% Cornell University M Library The original of tliis book is in tlie Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924080788577 In compliance wiih current copyright law, Cornell University Library produced this replacement volume on paper that meets the ANSI Standard Z39.48-1992 to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. 1997 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN 1891 BY HENRY WILLIAMS SAGE POPULAR TALES THE WEST HIGHLANDS POPULAR TALES OF THE WEST HIGHLANDS ORALLY COLLECTED By the Late J. F. CAMPBELL NEW EDITION ( Under the auspices of the Islay Association) Volume IIL ALEXANDER GARDNER ^uliltsi)« to Wc iWaffatp «)f ©tuctn PAISLEY; AND 26 PATERNOSTER SQUARE, LONDON 1892 CONTENTS. CONTENTS. NAME. Told by LVIII. LIX. LX. LXI. 1. 2. 3. 4. LXII. Lxni. LXIV. LXV. LXVI. THE RIDER OP GRIAN- AIG, AND IAIN THE SOLDIER'S SON. Nollaig Fhiorraohd Fhuarrachd, etc. Ceap Godar Leum Tom Luaoharaoh Fo Gheasan Gaelic FIONN'S QUESTIONS ... DIARMAID AND GRAINNE. Gaelic THE LAY OF DIAR- MAID. Gaelic The Lay of Yeearmaid Gaelic The Boar of Ben Laighal. . . . Fables HOW THE FOX TOOK A TURN OUT OF THE GOAT Gaelic HOWTHE COCK TOOK A TURN OUT OF THE FOX Gaelic THE HEN Gaelic THE KEG OP BUTTER... Gaelic THE FOX AND THE LITTLE BONNACH Gaelic Donald MacNiven, earlier.. Donald MacPhie, smith Alexander MacaJister.... Mrs. MacTavish Janet Currie Hector Boyd Do. Do. Do. . Do. CONTENTS. Date. Place. COLLBCTOE. Page July 1859 Bowmore, May Hector Mac Lean ... 9 27 28 28 29. 29 30 30 31 31 32 October 1860 July 1859 Barra 4fi 49 Bowmore, Islay 55 Nov. 1859 60 Sept. 1860 Stoneybridge, S. Uist. . 64 60 87 74 75 92 102 Barra 103 114 Sept. 1860 105 114 October 1860 ICO 1)5 Sept. 1860 Castle Bay, Barra 108 116 Do. 112 118 CONTENTS. NAME. Told by LXVII. CAOL REIDHINN Gaelic LXVIII Gaelic LXIX. THOMAS OF THE THUMB. Gaelic LXX. THE BULLS Gaelic LXXI. THE HOODIE CATE- CHISING THE YOUNG ONE. G aelic LXXII. THE HOODIE AND THE FOX. Gaelic LXXIII. THE YELLOW MUIL- EARTEACH. Gaelic Notes LXXIV. THE STORY. OF THE LAY OF THE GREAT FOOL The Lay of the Great Fool Gaelic LXXV. GUAIGEAN LADH- RACH 'S LOIREAN SPAGACH. Notes LXXVI. CONALL 6ULBAN ; ok GUILBEINACH, or GUL- BAIRNEACH. Notes LXXVII. JOHN, SON OF THE KING OF BERGEN. Gaelic Alexander Carmichael, Esq. excise oflSoer Catherine Maofarlane John Dewar John MacArthur, shepherd,, Angus MacDonald.. Kate MacFarlane., John Dewar . Angus Mackinnon, tailor.. CONTENTS. Date. Place. Collector. Page July 1860 Port Charlotte, Islay.. 120 123 122 125 1809 127 129 Nov. 1860 131 132 133 134 134 135 Sept. 1860 Staoine-breac, S. Uist 136 137 156 Sept. 1860 Stoneybridge, S. Uist 160 168 169 October 1860 194 198 J. F. C 199 295 Dallabrog, South Uist 298 ..,- 299 CONTENTS. NAME. Told by 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 John Dewar . Donald MacPhie . LXXXIII. THE EEASON WHY THE DALLAG (DOG- FISH) IS CALLED THE KING'S FISH. The Lay of Magnus Notes LXXXIV. MANUS. Gaelic Notes LXXXV. THE SONG OF THE SMITHY. Gaelic Duan iia Ceardach, etc LXXXVI. NIGHEAN RIGH FO THUINN. Donald MacPhie, smith, and others. Angus MacDonald. Angus MacKinnon . Donald MacPhie. Do. Malcolm MacPhail Roderick MacLean, tailor. . CONTENTS. Date. Place. Collector. Pacse 304 .S07 October 1860 Breubhaig, Barra 309 310 311 Breubhaig, Barra 320 321 Sept. 1860 Stoneybridge, S. Uist 348 357 South Uist 361 363 366 lochdar. South Uist... 367 386 394 Breubhaig, Barra 396 Scanastle, Islay 397 408 Ken Tangval, Barra. . . 4-21 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. Frontispiece. — "Lad with the Dress of Skins." 1. Sketch from a Stone at Elgin 44 2. Sketch from a Stone in the Churchyard of St. Vigeans, near Arbroath 59 3. Wolf.— From a Stone at St. Andrews 108 4. Fox, Huntsman, and Falcon. — From a Stone at Shandwick 112 5. Sketch from a Stone at Inverness 130 6. Harper. — From a Stone at Monifeith 136 7. Sketch from a Stone Coffin at Govan 137 8. Deer and Hound. — From a Stone at Kirriemuir 168 9. Elk.— From a Stone in the Churchyard of Meigle 169 10. Ox. — From a Stone at Fowlis Wester, near Crieff 194 11. Sketch from a Stone in the Cemetery of Inch Brayoc, in the South Esk 220 12. Bard. — From a Cross near Dupplin 246 13. Sketch from a curious Cross near Dupplin Castle 257 14. Hounds and Huntsmen, Ornaments and Charac- teristic Symbol 303 15. Fish, with some Characteristic Ornaments 356 16. Manus 365 17. Sketch from a Stone in the Churchyard of St. Vigeans 379 POPULAR TALES OF THE WEST HIGHLANDS. LVII. THE RIDER OF GRIANAlG.i AND IAIN THE SOLDIER'S SON. From Donald MaeNiven, a lame carrier. Bowmore, Islay, 5th July, 1S59. Written down by Hector MacLean. TIHE knight of Grianiag had three daughters, such -^ that their like were not to be 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 three sons, and at the time of Christmas ^ they were playing at shinny, and the youngest 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 would 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 3 I 10 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 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 thing that was bringing the loss of his children 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,3 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 6'ver them. THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 11 " 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.'' " What means are there to get where they are 1 " "There are no means but to go up in this creel against the face of the rock." 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 upon him with his claws, and his wings till he almost left him 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. When 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 be blinded here." He was set up to the top of the rock. When he was up the raven came where he was, and he said to him. " Wilt thou give me a quid of tobacco 1"^ " Thou high-priced rogue ! little claim hast thou on me for giving that to thee." " Never thou mind that, 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. 12 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. "What brought thee here 1 " said she. " What brought thyself into it that I might not come into it." " I was brought here in spite of me." " I know that. Where is the giant 1 " " He is in the hunting hill." " What means to get him home ? " " 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 Albainn, and he is but 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 went. 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 link 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 son from Albainn, and he is but sixteen years of age ; he is too young yet 1" The giant put the game on a withy, and home he came. "Art though young Iain the soldier's son, from Albainn ? " " 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 ? " " There is many a one in Albainn as strong as young THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 13 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 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 went before each other again. They were twisting and hauling each other. 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 him. " 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 knife which I have for gathering briar-buds, and take the head off him." He put his hand under the raven's right wing and he found the knife, and he took the head off the giant. " Now Iain thou shalt go in where is the big daughter of the knight of Grianaig, and she will be asking thee 14 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 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 will give that to thee indeed ; well hast thou earned it. Thou shalt have half of all I have." " I will not. There's many a long day to Bealtain." " The 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 ; get warm water, clean thyself in it ; thou 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) weeping, and her thimble wet Avith her tears. " What brought thee here 1" " What brought thyself 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 1 " " I have but one night till I must be married to the giant." THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 15 " Where is the giant 1" " He is in the hunting hill." " What means to get him home 1" " To shake that battle chain without at the side of the house, and he is not in the leeward nor in the wind- ward, 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." " There are men in Albainn as strong as young Iain the soldier's son, though the soldier should be with him." He went out, and he gave a haul at the chain, and he came upon his two knees. He rose up and gave the next haul at it, and he broke three links in it. The giant heard that in the hunting hill. " Aha ! " said he, and he put the game on a withy on his shoulder, and home he came. " Who 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 j'our prophesyings." " In what way wouldst thou rather try thyself 1" " In hard hugs of wrestling." 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." They tried each other again, and Iain struck his heel on the giant in the ankle, and he set him on the thews of his back on the ground. 16 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " 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 with his wings. " Hast thou a nail of a weapon 1 " " 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 him." He put his 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 thyself, thou shalt go to bed, and thou wilt 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 Avhich was the little daughter of the knight ; he went in and he saw her sewing, and her thimble wet with tears. "What brought thee here V THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 17 " What brought thyself into it that I might not come into it ? " " I was brought into it in spite of me." " I know that." "Art thou young Iain the soldier's son, from Albainn ? " " I am ; what is the reason that thou art weeping 1" " I have but this night of delay without marrjnng the giant." " Where is he 1 " " He is in the hunting hill." " What means to bring him home ?" " To shake that battle chain without." He went out, and he gave a shake at the chain and down he came on his hurdies. 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 1 " He came home in his might, making the earth tremble before him and behind him. " Art thou young Iain the soldier's son ? " "Not I." " Who art thou in the leeward, or in the windward, 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 18 WEST HIGHLAKD TALES. 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 ? " "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 ankle, and he laid him on the shower top of his shoulder, and on the thews of his back on the ground. " Stumpy black raven, 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 1 " " 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. " Now," 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 quid ; there is many a long day to Bealtain." THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 19 " The fortune will not let me be here till Bealtain.'' " Thou hast knowledge of what is behind thee, but thou hast no knowledge what is before thee." On 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 come 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 " (diamond) ; caps that were made in the Roimh (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 waiting 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 1 " " 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 give me a quid of tobacco." " I will give it." " Thou shalt reach the giant's house, and thou shalt stay there this night." " Wilt thou not stay with me thyself to keep off my dullness ? " " I will not stay : it is not suitable for me." On the morrow came the raven where he was. 20 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " 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." 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 hurdles 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 him on a board on his mouth and nose, he went out and he gathered plants, and he made ointments that he set upon him, and in ten daj's 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 THE RIDER OF GRIANAI6. 21 see about the island, and thou shalt give me a quid of tobacco." He was walking 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 lasting sound sleep, and a bath of sweat. " It seems to me that this is pitiable. What harm to lift the spears from 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 this 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 and when he went in there was a hag there seated, and the tooth that was the least in her mouth would make a knitting pin in her lap, a staff in her hand, and a stir- ring stick for the embers. There was a turn of her nails about her elbows, and a twist 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 returning. " 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 him 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 blind and deafen him. 22 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. He struck the point of his foot on her and drove the brain out of her. He turned to the carlin. " 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 living water out of it, and when thou rubbest it upon them the spells will 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 her in for thee, but do not thou let them. Say that 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 put 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 back to shore, and she went in her might till they reached the island of big women. When he went on shore sixteen stable lads met him and every one of them asking to set her in and feed her. " I myself will 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 THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 23 they would be offering him every sort of drink, but that he should not take any drink from them but whey and water. He went in and everj^ sort of drink was 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. The 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. When 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. " Thou 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 corner of the chamber, and he took out the sixteen heads. He reached the well, he filled a bottle and he returned. The 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 him. " Thou 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 Avith me to-night to drive off my dullness from me 1 " "I will not come ; it will not answer for'me." 24 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Oq 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 SHLAINTE 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 scattered 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 with thee the steed to which sea and shore are alike. 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 will be at thee." " If any one asks thee from whence thou camest, say that thou camest out from behind 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 gave 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. * Here the narrator has 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. ^.- THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 25 and a well of water, and a bush of rushes, ^ and he got off the steed. "Now,'' 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 oif her with a scutching blow, and he left the head and the carcass there. He went on forwards and a carlin met him. " From whence didst thou come ? " said she. " I am from behind me." "Whither art thou going ? " " I am going before me." " 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?" " 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 like 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 heip me to 3 2 26 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. make a cap for the knight's young daughter, and she going to marry." " Dost thou not know that 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 smithj', 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 with him. " Thou shalt take the head off me now." " It were sorrow for me to do that, and it would not be my thanks." " Thou must do it. A young lad under spells am I, and they will not be off me till the head comes off me." He drew his sword, and he scutched his 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. "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 young woman met them there as lovely as eye ever saw. " I," said she, " am the steed, and the spells are off me now." The smith went with the cap to the house of the knight. The servant maid betook herself to the knight's young daughter, 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 EIDER OF GRIANAIG. 27 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 could not get the other sisters. They were driven away through the town with stick swords 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- Arthui-, 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 driving 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. RiDiRE Ghrianaig. The word Ridire, as explained elsewhere, now means a knight, but it probably meant a minor king in the olden time. Ghrianaig is the genitive of Grianag, which has been corrupted into Greenock. The town is called by its Gaelic name throughout the Highlands. It is derived from Grian the sun, pronounced GreeAn, which is probably the root of many names which 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 knight of Greenock, the knight of the sun, or the Ritter of Sunnynojok, but act- 28 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. ing on the principle with which I set out, I give the knight his 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, nodhlag ; Manks, iioUick ; Breton, nadolig. The Highland customs which 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 rewarded with food. I hope some day to be in a position to say more about these old Christmas customs ; they are mentioned in Chambers's nursery rhymes. The game of shinny is usually played at this season, and the great game used to come off on the day of the great " Nollaig," New Year's day, old style. The game is played in all parts of the United Kingdom as " hocky," "hurling," etc., and something like it is still played in the far east on horseback. To drive the ball from one goal to the 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 High- lands hundreds used to be engaged, all excited to a degree that those who have been at a public school, or who have read Tom Brown's account of football, may perhaps understand. 3. Fhiorraghd, Fhuarrachd, etc. This 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 anywhere.'' THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 29 May they not be corrupt forms of iochdrachd and UACHDRACHD, it is not in the higher or lower regions. I have given a different rendering ; I have heard very similar words used by boatmen for beating to windward and running to leeward, and veering is an English sailor's word still. Eannan is used for ramnean, divisions, in this tale. This form of the word in this sense is obsolete in Islay, and I suspect elsewhere. It now signifies verse, which is no doubt so called from being divided into lines and stanzas. We still use it in the genitive, thus. An Eainn, the Ehynns; Ceann shios na Eanna, the farthest down part of the Ehynns; An rugha Eannach. — H. M'L. 4. The raven attacking the man in the basket might be a picture 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-ha.wks, terns, and other birds stooping viciously at men who had gone near 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 : — " AVhich finger shall I raise ?" " Hast thou tobacco 1" "No; which finger shall I lift?" "Hast thou got tobacco 1 " " No." " Then lift and lay them down as it may please thyself." There is a hungering after tobacco amongst those who are given to it, and cannot get it, which must be felt to be understood? 30 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 6. Cbap may have been substituted for currachd, a cap, wbich 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 ceap, and on being interrogated, ex- plained that this was a kind of head-dress used for ■punishment or torture, in which the head of the victim was fastened. Such -head-dresses, made of rusty iron, may be seen in museums, and ceap may have meant something like a helmet, whose machinery bears some resemblance to a rat-trap. 7. GODARLEUM (page 31). — This is a new word to 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. Godadh is a quick, somewhat violent shake of the head. I find the reciters at Bowmore 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, MacMven alternately used foresman 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 impression that I have heard of it elsewhere. — J. F. C. THE RIDER OF GRIANAIG. 31 8. Tom luagharach, a bush of rushes, perhaps a rushy knoll. 9. Fo GHEASAN. Irish writers who take the historical view of these traditions, translate geasa by vow or promise. This seems to fix the meaning at ]viagic. I have translated this passage as literally as my knowledge of the two languages enables me to do it, because the language, which is simply 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 from their bodies. In English it is said, " I 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 DRAOlDH-eachd(?), druid-ism, magic, and a transformation is effected by steel at a ■well, in a grass meadow, near a rushj JcnoU, 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 with druidism, 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 anything 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 this tale are very near to the English, LENA, lawn ; GRUND, ground ; SGIOBAIR, skipper ; PEANAS, penalty; BLAST ADH, corrup- 32 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. tion for blasting ; sail, heel. Spaisdeaie-ACHD is not in English, but it has relations in Italian, andar a spasso, and in Norse and German, spazieren. The incidents may be compared with those in the Big Bird Dan, Norse Tales, page 442 ; the King of Lochlin's Three Daughters, vol. i., page 236 ; but though these have much in common, I knove nothing quite like this story anywhere. To me it suggests a succession of vivid pictures, perhaps because I understand the intention of the narrator from my knowledge of the landscapes which he clearly had before his mind.] RIDIRE GHKIANAIG. Bha aig Eidire Ghrianaig (1) tri nigheanan, nach robh 'n leithid ra fhaotainn, iia ra fhaicinn an aite sam bith. Thainig beisd o'n chuan, 's thug i leatb.' eud, 's clia robh fios de 'n rathad a ghabh eud, na cait an racht' a 'n iarraidh. Bha saighdear anus a bhaile, 's bha tri mic aige, 's an am na Nollaig (2) bha eud aig iomaiu, 's thuirt am fear a b-oige gun vach- adh eud agus gun cuireadh eud bair, air leuna ridire Ghrianaig. Thuirt each nach raohadh, nach biodh an ridire toilichte, gun biodh siod a toirt na chuimhne call a chloinne, 's a cuir duilichinn air. " Biodh sinn 's a roghainn da," urs' Iain am mac a b-oige, " aoh 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 a mach air uinneig, 's chunnaic e eud aig iomain, 's ghabh e corruich 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 raiothlachd 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 rachadh peanas a dheanadh orra. " Chaidh na triuir ghillean a thoirt an Jathair an ridire, 's bha eud nan gillean gasda. RIDIRE GHRIANAIG. 33 " De thug dhiubh," urs' an ridire, " bhl cho miobhail 's dol a dh' ioinain air a gbrunnd agams', toirt call mo cbloinne 'm chuimbne ! Feumaidh aibh peanas fhuileann air a shonn.'' " Oha n ann mur sin a bhitbeas," urs' Iain, " ach o'n tbuit duinue tigb 'n eearr ort, 's fhearra dbuit fardraoh de long a dheanadb dhuinn, agus folbbaidh sinn a db' iarraidh do nigh- eanan ; 's ma tha eud fo 'n fbiorracbd na fo 'n fhuarraobd, na fo cheithir rannan ruagb' an dombain, (3) gbeobb sinn' a macb eud, ma 'n d' tbig ceaun lath' a. 's bliadhna, 's bheir sinn air an ais eud do Gbrianaig." " Gad is tu 's oige, 's ann a 'd cbeann a tba chombairl' a 's fbearr. Bidb sinn air a dbeanadb dbuibb." Pbuaireadb saoir, 's bba long air a deanadb ann an seaobd latban. Cbuir eud a stigb biadh is deocb mar db' fheumadb eud airson an turais. Tbug eud a b-agbaidb ri muir, 's a cul ri tir, 's db' fholbb eud 's ann an seaebd laitbeau rainig eud traigb gbeal gbainbbeicb, agus nur a cbaidb eud air tir bba se fir dbeug ag obair ann an aodann creige blastadb, 's uacbdaran orra. " De 'n t-aite tba 'n so ? " ursa 'n sgiobair. " So 'n t-aite bbeil clanu ridire Gbrianaig. Tba eud ri bbi posd' air tri f amhairean. " "De 'n doigb air faotainn far a bbeil eud ? " " Cba 'n 'eil doigb sam bitb acb dol suas anns a cbliabb so ri aodann na creige. " Cbaidb am mao a bu sbine anns a cbliabb, 's nur a bba e sbuas aig leitb na creige tbainig fitbeaob gearr dugb, 's tboisicb e air le a inean, 's le a sgiatban, gus nacb mor nach d' fbag e dall bodbar e. (4) Cba robb aig acb tilleadb air ais. Cbaidb an darna fear sa cbliabb, 's nur a bba e sbuas leitb an ratbaid, tbainigb am fitheach gearr dugb 's tboisicb e air, 's cba robb aig acb tilleadb air ais mur a rinn am fear eile. Cbaidb Iain ma dheireadb sa cliabb. Nur a bba e sbuas leitb an ratbaid, tbainig am fitbeaob gearr dugb, 's tboisicb e air, 's gbread e ma 'n aodann. "Suas mi gu clis," urs' esan, " ma 'm bi mi dall an so. " Chuireadb a suas e gu braigh na creige. Nur a bba e sbuas tbainig am fitbeaob far an robb e, 's thuirt e ris. " An d' thoir tbu dbomh greim tbombaca ? " " A dbaoar shlaigbtire ! 's beag comain agad orm airson sin a tboirt duit." " Na biodb amhail agad da sin bidb mise 'm''cbaraid math 34 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. dhuit. Nis theid thu do thigh an fhamhair mhoir, 's chi thu nighean an ridire fuaghal, 'a 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 fhaodainnsa 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 fhaotainn dachaidh ? " " An t-slabkraidh chorahrag ud a mach a chrathadh 's cha n 'eil san fhiorrachd, na 's an fhuarrachd, na 'n ceithir rannan ruagh' an domhain, h-aon a chumas comhrag ris, ach Iain og Mao an t-Saighdeir, » Albainn, 's cha n 'eil e ach se bliadhn' deug a dh' aois 's tha e tuillidh a 's og a dhol 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." Chaidh e mach. Thug e tarruiun 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-slabhraidh, 's bhrisd e tein' innte. Chual am famhair sa bheinn sheilg e. " Aha ! " urs' esan, " co b-urrainn mo shlabhraidh chomhraigs' a charachadh, ach Iain og Mac an t saighdeir e Albainn, 's cha n 'eil e ach se bliadhn' deug a dh' aois, tha e ra og fhathasd. " Chuir am famhair an t-sitheann air gad, 's thainig e dhachaidb. " An tuasa Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir a Albainn ? " " Cha mhi." " Co thu, san fhiorrachd, na san fhuarrachd, na 'n ceithir ranna ruagh' an domhain, a b' urrainn mo shlabhraidhs' char- achadh ach Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir a Albainn ? " " Tha iomadh h-aon an Albainn, cho laidir ri Iain og Mac an t-saighdear, ged a bhiodh an saighdear leis. " ' ' Tha siod san f haidheadairachd agamsa. " " Coma leam de tha san fhaidheadaireachd agadsa.'' " De 'n doigh air am math leat thu f h^' f heuchainn ? " " Nur a bhithinn fhe 's mo mhathair thar a cheile, 's a bhiodh toil agam mo thoil fhe fhaotainn ; 's ann an snaomannan cruaidhe carachd a bhitheamaid a feuchainn, 's aon uair a gheobhadh i chuid a b' fhearr, 's da uair nach fhaigheadh.'^'^ RIDIRE GHEIANAIG. 35 Rug eud air a cheile, 's bha greimeannan cruaidh' aca, 's chuir am fanihair Iain air a ghlun. " Tha mi faicinn,'' urs' Iain, " gur tu 's laidireacha." " Tha fios gur mi," urs' am famhair. Chaidh eud an dail a cheile rithisd, bha eud a caradh, 'a a tarruinn a cheile. Bhuail Iain a chas air an fhamhair sa mhuth- airle, 's chuir e air slaitidh a, dhroma, foidhe air a ghrunnd e. Ghuidh e gum biodh am fitheaoh aige. Thainig am fitheach gearr dugh, 's ghabh do 'n fhamhair 's an aodaun, 's ma na cluasan, le a inean, 's le a sgiathan, gus an do dhall, 'a an do bhodhair e e. " Am bheil tarruuu airm agad a bheir an ceann de 'n bheisd ? " " Cha n 'eil." " Cuir do lamh fo m' sgeith dheis-sa, 's gheobh thu core bheag bhiorach ann, a bhios agam a buain nam braonanan, 's thoir an ceann deth." Chuir e lamh fo bhun sgeith' dheia an fhithich 'a fhuair e chore 's thug e 'n ceann de 'n fhamhair. " Nis lain theid thu atigh far » bheil nighean mhor ridire Ghrianaig 's bidh i 'g iarraidh ort tilleadh, 's gun dol na 's fhaide, ach na d' thoir thusa feairt, ach gabh air t-aghaidh, 's ruigidh thu 'n nighean mheadhouach, 's bheir thu dhomhaa greim thombaoa." " Bheir mi sin duit gu dearbh 's math a choisinn thu u, gheobh thu leith 'a na th' agam." " Cha 'n fhaigh gu dearbh ; 'a iomadh la fada gu bealtainn. " " Cha lig am fortan gam bi mis' an so gu Bealtainn." Tha fids agad air na tha aeachad, ach cha 'n 'eil fibs agad air na tha romhad. Faigh uisge blath, glann thu feiu ann. Gheobh thu ballan iocshlaint as cionn an doruisd, rub ri 'd chraiceanu e, theirig a laidhe leat fhe', 'a bidh thu gu slan fallan am maireaoh, 's am maireach gabhaidh tu air t-aghaidh gu tigh na h-ath te. Chaidh e stigh 's rinn e mar a dh' iarr am fitheach air. Chaidh e laidhe 'n oidhche sin, 'a bha e gu slau fallain, sa mhaidinn, nur a dh' eiridh e. " 'S fhearra dhuit," ursa nighean mhor an ridire, " gun dol na 's fhaide, 'a gun thu fh^' chur an tuillidh cunnairt, tha na leoir de dh' or 'a de' dh' airgiod an so, 'a bheir sinne leinn 's tillidh sinn." " Cha dean mi sin," ura' eaan, "gabhaidh mi air m' aghaidh." Ghabh e air aghaidh gua an d' thainige gua an tigh an robh nighean mheadbonach ridire Ghrianaig. Chaidh e atigh, 's bha ise na auidhe fuaghal, 's i caoineadh, 'a a meuranfliuch le a deoir. " De thug thusa 'n ao ? " 36 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " De thug thu fhe ann nach fhaodainnsa tigh 'n ann ? " " Thugadh mise gun taing ann." " Tha fiosam air an sin, de chuir a caoineadh thu ? " "Cba 'n 'eil ach aon oidhch' agam gus am feum mi bhi posd' air an fhamhair. " Ca bheil am famhair ? " Tha 's a, bheinn sheilg." "De n doigh air fhaotainu dhachaidh?" "An t-slabhraidh chomhraig sinn a, mach taobh an tigh chrathadh, 's cha n 'eil e 's an fhiorrachd, na san fhuarrachd, na 'u ceithir rannan ruagh an domhain, na chrathas i, ach Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir a Albainn, 's tha e ra og fhathasd ; cha 'n 'eil e ach se bliadhna deug a dh' aois." " Tha daoin' ann an Albainn, oho laidir ri Iain og Mac an t- saighdear, gad a bhiodh an saighdear leis." Chaidh e mach 's thug e tarruinn air an t-slabhraidh, 's thainig e air a dha ghlun. Dh' eiridh e 's thug e u' ath tarruinn urra, 's bhrisd e tri teineachanan. Chual am famhair siod 'sa beiun sheilg. "Aha!" urs esan, 's chuir e 'n t-sitheann air gad air a ghuallainn, 's thainig e dhachaidh. " Co b' urrainu 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." " Tha siod anns an fhaidheadaireachd againne. " " Tha mise coma de th' anns an fhaidheadaireachd aghaibhse." "De 'n doigh air am math leat thu fein fheuchainn?" "Ann an cruaidh ghreimeannan carachd." Eug 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. Feuchamaid car eile." Dh' fheuch eud a cheile rithisd 's bhual Iain a shkii air an fhamhair sa mhuthairle '» chuir e air slaitidh a dhrom' air ghrunnd e. " Fhithich," urs' esan, " bu math dallanach dhiot a nis." Thainig 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 dheis-sa, 's gheobh thu ann RIDIRE GHRIANAIG. 37 core bheag bhiorach a bhibs agam a buain nam braouanan, 's thoir an ceann deth." Chuir e lamh fo bbun sgeithe dheia an fhithich, f huair e chore, 's thug e 'n ceann de 'n fhamhair. "Nistheid thu stigh, glanaidh thu thu fein le uisge blath, gheobh thu 'm ballan ioohslaint, rubaidh tu ruit ibi e, theid thu laidhe, 's bidh thu gu slan fallan am maireach. Bidh i so gun taing, na 's seoltacha, 's na, 's beulaiche, na bha 'n te roimhid, aig iarraidh ort tilleadh, 's gun dol na 's fhaide, ach na d' thobhair thusa feairt urra, 's bheir thu dhomhsa greim thombaoa. *' "Bheithir mi, dearbh 's airidh air thu.'' Chaidh e stigh 's rinn mar a dh' iarr am fitheach air. Nur a dh' eiridh e 'n la'r na mhaireaoh bha e gu slan fallan. " 'S f hearra dhuit ursa nighean mheadonaoh an ridire, tilleadh 's gun thu fh6 ehur ann an tuillidh eunnairt, 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 anna an robh nighean bheag an ridire, chaidh e stigh, 's channaic e ise fuaghal 's a meuran fliuch le deoir. " De thug thusa 'n so ? " " De thug thu fhe' ann nach fhaotainnsa tigh'n ann ? " '"Thugadh mis' ann gun taing." " Tha fhios'am air an sin." "An tu Iain eg Mac an t-saighdeir a Albainn ? " " 'S mi, de 's ciall duit a bhi caoineadh ? " ' ' Cha n 'eil agam dkil gun laidhe leis an fhamhair, ach an oidhche so." "Cabheile?" " Tha e 'sa bheinn sheilg." " De 'n doigh an' air a thoirt daohaidh ?" " An t-slabhraidh chomhraig ud a mach a chrathadh." Chaidh e mach 's thug e crathadh urra, 's thainig e uuas air a mhasan. Dh' eirid e rithisd 's thug e 'n ath chrathadh urra '3 bhrisd e eeithir teineachan innte, 's rinn e toirm mhor. Chual am famhair siud sa bheinn sheilg. Chuir p 'n gad sithinn air a ghuallainn. "Co 's an fhiarraehd, na san fhuarrachd, na 'n eeithir rannan ruagh an domhain a b' urrainn mo shlabhraidh chomhragsa chrathadh, ach Iain og, Mac an t-saighdeir a Albainn, 's ma 's e th' ann tha mo dha bhrathairsa marbh roimhe so.-" 38 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Thainig e dhachaidk na dheann, a cuir an talamh air chrith roimhe 's na dheigh. ■' An tu Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir 1 " "Chamhi." "Co tha san fhiorrachd, na san fhuarrachd na 'n ceithir rannan ruagh' an domhain, a b' urrainu mo shlabhraidh chomhragsa chrathadh ach Iain og Mao an t-saighdeir a Albainn 's tha e ra og fhathasd ; cha n 'eil e ach se bliadhn' deug a dh' aois. " " Naoh iomadh h-aou an Albainn oho laidir ri Iain og Mac an t-saighdeir, gad a bhiodh an saighdeir leia.'' " Cha n 'eil e san fhaidheadaireachd againne." " Coma learn de tha san fhaidheadaireachd aghaibhse." "De n doigh air am math leat t-fheuchainn ?" " Snaomannan cruaidhe caraohd." Ghlac eud a cheile 's chuir am famhair air a thoin e. " Lig as mi 's leat mo bheatha.'' Rug eud air a cheile rithisd, bhuail e shail air an fhamhair sa mhuthairle, 's leag e air e fras mhullaoh a ghuaille 's air slaitith a dhrom' air an lar e. " Fhithioh ghearr dhuigh, na'm biodh thu 'n so anis." Cha bu luaithe 'thuirt e 'm facal, na thainig am fitheaoh. Leadair e 'm famhair ma 'n aodann, 's ma na suilean, 's ma na cluasan, le a gliob, 's le a iuean, 's le a sgiathan, " A bheil tarrunn airm agad." " Cha n 'eil." " Cuir do lamh fo bhun mo sgeitli dheis 's gheobh thu ooro bheag bhiorach ann a bhios agam a buain nam braoilleanan 's thoir an ceann deth. " Rinu e siod. " Nis urs' am fitheach gabh f ois mar a rinn thu, 'n rair, 's nur a thilleas thu le tri nigheanan an ridire gu bearradh na creige, theid thu fh6 sios an toiseach, 's theid eudsan slos a 'd dheigh, 's blieir thu dhomhsa greim thombaoa." " Bheir gu dearbh 's math a 's airidh air thu ; so dhuit air fad e. " " Cha gabh mi ach greim, 's iomadh la fada gu Bealtainn." ' ' Tha fi6s agad de th' as do dheigh, ach cha n 'eil fios agad de tha romhad. " An la r na mhaireach chuir eud an ordugh asaicheann, 's chuir eud air am muin an t-or 's an t-airgiod a bh' aig na famhairean, 's rainig e fein agus tri nigheanan an ridire bearradh na creige. Nur a rainig eud bearradh na creige, 'n earalas gun tachradh RIDIRE GHRIANAIG. 39 tapadhoion do ghin de na nigheanan, chair e sios end te an deigh te, anns a chliabh. Bha tri ceapannan (6) oir orra air an deanadh suas gu gasda le daoimean, ceapannan a rinneadh ann 's an Roimh, 's nach robh 'n leithidean ra fhaotainn anns an domhan. Ghleidh e bhos an ceap a bh' air an te b' oige. Bha e feitheamh, 's a feitheamh, 's gad a bhiodh e feitheamh fhathasd, cha d' thigeadh an cliabh a nios a iarraidb. Chaidh each air bord, 's air folbh a ghabh eud, gus an d' rainig eud Grianaig. Bha esan air fhagail an aiod, 's gun doigh aig air faotainn as an aite. Thainig am fitheach far an robh e. " Cha do ghabh thu mo chomhairle." " Cha do ghabh ; na 'n gabhadh cha bhithinu mar a tha mi." "Cha n 'eil arach air Iain, an t-aon nach gabh comhairle gabh- aidh e comhrag. Bheir thu dhomhsa greim thombaca. " "Bheir." " Ruigidh thu tigh an fhamhair agus fanaidh thu ann an nochd." ' ' Nach fhan thu f li^ leam a chur dhiom mo chiaualais. " " Cha 'n fhan ; cha fhreagair e dhomh." "An la r na mhaireach thainig am fitheach far an robh e." *' Theid thu nis gu stabull an fhamhair, agus ma bbios thu tap- aidh tha steud an sin a 's coingeis leatha muir na tir, a dh' fhaodas do thoirt as na cisan so." Dh' fholbh eud comhla 's thainig eud gus an stabull. Stabull cloich' air a chlaghach a stigh ann an creig, agus dorusd cloiohe ris. Bha 'n dorusd a clapail gun stad, air ais 's air aghaidh, o mhooh latha gu h-oidhcbe, 's o oidhche gu latha. " Feumaidh tu nis faire, " urs' am fitheach, agus cothrom a ghabhail feuch an dean thu dheth dol a stigh nur a bhios e fosg- ailt gun e dheanadh greim ort." " 'S fhearra dhuits' fheuohaiun an toiseach o 'n a 's tu 's eolaiche.'' " Bidh e eho math." "Thug am fitheach beio, agus godarleum (7) as 's chaidh e stigh, ach thug an dorusd it' e bun a sgeith, 's sgreuch e. "Iain bhochd na 'm faigheadh thusa 'stigh cho beag doruinn riumsa, cha bhithinn a gearan." Ghabh Iain roid air ais, 's roid air aghaidh, thug e leam as a dhol a stigh, rug an dorusd air 's thug e leith a mhais deth. Ghlaoidh Iain, 's thuit e fuar raarbh air urlar an stabuiU (S). Thog am fitheach e, 's ghiulain e e air barraibh a egeith, mach as 40 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. an stabuU, do thigh an fhamhair. Leag e air bord air a bheul 's air a shroin, chaidh e mach, chruinnich e luigheannan, 's rinn e ceirean a chuir e ris, 's ann an deich Iaithean_ bha e cho matli sa bha e riabh. Chaidh e maoh a dhol a ghabhail sraid, 's chaidh am fitheaoh a mach leis. "Nis Iain gabhaidh thu mo chomhairle, 's cha ghabh thu ionghantas de ni sam bith a chi thu feadh an eilean, 's bheir thu dhomhsa greim thombaca." Bha e spaisdireachd feadh an eilein, 's a dol romh ghleann ; chunnaic e tri lau laoich na 'n sineadh air an driom, sleagh air uchd a h-uilb fir dhiu, 's e na shioram' suain chadail, 's na 16n falais. "Their learn flie gur deisneach so ; de choire a bhiodh ann 'a na sleaghannan a thogail diu ? " Chaidh e agus dh' fhuasgail e dhiu na sleaghannan. Dhuisg na laoich, 's dh' eiridh eud a suas. " Fhianuis air an fhortan, 's air dacine, gur tu Iain eg Mac an t-saighdeir a Albainn, 's gu bheil e mar gheasaibh art dol leinne romh cheann ma dheas an eilein so, seachad air uamh 'n iasgair dhuigh." Dh' fhalbh e fhe 's na tri Ian laoich, Chunnaic eud smuid chaol a mach a uamh. Chaidh eud gus an uamh. Chaidh h-aon de na laoich a stigh, 's nur a chaidh e stigh bha cailleach an sin na suidhe, 's an fhiacaill a bu lugha na beul dheauadh i dealg na h-uchd, lorg na laimh, agus maido brosnachaidh do 'n ghriosaich. Bha car da h-inean ma h-uilt, 's car da fait liath ma lagharan, 's cha robh i aobhach ri amhrac urra. Rug i air slachdan draoidheachd, bhuail i e 's rinn i carragh maoi cloiche dheth. Bha ionghantas air an fheadbain a bha mach de chuir nach robh e tilleadh. "Theirig a stigh,'' urs Iain ri fear eile, " 's aimhric 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 stigh 's rinn i airsau mar a rinn i air each. Chaidh Iain a stigh ma dheireadh. Bha cat mor claghaun ruagh an sin, 's chuir i bara de 'n luaith dhearg ma cloimhe an los a bhodhradh sa dhalladh. Bhuail e barr a chois urra, 's chuir en t-ionachainn aisde. Thug e lamh air a chaillich. " Iain na dean. Tha na daoine sin fo gheasaibh agus airsou na geasan a chur dhiu feumaidh tu dol do dh' eilean nam ban RIDIRE GHRIANAIG. 41 mora, 's botall de 'n uisge bheo, thoirt as, 's nur a rubas thu riu €, folbhaidh na geasau 's thig eud beo." Thill Iain air ais fo dhuib thiamhas. "Chado ghabh thu mo chomhairle," urs' am 6theach, " 's thug thu tuillidh dragh ort fein. Theid thu laidhe nochd, 's nur a dh' eireas thu maireach, bheir thu leat an steud, 's bheir thu biadh is deoeh dhi. 'S coingeis leatha muir na tir ; 's nur u, 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' fhagas thu san stabuU i, cuiridh a h-uile h-aon de 'n t-se deug car 'san iuchair, ach cuiridh thusa car an aghaidh h-uile car a chuireas eud anu. 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 niuir, 's a cul ri tir, 's dh' fholbh i na deann, gus an d' rainig eud eilean nam ban mora. Kur a chaidh e air tir, clioinnich se gille deug stabuill e, 's bha h-uile fear aig iarraidh a cuir a stigh s a biadh- adh. " Cuiridh mi fhe' stigh i, 's bheir mi 'n aire dhi, eha d' thoir mi do h-aou sam bith i." Chuir e stigh 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. Thtiirt an steud ris gum biodh eud a tairgse h-uile seorsa deoch dha, ach gun esan a gabhail deoch sam bith uatha ach meug a 's uisge. Chaidh e stigh 's bha h-uile seorsa deoch ga chuir 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 au do thuit eud na 'n sin- eadh, man bhord. Dh' iarr an steud airsan ma 'n do dhealaich i ris, e thoirt an aire 's gun cadal, 's a chothrom a ghabhail airson tigh 'n air folbh. Nur a chaidil eud s .an thainig e mach as an t-seumhar, 's chual « 'n aon cheol a bu bhinne chualas riabh. Ghabh e air aghaidh agns chual e ann an ait' eile ceol moran na bu bhinne. Thainig e gu taobh staighreach 's chual e ceol na bu bhinne 's na bu bhinue agus thuit e na chadal. Bhrisd an steud a mach as an stabull, thainig i far an robh e, bhuail e cic air 's dhuisg i e, " Cha do gabh thu mo chomhairl," 3 3 42 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. urs ise, '"s cha n' eil fhios a nis am faigh thu do gnothach leat na nach fhaigh." Dh' eiridh e le duilichinn. Rug e air claidh- eamh soluisd a bha 'n oisein an t-seombair, s thug e na se cinn deug a mach. Eainig e 'n tobar, lion e botall 's thill e. Choin- nich an steud e, 's thug e h-aghaidh ri muir 's a cul ri tir, 's thill e gus an eilean eile. Choinnich am fitheach e. " Folbhaidh thu agus stablachaidh thu 'n steud, 's theid thu laidhe nochd, 's am maireaoh theid thu agus bheir thu beo ua laoioh, 's marbhaidh thu cbailleach, 's na bi cho amaideach am maireach 's a bha thu roimhe so." " Nach d' thig thu leam a nochd a chur dhiom mo ohianalais." " Cha d' thig cha fhreagair e domh." An la'r na mhaireach rainig e'n uamh. "Failte dhuit Iain," urs' a cliailleach. " Failte dhuits' ach cha shlainte dhuit.'' Chrath e'n t-uisg' air na daoine, 's dh' eiridh eud beo ; bhuail e bhas air a chaillich, a's spread e 'n t-ionachainn aisde. Ghabh eud a mach, 's chaidh eud ga ceann deas an eilean. Chunnaic eud an t-iasgair dugh an sin ag obair ra chuilbheartan. Thar- ruinn e bhas 's bhuail e e, 's spread e n t-ionachainn as, 's thug e na laoich dhachaidh do cheann deas an eilean. Thainig am fitheach far an robh e. "Nis theid thu dhachaidh 's bheir thu leat an steud ; 's coin- geis leatha muir na tir. Tha tri nigheanan an ridire ri bauais a bhi aca, dithisd ri bhi posd air do dha bhrathair, agus an te eile air a cheannabhart a bh' air na daoin' aig a chreig. Fagaidh tu 'n ceap ayamsa, 's cha bhi agad ach smaointeachadh orm, nur a bhios e dhith ort, 's bidh mi agad. Ma dh' fheorachas b-aon diot CO as a thainig 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 mninn na steud, thug e h-aghaidh ri muir, 's a cul ri tir, 's air folbh a bha e 's cha d' rinneadh stad na fois leis gus an d' rainig e 'n t-sean eaglais ann an Grianaig, 's bha 16u feoir, an sin, agus tobar uisge, agus torn luchrach. Thainig e bhar na steud. " A nis," urs' an steud, "gabhaidh tu claidheamh, agus bheir thu 'n ceann diomsa." "Cha d' tbobhair gu dearbh, bu duilich leam a dheanadh, '3 cha b' e mo chomain e." "Feumaidh tu dheanadh, 's ann a th' annamsa nighean og fo RIDIKE GHRIANAIG. 43 gheasaibh, 's cha bin na geasan cihiom gus an d' thoirear an ceana diom. Bha mi fhe' sam fitheaoh a suiridh, esan na ghill' og, 's mis' am' nighinn oig, 's chuir na famhairean draoidheaohd oirnn, 's rinn eud fitheach dhethsan agu. steud dhiomsa." "Tharruinn e cMaidheamh, thionndaidh e chul, 's thug e 'n ceana dith le sgath bhuille, 's dh' fbag e 'n ceaiin sa ohlosaoh an siod. Ghabh e air aghaidh. Choinnich cailleach e. " Co as a thanaig thu ? " urs ise. " Thanaig mi as mo dlieigb." "Cabheiltbudol?" ' ' 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. "Cabheil t-fhear?" " Tha aig tigh an ridire aig iarraidh or is airgiod a ni ceap do nighean og an ridire, mar a tli' aig a peathrairchean, 's gun leithid nan ceapannan ra fhaotainn an Albainn." Thanaig an gobha dhachaidh. " De 's ceaird duit oganaich ? " " Tha mi 'm gobha." " 'S math sin, 's gun euideachadh thu leamsa ceap a dheanadh do nighean og an ridire, 's i dol a phosadh." "Nach 'eil fhios agad nach urrainn thu sin a dheanadh." " 'S eiginn feochainn 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 mhaidinn." Ghlais an gobha stigh e. Ghuidh e 'm fitheach a bhi aige, Tha'nig am fitheach. Bhrisd e stigh romh 'n uinneag 's bha 'n ceap leis. " Bheir thu 'n ceann dhiomsa nis." " Bu duilich leam siu a dheanadh 's cha b' e mo chomain e." " Feumaidh tu dheanadh 's gill' og fo gheasan mise, 's cha bhi eud dhiom gus an d' thig an ceann dhiora.'' Tharruinn e chlaidheamh, '3 sgath e 'n ceann deth, 's cha robh siod doirbh a dheanadh. Anns a mhaidinn thanaig an gobha 'stigh 's thug e dha 'n ceap. Thuit e na chadal. Thainig ogan- ach ciatach le fait donn a stigh, 's dhuisg e. 44 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. "S mise,'' urs' esan, "am fitheach, 's tha na geasan a nis dhiom." Choisioh e leis sios far an d' fhage 'u steud marbh, 's choinnjch boireannach og an sin end 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, Thug an sear- bhant thuu nighean og an ridire e, 's thuirt 1 rithe gun robh 'n siod an ceap a rinn an gobha. Dh' amhairc i air a cheap. "Cha d' rinn e 'n ceap so riabh. Abair ris an t-slaightire bhreugach e thoirt an fhir a thug dha 'n ceap an so, air neo gum bi e air a chrochadh gun diil. " Chaidh an gobha 's fhuair e 'm fear a thug an ceap dha, 's nur a chunnaic is' e ghabh i booh mor. Chaidh a chuis a shoilleir- eaohadh. Phos Iain agus nighean og an ridire, 's chaidh cul a chur ri caeh, 's cha 'n fhaigheadh eud na peathraicheau eile. Chuireadh romh 'n bhail' eud, le claidheamhannan maide, 's le criosa guaille conlaich. From a Stone at "Elgis.— Sculptured Stones of Scotland, PI. xvi. In this tale the Gaelic is written as spoken by the narrator. There are instances of bad grammar, and of EIDIRE GHRIANAIG. 45 corruptions, which are left as found. Teine is used for tinne, a link. 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-Breitheamhaig, Judge Creek. The word is no doubt allied to eag, a notch, or a nook. — H. M'L. [ Under the following numbers I have grouped together a few traditions, etc., relating to the Campbell legend of Diar- nmid and the boar.'] LIX. FIONN'S QUESTIONS. From Donald MacPhie (smith), Breubhaig, Barra, 1860. " Fionu 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 remem- ber at the time." H. MacLean, October 20, 1860. CEISDEAN FHINN. [Seo na ceisdean. Fionn. D6 's lionaire na'm feur ? Ch-aidhne. Tha 'n druichd ; bidh moran bhoineachan 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. [D6 's teotha na'n teine ? Ciall mnatha eadar da fhear.j What is hotter than the fire ? A woman's reasoning betwixt two men. DIARMAID AND GRAIDHNE — FIONN'S QUESTIONS. 47 [D6 "s luaithe na ghaoth ? Aigne mnatha eadar da fhear.] What is swifter than the wind ? A woman's thought betwixt two men. [D6 's duibhe na 'm fitheach ? Tha 'm b^s.] What is blacker than the raven ? There is death. [De 's gile na 'n sneachd 1 Tha 'n fhirinn.] What is whiter than the snow ? There is the truth. [D6 's long ri gach luchd ? Teanchair gobha ; cumaidh i teith a's fuar.J What is a ship for every cargo ? A smith's tongs ; it will hold hot and cold. [De air nach gabh glas na slabhraidh cur 1 Easg duine ma charaid ; cha ghabh e dunadh na cumail ach ag amharc air.J What is it will not bide lock or chain 1 The eye of a man about his friend ; it will not brook shutting or holding, but looking on him. [D& 's deirge na full ? Gnuis duine choir nuair thigeadh coigrich an rathad 's gun bhiadh aige 'bheireadh e dhaibh.] What is redder than blood ? The face of a worthy man when strangers might come the way, and no meat by him to give to them. [D6 's gdire na claidheamh ? Athais namhaid.] What is sharper than a sword ? The reproach of a foe. 48 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. [D6 's fearr de bhiadh ? Bleachd ; thig iomadh atharrachadh as, niotar im a's caise dheth, 's beathachaidh e leanabh beag a's sean- duine.] What is the best of food ? 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. [D6 's measa de bhiadh ? Blianach.] What is the worst of meat ? Lean flesh. [De 'n seud a's fhearr 1 Sgian.] What is the best jewel ? A knife. [D6 's brisge na cluaran ? Briathran tore muice.J A^Tiat is more brittle than the sow thistle ? The words of a boar pig. [D6 's maoithe na cloimhteach ? Dearn air an leaca.] What is softer than down ? The palm on the cheek. [D6 'n gniomh a's fhearr de ghniomhabh ? 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 Graidhne represents quick wit and and beauty, and her name seems to mean Gradh — love. Fionn always represents wisdom. DIARJIAID AND GRAIN NE. 49 Mature wisdom marries young love, and in the stories which follow, love runs away with young valour. They followed the track which had been assigned to the Celtic race. They are married in Eirinn, and in the next story, the course of their wanderings is pointed out. LX. DIAEMAID AND GEAINNE.* From Hector MacLean, July 6th, 1859. Told by an old man in Bowmore, Islay, Alexander Macalister. Tj^IONN was going to marry Grainne, the daughter of the king of Carmag in Eirinn. The nobles and great gentles of the Feinne 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 hounds. 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 seirce, 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 lift to the cap, and Grainne saw the ball seirc and she was in heavy love for Diarmaid. She told it to Diarmaid, and she said to him, " Thou shalt run away with me.'' * The name is so spelt in this MS., and it is so spelt in Irish books. 50 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " I will not do that," said Diarmaid. " I am leaving it on thee as a wish ; and as spells that thou go with me." " I will not go with thee ; I will 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 Grainne, " Art thou within, Diarmaid 1 " " 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 under his tooth of knowledge, and he will kill me for going with thee ! " " We will go to Carraig (a crag, Carrick ?) and there * This incident may be compared with a German story Die-kkige Baueren-tochter. Grimm, No. 94. See vol. iii., p. J70, for numerous references to versions of the story in a great many languages. 1 have had two versions of the story in Gaelic one from Mr. MacLauchlan, the other from an ol3 man in Barra. DIARMAID AND GRAINNE. 51 are so many Carraigs that he will not know in which we may be." 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 Daimh in Ceantire, near to Cille Charmaig, Diar- maid was a good carpenter, and he used to be at making dishes, and at fishing, and Grainne used to be 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 dinnsirean (wedges.f) Grainne took a liking for the old carl, and thej' laid a scheme together that they would 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 under. She caught hold of the, gearrasgian, knife, and she put it into the thigh of Diarmaid. Diar- maid left them, and he was going from hole to hole, and he was but just alive, and he was gone under 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 his fingers, while he was roasting it. Now there would be the taste of honey or anything which Diarmaid might touch with his finger, and he was dipping his fingers ♦ Ciofach, the son of the stranger. This personage, who plays this part in another version, is called " Cuitheach." t Or DiSNEAN, dice ? 52 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. into the cogie. Grainne took a morsel out of the fish* and she perceived the taste of honey upon it. To attack Diarmaid went Ciofach, and tbey 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 mountain, and said Grainne — " It is early the heron cries, On the heap above Sliabh gaoil. Oh Diarmaid O Duibhne to whom love I gave. What is the cause of the heron's cry ? " 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.f " 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 1 " " 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. * There seems to be something mythical about this fish, for he appears in various shapes in the legend. '-" t There seems to be a hidden meaning in the reply. DIARMAID AND GRAINNE. 53 Fear was on Diarmaid that the Fheinn would find them out, and they went on forwards to Gleann Eilg. They went up the side of a burn that was there, 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 shaving of Diarmaid." " They are not ; he is not alive," said they. " Indeed," said Fionn, " they are. We will shout Foghaid 1 a hunting crj-, and in any one place in which he maj' be, he is sworn to it that he mtist 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."t 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.J * Glen Elg, opposite the narrows between Skye and the main- land. There are two " Piotish towers " in a glen which would answer to the description, and there are many legends of the Feinu localised about that spot. ■f This is a line of the poem which follows, given as a sentence in a prose tale ; and other lines occur which I have written as poetry when I thought I could recognise them. t Two well known Scotch mountains. 54 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. While drawing down the long mountain, The brute was bringing Diarmaid to straits. His tempered blades were twisted Like withered rushy plaits. Diarmaid gave a draw at the slasher that Lon Mac Liobhain* made, and he put it in under the armpit and he killed the boar. This was no revenge for Fionn yet over Diarmaid. There was a mole on the sole of the foot of Diarmaid, and if one of the bristles should go into it, it would 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 measure 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 him when he fell. " What would make thee better, Diarmaid ? " " 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 when he would think of Diarmid, he would take sorrow, and he would take it with him ; but Diarmaid was dead before Fionn returned, t * This sword maker is kuown 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 rejected as the spurious interpolation of some later bard." DIARMAID AGUS GRAINNE. 55 They walked up the side of the burn till they came to where Grainne was ; they went in ; they saw two beds, and they understood that Diarmaid was guiltless. The Fein were exceedingly sorrowful 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 lines of the poem which follows. The last storj', No. LIX., got in Barra, started the heroine in Ireland. This, got in Islay, starts her in Ireland and brings 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 Bein-Gulban is the haunt of the heroes, and Irish writers say that Bein-Gulban is Bein-Boolban in Sligo. In the manuscript histories of the Argyll family, Diarmaid's sons are made to possess Carrick. DIARMAID AGUS GRAINNE. Bha Fionn a dol a phosadli Ghraiane nighean righ Charmaig an Eirinn. Chruinneachadh maithibh agus mor uaislean na Feinne The scene is often laid on the ridge between Oban and Loch Awe, and I well remember to have heard ho\r Fionn held his 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. 56 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. thun na bainse. Einneadh cuirm mhor agus mhair a chuirm seaohd lathan agus seachd oidhchean, agus nur a, bha chuirm seaohad chaidh an cuirm fhe' dheanadh do na coin. Bha Diar- maid na dhuine fior ghasda 's bha ball seirc air aodann 's bha e camail a churraichd daonnan a nuas air a bhall sheirc ; chionn bean sam bith a chitheadh am ball seiro bhiodh i ann an gaol air. Chaidh na coin thar a cheile gu garbh 's chaidh gaisgich na Feiun' a'n our o cheile agus nur a bha Diarmaid a cur nan con o cheile thug e togail air a, churrachd 's chunnaio Grainn' am ball seirc agus bha i ann an trom ghaol air Diarmaid. Dh' innis i do Dhiarmaid e 's thuirfc i ris. " Ruithidh thu air falbh learn.'' " Cha dean mi sin," ursa Diarmaid. " Tha mise cur mar ghuidhe 's mar gheasaibh ort gun d' theid thu lean.'' " 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 tigU ann, 's ghabh e comh- mudh ann. Maidinn a bha 'n sin co ghlaoidh san dorusd ach Grainne, "A bheil thu stigh a Dhiarmaid ? " "Tha." ' ' Thig a macli 's f olbh leam a nis. " " Naoh d' thubhairt mi riut cheana nach gabhainn a' d' chois thu, 's nach gabhainn air each thu, nach gabhainn a muigh thu, 's nach gabhainn a stigh thu, 's nach biodh gnothach agam rint." Bha is, eadar da bhith an doruisd air muinn boo 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 Fioun a mach sin nur a ohuireas e lamh fo dheud fhiosach 's marbhaidh e mis' air- son folbh leat." "Theid sinn do Charraig, 's tha do Charraigeau ann 's nach bi fios aige co'u te sam bi sinn." Chaidh eud do Charraig an Daimh. Ghabh Fionn fearg nur a mhothaich e gun d' fholbh a bhean, 's chaidh e rurach air a son. Chaidh eud thairis do Chintire 's ch;i deach stad air an cois, na fois air an ceum, gus an d' ranaig eud Carraig an Daimh an Cintire lamh ri Cille Charmaig. 