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POPULAE TALES
THE WEST HIGHLANDS.
PRINTED BY R. & R. CLARK,
EDMONSTON AND DOUGLAS, EDINBURGH.
LONDON . . HAMILTON, ADAMS, &, CO.
CAMBRIDGE . MACMILLAN <fc CO.
DUBLIN . . W. ROBERTSON.
GLASGOW . . JAMES MACLEHOSE.
7
POPULAR TALES /££2-
THE WEST HIGHLANDS
OEALLY COLLECTED
Wiìi^ H franslatioit By J. r. C A:\IPB ELL
YOL. Ill
MYTHOLOGICAL TALES, FABLES, AND OSSIA^TIC BALLADS.
EDIXBUEGH :
EDMOXSTOX AXD DOUGLAS.
1862.
30 my'
CONTENTS.
NAME.
LYIII. THE RIDER OF GRIAN- AIG, AND IAIN THE SOL- DIER'S SON. 1.
2. Nollaig
3. Fhiorrachd Fhuarrachd. etc. ... 4.
5.
6. Ceap
7. Godar Leum
8. Tom Luacharach
9. Fo Gheasan
Gaelic
LIX. FIONN'S QUESTIONS...
LX. D I A R M A I D AND GRAINNE.
Gaelic
LXI. THE LAY OF DIAR-
MAID. 1.
(Jaelic
3. The Lay of Yeearmaid
Gaelic
4. The Boar of Ben Laijrhal
Fables
LXII. HOW THE FOX TOOK A TURN OUT OF THE GOAT
Gaelic
LXIIL HOW THE COCK TOOK A TURN OUT OF THE FOX Gaelic
LXIV. THE HEN
Gaelic
LXV. THE KEG OF BUTTER.. Gaelic
LXVL THE FOX AND THE
LITTLE BONN AC H.
Gaelic
Donald MacNiven, carrier
Donald MacPhie, smith Alexander Macalister ..
Mrs. MacTavish
Janet Currie
Hector Boyd
Do.
Do. Do. Do.
CONTENTS.
|
Date. |
Place. |
Collector. |
Page |
|
July 1859 |
Hector MacLean .... |
1 |
|
|
18 19 20 20 21 21 21 22 22 24 |
|||
|
October 1860 July 1859 |
Barra |
36 39 |
|
|
45 |
|||
|
Nov. 1859 |
50 |
||
|
Sept. 1860 |
Stoneybridge, South Uist .. |
64 55 78 64 65 81 90 |
|
|
... |
|||
|
Barra |
_ |
91 102 |
|
|
Sept. 1860 |
93 102 |
||
|
October 1860 |
94 103 |
||
|
Sept. 18G0 Do. |
Castle Bay, Barra |
96 |
|
|
104 100 |
|||
|
106 1 |
CONTENTS.
NAME.
LXVII. GAOL REIDHINN
Gaelic
LXVIII
Gaelic
LXIX. THOMAS OF THE THUMB. Gaelic
LXX. THE BULLS
Gaelic
LXXL THE HOODIE CATE- CHISING THE YOUNG ONE Gaelic
LXXIL THE HOODIE AND THE FOX. Gaelic
LXXIIL THE YELLOW MUIL- EARTEACH.
Gaelic
Notes
LXXIV. THE STORY OF THE LAY OF THE GREAT FOOL
The Lay of the Great Fool
Gaelic
LXXV. GTTAIGEAN LADHRACH S' LOIKEAN SPAGACH. Notes
LXXVI. CON ALL GULBAN; OR GUILBEINACH, OR GUL- BAIRNEACH. Notes
LXXVIL JOHN, SON OF THE KING OF BERGEN. Gaelic
Alexander Carmichael, Esq., excise officer
Catherine Macfarlane.
John Dewar
John MacArthur, shepherd Angus MacDonald
Kate MacFarlane.
John Dewar
Angus Mackinnon, tailor .
|
Date. |
Place. |
Collector. |
Page |
|
July 1860 |
Port Charlotte, Islay |
108 110 111 113 |
|
|
1809 |
114 |
||
|
116 |
|||
|
November 1860 |
... |
118 119 120 121 121 121 |
|
|
Sept. 1860 |
Staoine-breac, South Uist.. |
122 123 145 |
|
|
Sept. 1860 |
Stoneybridge, South Uist.. |
146 154 155 |
|
|
October 1860 |
John Dewar. |
180 184 |
|
|
J. F. C |
185 279 |
||
|
Dallabrog, South Uist |
282 283 |
NAME.
LXXVIII. THE MASTER AND HIS MAN Gaelic
LXXIX. THE PRAISE OF GOLL Gaelic
LXXX. OSGAR, THE SON OF OISEIN.
LXXXI. THE LAY OF OSGAR ...
Gaelic
LXXXII. HOW THE EEN WAS SET UP. Gaelic
LXXXIII. THE REASON WHY THE DALLAG (DOG-FISH) IS CALLED THE KING'S FISH
Tiie Lay of Magnus
Notes
LXXXIV. MANUS
Gaelic
Notes
LXXXV. THE SONG OF THE SMITHY.
Gaelic
Duan iia Ceardacli, etc
LXXXVI. NIGHEAN RIGH FO THUINN.
Donald MacPhie
Donald MacPhie, smith, and others.
Angus MacDonald
Angus MacKinnon
Donald MacPhie
Do.
Malcolm MacPhail
Roderick MacLean, tailor.
Sept. 1860
Breubhaig, Barra
Breubhaig, BaiTa
Stoney bridge, South Uist South Uist
Tocbdar, South Uist
Breubhaig, Barra
Scanastle, Islay
Ken Tangval, Barra
Collector. Page
LIST or ILLUSTEATIONS.
Page
1. Sketch from a Stone at Elgin . . .35
2. Sketcli from a Stone in tlie Churchyard of St.
Vigeans, near Arbroath . . .49
3. Wolf.— From a Stone at St. Anch-ews . .96
4. Fox, Himtsman, and Falcon. — From a Stone at
Shandwick . , . . .100
5. Sketch from a Stone at Inverness . .117
6. Harper. — From a Stone at Monifeith . .122
7. Sketch from a Stone Coffin at Govan. . .123
8. Deer and Hoimd. — From a Stone at Kirriemnir 154
9. Elk. — From a Stone in the Churchyard of Meigle 155
10. Ox. — From a Stone at Fowlis Wester, near Crieff 180
11. Sketch from a Stone in the Cemetery of Inch
Brayoc, in the South Esk . . . 206
12. Bard. — From a Cross near Dupplin . .231
13. Sketch from a curious Cross near Duj^pUn Castle 242
14. Hounds and Huntsmen, Ornaments, and Charac-
teristic Symbol . . . .287
15. Fish, with some Characteristic Ornaments . 339
16. Manus . . . . .348
17. Sketch from a Stone in the CTiurchyard of St.
Vigeans . . . , .361
EEEATA.
Page 24 25 26 37
line 22 for dhuiblisee read dhuibhse
dhaor mo
103 lOi 106 118
131 139 142 155 163 105 1G9
175 178 227
seire darusd
turc
seirc dorusd
„ d' en „ de 'n
„ chiud ,, chuid
„ ionnsaidh ,, ionnsuidhli
„ ruim „ riiun
„ niae ,. mac
„ b „ bi
What is (the reason of) thy coming from the
land?' read, "What is thy land's pro- duce ?"
doirn'eig , mhorbhadhsa pad Craohh
marbh , an
chrainnaibh ,
Brembhaig ,
chu ,
Gruagach ,
ghleantna ,
Gruagaich ,
un ,
OS riiin ,
muiun ,
Deogh ,
duirneig
mharbhadhsa
gad
Craobh
mharbh
a'
chrannaibh
Breubhaii;
cha
Ghruagach
ghleannta
Ghruagaich
an
as ruin
muin
Deagh
ERRATA.
Page 231 Note
240 243 245
251 265 294 295 305 309 313 317
319
12
20 4
— „ 19 326 „ 21
341 „ 20
— „ 27 364, at the top.
for ghaoidheadh read
the „
„ Treanghaisgeach
., bharragh ,,
,, dheag „
,, sbluisd „
„ haislean ,.
„ ainmeanan „
„ ceanu „
„ anam „
„ Leomham ,
„ niin „
„ Fhian-ta „
„ Leagalh „
,1 sind »
„ lasgara ,,
„ ficheud Ghaidheal
„ Eiroina „
,, airnn „
ghlaoidheadh
thee
Treunghaisgeach
barragh
dheug
soluisd
uaislean
ainmeannau
ceann
annam
Leomhan
mill
Fhiannta
Leagadh
siud
lasgarra
fichead Gaidheal
Eirionn
oirnn
gaisg'
around
„ about around, „ phiathar ., phiuthar
„ phiathar „ phiuthar
The Lay of Magnus was written from the
dictation of Alexander MacDonald, and subsequently compared with
the recitation of the other authority.
364 367
376 377 384
387 391 392 394 397
Beith
ora' ,,
non „
gruagch
carr-shiuflach
Beithe
am'
nan
gruagach
carr-shiubhlach
like blade's daughter the smith's shop," read, " like blade the smith's shop's daughter "
mis „
chuinir „
fheail dhaoise they had before ; jun „
played „
lomagain „ comihairle ,,
nis
chuimir fheoil dhaoine ; they had ijefore gun placed iomagain comhairle
Tt may be some excuse for this long list of errors, and for the
ERRATA. XV
Gaelic orthography, that the printers do not understand Gaelic, the scribes dwell far from them, the penmanship is sometimes indistinct, and the usual spelling of words is often wilfully modified, to express the pronunciation of various districts, while adhering to the rules of Gaelic orthography.
The variations are often of philological value, as for example — Fail is the Islay value of Fa-r— where, and it seems to be a very ancient form of Gaelic, which is not in any modern book, even mine, for the scribe did not venture to take such a liberty. But in an Irish MS., written prior to 1150, quoted p. 49 of the Transactions of the Ossianic Society, is this line—
" Baile i tegtis fecht fir."
" In the place where men were wont to pass."'
Or perhaps,
" The town where, come past men."
Thus Faile, where, is equivalent to ans a' bhaile, in the town where; and so, Balla, a wall ; Baile, a town, or a f:irni, or any col- lection of liouses ; is made to have the same meaning as Faile, a definite place, distinguished from an indefinite place, such as the site of a wanderer's camp would be. The change then from Fail, to Far, and the preservation of Fail in one locality, and the relation of Far to baile, are worth the departure from a system not yet fixed.
LVIIL
THE EIDEE OF GRIANAIG/ AND IAIN THE SOLDIER'S SON.
From Donald MacNiven, a lame carrier. Bowmore, Islay, 5tli July 1859. Written down by Hector MacLean.
T^HE knight of Grianaig had three daughters, such -^ that their like were not to he found or to be seen in any place. There came a beast from the ocean and she took them with her, and there was no knowledge what way they had taken, nor where they might be sought.
There was a soldier in the town, and he had thi-ee sous, and at the time of Chiistmas ^ they were inlaying at shinny, and the yoimgest said that they should go and that they should drive a hale on the lawn of the knight of Grianaig. The rest said that they should not go ; that the knight Avould not be pleased ; that that would be bringing the loss of his children to his mind, and laying sorrow upon him. "Let that be as it pleases," said Iain the youngest son, " but we will go there, and we will drive a hale ; I am careless of the knight of Grianaig, let him be well pleased or angry."
They went to play shinny, and Iain won three hales from his brethren. The knight put his head out of a window, and he saw them playing at shinny, and he took great wrath that any one had the heart to play shinny on his lawn — a thiug that was bringing the loss
VOL. HI. B
2 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
of his chikben to his mind, and putting contempt upon him. Said he to his wife, " Who is so impudent as to be playing shinny on my ground, and bringing the loss of my children to my mind ? Let them be brought here in an instant that punishment may be done upon them. The three lads were brought to the presence of the knight, and they were fine lads.
" What made you," said the knight, " go and play shinny upon my ground and bring the loss of my children to my mind ? you must suffer pain for it."
"It is not thus it shall be," said Iain ; "but since it befell us to come wrong upon thee, thou hadst best make us a dwelling of a ship, and we will go to seek thy daughters ; and if they are under the leeward, or the windward, or under the four brown boundaries of the deep," we will find them out before there comes the end of a day and year, and we will bring them back to Grianaig."
" Though thou be the youngest, it is in thy head that the best counsel is, let that be made for you."
Wrights were got and a ship was made in seven days. They put in meat and drink as they might need for the journey. They gave her front to sea and her stern to land, and they went away, and in seven days they reached a white sandy strand, and when they went on shore there were six men and ten at work in the face of a rock blasting, with a foreman over them.
"What place is here?" said the skipper.
" Here is the place where are the children of the knight of Grianaig ; they are to be married to three giants."
" Wliat means are there to get where they are ? "
" There are no means but to go up in this creel against the face of the rock."
THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 3
The eldest son went into the creel, and when he was up at the half of the rock, there came a stumpy- black raven, and he began uj^on him with his claws, and his wings till he almost left liim blind and deaf.* He had but to turn back.
The second one went into the creel, and when he was up half the way, there came the stumpy black raven and he began upon him, and he had for it but to return back as did the other one.
At last Iain went into the creel. Wlien he was up half the way there came the stumpy black raven, and he began upon him, and he belaboured him about the face.
" Up with me quickly ! " said he, " before I Vie Winded here."
He was set up to the toj) of the rock. "Wlien he was up the raven came where he was, and he saiil to him.
" Wilt thou give me a quid of tobacco V"
'• Thou high-priced rogue ! little claim hast thou on me for giving that to thee."
" Never thou mind tliat, I will be a good friend to thee. Now thou shalt go to the house of the big giant, and thou wilt see the knight's daughter sewing, and her thimble wet with tears."
He went on before him till he reached the house of the giant. He went in. The knight's daughter was sewing.
" What brought thee here ? " said she.
" Wliat brought thyself into it that I might not come into it."
" I Avas brought here in spite of me."
" I know that. Where is the giant ?"
" He is in the huntiiig liill."
" What means to get him home 1 "
4 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" To shake yonder battle-chain -without, and there is no one in the leeward, or in the windward, or in the four brown boundaries of the deep, who will hold battle against him, but young Iain the soldier's son, from Alloainn, and he is Isut sixteen years of age, and he is too young to go to battle against the giant."
" There is many a one in Albainn as strong as Iain the soldier's son, though the soldier were with him."
Out he w^ent. He gave a haul at the chain, and he did not take a turn out of it, and he went on his knee. He rose up, he gave the next shake at the chain, and he broke a linlc in it. The giant heard it in the hunting hill.
" Aha ! " said he, " who could move my battle chain but young Iain the soldier's sou from Albaiun, and he is but sixteen years of age ; he is too young yet V
The giant put the game on a withy, and home he came.
"Art thou young Iain the soldier's son, from Albainn Ì "
"Not I."
" Who art thou in the leeward, or in the windward, or in the four brown boundaries of the deep, that could move my battle chain, but young Iain the soldier's son, from Albainn V
" There is many a one in Albainn as strong as young Iain the soldier's son, though the soldier should be with him."
" I have got that in the prophesyings."
" Never thou mind what thou hast got in the pro- phesyings."
" In what way wouldst thou rather try thyself ? "
" When I and my mother used to be falling out with each other, and I might wish to get my own will, it was in tight wrestling ties we used to try ; and one
THE RIDER OF GRIAX.UG. . 5
time she used to get the better, and two times she used not."
They seized each other, and they had hard hugs, and the giant put Iain on his knee.
"I see," said Iain, "that thou art the stronger."
" It is known that I am," said the giant.
They Avent "before each other again. They were twisting and hauling each otlier. Iain struck a foot on the giant in the ankle, and he put him on the thews of his back under him on the ground. He wished that the raven were at him.
The stumpy black raven came, and he fell upon the giant about the face and about the ears with his claws and with his wings until he blinded him, and he deafened liim.
" Hast thou got a nail of arms that will take the head off the monster ? "
" I have not."
" Put thy hand under my right wing, and thou wilt find a small sharp laiife which I have for gather- ing briar-bucLs, and take the head off him."
He put his hand under the raven's right wing and lie found the knife, and he took the head off the giant.
"E'ow Iain thou shalt go in where is the big daughter of the knight of Grianaig, and she will be asking thee to return and not to go farther ; but do not thou give heed, but go on, and thou "wilt reach the middle daughter ; and thou shalt give me a quid of tobacco."
" I wiU. give that to thee indeed ; well hast thou earned it. Thou shalt have haK of all I have."
" I will not. There's many a long day to Bealtain."
" Tlie fortune will not let me be here till Bealtain."
" Thou hast knowledge of what has passed, but thou hast no knowledge of what is before thee ; set warm
6 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
water, clean thyself in it ; thon wilt find a vessel of balsam above the door, rub it in thy skin, and go to bed by thyself and thou wilt be whole and wholesome to-morrow, and to-morrow thou shalt go on to the house of the next one."
He went in and he did as the raven asked him. He went to bed that night and he was whole and whole- some in the morning when he arose.
"It is better for thee," said the knight's big daughter, " not to go further, and not to put thyself in more danger ; there is plenty of gold and silver here, and we will take it with us and we will return."
" I will not do that," said he ; "I will take (the road) on my front."
He went forwards till he came to the house where was the middle daughter of the knight of Grianaig. He went in and she was seated sewing, and she (was) weepiug, and her thimble Avet with her tears.
" What brought thee here ? "
"What brought thyseK into it that I might not come into it?"
" I was brought in spite of me."
" I have knowledge of that. What set thee weeping V
" I have but one night till I must be married to the giant."
" Where is the giant V
" He is in the hunting hill."
" What means to get him home ? "
" To shake that battle chain Avithout at the side of the house, and he is not in the leeward nor in the windward, nor in the four brown boundaries of the deep, who is as much as can shake it, but young Iain the soldier's son, from Albainn, and he is too young yet, he is but sixteen years of age."
THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 7
" There are men in Albainn as strong as yoimg Iain the soldier's son, though the soldier should be with him."
He went out, and he gave a haul at the chain, and lie came upon his two knees. He rose up and gave tlie next haul at it, and he broke three links in. it.
The giant heard that in the hunting liiU.
" Aha !" said he, and he put the game on a withy on his shoulder, and home he came.
" "\^Tio could move my battle chain but young Iain the soldier's son from Albainn, and he is too young yet ; he is but sixteen years of age ] "
" There are men in Albainn as strong as young Iain the soldier's son, though the soldier should be with him."
"We have got that in the prophesyings."
" I care not what is in your prophesjangs."
"In what way wouldst thou rather try thyself?"
" In hard hugs of -nTestlhig."
They seized each other and the giant put him on his two knees.
" Thine is my life," said Iain, " thou art stronger than I. Let's try another turn."
Tliey tried each other again, and Iain struck his lieel on the giant in the ankle, and he set him on the tliews of his back on the ground.
" Eaven !" said he, "a flapping of thine were good now."
The raven came, and he blinded and deafened the giant, giving it to him with his beak, and with his claws, and "wdth his wings.
" Hast thou a nail of a weapon V
" I have not."
" Put thy hand under my right wing, and thou wilt find there a small sharp knife that I have for gathering briar-buds, and take the head off Mm."
O WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
He put liis hand under the root of the raven's right wing, and he found the knife, and he took the head off the giant.
" 'Now thou shalt go in and clean thyself with warm water, thou wilt find the vessel of balsam, thou shalt rub it upon thj^self, thou shalt go to bed, and thou wdlfc be whole and wholesome to-morrow. This one will be certainly more cunning and more mouthing than was the one before, asking thee to return and not to go further ; but give thou no heed to her. And thou shalt give me a quid of tobacco."
" I will give it indeed; thou art worthy of it."
He went in and he did as the raven asked him. When he got up on the morrow's morning he was whole and wholesome.
"Thou hadst better," said the knight's middle daughter, " return, and not put thyself in more danger ; there is plenty of gold and of silver here."
" I will not do that ; I will go forward."
He went forward till he came to the house in which was the Uttle daughter of the knight ; he went in and he saw her sewing, and her tliimble wet with tears.
" What brought thee here Ì"
""WHiat brought thyself into it that I might not come into it Ì "
" I was brought into it m spite of me."
" I know that."
"Art thou young Iain tlie soldier's son, from Albainn Ì" ,
" I am; what is the reason that thou art weeping?"
" I have but this night of delay without marrying the giant."
"Where is he ?"
"He is in the hunting hill."
" AVhat means to bring him home ? "
THE RIDER OF GRIAXAIG. 9
"To shake that battle chain without."
He went out, and he gave a shake at the chain and down he came on his hnrdies.
He rose again, and he gave it the next shake, and he broke four links in it, and he made a great rattling noise. The giant heard that in the hunting hill ; he put the withy of game on his shoulder.
""Who in the leeward, or in the windward, or in the four brown boundaries of the deep, could shake my battle chain but young Iain the soldier's son, from Albainn ; and if it be he, my two brothers are dead before this?"
He came home in his might, making the earth tremble before him and behind him.
" Art thou young Iain the soldier's son Ì "
"Not I."
" Who art thou in the leeward, or in the wind- ward, or in the four brown boundaries of the deep, that could shake my battle chain but young Iain the soldier's son, from Albainn ? and he is too young yet, he is but sixteen years of age."
" Is there not many a one in Albainn as strong as young Iain the soldier's son, though the soldier were with him?
" It is not in our prophesyings."
" I care not what is in your prophesyings."
" In what way wouldst thou Like thy trial Ì "
" Tight wrestling ties."
They seized each other and the giant set him on his haunches.
" Let me go ; thine is my life."
They caught each other again ; he struck his heel on the giant in the anlde, and he laid him on the shower top of his shoulder, and on the thews of his back on the ground.
lO WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" Stumpy black raA^en, if thou wert here now ! "
No sooner said he the word than the raven came. He belaboured the giant about the face, and the eyes, and the ears, with his beak, and with his claws and with his wings. '
" Hast thou a nail of a weapon ?"
" I have not."
" Put thy hand under the root of my right wing and thou wilt find a small sharp knife that I have for gathering whortle berries, and take his head off."
He did that.
" Xow," said the raven, " take rest as thou didst last night, and when thou returnest with the three daughters of the knight, to the cut (edge) of the rock, thou shalt go down first thyself, and they shall go down after thee ; and thou shalt give me a quid of tobacco."
" I will give it ; thou hast well deserved it ; here it is for thee altogether."
" I will but take a i^uid ; there is many a long day ti) Bealtain."
" The fortune will not let me lie here till Bealtain."
" Thou hast knowledge of what is behind thee, but thou hast no knowledge what is before thee."
(3n the morrow they set in order asses, and on their backs they put the gold and the silver that the giants had, and he himself and the three daughters of the knight reached the edge of the rock : when they reached the edge of the rock, for fear giddiness should coiue over any of the girls, he sent them down one after one in the creel. There were three caps of gold on them, made up finely with "daoimean" (diamonds); caps that -were made in the Roimli (Rome), and such that their like were not to be found in the universe. He kept up the cap that was on the youngest. He was
THE BIDER OP GRIANAIG. I I
Avaiting and waiting, and though he should be waiting still, the creel would not come up to fetch him. The rest went on board, and away they went till they reached Grianaig.
He was left there, and without a way in his power to get out of the place. The raven came where he was.
" Thou didst not take my counsel ? "
" I did not take it ; if I had taken it I should not be as I am."
There is no help for it, Iain. The one that will not take counsel will take combat. Thou shalt gÌA^e me a c^uid of tobacco."
" I will give it."
" Thou shalt reach the giant's house, and thou shalt stay there tliis night."
