fellow-collector of folk-lore, the late Rev. Mr Campbell of Tiree, I saw at Hianaish, on the 23rd September 18S7, seven of these gracefid birds which had been drowaied on one set of lines ia one day. In the island of Bearnarey (Bernera), in the Sound of Harris, there is a sept of people called Clann 'Ic Anndaidh Clan Macandy. The sept consists now of only a few families most of them having left, being dissatisfied with the hard rocky and sterile sandy nature of the place. Local legend says that one half of the Macandys were keen lovers of the land, with its plants and animals, and declared by the golden sun that rules the day while the other half were keen lovers of the sea, with its plants and living creatures, and declared by the silvery moon and twinkling stars that rule the night. The sea-loving section laughed at the land-loving section, and in her resentment at their scoffing the tide is out, to catch flounders — — ; witch of the land-lovers struck the sea-lovers with her druidhcachd,' druidic wand, and placed them ' slacan under enchantment, and ever since then one sept of the Macandys are swimming on the sea, diving in the deep, and flying in the air, like gleams of light, whOe their kinsmen and clansmen are grubbing in the gi-ound like earth-worms, their fellow-mortals. The people of Bearnarey allege that the long-tailed ducks are the enchanted section of the Macandy tribe, and that the birds hail their kinsmen in the loud long laughter of their hearts with greetings which have been converted into human language. The following is attributed by his people to Sir Norman Macleod of Bearnarey, knighted on the field of Worcester ' fo gheasaibh,' : Clann Clann ic ic Anndaidh Anndaidh Finidh fanntaidh Finidh fanntaidh Clan Clan ! ! ! ! Vioch ! ! ! ! ! ! Weakly clansmen Weakly clansmen ! bhoch bluich Ubh-ubh ubh-ubh ubh-ubh Bhioch Mac Andy Mac Andy ! ! Uv-iiv voch uv-uv ! ! O! U! O! U! U!0!U!0! U!0!U!0! Ur Ur ur ! ah ! ! ur ! ah ! ! ! uv-uv O! U! O! U! ! ! viich ! ! !!! !! !!! !!!!! ! NOTES 314 Clann ic Anndaidh Clann ic Anndaidh Daoine sanndaidh Daoine sanndaidh Bhioch bhoch bhuch Ubh-ubh ubh-ubh ubh-ubh Clan Clan Greedy clansmen Greedy clansmen Vioch voch vuch Uv-uv uv-uv uv-uv ! ! ! ! ! cabhraich ? cabhraich ? ic Bhioch ! Ubh-ubh Take sowens ? Take sowens ? bhoch bhuch ubh-ubh ubh-ubh ! Vioch ! ! ! ! ! ! Take O U ! ! ! Ye ! ! ! Buchuinn,' bochuinn,' That come from Bochuinn a vu Bochuinn a vu ': ' What ! sent ye to the strand to-day Bochuinn a vu Bochuinn a vu Biochuinn bochuinn ! ! ! ! ? bachuinn vu, ! Bochuinn a vu Bochuinn a vu ! ! is Birds of ' Calling sweetly, bhuth bhuth bhochfhuinn bhuth Bhochfliuinn a bhuth Bhochfhuinn a bhuth Bhochfhuinn a Bhochfhuinn a Bhiochfhuinn bhachf huinn ! ! ! chuir thu'n traigh an diugh cairdeas Love and ! affection and friendship thee, dut, Bhochfhuinn a bhuth Bhochfhuinn a bhuth Bhiochfliuinn O U U O U O ! gradh ! ! ! O! U! O! U! ! is ! ! ! h-Eoin Bhuchfliuinn, Gaol ! ! Uv-uv ! Thig bho'n bhochfhuinn, Dh' eubhas gu binn, Bhochfhuinn a bhuth Bhochfhuinn a bhuth De ! ! take take voch vuch Uv-uv uv-uv uv-uv O! U! O! U! U! O! U! O! Na vuch ! ! ! Vioch ! ! Ubh-ubh voch ! ! ! ! ! Uv uv uv ! O! U! O! U! U! O! U! O! gabh gabh bhoch bhuch Ubh-ubh ubh-ubh ubh-ubh ! Bhioch ! Mac Andy Mac Andy Clan Clan O! U! O! U! U! O! U! O! Gabh ! U! O! U! O! O! U! O! U! OurO! Our a! Anndaidh Anndaidh ic Gabh Gabh ! ! ! U! O! U! O! O! U! O! U! OurO! Our a! Clann Clann ! ! ! ! Mac Andy Mac Andy ! ! bhochfliuinn bhachfhuinn bhuth Bhochfhuinn a bhuth Bhochfhuinn a bhuth ! ! ! Bochuinn a vu Bochuinn a vu bochuinn Biochuinn ! vu, Bochuinn a vu Bochuinn a vu ! ! bachuinn for ! ! ; NOTES Gaoth Wind on lea, calm on sea Bochuinn a vu Bochuinn a vu Biochuinn bochuinn ! bachuinn air fiar, fiath air nuiir. Bhochfhuinn a bliuth Bhochfliuinii a bhuth bhochfliuinn Bhiochfhuinn bhachfhuinn bhuth Bhochfhuinn a bhuth Bhochfhuinn a bhuth ! ! ! ! ! ! vu, Bochuinn a vu Bochuinn a vu ! ! Na h-Eoin 315 ! ! The Birds of Buchuinn,' That come from bochuinn,' Bhuchfhuinn, ' Thig bho'n bliochfhuinn. Dh' eubhas gu binn. Bhochfhuinn a bhuth Bhochfhuinn a bhuth ' Calling sweetly, Bochuinn a vu Bochuinn a vu ! ! ! ! Lacha Mhoire, Mary's duck. The mallard goes by various names, as lacha-ghlas,' grey duck ; ' lacha-riabhach,' brindled duck ' lacha-ruadh/ russet duck ; ' lach a chinn-uaine,' duck of the green head. The common grey duck is among the first and the last birds to breed. It has young as early as the first week of April and ' week of September. The subterfuges, tactics, and stratagems of the grey duck to save its young are amusing and instructive. No human mother in presence of a Solomon could show more tender solicitude. The people speak lovingly of Mary's duck, and would not willingly hurt it in the breeding as late as the last season. When the mallard rises on the wing, enlarging the circle as straight an as arrow it it goes round and round, with matchless The speed. maintained that Mary's duck is the swiftest bird in the 'ealt nan ian,' bird- world, world of the birds. Lacha shiih, teal, elf-duck 'crion-lach,' tit-duck; ; ' from ' lach,' duck, and crann-lach,' dwarf-duck; puny duck (see Eigir). The teal is the smallest British duck. the Isles in winter, but rare in summer. is is away ascends, and then stretches It The ' sith,' and is ' ' as people ealtain,' elf ; also lach eigir,' numerous in arrival of the teal supposed to indicate the coming of a storm, and when the bird seen approaching the shore the people hasten to secure their crops and houses. The might be called the page of the swan, and more swan. When swans are feeding, teals attend them, gliding about in and out, out and in, among them, picking up the animalcula brought up by the swans. Occasionally teal justly the pest of the — —— NOTES 316 an audacious teal may be seen seizing a morsel from the mouth of a swan and swimming away a few feet. The noble bird rarely but when it does give a ' wheeze/ the heeds this audacity ; intruder scurries away — It coolly returns this time several yards. immediately, however, probably feeling that the swan is too dignified to cherish resentment. Lannair, lainnir, lanuer, falcon, peregrine falcon ; founded on ' lann,' a blade, a spear, a lance. Men singed their beards, and failing beards, their hair, to sam them from the three young a boy ' is men who went through well behaved he is told The hawk will not lift thee. other birds : Cha tog an lainnire ruadh thu, Cha tog an t-seobhag dhuairc thu. Cha tog an clamhan riabhach thu. No iolaire liath The naturalist I nam beann.' : — ' the crofter, fier)' furnace. When Cha tog an t-seobhag thu ' The following fragment mentions The ruddy lanner will not lift thee, The angry hawk will not hft thee, The brindled buzzard will not lift thee. Nor the grey-headed eagle of the hill. following scene was described to murdoch, ' Possibly this was in imitation of birds of prey. Bailemeadhonach, me by Donald Mac- Islay, a most observant : was going along the road at Easter Eilister, a flock of blue pigeons alight on a field of newly and observed sown turnips. They had hardly alighted when they hurriedly rose. But instead of making for the sea-clifFs below, they ascended in a confused mass, shooting up in leaps and bounds, after the mamier of the lark. knew by the trepidation of the pigeons that an enemy was and looking round I saw the lanner coming from Tairteval and making straight for the pigeons. I stood in breathless suspense to await the result. With a loud scream the peregrine shot over the hapless birds, and in the twinkling of an eye one of them came tumbling down like a stone close to where I With a swoop and a scream the stood, followed by the hawk. hawk rose again without alighting, and I took up the dead pigeon. The birds above in the air were higher than before, but without deviating much to any side. Again the hawk came down on the pigeons, and again one of them came down dead, followed closely by the hawk, screaming ' near, ' I NOTES 317 while, and swooping off as before on neaving me. tlie the second pigeon, and the disappointed I took up hawk swept by me with an unearthly scream. The pigeons moved ' higher, but not laterally, and struggled in a confused, helpless mass, as if paralysed. The peregrine made another swoop and went straight at the came tumbling down. Just as I was going to move toward the dead bird a rasping scream right overhead startled me back as if shot, and the hawk brushed past ' pigeons, and again one my face like a flash of lightning, my road, splashing and dashed itself dead on the blood and displacing embedded feet with pebbles in the hard road with its sharp beak. Tiie dead pigeons had no marks upon them except a slight pin-like puncture on the same spot behind the head where the ' lanner had struck struck me on spinal tlie the neck, as it Had cord. the jiowerful so very nearly did, I hawk believe it would have killed me as it did the pigeons. ' I brought home the hawk and the three pigeons, and kept the former for some time.' A warrior of the Macdonalds, known as ' Domhull Mac Iain Sheumais Donald, son of John, son of James had a sword called 'an Lannaire Riabhach,' the brindled peregrine, sometimes ' an Ranaire Riabhach,' the brindled roarer. ' 'ic — — Laogh na ha air hraigh na behige (vol. p. 268). When a calf dies, the mother will not give her milk. Highland cows being greatly attached to their calves. When this occurs the skin of the dead calf is placed on a shaped frame, generally of wicker-work, made and kept for the purpose. The improvised calf is placed beneath the cow and rocked to and fro iu imitation of the fretting motion of the live calf, the milkmaid being busy the while relieving the pleased cow of her milk, and singing a 'taladh bleoghain," milking lullaby. The cow every now and then sniffs ' i. at the 'calf to satisfy herself that who placed the the milkmaid Highland cow The The term ' is her owii, for woe betide ! imitation calf as 'laoicion,' it skin of another calf before a is differently named in different districts, loircean,' 'lulagan,' 'tulagan,' 'tulachan.' ' was applied to certain men appointed These name only, not in power, and their revenues tulachan ' bishops in the Scottish Church after the Reformation. men were bishops in — ;; NOTES 318 Hence were drawn by their patrons. term of much contempt. 'tulchan bishops,' a Leann, ordinarily beer, here a pool, from the same root as 'linne,' a linn, a pool Li, I'm, Hit, and of The word Uisge Ireland ' its Water Traigh Tralee, Ireland. derivatives into enters Lite,' ; There are several forms of water, liquid, lye, lustre. III, this root ' a river name. ; Li,' 'linne,' 'hi,' 'lua,' 'lir,' many place-names of Leith The — ; — as, ' Lite,' 'lighe.' Leith the rivers Lee in England and in in Benderloch, Scotland ; and ' Traigh Li,' root in these has reference not to the sea, but to the fresh waters behind. Ben Lee, In connection with hills, there Skye Li fo Dheas and Li fo Thuath,' Lee to the south and Lee to the north, in North Uist and Beinn Li,' in Barra. On the top of Lee in Barra is a pool containing small shell-fish like embryo cockles. Ben Lee, in Skye, is full of fountains while on the summit of South Lee, in North Uist, there is a deep tarn, evidently the mouth of an extinct volcano. An old rhyme in Uist says are Beinn ' Li,' in ' ' ' ; ' ; : ' Loch Feobhail sin, 's Loch Feobhail, Loch is doimhne fo 'n domhain. tha seachd doimhne Loch Ach ' Foyle Feobhail loehan dubh domhain Li.' An Li is ' Loch Foyle there, and Loch Foyle, Loch the deepest in the world, But there are seven depths of Loch In the black, deep little now confined to fresh water, but formerly it included when in the old tales the sea is personified under water, as name loch of Lee. of ' Lir,' ' salt the Lear.' It is ominous to hear the greyhen after dusk. Apart from the evil it bodes, the sound is extremely eerie. The greyhen goes to a distance to make her nest, in order to conceal her eggs from the blackcock. The blackcock, like the peacock, is a source of danger to the eggs, but is careful of the young birds hatched by its mate. Liath chearc, greyhen. Linn, an age, a generation, a century, a family, a brood-hen, a brood of twelve. is ' Twelve is small brood. any number above this any number below it is linn bheag,' a complete brood linn mhor,' big brood ; ; ' — NOTES 319 Liohh, love, attachment. 'Gu robh Uair Iain Mac Gilliosa uairigin a liobh rhim. is Ach o 'n thain an t-Iarl a lie Sguiridh e dha bhriodal beoil.' This beautiful song and St Kilda maiden. air John the son of Gilhes Was time and times endearing me, But since the Earl has come from Islay He will cease beguiling me. were composed by Marion The people of the Isles say that she Gillies, a was the most beautiful woman they ever saw. There are several kinds of LÌ071, lint. is meant. lint, and Probably, however, the linum, it flax is uncertain which of commerce, was the lint used by the old people for occult purposes. A hoop from three to four inches diameter was made of milkwort, butter-wort, dandelion, and marigold. This was bound with a triple cord of lint in name of Father, and of Son, and of and placed under the milk-vessels, to prevent witches Spirit, spiriting When away the substance of the milk. cream is rich, most of it goes into butter in the process and there is but little buttermilk left. When, however, cream is poor in quality, there is but little butter, while of churning, much buttermilk remains. When this occurred, probably not infrequently as the residt of poor feeding, the 'toradh,' substance, was said to be taken out of the milk by occult agency. It was to safeguard against this that the hoop bound with lint was made and placed under the milk-vessel. Lint was deemed specially ajipropriate to bind the cuach,' coil, made of the different plants. The people say that the hands and feet of Christ were bound with lint when He was taken down from the Cross, and before He was carried to the grave. In consequence of this the people speak of the lint with much reverence, and call it lion beannaichte,' blessed lint lion ' ' ; ' naomh,' sacred lint; 'lion Chriosda chaoimh,' the lint of Christ the kindly. They say that the person who would steal lint or lint-seed would ' Meirle Da would be guilty of as heinous an offence as he who Holy Ghost sin against the lin agus meirle frois, bho nach faighear raheirle na Gun : and theft of seed, from which no peace nor relief can be. Till the broad world comes to an end The thief of lint shall get no respite. Theft of sith fois, tig an saoghal gearr gu crich Chan fhaigh meirleach an lin clos.' Two lint thefts — — NOTES 320 Some fish from a net Meirle salainn agiis meirle Theft of salt and theft of net, Thefts from which there is no peace, Till the swart world shall come to an end The thief of the salt shall be down. lin, Bidh meirleach an t-salainn flax shios.' Lion na mna sith/ lint of the fairy woman, fairy flax. This is still used for medicinal purposes, and with good effect. Litkeadh, Ugheadh, flow, overflow, flood, flooded ' Ceart co mirean ri ligheadh Liuil, liulhail, bathe, bathing, ' 'liu,' Liu nan ; from ' li,' water : My My steps have become weak, My eyes are often weeping Tha mo chasan a call an coiseachd. Tha mo cheuraan a fas fann, Tha mo shuilean trie a sileadh 'li,' are the theft of salt : Meirle bho nach faighear sith. Gon tig an saoghal ciar gu crich ' condemned say that the thefts so and the theft of ' ' limbs have lost their walking, Just as fast as the flooded stream. allt.' washing, lustrating, purification ; from water. lasa,' water of the flame, indicated (vol. i. lustral fire. Probably some rite is p. 6). Loireag, a water-nymph, a water-sprite, a water-fairy. The ' loireag ' presided over the warping, weaving, waulking, and washing of the web, and if the women omitted any of the traditional usages and ceremonies of these occasions she resented their neglect in various ways. If a song were sung twice at the waulking, the ' loireag would come and render the web as thin as before, and all the work of the women of no avaU. They had to begin anew and waulk the web over again, taking special care not to repeat the If a woman with 'guth cruaidh, reasgach, sgreagach,' hard metallic voice, sang out of tune and overwhelmed the others, the ' loireag was especially wrathful at her. A libation of milk had to be given to the 'loireag.' If this were omitted she sucked the goats, sheep, and cows of the townland, placing a spell upon them so that they could not move. I had the following from Mary Macinnes, Haccleit, Benbecula offence. ' : 'Benmore was always eerie because of the 'loireag* dwelling there. The loireag is a small mite of womanhood that does not belong to this world, but to the world thither. She was wont to ' ' drive the people out of their heart-shrine with fear with my first But since the people were driven from Bemnore, recollection. there is no person there the big sheep. The ' whom loireag ' she can frighten or dismay miless is a plaintive little thing, stubborn — , ! ! ! NOTES 321 and