'Bha Diarmaid na shaor math, 's bhiodh e deanadh shoithichean DIARMAID AGUS GRAINNE. 57 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 Mao a Ghoill, 's shuidh e, 's bha e 'g imirt air dinnsir^an. Ghabh Grainne taitneachd de 'n bhodach. Dh' fhan e leatha 's chuir eud an comhairle ra cheile gum marbhadh eud Diarmaid. Bha Diarmaid ag obair air soithichean. Thug am bodach lamh air, 's thionndaidh e ris a bhodach, 's cbaidh eud an glacaibh a cheile. Bha 'm bodach gu math laidir ; acli ma dheireadh chuir Diarmaid fodh' e. Rug ise air gearrasgian 's dhinn i ann am bunamhas Dhiarmaid i. Dh' fhag Diarmaid eud, 's bha e folbh o tboU gu toll, 's gun air aoh gun robh e beo, 's bha e air del fo fhionna 's fo fheusaig. Thanaig e rathad na carraige 's iasg leis, 's dh' iarr e cead a rosdadh. Fhuair e gogan uisg' anns an tumadh e raheuran an eas a bhiodh e ga rosdadh. Nis bhiodh bias na meal' air ni sam bith da'm boineadh Diar- maidh 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 Chaisteal. Nur a chunnaic Grainne gun robh Ciofach marbh lean i Diar- maid, 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. Or. 'S moch a ghoireas a chorr Air an torr as cionn Shliabh Gaoil ; A Dhiarmaid Duibhue da n d' thug mi gradh, De 'm fath ma n 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 roet. Gr. An itheadh thu aran is feoil a Dhiarmaid. Dr. W fheumail air mi ua 'm biodh e agam. Gr. A laoich bheir mise dhuit e Cait a bheil sgian a ghearras i. ^ 3 4 58 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Dr. " larr an truaill 's an do chuir thu ma dheireadh i," uraa 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 tarrainn na sgian a Diarmaid. Bha eagal air Diarmaid gum faigheadh an Fheina a mach eud 's ghabh eud air an aghaidh gu Gleann Eilg. Chaidh eud suas tuobh uillt an sin, 's ghabh eud eomhnuidh ann' 's bha leab air leith aca. Bha Diarmaid a deanadh shaithicheann, 's bha na sliseagan a bha e deanadh a dol sios,leis an allt gus a chladach. Bha na Fianntan a sealgaireaohd a, chois a ohladaich, 's blia eud air toir tuirc nimh' a bha fairsleachadh arra. 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 sinn 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 f reagair a Dhiarmaid, An fhoghaid cha n' eil ann ach foghaid bhreig." Fhreagair Diarmaid an fhoghaid 's chaidh e sios gus a chladach. Ohuireadh ma choinneamh Dhiarmaid an tore a shealg. Buaig Diarmaid an tore o Bheinn Eidinn gu Beinu Tuirc. A tarruinu leis an t-sliabh fhada, Bha bheisd a toirt Dhiarmaid a nasgaidh, Chasadh e lanna cruadhach, Mar shiofagan do sheau luachair. Thug Diarmaid tarruinn air an Leadarrach a, reinn Lon Mac Liobhann, 's chuir e stigh fo a asgaill i, 's mharbh e n tore. Cha bu dioghaltas le Fionn so fhathasd air Diarmaid. Bha ball dor- ain air bonn cois Dhiarmaid, 's na 'n rachadh h-aon de na cuilg ann bheireadh e bhis. Ursa Fionn, " A Dhiarmaid tomhais an tore, Co mhiod troigh o shoe 'ga shall." Thomhais Diarmaid an tore. " Se troighe' deug de dh' fhior thomhas.",- DIARMAID AGUS GRAINNE. 59 ' ' Tomhais an tore an aghaidh an f hionna. " Thomhais e n tore an aghaidh an fhionna, chaidh h-aou de na cuilg 's a bhall dorain, 's thuit e. Ghabh Fionn duilichinn nur a channaio e a tuiteam ; urs' e. " De dheanadh na b' fhearr thu Dhiarmaid? " "Na 'm faighinn deoch uisg' e basan Fhinn bhi- thinn na b' fhearr. Chaidh Fioun airson an uisge, 's nur a smaoin- teachadh e air Grainne dhoirteadh e 'n t-uisge, 's nur a smaoiu- teachadh e air Diarmaid ghabhadh e duilchinn 's bheireadh e leis e. Acb 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, ehunnaic eud da leaba, 's thuig eud gun robh Diarmaid ueochiontach. Bha 'n Fheinn anabarraeh duilich mar a thachair. Loisg eud Graidhne nigheau Charmaig nan steud, Nach d' thug riabh ceum air choir, ann an cual de ghlasdarach. From a Stone ik the Churchyard of St. Vigeans, near Arbroath. Sculptured Stones of Scotland, PI. Ixix. 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 rae 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 60 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. at all. Shaw, from whom I got Murchadh Mae Brian, died a few days ago, and, so far as I can ascertain, there is none in lalay. Jura, or Colonsay, that can recite the same tale now. H. MacLban. Ballygrant, July 6th, 1859. LXI. THE LAY OF DIARMAID. T HAVE already referred to a note by Mrs. Mac- Tavish on this subject, vol. ii. 489. She tells how- she learned Dan an Dearg (the Song of the Red) more than sixty years ago, from a ploughman who used to chant it at his work ; and she adds : — " The subject of the song is Diarmaid 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 Fingalians were, and hunted wild boars, which, it would appear, were numerous in the Scottish forests at that period. The sport at times proved fatal to those engaged in it. Pretended friends persuaded Diarmid to pretend that he was killed by one of those 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 DIARMAID AND GEAIDHNE. 61 for those assembled to watch the remains of their chief, sat down along with them, and commenced singing the song which follows. It is very touching in the original. Never having been favoured by the muses, I cannot do it the justice which it deserves, or that I could wish. The translation is as literal as I can make it." * dean-ain loclid, -I 1- Air an fliear clia dean-ain lochd, H^ saoi nach d'fliuair a dheuchain, S'truagU tha mis ad dheigh an nochd. S- :^ :g: 5g: -S JSL -f^ =t= =t -f=- Derg, son of Derg, I am thy wife. The husband whom I would not hurt, * The Gaelic and music were subsequently got from the same lady. 62 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. The husband whom I would not hurt, There never was a worthy who was not tried ; Wretched am I after thee this night. 2 Derg, son of 011a 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. 3 I see the hawk, I see the hound, With which my loved one used to hunt. With which my loved one used to hunt. And she that loved the three Let her be laid in the grave with Derg. 4 Then let us rejoice this night, As we sit around the corpse of a king, As we sit around the corpse of a king ; Let us be hospitable and liberal, Thanks be to God for every thing. 1 Derg mac Derg gur i mi do bhean ; Air an fhear cha deanain lochd. Cha n' eil saoi nach d' fhuair a dheuchain ; S' truagh tha mise ad dheigh an nochd. 2 Derg mac OUa chridhe 'n iuil, Leis an seinte gu ciuin cruit ; B 'ionmhuin an Laoch air nach do luidhe f earg ; Ged do thorchradh Derg le muic. DIAUMAID AND GRAIDHNE. 63 3 Chi mi n' t seabhag a's an cu Leis an deanamh mo run sealg ; S' an neach leis an ionmhuin an triuir Cuirer i 's an uir le Derg. 4 Bi mid gu subhach an nochd Sin nar suidhe mu chorp Righ ; Bi mid gu furanach fialaidh ; Buidheachas do Dhia gach ni. " Diarmaid, who was never conquered in battle, was destroyed by stratagem. Some one of his enemies took a bet with him 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' fhrioghain, Measuring the boar against the bristles, when any unlikely thing is proposed. He gained his 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 the Campbells. Mary MacTavish, November 1859. The clan MacTavish are a branch of the Campbells, and this lady, in relating a legend of her own family, tells it as I have heard it repeatedly told, with varia- tions, by peasants and fishermen, who firmly believed in their own descent from Diarmaid 0' Duibhn, and in the truth of this legend. The Lay of Diarmaid is quoted p. XI 7, and men- 64 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. tioned in several places in the Eeport of the 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, differ 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 was a real Diarmaid, in whose 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 that 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. FiONN never was a king ; it was Breean, his father's brother, who was king over the fifth which the Een had of Eirinn, and Fionn he was 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 was in the Een altogether, and no arm at all could make an impression upon him. There was Ball DORAIN (a mole, an otter-mark) in his right heel ; and he could not be killed unles a spike should go into his heel in the mole. * In this I have tried to spell the sound oTthe name. DIARMAID AND GRAIDHNE. 65 Graine, the wife 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 followed him ; and they were dwelling in a cave. Djeearmaid would not approach her, and he used to put 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 whom 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 hunt him, to put an end to him. When Djeearmaid gave out the shout of death, said Fionn to Grainne — " Is that the hardest shriek to thy mind that thou hast ever heard ? " " It is not," said she, " but the shriek of the ciuth- ach, when Djeermaid killed him." " Ye Gods ! that Djeermaid were alive," said Fionn. From Janet Currie, Stonj'bridge, September 14, 1860. — H. MacL. — Part is altered and omitted in the trans- lation, 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 by the Ossianic Society of Dublin in 1855. — J.F.C. » Pr. Tcewach, 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. JVench, queue 66 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 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 should stay. There was a thing which they used to call SuGH Seirc (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 was no woman who 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." " ! we will go, or else I will 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 wife indeed." They went away, and they travelled together three days and three nights. They were crossing a river, and a little trout rose and struck her, and she said — " Thou art bolder than Diarmaid. If thou couldst 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 will not get us," said she. " Whether 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 wood up here, and the branches and le^aves of the trees will hide us." DIARMAID AND GRAIDHNE. 67 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. " Here, here ! lads,'' said Fionn, " I am without a wife, and the Fhinn without Diarmaid. We ought to go till we find them." They went on their search, and they went over the same river. When 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 willing," 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. Now there was Osgar, and he needed a man 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 Djeermaid heavily ; 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, 68 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 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. " One is with me," said Fionn. " It is," said Osgar ; " but two are wanting." " Wilt thou go into it any more ? " 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 any more ? " said he. " I will go," said Osgar. " If thou hast two, there is one wanting." Diarmaid let down the third one, and Fionn won the third one. "We are now,'' said Oscar, "even and even ; all I won thou thyself hast taken it back again." " Wilt thou go into it any more ? " said Fionn. " I will go," said Osgar ; " we shall have knowledge of its good or evil at this time." They went at it, and Diarmaid let down the fourth one, and Fionn won. " 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 DIAKMAID AND GRAIDHNE. G9 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 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 umpire'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. Are longing to do honour to thee, Oh ! Dhiarmaid Duibhne, brave man. Going with my consort in secret 1 There was a woman who 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. MacLean. The Gaelic follows at page 78, 70 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 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 attribiited to Oisean, Osin or Ossian, and is called Fingalian in English, and Fenian in Ireland. This is the family tree as here set forth : — Trextnmhor (great, mighty), who gives his name to the tribe, the children of Treunmhor, or the elan of the Baoisge (flashes of light, coruscations, gleams). CuMHAL (spelt 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 his race as a blind old man in poverty and wretchedness. OsGAR, his son, Flath nam Fear, chief of men. DONN, brown, who gives his name to a tribe, clan Duibhne. A Sister of Fionn, wife of King Dhuine, mother of DiARMAiD 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 I 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. ^, DIARMAID AND GRAIDHNE. 71 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 — Mala Lith, an old woman, who has a magical white boar with a spike of venom in his back, invulnerable 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 Graidhne is, and who is killed by Diarmaid, to whom the faithless Graidhne 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 Bein Gul- bein is the favourite haunt 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 Gulban, 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 incide its to the loves of Venus and Adonis, the death of Achilles, etc., and that all this points rather to 72 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. mythology than to a single historical incident connected with the disbanding of an Irish militia. It is worth remark that the poem alludes to several well known adventures which are now told as stories, which may have been poems or distorted facts. The rowan tree dwelling, verse 21, is No. xxix. in vol. ii., or No. xxxvi. I forget which story goes by the name. Who White Tooth may be I do not know, but Diarmid 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 Kintyre or on Lochawe-side, was printed by John Smith. D.D., minister of the gos- pel at Campbeltown, 1787, p. 99. That version is avowedly pruned and polished. It is printed without 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, be- cause the rhythm generally accords, and the " assonance " and sense all point to separate verses, each complete in itself, and fit 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 storjj^ in the " Sean Dana '' is clearly the same, though the magic is avowedly weeded from the original, and Graidhne is the faithful wife of Diarmaid, not the faithless wife of his uncle Fionn. DIARMAID AND- GRAroHNE. 73 • 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 con- tains one stanza and several lines almost the same as part of this "Lady 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 who can neither read nor write, for at least 330 years, and it gives a standard by which 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 Dhiarmaid 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 Minglay. 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'Innes, CiU Bharraidh, who died about twenty years ago, about sixty years of age. M'Innes could neither read nor write.,- M'Donald 3 5 74 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. says he learnt it from his mother, Marion Galbraith ; and traces it up for six generations to a maternal ances- tor of his, who came from Kintyre. Janet Currie traces it to Neill Currie, her ancestor, who was Clanronald'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. The Lay of Yeearmaid. No. 3. I have tried to spell the names so as to convey some idea of the sound of the Gaelic words to English minds. — J. F. C. 1. Hearken a space if you wish 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 hunt The boar that the weak arms cannot wound, That venomous boar, and he so fierce That Gray eyebrows had with her herd of swine. 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 sorrow deprived of a wife." LAOIDH DHIARMAID. 75 Laoidh Dhiarmaid. The MS. came to me without division iato verses, I 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 leibh laoidh, Air a' mhuinntir a dh' fhalbh uainn ; Air MacChumhail, 's air an Fhinn, 'S air mac an righ, gu 'm bheil sgial truagh. 2 Dol a Bheinn Ghulbann a shealg, An tuirc nach dearg na h-airm chli ; ^ 'S e 'n tore nimhe, 's e ro gbarg, ^ Bh' aig Mala liatb * aig sealbh mbuc. 3 Graidhnb. " A Dhiarmaid na leig na gadhair 'S na creid nach i 'n fhaghaid bhreige ; ^ 'S gur deacair cur ri Mac Chumhail A 's cumha leis 'bhith gun ch^ile." 76 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 4. Djeearmaid. " 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 Duine, valiant chief, Since exploits were done through thee, Be thou mindful of thy hand, Here is the death to be shunned by thee." 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 withstood her then, And the spear went into the belly of the boar, It broke in the midst of the shaft again. And the toughest head was upon the hog. 8. The ancient blade was drawn from sheath. With which each battlefield was won, Th« son of king Guyne slew the beast. And he withdrew himself Avhole -again. LAOIDH DHIARMAID. 77 4 DiARMAID. " A Ghraidhne nach fuirich thu samhach 'S na coisinn naire dho d' cheud-ghaol ; Cha leiginn-sa mo chuid de 'n t-seilg Air son feirge fir na Finne." 5 Graidhne. " A mhic Duibline, a fhlaith threin," Nis o rinneadh euchdan ' leat Bi-sa cuimhneacli air do laimh ; Seo an teug o 'n tearnar leat." ^ Dhuisg an uUa-bheist ^ as an t-suain ; Chaidh i mu chuairt air a' ghleann, 'L nuair chual i farum nam Fiann Thug i 'n ear 's an iar a ceann. Chaidh an sgiath urla i" 'na dail 'S Chaidh an t-sleagh an tar ^i an tuirc ; Bhrisd i eadar ^^ an crann a ris 'S bha 'n ceann bu righn' air a' miuic. 8 Thairneadh an t-seann lann a truaill Leis am buinichte buaidh gach blair ; Mharbh mac righ Dhuibhn' a' bh6ist ; Thiarainn ^^ e fhin 'na deigh slan. 78 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 9. We sent the white hog to Leodrum, And wishful we were to go to spoil, (a) 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 Fiun of the Feean, And he sat moodily on the mound, About Mac Duine of the mighty arms, It was torture that he came whole from the boar. 12. After he had been silent a while He spoke, and it was ill to say, " Oh Yeearmaid, measure the boar, How many feet from his snout to his tail 1 " 13. Djeearmaid. " Let us take thy counsel, Een, Since it was grievous coming from home ; '' He measured the boar on his back, King G-uyne's son of the rounded foot. 14. " Fifteen feet of the measure good Are in the back of the wild swine ; " {!>) LAOIDH DHIARMAID. 79 9 1* Chuir sinn a' mhuc bh^n do Leodrum 'S bu deoSach sinn a dhol a 'renbadh ; 10 An gleann sith, 'san gleann ri 'thaobh, Far am biodh guth laoicb a's loin ; Far am biodh torman nam Fiann Air an t-sliabh an deigh nan con. 11 Gu 'n d' luidh sprochd air Fionn nam Fiann, 'S shuidh e gu cian air a' clinoc,!^ Mu mhac Duibhne nan arm aidh Bu chraiteach leis tighinn slan o 'n tore. 12 A cbionn e bhith treis 'na thosd i"^ Labhair e, 's gu'm b' olc ri 'radh, " A Dhiarmaid tomhais an tore Co mhiad troidh o 'shoe g'a earr." 13 DiARMAID. " Gabbam-sa do chomhairl' Fhinn b' aithreaeh leinn tigh'n o'n taigh." Thomhais e'n tore air a dhriom ; Mae rigb Dhuibhn' a bu chruinn troidh.i'^ 14 " Coig troidhe deug de'n deagh thomhas Ann an driom na muice fiadhain." i^ 80 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 15. FlUN. " 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 proud "- 16. " Oh, Yeearmaid, measure again. Softly against (the hair) the boar, And thou shalt get thy prayer from the king, Thy choice of the tough keen spears." 17. He rose, and that was no journey of joy, And, as he measured the boar for them, The venomous spike of agony pierced The heel of the hero not mild in strife. 18. Djeearmaid. " Give a draught from thy palms, Oh Een, Son of my king for my succour, 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." LAOIDH DHIARAU.ID. 81 15 FlONX. " Cha'n e sin idir a thomhas, Tomhais e rithis a Dhiarmaid. Tomhais e 'n aghaidh a' chuilg, 'S gheibh thu 'laoich bhuirb gach seud." 16 " A Dhiarmaid tomhais a ris, 'Xa aghaidh, gu min, an tore, 'S gheibh thu t' achanaich o'n righ, — Rogha nan sleagh ruighinn goirt.i" 17 Dh' eirich, 's cha b'e 'n turas aidh, 'S gu 'n do thomhais e dhaidh an tore ; Chaidh am bior nimh 'bu mhor cradh, An sail an laoieh nach tlath 'san trod.'" 18 DiARMAID. " Thoir deoch bhar do bhasan, Fhinn, ^^A mhie mo righ, gus mo chobhair, ^2 Air son mo bhidh agus m' aodaich." FlONN. " Oehon, a righ, 's mi nach d' thobhair.'' 19 " Cha d' thoir mise dhuitse deoch, 'S cha mhb a chaisgeas dhe t' iota ; 'S cha d' rinn thu riamh dho m' leas Nach do leasaich thu dho m' aimhleas.'!- 3 6 82 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 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 under spells. 21. "In the rowan tree dwelling, and thou in straits, Bold was I for thy succour ; At the time when death was 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 1 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 ; When the white tooth was hitting thee, I turned upon her from behind thee. 24. "And I succoured thee in that time ! If the women of the Feene should hear That I was wounded on this ridge, Dejected would be their faces. 25. " How wretched my face towards Bein Goolban ! (d) LAOIDH DHIARMAID. 83 20 DlARMAID.23 " Cha do rinn mis' ortsa cron Thall, na bhos, an ear, na 'n iar ; Ach imeachd le Graidhn' ann am braid ; 'S i tur gam thobhairt fo gheasaibh. 21 " 'S a' Bhruighin chaorainn, 's tu nad' chks, Bu dana mise gad' chobhair ; 'S nuair a bha 'n t-eug air do mhuin 'S mis' a chaidh thugad le meodhail. 22 " Fhinn 's ann duit bu mhatb mo chobhair ; An cuimhneach leat latha cath Chonaill ? Bha 'n Cairbre romhad 's a mhuinntir ? 'S bha mis' as do dheigh gad' chobhair ! 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 err' as do dheaghainn, 24 "'S chobhair mi ort anns an uair sin ! Na 'n cluinneadh mnathan na Finne Mis' a bhith leont' air an driom seo, Bu tursach a bhiodh an adhart ! 25 " 'S gur truagh m' aghaidh ri Beinn Ghulbann ! 84 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 26. " How wretched my face towards Bein Groolban ! As I pour in a flood forth my vigour : And though I be the son of Duine, Farewell be to courting for ever." 27. There was 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 with 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. 30. " Djeearmaid, deceiver of women. Son of king Guyne of the 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 («) and beauty behind thy' curls ! LAOroH DHIARJUID. 85 26 "Gur truagh m' aghaidh ri Beinn Ghulbann 'S mi ar tuil-bhruchdadh mo nearta ! 'S gad a 's mise mac Duibhne ; Soraidh leis an t^suiridh am f easda ! " 27 Gu robh Diarmaid, air an tulaich, Bu ghrinn am fait a's bu trom ; 'S e ri sior chall na fala, Le lot a bhior, air a bhonn. 28 FlONN. " 'S bochd a' chomhairF a chinn agam, Mac mo pbeathar a mbarbhadh Airson Ghraidhn', an t-olcas mnatha, 'S nacb dean i rithis mo leanmhuinn. 29 " 'S mor sin a tha db' easbhuidb na tulaich ! Air taillibh na muice fiadhain, Graidhne, nighean rigb Choig' Ullainn, An da gbearr chuilean, agus Diarmaid. 2* 30 "Diarmaid, fear mhealladh nam ban, — Mac rigb Dhuibhn' a bu gblan snuadh ! Suireadh cha tog a suil ^ cbaidb uir air do gbnuis ghlain.'' 31 " Buidhe gun ghiP ann a'd' fhalt ! Fada do leac ! mall do rasg ! Guirme gun bbrais' ann a'd' shuil ! Caise 's maise 'n cul nan cleachd ! 86 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 32. " Oh yesternight it was green the hillock, Red is it this day with Yeearmaid's blood ; And with the Een it had been wretched Unless it had been ordered by Fiun." 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. 1 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. 6 Here there seems to be a break in the metre. c Seud 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. 87 32 " 'S ann an raoir bu ghorm an tulach ; 'S dearg an diugh e le fuil Dhiarmaid ! 'S gur h-ann leis an Fhinn bu duilich, Mar a bhithe Fionn 'ga iarraidb ! " 33 OlSEAN. " Air an oidhche nochd gad tha mi truagh, Bha mi uair nach robh mi faoin ; Gun easbhuidh dhaoin' arm na fleadh ; Faic gach ni mu seach 'san t-saogh'l ! " Notes — Numbers. — H. MacLean. 1 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 deatli of a hero. 2 Cli, weak, powerless. Duine gun chli, a man without strength. Airm chli, feeble weapons. 3 Garg, fierce. 4 Mala liatb. The reciters pronounce this name Mala lith, but the Irish pronounce ia, ee, so that the name means gray eye- brow, the old woman who owned the venouDOUS boar and the swine, ' ' aig sealbh mhuc, " guarding her swine (herd of swine). 5 Faghaid bhreige, a, lying hunting party, that is got up to deceive and destroy him. 6 Brave hero. Here the vocative is elegantly used. 7 Euchdan, exploits. S This is the death which you require to avoid. 9 A monster (feminine in Gaelic). 10 Sgiath urla or urlaimh. Expert shield, a name for Diarmid, from his adroitness in the use of the shield. 11 Tar, the belly. 12 Eadar an crann. Here eadar is used in a sense not common 88 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. now ; between the shaft, that is in the shaft, not between the shaft and the head. 13 Tfearainn, to come off without hurt. 1* 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 hi 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 F.ean, On the mountain side after their hounds. (This is almost the same as a verse of an old manuscript poem, now in course of publication by Messrs. Edmonston and Douglas, 1861.— J. F. C.) IS These are the lines according to Allan M'Phie, and Janet Carrie, South Dist. ' ' Gu 'n d' shuidh e siar air a' chnoc, " according to some ; That he sat west on the knoll. IS A chionn e bhith treis na thosd. After, or at the end of his being a while silent. 1^ 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- ever, I have inserted bu chruinn troidh, which implies a well formed or fine foot, which is Boyd's version. 15 Fiadhain, more poetic than fiadhaich. 19 This is Janet Currie's version of the line, which I think is best. Allan M'Phie 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. 20 Kach 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. ^, LAOIDH DHIARMAID. 89 21 "A dhealbhaich mo righ," Boyd. -"- " Air son mo bheath' agii3 m' fhardoich," Boyd. 23 This beautiful dying speech of Diarmid is not known so full as this to any of the reciters, except to Donald M'Phie, 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 he 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 aad novelists, is here finely illustrated. 24 "A dealbh-chuilean." This is the expression given by Janet Currie, who saye it refers 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 the two best dogs of the Feen, after Bran, which were killed by the boar. 25 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. Leac, cheek. Easg, 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 blue 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. Ciis a's mais' air chul nan gleaohd. 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 intention of the collector and the translator, and I can do no more. "" J- F. C. 90 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. LAOIDH DHIARMAID. NuAiK a bhiodh an Fhinn a' folbh a shealg bhiodh h-aon diu daonnan V fantail aig aa taigb a cboimhead nam ban. Thuit e air Diarmaid an lath' ud gur h-e a dh' fhanadh. Bha rud ris an canadh iad sugh seirc an aodann an duine ; 's bha ologad air nach fheumadh e thogail ; chionn cha robh been a chitheadh an sugh seirc naoh tuiteadh ann an gaol air ; 's bha fios aig Diarmaid ga 'n robh na buadhan seo air fhein. An latha a dh' fhan e aig an taigh bha duil aige nach robh neach 'ga fhaicinn, 's thug e togail air ^a' chlogad, 's faicidh Graidhne nighean righ Choig' Ullainn aodann Dhiarmaid. Cha bhiodh an t-anam blath innte mar am falbhadh i le Diarmaid. Arsa Diarmaid, " Cha fhreagair domhsa sin — falbh leatsa." "O ! falbhaidh sinn ; airueo sracaidh mi m' aodach 's bheir mi suas thu do dh' Fhionn.'' "Cha 'n 'eil aicheadh agam ort naoh creid e thu ; chionn gur tu a bhean dhileas fhein gu dearbh." Dh' fhalbli iad, 's bha e comhla rithe tri lathan 's tri oidhchean ; ach bha e saor a's i. Dh' fhalbh iad air an aghaidh. Bha iad a' dol a null air amhainn, 's thog ise a h' aodach suas ma 'm fliucht' i, 's dh' eirich breao beag an uair sin, 's bhuail e suas air a sliasaid. "Mo laochan thu fhein a bhric bhig, bheadaidh, urad 's a thug dhomh de thoilinntinn cha d' thug Diarmaid ilomh o cheann nan tri lathau 's nan tri oidhchean a tha e learn ; 's na 'm biodh tu air chomas falbh air tir leam bu choltach gur h-aun mar a bu lugha an duine a b' fhearr e. " "Mata," ars' esan, " na a dh' fhulaing mise air son gean- mnuidheaohd de thamailt cha 'n fhulaing mi na 's fhaide e." " Tha Fionn a nis,'' ars' esan, "air tighinn dachaidh 's cha 'n fhaigh iad sinn a staigh ; thig iad an sin air ar toir 's gheibh iad sin." " Cha 'n fhaigh," 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 ohoill seo shuas 's falachaidh meanganan 's duilleach na craoibhe sin." Dhirioh iad do 'n chraoibh an sin, 's chaidh iad ann an cridhe na craoibhe, 's tharruing iad mean- glain 's duilleach na craoibhe mu 'n cuairt orra. Thainig an Fhinn 'ionnsuidh an taighe 's cha d' fhuair iad Diar- maid na Graidne aig an taigh. " Seo, seo, GJiillean," arsa Fionn, LAOIDH DHIARMAID. 91 "tha raise gun bhean 'stha'n FhinnguaUhiarmaid; 's coir duinn falbh gus am faigh sinu iad." Dh' fhalbh iad air an toraohd, 'a chaidh iad a null air a cheart amhainn. Nuair a chaidh iad a null arsa Fionn, " Tha siiin 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 cluiohe, Ghillean." " Tha sinn deonach," ars' iadsau. B' abbaist do dh' Fhionn 's do dh' Osgar a bhith 'nan da cheann stochd. 'Se Diarmaid daonnau a b' abhaist a bhith comhla ri Fionn. Bha fios aig Fionn gu 'u robh buaidhean air Diarmaid aig cluichean. Bha 'nis Osgar agus dh' fheumadh e duine a bhith leis, agus 's e 'athair fhein a 'b abhaist a bhith leis. Thoisieh iad cur nan cluichean. A' h-uile cluiche a bha 'dol 's ann 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; chioun b' ainneamh leomsa cluich a dhol a m' aghaidh nuair a bhiodh Diarmaid learn ; ach tha iad a nis a' dol a m' aghaidh o'n a dhealaich e riura ; ach theid mi uair eile riut. " Bha Diarmaid ag eisdeaohd. 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 vis a chraoibh i, 'a driom Fhinn ris a' 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. Thoisieh 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 tuiUeadh ann ? " ars' Osgar. " Theid, theid," ars' Fionn. " Feuch a rithis e. " Leig Diarmaid sios an ath chaora 's bhuidhinn Fionn am fear seo. "An d' theid thu ann tuiUeadh?" ars' e. "Theid," ars' Osgar, "mathaadha agad tha fear ga d' dhith.'' Leig Diarmaid a nuas an treas t^ agus bhuidhinn Fionn an treas fear. " Tha sinn a nis,'' ars' Osgar, " cothrom a's cothrom ; na 'bhuidhinn mi thug thu fhein air t' ais a rithis e." " An d' theid thu ann tuiUeadh ? " arsa Fionn. " Theid," ars' Osgar, " bidh fios a mhath na 'uilc agaiuu air an t-siubhal seo." Chaidh iad ann a rithis ; leig Diarmaid a nuas au ceathramh t^, '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 92 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. a' cheathramh uair. Ars' Oisean, "Cha do chuir m' athair oirnn, a mhic, le oeartas idir." " Chuir," arsa Fionn. " Cha do chuir," ars' Oisean. " Cbuir ; a dhearbhadh gu 'n do chuir tha ceithir caoran ann a'm' phoca mu choinneamh V h-uile cluich a bhuid- hinu mi." Thug e mach na ceithir caoran, 's nuair a thug e mach iad thubhairt e. ' ' Thig a, nuas a sin a Dhiarmaid, thu f hein agus Graidhne, nighean righ Choig' Ullainn ; chionn tha sibh an sin comhla." Thainig Diarmaid agus Graidhne a nuas ; Roiuneadh a' chuid- eachd as ur, 's chaidh Fioun a's Osgar thar a cheile. Thoisich na h-airm, 's thoisich am sgath, 'a 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 Clann na Baoisge cuirp a cheile a ghearradh." Thuirt Fionn an sin ri Osgar, casg a chur air armaibh, ma 'm biodh Clanna Morna fhathaad 'nan deigh an Alba. Thug Fionn aire do Dhiarmaid 's thuirt e. " Tha mo ghrunnd, 's mo lamh, 'a mo shuil Deonach cuirt a dheanadh dhuit ; A Dhiarmaid Duibhne, fhir threiu ! Falbh le m' cheile gun fhios domh ! ! " Bha boireannach ann ris an oainte Mala lith, 's bha speil mhuc aice, 's bha tore nimhe 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 allt thar bhreac. " Dh' fhalbh Diarmaid a shealg an tuirc. From Alexander M 'Donald, Burgh, Barra. September 20, 1860. No. 4. One more version carries the legend to the extreme northern and eastern Gaelic frontier. It varies some- what from the others, but the main incidents are the THE LAY OF DIARMAID. 93 same. The story is called The Boar of Ben Laighal, and is thus told : — There lived once upon a time a king in Sutherland, whose 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 FingaJ, Ossian, Oscar, and I know not who besides, 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 Diarmid saw the king's daughter, whose robes were white, and beheld 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 ; drawing a shot from his bow he killed it on the spot. All the king'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, saying to Diarmid that he should not have his daughter till he had measured (by paces) the body of his fallen foe, once from the head to the tail, and once again backward from the tail to the snout. That would Diarmaid gladly do, and the wed- ding 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 his foot, and in the night Diarmid Sickened and 94 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 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 com- mon in the west of this county to call the Campbells 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 from a MS. which came from Cawdor Castle, and is now in my possession ; it is called, " Genealogy Abkidgement of the very Antient and Noble Family of Argyll, 1779." The writer explains that — "In the following account we have had regard to the genea- logical tree done by Niel MacEwen, as he received the same from Eachern MaoEwen, his ffather, as he had the same from Arf. MacEwen, his grandfather, and their ancestors and predecessors, seuachies 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 his book entitled the Treasury of Antiquities.'' The first statement is as follows : — "The Campbells were of old, in the Irish language, called Clan Odinbhn or Oduimhn (bh and mh being pronounced as the Koman v), id est, the sons, children, or posteritye of Duimbn, knights of the MacDuimhns ; particularly from Diarmid Mac- Duimhn, 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." THE LAY OF DIARMAID. 95 In the next paragraph it is said — " Yet to this day (1779), in the Irish language or Gaelic, 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 Camp- bell is very rarely used in speaking Gaelic. A man is called Kaim-bel-ach, a Campbelite, or the Campbelltonian, but individually, he is Iain Euagh, Eusset 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. In the next paragraph the rhymes of the "Senachies" of the Argyll family are again called "Irish," and thus it appears that in the mind of this writer Irish and Gaelic 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. " And accordingly the writer begins with Constantine, grandfather to King Arthur. The half mythical heroes of "Welsh and Breton tales, and of mediaeval romances ; and personages who still figure in Irish and Scotch Gaelic popular tales, as some- thing more than mere mortals : — Arthur and Diarmaid, primeval Celtic worthies, whose very existence the historian ignores, are thus brought together^by a family 96 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. genealogist, and most of these west-country genealogies agree with him in claiming a descent from King Arthur for"MacCallenMor." 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 what 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 alive in 943. He goes on to shew how King Arthur brought Ireland under tribute, and received it at Cath- air Ler-eon, now West Chester. The next worthy is " Smoroie Mor, or as others have it, Sir Moroie 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 dheirg, i.e., the Tour of the Red Hall. He was called to his by-name. The fool of the Forest ; he was a wild and undaunted person, and married a sister of King Andar's, the forty-ninth king of the Scots, and was contemporary with Columbus plus ; called in the Gaelic ColmkiU, or Calum na-kill, because, when he retired from company they were always sure to find him in his cell at prayer." Now there are a great many poems and stories still extant in Gaelic, some printed, others still as traditions, THE LAY OF DIARMAID. 97 in which a "great fool" plays the chief part. I would refer to No. xxxv., vol. ii., and to the " Lay of the Great Fool " in this volume. A long version of the last has been printed already. 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 warriors 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 unknown beyond the Celts in the north. Having brought King Arthur to Dumbarton, the genealogist takes to dates (which I give as I found them), and goes on with a list of worthies, 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 Moravise, 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 ancestor, who called himself a son of Odin. It has been suggested that the warriors of Fionn were fair Norse- men. 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 Diumhn-Mor, as the 3 7 98 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Great Brown. The Browns are a numerous and respec- able 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, 684. " IX. Ferither eile MacDuimhn. The other Perither, son of Brown, 730. "X. Duimhn fait derig MacDuimhn. Brown of the red hair, son of Brown, 786, who married the grand-daughter of Connal Gulban, one of the sons of Neal na Nidgheallach, king of Ire- land, 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 Ossian. In these, the old blind poet tells the glories of his de- 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 Longirius and Connal Gulban. THE LAY OF DIARMAID. 99 "XI. Ferither finruo, i.e., reddish white MaoDuimhn, son of Brown. "XII. Duimhn dherig, i.e., Brown the red, 860. "XIII. Duimhn donn, i.e., Brown Brown, 904, was contem- porary with Constantine, seventy -fifth king of the Scots. " "XIV. Diarmaid 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 great reputa- tion in Ireland, and in all their traditions there is honourable mention made of him for his conduct, valour, and loyalty. He was contemporary with Malcolm the first, seventy-sixth king of the Scots. He had to wife, Graine, niece to Cormac Vic Art Vic Chain 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 Mao- 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- naandy in France and married the heretrix of Beauchamp, i.e., campus bellus, or pleasant field, sister's daughter to William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy, afterwards King; of England, of which lady he had three sons, who were called Campbells after the name of their lands in Normandy. " 100 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 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 bellusj 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 Graidhne, 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. Brown ; 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 people 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 Gwynnes in Wales, and there are many similar family names in France which have been hooked into the family tree, which springs from Oduimhn ; but it is surely time to give up the attempt to convert Celtic mythology into comparatively modern history, and to fix a time and place for the slaying of Diarmaid by the venomous boar of Beingulban. In a learned note in the Transactiorfs of the Ossianic THE LAY OF DIARMAID. 101 Society (vol. v., p. 62, 1860), I find that the Celtic legends about magic boars which pervade Ireland, Wales, 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, by 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 half the world, and which is still extant in the Highlands of Scotland, and in Ireland, amongst all classes of the Graelic population. Let all that can be got concerning it be gathered from the most unsuspecting and the most unlearned wit- nesses ; and when the traditions are compared with what is known to the learned, there is some chance of digging knowledge out of these 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 fam^ily history ; I have shewn it in Ireland, Cantyre, Islay, Lorn, Skye, the Long' Island, and Sutherland ; and I believe it to be an ancient pagan myth, which belonged especially to a tribe of Celts who took pos- 102 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. session of Argyll, and wHcli has been transferred to the family of the chief 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 interesting of all in a scientific point of view. I accordingly give a few 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 resemblance to well- known stories, found elsewhere amongst peasants, and published in modern times, and in their possessing traits of their own, which seem to indicate that they are parallel traditions derived from a common source ; not stories derived from others, and following 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 fits Highland ways of life exactly, and the story is so * Since this was written I have seen two versions of the Lay of Diarmaid, one of 1786, the other written -about 1530. I refer to them elsewhere. THE FOX AND THE GOAT. 103 ■widely spread in the Highlands, and can be traced so far back, that it seems almost impossible that the unlettered men who tell it to their children should have got it from modern books which they could neither read nor understand. LXII. HOW THE FOX TOOK A TUEN OUT OF THE GOAT. From Hector Boyd, Barra. rPHERE 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 me gray goat, harried out. Seeking the three kindly kidlings. And the gray-bellied buck, And the buck lad." Fox. " Well then ; by the earth that is beneath, By the aether over head. By the sun that is gone down. That I have never seen thy set of kids." 104 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. This story is known to that section of the poorer Gaelic population, which is, and which has been young ; but though everybody knows it, nobody will tell it. I persuaded an old woman on the banks of Loch Hourn, to tell it to me 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 boo ceannaglas. The three kindly kidlings-gray, With bellies gray bellied. And with backs gray back-ed. And the buck gray-head. And the ram (something, which 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 f o mo chois Air a ghrian seachad siar Cha 'n fhaca mise riamh Do chuid meann. By the blackthorn and the bpiar, By the earth beneath my foot. THE COCK AND THE FOX. 105 By the sun 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 TURN OUT OF THE FOX, And no Creatuee ever took a Turn out of Him BUT that Cock. From Hector Boyd, Barra, Sept. 20, 1860. npHE russet dog came to a house, and he caught hold -^ of a cock. He went away with the cock, and the people of the town-land went away after him. " Are 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 willing to go along with himself, 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. * May 1861. — I have received a much better version from Mr. Alexander Carmichael, from Carbost in Skye. 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. 106 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. The fox said, " Sh6-mo-haolach-hay-n-a-han ; " and when the fox opened his mouth the cock sprung away. 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 stratagem. Ceolaire is used to express a silly fellow. LXIV. THE HEN. Prom Hector Boyd. Learnt this story from Donald M'Kinnon, Laidkinnis, Barra, who died twelve years ago at the age of sixty —Castle Bay, October 4, 1860. rPHEEE 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 something 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 ? " "Well, then, though I be little, and even nasty, I can do a thing that the fine big queen thou hast cannot do," said she. " What canst thou do ? " 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 THE HEN. 107 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. 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 her, " The king is seeking you, mother ; I was asking him to marry you." She went up, and she herself and the king married. Then 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 chamber, 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 " cochaU." She came where the lad 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 108 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 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." 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. Wolf. — From a stone at St. Andrews. — Sculptured Stones of Scotland, PI. Ixi. LXV. THE KEG OF BUTTER. From Hector Boyd, Barra, who learnt it from Neil M'Neill, Watersay ; and from many other old men. Neil 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 -L 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 THE KEG OF BUTTEK. 109 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 should he go but to the butter keg ; and when he came home the wolf asked him what name was on the child ; and he said that there was Foveeal {under 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 Moolay {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 was on the child, and he said that there was BooiLL eemlich {tackling, licking, or licking all up). On the morrow he went and he said to the wolf that they ought to bring the keg home. They went, and when they reached the keg there was not a shadow of the butter in it. " Well ! thou wert not without coming to watch this, though I was without coming here," quoth the fox. The other one swore 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 was thou that took it out ; but I will know it from thee when thou goest home, if it was thou that ate the butter," said the fox. He went, and when he went home he hung the wolf by his hind legs, with his head dangling below him, and he had a dab of the butter and he put it under his 110 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. mouth, and if it was true, it was out of the wolf's belly that it came. " Thou 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, " Well, 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 town-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 ? 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 year ? " said the fox. " Indeed, thou shalt not take the twist 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 jread that name THE KEG OF BUTTER. Ill that I have in the hoofs of the gray mare," quoth the fox. Away went the wolf, and he began to read the name ; and on a time of these times the white mare drew 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 christening, the conversation goes on in this manner : — Madadh Ruadh. Och ! heun ! thall. Madadh Alluidh. D6 tha thu 'faicinn ann. Madadh Euadh. Tha iad gam iarraidh gu gois- deachd. Madadh Alluidh. Och, och, ann d' theid thu ann. Madadh RvMdh. Och, och, theid. Fox. Och ! hein ! yonder. Wolf. What seest thou there ? Fox. They are asking me to sponsorship. Wolf. Och ! och ! wilt thou go there ? 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. iii., 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. 112 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 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. Fox, Huntsman, and Falcon. — From a stone at Shandwick.- Sculptured Stcmes of Scotland PI. xxvi. LXVI. THE FOX AND THE LITTLE BONNACH. From Hector Boyd, who learnt it from one John Campbell, ■who died three years ago, at the age of thirty. — Sept. 20, 1860. npHE fox was once going over a loch, and there met -^ him a little bonnach, and the fox asked him where he was going. The little bonnach told him he was going to such a place. " And whence earnest 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 will come from thee if I may," quoth the little bonnach. " Well, I myself will take thee over on my back," said the fox. "Thou'lt eat me, thou'lt eat me," quoth the little bonnach. " Come then on the tip of my tail," said the fox. THE FOX AND THE LITTLE BONNACH. 113 " Oh ! I will not ; thou wilt eat me," said the little bonnach. " Come into my ear," said the fox. " 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 will not eat thee," said the fox. "At the time when I am swimming I cannot eat anything at all." He went into his mouth. "Oh! ho!" said the fox, "I may do my own pleasure 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 went up 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 will be tried upon thee directly," said the hunter. " Bad luck to the place that is here," quoth the fox, " in which 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 Rhymes of Scotland, 1858, 231. See also Wolf's stories, where a wolf prays to Odin that an axe may fall on his head, and a man throws one. 3 8 114 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. LXII. Mae. a thug am Madadh ruadh an car as a' Ghobhair. A' ghobhar ghlas. 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. Thainig a ghobhar, an seo, dachaidh ; 's bha i gu dubhaoh, bronach nuair a thainig i, 's gun iadaan air a coinneamh. Ghabh i air falbh, 's rainig i taigh a' mhadaidh ruaidh, 's chaidh i air mullach an taighe. Dh' eubh am madadh ruadh. " Co siud air mullach mo 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 ? " GOBHAK. " Tha mise 'ghobhar ghlas air a toirt as, Ag iarraidh nan tri minneana mine, 'S am boc tarraghlas, 'S an giUe buic." MADADH RUADH. ' ' Mata, air an talamh a tha f odhad ; 'S air an athar as do chionn ; 'S air a' ghrain a tha sios ; Nach fhaca mise riamh do chuid meann." Cha robh eun a bha 's an ealt nach deachaidh i a ionnsuidh ; 's thill i dhachaidh, 's cha d' fhuair i iad. LXIII. Mar 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 m'uiuntir a' bhaile as a dheigh. "Nach iad a tha gorrach," ars' 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^omhla ris fhein bha e cbo toilichte. A CHEARC. 115 " 0," a dheolaire ! naoh abair thu, " 'Se mo choileach fhein a th' anil', 's tillidh iad," ars' an Coileach. Thuirt am Madadh ruadh. " 'Se mo choileach fhein a th' ann." 'S nuair a dh' fhosgail am Madadh Euadh a bheul leum an Coi- leach air falbh. LXIV. A CHEARC. Bu A boireannach ann roimhe seo agua rug i cearc' ann an sgorr cladaich 's iad an deigh a cur air fuadach air doigh air chor-eigin. Dh' fhas a ehearc mor, 's bhiodh i 'dol do thaigh an righ 'h-uile latha feuch am faigheadh i rad a bheireadh i g' a mathair. Thainig an righ maeh latha de na laithean, 's thuirt e rithe. " De, a chreutair bhig, mhosaieh, 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 bhanruiun mhor, bhreagh agadsa," urs' ise. "Di 'ni thu ? " urs' an righ. " Leumaidh mi o sparr gu sparr, 's an clobha, 's buthal na poite, slaodadh rium. " Dh' fhalbh e staigh 's dh' innis e siud do'n bhanruinn. Chaidh 'fheuchainn ris a' chirc 's rinn i e. Cheangail iad am buthal saa clobha rithe, 's leum i thar tri sparrannan, 's thainig i air lar. 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 banruin- nean aige 's chuir a' ehearc as doibh, air fad, leis an obair seo. " 'S fhearra duibh, " urs' a' ehearc, " mo mhathair a phosadh ; tha i 'na boireannach breagh." " Seachainn mi," urs' an righ ; " rinn thu call na leoir domh cheana a chreutair mhosaieh." "Mata cha 'n e sin a 'a fhearra dhuit ach a posadh,'' urs' a' ehearc. " 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-iarraidh a mhathair; bha mise ag iarraidh air bhur posadh." Chaidh i suas 's phos i fhein san righ. 116 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Bha 'n sin domhnach 'a bha iad a' dol do 'n t-searmbin an righ 's a' bhanruinn, 's cha d' fbag iad a staigh ach a chearc, 's mac o 'n cbeud mhnaoi. Dh' fhalbh a chearc nuair a dh' fbalbh iad, 's chaidh i do sheombar, 's thilg i dhi an cocball a bha orra, 's dh' fhalbh an gille staigh do 'n rum 's chunnaic e 'n cochall a bha orra. Rug e air 's chuir e'n teis meadhoin an teine e. Thainig ise nuas 's cha robh sgeul aioe air a chochall. Thainig i far an robh an gille 's claidheamh ruisgte aice 's thuirt i ris, " Faigh dhomhsa mo chochall air neo bheir mi an ceann diot an aghaidh na braghad." Ghabh an gille moran eagail 's cha b' urrainn e facal a radh rithe. "A chreutair mhosaioh," urs' ise, " 's mor leamsa do bh^ a bhith air mo lamhan. Cha 'n eil fios 'm a nis dfe 'ni mi ; ma gheibh mi cochall eile saoilidh iad gur 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 d6 'chuir ann i. B' fheudar gu 'm faigheadh an righ mach dfe 'n seorsa boireanniacha bh' innte. Dh' innis i' 'h-uile dad. Phos i' fhein 's mac an righ 's rinneadh banais mhor daibh. LXV. AM BUIDEAL IME. Bha. 'm madadh ruadh 's am madadh alluidh a' falbh comhla, 's chaidh iad timchioll a' chladaich, 's fhuair iad buideal ime, 's thiodhlaic iad e. An la 'r na mhaireaoh chaidh am madadh ruadh a mac, '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 sgeadaich e e fhein ann au 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' fhoigh- nichd am madadh alluidh dheth d& 'u 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 leith. Dh' fhoighneachd am madadh alluidh, nuair a thainig e dhachaidh, d& 'u t-ainm a bh' air a' phaisde. AM BUIDEAL IME. 117 " Mata," urs' esan, "tha ainm neoaach nach d'thugainnfhein air mo dhuine cloinne na 'm biodh e agam, tha Mu leith mu leith.'' An la 'r na mhaireach thuiit e gu 'n robh duine, an siud, air tighinn a 'iarraidh-san a rithia gu baiateadh. Dh' fhalbh e '3 rainig e 'm buideal 's dh' ith e air fad e. Nua'r a thainig e dachaidh dh' fhoighnichd am madadh alluidh dheth d6 'n tainm 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 dhaibh am buideal a thoirt dachaidh. Dh' fhalbh iad agus nuair a rainig iad am buideal cha robh sgath dh' an im ann. " Mata cha robh thusa gu 'n tighinn a choimhead sec, gad a bha mise gun tighinn ann," urs' am madadh ruadh. Mhionnaich am fear eile nach d' thainig e a choir. " Cha ruig thu leas a bhith a' mathachadh nach d' thainig thu ann ; tha fiios agamsa gu 'n d' thainig, '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, '3 bha Ciiap de 'n im aige, 's chuir e fo 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 mhair- each, nuair a dh' eirich iad, thuirt am madadh ruadh. " Mata 's g6rrach 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." Rainig iad am baile, 's thug an duine leis am bu leis e piosa fearainn daibh — fiach sheachd puinud Shasunnach. 'S e core a chuiriad a bhliadhna sin agus bhuain iad e 's thoisich iad ri 'roinn. " Mata, " ars' am madadh ruadh, " co-dhiu 's f hearr leat am bun na 'm barr ? Gheibh thu do dha roighinn." " 'S fhearr leam am bun," ars' am madadh alluidh. Bha 'nsiu aran breagh core aig a' mhadadh ruadh fad na bliadhna ; 's fodar aig an f hear eile ! An ath bhliadhna chuir iad barr; 's e buntata 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. 118 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " Gu dearth cha d' thoir thu 'n car tuilleadh asam ! Bidh am barr am bliadhna agam," ara' 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' goid 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 thoisioh e air leubhadh. an ainm, 's uair de na h-uairean tharruing an lair bhan a cas, 's thilg i 'n ceann bhar a mhadadh alluidh. "0 ! " ars' am madadh ruadh, " 'S fhada o' n a chuala mi e. B' fhearr leam a bhith a' m' chleireach na 'bhith leubhadh leabhair." Dh' fhalbh e dachaidh, 's cha robh am madadh alluidh a cur dragh air tuilleadh. LXVI. AM MADADH RUADH 'S AM BONNACH BEAG. Bha 'm madadh ruadh uair a dol thar loch, 's choinnich bonnach beag e, 's dh' fhoighniohd am madadh ruadh dheth cait an robh e a' dol. Dh' innis am bonnach beag gu 'n robh e 'dol a leithid 860 de dh' iite. " 'S CO as thainig thu ? " ars' am madadh ruadh. " Thainig mi a Giogan 's thainig mi a Cuaigean, 's thanaig mi a leac nam bonnach, 's thaiuig mi a suil na brathau, 's thig mi uaitse ma bh' fhaodas mi." 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," ars' am madadh ruadh. " 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 bhios mi a suamh cha n' urrainn mi rud sam bith itheadh." Dh' fhalbh e 'na bheul. CAOL REIDHINN. 119 " ho ! " ars' am madadh ruadli, " faodaidh mi mo thoil fhein a dheanadh riut a nis. 'S fhada o 'n a ohualas e. 'S math greim cruaidh am beul a ghoile. " Dh' ith am madadh ruadh am bonnaoh. 