" Wilt thou not stay with me thyself to keep off my dulness ?"
" I will not stay ; it is not suitable for me."
On the morrow came the raven where he was.
" Thou shalt now go to the giant's stable, and if thou art quick and active, there is a steed there, and sea or shore is all one to her, and that may take thee out of these straits."
They went together and they came to the stable, a stable of stone, dug in into a rock, and a door of stone to it. The door was slamming without ceasing, back- wards and forwards, from early day to night, and from night to day.
" Thou must now watch," said the raven, " and take a chance, and try if thou canst make out to go in when it is open, without its getting a hold of thee."
"Thou hadst best try first, since thou art best acquainted."
" It will be as well'
12 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
The raven gave a bob and a hop and in he went, but the door took a feather out of the root of his wing, and he screeched.
"Poor Iain, if thou couldst get in with as little pain as I, I would not complain."
Iain took a run back and a run forward, he took a spring to go in, the door caught him, and it took half his hurdies off. Iain cried out, and he fell cold dead on the floor of the stable. The raven lifted him, and he carried him on the points of his wings, out of the stable to the giant's house. He laid liim on a board on his mouth and nose, he went out and he gathered plants, and he made ointments that he set i;pon him, and in ten days he was as well as ever he was.
He went out to take a walk and the raven went with him.
"Now, Iain, thou shalt take my counsel. Thou shalt not take wonder of any one thing that thou mayest see about the island, and thou shalt give me a quid of tobacco."
He was walldng about the island, and going through a glen ; he saw three full heroes stretched on their backs, a spear upon the breast of every man of them, and he in lastmg sound sleep, and a bath of sweat.
" It seems to me that this is pitiable. What harm to lift the spears fi'om off them 1"
He went and he loosed the spears from off them. The heroes awoke, and they rose up.
" Witness fortune and men, that thou art young Iain the soldier's son, from Albainn, and it is as spells upon thee to go with us through the southern end of tliis island past the cave of the black fisherman."
He went away himself and the three full heroes. They saw a slender smoke (coming) out of a cave. They went to the cave. One of the heroes went in
THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. I 3
and when he went in there was a hag there seated, and the tooth that Avas the least in her mouth would make a knitting pin in her lai?, a staff in her hand, and a stir- ring stick for the embers. There was a tmm of her nails about her elbows, and a twst of her hoary hair about her toes, and she was not joyous to look upon.
She seized upon a magic club, she struck him, and she made him a bare crag of stone. The others that were without were wondering why he was not re- turning.
" Go in," said Iain to another one, " and look what is keeping thy comrade."
He went in, and the carlin did to him as she did to the other. The third went in, and she did to liim as she did to the rest. Iain went in last. There was a great red-skulled cat there, and she put a barrow full of red ashes about her fur so as to bhnd and deafen him. He struck the point of his foot on her and drove the brain out of her. He turned to the carliiL
"Don't, Iain! these men are under spells, and in order to put the spells off them thou must go to the island of big women and take a bottle of the Hving water out of it, and v/hen thou rubbest it upon them the s^jells mU go and they will come alive."
Iain turned back under black melancholy.
" Thou did'st not take my counsel," said the raven, " and thou hast brought more trouble upon thyself. Thou shalt go to lie down this night, and when thou risest to-morrow thou shalt take with thee the steed, and shalt give her meat and drink. Sea or land is all one to her, and when thou reachest the island of big women sixteen stable lads will meet thee, and they will all be for giving food to the steed, and for putting lier in for thee, but do not thou let them. Say that
14 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
thou wilt thyself give her meat and drink. "When thou leavest her in the stable, every one of the sixteen will put a turn in the key, but thou shalt put a turn against every turn that they j)ut in it. Thou shalt give me a quid of tobacco."
" I will indeed."
He went to rest that night, and in the morning he set the steed in order, and he went away. He gave her front to sea and her l)ack to shore, and she went in her might till they reached the island of big women. Wlien he went on shore sixteen stable lads met liim and every one of them asking to set her in and feed her.
" I myself wiU put her in, and I will take care of her ; I will not give her to any one."
He put her in, and when he came out every man put a turn in the key, and he put a turn against every turn that they put into it. The steed said to him that they would be offering him every sort of tbink, but that he should not take any drink from them but whey and water. He went in and every sort of drink Avas being put round about there, and they were offering each kind to him, but he would not take a drop of any drink but whey and water. They were drinking, and drinking till they fell stretched about the board.
The steed asked him before she parted from him that he should take care and not sleep, and to take his chance for coming away. "VVlien they slept he came out from the chamber ; and he heard the very sweetest music that ever was heard. He went on, and he heard in another place music much sweeter. He came to the side of a stair and he heard music sweeter and sweeter, and he fell asleep.
The steed broke out of the stable, and she came where he was, and she struck him a kick, and she awoke him
THE RIDER OP GRIAXAIG I 5
" Tliou didst not take my counsel," said she, " and there is no knowing now if thou canst get thy matter with thee, or if thou canst not get it."
He arose with sorrow ; he seized upon a sword of light that was in a comer of the chamber, and he took out the sixteen heads. He reached the well, he fUled a bottle and he returned Tlie steed met him, and he set her front to sea and her back to shore, and he returned to the other island. The raven met liim.
" Tliou shalt go and stable the steed, and thou shalt go to lie down this night ; and to-morrow thou shalt go and bring the heroes alive, and thou shalt slay the carlin, and be not so foolish to-morrow as thou wert before now."
" Wilt thou not come with me to-night to drive off my dulness from me Ì "
" I will not come ; it ^Yi]l not answer for me."
On the morning he reached the cave, " Failte dhuit, all hail to thee, Iain," said the carlin ; " Failte dhuit' s, all hail to thee, but Cha shlaixte dhuit not health to thee."
He shook the water on the men and they rose up alive, and he struck his palm on the carlin and scat- tered the brains out of her. They betook themselves out, and they went to the southern end of the island. They saw the black fisherman there working at his tricks.* He drew his palm, and he struck him, and he scattered the brains out of him, and he took the heroes home to the southern end of the island. The raven came where he was.
"Now thou shalt go home, and thou shalt take
* Here the narrator lias evidently forgotten some of the adventures. A similar character to the black fisherman appears in other tales, and his adventures should be added here, if the story were mended.
10 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
with tliee tlie steed to which sea and shore are aHke. The three daughters of the knight are to have a wedding, two to be married to thy two brothers, and the other to the chief that was over the men at the rock Thou shalt leave the cap with me, and thou wilt have but to think of me when thou hast need of it, and I wiU be at thee."
" If any one asks thee from whence thou camest, say that thou earnest out fi'om beliind thee ; and if he say to thee, where art thou going'? say that thou art going before thee."
He mounted upon the steed, and he give her front to sea, and her back to shore, and away he was, and no stop nor stay was made with him till he reached the old church in Grianaig, and there there was a grass meadow, and a well of water, and a bush of rushes,' and he got off the steed.
" ISfow," said the steed, " thou .shalt take a sword and thou shalt take the head off me."
" I will not take it indeed ; it would be sad for me to do it, and it would not be my thanks."
" Thou must do it. In me there is a young girl under spells, and the spells will not be off' me till the head is taken off me. I myself and the raven were courting ; he in his young lad, and I in my young girl, and the giants laid draoidheachd magic upon us, and they made a raven of him and a steed of me." "
He drew his sword, he turned his back, and he took the head off her with a scutching blow, and he left the liead and the carcass there. He went on forwards and a carUn met him.
" From whence didst thou come V said she.
" I am from behind me."
" Whither art thou gomg ] "
" I am goijig before me."
THE RIDER OF GRIAXAIG. 1 7
"That is the answer of a castle man."
" An answer that is pretty answerable for an impu- dent carlin such as thou art."
He went in with her and he asked a drink, and he got that.
" Where is thy man 1 "
" He is at the house of the knight seeking gold and silver that will make a cap*^ for the knight's young daughter, such as her sisters have ; and the lilve of the caps are not to be found in Albainn."
The smith came home.
" What's trade to thee, lad ?"
" I am a smith."
" That is good, and that thou shouldst help me to make a cap for the knight's young daughter, and she going to marry."
"Dost thou not know tliat thou canst not make that."
" It must be tried ; unless I make it I shall be hanged to-morrow ; here thou hadst best make it."
" Lock me into the smithy, keep the gold and silver, and I will have the cap for thee in the morning."
The smith locked him in. He -wished the raven to be with him. The raven came, he broke in through the window, and the cap was Avith liim.
" Thou shalt take the head off me noAV."
" It were sorrow for me to do that, and it would not be my thanks."
" Thou must do it. A young lad rmder spells am I, and they will not be off me till the head comes off me."
He drew his sword, and he scutched liis head off, and that was not hard to do. In the morning the smith came in, and he gave him the cap, and he fell asleep. There came in a noble-looking youth, with brown hair, and he awoke him.
VOL. III. c
I O WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
"I," said he, "am the raven, and the spells are off me now."
He walked down with him where he had left the dead steed, and a yoimg woman met them there as lovely as eye ever saw.
"I," said she, "am tlie steed, and the spells are ojff me now."
The smith went with the cap to the house of the knight. The servant maid betook herself to the knight's yonng daugliter, and she said that there was the cap which the smith had made. She looked at the cap.
" He never made that cap. Say to the lying rogue to bring hither the man that made him the cap, or else that he shall be hanged without delay."
The smith went and he got the man that gave him the cap, and when she saw him she took great joy. The matter was cleared up. Iain and the knight's young daughter married, and backs were turned on the rest, and they coidd not get the other sisters. They were driven away through the town with stick swortls and straw shoulder-belts.
[1. Maclean writes as follows : —
Got this tale from Donald M'Niven, Bowmore, who learnt it from an old man of the name of Neil Mac- Arthur, who died some twenty years ago or more.
Donald MacNiven is over forty years of age, is a cripple, but is sometimes in the habit of acting as a carrier, and di'iving a cart from Bowmore to Port Ellon and Port Askaig. He is of a fair complexion, a demure expression, and evidently loves the wonderful I do not think he can either read or write. I was informed that he could recite a considerable number of tales, but he tells me he has quite forgot them, from having given up reciting them.
THE RIDER OF GRIxVNAIG. li)
EiDiKE Ghriaìj AiG. The word Ridire, as explained elsewhere, now means a knight, but it jDrobably meant a minor king in the olden time.
Ghrianaig is the genitive of Grianag, which has been corrupted into Greenock.
That town is called by its Gaelic name tliroughout the Higlxlands. It is derived from Grian the sun, pronounced GreeAn, which is probably the root of many names Avhich are now sounded " green," such as Grisnez in France, Crinan in Argyllshire, and other places which are green and sunny in other countries, I might translate the words freely, the kinght of Greenock, the knight of the sun, or the Eitter of Sunnynook, but act- ing on the principle with which I set out, I give the knight Iris Gaelic name, and so avoid drawing doubtful conclusions. — J. F. C.
2. NoLLAiG is Christmas, and is also used for New Year's day. The derivation is probably nodh, new ; LA, day ; French, noel ; Welsh, nadolig ; Irish, nodidag ; Manks, noUirl- ; Breton, nadolig. The Highland cus- toms vrhicli prevail at this season smack rather of pagan times. Processions of boys go about on New Year's eve shouting curious rhymes, some of which are full of the names which pervade the Ossianic poems ; curious ceremonies are performed, and the singers are revrarded with food. I hojje some day to be in a position to say more about these old Christmas customs ; they are men- tioned in Chambers's nursery rhymes.
The game of shinny is usually played at this sea- son, and the great game used to come oif on the day of the great " noUaig," New Year's day, old style. The game is played in all parts of the United Elingdom as " hocky," " hurling," etc., and something like it is still played in the far east on horseback. To drive the ball
20 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
from one goal to tlie other is called Leth Bhair, a "half hale ;" to drive it back again is Bair, a " hale ;" and to win a goal at the man's game is nearly as great a feat as to gain a battle. In some parts of the BLigh- lands hundi-eds used to be engaged, all excited to a degree that those who have been at a jiublic school, or who have read Tom Brown's account of football, may perhajDS understand.
3. Fhiorrachd Fhuarrachd, etc. Tliis phrase is (according to Maclean) frequently used, though few know what the words literally mean. The common meaning attached to them is, " Not to be found any- where." May they not be corrupt forms of iochdrachd and uachdrachd, it is not in the liigher or lower regions.
I have given a different rendering ; I have heard very similar words used by boatmen for beating to wind- ward and running to leeward, and veering is an Eng- lish sailor's word still.
Eannan is used for r«/«nean, divisions^ in this tale. This form of the word in this sense is obsolete in Islay, and I suspect elsewhere. It now signifies verse, wliich Ls no doubt so called from being divided into lines and stanzas. We still use it in the genitive, thus, An Eainn, the Rhynns ; Ceann shios na ranna, the farthest down part of the Ehpms ; An rugha Eannach. — H. M'L.
4. The raven attacking the man in the basket might be a i)icture drawn from nature. Boys are often lowered over rocks in the Western Highlands to take birds' nests, and the old birds occasionally resent the injury. I have myself seen sparrow-hawks, terns, and other birds stooping viciously at men who had gone near
THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 2 I
their nests. I have heard of a man having his head laid open by enraged sea-swallows ; and there are all manner of stories current of adventures with birds in rock climbing. — J. F. C.
5. The quid of baccy needs no explanation, when it is remembered that the common fee for the story- teller is a quid. An old man long ago was teaching a boy to play the fiddle, and the following dialogue is recorded: — "Which fi.nger shall I raise?" "Hast thou tobacco Ì " " iSTo ; which finger shall I lift Ì " " Hast thou got tobacco Ì " " !N"o. " " Then lift and lay them down as it may please thyself" There is a hunger- ing after tobacco amongst those who are given to it, and cannot get it, which must be felt to be understood.
6. Ceap may have been substituted for currachd, a cap, which was the old Gaelic name for all head- dresses, male or female. — H. M'L.
I have no doubt that the man who told the story meant a cap, and I have so translated the word, but the Gaelic word means a trap or gin, and many things besides. An old man who told me a story exceedingly like "the Fisherman" in the Arabian Nights, introduced the character who resembled the young king of the Black Isles, not as a man half marble, but as a man with his head in a ceaj}, and on being interrogated, ex- plained that this was a kind of head-dress used for punishment or tortm-e, in which the head of the victim was fastened. Such head-dresses, made of rusty ii'on, may be seen in museums, and ceap may have meant something like a helmet, whose machinery beai's some resemblance to a rat-trap.
7. GoDARLEUM (page 31). — This is a new word to
2 2 WEST HIGHLAXD TALES.
me. The reciter could give no explanation of it farther than that it was darting off very abruptly, which the context leads a person to think. Godadli is a quick, somewhat violent shake of the head. I find the reciters at Eowmore speak a more corrupt dialect than others whom I have met. They use English words very fre- quently for Gaelic words still in common use. This gives an idea of the manner in which English words and forms of speech may have gradually replaced Gaelic ones in these tales, MacNiven alternately used fores- man and UACHDARAN in speaking of the overseer of the sixteen men that wrought at the rock. — H. M'L.
The flapping stone door occurs in a book called the "Romance of History," and I think the magic cave was placed somewhere in Spain. I have an impres- sion that I have heard of it elsewhere. — J. F. C.
cS. Tom LUACHARAcn, a bush of rushes, perhaps a ru.'^hy knoll.
9. Eg gheasan. Irish writers who take the histo- rical view of these traditions, translate geasa by vow or promise. This seems to- fix the meaning at magic.
I have translated this jDassage as literally as my laiDwledge of the two languages enables me to do it, because the language, which is simple every day Gaelic, seems, when considered with its meaning in this pas- sage, to throw a light on past beliefs. The enchanted steed, and men at the present day when they speak Gaelic, talk of themselves as if they were something different fiom their bodies. In English it is said, " / am an old man ;" in Gaelic, " I am in my old man."
The form of words is the same when the speaker says " I am in my old clothes," and this form of speech is here used together with DRAOiDH-eachd (?), druid'hun,
THE RIDER OF GRIANAlG. 23
magic, and a transformation is effected by steel at a well, in a grass meadoio, near a rusliy knoll, beside an old church at Grianaig.
Something to do with grian the sun, is mixed up with magic and worship, at an old church, and witli (b'uidism, and wells, and magic metal, and green mea- dows and rushes, things which usually have to do with magic, and with metempsychosis, which is supposed to have been a druidical doctrine ; and all comes direct from a man who cannot possibly know anytMng about such things except as traditions, which are supported by similar traditions found elsewhere. I believe this tale to be founded on Celtic mythology. — J. F. C.
The following Gaelic words used in tliis tale are very near to the English, lena, lawn ; grund, ground ; SGiOBAiR, skipper ; peanas, penalty ; blastadh, corrup- tion for blasting ; sail, heel. Spaisdeair-achd is not ill English, but it has relations in Italian, andar a s2}asso, and in Norse and German, spazieren.
The incidents may be compared with those in the Big Bird Dan, Xorse Tales, page 442 ; the King of Lochlin's Three Daughters, vol. i., page 236 ; but tliough these have much in common, I know nothing quite like this story anywhere. To me it suggests a succession of \T.vid pictures, perhaps because I under- stand the intention of the narrator from my knowledge of the landscapes which he clearly had before his mind.1
2 4 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
RIDIKE GHRIANAIG.
Bha aig Ridire Gliriauaig (1) tri nigheanaii, nach robh 'n leithid ra fhaotainn, na la fhaicinn an aite sam bith. Thainig beisd o'n chuau, 's thug i leath' end, 's cha robh fios de 'n rathad a ghabheud, na cait an racht' a 'n iarraidh.
Bha saighdear anns a bhaile, 's bha tri mic aige, 's an am na nollaig (2) bha eud aig iomain, 's thuiit am fear a b-oige gun rachadh eud agiis gun cuireadh eud bair, air leuna ridire Ghrianaig.
Thuirt each nach rachadh, nach biodh an ridire toilichte, gun biodh siod a toirt na chuimhne call a chloinne, 's a cuir duilichinn air. " Biudh sinn 's a roghainn da," urs' Iain am mac a b-oige, "ach theid sinn ann, 's bheir sinn bair, tha mise com' airson ridire Ghrianaig biodh e buidheach na diombach."
Chaidh eud a dh' iomain 's bhuidhinn Iain tri bairean air a bhraithrean. Chuir an ridire cheann amachair uinneig, 's chimnaic e eud aig iomain, 's ghabh e corruicb mhor, gun robh chridh' aig h- aon sam bith dol a dh' iomain air a leuna, ni bha toirt call a chloinne na chuimhne, 's a cuir miothlachd air. Thuirt e ra bhean. " Co tha cho miobhail 's a bhi' g iomain air mo ghrunndsa toirt call mo chloinne 'm chuimhne ! biodh eud air an toirt an so, a thiotamh, 's gun racbadh peanas a dheanadh orra." Chaidh na triuir ghillean a thoirt an lathair an ridire, 's bha eud nau gillean gasda.
" De thug dhiubsee," urs' an ridire, " bhi cho miobhail 's dol a dh' iomain air a ghrunnd agams'. toirt call mo chloinne 'm chuimh- ne ! Feumaidh sibh peanas f huileann air a shon."
Cha n ann mur sin a bhitheas," urs' Iain, " ach o'n thuit duinne tigh 'n cearr ort, 's fhearra dhuit fardrach de long a dheanadh dhuinn, agus folbhaidh sinn a dh' iarraidh do nigheaiian ; 's ma tha eud fo 'n fhiorrachd na fo 'n fhuarracbd, na fo cheithir rannan ruagh' an domhain, (3) gheobh sinn' a mach eud, ma 'n d' thig ceann lath' a 's bliadhna, 's bheir sinn air an ais eud do Ghrianaig."
" Gad is ta 's oige, 's ann a 'd cheann a tha chomhairl' a 's fhearr Bidh sinn air a dheanadh dhuibh."
Fhuaireadh saoir, 's bha long air a deanadh ann an seachd lathan. Chuir eud a stigh biadh is deoch mar dh' fheumadh eud airson an turais. Thug eud a h-aghaidh ri muir, 's a cul ri tir, 's dh' fholbh eud 's ann an seachd laithean rainig eud traigh gheal ghain- bheicb, agus nur a chaidh eud air tir bha se fir dheug ag obair ann an aodann creige blastadh, 's uachdaran orra.
" De 'n t-aite tha 'n so ? " ursa 'n sgiobair.
EIDIRE GHRIANAIG. 25
" So 'n t-aite bheil clann ridire Ghrianaig. Tha eud ri bhi posd' air tri fanihaiiean."
" De 'n doigh air faotainn far a bheil eud?"
" Cha 'n 'eil doigh sain bith ach dol suas anns a chliabh so ri aodann na creige."
Chaidh am mac a bu shine anns a chliabh, 's nur a bha e shuas aig leith na creige thainig fitheach geair dugh, 's thoisich e air le a inean, 's le a sgiathan, gus nach mor nach d' fhag e dall bodhar e. (4) Cha robh aig ach tilleadh air ais.
Chaidh an darna fear sa chliabh, 's nur a bha e shuas leith an rathaid, thainig am fltlieach gearr dugh 's thoisich e air, 's cha robh aig ach tilleadh air ais mur a rinn am fear eile.
Chaidh Iain ma dheireadh sa cliabh. Nur a bha e shuas leith an rathaid, thainig am fitheach gearr dugh, 's thoisich e air, 's ghread e ma 'n aodann. " Suas mi gu clis," urs' esan, " ma 'm bi mi dall an so." Chuireadh a suas e gu braigh na creige. Nur a bha e shuas thainig am fiiheach far an robh e, 's thuirt e ris.
" An d' thoir thu dhonih greim tho.mbaca.' "
" A dhoar shlaightire ! 's beag coiiiain agad orm airson sin a tlioirt duit."
" Na biodh amhail agad da sin bidh raise 'm charaid math dhuit. Nis theid thu do thi-h an fhamhair mhoir, 's chi thu nighean an ridire fuaghal, 's a meuran fliuch le deoir."
Ghabh e air aghaidh gus an d' rainig e tigh an fhamhair. Chaidh e stigh. Bha nighean an ridire fuaghal.
" De thug an so thu ?" urs' ise.
" De thug thu fein ann nach fliaodainnsa tigh 'n ann ?"
" Thugadh mis' ann gun taing."
" Tha fios agam air an sin. Ca bheil am famhair ? "
" Tha e sa bheinn sheilg."
" De 'n doigh air fliaotainn daehaidh?"
" An t-slabhraidh chomhrag ud a mach a chrathadh 's cha n 'eil san fhiorrachd, na 's an fhuarrachd, na 'n ceithir rannan ruagh' an domh- ain, h-aon a chumas comhrag ris,^ach Iain og Mac an t-Saighdeir, a Albainn, 's cha n 'eil e ach se bliadhn' deug a dh' aois 's tha e tuillidh a 's og a dhid a chomhrag ris an fhamhair."
" Tha iomadh h-aon an Albainn cho laidir ri Iain Mac an t- Saighdeir, gad a bhiodh an saighdear leis."
Cliaidh e mach. Thug e tarruinn air an t-slabhraidh, 's cha d' thug e car aisde, 's chaidh e air a ghlun. Dh' eiridh e suas, thug e 'n ath chrathadh air an t-slubhraidh, 's bhrisd e tein' innte. Chual am famhair sa bheinn sheilg e.
2 6 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" Aha ! " urs' esan, " co b-urrainn mo shlabhraidh chomhraigs' a charachadh, ach Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir e Albainn, 's eha n 'eil e acli se bliadhn' deug a dh' aois, tha e ra og fhatbasd."