cunning. She is fond of milk and of milk produce, and she would suck the goat, the sheep, and the cow when she could get the opportunity, and she would place a spell upon the creatures that they could not move from her. There was once a little cross carle in Benmore, and the 'loireag' was sucking his cow. His daughter made an attempt to drive her away, but failed. She went in and told her father that neither the loireag nor the cow heeded her. The little carle leapt out at the door in sparks of red fire, swearing at the impudent loireag,' and at the cow. He threw a boulder at the 'loireag,' wishing to kill her, but struck the cow instead and nearly killed her He then seized the point of the cow's horn in the name of Columba the kindly, and immediately the cow leaped away from the 'loireag,' and she leaped away from the cow. (Columba was the best leech of man and beast in Alban in his day.) The loireag betook herself up the corrie of Coradale, her tune in her mouth and her tongue in her cheek, mocking the little cross-grained carle and singing as she went ' ' ' ! ' ' : ' Laoigh bhreaca blioirionn, Laoigh bhreaca bhoirionn, Laoigh bhreaca bhoirionn, Doinnion anns an damhuir ! Calves flecked female. Calves flecked female. Calves flecked female, Storm in rutting time ! Bhodaich bhig a bhun a Choire, Bhodaich bhig a bhun a Choire, Little carle of Corrie foot. bhun a Choire, Little carle of Corrie foot, Bliodaich bhig a Little carle of Corrie foot. Coradale and Crageo Coradal us Craigeo Laoigh bhreaca bhoirionn. Bhodaich bhig a chota ghioire, Calves flecked female. Little carle of short coat. Bhodaicli bhig a chota ghioire, Little carle of short coat, Bhodaich bhig a chota ghioire, Little carle of short coat, Circedal us Cragabhig. Circidale Laoigh bhreaca bhoirionn. Bhodaich bhig a bhun a Bhealaich, Bhodaich bhig a bhun a Bhealaich, Bhodaich bhig a bhun a Bhealaich Treise dha do larahaich Mealam dhut do shlainte ! ! Laoigh bhreaca bhoirionn.' and Cragavig Calves flecked female. Little carle of the foot of the Pass, Little carle of the foot of the Pass, Little carle of the foot of the Pass, Strength I wish thine hand Health I pray be thine ! ! Calves flecked female. Loireag occurs in the following lampoon. The places mentioned are four farms in North Uist adjoining one another. VOL. n. X ' ' — ! ' NOTES 322 All the four farms and several others are name the inexpressive ' now in one farm under of Newton. Fithich dhubh a Chaolais, Faoileagan Phort nan long, Famhlagan Bhaile mhic Conain, The black ravens of the Sound, The seagiills of the Port of ships, The stormy petrels of the town of Conan's son, The Loireagan Bhaile rahic PhaU.' little dragglers of the townland of Paul's son. The word Lon, rope. applied in St Kilda to the rope of raw hide is with which the people descend the precipices after birds. ' A lon laidir na Thou strong rope of purpose. feuraa.' St Kilda Lament. ' Lonachan,' rope in uprights of loom. Lon-craois, May-fly, water-spider, water-beetle, water-demon, water- from glutton, voracity. and water, *lon,' It is said 'craos,' ' ' ' it is said He Tart na lon-chraois ort a dhuine dhona.' The Co As ri A woman a man given to : Shluig e lon chraois.' gionaich demon, gluttony, Hence of intense thirst and burning sensation. drink lust, that a may-fly taken into the stomach causes swallowed a may-fly. thirst of the thee, evil lon-chraois.' water-demon on man. gluttonous as a water demon. have swallowed a may-fly, and leant over a pool of water near a water-fall, wliich induced the fly to in Strathglass causing her insatiable said to is She thirst. ate a salt herring come up Lore, loirc, leg, shank, foot, foot-mark. male child; 'Loircean,' footling, active active female child akin ; to ' footling, 'loirceag,' shank, shank-bone, lorg,' foot, foot-print. Lorg, a straight staff with the bark on and no iron on flail, is thrown The 'bata' aside. iron ring on it to keep away ' fiolan feoir,' 'dallag f heoir," caught it is little ' the bark peels fiolag the off", a crook with the bark is shrew, also called f heoir,' little staff" the off", ' of lorg and an up fiolan,' little When a shrew is and preserved, in sheep, cattle, and horses, said in woollen cloth order to counteract the paralysis in ' beast of the grass, blind one of the grass. carefully rolled it, evil spirits. common Luch-fheoir, grass mouse, beast, When the haft of a spear. a — NOTES by the to be caused one, The shrew, preferably a live carried sunwise across the loin of the animal affected, in is name mouse. fairy 323 of Father, Son, and water-vole, the Spirit. But, like common shrew was dreaded if its congener, the seen near dwellings, appearance presaged death in the house or ruin in the fold. aged woman and the writer observed a shrew mouse making its way in the direction of some houses up the glen. Pressing her hand on mine, the woman whispered in anxious tones, losa Mac Moire bin leinn, a ghraidh, tha i seo air toir cuideigin Jesus the Son of Mary be about us, thou love, this one is seeking somebody. The death of her husband some days thereafter as its An ' ' confirmed her belief. Lucha shith, fairy mouse, lesser shrew. feoir,' little life and of the grass ; ' It is also called fionnag feoir,' little ' beothachan beast of the one of the grass. disliked, from a belief that it causes paralysis of the spine in sheep, cows, and horses, by running across the animal when lying down. This is called ' marcachd shith fairy riding. To counteract its effects, a live common shrew if available, otherwise a dead one, is carried across the loin and spine of the animal affected, in name of Father, of Son, and of Spirit. In some districts 'a mharcachd shith,' 'na marcaich shith,' is applied to the perspiration, due to weakness, which comes out on cattle. The lesser shrew is the smallest British mammal and one of It is not rare, but it is seldom seen, because of its the prettiest. habit of travelling under the grass its slender pliant body, its long tapering head, and its sharp pointed nose, being marvellously adapted to this mode of progression. The observer may not see the animal, but if he notices a rapid progressive but hardly perceptible movement in the grass, he may conclude that a grass ; The ' feoirneachan,' lesser shrew ' is little much — — fairy mouse is underneath. M Machair, level land; from 'magh,' a plain, and 'tir,' land. Long reaches of sandy plains fringe the Atlantic side of the Outer Isles. These are called 'machairs.' Even the more elevated parts of these long reaches are only a few feet above sea-level, while NOTES 324 the more depressed parts are the sea. tribute limitless Even now and again submerged under This low-lying fringe is simply the fragment of the exacted by the remorseless Atlantic. being claimed year after year and century already fragment is by the sea eating deeper and deadlier into the flesh, sinews, and bones of the ancient, ' Innis Cat,' Isle of the Catey. The fringe of machair which borders the Atlantic side of the Long Island is in striking contrast to the mountain chain running along its Minch side. The machairs are closely covered with short green grass, thickly studded with herbs of fragrant odours and plants of lovely hues. Corn grown in this sandy soil is stimted if the season be dry, and is pulled up by the roots instead of being cut in the usual way. Such corn is called 'coirce coilchiim,' dwarf oats, 'eorna coUchinn,' meagre bere, this after century ' seagal coilchinn,' stunted rye. Mac-lir, Mac-an-lir, son of sea, son of the sea 'lir,' ; from ' mac,' son, and genitive of 'lear,' sea. In Gaelic the Isle of Man 'Eilean Mhannain, Isle of Man, son of ' The Uisne,' is ' called ' Mannain,' Man, and Mannan mac Lir,' ' Mannan,' Lear,' the sea. of The Children of Lir,' The Children of The Children of Tuirenn are called ' Tri Broin nan stories and ' ' ' ' Sgeulachd,' the three sorrows of story-telling. A highly dramatic and beautiful version of ' The Children of Lir was told in October 1871 by Hector Macleod, shoemaker, lochdar. South Uist, to Iain Campbell of Islay and the writer. On the west side of the island of Vallay, North Uist, there is It is said that a sunken rock called ' Bogha Lir,' reef of Lear. the ship of Lear, son of the king of Lochlami, struck on this reef, when Lear himself and all on board were lost. Probably ' Lir,' ' Lear,' is the Lear of Shakespeare. ' In the time of Athelstan an hospital was put up at Flaxton in Yorkshire to protect the nurse travellers who might have suffered from the ravages of wolves and other wild animals. Mac-lire, wolf. Maighdean na ttiinne, muirghin na tuinne, maid of the wave, conception maighdean mhara,' maid of the sea. mermaid is common. There are many mermaid stories throughout the Isles. I took down several of these, some of which may be mentioned. of the sea, ordinarily called The belief in the ' NOTES 325 Colin Campbell, ci'ofter, Ceanntangbhal, Barra, saw, as thought, an otter on a reef in 'Caolas Cumhan,' Barra. The was holding and eating a manner. The man raised otter fish, his his he with his eyes closed, after gun to fire, when to his him looked like a woman holding a He had a telescope that had been given him by a ship child. captain for brave service rendered at sea, and looking through the glass he saw that the object before him had the head, the hair, the neck, the shoulders, and the breast of a woman, and was holding a child. The man was greatly astonished, and concluded that this must be the mermaid of whom he had often heard. surprise the creature before Inwardly thanking the loving Virgin for having withheld hand, Campbell put up his glass. The click of the glass startled the mermaid, and in the twinkling of an eye she and her child went into the sea with a splash. Colin Campbell, an honest, intelligent, middle-aged man, firmly believed that he had seen the mermaid. Neill MacEachain, crofter, Hough-beag, South Uist, was returning from the Clyde, where he and others had been with farm produce, before the days of steamers in the West. They his were becalmed emerging from the Sound of Mull. The sun was scorching, the air was breathless, and the surface of the sea was smooth as polished glass, when all were astonished to see a creature about two yards from the side of the motionless skiff. Its head, neck, breast, and shoulders resembled those of a woman, though its hair was more coarse, and its eyes more glassy. All below the breast was in the water. The creature gazed at them for a minute or more with its large wondering eyes, and then disappeared into the sea as silently as it had come. The narrator offered no explanation of the strange phenomenon, never having seen anything like it before, though all his life accustomed to the sea. One of his companions, however, said that it was the mermaid, and declared that he had seen a creatui-e exactly like it some years previously, while making kelp at AirdmaoUean, South Uist. MacEachain was an entirely truthful man and incapable He was one of Nature's nobles, being richly endowed mentally and physically, and with a phenomenal memory. He was a relation of Neill MacEachain, or MacDonald, father of Marshal MacDonald, Duke of Tarentum, and was remarkably like the duke in form and features as well as in VOL. II. X 2 Neill of inventing. NOTES 326 temperament. He h<ad seen and conversed with the duke when he visited his relatives in South Uist. Some seventy years ago, people were cutting seaweed at Sgeir na duehadh, Grimnis, Benbecula. Before putting on her stockings, one of the women went to the lower end of the reef to wash her While domg so she heard a splash in the calm sea, and feet. looking up she saw a creature in the form of a woman in miniature, some few feet away. Alarmed, the woman called to her friends, and all the people present rushed to the place. The creature made somersaults and turned about in various Some men waded into the water to seize her, but directions. she moved beyond their reach. Some boys threw stones at her, one of which struck her in the back. A few days afterwards, this strange creature was found dead at Cuile, Nunton, nearly two miles away. The upper portion of the creature was about the size of a well-fed child of three or four years of age, with an abnormally The hair was long, dark, and glossy, while the and tender. The lower part of the body was like a salmon, but without scales. Crowds of people, some from long distances, came to see this strange animal, and all were unanimous in the opinion that they had gazed on the mermaid at last. Mr Duncan Shaw, factor for Clanranald, baron-bailie and sheriff of the district, ordered a coffin and shroud to be made for This was done, and the body was buried in the the mermaid. presence of many people, a short distance above the shore where There are persons .still living who saw and touched it was found. this curious creature, and who give graphic descriptions of its developed breast. skin was white, soft, appearance. Marrum, marruin, milk, cream, and their products marruineach,' a good productive cow. ' ; mart math La F/ieill Martnm, Martin, Day of the Feast of Martin. There are two Martins. One is known as Martain a bhuilg,' Martin of the bag. His feast is the 15th July. The other is Martain an Tuir,' Martin of Tours, to whom St Ninian's church His feast is on the 11th November, at Whithorn was dedicated. a term-day in Scotland. Marlain, ' ' Malhan, maghan, bear ' mag-ghamhainn,' handed bear (.'), and 'gamhainn,' stirk. ; stirk ; from ' math,' — ' NOTES The bear was common later. mentioned It is bard to another ' 327 Scotland in down 1545, probably to by one in the following lines addressed : am raaghan, 's tu am mastic. madadh-alla an reubain. Is tu sionnach sion nan cuireid, 'S taghan dubh na deisdin. Is tu Thou 'S And art the bear, thou art the mastiff, thou the wild wolf of rapine, Thou art the fox of foxine wiles, And the martin blacli detestable. Meabh, Meve, queen of Connacht and wife of Ailill. She lived at ' Rath Cruachan,' the fort of Cruachan, and was the cause of the Tain Bo Cuailgne,' ' Cattle-spoil of Cooley.' She is the type of ' bravery. (Vol. Meang, whey. curds, ' i. p. 8.) Fionna-mhiong,' the thicker whey pressed out of the literally white from whey, ' fionn,' fair, and ' meang,' 'miog,' whey. Meannanaich, bleating like a kid from ; sound made by the snipe. The the bird In horizontally flying obliquely ; and ' meann,' kid ; applied to the flight of the snipe moves zig-zag ; in is peculiar. ascending, In the descent in descending, perpendicularly. the inner flexor of the wing seems to remain rigid, the outer alone moving, and that with singular rapidity. The vibration of The sound is heard at night in early summer, and is probably made to scare the owl, which is destructive to the young of the snipe. The snipe is one of the eerie birds of the people. Many descriptive Gaelic names are applied to it twelve or thirteen are known to the wing makes a sound like the cry of a kid. — me. (Vol. ii. p. 179.) Meirbh, to disintegrate, to digest in root akin to ; ' marbh,' to kill ; a place-name in Benbecula, Barra, lona, and elsewhere. A small lake in Benbecula is called ' Loch nam meirbh.' There are two islets about fifty yards apart on the lake, called respectively 'A Mheirbh Bheag,' Little Meirbh, and 'A Mheirbh In the centre of the Little Meirbh is a Mhor,' Large Meirbh. circular hole in the rock, partly natural and partly artificial, like an inverted cone. In this cavity criminals were tied and left to die, the water of the lake covering their lower limbs. Fi'om this and buried in the larger Meirbh. the remains were removed This small mossy isle, the surface of which is only a few feet covered vnth bogha-mucag,' butha-mucag,' blue hyacinth, of great luxuriance and richness of colouring. above water, is ' ' NOTES 328 There in is Locli Tangastal/ and Tur Leoid,' the tower of Leod, a small lake in Barra called a small square keep called it ' ' the scene of Miss Porter's novel Si Clair of Ike Isles. Jutting into the lake in the direction of the old tower is a flat sandy peninsula 'A Human and fragments of swords, dirks, and daggers, have been turned up here from time to time, corroborating the traditions of the people and the story of the novelist. ' Meirbh,' in lona, was surrounded by a wall, traces of which called Mheirbh.' disarticulated, bones, with bronze and whole in skeletons brooches, brass are visible. The middle Meoir, finger. Miamh, substance, ' Is fat. and thumb were used to finger eggs, especially the last two. (Vol. Desired by the clerk leis On and nam is tiie rich dish on the priest's table. the west and on the east side of Harris are deeply ' Miamhuig from ' miamh,' indented arms of the sea called fat, the lift p. 287.) Generally an adjective. a chleireach a mhias mhiarah a bhitheas air bord an t-sagairt.' miann i. ' uig,' bay. ' The one on the west is ; called ' Miamhuig beann,' the fat bay of the mountains, and that on the east Both bays sediment brought down from [Rather Norse ' mjo-vik,' narrow inlet.] the mountains. is the ' Cuan