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 onoio, '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 f heuchainn riut an ceart' air, '' ars' an sealgair. "An droch comhdhail air an hit a th' ann,'' ars' am madadh ruadh, "naoh eil a chridhe aig neach faoal a radh am beadradh nach bi air a ghabhail an d'ar righribh. " Chuir an sealgair peilear 's a' ghunna, 's loisg e air, 's mharbh e e. The following two stories, LXVII. and LXVIII., were got in Islay from an old man, whose name has not been sent to me. They were written by Mr. Carmichael, an enthusiastic Highlander, and a good Gaelic scholar, who was stationed in Islay in July 1860, and is now, 1861, 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 which 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, 120 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. MacDugalds, and Campbells, seem all to have some- thing to do with MacCumhal and his men, who may have been Irish warriors, or Celtic gods, nevertheless ; for nearly all these West country traditions point back to Eirinn ; and the deeds of the Feinn are not always those of mortal men. There is a curious poem of twenty-six verses about the smithy "Ceardach MhicLuin," 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 col- lected 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. LXVII. CAOL EEIDHINK Why the Najie was Given to it. From Mr. Alex. Carmichael, (excise officer), Islay. AN a certain time, when the Feinn had come home V from the chase to the house of Farabhuil, at the foot of Farabhein in Ardnamurchan, they were much astonished to find their wives so lusty, fair, and comely ; for the chase was very scarce at the time with the Feinn. The Feinn determined that they would know what their wives were getting to make them thus ; and when they went away again to the chase, they left Conan, one of themselves, at the house, so that he might find this out. Conan kept a watch, and the meat that they had was CAOL REIDHINN. 121 the hazel top boiled, and they were drinking the bree. It is said besides that they used to wash themselves ^vith this. The women understood that it was to watch them that Conan had been left at the house, and they were in a great fury. In the night when Conan laid down to sleep, they tied his hair to two stakes which they drove into the earth on either side of his head. Then the women went out to the front of the house, and they struck their palms with a great lament, till they awoke Conan. Conan sprang on foot with great haste, but he left part of his hair and of the hide of his head fast to the stakes. "VATien Conan got the women within, he set fire to heather and faggots in front of the house, so that he might kill the women with the smoke. The Feinn were at this time opposite to the house of Farabheil on the other side of Caol Readhin (Kyle Ray), and when they saw the fire and the smoke rising up, they cried out loudly, striking their left hands on the front of their faces, with their eyes on the sky. Then they ran to succour their set of wives, but the strait was between them ; but with their blades they leaped the strait, (all) but one Mac an Eeaidhinn (Ram- say). Mac an Reaidhinn fell in the strait and he was drowned ; and since then to this day's day, (the name of) Reaidhinn's Strait has stuck to the narrows. Valour so swiftly for wives of the Feinn, And each one sprang on the point of his spear ; And they left Mac an Reaidhinn in the strait. By good fortune the women all came through it but one or two of them, for the Feinn made mighty running 122 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. to succour them. The Feinn were in great fury against Conan for what he had done, and they seized him to put him to death. Conan asked as a favour that the head should be taken off him with Mac AN Luinne that would not leave a shred behind, the sword of Fionn MacDhuil (MacDuguld), and that his own son Garbh should smite him on the thigh of Fionn. With earnest entreaty I would ; ask it And my soul's privation to seek it ; The son of Luinne to reap my soul Upon the thigh of the sense of the Feinn. This was allowed him, but first seven gray hides and seven faggots of firewood, and seven " tiruin " of gray bark were laid about the thigh of Fionn. Then the head of Conan was laid on that, and Gakbh, his son, struck the head off him with Mac an Luinne — And folds in the palm were not more plenteous Than severed thews in the thigh of Fionn. Then Garbh asked them where were the Feinn, for he had gone mad ; and they said to him that they were below beneath him. Then he went down till he reached the sea, and he slashed at it till he drowned himself. LXVIII. /~\N a day when Fionn and his set of men were out ^ hunting in Haslainn, in Gortean Taoit in He, they saw coming to meet them an unhandsome man, with a shaggy eye in the front of his face.* He was running with might, and making right for Fionn MacDhuil. When he met them he asked them to follow him to * He is one-legged in the poem, and his name Lun Mao- Liobhain, and he has seven hands. ^-' CAOL REIDHINN. 123 the door of the smithy. Said Fionn, " Where, stripling, is thy smithy 1 or shall we be the better for seeing it 1 " "My smithy,'' said the Fairy Smith, "is not to be found ; and if it may, ye shall not see it." The Fairy Smith and Daor Ghlas stretched out against the mountain breast ; and they would but give the one step over each cold desert glen ; there could but scarce be seen a glimpse of their clothes on their hips. On nearing the door of the smithy the heroes neared each other. "A little opening," said the Fairy Smith. "Tear it before thee,'' said Daor Ghlas. Then turned round the Fairy Smith and he said, " Oh king ! that thou hast earned the name oh Caoilte (slenderness), Daorghlas shall not be thy name from this time." It was then that they began at Mac an Luinne, and when they were at it the daughter of the Fairy Smith came in to the smithy, and she asked, " Who is the slender grey fearless man ? " "A shineadh a' pinah cruach ? " The maiden fell into weighty questions with Daor Ghlas, and she gave him notice that her father would say to him when the sword was ready, " What did it want now ? " and that he should say, " It wants one little thing yet ; " then that he should seize the sword and thrust it through her father's body to temper it. LXVII. CAOL EEIDHINN. Caeson a Thalnig an t'ainm air. AlB am aridh, an do no Feinu tighinn dhachaid fo'n t 'sealg, do thigh Fharbheil, aig bun Farabhein, ann an Ardnamurachan, bha 124 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. ionghnadh mor orra, na mnathan aca fhaodinn, cho reamhar, gheal bhoidheacli, oir bha an t 'sealg fior ghann, air na Feinn aig an am so. Chuir na Feinn rompa, gu'm bithidh fios aoa gu de a bha na mnathan aca faodinn, ga 'n deanadh mar so ; agus an nuair a dhalbh iad a rithisd, gua an t' sealg, 'dh fhag iad Oonan, fear dhiubh fhein, aig an tigh, a chum so fhaodinn a mach. Rinn Conan faire ; agus se am biadh a bha aca, barr a challtuin air a bhurioh, agus iad a g' ol an t' suigh. Tha e air a ghrainn cuid- eachd, gu'n robh iad ga nighead fhein leis a so. Thuig na mna- than gur h'an ga 'm faire a chai Conan fhageil, aige an tighe, agus bha fearg mhor orra. Ann san oidhche, an nuair a luidh Conan a sis gu eadal, oheang- ail iad fhalt ri da stop a chuir iad san talamh, air gach taobh ga cheann. Chaidh na muathan a sinn a mach gu beul an tighe, agus bhuail iad am basan, le guileag mor, gus an do dhuisg iad Conan. Leum Conan air a chois, le mor-chabhaig, ach fhag e pairt ga fhalt 'us do sheic a chinn ceangailt ris na stuip. An nuair a fhuair Couau na mnathan 'stigh, chuir e teine ri fraoch agus connadh ann am beal an tighe, a chum agus na mna- than a marthadh leis an toit. Bha na Feinn aig an am so, mu-choinneamh tigh Fharabeil air taobh eile Chaol Eeadhinn, agus an nuair a chumaic iad an teine agus an toit, a g' eridh suas, ghlaodh iad gu ro-mhor a bualadh an lamh chli air clar-an aoduinn agus an suilean air an speur. Ruith iad a sinn gu 'n, cuid mnathan a thearnadh, ach bha 'n 'caol eadar iad agus an tigh ; ach le 'n lannan leum iad 'n caol, ach aon fhear — Macanreaidhinn. Thuit Macanreadhinn sa chaol, agus chaidh a bhathadh ; agus foidh sinn gua an latha n' duigh, lean Caol Eeadhinn air a chaol. Fion ach as gu luath air ban traichd Fheinn, S' leum gach fear air barr a shleagh, 'Us fhag iad Macanreadhinn sa chaol. Gu f reasdalaoh thainig na mnathan uile roimhe, ach aon na dithis dhiu on rinn na Feinn a dean-ruith g 'n teasmiginn. Bha na Feinn ann an fearg mhor ri Conan, airson mar a rinn e', agus rug iad air a chum a chuir gu has. Dh' iar Conan mar fhathor gun reacheadh, an ceann a thabhairt dheth le Mac an Luinne, nach CAOL REIDHINN. 125 fageadh fuigheall na dheigh, claidheamh Fhionn, Mhic DhuU, agus a mhao fhinn, Garabli, ga bhualadh air sliaaaid Fhion :— Achanidh gau' iarridh mi As eugmhais m' an am ri iaridh Mao an Luinne a bhuinte m' anam Air muin sleiste geile n' Fheinn. Chaidh so a cheadachadh dha ; aoh chaidh an toiseach, seach seicbeann glasa, seach cuailtean connaidh, agus seach tiruinu do riosga glas, a chuir air muin sliasaid Fhionn. Chaidh ceann Chonan a leageadh (na leageil) air a sinn agus bhuail Garabh a mhao le Mao an Luinne an ceann deth agus Cha bu lionmhoire crois san dearni, Na cuisle gearte an sliasoid Fhionn. Dh' eoraich Garabh dhiu a sin, caite am robb na Feinn, oir bha e air dol air a ohutbaeaoh, agus thubhairt iad ris gu'n robb iad gu h' iseal foidh. Ghabh e sinn a sis gus an d' rainig e an fbarige, agus shlaohdanich e i gus an do bhatb se e fhein. LXVIII. Latha do Fhionn, agus ga ohuid dhaoine, a bhi a mach <* sealg ann an Haslainn, ann an Gortean-taoid, aun an He, chuunio iad a tighinu na 'n corahdhail, duine mi sgiamhach, agus suil mholach (?) na 'n aodinn. Bha e dian-ruith, agns e sior-dheanadh air Fionn MaoDhuil. An nuair a, ohonuioh e iar dh'iar e orra, a bhi ga leantinnsa, gu doruisd a cheardeach. Arsa Fionn — " Caite a thrua a bheil do cheardach, na n' fhearte sinue faicinn ? " " Mo cheardach sa," arsa n gobhaiun, sith, " cha n'eil ri fhaodinn, 's ma g' fhaodas mise cha n' fhaic sibh. " * Shin 'n gobhain-sibh agus Daorghlas, a mach ri uohd an t' sleibh, 'us cha d' ugadh iad ach aon cheum, thar gach aon ghleann, fuar, fasich. Cha n' fhaichte ach air eigin cearb gan' eideadh far am masann.t * Faiceadh sibhse sin ma dh' fhaodas Ach ma dh' fhaodas mise cha 'n fhaic sibh. — [Gillies.) t Cha deanadh an Gobhain ach aon cheum Thar gach gleannan foin 'n robb fasach Cha ruigeadh oirne ach air eigin Cearb d' ur n' aodach shuas ar masaibh..r-((?tHi«s. ) 126 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. A tearnadh gu dorus na ceardach dhenich na laoioh ri cheile. Fosgla beag, arsa 'n gobhainn sith ; srac romhad e arsa Daorghlas. Sinn thundeigli 'n gobhainn-sith agus thubhairt e. A righ gu 'm meal thu t' ainm a Chaoilte cha bhi Daorghlas ort fo 'n am s6. San a sinn a thoisich iad air Mae-an-Luinne agus an nuair a bha iad ris, thainig nighean a gobhainn-shith a stigh do'n cheardioh agus dh' eorich i " Co am fear caol, glas, gu'n tima a shineadb a' tinah cruach ? " * Thuit an oighe ann an trom cheiste air Caoilte (Daorglas) agus thug i rathadh dha gu 'n abradh a n'athair ris an n'uair a bhithadh 'n claidheamh deas gu de bha dhi air an nis, agus easan a ghrainn tha aon rud beag a dhi air fathast ; e sinn bheirsinn air a chlaidheamh agus e ga chuir roimh chorp a h' athair ga faobhairt, Alasdaik a Mac 'Illmhichhil. I have followed the orthography of the MS. • Here also come in several lines of the old poem, as given by Gillies, 1786. LXIX. THOMAS OF THE THUMB. Jb'rom Catherine Maofarlane in 1809. John Dewar. npHERE was one before now whose name was Tomas -*- na h 6rdaig, and he was no bigger than the thumb of a stalwart man. T6mas went once to take a walk, and there came a coarse shower of hailstones, and T6mas went in under a dock leaf ; and there came a great drove of cattle past, and there was a great brindled bull amongst them, and he was eating about the docken, and he ate Tdmas of the Thumb. His mother and his father missed him, and they went to seek him. They were going past the brindled bull, and quoth T(5mas na h 6rdaig, " Ye are there a seeking me. Through smooth places, and moss places ; And here am I a lonely one. Within the brindled bull." Then they killed the brindled bull, and they sought Tomas na h (irdaig amongst the paunches and entrails of the bull, but they threw away the great gut in which he was. There came a carlin the way, and she took the great gut, and as she was going along she went over a bog. Tomas said something to her, and the old wife threw away the great gut from her in a fright. 128 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. There came a fox the way, and he took with him the gut, and T6mas shouted "Bies taileu ! the fox. Bis taileu ! the fox." Then the dogs ran after the fox, and they caught him, and they ate him ; and though they ate the gut they did not touch T6mas na h 6rdaig. T6mas went home, where his mother and his father were, and he it was indeed that had the queer story for them. This varies from the book adventures of our old friend Tom Thumb, who is now supposed to have been the dwarf of King Arthur. The story comes from Glen- falloch, which is not far from Dumbarton, which was, according to family tradition, the birth-place of King Arthur's son. It was told to Dewar by a girl who took charge of him when a child, and it is known to one other man whom I know. .1 used to hear the adventures of "Comhaoise Ordaig" (Thumb's co-tem- porary), from my piper nurse myself, but I was so young at the time that I have forgotten all but the name. The cry of " bis taileu " may still be heard in the mouths of herd laddies addressing their collies, and it may be the same as " tally-ho ! " for which a French derivation has been sought and found — " tallis hors." I would rather imagine King Arthur, and his knights, and his dwarf, shouting an old Celtic hunting cry, and red-coated sportsmen keeping it up till now, than trace it to Norman-French ; but in any case, here is something like tally-ho in the mouth of Tom Thumb, and in a glen where tally-ho has never been heard. THOMAS OF THE THUMB. 129 LXIX. TOMAS NA H-ORDAIG. Bha fear ann a roimh so, do am b' ainn Tomas na h-6rdaig ; agus cha bu mho e na 6rdaig duine foghainteach. Chaidh T6maa aou uair a ghabhail srM, agus thainig fras gharbh chlachan meallam ; agus chaidh T6mas a stigh fo dhuilleag chopaig, agus thainig dr6bh m6r cruidh seachad, agus bha tarbh m6r riabhaoh na measg, agus bha e ag iche tiomohiol na copagaioh. Agus dh' iche e Tomas na h-ordaig. Dhiondrain a mhathair s athair e, a's chaidh iad g'a iarraidh. Bha iad dol seachad air an tarbh riabhaoh, agus thubhairt Tomas na h-ordaig, " Tha sibhse an sin g' am iarraidhse, Feadh mhinegean, s mhonagan ; S mise an so am aonaran. An ton an tairbh riobhaioh." Ati sin mharbh iad an tarbh riabhaoh, agus dh' iarr iad Tomas na h-ordaig, air feadh maodail a caolain an tairbh. Ach thilg iad uapa an caolan taomadh. Agus is e sin an caolan ann san robh e. Thainig cailleaoh an rathad, agus thug i leatha an caolan taom- adh, agus air dhi a bhith dol air a h-aghart, bhi a dol thair feith s leig . . s Thubhairt Tomas na h-ordaig, " tut .... a chaiUeach," agus thilg a chailleach uaipe an caolan. Thainigsionuachanrathad, s thug e leis an caolan, agus ghlaodh Tomas na h-ordaig " bis-taileu ! an sionnach, bis-taileii ! an sionn- ach." An sin ruith na coin an d^igh an t' shionnaich agus bheir iad air, agus mharbh is dh ith iad e, s ge-d dh ith iad an caolan, cha do bhuin iad go h-Thomas na h-6rdaig. Chaidh Tomas daohaidh far an robh a mhathair s athair, agus san aige a bha an sgeul neonnach doibb. JoHif Dewab. This is the original spelling. 130 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Fi'Om a stone at Inverness. — Sculptured Stones of Scotland^ PI. xxxviii. The foUoTVing is a very good gloss upon the lan- guage of bulls. The imitation can be made very close by any one who will repeat the Gaelic conversation of the champions, with the intention of imitating the sound of their angry b'ellowings. These go by the name of " Boor-eech " in Gaelic, and oo, ee, and r, express the prevailing sounds. I have tried to spell these sounds, but I have small hopes of conveying an idea of them by letters. Whether this is a story founded on some old battle between tribes, which fought near the "Stone of the Bulls," or if so, who these may have been, I will not attempt to guess. There are bulls and bulls' heads in the armorial bear- ings of several of the Highland clans j and the nick- name of " John Bull " must have had some origin. There is a bull sculptured on an old stone near Inver- ■ ness, which is figured in "The Sculptured Stones of Scotland," from which work, the drawing above is copied. The story is certainly the invention of some one familiar with bulls, whatever it means. T THE BULLS. 131 LXX. THE BULLS. From John Dewar, November 17, 1860. HERE came before now a red bull from Sasunn (England), to put Albainn to shame. He stood on the shoulder of Bein Voorluig, and he bellowed, " StrooAh n dooaich ! StrooAh n dooaich ! The country is pitiable ! " There was a black Gaelic bull on the other side of Loch Loimein (Loch Lomond), opposite the top of Dun Polachrodh (Castlepool Castle), and he bellowed, " KeeA AS A HA 00 ? KeeA as A ha oo ? Whence art thou 1 " Quoth the red bull, "A tjeer do nAvaid. A tjeer do nAvaid. From thy foe's land." Said the black bull, " Cud e hSchd an tjeer 1 Cud e hechd an tjeer ? "What is thy land's produce 1 " "KruinAchd s Feen. KruinAchd s Feen. Wheat and wine," said the red bull. "Hoorin oo n coir do hooil. Hoorin oo n chir do hooil. I'd drive thee backwards," said the black bull. " KAtche n do roogatoo ? KAtche n do roogatoo f_ Where wert thou born ? " said the red bull. " An craw an dooin. An craw an dooin. In the , cfistle fold," said the black bull. . " Cud boo veeA gooit on vA oo d laogh ? Cud boo veeA gooit on vA oo d laogh ? ^Miat was thy food since thou wert a calf ! " said the red bull. " JBAJne s bAr f raoich. BAine s bAr f raoich. Milk and heather tops," said the black bulk " An aorAchd chrom shaw am bel do «hlev. An' 132 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. aorAchd chrom shaw am b^l do chllv. This crooked horn in the front of thy chest," said the red bull. " Hoogad mee ! hAn ©gal do. Hoogad mee ! hAn %al do. Shun me ! no fear of .me," said the black bull. And the black bull went round about the upper end of Loch Lomond, and the two bulls met each other on the upper shoulder of beinn Voorluig, and they set heads to each other, and they struggled. The black bull drove the red bull backwards as far as a great stone that was there, and they rolled the stone over, and the stone rolled down to a level place that is at the side of the road, about five miles on the upper side of the Lomond Tarbet, and three miles on the lower side of the upper end of the Loch of Lomond. The black bull put his crooked horn into the front of the chest of the red bull, and he killed him ; and "clach nan tarv," the stone of the bulls, is the name that is on that stone till this day's day, and that is the greatest stone that is in the three realms. LXX. THE BULLS. Thainig roimh ao tarbh dearg a Sasunn, a chum maslachadh a thoirt do Albainn. Sheas e air gualla beinn Mhiirluig, s ghlaodh e "Is truagh an diithaich, is truagh an dCithaich." Bha tarbh dubh Gaidhealaeh, air taobh eile loch Loimeinn, ma coinneamh braigh Dim pholachr6dh, agus ghloadh e, " Cia as a tha thn ? Cia as a tha thu ? " Ars an Tarbh Dearg, " A tir do namhaid," A tir do nimhaid." Ars an Tarbh Dubh, " Ciod e do theachd an tir ? Ciod e do theachd," etc. An Tarbh Dearg, " Cruinneachd 's fion, crainneachd 's fion," etc. THE HOODIE CATECHISING THE YOUNG ONE. 133 An T. Dubh, " Chuirinn thu an o6ir do chiil," etc. An T. Dearg, " C aite an do rugadh ti? C aite," etc. T. Dubh, " An cr6 an Dtiin, 'n or6 an Diin. " T. Dearg, "Ciodh bu bhiadh dhuit o'n bha thu ad l^ogh? Ciod bu bhiadh dhuit,'' etc. T. Dubh, " Bainne 'a birr fraoich, Bainne," etc. Au T. Dearg, "An adhrac chrom so am beul do chUibh, an adhrac chrom," etc. An T. Dubh, " Chugad mi ! cha 'n eagal domh. Chugad mi ! cha 'n eagal domh." Agus chaidh an tarbh dubh, timchioll ceann shuas loch-Loime- inn agus choinnich an dk tharbh a cheile air gualla shuas beinn Mhiirluig agus chuir iad cinn ri cheile, s ghleachd iad. Chuir an tarbh dubh an tarbh dearg iar aia an coinnimh a chuil, gu ruig clach mh6r a bha an sin, 's chuir iad car de 'n clach, 's roil a chlach sios ga c6mhnart, a ta aig taobh au rathaid mh6ir, tuaiream air c6ig mile, taobh shuas an Tairebeart Loimeanach, agus tri mile an taobh shios do cheann shuas an loch-Loimeinu. Chuir an tarbh dubh an adhrac chrom aige, am beul a chl^ibh aig au tarbh dhearg agus mharbh se e. Agus is e clach nan tarbh, an t-ainm, a ta air a chlach gus an latha diugh, agus is i clach is momha ta anns na tri rioghachd- an. J. Dewak. This is the original spelling. LXXI. THE HOODIE CATECHISING THE YOUNG ONE. THE hoodie fell to at catechising the gorrachan, and she said to him, — " If thou seest one coming, and a slender stick in his oxter, and a broad end to it, flee — that will be a gun ; he will be going to kill thee. If thou seest one coming, and lifting a pebble, it is lifting it to kill thee that he wiU be — flee. If thou seest one coming fair straight forward, and without anything in his oxJ;er, and with- 134 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. out stooping, thou needst not stir, that one will not touch thee." "AYhat," said the croaker, "if the stone be in his pouch ? " " Oh ! " said the Hoodie, " I need not be instructing thee any longer." AN" FHEANNAG A' TEAGASG A' GHORRACHDAIN. THiLSlCH an fheannag air teagasg a' ghorrachdain 's thuirt i ris. "Machi thufeara tighinn agus stiohd chaol 'na asgaill agus ceann leathan urra teich ; 's e gunna bhios ann ; bidh e dol a'd mharbh- adU. Ma chi thu fear a' tighinn agus e togail doirneig, 's ann ■■ga togail a, dhol a'd' mharbhadhsa bhitheas e ; teich. Ma chi thu fear a tighiuu lorn, direaoh, 's gun ni 'sam bith 'na asgaill, 's gun e cromadh, cha ruig thu leas carachadh ; cha bhoin am fear sin duit." "Gu d&," ars' an gorrachdan, "ma bhios a' chlach 'na phoca? " " 0," ars' an fheannag, " cha ruig mise leas a bhi ga d' ionnsachadh na' s fhaide." LXXII. THE HOODIE AND THE FOX. rpHE hoodie and the fox were good at early rising, and -*- they laid a wager with each other, for which should soonest get up in the morning. The hoodie went into a tree top, and she slept ; and the fox staid at the foot of the tree, looking aloft (to see) when the day would come. As soon as he perceived the day he cried, " Se-n-lAbAn-S." It is bright day. The hoodie had never stirred all the night, and then she awoke with the cry, and she answered, " SAd-o-b6-e, sAd-o-be-e." It's long since it was. Then the fox lost the wager and the hoodie won. AN FHEANNAG 'S AM JIADADH EUADH. 135 AN FHEANNAG 'S AM MADADH RUADH. Bha 'n fheannag 's am madadh ruadh math air moch-eirigh, agus chuair iad geall ri 'cheile airson co a bu luaithe dh' eireadh 's a' mhaidinn. Chaidh an fheannag ann am barr craoibhe agus chaidil i, 's dh' fhan am madadh ruadh aig bonn na craoibhe, 's e 'g amharc an aird cuin a thigeadh an latha, ach oha do chaidil e idir. Co luath 's a mhothaich esan do 'n latha ghlaoidh e, '"S e 'n latha hkn e. " Bha 'n fheannag gun smoisleachadh fad na h-oidhche gus an sin ; dhuisg i le a ghlaodh san, agus f hreagair i, " 'S fhad' o b' e e, — 'S fhad' o b' e e." Chaill am madadh ruadh an seo an geall 's bhuidhinn an fheanuag. From John MacArthur (shepherd), Uchd nan Claoh, who says he learnt them from Donald MacGeachy, carding-miller, Walk- mill, a native of Kintyre ; and Dugald MacNiven in Cairnbui. H. M'L. 136 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Harpek.— From a stone at Mouifeith.— C/ia/mcrs' Sculptured Stmies of Angus. LXXIII. THE YELLOW MUILEAETEACH. 1 — Bard. On a day when the Fhinn were on Oirill's mound, A watching the Eireann all around, There was seen coming on the tops of the wave. The crooked, clamouring, shivering brave. The name of that undaunted wraith Was the bald russet-yellow Muilearteach ; From Lochlann's bounds, coming on brine, All in a day to cover Eirinn. A MHDILEARTACH BHUIDHE. 137 ^^ From a stone coffin at Govan. — Sculptured Stones of Scotland, PI. cxxxiv. A MHUILEARTACH BHUIDHE * 1 Latha dh' an Fhinn, air Tulach Oirill,i A' coimhead na h-Eirearin mil timchill Chunnacas a' tighinn, air barraibh thonn, An earra, ghaireach, chraobhaidh, clirom.^ 2 'Se b' ainm dh' an fuath nach bu thim A' Mhuileartacli mhaol, ruadh-bhuidhe, chriochan Lochlann 'tighinn air s^il Gu h-Eirinn a chomhdacli a dh' aon la. * la Gillies, this character is a man, and called " A Mhuireart- each" ; perhaps muir iarteach, — sea western. 138 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 3 A rusted glaive was upon her belt, Will give them a grim darkling pelt ; When the time of the fury of battle shall come. 4 There were two slender spears of battle, Upon the other side of the carlin ; Her face was blue-black of the lustre of coal, And her bone tufted tooth was like rusted bone. 5 In her head was one deep pool-like eye, Swifter than a star in a winter sky ; Upon her head gnarled brushwood, Like the clawed old wood of the aspen root. 6 Her heart was merry for joy. As she saw in the south the Fiantaidh ; " Will ye not teach the wretch to her ruin. Let not her's be a good gift without return." 7 And a hundred warriors she sportively slew. And there was a grim on her rugged maw ; A warrior exalted each warrior of these, And that were raised up on slender trees. A pouring of their blood amongst the hounds, And the juice of the fruit of Oireal was threatened ; A MIIUILEARTACH BHUIDHE. 139 3 Bha claidheamh meirgeach air a crios Bheir dhaibh caisgeadh duige, doite^ An am an d' thigeadh gairbhe catha, 4 Bha da shleagha chaola chatha Air an taobh eile dh' an chaillich. Bha 'h-aodann dubh-ghorm air dreach a' ghuail, 'S a deud cnibadach, cnimh-ruadh.* 5 Bha aon suil ghlumach^ 'na ceann Bu luaithe na rionnag gheamhraidh ; " Craobh mhineach chas air a ceann Mar^ choill inich de 'n t-seana chrithinn. 6 Bha 'cridhe 'mire ri h-adh, 'Si 'g amharc nam Fianntaidh fo dheas, " Nach deachd^ sibh a' bheist thun a h-aimhleis. 'S gu 'n tharladh leatha gean gun chomain ; '' 'S gu 'n mharbh i le 'h-abhachd ceud laoch ; 'S gu 'n robh cair^ air a garbh chraos. Laoch inbheach gach laoch a bh' ann, 'S a thogadh air chaola chrann. Air sgath fala, 'measg nan con, 'S bha brigh mhios Oirill 'ga maoidheadh. 140 west highland tales. 9 — Witch. " Who are the warriors better than they 1 " Out spoke the yellow Muilearteach ; " Terror or fear there is not upon me, Before the king since I happened upon ye." 10— Bard. To Fionn Prince of the Finne there came, The ill-favoured goblin right valiant ; By her there were slaughtered nine in the plain, As she sought for detestable combat. 11 — Witch. " Now since I have come over the brine. For the taking of all Eirinn ; Let yielding be given me without pain. Or else a whole battle of hardy men." 12 — Bard and Fionn. Mac Chumhail would give that without displeasure, Ten hundred hounds, upon leashes of leather ; " Take the bribe, and besides (behold), Ten hundred ruddy apples of gold." 13— Witch. " Although I should get all the value of Eirinn, With her gold and her silver and herprecious things ; I would rather have on board of my vessel. The heads of Osgar, and Eaonaidh, and Coiril." 14 — Bard and Conan. Spoke a hero that brooked no slur, Son of great Morna, by name Conan ; " Thou shalt loose the bush of thy round head, Because thou hast asked for the son of Oisein." A MHUILEARTACH BHUIDHE. 141 9 " Cia iad na laoich a 's fhearr na sin ? " Labhair a' Mhuileartach bhuidhe. " Fiamh na eagal cha 'n 'eil orm Eoimh 'n righ, o'n tharladh mi thugaibh." *■ 10 Gu Fionn, flatb na Finne, thainig Am fuath /dith-mhaiseach,!" deagt-dhana. Mharbhadh leatha naonar 's a' mhagh, 'S i 'g iarraidh fuath'chadh na comhraig. 11 " Nis o'n thainig mi air s^il Gu b-Eirinn uile do ghabhail, Thugta geill gun doruinn domh, Airneo comhrag cr6dba churaidhean.'' 12 Bheireadh MacCbumhail siud di gun diombadh, Deicb ceud cu air choimb lion 6ille, " Gabb an cumba, is e 'choir," " Deich ceud ubblan dearg 6ir." 13 " Buaidb na b-Eirionn gad gheibbinn uile, Le 'b-or, 's le 'b-airgiod, 's le 'b-ionmbas, B' fbearr learn, air bord air mo luing, Ceann Osgair, a's Eaonaidb, a's Choiril." 14 Labbair laocb nacb d' fhulaing tair, Mac mor Morna d' am b' ainm Conan, " Caillidh tu dos do cbinn cbruinn Ann an dail Mhic Oisein iarraidh." * Another version is, — O'n ti a tharladh mi,thugaibb. 142 west highland tales. 15— Bard. When they saw the wrath of the monster, Up rose Fionn the Prince of the Finne ; Up rose Oisean, Prince of the men, Up rose Osgar, and lollainn. 16 Up rose Diarmaid o' Duibhne ; Up rose they, and lall o' Buidhne ; Three sons of the dusky black king Dhuinne ; Up rose they, and Cearbhal. 17 Up rose Glaisean o' Damhach ; Up rose they, and Ard Amharc ; Up rose Ciar Dhubh, Prince of Lomhann, The doughtiest four that were in the Fhinn. 18 Went to do battle with the beast. 19 She was serving them out in turn. As a blade might run through flame ; Until there met MacChumail the grand. And the Muilearteach hand to hand. 20 Their equal was never yet seen, Since the smithy of Lonn MacLiobhainn ; * There was dew on the point of the spears, Of MacChumhail of the sides so fair. * See No. LXVIU. -' A MHUILEARTACH BHUIDHE. 143 15 Nuair chunnaic iad colg na beiste ; Gu 'n d' eirich Fionn, flath na Finne ; Dh' eirich Oisean, flath nam fear ; Gu 'n d' eirich Osgar a's lollainn. 16 Gu 'n d' eirich Diarmaid Duibhne ; Gu 'n d' eirich sin a's lall Buidhne ; Triuir mac an righ chiar-dhubh Dhuinne ; Gu 'n d' eirich sin agus Cearbhall. 17 Dh' eirich Glaisean Damhach ; Dh' eirich sin agus Ard-amharc ; Dh' eirich Ciar-dhubh, mac righ Lomhann, A cheathrar a b' fhoghaintiche 'bha 'san Fhinn. 18 Chaidh a chomhrhg ris a' bheist. 19 Bha i 'gam frithealadh mu seach Mar a ruitheadh lann roimh lasair, Gus an do thachair Mac Chumhail an aidh 'S a' Mhuileartach lamh ri lamh. 20 An aicheadh cha 'n fhacas mar sin O cheardach Lonn Mhic an Liobhann, Bha dealt air bharraibh a shleagh Aig Mac Chumhail an taoibh ghil. 144 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 21 Her side was pierced with sharp wound, There was rain of her blood on the heather ; The Muilearteach was slain by the king, And if she was slain, it was no smooth slaying. 22— Smith. The smith took with him her bree * To Tur Leoin of the high king. " My sorrow ! " said the smith of the axes, " If bald russet Muilearteach is slain." 23— King. The king said, " the people never stood. That on the bald russet could bring blood ; Unless in a land of holes fell she, Or was drowned upon the smooth bare sea." 24 " There never yet have come of any. Those who the yellow Muilearteach could slay ; They did not slay her, but the Fhinn, A band from whom tribute is not won." 25 " Great is the shame to the blossom of Phail, To give under to the people of a single isle ; To the travelling, and to the west. Travel we, and travel we in haste." 26 " That I would give my vow again, If my mild Muilearteach has been slain ; That I with my people should never return, Till Eirinn to a heap of ashes should burn. * It seems that she was the wife of a superhuman Celtic sea smith, who goes by the name of Bulcaa sometimes. A MHUILEARTACH BHUIDHK. 145 21 Bha 'taobh air a tholladh le guin ; Bha braon dh' a fuil air na fraochaibh. Mharbhadh a' Mhuileartach leis an rigb ; Ma mharbhadh cha b' e 'm marbhadh min. 22 Thug an gobha leis a' brigh Gu tiir Leoin, an t-ard righ. " Mo bheud," arsa gobha nan tuadh, " Ma mharbhadh a' Mhuileartach mhaol ruadh." 23 Thuirt an righ, " nach d' fhas a shluagh Na 'bheireadh fuil air a' mhaoil ruaidh. Mar an deach i 'n talamh toU, Na 'bathadh air muir sleamhuinn, lorn." 24 " Cha d' thainig de dhaoine 'sam bith Na 'mharbhadh a' Mhuileartach bhuidhe. Cha do mharbh i ach an Fhinn, Buidheann bhar nach buinigear cis." 25 " 'S mor an nair do Bhlaith Phail Geill a thoirt do luchd aon eilean. Air an triallam, 's air an iar ; Triallam, agus triallam mor." 26 " Gu 'n d' thugainn-sa mo bhiid a ris, Ma Mharbhadh mo Mhuileartach mhin, A choidhch nach tillinn le m' shluagh Gus am biodh Eirinn 'na torr luatha. ^ 3 10 146 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 27 " In Eirinn let me not leave a stone, In burn, or in moor, or in mountain lone ; Unlifted upon the beaks of my fleet, Eirinn level of such great weight." 28 " I will bring my plungers upon the brine To bring out of her sea bent all Eirinn." 29— Bard. Great is the brag for the white ships The whole of Eirinn to uplift, And that there are not white ships in being That could uplift one fifth of Eirinn. 30— King. " Gather to me my worthy race, King of the Spaniards and his force, The king of Greece and of Gallia clean, King of Hispania and of the Inds." 31— Bard. Gather of the whole world the clan, The children of a king and of a single man. Goblin or champion shall not get clear From the beautiful Fhinn of the yellow hair. 32 Seven score ships, and one thousand Gathered the king, what a heavy band For the taking of all Eirinn, Could it be brought to Fionn, prince of the Finne. A MHUTLEARTACH BHDIDHE. 147 27 "An Eirinn na fagam clach, An a] It, na 'm monadh, .na 'm fireach, Gun thogail air chorraibh mo long ; Eirinn chothromach, cho trom. 28 " Bheiream breabanaich. air skil Toirt Eirinn uil' as a tan." 29 'S mor an spleadh do luingeas ban Eirinn uile do thogfail ; 'S gun de luingeas bin sam bith Na thogadh, a dh' Eirinn, coigeamh. 30 RiGH. " Tionail thugam mo tbeaghlach c6ir, Eigh na h-Easpanaidh 's a sblogh, Righ Greige, 's righ Gallia glan, Righ na h-Easpainn a's na h-Inid." 31 FiLIDH. Tionail sluagh an t-saoghail uile, De chlann righ, 's de dh' aon duine ; Fuath na earrachd cha d' thig as O'n Fhinn aluinn fhalt-bhuidhe." 32 Seachd fichead a's mile long Thionail an righ, 's gu 'm b' fheachd trom, Gu gabhail Eirinn air fad ; Gu Fionn, flath na Finna na 'n tdrt 'e, , 148 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 33 There was not a port nor a half port within The five-fifths of the Eireann That of beaked barks was not full, And of the barges of their lords all. 34 Though it was evil to be waiting for them, 'Twas no better for them that to us they came. 35 A messenger came from Blaith Phail, To find for him the Muilearteach, Or else the bold youth of all Eirinn, The children of a single man or of a king. That MacChumhail would give to the King of Lochlann, and without a grudge. 36 Ten hundred helmets and fine mail, Ten hundred shields and sheathed glaives, Ten hundred collars of gold upon hounds. Ten hundred slender stingers of battle. 37 Ten hundred fine coloured flags, Ten hundred wise warriors whom he might choose Ten hundred bridles of gold and saddles. A MHUILEARTACH BHUIDHE. 149 33 Cha robh port na leith-phort ann, An coig choigeamh na h-Eireann, Nach robb Ian de bharcaibh bbeannach, Agus bbirlinnibh o thigbearnan. 34 Ge b' olc dhuinn a bbith air an cionn, Cha 'n ann daibh-san a b' fhearr teachd tbugainn. 35. Thainig teachdair o Bhlaith Phail A Mhuileartach fhaotainn da, Airneo borbraidh Eirinn uile Eadar clann righ 's aon duine. Bheireadh MacChumhail siud do righ Lochlann 'S gun diomadh ; — 36 Deich ceud clogad a's caol luireach, Deich ceud sgiath a's claidheamh comhdaicht, Deich ceud lomhainn 6ir air chonaibh, Deich ceud sallta, chaola chatha, 37 Deich ceud bratach mhine, dhaite, Deich ceud saoidh, na 'm b' aille leis, Deich ceud strian bir agus diollaid. 150 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 38. Though he got all that, the king of Lochlana And the bold youth of the whole of Eirionn, For ever with his people he would not be still Till Eirinn should become a ruddy hill. 39 — LOCHLANNERS. Then spoke an answerable true wise bard, The lad that could answer with a knowing word ; And he spoke timidly and like a sneer Unto the king that was too early. 40— Bard. " Though you, like the whole of the Fhinn, In the front of battle and combat You must come as lions, weighty and gray. Or else you will work out your own decay. 41 " It were better to get us on a single place Than from billow to billow to be on our trace." 42— King. " Thy counsel is lying, thou musical bard," Out spoke the king, wrathfully, hatingly, " Because a third part of what is there (seen) Thou hast never beheld in Eirinn." 43 — Feene. * Then spoke Garaidh of the glens : {^) " If you will take my counsel, Fhinn, Let submission be given on the sea. That for ever under his sway you may be.'' * Here the action changes from one camp to the other. A BIHUILEARTACH BHUIUHE. 151 38 Ged a gheibheadh righ Lochlann siud, Agus borbraidh na h- Eirionn uile, Choidhch' cha stadadh e le 'shluagb Gus am biodh Eirinn 'na torr ruadh. 39 Thuirt filidh fhreagarrach, fior-ghlic, An gille fhreagradh gu h-eolach — 'S labhair e gu fromhaidh, fadh, Ris an righ, gu 'n robh ro tbratb. 40 — Filidh. " Ge math leibhs' an Fhinn uile An tus cath agus comhraig ; Thig sibh 'n 'ur Leomhana trom, ghlas, Airneo ni sibh uil' 'ur n-aimhleas. 41 B" fhearr 'ur faighinn air aona bhall, Na 'bhith 'g ur sireadh o thuinn gu tuiiiu.'' 42— Righ. 'S breugach do bheachd fhilidh bhinii, Thuirt an righ gu fuathach, f eargach ; " Agus trian na 'bheil an sin Kach fhaca tu riamh an Eirinn.'' 43 An sin labhair Garaidh nan Gleann, "Ma ghabhas sibh comhairl, Fhinn, Rachadh geill a thoirt air sail, 'S gu 'm biodh sibh gu brath fo iona." ' 152 west highland tales. 44 — Bard. Up rose loUain with a hero's tread, And each one followed him side by side, To give a leathering to Garaidh from the wild. Who the service of man could not abide. 45 — FiONN. " Stay thou, lollain, as thou mayest be," Said MacChumhail, the prince so high, " Though evil the counsel of the man, Stalwart his hand when the strife began." 46 — OSGAR. Said Osgar, as he felt the pain, " Whatever ship is of loftiest sail, Shall swim in blood beneath her keel. If there be enough within her hull." 47 — Bard. Then raised they, and they were not scarce, Their slender pennons on their slender shafts The standard of MacChumhail of Victories, " Sun's brightness," above the trees. 48. There were nine chains from it downward fell Of the yellow gold, of no lustre dull, A hero at every chain of these. That was holding them against the stays. 49. In the camp there was many a thousand of men. Many a one with blades and spears so keen. Many a trunkless head was there, Many a neck there was swept bare. From the first of the sun till thcvsame evening. A MHOILEARTACH BHUIDHE. 153 U Dh' eirich loUainn, 's bu cheum laoich, 'S gach ti lean e taobh ri taobh, Thoirt leadairt air Garaidh o 'n f hasach, 'S cha b' aill leis duine 'ga fhasdadh. 45 — FiONN. " Stad ort lollainn mar a ta thu ; " Arsa Mac Chumhail an ard fhlatha, " Ge b' olc impidh an fhir, "Bu teom' a lamhanns an iorguill." 46 — OSGAR. Thuirt Osgar, 's'e 'gabhail leon, " Ge b' e long a 's airde seol, Snamhaidh i 'm full fo' a driom, Ma tha na h-urad 'na colainn." 47 — FlLIDH. Thog iad an siud, 's cha bu ghann, An caol sbrolt, air an caol chroinn ; — Bratach Mhic Chumhail an aidh, Gile-ghreine, as cionn chrannaibh. 48 Bha naoidh slabhraidhean aisde sios De 'n 6r bhuidhe gun dall-sgiamh ; Laoch air gach slabhraidh dhiu sin A bha 'gan cumail ris na slaithean. 49 Bu lionar 's a' chr6 mile fear ; Bu lionar fear gheur lann 's sleagh ann ; Bu lionar ceann ann gun chom iona ; Bu lionar muineal ann air maoladh, O thus greine gu con-fheasgar. 3 " 154 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 50 Those heroes the greatest of the tribe That came to us with an army (of pride), To them the camp was the narrowest Ere their rough vapouring was dispersed. 51 In the thick of the people Osgar slew One hundred spearmen for the first time, Another hundred of the people by three. Seeking a way to their Ard Righ. 52 Another hundred of the hosts of men On the further side of the King of Lochlann, Until he slew, in the thick of the host, The king for all his great honour's boast. 53 When they saw that the king had fallen, Their courage failed them, and in great swiftness. They went all in ranks to the sea ; And the battle poet was driving them. .54 Amongst the warriors in turn. It was the Osgar that was urging them. After he had given the war Came succour to the hero of bright arms. 55 For through the spear-holes there might go The sickles ( « ) through the back of Osgar. A MHXriLEARTACH BHUIDHE. 155 50 'An laoch sin bu mh6 dhe 'n t-sliochd A thainig thugainn le 'mhor f heachd ; 'Sann daibhsan bu chuing' an cr6 Ma'n do sgaoileadh an garbh sgleo. 51 Mharbh Osgar, an tiugh an t-sluaigh, Ceud fear sleagha mar cheud uair, Ceud eil' as a' phobull a tri, Ag iarraidh thun an ard righ. 52 Ceud eile de shluagb nam fear An taobh thall de righ Lochlann, Gus an do mharbh e, 'n tiugh an t-sluaigh, An righ air mheud onarach. 53 Nuair chunnaic iad gun d' thuit an righ Threig am meanmna iad 's am mor luathas : Chaidh iad 'nan sreathan gu sail, 'S a' chliar chatha 'gan iomain. 54 Eadar na saoidhean mu seach 'S e'n t-Osgar a bha 'gan iomain ; An deis a bhith tabhairt a' bhlair, 'S ann thainig cobhair gu laoch arm-ghil. 55 Oir rachadh, roimh thoUaibh nan sleagh, Na corran roimh dhriom Osgair. 156 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 56 Whatever that day might hap to be On the battle steep side of Beinn-Eudainn, Such like great peril was not there found From the first of the Finne till one day On the day when the Fhinn were on Oirill's Mound. Wrote down this poem from the recitation of Angus MacDon- ald, Staoine-breac, South Uist, September 1860, and again from that of Allan MaoPhie, tailor. MaoDonald gives the same authority for it as for the "Great Fool," and MacPhie says he learnt it from one Donald Maclntyre, who has gone to America, and if living is now about 80 years of age. In Barra, I heard it from Alexander MacDonald, Burgh ; and from Donald MacPhie, smith, Brubhaig, who learnt it from an uncle of his, Hector MacLaine, also a smith. Some versions have lines which are wanting in others, and in some lines there are a few slight varia- tions. I have inserted those lines and words which I thought best when differences occurred. H. M'L. ( 1 ) Maclean translates this brushwood, but the carlin was bald, and I have heard the word used to express a picture on a shield of some large bird, like an eagle, which is often mentioned in stories as " Creveenach." The word may have something to do with Griffin, or Tree Lion. ( 2 ) This warrior is said to have given the name to Glengarry. There are legends about him still current in that neigbourhood. ( 3 ) Herons is the more evident meaning, but corr means any crooked instrument. The line occurs elsewhere. [In translating this, I have aimed at giving the meaning of each line, at imitating the rhythm of the original, as well as I could, and at giving the same amount of rhyme, where I was able to hit upon rhymes that would not altar the meaning. MacLean's manuscript is not divided into quatrains, but I have heard this chanted, and the measure, and the music, and the meaning, all A MHUILEARTACH BHUIDHE. 157 56 Ge b' e bhitheadh an latha sin Air taobh uchd-catha Bheinn Eudainn ; A leithid de bhaoghal cha d' fhuaras ann, O thiis na Finne gus an aon latba, 'S latha dha 'n Fhinn air tulach Oirill. point to a division into quatrains. I am indebted to the collector for a literal translation, which has been of the greatest assistance ; but I have here and there fol- lowed Armstrong's Dictionary, which contains many rare words, avowedly taken from the Ossianic poems. If there be errors in the translation, I hope they may be overlooked. MacDonald, who sang this and two other poems to me in Barra, September 10, 1860, did it with only one mistake. He forgot something near the beginning, and stopped short, and uttering several expressions of strong disgust at his own forgetfulness, he turned back to the first line and began again, and got over the difficulty with a rush that reminded me of a man taking a running leap over a stiff hedge. With that one mistake he recited a whole poem ; and so far as I can judge, from hearing such crabbed Gaelic once, it was the same poem which is here given, but we made out that there were fourscore verses in it, whereas there are but fifty-five incomplete in MacLean's manuscript. I observed that, two or three times, in reciting this and other poems, MacDonald repeated a couple of lines to fill up the time and complete a quatrain. The poem was attributed to Oisean, and whoever composed it, clearly did so in the character of that old half mythical bard, for he speaks like an eye-witness, and dwells on the prowess of his son'Osgar. I am 158 WEST HIGHLAND TALBS. not sufficiently acquainted with early Norwegian and Irish history, to be able to guess at the event which is celebrated, or at a date, but I suspect the poem was composed in remembrance of some real invasion of Ire- land by the sea rovers of Lochlann, in which they got the worst of the fight, and that it has been preserved traditionally in the Hebrides ever since. Could it be Brian's famous battle, A.D. 1014. MacLean has named his authorities ; one of them, MacDonald, is referred to above. He is a workman who cannot read, and who speaks no language but Gaelic. He is a fine intelligent man, with a clear gray eye and smooth dark hair, very fond of the old poetry of his native country, and charmed to recite it to an audience able to take an interest in it. The audience was a numerous one on the 10th of September, and we were highly attentive. One woman was industriously weaving in a corner, another was carding wool, and a girl was spinning dex- terously with a distaff made of a rough forked birch- branch, and a spindle which was little better than a splinter of fir. In the warm nook behind the fire sat a girl with one of those strange foreign faces which are occasionally to be seen in the Western Isles, and which are often supposed by their neighbours to mark the descendants of the Spanish crews of the wrecked armada — a face which, at the time, reminded me of the Nineveh sculptures, and of faces seen in St. Sebastian. Her hair was as black as night, and her clear dark eyes glittered through the peat smoke. Her com- plexion was dark, and her features so unlike those who sat about her, that I asked if she were a native of the island, and learned that she was a Highland girl. Old men and young lads, newly returned from the eastern fishing, sat about on benches fixed to the wall, and A MHUILEARTACH BHUIDHE. 159 smoked and listened; and MacDonald sat on a low- stool in the midst, and chanted forth his lays amidst suitable remarks and ejaculations of praise and sympathy. One of the poems was the Lay of Diarmaid, much the same as it appears here ; a« I had got it from MacLean, who had written it from the dictation of another man elsewhere. " Och ! och ! — aw ! is not that sad ? " said the women when Diarmaid was expiring, One of the audience was a stranger from the south, a Campbell, who had come to Barra from some other place, and who, as usual, hailed me as a kinsman, claimed Diarmaid as our common ancestor, and MacCalain Mor as the head of his family. His hair was yellow, though tinged with white ; and amongst the short, dark natives of Barra, he looked large, and gaunt, and bony. He gave me his prose version of the escape and pursuit of Diarmaid and Graidhne, and brought the fugitives from Ireland to the Isle of Skye. The main incidents were similar to those already given, but in detail they differed entirely, as all versions which I have, do from each other. The house where. our meeting was held was one of those which are only to be found in the far west, and this may serve to give a notion of the people, who still preserve and delight in this old Gaelic poetic lore. May 11, 1861. — Since this was printed, I have found a version of "Duan a Mhuirearteach " in a collectioQ of Gaelic poetry, made by Hugh Gillies, and printed in 1786 at Perth. 1 am indebted to the Kev. W r. MacLauchlan for a loan of the book, which is rare, and which I had sought in vaiu at the British Museum and elsewhere. There are 112 lines arranged in stanzas in the pub- lished version ; 213 in the traditional version here given. The story, and some lines of the poetry, also appear in the proceedings of the antiquaries of Scotland (vol. iii., partii. 1861), these are taken from a MS. collection made in Lewis. It appears that the heroine was wife of a superhuman Celtic sea smith, who is a kind of Neptune, and who had been maltreated by the Feen. 160 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Another version of the poem was written from the dictation of a man at Gairloch ten years ago ; and another has lately been written by Mr. Torrie in Benbecula, from the recitation of an old beggar wife. LXXIV. THE STOEY OF THE LAY OF THE GREAT FOOL. Written by Hector MacLean, September 13, 1860. Recited by Angus MacDonald, (constable) at Stoney Bridge, South TJist, who styles himself Aonghas, Mac Iain, Mhic Aonghais, Mhic Dhomhnuill, Mhic Thormaid, Mhic Iain, Mhic Neill, Mhic Cha- lain, Mhic Eoghain, Mhic Aonghais oig, Mhic Aonghais Mhoir, Mhic Sheann Aonghais, a lie 's tha iad ag radh nach robh e cli. That is to say, Angus, the son of .lohn, and up to the thirteenth ancestor, "Old Angus from Islay; and they say he was not weak." MacDonald says he learnt this poem fifty-eight years ago from Aonghas, Eaothaill bhain, Mhic Iain, Mhic Dhomhnuill, Domh- nullaich, Mhic Ghilleaspaig, Mhic Iain, Mhic Uisdean, Mhic Aonghais, Mhic Raothaill, H. Earaich (that is to say, Angus of white Ronald, the son of John, and up to the tenth ancestor), who lived in North Uist, at Baile Rathaill, and who died more than fifty years ago, about seventy years of age. He could neither read nor write, and he learnt this and other stories from his mother, who died about seventy years ago, at the age of one hundred years. He (MacDonald) says that the song — A Nighean bluidh bhain nam falbhadh tu leom. Gun ceaunachain giinn de 'n t-sioda dhuit. Thou fair yellow girl, if thou'dst go with me. That I'd buy a gown of the silk for thee, was composed by her. The poem is, as usual, preceded by a short prose story, which is as follows : — There were two brothers once in Eirinn, and one of them was a king and the other a "ridire." They were both married. On the knight there wars a track (that THE STORY OF THE LAY OF THE GREAT FOOL. 161 is, the knight had children), and there were no children at all to the king. It was a source of insult to the knight and his lot of sons, that the king should have the realm at all. The thing that happened was, that they gathered armies, both of them, on each side. On the day of the battle that they gave, the knight and his three sons were slain. The wife of the knight was heavy, and the king sent word that if she were to have a babe son to slay him, but that if it were a baby daughter to keep her alive, and keep her. It was a lad that she had, and there was a kitchen wench within who had a love son. Braomall was her name, and Domhnull was the name of her son. When the son of the knight was born, this one fied with the two, the knight's son and her own son. They were being fed at the cost of the knight's wife. She was there on a day, and for fear they should be hungry, she went to a town land to seek food for them. They were hungry, and she was not coming, and they saw three deer coming towards the bothy. The knight's son was where the other was, and he asked what creatures were there. He told him there were creatures on which there was meat and clothing. " If we were the better for it I would catch them," said he. He ran and he caught the three deer, and they were before his " muime '' when she came. She flayed them, and they ate, and she made a dress for him of the deer's hides.* Thus they were in a good way till the deer failed, and hunger came upon them again, * I have several versions of a long very wild story called the " Lad of the Skinny husks.'' 162 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. and she went again to the town land. There came a great horse that belonged to the king — a wild horse — to the place where they were. He asked of Donald what beast was that. " That is a beast on which sport is done, one is upon him riding him." "If we were the better for him I would catch him," said he. " Thou ill-conditioned tatterdemalion ! to catch that beast ! It would discomfit any man in the realm to catch him." He did not bear any more chatter, but he came round about, and he struck his fist on Donald, and he drove his brains out. He put an oaken skewer through his ear, and he hung him up against the door of the bothy. "Be there thou fifty beyond the worst," said he. Then he stretched out after the horse, and the hides were trailing behind him. He caught the horse, and he mounted him ; and the horse that had never borne to see a man, he betook himself to the stable for fear. His father's brother had got a son by another wife. When he saw the palace he went up with wonder to look at the palace of his father's brother. His muime never had called him anything but " the great fool " and " Creud orm." When he perceived the son of his father's brother playing shinty, he went where he was, and, " Creud orm," said he. " Who art thou," said the king's son — " of the gentles or ungentles of the realm, that has the like of that speech ? " " I am the great fool, the son of the knight's wife, the nursling of the nurse, and the foster-brother of Donald the nurse's son, going to do folly for myself. THE STORY OF THE LAY OF THE GREAT FOOL. 163 and if need were, it is I that could make a fool of thee also." " Thou ill-conditioned tatterdemalion ! make a fool of me ? " said the king's son. He put over the fist and he drove the brain out of him. "Be there, then, thou fifty over vi^orse, as is Donald the nurse's son, with an oaken skewer through his ear." He went in where the king was. " Creud orm,'' said he. " Who art thou,'' said the king — " of the gentles or ungentles of the realm, that hast such a speech 1 " " I am the great fool, the son of the knight's wife, the nursling of the nurse, and the foster-brother of the nurse's son, going to make folly for myself, and if need were, it is I that could make a fool of thee also." " Well, then, it is not thou that made me that, but my counsellor, on the day that I slew thy father, and did not slay thy mother." Then the king went with him. Every one, then, that he fell in with in the town, they were going with him, and that was their blessing, " Creud orm." There was a splendid woman in the realm, and there was a great "Pachnach,'' that had taken her away. The people thought, if they could bring him to the presence of this woman, that he would set his head upon her, and that he would let the people away ; that it was likely they would come between himself and the Fachach, and that the Fachach would kill him. That time he was an utter fool. [Of tbe poem, MacLean remarks: — "Some of the phrase- ology and pronunciation is such as is considered Irish ; for ex- ample, the particle ni for cha, dho for dh^, cos for cas ; but these forms of expression were common in the Highlands ; add to 164 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. which, a cultivated dialect was probably common to both coun- tries. The versification is exceedingly harmonious and varied, lu some lines the number of syllables is shorter, to give room for the emphasis and slow utterances required by the sense. In reciting the poem, the pronunciation of the reciter was peculiar, and differed widely from that of his conversational dialect. " It appears that this Lyric was considered by the Gael their best, for it is said, ' Gach dan gu din an Deirg ; ' ' Gach laoidh gu laoidh an amadain mhoir ; ' ' Gach eachdraidh gu eachdraidh Chonnail.' Each poem to the poem of the Red ; each lay to the lay of the great fool ; each history to the history of Connal (is to ha referred as a standard). In Dr. Smith's ' Sean Dina,' there is a "Laoidh an amadaiu mhoir" quoted, entirely different from this one."