Chuir am famhair an t-sitheann air gad, 's thainig e dliacbaidh.
" An tusa Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir a Albainn?"
" Cha mhi."
" Co thu ? san fhiorracbd, na san fliuarrachd, na 'n ceithir ranna rnagh' an domhain, a b' urrainn mo sblabhraidhs' charachadh ach Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir a Albainn?"
Tha iomadh h-aon an Albainn, cho laidir ri Iain og ISIac an t- saigbdear, ged a bbiodh an saighdear leis."
" Tha siod san fhaidheadairachd agamsa."
'' Coma leam de tha san fhaidheadaireachd agadsa."
" De 'n doigh air am math leat thu fhe' fheuchainn?"
" Nur a bhithinn fhe 's mo mhathair thar a cheile, 's a bhiodij toil agam mo thoil fhe fhaotainn ; 's ann an snaomannan cruaidhe carachd a bhitheamaid a feuchainn, 's ann uair a gheobhadh i chuid a b' fhearr, 's da uair nach fhaigheadh."
Rug eud air a cheile, 's bha greiineannan cruaidh' aca, 's chuir am famhair Iain air a glilun.
"Tha mi faiciiin," urs' Iain, "gur tu 's laidireacha."
" Tha fibs gur mi," urs' am famhair.
Chaidh eud an dail a cheile rithisd, bha eud a caradii,'s a tarruinn a cheile. Bhuail Iain a chas air an fhamhair sa mhuthairle, 's chuir e air slaitidh a dhroma, foidhe air a ghrunnd e. Ghuidh e gum biodh am fitheach aige. Thainig am fitlieach gearr dugb, 's gliabh do 'n fhamhair s an aodann, 's ma nacluasan, le a inean, 's le a sgiathan, gus an do dhall, 's an do bhodhair e e. " Am bheil tarrunn airm agad a bheir an ceann de 'n bheisd?"
'• Cha n 'eil."
" Cuir do lamh fo m' sgeilh dheis-sa, 's gheobh thu core bheag bhiorach ann, a bhiosagam a buain nam braonanan, 's thoir an ceann deth."
Chuir e lamh fo bhun sgeith' dheis an fiiithich 's fliuaire chore 's thug e 'n ceann de 'n fhamhair.
"Nis Iain theid thu stigh far a blieil nighean mhor ridire Ghrianaig 's bidh i 'g iarraidh ort tilleadli, 's gun dol na 's fhaide, ach na d' thoir thusa feairt, ach gabh air t-aghaidh, 's ruigidh thu 'n nighean mheadhonach, 's bheir thu dhomhsa greim thombaca."
" Bheir mi sin duit gu dearbh 's math a choisinn thu e, gheobh thu leith 's na th' agam."
" Cha 'n fliaigh gu dearbh ; 's iomadh la fada gu bealtainn."
RIHIRE GHRIAXAIG. 27
Cha ììg am fortan gam bi mis" an so gu bealtainn."
Tha fiòs agad air na tha seachad, acli cha 'n 'eil fiòs agad air na tha romhad. Faigh uisge blath, glan thu fein ann, Gheobh thu ballan iocshlaint as cionn an doruisd, rub rì 'd diraiceann e, theirig a laidhe leat fhe', 's bidh thu gu slan fallan am maireach, 's am mair- eacb gabhaidh tu air t-agbaidh gu tigh na h-ath te.
Chaidli e stigh 's rinn e mar a dh' iarr am fitbeacb aìr. Chaidh e laidhe 'n oidbcbe sin, 's bba e gu slan fallain, sa mhaidinn, nur a dli' eiridli e.
" 'S fbearra dhuit," ursanigliean mhor an ridire, "giin dol na 's fliaide, "s gun thu fhè' cbur an tuillidh cunnairt, tba na leoir de dh' or "s de' dh' airgiod an so, 's bheir sinne leinn 's tillidh sinn."
" Cba dean mi' " sin urs' esan, " gabhaitlh mi air m' agbaidh."
Gbabh e air aghaidh gus an d' thainige gus an tigh an robh nigbean mbeadbonacli ridire Gbrianaig. Chaidh e stigh, 's bha ise na suidhe fuaghal, 's i caoineadb, 's a nieuran fliuch le a deoir.
" De thug thusa 'n so? "
" De thug thu fhè ann nach fhandainnsa tigh 'n ann ?"'
" Thugadh mise gun taing ann."
'• Tha fhiosam air an sin, de chuir a caoineadh thu ?''
" Cha "n 'eil ach aon oidhch' agam gus am feum mi bhi posd air an niamhair.''
Ca bheil am famhair ?
" Tha 's a bheinn sheilg."
" De n doigh air fhaotainn dhachaidh ? "
" An t-slabhraidh chomhraig sinn a macli taobh an tighchrathadh, 's cha n 'eil e 's an fliiorracbd, na san fhuarrachd, na 'n ceithir rannan ruagli' an domhain, na chrathas i, ach Iain eg Mac an t- eaghdeir a Albainn, 's tha e ra og fhathasd ; cha 'n 'eil e ach se bliadhiia deug a dh' aois."
" Tha daoin' ann an Albainn, cho laidir ri Iain og Mac an t- saighdeir, gad a bhiodh an saighdear leis."
Chaidh e mach 's thug e tarruinn air an t-slabhraidh, 's tbainig e air a dha gblun. Dh' eiridh e 's thug e n' ath tarruinn urra, 's bhrisd e tri teiueachanan. Chual am famhair siod 'sa beinn sheilg.
" Alia ! " urs esan, " 's chuir e 'n t-sitheann air gad air a ghuall- ainn, 's thainig e dhachaidh."
" Co b' urrainn mo shlabhraidh chomhragsa charachadh ach Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir a Albainn, 's tha e ra og fhathasd ; cha n 'eil e ach se bliadhn' deug a dh' aois."
"Tha daoin' ann an Albainn cho laidir ri Iain og Mac an t- saighdeir, gad a bhiodh an saigdear leis."
2 8 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" Tha siod anns an fhaidheadaiieachd againne."
" Tha mise coma de th' anns an fhaidheadaireachd agaibhse."
" De 'n doigh air am math leat thu fein fheuchainn ?"
" Ann an criiaidh ghreimeannan carachd."
Rug eud air a cheile 's chuir am famhair air a dha ghlun e.
" 'S leat mo bheath," urs' Iain, " 's tu 's treise na mise. Feucha- maid car eile."
Dh' fheuch eud a cheile rithisd 's bhual Iain a shall air am fhamhair sa mhuthairle 's chuir e air slaitiJh a dhrom' air ghrunnd e.
" Fhithich," urs' esan, " bu math dallanach dhiot anis."
Thaiaig am fitheach, agus dhall agus bhodhair e 'm famhair, a gabhail da le a ghob, 's le a inean, 's le a sgiathan.
" A bheil tarrunn airm agad ?"
" Cha 'n eil."
" Cuir do lamh aig bun mo sgeithe dheissa, 's gheobh thu ann core bheag bliiorach a bhios agam a buain nam braonanan, 's thoir an ceann deth."
Chuir e lamh fo bhun sgeithe dheis an fhithich, fhuair e chore, 's thug e 'n ceann de 'n fhamhair.
" Nis theid thu stigh, glanaidh thu thu fein leuisge blath, gheobh thu 'm ballan iocshlaint, rubaidh tu ruit fhe' e, theid thu laidhe, 'a bidh thu gu slan fallan am maireach, Bidh i so gun taing, na 's seoltacha, 's na 's beulaiche, na bha 'n te roinihid, aig iarraidh ort tilleadh, 's gun dol na 's fhaide, ach na d' thobhair thusa feairt urra, 's bheir thu dhomhsa greim thombaca."
" Bheithir mi, dearbh 's aiiidh air thu."
Chaidh e stigh 's rinn mar a dh' iarr am fitheach air. Nur a dh' eiridh e 'u la'r na mhaireach bha e gu slan fallan.
'• 'S fhearra dhuit ursa nighean mheadonach an ridire, tilleadh 's gun thu fhe' chur ann an tuillidh cunnairt, tha na leoir de dh, or, s do dh' airgiod an so."
" Cha dean mi sin gabhaidh mi air m' aghaidh."
Ghabh e air aghaidh gus an d' thainig e gus an tigh anns an robh nighean bheag an ridire, chaidh e stigh, 's chanuaic e ise fuaghal 's a mturan fliuch le deoir.
" De thug thusa 'n so ?"
•' De thug thu fhe' ann ! nach fhaotainnsa tigh'n anu."
" Thugadh mis' ann gun taing."
" Tha fhios'am air an sin."
" An tu Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir a Albainn ?"
" 'S mi, de 's ciall duit a bhi caoineadh ?"
EIDIRE GHRIAXAIG.
29
" Cha n 'eil agam dail gun laidlie leis an fliamhair, acb an oidhche so."
" Ca bheil e ?"
" Tha e 'sa bheinn sheilg."
" De 'n doigh an' air a thoirt dachaidh ? ""
" An t-slabhraidh chomhraig ud a macb a chratbadh."
Chaidb e macb 's thug e crathadh urra, 's tbainig e nuas air a nihasan. Db' eiridh e ritbisd 's tbug e 'n atb chratbadh urra 's bhrisd e ceithir teineachan innte, 's rinn e toirm mbor. Chual am famhair siud sa bbeinn sheilg. Chuir e 'n gad sitbinn air a ghuallainn.
" Co 's an fhiarracbd, na san fhuarracbd, na 'n ceithir rannan ruagh an dombain a b" urrainn mo shlabhraidb cbomhragsa cbrath- adb, acb Iain og, Mac an t-saigbdeir a Albainn, 's ma 's e th' ann tha mo dha bbratliairsa marbb roimbe so."
Tbainig e dbacliaidh na dbeann, a cuir an talanib air chritb roimbe 's na dheigb.
"An tu Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir?"
«' Cha mbi."
" Co tlia san fliiorracbd, iia san fhuarracbd na 'n ceithir rannan ruagh' an dombain, a b' urrainn mo shlabhraidb cbiinliragsa chratb- adh acb Iain og Mac an t-saigbdeir a Albainn "s tha e ra og fliathasd; cba n 'eil e acb se bliadbn' deng a db" aois."
"Nacli ioinadb h-aon an Albainn cbo laidir ri Iain og Mac an t- saigbdeir, gad a bbiodb an saigbdeir leis."
" Cha n 'eil e san fhaidheadaireachd againne."
" Coma leam de tha san fbaidbeadaireaehd agaibhse."
" De n doigh air am math leat t-fbcuchainn ?"
" Snaomannan cruaidbe caracbd."
Ghlac eud a cbeile 's chuir am famhair air a tboin e.
" Lig as n.i 's leat mo bbeatha "
Rug end air a cbeile rithisd, bbuail e shail air an ftiambair sa mhuthairle, 's leag e air e fras mbullacb a ghuaille 's air slaitith a dhrom' air an lar e.
" Fhitbicb ghearr dhuigb, na'm biodh thu 'n so anis."
Cha bu luailbe 'thuirt e 'm facal, na tbainig am fitheacb. Leadair e "m famhair ma 'n aodann, 's ma na suilean, 's ma na cluasan, le a gho!), 's le a inean, 's le a sgiathan.
" A bbeil tarrunn airm agad."
"Cha n 'eil."
" Cuir do lamb fo bbun mo Fgeitb dbeis 's gheobb thu core bbeag bhioracb ann a bbios agam a buain nam braoilleanan 's thoir an ceann detb."
3© WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
Rinn e ^ìod.
" Nis urs' am fitheach gabli fois mar a rinn thu, 'n rair, 's nur a thilleas thu le tri nigheanan an ridire gu bearradh na creige, theid thu fhè sios an toiseach, 's theid eudsaii sios a 'd dheigh, 's bheir thu dhorahsa greirn thombaca."
" Bheir gu deaibh 's math a 's airidh air thu ; so dhuit air fad e." " Cha gabh mi ach gieim, 's ioinadh la fada gu bealtainn." " Tha libs agad de tli' as do dheigh, ach cha n 'eil fios agad de tha romhad."
An la r na mhaireach chuir eud an ordugh asaicheann, 's chuir end air am muinn an tor 's an t-airgiod a bh' aig na fanihairean, 's rainig e fein agus tri nigheanan an ridire bearradh na creige. Nur a rainig eud bearradh na creige, 'n earalas gun tochradh tapadh- cion do ghin de na nigheanan, chuir e sios eud te an deigh te, anns a chliabh. Bha tri ceapannan (6) oir orra air an deanadli suas gu gasda, le daoiniean ceapannan a rinneadh ann 's an Roimh, 's nacli robh 'n leithidean ra fhaotainn anns an domlum. Ghleidh e bhos an ceap a bh' air an te b' oige. Bha e IVitheamh, 's a feitheamh, 's gad a bhiodh e feitlieamh fhathasd, clia d' thigeadh an cliabh a nios a iarr- aidh. Chaidh each air bord, 's air folbh a gliabh eud, gus an d' rainig eud Grianaig.
Bha esan air fliagail an siod, 's gun doigh aig air faotainn as an aite. Thainig am fitheach far an robh e. " Cha do gliabh thu mo chomliairle."
" Cha do gliabh ; na 'n gabhadh cha bhitliinn mar a tha mi." " Cha n 'eil arach air Iain, an t-aon nach gabh comhairle gabh- aidh e comhrag, Bheir thu dhomhsa greim tlionibaca." " Bheir."
" Ruigidh thu tigh an fhamhair agus fanaidh thu ann an nochd." " Nach fhan thu fhe' leam a chur dhiom mo chianalais." " Cha 'n fhan cha fhreagair e dliomh." " An la r na mhaireach tliainig am titheacli far an robh e." " Theid thu nis gu stabull an fhamhair, agus ma bhiòs thu tap- aidh tha steud an sin a 's coingeis leatha niuir na tir, a dh' fhaodas do thoirt as na casan so."
Dh' fholbh eud comlila 's thainig eud gus an stabull. Stabull cloich' air a chlaghach a stigh ann an creig, agus dorusd cloiche ris. Bha 'n dorusd a clapail gun stad, air ais 's air aghaidh, o mhoch latha gu h-oidhclie, 's o oidhche gu latha.
" Feumaidh tu nis faire," urs' am fitheach, " agus cothrora a ghabh- ail feuch an dean thu dheth dol a stigh nur a bhios e fujgailt gun e dheanadh greim ort."
RIDIRE GHRIANAIG. 3 1
" 'S fhearra dliuits' flieuchainn an toiseacli o 'n a 's tu 's eolaiche."
" Bidh e cho math."
Thug am fitheach beic, agus godarleum (7) as 's chaidh e stigh, ach thug an doru<d it' e bun a sgeith, 's sgreuch e.
'• Iain bhoclid na 'm faigheadh thusa 'stigh cho beag doruinn riumsa, cha bhithinn a gearan."
Ghabh Iain loid air ais, 's roid air agliaidh, thug e leam as a dhol a stigh, rug an dornsd air 's tliug e leith a mhais deth.
Ghlaoidh Iain, 's tJiuit e fuar marbh air urlar an stabuill (8). Tliog am fitheach e, 's ghiulain e e air barraibh a sgeith, mach as an stabull, do thigh an fhamhair. Leag e air bord air a bheul 's air a shroin, chaidh e mach, chruinnicli e luigheannan, 's rinn e ceirean a chuir e ris, 's aim an deich laitliean bha e cho math sa bha e riabh.
Chaidh e mach a dhol a ghabliail sraid, 's chaidh am fitheach a mach leis.
"Nis Iain gabhaidh fhu mo chomhairle, 's cha ghabh thu iongh- antas de ni sam bith a chi thu feadh an eilean, 's bheir thu dhomhsa greim thombaca."
Bha 6 spaisdireachd feadh an eilein, 's a del romh glileann ; chunnaic e tri Ian laoich na 'n sineadh air an driom, sleagh air uchd a li-uile fir dhiu, 's e na shioram suain chadail, 's na Ion falais.
" Their leam fhe gur deisneach so ; de choire a bhiodh ann's na sleaghannan a thogail diu ?"
Chaidh e agus dh' fliuasgail e dliiu na sleaghannan. Dhuisg na laoich, 's dh' eiricih eud a suas.
" Fhianuis air an fhortan, 's air daoine, gur tu Iain og Mac an t-saiglideir a Albainn, 's gu bheil e mar ghtasaibli art dol leinne romh cheann ma dlieas an eilein so, seachad air uamh 'n iasgair dhuigh."
Dh" fhalbh e fbe 's na tri Ian laoich, Cliunnaic eud smuid chaol a mach a uamh. Chaidh eud gus an uamh. Chaidh h-aon de na laoicli a stigh, 's nur a chaidh e stigh bha cailleach an sin na suidhe, 's an fiiiacaill a bu lugha na beul dheanadh i dealg na h-uchd, [org na laimh, ngus maide brosnachaidh do'n ghriosaich. Eha car da h-inean ma h-uilt, 's car da fait liath ma lagharan, 's cha robh i aobhach ri amhrac urra.
P.ug i air slachdan draoidheachd, bhuail i e 's rinn i carragh maol cloiche dheth. Bha ionghantas air an fheadhain a bha mach de thuir nach robh e tilleadh.
" Tlieirig a stigh," urs Iain ri fear eile, "'s airahric de tha cumail do chompanaich."
Chaidh e stigh 's rinn a chailleach air mar a rinn i air an fhear eile. Chaidh an treas fear a stigli "s rinn i airsan mar a rinn i air
3« WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
each. Chaidh Iain a stigh ma dheireadh. Bha cat mor claghann ruagh an sin, 's chuir i bara de 'n luaitli dhearg ma cloinihe an los a bhodhradh sa dlialladh. Bhiiail e barr a cliois urra, 's chuir en t-iona- chainn aisde. Thug e lamh air a chaillich.
" Iain na dean. Tha na daoine sin fo gheasaibh agus airson na geasau a chur dhiu feumaidh lu dol do dli' eilean nam ban mora, 's botall de 'n uisge bheo, thoirt as, 's nur a rubas thu riu e, folbhaidh na geasan 's thig eud bco."
Thill Iain air ais fo dhuibthiamhas.
" Cha do ghabh thu mo chomhairle," urs' am fitheach, " 's thug thu tuillidli dragh ort fein, Theid thu laidhe nochd, 's nur a dh' eireas thu maireacli, bheir thu leat an steud, 's bheir thu biadh is deoch dhi. 'S coingeis leatha muir na tir; 's nur a ruigeas thu eilean nam ban mora, coinneachaidh se deug de ghille stabuill thu, 's bidh eud air fad air son biadh a thoirt do 'n steud, sa cuir a stigh air do shon, ach na lig thusa dhaibh. Abair gun d' thoir thu fhe' biadh a 's deoch dhi. Nur a dh' flia.ras thu san stabuU i, cniridh a h-uile h-aon de 'n t-se deug car 'san uichair, ach cuiridh thusa car an aghaidh h-uile car a cbuireas eud ann. Bheir thu dhomhsa greim thomhaca."
" Bheir gu dearbh."
Chaidh e laidhe 'n oidhche sin, 's anns a mhaidinn chuir e 'n steud an ordugh, 's ghabh e air falbh. Thug e h-aghaidh ri muir, 's a cul ri tir, 's dh' fholbh i na deann, gus an d' rainig eud eilean nam ban mora. Nur a chaidh e air tir, choinnich se gille deug stabuill e, 's bha h-uile fear aig iarraidh a cuir a stigh s a biadliadh.
" Cuiridh mi file stigh i, 's bheir mi 'n aire dhi, cha d' thoir mi do li-aon sam bith i."
Chuir e stiirli i, 's nur a thainig e mach chuir a h-uile fear car san iuchair, 's chuir esan car an aghaidh h-uile car a chuir eud innte. Thuirt an steud ris gum biodh eud a tairg:'e h-uile seorsa deoch dha, ach gun esan a ghabhail deoch sam bith uatha ach nieug a 's uisge. Chaidh e stigh 's bha h-uile seorsa deoch ga cliuir man cuairt an sin, 's bha eud a tairgse gach seorsa dhasan, ach cha ghabhadh esan deur de dheoch sam bith ach meug a 's uisge. Bha eudsan ag ol, 's ag ol, gus an do thuit eud na 'n sineadh, man bhord.
Dh' iarr an steud airsau ma n do dhealaich i ris, e tlniiit an aire 's gun cadal, 's a chothrom a ghabhail airson tigh 'n air folbh. Nur a chaidil eud s an thanaig e mach as an t-seomhar, 's chual e 'n aon cheol a bu bhinne chualas riabh. Ghabh e air aghaidh agus chual e ann an ait' eile ceol moran na bu bhinne. Thainig e gu taobh staigh- reach 's chual e ceol na bu bhinne 's na bu bhinne, agus thuit e na cliadal.
EIDIRE GHRIAXAIG. JJ
Bhrisd an steud a mach as an stabull, thainig i far an robh e, bhuail i cic air 's dhuisg i e, " Cha do ghabh thu mo chomhairl," urs ise, " 's cha n' eil fhios a nis am faigh thu do ghnothach leat na nach fhaigh." Dh' eiridh e le duilichinn. Rug e air claidheamh soluisd a bha "n oiseia an t-seombair, s thug e na se cinn deug a mach. Eainig e 'n tobar, lion e botall 's thill e. Choinnich au steud e, 's thug e h-aghaidh ri muir 's a cul ri tir, 's thill e gus an eilean eiie. Choinnich am fitheach e.
" Folbhaidh thu agus stablachaidh thu 'n steud, 's theid thu laidhe nochd, 's am maireach theid thu agus bheir thu beo na laoich, 's mar bhaidh thu chailleach, '3 na bi cho amaideach am maireach 's a bha thu rohnhe so."
" Nach d' thig thu leam a nochd a chur dhiom mo chianalais."
" Cha d' thig cha fhreagair e domh."'
An la'r na mhaireach rainig e'n uamh.
"Failte dhuit Iain," urs' a chailleach.
" Failte dhuits' ach cha shlainte dhuit."
Chrath e'n t-uisg' air na daoine, 's dh' eiridh eud beo ; Bhuail e bhas air a chaillicli, a 's spread e 'n t-ionachainu aisde. Ghabh eud a mach, 's chaidh eud gu ceann deas an eilean. Chunnaic eud an t- iasgair dugh an sin ag obair ra chuilbheartan. Tharruinn e bhas 's bhuail e e, 's spread e n t-ionachainn as, 's thug e na laoich dhachaidli do cheann deas an eilean. Thainig am fitheach far an robh e.
"Nis theid thu dhachaidh 's bheir thu leat an steud; 's coingeis leatha muir na tir. Tha tri nigheanan an ridire ri banais a bhi ac- a, dithisd ri bhi posd air do dha bhrathair, agus an te eile air a cheann- abhart a bh' air na daoin' aig a chreig. Fagaidh tu'n ceap agamsa, 's cha bhi agad ach smaointeachadh orm, nur a bhios e dhith ort, 's bidh mi agad. Ma dh' fheorachas h-aon diot co as a thainaig thu abair gun d' thanaig thu as do dheigh ; 's ma their e riut ca' bheil thu dol, abair gu bheil thu dol romhad."
Chaidh e air muinn na steud, thug e h-aghaidh ri muir, 's a cul ri tir, 's air folbh a bha e 's cha d' riiineadh stad na fois Itis gus an d' rainig e 'n t-sean eaglais ann an Grianaig, 's bha Ion feoir, an sin, agus tobar uisge, agus tom luachrach. Thainig e bhar na steud.
" A nis," urs' an steud, " gabhaidh tu claidheamh, agus bheir thu 'n ceann diomsa."