Sgl,' the (In the Outer Hebrides the ' ocean haze ocean, known as the Little Minch, while the open Atlantic is known by the Norse name of ' haaf.' ' Miamhuig contain a chuain,' the fat bay of the ocean. much alluvial mud and ' To the sound of the haaf,' Lonesome is my mood.) Ri fuaim na haaf. uaigneach mo ghean.' ' ' Is Mile, meirc, sweet, sweetness Milcein, meilcein, solid ; from warm ' mil,' honey. whey white ; from mil,' ' honey, sweetness. Mileiir, milereaeh (alva marina), sea-grass, sweet, and 'feur,' grass. in different ' districts as This grass 'mileurach,' sweet grass known by is ' from ; different milseanach,' ' ' mil,' names misleanach,' mineurach,' and other forms. The grass is is sweetish, and much relished by the and other geese. Dried and cured, the the Isles for bedding, and in the south for root of this grass barnacles, grey-lags, used in upholstery. — NOTES Mis, miseac/i, (Vol. Finealas na The The sith. mnatha Greuig.' Mnalha-siihe, fairy her ' ' -seach,' a tactfulness. woman. This fineness of the Faiin, is connection with queen of the The reference Cuchulaiiin She Serglige Cuchulaiiin.' woman, Greek woman. softness of the fairy queen of the Celtic other-world. to and hornless, maol,' p. 8.) Minealas na mnatha ' ' Greek woman, Penelope, the type of Greiiig, i. from ; Primarily the doe. misleac/i, manisleach, maoilscack, goat, doe ill the first year feminine suffix. Mnalha 329 the in elfin world, (vol. old i. p. 8) is Gaelic saga, typifies skill. Mogais, mogan, foot cylinder, from 'mog,' a cylinder, and 'cas,' a foot, foot-gear in reaching to the knee, and resembling in form as of the Indians. name the moccasin Mogan ; in Uist, spirits distilled from oats. Moilean, moillean, a small, thick round cake, a dumpling that made little boy, such as Mary's Day. ' Moilean is applied to a stout or other sturdy young male animal, and 'moileag' girl, filly, or young female animal. for St colt, to a stout little ; ' Moineis, shy, delicate, backward, the female of the grey seal. female seal is much more shy and But though ordinarily the retiring, defence of her young. retiring than the ' moineis ' is The unshrinking manner male The seal. courageous in in which this timid creature will throw herself between danger and her cub is touching and histructive. The 'cuilean,' whelp of the grey fur is soft and The seal, is cream-coloured and and continues thus two months. After that the fur gradually gives place to hair, and the cub of the 'moineis' becomes like that of 'maolag,' 'maoileag,' the female of the common seal, which is grey at birth. The 'maolag' brings forth in June, the 'moineis' in November. very beautiful. satiny, for cannot be certain what plant this is, but it seems to be sandwort (arenaria serpyllifoUa) or the bog-violet. It was one of the many sacred plants of the old It secured parturition and acted as a love-charm, as people. Mothan. I either the thyme-leaved indicated in the following lines 'A thilleadh aigne nam ban baoth A ghleidheadh gaol nam fear fior.' : To repel the fancies of the foolish women, To retain the love of the true men. — — — ' NOTES 330 The mothan also ensures the safety of a person carrying it or drinkmg the milk of a cow which has eaten it. Donald MacCuithean, cottar, Fearann-an-lethe, Skj'e, said ' Dun Gharsain was a famous fairy bower, from which the fairy people sallied forth on Hallow-Eve, like starlings swarming from their cave on St Patrick's morning. They trigged and danced, they reeled and set, on their lawn under the light of the silvery moon and the twinkling stars, no one interfering with them. They were very cunning, however, and sometimes waylaid the sons of men into their bowers, and carried away children to ' ' : women increase their colonies, and nm'slings. But ' buamasdair gun destroyed the bower of the fairies were all to nurse their unbegotten toinisg,' a clown without sense, Dun fairies of Gharsain when the away helping the queen of Blath-bheinn to make a tartan kilt, a tartan coat, and a tartan plaid for her tall son on his marriage with the fair daughter of the king of Cuilionn. No one remahied at home except one fairy woman who was ill, and man the took away the stones to build folds for his cattle and for his sheep, leaving nothing but the site of their pens beautiful bower. 'When the fairies returned and saw the destruction of their home, they were very angry and vowed vengeance. A light not of earth was seen where their hall had been, and a voice not of man was heard in the air saying : ' " Tilg an dearg air Tarmaid dubh, Tilg an dearg air Tarmaid, Tilg an dearg air Tarmaid dubh. A bhrist mo theud, a reub mo chrut. 'S a chuir am brugh a db'aona-cheann." To ' this another voice replied bainne na bo a dh'ith mothan Ann an coil a shealghain." Who And the dart at black Norman, the dart at Norman, the dart at black Norman, broke my chord, tore my harp, put the bower in ruins. : " Chan urra mi f hi g'a chur a dhi, Chan urra mi f hi g'a chearbadh, Chan urra mi foil a dhol 'n a choir, Is Throw Throw Throw am cannot myself put him to death, cannot myself undo him, cannot go stealthily near him. And the milk of the cow that ale the I I I ' mothan In the folds of his throat. Dun Gharsain and never returned, might be now and again, a stray fairy from some faraway land, who would come to look at the site of the home where his people had lived and danced and passed their happy After this the fairies left except lives.' it NOTES Dun Gharsain is the ' Skye, and Near strancrer. it ' or Ghaisin site are is 331 at Tobht Ardaiv in Bracadale, by the of a concentric fort destroyed ' Dun Beag,' the Little Fort, and Mor,' the Big Fort, the hitter of which is ' Dun described by Johnson in his Tour. A passage in W. G. Stewart's Highland Superstitions and Amusements (p. 90) shows that the 'mothan' was used as a charm in Glenurquhart and Strathspey Go to the summit of some stupendous cliff or mountain where any species of quadruped never fed nor trod, and gather of that herb in the Gaelic " language called mothan, which can be pointed out by any " wise person. The herb you will give to a cow, and of the milk of that cow you are to make a cheese, and whoever eats of that cheese is for ever after, as well as his gear, perfectly secure from every species of fairy agency.' : — ' These forms are confined to the Virgin, while applied to her. Feminine and masculine derivatives of Moire occur in the Isles. A knoll near Clachana-ghhiip. North Uist, is called Crois Moireig,' cross of the female devotee of Mary, and an islet at Staonabrig in South Uist is called 'Eilean Mhoirean,' isle of the male devotee of Mary. It is said that three brothers came to Christianise South Uist. The brothers were called Maoilean,' the tonsured, Micheil,' the devotee of Michael, and Moire an,' the devotee of Mary. The brothers built three prayer-houses on three low-lying peninsulas jutting into the Atlantic. These peninsulas became known as Aird Mhaoilean,' the point of Maoilean Aird Mhicheil,' the point of Michael and ' Aird Mhoirean,' the point of Moirean. Aird Mhoirean is now represented by 'Eilean Mhoirean,' the isle of Moirean, an inlet a few square yards in extent and a few feet high, often washed over by the Mitire, Moire, ' Mairi ' Mary. rarely is ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ; ' ; Atlantic waves. All tliese places contain ruins evidently very Those on Mhaoilean old, and of adjoin the remains of a circular fort. It is not uncommon to find a church in the near neighbourhood of a fort. The church, cell, and ecclesiastical origin. Aii'd burying-ground of St Brendan, Barra, abut on a strong stone circular fortress. Munn, Munna, Muinig, Munnigean, Mungan, St Munn, St Mungo. Probably the 'mungan,' fairy flax {linum catkarticunij is called after — ' ' NOTES 332 St Mungo. This plant was largely used for medicinal purposes. The common name for it in Gaelic is lion na mnatha sithe/ flax of the fairy woman. ' also called Mur, luibhre, leprosy losg.' Leprosy was common throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, and in some places down to modern times. Probably the toad is called ' losgan from 'losg/ irruption, leprosy. ' ; Mum, darling, maiden, damsel, girl, hence 'muirneag,' a a pretty 'Muirneag' the ' is the name of Ocean Imirich Cuain,' a hill It is mentioned in an emigrant song by John in Lewis. Flitting, Macrae, a minister of Lewis. ' Murn,' maiden, occurs in little girl, endearing, prepossessing. precious, 'muirneach,' girl, Irish mo ' my mhuirnin,' little darling, Anglicised 'mavourneen.' Mulhairti, are ' mother. little mother, dear little ' mathairne,' mathairneag,' ' Other niathaireag.' Uist Cf. forms O. Ir. 'mathairnet.' N The number nine Naoi, naodh, nine. other Gaelic compositions, five, being the mystic numbers. of the use of nine ' An ainm ' Naodh Is ' name 's nan aingheal naodh.' In is naodli conachair. Nine do leis robh And sitli. an aon te an naodh air an Chaidh Moire thar na naodh maranan bhuain an torranain.' Naoi tobraiohe Mhic an and are some examples of Ariel and the angels nine. and nine shouts. nine slender fairy women. patlis Be thou Though tliankful with the one (duck) there should be nine on the A beam produced the ' Mary went over the nine waves To pluck the figwort. The nine Lir.' In North Uist there Oak-log. these swim. A ' The following Airil Bi-sa taingeil occurs in : t-snamh.' ' often seven, nine, and occasionally conair, naodha ban seanga Ge — three, is of oak tein-eigin,' wells of the a sandy plain called lay there, neid-fire. ' Son of Lear. Sail Dharaich,' from which the people This was done by 'naoi naoinear ciad ginealach mac,' nine nmes of first-begotten sons, these being in the estimation of the people the most sacred and enduring. — ' NOTES Glenlonain cross, which the 111 333 is evidently pre-Christian, there are nine radii from a central ring or boss. The girdle the fairy girl gave the man was to bring his wife back from death to life, 'ge do bhiodh na naoi bais na beul,' though the nine deaths were in her mouth. The sword of Connal 'could cut nine nines hither and nine nines thither.' Luas-lurgan, the sister of Cumhal, taught Fionn the son of Cumhal to swim so well that he could swim over the nine waves and be ashore before herself.' Oscar threatened to send the spear of the nine enchantments through Cairbre. In a story of great dramatic power dealing with an old belief that seals were metamorphosed human beings, the number nine ' ' ' occurs. A from Uist was 'dorghadh,' 'dorathach,' hand-line Cousmal when a sudden storm arose and drove it, according to one version, to Lewis, according to others, to Mull, Tiree, or Scandinavia. The Uist crofters were hospitably entertained and their boat repaired. Their host was a big grizzlybearded man, whose face, hands, and feet were full of scars and mended bones, as if he had fought his way through some desperate battle. According to Celtic custom the names of the guests were neither given nor asked till they were leaving. When the host heard the name and residence of his leading guest, he pointed to his scars and mended bones and addressed boat fishing, man the ' at : logain logain logain logain a thainig a nail Air bharr nan naodh caogada tonn. Fhir a bhrist fiacla mo chinn ! ! ! logain logain logain logain who came hither the crest On of the nine ! ! Thou man who ! fifty waves, didst break the teeth my head. Roused am I to see of liom t'fhaicinn ma-rium. logain logain a thug mi bithidh dhuit Is fiata logain Ged ! ! ! Im, is cais, is feoil. Air a dha laimh, logain. 'S tu chuir an gath am spoig. ' logan ' logain ! logain ! thee with me, logain ! Though I gave thee food, Butter and cheese and flesh. By thy two hands, logain, 'Twas thou drove the dart through ray paw. (probably a diminutive of ' Iain ' — John, possibly an old native name), was struck with terror and remorse, for this was a big seal who, with his wife and children and many other — ' NOTES 334 homes and graves of when they were attacked, and some of them slain, by the Uist men, among whom was logan. logan gave vow and word by his own hand and his metamorphosed seals, sul)nierged their had been fatherhind visiting the the Atlantic, in hands that he would never again kill a seal. cunning man, went about lifting the 'toradh,' KUlinn was the substance, from the nine best glens in Scotland. He lifted the substance of Killinn on last glen to which he came. his back, and was moving away, when a man more shrewd than his fellows cut the wizard's withy with his knife, and the luck of father's A ' seoltaiche,' the whole nine glens fell to the ground. And that is how Killinn is the most fertile glen in Scotland, flowing with milk and honey. The Killinn meant is that in Stratherrick, near Lochness. Nine times nine is the number of straw joints required in the manipulation of ' Eolas nam foineachean,' the charm of the warts, and nine in Eolas nam mam,' the charm of the mumps. There are nine orders of angels, and nine choirs of archangels, according ' to the Christian hierarchy of the Fathers. The fairies are said to possess ' nine ages, with nine times nine These are the periods periods of time in each. Naodh naodhanan a deothal chioch. Naodh naodhanan cliabastach cli. Naodh naodlianan urra-chasach luth, Naodli naodhanan murra-chasacli dJuth, Naodh naodhanan lasgarrach donn. Naodh naodhanan cosgarrach conn. Naodh naodhanan coidheanach ciar. Naodh naodhanan roibeanach liath. Naodh naodhanan ri uchd-bualaidh death, bais, 'S bu dorra Horn na naodh naodhana truagh No gach naodh naodha mi-bhuan a And worse to me were these miser- able nine nines Than all the other short-lived nine nines that were. bha.' Nathair, serpent, adder. as : Nine nines sucking the breast, Nine nines unsteady, weak, Nine nines footful, swift, Nine nines able and strong, Nine nines strapping, brown, Nine nines victorious, subduing, Nine nines bonneted, drab, Nine nines beardy, grey, Nine nines on the breast-beating 'nathair,' Several terms are applied to the serpent, serpent; queen and 'nimhir,' venom; 'beithir,' lightning; nighean Imhir,' daughter of Ivor, ' dearrais,' perverse. Probably ' nighean Imhir,' daughter of Ivor is a mistake for ' an nimhir,' the serpent, while ' nighean may be a mistake for ' main,' hue, coloured spot. The serpent is now small and rare, though once large and numerous, in the Highlands. One was killed at Bailemonaidh, ' righinn,' ; ' — NOTES 335 in Islaj', in the early years of the centuiy, measiu-ing nine feet in length and eighteen inches in ch'cumference. Much warm milk was abstracted every night from the milk-cot attached to the summer sheiling. After much searching, traces of milk were found leading to a grassy knoll in the neighbourhood. On the summit of the knoll a serpent lay coiled sunning itself in the summer sun and fast asleep. It immediately awoke, and, poising its head high in the air, hissed and lunged about in great fury. When shot, its enormously distended stomach was found to contain several twites, buntings, pipits, larks, and thrushes, and an incredible quantity of milk. Only a few years ago a larger serpent than a turnip-field in Easter Ross. this was killed in reptile was The presence of the indicated by the fear and anxiety displayed by a pair of well- Nothing could be seen, but the horses trembled violently, and, with nostrils distended and eyes staring, showed symptoms of great fear and could hardly be kept from running away from the men about them. When after some delay and difficulty the serpent was found and killed the horses quieted down, but for some days trained horses working in the neighbourhood. showed the effects of their fear. A product called ' clach-nathrach,' serpent stone, is found on the root of the long ling. It is of steel-grey colour, has the consistency of soft putty when new and of hard putty when old, and as light as pumice-stone, is which it resembles. It is globular form, and from one to three inches in diameter. of a There a circular hole, about a quarter of an inch in width, through This substance is said to be produced by the serpent is the centre. The emitting spume round the root of a twig of heather. nathrach ' is greatly prized by the people, who transmit 'clachit as a talisman to their descendants. There are many sayings dealing with the serpent ' Tha e ann an gratii na nathrach He nirah in : the spirit of the serpent towards thee. dhuit.' 