— H. MaoL. The lay is in " Sean Dana " as part of Cath Mhanuis. Another long poem was published under the name of " Laoidh an Amadain Mhoir," which I have failed to get at the British Museum. The language of the version here given is difficult, and it differs in construction and in sound from the spoken modern Gaelic of the district. There seems every reason to consider it as a fragment. It seems to describe a single adventure only, and there must have been a prelude and a sequel to it. Perhaps Gillmhin (Fairfine) was the lady whom the Fachach had taken away, and who made an entire fool of the mighty simpleton. There is something allegorical in the adventure. There is a mystic valley in which the hero is tempted, and yields to a cup of pleasure, but when he perseveres, his punishment is lightened, and he gets to the golden city. There he yields to sloth, but when he holds to his promise, and resists temptation, and fights manfully, he is delivered from all his woes. If this view be correct, this may be part of the same tradition which is interwoven with the romances of Arthur and his THE STORY OF THE LAY OF THE GREAT FOOL. 165 knights, which were certainly founded on Celtic tradi- tions, and which pervade all Europe. The story of Peronnik L'Idiot, in the "Foyer Breton," is of the same class. The hero is an orphan, and a simpleton, and proves himself a hero with sharp wits. He takes service as a herd at a farm, and there sees knights going to Kerglas to seek the golden basin, and the diamond lance. The one is filled with any food which the owner desires, cures diseases, and raises the dead ; the other crushes all that it touches, and shines like a flame ; both belong to a giant magician who lives at Kerglas. Now Kerglas might be Cathair Glas, the gray or mystic city. The golden basin, though it has more virtues, has the same properties as the Gaelic " Ballan iochshlaint " (vessel of balsam), and the shining lance is own brother to " Claidheamh geal Soluis," the white glaive of light. Kerglas was surrounded by an enchanted forest, in which rivulets seemed to be torrents, and shadowy rocks and vain shows terrified the wanderer. Beyond that, a dwarf korrigan guarded an apple tree, which was the same which grew in Eden ; further on, a lion with vipers for a mane, guarded a magic flower, which dissolved enchantments ; still further, a shoal of dragons watched the lake in which they swam ; and lastly, a terrible black man, with many eyes, guarded a fearful valley. He was chained to a rock, and armed with a iron bullel, which returned to him when he had thrown it, and he at least is a common character in Giaelic tales (see page 15). When all these dangers were passed, temptation assailed the adventurer in the shape of delicious food, pleasant drinks, and fair women, and if he yielded he fell All these dangers Peronnik the Breton idiot over- 166 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. comes by wily stratagems. The Gaelic Amadan Mor overcomes temptations also, but he conquers by valour and dogged perseverance, rather than by wiles. Peronnik, the half-starved idiot, catches a colt of thirteen months, rides through the wood, and at last, by the help of a yellow lady, who turns out to be the plague, kills the magician, and acquires the magic basin and lance. He appears on the side of the Bretons in a war with the French at Nantes, kills his foes with, the lance, brings his friends to life when killed, and feeds them when alive with the magic basin ; and finally, he goes to Palestine, where he destroys armies, forces the Emperor of the Saracens to be baptized, and marries his daughter, "by whom he had one hundred children." By some accounts he still lives with all his family. The great fool does not go to Palestine, but Connal Guilbeinach does, and he there acquires a magic shining sword, and a talisman, which brings the dead to life. I am inclined to rank " the Great fool ' with " Peronnik the idiot," to place the golden city on the same magic hill of the imagination as Kerglas, and to consider the " lay '' as one episode in the adventures of a Celtic hero, who in the twelfth century became Perceval le chercheur du basin. He, too, was poor, and the son of a widow, and half-starved, and kept in ignorance by his mother, but nevertheless he got a horse and venison, and acquired knowledge from King Arthur's knights, and joined them ; and in the end he became possessed of that sacred basin le Saint Graal, and the holy lance, which, though Christian in the story, are manifestly the same as the Gaelic talismans which appear so often in Gaelic tales, and which have relations in all popular THE STORY OF THE LAY OF THE GREAT FOOL. 167 lore, — the glittering weapon which destroys, and the sacred medicinal cup which cures. May 18, 1861.— The fourteen verses numbered with an (*) are inserted from a version written down for Sir Kenneth Mac- kenzie, in 1S50, at Gairloch, chiefly from the recitation of John MacPherson, then eighty-eight years old, and thus headed — " How the might (neart) of the Great li'ool got the victory over the Glamour (druigheachd) of Mananan (mhananaid), and how he took his legs back again from him by his might." I am in- debted to Mr. Nicholson of Edinburgh, who had the MSS. The twelve verses numbered with (t) are not in the Gairloch version. The remainining thirty-seven verses are common to both. Ko two verses, hardly two lines are identical ; but the variations are slight, and the phonetic value of the words is preserved in almost every instance. This seems a strong argument for the traditional preservation of these poems. 2 and 3, which are not in my version, and 4, which is not in the other, together lead me to suspect either that this was com- posed to imitate an older poem, and to teach a moral lesson ; or that some one has tried to give an old poem a moral turn. The language of 2 and 3 is Biblical ; 4 is magical, and so is the bulk of the poem ; and the rhythm of 3 and 4 is different from the rest. The bearing of this on Welsh tradition is referred to elsewhere. 168 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Deer akd Hound — From a stone at Kirriemuir. — Sculptured Stones of Scot- land, PI. xlvi. See Stanza 15. THE LAY OF THE GEEAT FOOL. 1 ;BAED. Tale of wonder that was heard without lie, Of the idiot to whom hosts yield, A haughty son who yields not to arms, Whose name was the mighty fool. The might of the world he had seized In his hands, and it was no rude deed. It was not the strength of his blade or his shield. But that the mightiest was in his grasp. On his falling on a hidden glen, Wherein he never before had staid, Of lovehest strath and grass and plain And sound of the waves 'gainst each bright stone. (See 5. ) LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIR. 169 v/////////////////^//////7^^. Elk.— From a stone in the churchyard of Meigle. — Sculptured Stones of Scot- land, PI. IxxiL See note (2). LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIE.— (1.) Sgeul uamHarr a chualas gun bhreug. Air oinid dh'an geill na sloigli ; Mac meanmnach. nact dearg le ainn, D'am b'ainm an t-Amadan mor. 2* Neart an domhain gn'n ghlao e 'Na lamliaidh. 's cha bu ghniomh. borb, Cha be neart a sgeith no lainn, Act an treine bb' ann a bhi na dhorn. Air tachairt a'n gleann diomliair dh6 Anns nach robh e fos roitnh riatnb, A b' ailte srath a's fear a's fonn, Fuain nan tonn ri slios gach leug. (Gairloch 4.) 3 12 170 WEST HIGHLAND TALES 3* Lasting long ere we had come, Many a chief is beneath his sway ; Another little tale I'd tell, But it there discerned, and it is strange. 4t A day when the mighty fool Was in Loehlan's bounds in a magic cloud. Himself and one beauteous dame. As a woman he beauty suflSced. 5 Meeting in a vast shore-glen. As a rose ever growing through it. Floods, and strife, and grass, and sound, Eoar of waves on shore of sea. 6 — Gil VEEN. • ' There was seen," said Gilveen young, " A gruagach of the yellowest cloak in the way, A new coloured vessel in his grasp,* Like to a cup in which was drink." 7-|-_FooL. It was then that the great hero spoke, " Is it an empty flower I see ? It is, when greatest is my thirst. That it's coming were best for health." 8 — Gilveen. " An earnest entreaty I make to thee, Drink not his draught, take not his food. Till thou knowest what is the glen Wherein thou wert never before.'' * Of flaming gold. LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIR. 171 3* A leantuin fad air dhuine teachd 'S iomadli ceud a tha fu 'smachd ; Sgeul beag eile dh' innsean ann Tuigear thall 's gu bheil e ait. 4t Latha do'n Amadan mhor. An criochan Lochlann fo cheo draodli, — E fhein agus aona mhaoa mna ; Bu leoir a h-ailleaclid mar mlinai. 5 TacLairt an gleann diomtair, rodh, Mar ros fas roimhe riamh, Sionan, streubh, a's feur, a's fonn, Stoirm nan tonn ri stios na lei. 6 '' Chunnaoas," arsa Gilmbin og, " Gruagacli 'san rod a's buidh brot, Soitheach. ur, daite 'na dorn* Coltacb ri com am biodh deoch. Sin 'n uair labhair Macabh mor, " An e ros fos (') tha mi a reir ? 'San uair a's motha mo thart, 'S gu'm b' fhearr a tbeachd gu beatha." 8 " Achanaicb a dh' iarram's art, Na ol a dheoch 's na gabh a bhiadh, Gu fiosraich gu de 'n gleann Nach robh thu ann roimhe riamh." * A dh'or laiste. 172 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. g-j- — Geuagach. After that liad been spoken to liim, Out spoke the Gruagach of the Cup, " Be not downcast stalwart youth, Be merry and quaff thy draught." 10— Baed. In the like commune with him Out spoke he, and it was no wise speech. He gave a haughty clashing dart, And there was no drop in the cup but he drank. 11 Away went the Gruagach of the Cup : Unlucky was the cup to drink. The two legs down from the knee Were wanting to the mighty fool. 12 GiLVEEN. Then it was young Gilveen spoke, " Great is this woe has befallen thee. Scarce are thy friends in the great world ; Unliked by them is thy want of feet.* IS—FooL. •'• Hist 1 now thou Gilveen young. Cease thy woe and be thou still, No leg shall be under one in the land, Or I myself will get my two feet.'' 14t— Baed. There they wended the pair, The woman and the hero of heaviest tread, Swifter was he on his two knees Than six at their swiftness of foot. * Thej'U not weep thy want^of feet. LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIR. 173 9t An deigh sin fhoclachadh dho Gu 'n do bheannaich. gruagach a' chuim, " Na bi dubhach oglaich mhoir ; Bi subhach. a's ol do dheocli."j 10 Air a' chomain cbiadhna dho, Labhair esan 's cha b' e 'ghloir gblic ; Thug e sitheadh bruaisgneach borb, 'S cha robh braon 's a' chorn naeh d' ibh. 11 Gu 'n d' imich gruagach a' chuirn, Neo-bhuadhach a' chuirn ri ol ; An da chois, fo'n ghluin-shios, Bha 'dhith an Amadain mhoir. 12 'Sin 'n uair labhair Gilmhin og, " 'S mor am bron seo thainig ort, 'S tearc do charaid 'san domhan mhor, 'S ni neo-oil leo thu 'bhith gun chois." * 13 " Uist a nis a Ghilmhin og, Sguir ad' bhron, a's bi nad' thosd ; Cha bhi cas fo fhear as tir Neo gheibh mi fhin mo dha chois." Dh' imich iad an siud 'nan dis, A bhean 'san laoch bu truime trosd ; Bu luaithe esan air a dha ghluin Na seisear air luathas an cos. • S cha bhron leo thu bhi gun choa.^ 174 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 15 They heard the hunt in the glen, The voice of the hound and music sweet, Eapidly chasing the elk (') On the moorland that suited best. 16 On the moorland that suited best Was seen the deer from the mountains wild. The red eared and very white hound Keenly baying upon his track. 17 Swiftly he gave a dart, That sudden oast with his keen blade, There was driven by force of the hero's hand The spear through the deer's two sides. 18— Fool. They caught hold of the white stag-hound, And out of hand put him on leash. " Be there making music by me. Till one come after thee from the chase." 19— Babd. There was seen descending a glen A Gruagach in full splendour of gold. Hand on blade on his left side, And his two spears and his shield in his grasp. 20 Certes they asked a tale from him. Or what road the stranger used. * They took an alternate tale about * What was the land where they used to be. LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIR. 175 15 Chual iad an fhaghaid 's a' gUeann ; Guth gadhair ann a 's binn ceol A' ruith na h-eilid gu dian Air an fhireach a b' fhearr doigh. 16 Air an fhireacb a b' fhearr doigh, Chunnaoas fiadh o bheannaibh borb, 'S gadhar cluas-dearg gle gheal A' tabhann gu geur 'na lorg. 17 Thug esan sifcheadh gu grad ; An urchair chlis ud le lann geur ; Thartadh, le neart lamh an laoieh. An t-sleagh roimh dha thaobh an Fheidh. 18 Bheir iad air a' ghadhar bhan, 'S air a laimh gu 'n chuir air eill. " Bi tu agam deanadh ciuil Gu 'n d' thig fear o 'n iuil a' d' deigh.'' 19 Chunnacas a' tearnadh le gleann Gruagach ann Ian dearsadh oir Lamh air lann air a thaobh cli, 'S a dha shleagh 's a sgiath 'na dhom. 20 Dh' fhoighneachd iad sgeul deth gu beachd, Na CO 'n rod a chleachd an aoidh ? * Gdbh iad sgeula dheth mu seach, * Ciod i n' tir a'n do chleachd a bhi. , 176 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 21 — Geuagach. " Eidire Corcair is my name, And on eacli spot I have victory -won. I am the Gruagach of the white stag-hound That has fallen into thine hand." 22— Fool. " Thou Gruagach of the handsomest mien, I will give thee assurance of this. That Gruagach of the white stag-hound Shall not henceforth be said to thee. 23. '' Wiirt not suffice thee, mighty son, A make-weight or two to be in the scale ? As the whole of the hunt is beneath thy power To leave the white stag-hound with me. 24 — Gruagach. " It is I, indeed, who made the hunt, As the idiot is wrathful and fierce, Whichever one is of strongest hand, His be the white stag-hound and the deer.'' 25* " Since my stag-hound has fallen to thee. And thy feet are awanting. Food and clothing take thy desire ; I would give that to thee and thy wife. 26 — Gil VEEN. " Accept that, said Gilveen young. And give the white stag-hound to him," " I'll give him, and a speckled hound. And if it pleased thee, a greater thing." * There seems to be some description of a fight wanting hero, unless the Gairloch version is right. " It is I myself who made the hunt," So said the fool fiercely. LAOIDH AN AMADAIN JIHOIR. 177 21 " Ridire Corcair b'e m' ainm, 'S air gach ball gu 'n d' thug mi buaidli. 'S mise gruagach a' ghadhair bhan A tbarladh ann an laimh thu ; '' 22 " A Ghruagach ud a 's ailne dealbt Bheir mise 'dhearbbadh sin duit, Nacb bi gruagacli gadhair bain As an seo ri radh riut." 23 " Nach fhogbainn leatsa 'Mhice mboir Leatrom no dha 'bhith 'san roinn, 'S an t-seilg uile 'bhitb fo d' bbinn, 'S an gadbar ban a leiginn learn." 24 " 'S mise sin a rinn an t-seilg ; Mar tha'n t-Amadan garg, dian ; 'S ge b' e neacb a's treise lamb 'S leis an gadbar ban 's am fiadb." 25 " 'S tharlladb mo ghadhar ort, Agus do cbosan gu d' dbifcb, Biadb a's aodach, gabb d'a reir, Bheirinn dbuit fbein 's do d' mbnaoi. 26 " Gabb siud," arsa Gilmbin og, 'S an gadbar ban a thoirt dbo." " Bheiream agus gadbar breac, 'S na' b' aill leat na bu mbo." 178 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 27 — ^Baed. Then wended they on the three. Under the guidance of the man. He raised in the hollows of his shield The sling-shaft ('), and the woman, and the deer. 28 Then was seen, appearing aside, A still city filled with the glitter of gold. And there was no hue that eye hath seen That was not in plenty the court within. 29— Fool. Then asked the mighty fool, " What was the city of gold by the way. Of noblest form and most beauteous mien. Shall I find out from whence it came ? " 30 — Geuagach. " Gold Yellow City is its name. From Mount Modest and glens of gloom,* And there are in it of guileful men, But I only and my single dame. 31t " Yonder glen that thou earnest through. Full of glamour it is always. But little it has taught to me But to behold the worth of my dame. 32t " A young wife that I found in the tower. The sight of an eye no better was, Whiter than very snow is her form. Gentle her eye and her teeth like a flower.'' * Perhaps "Glannasmoil," in the county of Dublin, where Fenian legends are localized. LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIR. 179 27 Dli' imicli iad, an sin 'nan triuir, Anns an iuil a rin am fear ; Thog e 'n crannagaibh a sgiath An crann-tabliuill, 's am fiadh, 's a' bhean. 28 Chunnacas a' tighinn ri taobh. Cattair chaomh. 's Ian dearsadh oir ; 'S clia robli dath a cbunnaic suil Nach robb anns a' cbuirt na 's leoir. 29 Dk' fhoigbneaclid an t-Amadan mor, " Co i 'cbathair oir, ri 'h-iuil, A's breagh cruth 's is ailne dreach. ? 'S am faigh mi mach co dheth a tus ? " 30 " 'Cbatbair orbbuidh. gu 'm b' e 'b-ainm Dbun Tuirbb 's o gbleannta Smol, 'S cba 'n 'eil innt' a dh'fhearaibli foil Ach mise fbs a's m' aona bbean.* 31 " An gleann sin roimb d' thainig thu trid Lan de dhraodbacbd tha e 'gbnatb ; 'S beag a dh' fbaogbluim e dhomh fhein Ach 'bhith 'g ambarc beus mo mbna. 32t " Bean og a fbuair mi 'san tur Nach robh amharo sul na b' fhearr ; 'S gile na gach sneachd a corp, 'S mall a rosg, 's a deud mar bhlath." * A chathair orruidh, and Dungarbh (Gairloch version), comain chrois J a name incomprehensible. 180 "west highland tales. 33* — Lady. The dame of exceeding beauty blessed Tbe Gruagach so lovely and brown. " Who is the lady stately and young, Or the big man thou hast yielded to ? ' 34* — GEUAaACH. " The mighty Fool is his name, And his wife is the young Fairfine ; The men of the world are at his beck, And the yielding to him was mine.'' 35* — Lady. " I think marvellous what thou say'st," So said the young Fairfine ; '■ If the men of the world are at his beck. That he'd let his legs go with them." 36* — Geuagaoh. " I'll give thee my word, oh dame. That the men of the world are at his beck ; And were it not glamour of Comain cross, He'd not let his legs go with them." 37 " And now that I may go to the chase, To the ruddy mountains and glens of gloom. Do thou watch, my brother of love, My house, my wife, and my store of gold ! 38 " So long as I am without, Do thou nor slumber or droop thy head. Let never a man within Or a man out, if one come in." LAOIDH AN AMA.DAIN IfflOIR. 181 33* Bheannaicli a bhean a b' fhearr snuagh Do na Gruagach aluinn donn. " Co macan steud gheal og No 'm fear mor d'an d' thug thu geill ? '' 34* " An t-amadan mor gur e ainm 'S a Gheilbhinn og gur i 'bbean Fir an dombain tba gu 'mhein 'S mise fein gu'n gbeill da." 35* " 'S iogbnadh learn na tha thu ag radh," 'Se labhair a Gheilbbinn og ; " Fir an domhain gu bbeil gu' mhein 'S gu leigeadh e a chasan leo." 36* " Bheir raise mo bhriathra' bhean Fir an domhain gu bheil gu mhein ; 'S mar b' e druidheachd Chomain chrois Cha leigeadh e a chasan leo." 37 Gu'n d' theid mise 'nis a shealg A bheanntai dearg 's a ghleanntai smol ; Mathaich thusa, 'bhrathair ghraidh, Mo theach, 's mo mhnai, 's mo chuid oir. 38 Oho fad 's gu'm bi mise muigh Na deansa lochd 's na crom do cheann ; Na leig duin' idir a steach ; Na duine 'mach ma thig ann." 182 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 39 — Baed. They went to the chase the three, The dog, and the Gruagach, and the white stag-hound. The two fair ones and the great son Stayed waiting within the city of gold. 40— Fool. Then outspoke the hero large, " Gilveen young, here at my head, A heavy sleep is enticing me. We did not yield up in the glen." 41* — Baed. He was not long in his sleep A Gruagach came in from the way. And gave a kiss to the Gruagach's dame. And the lady was not ill pleased that he came. i2-f — Baed and Gilveen. The young wife sat beneath his head ; In her mien she pictured a sun. And said she to the stalwart youth, " Thou hast slumbered, but not for thy good. 43 " Thou hast slumbered, but not for thy good. There came a mighty warrior in And gave a kiss to the Gruagach dame j Unlucky it is that the stranger came." 44— Baed. Up rose the mighty fool, To the doorway went he. Never struck blacksmith, tinker, or wright A door more strongly than the angry .wight. LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIR. 183 39 Dh' imich iad a shealg 'nan triuir An cu, 's an graagach, 's an gadhar ban ; An ditliis ban 's am macabh mor Db' f ban 's a' cbatbair oir ri b-iuil. 40 Sin do labbair Macabb mor, " Gbilmbin eg seo aig mo cbeann Tba 'n cadal trom 'gam bbuaireadb ; Ni 'n obamaid suas 's a' gbleann.'' 41* Cba b' fbada bba e na sbuain Tbainig Gruagacb a' rod a steacb 'S do bbean a Gbruagaicb tbug e pog 'S cba b' fbuatbacb leis an oigb a tbeacbd. 42t Gu'n sbuidh an og-bbean fo 'cbeann ; Mac samblaidb dealbba i ri grein ; 'S tbuirt i ris an oglacb mbor, " Einn tbu suaimbneas, 's cba b' e t' fbeum. 43 '' Einn tbu suaimbneas, 's cba b' e t' fbeum ; Tbainig gaisgeacb treun a steacb, 'S do 'n mbnaoi Gbruagaicb tbug e pog ; 'S neo-bbuadbacb an aoidb a tbeacbd." 44 Db' eiricn an t-Amadan mor ; Tbun an doruis a gbabb e. Cba d' bbuail gobba, ceard, na saor, Combla, 's treise na 'n laocb borb. 184 west highland tales. 45* — Fool. " Unless I were sound enough He had not come in from the road, Till comes the Gruagach of the golden doon, With my will he goes not out." 46 — Gruagach. Up rose the warrior straight and brown, And the arms were seized by grasp. " Leave the doorway, stalwart youth. Thou art there instead of right." 47 1— Fool. Thus answered the warrior great To the hero of the firm speech, " Till he comes, the Gruagach who is out, Thou shalt be in or thy head." 48 1^ " Still will I give my vows, Though thou thinkest much of thy speech ; When comes the Gruagach of the golden doon He will repay thee for his wife's kiss." 49 * — Gruagach. " Wilt not suffice thee, thou mighty man, Seven vats full of glittering gold, Cattle and horses, and untaxed land, Plain of the plains and the woman's doon ? " 50* " Thou mayest get that, and to boot, My tissue vesture and horse. Who's as ready on sea as on land. If thon wilt but let me go out." LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIE. 185 45* " Mur bhithinn a' m' shuain gu leor Cha tigeadh e a' rod a steach, 'S gus an tig Gruagach dun an oir Le mo dheoin cha teid e mach." 46 Dh' eirich an gaisgeach deas, donn, 'S ghlacadh leis na h-airm 'na dhorn, " Fag an dorus oglaich mhoir ; An ^ite coir a bhiodh tu ann." 47 1 Air freagairt do Mhacabh mor, Air a' ghaisgeacb na gloir theann, " Gu 'n d' thig an gruagach tha muigh Bidh tusa steach no do cheann." 48* " Bheir raise mo bbriathra fos Ge mor leat na bbeil thu ag radh ; Nuair thig Gruagach dun an oir Gu'n did e ort pog a mhna." 49* " Nach foghnadh leatsa mhic a mhoir Seachd Ian dabhaich 'a dh'or glan Grodh a's eich fearann saor Eaon nan raon a's dun nam ban." 50* " Gheibheadh tu sin a's ni 's md ]\Io chulaidh shroil agus m' each 'S CO deas leis muir agus tir A chionn mo ligeadh a mach." 3 13 186 WEST HIGHLAND TALKS. 51*_F00L. " Still will I give my vows, Though thou thinkest much of thy speech ; When comes the Gruagach of the tissue cloak, He will repay thee for his wife's kiss." 52 — Gruagach. " From the Gruagach of the Cup I got Thy one foot to let me in ; I'll blow it beneath thee with joy If thou leave the way to go out." 53— Bard. AVith his own magic he blew His one foot beneath him as ever it was, And said the Gruagach, who was wise, "It is time for me now to depart." 54 — Fool. Thus answered the warrior great, " A little stay yet for a slow space, The other foot for a sturdy step, I'll take from thee or thy head." 55 — Gruagach. When the hero was in hard straits, He suddenly sprang to the breast of his dame ; " My comeliness I throw upon thee. Guard me my feet and my hand." 56 1— Fool. " If death be a terror to thee. For the poor wife of most beauteous mien. The other foot thou wouldst give away A refuge in that hour for thy head.'' LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIR. 187 51* " Bheir mise mo bliriathra fos Ge mor leat na bheil thu ag radh Gu'n tig Gruagach a bhrait shroil 'S gu'n diol e ort pog a nihna." 52 " Fhuair mi o ghruagach a' chuirn Do leith chos a m' leig a steach ; Seideam fodhad i gu m' dheoin, 'S ma leigeas an r6d a mach." 53 Sh6id esan le dhraodhachd fhein A leith-chos f oidh mar bha i riamb ; 'S thuirt an gruagach a bha glic, " Gur tim dhomh bhith nis a triall." 5i Air f reagairt do Mhacabb mor, " Stad beag fathasd gu f6il mall ; A chas eile gu ceum cruaidh Bbeir mise uait no do cheann." 55 t 'Nuair a bha 'n gaisgeach an cas cruaidh, Duibh leum gu luath ri uchd na mnai, " Tilgidh mi mo chuimrin ( * ) ort ; Dion domh mo chosan 's mo lamh." 56 t " Ma 's h-eagal leat am b^s. Do 'n ghraidh-bhean a's ailne dealbh A' chas eile bheireadh tu uait ; — Didean, air an uair, dho d' cheann." 188 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 57 t — Bard. He was not allowed to come to words, When the great one was upon him, And unless t' other foot was given him Slice in two ! ere he could cry for Fionn. 50 * — G-RUAGACH. Then with his own glamour he put His two legs under him as they were, And said the Gruagach, who was wise, " It is time for me now to begone." 59 — Fool. " These feet I have now got below I yield not to thee nor to them, The day will not come that thou goest out, Till comes the Gruagach of the golden doon." 60— Gruagach. " I am the Gruagach of the golden doon. And great is my boast of thy good will. And (I am) the Gruagach of the white stag hound That fell into thy hand, 61 t " And that took these feet off thee To try thy courage and thy forco ; I blow them beneath thee again, Eight as straight as thou wert." 62* "Youth of most beauteous mein, I esteem thee great in each thing ; It was I took thy leg off thee _, To try thy valour and mind." LAOIDH AN AJXADAIN IfflOIR. 189 57 1 Cha d' leigeadh gu f ocail dh6 Nuair bha 'm fear mor as a chionn ; 'S gun a chos eile thoir dh6, Sgiol na dli6 ma 'n goirear Fionn. 58* Chuir e'n sin le dhruideachd fein A dha chos fodha mar bha iad riamh S thu'irt an Gruagach a bha glic " 'S mithich a nis a bhi triall." 59 •'Na casan seo fhuair mi fodham Cha leig mi leat iad na leo. Cha d' thig an la a theid thu mach Gus an d' thig gruagach Dhun an oir.'' 60 " 'S mise gruagach Dhun an oir, 'S bu mhor mo bhosd as do ruin, Agus gruagach gadhair bhain A tharladh ann an lamh thu. 61 t " 'S a thug na cosan ud diot A dhearbadh do ghniomh a's do lugh ; Seideam f odhad iad a ris Cheart cho direach 's a bha thu." 62* " Oganaich is ailte dreach Gut mor mo bheach ort 's gach cuis ; 'S gur mi bhun do chasan d' iot A dhearbhadh do ghniomh s do thurn.^' 190 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 63— Bakd. Then they laid hold hand on hand, Love on love, and good will on good will. One little tale on the dames,* A wondrous tale heard without a lie. * Together, like the fellowship of the Fane. And so the tale passed away. — (Gairloch.) ( 1 ) Fks, empty. K6s, a flower — probably the cup is called a flower. ( 2 ) The word is translated hind, roe, etc. It is the same word as elk, but it means a stag here. (3) Crann tabhail ia translated "sling" in Armstrong; but tabhail, according to the same authority, is " catapult j " "Crann" is a tree. It seems, then, that the word means some instrument made partly of wood, and used in the chase ; and I suspect it means cross-bow. Men are represented on the sculp- tured stones of Scotland shooting with cross-bows. See p. 100. ( * ) Guimeir, neat, trim, well-formed, elegance ; cuimrin, my elegance, my elegant self. LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIR. 191 63 Rug iad an sin lamli air lamh ; Gaol air ghaol a's minn air mhinn ; Aona sgeul beag air na mnai, Sgeul uamharr' a chualas gun bhreig. * Araon mar chomunn na Feinne 'S dh'imicli an sgeul mar sin. Caogad, fifty. Ibh, to drink. SlOSAU, I do not know this word, unless it is a corruption of sithean, a knoll. Stbbubh, I do not know unless it is a strath. The line might be read this way — Sithean, srath, a's feur a's fonn. Knoll, strath, grass, and land. Stios na lei, 1 think is slios na lei. LlA, an old name for a stream ; on the side of the stream. R6dh, I suspect, is ' ' very extensive." Maca mka, is, I think, a superior women. S61THEACH UR DAITE na dom, should be, I think, 'na dhorn. H. M'L. On the authority of Armstrong, and taking similar words, I have put a meaning on the doubtful line, but I am not sure that it is correct. See various readings, footnote. J. F. C. 192 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. LAOIDH AN AMADAIN MHOIR. Bha dithis bhraithrean uair an Eirinn, 's fear dhiu 'na righ 's fear na ridire. Bha iad posda le cheile. Air an ridire bha sliochd, 's cha robh sliochd air an righ idir. Bu tamailteach leis an ridire 's le 'chuid mac an rioghrchd a bhith aig an righ idir, 'Se an ni a bh' ann chruinnich iad arm le cheile air gach taobh. An latha blair a thug iad mharbhadh an ridire 's a thriuir mac. Bha bean an ridire trom, 's chuir an righ fios na 'm bu lean- abh mic a bhiodh aice a mharbhadh, ach na 'm bu leanabh nigh- inn a bhiodh ann a chumail beo 's a ghleidheadh. 'Se gille a bh' aice ; 's bha searbhanta cidsin a ataigh aig an robh mac diolain ; 's e Braomall a b' ainn di' agus 's e DomhnuU a bh' air a mac. Nuair a rugadh mac an ridire theich i aeo leia an dithia, mac an ridire 'a a mac fhein. Bha iad 'gam beathaohadh air taiUibh bean an ridire. Bna i 'n ain latha 's eagal gu 'm bhiodh acras orra dh' fhalbh i gu baile a dh' iarraidh bidh dhaibh. Bha 'n t-acraa orra, 's cha robh ise a' tighinn, 'a chunnaic iad tri feidh a' tighinn ionnsuidh na botha. Bha mac an ridire far an robh am fear eile 'a dh fhoighneachd a de na creutairean a bha 'n aiud. Dh' innis e dha gu'n robh creutairean air an robh biadh agua aodach. "Na 'm b' fheairde ainne e bheirinn orra," ara' eaan. Ruith e 's rug e air na tri feidh, 'a bha iad air coinneamh a mhuime nuair a thainig i. Dh' fheanu i iad, 'a dh' ith iad, 'a rinn i deise dhasan de chraicinn nam fiadh. Bha iad mar sec gu doigheil gus an do theirig na feidh 'a an d' thainig an t-acras orra a rithis, 'a chaidh ise an ain thun a' bhaile. Thainig each mor a bheanadh do'n righ de dhi each fiadhail far an robh iad. Dh' foighneachd esan de Dhomhnull d6 'm beathach a bha 'n aiud. "Tha 'n aiud beathach air am biotar a' deanadh spora ; biotar air a muin ga mharcachd." " Na'm b fheairde sinne e bheirinn air,'' ars' esan. ' ' Thusa a luidealaich dhona a bheireadh air a bheathach 'ud ! dh' fhairtlich e air duine 'a an rioghachd breith air. " Cha d' fhulaing e tuilleadh aeanachaia, ach thainig e mu 'n cuairt 's bhuail e dorn air Domhnull, 's chuir e 'n t-eanchainn aa. Chuir e stob daraich troimh a chluais 'a chroch e ri dorus na botha e. " Bi an sin caogad thar mhiosa,'' ars' esan. Shin e air an each an seo 's na craicinn alaodadh ris. Eug e air an each 's chaidh e air a mhuin ; 'a an t-each nach d' fhulaing LAOIDH AN AJIADAIN JfflOIE. 193 duine riamh fhaicinn thng e'n stabull air leis an eagal. Bha brathair 'athar an deigh mac fhaotainn o mhnaoi eile. Nuair a chunnaio esan am paileas ghabh e suas le ioghnadh a choimhead paileas brathair 'athar. Cha d' thubhairt a mhuime ria riamh ach an t-amadan mor agus "Creud orm." Nuair a mhothaich esan mac bhrathair 'athar ag iomain chaidh e far an robh e 's, "Creud orm," urs esan. " Co thusa," arsa mac an righ, " de dh' uaislean na de dh' an- uaislean na rioghachd aig am bheil a leithid sid de chaint ? " ' ' Tha mise, an t-amadan mor, mac bean an ridire, dalta na banaltrum, 's comhdhalta Dhomhnuill, mac ua banaltrum, a' falbh a' deanadh amadanachd domh fhein, 's na b' fheudar e 's mi a dheanadh amadan diotsa cuideachd." "Thusa a luidealaich dhona a dheanadh amadan dhiomsa," arsa Mac an Righ. Chuir e thairis an dorn 's chuir e 'n t-eanchainn as. " Bi thusa an sin caogad thar mhiosa mar a tha Domhnull mac na banaltrum agus stob daraich troimh a chluais. " Ghabh e staigh an sin far an robh an righ, " Creud orm ; " ars' esan. "Co thusa,'' ars' an righ, " de dh' uaislean na de dh' an-uais- lean an rioghachd aig am bheil a leithid sin de chomhradh ? " " 'Se mise an t-amadan mor, mac bhean an ridire, dalta na banaltrum, 's comhdhalta Dhomhnuill, mac na banaltrum, air falbh a' deanadh amadanachd dhomh fhein, 'a na 'm b' fheudar e 's mi a dheanadh amadan diotsa cuideachd. " "Mata cha tu a rinn diomsa e ach mo chomhairleach an lath, a mharbh mi t' athair nach do mharbh do mhathair." Dh' fhalbh an righ an sin leis. A' h-nile h-aon an sin a bha ag amas air 's a bhaile bha iad a' falbh leis, 's b' e siud am bean- nachadh "Creud orm.'' Bha boireannach riomhach anns an rioghachd, 's bha fachach mor an deigh a toirt air falbh. Smao- intich an sluagh na'n d' thugadh iad am fianuis a' bhoireannaich a bha 'n seo e, gu 'm gabhadh e cean urra, s' gu 'n leigeadh e'n sluagh air falbh ; gur docha gu 'n d' thigeadh iad eadar e fhein 's am fachach ; 's gu 'm marbhadh am fachach e. Leig e a chead do 'n t-sluagh 's mharbh e am fachach. Bha e 'n uair sin 'na Ian amadan. 194 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. An Ox " the Points Of whose Horns were Backwards instead of BEING Forwards." — From a stone at Fowlia Wester, near Crieff. — Sculptured Stones of Scotlmid, PL Ix. The sculpture probably represents a procession leading an ox to be sacrificed. LXXV. GUAIGEAN LADHRACH 'S LOIREAN SPAGACH. From Kate MacFarlane, as early as 1810, John Dewar, October, 1860. rpHERE was at some time a king in Albainn whose -*- name was Cumhal, and he had a great dog that used to watch the herds. When the cattle were sent out, the dog would lead them to a place where there might be good grass ; and the dog would herd them there for the day, and in the evening he would bring them home. There were certain people dwelling near to the king's house, and they had one son, and they used to send the GUAIGEAN LADHRACH S' LOIREAN SPAGACH. 195 son on matters to the king's house every evening. There was one beautiful sunny evening, and the boy was going to the king's house on a matter, and he had a ball and a shinny, and he was playing shinny forwards on the way to the king's house.* A dog met him, and the dog began to play with the ball ; he would lift it in his mouth and run with it. At last the boy struck a blow on the ball while it was in the dog's mouth, and he drove the ball down the dog's throat; he stuffed it down with the shank of the shinny, and he choked the dog ; and since he had choked the dog, he himself had to go and keep the king's cattle instead of the dog. He had to drive out the cattle in the morning, to drive them to good grass, and to stay and to herd them all day, for fear they should be stolen, and to bring them home in the evening, as the dog used to do. So since he killed the dog, and since it was in the place of the king's dog that he was, it was " Cu Chumhail " (Cual's dog) that they used to say to him ; and afterwards they altered the name to " CuthuUain." t On a day of the days, CuchuUin put out the cattle, and he drove them to a plain that was there, and he was herding them ; and he saw a giant who was so big that he thought he could see the lift between his legs, coming to the side where he was, and driving a great ox before him ; and there were two great horns on the ox, and their points were backwards instead of being forwards. The giant came forward with the ox where Cuchullin was, and he said, * This is a common practice among Highland laddies now. t The writer means the Ossianic hero, commonly called Cuchullin ; so I have followed the usual spelling rather than Dewar's, which is but another way of expressing,the same sound. 196 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " I am going to take a while of sleep here, and if thou seest any other man of the giants coming after me, awaken me. It may be that I will not easily be wakened, but waken thou me if thou canst." " What is waking to thee ? " said Cuchullin. " It is," said the giant, " to take the biggest stone thou canst find and strike me on the chest with it, and that will wake me." The giant lay and slept, and his snoring was as loud as thunder. But sleep was not long for him, till Cuchullin saw another giant coming, who was so big that he thought he could see the lift between his legs. Cuchullin ran and he began to awaken the first giant that came, but waken he would not. Cuchullin was shoving him, but his wakening could not be done ; but at last he lifted a great stone, and he struck the giant in the chest with it. The giant awoke, and he rose up sitting, and he said, " Is there another giant coming 1 " "There is; yonder he is," said Cuchullin, as he held his forefinger towards him. The giant struck his two palms on each other, and he said " Ach, he is ! " and he sprang on his feet. The other giant came forwards, and he said, " Yes ! Ghuaigean IMhraich,* thou hast stolen my ox." "I did not steal it, Loirean Sp^gaich," f said he, "I took it with me in the sight of every man as my own." Shamble Shanks seized one horn of the ox to take it with him, and Crumple Toes seized the other. Shamble Shanks gave a swift jerk at the horn which he had in his hand, and he took it off the bone ; he threw it from ' Crump-footed, toe-ish. t Straddling tracker, or shambling shanks. A bandy-legged man is spagach. GUAIGEAN LADHRACH S' LOIREAN SPAGACH. 197 him with all his strength, and he drove'_it into the earth, point foremost, and it went down into the earth to the root. Then he seized the^bone, and the two hauled at the ox to drag it from each other. At last the head of the ox split, and the ox tore asunder down through his very middle to the root of the tail. Then they threw the ox from them, and they began at wrestling ; and that was the wrestling ! there was no knowing which of them was the stronger. Cuchullin came to bring aid to Crumple Toes ; he could not reach up aloft to give a blow to Shamble Shanks mth a sword which he had, but he began to cut at the back of his legs to try to make a stair up the back of the giant's legs, up which he might climb to give him a blow of his sword. Shamble Shanks felt something picking the back of his legs, and he put down his hand and he threw Cuchullin away ; and where should Cuchullin go but foot foremost into the horn of the ox, and out of the horn he could not come. But at that time that Sham- ble Shanks was throwing Cuchullin away. Crumple Toes got a chance at him, and Shamble Shanks was levelled, and Crumple Toes got him killed. When that was done he looked about for Cuchullin, but he could not see him ; and he shouted, " Where art thou now, thou little hero that wert helping me ? " Quoth Cuchullin, "I am here in the horn of the ox." The giant went to try to take him out, but he could not put his hand far enough down into the horn ; but at last he straddled his legs, and he drove his hand down into the horn, and he got hold of Cuchullin between his two fingers, and he brought him up. Cuchullin went home with the cattle at the going down of the sun, and I heard no more of the j;ale. John Dewar. 198 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. I have not given the Gaelic of this, because there is nothing peculiar in the language. It is curious as having a general re- semblance to the adventures of Jack the Giant Killer and Tom Thumb, Thor, and other such worthies ; and as showing two well-known Ossianio heroes in a nursery tale, as " early as 1810." Cumhal the father of Fionn, and CuchuUin. I have another version of these incidents in a story dictated by Neil Macalister, Port Charlotte, Islay, and written by Mr. Car- michael at the request of my old friend, John MacLean, of Coul- abus. The Feinn were all in Islay to drive away the Lochlanners, and when they had succeeded, Cuchullin fell in with a fairy sweetheart, who had flocks and herds, and he staid, while the rest went north to fight the Lochlanners in Skye. The fairy sweetheart bore a son, and by desire of his father, called him Conlaoch. There was a neighbour called Garbh Mac Stairn, who was far stronger than Cuchullin, and one day he went to take hi3 fine light-coloured bull. Cuchullin disguised himself as a herd, met the giant, told him his mistress was ill in bed, and then ran round, and got into the bed behind her. The wife said she had got a baby, and the giant poked his finger into his mouth, to see if he would make " fisean Cuin," a whelp of Conn, and the hero.bit him to the bone. The wife complained of the draught from the door, lamenting her husband's absence, for he would turn the house away from the wind. The big man tried, but could not, so he made off to the cattle. The seeming herd got there before him, and they seized the bull by the horns, and tore him in two. Then they try the feats which Cuchullin could do. The giant carries a millstone which the herd cannot lift, to a hill top, and the herd rides it to the bottom. The giant tries, aud gets many a hard fall. They go to a rock more than a hun- dred fathoms high, and perform a feat which used to be attri- buted to Islay boys ; they "measure two feet and two fists" over the edge. The giant puts one heel on the edge, the other against his toe, stoops, and places his clenched hands on each other, on the other toe ; and tumbles headlong into the " fierce black green sea." Cuchullin gives a feast, and then goes to Skye to help Fionn, leaving a ring for his son. He grows up and follows, and his THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 199 mother swears him never to tell his name till forced. Oonlaooh finds the Feinn fighting at "Taigh Mheile ann an Dura." Fionn sends to find out his name. Conan goes ; they fight, and Conan is beat. Cuchullin goes, and the son keeps him off with his sword. They go out into the sea, to the bands of their kilts, to try " oath builg," and they cast their spears at each other, but the son casts shaft foremost. At last he is pierced by his father, and discovers himself ; and they curse the fairy mother. The last few lines are fragments of a poem, and make six verses. " The death of Conlaoch " is told in an undated quarto MSS. in the Advocates' Library ; the action is partly in Scythia, and there is much more incident. The poem of " Carthon," is founded on the incidents, but the names are different. This then is old, Ossianic, mythological, and Celtic ; it is common to Scotland and Ireland ; to MSS., print, and tradition. See Carleton Irish stories, Dublin, 1846, p. 107, etc. LXVI. CONALL GULBAN ; OE GUILBEINACH, OR GULBAIRNEACH. In translating this I have departed from my first plan, which was to give in all cases exactly what I got frain one man, and abstracts of other versions. In this case the longest version was translated ; and to its passages and notes were added from three other written versions : and from two of which I took notes myself. Where the same incidents are given by two men in different words, the passage which seemed best has been selected. Where one version has an additional incident which the rest have not, it is inserted in its order. Where versions vary, the variation is given in a note. Thus many passages are substituted and inserted, but I have carefully avoided adding anything of my own invention. At the earnest request of the publishers, the Gaelic of this long story is omitted, to make room for other 200 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. matter ; but the manuscript is preserved, and some few curious passages are given in foot notes. The chief " author," as the scribe calls him, is John MacNair, who lives at Clachaig, near the powder mills at Dunoon. The scribe is John Dewar, a labourer now working in the woods at Roseneath, and their version fills sixty foolscap pages. I find that there is a ten- dency to change dialogue into narrative in writing a story, as is the case here ; but when these men tell stories, dialogue predominates. MacNair, who is a shoemaker, got the story about thirty-five years ago from an old man named Duncan Livingston, who lived in Glendaruel, and was then about sixty-five. Dewar says that he was a shoemaker, and grandfather to another old shoemaker, James Leitch, who lives at Eas-clachain in Glendaruel, and from whose dictation Dewar has taken down several long and curious stories which I have. Leitch says that his grandfather "had Ossian's Poems by heart," and many tales " sgeulachd ; " and a list of those who . still know the latter is given. Of Livingston, MacNair says — " I have an interesting story about that old man. In the time of the American war, the laird was pressing the tenants to go, and this old man seemed not willing ; so they pursued him through a deep river, or burn, as we call it ; and when he saw he could not escape, he placed his leg between two stones and snapped it in two, so they had to carry him home. " The second version was written by Hector Mac- Lean, and fills twenty-five pages. The reciter was Alexander MacNeill, who lives in Barra, and who names as his authorities several old men. He also recited No. XXXVI. The third was also written by MacLean, from the THE STORY OF CON ALL GULBAN. 201 telling of John MacGilvray, labourer, Colonsay, in July 1860. It fills fourteen pages, and has this tra- dition attached to it, — " Two ministers, long ago, desirous of trying the powers of the Gaelic language, composed this story and the Knight of the Red Shield (No. LII.). MacLean suggests two Monks of lona. The fourth was written by Mr. Fraser of Mauld, near Beauly, Inverness-shire, and fills six pages. It was told by Dugald Martin in Crochal. I have heard the story told by various reciters, par- ticularly by Donald MacPhie in South Uist, and Charles Maclntyre in Benbecula. The latter spoke for an hour. I did not time the former, but he spoke for a long time, and I though his version the most consistent and the most complete story which I had then heard. The story then is very widely spread in Scotland — from Beauly on the east, to Barra on the west, and Dunoon and Paisley in the South. No two give it in the same words, or give exactly the same incidents ; but MacNair's version written in Dunoon, and Mac- Neill's in Barra, written independently by different scribes, so far as they go together, closely resemble each other. Dewar who is a very intelligent man, suggests that the story is "purely Irish," and that "it was composed about the time of the crusade, as it tells about the Turks invading the king of lubhar's country." He thinks the Green Isle is one of the Orkneys. " Innse torrain, the isles of Noise. Ossian's poem on Cathul," so called because covered with fir trees and with large rocks facing the sea, against which the waves make a great noise." (There are no trees in Orkney.) Dewar does not think this tale so old as many of the others which he has written for me. 3 14 202 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. My own opinion is that the story is mixed with the adventures of the Norse sea rovers who frequented the Western Isles ; and that it is impossible to say whether it was composed in Ireland or in Scotland ; but it is clear that it was composed a long time ago, and by some one able to imagine and carry out an elaborate plot. There are many old men in Scotland, widely separated, and who cannot read, who know the story and can remember the plot, in whole or in part ; so it must be old. It is also known in Ireland. I have traced the incidents amongst Irish labourers in London. One man, a bricklayer, had " seen Conall Gulban in an Irish manuscript ; " and a story so called is mentioned in the transactions of the Ossianic Society of Dublin. THE STOEY OF CONALL GULBAN. rpHERE was at some time a young king in Eirinn, and -*- when he came to man's estate the high counsellors of the realm were counselling him to marry ; but he him- self was inclined to go to foreign countries first, so that he might get more knowlege, and that he might be more instructed how the realm should be regulated ; and he put each thing in order for matters to be arranged till he should come back. He staid there a while till he had got every learning that he thought he could get in that realm. Then he left Greece and he went "do'n Fheadailte," to the Italy to get more learning. When he was in that country he made acquaintance with the young king of "an lubhair," and they were good com- rades together ; and when they had got every learning that they had to get in Italy, they thought of going home. The young king of the lubhar gave'an invitation to THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 203 the young king of Eirinn that he should go to the realm of the lubhar, and that he should stay a while there with him. The young king of Eirinn went with him, and they were together in the fortress of lubhar for a while, at sports and hunting. The king of lubhar had a sister who was exceedingly handsome ; she was " stuama beusach," modest and gentle in her ways, and she was right (well) instructed. The young king of Eirinn fell in love with her, and she fell in love with the young king of Eirinn, and he was willing to marry her, and she was willing so marry him, and the king of lubhar was willing that the wedding should go on ; but the young king of Eirinn went home first, and he gathered together the high counsellors of the realm, and he told them what he desired to do ; and the high counsellors of the realm of Eirinn counselled their king to marry the sister of the king of lubhar.* The king of Eirinn went back and he married the king's sister ; and the king of the lubhar and the king of Eirinn made " co-cheanghal " a league together. If straits, or hardships, or extremity, or anything counter should come upon either, the other was to go to his aid. When they had settled each thing as it should be, the two kings gave each other a blessing, and the king of Eirinn and his queen went home to Eirinn. At the end of a little more than a year j after that they had a young son, and they gave him Eobhan as a * This seems to shew that Celtic kings did not act without the consent of their chiefs ; and this appears in other places, in this, and in many other stories. lubhar is a name for Newry, but the atory is not consistent with the supposition that Newry is meant. I suspect Jewry is the word, and that the Holy Land is meant. •(• The island reciter always say, ' ' at the end of three quar- ters," etc. 204 WEST HIGHLAND -TALES. name. Good care was taken of tim, as should be of a king's son. At the end of a little more than a year after that they had another son, and they gave him Claidhean as a name. Care was taken of this one as had been taken of his brother ; and at more than a year after that they had another son, and they gave him Conall as a name, and care was taken of him as had been taken of the two others.* * The parentage and education of Conall are differently given in a very good, though short version, written by Mr. Fraser of Mauld. It is called the tale of Conall Guilbeanach, son of the King of Eirinn, and Gealmhaiseach mhin (fair, beauteous, smooth) daughter of the King of Lochlann. A king of Eirinn was fond of the chase, and on a fine spring day he chased the deer till he lost his dogs and his people. In the gray of the evening he sat on the side of a green knoll, be- hind the wind and before the sun, and he heard a voice beside him say, " Hail to thee. King of Eirinn.'' "Hail to thyself, thou old gray man," said the king. The old man took him into the mountain, and there he saw what he had never seen before : such food and drink, meat and music and dancing ; and the old man had a beautiful daughter. He slept that night, and when he arose in the morniug he heard the cry of a child ; and he had to stay for the christening of his son, and he was named Conal Guilbeanach. The king sent him venison from time to time, and he grew up to be a stalwart youth, swift and strong. Then war sprung up between the King of Eirinn and the King of Lochlann ; and the king sent Caoilte (one of the Feine), the swiftest man in the realm, for Conall, and he could not keep up with Conall on the way home. The old gray man gave him a sword, and he said " Here is for thee, Conall, ' a Gheur Ghlas ' (the keen gray), that I got myself from Gisean MacOscar na Feinne," etc. An old man in Benbecula, Donald Maclntyre, told me this story in 1859. It lasted about an hour, and I did not take notes, but his version was the same as Mr. Fraser'j,..so far. A king of Eirinn gets lost in a magic mist, is entertained by a gray old THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 20-"> They were coming on well, and at the fitting time a teacher was got for them. When they had got about as much learning as the teacher could give them, thej' were one day out at play, and the king and the queen were going past them, and they were looking at their children (clann). Said the queen, " This is well, and well enough, but more than this must be done for the children yet. I think that we ought to send them to Gruagach Bhein Eidinn to learn feats and heroes' activity (luth ghaisge), and that there is not in the sixteen realms another that is as good as the Gruagach of Beinn Eidinn.* man, stays in his house for a night, sees the man's daughter, " and wheresoever the girl slept, it was there the king rose in the morning." He had been there a year and a day. ConaU was boru, and when the king went home he said nothing about his adventures. The man who was sent for ConaU, when war broke out with the Tarks, and the king's two sons refused to stay, was so swift that he could cover seven ridges at a stride ; but ConaU beat him at all feats of agility, and when he came home with him he was seven ridges before him ; and as he went he kept a golden apple playing aloft with the points of his two spears, etc. Old Donald MacPhie, in South Uist, also told me the story. Like all versions which I have heard, it was full of metrical prose passages, "runs,'' as they are called. His version agreed with Maclntyre's as to the parentage of Conall. The correct reading then seems to be, that Conall's two bro- thers were the sons of the queen, but that the hero was the sou of the daughter of the Gruagach (?tbe Druid) of Beinn Eudain, an old gray man, who lived in the mountain, and who had been a comrade of Oisean and the Feine. Conall had the blood of the ancient heroes in his veins, and they helped tbeir descendant. * Dewar says, '* a master of arts and sciences, a title, ohl Gaelic ; " but he says so only on the authority erf his stories. I suspect the word to be the same as Druidbach, a Druid or magi- 206 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. The king agreed with her, and word was sent for the Gruagach. He came, and Eobhan and Claidhean were sent with him to Bein Eidinn to learn feats and activity, and what thing so ever besides the Gruagach could teach them. They thought that Conall was too young to send him there at that time. When Eobhan and Claidhean were about a year by the Gruagach, he came with them to their father's house ; they were sent back again, and the Gruagach was giving every learning to the king's children. He took them with him one day aloft up Beinn Eidinn, and when they were on high about half the mountain, the king's children saw a round brown stone, and as if it were set aside from other stones. They asked what was the reason of that stone being set aside so, rather than all the other stones on the mountain. The Gruagach said to them that the name of that stone was "Clach nan gaisgeach," the stone of the heroes. Any one that could lift that stone till he could place the wind between it and earth, that he was a hero. Eobhan went to try to lift the stone ; he put his arms about it, and he lifted it up to his knees ; Claidh- ean seized the stone, and he put the wind between it and earth. Said the Gruagach to them, " Ye are but young and tender yet, be not spoiling yourselves with things that are too weighty for you. Stop till the end of a year after this and you will be stronger for it than you are now." The Gruagach took them home and taught them feats and activity, and at the end of a year he took them cian ; and that this relates to some real school of arms and war- like exercises. What the sixteen realms may mean I don't know. THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 207 again up the mountain. Eobhan and Claidhean went to the stone ; Eobhan lifted it to his shoulder top, and set it down ; Claidhean lifted the stone up to his lap, and the Gruagach said to them, " There is neither want of strength or learning with you ; I will give you over to your father.'' At the end of a few days after that, the Gruagach went home to the king's house, and he gave them to their father ; and he said that the king's sons were the strongest and the best taught that there were in the sixteen realms. The king gave thanks and reward to the Gruagach, and he sent Conall with him. The Gruagach began to teach Conall to do tricks and feats, and Conall pleased him well ; and on a day he took Conall with him up the face of Beinn Eidinn, and they reached the place where the round brown stone was. Conall noticed it, and he asked as his brothers had done ; and the Gruagach said as he said before. Conall put his hands about the stone, and he put the wind between it and earth ; and they went home, and he was with the Gruagach getting more knowledge. The next year after that they went up Beinn Eidinn where the round brown stone was. Conall thought that he would try if he was (na bu mhurraiche) stronger to lift the heroes' stone. He caught the stone, and he raised it on the top of the shoulder, and on the faggot gathering place of his back, and he carried it aloft to the top of Beinn Eidinn, and down to the bottom of Beinn Eidinn, and back again ; and he left it where he found it. And the Gruagach said to him, " Ach ! thou hast enough of strength, if thou hast enough of swiftness.'' The Gruagach shewed Conall a black thorn bush that was a short way from them, and he said, " If thou canst 208 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. give me a blow with that black thorn bush yonder, before I reach the top of the mountain, I may cease giving thee instructions," and the Gruagach ran up the hill. Conall sprang to the bush ; he thought it would take too much time to cut it with his sword, and he pulled it out of the root, and he ran after the Gruagach with it ; and before he was but a short way up the mountain, Conall was at his back striking him about the backs of his knees with the black thorn bush. The Gruagach said, " I will stop giving thee instruc- tions, and I will go home and I will give thee up to thy father." The Gruagach wished to go home with Conall, but Conall was not willing till he should get every know- ledge that the Gruagach could give him ; and he was with him after that more than a year, and after that they went home. The king asked the Gruagach how Conall had taken up his learning. "It is so," said the Gruagach, "that Conall is the man that is the strongest and best taught in the sixteen realms, and if he gets days he will increase that heroism yet.'' The king gave full reward and thanks to the Grua- gach for the care he had taken of his son. The Gruagach gave thanks to the king for the reward he had given him. They gave each other a blessing, and the Gruagach and the king's sons gave each other a blessing, and the Gruagach went home, and he was Mac-Nair. fyUy pleased.