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TRANSACTIONS 


THE  GAELIC  SOCIETY  OF  INVERNESS 


VOLUME      XX. 
1894-96. 


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TRANSACTIONS 


OF 


THE  GAELIC  -SOCIETY  OF  INVERNESS. 


VOLUME     XX. 

1894-96. 


* 


Fac-simile  of  Dundee's  autograph  letter  to   Cluny,   dated   from  Blair 

Castle,  26th  July,  1689— the  evening  before  the  Battle  of  Killiecrankie— 

and  addressed— "  For  the  Laird  of  Clunie  in  Baddnoch." 


TRANSACTIONS 


OF   THE 


GAELIC    SOCIETY 


OF    INVERNESS. 

I 


VOLUME     XX. 
1894-96. 


(Elann   nan  (iatbheal   an   <£ttailUan  ia  ChetU. 


THE  GAELIC  SOCIETY  OF  INVERNESS. 
I897. 


PRINTED    BY    THE   NORTHERN    COUNTIES    NEWSPAPER   AND    PRINTING    AND   PUBLISHING 
COMPANY,    LIMITED. 


v. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Introduction    .....  .        vii. 

Constitution  ......  ,  xii. 

Office-Bearers  for  1895-96 xvi. 

Twenty-second  Annual  Assembly  (1894)  .  .  .  .  ,  1 
Unpublished  Gaelic  Songs,  with  Notes — Rev.  A.  Maclean 

Sinclair,  Nova  Scotia 9 

Minor  Highland  Families — No.  8 — The  Macgillivrays  of 

Dunmaglass — Mr  Charles  Fraser-Mackintosh  of  Drum- 

mond        .........         29 

Oidhche  Chaliainn  ann  an  Tigh  a  Chaiptein — Rev.  D. 

Maclnnes,  Oban        .         .         .         .         .         .         .         47 

Jottings — Legendary,  Antiquarian,  and  Topographical — 

from  West  Kintyre — Rev.  D.  G.  Macdonald,  Killean  .  54 
Twenty-third  Annual  Dinner  (1895)  ....  66 
The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion  on  the  Language  and 

Literature    of    the    Scottish    Highlands — Rev.    Neil 

Mackay,  Croick,  Ardgay    .         .         .         .         .         .         78 

Sutherland  Place  Names — Parishes  of  Lairg  and  Creich — 

Mr  John  Mackay,  Hereford        ...         .         .         .       103 

Arran  Gaelic  Dialect — Rev.  John  Kennedy,  Arran  .  .  126 
Briathran  nan  Daoine  'Dh'  fhalbh — Rev.  John  Macrury, 

Snizort •  .  •  .  .141 

Giraldus  Catnbrensis — Mr  Duncan  Campbell,  editor, 

"  Northern  Chronicle" 151 

Snatches  of  Song  Collected  in  Badenoch — Rev.  Thomas 

Sinton,  Dores   .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .168 

Gleanings  from  the  Charter  Chest  at  Cluny  Castle — Mr  A. 

Macpherson,  Kingussie      ......       202 


Vi.  CONTENTS. 

PAGE, 

Sketches  of  the  Early  History,  Legends,  and  Traditions  of 
Strathardle  and  its  Glens — No.  4 — Mr  Charles  Fergu- 
son, Fairburn  ........  248 

Twenty-third  Annual  Assembly  (1895)      .         .         .         .275 

Old  Gaelic  System  of  Personal  Names — Mr  A.  Macbain, 

M.A.,  Inverness 279 

Sutherland  Place  Names — Parish  of   Dornoch — Mr  John 

Mackay,  Hereford 316 

Members  of  the  Society —  „ 

Honorary  Chieftains 333 

Life  Members  .                   333 

'    Honorary  Members  .......  334 

Ordinary  Members    .......  335 

Deceased  Members 343 

Society's  Library — List  of  Books       .          .         .         .         .345 


INTRODUCTION. 