'Tha is na nathrach aig dhuit.' The venom of the serpent he has towards thee. ' Cho carach ' Cleas na nathrach cur a chraicinn.' The trick of the serpent changing the ' Cochull nathrach The sheath of the serpent badly ris an nathair nimhe.' As twistful as the serpent venomous. skin. tu.' is olc a dli'fheuraadh wouldst thou need. ! ' — ! NOTES 336 ' — ! Nead beul an uisge,' a nest ri The p. 314). The black -throated diver 'learg mhor,* diver; ' learg by the mouth of the water nest of the black-throated diver choilearach,' black-ringed diver ; is known among big diver; (vol. the people as 'learg,' black dhubh,' 'learg diver; dhubh/ ' learg ringed diver choilearach ' giadh gaob/ rain goose. The last ; name in reference to the belief that certain peculiarities in the cry The flight of the bird indicate rain. bird i. that indicated. is familiar in the is is and West of Scotland, although rare or iniknown in other parts of Britain. During development the black-throated diver and tlie great northern diver are similar, although in maturity dissimilar. In course of incubation nature jjrovides birds with great heat, rendering them liable to great thirst. To obviate absence from the eggs and retardation of hatching, the black-tliroated diver makes her nest near water, generally on occasionally on the edge bank tlie The of a stream. nest of a lake, Should drought depression in the moss within reach of the water. and the water subside below her reach, the bird occur, simply a is flies about The people have human language hither and thither uttering cries of concern. rendered these utterances of the bird into ' Deoch deoch deoch An loch a traghadh Deoch deoch deocli An loch a traghadh Burn burn burn Mo luth 'm fhagail Burn burn burn Mo luth 'm fhagail ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! These imitations preceding imitation differ more prevails following in Harris and Lewis ' Bir ! An lir Bir ! An bir bir lir Burn Burn Burn Mo When ! ! ! ! bir ! bir ! ! ! ! ! ! North Rain ! ! ! ! and South Uist, The the : ! rain The lake ! a deabhadh burn burn burn burn burn burn ! ! or less in different districts. in Rain ! a deabhadh ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ; drink drink The loch is drying Drink drink drink The loch is drying Water water water My strength failing nie Water water water My strength faihng me Drink ! ! is rain ! rain ! drying ! rain ! ! The lake is drying Water water water Water water water Water water water ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! luth 'm threigsinn.' ! ! ! ! ! My strength's ! failing ! ! ! me ! the reverse occurs, and the risen lake submerges the nest, the cries of the hapless bird, flying hither and thither, are extremely distressing, and strikingly like the unavailing cries of — ' ! NOTES human mother. a following words Mo ' M' Mo M' chreach eoin eoin The people have rendered mo chreach ! mo My sorrow my sorrow My chicks and my eggs. My sorrow my sorrow My chicks and my eggs. My grief my grief My brood in the flood. My grief! my grief! My brood in the flood. My chicks My gifts My birds My eggs My treasures My troubles ! ! chreach ! m' uibhean. is these cries into the : m' uibhean. is chreach 337 Mo dhith mo dhith Mo hnn 's an tuilinn. Mo dhith mo dhith Mo hnn 's an tuilinn.' ! ! M' urragan M' ulagan M' eoin M' uibhean M' ulaidh M' eislean ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! 1 ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Neamk, heaven. Old people pronounce this word 'neamh,' 'neomh/ neoph,' ' neob/ ' nof,' * nef,' and other forms. Ni, neat, nowt, cattle, extended to flocks and herds of all kinds. ' Ni No, nod, nodk, nudadh, knowledge, intelligence, information bheil uodh agam air,' I have no knowledge of him. ' ; o Ob, oba, spell, obi, charm, incantation; gen. 'obagan,' 'oibeagan'; dim. 'obag,' 'oibeag.' gen. ' ' uib,' ubag,' pi. ' uibe ' uibeag.' uibeanan,' ' ' pi. ' ; ' ' Oban,' fear uibe ' uibe,' pi. ; ' ' ubagan,' obanan,' obag,' dim. ' ' ' also ' pi. ' ; uibean,' obagan,' Mairi bhreac nan pock-marked) Mary of the spells. ' Bis i ris na spells. Tha na h-ob a dol as Spells are ob,' spotted (or h-ob ' obagag,' witch, also 'uibeag,' 'uibeagan,' 'bean uibe.' pi. Also 'ub,' 'uba'; ' uibeagan dim. wizard, ' 'oibe'; 'oib,' — She practises ' ' — going out of use. The Gaelic ' ubadh ' occurs in the glosses of Klosterneuberg, Austria (eighth-ninth centuries) as 'auphtha.' It is curious that a spell evil eye is used in British Central Africa for the also called 'obi.' Od, oda, odaidh, race, racecourse, the scene of the athletics of the and the racing of the horses. at, horse-fight ; hesta at, horse-driving ; eija heslum, horse-driving, horse-battle. VOL. II. men Possibly connected with the Norse Y NOTES 338 In Norwa)', the horse-fight took place in August, on Lovisa; Dag, the horse-combat finishing up the sports of the festival. By a curious coincidence, the horse-races of Norway and the principal horse-race of the Western Isles, that of South Uist, ceased in the same year, 1820, and in two succeeding months. A plain near Loch Snizort, a plain near Glendale, and a plain in Minginis, Skye, are called The ' odaig,' racecourse, horse I'acecourse. great 'oda' occui-red in Barra in 1828, in South last Uist in 1820, in Benbecula in 1830, in North Uist in 1866, and In the Small Isles the ' oda continued later, oda have been held in all these places since the years mentioned. In Barra the ' oda was held on the 25th September, being in Harris in 1818. while occasional ' ' ' ' Day the of St Barr, the patron saint of the island Day other places on 29th September, being the the patron saint of horses and of the ; in all the of St Michael, Isles. In Barra the sports were held on 'Traigh Bharra,' Strand of St Barr; in South Uist, on 'Traigh Mhicheil,' Strand of St Michael in Benbecula, on ' Machair Bhaile-mhanaich,' plain of the townland of the monks in North Uist, on ' Traigh Mhoire,' ; ; Strand of St Mary of St Clement. ; and in Harris, on ' Traigh Chliamain,' Strand All these places are singulai'ly adapted for man-racing, horseracing, ' and other Oda nan the horses ; ' sports. gillean,' race of the youths each oda,' racehorse ; ' ; ' oda nan each,' race of ' oda ramh,' oar- ranih oda,' race. Horse-racing, ' grafand,' pi. ' graifne,' formed part of the sport at the ancient Irish gatherings (Joyce, Social Hislori/, Odharan, Odhran, Odran, Oran, Oran, St Oran ; II., also the 462). name of St Patrick's charioteer. There are several places named after Oran, 'Tiroran,' the land of Oran in Mull. The principal burying-ground in lona is Colonsay as ' Killoran ' in ; Odhrain,' the burying-place of Oran. It is called also called ' Reilig ' Reilig nan Righ,' the burying-place of the kings. The people tell a tradition how this place came to be named after St Oran. Versions of the tradition were taken down in places widely apart. ' Dhuisg carmasg agus connspuinn eadar Calum-cille agus — NOTES 339 Odhran mu dheighinn mathas neamh agus mi-mhathas ifrinn, suamhnas nan saoi agus duamhnas nan daoi. Thubhairt Odharan gun cuireadh easan a chuis gu deuchain ami an ionad nan seasamh bonn agus gun reachadh e re tri la agus tri oidhche sios dh'an uaigh (ifrinn). Fhuaradh uidheam treachaid agus threachaideadh uaigh CO domhain a sios agus a bha Odhran co ard a suas. 'Chaidh Odhran a sios dh'an uaigli agus lionadh an uaigh thairis air. 'An ceann nan tri la agus nan gun robh e iomchaidh sealltain air mar a thubhradh. Odhran oidhche thubhairt Calumair Odhran, agus chaidh tri sealltain cille Air mosgladh a shul dha thubhairt : " Ni Ni Ni Ni An uair dh'eubh a chuala e: — " Uir ! bheil flathas bheil irionn mar a theireas, mar a thubhras, bheil saoi suthann sona, bheil daoi dona duthann." Calum-cille uir air suil cainnt agus briathran Odhraiu Odhrain, Mu'n duisg e 'n corr carraaisg, Dh' fhios oi'm a thoir dh'an chuideachd, Dh' fhios toi'm a thoir dha bhraithraidh." ' Chaireadh an uir a ' Ghuil Calum-cille gu frasachifial ri linn rithist air Odhran agus thiodhlaiceadh e. tursach trom, agus shil na deoir gu Odhram ehaoimh, eheanail, dhilis, dheothais a dhol a dhi. Sin an ceud neach a thiodhlaiceadh anns an ionad sin agus thugadh " Reilig Odhrain " mar ainm air a chladh. Chuireadh caibeal air Odhran agus thugadh " TeampuU Odhrain " mar ainm air a chaibeal." Contention and controversy awoke between Columba and Oran about the merits of heaven and the demerits of hell, the happiness of the good and the unhappiness of the bad. Oran said that he would put the matter to the test in the place whereon they stood, and that he would go for the space of three Digging days and three nights down to the grave (hell). implements were procured, and a grave was dug as deep down Oran went down into the grave, and the as Oran was high up. earth was filled over him. At the end of the three days and the three nights Columba ' ' ' — — — NOTES 340 said that it would be seemly to look upon Oran, and he was looked upon accordingly. ' On the opening of the eyes to him Oran said : " Nor Nor Nor Nor When Columba called heaven as is alleged. is is as is asserted. the good eternally happy. is the bad eternally unhappy." is hell heard the words and language of Oran, he : " Earth earth on the eye of Oran, Before he wakes more controversy. Lest scandal should be given to the faith. Lest offence should be given to his brethren." The earth ! was agam placed upon Oran, and he was buried permanently. ' Columba wept sorrowfully, heavily, and shed the tears showermgly, generously, because Oran tender, lovable, faithful, earnest, went to death. That was the first person who was buried in that place, and the name " Burial-place of Oran" was given to it. A chapel was placed on Oran, and " Temple of Oran " was given as a name to and ' the chapel." There may be some truth much The period altered. in this tradition, although probably of three days and three nights in the grave is symbolic of Christ. Probably human sacrifices were placed under the foundation-wall of St Oran's Temple, whether or not Oran was the were placed under under buildings in well-known Greek name of the man sacrificed. Human buildings in ancient Greece and modern England, Ireland, sacrifices Rome, and and Scotland. only stood secure after the master-builder had placed his wife beneath the foundation. manse of A case was that of the Bridge of Arta, which Killtarlity the It is said that when own building the mason seized a passing woman and placed The woman her under the foundation-stone of the building. uttered curses upon the building, and upon those A dwell therein. ' Gaelic proverb says A Gheobh baobh a guidhe Ge nach faigh a h-anam A man knovm Lachlan, was m as trocair.' ' who would : wicked woman will get her wish soul may not see salvation, Though her Lachlan Og," the army in Ireland. ' Lachlann Ogi,' young eloped with a young He — — NOTES lady, 341 whose brothers pursued them. While he was defending himself against her brothers, the lady went in behind him for where she was struck and killed by a blow from his was put in prison, and while there he composed a beautiful song known as 'Mali bheag og,' young little May. * Lachlan Og became insane, and on being liberated he made his way to Lorn. He wandered about the country, making Killchrenan the centre of his circuiting. He never entered a house, never asked for food, and never spoke. When the people knew that he was about, they left food for him in well-known retreats which were simply depressions among the In his wanderings the rocks a)Kl hillocks sunmier and winter. hajiless man was seized at Bunawe, and placed under the pier building for an English iron-smelting company. Some say that Lachlan Og was placed under the foundation of Bunawe House, built by the same company, and not under protection, sword. He ' — — ' the pier. ' ' In support of this Guala Chrosda quoted is ' variant on this is : Taigh mor Pholl nan cnamh. Taigli the saying of the famous seer : House of the Lakelet of bones, House without joy without hick, Nor son shall succeed father, In Bunawe House ever. Taigh Lochan nan cnamh. Taigh gun sonas gun agh, Cha tig mac an deigh athar, Air taigh Bhun-atha gu bratli.' A ' ' Big Iiouse of the Pool of bones, gun sonas gun agh. House without joyaiice without prosperity. Where voice of cock sliall not be heard, No ruch leinibh gu brath.' Nor suck of child ever. (In a deej) pool behind the house quantities of human bones have been found. Hence the name. Pool of bones. Lakelet of Far nach chiinnear gutli coilich. bones.) These traditions are circumstantially related and believed. When the practice of sacrificing men and women fell into disuse, birds and animals were substituted. It was reported a few years ago that a builder placed a cock beneath the wall of a church in one of the midland counties of England. Omhau, whey whisked into froth, especially the richer whey pressed out of the curds. Or, drlha, prayer, incantation beag nan ; or,' pi. rhymed prayer, hymn, ' or,' Little ' ' orthachan,' Donald of the The word following VOL. n. ora,' supplication, * orrachan.' petition, ' Domhull supplications. gives the purpose of the petition as 'ora Y 2 NOTES 342 bhais/ death spell ' ; ora ghonaidh,' wounding incantation ' ; ora sheamlachais/ a charm to induce one cow to take to the calf of another bhalbh/ ' ora an opponent ' ora ghlas brewing ghuib/ spell to lock an enemy's mouth ' ora na h-Aona,' spell of the Friday ' ora stoirm/ spell to raise a storm to dro\vn a foe. When the lady of Maclean of Duart heard that her lord was ' ; ora ghrudaireachd,' spell to spell to spoil another's silence ; ; ; ; holding dalliance with the dark-eyed Princess Viola of Spain, her heart burned within her. She sent for Doiteag, the archsorceress of Mull, who undertook to raise a storm which would sink the Spanish ship at her anchor in the land-locked bay of Tobermory. Doiteag did this, and drowned all the Spaniards all the Scots on board. It is said that people from Mull and Morvern were on the deck of the Florida when the ship was blown up into the air and the deck came down close to Martin the shore, the natives of the country being miinjured. says that one of the Beaton physicians of Mull was among those Many stories are still told in Mull and thus miraculously saved. Morvern about the Florida and the Spanish Armada. ' Or and ob are used indiscriminately, the people not now differentiating between them. A grassy declivity behind Liana .nan or and ' Liana the village in St Kilda was called nan ob,' the lawn of the prayers, and the lawn of the incantations. The community collected their herds there to sain and lustrate them, from the cear,' blood one, or the cearb,' killing one. A tombstone in St Oran's, lona, bears the inscription, 'Or Do Mail Fatric,' in modern Gaelic or do Maolphatric,' a prayer or ar anmin Another has the inscription, for Maolpatric. but saved ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' modern of Ewen. Eogahi,' in the soul Gaelic, 'or air anam Eoghain,' a prayer for young of birds while in the downy stage, young of the swan, the shag, and the cormorant. Ora, orag, odharag, the especially the From 'odhar,' dun. Ore, a pig ' ; oircean,' ' uircean,' a young pig. ' Ore ' was another name for the whale. The sea north-east of the Long Island was known to the old people as Cuan nan Ore,' the sea of the ores. In charts this sea is known as the Greater Minch. The Gaelic name of the Orkney Isles is Orcaibh,' Arcaibh,' ' ' the isles of whales, Orcades being subject to frequent ; ' the Orkney seas, like the Minch, visits from whales. — ; ' NOTES Peadair, Peter. June. This ' is 343 La Pheadair/ tlie Feast Day of Peter, the 29th Even if there be a a gi-eat day among fishermen. storm the fishermen put out to sea, believing that the fishermanapostle will aid them and shield them. If the wind be from the west on the first of the year, the fishermen consider ' Gaotli an iar iasg it a good aran Gaoth a tuath fuaehd is feannadh is omen for their calling. Wind from the west, fish and bread Wind from the north, cold and flaying ; ; ; [fainting] Gaoth an ear sneachd air beannaibh Gaoth a deas meas air crannaibh.' Pimdack, pleatach, flat, Wind from Wind from ; the east, snow on the hills ; the south, fruit on trees. broad, even, as 'casan pleatach,' broad feet, flat-footed. Postachan, posts (vol. may ii. p. 126). I do not know the reference possibly refer to the following story in the —A farmer was passing a well and noticed a stone image on the edge of the He took uj) the image and brought it home to his house, well. and placed it beside him on the table. When the farmer blessed himself before food, he observed that the passive stone became alive. Then the stone image smiled and said We were four angels that fell from heaven three fell into the well and I fell on the edge. I should have been there for ever hadst thou not brought me home and had I not heard the blessed words. Take me back to the well that I may again ascend to text. It : : — ' ; heaven.' Puball heannach, pointed canopy bur. ' Birds ; possibly the colt's-foot or butter- and small animals seek shelter under Pubal,' a tent, canopy, shelter. (Vol. ii. p. its leaves. 38.) R 'Thainig rachd orm came upon me Thainig rachd am mhuineal Choking came in my throat, a lump came in my throat. The vocal cords having become enlarged through emotion, failed in their functions. Rachd feirge,' fit of passion. Rachd, emotion, vexation, stoppage of speech. — Emotion ; ' ' ' — ' —— NOTES 344 Rachd, strength, toughness, emulation ' Bhrisl air Chain mi A ' derivative My strength mo rachd. mo dhreach.' my lost I broke down, appearance. 'rachdaid,' a strong blow is Thug mi rachdaid dha a chluais.' 