*] * So far I have followed MacNair's version, which is the only one with this part. I have shortened it by striking out repeti- tions ; but I have followed Dewar's spelling of the names. The THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 209 The young King of Eirinn and the king of Laidheann were comrades, and fond of each other ; and they used to go to the green mound to the side of Beinn Euadain to seek pastime and pleasure of mind. The King of Eirinn had three sons, and the King of Laidheann one daughter ; and the youngest son that the King of Eirinn had was Conall. On a day, as they were on the green mound at the side of Beinn Eudain, they saw the seeming of a shower gathering in the heart of the north-western airt, and a rider of a black filly coming from about the shower ; and he took (his way) to the green mound where were the King of Eirinn and the King of Laidheann, and he blessed the men, and he inquired of them. The King of Eirinn asked what he came about ; and he said that he was going to make a request to the King of Eirinn, if it were so that he might get it. The King of Eirinn said that he should get it if it should be in his power to give it to him. " Give me a loan of a day and a year of Conall thy son.'' " I myself promised that to thee," said the King of Eirinn ; " and unless I had promised thou shouldst not get him." He took Conall with him. Now the King of Eirinn went home ; he laid down music, and raised up woe, lamenting his son ; he laid vows on himself that he would not stand on the green mound till a day and a next bit may be but another version of the education of the warrior, but it seems as if something were wanted to complete it. It is the beginning of the story as told in Barra, and I give it as part of the same thing. It agrees with 'the mysterious origin of Conall. 310 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. year should run out. There then he was at home, heavy and sad, till a day and a year had run. At the end of a day and year he went to the green mound at the side of Beinn Eudain. There he was a while at the green mound, and he was not seeing a man coming, and he was not seeing a horseman coming, and he was under sorrow and under grief. In the same airt of the heaven, in the mouth of the evening, he saw the same shower coming, and a man upon a black filly in it, and a man behind him. He went to the green mound where the man was coming, and he saw the King of Laidheann. " How dost thou find thyself. King of Eirinn ? " " I myself am but middling." "What is it that lays trouble on thee. King of Eirinn ? " " There is enough that puts trouble upon me. There came a man a year from yesterday that took from me my son ; he promised to be with me this day, and I cannot see his likeness coming, himself or my son." "Wouldst thou know thy son if thou shouldst see him 1 " " I think I should know him for all the time he has been away." " There is thy son for thee then," said the lad who came." " Oh, it is not ; he is unlike my son ; so great a change as might come over my son, such a change as that could not come over him since he went away." " He is all thou hast for thy son." "Oh, you are my father, surely," said Conall. "Thanks be to thee, king of the chiefs and the mighty! that Conall has come," said the King of Eirinn ; " I am pleased that my son has come. Any THE STORY OF GONALL GULBAN. 211 one thing that thou settest before me for bringing my son home, thou shalt get it, and my blessing." "I will not take anything but thy blessing; and if I get thy blessing I am paid enough." He got the blessing of the King of Eirinn, and they parted ; and the King of Eirinn and his children went home.] MaoNeUi. After the sons of the King of Eirinn had gotten their learning, they themselves, and the king and the queen, were in the fortress ; and they were full of rejoicing with music and joy, when there came a mes- senger to them from the King of lubhar, telling that the Turcaich were at war with him to take the land from him ; and that the realm of lubhar was sore beset by the Turks ; that they were (lionar nearthmhor 's borb) numerous, powerful, and proud (RA gharg), right fierce, merciless without kindliness, and that there were things incomprehensible about them ; though they were slain to-day they would be alive to-morrow, and they would come forward to hold battle on the next day, as fierce and furious as they ever were; and the messenger was entreating the King of Eirinn to go to help the King of lubhar, according to his words and his cove- nants.* The King of Eirinn must go to help the King of the lubhar, because of the heavy vows : if strife, danger, straits, or any hardship should come against the one king, that the other king was to go to help him. t] . MaoNair. * All versions agree that there was war between Eirinn and the Turks. t This is the fullest version. MacNeill gives the same inci- dents in a verjr few words. The Colonsay man, MacGilvray, begins here. "The King of Eirinu thought that "he would go to put the Turks out of the realm of the Emperor — Impire.'' 212 WEST HIGHLAND TALKS. They put on them for going ; and when they had put on them for going away, they sent away a ship with provisions * and with arms. There went away right good ships loaded with each thing they might require ; noble ships indeed. The King of Eirinn and the King of Laidheann gave out an order that every man in the kingdom should gather to go. The King of Eirinn asked, '' Is there any man about to stay to keep the wives and sons of Eirinn, till the King of Eirinn come back ? Oh, thou, my eldest son, stay thou to keep the kingdom of Eirinn for thy father, and thine is the third part of it for his life, and at his death." "Thou seemest light minded to me, my father," said the eldest son, "when thou speakest such idle talk; I would rather hold one day of battle and combat agapst the great Turk, than that I should have the kingdom of Eirinn altogether." "There is no help for it," said the king. "But thou, middlemost son, stay thou to keep the kingdom of Eirinn for thy father, and thine is the half for his life, and at his death." "Do not speak, my father, of such a silly thing! What strong love should you have yourself for going, that I might not have 1 " " There is no help for it," said the King of Eirinn. "Oh, Gonall," said the king, "thou that hast ever earned my blessing, and that never deserved my curse, stay thou to keep the wives and sons of Eirinn for thy father until he himself returns home again, and thou Another version also says that the king had gone to put the Turks out of the realm of the Emperor. * The word proveeshon has been adopted by reciters. THE STORY OF CON ALL GULBAN. 213 shalt have the realm of Eirinn altogether for thyself, for my life, and at my death." " Well then, father, I will stay for thy blessing, and not for the realm of Eirinn, though the like of that might be." *] Ma,cXeiU The king thought that Conall was too young for the realm to be trusted to him ; he gathered his high coun- sellors and he took their counsel about it. The coun- sellors said that Conall was surely too young, but that was (faillinn a bha daonan a dol am feobhas) a failing that was always bettering ; though he was young, that he would always be growing older ; and that as Eobhan and Claidhean would not stay, that it was best to trust the realm to Conall]. jracNair. Then here went the great nobles of Eirinn, and they put on them for going to sail to the realm of the Tuirc, themselves and the company of the King of Laid- hean altogether.!] MacNeiiL They went away, and Conall went along with them to the shore ; he and his father and his brothers gave a blessing to each other ; and the King of Eirinn and his two sons, Eobhan and Claidhean, went on board of a ship, and they hoisted the speckled flapping sails up against the tall tough masts ; and they sailed the ship fiulpandel fiullande.§ Sailing about the sandy ocean, where the biggest beast eats the beast that is least, and the beast that is least is fleeing and hiding as best he *The Colonaay version and MacNair's give the same inci- dents ; and Conall says that if the others get as much as Eirinn, they will be well off. "Thou art wise, Conall," said the king ; and Conall was crowned King of Eirinn before the started. f The other versions do not say that the company of the King of Laidhean went, but it is implied. J Bounding. § Seaworthy. Mao^aia-. 214 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. may ; and the ship would split a hard oat seed in the midst of the sea, so well would she steer ; and so she was as long as she was in the sight of Conall. And Conall was heavy and dull when his father and brothers left him, and he sat down on the shore and he slept ; and the wakening he got was the one wave sweeping him out, and the other wave washing him in against the shore. Conall got up swiftly, and he said to himself, " Is this the first exploit I have done ! It is no wonder my father should say I was too young to take care of the realm, since I cannot take care of myself." He went home and he took better care of himself after that]. There was not a man left in the realm of Eirinn but Conall ; and there was not left a man* in the realm of Laidheann, but the daughter of the King of Laidheann, and five hundred soldiers to guard t her. Anna Diucalas, daughter of the King of Laidheann, was the name of that woman, the very drop of woman's blood that was the most beautiful of all that ever stood on leather of cow or horse. Her father left her in his castle, with five hundred soldiers to keep her ; and she had no man with her in Laidheann but the soldiers, and Conall was by himself in the realm of Eirinn. Then sorrow struck Conall, and melancholy that he should stay in the realm of Eirinn by himself ; that he himself was better than the people altogether, though they had gone away. Ho thought that there was nothing that would take his care and his sorrow from off him * A man, doine, means a human being. t Guard, this is an English word which has crept into Gaelic stories ; saighdair probably meant archer ; it'means soldier. THE STORY OF CON ALL GULBAX. 215 better, than to go to the side of Beinn Eudainn to the green mound. He went, and he reached the green mound ; he laid his face downwards on the hillock, and he thought that there was no one thing that would suit himself better, than that he should find his match of a woman. Then he gave a glance from him, and what should he see but a raven sitting on a heap of snow ;* and he set it before him that he would not take a wife forever, but one whose head should be as black as the raven, and her face as fair as the snow, and her cheeks as red as blood. Such a woman was not to be found, but the one that the King of Laidheann left within in his castle, and it would not be easy to get to her, for all the soldiers that her father left to keep her ; but he thought that he could reach her. * This incident, with variations, is common. It is clear that the raven ought to have been eating something to suggest the blood ; and so it is elsewhere. Mr. Fraser of Mauld, Inverness, East Coast. He had gone to see his grandfather, the mysterious old gray man. ' ' When he got up in the morning there was a young snow, and the raven was upon a spray near him, and a bit of flesh in his beak. The piece of flesh fell, and Conall went to lift it; and the raven said to him, that Fair Beauteous Smooth was as white as the snow upon the spray, her cheek as red as the flesh that was in his hand, and her hair as black as the feather that was in his wing." MacPhie, Uist. On i» snowy day Conall saw a goat slaughtered, and a black raven came to drink the blood. " Oh," says he, " that I could marry the girl whose breast is as white as the snow, whose cheeks are red as the blood, and whose hair is as black as the raven ; and Conall fell sick for love. (Benbecula) Macintyre gave the same incident. The Colonsay version introduces an old nurse instead. MacNair simply says that Conall heard of the lady. 216 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. He went away, and there went no stop on his foot nor rest on his head, till he reached the castle in which MaoNeU. was the daughter of the King of Laidheann.] He took (his burden) upon him, and he went on board of a skiff, and he rowed till he came on shore on the land of the King of Laidheann.* He did not know the road, but he took a tale from every traveller and walker that he fell in with, and when he came near to the dun of the king of Laidheann, he came to a small strait. There was a ferry boat on the strait, but the boat was on the further side of the narrows. He stood a little while looking at its breadth ; at last he put his palm on the point of the spear, and the shaft in the MacNair. ggg^^ jjg gave his rounded sf)ring, and he was over.] Then here he was on a great top that was there, and he was looking below beneath him, and he saw the very finest castle (luchairt) that ever was seen from the beginning of the universe to the end of eternity, and a great wall at the back of the fortress, and iron spikes within a foot of each other, about and around it ; and a man's head upon every spike but the one spike. Fear struck him, and he fell a shaking. He thought that it was his own head that would go on the head- MiicGiivray.less spike.] The dun was guarded by nine ranks of soldiers. There were nine warriors (curaidhnean) at the back of the soldiers that were as mighty as the nine * It seems hopeless to try to explain this topography. Laid- heann should be Leinster, and lubhar might be Newry, and JBeinn Eudainn or Eideinn is like the Gaelic for Edinburgh, though the stories place the hill in Ireland ; and here are the king of Eiriim and his son rowing and sailing about from realm to realm in Ireland, and the Turks at Newry a foreign land. If lubhar mean Jewry, and this is a romance of the crusades, it is more reasonable. THE STOKY OF CONALL GULBAN. 217 ranks of soldiers. There were behind the warriors six heroes (gasgaich) that were as mighty as the nine war- riors and the nine ranks of soldiers. There were be- hind these six heroes three full heroes (lan gasgaich) that were as mighty as all that were outside of them ; and there was one great man behind these three, that was as mighty as the whole of the people that there were altogether, and many a man tried to take out Ann luchdaris,* but no man of them went away alive. He came to near about the soldiers, and he asked leave to go in, and that he would leave the woman as she was before. "I perceive," said one of them, "that thou art a beggar that was in the land of Eirinn; what worth would the king of Laidheann have if he should come and find his daughter shamed by any one coward of Eirinn.'' "I will not be long asking a way from you,'' said Conall.] " w»>=NeU Conall looked at the men who were guarding the dun ; he went a sweep round about with ears that were sharp to hear, and eyes rolling to see. A glance that he gave aloft to the dun he saw an open window, and Breast of Light on the inner side of the window comb- ing her hair. Conall stood a little while gazing at her, but at last he put his palm on the point of his spear, he gave his rounded spring, and he was in at the window beside Breast of Light. * This name is variously spelt : — 1, as above ; 2, Anna Diu- calas ; and 3, An Uchd Solais. The first is like a common French name, Eucharis, the second Maclean thinks has some- thing to do with the raven black hair. The third was used by the Colonsay man and means bosom of light. All three have a similar sound, and I take Breast of Light as the most poetical.] JUcK.air. 3 IS 218 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. MacNaiij, MacNeill, B;u-ra. MacNeill. " Who is he this youth that sprang so roundly in at the window to see me ? '' said she. "There is one that has come to take thee away," said Conall. Breast of Light gave a laugh, and she said — "Sawest thou the soldiers that were guarding the dun 1 " "I saw them," said he; "they let me in, and they will let me out." She gave another laugh,, and she said — " Many a one has tried to take me out from this, but none has done it yet, and they lost their luck at the end ; my counsel to thee is that thou try it not." Conall put his hand about her very waist ; he raised her in his oxter ; he took her out to the rank of soldiers ; he put his palm on the point of his spear, and he leaped over their heads ; he ran so swiftly that they could not see that it was Breast of Light that he had, and when he was out of sight of the dun he set her on the ground.] {Was not tliat the hero and the worthy wooer J that his like is not to be found to day .')] Breast of Light heaved a heavy sigh from her breast. " What is the meaning of thy sigh ? " said Conall. "It is," said she, "that there came many a one to seek me, and that suffered death for my sake, and that it is (gealtair) the coward of the great world that took me away." " I little thought that the very coward of Eirinn that should take me out, who staid at home from cowardice in the realm of Eirinn, and that my own father should leave five hundred warriors to watch me, without one drop of blood taken from one of them.''] "How dost thou make that out ? " said Conall. "It is," said she, " that though there were many men about the dun, fear would not let thee tell the sorriest THE STORY OF C:ONALL GULBAN. 219 of them who took away Breast of Light, nor to what side she was taken." * (Tliat's it — the women ever Imd a torturing tongue, teanga ghointe.)] MaeNeill. Said Conall — " Give me thy three royal words, and thy three baptismal vows, that thou wilt not move from that, and I will still go and tell it to them." " I will do that," said she.] MacNair. Conall turned back to the dun, and nothing in the world, in the way of arms, did he fall in with but one horse's jaw which he found in the road ;] and when he arrived he asked them what they would do to a man that should take away Breast of Light. "It is this," said they, " to drive off his head and set it on a spike." Conall looked under them, over them, through, and before them, for the one of the biggest knob and slenderest shanks, and he caught hold of the slenderest shanked and biggest knobbed man, and with the head of that one he drove the brains out of the rest, and the brains of that one with the other's heads. Then he drew his sword, and he began on the nine warriors, and he slew them, and he killed the six heroes that were at their back, and the three full heroes that were behind these, and then he had but the big man. Conall struck him a slap, and d'rove his eye out on his cheek, he levelled him and stripped his clothes off,] and he left no Ma^Nair. one to tell a tale or wear out bad news, but the one to whom he played the clipping of a bird and a fool, and though there should be ten tongues of a true wise bard in that man's head, it is telling his own exploits, and * Macgilvray also gives this incident, but onnits the next. She kilted her gown and followed him, 220 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Fi om a Stone in the Cemetery of Inch Brayoe, in the South Esk. Sculptured Stones of Scotland, PL Ixviii. What the artist meant who sculptured the stone from which this woodcut is taken is not clear, but the three lower figures THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 221 those of his men that he would be ; the plight that the youth who had come to the town had made of them.*] M;i(Xoiii. He asked him where was the king of Laidheann, and the big man said that he was in the hunting hill with his court and his following (dheadhachail) of men and beasts. Said Conall to him — "I lay it on thee as disgrace and contempt (tair agus tailceas) that thou must go stripped as thou art to tell to the king of Laidheann that Conall Guilbeanaeh came, the son of the king of Eirinn, and that he has taken away his daughter Breast of Light. t When the big man understood that he was to have his life along with him, he ran in great leaps, and in a rough trot, like a venomous snake, or a deadly dragon; J he would catch the swift March wind that was before him, but the swift March wind that was after him could not catch him. The King of Laidheann saw him coming, and he said, " What evil has befallen the dun might mean Conall knocking out the big man's eye with a jaw bone, and the lady looking on. It might mean Samson slaying a Philistine. The upper part might represent the king hunting, bat there is a nondescript figure which will not fit, unless it be the monster which was slain at the palace of the King of Light. The date and origin of stone and story are alike unknown, but they are both old and curious, and may serve as rude illustrations of past customs and dresses and of each other. * This is common to many stories. Beaarradh e6in us amadain, means shaving and clipping and stripping one side of a man, like a bird with one wing pinioned. t The spirit of this is like the Icelandic code of honour described in the Njal Saga. It was all fair to kill a man if it was done openly, or even unawares if the deed were not hidden, and here the lady was offended because the swain had not declared his name, and quite satisfied when he did. J Na leumanan garbh 's na gharbh threte mar nathair nimh na mar bheithir bheumanach. 222 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. this day, when the big man is coming thus stark naked to us 1 " They sat down, and he came. Said the king, "Tell us thy tale, big man ■ That which I have is the tale of hate, that there came Conall Guilbeanach, son of the King of Eirinn, and slew all that there were of men to guard the dun, and it was not my own might or my own valour that rescued me rather than the sorriest that was there, but that he laid it on me as disgrace and reproach that I should go thus naked to tell it to my king, to tell him that there came Conall Guilbeanach, son of the King of Eirinn, and he has taken away Breast of Light, thy daughter." " Much good may it do him then," said the King of Laidheann. " If it is a hero like that who has taken her away he will keep her better than I could keep her, and my anger will not go after her."*] Conall returned, and he reached the woman after he had finished the hosts. "Come now," said he to Breast of Light, daughter of the King of Laidheann, "and walk with me; and unless thou hadst given me the spiteful talk that thou gavest, the company would be alive before thy father, and since thou gavest it thou shalt walk thyself. Let thy foot be even with mine." (My fine fellow Conall, tliafs the way idth her.) ] She rose well-pleased, and she went away with him ; they reached the narrows, they put out the ferry boat, and they crossed the strait. Conall had neither steed, horse, nor harness to take Breast of Light on, and she had to take to her feet. * The king's company had started for the wars ; it is to be assumed the king followed . THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 223 When they reached where Conall had left the currach they put the boat on the brine, and they rowed over the ocean. They came to land at the lower side of Bein Eidin, in Eirinn. They came out of the boat, and they went on forward.] MaoKair. They reached the green mound at the foot of Bein Eidin.] ir.icNeiu. Conall told Breast of Light that he had a failing, every time that he did any deed of valour he must sleep before he could do brave deeds again.*] MaoN»ir. " There now, I will lay my head in thy lap." " Thou shalt not, for fear thou should'st fall asleep.'' " And if I do, wilt thou not waken me ?" " What manner of waking is thine 1 " " Thou shalt cast me greatly hither and thither, and if that will not rouse me, thou shalt take the breadth of a penny piece of flesh and hide from the top of my head. If that will not wake me, thou shalt seize on yonder great slab of a stone, and thou shalt strike me * MaoNair also gives the uext passage in different words, and with the variation that the joint of his little finger was to be cut off. Maogilvray, the same in different words. According to the introduction to Njal Saga, there were in Iceland long ago gifted men of prodigious strength, who, after performing feats of super- human, force, were weak and powerless for a time. While en- gaged in London about this story, an Irish bricklayer came to mend a fire-jjlace, and I asked him if he had ever heard of Conall Gulban, " Yes sure," said the man with a grin, " he was one of the Finevanians, and when he slept they had to cut bits offbim, before he could be wakened. They were cutting his fingers off." And then he went away with his hod. The incident is common in Gaelic stories, and Conall is men- tioned in a list of Irish stories in the transactions of the Osijiauic society. 224 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. MacNeill. MacNeill and Mac- MacNair. between the moutt and nose, and if that will not rouse me thou may est let me be," He laid his head in her lap,* and in a little instant he fell asleep. He was not long asleep when she saw a great vessel sailing in the ocean. Each path was crooked, and each road was level for her, till she came to the green mound at the side of Bein Eidin. There was in the ship but one great man, and he would make rudder in her stern, cable in her prow, tackle in her middle, each rope that was loose he would tie, and each rope that was fast he would loose], and the front of each rope that was on board was towards him,]t till he came on shore at the shoulder of Bein Eidin.] He came in with the ship at the foot of Bein Eidin, and the big man leapt on shore ; he caught hold of the prow of the ship,! and he hauled her her own nine lengths and nine breadths up upon green grass, where the force of foes could not move her out without feet following behind them. He came where Breast of Light was, and Conall asleep, with his head on her knee. He gazed at Breast of Light, and she said, — ] " What side is before thee for choice 1 Or where art thou going ? " * And he laid his head in her lap, and she — dressed— his hair. (MacPhie, Uist.) This is always the case in popular tales of all countries, and the practice is common from Naples to Lapland. I have seen it often. The top of his little finger was to be cut off to rouse him, and if that failed, a bit from his crown, and he was to be knocked about the ribs, and a stone placed on his chest. f MacGilvray gives the incident in different words. + Long means a large ship. '" THE STORY OF COXALL GULBAN. TZi) " Well, they were telling me that Breast of Light, daughter of the King of Laidheann, was the finest woman in the world, and I was going to seek her for myself." " That is hard enough to get," said she. " She is in yonder castle, with five hundred soldiers for her guard, that her father left there." " Well," said he, " though she were brighter than the sun, and more lovely than the moon, past thee I will not go." " Well, thou seemest silly to me to think of taking me with thee instead of that woman, and that I am not worthy to go and untie her shoe." "Be that as it will, thou shalt go with me.J I know MacKeiU. that it is thou by thy beauty. Breast of Light, daughter of the king of Laidheann." " Thou hast the ■washing knowledge of me," said she ; " I am not she, but a farmer's daughter, and this is my brother ; he lost the flock this day, and he was running after them backwards and forwards throughout Bein Eudain, and now he is tired and taking a while of sleep."] JtneXair. " Be that as it will," said he, " there is a mirror in my ship, and the mirror will not rise up for any woman in the world, but for " Uchd Soluisd," daughter of the King of Laidheann. If the mirror rises for thee, I will take thee with me, and if it does not I will leave thee there.'' He went to the mirror, and fear would not let her cut cflf the little finger, and she could not awaken Conall. The man looked in the mirror, and the mirror rose up for her, and he went back where she was.] jEaegUvi-ay. Said the big one, " I will be surer than that of my matter before I go further." He plucked the blade of Conall from the sheath, and it was full of blood. 3 i6 226 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. M»cNair. MacNeill. " Ha ! " said he, " I am right enough in my guess. Waken thy champion, and we will try with swift wrest- ling, might of hands, and hardness of blades, which of us has best right to have thee." * " Who art thou ? " said Breast of Light. "I," said the big man, "am Mac-a-Moir MacKigh Sorcha (son of the mighty, son of the King of Light). It is in pursuit of thee I came." f] " Wilt thou not waken my companion," said she. He went, and he felt him from the points of the thumbs of his feet till he went out at the top of his head. " I cannot rouse the man myself ; I like him as well asleep as awake."] Breast of Light got up, and she began to rock (a chriothnachadh) Conall hither and thither, but he would not take waking. Said Mac-a-Moir — "Unless thou wakest him thou must go with me and leave him in his sleep." Said she — " Give thou to me before I go with thee thy three royal words and thy three baptismal vows that thou wilt not seek me as wife or as sweetheart till tke end of a day and a year after this, to give Conall time to come in my pursuit.'' * A good illustration of the law of the strongest, which seems to have been the law of the Court of Appeal in old times in Ice- land, and probably in Ireland and Scotland also. t Here, as it seems to me, the mythological character of the legend appears. Sorcha is light, in opposition to Dorch, darlc ; and further on a lady is found to match the king of Sorcha, who is in a lofty turret which no man could scale, but which the great warrior pulled down. So far as I know there is no place which now goes by the name of Sorcha, unless it be the island of Sark. According to Donald MacPhie (Uist), this was Righ- an-Domhain, the King of the Universe, which again indicates mythology. THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 227 Mac-a-Moir gave his three royal words and his three baptismal vows to Breast of Light, that she should be a maiden till the end of a day and a year, to give time to Conall to come in pursuit of her, if he had so much courage. Breast of Light took the sword of Conall from the sheath, and she wrote on the sword how it had fallen out. She took the ring from oflf the finger of Conall, and she put her own ring on his finger in its stead, and put Conall's ring on her own finger, and she went away with Mac-a-Moir, and they left Conall in his sleep.] He took the woman with him on his shoulder iiaoNair. and he went to the ship. He shoved out the ship and he gave her prow to sea, and her stern to shore; he hoisted the flapping white sails against the mast, tall and enduring, that would not leave yard unbent, sail untorn, running the seas, ploochkanaiche plachkanaiche, blue clouds of Lochlanach, the little buckie that was seven years on the sea, clattering on her floor with the excellence of the lad's steering. When Conall awoke on the green mound he had but himself, a shorn one and bare alone. Glance that he gave from him, what should he see but herds that the king of Eirinn and Laidheann had left, dancing for joy on the point of their spears. He thought that they were mocking him for what had befallen him. He went to kill the one with the other's head,] and there was MacNeUi, such a (sgrann) grim look upon him that the little herds were fleeing out of his way. He said to one of them — " What fleeing is on the little herds of Bein Eidin before me this day, as if they were mad ; are ye mocking me for what has befallen me?"*] MacNair. * Macgilvray awakens him by a troop of school-toys who were playing trieks to him. 228 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. "We are not," said they ; "it was grievous to us (to see) how it befell thee." "What, my fine fellow, did you see happening to MacNeill. mc ?"] Said the little herd — " Thou art more like one who is mad than any one of us. If thou hadst seen the rinsing, and the sifting, and the riddling (an luasgadh, an cathadh, 'as an creanachadh) that they had at thee down at the foot of the hill, thou wouldst not have much esteem for thyself. I saw," said the little herd, "the one who was with thee putting a ring on thy finger." Conall looked, and it was the ring of Breast of Light that was on his finger. Said the little herd — " I saw her writing something on thy sword, and putting it into the sheath." Conall drew his sword, and he read — " There came Mac-a-Moir, the king of Sorcha, and took me away, Breast of Light ; I am to be free for a year and a day in his house waiting for thee, if thou hast so much courage as to come in pursuit of me." Conall put his sword into its sheath, and he gave MioNaii-. three royal words.*] " I lay it on myself as spells and as crosses, that stopping by night, and staying by day, is not for me, till I find the woman. Where I take my supper, that I will not take my dinner, and that there is no place into which I go that I will not leave the fruit of my hand there to boot, and the son that is un- born he shall hear of it, and the son that is unbegotten jiacNeii. he shall hear tell of it."t] * He also gives the following passage, but less fully. t It was a common practice, according ^o- the Njal Saga, for the old Icelands to bind themselves by vows to perform certain THJS STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 229 Said the little herd to him — " There came a ship to shore at the port down there. The shipmen (sgiobe) went to the hostelry, and if thou be able enough thou mayest be away with the ship before they come back."* Conall went away, and he went on board of the ship, and he was out of sight with her before the mariners missed him.J He gave her prow to sea, and her stern MacNair. to shore, helm in her stern, rope in her prow, that each road was smooth, and crooked each path, till he went into the realm of Lochlannj] at a place which was called MacNeU. Cath nam peileirn (Battle of bullets), but he did not know himself where he was. He leaped on shore, and he seized the prow of the ship, and he pulled her up on dry land, her own nine lengths and nine breadths, where the foeman's might could not take her out without feet following behind. The lads of the realm of Lochlann, were playing shinny on a plain, and Gealbhan Greadhna, the son of the King of Lochlann, working amongst them.j] He jtacNeii. deeds, and, according to Irish writers, a like practice prevailed ill Ireland. It seems that the custom is remembered and pre- served in these stories. The fruit, toradh, rather means a harvest ; he will leave a harvest of dead reaped by his hand. * Mr. Frascr, luvernesshire. " His grandfather took him to the side of the sea, and he struck a rod that was in his hand on a rock, and there rose up a long ship under sail. The old man put " a gheur ghlas," the keen gray (sword) on board, and at parting he said, in every strait in which thou art for ever remember me." — MacPhie. He wished for his grandfather, who came and said, "Bad ! bad ! thou hast wished too soon," and raised a ship with his magic rod. t The only variation here is the words. i I have never seen the game of shinny played in Norwaj', but there is mention of a game at " ball " in Icelandic sagas. 230 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. did not know who they were, but he went to where they were, and it was the Prince of Lochlann and his two scholars, and ten over a score ; and the Prince of Lochlann was alone, driving the goals against the whole of the two-and-thirty scholars. Conall stood singing " iolla " to them, and the ball came to the side where he was ; Conall struck a kick on the ball, and he drove it out on the goal boundary against the Prince of Lochlann. The Prince came where he was, and he said, " Thou, man, that came upon us from off the ocean, it were little enough that would make me take the head off thee, that we might have it as a ball to kick aboiit the field, since thou wert so impudent as to kick the ball. Thou must hold a goal of shinny against me and against the two-and-thirty scholars. If thou get the victory thou shalt be free ; if we conquer thee, every one of us will hit thee a blow on MacNair. the head with his shinny."*] " Well," said Conall, " I don't know who thou art, great man, but it seems to me that thy judgment is evil. If every one of you were to give me a knock on the head, you would leave my head a soft mass. I have no shinny that I can play with." "Thou shalt have a shinny," said Gealbhan Greadhna. Conall gave a look round about, and he saw a crooked stick of elder growing in the face of a bank. He gave a leap thither and plucked it out by the root. *Iomhair Oaidh MacRigli na Hiriblii, Iver, son of the King of Bergen, ia the person who plays this part in the Inverness-shii e version. He was a suitor, and he wai? thrashed, but he after- wards plays the part of the King of Sorcha, and is killed. Mac- Phie makes him a young man, and a suitor for the Princess of Norway. THE STORY OF CON ALL GULBAN. 231 and he sliced it with his sword and made a shinny of it. J MicNair. Then Conall had got a shinny, and he himself and Gealbhan Greadhna (cheery fire) went to play. Two halves were made of the company, and the ball was let out in the midst. On a time of the times Conall got a chance at the ball ; he struck it a stroke of his foot, and a blow of his palm and a blow of his shinny, and he drove it home. " Thou wert impudent," said Gealbhan Greadhna, " to drive the game against me or against my share of the people." " That is well said by thee, good lad ! Thou shalt get two shares (earrann) of the band with thee, and I will take one share." " And what wilt thou say if it goes against thee 1 " " If it goes against me with fair play there is no help for it, but if it goes against me otherwise I may say what I choose." Then divisions were made of the company, and Gealbhan Greadhna had two divisions and Conall one. The ball was let out in the midst, and if it was let out Conall got a chance at it, and he struck it a stroke of his foot, and a blow of his palm, and a blow of his shinny, and he drove it in. " Thou wert impudent," said Gealbhan Greadhna a second time, " to go to drive the game against me." " Good lad, that is well from thee ! but thou shalt get the whole company the third time, and what wilt thou say if it goes against thee." * According to MacPhie (Uist), he wished for his grandfather, who appeared with an iron shinny, and said, "Bad, bad, thou hast wished too soon." 232 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " If it goes by fair play I cannot say a jot ; if not, I may say my pleasure." The ball was let go, and if so, Conall got a chance at it, and. he all alone; and he struck it a stroke of his foot, and a blow of his palm, and a blow of his shinnj-, and he drove it in. "Thou wert impudent," said Gealbhan Greadhna, " to go and drive it against me the third time." "That is well from thee, good lad, but thou shalt not say that to me, nor to another man after me," and he struck him a blow of his shinny and knocked his brains out.*] He looked (taireal) contemptuously at them ; he threw his shinny from him, and he went from them. He was going on, and he saw a little man coming laughing towards him. " What is the meaning of thy laughing at me ? " said Conall. Said the little man, " It is that I am in a cheery mood at seeing a man of my country." " Who art thou," said Conall, " that art a countryman of mine ? " " I," said the little man, " am Duanach MacDraodh (songster, son of magic), the son of a prophet from Eirinn. " Wilt thou then take me as a servant, lad ? " f * This description of a, game of shinny is characteristic, and the petulance of Prince Cheery Fire, with his two-and-thirty toadies, and the independence of the -warrior who came over the sea, and who would stand no nonsense, are well described, MacNair's version is not so full, nor is the catastrophe so tragic, but otherwise the incidents are the same. t From the JTjal Saga it appears that the Northmen, in their raids, carried off the people of Ireland, and ipade slaves of them. Macgilvray called this character Dubhan MacDraoth, blacky, or THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAX. 233 " I will not take thee," said Conall. "I have no way (of keeping) myself here without word of a gillie. What realm is this in which I am here ? " " Thou art," said Duanach, "in the realm of Loch- lann." Conall went on, and Duanach with him, and he saw a great town before him. " What town is there, Duanach ? " said Conall. "That," said Duanach, "is the great town of the realm of Loohlann." They went on and they saw a big house on a high place. " What big house is yonder, Duanach ? " "That," said Duanach, "is the big house of the King of Loohlann ; " and they went on. They saw another house on a high place. " What pointed house (biorach with points ? pallisades or what) is there, Duanach ? " said Conall. " That is the house of the Tamhasg, the best warriors that are in the realm of Lochlann," said Duanach. "I heard my grandfather speaking about the Tam- haisg, but I have never seen them ; I will go to see them,'' said Conall. "It were not my counsel to thee,'' said Duanach.*] MaoXair. On he went to the palace of the King of Lochlann (bhuail e beum sgeithe) and he clashed his shield, battle perhaps crook, the son of magic, and he explained, that draoth was one who brought messages from one enemy to another, and whose person was sacred. * Here my two chief authorities vary a little in the order of the incidents. MacNair sends him first to his house, the other takes him there later ; they vary but little in the incidents. Macgilvray takes him at once to the palace, wjiere he finds a great cliain which he shakes to bring out the foe. 23 1 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. or else combat to be sent to him, or else Breast of Light, the daughter of the King of Laidheann. That was the thing he should get, battle and combat, and not Breast of Light, daughter of the King of Laid- heann, for she was not there to give him ; but he should get no fighting at that time of night, but he should get (fardoch) lodging in the house of the amhusg, where there were eighteen hundred amhusg and eighteen score ; but he would get battle in the morrow's morning ; when the first of the day should come. 'Twas no run for the lad, but a spring, and he would take no better than the place he was to get. He went, and he went in, and there was none of the amhuish within that did not grin. When he saw that they had MacNeui. made a grin, he himself made two.] " What was the meaning of your grinning at us ? " said the amhusg. " What was the meaning of your grinning at me 1 " said Conall. Said they, "Our grinning at thee meant that thy fresh royal blood will be ours to quench our thirst, and thy fresh royal flesh to polish our teeth.'' And said Conall, " The meaning of my grinning is, that I will look out for the one with the biggest knob and slenderest shanks, and knock out the brains of the rest with that one, and his brains with the knobs of the rest.] Every one of them arose, and he went to the door, and he put a stake of wood against the door. He rose up himself, and he put two against it so tightly that the others fell. " What reason had he to do that 1 " said they. " What reason had you to go and do it ? " said he. " It were a sorry matter for me though I should put MacNair. THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 235 two there, when you yourselves put one there each, every one that is within." " Well, we will tell thee," said they, " what reason we had for that : we have never seen coming here (one), a gulp of whose blood, or a morsel of whose flesh could reach us, but thou thyself, except one other man, and he fled from us ; and now every one is doubting the other, in case thou shouldst flee." " That was the thing that made me do it myself like- wise, since I have got yourselves so close as you are." Then he went and he began upon them. " I feared to be chasing you from hole to hole, and from hill to hill, and I did that." Then he gazed at them, from one to two, and he seized on the one of the slenderest shanks and the fattest head ; he drove upon the rest, sliochd ! slachd ! till he had killed every one of them ; and he had not a jot of the one with whom he was working at them, but what was in his hands of the shanks.* He killed every man of them, and though he was such a youth as he was, he was exhausted (enough-i- fied, if I might coin a word.) Then he began redding up the dwelling (reitach na h-araich) that was there, to clean it for himself that night. Then he put them out * Amhas, a madman, a wild ungovernable man ; also, a dull stupid person (Armstrong). Amhasan, a sentry (ditto) ; also, a wild bejist, according to the Highland Society Dictionary. Per- haps these may have something to do with the Basemarks of the old Norsemen, who were "public pests," great warriors, half crazy, enormously strong, subject to fits of ungovernable fury, occasionally employed by saner men, and put to death when done with. The characters appear in many Highland tales ; and an Irish blind fiddler told me a long story in which they figured. I suspect this guardhouse of savage warriors has a foundation in fact. Macgilvray gives the incidents also. 236 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. in a heap altogether, and he let himself (drop) stretched out on one of the beds that was within.* There came a dream (Bruaduil) t to him then, and he said to him, "Eise, oh Conall, and the chase about to be upon thee." He let that pass, and he gave it no heed, for he was exhausted. He came the second journey, and he said to him, " Conall, wilt thou not arise, and that the chase is about to be upon thee." He let that pass, and he gave it no heed ; but the third time he came to him, he said, " Conall art thou about to give heed to me at all ! and that thy life is about to be awanting to thee." He arose and he looked out at the door, and he saw a hundred carts, and a hundred horses, and a hundred carters, coming with food to the amhusg; supposing that they had done for the youth that went amongst them the night before ; and a piper playing music behind them, with joy and pleasure of mind. They were coming past a single bridge, and the bridge was pretty large ; and when Conall saw that they were together (cruin round) on the bridge, he reached the bridge, and he put each cart, and each horse, and each carter, over the bridge into the river ; and he drowned the men. There was one little bent crooked man here with them behind the rest. * He made himself a bed of rushes at the side of the house. — Macgilvray. t This word, thus ■written, is in no dictionarj' that I have, but it is the same as brudair ; and, the other version proves that a dream is meant. It is singular to find a dr^m thus personified in the mouth of a Barra peasant. THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 237 " My heart is warming to thee with the thought that it is thou, Conall Gulban MacNiall Naonallaich ; the name of a hero was on his hand a hundred years ere he was born." " Thou hast but what thou hast of knowledge, and the share that thou hast not, thou wilt not have this day,'' said Conall Gulban. He went away, and he reached the palace of the King of Lochlann; and he clashed his shield, battle or else combat to be given to him, or else Breast of Light, daughter of the King of Laidheann. That was the thing which he should have, battle and combat ; and not Breast of Light, for she was not there to give him.*] _ ,,^^^^.^ (So he went back and he slept again.) Word reached the young king of Lochlann, that the big man who came off the ocean had gone to the house of the " Tamhasg ; " that they had set a combat, and that the " Tamhasgan " had been slain. The young king of Lochlann ordered four of the best warriors that were in his realm, that they stould up to the house of the Tamhasg, and take off the head of the big man that that had come off the ocean, and to bring it up to him before he should sit down to his dinner. The warriors went, and they found Duanach there, and they railed at him for going with the big man that came out of the outer land,! for they did not know who he was. * MacITair has not got this adventure of the carts ; aad MacNeil has not the next adventure, unless it be the same con- siderably varied. I give both upon chance. f "Anfhoirs TIE;" this word is now commonly applied to the furthest ground known, such as the outermost reef or even fishing bank ; it is also vfrittea oirihir, edge-laod- 238 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. "And why," said Duanach, "should I not go with the man of my own country 1 but it you knew it, I am as tired of him as you are yourselves. He has given me much to do ; see you I have just made a heap of corpses, a heap of clothes, and a heap of the arms of the " Tamhaisg ; " and you have for it but to lift them along with you." " It is not for that we came," said they, " but to slay him, and to take his head to the young king of Lochlann before he sits to dine. Who is he 1 " said they. " He is," said Duanach, "one of the sons of the king of Eirinn." "The young King of Lochlann has sent us to take his head off," said they. "If you kill one of the children of the King of Eirinn in his sleep you will regret it enough afterwards," said Duanach. " What regret will there be ? " said they. " There is this," said Duanach. " There will be no son to woman, there will be no calf to cow, no grass nor braird shall grow in the realm of Lochlann, till the end of seven years,* if ye kill one of the clan of the King of Eirinn in his sleep, and go and tell that to the young King of Lochlann." They went back, and they told what Duanach had said. The young King of Lochlann said that they should go back, and do as he had bidden them, and that they should not heed the lies of Duanach. The four warriors went again to the house of the " Tamhasg," and they said to Duanach, — * Cha bhith mac aig beau ; cha bhith laogh aig mart ; 's cba cliinn fear na focban, ann an righaebd Lochlanii, gu ceann seachd bliadbna, etc. THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 239 " We have come again to take the head off the son of of the King of Eirinn." And Duanach said, "He is yonder then, over there, for you, in his sleep ; but take good heed to yourselves, unless your swords are sharp enough to take off his head at the first blow, all that is in your bodies is to be pitied after that ; he will not leave one of you alive, and he will bring (sgrios) ruin on the realm.'' Each of them stretched his sword to Duanach, and Duanach said that their swords were not sharp enough, that they should go out to the Tamhasg stone to sharpen them. They went out, and they were sharpening their swords on the smooth grinding-stone of the Tamhasg, and Conall began to dream (again). It seemed to him that he was going on a road that went through the midst of a gloomy wood,* and it seemed to him that he saw four lions before him, two on the upper side of the rood, and two on the lower side, and they were gnashing their teeth, and switching their tails,! making ready to spring upon him, and it seemed to him that it was easier for the lions that were on the upper side of the road to leap down, than it was for the lions that were on the lower side to leap up ; and it was better for him to slay those that were on the upper side first, and he gave a cheery spring to be at them ; and he sprang aloft through his sleep, and he struck his head against a tie beam (sail shuimear) that was across above him in the house of the "Tamhasgan," and he drove as much as the breadth of a half-crown piece of the skin off the top of his head, and then he was aroused, and he said to Duanach, — * CoiUe ufllaiJb, lonely, morose, churlish, gloomy. Pr. ood- lai. Compare outlaw, outlying. + A casadh am fiacall 's a sguitse le n' earball. 240 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " I myself was dreaming, Duanach," and he told him his dream. And Duanach said, " Thy dream is a dainty to read. Go thou out to the stone of the Tamhasg, and thou wilt see the four best warriors that the King of Lochlann has, two on each side of the stone round about it, sharpening their swords to take off thy head." Conall went out with his blade in his hand, and he took off their heads, and he left two heads on each side of the stone of the Tamhasg ; and he came in where ' Duanach was, and he said, " I am yet without food since I came to the realm of Lochlann, and I feel in myself that I am growing weak." And Duanach said, " I wilt get thee food if thou wilt take my counsel, and that is, that thou shouldst go to court the sister of the King of Lochlann, and I myself MacNair. will go to redd the way for thee.*] There were three great warriors in the king's palace in search of the daughter of the King of Lochlann, and they sent word for the one who was the most valiant of them to go to combat the youth that had come to the town. This one came, and the Amhus Ormanach was his name,t and he and Conall were to try each other. They went and they began the battle, Conall and the Avas Ormanach. The daughter of the King of Loch- * He has not got the next adventure, which I take from Mac- Neill. f Amhus, the savage, or wild man. Orma^tach is not so clear ; written from ear it might be a word beginning with an aspirated silent letter, such as th, which would make the word " noisy," or it may be some compound of OK gold, such as or-mheinneach, gold-ore-ish, which would make him the wild man of the gold mines, or armour, or hair, or something else. Macgilvray called him an Amhas Orauuoch, the w ild man of sofigs. THE STORY Oi' CONALL GULBAX. 241 lann came to the door, and she shouted for Duanachd Acha Draohd.* " I am here," said Duanach. " Well, then, if thou art, it is but little care thou hast for me. Many calving cattle and heifers gave my father to thy father, though thou art not going down, and standing behind the Avas Ormanach, and giving him the urging of a true ynse bard f to hasten the head of the wretch to me for my dinner, for I have a great thirst for it." "Faire ! faire ! watch, oh queen," said Duanach; "if thou hadst quicker asked it, thou hadst not got it slower." Away went Duanach down, and it was not on the side of the Avas Ormanach he began, but on the side of Conall. " Thou hast not told it to me for certain, yet if it be thou, when thou art not hastening thine hand, and making heavy thy blow ! And to let slip that wretch that ought to be in a land of holes, or in crannies of rock, or in otter's cairns ! Though thou shouldst fall here for slowness or slackness, there would neither be wife nor sweetheart crying for thee, and that is not the like of what would befall him." Conall thought that it was in good purpose the man was for him, and not in evil purpose ; I he put his * Songstership of Magic field, which is MacNeill's name for the character. f Brosnachadh file fiorghlic. It is said tliat the bards from the earliest of times sang songs of encouragement to the warriors. The old Icelanders, as it is asserted in their sagas, sung them- selves in the heat of the fight, and here is a tradition of something of the kind. In Stewart's collection, ISOl, is the battle song of the Macdonalds for the battle of Harlaw. J Deagh run, droch run. Bi/a has many meanings — love, etc. ; purpose, etc. ; a person beloved ; a secret, a mystery ; and, 3 17 242 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. sword under the sword of the Avas Ormanach, and he cast it to the skies, and then he himself gave a spring on his back, and he levelled him on the ground, and then he hegan to take his head off. " Still be thy hand, Conall," said Duanach Acha Draodh, "make him the binding of the three smalls there, until he gives thee his oaths under the edge of his set of arms, that there is no stroke he will strike for ever against thee." * " I have not got strings enough to bind him," said Conall. "That is not my case," t said Duanach ; " I have of cords what will bind back to back all that are in the realm of Lochlann altogether." Duanach gave the cords to Conall, and Conall bound the Avas Ormanach. He gave his oaths to Conall under the edge of his set of arms, that he was a loved comrade to him for ever ; and any one stroke he might strike that he would strike it with him, and that he would not strike a stroke for ever against him ; and he left his life according to Armstrong, it is the origin of "runic." The man who told this story clearly meant " purpose " by run ; but per- haps the original meaning of the passage which comes repeatedly in this story was that Songstership of Magic field sang "good nines for the victory of his countrymen." It must be remem- bered that Barra was in the way of Norsemen, and that their ways of life throw light on Gaelic traditions. According to Mac- gilvray — another islander — Dubhan MacDraoth was the Braoth (? herald) of the king of Eirinn when he went to put the Turk out of the realm of the emperor, and the king of Lochlann brought him home thence, and he was his draoth. As there was a guard of Norsemen in Constantinople this looks like a possible fact. * " The d 1 has sworn by the edge of his knife." — Carle of KellyhuQ-n Braes, Old Song. t Cha 'n e sin domh 's e. — It is not that tome it is. THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 243 with the A\'us Ormanaoh.] " Thou shalt have that MacXair. woman whom thou art courting and making love to (a suridh 's a seircanachadh), the daughter of the King of Lochlann," said the Amhus Ormanach. "Thou shalt have that woman for thyself," said Conall ; " it is not her that I am courting and making love to."] MaoGavray. The daughter of the King of Lochlann was right well pleased that he had left his life with the Avus Orman- ach, so that it might be her own ; hut what should she do but send for Conall.