THIS,  the  20th,  Volume  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Gaelic  Society 
of  Inverness  contains  the  proceedings  of  a  year  and  a  half — from 
July,  1894,  to  January,  1896.  The  two  previous  volumes  also 
covered  each  one  and  a  half  years,  and  it  is  proposed  that  the 
21st  Volume,  which  will  be  at  once  commenced,  will  bring  the 
Transactions  down  an  equal  length  of  time,  ending  with  our  last 
public  meeting  in  May.  As  the  material  for  Volume  21  is 
practically  all  in  hand,  it  is  expected  that  no  delay  will  occur  in 
its  production,  as  has  been  the  case  with  the  present  volume  ;  and 
the  volume  may  be  looked  for  by  the  beginning  of  the  winter 
session.  If  this  programme  is  carried  out  the  Transactions  will 
once  again  be  up  to  date,  a  consummation  always  aimed  at, 
though  not  so  often  realised  as  the  Council  could  wish. 

The  death-roll  among  the  members  of  the  Society  since 
January,  1895,  has  been  long.  Professor  John  Stuart  Blackie,  to 
whom  the  Gaelic  Renaissance  is  due  more  than  to  any  one  man, 
died  on  the  2nd  March,  1895.  To  his  energy  and  enthusiasm  was 
largely  due  the  institution  of  the  Celtic  Chair  in  Edinburgh  ;  and 
his  books  on  Gaelic  literature  and  on  general  Highland  matters 
have  always  been  illuminating  and  stimulating.  Mr  Colin 
Chisholm,  who  also,  like  Professor  Blackie,  was  one  of  the  seven 
Honorary  Chieftains  of  the  Society,  died  on  the  12th  November, 
1895.  He  was  an  old  and  valued  member,  a  faithful  and  enthusi- 
astic attender  at  all  the  Society's  meetings,  a  most  important 
contributor  to  its  Transactions — a  man  of  manly  form  and  mind 
and  of  ever-genial  manner.  Other  deaths  that  must  be  mentioned 
are  those  of  Bailie  Alexander  Mackenzie,  of  Silverwells,  for  several 
years  a  Chieftain  of  the  Society,  and  a  most  active  business 
member ;  Mr  John  Mackay,  "  Ben  Reay,"  whose  researches  into 
the  history  of  the  Highland  regiments  are  of  the  .highest  value 


Vili.  INTRODUCTION. 

(died  14th  Nov.,  1896) ;  and  just  lately  two  good  members  have 
been  removed — Mr  John  Noble,  bookseller,  of  Inverness,  who  as 
collector  and  dispenser  of  Gaelic  works  was  unrivalled  ;  and  Mr 
Duncan  Forbes  of  Culloden,  the  genial  representative  of  an 
illustrious  ancestry. 

In  home  literature  a  good  few  books  fall  to  be  mentioned.  In 
pure  Gaelic  work  we  have  first  our  assistant  secretary,  Mr  Alex. 
Macdonald,  who  has  enriched  the  poetic  literature  of  the  Gael  by 
his  Coinneach  is  Coille.  The  second  vo^me  of  the  "  Song-smith 
of  Harris,"  Morrison's  poems,  has  appeared  under  the  editorial 
supervision  of  Dr  George  Henderson,  who  also  shows  much 
activity  in  contributing  to  the  weekly  journals  excellent  Gaelic 
matter.  Rev.  A.  Maclean  Sinclair  has  also  added  another  volume 
to  his  "  Gaelic  Bards."  The  increased  attention  given  in  schools 
to  Gaelic  has  produced  quite  a  crop  of  Gaelic  textual  works.  An 
excellent  "  Gaelic  Grammar"  has  been  published  by  Dr  H.  C. 
Gillies,  who  has  set  himself  to  bring  Stewart's  work  up  to  date, 
and  has  succeeded.  He  has  since  published  a  shilling  exercise 
book  to  accompany  it.  Mr  Duncan  Reid's  Course  of  Gaelic 
Grammar  has  been  almost  two  years  in  the  field,  and  has  been 
found  a  very  practical  work.  Just  lately  Mr  John  Whyte  pub- 
lished a  shilling  volume  entitled  "  How  to  Read  Gaelic,"  where 
Gaelic  lessons  and  a  concise  Gaelic  Grammar,  the  accuracy  of 
which  is -beyond  suspicion,  claim  inter  alia  to  admirably  suit  the 
first  stage  of  the  Code  Work.  Mr  Macbain's  Etymological 
Dictionary  of  the  Gaelic  Language  is  worthy  to  take  its  place 
beside  any  similar  work  done  for  any  modern  language  in 
Europe  ;  it  is  severely  scientific,  and  evidently  the  result  of  much 
research  and  painstaking.  In  the  domain  of  historical  literature 
four  or  five  works  of  first-class  excellence  have  appeared  since 
January,  1895.  Not  to  appear  invidious  we  shall  take  them  in 
the  order  of  time.  Mr  Alexander  Mackenzie  has  "  pegged  out" 
another  claim  to  be  "The  Clan  Historian."  This  time  he  gives  us 
the  History  of  the  Frasers,  certainly  the  largest  of  his  works,  and, 
according  to  some  good  judges,  the  best.  The  first  volume  of 
Clan  Donald,  by  the  Revs.  A.  Macdonald,  of  Killearnan  and 