's Ran, noble, very noble. Rigean ' gave him a hard blow I ran,' in the ear. noble queen. The word Rath, luck, fortune, success, prosperity. occurs in many of the sayings and phrases of the people, as ' Tus ratha ragha dealbh. is deagh labhraidh. Uirghil mhaith ' Gruag ruadh ' Origin of success, good form, Good speech and good oratory. The red hair of a woman, The grey beard of a man, Progeny and prosperity to the hussy, Who gets them in the nest of the boirionnaich, Fiasag Hath firionnaich. Ruth agus rath dh'an leirist Gheobh an nead a chlacharain. wheatear. Birds cunningly contrive to line their nests in harmony with How their surroundings. the wheatear obtains the filaments of its nest is curious. This and being found dormant during winter causes the wheatear to be looked upon as 'sianta,' sained. When a man enters a human habitation he evokes peace and prosperity upon the dwelling and the dwellers. When he enters a fairy bower the man invokes strife and confusion upon the bower and the people therein. hair occasionally found forming the fact of ' its Luck without skill upon the tribe. Luck without seed, without efiBcacy, Rath gun ealdhain air an treubh. Rath gun ruth, gun fheart, gun without worth. fheura.' man enters a fairy bower he inserts a knife, a nail, or a bit of iron of some kind, in the lintel or corner of the doorway If a to safeguard his return Derivatives forward, 'cuilidh are pushing, — ' fairies prosperous. fortune's rath,' being unable to overcome rathail,' store, prosperous, ' Rath ' is fortune's astute ' ; used as a treasury, iron. rathach,' suffix, the as ocean. Mhoire,' Mary's treasury, is another term applied to lucky cap, lucky cowl, a name applied to the caul or membrane occasionally covering the head This caul was much sought after in of a child at birth. ' Cuilidh the ocean. Scotland. ' It some foreign Currachd is still rath,' sought after in England, Ireland, and in by sailors, as a talisman against countries, cliicHy NOTES 345 murder on land and drowning at sea. The price ranges from £2 to £20, according to the means or the faith of the buyer. Sir Duncan Campbell of Loch Awe, who wrested Caisteal Caol-chuirn, Kilchurn Castle, from the Macgregors, was kno\vn Donnchadh Dubh a churraichd,' Black Duncan of the cowl, as because he had a caul on his head when born. Sir Duncan Campbell is said to have fully justified the faith in the 'currachd ' lucky cowl. rath,' Reann, rann, reang, rang, a bar, a rib, a stalk, a rod, a pole, a wand. The royal fern is called ' roinneach reangach,' reann roinneach,' ' from its wand-like stalks. remove difficulties, remove obstructions. It Highlands to clear the pathways before Johnson mentions that the people turned distinguished persons. out to clear the roadway before Lady Macdonald, one of the Reiteach, clear, prepare, was customary in the celebrated Eglintons. A burial-place in Glencreran, Appin, is situated 700 feet high on the mountain side. Immediately before a funeral men go up to clear the path, and bestrew it with birch and sycamore branches. The funeral cortege rushes up the steep hillside at a swinging pace, chanting a weird dirge the whUe. When tlie body is laid in the grave and the grave closed in, the bier on which it was carried is broken against a certain tree in the burying-ground to render it unfit for the 'sluagh,' hosts, to use This in carrying away the dead in their aerial travelling. picturesquely situated burying-ground is called ' Cladh Chuiril,' ' Cladh Chuirirlean,' ' Cill Chuirealain,' the burying-ground of St CyrU was Bishop of Antioch in the eighth century. Cyril. There is a burial-ground in Lochaber, another on Loch Etive, and another on Loch Awe, dedicated to this saint. Cill Choireil in Brae Lochaber is 686 feet above sea-level that on Loch Etive is not so high, being only 105 feet above the sea; while that on Loch Awe is 700 feet above sea-level. These dedications to St Cyril are situated amid scenery of surpassing beauty, variety, and grandeur. Similar practices obtain or used to obtain at them Prepare ye the way of the Lord all, fulfilling the command make His path straight.' Birch, which is fragrant, and planetree or sycamore, which is easily had, are used for want of palm branches. In his Monasteries of the Levant, Curzon mentions ; — ' ; NOTES 346 that burying-places and monasteries are situated in high-places. The situations and customs of these Highland burying-places are suggestive of the East, and with their dedicatory saint seem to connect the West with the East. Ridean, rigean, queen, a Ro, ' handsome maiden, a way. Roglas,' water passage, from rod, passage, pass, roth, Killdonan, and ' Ro ' beautiful girl. Occurring in place-names as ro,' pass, and ' glas,' water, in lochdar,' in South Uist. [Doubtful.] Cha Ni bheU ros agam,' I have no knowledge knowledge A derivative, d'f huair mi ros air,' I did not get knowledge of him. Ros, ' ' ; ; mean 'rosal,' is said to There is a ' rosal ' a place of knowledge, a school, a college. in Mull said to be the site of a collegiate school The name attached to the abbey of lona. also in Caithness in the north of Scotland, hood of Eastbourne in the south of find that these places learning. occurs as a place-name and England. in the neighbourIt is interesting to from time immemorial have been seats of and west is Norse 'hross- [Rosal, Rossal in the north vollr,' horse-field.] Rutaidh, surly, butting, bumping, bumptious, ram-like ; from ' rut,' a ram. Ruth, desire, genesis, generation, procreation. name given by the people to Some of these are very small and well fashioned. They are said to have been thrown by fairies at the sons and daughters of men. The Saighead-sith, fairy arrow. the flint This arrow-heads so is much the prized by antiquaries. Lochmaddy. went out at night to the peat-stack for a creel of peats. She was aware of something whizzing through the silent air, passing through her hair, grazing her ear, and falling at her feet. Stooping dowm in the bright moonlight, she picked up a fairy arrow. The girl never again went out at night. writer possesses one which was thrown at a girl at The girl The people say fairy queen, fairies. The that a fairy arrow, especially the arrow of the cannot be safeguarded against the wiles writer havhig unaccountably can confirm this in his lost, despite all own of the experience, possible care, the smallest — — ' —— — ! NOTES ;; 347 and most beautifully shaped and coloured arrow-head he has ever seen, and that within a few hours after getting it Samh, fish, cruive, odour heavy odour of fish, that heavy odour from a great body of fish in the sea. Other meanings of ' samh are sorrel, garlic, clown, foul person. A place in Morvern is called ' Samh-airidh,' sorrel sheiling, from ' samh,' sorrel, and 'airidh,' sheiling. It is mentioned by Dr Norman Macleod in his playful song to his father's beadle rich, fat, samh ' eisg,' productive, fish odour fold, herd, samh trom eisg,' flock, ' ; ' : Chan eil Co math ' An am cleireach 's There is no clerk in the country So good at the steering an dutliaich riut air stiuradh tarruinn a curs air Duthaich a Cheo canaidh gach maraich " An ramhath do ghabhail," A Ruaraidh bhig Shamhairidh, sin Ho hi ri, ho ro is When thou settest her course for the Land of the Mist all seamen shout 'splendid thy Tlien sailing,' Little Rory of Savary, Ho ! hi ri, ho ro ! Samh, a god, a giant, a strong person. Derivatives are 'samhan,' ' samhanach,' a dog, a little giant a great giant, a monster 'mharbhadh tu na samhanaich,' thou wouldst kill the giants. ; Samhainn, Samhuinn, Oidhche Shamhainn, Oidhche Skamhna, Hallowtide, Hallowmas, Hallowe'en. This is one innumerable mystic rites are practised. ' samh-f huin,' summei'-end. Sctni, of the when seasons Supposed to be from probably some animal. Seackd, seven. Seven is one of the sacred numbers so frequently occurring in the poems, proverbs, and phrases of the people. ' * Seven weeks till doom Between Pasch and Shrove. Seachd seachdaine gu brath Eadar Casg is Inid.' Two seven years age of cat Seven years lightsome, glad, Seven years heavy-headed, Da sheachd bliadhna aois cait Seachd bliadhna aoibhinn, ait, Seachd bliadhna troma-cheannach. : : Big-headed, sleepy. Gola-cheannach, cadalach. ' Ann ' The greed of the seven old Sannt nan seachd seann sagart. am fear nighean.' gun mhac gun Seachd bliadhna cuimhne na ba, la bhratha cuirahne an eich.' Gu In the man daughter. without priests, son, without Seven years the memory of the cow, Till doomsday the memory of the horse. ; ; ; ; ; ' ; ; NOTES 348 A 'Taigh seachd ceathail ur threabhachais Taigh rath, sheilbh is A shonachais.' house of seven couples newly set up, house of prosperity, possessions and joyousness. 'Seachd bliadhna romh 'n bhrath, Thig muir thar Eirinn ri aon Seven years before the day of doom, The sea 'S thar He ghuirra, ghlais, Ach snamhaidh I Chaluimchleirich.' will come over Erin in one watch. And over Islay, green, grassy. But float will lona of Columba the cleric. Tha gath a ghaoil cho guineach Ri sleagh nan seachd seang.' The dart of love is as piercing As the spear of the seven grooves. trath, ' 'Seachd,' seven, expresses perfection, completeness, as 'seachd 'seachd searbh,' the height of bitterness, utterly tired, sgith,' 'seachd sath,' perfect satiation. — Hence use in the following its seachd beannachd ort,' seven blessings on you ' seachd mallachd ort,' seven cursings on you 'seachd seacharani seilg ort,' seven hunt wanderings on you, 'seachd gloir,' seven glories, 'seachd deamhain,' seven devils, 'seachd sagairt,' seven priests, phrases : ' ; ; 'seachd sitheach,' seven fairies. Many more examples the following will number seven could be given, but was taken down in 1860, with much of the suffice. It more old lore, from Kemieth Morrison, cottar, Trithion, Skye. Kenneth Morrison, old and blind, had much native intelligence and interesting lore. I love to think of his calm face, of his kindly smile, and of his warm welcome. ' Seachd sgadain, Seven herrings. Feast of salmon Seven salmon. Sath bradain Seachd bradain, Sath roin Seachd Feast of seal Seven roin, muc mhara bheag Seachd muca raara beag, Sath muc mhara mhor Seachd muca raara mor, [crothain Seachd cionarain-cro, [crothain Sath mial mhor a chuain. (I do not know what 'kracken,' nor what 'miol sperm-whale. for the whale. little sow of ocean ; sows of ocean. Feast of large sow of ocean ; Seven large sows of ocean. Feast of ' cionarain-cro ' Seven Sath Sath cionarain-cro seals. Feast of ; ' Seven cionarain-cro,' * Feast of great beast of ocean. cionaran-cro mhor [whale little a chuain' it be the be the great the ordinary term unless ' is is urdess 'Sow,' and 'sow of the sea,' is it — NOTES ' A Thi thug lonah gu tir A broin na muice le sith. Thou Being who didst bring Jonah to land From the belly of the sow with peace, Bring Thou to a haven myself Thoir gu cala mi fhin mo 'S 349 And lod.' ray load.) A subsequent day was appointed for the coronation of Rienzi. Seven crowns of different leaves or metals were successively placed on his head by the most eminent of the Roman clergy they represented the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost.' Gibbon's ' ; — Decline and Fall. Seachda is seven elements. The surface meaning of this expression intended meaning obscure. (Vol. i. p. 6.) 'Sion,' an element. Thus construed, the 'seachda siona,' seven siona, clear, the 'sian/ is elements, would probably be wind ' Latha nan seachd ' Oidhche nan seachd — when ' fire, air, earth, water, snow, ice, and —pel haps lightning. all Day sian.' of the seven elements. Night of the seven elements. sian.' the elements are let loose. Deireadh nan seachd sian a malediction. [' The end of the seven elements be upon thee ort.' Sian ' here may mean storm, tempest.] Sometimes the word Sealbh, means, possessions, luck. Providence. confined to corn, sometimes to flocks, and sometimes it is includes the whole possessions. name Seurcan, seircean, another for ' meac-an-dogh,' burdock. The people held the burdock in high esteem, using an extract of the root in pulmonary complaints. Searrach, foal. There is much as also with the horse. superstition connected with the foal, seen for the season If the first foal denotes good luck is walking towards the beholder, coming luck if running towards the beholder, immediate luck. If the contrary, ill luck, ill news, death. The foal of an old mare is said to be more active than that of a young mare. facing the beholder it ; if ; ' Nighean bantraich dha 'm bi crodh. muilleir dha 'm bi rain. Mac Searrach seann laireadh Triuir Seathau, ' is meanmnaich La air greigh. The daughter of the widow of flocks, The son of the miller of meal, The foal of the old stud mare, air bith.' Fheill Sheathain, John, the Eoin ' is Are the three most merry of Day heel. of the Feast of St John. the Biblical form of John, and ' Iain ' the secular — NOTES 350 form except in the popular La Samhna • where the old form of 'Seathan' lore, retained. is gamhna theirear On Hallow Day the calves are called na ris laoigh. stirks. theirear aighean On St John's queys. Fheill Sheathain is t-samhraidh Theid a chiithag dh'a taigh geamh- On St John's La FheiU Sheathain na dheigh.' riu La ' The cuckoo is The " Gug-gug," urs a chuthag, Air La buidhe Bealltain, " Gug-gug," urs i rithist. Air La leth On is cuckoo home. goes her to winter the yellow Day of Beltane, Gug-gug,' said she again. On Midsummer Day. ' an t-samhraidh,' Thou John, thou John beloved. Oft wert thou and I dallying. And if we were it was not by the fire. But very high on the mountain crest. a Sheathain chridhe, a bha mi 's tu mire, De mu bha cha b'ann aig an teine, Ach gle ard am braigh nam fireach.' Is trie The surname Maclean, many like Gaelic surnames, being an abbreviation of the son of the servant of St John. Seile, winter Gug-gug,' said the cuckoo. ' A Sheathain, astical her On Midsummer Day, leth raidh.' ' summer to said to leave rather earlier than St John's Day, an t-samhraidh, Theid a chuthag dh'a taigh geamh- ' in house. and the more approximately correct form La Day they are called The cuckoo goes raidh.' ' Day origin, ' Mac is gille of ecclesiSheathain,' Gaelic has different names for placenta, after-birth of a hind. the placenta of different animals. Seillean mor, big bee, summer Seing, is seang, roebuck; slender deer bhoc,' ' The bumble bee. first bumble bee seen in secured and kept for luck. ; ' called boc-caol,' slim 'seang-f hiadh,' also seang-bhoc,' boc-seang,' ' buck ; ' ' fiadh-seang," slender buck ruadh-bhoc,' ' ' caol- boc-ruadh,' red ; buck. Sgarta falaich, sgairlc falaich, a rift, a rent, a cleft, a cave, a recess in a rock in which to hide or to shelter. Sgeimineach, sgeiminidh, beauteous, polished, lustrous, probably from 'sgeimh,' beauty. — NOTES 351 Sgeo, haze, fog, vapour. ' A ghealach gheal gun smal, gun The white moon without sgeo.' 'Tha'n sgeo a sgaoileadh thar nam beann, 'S tha mis an ceo dha fionndrain, Cha till thu ghaoil dha ni'theasd a The haze cha is spreading the over hills, And I in a mist Love thou am missing thee, shalt not return hither to rescue me, nail, 'S spot, without haze. toill mi dhol dha ' Sgeo ' Sgeabost,' occurs ' ' Nor may d' ionnsuidh.' Sgebost," ' Sgiabost,' haze, and 'best,' Norse for house. I win thither to thee. Sgeobost place-names. in ' variously is Sgibost,' all forms of ' Sgitheanach ' is from Of called sgeo,' ' 'sgi,' a Skye was known as Clar-Sgi,' Haze-land. The sea between Skye and Uist, now called the Little Minch, was known as 'Cuan-Sgi,' case of 'sgeo,' and the termination 'anach,' full of. old, ' Haze-ocean. [These explanations are improbable.] Sgonn, sgonnag, a block, a wood ' ; a lad little block, as 'sgonn cabair,' block of sgonn cloiche,' block of stone ' sgoim gille,' a block of ' sgonn ' Sgonn,' ' sgonnan,' arain,' a block of bread. ; ; 'sgonnag,' house. is the base of the couple imbedded in the wall of a Scottish ' bùgar.' ' Clach mhor bhun sgonnaig is ' the upright flag-stone at the base of the coujile as a partition to prevent cows injuring one another. In some places this upright stone is Sgòlfì, sgiilh, called ' stall,' a stall. shade, shelter, a concealment hut for sportsmen. 