* What should the daughter of the King of Lochlann do but send word for Conall to pass the evening together vnth the Queen and with herself, and if it were his will that she would not give him the trouble of taking a step with his foot, but that she would take him up in a creel to the top of the castle. Conall thought that much reproach should not belong to one that was in the realm * MacKair gives the following incidents more in detail, and more as matter of fact. The bard, to get food for the warrior, Ijersuades the lady that he has come to court her, and with her consent, takes him food, and guides him to her chamber. He places a drawn sword between them, and never speaks. The bard sleeps on the stair outside ; the king's men seek in vaiu for Conall ; and in the morning the bard explains the mystery of the drawa sword to the lady, who is content. And so it happens thrice, when Conall feels able to fight the lady's brother, and the lady finds that the warrior is faithful to his first love, and the bard a cunning deceiver. This incident is very widely known in popu- lar tales. See the " Arabian Nights, " Grimm, etc. " Gu de am fath ma 'n do rinn se k mata ? " orsa ise. " Tha, " orsa Duanach, "tha e a los ma bhitheas leanabh gille eadar sibh gu am bi e na f hear claidheamh cho math ris f ein. " Thuirt ise, " Ach ua an saoillinn sin dheanainu a bheatha ciod air bhith doigh air an tigeadh e." ^ 244 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. of Lochlann, against one that was in the realm of Eirinn, that he should go to do that. He went and he gave a spring from the small of his foot to the point of his palm, and from the point of his palm to the top of the castle, and he reached the woman where she was.* "If thou art now sore or hurt," said the daughter of the King of Lochlann, "there is a vessel of balsam (ballan fiochshlaint), wash thyself in it, and thou wilt be well after it." He did not know that it was not bad stuff that was in the vessel. He put a little twig into the vessel, so that he might know what thing was in it. The twig came up full of sap (snodhach) as it went down. Then he thought that it was good stuff, and not bad stuff. He went and he washed himself in it, and he was as whole and healthy as he ever was. Then meat and drink went to them, that they might have pleasure of mind while passing the evening, and after that they went to rest ; but he drew his cold sword between him- self and the woman. He passed the night so, and in the morning he rose and went out of the castle. He clashed his shield without, and he shouted battle or else combat to be sent to him, or else Breast of Light, daughter of the King of Laidheann. It was battle and combat he should get, and not Breast of Light, for she was not there to give him. Then the daughter of the King of Lochlann called out. " Art thou there, my brother ? " f * Thug e leum o chaol a choise go barr a bhoise, 's o barr a bhoise go mullach a chaisteil. t According to MaoNeill it was her father ; and as the young king goes away afterwards and is married, I follow MacNair. MacNeill killed a brother at landing. MacNair left him alive to THE STORY OF CON ALL GULBAN. 245 " I am," said her brother. " Well," said she, " it is but little count that thou hadst of me. That man who has made me a woman of harrying and hurrying, to whom I fell as a wedded wife last night, not to bring me hither his head to my breakfast, when I am greatly thirsting for it. " "Faire! faire ! watch, oh queen," said he, "if thou hadst asked it sooner thou hadst not got it slower. There are none of men, small or great, in Christendom, who will turn back my hand." He went, and before he reached the door, he set earthquaking seven miles from him. At the first (mothar) growl he gave after he got out of the castle, there was no cow in calf, or mare in foal, or woman with child, but suffered for fear. He began himself and Conall at each other, and if there were not gasgich there at work it was a strange matter.] MicNeUi. They drew the slender gray swords, and they'd kindle the tightening of grasp, from the rising of sun till the evening, when she would be wending west ; and without knowing with which would be loss or winning. Duanach was singing iolladh to them, and when the sun was near about west.* Then the daughter of the King of Lochlann cried out for Duanach acha Draodh that he should go down to give the urging of a truewise bard to her brother, to bring her the head of the wretch to her breakfast, that she was thirsting greatly for it. be introduced further on, so I have altered one word in MacNeill'a account of the fight, and assume that Prince Cheery fire was a younger brother of the young king. * Tharruing iud an claidheamhaiun caola glasadh a's dh' fhadadh iad teaneacha dorn, o'n a dh' eireadh a ghrian gus am feasgar tra bhithidh i a dol siar. 246 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Duanach. went, and if lie did, it was not at the back of the King of Lochlann he went, hut behind Conall. "Oh, Conall," said he, "thou hast not told me yet if it be thou. When thou art not hastening thine hand, but making heavy thy blow ! and level that wretch that ought to be in a land of holes, or in clefts of rock, or in otters' cairns ! Though thou shouldst fall, there would be no wife or sweetheart cry- ing for thee, and not so with him."* Conall thought that it was in good purpose the man was for him, and that it was not in bad purpose. He put his sword under the sword of the King of Lochlann, and he cast it to the skies ; and then he gave a spring himself on his back, and he levelled him on the ground, and he began to take off his head. "Still thy hand, Conall," said Duanach achaidh Bard. — From a cross near Dupplin. * As this is a kind of chorus, and probably old, I give the original. Nur nach 'eil thu luaireachadh do laimh, aoh a troni- achadh do bhuille, agus a bhiast sin a bo choir a bhi 'n talamh toll, na'n sgeilpidh ohreag na 'n earn bhiasta dugha leagail ! gad a thuiteadh tusa, cha bhiodh bean na leannan a ghlaoidheadh air do shon, cha b' ionann sin a's esan. ^' THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 247 Draodh," little is his little shambling head worth to thee.*] You are long enough at that game, throw away jiacMeiiL your swords and try Xnother way. They threw away their swords, and they piit the soft w;hite fists in each other's breasts ; but they were not struggling long till Conall gave the panting of his heart to the young King of Lochlann on the hard stones of the causeway, f Said Conall to Duanach, " Reach hither to me my sword, that I may take off his head." " Not I, indeed," said Duanach. " It is better for thee to have his head for thyself as it is, than five hundred heads that thou mightest take out with strife. Make him promise that he will be ('diles duit) a friend to thee.'' Conall made the young King of Lochlann promise with words and heavy vows, that he would be a friend to Conall Guilbeanach, the son of the King of Eirinr, in each strait or extremity that might come upon him, whether the matter should come with right or unright ; and that Conall should have the realm of Lochlann under cess. | * MacNeill, who goes on to repeat the binding of this warrior in the same words. For variety, I substitute MacNair'a descrip- tion of the same fight, which he, like the other, repeats several times as a kind of chorus. t Chuir iad na duirn bhogadh ghealladh an cneasadh a cheile, ach cha bu fhada a gabh iad do an ghleachd gus an tug Conall cneadhaiseach a chridhe do righ og Lochlann air clachan cruaidh a chausair. As written by Dewar. + Fo chis, tribute or subjection. It seems almost a hopeless task to make romance reasonable, and yet I am convinced that these are semi-historical romances, When it is certain that Norse sea-rovers, were actually settled in the Hebrides, and wandered from America to Constantinople, and levied tribute wherever they could ; when it appears from th§ir sagas, which 248 WKST HIGHLAND TALES. MacNair, When tte King of Lochlann had given these promises, Conall let him up, and they caught each other by the hand, and they made peace and they ceased. And the young King of Lochlann gave a bidding to Conall that he should come in with him to his great house, to dine with him ; and the young king set a double watch upon each place, so that none should come to disturb himself or the young son of the King of Eirinn, while they were at their feast.] A churchman was got, and the Amhas Ormanach was MacGUTKij-.married to the daughter of the King of Laidheann.] When each thing was ready the royal ones sat at the great board ; they laid down lament, and they raised up music, with rejoicing and great joy,] and they were in great pleasure of mind. Meat was set in the place for eating, drink in the drinking place, music in the place for hearing ; and they were plying the feast with great sport in the dining-room of the King of Lochlann,] and they so liking and loving about each, taking their feast. MacNair. MacNeill. are believed to be almost true history, that these raids were often made in single ships, and when simple Icelanders fought with Orkney earls and Norse kings, and Korman adventurers conquered England ; it seems possible that one of the body guard from Constantinople might become " Emperor of the world " in the Hebrides, and a voyager from Greenland "king of the green isle that was about the heaps of the deep ; " and that such exploits as these men performed might be magnified, and applied to a Celtic warrior by Celtic bards ; or that a Celtic warrior may have done as much. It is admitted that Irish priests had found their way to Iceland before the Norsemen went there, and if so, perhaps Irish warriors may have been pirates or varangians, and successful in forays on the Vikings, as Vikings were in Irish forays. We believe the Sagas, so far as they are reasonable ; why should not truth be sifted from these romances also. ^ THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 249 The soldiers were without watching, to guard the big house of the king, and they saw a great tasbarltach * coming the way ; they had such fear before him that they thought they could see the great world between his legs. As he was coming nearer, the watch were fleeing till they reached the great house, and into the passage, and from the passage into the room where were the young King of Lochlann and the young son of the King of Eirinn, at their feast ; and the great raw bones that came began to fetter and bind the men, and to cast them behind him till he had bound every one of them ; and till he reached the young King of Lochlann, and he and the big man wrestled with each other.] He drew his fist and he struck the King ofMac.sair. Lochlann between the mouth and nose, and he drove out three front teeth, and he caught them on the back of his fist ; t] but the end for them was, that the young MacKeui King of Lochlann was bound and laid under fetters, and thrown behind together with the rest ;] and the big M^Nair. man gave a dark leap and he seized the bride, and he took her with him.] MacGUvray. Conall gazed on all the company that was %vithin, to try if he could see any man rising to stand by the king. When he saw no living man arising, he arose himself.] " Let that woman go," said he; "thou hastMacNair. no business with her." That he would not do.] He MacGUvary. gave a spring, he caught the slender black man between the two sides of the door (bhith), and he levelled him ; and when he had levelled him, he let the weight of his knee on his chest. * Large, lean boned, savage and swarthy. — Bewar. t MacNeill, who says he was a slender black ma.n. 250 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " Has death ever gone so near thee as that ? " said Conall. " It has gone nearer than that," said the slender black man. He let the weight more on him. " Has he gone as near as that to thee ? " " Oh, he has not gone ; let thy knee be lightened, and I will tell thee the time that he went nearest to me." " I will let thee ; stand up so long as thou art telling MacNeiii. it," said Conall.*] Conall loosed the young King of Lochlann and his men from their bonds and from their fetters, and he sat himself and the young King of Lochlann at the board, and they took their feast ; and the big man was cast in under the board. Again when they were at supper the king's sister was with them, and every word she said she was trying to make the friendship greater and greater between her brother and Conall. The big man was lying under the board, and Conall said to him, " Thou man that art beneath, wert thou ever before in strait or extremity as great as to be lying under the great board, under the drippings of the waxen torches of the King of Lochlann and mine 1 " Said he, "If I were above, a comrade of meat and cup to thee, I would tell thee a tale on that.'' At the end of a while after that, when the drink was taking Conall a little, he was willing to hear the tale of the man who was beneath the board, and he said to him, " Thou that art beneath the board, if I * MacNair's version is almost the same in diflferent words. This has some resemblance to the story of Conall, Nos. V. VI. VII. ; but the adventures of this man are quite different. Mac- gilvray gives the same story. THE STORY OF CON ALL GULBAX. 251 had thy name it is that I would call thee ; wert thou ever in strait or extremity like that ? " And he answered as before. Said Conall, " If thou wilt promise to be peaceable when thou gettest up, I will let thee come up ; and if thou art not peaceable, the two hands that put thee down before, will put thee down again." Conall loosed the man who was beneath, and he rose up aloft and he sat at the other side of the board, opposite to Conall ; and Conall said, " Aha ! thou art on high now, thou man that wert beneath. If I had thy name it is that I would call thee. What strait or extremity wert thou ever in that was harder than to be laid under the board of the young king of Lochlann, and mine ? " Story of the King of Spain. Said he — " My name is Garna Sgiathlais High na lospainde (G-arna Skeelance, king of Spain.)* Let me tell you the hardest strait in which I ever was.] I j was once a warrior, and the deeds of a warrior were on my hand well enough, and I was on my way to the dun of the king of Laidheann to take out Breast of Light with right strong hand ; and I saw Mac a-Mor, son of the king of the Sorcha, and the most beauteous drop of blood that I ever saw upon his shoulder. I never saw a woman that I would rather wish to have for * It is not easy to put a meaning on these names ; there are two Gaelic words which are like Sgiathlais, and which have appropriate meanings ; one means winging about, the other story- telling. MacNeill gives neither name nor country. It might mean " Cut of the tale-telling," because the episode cuts the storj' in two. Old MacPhie did not give it. 252 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. myself than that woman. I was working with my own sword at him as high as the band of his kilt. He had but the one duan (song) for me — ' Wilt thou not cease, and wilt thou not stop ? ' but I gave no heed to MacNeui. him.*] He fell upon me, and he bound me, and fettered me, and set me on the horse before him, and he took me to the top of a rock. The rock was high, and he threw me down the rock, and if I had fallen to the bottom I had gone to little morsels, but so it was that I fell into the nest of a dreagan.f When I came to myself I looked about me, and I saw three great birds in the nest, and I held my hands and my feet to them, as they were bound, until they loosed them ; the mon- jTacGiivray.gters ! that they might tear me asunder.] I saw a cave at the back of the nest, and I dragged myself into the cave, and when the old dreagon would come and leave food for the young ones, I would stay till the old drea- gan would go, and then I would come out and I'd take the food from the young dreagans ; that was all I had to keep alive upon. But at last the young dreagans found death for want of food. The old dreagan under- stood that something was eating their food, and she ran- MacNair. sacked all about the nest, and she went into the cave.j] She seized mc then in her talons ; she sailed to the back of the ocean with me ; and she sprang to the clouds with me, and I was a while that I did not know which * MaoNair mounts him on a, horse. Macgilvray makes him the king of the universe. t MacNeill says, Cro mhineaeh, which is a vast bird like an eagle to be found in stories all over the world. Macgilvray says Ghri Mhineaeh greeveen-each, and I have no doubt the word is the same as Griffin. + The other version is the same, less the cave, and there was but one chick. ^- THE STORY OF GONALL GULBAN. 253 was heaven or earth for me, nor whether she would let me fall in the drowning sea, or on rocks of hardness, or on cairns of stones ;] she was lifting me and letting me ManNair. down, till she saw that I was soon dead, on the breast of the sea. Though I was not heavy, when I took the brine I was heavy indeed ; and when she was lifting me she was spent. She lifted me with her from the sur- face of the sea as I was dead, and she sailed with me to an island, and the sun was so hot ; and she put me myself on the sun side of the island. Sleep came upon herself, and she slept. The sun was enlivening me pretty well though I was dead.] She had come down MacNeiU at the side of a well, and when she awoke she began at working herself about in the well. I understood that there was iocshlaint, healing in the well, because of how the side of me that was nearest to the well was healing with the splashes of water that the dreagan was putting from her. And I moved the other side of me towards the well, till that side was healed also. Then I felt for my sword ; my sword had always stuck by me ; * and I got it, and I rose up and I crept softly (eallaidh mi) to the back of the dreagan, and with the sword I struck off her head. But it was but simple to strike off her head, by keeping it off. The balsam that was in the well was so strong that though the head should be struck off her, it would spring on again, till at last I got the sword held between the head and neck, till the hag's-marrow froze, and then I got the head and neck driven asunder.] I did not leave a thong of her uncut, MacNair. and that is the death that went nearest to me, till the blood dried throughout the island,] and when the blood MaoNeiiL * Claidheamh beag chorr na sgeithe, the little sword of the crook of the shield, according to MacNeill. 254 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. dried I put the dreagan into the well, and I went and I washed myself in it ; and so it was that it seemed to myself that I grew stronger and more active than I had ever been before. And the first exploit (gaisge) that I tried to do after that, was to try to contend against the « King of Lochlann ; and it would have gone with me hadst thou not been here. And my being cast into the nest of the dreagan, and what I bore before I got out, is a harder strait and a worse extremity, in my esteem, than to be under the board of the King of Lochlann and thine." When Garna Sgiathlais had finished his tale, he said to Conall, " Now, thou man that art yonder, I should like to have thy tale, thy name, thy land, and what is the reason of thy journey to Lochlann." And Conall said — " My name is Conall Guilbeannach, son of the king of Eirinn." And he told his own tale.* The sister of the king of Lochlann was listening ; she grew sorrowful, and the drops rained from her eyes when she understood that Conall had another sweet- heart. She arose, and she left the room, and she was heavy and sad. Duanach followed her to console her, and put her in order as best he might. She took a ring from her finger, and she sent it to Conall by Duanach. Conall turned Duanach back with it to herself again. He said that he had a ring from another on his finger already, since he had got no gift (tabhartas) to give it to her, as eiric.f She sent Duanach back again with the ring to Conall, * Here the heads o£ all that has gone before are given in the original, t This gives eiric the meaning of a forfeit or-fine. THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 255 and she asked him to wear it for her. Conall took the ring and put it upon his finger.] MaoNair. "Thou must go with me," said Conall to Garna Sgiathlais, "in search of that woman Breast of Light." • " It is easier for me to bear death than to go to meet that man any more." " Thou wilt find death where thou art, then," said Conall. " It is certain that if I am to suffer death where I am that I will go with thee," said the slender black man.] MacNeiu. " The young king of Lochlann said that he would go too." Said Conall, " Who will be a guide to us to take us the shortest way ? " Said Duanach — "I will make a guide for you" (ni mise iull duibh). Conall and his warriors made ready. The king of Lochlann's sister wished Duanach to stay with her till the rest should come back, but Duanach would not stay.] MaeNair. Away went Conall, and he rigged a ship, and when the ship was rigged he took with him the slender black man, Duanach acha Draodh, the king of Lochlann, and the Amhus Ormanach ; they sailed, and crew enough with them, and they reached the realm of the Sorcha.*] MacTTeiii. When they reached, Duanach went into the house of Mac-a-Moir, and he said — "Hospitality from thee, A Mhic-a-Mhoir." " Thou shaft have that, A Dhraoth aoith." " Champions to fight from thee, great warrior.'' "Thou shaft have that, thou Druid." ' According to MacNair there were but two champions on board. 256 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " A sight of Breast of Light," said Duanach. " Thou shalt have that, Druid," said Mac-a-Moir. Duanach got a sight of Breast of Light, and he told her that Conall had come with his warriors to take her from Mac-a-Moir, and Breast of Light was pleased, for, she was tired of being kept there. Duanach came out, and he told it to Conall, and the next day Conall came to the landmark of Mac-a-Moir. He clashed his shield — " Yielding or battle upon the field." "Yielding thou gettest not in this town," said Mac-a Moir ; " though it were but speech it was a mark to MacNair. Mac-a-Moir to come out to try a combat with Conall."*] "I should go up to seek the thing I want," said Conall. " Well, indeed, thou shalt not. There promised to fall first none but me," said the slender black man. I will go up before thee, and I will come to thee with word how the place is up before thee." The slender black man went up, and he shouted battle or combat, or else Breast of Light, daughter of the King of Laidhean, to be sent out. That he should have battle and combat, but not Breast of Light, daughter of the King of Laidhean.f * Geill na comhrag air an fhaiche. Geill cha 'a fhaighe tu anns a bhaile so orsa Mac-a-Moir, Ga d' b' e bu chainnte s' a bu chombra do Mhac-a-Moir a tighinn a mach dh' feucbaiDn comhrag ri Conall ; as written by Dewar. + The Barra version (MacNeill's) here varies considerably from the Cowall version (MacNair's). There is more inoirlent in the latter, which I have followed ; but the language of the former is more curious. It is wilder altogether, and savours more of an old Bardic composition. It is, in fact, the version of a practised narrator, who cannot read. All the fights, are described by both the men in nearly the same words ; but each-has a different set THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 257 They stood, Conall, the young King of Lochlann, and Garna Sgiathlais, opposite to the house of Mac-a- Moir, and they clashed their shields for battle. Mac-a- •of phrases, though sometimes they are very like each other. When these are rapidly given, the effect is that of a kind of chant ; something which, with music, would almost be a rude chorus ; and might be so uttered as to express the battle. The Barra battles are thus arranged, and they have that kind These strange figures may represent warriors of tlie period to which these romantic Gaelic stories chiefly belong. They are copied hrom plate Ivii., Sculptured Stones ef Scotland, which represents a curious cross near Dupplin Castle. They are consequently warriors who lived after the introduction of Christianity into Scotland, and beyond that I believe the diite to be as uncertain as th:it of Conall. A great uumber of animal'^, knots, men, and monsters, are sculptured on the same cross, and it is manifestly very old. 3 i8 258 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Moir sent out the three best warriors that were in his realm to battle with them. They drew their slender gray swords, and they went to meet each other, but of symmetry which pervades Gaelic popular tales, as they exist ill the islands. 1st, The slender, dark man, who, according to MacNair, is the King of Spain, says that he will not let Conall go first on shore, because he has promised to be the first to fall. He lands, and strikes his shield. Five hundred Lughghaisgeacb, and as many Treunghasgeaoh are sent out ; he slays them all, and lies down amongst them. 2d, Conall, in the ship, says that he has fled, and offers again to go himself ; but the Amhas Ormanach has sworn to fall first, and he goes. He finds the dead hosts, and thinks the plague is in the place, and keeps to windward ; but his comrade is alive, and tells him that he must do as much as he has done ; so he clashes his shield, and there come 500 lughghaisgeacb, 50O treunghaisgeach, and fiOO langhaisgeach (a larger number, and the last of higher rank, full heroes) — these he slays, and lies down. 3d, The scene on board is repeated, and the King of Loch- lann goes, and repeats the scene on shore ; slays 1500, and lies down. To complete the symmetry, the first should have killed 500 ; the second, 1000 ; and the third, 1500. ith, Conall says he was wrong to trust his matter to any other, and goes himself, followed by Duanachd acha Draodh, repeats the scene on shore, and is told by his comrades that the King of Sorcha has none alive now, but his " beag chuideache,'' small company, and that he will rather come out than send them. They will not interfere unless Conall flees. So far, then, the whole goes on increasing to the grand climax — which is the drawing of the great foe, the victory of the hero, the death of the villain, and a happy wedding ; and this is no solitary instance of such an artificial arrangement, but is the principle on which a whole class of similar tales are arranged. From this symmetry, and the rhythmical jingle which pervades the language, I feel convinced that the island versions are the oldest, and that the mainland versions, though better preserved THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 259 the combat did not last long till the three heroes were slain. On the next day Mac-a-Moir sent the Ridire Leidire, as to incident, have lost somewhat of their original shape. There is as much difference in the stories, as there is in the manners of mainlanders and islanders, and that difiference is very much greater than is generally known. Mac-a-Mor Mac Righ Sorcha comes out to answer Conall " and the step of Conall was back, and not forwards ; " hut Duanach stands behind, and urges him with the words given above, perhaps words which have really been spoken by bards in real fights — and Conall casts up the sword of his foe to the skies, " he leaped on hia back, and struck off his head." Then the head was aiming straight at the trunk ; but Conall, by the advice of Duanach, put the iron on the neck, and the head played " gliong " on the sword, and sprang up again to the skies. Then Duanach shouted, " step on one side ; the head is aiming at thee ; " and he did so, and the head went seven feet into the earth with the force that it had ; and here the narrator remarked, " was not that a head ! did not Conall escape well ! " Then Conall took the lady from the Castle, and the narrator exclaimed triumphantly, " Was he the dastard of Eirinn now ! " The hero and his three comrades, and the rescued lady get into their ship, and reach an island called Na h-Otolia. Old MacPhie told this part better than I have ever heard a story told ; it was exceedingly symmetrical, full of " ruitheau " (runs), and very original. Conall sails to the realm of the King of the Universe, and strikes his shield blow. Soldiers came out, and he slew them ; nobles came out, and he knocked their brains out with one of their number ; then came the king's son, and he bound his wrists and ankles to the small of his back. He promised to serve him, and they sailed on to some realm, and challenged. The house of the Tamhasg here came in, and Duanach appeared, but he was the son of the King of Lochlann, wounded, and a prisoner. He cured his wounds with white sugar, and another fight took place, nearly the same as the last. They go on with the new king and the half-starved wight, and sail to Sorcha. 260 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. the knight, the mangier, his brother, out to try a com- bat with any one of Conall's warriors who had the heart to try against him. Conall lands as a poor man, and learns that the lady is to be married to the king of Soroha's son, so on the morrow he challenges. He hears men coming, and he says, " Look out; who comes ; is that himself ? " There came a company in a particu- lar dress (I think the dresses were red, green, and blue), but I did not note it, and I forget. These, said he, are but the ser- vants ; go out and slay them. Then came the first of the nobles in another dress, and the same was repeated ; then the last of the nobles in another dress. Then came the son of the King of Light himself, and then a fight indeed. Conall conquers, and is about to sail back to Eirinn, when an old man appears in a boat, and challenges. The warriors go one by one, and are slain, all but Conall ; then he thinks for the third time of his grandfather, who appears and says, that old man was with me a student of the black art (then a lot of queer words, which I could not catch, and have never heard since), but he could beat him at one art, so they try, and the grandfather wins. After that Conall goes to Turkey, and rescues the King of Eirinn ; and by the help of a magic ring he forces the queen-mother to confess that her two sons are not the king's children, and Conall reigns. It will be seen from these abstracts that the version which I have followed is much more reasonable than the common versions. For example — The Colonsay version, which varies here from all the rest. When they set off from Lochlann to take Breast of Light from the King of the universe, Conall remembers that his father told him that he might get aid in extremity from E,igh na lorramhaich (the King of the Boat-songsters ?). That personage says, I have twelve sons, and thou shalt get them. I have thirteen sons, but Cod is j ust married, and Cod has Counsel him- self. Reach Cod." The Counsellor Son, whose name may be translated "What," agrees to go if he has two-thirds of his counsel, till they come back, and away they go, with a kind of Ehyme-list, which is re- peated several times. THE STORY OF CON ALL GULBAN. 261 "Who will go to battle with this hero of exploits to-day 1 " said Conall. "Myself," said Garna Sgiathlais, "because of how his brother threw me into the nest of the dreagan." Dh' fholbh an seo Conall Gulbaimeacli 'S an t-Amhas Orannach Mac Righ barragh nan sgiath. S am M acabh Mor Mao Righ na Soroha 'S tri Mic dheug righ na h-Iorramhaich Cead a's Cod a's Michead. Dubhau Mao Draodh a's Mac Eigh Sigil A dh' iarraidh Uchd soluisd, nighean Eigh Laidhean. Then went Conall Curlew, And the Savage of Songs, son of the King of Splitting the Shields ; And the great warrior, son of the King of the Light ; And the thirteen sons of the King of the Boat-songsters ; Leave, and What, and Refusal. Hook, son of Herald, and the King of Seegeel,* To seek Breast of Light, daughter of the King of Leinster : Going past a castle, there cried out The great man whose the castle was, Co sibh a dh' uaislean nsm tri rann ? Na ce ur n-ainmeannan ? Na 'ur n-eachdraidh a niotar ? Who are ye of the gentles of the three divisions ? t Or what are your names 1 Or (who) will your histories make ? Conall Gulbeirneaoh gum b'e m ainms' e Mac Righ Eirinn bu mhor airm A cheile comhraig fo leon A shleaghan eha d' fhuir an t-ath-bheo * Stripe making siogail means streaked, striped, t This would seem to indicate a date earlier that the discovery of the 4th division, America, 262 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. They went to meet each other ; they drew their slender gray swords, and the two battled with each other ; but long before the sun went west, the Eidire Leidire was slain. Conall Curlew, it is my name, Son of Eirinu's King of Great Arms ; His battle spouse (adversary), under wounds Of his spears, never got the next life. They reached the house of the King of the Universe, and the herald went in, and there he found the most beautiful woman that ever was seen from the beginning of the universe to the end of eternity, with two drops of blood on every eye, weeping for Conall. The herald repeats the list, and she says, " Every Draoth I ever saw was telling lies ; if it were Conall he would come in." Accordingly Conall sprang in, and gave her (na tri poga milisde blasda,) the three sweet tasty kisses, and sprang out again. The King of the Universe yields the lady without a struggle, comes home from his hunting, and asks them all to a feast ; a " minister " was got, and they were married. In the midst of the festivities, a shout was raised that the King of the Universe had fallen in combat with a monster on the strand. Conall got up to help, but Cod bade him sit still ; and the king was seen in his chair. This happened a second time ; and the third Cod had no share of the counsel, so Conall took his own, and went out. He found the monster and the King of the Universe dead, sole to sole ; and there came a dove from the east, and she was stooping down to the monster with a leig (a pebble possessed of medicinal virtues, a chrystal, a talisman), which she had, and the creature was stirring, and opening its eyes. He sprang, and took hold of the leig, and took it from the dove. "Give me my leig," said the dove, "and I will bring thy father and brothers alive in the Tuirk. " "If thou wilt do but that, I will do it myself," said Conall. He seized the dove, and pulled his head off ; and who came to meet him but Cod. Then Conall and Cod and Dubhan and the lady went to Turkey, and found out the graves of the king and THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAX. 263 Garna SgiatUais took off the head, and he opened the mouth, and he cut the tongue out, and he split the tongue, and he struck it three slaps against himself ; and he said to Mac-a-Moir — " There, that is for thee, for how thou didst cast me into the dreagan's nest." At night Duanach went into the house of Mac-a-Moir, and he said — " Hospitality from thee, Vic-a-Voir." " Thou shalt get that, thou Druid." " Warriors to combat Conall to-morrow, Vic-a-Voir." " Thou shalt get that, thou Druid." " A sight of Breast of Light,'' said Duanach. " Thou shalt get that, thou Druid," said Mac-a-Moir. Duanach got a sight of Breast of Light, and he told her each thing as it was going on outside of the dun, and she was sorrowful that so much blood was being spilt for her ; and Duanach came out, and he gave the tale of Breast of Light to Conall. On the next day Mac-a-Moir himself came out to try a combat with any one who had the heart to go to try him. " Who will go to battle with the hero of exploits to- day ? " said Conall. "Myself," said Garna Sgiathlais, "for the day that he cast me down the rock to the dreagan's nest." They came in front of each other ; they drew their slender gray swords, and they kindled a fire of fists with their swords, from the rising of the sun till she was going west ; but at last it went with Mac-a-Moir to the rest, and brought them alive, and took them home ; and the descendants of these people are still in Eirinn — Said John JIacgilvraj', labourer, Colonsay, July 9, 1860. 264 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. level Garna Sgiathlais, to bind him and fetter him ; and he took him with him, and he cast him into a den of lions that he kept for pastime for himself, and Mac-a- Moir would not come out again till the end of two days. When the night came Duanact went into the house of Mac-a-Moir, and he said — " Hospitality from thee, Vic-a-Voir." " Thou shalt get that, thou Druid." " A sight of Breast of Light," said Duanach. " Thou shalt not get that," said Mac-a-Moir ; and then Breast of Light was put into a dark chamber, wiere she could not hear voice of friend, and where she could not see light of sun. When the battle-day of Mac-a-Moir came, he came out, and he clashed his shield.* " Who will go to battle with the hero of exploits to- day 1 " said Conall. " Myself," said the Young King of Lochlann.f They came in front of each other ; they drew their hard thin swords, and they went to battle with each other. But long before the sun went west, the young King of Lochlann was levelled, bound, and fettered, and taken away, and cast into the den of lions, where Garna Sgiathlais was ; and Mac-a-Moir would not come out any more to hold battle till the end or five days. * There seems to be a regular system in this series of battle.=. The victor in the last battle now comes out and gives the chal- lenge. t Here there is a hole in the story. The King o£ Lochlann ought clearly to have some quarrel to avenge, but he has none ; and the King of Spain had two fights for the sasne quarrel, which is entirely against regularity and order. THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 265 Duanach went in every night of these to seek food, and he got it ; and on a night of these nights he asked for warriors to hold battle against Conall. "Thou shalt get that, thou Druid," said Mac-a-Moir. A hundred full heroes were set in order before the great house on the next day. It seemed strange to Conall to see the host going into order at the front of the big house ; and he asked if there was any knowing what was the meaning of that host going into order, in ranks, at the front of the big house this day. Said Duanach, " I thought thou wert finding the time long here, not doing anything, and I asked for warriors to combat with thee." " I have no wish myself to be slaying men without knowing why ; and, besides, how should I contend against a hundred full heroes, and I alone 1 " said Conall. " So many as thou dost not slay with thy sword I wiU kill with my tongue," said Duanach.* They went to meet Conall.] MacNair. The smooth lad looked from one to two ; and where they were thickest, there they were thinnest; and where they were thinnest, there were none at all there.] MacNeiii. He struck them under, and over, through, and throughout ; and those who were thinnest, were most ill scattered ; and as many as were dead of them were lying down ; and as many as were hurt, they sat ; and the rest that were alive of them ran away.f * This is like a sly allusion to the romantic and untrue side of the tale, and to the poetical license of bards such as Duanach. t Sheall an gille min o h-aon go dha 's far am, bo tiughe eud 's an a bo tainn' eud 's far am bo tainn' eud cha robh gin idir 266 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. And when the five days of delay that Mac-a-Moir had were gone past, Conall went to the fence of his house. Mac-a-Moir had a bell on the top of his house, and he was a warrior, any one who could strike a blow on the bell ; and when a blow was struck on the bell, unless Mac-a-Moir should come out, then he was a dastard (cladhaire). Then when Mac-a-Moir was eat- ing his breakfast, Conall went up upon the top of the house, and he struck a blow on the bell, and he drove the tongue out of the bell ; and the tongue fell down through the house, and down through the board at which Mac-a-Moir was taking his food ; and Mac-a-Moir said, " Ha, ha ! comrade, it was easier to hold battle against thee on the day of Bein Eidinn than on this day." * Mac-a-Moir came out to hold battle. Conall clashed MacNeill. ann,] Bhuail e iad fodh-pa tharta trid us rompa 's a chuid a bu tainne dhiubh gu am b ia bba a bu mhi-sgaoltiche, 's a mhead a marbh dhiubh bha iad nau luidh 's " mhead 's a bha leointe MacNeill. dhiubh bha iad nan suidh agus an corr a bha beo dhiubh theioh.] Mr. Fraaer, Inverness. — Thoisich k air an arm Lochlannaeh a sgathadh air an darna ceann gus an deaeh e mach air a cheann eille. Far am bu tiuch eud, san a bu taian end, 's far am bu tainn eud san a bu luaidh shiulach eud ; far am bo luaidh shiul- ach eud, san bo luaidh a mharbhadh eud ; gus nach d' fhag e ceann air con, ach aon fhear chloain ruaidh. He began at slicing at one end of the army of Lochlann till he went out at the other end ; where they were thickest they were thinnest ; where they were thinnest they were swiftest ; where they were swiftest they were soonest slain, till he left no head upon hound, but on one gleed old man. * Compare the battle chain of the giants in No. 58, vol. iii. In old romances there is always a horn, or some other instrument, for making a noise, hung up at the door of^the castle, for the challenger's special convenience. Compare St. Patrick's bell. THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 267 his shield, and he said, " Yielding, or battle on the field." " Yielding thou gettest not in this town," said Mac-a- Moir. Though it was but speech, it was a sign for Mac-a-Moir to come out, to try a battle with Conall. They drew their slender gray swords, and they kindled a fire of fists, from the rising of the sun till the evening, when she would be going west; without knowing with which of them the victory would be. Duanach was singing " iolla '' to them, and he said, " You are long enough at this play ; throw from you your swords, and try it another way. They threw from them their swords, and they put their soft white fists in each other's breasts, and they wrestled, but they did not take long at the wrestling, till Conall give the panting of his heart to Mac-a-Moir on the hard stones of the causeway. "Stretch hither my sword," said Conall, " until I reap the head off him." "I will not stretch it," said Duanach. It is better for thee that thou shouldst have his head for thyself as it is, than five hundred heads that thou mightest take out with strife," said Duanach ; " take a pledge of him that he will be faithful to thee." Conall made him promise that he would be faithful to Conall Guilbeanach, son of the King of Eirinn, whether the matter should come under right or unright; and that the realm of Scorcha should be under cess to the realm of Eirinn; and Mac-a-Moir gave these pledges to Conall, and he bound himself with words, and with weighty vows. Conall let him aloft ; they caught hold of each other's hands, and they made peace with great friendship, and they were quiet.* * According to the Barra version, the Amhas 'Ormanach here went home to his own country ; and as he does not appear again, 268 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. MacNair. Then the first thing that Conall did was to go to the den of lions, to see if his two comrades were alive, and they were ; for it is as left with the lions that they will not touch, and that they will not do any hurt to kings, or to the clan of kings.* And Conall took Garna Sgiathlais and the young King of Lochlann out of the lion's den, and he loosed each bond and fetter that was upon them, and they were free and whole. The next thing that Conall did was to take Breast of Light out of the dark place in which she was, and she was pleased and joyful coming out. Mac-a-Moir gave a bidding to Conall, and to Breast of Light, to the King of lospainde, and the young King of Lochlann, to come into his house to take a feast. They went there. They raised music, and they hid sorrow ; word was sent for a priest, and Conall was wedded to Breast of Light, and they made a wedding that lasted for the six days of the week, and the last day was no worse than the first,] and that was the wedding that was cheery. Meat was set in the place for using, and drink in the drinking place, and music in the place for hearing. They plied the feast and the company with joy, and pleasure of mind, and long was there mind of the wedding of Conall and Breast of Light.] But there was much envy (farnaite) with the young it is to be hoped that he went home to his wi£e, the Princess of Norway. » Oir tha e mar fhagail aig na leomhainn nach buin iad agus nach dean iad dolaidh air bith air Righrean na air clann Righre^ (As written by Dewar. ) Here, according to Macgilvray, Conall acquired a talisman from a mysterious pigeon, and fell in with a monster which slew and was slain by the King of the Universe. (See aiUe). THE STOKY OF CONALL GULBAN. 269 King of Lochlann, Garna Sgiathlais,"'and Mac-a-Moir at Conall, to see him married to one so beautiful, modest, and learned, and that they themselves should be wifeless, and they thought her like was not to be found. Each one of them was as anxious as the rest that her like should be his as a wife, and they left it to Breast of Light to say who was the other one that would come nearest to herself in look, learning, and modesty. She said that there was Aillidh, daughter of the King of Greece, but it was by mighty deeds that she would be got (sar ghaisge). The three kings made it up that they would go to seek Aillidh, daughter of the King of Greece. Breast of Light was unwilling that Conall should go with the rest, but the rest would not go without him, and when she saw that she consented. It was left to Conall to say which of them was to get Aillidh, and Conall said, " Since the King of Loch- lann was the first king who had come under cess to him, that he was the first for whom he would get a wife." Duanach wished to go with them, but Conall left him to be a king, and to take care of Breast of Light till he should come back. Away went Conall, young son of the King of Eirinn, Mac-a-Moir, son of the King of Sorcha, and Garna Sgiathlais, King of the Hispainde, to get Aillee (Beauty), daughter of the King of the Grayke (Greece), for the young King of Lochlann to wife, and they reached Greece.* * Tbis, at first sight, appears utterly extravagant, if only from the distances, but the story is not more improbable than similar romances in other languages. It is far less improbable in Gaelic than it would be in French or German. A glance at the story of Burnt Njal will shew that in the eleventh century locomotion was 270 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. An old man met them that was their guide. He gave them a tale about the realm of Greece, the desire of the hosts, the battle ; the form of the arms, and the customs of the country (miann sloidh, f eachd ; 's rian nan arm, agus cleachdanan na ducha), and he told them the tale of the King of Greece, and how his daughter was kept in the dun, and that no one at all was to get Beauty, daughter of the King of Greece, to marry, but one who could bring her out by great valour ; and the old man told them about the wall that was for a bulwark (daingneach) round about the dun, how many heroes and soldiers there were in the inside of the ramparts ; and besides, that there was no way to get Beauty but by strong battle, brave deeds, and ruse (feachd ladir, sar ghaisge, agus seoltachd). Conall went, and the three other kings, aloft up a mountain that was above the dun of the big town of the king, so that they might see what was going on below beneath them. They lighted upon hunting bothys (bothain sheilg) in the mountain, and not the difficulty for the Western Islanders; for example, Audun, an Icelander, before 1066, and within two years, sailed from Ice- land to Norway, and thence to Greenland, back to Norway, and thence to Denmark, to give the king a white bear. He made a pilgrimage to Rome, and returned to Denmark and Norway again, and went home to Iceland with a big ship, having conversed on equal terms with the Kings of Denmark and Norway, and this story is believed to be true. The countrymen of Audun fought in Ireland in 1814, and got the worst of it, and one who was at the battle went to Rome, and returned to Iceland. In short, supposing this to be a romance of that period, nothing is more in accordance with probability than that a lot of warriors should set out in search of kingdoms and princesses along the sea-coast of Europe, and that their adventures should be woven in with the romances of the Western Islands of Scotland, which the Norse- men possessed. ^- THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 271 they went in into them, and they were there all night, and on the next day they found old clothes in the hunt- ing huts. Conall put on some of the old clothes which they found, to go in the semblance of a poor lad, to try if he could get to the inside of the gates (cachlaidhean) of the dun of the king's town, and he said to the other kings if they should hear on the third day a hunting cry, or any terror (faoghaid na fuathas), that they should run swiftly to help him. He went, and he reached one of the gates (geata) of the dungeon (daingneach), and he was as a shy boy, ill-looking, without the look of a man, without the port of a lad, or a dress of armour (mar bhallach moitire mi sgiamhach, gun aogosg duine gun dreach gille, na culaidh armachd). He reached the gate-keeper (fear gleidh a gheata), but that one would not let him in. He asked him what he sought, and Conall said that he had come to see if he could get teaching in feats of arms, nimbleness, and soldier-craft (ionnsach an iomairt arm, luth chleas, 's gaisge). The gate-keeper sent word for the ruler of the fort (fear riaghladh an duin), and he came and he asked Conall whence he was. Conall said that he had come from the neighbourhood (iomal) that was farthest off of the realm. The high ruler asked him what customs the people of that place had, and if they tried to do any feats ? Conall said that they used to try casting the stone of force (clach neart), and hurling the hammer.* * I myself once tried a match with a small Greek shepherd in a aheep-skin capote, in a glen near the top of Mount Parnassus. He had guided me there, and we were waiting in hopes a mist would clear away. To keep ourselves warm we fell to at putting the stone, leaping, and hop-skip-and-jump. Such j land long ago. Now, if Magnus can be identified, it would fix the earliest possible date for the poem, and a later date for the poet than is usually given to Oisean, by Scotch and Irish writers ; and this opinion agrees with Miss Brooke's. The prose tale is also about Magnus ; it was written by MacLean. I heard it recited by old MacPhie in 1860. He is failing fast, and cannot dictate slowly ; I miss several of the measured prose passages, which I heard him repeat with the utmost fluency, when he 364 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. was allowed to go his own pace. The story is mani- festly incomplete ; and it reminds me of one which old MacPhie repeated a second time for me. He then gave disjointed incidents, and broken sentences, instead of a connected story in very good language, with few repe- titions, with curious rhythmical passages interspersed, which he gave the first time. It is hard to say what this story means, unless it is Celtic mythology engrafted upon a bit of Norwegian history. I give it with all its shortcomings, because, if Celtic mythology is ever to be discovered, it will be found in some such shape. We have here, at all events — The King of the World, whose life is in that of a horned, deadly or hurtful or venomous animal ; and his son Brodram. The King of Light, who is conquered by a lion ; and his son, the white long-haired one, whose life is in that of three fish ; who has twelve bald ruddy daughters ; who marry twelve men, the foster-brothers of Manus the hero. Balcan, the smith, who has twelve apprentices ; and his son, who is a sailor, and has a wonderful spotted ship, and twelve sailors. In short, there are many things which suggest solar worship and mythology — Aries, Taurus, Leo, Pisces — 12 hours of day, 12 of night, 12 months, 12 signs of the zodiac. Light, the Smith or artificer Balcan ; the sailor, his son : — Vulcan and Neptune, &c. But while there is much to suggest inquiry, there is nothing definite. The poem, on the contrary, is definite enough, and in that respect it resembles other poems which I have col- lected, and differs from the prose romances. MANUS. 366 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. I have endeavoured to restore this dress from various authori- ties. From grave stones ; two in lona, and t'wo in Islay, of which I happened to have very rough sketches ; and from tradition. I leave the legs bare, because there is no indication of any covering on the legs of the sculptured figures, and because Mag- nus the great was called " barelegs " when he adopted the dress of the islands, and because there is no mention of any covering for the legs in the traditional descriptions of dress. On the con- trary, at page 442, vol. ii., it appears that the warriors had shoes, but that their legs were bare. Some stones indicate that the arms were clothed in some material, with longitudinal folds ; others indicate no covering. The shape of the shield is from a stone at lona. On some there are traces of armorial bearings. The lion, snake, and griffin, are from the story as repeated to me by old MacPhie. "His boss-covered, hindering, sharp- pointed shield on his left arm, with many a picture to be seen thereon. Lion and Creveenach, and deadly serpent." A lion and a serpent appear in the Welsh romance of the Lady of the Fountain, which this story resembles in some degree. The helmet and sword are copied from stones, some of which are roughly carved in relief nearly six inches above the surface. The tippet and shirt are very like the dress commonly worn by the Lapps of the Luleo river, and by little Scotch children at the present day. The Lapps wear a loose deer-skin shirt, and a belt round the waist, and a, tall conical cap. In rainy weather they slip a tip- pet over their heads, which is tied round the forehead, and pro- tects the chin, throat, and shoulders, covering all but the face. Scotch children wear a kilt and sleeve-waistcoat in one, into which they slip, and which, with a shirt, often constitutes their whole attire. The warrior's outer dress was probably some such garment made of leather, with iron scales. The same Gaelic word means patched cloak, and coat of mail, and such a dress seems to be meant at page 205, vol. ii. The virgin and child are from the stone in Kilnaughtou church, Islay, and the symbol indicates a Christian warrior and a date. LXXXIV. MANUS. From Donald MacPhie, loohdar, South Uist. rpHERE was a King of Lochlann, and he married, and -*- two sons were born to him. Oireal was the name of one, and larlaid of the other. Their father and mother died. A " Parlamaid " sat to put "Cileadear- achd," a regency on the realm, till the children should come to age, and till they should take the vows of the realm on themselves. They sent word for the lads, and Oireal was a feeble man, and larlaid was the bigger. Oireal said to the " Parlamaid " that he would not have anything to do with the realm as yet. " Clod of it you shall not have," said the Parliament, " unless you take it this day." Said larlaid to Oireal, " take thou the one half, and I will take the other half." "Well, then,'' said Oireal; "I will do that." The realm was written upon the lads. In a few years larlaid married the daughter of the King of Greece, and Oireal married the daughter of King Sgiath Sgial, King of the Arcuinn.* Sgiath Sgial gave six maids of honour with his daughter, and the King of Greece gave the very like with his own daughter. ' I have no notion what monarch or realm is meant, but the Orkney would be appropriate. 