INTRODUCTION.  IX. 

Kiltarlity,  has  fully  borne  out  the  high  expectations  held  of  it ;  it 
is  handsome  in  appearance,  scholarly  in  execution,  and  fluent  in 
diction.  Mr  William  Mackay's  Presbyteries  of  Inverness  and 
Dingwall  gives  the  records  of  these  presbyteries  for  the  17th 
century — all  that  remain  of  them.  In  a  preface  of  singular 
lucidity  and  conciseness  he  sums  up  the  characteristics  of  life  and 
belief  in  the  Highlands  of  the  17th  century  as  disclosed  by  these 
records,  presenting  the  reader  with  a  vivid,  true,  and  hence  some- 
times startling,  picture.  Mr  Charles  Fraser-Mackintosh,  LL.D., 
for  the  title  of  LL.D.  is  now  deservedly  his,  published  lately  his 
second  series  of  Antiquarian  Notes.  They  are  practically  an 
"  Origines  Parochiales"  of  Inverness-shire,  where  a  vast  mass  of 
interesting  and  reliable  information  is  given  about  every  parish  in 
the  County.  A  volume  on  Sutherland  and  the  Reay  Country,  by 
various  hands,  but  edited  by  the  Rev.  Adam  Gunn  and  Mr  John 
Mackay,  of  the  Celtic  Monthly,  is  an  eminently  readable  and 
informative  book.  The  same  may  be  said  about  Sheriff  Rampini's 
Moray  and  Nairn,  in  Blackwood's  "  County  Histories"  series. 

As  regards  general  Celtic  literature,  the  last  two  years  have 
shown  more  activity  in  the  publication  of  articles  and  texts  in 
periodicals  than  in  the  production  of  books.  A  new  periodical 
bearing  on  Celtic  philology  has  been  added  to  the  list—  this  time 
"  made  in  Germany  !"  It  is  the  Zeitschrift  for  Celtic  Philology, 
a  friendly  rival  to  the  Revue  Celtique  ;  and  another  periodical  on 
Celtic  Archaeology  is  being  brought  out.  Most  important  articles 
have  been  published  by  Dr  L.  C.  Stern,  on  the  "  Ossianic 
Question,"  and  it  is  hoped  that  Mr  Robertson,  H.M.I.S.,  may  find 
time  to  fulfil  his  kind  promise  of  translating  them  for  this  Society, 
as  he  has  already  done  this  session  in  the  case  of  Dr  Windisch's 
similar  article.  Professor  Zimmer  has  edited,  in  conjunction  with 
Mommsen,  a  critical  editor  of  "  Gildasand  Nennius,"  putting  these 
important  documents  in  the  early  history  of  Britain  in  their  proper 
place  and  relation.  Dr  Kuno  Meyer  published  some  Irish  tales 
about  the  Celtic  Paradise,  under  the  title  of  the  Voyage  of  Bran, 
and  Mr  Nutt  contributed  a  luminous  addendum,  dealing  with  the 
ideas  of  Celts  and  others  about  the  "other  world."  Dr  Stokes 


X.  INTRODUCTION. 

has  published  the  Martyrology  of  Gorman,  with  his  usual 
thoroughness  in  the  way  of  introduction,  notes,  and  glossaries. 