'Sgoth,' a steep rock, an abrupt hill, a bank of cloud, an overhanging haze, a place-name in Uist and Harris. A form of ' sgath,' and cognate with ' sgeo ' ' La sgothach air muir 's air tir, Co nach comhnadh le mac mo righ ? Sguan, A cloudy day upon land and ' Who woixld not aid the son of sea, my king ? slur, slander, gossip. Sgulanach, flippant, flippancy, evil speaking, a shallow person ; from 'sgul,' 'sgulan.' Sian, soft music, soft sorrowful music, generally applied to the fairy music heard in the fairy knoll. Simi, seiin, ' a charm, incantation, magic enchantment. Sonas nan seachd — possibly used sian.' in derision. The joy of the seven spells. — NOTES 352 a particle, a small grain, an infinitesimal Sic, sicean, siic, silcean, silean, quantity sicean ' ; a small grain of seed. sioil,' Sionn, siunn, siann, siannt, mysterious, probably akin to 'sian,' a charm. An island near Easdale, another near Appin, and another near Islands near Lewis, a hill in Islay, Moidart, is a Ardnaraurchan, and a loch near Kilmun, are called where siaimta means sained, sacred. Holy Loch in 'an Loch Siannta.' ' hill ill Siannt,' Corval called ' Sionna.' ' is ' ' ' hence the region of lurid light. Sunday, ' teine sionnachain,' phosphorescence, the rainbow-like brightness seen in spindrift on sending a clear sunny day. ' Cur teine sionnachain 's an speur phosphorescence into the sky. Sionn, light, brightness, lurid light ' Domhnach ; bright sionnaich,' ' Silk, sithich, fairy, fairies 'sitheag,' fairy. female The ; ' siodha,' ' fairies bean sith,' 'sifire,' 'sifreach,' male siodhach,' fay, fairy fairy, 'sitheach,' 'sifir,' — ; ' entered largely into the lives and folklore of They lived in the green knolls and round and only occasionally appeared to mortal eyes. In October 1871, the late J. F. Campbell of Islay and the vn'iter were storm-stayed in the precipitous island of Miunghlaidh, the Highland people. hillocks, Barra. We occupied our time in listening to the folklore of the whom we were so kindly treated. One of these was Roderick MacNeill, known as ' Ruaraidh mac Dliomhuil,' Roderick the son of Donald, a famous story-teller and a man wondrously endowed mentally and physically. MacNeill was then ninety-two He had never been ill, and never had shoes on, years of age. and never had tasted tea. His chest was as round as a barrel, and measured forty-eight inches in circumference. He had been an extraordinary ' rocker after birds, moving about on precipices of eight hundred feet sheer down to the sea, where a goat or even people by ' So powerful was the man that a cat might hesitate to go. wherever his fingers could get insertion in the crevices of the rock he could move his body along the face of the precipice without any other support. One of the many tales he told us was that of the origin of the fairies, which I condense The Proud Angel fomented a rebellion among the angels of heaven, where he had been a leading light. He declared that he would go and found a kingdom of his own. When going out at the door of heaven the Proud Angel brought 'dealanaich : — ; NOTES 353 dheilgnich agus beithh- bheumnaich/ prickly lightning and biting lightning, out followed him of the Many door-step with his heels. — so many that angels Son called out, Father whereupon the Father at last the ' ! ! Father the city is being emptied ordered that the gates of heaven and of hell should be closed. This was instantly done and those who were in were in, and while the hosts who had left those who were out were out heaven and had not reached hell, flew into the holes of the earth ' mar na famhlagan,' like the stormy petrels. These are the fairy folks ever since doomed to live under ' ! ; ; — the ground, and only jiermitted to emerge when and where the King permits. They are never allowed abroad on Thursday, that being Columba's Day, nor on Friday, that being the Son's Day, nor on Saturday, that being Mary's Day, nor on Sunday, that being the Lord's Day. ' Dia eadar mi Gach mi-run God be between me and every fairy, Every ill wish and every druidry. To-day is Thursday on sea and land, I trust in the King that they do not gach siodha, 's 's gacli druidheachas, An diugh an Daorn air rauir 's air tir, M' earbs a Righ nach cluinn iad hear me. mi.' On certain nights and their lamps are merrily, the fairies ' Chan ann a shiol when lit, bowers, are open and the song and the dance are moving their 'bruthain,' may be heard Adhaimh Adam are we, not our father, But of the seed of the Proud Angel, Driven forth from heaven. chan Abram ar n-athair. Ach shiol an ainghil uabharaich. Chaidh fhuadach a flathas.' Many ' things in named are which they after ; ' the is fairies, indicating the minds of the people. spots appearing on the face of dominated Breaca-sith,' fairy marks, livid the dead or dying of the seed of And Abraham 'S manner singing light-heartedly Not sinn. marcachd the shith,' fairy riding, paralysis of the spine in animals, alleged to be brought on by the fairy mouse riding across the backs of the animals while lying down 'piob shith,' fairy pipe, elfin Jiipe, generally found in underground houses; 'miaran na mna sithe,' the thimble of the fairy woman, foxglove ' lion na mna sithe," lint of the fairy woman, ' curachan na fairy flax, said to be beneficial in certain illnesses ; ; mna sithe,' valilla, coracle of the fairy woman, the shell are a few examples of things called after the of the blue little ' people of peace.' In place-names VOL. II. ' sith ' is very common. ' Gleann-sith,' Glen- Z — NOTES 354 Perthshire, shee, in is have been said to full of fairies. The screech of the steam whistle has frightened them underground. 'Sithean a Bhealaich,' fairy knoll of the pass, is the name of a place at 'Bealach Rosgairt' (Fhrosgairt), Benmore, South Uist. Scarcely a district in the Highlands is without its ' sithean,' faiiy ' Feadan knoll, generally the greenest hillock in the place. Chatain,' the black chanter of the Clan Chattan, have been given to a famous Macpherson piper by a The Mackays have a flag said to fairy woman who loved him. have been given to a Mackay by a fairy sweetheart. The famous fairy flag at Dunvegan is said to have been given to a Macleod of Macleod by a fairy woman. The MacCrimmons of Bororaig, the famous pipers of the Macleods of Macleod, had a chanter called 'Sionnsair airgid na nina sithe," dubh Chlanna is said to the silver chanter of the fairy woman. As ' Slochd 'Iain nam Og,' lovely fairy queen ' young John MacCrimmon, was practising came forth Thug do mhaise 's ceol do phioba. Leannan siodha air do thoir. Sinim dhuit an sionnsair airgid, A bhios binn gun cliearb fo from the knoll, and said Thy beauty and the music of thy pipe, Have brought a fairy sweetheart to thee, I hand thee now the silver chanter, d' That will be melodious ever under thy fingers. mheoir. The in piobairean,' hollow of the pipers, at Bororaig, the story of and highly young John and his fsiiry sweetheart is very fine poetic. A family in North Uist is known as * Dubh-sith,' Black fairy, from a tradition that the family have been familiar with the fairies in their fairy flights and secret migrations. Donald MacAlastair, aged seventy-nine, crofter, Druim-aghinnir, Arran, told me the following story on the 28th of August 1895:— Bha na sifri a fuireach 's an torn agus bha nabuidh aca agus bhiodh an duine dol air cheilidh do thaigh nan sifri. Bha an duine a gabhaU beachd air doigh nan sifri agus a deanamh mar bhiodh ' iad a deanamh. Thog na sifri turas orra gu dol a dh' Eiriini. agus thog an duine air gu fiilbh leo. Rug a chuile sifri riamh air geo-astair, agus chaidh e casa-gobhlach air a gheo-astair, agus a nunn cuan na h-Eire bha iad muin air mhuin a chuile glun diubh ann an tiota, agus a nunn cuan na h-Eire bha an duine as an deoghaidh ' casagobhlach air geo-astair mar aon do chacha. Dh' eubh sifri —— NOTES be.ag biteach, bronach, iiile an robh iad gu'n robh, agus dh'eubh an " 355 Mo righ air Dol thairis uile sifii deas agus dh'eubh cacha beag mo clieann, am dheann. Air chirean nan tonn, A dh' Eirinn." "Lean mise," orsa righ nan sifrean, agus a niach a bha iad nunn muir a chuile mac mathar dhiubh casa-gobhlach air a gheoCha robh fios aig MacCuga air thalanih ciamar a thilleadh e a thir a mhuinntiris a rithist aeh leum e air a gheo-astair mar a chunnaic e na sifrean a deanamh, agus dh' eubh e mar a chuala e iadsan a g'eubhach agus ann an tiota bha e air ais ann an Arainn. Ach fhuair e a leoir dhe na sifrich an turas sin fhein, agus cha d'flialbh e riamh tuilleadh leo.' 'The fairies were dwelUng in the knoll, and they had a near neighbour who was wont to visit them in their home. The man used to observe the ways of the fairies and to do as they did. The fairies took a journey upon them to go to Ireland, and the man took upon him to go with them. Every single fairy caught a ragwort and went astride the ragwort, and they were pell-mell, every knee of them, across the Irish ocean in an instant, and across the Irish ocean was the man after them, astride a ragwort like one of the others. A little wee tin)' fairy shouted and asked were they all ready, and all the others replied that they were, and the little fairy called out air astair. " My king at my Going across in head. my haste. On the crests of the waves. To Ireland." " Follow me," said the kmg of the fairies, and across the Irish ocean, each mother's son of ragwort. away they were them astride his Macuga (Cook) did not know on earth how he would return to his native land, but he leapt upon the ragwort as he saw the fairies do, and he called as he heard them call, and in an instant he was back in Arran. But he had got enough of the fairies on this trip itself, and he never went with them again.' The fairies were wont to take away infants and their mothers, and many precautions were taken to safeguard them till purification and baptism took place, when the fairy power became ineffective. Placing iron about the bed, burning leather in the room, giving mother and child the milk of a cow which had eaten of the — NOTES 356 'mothan,' and similar means were taken to ensure their safety. Sometimes the watching-women neglected these precautions, and the mother or child or both were spirited away to the fairy bower. Many stories are current on this subject. Sometimes the fairies helped human beings with their work, coming in at night to finish her spinning or her web for the housewife, or to thresh his corn or fan his grain for tlie houseman. On such occasions they must not be molested nor interfered with, even in gratitude. If presented with a garment they will go away and work no more. This method of gettmg rid of them is sometimes resorted to, as it is not easy always to find work for them. 'Bean chaol a chota uaine 's na gruaige buidhe,' the slender woman of the green kirtle and the yellow hair, is wise of head and deft of hand. She can convert the white water of the rill into rich red wine, and the threads of the spider into a tartan plaid. From the stalk of the fairy reed she can bring the music of the lull of repose and peace, however active the brain and lithe the limb and she can rouse to mirth and merriment, and to the dance, men and women, however dolorous their condition. From the bower in the green hillock could be heard the pipe and the song and the voice of laughter as they 'sett' and reeled in the mazes of the dance. Sometimes a man seeing the wonderful light and hearing the merry music, would be tempted to go in and join them, but woe to him if he omitted to leave a piece of u-on at the door of the bower on entering, for the cunning fairies would close the door, and the man would find no egress. There he would dance for j'ears, but to him the years were as one day while his wife and family mourned him as dead. But faith is dead, and such things do not happen now' so said my courteous ; ' — informant. Sleabhag, sleibheag, spleacan, spleicean, mattock. This small mattock used in digging up carrots and the roots of native plants used by the people in dyeing and tanning. is Sleamknan, stye, called inflamed tumour on 'sleamhnan,' 'sleamhran,' the ' eyelid. sleamhnagan,' It is various^ 'sleamhragan,' 'leamhnan,' 'leamhran,' 'leamhranan,' 'leamhnadan,' 'neamhnad,' neonad.' and ' Sleamhnanachd, leamhnanachd, exorcism of the stye, removing the stye by occult power. NOTES Sliom, buttercup. 357 The buttercup was used as a poultice for swelling, especially swelling in the sole of the foot. Another name ' for the buttercup 'carrs.' The buttercup Tha'n carrsa fo'n ghobhair glilais. cha tig bailc am bliadhn oirre.' And no 'S The buttercup was is believed to is under the grey goat, cusp shall come this year upon possess it. magical as well as medicinal powers. Sliosrach, slope, declivity; from 'slios,' a slope. Slisneach, a plant like the 'slan-lus,' 'sla-lus,' 'la-lus,' self-heal and ribwort. The 'hosts' are the spirits of The people have many curious stories Sluagh, 'the host,' the spirit-world. mortals on ' who have died. According to one informant, the this subject. spirits fly about 'nan sgrioslaich mhor, a sios agus a suas air uachdar an domhain mar na truidean — in great clouds, up and down the face of the world like the starlings, and come back to the scenes of their earthly transgressions. No soul of them is without the clouds ' dimming the brightness of the works of God, nor can any win heaven till satisfaction is made for the sins of earth. In bad nights, the hosts shelter themselves, fo sgath chuiseaga behind little bheaga ruadha agus bhuaghallain bheaga bhuidhe They fight russet docken stems and little yellow ragwort stalks. They may be heard battles in the air as men do on the earth. and seen on clear frosty nights, advancing and retreating, After a battle, retreating and advancing, against one another. as I was told in Barra, their crimson blood may be seen staining rocks and stones. (' Full nan sluagh,' the blood of the hosts, is the beautiful red ' crotal of the rocks melted by the frost.) These spirits used to kill cats and dogs, sheej) and cattle, with They commanded men to follow their unerring venomous darts. them, and men obeyed, having no alternative. It was these men of earth who slew and maimed at the bidding of their spirit-masters, who in return ill-treated them in a most ' Bhiodh pitiless manner. iad 'gan loireadh agus 'gan loineadh They would agus 'gan luidreadh anns gach lod, lud agus Ion be rolling and dragging and trouncing them in mud and mire and pools. 'There is less faith now, and people see less, for of earth, ' ' — ' ' VOL. II. — Z 2 — NOTES 358 God grant to thee and to me, my dear, the Son of the lovely Mary.' This is the substance of a graphic account of the 'sluagh,' given me in Uist by a bright old woman, endowed with many natural gifts and possessed of much old lore. There are men to whom the spirits are partial, and who have been carried off by them more than once. A man His friends assured in Benbecula was taken up several times. me that night became a terror to this man, and that ultimately he would on no account cross the threshold after dusk. He died, they said, from the extreme exhaustion consequent on these seeing of faith. is faith of the gi-eat When the spirits flew past his house, the man would undergoing a great mental struggle, and fighting against forces unseen of those around him. A man in Lismore suffered under jirecisely similar conditions. More than once he disappeared mysteriously from the midst of his companions, and as mysteriously reappeared utterly exhausted and prostrate. He was under vows not to reveal what had occurred on these aerial excursions. wince as if travels. down several stories of persons who went with the Here is one of the stories of the hosts summarised The beautiful daughter of a king of France was taken up by the 'hosts,' and carried about in the air, over lands and seas, continents and islands, till they came to the little island of Heistamal, behind Creagorry, in Benbecula, where they laid her down in such an injured state that she died from the hard treatment not, however, till she had told about the lands to which she had been carried, and of the great hardships she had endured while travelling through space. The people of the island buried the princess where she was found. The 'sluagh' are supposed to come from the west; and therefore, when a person is dying, the door and the windows on the west side of the house are secured to keep out the malicious spirits. In Ross-shire, the door and windows of a house in which I ' took hosts.' ' ' : ; a person may is dying are opened, in order that the liberated soul escape to heaven. In Killtarlity, when children are being brought into the world, locks of chests and of doors are opened, this being sujiposed, according to traditional belief, to facilitate childbirth. Smeoim, arrow-head, arrow-point, the destructive end of the arrow. [The dictionaries make 'smeoirn' the butt end.] — NOTES •Mis an gaisgeach gun ghioraig Leis an an coingeis — am bas, slan I 359 am A thilgeas the an gath nach teid earr ri na — death, indifferent tlie whole or is frail, Who will cama no throw the dart that will not bend nor stray, the end of the arrow- cearr, Co cinnteach As smeoirn.' cert;iin as [point head. [gais ' the hero without panic To whom no'ra breoit, Bow Bogha dh'iubhar Easragain, Ite firein Locha Treig, yew of Easragan, Feather of the eagle of Loch Treig, The yellow wax of Baile-nan-gaillean, Arrow-head from the craftsman Mac- Ceir bhuidhe Bhaile nan gaillean. Smeoirn o"n cheard MacPheidirean.' of the Pheidirean. Another version says ' :- Bow Bogh a dh'iubhar Easragain, Ite firein Loch Doire-donn,' brown grove, ' Easragan in Airdchattan, his first parliament, at of Easragan, birch of Doire-donn, Feather of the eagle of Loch Treig. ' is yew Arrow of the Treige.' ' of the Silk of Gallvinn, Sioda na Gaillbhinn, Saighead a bheithe an Doire-dhuinn, is in Glenorchy. near the priory where Bruce held which