368 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Three quarters from that night the ailment of chil- dren struck the daughter of the King of Greece ; and besides, the ailment of children struck the daughter of Sgiath Sgial, and sons were born to them, and twelve sons were born to maids of honour. Manus was given (as a name) to the son of Oireal, and Eochaidh to the son of larlaid. The sons began to come on ; Manus was growing big, and Eochaidh was but little. They were sent to school, and his own foster brethren were together with each one of them. They were playing shinny on the field, coming from school, and Manus drove the ball against Eochaidh. " I will have my own father's realm,'' said Manus. Said the daughter of the King of Greece, " It were my wish to put an end to Manus, of murdering and spoiling and slaying." "Well, then, that were the great pity to put that (end) to the son of our brother," said the king. " If thou wilt not do it, I will do it,'' said she. She went in, and gave a slight box on the ear (Leideag) to her own son, and she drove him out of the house. " Begone," said she, " and betake thyself to the four brown boundaries of the world, and let me not see thy sole on the same land as long as the world is set. I will take Manus with me, and he shall be a son for my- self." She took Manus in with herself, and she set her own son on a beautiful sunny single-stemmed hill, where he could see every man, and no man him. Manus was within with her, and he was not getting to see his mother at all. Then his mother said that she would go where her muime was, and that she would take her counsel. MANUS. 369 At the end of a year she sent word for Manus. And in a few years the wife of his father's brother sent word for Manus. " What, oh Manus ! " said the daughter of the King of Greece, " art thou thinking of doing this day ? If thou wilt marry, thou wilt get the third part of the realm ; land, corn-land, and treasure." " Well, then, I am not of age to marry at all," said he. " Thou needst not (say) that," said she. " There is one man on my own land that will suit thee. Thou shalt go to ask his daughter, and thou shalt marry her. He is the Earl of Fiughaidh ; thou shalt marry the danghter of the Earl of Fiughaidh." * She went away, and she took with her high families, and she would take with her five hundred men. She reached the house of the Earl of Fiughaidh, to give her to Manus to marry. Said the wife of the Earl of the Fiughaidh to her, " j\ly daughter is not of age to marry yet, and Manus is not of age to marry." " Well," said the daughter of the King of Greece, "house or heap thou shalt not have upon my land un- less thou givest thy daughter to him." The man thought that there was no good for him to refuse her, and Manus and the daughter of the Earl of the Fiughaidh were married to each other. They lay that night in the house of his father's brother. "Is it thou that art here, Manus, mighty son, and * Here, again, I am at fault. This probably is a real name, but corrupted by transfer to another language, and by the lapse of time. ^ 3 26 370 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. bad man ? dost thou know what wife yonder one gave to her own son, Eochaidh ? She gave him the swift March wind. It was not to a worldly wife she married him, so that he might take the head off thee. Thou with a wife on thy bed at this time of night ! Thou wilt be going back every day, and thou wilt not hold battle against him." " Is it thus it is 1 " said Manus. He went where she was. "Be leaving the realm," said the wife of his father's brother to him, " or else thou wilt have but what thou takest to its end." " Clod thou shalt not have here," said she. " Thy share is under stones and rough mountains in the old Bergen." " "Well, then, since thou art putting me away, give me the six foster brothers of Eochaidh, that I may have twelve." He got that ; he went away, and he betook himself to the old Bergen. When he reached the old Bergen, no man dared to come near his castle. There were sheep in the old Bergen, and sheep of Corrachar, is what they were called. They fell to making pits in the earth ; the sheep were going into the pits, and they were catching them and they were killing them, and keeping themselves in flesh thus in the old Bergen.* " Be it from me ! be it from me ! " said Manus ; "it * I am not aware that there are, or ever were, wild sheep in Bergen ; but a wilder hunter's land does not exist, and wild rein- deer, and, I believe, wild goats may yet be found in the high mountains. JIANUS. 371 is a year since I saw my muime ; I had better go and see her.'' " It were not my advice to thee to go there," said they ; " but if thou art going, thou hast twelve foster brothers, and take them with thee." " They were no sorry company for me to be with me," said he. He went. The daughter of the King of Greece was looking out of a window, and she perceived Manus coming. She went down to where his father's brother was. " The son of thy brother is coming here,'' said she, " with costly coloured belts on his left side, with which might be got the love of a young woman, and the liking of maidens ; " that it were for her pleasure to put an end to him, of murdering, and misusing, and slaying. His father's brother said that were a great pity, and that he would not be to the fore to do that to him. " If thou wilt not do it, I will do it," said she. She went out of the house, and she took his twelve foster brethren from him, and she swore them to her- self. He went back to the Old Bergen by himself, gloomy, tearful, sorrowful, and it was late. What should he see but a man in a red vesture. " It is thou that art here, Manus ? " said he. " It is I," said Manus. " I think if thou hadst bad or good arms that thou would'st get to be King over Lochlann." " I have not that," said he. " Well," said he of the red vesture, " if thou would'st give me a promise I would give thee arms." " What promise shall I give thee ? I have not a jot to give thee." 372 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " Well, I will not ask thee mucli. I was the armourer of thy grandfather, and thy great-grandfather, if thou would'st give me a promise that I should be armourer with thee I would give thee arms this night." " I will give thee that (promise), if so be that I am ever a king." They went and they reached the house. The man of the red vesture took out a key, and he opened a door, and when he had opened it the house was full of arms, and not a jot in it but arms. "Begin now and choose arms," said the man of the red vesture. Manus seized a sword, and he broke it, and every one he caught he was breaking it. " Don't do that Manus, don't be breaking the arms, in case thou mightest have need of them yet. When I was a young man thy grandsire had a war, and I had an old sword, an old helmet, and an old mail shirt on, try them," said the man of the red vesture. Manus seized the sword, and it beat him to break it. He put the sword and the helmet on. What should he see but a cloth (hanging) down from the ridge of the house. "What is the use of that cloth?" said Manus. " It is," said he " that when thou spreadesfc it, to seek food and drink, thou wilt get as thou usest. There is another virtue in it. If a foe should meet thee, he would give a kiss to the back of thy fist." He gave the cloth to Manus, and he folded the cloth in his oxter. What should he see but an iron chain (hanging) down from the ridge of the house. " What is the good of that chain 1 " said Manus. "There is no creature in the world that if yonder thing should be put about his neck the battle of a MANUS. 373 hundred men would not be upon him," said the man of the red vesture. Manus took the chain with him. When he was going, what should he see but two lions, and a whelp with them. The lions came in front of him to eat him, and to put him to skaith. He spread the cloth, and the lions came, and they kissed the back of his fist, and they went past him. The lion whelp got in amongst the folds of the cloth, and he wrapped the cloth about him, and he lifted him with him to the old Bergen.* When he reached the old Bergen the daughter of the Earl of the Fiughaidh was within. He put the chain about the neck of the lion whelp. The lion whelp went, and he cleared the castle ; he did not leave a creature or a monster alive in it. He set fire to the castle, f He was there a year, and he had no want. He went out one day, and he said he would go to see his muime. He took the lion whelp with him, and he went away. She perceived him coming. There was a sword at his side that day. She came out to meet him, and she had a brown lap-dog. He went to meet Manus with his mouth open, to put Manus to skaith, and to eat him. * When the old man told me the story, he described devices on the shield of Manus, and a lion was one of them. This prob- ably is founded on some lion on a flag. According to Gaelic poems Fionn's people had banners with devices on them, and Icelandic warriors had devices on their armour in the ninth century, according to the Njal Saga. Some of the articles are amongst the gear of King Arthur in the Mabinogion. t It is manifest that something is wanting here. There is nothing before said about an enchanted castle, beset by monsters, and an imprisoned lady ; but there must have been monsters to clear out. 374 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Away went the lion whelp, and he went before Manus, and he set his paw at the back of the throat of her " measan," and he let out his entrails on the earth. "There, Manus," said she, "but put thy whelp in at the ridge of the lion's house." He put the lion whelp in at the ridge of the house, and he put the chain about his neck, and he did not leave a lion under the ridge of the house unslain, and laid himself (down) stretched for dead along with them.* Manus went home without whelp, without man, that night. What work should his twelve foster brethren be set to, but to clear out the lion's house. When they were put out there was not a lion under the ridge of the house that had not his throat cut. The lion whelp was without a drop of sweat upon him, and the iron chain that Manus had put on him (was) about his neck. One of them said that the lion which was yonder seemed strange to him, without a drop of sweat upon him, unlike the rest. " That is the lion whelp of the man of my love,'' said one of the company. " The lion whelp of Manus." " Well, then," said one of them, " though we are sworn not to go out of the town, before he rises we might go, and give a message." " There is no man who goes out of this town," said the rest, " after the coming of night that there is not the pain of seven years upon him afterwards." They went to the window, and when they went to the window the lion's whelp opened his eyes, and he came alive. * This is like a bit of the story of Conall, ^.nd the house of the Tamhasg. MANUS. 375 She went where her husband was, and she said to him to put the rough traveller* in order, and five hun- dred men in it. He said that there would be the pain of seven years on any being who should go out after the falling of the night. She said though there should be the pain of seven- teen years in it, that they should go to seek the head of Manus. The deaf haltman was what they used to call the man who was guarding the realm at that time, and he could not hear a jot till there should be nine nines shouting in his ear. He could kill nine nines back- wards, and nine nines forwards with his sword. What should awake him but the stormy sound of the rough traveller coming, and he thought that it was a foe that was there. He arose upon the rough traveller, and he did not leave a mother's son of the five hundred alive, himself and the lion's whelp, and the twelve foster brothers of Manus went to the Old Bergen. " Never thou mind," said she. " Though Manus did that to me. There is the Red Gruagach, son of the • King of Greece, and he will take the head of Manus out of the Old Bergen." Then went his mother here, and she sent a ship to Manus to the Old Bergen to take him away before the Red Gruagach should take the head off him. What should his muime do but put a sea thickening on the ocean, so that Manus might not get away. His mother sent a pilot in the ship, and what should the ship do but stop in the sea thickening. * Another possible meaning for this word may be the corpse buryer. It is often impossible to translate these names, the reciters do not understand them, and the context gives no help. 376 WEST HIGHLAND TALKS. " Is there a ship in the world that will take us out of this 1" said Manus to the pilot. "Indeed there is the speckled ship of the, son of Valcan Smith," said the pilot.* They were on board, and they could not stir. At the mouth of the night the lion whelp thrust his head under the arm of Manus, and he went out off the ship, and Manus on his back. He went and he reached a scaur. He left Manus on the scaur, and he himself made a spring down the other side of it. Manus fell asleep, and he would like as well to find death with the rest, rather than be left by himself on a rock. There came a voice to him, and it said to him " Arise." He rose, and he saw a ship. Who was here but the ship of MacBhalcan Smith, and the lion whelp in the shape of pilot at the helm, and Mac- Vic- Valcan Smith and his twelve sailors dead on her deck. He reached the ship, and he put his twelve foster brethren and the daughter of the Earl of the Fiughaidh in the ship of MacBhalcan Smith. He fell to at sailing amongst the thickening. What should he see but land, and when he saw the land he saw the very finest castle he ever saw. He went on shore, and- he put MacBhalcan Smith and his twelve sailors on shore on a point. He reached the castle, and he went in, and there was a fine woman there within, and twelve bald ruddy maidens. His twelve foster brothers sat beside the bald ruddy maidens, f and they said that they " Bhalcan. There seems to have been some Celtic divinity, who was a smith, and a sea god — a kind of Neptuno and Vulcan in one. Bhalcan occurs in Irish poems, and modern Gaelic poets have introduced Venus, Cupid, and other classical names into tlieir modern songs. See note at end of Gaelic version. t Or cropped auburn maidens. MANUS. 377 would never go for ever till they should get them to marry. It was not long till there came home the White Gruagach, son of the King of the Light, and a great auburn clumsy woman, his mother. " Who is here,'' said he, "looking my twelve brown ruddy daughters in the front of the face 1 and that I never saw a man that might look at them that I would not take his head off against his throat.'' "These are my twelve foster brothers, and they have taken love for thy bald ruddy daughters, and thou must give them to me to marry," said Manus. "Well,'' said the White Gruagach, "the covenant on which I would do that, I am sure that thou wouldst not do it for me, that is, to put me in against my father, and that I am out from him for seven years." " I will do that," said Manus, " but that thou thyself shouldst go with me." On the morrow they went away, and they reached the King of the Light. The King of the Light came out, and he gave his right hand to his own son, and his left hand to Manus.* The lion whelp went, and he seized him, and he levelled him. "Choke off me the monster before he takes my life from off me," said the King of the Light. "I will do that," said Manus, "but write with a drop of thy blood that thy son is thy beloved heir.'' " Well, it's long since I would have done that, if he had come himself to ask it." Then he went and he wrote, and they went away to come home. When they were coming the daughter of the Earl of the Fiughaidh was in a burn. * His south hand, and his northern han3. 378 WEST HiaHLAND TALKS. " 0," said the White Gruagach, " I am dead." " What aiJs thee ? " said Manus. " There is a stone," said he, " in the burn, and there are three trouts under the stone, and they are in thy wife's apron. As long as the trouts should be alive I would be alive, and thy wife has one of them now iu the fire."* "Is there anything in the world," said Manus, "that would do thee good ? " " The King of the Great World has a horned veno- mous (creature), and if I could get his blood I would be as well as I ever was." They reached the house, and the White Gruagach was dead. Then Manus went, and the speckled ship was stolen from him, and there was no knowing who in the world had taken it from him. One of his foster brothers said that Brodram, son of the King of the Great World, had taken it with him. He went away to Brodram. He asked him what made him take that ship from him. He said that he had stolen her himself before, and that he had no right to her. He said that his father had a venomous horned (creature), and that while the Beannach Nimhe was alive that his father would be alive, and that if the Beannach Nimhe was slain that he would have the realm. He went with Brodram, and the venomous horned beast was in a park. The lion whelp went into the *The word which now means trout in Gaelic means speckled, and is sometimes translated salmon. It appears that there were sacred salmon in Irish mythology. Fish appear on the s-culptured stones of Scotland, and salmon commonly appear as something magical in other Gaelic stories. MANUS. 379 park, and he put his paw into the hollow of the throat of the venomous horned beast. The venomous horned beast fell dead, and the king fell dead within. Then Brodram was King over the Great World, and Manus got the blood, and he returned back, and with it he brought the White Grruagach to life. From ii Stone in tlie Churchyard of St. Vigeans. — Scul2}tured Stones of Scotla'iid, PI. Ixx. The stone has Christian symbols, but this would seem to represent the sacrifice of some fabulous animal. The people who sculp- tured the cross, the monks, and this figure, miiy have intended to represent the myths or ceremonies connected with the stone in Pagan and in Chris- tian times. " It may not be that thou wilt not go thyself with me now to put me in on the realm," said he to the White Gruagach. The White Gruagach said that he would go. He reached Brodram, and he said that he would go with him. Balcan and his twelve apprentices were' working in 380 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. the smithy, and he revived his twelve sailors. He asked him to go with him, and Balcan said that he would. There went Balcan, and the White Gruagach, and Brodram, and the Gruagach of the Tower, son of the King of Siginn, with him. They reached Lochlann, There met them a man in a red vesture ; The "White Gruagach, and the Red Gruagach began Fearfully, hatefully proudly, Three destructions they would drive off them. To the cloud flakes of asther and heaven. There gathered stag hounds, savage hounds, To take pleasure in the monsters. They would make the sea dry up, And the earth burst. And the stars fall. The Red Gruagach '^ was slain, and his head stuck on a stake, and Manus was crowned King over Lochlann, and he did not leave a living man in Lochlann. Here I had intended to give the " orally collected " version of the poem of Magnus as the fitting sequel and contrast to this story, but as there is scant room within my limits, I give the prose stories which go with it. The lay of Magnus has often been translated. I hope to be believed when I say that Magnus, as I found him in 1860, resembles Gillies, 1786, very closely. This is the opening story of Magnus. * The Greek personage! MANUS. 381 " When the Lochlannaioh came on shore, Fionn said to the lads that they should go to hunt ; that he wished to give them a feast that night, because it was not likely that they themselves had much. They went to hunt, and when the hunt was over, Caoilte was sent to gather the game since he was the swiftest. It was three hun- dred deer they killed, and twenty boars. " Now when Caoilte had gathered the game there went two hundred to gather heather to cook them, a hundred and a half went to set in order the stones under the caldron, and it was ten (deichnar) who were burning (the fuel) beneath it. Three hundred went to fiay. Then Fionn sent Fearghus down to give a bidding to the Lochlannaich, and they did not deign to answer him. Fionn took much proud anger because the feast had been made and they had not answered." The Lay of Magnus was written from the dictation of Alexander MacDonald, and subsequently compared with the recitation of the other authority. Then follows the poem as repeated by Donald MacPhie (smith), Breubhaig, Barra, October 1860, who learned it from his mother, and traces it up, for six generations, to an ancestor who came from Kintyre. The poet, supposed to be Oisein, speaks as one who was present at " Uisge Laoire nan sruth s6imh," where the scene is laid. They see a thousand barks coming to shore. The Feinn gather from every place, and con- verse. Conan, as usual, is cross grained throughout. Feargus, the son of Fionn, the brother of the poet, goes, and finds that it is " M4nus fuileach am fear fial Mac righ Beithe nan sgiath dearg Ard righ Lochlann ceann nan cliar,'' etc. 382 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Blood spilling Manus, the generous one, Beithe's king's son, of the red shields (? Bergen). High King of Lochlann, chief of the brave, etc. Come to seek Fionn's wife, and his famous hound Bran. A battle ensues, Manus is bound, and allowed to go home, and so it goes on for 164 lines of very smooth good Gaelic verse. In Gillies there are 172 lines, or 43 verses, I have a verse which is not in Gillies, and the variations only amount to different readings, and to variations in language and orthography. After the poem comes the sequel of the story, also taken down from Donald MacPhie, which is not in Gillies. " After the battle that was here, the Lochlanners were three years in disgrace with their wives. Fionn had been before this in Lochlann, and the daughter of the King of Lochlann had taken love for him. The thing which they did was to send Athach (a monstrous warrior or giant) to ask him to a feast in Lochlann, to make the arrangement of a league between them, that there might not be disputes for ever." "In the Athach there was but one eye, and what was the very day that he reached the house of Fionn but a day that Fionn had a great feast for his set of lads. It was late that they had the feast, and when the Athach came in they had just sat at the feast. The Athach took (his way) up without leave or bidding, and he sat at the right shoulder of Fionn. "When Conan saw how bold he was, he arose and he. smote him, and he levelled him. Fionn got up on the instant, and he seized his shoulder, and he raised him, and he set him sitting where he was before. Then Fionn asked the Athach what man he was^ and he told who he himself was. He said that he was a herald (teach- MANUS. 383 dair) from the King of Lochlann, that came to give a bidding to themselves to a feast in Lochlann ; that the daughter of the King of Lochlann was in great grief with the love she had taken for himself, and, though he had another wife, if he himself should lay bare one sight of her, there was no knowing but that she would be the better of it.'' "When Fionn heard that it was a herald from the King of Lochlann, he desired Conan to be seized, and the binding of the three smalls to be laid on him, and that he should be cast into a dark hole, where he should see neither night nor day till the feast should be finished. Conan was there but half an hour when Caoilte said, — " I never saw a herald coming from the King of Lochlann, for whose sake I would leave Conan bound, and that there is no knowing but he did the better deed." " He let Conan loose, and he brought him in to the feast. They took well and right well to the Athach that night, and on the morrow they made (ready) for going with him. Said Fionn to Goll, — " It is a shame for us to carry arms to a feast. It will not be fitting to see them, but we will take with us knives, that we may hide under our cloaks, and do not uncover them for ever till I give you warning." " Then here they went, and they reached Lochlann." (And here let me point out how exceedingly incon- sistent all this is with the common meaning of Loch- lann, Scandinavia, and how simply is it all explained, by supposing Lochlann to 'be the possessions of the Lochlanners, the Scandinavians in Ireland, or in Scot- land, or in any one of the islands.) " When they arrived, the Athach steered, them to a 384 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. great long house, with a door at its end. There was a board there, from the door till it reached the upper end of the house. The way of sitting they had was, one of the company of Fionn was set about the board, and two LochlaQiiers at his side. When the house was filled, on each side there were two Lochlanners on each side of the Fiantan. The feast was on the board, but it was not to be touched till the King of Lochlann and the Queen should come in. The king came, and the queen, and their daughter. When the king came in, Fionn rose up standing to salute and welcome him (cuir failte air), and he would not take his hand. It seems that he would not take his hand till every one who had slain any of his lot of sons should tell in what place he had left him. Every man was telling where he left the son he had slain. It was from Osgar that he asked the last one, and said Osgar, — Mharbh mis e air truigh Chliabhain mu thuath. Far an do thuit do mhor shluagh Gun taing do dhuin' agaibh d'a chionn, A dh' f has riamh an rioghachd Lochlann. I slew him on the strand of Cliabhain in the north, "Where fell thy mighty host, In spite of a man of you of any kin. That ever waxed in the realm of Lochlann. An seo nuair dh' aithnich Fionn, Gun robh miothlachd ri bhith ann ; Thoisich Fionn an sin, Air deanadh rann. Here now when Fionn perceived. That ill blood was to be, Then Fionn began At making rhymes. MANUS. 385 " Na'm bithinns' a'm' ghobha, 'S math a dheanainn sgeanan, Chuirinn cruaidh 'nan saidhean,* 'S chuirinn siom| 'nan roinnean. J Chuirinn casan fraoich, Le 'n cinn bhuidhe, Ann an cuil thiugha, Nam faobhar tana." If I were a smith, Well I'd make knives, I'd put temper in handles, I'd put shimmer on points. I'd put hafts of heather, With their ends of yellow, In the thick backs Of the keen edges. Then they arose and they fell upon each other. They had but their knives, and the Lochlanners were under full arms. Said Fionn — ■ " Where are thy great vows, Manus ? They were left where they were found," said Manus. " Ciite am bheil na mionnan mor a Mhanuis 1 Dh' f hagas far an d' f huaras iad," thar Manus. While the rest were at work, Fionn was in a dark corner making love to the daughter. The Fhinn beat the Lochlanners with the knives, and Manus was slain. * Saidhean. The part of a knife or sword which goes into the haft. There is no equivalent in English, so far as I know, t SlOM. An image reflected by a blade from high polish. J RoiNN. The point of a sword, dagger, or knife^ 3 27 386 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Fionn took the daughter with him, and she was a year with him as a wife. MacLean truly says, " this description of the manu- facture of knives is wonderfully vivid and vigorous, 'and shews the richness of the language in such terms, while it appears to prove that the construction of. warlike weapons was well understood in past times in the High- lands ; " but the next story seems to shew that the smith's art was not known in the days of the mythical Fionn, who got his sword from the fairy smith of Lochlann. Archaeology seems to prove that the ancient inhabitants of Britain were once armed with bronze weapons, poor in iron, and rich in gold, and the Feinn were armed with pointed sticks, hardened in the fire, when they put gold rings on the fingers of warriors whom they had slain, and wished to honour. Icelandic sagas speak of abundance of gold amongst the Irish ; Gaelic stories mention gold frequently, and abundance of gold ornaments are dug up all over the United Kingdom : but iron swords are always mythical, and iron swords are rarely found, and their pattern is often Scandinavian on the sculptured stones, and when they are dug up. May not the Scandinavians have been better black- smiths than the Western Islanders, and the Celts better goldsmiths, richer, and more civilized than the Norsemen when they first met. MANUS. Bha righ Lochlann ann, 's phos e, 's rugadh dithis mac da. 'S e Oireal a bha air an darna fear agus larlaid air an fhear eile. Dh' eug an athair 's am mathair. Shuidh Parlamaid arson cileadair- eaehd a chur air an rioghachd gus an d' fliigeadh a' chlanu gu MANUS. 387 h-aoia, 's gas an gabhadh iad b6idean na rioghaohd orra fhein, Chuir iad fios air na gillean ; 's bha Oireal 'na dhuine meata ; 's e larlaid a bu rahotha. Thuirt Oireal lis a' pharlamaid nach gabhadh e gnothach fhathasd ris an rioghachd. "Plochd cha bhi agaibh di," arsa a' pharlamaid, "mar an gabh sibh an diugh i." Ara' larlaid ri Oireal, " Gabh thusa an dara leith 'a gabhaidh mise an leith eile." " Mata," ars' Oireal, " ni mi sin." Sgriobhadh an rioghachd air na gillean. An am beagan bhliadh- nacban phos larlaid nigheau righ na Greige, 's phos Oireal nig- hean righ Sgiath sgial, righ na h-Arcuinn. Thug Sgiath sgial seisear mhnathan eoimhideachd le a niginn 's thug righ na Greige 'leithid eile le a nighinn fhein. Tri raithean o'n oidhche sin bhuail anacair cloinne nighean righ na Greige, 's cuideachd bhuail anacair chloinne nighean Sgiath sgial, 's rugadh mic dhaibh, 's rugadh da mhacdheug do na mnathau eoimhideachd. Thugadh Manus air mac Oireil, 's Eochaidh air mac larlaid. Thoisich na mic air tighinn air an aghaidh. Bha Manus a' fas mor, 's cha robh Eochaidh aoh beag. Chuireadh do 'n sgoil iad, 's bha a chomhdhaltan fhein comhla ris a' h-uile fear aea. Bha iad ag iomaiu air an fhaiche 'tighinn as an sgoil, 's chuir Manus am ball air Eochaidh. " Bidh rioghachd m' athar fhein agamsa,'' arsa Manus. Thuirt uighean righ na Greige, " B'e mo thoil crioch mhoirt, agus mhillidh, agus mharbhaidh, a chur air Manus." " Mata b' e sin a bu mhor am beud a chur air mac mo bhrathar fhein," ars' an righ. " Mar an dean thusa e, ni mise e," ars' ise. Dh' fhalbh i staigh 's bhuail i leideag air a mac fhein, 's chuir i mach as an taigh e. " Falbh," ars' ise, " 's thoir ceithir ranna ruadha an t-saoghail ort, 's na faiceam air do bhonn air an fhonn [a] chiadhna thu fhad 's a bhitheas'an saoghal air suidheachadh. Bheir mise leam Manus 's bidh e 'na mhac agam fhein." Thug i Manus a staigh leatha fhein agus chuir i 'mac fhein air grianan aluinn, aon chasach, far am faiceadh e a' h-uile duine, 's nach fhaiceadh duine e. Bha Manus a staigh aice 's cha robh e a' faighinn dol a dh' amharc a mhathar idir. Thuirt a mhathair, an siud, gu 'n rachadh i far an robh a mhuime 's gujn gabhadh i a comhairle. Ann an ceann bliadhna chuir i fios air Manus. 388 WEST HIGHLAND TAUES. Ann am beagan bhliadhnachan chuir bean bhrathar 'athar fios air Manus. " De a Mhanuis," arsa nighean rigb na Greige, " a tha thu a' smaointeachadh. a dheanadh an diugh ? Ma phosas thu gheibh thu an treas cuid de 'n rioghachd ; fonn (a), a'a fearann, agus ionmhas." " Mata cha 'n 'eil aois posaidh agams' ann,'' ars' esan. " Cha ruig thu leas sin," ars' ise, " tha aon fhear air an fhear- ann agam fhein a fhreagras duit. Theid thu a dh' iarraidh a, nighinn agus posaidh tu i. 'Se larla na Fiughaidh a th' ann. Posaidh tu nighean larla na Fiughaidh.'' Dh' fhalbh i 's thug i leatha corr-theaghlach, 's bheireadh i leatha coig ceud fear. Rainig i taigh larla na Fiughaidh a' toirt do Mhanus a' posadh. Thuirt bean larla na Fiughaidh rithe, " Cha 'n 'eil aois posaidh aig mo nighinnsa fhathasd, 's eha 'n 'eil aois posaidh aig Manus." " Mata," arsa nighean righ na Greige, " taigh na tulach cha bhi agad air an fhearann agamsa mar an d' thoir thu do nighean da." Smaointich an duine nach robh math dha a diultainn, 's pho- sadh Manus agus nighean larla na Fiughaidh ri 'cheile. Chaidh iad a luidhe an oidche sin an taigh bhrathar 'athar. "An tu seo a Mhanuis, a mhic aidh agus a dhuinedhona? Am bheil fios agad d^ a' bheau a thug i siud do dh' Eochaidh, a mac fhein ? Thug a' gaoth luimneaoh Mhairt. Cha 'n ann ri mnaoi shaoghalta a, phos i e ; gus an d' thugadh e 'n ceann diotsa. Tbusa agus bean agad air do leabaidh trath oidhche ! (6) bidh thu 'dol as a' h-uile latha, 's cha chum thu cath risean." " An ann mor seo a tha ? " arsa Manus. Chaidh e far an robh ise. ' ' Bi 'f agail na rioghachd, " arsa bean bhrathar 'athar ris, " air neo cha bhi agad ach na 'bheir thu g' a chionn.'' " B' e,'' ars' esan, "an treas cuid a gheall thu domh de 'n rioghachd." " Plochd cha bhi agad an seo," ars' ise; "tha do chuid fo chlaohan agus fo gharbhlach anns an t-seana Bheirbhe." (c) " Mata, o'n a tha thu 'gam chur air falbh, thoir dhomh seisear chomhdhaltan Eochaidh, 's gu 'm biodh a dha dheug agam." Fhuair e siud. Dh' fhalbh e 's thug e air an t-seana Bheirbhe. f Nuair rainig e 'n t-seana Bheirbhe cha robh a chridhe aig duine dol a choir a' chaisteil. Bha caoraioh anns^an t-seana Bheirbhe agus 'se na caoraioh chorrachar a theirte riutha. Bhuail iad air IMANUS. 389 deanadh sluichd 'san talamh. Bha na caoraich a' dol 'san t-slochd 's iad a' breith orra ; 's bha iad 'gam marbhadh 's a' cumail feola riutha fhein. Bha iad bliadhna mar seo 's an t-seana Bheirbhe. "Bhuais e! Bhuais e!" arsa Manus, "tha bliadhna o'n a chunnaic mi mo muime. 'S fhearra dhomh dol a' faicinn. " Cha b' e mo chomhairle duit dol ann," ars' iadsan ; aoh ma tha thu a' talbh tha da chomhdhalta dheug agad, 's thoir leat iad. " "Cha chuideachadh suarach dhomh fhein iad a bhith leam,'' ars esan. Ghabh e air falbh agus bha nighean righ na Greige ag amharc a maoh air uinneig 's mhothaich i do Mhanus a' tighinn. Chaidh i sios far an robh brathair 'athar. " Tha mac do bhrathar a' tighinn an seo," ars' ise "le crioaan duinte, daite, air a thaobh cli, air am faighte gaol ban og agus gradh mhaighdeannan." Gu 'm b' ann g' a toilse crioch mhoirt, agus mharbhaidh, agus mhillidh a chur air. Thuirt brathair 'athar gu 'm bu mhor am bend siud ; 's nach biodh esan an lathair siud a chur air. " Mar an dean thusa e ni mise e," ars' ise. Chaidh i maeh as an taigh 's thug i a dha chomhdhalta dheug uaidh 's mhionnaich i iad di fhein. Dh' fhalbh esan air ais gus an t-seana Bheirbhe leis fhein gu dubhach, deurach bronach ; 's bha 'n t-anmoch ann. De a chunnaic e ach fear earraidh dheirg. {d) " An tu seo a Mhanuis ? " ars' esan. " 'S mi," arsa Manus. " Tha mi 'smaointeachadh, na 'm biodh olc na mhath de dh' airm agad, gu 'm faigheadh thu d' righ air Lochlainn. " " Cha 'n 'eil sin agam," ars' esan. "Mata," arsa fear an earraidh dheirg, "na 'n d' thugadh tu gealltanas domhsa bheirinn airm dhnit." " De 'n gealltanas a bheir mise dhuit? Cha 'n 'eil dad agam ri 'thoirt duit." " Mata cha n' iarr mi moran ort ; bha mi ann a'm' fhear pas- gaidh arm aig do sheanair 's aig do shionseanair ; na 'n d' thugadh tusa gealltanas domh gu 'm bithinn ann a' m' fhear pasgaidh arm agad bheirinn airm duit a nochd. " " Bheir mise sin duit ma 's e gu 'm bi mi gu brach a' m' righ.'' Dh' fhalbh iad 's rainig iad an taigh. Thug fear an earraidh dheirg iuchair a mach 's dh' fhosgail e 'n dorus, 's nuair a dh' fhosgail e e bha 'n taigh sin Ian arm ; 's gun bldeag ann ach airm. 390 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " Slid a nis 's tagh airm," arsa fear an earraidh dheirg. Kug Manus air olaidheamh 's bhrisd e, 's a' h-uile fear a bha e 'breith air bha e 'ga bhrisdeadh. "Na dean a Mhanuis, — na bi a' brisdeadh nan arm, 's gun fhios nacb bi feuni agad orra fhathasd. Nuair a bha mise ann a' m' dhuine og bha cogadh aig do sheauair, 's bha seana chlogad, agus seann luireach orm. Feuch iad." Arsa fear an earraidh dheirg. Rug Manus air a' chlaidheamh 's dh' fhairtlioh air a bhrisdeadh. Chuir e 'n clogadh 's an olaidheamh uime. De a chunnaio e 'n sin ach brot(e) a uuas a driom an taighe. " Di air am math am brot ud ? " arsa Manus. " Tha," ars' esau, " nuair a sgaoileas tu oirean air seilbh bidh agus dibhe, gheibli thu e mar a chosgas tu. Tha buaidh eile air; na 'n coinneachadh namhaid thu, a' gabhail seaehad, bheireadh e pog do chul do dhuirn." Thug e 'm brot do Mhanus, 's phaisg e'm brot na achlais. Di a chunnaic e ach slabhraidh iaruinn a nuas a driom an taighe. "1)6 air am math an t-slabhraidh ud ? " arsa Manus. " Cha 'n 'eil creutair, air an t-saoghal, a chuirte siud mu amhaich nach biodh comhrag ceud fear air," arsa fear an earr- aidh dheirg. Thug Manus leis an t-slabhraidh. Nuair a bha e a' falbh d6 a chunuaio e ach da leomhan agus cuilean aoa. Thainig na leom- hain mu choinneamh, 'a iad gus itheadh, 's gus a sgath. Sgaoil e 'm brat, 's thainig na leomhain 's phog iad cul a dhuirn, 's ghabh iad seaehad air. Dh' fhalbh an cuilean leomhain feadh a' bhruit 's phaisg e 'm brot mu 'n cuairt air. Phaisg e 'm brot mu 'n cuairt air 's thug e leis gus an t-seana Bheirbhe e. Nuair a rainig e 'n t-seana Bheirbhe bha nighean larla na Fiughaidh a staigh. Chuir e 'n t-slabhraidh mu amhaich a' chuileau leom- hain. Dh' fhalbh an cuilean leomhain 's ghlan e 'n caisteal, 's cha d' fhag e creutair na uile bheist beo ann. Chuir e teine anns a' chaisteal. Bha e bliadhna an seo ann 's cha robh dith air. Chaidh e mach latha 's thuirt e gu 'n rachadh e dh' amharo a mhuime. Thug e leis an cuilean leomhain 's dh' fhalbh e. Mhothaich ise dlia a' tighinn. Bhaclaidheamhairathaobh an latha sin. Thainig i mach 'na choinneamh 's bha measan donn aice. Ghabh e 'n coinneamh Mhanuis, 's a bheul fosgailte, gus Manus a sgath agus itheadh. Dh' fhalbh an cuilean leomhain 's ghabh e air thois- MANUS. 391 each air Mauus, 's chuir e 'spog anu an cul a' bhraghaid aig a mheaaau aice-se, 's leig e 'luhionach a mach gu talamh. " Siud a Mhanuis," ars' ise, " ach ouir do chuilean a staigh air driom taigh nan leomhan.'' Chuir e 'n cuilean leomhain a staigh air driom an taighe, 's chuir e 'n t-slabhraidh mu 'mhuineal, 's cha d' fhag e leomhan fo dhriom an taighe gun mharbhadh, 's leig e e fhein 'na shineadh marbh comhla riu. Chaidh Manus dachaidh, gun chuilean gun duiue, an oidhche sin. De 'n obair gus an do chuireadh a dha chomhdhalta dheug ach a chartadh taigh nan leomhan. Nuair a chuireadh a mach iad cha robh leomhan fo dhriom an taighe nach robh 'sgornan air a ghearradh. Bha 'n cuilean leomhain agus gun bhionne falais air, 's an t-slabhraidh iaruinn, a chuir Manus air, mu 'amhaich. Thuirt fear diu gu 'm bu neonach leis an leomhan a bha 'n siud ; gun bhoinne falais air, seach each. " Sin cuilean leomhain fir mo ghaoil," arsa fear de 'n chuid- eachd, " cuilean leomhain Mhanuis!" "Mata,"arsa fear diu, "gad a tha mionnan oirnn gun falbh as a' bhaile ; ma 'n eireadh esan dh' fhalbhamaid agus bheiremaid brath seachad." " Cha 'u 'eil duine a theid a mach as a' bhaile seo," arsa each, "an deigh do 'n oidhche tighinn, nach 'eil goirteas sheachd bliadhna air as a dheigh." Chaidh iadsan thun na h-uinueig ; 's nuair a chaidh thun iad na h-uinneig dh'fhosgail an cuilean leomhain a shuilean, 's thainig e beo. Dh' fhalbh ise far an robh a fear 's thuirt i ris, an garbh- theaghlach ( /) a chur air doigh agus coig ceud fear ann. Thuirt esan gu 'm biodh goirteas seachd bliadhna air neaoh a raohadh a mach an deigh thuiteam na h-oidhche. Thuirt ise gad a bhiodh goirteas sheachd bliadua deug ann gu 'm falbhadh iad a, dh' iarraidh ceann Mhanuis. 'S e 'm Bodhar Bacach a theireadh iad ris an fhear a bha a' dion na rioghachd anns an am sin, 's cha chluinneadh e smid gus am biodh naoidh naonar ag eubhach 'na chluais. Mharbhadh e naoidh naonar air ais, 'a naoidh naonar air adhart, leis a' chlaidh- imh. D6 a dhuisg e ach stoirm a' gharbh theaghlaich a' tighinn, agns shaoil e gur h-e namhaid a bha ann. Dh' eirich e air a' gharbh-theaghlaoh, 's cha d' fhag e mac mathar de 'n choig ceud beo ; e fhein agus an cuilean leomhain. Dh' fhalbh an cuilean leomhain, 's da chomhdhalta dheug Mhanuis, do 'n t-seana Bheirbhe. 392 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " Coma leat," ars' iae, "gad a rinn Manus siud ormsa tha 'n Gruagacli dearg, mac righ na Greige ann, 's bheir e ceann Mhanuis as an t-seana Bheirme." Dh' f halbh a mhathair, an seo, 's chuir i soitheach thun Mhanuis gus an t-seana Bheirm, g'a thoirt air falbh, ma 'n d' thugadh an gruagaoh dearg an ceann deth. De a rinn a mhuime ach muir- tiothaohd {g) a chur air a' chuan air alt 's nach faigheadh Manus falbh. Chuir a mathair mairnealaiche (A) anns an t-soitheach. De a rinn an soitheach ach stad anns a' mhuir tiothachd. "Am bheil soitheach air an t-saoghal a bheir as an seo sinn?" arsa Manus ris a' mhairnealaiohe. "An leobhra tha; long bhreac Mhio Bhalcain (i) ghobha," ars' am mairnealach. Bha iad air bord 's cha b' urrainn iad gluasad. Am beul na h-oidhche sparr an cuilean leomhain a cheann fo achlais Mhanuis, 's ghabh e mach bhar na luinge, 's Manus air a mhuin. Dh' fhalbh e 's rainig e sgeir. Dh' f hag e Manus air an sgeir 's ghearr e fhein leum leis an taobh eile di. Thuit Manus 'na chadal ; agus bu mhath leis am bis fhaighinn le each, seach fhagail leis fhein air sgeir, Thainig guth g'a ionnsuidh 's thuirt .6 ris, " Eirich." Dh' eirich e 's chunnaic e soitheach. Co a bha 'n seo ach long Mhic Bhalcain gobha, agua an cuilean leomhain 'na rioohd air an stiuir, 's Mac Mhic Bhalcain gobha, 's a dha sheoladair deug, marbh air a h-urlar. Eainig e 'n soitheach, 's chuir e 'dha chomhdhalta dheug, 's nighean larla na Fiughaidh ann an long Mhic Bhalcain gobha. Bhuail e air seoladh air feadh na tiothachd. De a chunnaic e ach fearann ; 's nuair a chunnaic e 'm fearann chunnaic e 'naona chaisteal a bu bhreagha a chunnaic e riamh. Ghabh e air tir 's chuir e Mac Bhalcain gobha 's a dha sheoladair dheug air tir air rugha. Rainig e 'n caisteal, 's chaidh e staigh, 's bha boireannach breagha staigh an sin 's a dha dheug de nigheana maola, ruadha. Shuidh a dha chomhdhalta dheug lamh ris na nigheana maola, ruadha. Shuidh a dha chomhdhalta dheug lamh ris na nigheana maola, ruadha, 's thuirt iad, nach fhalbhadh iad gu htkch gus am faigheadh iad ri 'm posadh iad. Cha b' fhada gus an d' thainig an gruagaoh bin mac righ na Sorcha dachaidh 's buinnseach (k) ruadh 'na mathair dha. " Co seo ag amharc," ars' esan, "air mo dha dheug de nigheana maola, ruadha an clar an aodainn ? 's nach fhaca mi duine riamh MANUS. 393 a bliiodh ag amharc orra naoli d' thugainn an ceann an aghaidh na braghad deth." " Tha da chomhdhalta dheug agamsa 's tha iad an deigh gaol a ghabhail air do nigheana maola, niadha, 'a feumaidh tu 'n toirt daibh a 'm posadh," arsa Manus. " Mata," ars' an Gruagach bin, " an cumhnant air an dean- ainnsa sin, tha mi cinnteach naoh deauadh tusa rium e ; sin mise a' chur a staigb air m' athair, 's mi muigh air o cheana seachd bliadhna." "Ni mi sin," arsa Manus, "aoh thu fhein a dhol comhla rium. " An la 'r na mhaireaoh dh' f halbh iad. Rainig iad righ na Sorcha. Thainig righ na Sorcha mach, 's thug e 'lamh dheas d'a mhac fhein, 's a lamh thoisgeal do Mhanus. Dh' fhalbh an ouileau leomhain 's rug e air, 's leag e e. " Caisg diom a' bhiasd ma 'n d' thoir e mo bheatha diom," arsa righ na Sorcha. "Ni mi sin," arsa Manus, "aoh sgriobh le boinue de t' fhuU gur h-e do mhac t' oighre dligheach." " Mata 's fhada o'n a dheanainnsa sin na 'n d' thigeadh e fhein g'a iarraidh." Dh' fhalbh e 'n seo agus sgriobh e e 's dh' fhalbh iadsan an seo gu tighinn dachaidh. Nuair a bha iad n, tighinn an seo bha nighean laria na Fiughaidh ann an allt. "0," ars' an gruagach hkn, " tha mise marbh." " De a th' ort ?" arsa Manus. "Tha claoh," ars' esan, "anns an allt, 's tha tri brio fo 'u chloich, 's tha iad ann an apran na mnatha agad. Fad 's a bhiodh na brie beo bhithinn-sa beo. Tha fear aca 's an teine, an drasd aig do mhnaoi-sa." "Ambheildad air an t-saoghal," arsa Manus, "a dheanadh feum dhuit ? " " Tha,'' ars' esan, " beannach nimhe aig righ an domhaiu mhoir 's na 'm faighinn fhuil bhithinn oho math 's a bha mi riamh." Rainig iad an taigh 's bha 'n gruagach bin marbh. jDh' fhalbh Manus an seo, 's bha 'n long bhreac an deigh a goid air, 's cha robh fios, air an t-saoghal, co a thug uaidh i. Thuirt fear d'a chomhdhaltan gu 'n d' thug Brodram, mac righ an domhain mhoir, leis i. Ghabh e air falbh gu Brodram. Dh' fhoighneachd e dheth de a thug dha an soitheach a, thoirt uaidh. Thuirt esan gur h-e goid a rinn e fhein roimhe, 's nach robh coir aig urra. Thuirt e gu 'n robh beannach nimhe aig 'athair, agus fhad 's a 394 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. bhiodh am beannaoh nimhe beo gu 'm biodh 'athair beo, 's na 'm marbht am beannach nimhe gu 'm biodh an rioghachd aigesan. Dh' fhalbh e le Brodram, 's bha 'm beannach nimhe a staigh ann am pairc. Chaidh an cuilean leomhain a staigh do 'n phairc, 'a chuir e a spog ann an lag a bhraghad aig a bheannaoh nimhe. Thuit am beannach nimhe marbh 's thuit an righ marbh a staigh. Bha Brodram an seo 'na righ air an domhain mhor, 's fhuair Manus an fhuil, 's thill e, 's thug e beo leatha an gruagach bin. "Cha 'n fhaod e 'bhith nach d' theid thu fhein leam a nis a m' chur a staigh air an rioghachd," ars' e ris a' ghruagach bhin. Thuir an gruagach bin gu 'n racfaadh. Rainig e Brodram 's thuirt Brodram gu 'n rachadh e leis. Bha Balcan 's a dha fhaolainn {I) deug ag obair 's a' cheardaich 's dh' ath bheothaich e a dha sheoladair deug. Dh' iarr e air dol leis 's thuirt Balcan gu 'n rachadh. Dh' falbh Balcan, 's an gruagach bin, a's Brodram, 's gruagach an tuir, mac righ Siginn leis. Rainig iad Lochlainn. Choinnich fear an earraidh dheirg iad. Thoisich an gruagach bin agus an gruagach dearg (m) Gu fiachach, fuachach, meanmnach. Chuireadh iad tri dithean diu Ann an cleidibh (re) athair agus iarmailt. Chruinnioh mialchoin Fialchoin (o) (J. F. C) A ghabhail aighir air na biastan. Bheireadh iad air an fhairge traoghadh ; Air an talamh sgaineadh ; Air na rionnagan tuiteam. Mharbhadh an gruagach dearg, 's chuireadh a cheann air stob, 's chrunadh Manus na righ air Lochlainn, 's cha d' fhag iad duine beo anu an Lochlainn. From Donald MacPhie, loohdar. South Uist, who learnt it from Iain MacDhomhuuill Ic Thormaid DomhnuUach, Aird a mhachair, who died sixty years ago at the age of sixty. H. M'L. I heard the man tell part of the story myself. J. F. C. Notes for Gaelic. (a) Fonn, land generally on a larger scale than tearann. Pro- bably f earann may be irf honn, arable land, ,the f slipping in as frequently happens in Gaelic words. MANUS. 395 (5) Trath oidhche, the time of night ; differing in meaning from trath 'san oidhche, early in the night. (c) A Bheirbhe, sometimes the old man said Bheirm. This word is translated Copenhagen by some scholars, I don't know why. The sound is nearer to Bergen, for b and g frequently replace each other in Gaelic ; e.g., ubh, ugh, dubh, dugh, etc. (d) Earradh, a dress, costume. Aodach trusgan, eideadh earradh. Aodach is any clothes good or bad ; Trusgan is a good dress ; Eideadh is a distinguishing dress or uniform ; Earradh is a dress rather distinguishing an individual from others. Eideadh Gaidhealach, we could never say an t-earradh Gaidhealach. (e) Brot, same as brat. (f) Garbh-theaghlach, this seems to have been some large kind of vehicle. It is spelt as it was pronounced. It might have been garbh-shiubhlach or carr-shiubhlaoh. (g) Muir-tiothach, some curious thickening of the ocean so as to prevent the ship from moving. Muir-teachd may be the same word as this diflferently pronounced ; and if so, it means jelly fish. (/i) Mairnealaiche, a pilot. (i) Ealcan. Is this the same as Vulcan ? Bailc means a plunge, a flood. The smith constantly plunging his iron or steel in water might receive this name in consequence ; falc is to bathe. (i) Buinnseach, a big, strong, clumsy woman. (I) Faolainn, same as foghlainte or foghlainteaoh, an apprentice. (m) An gruagach dearg, a different person from the other fear earraidh dheirg. (re) Cleid, a fiake. Cleidean athair, sky flakes, clouds ; pro- bably the fine white clouds called cirri. May not this word be the root of cloud. H. M'L. (o) Fialchoin, so pronounced; probably Fiadh-choin, deer-dogs, or wild-dogs, wolves, probably the last. J. F. C. LXXXV. THE SONG OF THE SMITHY. From Donald MacPhie, Breubhaig, Barra. 1 — OlSEIN. On a day as were on wide spread Rushes, A valiant four of the company, Myself, and Bound, and Grey Earth, Fair's self was there, he was Bondage's son. 2 There was seen a coming from the plain The big young lad on a single foot, In his black, dusky black skin mantle. With his dusky head-gear so rusty red. 3 Grim was the look of the young lad. Hideous it was, and disfigured, With his largeheaded mighty helmet. With his blunt ploughshare (a) that grew russet red. 4 FlONN. Then spoke to him Fionn MacOhumail, As a man who was like to faint. " At what place is thy dwelling. Thou lad with thy dress of skins ? " 5 — Smith. " Blade, son of Furbishing, 's my right name,* If you had the knowledge of a tale of me ; I was a while at the smith's mystery. With the King of Lochlann at Upsala. (5) * Gillies, 1786 . . Lun MacLiobhainii. MaoCallum, 1816 . . Luinn MacLiobhuinn. MacPherson, .... Luno. ^ DUAN NA CEAEDACH. 1 Latlia dhuinn air Luachair leothair, Do clieathrar chrodha de 'n bhuidhinn ; Mi fhein, a's Osgar, a's Daorghlas ; Bha Fionn fhein ann, 's b' e Mac Chumhail. 2 Chunnacas a' tigbinn o'n mbagh An t-olacb mor 's e air aona cbois, 'Na mbanndal dubb, ciar-dbubb craicinn, Le cbeanna-bbeairt lacbdann 's i ruadb-mbeirg. 3 Bu gbruamacb coslas an olaicb ; Bu gbrannda sin agus bu duaicbnidb ; Le 'chlogada eeann-mbor, ceutacb ; Le 'mbaoil eitidb a db' fbas ruadb dbearg. 4 Labbair ris Fionn MacObumbail, Mar dbuine 'bbiodb a' dol seacbad, " Co 'm ball am bbeil do tbuinidb, 'Ille le d' cbulaidb cbraicinn ? " 5 " Lon * MacLiobbann, b'e m' ainm ceart e, Na 'm biodb agaibbs' orm beacbd sgeula ; Bba mi treis ri uallacb gobbainn Aig rigb Locblann ann an Spaoili.^ * LoNN, a sword, a blade, a bar, a stake of wood, a bier pole, anger ; a surge, a sea swell ; strong, powerful. Lonnrach, bright, etc., a blaze, a gleam. Lunn, a smooth, rolling swell, an oar handle. Manks, Lhun, or Lhunn. 398 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 6 " I am laying you under enchantments, Since you are a people in need of arms ; '' That you shall follow me, a band of quietness. Westward to my smithy doors.'' 7 FlONN. " Upon what place is thy workshop, Or shall we profit by seeing it ? " Smith. " Do you see it, if it may be. But see it you shall not, if I can.'' 8— OlSBIN. Then they set them to their travel. O'er the fifth of Munster in their hurrying speed. And on the yellow glens about birch trees. Then went they into four bands, (c) 9 One band of these was the blacksmith, Another band of them Daorghlas ; Fionn was behind them at that time, And a few of the chiefs of the Finne. 10 The blacksmith would cut but the one step, On each lonely glen through the desert, But scarcely his arms would reach to A tuck of his clothes on his haunches. 11 Ascending the ground of the corrie, Descending the pass of the edges ; " A little delay," said the blacksmith, " Shut not before me,'' quoth Daojghlas. DUAN NA CEARDACH. 399 6 " Tha mise 'gur cur-se fo gheasaibh, O 's luchd sibh 'tha 'm freasdal armaibh, Sibh gu m' leontail, buidheann shocrach, Siar gu dorsan mo cheardach." 7 — FlONN. " Co 'm ball am bheil do cheardach 1 Na 'm feairde sinne g'a faicinn ? " GrOBHA. " Faiceadh sibhs' i ma dh' fhaodar ; Ach ma dh' fhoadas mise cha 'n fhaic sibh." 8 Gu 'n d' thug iad an sin 'nan siubhal Air Choige Mhumha 'nan luath dhearg ; 'S air Ghleannan buidhe mu bheithe Gu 'n deach iad 'nan ceithir buidhnibh. 9 Bu bhuidheann diu sin an gobha ; Bu bhuidheann eile dhiu Daorghlas ; Bha Fionn 'nan deaghainn an uair sin A's beagan de dh' uaislean na Finne.^ 10 Cha ghearradh an gobha ach aona cheum Air gach gleannan faoin roimh fhasach, 'S cha ruigeadh airm ach air eigin Cearbh dh' an aodlach shuas air mhasan. 11 A' direadh ri uriar a' choire, A' tearnadh ri bealach nam faobhar, " Fosadh beag ort " ars' an gobha ; " Na druid romham,'' arsa Daorghlas. , 400 west highland tales. 12— Smith. " Thoud'st not be in the door of my workshop, In a strait place, were I alone." (d) 13 — OlSEIN. Then they got bags for blowing, The workshop was scarcely found out ; Four men were found of the king of Bergen, Of crossgrained men and unshapely. 14 To every smith there were seven hands, Seven pincers light and substantial ; And the seven hammers that crushed them, And no worse would it suit with Daorghlas. 15 Daorghlas who watched at the workshop, 'Tis a certain tale that they fell out ; He was red as a coal of the oaktree. And his hue like the fruit of the working. 16 Out spoke one of the blacksmiths So gruffly, and eke so grimly, " Who is that dauntless slender man That would stretch out a bar of temper 1 " 17 Out spoke Fionn, who was standing. The man of good answer at that time, " That nickname shall not be scattered. His name was Daorghlas till thisjiour." DUAN NA CEARDACH. 401 12 " Cha bhiodh tu 'n dorus mo cheardach An ait teann 's mi 'nam aonar.'' 13 Fhuair iad an sin builg ri sheideadh ; Fhuaradh air eigin a' cheardach ; Fhuaras ceathrar dhaoine righ Meirbhe,^ De dhaoine doirbhe, mi-dhealbhach. 14* Bha seachd lamhan air gach gobha ; Seachd teanchairean leothair,* aotrom, 'S na seachd uird a bha 'gan spreigeadh ; 'S cha bu mhiosa 'fhreagradh Daorghlas. 15 Daorghlas, fear aire na ceardach, 'S sgeula dearbha gu 'n do throid iad, 'S e cho dearg ri gual an daraich, 'S a shnuadh a thoradh na h-oibre. 16 Labhair fear de na goibhnean Gu grimaeh agus gu gruamach ; " Co e 'm fear caol gun tioma A thairneadh a mach teinne {^) cruadhach 1 '' 17 Labhair Fionn a bha 'na sheasamh, Fear a bu mhath freagairt 'san uair sin, " Cha bhi 'n t-ainm sin sgaoilte, Bha Daorghlas air gus an uair seo." * This verse is not in MacCallum's version. 3 28 402 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 18 Then they got their stretched out The arms that were straight and coloured, The complete work that was finished, Of finished arms for the battle. 19* " Hiss " and " Fye " and " Make sure," And the "Like blade" the smith's shop's daughter, And the long blade of Diarmaid — Many was the day that he tried it. 20 I had " the Tinker of striplings,'' Of loud rattle in the battle keen ; And "the son of the surge," that was MacChumail's, Which never left a shred of the flesh of man. 21 Then we took to our travel. To take a tale from the king of Lochlann ; Then out spoke the king so high born With force of sweet words as became him well. 22 AVe would not give, by your fear, A tale of six of our party ; We lifted up the spears. And it was in front of the banners. * The following verse from MacCallum gives the names of some more of the swords : — The "Magic bladed " was the blade of Oscar, And the " Hard Massacrer " the blade of Caoilte, And the " Polisher "the blade of Diarmid, Many a wild man killed she. DUAN NA CEARDACH. 403 18 Fhuair iad an sin 'nan sineadh Na h-airm a bha direach daite, 'S an coimhlionadli a bh' air a dheanadh De dh' armaibh deanta na faiche. 19* "Fead" agus "Fuidh/'agus "Fasdail," 'S a' " Chomblann '' 'Ic na Ceardaich, 'S an lann fhada 'bh' aig Diarmaid, 'S iomadh latha riamh a dhearbh i. 20 'S agam fhein bba " Ceard^ nan gallan " A b' ard farum 'n am nan garbh chath ; " 'S Mac an Luin " a bh' aig Mac Chumhail f Nach d' fhag fuigheall riamh dh' fheoil dhaoine. 21 Gu 'n do ghabh sinne mu shiubhal A ghabhail sgeula de righ Lochlann ; Sin nuair labhair an righ uasal Le neart suairce mar bu chubhaidh. 22 Cha d' thugamaid, air bhur n-eagal, Sgeula do sheisear dh' ur buidhinn, Gu 'n do thog sinne na sleaghan ; 'S gu 'm b' ann ri aghaidh nam bratach. * The following verse is from MacCallum : — Bi n Druidh lannach lann Oscair, 'S b' i Chraaidh Cosgaireaeh lann Chaoilte, 'S gu' m b' i n Liobhanach lann Dhiarmaid, 'S iomadh fear fiadhaich a mharbh i. t Irish, Mac an Loin. 404 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 23 They were in seven battalions, («) And no warrior thought of fleeing ; But on the ground of the field of Fine We were there but six. 24 Two of these were myself and Caoilte, Three of them was wily Faolan, Four of them was Fionn the foremost, And five of them was Osgar valiant. 25 Six of them was Goll MacMorna That brooked no slur that I can mind ; Now will I cease from the numbering, Since the Fhinn have gone to decay. 26 We were good in the day of the Teavrai, In the workshop of Lon MacLiobhain ; This day how frail is my strength, After having numbered the band. (a) Eite is a piece added to a ploughshare when worn, a peri- phrasis for an old sword ? Eite is the word in Gillies. (6) I am indebted to MacLean for this clever suggestion. The grave of Thor is shewn at Old Upsala. The same Gaelic word is used in Gillies. (c) In Gillies this varies considerably. (d) Here there is a break in Gillies also, and the meaning is obscure. MacCallum makes it, ' ' Leave me not alone in a strait place." (c) This is so in Gillies also. Irish writers say that the Feinne were a standing army of Irish warriors divided into seven bat- talions ; this makes the men of Lochlann to be so divided. One Irish author says that the Feinne were Norsemen who guarded Dublin, DUAN NA CEARDACH. 405 23 Bha iadsan ann 'nan seachd cathan, 'S cha do smaointich flath air teicheadh ; Ach air lar na Faiche fine Cha robh sinne ann ach seisar. 