While  Gaelic  literary  activity  has  been  great  within  the 
Highland  Borders  for  the  last  two  years,  an  outside  interest  of  a 
remarkable  kind  in  Celtic  literature  has  sprung  up.  This  move- 
ment, taken  in  connection  with  the  activity  of  the  London  Irish 
Literary  Society,  has  been  called  the  "  Celtic  Renaissance  ;"  its 
leading  figures  are — Mr  William  Sharp,  Professor  Patrick  Geddes, 
and  "  Fiona  Macleod,"  whoever  that  eaigmatical  personage  may 
be.  Mr  Sharp  and  his  wife  edited  a  Ly#i  Geltica,  an  anthology  of 
all  Celtic  poetry ;  and  the  former  edited  a  centenary  edition  of 
"  Ossian" — James  Macpherson  died  in  1790.  Miss  Fiona  Macleod 
has  written  several  books,  purporting  to  be,  or  to  be  founded  on, 
traditional  stories  of  the  Gael  ;  but  unfortunately  her  method  is 
Macpherson's  over  again  in  regard  to  the  history,  customs,  and 
beliefs  of  the  people,  and  her  Gaelic,  when  her  own,  is  of  the  like 
manufactured  quality.  Mr  Neil  Munro  published  a  volume  of 
traditional  and  descriptive  stories,  entitled  the  "  Lost  Pibroch," 
where  he  attempts,  with  no  little  success,  to  do  for  the  Highlands 
what  Mr  Quiller-Couch  has  been  doing  for  Cornwall.  Another 
outsider,  one,  however,  who  disclaims  all  connection  with — and  is, 
indeed,  the  severe  critic  of — the  Celtic  Renaissance,  published  this 
spring  a  work  that  has  caused  a  sensation  both  in  the  Highlands 
and  everywhere  else.  This  was  Mr  Lang's  work,  entitled  "  Pickle 
the  Spy,"  in  which  he  strives  to  prove  that  the  spy  who  reported 
on  the  doings  of  Prince  Charlie  about  the  years  1752-54,  under 
the  title  of  **  Pickle"  and  "  Jeanson,"  was  none  other  than  young 
Macdonell  of  Glengarry.  How  far  Mr  Lang  has  made  good  his 
contention  it  seems  at  present  premature  to  say. 

The  more  full  recognition  of  Gaelic  in  Highland  schools 
is  a  topic  that  has  agitated  the  various  Gaelic  and  Highland 
Societies  throughout  Britain  during  the  past  half  year.  In  March 
a  strong  deputation  from  these  Societies  waited  on  Lord  Balfour, 
Secretary  for  Scotland,  and  laid  their  case  ably  before  him.  As 
a  means  of  developing  intelligence,  of  gaining  literary  culture, 
and  so,  on  a  lowsr  scale,  of  earning  money  for  the  schools,  not  to 


INTRODUCTION.  XI. 

mention  the  national  side  of  the  question,  it  was  claimed  that 
Gaelic  might  be  more  utilised — might  be  used  as  an  extra  class 
subject,  for  instance.  Lord  Balfour's  reply,  though  naturally 
savouring  of  the  official  non-possumus  style,  was  not  discouraging. 
It  may  be  well  to  point  out  how  far  Gaelic  is  now  recognised  by 
the  Code : — (1)  The  children's  intelligence  may  be  tested  in 
Gaelic  ;  (2)  with  this  view  an  extra  Gaelic-speaking  P.T.,  with  an 
extra  grant,  may  be  employed  where  the  headmaster  cannot  him- 
self teach  through  Gaelic  the  junior  classes ;  (3)  Gaelic  may  be 
taken  as  a  specific  subject  on  the  same  terms  as  Latin  or  French ; 
(4)  Gaelic-speaking  P.T.s  receive  at  their  first  -examination  for 
entering  Training  Colleges  80  marks  extra  to  other  P.T.s  for 
Gaelic,  according,  of  course,  to  the  pass  they  make  in  that 
language.  Gaelic  is  also  recognised  in  the  Code  for  the  Evening 
Continuation  Schools,  and  has  been  well  taken  advantage  of,  with 
good  results. 