" Cha d' thobhair ga dearbh, bu duilich leam a dheanadh, 's cha b' e mo chomain e."
" Feumaidh tu dheanadh, 's ann a th' annamsa nighean og fo
gheasaibh, 's cha bhi na geasan dhiom gus an d' thoirear an ceann
diom. Bha mi fhe' sam fitheach a suiridh, esan na ghill' og, 's mis'
D
i^ WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
am' nighinn oig, 's chuir na famhairean draoidheachd oirnn, 's rinn eud fitheach dhethsan agus steud dhiomsa."
" Tharruinn e chlaidheamh, thionndaidh e chul, 's thug e 'n ceann dith le sgath bhuille, 's dh' fhag e 'n ceann sa chlosach an siod. Ghabh e air aghaidh. Choinnich cailleach e.
" Co as a thanaig thu ?" urs ise.
" Thanaig mi as mo dheigh."
" Ca bheil thu dol ?" Tha mi dol romham.
" Sin freagairt fir caisteil."
" Freagairt gu math freagrach air cailleach mhiobhail mur a tha thusa."
Chaidh e stigh leatha 's dh'iarr e deoch. Fhuair e siod.
« Ca bheil t-fhear?"
Tha aig tigh an ridire aig iarraidh or is airgiod a ni ceap do nighean og an ridire, mar a th' aig a peathrairchean, 's gun leithid nan ceapannan ra fhaotainn an Albainn."
Thanaig an gobha dliachaidh.
" De 's ceaird duit oganaich ?"
" Tha mi 'm ghobha."
" 'S math sin, 's gun cuideachadh thu leamsa ceap a dheanadh do nighean og an ridire, 's i dol a phosadh."
"Kach 'eil fhios atrad nach urrainn thu sin a dheanadh."
"'S eiginn feucliainn ris, ma 'n an dean mi e bidh mi air mo chrochadh am maireach." " So a 's fhearra dhuit a dheanadh."
*' Glais mise stigh 's a cheardaich, gleidh an t-or 's an t-airgiod, 's bidh an ceap agamsa dhuit sa mliaidinn."
Ghlais an gobha stigh e. Ghuidh e 'm fitheach a bhi aige, Thainig am fitheach, Bbrisd e stigh romh 'n uinneag 's bha 'n ceap leis.
''Bheir thu 'n ceann dhiomsa nis."
"Bu duilich leam sin a dheanadh 's cha b' e mo chomain e."
" Feumaidh tu dheanadh 's gill' og fo gheasan mise, 's cha bhi eud (Jhiom gus an d' thig an ceann dhiom."
Tharruinn e chlaidheamh, 's sgath e 'n ceann deth, 's cha robh siod doirbli a dheanadh. Anns a mhaidinn thanaig an gobha 'stigh "s thug e dha 'n ceap. Thuit e na chadal. Thainig oganach ciatach le fait donn a stigh, 's dhui?g e.
" S mise," urs' esan, "am fitheach, 's tha na geasan a nis dhiom."
Choisich e leis sios far an d' fhag e 'n steud marbh, 's choinnich boireannach og an sin eud cho aluinn 's a chunnaic suil riabh.
"'S mis' urs ise 'n steud 's tha na geasan diom a nis."
Chaidh an gobha leis a cheap gu tigh an ridire, Tliiig an sear-
RIDIRE GHRIANAIG.
35
bhant thun nighean og an ridire e, 's thuirt i rithe gun robh 'n siod an ceap a rinn an gobha. Dh' aimhric i air a cheap.
" Cha d' rinn e 'n ceap so riabh. Abair ris an t-slaightire bhreug- ach e thoirt an fbir a tliug dha 'n ceap an so, air neo gum bi e air a chrochadh gun dàil."
Chaidh an gobha 's fhuair e 'm fear a thug an ceap dha, 's nur a chunnaic is' e ghabh i boch mor. Chaidh a chuis a shoilleireachadh. Phos Iain agus nighean og an ridire, 's chaidh cul a chur ri each, 's cha 'n fhaigheadh eud na peathraichean eile. Chuireadh romh 'a bhail' eud, le claidheamhannan maide, 's le criosa guaille conlaich.
In tliis tale the Gaelic is "written as spoken by the narrator. There are instances of bad grammar, and of corruptions, which are left as found. Teine is used for tinne, a Unk. Aig is a small bay or creek. Grianaig is Sun Creek. Many similar names are found in the Highlands. In Islay is Dun Naomh-aig, Holy Creek Fort ; in Barra, Breubhaig-Breitheamliaig, Judge Creek. The word is no doubt allied to eag, a notch, or a nook. — H. M'L.
From a Stone at ELGiii. —SculjHured Stones of Scotland, P2. xvi.
{Under the following numbers I have grouped together a fexo traditions, etc., relating to the Campbell legend of Diar- maid and the boar.']
LIX. nONN'S QUESTIONS.
From Donald MacPhie (smith), Breiibhaig, Barra, 1860.
" Fiona would not marry any lady but one who could answer all his questions, and it appears that this was rather difficult to find. Graidhne, daughter of the King of the fifth of Ullin, answered them all, and proved herself the wisest as well as the handsomest of women. Fionn married Graidhne because she answered the questions. The reciter told me that there were a great many more, but that these were all that he could remember at the time."
H. MacLean, October 20, 1860.
CEISDEAN FHINN.
[Seo na ceisdeau.
Fionn. Dè 's lionaire na'm fenr ?
Ch'aidhne. Tha 'n driuchd ; bidh moran bhoineacliaii deth air aon ghas feoir.]
Fionn. What is more plenteous than the grass ?
Graidhne. The dew ; there will be many drops of it on one grass blade.
[De 's teotha na'n teine ?
Ciall mnatha eadar da f hear,]
V.Hiat is hotter than the fire ?
A woman's reasoning betwixt two men.
DIARMAID AXD GRAIDHNE FIOXN S QUESTIONS. 37
[De 's luaitlie na ghaotli 1 Aigne innatha eadar da f hear.] What is sivifter than the wind Ì A woman's thought betwixt two men.
[De 's duibhe na 'n fitheach ? Tha 'm has.]
What is blacker than the raven ? There is death.
[De 's gile na 'lii sneachd ? Tha 'n fhirinn.]
What is whiter than the snow ? There is the truth.
[De 's long ri gach luchd ?
Teanchair gobha ; cumaidh i teith a's fuar.]
What is a sliip for every cargo ?
A smith's tongs ; it will hold hot and cold.
[De air nach gabh glas na slablu-aidh cur ?
Kasg duine ma charaid ; cha ghabh e dunadh na cumail ach ag amharc air.]
What is it will not bide lock or chain 1
The eye of a man about liis friend ; it Avill not brook shutting or holding, but looking on him.
[De. 's deirge na full ?
Gnuis duine choir nuair thigeadh coigrich an rathad 's gun bhiadh aige 'bheireadh e dhaibli.]
Wliat is redder than blood Ì
The face of a worthy man when strangers might come the way, and no meat by him to give to them.
[De 's geire na claidheamh Ì Athais namhaid.] What is sharper than a sword Ì Tlie reproach of a foe.
38 WEST HIGHL.VND TALES.
[Dè 's fearr de bhiadli ?
Bleaclid ; tliig iomadh atharracliadli as, niotar im a's càise dhetli, 's beathacliaidli e leanabh beag a's seaii-duine.]
What is the best of food Ì
Milk ; many a change comes out of it ; butter and cheese are made of it, and it will feed a little child and an old man.
[De 's measa de bhiadh?
Bhanach.]
"VVliat is the worst of meat Ì
Lean flesh.
[De 'n send a's f hearr Ì
Sgian.]
What is the best jewel ?
A knife.
[De 's brisge na cluaran Ì
Briathran tore muice.]
WTiat is more brittle than the sow thistle ?
The words of a boar pig.
[De 's maoithe na cloimhteach Ì Dearn air an leaca.] What is softer than down Ì The palm on the cheek.
[De 'n gniomh a's f hearr de ghniomhaibh ? Gniomh ard a's uaill iseal.] What deed is the best of deeds ? A high deed and low conceit.
From this then it appears that Graidline represents quick wit and beauty, and her name seems to mean Gradh — love.
DIARMAID AND GRAINNE. 39
Fionn always represents wisdom.
Mature wisdom marries young love, and in the stories which follow, love runs away with young valour.
They follow the track which has been assigned to the Celtic race. They are married in Eirinn, and ia the next story, the course of their wanderings is pointed out.
LX. DIAEMAID AND GEAINNE.*
From Hector MacLean, July 6tli 1859. Told by an old man in Bowmore, Islay, Alexander Macalister.
FIONN was going to marry Grainne, the daughter of the king of Carmag in Eirinn. The nobles and great gentles of the Feimie were gathered to the wedding. A great feast was made, and the feast lasted seven days and seven nights ; and when the feast was past, their own feast was made for the hoimds. Diarmaid was a truly fine man, and there was, ball seirc, a love spot on his face, and he used to keep his cap always down on the beauty spot ; for any woman that might chance to see the ball seirc, she would be in love with him. The dogs fell out roughly, and the heroes of the Feinn went to drive them from each other, and when Diarmaid was driving the dogs apart, he gave a Hft to the cap, and Grahme saw the ball sekc and she was in heavy love for Diarmaid.
She told it to Diarmaid, and she said to him, " Thou shalt run away Avith me."
* The name is so spelt in this MS., and it is so spelt in Irish books.
40 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" I will not do that," said Diarmaid.
" I am laying it on thee as a wash ; and as spells that thou go Avitli me."
" I will not go with thee ; I mil not take thee in softness, and I will not take thee in hardness ; I will not take thee without, and I will not take thee within ; I will not take thee on horseback, and I will not take thee on foot," said he ; and he went away in displeasure, and he went to a place apart, and he put up a house there, and he took his dwelling in it.
On a morning that there was, who cried out in the door but Grahme, " Art thou wdthin, Diarmaid ì "
"I am."
" Come out and go with me now."
" Did I not say to thee already that I would not take thee on thy feet, and that I would not take thee on a horse, that I would not take thee without, and that I would not take thee within, and that I would not have anything to do with thee."
She was between the two sides of the door, on a buck goat. " I am not without, I am not within, I am not on foot, and I am not on a horse ; and thou must go with me," said she.*
"There is no place to which we may go that Fionn will not find us out when he puts his hand imder his tooth of knowledge, and he will kill me for going -with tliee ! "
" "We will go to Carraig (a crag, Carrick ?) and there so many Carraigs that he will not know in which we may be."
* This incident may be compared with a German story Die-kluge Baiieren-tochter. Grimm, No. 94. See vol. iii., p. 170, for numerous references to versions of the story in a great many languages. I have had two versions of the story in Gaelic — one from Mr. MacLauchlan, the other from an old man in Barra.
DIARMAID AXD GRAIXNB. 4 1
They went to Carraig an Daimh (the stag's crag).
Fionn took great wrath when he perceived that his wife had gone away, and he went to search for her. They went over to Ceantire, and no stop went on their foot, nor stay on their step, till they reached Carraig an Daiinh in Ceantire, near to Cille Charmaig. Diar- ruaid was a good carpenter, and he used to he at making dishes, and at fishing, and Grainne used to he going about selling the dishes, and they had beds apart.
On a day that there was there came a great sprawl- ing old man the way, who was called Ciofach Mac a Ghoill,* and he sat, and he was playing at dixxsirean (wedges. t) Grainne took a liking for the old carl, and they laid a scheme together that they woidd kill Diarmaid. Diarmaid was working at dishes. The old man laid hands on him, and he turned against the old man, and they went into each other's grips. The old man was pretty strong, but at last Diarmaid put him imder. She caught hold of the, gearrasgiax, knife, and she put it into the thigh of Diarmaid. Diarmaid left them, and he was going fi^om hole to hole, and he was but just alive, and he was gone ujider hair and under beard. He came the way of the Carraig and a fish with him, and he asked leave to roast it. He got a cogie of water in which he might dip hLs fingers, while he was roasting it. ]S'ow there would be the taste of honey or anything which Diarmaid might touch with his finger, and he was dipping liis fingers into the cogie. Grainne took a morsel out of the fish| and she perceived the taste of honey upon it. To
* Ciofach, tlie son of tbe stranger. This personage, who plays this part in another version, is called " Cuitheach."
t Or DisNEAN, dice ?
t There seems to be something mythical about this fish, for lie appears in various shapes in the legend.
42 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
attack Diarmaid went Ciofach, and they were in each other's grips for a turn of a while, but at last Diarmaid killed Ciofach, and away he went, and he fled, and he went over Loch a Chaisteil.
When Grainne saw that Ciofach was dead she followed Diarmaid, and about the break of day, she came to the strand, and there was a heron screaming. Diarmaid was up in the face of the movmtain, and said Graimie —
" It is early the heron cries. On the heap aliove SUabh gaoU, Oh Diarmaid 0 Duiblme to whom love I gave, Wliat is the cause of the heron's cry Ì
" Oh Ghrainne, daughter of Carmaig of Steeds, That never took a step aright. It seems that before she gave the cry Her foot had stuck to a frozen slab*
" Wouldst thou eat bread and flesh, Diarmaid ?"
" Needful were I of it if I had it."
" Here I will give it to thee ; where is a knife will cut it?"
" Search the sheath in which thou didst put it last," said Diarmaid.
The knife was in Diarmaid ever since she had put it into him, and he would not take it out. Grainne drew out the knife, and that was the greatest shame that she ever took, dra-\ving the knife out of Diar- maid,
Fear was on Diarmaid that the Fheitm would find them out, and they went on forwards to Gleann Eilg.
Tliey went up the side of a bum that was there, * There seems to be a hidden meaning in the reply.
DIARMAID AND GRAINNE. 43
and took their dwelling there, and they had beds apart.*
Diarmaid was making dishes, and the shavings which he was making were going down with the burn to the strand.
The Fiantan were hunting along the foot of the strand, and they were on the track of a venomous boar that was discomfiting them. Fionn took notice of the shavings at the foot of the burn.
" These," said he, " are the shavings of Diarmaid," "They are not; he is not aHve," said they. Indeed," said Fionn, "they are. We wdl shout Foghaid ! a hunting cry, and in any one place in which he may be, he is sworn to it that he must answer." Diarmaid heard the Foghaid. " That is the Foghaid of the Fiantan ; I must answer."
" Answer not the cry, oh Diarmaid ; It is but a lying cry.-j- Diarmaid answered the shout, and he went down to the strand. It was set before Diarmaid to hunt the boar. Diarmaid roused the boar from Bein Eidin to Bein Tuirc.t
"VVliile drawing down the long mountain, The brute was bringing Diarmaid to straits. His tempered blades were twisted Like withered rushy plaits,
* Glen Elg, opposite the narrows between Skye and the main- land. There are two "Pictish towers" in a glen which would answer to the description, and there are many legends of the Feinn localised about that spot.
t This is a line of the poem which follows, given as a sen- tence in a prose tale ; and other lines occur which I have written as poetry when 1 thought I could recognise them.
if Two well known Scotch mountains. ^.. -•'■
44 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
Diarmaid gave a draw at the slasher that Lon Mac Liobhaiii* made, and he put it in under the armpit and he killed the boar.
This was no revenge for Fionn yet over Diar- maid. There was a mole on the sole of the foot of Diarmaid, and if one of the bristles should go into it, it woidd bring his death.
Said Fionn — " Oh Diarmaid, measure the boar,
How many feet from his snout to his heel ?"
Diarmaid measured the boar.
" Sixteen feet of measiu'e true."
" Measure the boar against the hair."
He measured the boar against the hair, one of the bristles went into the mole and he fell.
Fionn took sorrow for liim when he fell. " What would make thee better, Diarmaid Ì "
" If I could get a draught of water from the palms of Fionn I would be better."
Fionn went for the water, and when he thought on Grainne he would spill the water, and Avhen he would think of Diarmaid, he would take sorrow, and he would take it with liim ; but Diarmaid was dead before Fionn returned, t
They walked up the side of the burn till they came to where Grainne was ; they went in ; they saw two beds, and they miderstood that Diarmaid was guiltless.
* This sword maker is known by this name in the Isle of Man, and is there called the dark smith of Drontheim.
t In Dr. Smith's Sean Dana, page 3 (1787), is this note on the Poem of Diarmaid. " A long dialogue concerning Cuach Fhinn, or the medicinal cup of Fingal, often repeated here, is re- jected as the spurious interpolation of some later bard.''
The scene is often laid on the ridge between Oban and Loch Awe, and I well remember to have heard how Fionn held his
DIARMAID AXD GRAINNE, 45.
The Fein were exceedingly sorroTrful about what had befallen. They burned
Grainne, daughter of Carmaig of steeds
That never took a step aright,
In a faggot of grey oak
This story then, under a very rough exterior, em- bodies the main incidents and some hues of the poem wliich follows.
The last story, Xo. LIX., got in Barra, started the heroine in Ireland This, got in Islay, starts her in Ireland and brmgs her through Ceantire into Lorn and to Glen Elg, opposite to Skye.
The next, the Lay of Diarmaid, got from several people in Uist and Barra, seems to leave the place of the catastrophe uncertain, but Behi-Gulban is the haimt of tlie heroes, and Irish Avriters say that Bein- Gulban is Behi-Boolban in Sligo.
In the manuscript histories of the Ai'gyll family, Diarmaid's sons are made to possess Carrick.
DIARMAID AG US GRAINNE.
Bha Fionn a dol a phosadh Ghrainne nighean righ Charmaig an Eirinn. Chruinneachadh maitbibh agus mor uaislean na Feinne thun na bainse. Rinneadh cuirm mhor agus mhair a chuirm seachd lathan agus seachd oidhchean, agus nur a bha chuirm seachad chaidh an cuirm fhe' dheanadh do na coin. Bha Diarmaid na dhuine fior ghasda 's bha ball seirc air aodann 's bha e cumail a churraichd
palms to Diarmaid filled with water from a spring which is still shewn, and how a draught from the hollow palms would have healed the dying warrior ; but Fionn thought on Graidhne and opened his hands and let the water drain away, as he held his hands to Diarmaid's mouth, and Diarmaid died.
J. F. C.
4^ WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
daonnan a nuas air a bhall sheirc ; chionn bean sam bith a chitheadh am ball seire bhiodh i ann an gaol air. Chaidh na coin thar a cheile gu garbb 's chaidh gaisgich na Feinn' a'n cur o cheile agus nur a bha Diarmaid a cur nan con o cheile thug e togail air a churrachd 's chunnaic Grainn' am ball seirc agus bha i ann an trom f,'haol air Diarmaid. Dh' innis i do Dhiarmaid e 's thuirt i ris. " Ruithidh thu air falbh leam."
" Cha dean mi sin," ursa Diarmaid.
" Tha mise cur mar ghuidhe 's mar gheasaibh ort gun d' theid thu leam."
" Cha d' theid mi leat ; cha ghabh mi 'm bog thu, 's cha ghabh mi 'n cruaidh thu, cha ghabh mi muigh thu, 's cha ghabh mi stigh thu, cha ghabh mi air each thu, 's cha ghabh mi 'd chois thu," ars' esan. Agus dh' fholbh e le miochiataich, 's chaidh do dh' aite leathoireach, 's chuir e suas tigh ann, 's ghabh e comhmudh ann.
Maidinn a bha 'n sin co ghlaoidh san darusd ach Grainne, "A bheil thu stigh a Dhiarmaid?"
« Tha."
" Thig a mach 's folbh leam a nis."
" Nach d' thubhairt mi riut cheana nach gabhainn a' d' chois thu, 's nach gabhainn air each thu, nach gabhainn a muigh thu, 's nach gabh- ainn a stigh thu, 's nach biodh gnothach agam rint."
Bha is, eadar da bhith an doruisd air muinn boc goibhre. " Cha n-eil mi muigh cha n-eil mi stigh ; cha n' eil mi m chois 's cha n-eil mi air each, 's feumaidh tu dol leam," ars' ise.
" Cha n' eil ait, an d' theid sin nach fhaigh Fionn a mach sin nur a chuireas e lamh fo dheud fhiosach 's marbhaidh e mis' airson folbh leat."
" Theid sinn do Charraig, 's tha do Charraigean ann 's nach hi fios aige CO 'n te sam bi sinn."
Chaidh end do Charraig an Daimh.
Ghabh Fionn fearg nur a mhothaich e gun d' fholbh a bhean, 's chaidh e rurach air a son. Chaidh cud thairis do Chintire 's cha deach stad air an cois, na fois air an ceum, gus an d' ranaig end Carr- aig an Daimh an Cintire lamh ri Cille Charmaig.
Bha Diarmaid na shaor math, 's bhiodh e deanadh shoithichean, 's aig iasgach, 's bhiodh Grainn' air folbh a creic nan soithichean, agus bha leab air leith aca.
Latha bha 'n sin thanaig bodach mor cragach an rathad ris an abradh eud Ciofach Mac a Ghoill, 's shudh e, 's bha e 'g imirt air dinnsirean. Ghabh Grainne taitneachd de 'n bhodach. Dh' fhan e leatha 's chuir eud an comhairle ra cheile gum marbhadh eud Diar-
DIARMAID AGUS GRAINNE. 47
maid. Bha Diarmaid ag obair air soithichean. Thug am bodach lamh air, 's thionndaidh e ris a bhodach, 's chaidh end an glacaibh a cheile. Bha 'm bodach gu math laidir ; ach ma dheireadh chuir Diar- maid fodh' e. Rug ise air gearrasgian 's dhinn i ann am bunamhas Dhiarmaid i. Dh' fliag Diarmaid eud, 's bha e folbh o tholl gu toll, 's gun air ach gun robh e beo, 's bha e air dol fo fliionna 's fo fheus- aig. Thanaig e rathad na carraige 's iasg leis, 's dh' iarr e cead a rosdadh. Fhuair e gogan uisg, amis an tumadh e mheuran an eas a bhiodh e ga rosdadh. Nis bhiodh bias na meal' air ni sam bith da'm boineadh Diarmaidh le a mheuran. Bha e tumadh a mheuran anns' a ghogan. Thug Grainne criomag as an iasg 's mhothaich i bias na meal 'air. An dail Dhiarmaid thug Ciofach, agus bha eud an glacaibh a cheile car treis, ach ma dheireadh mharbh Diarmaid Ciofach, agus air folbh a ghabh e, 's theich e, agus ghabh e thairis air Loch a Chaisteil.
Nur a chunnaic Grainne gun robh Ciofach marbh lean i Diarmaid, agus ma bhrisdeadh an latha thanaig i gus a chladach, agus bha corra-chridheach a glaodhach. Bha Diarmaid suas ri aodann an t- sleibh agus ursa Graidhne.
Gr. 'S moch a ghoireas a chorr
Air an ton- as cionn Shliabh Gaoil ;
A Dhiarmaid O Duibhne da n d' thug mi gradh,
De 'm fath ma u goir a chorr?
Dr. A Ghrainne, nighean Charmaig nan steud Nach d' thug riabh ceum air choir, Se 'n t-aobhar ma 'n d' thug i 'n glaodh Gun do lean a cas ri lie reot. Gr. An itheadh thu aran is feoil a Dhiarmaid. Dr. B' flieumail air mi na 'm biodh e agam. Gr. A laoich bheir mise dhuit e Cait a bheil sgian a ghearras i. Dr. " Iarr an truaill 's an do chuir thu ma dheireadh i," ursa Diarmaid.
Bha 'n sgian ann an Diarmaid o 'n chuir i ann i gus an so' 's cha b' urrain e toirt as. Tharruinn Grainne as an sgian; agus 's e 'n naire 's motha ghabh i riabh tarruinn na sgian a Diarmaid.