meeting Gaelic was the language used. Margaret Campbell, daughter of Colin Campbell of Inver Easragan, was the wife of John Macaulaj-, minister of Lisraore, and the paternal grandmother of Lord Macaulay. She was much beloved in Lismore, and her husband the reverse. Old men in the island described John Macaulay as Duine rag, danarra, ceannlaidir, ceannsgallach a huile duine cearr, ach esan a mhain ceart A man obstinate, opinionative, dogmatic, domineering all men wrong, he alone right. A fellow-student said of Lord Macaulay I wish I were as cocksure of anything as Tom Macaulay is of everything.' The infallibility would seem to have been inherited. Loch Treig is in Lochaber. BaOe nan gaillean,' Baile nan gaOlbhinn,' is said to be Dun-chaillionn Dunkeld, famed for honey, beeswax, and silk. Clann Pheidirean (Patersons) had their forge at Creagan Corrach, Fearrlochan, in Benderloch, about seven miles across Glensalach from Easragan. They were famous armourers, their swords being celebrated for their high finish and excellence. The native home of the MacPheidireans was on the north side of Lochfyne, where they had been numerous. : ' — ' — — : — ' ' ' — ' ' ' Smeola, the poetic name ' of the 'smeor,' 'smeorach,' thrush, mavis. NOTES 360 Snaoih, snaodh, snaogh, leader, creatures have a ' ' ceann-snaoth nan cliief, The people say king. ceann-snaoth,' head-chief. A the head-chief of the fish iasg,' that certain ; all fish is a certain bird 'ceann-snaoth nan ian,' the head-chief of the birds; a certain or bull, ' ceaim-snaoth nan ni,' the head-chief of the nowt a is cow ; 'ceann-snaoth nan each,' the head-chief of the certain horse, steeds and a certain deer, ; ' nam ceann-snaoth fiadh,' head-chief of the deer. A townland South in Uist place stands prominently on the called is ' The Hough, which These salmon Snaothaisbhal.' bank of the river here crowded with salmon like sheep in a pen. in the shallow water, guided in their movements by a leader. Hence, according to local etymology, the name of the farm the fell of the leadership. is may be seen moving about — On the low-lying townland of Hough-beag on the opposite side of the river are the ruins of the house of Neill MacEachain, father of Marshal Macdonald, Duke MacEachain was the of Tarentum. patronymic of this sept of the Macdonalds. After his escape to France with Prince Charlie, Neill MacEachain reverted to his clan-name of Macdonald. When Marshal Macdonald visited Britain in 182.5 he went to On see his relatives, then as now numerous in South Uist. coming in sight of the river Hough, he raised his arm and exclaimed, ' That's the river description. Many Macdonald treated Hough a salmon his sideration, bestowing my ! I know father numerous it from my killed there.' relatives money on the more with father's Marshal kindly con- distant and annuities on the more near. He carried away potatoes from his father's He garden, and earth and stones from his father's house. cultivated the potatoes in his own garden in France, and at his death the earth and stones were, at his request, placed over heart and buried with him. his Soir, sear, east, eastern. ' Soir A is farm siar in an deigh nan con.' North now Uist, East and west after the hounds. a lop-sided island, The other is called 'Bailesear,' which was called 'Bailesiar,' wester-townland, lies submerged under the Atlantic. The ruins of the houses of the submerged townland are occasionally seen under favourable conditions of tide and atmosphere. easter -townland. side, — NOTES 361 — broken food whelks, cockles, limpets, mussels, and other sliell-fish broken and thrown into the sea to attract fish. The Lady Amie, wife of John, Lord of the Isles, sent men round the islands to make hollows in the rocks in which the people might break shell-fish and jirepare bait. Such pits are called 'toll solaidh,' bait holes. These mortars resemble cup cuttings, for which antiquarians have mistaken them. Sola, food, soladh, Somh, somha, convert, convince, controvert, overturn, upset, render of no avail cf. 'soim,' Windisch's W'òrterbuch. ; Soplachan, wisp, tuft, sustenance weak animal; from ; a handful of corn in the ear given to Sometimes the 'soplachan' is suspended from a stake beside the animal, sometimes from the neck of the animal to enable it to nibble at the wisp while h'ing down. Mrs Clark, Torr-an-damh, makes effective use of this term a 'sop,' wisp. : ' Is tu Is tu Is tu mo mo mo Trie is Shoplachan broUaich, Charaide soghar. Brathair is sine. minic dha m' chomhnadh." Thou Thou Thou art the Sustenance of my breast, art ray bounteous Friend, art my eider Oft and Brother, oft befriending man, from me. clear, and man, the reverse of 'dorchar,' 'dorachar,' darkness, a dark man. The initials d and are often in opjiosition, as Sorchar, sorachar, brightness, a clear 'sorch,' a 'fear,' .? 'dorch,' dark, 'sorch,' clear; 'dolas,' grief, 'solas,' joy; 'doilleir,' obscure, 'soilleir,' light; 'doirbh,' difficult, 'soirbh,' easy; 'dubhailc,' vice, 'subhailc,' virtue; 'duathar,' darkness, 'suathar,' lightness; 'dolair,' withhold, 'solair,' provide; 'dochair,' wrong, 'sochair,' right. 'Sorchar' may mean Christ, Light of the World,' or 'the Michael, 'the Light of the Mountains' (vol. prevails among Highlanders angel of light or by an angel of darkness angel ; i. that every person p. 66). is A belief attended by an — by a good or by a bad that during sleep the soul of the good accompanied by the angel of light ascends to the gates of heaven there to foresee and that the soul of the bad accompanied by the bad angel descends to the gates of hell, there to listen to the wailing of those who had followed evil courses and wicked ways. There is a story told of a man whose soul returned after wandering through the regions of time and space. The soul alighted on the face of the man, in the form of a bee or a butterfly, and was about to enter its home in the body through the bliss awaiting the good and brave ; — — ' NOTES 362 the pathway of the mouth when a neighbour killed version of the story says that the body of the his soul was killed man it. died One when another version says that the body of the ; lingered long in the land after the soul was dead, busying man itself up and down the earth, carrying the substance of the dead soul in its left and the shadow of its withered heart in its right hand. Probably this is not the only instance of the body existing after the soul dead. is flat stone in a byre door, a certam stone 'Speach na bathcha,' the doorstep of the byre. Dim. 'speachag.' 'Tilg speachag air a bhoin,' throw a stone A form of 'spitheag,' a little stone. at the cow. Speach, a stone, a doorstep, a byre drain. in a Speach, a claw, a hoof, an animal, perhaps akin to 'speir,' a shank. ' ' The word ' Send in the cattle. Send out the herds. Cuir a staigh an speach.' Cuir a mach na speich.' occurs in the following song Thaine na Thaine na Thaine na Thainig Cait oirnn. Cait oirnn. iad oirnne ! ! A bhristeadh a steach, A thogail nan creach, .\ To break in upon us, To lift the spoil, To steal the kine, To strike the steeds, To strip the meads, They have come upon us spuilleadh nan speach. A struilleadh nan each. A rusgadh nam meach. Thainig iad oirnne : The Cats have come upon us, The Cats have come upon us, The Cats have come upon us, They have come upon us Cait oirnn, ! ! Spisniche, prop, pillar, colunni, support. 'Srabh Srabh, strahh, falling water. uisge,' water pouring as from the roof of a house. Srol, strol, satin, gauze, gossamer, filament. ' The word occurs in many old songs and down in the island of Miunghlaidh, Barra, • Siud mar dh' orduichinn-se dhusa Nighean righ le corr 's le cusbar. — was used for and other purposes. Srol carpets, flags, banners, dresses, winding-sheets, sayings. says ' A song taken : That is what I would ordain for thee— The daughter of a king with worth and gear, Le Le sioda, le srol, le susban. or righ, The le or cusbann.' With With silk, with satin, with substance, and with foreign gold. king's gold, following lines were sung in Miunghlaidh by a cottar girl, teeth, red lips, blue eyes, fair hair, Celtic features, whose white — — — ' — NOTES lithe form, They and graceful movements would have done visiting : gun chach ga m' 's was there but others not seeing me, I fhaicinn, dha m' chas dhomh, m' each dhomh, Treis O ! who by the 'hosts,' and carried about in the air, many places and seeing many scenes, among tliem her Bha mi anns treis am treis while on Strol ' is my foot, a while on my horse, am uain strol A dha And oh a v/hile in ! pasgadh.' ' for Minerva. in Barra, lifted brother's funeral 'S woman are said to have been composed by a had been ' 363 my green satin folded. mentioned in a song said to have been composed by ))y the Norsemen, a girl in Barra, whose relatives were massacred and she herself carried away captive ' Tha m' athair 's mo mhathair Air an caramh 's a chro, ['s an fhoid 'S tha mo phiutliar 's mo bhrathair Air am fagail 's an strol.' The word occurs also in ballads current in the ' Strol is isle ' : My father and Are laid in the bier, my mother [sod And my sister and my Are left in brother the shroud. Bron Binn,' one of several Arthurian : Satin and silk under her two soles. sioda fo a da bhonn.' Slapag, Scots 'stappack,' a mixture of meal and cream, or of milk, or of cold water. ' An old lullaby 239) says (c/! p. : Stapag bhuirn, stapag bhainne, A Stapag bhuirn gheobh mo leanu, 'N uair a bheireas an crodh laoigli A stappack of water will my child stappack of water, a stappack of milk, When The north end get, the calving cows shall bear of milk. My love will get a stappack Gheobh mo ghaol stapag bhainne. Skye of the island of Trondarnais, Thrond's peninsula. The is district called is fertile Trotarnis, and was once abundant in corn. It was the granary of the Macdonalds of the Isles, whose land it was. Tlie Macleods of Duirinish facetiously called the district of Trotarnis, the country of the stappacks of ' the stappacks. Duthaich nam ' ; Am The Macdonalds mogais,' ' Duthaich ' Dutliaich nan stapag,' fearann stajiagach,' the land retorted, nam calling Duirinish mogan,' the country of ' Am fearann mogasach,' and moganach,' the land of the footless stockings. the footless stockings ; ' Am fearann stance, site, situation, moat, ditch, fort, stronghold, an impregnable position, a sacred enclosure, a sacred ring gap in a wall, rock, or mountain distress, difficulty. Staing, ; ; NOTES 364 ill place-names, as Staiiig at the foot of Ben-Ledi. place-name in Killtarlity, is shortened from Inis-staing, meadow of the ' stang.' occurs It Is-staing, a Stear, sliarr, a pole like the butt of a salmon-rod, used in steair, The 'stearair,' pole-man, sits on the overhanging the Atlantic several hundred feet below. As the bird flies within reach overhead the man strikes it with the pole. The stunned bird tumbles down behind and is thrappled by a dog, and laid with the others. The bird that thus flies overhead is the puffin, in St KOda called "^buite,' and in Miunghlaidh 'buigire.' A day with a strong inland wind is selected for this work. 'Steaireadh' is eminently killing birds. edge of the cliff, 'steairear,' his legs dangerous, a slight swerve, a false stroke, causing destruction. Steill, shelf, bracket. ' Thoir an gunna thar na ' Cuir an cuman air an Take the gun steill.' off the bracket. Place the pail upon the shelf. steill.* imp, demon. ' Droch stic,' evil imp stic an donais,' imp of the an deamhain mhoir,' imp of the great demon ' stic ' stic taighe,' house imp starsaich,' doorstep imp, generally applied to a quarrelsome woman, occasionally to a quarrelsome man. Stic, devil ; ' ; ' stic ; ; The snood was a narrow white band of silk, satin, worn round the head of maidens. The snood was the badge of the maiden as the kertch was that of the matron. Frequent mention is made of the snood and the kertch, and Stiom, snood. linen, or wool sometimes of the substitution of the latter for the former. ' Laighinn sumhail an luib do I would bhreacain, Thigeamaid dhachaidh, Chuirinn stiora pasgadh, 'S chairinn am We maireach ' slenderly in the folds of thy snooded would on the morrow come home again, mo chinn am I would put the snood of my head breid ban 's And an I would arrange the white coif in fashion. ; 'stiomag,' a maiden, in contradistinction to breideag,' a wife. Slreajon, sreafan, slreahfion, sirealkan, streadhon, fringe, frill, fragment, beard, thin beard. • in folds, fhasan.' Sliomach, lie plaid, am Streafon stiallach a ghille ruaidh.' The ragged beard of the red fellow. ; NOTES ' 365 'Streafon na caora,' tallow of the sheep. Streajon, tallow, thin tallow. The watery Streafon glas na caora duibhe.' tallow of the black sheep. Streajon, filament, film, the film that covers the bone membrane, ; membrane covering the calf and other animals in utero The term occurs in an Arthurian ballad obtained in carpet. Uist in 1865:— the • Chunnas an righinn a sheinn an ceol, An cathair dh' an or a sbiigh, Streafon sioda fo da bhonn, Bheannaich mi fein ga I saw the damsel who sang the melody. In a chair of gold within, A carpet of silk beneath gnuis I ance. ghlain.' Sinnglein, her two soles, myself blessed her pure counten- confined to, glanders, disagreeable as disease which Although horses. The people say a strangles, slringleir, neither strangles is so affects, but is dangerous infectious not nor so and odorous. unknown in Lowland horses. that strangles was rare and glanders Highlands before the introduction of Highland horses, cattle, and sheep being hardier, are to disease than the softer Lowland breeds. the name the Strfian, stndhan, strudhan, is applied to the cake less liable made on St Michael's Eve and eaten on St Michael's Day. Sruban = merenda (afternoon meal) — Windisch's — (M'Alpine). JViirterbuch. Sruan, five-cornered shortbread cake name Suaircein, the SfiM, sHÌlke, soot. Eggs of a bird. (Vol. i. page '28ijf.) marked with soot to distinguish them from eggs Should a stray egg become mixed with the setting it is later in being hatched, and the chicken is called 'isean deire linn,' chick after brood. Such an occurrence is a bad omen for the eldest daughter of the family, and a sign that set are which may be intruded. she will not be married, or The egg girl is if married that she will be childless. concerned examines the nest daily to see that no such intruded. make bannocks of soot and salt, and place them under their pillows on Hallow Eve, that they might dream of their lovers. In some places girls used to Suil, droch shuil, eye, evil eye. thing, the owner says, ' When a person admires or covets a Fluich do shuil ma lean e rithe your eye lest it sticks to it, i.e. in case you have the the thing becomes yours or dwindles away. ' — Wet evil eye, and — — — ' NOTES 366 Snì, suit, fat, fatness, condition, — ' sultan ' and ' good condition The sultag.' first ; derivatives of applied to a fat is ' little siil boy or male beast, the last to a fat little girl or female beast. A ' Gaelic conundrum says A black sow in the copse, Without fat, without bhibber. Without voice, without speech, Without bristle of pig, Without curved joint. Without end of bone. Mug dhubh 's a choill, Gun sul, gun saill. Gun ghuth, gun chainn, Gun friodhan crain. Gun hiibhean caim. Gun cheann cnaimhe. Snail. Seilicheag.' not wholly accurate, the black snail being not only fat but nutritious. In Cornwall and elsewhere it is used in This description is consumption, and with good results. Probably the badger is the animal meant. (Vol. p. i. 314.) badger was eaten and prized in olden times. her beautiful lament at leaving Alban, Deirdire says The ' In flesh of the lasg is sieng is saill Fish and venison and flesh of badger, bruic mo chuid an glend Laigh.' These were my food in Glen Laigh. The harvest moon is variously called 'gealach gheal an abuchaidh,' the ripening white moon; 'gealach fin na Feill and gealach Micheil,' the fair moon of the Michael Feast bhuidhe nam broc,' the yellow moon of the badgers. The badger Fa hi ' ; is then in best condition, before he retires to his winter retreat. he is thin and emaciated. When the badger emerges in spring, He never comes out in winter, unless upon a rare occasion when out to air his hay bedding. The intelligence with which the badger brings out his bedding, shakes a dry sunny day it may tempt him in the sun, airs home, is it interesting in the wind, and and carries it back again to his instructive. is now rare in Scotland, being only seen occasionHighlands and on the Border. From the fact that all grazing animals are then in best condition, October is called 'mios sultain,' month of fatness. The badger ally in the Fhuair thu tachar eisg Fhuair mi tachar ian I got a Tachar, tacar, heap, quantity, fruitage. Thou hast got a heap number of birds. of Tachradh, produce, substance fish. ; from ' ' ' ' ' tachar,' quantity. — —— — — — NOTES 367 — dwarf one of the many which the Gaidlieal peopled the glens and woods, streams and lakes. A place in Islay is called ' Clachan an tacharain,' the ford of the kelpie and one in Perth is called ' Poll an tacharain,' the Tàckran, tàcharan, supernatural kelpie, a water-sprite, a a. with beings ; pool of the kelpie. The term occurs in the touching lament of a Kintail woman whose husband was slain by Donald Macdonald, known as Domhull odhar,' dun Donald, an tacharan,' the dwarf, and Fionnladh dubh nam fiadli,' black FiiJay Macrae, known as ' ' ' Finlay of the deer ' ' : a fhuaradh Taciiaran Is Fionnladh dubh nam fiadh A dh' fhag mo ghaol an cadha cumhan. Far nach eirich grian. Is olc Dh' fhag lad Mo shabhal mo thaigh mor gun tur tugha. have done the Dwarf black Finlay of the deer They left my love in narrow pass, Where no sunshine shall appear. 