INVERNESS,  July,  1897. 


COMUNN  GAELIC  1NBHIR-NIS. 


CO-SHUIDHEACHADH. 

1.  'S  e  ainm  a'  Chomuinn  "  COMUNN  GAILIG  INBHIR-NIS." 

2.  'S  e  tha   an  run  a'  Chomuinn  : — Na   buill  a  dheanamh 
iomlan  's  a'  Ghailig ;    cinneas  Canaine,   Bardachd  agus  Ciuil  na 
Gaidhealtachd  ;    Bardachd,  Seanachas,  Sgeulachd,  Leabhraichean 
ag^s  Sgriobhanna   's   a'  chanain   sin.   a  thearnadh  o  dhearmad ; 
Leahhar-laun  a  chur  suas  ami  am  baile  Tnbhir-Nis  de  leabhraichibh 
agus  sgriobhannaibh — ann   an  canain  sam  bith — a   bhuiiieas  do 
Chailcachd,  lonusachadh,   Eachdraidheachd  agus  Sheanachasaibh 
nan  Gaidheal  no  do  thairbhe  na  Gaidhealtachd ;  coir  agus  cliu  nan 
Gaidheal  a  dhion  ;  agus  na  Gaidhei!  a  shoirbheachadh  a  ghua  ge 
b'e  ait'  am  bi  iad. 

3.  'S  iad  a  bhitheas  'nam  -buill,  cuideachd  a  tha  gabhail  suim 
do  runtaibh  a'  Chomuinn  ;  a^us  so  mar  gheibh  iad  a  staigh : — 
Tairgidh  aon  bhall  an  t-iarradair,  daingnichidh  ball  eile  an  tairgse, 
agus,  aig  an  ath  choinneamh,  ma  roghnaicheas  a'  mhor-chuid  le 
crannchur,    rfithear   ball    dhith-se   no   dheth-san    cho    luath  's    a 
phaidhear  an  comh-thoirt ;   cuirear  crainn  le  ponair  dhubh  agus 
gheal,  ach,  gu  so  bhi  dligheach,  feumaidh  tri  buill  dheug  an  crainn 
a  chur.     Feudaidh  an  Coinunn  Urram  Cheannardan  a  thoirt  do 
urrad  'us  seachd  daoine  cliuiteach. 

4.  Paidhidh  Ball  Urramach,  W  bhliadlma  .  £0  10     6 

Ball  Cumanta 050 

Foghlainte 010 

Agus  ni  Ball-beatha  aon  chomh-thoirt  de .  770 

5.  'S  a'  cheud-mhios,  gach  bliadhna,  roghnaichear,  le  crainn, 
Oo-chomhairle  a  riaghlas  gnothuichean  a'  Chomuinn,  's  e  sin — aon 


GAELIC  SOCIETY  OF  INVERNESS. 


CONSTITUTION. 

1.  The   Society  shall    be  called   the   "  GAELIC   SOCIETY    OF 
INVERNESS." 

2.  The  objects  of  the  Society  are  the  perfecting  of  the  Mem- 
bers in  the  use  of  the  Gaelic  language  ;  the  cultivation  of  the 
language,  poetry,  and  music  of  the  Scottish  Highlands ;  the  res- 
cuing from  oblivion  of  Celtic  Poetry,  traditions,  legends,  books, 
and  manuscripts  ;  the  establishing  in  Inverness  of  a  library,  to 
consist  of  books  and  manuscripts,  in  whatever  language,  bearing 
upon  the  genius,  the  literature,  the  history,  the  antiquities,  and 
the  material  interests  of  the  Highlands  and  Highland  people ;  the 
vindication  of  the  rights  and  character  of  the  Gaelic  people  ;  and, 
generally,  the  furtherance  of  their  interests  whether  at  home  or 
abroad. 