Bha eagal air Diarmaid gum faigheadh an Fheinn a mach eud 's ghabh eud air an aghaidh gu Gleann Eilg. Chaidh eud suas taobh uillt an sin, 's ghabh eud corahnuidh ann' 's bha leab air leith aca.
^8 , WEST HIGHLAND TALES. :
Bha Diarmaid a deanadh shoithicheann, 's bha na sliseagan a bha e deanadh a dol sios leis an allt gus a chladach.
Bha na Fianntan a sealgaireachd a chois a chladaich, 's bha eud air toir tiiirc nimh' a bha fairsleachadh orra. Thug Fionn an aire do shliseagan aig bun an uillt.
" Se so," urs' esan sliseagan Dhiarmaid.
" Cha 'n e cha n' eil e beo," urs' eudsan.
" Gu dearbh," ursa Fionn, " glaodhaich siiin foghaid, "s aon ait 'am bi e tha mionnaichte ris gum feum e' freagairt."
Chuala Diarmaid an fhoghaid. " Siod foghaid nam Fianntan, feumaidh mise freagairt."
" Na freagair a Dhiarmaid."
"An fhoghaid cha n' eil ann ach foghaid bhreig."
Fhreagair Diarmaid an flioghaid 's chaidh e sios gus a chladach. Chuireadh ma i hoinneamh Dhiarmaid an tore a shealg. Ruaig Diar- maid an tore o Bheinn Eidinn gu Beinn Tuirc.
A tan-uinn leis an t-sliabh fhada, Bha bheisd a toirt Dhiarmaid a nasgaidh,
Chasadh e lanna cruadhach, Mar shiofagan do shean luachair.
Thug Diarmaid tarruinn air an Leadarrach a reinn Lon Mac Liobhann, 's chuir e stigh fo a asgaill i, 's mliarbh e n tore. Cha bu dioghaltas le Fionn so fhathasd air Diarmaid. Blia ball dorain air bonn cois Dhiarmaid, 's na 'n rachadh h-aon de na cuilg ann bheireadh e bhas. Ursa Fionn,
A Dhiannaid tomhais an turc, Co mhiod troigh o shoe 'ga shail.
Thomhais Diarmaid an tore.
" Se troighe' deug de dli' fhior thomhas."
" Tomhais an tore an aghaidh an fhionna."
Thomhais e n tore an aghaidh an fhionna, chaidh h-aon de na cuilg 's a bhall dorain, 's thuit e. Ghabh Fionn duilichinn nur a channaic e a tuiteam ; urs' e. " De dheanadh na b' fhearr thu Dhiar- maid ?" " Na 'm faighinn deoch uisg' e basan Fhinn bhithinn na b' fhearr. Chaidh Fionn airson an uisge, 's nur a smaointeachadh e air Grainne dhoirteadh e 'n t-uisge, 's nur a smaointeachadh e air Diarmaid ghabhadh e duilchinn 's bheireadh e leis e. Ach bha Diarmaid marbh ma 'n do thill Fionn. Choisich eud suas taobh an uillt gus an d' thanaig eud far an robh Grainne. Chaidh eud a stigh, chunnaic eud da leaba,'s thuigeud gun robh Diarmaid neochion- tach. Bha 'n Fheinn anabarrach duilich mar a thachair. Loisg eud
DIARMAID AGUS GRAINNE.
49
Graidhne nighean Charmaig nan steud, Nach d' thug riabli ceum air choir. Ann an cual de ghlasdarach.
The only points in which the tale and poem published by Dr. Smith agree are those of the death of Diarmaid. It is so long since I read Dr. Smith's Sean Dana that I have but a faint recol- lection of the poem. The tale would seem to me to be partly a parody on the poem. These old people are sometimes confused in reciting these tales, probably much is lost, and from confusion of memory some may be altered. At times they cannot recite at all. Shaw, from whom I got Murchadh Mac Brian, died a few days ago, and, so far as I can ascertain, there is none in Islay, Jura or Colonsay, that can recite the same tale now.
H. MacLean.
Ballygrant, July 6th, 1859.
From a Stone in the Churchyard of St. Vic.eans, near Arbroath. Sculptured Stones of Scotland, PI. Ixix.
LXI. THE LAY OF DIAEMAID.
T HAVE already referred to a note by Mrs. Mac- -^ Tavisli on this subject, vol. ii. 473. She tells bow she learned Dan an Dearg (the Song of the Eed) more than sixty years ago, from a ploughman who used to chant it at bis work : and she adds : —
" The subject of the song is Diarmaid 0 Duine, or Dearg as he was sometimes called. Diarmid was, as I daresay you know, the progenitor of the clan Campbell, who are called at times Siol Diarmid, at other times Clann Duine. I never heard who his wife was, but she was esteemed a virtuous and worthy person ; yet she had enemies, who -wished to persuade her husband that she did not love him, and who concerted a plot to prove her fidelity. Diarmid was a great sportsman, as all Fingahans were, and hunted wild boars, which, it Avould appear, were numerous in the Scottish forests at that period. The sport at times proved fatal to those engaged in it. Pretended fi'iends persuaded Diarmid to pretend that he was killed by one of these animals. They put him on a bier, and carried him home to his wife, all bloody, as if he had really suf- ferred as they said. She conducted herself with be- coming fortitude and composure, ordered refreshments for those assembled to watch the remains of their chief, sat down along with them, and commenced singing the song which folloAvs. It is very touching in the
DL\JiMAID AXD GRAIDHNE.
51
original. I!^ever having been favoui-ed by the muses, I cannot do it the justice which it deserv^es, or that I could wish. The translation is as literal as I can make it."*
iiiNlii
Derg mac Derg gur
lipOElE^
mi do bhean. Air an fhear cha
I \-
mm:
A-P-
-a — ja-*—"- 1- ^ — • — »— =iiH
deao-ain lochd. Air an fhear cha dean-ain lochd.
ee^
^ȱ
ee;
saoi nach d'fhuair a dheuchain.S'truas-'h tba mii
* ■"- # ^" ^
d.
1
ad dheigh an nochd.
1
=i=
Derg, son of Derg, I am thy Avife, The husband whom I would not hurt, The husband whom I would not hurt, There never Avas a worthy who was not tried ; Wretched am I after thee this night. The G.ielic and music were subsequently got from the same ladv.
WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
Derg, son of Olla of the enlightened mind, By whom so softly the harp was played, By whom so softly the harp was played, Beloved was the hero who kept no wrath. Though Derg was laid low by a hog.
I see the hawk, I see the hound,
"With which my loved one used to hunt.
With Avhich my loved one used to hunt.
And she that loved the three
Let her be laid in the grave -with Derg.
Then let us rejoice this night, As we sit around the corpse of a king. As Ave sit around the corpse of a king Let us be hospitable and liberal, Thanks be to God for every tiling.
1
Derg mac Derg gur i mi do bhean ;
Air an f hear cha deanain lochd.
Cha n' eil saoi nach d' f huair a dheuchain ;
S" truagh tha mise ad dheigh an nochd.
Derg mac Olla ckridhe 'n iuil,
Leis an seinte gu ciuin cruit ;
B ionmhuin an Laoch air nach do luidli fearg ;
Ged do thorchradli Derg le muic.
DIARMAID AND GRAIDHNE. 5^5
3
Chi mi n' t seabhag a's an cti Leis an deauamli mo run sealg ; S' an neacli leis an ionmhuin an truir Chuirer i 's an uir le Derg.
4
Bi mid gu subhach an noclid Sin uar suidhe mu chorj) Eigh ; Bi mid gu furanacb. fialaidb ; Buidheachas do Dbia gacli ni.
" Diarinaid, Avbo was never conquered in battle, was destroyed by stratagem. Some one of bis enemies took a bet with liini that he could not measure the length of a boar that he had killed by pacing its back against the bristles -with his bare soles, which gave rise to the saying —
Tomhas n' tuirc n' aghaidh n' f hrioghain Measuring the boar against the bristles,
when any unlikely thing is proposed. He gained liis bet, but it cost him his life ; the boar's bristles being so strong that he bled to death. This legend is said to be the origin of the boar's head being the crest of the principal families of tlie Campbells.
Mary MacTavish, November 1859."
The clan MacTavish are a branch of the Camp- bells, and this lady, in relating a legend of her OAvn family, tells it as I have heard it repeatedly told, with variations, by peasants and fishermen, who firmly be- lieved in their own descent from Diarmaid 0' Duiblin, and in the truth of this legend.
The Lay of Diarmaid is quoted p. 117, and men-
54 """EST HIGflLAND TALES.
tioned iu several places in the report of tlie Highland Society on the poems of Ossian, 1805. The version given below, though it resembles those which I have seen in books in some respects, difiers from them all so as to make it evident that it is taken from none. I have no doubt that it is purely traditional
I am inclined to believe that there Avas a real Diarmaid, in Avhose honour poems have been composed by many bards, and sung by generations of Scotch Highlanders, and that to him the adventures of some mythical Celtic Diarmaid have been attributed, in the same way tliat the mythical story of the apple has been ascribed to William Tell.
Be that as it may, the Lay of Diarmaid can be traced for a period of 300 years, and its story is known amongst the whole Celtic population from the south of Ireland to the north of Scotland.
The Story of the Lay of Diarmaid.* No. 1. PiONN never was a king ; it Avas Breean, his father's brother, Avho was king over the fifth which the Een had of Eirinn, and Fionn he Avas Fla, the chief of the Feene, and it was Osgar who was chief of the men.
It is Djeearmaid who was the man of the best head that Avas in the Een altogether, and no arm at all could make an impression ujjon him. There Avas Ball dorain (a mole, an otter-mark) in his right heel ; and he could not be killed unless a spike should go into liis heel in the mole.
Graine, the Avife of Een, saw the Ball Seirc (beauty spot) that was on Djeearmaid, and she took love for him, and he fled before her, but she folloAved
* In tliis I have tried to spell the sound of the names.
DIARMAID AND GRAIDHNE. 55
liim; and tliey were dwelling in a cave. Djeearmaid would not approach her, and he used to pnt a symbol before the door, a quarter of a slaughtered animal on a stake ; and Fionn, when he saw the sign, was satisfied ; but on a day the sign was changed. A ciuthach* came into the cave, and Djeearmaid killed him with a spear, for Graine was unfaithful even to her lover.
There was an old woman there A\-hom they used to call Mala Llee (gray eyebrow), and she had a herd of swine, and she had a venomous boar for guarding the pigs. There was no being that went to hunt this boar that came back alive. So it was that Fionn thought to send Djeearmaid to himt him, to put an end to him.
WTien Djeearmaid gave out the shout of death, said Fionn to Graine —
" Is that the hardest shriek to thy mind that thou hast ever heard 1 "
" It is not," said she, " but the shriek of the ciuth- ach, when Djeearmaid killed him."
" Ye Gods ! that Djeearmaid were alive," said Fionn.
From Janet Currie, Stonybridge, September 14, 1860. — H. MacL. — Part is altered and omitted in the translation, and the Gaelic is not given, because there is nothing peculiar in the language. The legend is remark- able as containing incidents common to the story pub- lished bytheOssianicSociety of Dublin in 1855. — J.F.C.
No. 2. When the Fhinn used to go to hunt, one of them used always to stay at home to watch the women. It fell upon Diarmaid on that day that it was he who * Pr. kewach, described in the Long Island as naked wild men living in caves, supposed to be derived from " ciuth, long hair behind," which word is applied in Islay to a pigtail. French, queue.
$6 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
should stay. There was a thing which they used to call SuGH Seiko (love juice), a kind of mark in the face of the man, and there was a helmet upon him that must not be raised, for there Avas no woman Avho might see the sugh seirc that would not fall in love with him, and Diarmaid knew that these gifts were in himself. On the day that he stayed at home he thought that no being was seeing him, and he gave a lift to the helmet ; and Graidhne, the daughter of the King of Coig Ullainn, sees the face of Diarmaid. The warm soul would not be in her unless she should go with Diarmaid.
Said Diarmaid, " That will not answer for me to go with thee."
" 0 ! we will go, or else I w^ill tear my clothes, and I will give thee up to Fionn."
" I have no doubt of thee but that he will believe thee, because thou art his own beloved wdfe indeed."
They went away, and they travelled together days and tliree nights. They were crossing a river, and a little trout rose and struck her, and she said —
" Thou art bolder than Diarmaid. If thou couklst go on shore!" ......
" Now," said he, " Fionn has come home, and they will not find us within, then they will come on our tracks, and they will get us."
" They wall not get us," said she. " Wliether they get us, or get us not, we will try to hide ourselves. The thing that we will do is this, we will go up to this Avood up here, and the branches and leaves of the trees will hide us."
They rose up into the tree, and they went into the heart of the tree, and they drew the branches and leaves of the tree about them.
The Fhinn came to their house, and they did not find Diarmaid or Graidhne at the house.
DIAEMAID zVXD GRAIDHXE. 57
" Here, liere ! lads," said Fionn, " I am withoTit a wife, and the Fhinn without Diarmaid. We ought to go till we find them."
They weut on their search, and they went over the same river. A^^len they went over, said Fionn —
" We have now been a while walking, and since we have we "will breathe a little at the root of this tree up here."
They took the advice of Fionn, and they sat at the foot of the tree."
Said Fionn — "We should turn to playing, lads."
" We are ^villing," said they.
Fionn and Osgar used to be the two leaders of the game. It was Diarmaid who used always to be along with Fionn. Fionn knew that Diarmaid had magic gifts at games. ]N"ow there was Osgar, and he needed a mau to be with him, and it was his own father who used to be with him. They began at the games. Every game that was going, it was against Fionn that it went, and Osgar was winning. They drove three games.
Said Fionn — " I am missing Djeearmaid hea^dly ; for it was seldom that a game went against me when Diarmaid was with me ; but they are now going against me since he parted from me ; but I will go against thee another time."
Diarmaid was listening. He went and he put his hand against his right side, — thus ; — and he caught hold of one of the red rowan berries that were on the tree, and he let it fall down beside the tree, and the back of Fionn was against the tree. He noticed something striking him on the back, and put his hand behind him, and he caught the rowan berry, and he put it into his pouch. They began at the game, and this game went with Fionn.
5» WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" One is with me," said Fionn.
" It is," said Osgar ; " but two are wanting."
" Wilt thou go into it any more 1 " said Osgar.
" I will go, I will go," said Fionn ; "try it again."
Diarmaid let down the next rowan berry, and Fionn won this one.
" Wilt thou go into it any more ]" said he.
" I will go," said Osgar. " If thou hast tvt'o, there is one wanting."
Diarmaid let down the third one, and Fionn won the third one.
" We are now," said Osgar, " even and even ; all I won thou thyself hast taken it back again."
'•' Wilt thou go into it any more V said Fionn.
" I will go," said Osgar ; " we shall have know- ledge of its good or evil at this time."
They went at it, and Diarmaid let down the fourth one, and Fionn Avon.
" Howsoever, it was whilst thou wert without Diarmaid on thy side I was winning. Howsoever the matter may be, there were matters that belong to Diarmaid about thee this day before thou hast won the fourth time."
Said Oisean — " My father did not drive (the game) against us with right, my son, at all."
" I did drive it," said Fionn.
" Thou did'st not," said Oisean.
" I did ; as a proof that I did there are four rowan berries in my pouch opposite to (for) every game that I won."
He took out the four rowan berries, and when he took them out he said —
" Come down from that, Diarmaid, thyself and Graidhne, daughter of the King of Coig-Ullainn, for ye are there together."
DIARMAID AND GRAIDHNE. 59
Diarmaid and Graidhne came down ; the party was made anew, and Fionn and Osgar fell out. The arms began, and the skaith began, and they were doing much harm to each other. The other part of the Fhinn were seeing that Osgar was like to win against the side of his grandfather.
Said Goll Mac Morna — " Though we had no part in the discord we should make a redding, and an umph'e's parting, between the children of Treun ]Mhor."
Said Conan — " Let the Clann Baoisge hack each other's bodies."
Then Fionn said to Osgar to stay the arms, in case the Clanna Morna should still be after them in Alba. Fionn took notice of Diarmaid, and he said — My frame, and my hand, and mine eye, Ai-e longing to do honour to thee. Oh ! Dhiarmaid 0 Duibhne, brave man, (xoing ATÌth my consort in secret !
There was a woman avIio was called Mala Lith, and she had a herd of swine, and there was a venomous boar at their head, and many a good lad went to hunt him that never came whole from the boar.
Said Fionn to Diarmaid — " Go to hunt the boar of Mala Lith on her herd of swine. Many a one went there that did not come out of the burn besides a trout." Diarmaid went to hunt the boar.
H. IMacLean.
The Gaelic follows at page 78.
These two stories and the following poem give the relationships of the chiefs of that band of warriors whose exploits form the subject of all that class of old Celtic poetry which is attributed to Oisean, Osin or Ossian, and is called Fingalian in English, and Fenian in Ixe- land This is the familv tree as here set forth : —
6o WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
Trbunmhor (great, mighty), who gives his name to the tribe, the children of Treunmlior, or the clan of the Baoisge (flashes of light, coruscations, gleams).
CuMHAL (s]3elt Cooal in Manx), only mentioned as the father of Fionn. He is sometimes called Mac- Dhughil (Macdugald), or the son of black and white Brian the king, brother of Fionn's father, who seldom does anything.
FiONN MacChumail (fair), flath na Finne (chief of the Finne), married to Graidhne, daughter of the king of the fifth of Ullan.
OiSEAN, the last of the Finne, son of Fionn, who afterwards sings the departed glories of Iris race as a blind old man in poverty and wretchedness.
OsGAR, his son, Flath nam Fear, chief of men.
DoNN, brown, Avho gives his name to a tribe, clan
0 Duibhne.
A Sister of Fionn, wdfe of King 0 Dhuine, mother of DiARMAiD 0 Dhubhine, the Expert Shield, the best head in the Finne, whom all family histories and oral traditions call the ancestor of the Campbells, but whom
1 strongly suspect to be a Celtic divinity, whose attri- butes have been ascribed to their ancestor by a Celtic tribe.
GoLL Mac Morna, who is only mentioned here as an umpire in the strife, but who is a very well known character in other poems, and is said to have been a god in Ireland.
Conan, who only appears to utter a bitter taunt, and thereby supports the character always assigned to him. Maol, the blunt, cropped, or bald.
The Finne, who are not here named in detail, but are always introduced into every poem or story in which the rest of these characters are named. Besides these there are —
DIARMAID AND GRAIDHNE. 01
Mala Lith, an old woman, who has a magical white boar with a spike of venom in his back, invul- nerable to all arms but the arms of Diarmaid.
There is a trout which Graidhne wishes to come on shore.
A savage who comes to the cave where Graidline is, and who is killed by Diarmaid, to whom the faith- less Graidline is unfaithful.
There is the rowan tree, which is magical, and whose berries are amulets to this day ; and nearly all this is common to Irish stories, as published in 1855.
The scene is vague, and might be anywhere in Alba. It is commonly laid near Oban, in Lome, but BeLu Gulbein is the favourite haimt of these warriors, and it is generally placed in Ireland, and is said to be in Sligo, and Diarmaid turns his dying face towards Bein Gidban, wherever it may be.
This subject is referred to elsewhere ; but let me here point out that the " Feene" are the children of beams of light, "Baoisge;" of Great Mighty, their great ancestor, and their chief is Fair, the son of Cooal, or it may be of black and white, light and darkness. That Djeearmaid might be translated " the armed god," who had yellow hair. That their standard was called the sunbeam, and that in the following short poem we have similar incidents to the loves of Venus and Adonis, the death of Acliilles, etc., and that all this points rather to mjiihology than to a single historical incident connected with the disbanding of an Irish militia.
It is worth remarlv that the poem alludes to several well known adventures wliich are now told as stories, wliich may have been poems or distorted facts.
The rowan tree dwelling, verse 21, is No. xxix. in vol ii. p. 73, or ISTo. xxxvi. p. 168. I forget which
62 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
story goes by the name. Who White Tooth may be I do not know, but Diarmaid had a son so called.
As to the date of the poem and its origin. There seems every reason to believe that it is old, and that it has been orally transmitted for centuries from genera- tion to generation, in the islands of Scotland, wherever it was composed.
A version of it, got in Kintp'e or on Lochawe-side, was printed by John Smith, D.D., minister of the gos- pel at Campbelton, 1787, p. 99. That version is avowedly pruned and polished.
It is printed wdthout division into stanzas, but the rhythm here and there appears to indicate that such was the original form of the poem.
That which is now printed is so divided by me, because the rhythm generally accords, and the " asson- ance" and sense all point to separate verses, each com- plete in itself, and tit for singing to music, as these old songs are in fact sung at this day. Similar Irish poems are so divided.
Several of the lines are nearly the same in Dr. Smith's version and in this which is collected from the people eighty-four years later.
The story in the " Sean Dana" is clearly the same, though the magic is avowedly weeded from the origi- nal, and GJraidhne is the faithful wife of Diarmaid, not the faithless w^ife of his uncle Fionn.
There is another version much older, in a MS. now in course of publication, which dates from 1539.
One specimen page has been shewn to me, and it contains one stanza and several lines almost the same as part of this " Lay of Diarmaid." It is quite certain, then, that this old song has been preserved more or less perfectly by oral tradition in Scotland amongst people Avho can neither read nor write, for at least 330
DIARMAID AND GRAIDHXE. 63
years, and it gives a standard by wliich to form an opinion of popular tradition as an aid to written history.
"The pursuit of Diarmaid and Grainne" fills the greater part of vol. iii. of the Transactions of the Dublin Ossianic Society, 170 pages; and a glance at the story as there told will shew that it is founded on the same widely spread tradition, which, as I imagine, is not a tradition of any one real event which happened at any given time anywhere ; but a chapter in the mythology of the Pagan world, which may be traced far and wide in various forms.
Of the following poem, founded on this legend, the collector MacLean says :
" This Laoidh Dhiarniaid is one of the most popular of the Ossianic pieces recited in the Long Island, and is known to more individuals than any other. In South Uist I heard it recited by Angus M'Donald, Janet Currie, Allan M'Phie, and some others; in Barra by Alexander M'Donald, and Donald M'Phie (smith), Breubhaig ; also by a man in Miuglay. The best reciter of this and other Ossianic pieces, that I have met with, is Donald M'Phie. This M'Phie says he learnt the poem from Neill M'limes, Gill Bliarraidh, who died about twenty years ago, about sixty years of age. M'Innes could neither read nor write. M'Donald says he learnt it from his mother, Marion Galbraith ; and traces it up for six generations to a maternal ancestor of his, who came from Kintyre. Janet Currie traces it to ISTeill Currie, her ancestor, who was Clan- ronald's poet. Hector MacLean."
For valid reasons, I have not given the Gaelic of all the prose stories, or the whole of them, or the whole of those of which I translate a part. J. F. C.
04 west highland tales.
The Lay of Yeearmaid. No. 3.
I have tried to spell the names so as to convey some idea of th sound of the Gaelic words to English minds.— J. F. C.
1.
Hearken a space if you Avish a lay Of the tribe that from us are gone, Of MacCooal and of the Feen, And of the prince there's a woeful song.
2. Going to Vein Goolban to himt The boar that the weak arms cannot wound, That venomous boar, and he so fierce That Gray eyebrows had with her herd of SAvine.
3.
Graine. " Oh Yeearmaid slip not the hounds, And trust not but this is a party of guile. For it is hard to withstand MacCooal, And he is in sorroAv deprived of a wife."