111 And They reft ray big house of its thatch. barn made wholly bare. My gun dion. An dubhra trath 's t-anaraoch ann. 'S mo chlann air bheag dh'an bhiadli.' In the gloomy winter night-watch, And my children on little fare. Their neighbours alleged that the people of Corrsabal, in Islay, wished to secure as a man-servant ' A sturdy stumpy of a fellow. A youth of exceeding strength, Bolanach do gheinneanach, Do bhalach math laidir, Dheanadh gniamh ceatharnaich. 'S Who Nor nach itheadh ach biadh tacharain.' would do the work of a hero, eat but the food of a dwarf. 'Tachran cuthaig,' 'tachan cuthaig,' the page of the cuckoo When the cuckoo sings, the pipit tach This emits a hissing sound resembling 'tach! tach may have originated the name in this case. generally the meadow-pipit. ' ! The polecat is detested for its destructivenow nearly extinct in the Highlands. Taghan, polecat, foumart. ness and evil odour. ! It is Fhuair sake of, on account of. ghnothaich I got a scolding on Tha mi air taileadh mo ghnothaich Tail, taileadh, sail, saileadh, cause, mise trod air do taileadh account of thy business. fhein ' — I am after ' my own Taimhlisg, traduce, contemn. ' ' — business. an taimhlisg this might a traducing person or one worthy of being traduced. ' Is tu ' Tairbhein, teirbhein, tailbhein, ieilbhein, surfeit from which when swallowed cattle ; possibly ' is dairb ' or ' ; deirb,' ; mean also a bloody flux in water-insect, supposed to cause bleeding. spider, NOTES 368 Talmaick, honour, obeisance Tarhh from 'talm,' to obey, to honour. ; demon, a god capable of changing himself a man, a bull, a horse, or other animal with hoidhre, a monster, a into many forms — supernatural powers. Tarman, torman, ptarmigan, preferably 'tarm,' or 'torm,' ' murmur, and Man,' tarmigan,' murmur-bird bird. 'tormach,' 'tarmachan,' 'tormachan,' Derivatives murmuring from — 'tarmach,' ; bird. ruddy, mottled grey in summer, changing to pure snow-white in winter. It confines itself to the summits of high hills, never coming down to the glens except under severe Like a true patriot it contests its pressure of continued snow. country inch by inch against the invading enemy and, if defeated, The tarmigan is is never discomfited. uninitiated the tarmigan is indistinguishable from its In 1877 the writer went up to examine the beach-like On the top shingly appearance of the summit of a hUl in Harris. of the mountain my companion drew my attention to tarmigans To the habitat. among the stones before us. I could hear the murmur, but could not see the birds, nor differentiate between them and the shingle before us, till they began to move, then to run, and ultimately to clear, the sun was bright, and not a nor a speck of cloud in the sky, but my companion said that a snowstorm was coming on. He insisted on The atmosphere was ly. breath of air on the hill immediate descent, and, incredulous, I reluctantly followed. In than an hour the bright sun began to disappear, and the sky began to darken and blacken, and in less than another hour a raging storm of snow was on, lasting three days and three nights less without intermission. My mode companion said that he knew by the peculiar plaint and of flight of the tarmigans that a snowstorm was approaching. Tarmach-de, tarmachan-de, the white butterfly, rarely the white-and- black butterfly. Teanga, tongue, voice, speech, oratory. oratory of Columba (vol. i. j). 56). 'Teanga Chaluim-chille,' the Columba had a powerful voice It is said that he could 'clearly heard at fifteen hundred paces.' be heard in Mull when preachmg in lona, more than a mile across Probably the famous Dr Macdonald, Ferintosh, 'the the sea. Apostle of the North,' was the greatest Gaelic orator since Columba, to whom he has been likened. Dr Macdonald and the — — NOTES 369 John A. Macdonald, Premier of Canada, another orator renown, were sons of two crofter brothers evicted from late Sir of Sutherlandshire. Teanacsa, safeguard, avert, famine ; ' ward away. 'Teanacsa avert gorta," teanacsa dosgain,' ward away misfortune from cattle, protect from danger, distress, or difficulty. Teasdam, I preserve, secure, keep, help, assist. Teilg, teilig, a chord, string of a lyre, of a harp, or other stringed instrument. Teilin, leilinn, 'telu,' Teine, ' Cha fire. (Vol. i. loisg teine, grian, p. 174.) no gealach mi.' SimOar immunity from ballad taken down in Uist ' Cha loisg teine 's cha dearg arm No fire, no sun, no moon, shall burn me. fire is an No air in an Arthurian burn, no arm can hurt the man, But his own white sword of light chlaidhe geal glan fein.' — therefore mentioned : fhear, Ach a Welsh a musical instrument, a stringed instrument. a harp. while he slept his fire shall enemy killed him with his own sword. Tein-eigin, neid-fire, need-fire, forced fire, fire of wood The produced by the friction or iron against wood. of purification was kindled from the neid-fire, while fire on the hearth was rekindled from the purification Among other names, the purification fire was called 'Teine Bheuil,' fire of Beul, and 'Teine mor Bheuil,' great The fire of Beul was divided into two fires between fire of Beul. which people and cattle rushed australly for purposes of ])urification. The ordeal was trying, as may be inferred from phrases still 'Is teodha so na teine teodha BheuU' current. Hotter is this than the hot fire of Beul. Replymg to his grandchild, an old man in Lewis said Mhoire mhicean, bu dhurra dhomh-sa ' A sin a dheana dhusa na dhol eadar dha theine mhor Bheuil Mary sonnie, it were worse for me to do that for thee than to go between the two great fires of Beul. The neid-fire was resorted to in imminent or actual calamity upon the first day of the quarter, and to ensure success in great the domestic fire on the fire knoll. — : — ! ' ! or important events. The writer conversed with several persons VOL. n. who saw the neid2 A NOTES 370 As mentioned made, and who joined in the ceremony. woman in Arran said that her father, and the other men of the towiJand, made the neid-fire on the knoll on ' La Yellow Day of Beltane. They fed the fire buidhe Bealltain great bundles of sacred faggots from cuaile mor conaidh caoin brought to the knoll on Beltane Eve. When the sacred fire became kindled, the people rushed home and brought their herds and drove them through and round the fire of purification, to sain them from the 'bana bhuitseach mhor Nic Creafain,' the great fire elsewhere, a ' — ' ' — — arch witch daughter Crauford, Mac Creafain, now Cra\vford. That was in the second decade of the nineteenth century. John Macphail, Middlequarter, North Uist, said that the last occasion on which the neid-fire was made in North Uist was the year of the yellow snow bliadhna an t-sneachda bhuidhe The snow lay so deep and remained so long on the 1829 ground, that it became yellow. Some suggest that the snow was originally yeUow^, as snow is occasionally red. This extraordinary continuance of snow caused much want and suffering throughout ' ' — — (.''). the Isles. of North Uist extinguished their own fires and generated a purification fire at Sail Dharaich, Sollas. The fire was produced from an oak log by rapidly boring with an auger. This was accomplished by the exertions of 'naoi naoinear ciad The people ginealach mac ' —the nine nines of first-begotten sons. From the produced on the knoll the people of the parish obtained fire for their dwellings. Many cults and ceremonies were observed on the occasion, cults and ceremonies in which Pagan and Christian beliefs mtermingled. Sail Dharaich,' Oak Log, obtained its name from the log of oak for the neid-fire being there. A fragment of this log riddled with auger holes marks a grave in 'Cladh Sgealoir,' the buryingground of ' Sgealoir,' in the neighbourhood. Mr Alexander Mackay, Edinburgh, a native of Reay, Sutherland, says My father was the skipper of a fishing crew. Before beginning operations for the season, the crew of the boat met at night in our house to settle accounts for the past, and to plan operations for the new season. My mother and the rest of us were sent to bed. I lay in the kitchen, and was listening and watching, though they thought I was asleep. After the men had settled their past affairs and future plans, they put out the fire on the hearth, not a spark being allowed to live. They then rubbed neid-fire ' : — ' NOTES 371 two pieces of wood one against another so rapidly as to produce fire, the men joining in one after the other, and working with the utmost energy and never allowing the friction to relax. From this friction-fire they rekindled the fire on the health, from which all the men present carried away a kindling to their own homes. was due to their skill, their industry, I do not know, but I know that they were much the most successful crew in the place. They met on Saturday, and went to church on Sunday like the good men and the good Christians they were a little of their Pagan faith mingling with their Christian belief. I have reason 'Whether their success their perseverance, or to the neid-fire, — to believe that other crews in the place as well as my father's crew practised the neid-fire.' A man at Helmsdale, Sutherland, saw the 'tein-eigin' made in his boyhood. The neid-fire was made in North Dist about the year 1829, in Arran about 1820, in Helmsdale about 1818, in Reay about 1830. Tciric, hake, herring hake, herring eke or eek. A triangular frame with spikes upon which herrings are hung up to dry in the smoke within or in the sun without. Tewn, dole, gift, bribe, alms. 'Teom eisg,' dole of fish ; 'teom deora,' co toinnte teom an t-sionnaich,' bribe of the fox alms of poor ' teom ri teom an t-sionnaich,' as twisted as the gift of the fox Aegir,' dole of Aigir, a miserly dole. ; ' ' ; ; Tfom, cunning, skilful, expert. Tiiir, tiuir, tuthhair, tear, teorr, mark, stamp, impress, the mark of the sea upon the shore, the refuse left by the tide upon the beach. • Is truagh, a Righ ! nach mi bha lamb Would, O King ! that I were anear thee, riut Ge b'e eilb na ob an traigh thu. Ged a b'ann an tiur an lain e.' On whatever sandbank or creek thou art stranded. Even were it in the impress of the tide. Todh, todha, rope, a particular kind of rope, tow; 'todha na croiche," 'Biodh gach fear a deanamh todha dha rope of the gallows. f hein ' — Let every man be making a (hanging) rope for himself. Tore, a cleft, a notch, necklace. a scallop, an indentation ; also a monarch's — " NOTES 372 Torcan, dim. of 'tore,' a cleft. Tore an, a species of bere, a bi-forked carrot, the carduus henedictus. ' Ladies bathing themselves in a decoction of the " turcan Kilkenny Arch. Soc. Jour., vol. v. p. 306 ^. shall only bear sons." Trasd, probably the same as thrust (vol. ii. Ir. ' trost,' a trip or fall onrush ; a ; p. 48). Treann, to cut, to lop, to trim, to shape. Tri, tiur, tear, three, an especially sacred number as representing the Trinity. Tri ' Three lovely little maidens, Born the same night with Christ. maighdeana beaga caomh, 's an aon oidhche ri Crlosd.' Rugadh The three maidens are Hope, and Charity. Faith, (Vol. ii. p. 56.) Tri cnamhan seann duine, three bones of an old man This may mean the southernwood, which is called duine,' the plant of the old is man ; (vol. ' lus ii. 38). p. an t-seann but more probably the phrase to be taken literally. Triall, the procession of people and herds to the (vol. i. summer sheiling p. 190). Trithean, Trilhion, Triune, Trinity, three-one, three in one ; from ' tri,' This form of the word is not now used in writing or in speaking, but it occurs in place-names at Loch Harport and at Glendale, in the island of Skye, in the island of three, and 'aon,' one. Lismore, and possibly elsewhere. Tuillis, overloading the stomach, especially with liquids. Akin to 'teilbhein.' Tul, fire, hearth, heap ; the stem of 'tulach,' a heap, a knoll, a house. Tulach, knoll, hillock, house, ruins. u Udail, oscillate, oscillation; 'udalan' a swivel. Uilm, uilim, coffer, treasury, offertory, a treasure bag for alms ; .'' Uinicinn, lamb-skin ; from ' uan,' lamb, ' cionn,' skin. akin to ' ulaidh,' NOTES 373 Uratsg, a monster, half-human, halt-goat, with abnormally long hair, long teeth, and long claws, frequenting glens, corries, reedy lakes, and sylvan streams an unkempt, untidy man. ; A ' glen Gleann na Many glen of h-uraisg,' of the stories are told appearance, the ' and action, being creature Argyll, Killninver, in graphically uraisg the ' Gleann-uraisg,' 'uraisg.' possessing this glen, the speech described. ' glen of the of this supernatural The ' uraisg ' is not beyond showing them scenes, and them of events above the world, upon the world, and unfriendly to the telling friendly below the world, that the glen of the ' uraisg fill ' them with corrie of the • Strong terror. men avoid at night. In the Coolin Hills, Skye, there uraisg,' called called is 'uraisg,' 'uraisgs,' Bealach Coire nan is a place called and adjoining it ' Coire nan another place uraisg,' the pass of the corrie of the 'uraisgs.' Usga, usgar, holy, sacred, precious, jewels. ' Siud mar dh' orduichinn-sa dhusa, That Nighean righ The daughter le or 's le usga." is what I and gems. VOL. II. would ordain to thee, of a king, with gold I NAMES OF RECITERS 374 . 't^ lb s 5 D t3 3 c3 g j3 SS "^"c^ =^'2'5'5nO'5-^'^ m W H O I— H <1 Q . fco B 3 S bn -73 :« MW ^ •£a ^ S ,i3 .^ c o ce ce =t; o t3 o . • i c/2 p^ H O o 12; ffl c4 "3 o a r^ _s -g g ^ S 3 M o pqo £ _; bp-? 2 ft.: o o s --t; >> >„ _tì o -a -^ _ _ a a o t3 >3pq^HSfqcci-?M<: 1 NAMES OF RECITERS 375 3 ^ p P 5 P 3 p "3 iS 5 ^ -a 3 3 3 a !3 fl Di =1 '5 I I I I a 2 ^ =3 f §§ t; ,-2 TS NAMES OF RECITERS 37G aima!202oQMhiWWp5com!z;mcqM:2;ccOa3fqfQ(:qpq;z;;z;Oo2 ce NAMES OF RECITERS .2 .2 =3 .2 .2 .2 pf Pp-Bt^ t« s 3 f- .2 <2 .2 =2 .2 Pipap 377 S -o "^ -^ -a a 3 §) g SB 3 bo • a -2 ,a ^ NAMES OF RECITERS 378 1 a .2 _tì c« .0) <ii -g ^. ^ & S 5 .0^ .1" Q .2 . "7! 1^ o g--g ft c. p,'« aHaj^otjajOiu ^ ^ 4J -M 03 -tJ cS -*^ -t-s *ftCDcoc50(^l«'<:p^-coo30pH(NcO''*lOCDQd'o'rH(^^co ocoooo irHr-trHr-ti-ii-i(M<N(M(MM(MOJ(MC0C0C0«CCC0M'^ OOOO"— NAMES OF RECITERS Uist. Uist. Uist. 379 NAMES OF RECITERS 380 42 -9 ^ .t3 •- 3 fq pq 0. W pq t2; Ef f3 W W 02 Hi 02 W 02 C2* D- P "g 5 P "3 -Q ^ -Qa a ':3 *i »-* fcH :3 2 s 5 o r. <! ta PQ oq !^ fq PQ tÌH> 3 ja « NAMES OF RECITERS •^ -w T3 2 ^- . tHt-'So^r'n « J S a 5 JS^'S T3 I ^ . . « a >-.• 5 2 -g -O 'c a Ò -g „ 1; S S c rt -S H Js a o ^ O 3 C3 ^^ 3 _uS -g w ^1 S |s bo .E -^ -Q M M <5 C5 W O r ^ ffl _>» O bo 5b - 4) .H ^ JJ •£ bo .2 " ^ «> 5 <s . -c g Ji <D ii s a ii Si j= '^ se < J; tc ^ £ — 5; è^ .2 a S£ ; ^>> —G & .2 G jj S o S 5 ° 3 ° a « « 7 ^Ò a; . ~- 15 t. ra " "g ;„ 3 O c tJ i GG i; i: 'a tC G "§) ^ ° I? A ° 'a r ^ fe D. ° 3 ," . (U J= -2 £ bo-a c3 3 "2 J- .G ^ O V (3^ S =« •-'? , gj*^" •" 5:2 i = ,9 > .2 t2 O i^ O fe aK fH S 3 S ° <u i 2 a .a t; t; >; CO i-i ^o.o'^Q-ga'^ ctì » < •" S 1 ! « G u o o G S c -° tu SbDT3ic8»;c3G .5 t, O. o g § .2 0) "-I S-^S'S till I ^. 11 "ia^t».bD=wttit; 1) ^ ,o .2 381 (D 3 ^ s a § G ££ bo '^ . .3 .i t> . § g ¥ 2 -§ -a . s 3 a ^ - ^ _ 3^. M .0) w £ M~ bjo ^ . 2 .2Ì M "O c3 . •4-' 3 t>> „- u ho § S O bo g e .if 5 3 JS b -li 13 q M .2; G ^ S S a 2 3 S Z I <a c a o -g aj OJ ^S 5 w "^ -a 6 a g g O O CO ^ rH xf I " 2 « M EiH a •^ i-T 2 £ G H '" I -g a «j =« =;h «J ^ =a M s bo I a s ° 5 a g bo c. ''"' CO 3 n ~ . .3 cS t4H G -g S 3 ^ g . G G g S ^ > .c 3 <2H bO" "3 2 ii -S ^, 1* K l^ I^ K rt ;= 3 o w 4J « -s O ^ W 3 £ ~ 2 bo a u "^kS « a S o >-. c o tt, S O » 2 G ° a -d ' ^ IM O) (N Ol Oq 55 ^ 5 2=3 J3 J3 ^^ "V 2o -^ all |i||a ^ I i a " c =" -a . ^* . <Z1 > bo- 2 rt — * -G CO t4 fe ffi g SOIRIDH A BHEAN-SHITH AGUS AN SEALGAIR gu bratha an taobh a tha anii a sliruth nam beann agus an taobh tha thall an abhuinn, an la a chi agus nach faic, an la shealgas tu fiadh nam fireach agus an la, a chiall, nach Soiridh slan a shealgair dhuiiiii, soii-idh slan leat iomair gin. FAREWELL THE FAIRY AND THE HUNTER Fare thee well, brown hunter of the hill, farewell to thee for ever on this side of the mountain stream and the side beyond the river, the day I see thee and the day I see thee not, the day thou huntest the forest deer and the day, beloved one, thou huntest none. ALEXANDER CARMICHAEL.

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Carmina Gadelica, volume 2, Alexander Carmichael

Carmina Gadelica, volume 2, Alexander Carmichael

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