3.  The  Society  shall  consist  of  persons  who  take  a  lively  in- 
terest in  its  objects.     Admission  to  be  as  follows  : — The  candidate 
shall  be  proposed  by  one  member,  seconded  by  another,  balloted 
for  at  the  next  meeting,  and,  if  he  or  she  have  a  majority  of  votes 
and  have  paid  the  subscription,  be  declared  a  member.     The  ballot 
shall  be  taken  with  black  beans  and  white ;  and  no  election  shall 
be  valid  unless  thirteen  members  vote.     The  Society  has  power  to 
elect  distinguished  men  as  Honorary  Chieftains  to  the  number  of 
seven. 

4.  The  Annual  Subscription  shall  be,  for — 
Honorary  Members     .....    £0  10     6 

Ordinary  Members       .         .         .         .         .050 

Apprentices         .         .         .         .         .         .010 

A  Life  Member  shall  make  one  payment  of  .       770 

5.  The  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  Society  shall  be  en- 
trusted to  a  Council,  chosen  annually,  by  ballot,  in  the  month  of 


xiv.  CO-SHUIDHEACHADH. 

Cheann,  tri  lar-chinn,  Cleireach  Urramach,  Runaire,  lonmhasair, 
agus  coig  buill  eile  —  feumaidh  iad  uile  Gailig  a  thuigsinn  's  a 
bhruidhinn  ;  agus  ni  coigear  dhiubh  coinneamh. 

6.  Cumar  coinneamhan  a'  Chomuinn  gach  seachduin  o  thois- 
each  an  Deicheamh  mios  gu  deireadh  Mhairt,  agus  gach  ceithir- 
la-deug  o  thoiseach  Ghiblein  gu  deireadh  an  Naothamh-mios.  'S 
i  a'  Ghailig  a  labhrar  gach  oidhche  mu'n  seach  aig  a'  chuid  a's 
lugha. 


7.  Cuiridh  a'  Cho-chomhairle  la  air  l^th  anns  an  t-Seachdamh- 
mios  air-son  Coinneamh  Bhliadhnail  aig  an  cumar  Co-dheuchainn 
agus  air  an  toirear  duaisean  air-son  Piobaireachd  'us  ciuil  Ghaidh- 
ealach  eile  ;  anns  an  fheasgar  bithidh  co-dheuchainn  air  Leughadh 
agus  aithris  Bardachd  agus  Rosg  nuadh  agus  taghta  ;  an  deigh  sin 
cumar  Cuirm  chuideachdail  aig  am  faigh  nithe  Gaidhealach  rogh- 
ainn  'san  uirghioll,  ach  gun  roinn  a  dhiultadh  dhaibh-san  nach  tuig 
Gailig.     Giulainear  cosdas  na  co-dheuchainne  le  trusadh  sonraichte 
a  dheanamh  agus  cuideachadh  iarraidh  o  'n  t-sluagh. 

8.  Cha  deanar  atharrachadh  sam  bith  air  coimh-dhealbhadh 
a'  Chomuinn  gun  aontachadh  dha  thrian  de  na'm  bheil  de  luchd- 
bruidhinn  Gailig  air  a'  chlar-ainm.     Ma  's  miann  atharrachadh  a 
dheanamh  is  eiginn  sin  a  chur  an  ceill  do  gach  ball,  mios,  aig  a' 
chuid  a's  lugha,  roimh'n  choinneamh  a  dh'fheudas  an  t-atharrachadh 
a  dheanamh.      Feudaidh   ball   nach  bi  a  lathair  roghnachadh  le 
lamh-aithne. 