4. Djeearmaid. " 0 Graine wilt thou not keep still. And for thy first love earn not shame, I would not let slip my share of the hunt, For all the wrath of the men of the Feene."
5.
Graine. " Son of 0 Duine, valiant chief, Since exploits were done through thee. Be thou mindful of thy hand. Here is the death to be shunned by thee."
laoidh dhiarmaid. 65
Laoidh Dhiarmaid.
The MS. came to me without division into verses. 1 have so divided it, being nearly certain that I am right. The people talk of " ceathrannan," quatrains, and the metre is clear, and fits the music. — J. F. C.
1 Eisdibh beag ma' 's aill leibli laokUi, Air a' mhuimitir a dli' I'halbli iiainn ; Air MacChumhail, 's air an Fhinn, 'S air mac an righ, gii 'm blieil sgial truagli.
2 Dol a Blieinn Gliulbann a shealg, An tnirc nacli dearg na h-airm chli;' 'S e 'n tore nimhe, 's e ro gharg/ Bh' aig Mala liath'' aig sealbli mliuc. 3 Graidhxe. " A Dhiarmaid na leig na gadbair 'S na creid nach i 'n fbaghaid bhreige ; ^ 'S gur deacair cur ri Mac Chmnbail A 's cnmba leis 'bhith gun cheile." 4
DiARMAID.
" A Ghraidhne nach fuirich tbu sambach 'S na coisinn naire dbo d' cbeud-gbaol ; Cha leiginn-sa mo chuid de 'n t-seilg Air son feirge fir na Finne."
5 Graidhne. " A mbic 0 Duibhne, a fhlaith threin/ Nis o rinneadh euchdan' leat Bi-sa cuimbneacb air do laimh; Sec an t-eug o 'n tearnar leat."'
66 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
6.
The monster awakened out of the sleep, She went round about the glen, And when she heard the din of the Feean, East and west she turned her head.
7. The well Skilled Shield Avithstood her then, And the spear went into the belly of the hoar, It broke in the midst of the shaft again. And the toughest head was upon the hog.
The ancient blade was drawn from sheath. With which each battlefield was won. The son of king Guyne slew the beast. And he withdrew himself whole again.
"We sent the white hog to Leodrum, And wishfvil we were to go to spoil. («)
10.
The fairy glen and the glen by its side, Where used to be voice of hero and bird. Where was the hoarse sound of the Feean Upon the mountain after their hounds.
11.
But anger settled on Finn of the Feean,
And he sat moodily on the mound.
About Mac 0 Duine of the mighty arms.
It -was torture that he came whole from the boar.
LAOIDH DHLARMAID. 67
6
Dhiiisg an ulla-blieist' as an t-suain; Chaidh i mu chuairt air a' glileann, 'S nuair cliual i farum nam Fiann Thug i 'n ear 's an iar a ceann.
7 Chaidh an sgiath urla" 'na dail 'S chaidh an t-sleagh an tar '' an tuii'c ; Bhrisd i eadar"' an crann a ris 'S hha 'n ceann bu righn' air a' mhuic.
8 Thairneadh an t-seann lann a truaill Leis am buinichte buaidh gach blair ; Mharbh mac righ Dhuibhn' a' bheist ; Thiarainn'^ e fhin 'na dèigh slan.
9 " Chiiir sinn a' mliuc bhàn do Leodrum 'S bu deonach sinn a dhol a 'reubadh ;
10 An gleann sith, 'san gleann ri 'thaobh, Far am biodh guth laoich a's loin ; Far am biodh torman nam Fiann Air an t-shabh an deigh nan con.
11 Gu 'n d' luidli sprochd air Fionn nam Fiann, 'S shuidh e gu cian air a' chnoc/^ Mu mhac 0 Duibhne nan arm aidh Bu chràiteach leis ti^hinn slan o 'n tore.
68 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
12.
After lie liad been silent a Avliile
He spoke, and it was ill to say,
" Oh Yeearmaid, measure the boar.
How many feet from his snout to bis tail?'
13. Djeearmatd. " Let us take thy counsel, Een, Since it was grievous coming from home ;" He measured tbe boar on his back, King Guyne's son of the rounded foot.
14.
" Fifteen feet of the measure good Are in the back of the wild swine ;" (b)
15.
FlUK.
" That is not his measure at all,
Measure him again, Oh Yeearmaid.
Against his bristles measure him.
And thou get'st each jewel (c) of a warrior i)roud"
IG. " Oh, Yeearmaid, measure again, Softly against (the hair) the boar, And thou shalt get thy prayer from the khig, Thy choice of the tough keen spears."
17.
He rose, and that was no journey of jo}', And, as he measured the boar for them. The venomous spike of agony pierced The heel of the hero not mild in strife.
L.Ì.OIDH DHIARMAID. 69
12
A chionn e bliith treis 'na thosd'° Labhair e, 's gu'ra b' olc ri 'radh, " A Dhiarmaid tomhais an tore Co mhiad troidli 0 'sboc g'a earr."
13
DiARMAID.
" Gal)liam-sa do chomhaiii' Fliinn
O b' aitbreach leinn tigb'n o'n taigh."
Thomhais en tore air a dbriom ;
Mac rigli Dliuibbn' a bu cbruinn troidb/'
14 " Coig troidhe deug d'en deagh tbomhas Ann an driom na muiee fiadhain." '*
15
FlONN.
" Clia'n e sin idir a tbomhas Tombais e ritbis a Dbiarmaid. Tomhais e'n aghaidh a' ehuilg, 'S gheibh thu 'laoicb bhuirb gaeh send.
IG " A Dhiarmaid tomhais a ri?., 'Na aghaidh, gu min, an tore, '8 gheibh thu t' achanaieb o'n righ, — Eogba nan sleagb ruigbinn goirt.'"
17 Dh' eirieb, 's cha b'e 'n turas aidh, 'S gu 'n do thomhais e dhaibh an tore ; Chaidh am bior nirab 'bu mhor cradh, An sail an laoicb nach tlatb 'san tvod.'°
70 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
18.
Djeearmaid. " Give a draught from thy palms, Oh Een, Son of my king for my succoiir, For my life and my dwelling."
FlUN.
" Ochon ! Oh king it is I that will not."
19.
" I will not give to thee a draught, And neither shall it quench thy thirst, And never hast thou done me good, That thou hast not helped my ruin."
20. Djeearmaid. " I have never done ill to thee, Hither nor thither, nor east nor west ; But travelling with Graine in a yoke. While she planned to bring me imder spells.
21.
" In the rowan tree dwelling, and thou in straits.
Bold was I for thy succour ;
At the time when death Avas upon thee,
It was I that went joyously to thee.
22.
"Een, 'tis to thee that my succour was good ; Hast mind of the day of the combat of Conal ? The Cairbre and his tribe was before thee, And I was behind thee to help thee.
23. " How wretched my face towards Bein Goolban ! On another day was I good for thee ; Wlien the white tooth was hittiug thee, I turned upon her from behind thee.
LAOIDH UHIARIIAID. 7 I
18 DiARMAID.
" Thoir deoch bhar do bliasan, Fliinn, "'A mliic mo rigli, gus mo chobhair, "'Air son mo bliidli agus m' aodaich."
FlONN.
" Oclion, a righ, 's mi nacli d' thobhair."
19 " Cha d' thoir mise dhuitse deoch, 'S cha mho a chaisgeas dlie t' iota ; 'S cha d' rinn thu riamh dho m' leas Nach do leasaich tliu dho m' aimhleas."
20
DlARMAID.^^
"Cha do rinn mis' ortsa cron Thall, na bhos, an ear, na 'n iar ; Ach imeachd le Graidlin' ann am braid; 'S i tur gam thobhairt fo gheasaibli.
21
"'S a' Bhrnigliin chaorainn, 's tu nad' chàs,
Bu dana mise gad' chobhair;
'S nuair a bha 'n t-eng air do mhuin
'S mis' a chaidli thugad le mcodhail.
22
" Fhinn 's ann duit bu mhath mo chobhaii- ; An cuimlineach leat latha cath Clionaill? Bha 'n Cairbre romhad 's a mhuinntirl 'S bha ]nis' as do dheigh gad' chobhair I
23 " 'S gur truagh m' aghaidh ri Beinn Ghulbann ! Lath' eile bu mhath dhuit mi Nuair a bha 'n Deud-gheal gad' bhualadh ; Thionndaidh mi orr' as do dheaghaiiin,
7 2 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
24.
" And I succoured thee in that time ! If the women of the Feene sliould hear That I was wounded on this ridge, Dejected would be their faces.
25. " How wretched my face towards Bein Goolban l{d)
26. " How wretched my face towards Bern Goolban As I pour in a flood forth my vigour ; And though I be the son of 0 Duine, Farewell be to courting for ever."
27. There Avas Djeearmaid on the hillock, Heavy the hair was and fine, And he ever losing the (life) blood From the wound of the spike in his sole.
28.
FlUN.
" Poor is the counsel that grew witli me To slay the son of my sister ; For Graine that ill of a woman That never again will make my joy.
29. " That is great the loss on the hillock. For the price of the wild swine, Graine king's daughter of Coig Ullain, Djeearmaid and the two hare hounds.
LAOIDH DHIARMAID. 73
24
" 'S cliobliair mi ort aims an uair sin ! Na 'n cluinneadh mnathan ua Finne Mis' a bhith leoiit' air an clriom seo, Bu tursach a bliicxUi an adhart !
25
" 'S gur truagh ni' aghaicUi ri Beinn Ghnlbann !
2G " Gut truagh ni' agbaicUi ri Beinn Ghulbann 'S mi air tuil-bhruchdadh mo nearta ! 'S gad a 's mise mac 0 Duibhne ; Soraidh leis an t-suiridh am feasda ! "
27 Gu robli Diarmaid, air an tulaich, Bu gbrinn am fait a's bu trom ; 'S e ri sior chall na fala, Le lot a bliior, air a bhonn.
FlONX.
"'S bochd a' cbomhairl' a chinn agam, Mac mo pbeathar a mharbhadh Airson Ghraidlm', an t-olcas mnatha, 'S nacb dean i ritbis mo leanmbuinn.
29
" 'S mor sin a tha db' easbbuidli na tulaicb ! Air tàillibb na muice fiadbain, Graidbne, nigbean righ Cboig' Ullainn, An da gbearr cbuilean, agus Diarmaid."*
74 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
30.
" Djeearmaid, deceiver of Avonien,
Son of king Guyne of tlie brilliant hue,
No maiden will raise her eye
Since the mould has gone over thy visage fair."
31.
" Yellow without white in thy hair ! Long thy cheek ! thine eyelash slow ! Blue without rashness in thine eye ! Passion (e) and beauty behind thy curls !
32.
" Oh yesternight it was green the hillock, Eed is it this day with Yeearmaid's blood ; And with the Een it had been wretched Unless it had been ordered by Finn."
33.
OlSEAN.
" On this night's night though I be wretched, There was once a time that I was not weak ; Not lacking men, nor arms, nor feasting, See each thing changes in the world ! "
Notes. — Letters. — J. F. C.
a The metre seems to require two lines here. I have not attempted to fill up the space, but I adhere to the division into verses of four lines, which the rhythm seems to indicate.
b Here there seems to be a break in the metre.
c Send a jewel, an instrument. I understand it here to mean a warrior's jewels, his weapons, but it might mean some decora- tion. See Graidhne's answer. " A knife is the best jewel."
d Here three lines seem wanting to make up a stanza.
e Caise, passion (Armstrong).
LAOIDH DHIARMAID. 75
30
" Diarmaid, fear niheallatUi nam ban, — Mac rigli Dlmibhn' a bu ghlan snuadh ! Suireadh cha tog a siiil"'' 0 cliaidh uir air do gbnuis gblain."
31 " Buidbe gun ghil' ann a'd' f halt ! Fada do leac ! mall do rasg ! Guirme gun blirais' ann a'd' shuil ! Caise 's maise 'n cul nan cleachd !
32
" 'S ann an raoir bu ghorm an tulach ; 'S dearg an diugh e le fuil Dliiarmaid ! 'S gur li-ann leis an Fliiun bu duiUch, Mar a bhithe Fiomi 'ga iarraidli ! "
33
OlSEAN,
" Air an oidhche nochd gad tlia mi truagh, Bha mi uair nacb robli mi faoin ; Gim easbbuidh dhaoin' arm na fleadh ; Faic gach ni mu seach 'san t-saogh'l !"
Notes. — Numbers. — H. MacLean.
' Laoidh, lay, ode, lyric ; it differs from dan a poem, in being more melodious, and capable of being sung. It narrates rapidly a few events ending tragically, almost invariably the death of a hero.
^ Cli, weak, powerless. Duine gun chli, a man without strength. Airm chli, feeble weapons.
^ Garg, fierce.
* Mala liath. The reciters pronounce this name Mala Hth, but the Irish pronounce ia, ee, so that the name means gray eye-
76 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
brow, the old woman who owned the venomous boar and the swine, " aig sealbh luhuc," guarding her swine (herd of swine).
^ Faghaid bhreige, a Ijing hunting party, that is got up to deceive and destroy him.
^ Brave hero. Here the vocative is elegantly used.
' Euchdan, exploits.
' This is the death which you require to avoid.
' A monster (feminine in Grelic).
^" Sgiath urla or urlaimh. Expert shield, a name for Diarmid, from his adroitness in the use of the shield.
11 Tar, the belly.
'- Eadar an crann. Here eadar is used in a sense not com- mon now ; between the shaft, that is in the shaft, not between the shaft and the head.
^' Tèarainn, to come off without hurt.
^* This stanza is not known to all the reciters, given by Donald M'Phie, Breubhaig, Barra.
Gleann mo chridhe an gleann seo ri m' thaobh, Far am binn guth laoigh a's loin ; Far am bi farum nam Fiann, Air an t-sliabh an deigh nan con.
My heart's glen, this glen by my side, Where sweet is the voice of calf and bird ; Where is the murmur of the Feean, On the mountain side after their hounds.
(This is almost the same as a verse of an old manuscript poem, now in cour.se of publication by Messrs. Edmonston and Douglas, 1861.-J. F. C.)
1^ These are the lines according to Allan M'Phie, and Janet Currie, South Uist.
" Gu 'n d' shuidli e siar air a' chnoc," according to some ; That he sat west on the knoll.
*' A chionn e bhith treis na thosd. After, or at the end of his being a while silent.
" Bu trom troidh, of heavy tread. This is the version used by most of them, and they explain it as referring to the warrior's strong firm step, and the largeness and strength of the leg; how-
LAOIDH DHIARMAID. 77
ever, I have inserted bu chruinn troiJb, wliicli implies a well formed or fine foot, which is Boyd's version.
'^ Fiadhaiii, more poetic than fiadhaich.
^^ This is Janet Currie's version of the line, which I think is best. Allan MThie gives,
" Urram nan slighne ghear goirt ;" a pretty line also, " The honour of the sharp keen spear.''
A great many give, " Taghadh nan sleagh ruighinn, geur, goirt," Choice of the keen, tough, sharp spears, which I think is inferior in poetic merit to the other two.
"" Nach tlath 'san trod. That is, "not soft in fight." Here the poet very beautifully, in an abrupt manner, turns off to the present tense, so as to produce a vivid impression of the hero's great bravery on the mind of the hearer.
'''■ " A dhealbhaich mo righ," Boyd.
" "Air son mo bheath' agus m' fhardoich," Boyd.
"^ This beautiful dying speech of Diarmid is not known so full as this to any of the reciters, except to Donald MThie, Breubhaig.
Cobhair is repeated here often, from the exasperated feeling at the ingratitude of the uncle. Such repetition is always the language of deep passion, as for instance in the case of Coriolanus in his reply, when called " thou boy of tears."
The repetition of this line, and the abruptness with which be turns off from other subjects, is very pathetic. Whoever has been in the company of the dying can feel the truth of this line, how they refer constantly to some of their favourite haunts. The ruling passion, the last, a favourite theme with modern philoso- phers and novelists, is here finely illustrated.
-* " A dealbh-chuilean." This is the expression given by Janet Currie, who says it refei's to the unborn child ; Graidhne, according to her being with child to the Ciuthach. Boyd has da dhearbh chuilean. Macdonald gives the words inserted, who says they refer to the two best dogs of the Feen, after Bran, which were killed by the boar.
-' Suireadh, a maid. Suireadh cha tog a suil, no maid will raise her eye ; that is with grief. The line is repeated no doubt in a corrupt manner, thus —
*' Suireach cha tog a shuil," no lover will raise his eye, which would make no sense.
yo WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
Leac, cheek. Rasg, eyelash, also the eye itself.
" Guirme gun ghlaise," and " guirme le ghlaise." Janet Currie gives the line inserted, which is prettier, and at the same time a contrast to the piercing hlue eye ascribed by Tacitus to the ancient Germans. Bulwer, in one of his novels, describes the French dark eye as milder and softer than the Italian.
Cleachd, a ringlet.
Cùis a's mais' air chul nan gleachd. Boyd.
The poem is not the complete version of one reciter, but is built up and selected from several long versions, written from the dictation of the people named. If the evil spirit of the Ossianic controversy still cumbers the earth, the papers can be produced, and the authorities are alive. I will answer for the honest inten- tion of the collector and the translator, and I can do no more.
J. F. C.
LAOIDH DHIARMAID.
NoAiR a bhiodh an Fhinn a'folbh a shealg bhiodh h-aon diu daonn- an a' fantail aig an taigh a choimhead nam ban. Thuit e air Diar- maid an lath' ud gur h-e a dh' fhanadh. Blia rud ris an canadli lad sugh seirc an aodann an duine ; 's bha clogad air nach fheumadh e thogail : chionn cha robh bean a chitheadh an sugh seirc nach tuit- eadh ann an gaol air ; 's bha fios aig Diarmaid gu 'n robh na buadhan seo air fhein. An latha a dh' fhan e aig an taigh bba duil aige nach robh neach 'ga fhaicinn, 's thug e togail air 'a chlogad, 's faicidh Graidhne nighean righ Clioig' Uilainn aodann Dhiarmaid. Cha bhiodh an t-anam blath innte mar am falbhadh i le Diarmaid.
Arsa Diarmaid, " Cha fhreagair domhsa sin — falbh leatsa."
" 0 ! falbhaidh sinn ; airneo sracaidh mi m' aodach 's bheir mi suas thu do dh' Fhionn."
" Cha 'u 'eil aicheadh agara ort nach creid e thu ; chionn gur tu a bhean dhileas fhein gu dearbh."
Dh' fhalbh iad, 's bha e ccmhla rithe tri lathan 's tri oidhchean ; ach bha e saor a's i. Dh' fhalbh iad air an aghaidh. Bha iad a' del a null air amhainn, 's thog ise a h' aodach suas ma 'm fliucht' i, 's dh' eirich breac beag an uair sin, 's bimail e suas air a sliasaid.
" Mo laochan thu fhein a bhric bhig, bheadaidh, urad s a thug dhomh de thoilinntinn cha d' thug Di;irmaid domh o cheann nan tri lathan 's nan tri oidhchean a tha e learn ; 's na 'm biodh tu air chomas falbh air tir learn bu choltach gur h-ann mar a bu lugha an duine a b' fhearr e."
LAOIDH DHIAEMAID. 79
" Mata," ars' esaii, " na a dh' fhulaing mise air son geanmnuidh- eachd de thamailt clia 'n fhulaing nil na 's fhaide e."
" Tha Fionn a nis," ars' esan, " air tighinn dachaidh 's cha 'n fhaigli iad sinn a staigh ; thig iadan sin air ar toir 's gheibh iad sin." " Cha 'n t'haigh," ars' ise. " Co dhiu a gheibh no nach fhaigh bheir sinn ionnsuidh air sinn fhein fhalach." Se 'n rud a ni sinn theid sinn do 'n choill sec shuas 's falacliaidh meanganan 's duilleach na craoibhe sin." Dhirich iad do 'n chraoibh an sin, 's chaidh iad ann an cridhe na craoibhe, 's thairuing iad meanglain 's duilleach na craoibhe mu 'n cuairt orra.
Thainii^ an Fhinn 'ionnsuidh an taighe 's cha d' fhuair iad Diar- maid na Graidline aig an taigh. " Seo, seo, Ghillean," arsa Fionn, " tha mise gun bhean 's tha 'n Fhinn gun Dhiarmaid ; 's coir duinn falbh gus am faigh sinn iad."
Dh' fhalbh iad air an torachd, 's chaidh iad a null air a cheart amhainn. Nuair a chaidh iad a null arsa Fionn, " Tha sinn an deigh treis choiseachd a dheanadh, 's o'n a tha, leigidh sinn anail bheag aig bonn na craoibhe seo shuas." Ghabh iad comhairl' Fhinn 's shuidh iad aig bonn na craoibhe.
Arsa Fionn, " 'S coir duinn teannadh ri cluiche, Ghillean." " Tha sinn deonach," ars' iadsan.
B' abhaist do dh' Fhionn 's do dh' Osgar a bhith 'nan da cheann stochd. 'Se Diarmaid daonnan a b' abhaist a bhith comhla ri Fionn. Bha fios aig Fionn gii 'n robh buaidhean air Diarmaid aig cluichean. Bha 'nis O.-gar agus dh' fheumadh e duine a bhith leis, agus 's e 'athair fhein a 'b abhaist a bhith leis. Thoisich iad cur nan cluichean. A' h-uile cluiche a bha' 'dol 's aun air Fionn a bha e 'dol, 's bha Osgar a' buidhinn. Chuir iad tri chluichean. Arsa Fionn.
" Tha mi aig ionndrainn uam Dhiarmaid gu trom ; chionn b' ainneamh leomsa cluich a dhol a m' aghaidh nuair a bhiodh Diar- maid leam ; ach tha iad a nis a' dol a m' aghaidh o'n a dhealaich e rium ; ach theid mi uair eile riut."
Bha Diarmaid ag eisdeachd. Dh' fhalbh e 's chuir e ri thaobh deas mar siud a lamh, 's rug e air t^ de na caora dearga a bh' air a' chraoibh, 's leig e sios ris a chraoibh i, 's driom Fhinn risa' chraoibh. Dh' fhairich e rud a' bualadh air a dhriom, 's chuir e a lamh air a chul-thaobh, 's rug e air a chaora, 's chuir e 'na phoca i. Thoisich iad air cluiche 's chaidh an cluiche seo le Fionn. " Tha h-aon agam," arsa Fionn. "Tha," ars' Osgar, "ach tha a dha gu d' dhith." " An d' theid thu tuilleadh ann ?" ars' Osgar. " Theid, theid," ars' Fionn. "Feuch a ritiiis e." Leig Diarmaid sios an ith chaora 's bhuidhinn Fionn am fear seo. " An d' theid
8o WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
thu ann tuilleadh?" ars' e. " Theid," ars' Osgar, "matha a dha agad tha fear gu d' dhith." Leig Diarmaid a nuas an treas te agu3 bbuidhinn Fionn an treas fear. " Tha sinn a nis," ars' Osgar, " cothrom a's cothrom ; ua 'bhuidhinn mi thug thu fhein air t' ais a rithis e." " An d' theid tlm ann tuilleadh ?" arsa Fionn. " Theid," ars' Osgar, " bidh fios a mhath na 'uilc againn air an t-siubhal seo." Chaidh iad ann a rithis ; leig Diarmaid a nuas an ceathramh te, 's bhuidhinn Fionn. " Ge b"e air bith mar a bha fad 's a bha thusa gun Diarmaid leat bha mise a' buidhinn. Ge b' e an bith mar a tha a' chuis tha gnothaichean a bhoineas do Dhiarmaid mu'n cuart ortsa an diugh ma 'm bheil thu air buinig a' cheathramh uair. Ars' Oisean, " Cha do chuir m' athair oirnn, a mhic, le ceartas idir." " Chuir," arsa Fionn. " Cha do chuir," ars' Oisean. "Chuir; a dhearbhadh gu 'n do chuir tha ceithir caoran ann a'm' phoca mu choinneamh a' h-uile cluich a bhuidhinn mi." Thug e mach na ceithir caoran, 's nuair a thug e mach iad thubhairt e.