24 Bu dithis diu sin mis' agus Caoilte ; Bu triuir diu Faolan f eall ; ^ Bu cheathrar dhiu Fionn air thoiseach ; 'S bu choigear diu 'n t-Osgar calma. 25 Bu sheisar GoU MacMorna Nach d' fhulaing tair ri m' chuimhne ; Sguiridh mi nis dh' an aireamh chaidh an Fhinn gu sodradh. 26 An mhath sinn latha na Teamhruidh Ann an ceardach Lonn 'Ic Liobhann ; An diugh is anmhunn mo chiil An deis a bhith 'g aireamh na buidhne. From Donald MacPhie, smith, Breubhaig, Barra, who learnt it from his uncle Hector MacLaine. — H. M'Lean. Breubhaig, Barra, October 1, 1860. ^ Spaoili, probably Upsala. ^ Teinne, a mass, or bar of metal. -' Meirbhe, same as Beirbhe, Bergen ? •' Leothair, substantial, from leor. * Ceard, any kind of smith ; or-cheard, a goldsmith ; ceard airgid, a silversmith ; ceard copair, a coppersmith ; ceard stavin, a tinsmith, tinker ; ceard spainean, a spoonsmith. Gipsies and travelling tinkers are pre-eminently ceardan or smiths, because they work in a great variety of metals. Ceard nan Gallan, the smith of the branches or youths, so called from being well adap- ted to cut down the young and strong. ^ Feall here is probably fial mispronounced. 406 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. So far this is almost the very same as the version given in Gillies, published 1786. The number of verses is the same, and the number of lines, and the order of the story the same ; but there are considerable varia- tions in a small way. In the 8th verse they set off to travel "as chuige mugha na luimedheirg," on a yellow mountain, as Beither, a dragon, which may mean, like the fifth of Munster of Limerick, but which I suspect refers to some other legend, for it does not appear how Munster should run like a dragon. In the 16th verse only one smith, he who spoke, has seven hands. In the 20th verse Ossian's sword is "Deire nan colg,'' the end of anger. In the 26th, the word is teann ruith, hard running, instead of the word pronounced teavrai ; and there are many slight verbal differences and changes in orthography. The piece is without doubt the very same which is in Gillies, and if the book is in the Long Island it might have been learned from it. But, on the other hand, the book professes to be a collection made in the Highlands, its genuineness has never been questioned, and I believe that this is but a proof of the tenacity of popular memory for things which suit popu- lar taste. Another version was taken down for MacCallum, and published in 1816 ; I have indicated the chief differ- ences in the footnotes. There is an Irish prose version of the story lately published (Ossianic Society's 2d vol.), which differs materially ; it reduces the whole to a race ; Fionn carried his sword with him ; the smith is a giant with one leg, one arm, and one eye, who is bound by Fionn ; his name is Roc, son of Diocan. As the Manks tradition (see introduction, vol. i. Ivi.) agrees with these Gaelic poems, I suspect the Irish story is the tradition more fallen to decay. DUAN NA CEARDACH. 407 Now as an example of the way in which these poems pervade the whole traditions of the country and are interwoven with each other, let me give the following account of a visit to pick up a version of the poem in Islay. MacLean's letter seems worth preservation. Ballygrant, May 27, 1861. Sir— I called on old MacPhail at Scanlistle last Friday ; it was the first time I had spoken to him for at least twenty years, for it is but lately that he has come to this parish. He left it fully more than twenty -five years ago, and was for a long time a work- man with Doctor MacTavish. There the poor fellow got hurt, and the result was that he lost his leg. It may be well to state that he was a skilful and industrious workman, as there ia a current opinion that these story-tellers are found among the worthless and lazy. Before he left this parish he was a workman with old Eounsf ell at Persabas, and he was the person that was always sent to kiln-dry and mill the corn at Ballygrant. It was then, while kiln-drying corn, that he amused me with these Fenian stories. I regret to say that the verses are not so com- plete as I used to hear them from him. I reminded him of Sinsearrachd Fhinn, of which he was wont to give me a long list, but of this he could remember nothing the other day. I remem- ber it went this way : — Fionn MaoCumhail, 'lo Trathuil, 'Ic treuu-moir, 'lo cham laora, but I cannot remember any other name beyond cam laora, or crooked toes. When I entered the house he was sitting by the fireside with his wooden leg. The old fellow's eye brightened when he saw me, and I told him I wished to hear some of his old lore again. " O," said he, " b' abhaist domh 'bhith 'gan gabhail sin a chum- ail toil-inntinn riut " (I used to be reciting these to thee to keep thee pleased). " Cha bhiodh esau ach 'na phaisde an sin '' (he would be but a child then), said his brother's wife. "Bha e 'na bhalach caol, luirgneach 'san am " (he was a slender leggy boy at the time), a description which is not altogether inappropriate yet. I inquired of him about the old people whom he was wont to hear reciting these stories in his youth, and he enumerated several, and said that the poems were long and beautiful, and that to listen to them was the delight of all. He quotes some- thing here and there of almost all I have got. " Bas Gharuidh, '' 408 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. he related to me, "The Incident of the Pigeons;" but with respect to Fionn, he says his thigh was cut through, and that he was worthless ever afterwards. " bu lurach an eachdraidh i nuair a bhiodh i air a h-innseadh gu ceart " (Oh that history was one of price when it was rightly told), exclaimed he with enthusiasm. During the conversation 1 gave him three glasses of good strong whisky, and you would not know that he had tasted it, further than being in good spirits. Verily alcohol is not always poison, as total abstainers pronounce it to be. — I am, Sir, yours sincerely. Hector MacLean. The conversation is written in Gaelic, but a transla- tion is sufficient. I give the verses as an example of the way in which scraps may be picked up, which might be used in mend- ing other versions. DUAN NA CEAEDACH, Etc. From Malcolm MaoPhail, Scanlistle, aged eighty years. Learnt it from Alexander MacQueen, Persabas, sixty years ago. MacQueen was past eighty years of age at that time. 2. Chunnacas a teachd ar coir, Fear mor agus air aona chois ; Le a mhantal dubh ciardhubh craicinn ; Le 'ionnar lachduinn 's le ruadh bheairt. 2 — New verse. Aon suil mholach an clar aodainn 'Se sior dheanadh air MacChumhail, " Co thu fhein ?" arsa MacChumhail ; " Na cia as duit ? " DUAN NA CEARDACH. 409 3— GoBHA. New. " Thainig mis' 'ur cur fo gheasaibh, — Seisear de mhaithibh na Feinue, A bhith 'gam raith gun easraioh Siar gu dorus mo oheardach." 4 — New, Thug e as mar ghaoth an earraich Mach ri beannaibh dubha 'n t-sleibhe. 10 Cha d' thugadh e acb an aona cbeum Thar gach aon ghleann fuarraidh, fasaidb ; 'S cha 'n fhaiceadh tu aoh air eigin Cearb d' a eideadh thar a mhasan. FlONN EI CaOILTE. " Freagair agus sin do chasan, 'S gabh sgeula de 'n rugha. " * 11 A' tearnadh aig Alltan a' chuimir, Fosgladh gu 'n d' thug an gobha, " Na druid romhan," arsa Doorghlas. 7 Caoilte. ' ' A rugha cait am bheil do oheardach ? Na 'm b' fheairde sinne g' a faicinu ? " Gobha. " Mo oheardach cha 'u 'eil ri fhaotainn, 'S ma dh' fhaodas mise cha 'n fhaio sibh." 14 Labhair gobha de na goibhnean, Le curam mor agus le gruaim ; " A righ CO 'm fear caol gun tioma, t A shineas an sineadh cruadhach ? " * Rugha, a smith. Keciter. f Sineadh, a bar of metal. Reciter. 410 WJEST HIGHLAND TALES. 15— FlONN. " A righ gu meal thu t' ainm a Chaoilte ! Cha bhi Daorghlas ort o'n uair seo." New. A' Chruaidh Chosgarrach lann Osgair, An Leadarnach mhor lann Chaoilte, Mac an Luiu aig Fionn MacChumhail, Nach fag fuigheall de dh' fheoil dhaoine. 2 — Various. There was seen nearing us A big man upon one foot, With his black dusky black skin mantle, With his hammering tools, and his " steel lathe.'' New verse — follows the 3d. One shaggy eye in his forehead, Making ever for MacChumhail, "Who is thyself," said MacChumhail, " Or whence art thou ? " New verse — follows the 4th. " I came to lay you under enchantments. Six of the chiefs of the Feinne, To be chasing me without hurry, West to the door of my workshop." 7 — Half new verse ; follows 7th. He set off like the wind of the spring time, Out to the dark mountains of the high grounds. 10 He would take but a single step. O'er each single cold glen of the desert ; Thou could'st have seen but hardly A tuck of his clothing o'er his hujdies. DUAN NA CEAKDACH. 411 FiONN TO Caoilte. New — follows 10. Answer and stretch thy legs, And take a tale of the blacksmith. Eugha is a smith according to the reciter. Raute is a Lapp nickname for a smith, as I learned on the Tana, where I took the sketch of the skin-clad smith, whose portrait I give as an illustration. (See Frontispiece.) Here the old man forgot his poem, but remembered a bit of his story. "When Caoilte was -at full speed, thou might'st see three heads on him. His two shoulders would be rising aloft, as though there were two heads, and his head would be crouching down, he would be going as it seems half bent." At vol. ii., 425, this occurs in the tale of the white chief, and this explains what I did not under- stand. Then he went on with a few lines of verse. 11 Descending by the streamlet of the Shaper, At the opening that the smith made, " Shut not before me," said Daorghlas. 7 — Caoilte. " Oh, Eugha, where is thy workshop, Or should we profit to see it ? " Smith. " My smithy is not to be found out ; And if I may, see it you shall not." 14 — Various. Out spoke a smith of the blacksmiths, With great care and a grim frown, " King ! who is the slender fearless man. That wiU stretch the tempered bar." 412 ■WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 15 — FlONN. " King ! mayst thou snatch the name, Thou shalt not be Daorghlas from this hour.'' 19 — Partly new; follows 19. " Victorious hardness," Osgar's blade, " The big slasher," the blade of Caoilte, " Mac-an-Luin^" was Fionn MacChumhail's, That never left a sbred of the flesh of man. Here this poem ends, so far as this old man is con- cerned ; but enough remains to prove that he did not borrow from Gillies or MacCallum, for there are several lines and some verses which are not to be found in the books. It is also manifest that there is a great deal missing. In the Lay of Diarmaid, he says that he was one of the party ; his sword is mentioned here, but he is not. MacLean writes : — " At the end of this verse Mae- Phail relates that the arms required to be tempered in the blood of a living person ; that the smith's daughter took a fancy to Fionn, who had a love spot (which was Diarmaid's property), and that she told him, unless he killed her father with the sword, that her father would kill him. This Fionn accordingly did. This is different from the usual story, according to which the sword is tempered in the blood of the old woman, the smith's mother. Probably the variation may be owing to forgetfulness on the part of MacPhail, caused by old age and by having had a paralytic stroke last winter." " This was when they got the arms ; they had before but 'Tunnachan,' they were sticks with sharp ends made on them, and these ends burned and hardened in the fire. They used to throw them^rom them, and DUAN NA CEARDACH. 413 they could aim exceedingly with them, and they could drive them through a man. They used to have a bundle with them on their shoulders, and a bundle in their oxters. I myself have seen one of them that was found in a moss, that was as though it had been har- dened in the fire." This then gives the popular notion of the heroes, and throws them back beyond the iron period. "There was a great day of battle between themselves and the Lochlanners, which was called Latha nan Tunnachan, the day of the stakes. I have heard old men speaking of it, and it was down thereabouts, about Chnoc angail that they gave it. They had a great day there." This then fixes the period ; at the time of the wars with Lochlann in Islay. "It was in the side of a knoll at AUtan a chuirin that the fairy smith had his smithy." " There was a great carlin once in Lochlann. It is Muirearteach maol ruadh that they used to say to her. She came from Lochlann, and she brought a smithy and the smith (ceardach agus an Gobha) with her on her back to sharpen the spears ; she was but a witch, but the Fheinn slew her. Said the King of Lochlann when he heard this " — here comes in verse 23 of the poem given already, page 144, with the English word sink introduced, and a few variations ; and this joins the lay of the witch to the lay of the smithy. "The Lochlanners were difficult (that is, cross and fierce) ; and they had so much iodramanach and witch- craft that it is thus they used to do much of their valour." " GoU was the strongest man that was in the Fheinn, and he could eat seven stags at his dinner^ Fionn was 414 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. a patient worthy man, and they used always to take his counsel. Fionn and Osgar, GoU and Oisean, four ' postaichean ' of the Feinne, the high law people, Luchd ladh." This would seem to explain how three generations fill such a large space in Celtic popular tradition. If the names of the original warriors became the names of offices or officers they may have been Celtic gods at first and commanders of Irish, Scotch Scandinavian, and British Feinne afterwards, in the third century and in the twelfth. There were many Osgars at the battle of Gaura, and Fionn, who is killed in one century, is aU alive the next. " Fionn was not a king over land, he was but a chief over the men." " Was there any other name said to him but Eigh na Feinne, king of the Fane 1 " " There was not." " It is Conan who was the weakest man that was in the Fheinn, because they used to keep him maol (cropped). He had but the strength of a man, but if the hair should get leave to grow there was the strength of a man in him for every hair that was in his head ; but he was so cross that if the hair should grow he would kill them all. He was so short-tempered (ath-ghoirid) that he used to be always fighting with them." So all accounts agree ; and Kai, Arthur's attendant, was of the same disposition. "When GoU would be in great rage the one eye would come ' dorn gulban ' out, and the other eye would go ' dorn gulban ' in. I think myself that his appear- ance would not be beautiful then." Neither narrator, scribe, nor translator knows what " dord gulban " means, but Conall Gulban struck darn a fist on a man, and knocked his eye out on his cheek. DUAN NA CEARDACH. 415 " Did you ever hear,'' what Righ Mhor bheinn (king of Morven, of great hills), said to Fionn 1 "I have heard it," (chual). This was put as an experiment to try the effect of a leading question, and it produced a contradiction ; but he might have heard the name and have forgotten it till reminded. " They would be always staying over at Fas Laigh- eann, at Goirtean taoid, when they were in this island (Islay), and the place for the caldron is there yet, and they say that the caldron is buried there. It is Eas Laigheann nan sruth seimh that they used to call it — lin of Laigheann of the still streams — they were so fond of it. They had no house at all there.'' This joins Gaelic to Welsh and Irish traditions, for this caldron is often mentioned, and it upsets Scotch and Irish topography altogether. " There came a woman on them there once from the westward, and they said to her — Tha sinue 'cur mar choran 's mar gheasan ort, Gu 'n inn is thu, co thu fhein na co do mhuinntir ? 'S mise nighean righ na Sorchann, Sgiath an airm ; 'S gTir h-e 's ainm dha 'm Baoidhre borb ; 'S gu 'n d' thoir e mise leis, Cia mor bhur treis as an Fheinn. Cia b' fhada 'n oidhche gu latha, Cha bu ghna leinn 'bhith gun cheol. We lay it as a circuit and as spells on thee. That thou tell us who thou art, or thy people. I am the daughter of the king of Sorchann,* Sorohann, MaoLean suggests, may be Droutheim or Trond- jem. Sorcban used to mean au elevation on which a shinny ball was placed to be "hit oflF," and it meant any other hillock. Baoidhre, from Beithir, » large serpent or dragon, and Righ, a king, so called probably from having a serpent as part of his armorial bearings. — H. M'L. 416 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. Shield of armies, And that his name is Baoidhre borb, And that he will take me with him. Though great our time from the Fane, Though long be the night to day, It was not our wont to be without music. " They were is such a great (iomagain) trouble about the man who was coming that they did not set up any music.'' "'We will rise out in the morning,' said they, 'to see who is coming upon us.' '' Chunnucas a' teaohd ar coir fear mor air steud chiar-dhubh, rionna-gheal, a' coiseaohd air an fhairge, staigh as an aird an iar. Cuireamaid ar comhairle ri cheile, Feuoh CO 'gliabhas sgeula de 'n oigear. Labhair GoU le curam mor as le gruaim, Co 'theid fo m' sg^ith-sa chumail diom nam buillean cruadhach. Bhuail am fear a, thainig beum sgeithe 's dh' iarr e comhrag coig ceud laoch. Leum an deo as a' mhnaoi an an taobh eile dhiu leis an eagal. " There was seen coming near us a great man on his dun black, white-haired steed, walking on the sea, in from the western airt. ' Let us lay our counsel together, See who will take a tale from the youth,' Spoke Goll, with great care and a frown, 'Who will go under my shield to ward off the tempered strokes.' " The man who came struck a shield blow, and he asked for a battle of five hundred heroes. The life leaped out of the women on the other side of them for fear. DUAN NA CEARDACH. 417 " They killed him at last. Thiodhlaicear aig braigh an eas, Fear mor bu mhor meas agus miadh ; Chuir Fionn MacCumhail fainn oir, Air gach meur aig an onair an righ. They buried at the top of the lin The great man of great honour and esteem. Fionn MacChumail put a golden ring On each of his fingers in honour of the king. " I saw a man in Goirtean taoid (in Islay), and he found one of the rings on the point of his sock when he was ploughing — Murchadh MacNeacail. It was one of the old Highland ploughs he had. There were great long beaks on them. The carle got much money for the ring.'' Now this is the story of the well-known poem of Fainesoluis, localized in Islay, and the finding of a gold ring assumed to be proof positive of its exact truth by the old man who tells it. I also have a gold ring which was found in Islay with a lot of others. It is said that the finder made handles for a chest of drawers of these gold rings, and that a pedlar gave him a fine new brass set in exchange for the old ones, which he carried ofii' and sold. Some of them are said to be in the museum at Glasgow, one I have, and the rest were probably melted. I know of several dis- coveries of gold rings, chains, etc., made in Islay. Now it is possible that this tradition of the Feinne may be true. The story is in Dean MacGregor's MS. as a poem of 161 lines, attributed to Ossian in 1530. It is claimed by Irish writers as Moira Borb, 1789, in vol. v. of the Ossianic Society's transactions, 1860. I have three traditionary versions as 'poems, one 3 29 418 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. written down in September 1860, in Barra, called MacOighre Eigt na lor-smail ; eiglity-four lines from Donald MacPhie, Breubhaig, who says lie learned it from Hector MacLaine (smith), an uncle of his who could neither read nor write, and who died aged about eighty some twenty years ago. In this, Padruig and Oisean, and Fionn, and Fionn's four sons, and Osgar, and the daughter of the king under the waves, and a big man who comes in a ship, are the actors. The language is curious, and the poetry good. I regret extremely that I have no room for it. The other is from Patrick Smith, South Boisdale, South Uist ; an old man who learned it in his youth from Roderick MacVicar, North Uist, seventy-three lines, Macabh Mor Mac"Righ na Sorcha. The story is the same, but Padruig does not appear. The burial of the hero at the top of a lin with rings on his fingers is given, which is in the Dean's version. The last line, Tha sgeul beag agum air Fionu, is the first and last line in the Dean's, and generally my version and this fragment and the Dean's might be fused so as to make a more complete story, and a longer and perfectly genuine poem in Scotch Gaelic. The third version is called Dan na H-ighean, and has eighty-four lines, written by Mr. Torrie in Benbecula, from the dictation of Donald Macintyre, who learned it some fifty years ago from an old man who afterwards went to America, John Maclnnes or Iain og Mac- Fhionlai. This joins Scotch and Irish traditions, Mac- Pherson's Ossian, with genuine traditions and old MSS., and joins poetry to prose tales. " There was a young lad in the Fheinn, who was called Coireall, and he used always to'be in the house DUAN NA CEARDACH. 419 of the ■women, because he had not come to the age of a man. It is Goll that had Mir mora na Feinne, the great morsel of the Fane, that was every bit of marrow that was in every bone to be gathered together and brought to him. Coireall came in, and he took with him some of the marrow, and he and Goll fell out (went over each other). The law that Fionn made was, that they should drive bones through the wattled rods that were dividing the house, and the one with whom the bone should go, the marrow to be his.'' This is the common partition in Highland cottages, rods woven into a kind of rude basket-work, and plas- tered with clay. Rob Roy's house at the head of Glen- shira, near Inverary, is so divided. They did that, and Goll dragged Coireall through the wattled rods with the bone. After that they went to try each other to the strand (cladach), and Coireall won of Goll, and he left the woman's house." Gluiche ri cluiche nan soc, Cluiche nan eoroan 's nam bian ; A' chulaidh chomhraig a bh' aig an dia Cha 'n fhaca mi roimhe riamh. Each game to the game of the ends. The game of the whittles and skins, The battle array that these two had, I never before have seen. This then paints the dwellings of the heroes as very rude, and gives the clue to another poem which I have : sixty lines of very good popular poetry, describing how Goll slew Coireall at a merrymaking, and how Fionn lamented over his son, and why he hated Goll thence- forth. I have not found this in any book as yet. " It must be that the Feinn were strong ? " 420 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " Hoo ! They were as strong as the horses. There was one who was called Mileach Mor, and he sent word for them at once, and the chase fallen short. When they arrived, they were put into a long house there, and they were without anything. A big black girl came in, and she asked a battle of warriors from them." "Let me get to her," said Conan. Conan went, and she seized him, and she floored him, and she plucked three of her hairs, and she bound his three smalls. Then she went out, and they loosed Conan. She came in again, and she sought a battle of warriors, " Let me get at her,'' said Conan. " What canst thou do 1 " said they to him. They let him go, and she floored him, and this time she did something else to him, and then she went out. They killed the Mileach Mor, and they had the keep of a day and a year there. This joins an Islay tradition to one published by Mr. Simpson in 1857, as current in Mayo (see pages 235 and 242), and it also joins in with a great many other stories which I have in manuscript, and with Magach Colgar, No. xxxvL, and so to ancient MSS. now in the Advo- cate's Library. And thus one old Highlander with a failing memory, but who can still remember some scraps of what he learned in his youth, and could remember in his manhood, forms one mesh in a net-work of tradition, and manuscript and print ; history and mythology, prose and poetry, which joins the whole Gaelic family together, extends over three centuries, and may be found to join them to the earliest records of the Pagan world. This is no solitary case. The man is a speci- men of a class which survives in far-away corners, but which must soon vanish before modern ways, together with the Gaelic language. No. LXXXVI. NIGHEAN RIGH FO THUINISr. The Daughter or King Under -waves. From Roderick MaoLean (tailor) Ken Tangval, Barra, who heard it frequently recited by old men in South Uist, about fifteen years ago. One of them was Angus Maciutyre, Bomish, who was about eighty years old at the time. Written by H. MacLean, 1860. I have selected this, because it shews one of the Ossianic heroes in a very mythological character. I omit the Gaelic for want of room, and translate closely but more freely. rpHE Fhinn were once together, on the side of Beinn ■^ Eudainn, on a wild night, and there was pouring rain and falling snow from the north. About midnight a creature of uncouth appearance struck at the door of Fionn. Her hair* was down to her heels, and she cried to him to let her in under the border of his covering. Fionn raised up a corner of the covering, and he gazed at her. " Thou strange looking ugly creature," said he " thy hair is down to thy heels, how shouldst thou ask me to let thee in ? " She went away, and she gave a scream. She reached Oisean, and she asked him to let her in under the bor- der of his covering. Oisean lifted a corner of his cover- ing, and he saw her. " Thou strange, hideous creature, how canst thou asl? me to let thee in ? " said he. * A fait 's a fionna. ^ ' 422 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " Thy hair is down to thy heels. Thou shalt not come in." She went away, and she gave a shriek. She reached Diarmaid, and she cried aloud to him to let her in under the border of his covering. Diarmaid lifted a fold of his covering, and he saw her. " Thou art a strange, hideous creature. Thy hair is down to thy heels, but come in," said he. She came in under the border of his covering. " Oh, Diarmaid," said she, " I have spent seven years travelling over ocean and sea, and of all that time I have not passed a night till this night, till thou hast let me in. Let me come in to the warmth of the fire." " Come up," said Diarmaid. When she came up, the people of the Finn began to flee, so hideous was she.* " Go to the further side," said Diarmaid, " and let the creature come to the warmth of the fire." They went to the one side, and they let her be at the fire, but she had not been long at the fire, when she sought to be under the warmth of the blanket together with himself. " Thou art growing too bold," said Diarmaid. " First thou did'st ask to come under the border of the cover- ing, then thou did'st seek to come to the fire, and now thou seekest leave to come under the blanket with me ; but 'come." She went under the blanket, and he turned a fold of it between them. She was not long thus, when he gave a start, and he gazed at her, and he saw the finest * This gives to Brat the meaning of the cover of a tent or booth, it generally means a flag, a rag, or a mantle. NIGHEAN RIGH FO THUINN. 423 drop of blood that ever was, from the beginning of the universe till the end of the world at his side. He shouted out to the rest to come over where he was, and he said to them. " It is not often that men are unkind ! Is not this the most beauteous woman that man ever saw ! " "She is,'' said they, as they covered her up, "the most beautiful woman that man ever saw." * Then she was asleep, and she did not know that they were looking at her. He let her sleep, and he did not awaken her, but a short time after that she awoke, and she said to him, " Art thou awake Diarmaid ? " "I am awake," said Diarmaid. " Where would'st thou rather that the very finest castle thou hast ever seen should be built 1 " " Up above Beinn Eudainn, if I had my choice," and Diarmaid slept, and she said no more to him. " There went one out early, before the day, riding, and he saw a castle built up upon a hill. He cleared his sight to see if it was surely there ; then he saw it, and he went home, and he did not say a word. Another went out, and he saw it, and he did not say a word. Then the day was brightened, and two come in telling that the castle was most surely there. Said she, as she rose up sitting, " Arise Diarmaid, go up to thy castle, and be not stretched there any longer." " If there was a castle to which I might go,'' said he. " Look out, and see if there be a castle there." * The very same idea exists in a Spanish legend of the Cid, who in like manner shewed kindness to, and shared his couch with a leper ; in the night he changed into St. Lazarus, all bright and shining. 424 WEST HIGHIAND TALES. He looked out, and he saw a castle, and he came in. " I will go up to the castle, if thou wilt go there together with me." " I will do that, Diarmaid, but say not to me thrice how thou did'st find me," said she. " I will not say* to thee for ever, how I found thee," said Diarmaid. They went to the castle, the pair. That was the beautiful castle ! There was not a shadow of thing that was for the use of a castle that was not in it, even to a herd for the geese. The meat was on the board, and there were maid servants, and men servants about it. f They spent three days in the castle together, and at the end of three days she said to him, " Thou art turn- ing sorrowful, because thou art not together vnth the rest." " Think that I am not feeling sorrow surely that I am not together with the Fhinn," said he. " Thou had'st best go with the Fhinn, and thy meat and thy drink will be no worse than they are," said she. * Na can. Cha chan. This verb is not common in some districts. f This description of magnificence is very characteristic. The narrator, knowing nothing earthly about castles, describes nothing, but leaves everything to fancy, except the goose herd, and the food, and the waiters. An Arabian story-teller would have given a long detail of eastern magnificence, the Countess d'Aulnoy would have filled in the picture from her own knowledge of courts, and when all is done the incident is the same. It was the most magnificent castle that could be ima- gined, and there were lots to eat, and servants to work, and there is an end of it. ^ • NIGHEAi^' RIGH FO THUINN. 425 " Who will take care of the greyhound bitch, * and her three pups ? " said Diarmaid. " Oh," said she, " what fear is there for the grey- hound, and for the three pups ? " He went away when he heard that. He left a bless- ing with her, and he reached the people of the Finne, and Fionn, the brother of his mother, and there was a chief's honour and welcome f before Diarmaid when he arrived, and they had ill will J to him, because the woman had come first to them, and that they had turned their backs to her, and that he had gone before her wishes, and the matter had turned out so well. She was out after he had gone away, and what should she see but one coming in great haste. Then she thought of staying without till he should come, and who was there but Fionn. He hailed her, and caught her by the hand. " Thou art angry with me, damse],"§ said he. " Oh, I am not at all, Fhinn," said she. " Gome in till thou take a draught from me." " I will go if I get my request," said Fionn. " What request might be here that thou should'st not get," said she. " That is, one of the pups of the greyhound bitch." " Oh, the request thou hast asked is not great," said she ; " the one thou may est choose take it with thee." He got that, and he went away. || At the opening of the night came Diarmaid. The greyhound met him without, and she gave a yell. * Saighead mialohoin ; perhaps arrow, Greyhound. + Flath a's failt. + Miorun. § Righin. II This is characteristic of Fionn, as he always appears in. these traditions ; he represents wisdom, but crafty wisdom, and gains his ends by stratagem. ^ 426 - WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " It is true, my lass, one of thy pups is gone. But if thou had'st mind of how I found thee, how thy hair was down to thy heels, thou had'st not let the pup go." " Thou Diarmaid, what saidst thou so ? " " Oh," said Diarmaid, "I am asking pardon." "Oh, thou shalt get that," said she, and he slept within that night, and his meat and drink were as usual. On the morrow he went to where he was yesterday, and while he was gone she went out to take a stroll, and while she was strolling about, what should she see but a rider coming to where she was. She stayed with- out till he reached her. Who reached her here but Oisean, son of Fionn. They gave welcome and honour to each other. She told him to go in with her, and that he should take a draught from her, and he said that he would, if he might get his request. " What request hast thou ? " said she. " One of the pups of the greyhound bitch." "Thou shalt get that," said she, "take thy choice of them." He took it with him, and he went away.* At the opening of the night came Diarmaid home, and the greyhound met him without, and she gave two yells. " That is true, my lass," said Diarmaid, " another is taken from thee. But if she had mind of how I found her, she had not let one of thy pups go. When her hair was down to her heels." " Diarmaid ! What said'st thou ? " said she. " I am asking pardon," said Diarmaid. * This is foreign to the character of Oiseiu in all other stories, but he was the son of Fionn, and he generally-tells his own story. NIGHEAN RIGH FO THUINN. 427 " Thou shalfc get that," said she, and they seized each others hands, and they went home together, and there was meat and drink that night as there ever had been. In the morning Diarmaid went away, and a while after he had gone she was without taking a stroll. She saw another rider coming to-day, and he was in great haste. She thought she would wait, and not go home till he should come forward. What was this but an- other of the Fhinn. He went with civil words to the young damsel, and they gave welcome and honour to each other. She told him to go home with her, and that he should take a draught from her. He said that he would go if he should get his request. She asked that time what request that might be, " One of the pups of the greyhound bitch," said he. " Though it is a hard matter for me," said she, " I will give it to thee." He went with her to the castle, he took a draught from her, he got the pup, and he went away. At the opening of the night came Diarmaid. The greyhound met him, and she gave three yells, the most hideous that man ever heard. " Yes, that is true my lass, thou art without any this day," said Diarmaid, "but if she had mind of howl found her, she would not have let the pup go ; when her hair was down to her heels, she would not have done that to me." " Thou, Diarmaid, what said'st thou ? " "Oh, I am asking pardon," said Diarmaid. He went home, and he was without wife or bed beside him, as he ever had been. It was in a moss-hole he awoke on the morrow. There was no castle, nor a sJ;one left of it 428 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. on another. He began to weep, and he said to himself that he would not stay, head or foot, till he should find her. Away he went, and what should he do but take his way across the glens. There was neither house nor ember in his way. He gave a glance over his shoulder, and what should he see but the greyhound just dead. He seized her by the tail, and he put her on his shoulder, and he would not part with her for the love that he bore her. He was going on, and what should he see above him but a herd. " Did'st thou see, this day or yesterday, a woman taking this way 1 " said Diarmaid to the herd. " I saw a woman early in the morning yesterday, and she was walking hard," said the herd. " What way did'st thou see her going ? " " She went down yonder point to the strand, and I saw her no more." He took the very road that she took, till there was no going any further. He saw a ship. He put the slender end of his spear under his chest, and he sprang into her, and he went to the other side. He laid him- self down, stretched out on the side of a hill, and he slept, and when he awoke there was no ship to be seen. " A man to be pitied am I," said he, " I shall never get away from here, but there is no help for it.'' He sat on a knoll, and he had not sat there long when he saw a boat coming, and one man in her, and he was rowing her. He went down where she was, he grasped the grey- hound by the tail, and he put her in, and he went in after her. Then the boat went out over the sea, and she went down under, and he had but just gone,down, when he NIGHEAN RIGH FO THUINN. 429 s&vr ground, and a plain on which he could walk.* He went on this land, and he went on. * This notion of a land under the waves is very widely spread, and common to many nations. The Arabian Nights are full of stories about people who lived under the sea, but this was not taken from the Arabian Nights, for it is common to all the sur- viving branches of the Celtic family, and to other races. lu the story of ' ' Rouge Gorge, " Foyer Breuton, 1858, a maiden befriends a red-breast, and by his aid and advice gets magic sabots and a stick, walks over the sea to certain islands, where she knocks at a rock, and out comes Mor vyo'ch, the sea cow, which only varies from other- cows in being better, and magical. In Gaelic it would be muir bho. By thrice repeating the name of Saint Ronan d Hybernie, and stroking the beast with a magic herb, the cow which had been sold, and had returned, was trans- formed to Marc'h mor, the sea-horse, which again is like other horses, only ten times better. The word Marc'h does not now survive in the Gaelic, but riding is Mar-each. The horse is sold' and returns, and is transformed by the same means into Mor Vawd. Mer veau, iiuiir bho, the sea-calf or cow, which is a sheep with fine red wool, which is sold also, but jumps into the sea, and escapes to the Seven Isles, and vanishes into a rock. In the story of the Groach d 1' ile de Lok (156), a man goes into a boat like a swan, and when he is on board the swan awakes, and dives down to the bottom of a pool in the middle of a Sea Island, and there he finds a magnificent dwelling, and a fairy, who treats him well for a time, but turns him into a frog at last. In the Mabinogion it appears that Cardigan Bay was once dry land, and that the land sank, and the people survive, with their dwellings and possessions. In a curious pamphlet which I picked up in Dublin — "The History of the Isle of Man," etc., " with a succinct detail of en- chantments that have been exhibited there by sorcerers and other infernal beings," etc., 1780, I find the account of an English tourist, who, like Herodotus, wrote down all he heard, and seems to have believed a great deal of it. He mentions the " Mauthe doog,'' which a Gaelic scholar would spell Madadh dubh, dog 430 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. He was but a short time walking, when he fell in with a gulp of blood. He lifted the blood, and he black, who is a Celtic goblin still, and endless other stories and superstitions which are familiar to me ; but amongst others, he tells a tale of Port Iron, wherethe people were quite familiar with mermen, and had caught a merwoman in a net one moonlight night on the shore. She would not speak till she was allowed to escape to her own people. She had a tail like a fish. So has Abdallah of the sea in Lane's Arabian Nights. But this is nothing. A company was formed for diving, " in glass machines cased with thick tough leather," and a man was let down near the Isle of Man to seek for treasure. The diver passed through the region of fishes, and got into a pure element, clear as the air. He saw the ground glittering ivith all manner of magnificence, streets and squares of mother of pearl. He hauled his diving bell into a house, and almost within reach of treasures, but there was no more line, and he was hauled back empty handed. This is a " story " in every sense of the term, and it is so ela- borate and ornamented that it must have been cooked for the stranger, or by him, but the main idea is that there is a world under the waves, and the Manks sailors then declared that they commonly heard at sea the bleating of sheep, the barking of dogs, the howling of wolves, and the distinct cries of every beast the land affords, and they now believe in the water horse, and the water bull, and the sea man. Being lately in Ireiaud, I proceeded to pump a carman, who had the reputation of being full of stories, and after many vain attempts I got him started, as we drove home to Waterford in the dark. The first thing he told me was a story which was perfectly familiar, though told with an Irish brogue, and with Irish characteristics — a story of a man who grew rich by getting sea cows and sheep. His place of abode, and all particulars were given, but I knew that the same story was told iu Orkney, Harris, and Barra ; here I had it at Waterford, and it was the same as the Breton story quoted above, for the end of it was that the cow and all her progeny ran off, and jumped into their native sea, because the man wanted to slaughter the cow. The same idea is in Straparola's, Italian. A man is swallowed by a mermaid, and restored from the bottom of'the Atlantic. It NIGHEAN RIGH FO THUINN. 431 put it into a napkin, and he put it into his pouch. " It was the greyhound that lost this," said he. He. was a while walking, and he fell in with the next gulp, and he lifted it, and put it into his pouch. He fell in with the next one, and he did the like with it. What should he see a short space from him, after that, but a woman, as though she were crazed, gathering rushes. He went towards her, and he asked her what news she had. " I cannot tell till I gather the rushes,'' said she. " Be telling it whilst thou art gathering," said Diar- maid. "I am in great haste," said she. " What place is here ? " said he. "There is here,'' said she, "Eioghachd Fo Thuinn, Realm Underwaves." " Realm Underwaves ! " " Yes," said she. " What use hast thou for rushes, when thou art gathering them ? " said Diarmaid. " The daughter of King Underwaves has come home, is in old Scotch ballads where men fall in love with mermaids. It is in German stories where men are carried off by Nixies. It is in Norse and Swedish, and it was in Greek and Latin, for there were sea gods of old, and from all this fiction I would gather one probable fact. The men whose minds first conceived this idea was not bred near the sea, or used to it, thej' were not sailors. They surely came from some inland country to the sea, and peopled it with the creatures of the land. If they saw a seal they might fancy it a, man. A walrus they might call a cow, and if the idea was so formed by those who first arrived at the sea, it has survived till now. A mermaid was lately seen o& Plymouth, according to a young sailor of my acquaintance, and Diarmaid went to the land under the waves to search for the daughter of the king.^,^ 432 WEST HIGHLAND TALKS. and she was seven years under spells, and she is ill, and the leeches of Christendom are gathered, and none are doing her good, and a bed of rushes is what she finds the wholesomest." " Well then, I would be far in thy debt if thou would'st see me where that woman is." " Well then I will see that. I will put thee into the sheaf of rushes, and I will put the rushes under thee and over thee, and I will take thee with me on dy back." " That is a thing that thou can'st not do," said Diar- maid. "Be that upon me," said she. She put Diarmaid into the bundle, and she took him on her back. (JFas not that my lass !) When she reached the cham- ber she let down the bundle. " Oh ! hasten that to me," said the daughter of King Underwaves. He sprang out of the bundle, and he sprang to meet her, and they seized each other's hands, and there was joy then. " Three parts of the ailment are gone, but I am not well, and I will not be. Every time I thought of thee when I was coming, I lost a gulp of the blood of my heart." "Well then, I have got these three gulps of thy heart's blood, take thou them in a drink, and there will be nothing amiss.'' "Well then, I will not take them," said she; "they will not do me a shade of good, since I cannot get one thing, and I shall never get that in the world." " What thing is that 1 " said he. " There is no good in telling thee that; thou wilt not NIGHEAN RIGH FO THUINN. 433 get it, nor any man in the world ; it has discomfitted them for long." "If it be on the surface of the world I will get it, and do thou tell it," said Diarmaid. " That is three draughts from the cup of Eigh Magh an loghnaidh, the King of Plain of Wonder, and no man ever got that, and I shall not get it." " Oh ! said Diarmaid, " there are not on the surface of the world as many as will keep it from me. Tell me if that man be far from me." " He is not ; he is within a bound near my father, but a rivulet is there, and in it there is the sailing of a ship with the wind behind her, for a day and a year be- fore thou reach it." He went away, and he reached the rivulet, and he spent a good while walking at its side. " I cannot cross over it ; that was true for her," said Diarmaid. Before he had let the word out of his mouth, there stood a little russet man in the midst of the rivulet.* " Diarmaid, son of Duibhne, thou art in straits," said he. " I am in a strait just now," said Diarmaid. " What would'st thou give to a man who would bring thee out of these straits ? come hither and put thy foot on my palm." " Oh ! my foot cannot go into thy palm," said Diar- maid. * This personage plays a part which is common enough, that of the ferryman, of whom Charon was one. A little red-haired man rising in the middle of a river that was a year's sail \yide, and taking a great hero over on the palm of his hand, is not to be reasonably accounted for, and he should be some marine divi- nity. He tells his own employment below. ^ 3 3° 434 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. " It can." He went, and he put his foot on his palm. " Now, Diarmaid, it is to King Mag an lunai that thou art going." " It is indeed," said Diarmaid. " It is to seek his cup thou art going." "It is." " I will go with thee myself." " Thou shalt go," said Diarmaid. Diarmaid reached the house of King Wonderplain. He shouted for the cup to be sent out, or battle, or com- bat ; and it was not the cup. There were sent out four hundred Lugh ghaisgeach, and four hundred Lan ghaisgeach, and in two hours he left not a man of them alive. He shouted again for battle, or else combat, or the cup to be sent out. That was the thing he should get, battle or else com- bat, and it was not the cup. There were sent out eight hundred loo gaishgeach, and eight hundred lan gaisgeach, and in three hours he left not a man of them alive. He shouted again for battle, or else combat, or else the cup to be sent out to him. There were sent out nine hundred strong heroes, and nine hundred full heroes, and in four hours he left no man of them alive. " Whence," said the king as he stood in his own great door, " came the man that has just brought my realm to ruin ? If it be the pleasure of the hero let him tell from whence he came." " It is the pleasure of the hero ; a hero of the people of the Fhinn am I. I am Diarmaid." " Why did'st thou not send in a message to say who NIGHEAN RIGH FO THUINN. 435 it was, and I would not have spent my realm upon thee, for thou would'st kill every man of them, for it was put down in the books seven years before thou wert born. What dost thou require 1 " " That is the cup ; it comes from thine own hand for healing." * " No man ever got my cup but thou, but it is easy for me to give thee a cup ; but for healing there is but that I have myself about the board." Diarmaid got the cup from King Wonderplain. " I will now send a ship with thee Diarmaid," said the king. " Great thanks (Taing mhor) to thee, oh king. I am much in thy debt ; but I have a ferry of my own." f Here the king and Diarmaid parted from each other. He remembered when he had parted from the king that he had never said a word at all, the day before about the little russet man, and that he had not taken him in. It was when he was coming near upon the rivulet that he thought of him ; and he did not know how he should get over the burn. " There is no help for it,'' said he. " I shall not now * The resemblance which all this bears to mediaeval romance, and to "Welsh popular tales, is striking. The subject is referred to elsewhere. Konn had a healing cup, which he refused to give Diarmaid after the fatal boar-hunt, and » great part of mediaeval romance hinges on the search for a mystic healing cup. There is another story of which I have read in which Conan goes to Ifrionn ; the cold isle of the dead. f Some Saxon foe relates that a Mac had proved unwit- tingly that his family were older than the flood. The other objected that there were none of that name in the ark, to which the highlander replied — "The Mac s had always a. boat o' their ain." 436 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. get over the ferry, and shame will not let me return to the king." * What should rise while the word was in his mouth but the little russet man out of the burn. " Thou art in straits, Diarmaid." " I am." "It is this day that thou art in extremity." "It i& I got the thing I desired, and I am not getting across.'' " Though thou didst to me all that which thou hast done ; though thou didst not say a word of me yester- day; put thy foot on my palm and I will take thee over the burn. Diarmaid put his foot on his palm, and he took him over the burn. " Thou wilt talk to me now Diarmaid," said he. " I will do it," said Diarmaid. "Thou art going to heal the daughter of King Underwaves ; she is the girl that thou likest best in the world." " Oh ! it is she." " Thou shalt go to such and such a well. Thou wilt find a bottle at the side of the well, and thou shalt take it with thee full of the water. When thou reachest the damsel, thou shalt put the water in the cup, and a gulp of blood in it, and she will drink it. Thou shalt fill it again, and she will drink. Thou shalt fill it the third time, and thou shalt put the third gulp of blood into it, and she will drink it, and there will not be a whit ailing * The idea of the ferry is clearly that of one of the dangerous tidal fords which abound in the islands. One between North Uist and Benbeoula is said to be six miles wide. It is crossed on foot at low tide, and in a boat when the tide is high, and at night it is dangerous enough. NIGHBAN EIGH FO THUINN. 437 her that time. When thou hast given her the last, and she is well, she is the one for whom thou carest least that ever thou hast seen before thee." " Oh ! not she,'' said Diarmaid. " She is ; the king will know that thou hast taken a dislike to her. She will say Diarmaid thou hast taken a dislike to me. Say thou that thou hast. Dost thou know what man is speaking to thee 1 " said the little russet man. "Not I," said Diarmaid. " In me there is the messenger of the other world, who helped thee ; because thy heart is so warm to do good to another. King Underwaves will come, and he wiU offer thee much silver and gold for healing his daughter. Thou shalt not take a jot, but that the king should send a ship with thee to Eirinn to the place from whence thou earnest." * Diarmaid went; he reached the well; he got the bottle, and he filled it with water ; he took it with him, and he reached the castle of King Underwaves. When he came in he was honoured and saluted. " No man ever got that cup before," said she. "I would have got it from all that there are on the surface of the world; there was no man to turn me back," said Diarmaid. " I thought that thou wouldst not get it though thou shouldst go, but I see that thou hast it," said she. He put a gulp of blood into the water in the cup, and she drank it. She drank the second one, and she drank the third one ; and when she had drunk the third one there was not a jot ailing her. She was whole and * This bit bears some resemblance to the German story of God- father Death, in that the messenger of the other^world instructs a man in the healing art, and he heals a king's daughter. 438 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. healthy. When she was thus well, he took a dislike for her ; scarcely could he bear to see her. " Oh ! Diarmaid," said she, thou art taking a dislike for me." " Oh ! I am," said he. Then the king sent word throughout the town that she was healed, and music was raised, and lament laid down. The king came where Diarmaid was, and he said to him, " Now, thou shalt take so much by counting of silver for healing her, and thou shalt get herself to marry." "I will not take the damsel; and I will not take anything but a ship to be sent with me to Eirinn, where the Fhinn are gathered." A ship went with him, and he reached the Fhinn and the brother of his mother; and there was joy before him there, and pleasure that he had returned. MacLean quotes a Gaelic proverb — " Cha d' thug gaol luath nach d' thug fuath clis." "None gave love quickly but gave sudden hate." Which might be the pith of this curious story. Unless it is mythological it cannot be explained. At all events, here is one of the heroes of Ossian meeting with the messenger of the other world in the Realm under the Waves, and crossing a river like the pious ^neas, when he went below. The story is manifestly imperfect. Something should have been done with the greyhound, but I have no version which fills up the gap. There is an Irish story which seems to bear upon the incident. Tuirreann, the sister of Fionn's mother, is married to lollan Eachtach, and his fairy sweetheart transforms her into a hound, and takes her to Fergus. She there gives birth to a couple of puppies, " Bran " NIGHEAN RIGH FO THUINN. 439 and "Sceoluing," Finn's favourite hounds, which were consequently his cousins. Diarmaid is one of the names mixed up with this strange Irish story, and this favourite hound might have been the transformed lady, and if so, Diarmaid's relative — his grand aunt. It is not easy, then, to accomplish the feat of making the Fionn of the stories a real commander of mortal Irish militiamen. The incident of the greyhound and her three pups, formed part of a story which was told to me at Polchar inn on the 3d of September 1860. The narrator was a slender middle-aged woman, with black hair and gray eyes, returning from durance at the jail at Loch- maddy ; her offence had been the sale of unlawful whisky. I heard her crooning a very pretty old Gaelic love song to a baby, and went down into the kitchen. I found a whole tribe of black-haired girls, of all ages, barefooted, and barelegged, clustered about the peat fire with their bare arms all twined about each others' necks and waists, and their bright eyes and teeth glancing in the red light over each other's shoulders, as they peeped at the stranger. An old man was smoking on a bench, and the singer with black elf- locks was dancing the baby on her knee. We soon got friends, and the story was the result. It was a step- mother story, and the wicked muime gave away the pups to a captain of a ship, and accused the king's daughter of killing them, and broke candlesticks and laid the blame on the girl, till the king took her out to a lonely moor, and said — " Whether wouldst thou rather that I slew thee out- right, or that I should cut off one hand, and one breast, and one knee." Here the old dame used action and great emphasis, and a shiver of horror ran through the junior part of the audience, who were listening intently. 440 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. The deed was done, and the girl crawled to a house where there lived three king's sons under spells, and she went in and found food. They came home and put off their cochal, that is their enchanted form ; and one of them said, " Here is a drop of king's blood on the board ; " and he sought, and found her, and dressed her wounds, and washed her, and " dried her with a towel." She married this one, and had three sons, and by the help of a poor woman, and through the agency of a well, recovered her lost members. She went home at last, and found her father with a wounded leg, which would never be well, till his daughter cured it with her two hands. She laid her recovered hands on the knee, the penitent father cut a caper quite well, and the muime was roasted. This joins the traditions of the Feinne to Grimm's Handless Maiden. The idea of a land under ground is also very common in Gaelic stories, and I had intended to give several illustrations of the belief. I had also selected a number of other specimens of traditions of the Feinne, popular history, and proverbs, stories of water horses, water bulls, and other such matters. The last number on my Gaelic list is 308, on my English list, 357, making about 665 stories, but the wish to give one long one as a specimen, and to preserve as much Gaelic as possible, has exhausted my alloted space. In the oldest Gaelic manuscript in Edinburgh, an ancient scribe has written — " And I regret that there is not left of my ink enough to fill up this line ; I am Fithil, an attendant on the school." So I, like Fithil, must stop scribbling, though not for want of matter, and write Finis. ^