" Thig a nuas a sin a Dhiarmaid, thu fliein agus Graidhne, nighean righ Choig' Ullainn ; chionn tha sibh an sin comhla."
Thainig Diarmaid agus Graidhne a nuas ; Eoinneadh a' chuid- eachd as ur, 's chaidh Fionn a's Osgar thar a cheile. Thoisich na h-airm, 's thoisich an sgath, 's bha iad a' deanadh moran coire air a cheile. Bha a' chuid eile de 'n Fhinn a' faicinn gu 'n robh Osgar a' brath buinig air taobh a sheanar. Arsa GoU Mac Morna, " Gad nach robh cuid againne de 'n aimhreit, 's coir dhuinn reite 's eadraiginn a dheanadh eadar clanna Treunmhor." Arsa Conan, " Leig le Clanu na Baoisge cuirp a cheile a ghearradh." Thuirt Fionn an sin ri Osgar, Casg a chur air arraaibh, ma 'm biodh Clanna Morna fhathasd 'nan deigh an Alba. Thug Fionn aire do Dhiarmaid 's thuirt e,
" Tha mo ghrunnd, 's mo lamh, 's mo shuil Deonach cuirt a dheanadh dhuit; A Dhiarmaid O Duibhne, fhir threin ! Falbh le m' cheile gun fhios domli ! ! "
Bha boireacuach ann ris an cainte Mala lith, 's bha speil mhuc aiee, 's bha tore uimhe air an ceann, 's chaidh iomadh gille math a 'shealg nach d' thainig riomh slan o'n tore. Arsa Fionn ri Diar- maid, "A Dhiarmaid theirig a shealg an tuirc aig Mala lith air shealbh mhuc 'S iomadh fear a chaidh ann nach d' thainig as an ailt thar bhreac."
Dh' fhalbh Diarmaid a shealg an tuirc.
From Alexander M'Donald, Burgh, Barra. September 20, 1860.
THE LAY OF DIARMAID.
m. 4.
One more version, carries the legend to the ex- treme northern and eastern Gaelic frontier. It varies somewhat from the others, but the main incidents are the same. The story is called the The Boak of Ben Laighal, and is thus told : —
There lived once upon a time a king in Sutherland, Avhose land was ravaged by a boar of great size and ferocity. This boar had a den or cave in Ben Laighal (Pr Loyal), full of the bones of men and cattle.
It came to pass that the king swore a great oath, saying he would give his only daughter to the man who should rid the country of this monster. Then came Fingal, Ossian, Oscar, and I know not who be- sides, and tried in vain, to kill the boar, whose bristles were a foot long, his tusks great and white, and whose eyes glowed like beltain fires. But when Diarniid saw the king's daughter, whose robes were white, and be- held her blue eyes, and her long yellow hair, as she stood in the gateway, he said to himself, " that come what would he would win her." So he went out ere it was yet dawn, and when he came to the boar's lair he saw the monster lying, as large and black as a boat when its keel is turned up on the shore ; dra^ving a shot from his bow he killed it on the spot. All the Jving's men turned out and pulled the carcase home with shouts to the palace ; and the king's daughter stood in the gate, beautiful as the May morn. But the king's heart was evil when he saw that the boar was dead. He went back from his word secretly, say- ing to Diarmid that he should not have his daughter till he had measured (by paces) the body of his Mien foe, once from the head to the tail, and once
82 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
again backward from the tail to the snout. That would Diarmid gladly do, and the wedding should be the morrow's morning. He paced the beast from tip to tail without harm or hindrance, but on measuring it backwards the long poisonous bristles pierced liis foot, and in the night Diarmid sickened and died. His grave and the den of the boar may be seen in Ben " Loyal " to this day.
This seems a different, and a sadder legend than the one which gives the Campbells their boar's head crest ; nearly as tragical as the fate of Adonis ; but it is common in the west of this county to call the Camp- bells MacDiarmid. — C. D., Sutherland.
It may be interesting to shew this legend of " Diar- maid," as the word is spelt now-a-days, in another shape.
The following is taken fi-om a MS. which came from Cawdor Castle, and is now in my possession ; it is called,
" Genealogy Abridgement of the very Antient and Noble Family of Argyll, 1779."
The writer explains that —
" In the following account we Lave bad regard to the genea- logical tree done by Niel MacEwen, as he received the same from Eachern MacEwen, bis ffather, as he had the same from Art^ MacEwen, his grandfather, and their ancestors and predecessors, senachies and pensioners to great ffamilys, who, for many ages were employed to make up and keep such Records in their accus- tomed way of Irish Rhymes; and the account left by Mr. Alex'. Colvin, who had access to the papers of the ffamily, and Pedro Mexva, a Spaniard, who wrote the origin of diverse and sundry nations, in bis book entitled the Treasury of Antiquities."
THE Lay of diarmaid. 83
The first statement is as follows : —
"The Campbells were of old, in the Irish language, calleJ Clan Odinbhn or Oduimhn (bh and mh being pronounced as the Eoman v), id est, tbe sons, children, or posteritye of Duimhn, knights of the MacDuimhns ; particularly from Diarmid Mac- Duimhu, who makes such a figure in the Irish history, that from him they are sometimes called Siol Dirmed, i.e., Diarmid's seed, or Sliochd Diarmid, i.e., Diarmod's offspring."
In the next paragraph it is said —
" Yet to this day (1779), in the Irish language or Galic, they (the Campbells) are called both by the name of Campbell and O'Duimhn."
I may add that at this day, 1861, the name of Campbell is very rarely used in speaking Gaelic. A man is called Kaim-bel-ach, a Campbelite, or the Camp- helltonian, bitt individually, he is Iain Euagh, Pats- set John ; if he has the common burnt Sienna beard, Iain fada ; long John, if he be tall ; Iain na Airde bige, John of the little hill, if his farm be so called ; or John MacAllister, if his father's name be Alexander. In short, surnames are not yet in full use within the Highland bounds.
Li the next paragraph the rhymes of the " Senacliies" of the Argyll family are again called " Irish," and thus it appears that in the mind of this writer Irish and Galic meant one and the same language in 1779, as I hold that they are in fact now. The story goes on thus : —
" Although the common and ordinary method of reckoning the genealogy of the sirname of Campbell or Clan O'Duimhn is to begin at Arthur of the round table, king of the Britons, as a person very great and famous in history, yet we shall begin it some ages before him, by shewing the occasion of his accession to the crown of the Britons, as Boethius and Buchanan have it in their History of Scotland."
«4 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
And accordingly tlie wiiter begins with Constan- tine, grandfather to King Ai-thur.
The half mythical heroes of Welsh and Breton tales, and of niediteval romances ; and personages who still figure in Irish and Scotch Gaelic popidar tales, as something more than mere mortals : — Arthur and Diarmaid, primeval Celtic worthies, whose very exis- tence the historian ignores, are thus Ijrought together by a family genealogist, and most of these west-country genealogies agree with him in claiming a descent from King Arthur for " Mac Callen Mor."
The fact proves nothing, and is of little interest in itself, but when brought to bear upon Celtic mythology it acquires an interest, for it shews that peasants' stories are sufficiently old to have found their way into family history in Scotland, as well as into Avhat is called the Fenian literature of Ireland. The Irish theory crowds whole centuries of adventure into the lifetime of a single generation of one family, of which Fionn was the head, and which was exterminated, as it is said, about A.D. 277 or 294, at the battle of Gabhra in Ireland. The Scotch genealogist boldly asserts that
" It is plain that the family can trace their predecessors from father to son for upwards of 1360 years,"
and produces Diarmaid as one of a Scotch family all aUve in 943. He goes on to shew how King Arthur brought Ireland under tribute, and received it at Cathair Ler-eon, now West Chester.
The next worthy is " Smoroie Mor, or as others have it, Sir Moi'oie Mor, ' a son of King Arthur,' of whom great and strange things are told in the Irish traditions. He was born at Dumbarton Castle, on the south side of the fort, in the place called the Red Hall, or in Irish, Tour na-hella dlieirg, i.e., the Tour of the Eed Hall. He was called to his by-name, The fool of the Forest ; he was a wild
THE LAY OF DIARMAID. 05
and undaunted person, and married a sister of King Andar's, the forty-ninth king of the Scots, and was contemporary with Columbus pius ; called in the Gaelic Colmkill, or Calum na-kill, because, when he retired from company they were always sure to find him in his cell at prayer."
Now tliere are a great many poems and stories still extant in Gaelic, some printed, others still as traditions, in which a " great fool " plays the chief part. I would refer to i^o. xxxv. vol ii., and to the "Lay of the Great Fool " in this volume, A long version of the last has been printed abeady.
There is besides an Arthurian tradition in England of a buried army and a sleeping king, and a wizard who appears occasionally about Alderley edge, not far from Chester, and this has a counterpart in a story got from Islay, which localizes the very same legend in another shape at Dumbarton ; and that tradition of Avarriors sleeping a magic sleep in a cave is known in Barra and in the Isle of Man, in Spain and over nearly the whole of Europe ; and here again tradition and genealogy point to a common origin for Celtic tribes, and to a north-western route, and to a common mythology ; for to the best of my knowledge this legend is imknown beyond the Celts in the north. Having brought King Arthur to Dumbarton, the gene- alogist takes to dates (wliich I give as I found them), and goes on with a list of wortliies, most of whom are unknown to fame.
" VI. Ferither-Our, i.e., Dun Ferither, a.d. 620.
" VII. Duimhn-Mor, who married a daughter of Duke Murdoch of Moravian, or Murray, or Elgin,"
and gave a name to the family, which has been vari- ously explained.
" Odinbhin " and Mac-Oduimhn might suggest a Scandinavian descent, and some old sea-rover for an
86 WEST HIGHLAND TALES,
ancestor, who called himself a son of Odin. It has been suggested that the warriors of Fionn were fair Norsemen. Some Campbells are proud of the " ginger- hackle " which commonly adorns their chins, and claim to be Northmen ; but if the name be Gaelic, as I believe it to be, I am compelled to translate Duimhn- Mov, as the Great Brown. The Bro^yns are a nume- rous and respectable clan, and there is no cause to be ashamed of the connection, for Brown is synonymous with Don, and there are Browns and Dons of high degree.
"VIII. Arthur Oig MacDuimhn, i.e., Young Arthur, son of Brown, 084.
" IX. Ferither eile MacDuimhn. The other Ferither, son of Brown, 730.
"X. Duimhn fait derig MacDuimhn. Brown of the red hair, son of Brown, 786, who married the grand-daughter of Con- nal Gulban, one of the sons of Neal na Nidgheallach, king of Ireland, who was so called because he had nine chains, fetters, or prisons, for confining captives taken in the wars. This Neal was father to Longirius, who reigned when St. Patrick came to Ireland."
So here comes in another hero of Gaelic romance, Connal Gulban, of whom there are more stories told in Gaelic at the present day than of any other indi- vidual, Fionn always excepted. As St. Patrick here makes his appearance on the stage with Diarmaid and Connal Gulban, and as he brought Christianity, and mayhap civilization to Ireland, it seems reasonable to suppose that such an event would stimulate the bards ; and that about the name of St. Patrick all the floating legends of the old Pagan history and mythology would group themselves, as they are in fact found to do, in the Irish dialogues between St. Patrick and Osin. In these, the old blind poet tells the glories of his de-
THE LAY OF DI ARM AID. 87
parted race, and argues with the saint in a very dis- contented and rebellious spirit, to say the least of it. Osin, whose tribe was exterminated about 277, con- verses with St. Patrick, who was born about 372, flourished in 430, and, according to this genealogy, was contemporary with I^ongirius and Connal Gulban.
" XI. Ferither finruo, i.e., reddish white MacDuimhn, son of Brown.
" XII. Duimhn dherig, i.e., Brown the red, 860.
" XIII. Duimhn donn, i.e., Brown Brown, 904, was cotem- porary with Constantino, seventy-fifth king of the Scots."
" XIV. Dirmaid Mac Duimhn, 943." And having arrived at this Dirmaid, to whom all popular traditions trace the Campbell clan, the writer breaks off into a digression on the origin of surnames. Of Dirmaid he says : —
" This Dirmaid MacDuimhn, from whom the Campbells were called Siol Diarmaid, i.e., Diarmaid's seed, gained gi-eat reputation in Ireland, and in all their traditions there is honourable mention made of him for his conduct, valour, and loyalty. He was cotem- porary with Malcolm the first, seventy-sixth king of the Scots. He had to wife, Graine, niece to Cormac Vic Art Vic Chuin Cheud Chathach, and thus his son was great-grandchild to that famous Irish monarch. Conn Cheud Chathach, so called because he fought one hundred battles.
Diarmaid, say the Irish writers, was one of the Fenians, and they were exterminated a.d. 277; that is, 666 years before the date of the Dirmaid and Graine of the genealogy.
And then we are told how Dirmaid and Graine had two sons —
" Arthur Armderig, 977 (red arms), and Duimhn Dedgheal, Brown white tooth, who had to his son Gilcolm or Malcolm Mac- Duimhn, who, after he had married a daughter of the lords of Carrick, by whom he had three sons, of whom afterwards, and after her death, in the reign of Kenneth the Third, the eightieth king of the Scots, the said Malcolm MacDuimhn went to Nor-
88 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
mandy in France and married tbe heretrix of Beauchamp, i.e., campus bellus, or pleasant field, sister's daughter to William the Conqueror, Duke of Nonnandy, afterwards King of England, of which lady he had three sons, who were called Campbells after the name of their lands in Normandy."
Further on we are told how the representative of the French branch came over and married the heiress of a knight of Lochawe, Evah, and how the clan took the name of Campus bellus ; and how, centuries later, French worthies were entertained at Inverary, and acknowledged themselves to be of the same race and descent as their entertainer. And other genealogical incidents are related in the same quaint style down to the writer's time, and to John Duke of Argyll.
"44. John Campbell, XXVIII. Campbell, XX. MacCallen Mor, V. Duke, 1768 ; who (amongst other deeds) caused remove the old burgh of Inverary, but has reared up a much prettyer and more fashionable burgh royal, about a furlong south of the palace, upon the Gallow failean point."
So here are Diarmaid and Graidlme, the hero and heroine of so many Gaelic myths, stories, poems, and proverbs, the Venus and Adonis of Gaelic mythology, brought into juxtaposition with King Arthur and his knights, honestly married and planted in Scotland, a.d. 943, as Mr. and Mrs. Browai ; a family tree grafted on their stock, and the growth of the tree itself all set forth as true family history in 1789.
There probably were j^eople who bore these names. There are hundreds of Dermotts, and Dermids, and Donns, and Dons, and Guns, Mac-Dermotts and Mac- Diarmaids, still to be found in Ireland and in Scotland There are GwjTines in Wales, and there are many similar family names in France which have been hooked into the family tree, Avhich springs from Oduimhn ; but it is surely time to give np the attempt to convert
THE LAY OF DIARMAID. 89
Celtic mytliology into comparatively modem history, and to fix a time and place for the slaj-ing of Diarmaid by the venomous boar of Beingiilban.
In a learned note in the Transactions of the Ossianic Society (voL v. p. 62, 1860), I find that the Celtic legends about magic boars which pervade Ireland, AVales, and Scotland, have already attracted the notice of Irish scholars, and that they are taking a wide view of their popular lore. The sacred swine of the ancient Celts are supposed to have given rise to this tradition. It is suggested that there was a "Porcine worship which was analogous to, if not identical with, the exist- ing worship of the Hindoo deity Vishnoo, in his avatar as a boar." And that Diarmaid was a reformer who tried to abolish the worship of pigs, and died in the attempt.
To me it seems perfectly hopeless to attempt to explain a legend which is at least as old as the loves of Venus and Adonis, Ijy referring it to any one time or place.
It is like making Hercules a doctor or a drainer, and the Hydra sulphuretted hydrogen embodied in an epidemic, and cured with steel.
Let this tale of Diarmaid rather be taken as one phase of a myth which pervades haK the world, and which is still extant in the Higlolands of Scotland, and in Ireland, amongst all classes of the GaeHc population. Let aU that can be got concerning it be gathered from the most unsuspecting and the most unlearned wit- nesses ; and when the traditions are compared Avith what is known to the learned, there is some chance of digging knowledge out of tliese old mines of fable. At all events, I have now shewn the same legend in a poem, a popular tale, a proverb, a family tradition, and a family history ; I have shewn it in Ireland, Cantyre,
90 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
Islay, Lorn, Skye, tlie Long Island, and Sutherland ; and I believe it to be an ancient pagan myth, -wliich belonged especially to a tribe of Celts who took pos- session of Argyll, and which has been transferred to the family of the cliief of the most numerous clan, and perhaps to the real leader of the tribe, together with every thing else which a race of family historians thought likely to adorn their favourite topic.
There would seem to be two distinct forms of the myth ; one the wildest and best known to the people, the other more rational and best known to the educated classes.*
FABLES.
I am told on good authority, that stories in which beasts play a chief part are perhaps the most interest- ing of all in a scientific point of view. I accordingly give a feAv here, which should belong to No. XVII. in Vol. I. They will serve as a contrast to the heroic traditions with which I had intended to fill this third volume. Their value consists in their close resem- blance to well-known stories, found elsewhere amongst peasants, and pubhshed in modern times, and in their possessing traits of their own, which seem to incUcate that they are parallel traditions derived from a com- mon source ; not stories derived fi'om others, and fol- lowing in their wake.
For example, the whole of the incidents in the story of the Fox and the Wolf are to be found in Grimm ; but they are separated. Some of the inci- dents are also in the Norse tales ; but the Gaelic tale * Since this was written I have seen two versions of the Lay of DiarmaiJ, one of 1786, the other written about 1530. I refer to them elsewhere.
THE FOX AND THE GOAT. 9 I
fits Highland ways of life exactly, and tlie story is so ■widely spread in the Highlands, and can be traced so far back, that it seems almost impossible that the un- lettered men who tell it to their cliildren should have got it from modern books which they could neither read nor understand.
LXIL
HOW THE FOX TOOK A TUE:^^ OUT OF THE GOAT.
From Hector Boyd, Barra.
T^HERE was a gray goat and she had kids, and if she had, the fox went on a day around them, and he caught them, and he killed them, and he ate them. Then the goat came home, and she was black melan- choly and miserable when she came and was without them before her. She took on her way and she reached the house of the russet dog, and she went up on the top of the house, and the fox cried out —
" Who is that on top of my bothy, maiden my deary. That will not leave my caldrons to boil, That will not leave my bonnachs to bake. And that will not let my little one go to the well?" Goat. " There is mc gray goat, harried out. Seeking the three Idndly kidlings. And the gray-bellied buck, And the buck lad." Fox. " Well then ; by the earth that is beneath, Ey the aether over head. By the sun that is gone down. That I have never seen thy set of kids."
92 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
There was no bird in the flock that she did not go to ; and she returned home and she did not get them.
Tliis story is known to that section of the poorer Gaelic population, which is, and which has been 3'oung ; but though everybody knows it, nobody will tell it. I persuaded an old woman on the banks of Loch Hourn, to tell it to nie in part, and so far as it went her version was better.
Chaidh a ghobhar ghlas don traigh Agus, bhrisd strabh a cas.
The gray goat went to the strand, and a straw broke her leg, and when she came home there were
Na tri minneana mine-glas Taraigna taraghlas Driomana driomaghlas Agus am hoc ceannaglas.
The three kindly kidHngs-gray, With bellies gray bellied, And with backs gray back-ed, And the buck gray-head.
And the ram (something, Avhich I forget) ; and a whole party besides, whom my informant would not name ; all gone away. And she went to the fox, and his clearing oath was : —
Air an draigheann air an dreas Air an talamh fo mo chois Air a ghrian seachad siar Cha n f haca mise riamh Do chuid meann.
By the blackthorn and the briar, By the earth beneath my foot,
THE COCK AND THE FOX. 93
By the siiii that has gone west, I have never never seen Thy set of kids.
It is manifest that there is a great deal more of this, but I have not got it.*
LXIII.
HOW THE COCK TOOK A TUEN OUT OF
THE FOX,
And no Creature ever took a Turn out of Him but
THAT Cock.
From Hector Boyd, Barra, Sept. 20, 1860.
rr^HE russet dog came to a house, and he caught hold
of a cock. He went away with the cock, and the l^eople of the town-land went away after him.
" Ai'e they not silly !" quoth the cock, " going after thee, and that they cannot catch thee at any rate."
The cock was for that he should open his mouth that he might spring out.
When he saw that the cock was so wilKng to go along with liimself, he was so pleased.
" Oh ! musician wilt thou not say — It is my own cock that is here, and they will turn back," said the cock.
The fox .said, " She-mo-haolach-hay-n-a-han ;" and when the fox opened his mouth the cock sprung away. * May 1861. — I have received a much better version from Mr. Alexander Carmichael, from Carbost in Sky. The fox, disguised as the goat, after several trials gets in, and eats the kids. The goat goes to the houses of the gull, hoodie, and sheep, and at last to the fox. He lets her in, eats up a caldron of food, gives her none, and makes her scratch his paunch. The goat rips him up, out come the kids, and they go home. The rhymes are curious, and whole very original.
94 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
I have already given a version of this in vol. ii. ; the main difference is, that the cock here calls the fox a musician, as the fox in the old story called the crow when he did him out of a cheese by the same stra- tagem. Ceolaire is used to express a silly fellow.
LXIV. THE HEN.
From Hector Boyd. Learnt this story from Donald M'Kinnon, Laidhinnis, Barra, wlio died twelve years ago at the age of sixty. —Castle Bay, October 4, 1860.
rpHERE was a woman before now, and she bore a hen in rock by the shore, after she had been driven into banishment in some way or other.
The hen grew big, and she used to be going to the king's house every day to try if she could get some- thing that she might give to her mother. The king came out on a day of these days, and he said to her,
" What, thou nasty little creature, art thou doing standing there upon my door Ì "
" Well, then, though I be little, and even nasty, I can do a thing that the fine big queen thou hast can- not do," said she.
" What canst thou do Ì " quoth the king.
" I can spring from spar to spar, with the tongs and the hook for hanging the pot trailing after me."
He went in and he told that to the queen. The hen was tried, and she did it ; they tied the pot-hook and the tongs to her, and she sprang over three spars (rafters), and she came down on the ground.
Then they tied the pot-hook and the tongs to the queen, and she went and she took a spring out of her- self, and she cut the edge of her two shanks, and she fell, and the brain went out of her.
THE HEN. 95
He had. four queens, and the hen put them all out with this work.
" It would be better for you to marry my mother," quoth the hen ; " she is a very fine woman."
" Avoid me," said the king ; " thou hast caused me loss enough already, thou nasty creature."
" Well then, that is not what is best for thee, but to marry her," said the hen.
" Send down thy mother so that we may see her," said the king.
She went where her mother was, and she said to lier, " The king is seeking you, mother ; I was asking him to marry you."
She went up, and she herself and the king mar- ried.
Tlien there was a Sunday, and they were going to sermon, the king and the queen ; and they left within but the hen and the son of the first wife. The hen went when they went away, and she went to a cham- ber, and she cast off her the husk that was upon her, and the lad went into the room, and he saw the husk that was upon her. He caught hold of it and he put it into the hot middle of the fire. She came down and she had no tale of the " cochall."
She came where the la<:l was, and she had a naked sword, and she said to him,
" Get for me my husk, or else I will take the head off thee, against the throat."
The lad took much fear, and he could not say a word to her.
" Thou nasty creature," said she, " it is much for me that thy death should be on my hands ; I don't know what I shall do now ; if I get another cochall they will think that I am a witch, and I had better stay as I am."
96
WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
When the king came home he saw that fine woman within, going about the house, and he had no know- ledge what had put her there, and the king must know what sort of a woman she was. She told every whit. She herself and the king's son married, and a great wedding was made for them.
I suspect this is a fragment of some much longer tale. I know nothing like it in any other language.
—From a stone at St. AucIikws. — Sculptured Stones o/ Scotland, PI. Ixi
LXV. THE KEG OF BUTTER
From Hector Boyd, Barra, who learnt it from Neill M'Neill, Watersay ; and from many other old men. Neill M'Neill died ten years ago, past eighty years of age. — Castle Bay, Sept. 20, 1860.
rpHE russet dog and the wild dog, the fox and the -*- wolf, were going together ; and they went round about the sea shore, and they found a keg of butter, and they buried it.
On the morrow the fox went out, and when he returned in he said that a man had come to ask him to a baptism. The fox went and he arrayed himself in excellent attire, and he went away, and where
THE KEG OF BUTTER. 97
should he go but to the butter keg ; and when he came home the wolf asked liim what name was on the child; and he said that there Avas Foveeal (irnder its mouth).
On the morrow he said that a man had sent to ask him to a baptism, and he reached the keg and he took out about half. The wolf asked when he came home what name was on the child.
" "Well," said he, " there is a queer name that I myself would not give to my man child, if I had him; there is Moolay Moolat {about half and half).
On the morrow he said that there was a man there came to ask him to a baptism again ; and he went and he reached the keg, and he ate it all up. When he came home the wolf asked him what name Avas on the child, and he said that there was Booill eejilich {tackling, licMng, or Uckinrj all up).
On the morrow he went and he said to the wolf that they ought to bring the keg home. Tliey went, and when they reached the keg there was not a shadow of the butter in it.
" AVell ! thou wert not without coming to Avatch this, though I Avas AA'ithout coming here," quoth the fox.
The other one sAA'ore that he had not come near it. " Thou needst not be blessing that thou didst not come here ; I know that thou didst come, and that it Avas thou that took it out ; but I aa'ÌII know it from thee when thou goest home, if it was thou that ate the butter," said the fox.
He AATut, and when he AA-ent home he hung the Avolf by his hind legs, Av-ith his head dangling below liim, and he had a dab of the butter and he put it under his mouth, and if it Avas true, it AA-as out of the AvoK's bellA^ that it came.
98 WEST HIGHLAXD TALES.
" Tliou red thief !" said he, " I said before that it was thou ate the butter."
They slept that night as they were, and on the morrow when they rose the fox said,
" AVell, then, it is silly for ourselves to be going to death in this way with great excess of sloth ; we will reach such and such a town-land, and we will take a piece of land in it."
They reached the towni-land, and the man to whom it belonged gave them a piece of land the worth of seven Saxon pounds.
It was oats that they set that year, and they reaped it, and they began to divide it.
" "Well, then," said the fox, " whether wouldst thou rather have the root or the tip Ì thou shalt have thy two choices."
" I'd rather the root," said the wolf.
Then the fox had fine oaten bread all the year, and the other one had fodder.
On the next year they set a crop ; and it was tata root (potatoes) that they set, and the potatoes grew well.
" Which wouldst thou like best, the root or the crop this yearl" said the fox.
" Indeed, thou shalt not take the tAvist out of me any more ; I will have the crop (top) this year," quoth the wolf
" Good enough, my hero," said the fox.
Then the wolf had the potato tops again, and the fox the potatoes. Then the wolf used to keep stealing the potatoes from the fox.
" Thou hadst best go yonder, and read that name that I have in the hoofs of the gray mare," quoth the fox.
Away w^eiat the wolf, and he began to read the
THE KEG OF BUTTER. 99
name ; and on a time of these times the white mare (h-ew her leg, and she cast the head off the wolf.
" Oh !" said the fox, "it is long since I heard it. I would rather be a clerk than be reading a book."
He went home, and the wolf was not putting trouble upon him any more.
I heard this story often myself in boyhood. There is some portion of dialogue that I remember, not in this version. When the fox speaks to the wolf about the clu-istening, the conversation goes on in this manner : —
Madadh Ruadh. Och ! heun ! thall. Madadh Alluidh. De tha thu 'faicinn ann. Mddadli Raadli. Tha iad gam iarraidh gu gois- deachd.
Madadh Alluidh. Och, och, ann d' theid thu ann. Madadh Ruadh. Och, och, theid.
Fox. Och ! hein ! yonder.
Wolf. ^Vhat seest thou there Ì
Fox. They are asking me to sponsorship.
Wolf. Och ! och ! wilt thou go there 1
Fox. Och ! och ! I will.
H. MacLean.
See Norse Tales, p. -472, where the creatures are fox and bear.
The Boor and the Fiend, Grimm, No. 189. The notes in vol. iiL, Grimm, shew that this is widely spread. See also No. 2, Grimm, vol iii., where the creatures in company, in various versions, are cat and mouse, cock and hen, cock. and fox.
See also stories on Proverbs, 1854, London.
" Send not the cat for lard." The actors are a kitten and a rat ; the scene, a belfry and a garret.
WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
^^rfè
Fox, Huntsman, and Falcon. — From a stone at Shandwick.' Sculptured Stones of Scotland, PI. xxvi.
LXVI. THE FOX AND THE LITTLE BOXNACH.
From Hector Boyd, who learnt it from one John Campbell, who died three years ago, at the age of thirty — Sept. 20, 1860.
ri^HE fox was once going over a loch, and there -*- met him a httle bonnach, and the fox asked liim where he Avas going. The Httle bonnach told him he wa,s gomg to such a place.
" And whence camest thou?" said the fox.
" I came from Geeogan, and I came from Cooaig- EAN, and I came from the slab of the bonnach stone, and I came from the eye of the quern, and I wUl come from thee if I may," quoth the little bonnach.
" Well, I myself will take thee over on my back," said the fox.
" ThouTt eat me, thou 'It eat me," quoth the little bonnach.
" Come then on the tip of my tail," said the fox.
" Oh ! I will not ; thou Avilt eat me," said the little bonnach.
" Come into my ear," said the fox.
THE FOX AXD THE LITTLE BONNACH. I O I
" I will not go; thou wilt eat me," said the little bonnach.
" Come into my mouth," said the fox.
" Thou wilt eat me that time at all events," said the little bonnach.
" Oh, I wall not eat thee," said the fox. " At the time Avhen I am swimming I cannot eat anytliing at all."
He went into his mouth.
" Oh! ho !" said the fox, "I may do my own pleasui-e to thee now. It is long since it was heard that a hard morsel is good in the mouth of the sto- mach."
The fox ate the little bonnach. Then he went to the house of a gentleman, and he went to a loch, and he caught hold of a duck that was in it, and he ate that.
He Avent uj) to a hill side, and he began to stroke his sides on the hill.
" Oh king ! how finely the bullet would spank upon my belly just now."
Who was listening but a hunter.
" It wiU be tried upon thee directly," said the hunter.
" Bad luck to the place that is here," quoth the fox, " in wliich a creature dares not say a word in fun that is not taken in earnest."
The hunter put a bullet in his gun, and he fired at him and killed him.
See Chambers' Popular Ehpnes of Scotland, 1858, 2.31.
See also "Wolf's stories, where a wolf prays to Odin that an axe may fall on his head, and a man throws one.
WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
LXII.
Mak a thufj am Madadh ruadh an car as a' Ghobhair.
A' ghobhar glilas.
Bha 'n siud ann gobhar ghlas, 's bha minn aice ; s' ma bha chaidh am madadh ruadh latha timchioU orra, 's rug e e orra, 's mharbh e iad, 's dh' ith e iad. Thaniig a ghobhar, an seo, dachaidh; 's bha i gu dubhach, bronach nuair a thainig i, 's gun iadsan air a coinneamh. Ghabh i air falbh, 's rainig i taigh a' mhadaidh ruaidh, 's chaidh i air mullacli an taighe. Dh' eubh am madadh ruadh.
" Co siud air mullach me bhothain ghruigich, ghraigich, Nach leig goil dho m' choireachan, 'S nach leig bruich dho m' bhonnachan, 'S nach leig mo leanabh beag dh' an tobar."
GOBHAE.
" Tha mise 'ghobhar ghlas air a toirt as, Ag iarraidh nan tri minneana mine, 'S am hoc tarraghlas, 'S an gille buic."
MADADH RUADH.
" Mata, air an talamh a tha fodhad ; S' air an athar as do chionn ; 'S air a' ghrian a tha sios; Nach fhaca mise riamh do chiud meann."
Cha robh eun a bha 's an ealt nach deachaitlh i a ionnsnidh ; 's thill i dhachaidh, 's cha d' fhuair i iad.
LXIII.
Mae a thug an Coileach an car as a mhadadh ruadh ; 's cha d' thug beathach riamh an car as ach an coileach a bha 'n siud.
Thainig am Madadh ruadh thun taighe, 's rug e air coileach Dh' fhalbh e leis a choileach 's dh' fhalbh muinntir a' bhaile as a dheigh.
" Nach iad a tlia gorrach," urs' an coileach, " a falbh as do dheigh, 's nach urrainn iad breith ort co-dhiu." Bha 'n coileach, nuair a dh' fhosgladh e' bheul, gus leum as. Nuair a chunnaic e gu 'n robh an coileach cho deonach air falbh comhla ris fhein bha e cho toilichte.
" 0,'' a cheolaire ! nach abair thu, " 'Se mo choileach fhein a th' ann', 's tillidh iad," ors' an Coileach.
A CHEARC. 103
Thuirt am Madadh ruadh. "'Se mo clioileach fhein a th' ann."
'S nuair a dh' fhosgail am Madadh Ruadh a bheul leum an Coi- leach air falbh.
LXIV.
A CHEARC.
Bha boireannach ann roimhe seo agus rug i cearc ann an sgorr cladaich 's iad an deigh a cur air fuadach air doigh air chor-eigin. Dh' fhas a chearc mor, 's bhiodh i 'dol do thaigh an righ 'h-uile latha feuch ann faigheadh i rud a bheireadh i g' a mathair. Thainig an righ mach latha de na haithean, 's thuirt e rithe.
" De, a chreutair bhig, mhosaich, a tha thu deanadh a 't, sheasamh air mo dhorus an sin."
"Mata gad a tha mi beag, mosach fhein, ni mi rud nach dean a bhanruinn mhor, bhreagh agadsa," urs' ise.
" De' 'ni thu ? " urs' an righ.
" Leumaidh mi o sparr gu sparr, 's an clobha, 's buthal na poite, slaodadh ruim."
Dh' fhalbh e staigh 's dh' inuis e siud do' n bhanruinn. Chaidh 'f heuchainn ris a' chirc 's rinn i e ; Cheangail iad am buthal san clobha rithe, 's leum i thar tri sparrannan, 's thainig i airlar. Cheangail iad am buthal san clobha ris a bhanruinn an sin, 's dh fhalbh i 's thug i leum aisde, 's ghearr i faobhar an da lurga aice, 's thuit i, 's chaidh an t-ionachainn aisde. Bha ceithir banruinnean aige 's chuir a' chearc as doibh, air fad, leis an obair seo.
" 'S fhearra duibh," urs' a' cTiearc, " mo mhathair a phosadh ; tha i 'na boireannach breagh."
" Seachainn mi," urs' an righ ; " rinn thu call na leoir domh cheana a chreutair mhosaich."
" Mata cha 'n e sin a 's fhearra dhuit ach a posadh," urs' a' chearc.
" Cuir a nuas do mhathair 's gu 'm faiceamaid i," urs' an righ. Dh" fhalbh i far an robh a mathair, 's ars' i rithe, " Tha 'n righ 'gar n-iarr- aidh a mhathair; bha mise ag iarraidh air bhur posadh."
Chaidh i suas 's phos i fhein san righ.
Bha 'n sin domhnach 's bha iad a' dol do 'n t-seannoin an righ 's a' bhanruinn, 's cha d' fhag iad a staigh ach a chearc, 's mac o 'n cheud mhnaoi. Dh' fhalbh a chearc nuair a dh' fhalbh iad, 's chaidh i do sheombar, 's thilg i dhi an cochall a bha orra, 's dh' fhalbh an gille staigh do 'n rum 's chunnaic e 'n cochall a bha orra. Rug e air
104 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
's chuir e'n teis meadhoin an teine e. Thainig ise nuas 's cha robh sgeul aice air a chochall. Thainig i far an robh an gille 's claidh- eamh ruisgte aice 's thuirt i ris, " Faigh dhomhsa mo chochall airneo bheir mi an ceann diot an aghaidh na braghad."
Ghabh an gille raoran eagail 's cha b' urrainn e facal a radh rithe.
" A chreutair mhosaich," urs' ise, " 's mor leamsa do bhas a bhith air mo lamhan. Cha 'n eil fios 'am a nis do 'ni mi ; ma gheibh mi cochall eile saoilidh iadgur buitseach a th' annam ; agus 's fhearra domh fantail mar a tha mi."
Nuair a thainig an righ dachaidh chunnaic e 'm boireannach breagh sin a staigh air feadh an taighe, 's cha robh fios aige dè 'chuir ann i. B' fheudar gu 'm faigheadh an righ mach dè 'n seorsa boireanniach a bh' innte. Dh' innis i' 'h-uile dad. Phos i' fhein 's mae an righ 's rinneadh banais mhor daibh.
LXV.
AM BUIDEAL IME.
Bha 'm madadh ruadh 's am madadh alluidh a' falbh comhla, 's chaidh lad timchioll a' chladaich, 's fhuair iad buideal ime, 's thiodh- laic iad e.
An la 'r na mhaireach chaidh am madadh ruadh a mach, 's nuair a thill e staigh, thuirt e gu 'n robh duine air tighinn a 'iarraidh gu baisteadh. Dh' fhalbh am madadh ruadh a's sgeadaicli e e fhein ann an deagh thrusgan, 's ghabh e air falbh, 's cait an deachaidh e ach 'ionnsuidh a' bhuideil ime, 's thug e sios gu 'bheul gu math as a' bhuideal, 's nuair a thanaig e dachaidh dh' fhoighnichd am madadh alluidh dheth de 'n t-ainm a bh' air a' phaisde, "s thuirt e gu 'n robh- Fo bhial. An la 'r na mhaireach thuirt e gu 'n do chuir duine a 'iarraidh gu baisteadh, 's rainig e 'm buideal ; 's thug e as mu kith. Dh' fhoighneachd am madadh alluidh, nuair a thainig e dhachaidh, de "n t-ainm a bh' air a' phaisde.
" Mata," urs' esan, "tha ainm neonach nach d' thugainn fhein air mo dhuine cloinne na 'm biodh e agam, tha Mu leith mu leith."
An la 'r na mhaireach thuirt e gu 'u robh duine, an siud, air tighinn a 'iarraidh-san a rithis gu baisteadh. Dh' fhalbh e 's rainig e 'm buideal 's dh' ith e air fad e. Nuair a thainig e dachaidh dh' fhoighnichd am madadh alluidh dheth de 'n t-ainm a bh' air a' phaisde, 's thuirt gu 'n robh, " Buill' imlich. An la 'r na mhaireach dh' fhalbh e 's thuirt e ris a' mhadhadh alluidh, gu 'm bu choir
AM BUTDEAL IiME. IO5
dhaibli am buideal a thoirt dachaidh. Dh' fhalbh iad agus nuair a rainig iad am buideal cha robh sgath dh' an im aim.
" Mata clia robh thusa gu 'n tighhin a choimhead seo, gad a bha raise gun tighinn ann," urs' am madadh ruadh. Mhionnaich am fear eile iiach d' tbainig e a choir. " Cha ruig thu leas a bhith a' mathachadh nach d' thainig thu ann ; tha fios aganisa gu 'n d' tbai- nig, 's gur tu thug as e ; ach aithneachaidh mis' ort, nuair a theid thu dachaidh, ma 's tu dh' ith an t-im," ars' am madadh ruadh. Dh' fhalbh e, 's nuair e chaidh e dachaidh, chroch e 'm madadh alluidh, air chasa deiridh, 's a cheann slaodadh ris, 's bha cnap de 'n im aige, 's chuir e f o a bheul e, 's ma b' fhior, gur h-ann a broinn a mhadadh alluidh a thainig e.
" A dhearg mheairlich," ars' esan, "thuirt mi roimhe gur tu dh' ith an t-im."
Chaidil iad an oidhche sin mar a bha iad, 's an la 'r na mhaireach, nuair a dh' eirich iad, thuirt am madadh ruadh.
" Slata 's gòrrach duinn fhein a bhith 'dol bas mar seo le barr- achd mor de 'n leisg ; Ruigidh sin a leithid seo de bhaile 's gheibh sin piosa fearainn ann."
Kainig lad am bails, 's thug an duine leis am bu leis e piosa fearainn daibh — fiach sheachd puinnd Shasunnach. 'S e core a chuir iad a bhliadhna sin agus bhuain iad e 's thoisich iad ri 'roinn.
" Mata," ars' am madadh ruadh, " co-dhiu 's fhearr leat am bun na 'm barr? Gheibh thu do dim roighinn."
" 'S fhearr leam am bun," ars' am madadh alluidh. Bha 'n sin aran breagh core aig a' mhadadh ruadh fad na bliadhna; 's fodar aig an fhear eile !
An ath bhliadhna chuir iad barr ; 's e buntàta a chuir iad agus dh' fhas am buntata gu math.
" Co-dhiu a 's docha leat am bun na 'm barr am bliadhna?" ars' am madadh ruadh.
" Gu dearbh cha d' thoir thu 'n car fuilleadh asam ! Bidh am barr am bliadhna agam," ars' am madadh alluidh.
" Gle mhath a laochain ;" ars' am madadh ruadh. Bha 'n sinn barr a bhuntata aig a' mhadadh alluidh a rithis ; 's am buntata aig a' mhadadh ruadh.
Bhiodh, an seo, am madadh alluidh a' gold a bhuntata air a' mhadadh ruadh.
" 'S fhearra dhuit a dholl a null 's an t' ainm sin agam ann an crodhan na laire baine a leubhadh," ars' am madadh ruadh.
Dh' thalbh am madadh alluidh 's thoisich e air leubhadh an ainm, '3 uair de na h-uairean tharruiug an lair bhan a cas, 's thilg i 'n ceann bhar a mhadadh alluidh.
Io6 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
" 0 !" ars' am madadh ruadh, " 'S fhada o' n a chuala mi e. B' fliearr learn a bhith a' m' chleireach na 'bhitli leubhadh leabhair."
Dh' fhalbh e dachaidh, 's cha robh am madadh alluidh a cur dragh air tuilleadh.
LXVI.
AM MADADH EUADH 'S AM BONNACH BEAG.
Bha 'm madadh ruadh uair a dol thar loch, 's choinnich bonnach beag
e, 's dh' fhoighnichd am madadh ruadh dheth cait an robh e a' dol.
Dh' innis am bonnach beag gu 'n robh e'dol a leithid seo de dh' kite.
" "S CO as thainig thu V" ars' am madadh ruadh.
" Thainig mi a Giogan 's thaiuig mi a Cuaigean, 's thanaig mi a leac nam bonnach, 's thainig mi a suil na brathan, 's thig mi uaitse ma dh' fhaudas uii." Ars' am bonnach beag.
" Mata bheir mi fhein a null air mo mhuin thu," ars' am madadh ruadh.
" Ithidh tu mi, ithidh tu mi," ars' am bonnach beag.
" Thalia air barr m' urbaill mata," ai's' am madadh ruadh.
" O cha d' theid, ithidh tu mi," ars' am bonnach beag.
" Thalia nam chluais," ars' am madadh ruadh.
" Cha d" theid ; ithidh tu mi," ars' am bonnach beag.
"Thalia nam' bheul," ars' am madadh ruadh.
" Ithidh tu mi n' uair sin co-dhiu," ars' am bonnach beag.
" Od cha 'n ith," ars' am madadh ruadh ; " nuair a bhics rai a snamh cha n' urrainn mi rud sam bith itheadh " Dh' fhalbh e 'na bheul.
" 0 ho !" ars' am madadh ruadh, " faodaidh mi mo thoil fhein a dheanadh riut a nis. 'S fliada o 'n a chualas e. 'S math greim cruaidh am beul a ghoile."
Dh' ith am madadh ruadh am bonnach. Rainig e, 'n seo, taigh duine uasail, 's chaidh e gu loch, 's rug e air tunnag a bh' ann, s' dh' ith e.
Chaidh e suas air taobh cnoic, 's thoisich e air a bhlianadh fhein air a chnoc.
"A righ! 's gasda a sgailceadh am peilear air mo bhroinn an ceart' uir," ars' esan.
" Co a bha 'ga eisdeachd ach sealgair."
" Bidh e air fheuchainn riut an ceart' air," ars' an sealgair.
" An droch comhdhail air an ait a th' ann," ars' am niadadb ruadh.
" Nach eil a chridhe aig neach facal a radh am beadradh nach b. air a ghabhail an d'ar righribh."
Chuir a sealgair peilear 's a' ghunna, 's loisg e air, 's mharbh e e.
CAOL REIDHINN. IO7
Tlie following two stories, LXYII. and LXYIII., were got in Islay from an old man, whose name has not been sent to me. They were written hy Mr. Carmichael, an enthusiastic Highlander, and a good Gaelic scholar, who was stationed in Islay in July 1860, and is now, 18G1, at Carbost in Skye.
The main incidents of these stories are quoted in the introduction, as known in the Isle of Man.
The Feinn (Fane) are here found in the spot where the Lay of Diarmaid left them, stationed near the old " Pictish towers," opposite to the Isle of Skye, and they next appear in Islay where the forging of Fionn's sword, " the Son of Luinne," is a well-known legend. The incidents are told in the Isle of Man of a baron, and the scene is partly Drontheim. Fionn's patrony- mic, by a change from the common spelling wliich hardly changes the sound, here becomes MacDugald, or the son of Black and White ; another slight change would make it MacDonald. And thus the most nume- rous clans of the West Highlands, the MacDonalds, MacDugalds, and Campbells, seem aU to have some- tliing to do with MacCumlial and his men, who may have been Lish warriors, or Celtic gods, nevertheless ; for nearly all these AYest country traditions point back to Eirinn ; and the deeds of the Feinn are not always those of mortal men.
There is a curious p)oem of twenty-six verses about the smithy " Ceardach ]\IhicLuin," in Gillie's Collec- tion, 1787, p. 233. Several of the phrases in the story are in the poem, and the incidents are much the same. I have often heard that a number of poems were collected in Islay by a minister, and published, and verses about the forging of Fionn's sword are still repeated there. Probably the poem is the one of which I have heard.
;o8
WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
LXVIL CAOL EEIDHINK.
Why the Name was Given to it.
From Mr. Carmicbael (excise officer), Islay.
r\^ a certain time, when the Feinn had come home ^^ from the chase to the house of Farabhuil, at the foot of Farabhein in Ardnamurachan, they were much astonished to find tlieir wives so histy, fair, and comely ; for the chase was very scarce at the time with tlie Feinn.
The Feinn determined that they would know what their wives were getting to make them thus