9.  Taghaidh  an  Comunn  Bard,  Piobaire,  agus  Fear-leabhar- 
lann. 


Ullaichear  gach  Paipear  agus  Leughadh,  agus  giulainear  gach 
Deasboireachd  le  run  fosgailte,  duineil,  durachdach  air-son  na 
firinn,  agus  cuirear  gach  ni  air  aghaidh  aim  an  spiorad  caomh,  glan, 
agus  a  reir  riaghailtean  dearbhta. 


CONSTITUTION.  XV. 

January,  to  consist  of  a  Chief,  three  Chieftains,  an  Honorary 
Secretary,  a  Secretary,  a  Treasurer,  and  five  other  Members  of-  the 
Society,  all  of  whom  shall  understand  and  speak  Gaelic ;  five  to 
form  a  quorum. 

6.  The    Society   shall    hold    its   meetings    weekly   from    the 
beginning  of  October  to  the  end  of  March,  and  fortnightly  from 
the  beginning  of  April  to  the  end  of  September.     The  business 
shall  be  carried  on  in  Gaelic  on  every  alternate  night  at  least. 

7.  There  shall  be  an  Annual  Meeting  in  the  month  of  July, 
the  day  to  be  named  by  the  Committee  for  the  time  being,  when 
Competitions  for  Prizes  shall  take  place  in  Pipe  and  other  High- 
land Music.     In  the  evening  there  shall  be  Competitions  in  Read- 
ing and  Reciting  Gaelic  Poetry  and  Prose,  both  original  and  select. 
After  which  there  will  be  a  Social  Meeting,  at  which  Gaelic  sub- 
jects shall  have  the  preference,  but   not  to  such  an  extent  as 
entirely  to  preclude  participation  by  persons  who  do  not  under- 
stand Gaelic.     The  expenses  of  the  competitions  shall  be  defrayed 
out  of  a  special  fund,  to  which  the  general  public  shall  be  invited 
to  subscribe. 

8.  It  is  a  fundamental  rule  of  the  Society  that  no  part  of  the 
Constitution  shall  be  altered  without  the  assent  of  two  thirds  of 
the  Gaelic-speaking  Members  on  the  roll  ;  but  if  any  alterations 
be  required,  due  notice  of  the  same  must  be  given  to  each  member, 
at  least  one  month  before  the  meeting  takes  place  at  which  the 
alteration  is  proposed  to  be  made.     Absent.  Members  may  vote  by 
mandates. 

9.  The  Society  shall  elect  a  Bard,  a  Piper,  and  a  Librarian. 


All  Papers  and  Lectures  shall  be  prepared,  and  all  Discussions 
carried  on,  with  an  honest,  earnest,  and  manful  desire  for  truth  ; 
and  all  proceedings  shall  be  conducted  in  a  pure  and  gentle  spirit,. 
and  according  to  the  usually  recognised  rules. 


GAELIC  SOCIETY  OF  INVERNESS, 


OFFICE-BEARERS  FOR  1895 

CHIEF. 

Field-Marshal  Sir  Patrick  Grant. 

CHIEFTAINS. 

Duncan  Campbell. 

William  Macdonald. 

John  L.  Robertson,  H.M.I.S. 

HON.    SECRETARY. 

William  Mackay,  Solicitor. 

SECRETARY  AND  TREASURER. 

Duncan   Mackintosh,    Bank    of 
Scotland. 

MEMBERS    OF    COUNCIL. 

Colin  Chisholm. 
William  Fraser. 
Alex.  Macbain,  M.A. 
John  Macdonald. 
R.  Macleod. 

LIBRARIAN. 

William  Fraser. 

PIPER. 
Pipe-Major  Ronald  Mackenzie. 

BARD. 
Neil  Macleod,  Edinburgh 


OFFICE-BEARERS  FOR  1896 

CHIEF. 

J.  E.  B.  Baillie,  Esq.  of  Doch- 
four,  M.P. 

CHIEFTAINS. 

James  Fraser,  C.E. 

Alex.  Macbain,  M.A. 

John  L.  Robertson,  H.M.I.S. 

HON.    SECRETARY. 

William  Mackay,  Solicitor. 

SECRETARY  AND  TREASURER. 

Duncan    Mackintosh,    Bank   of 
Scotland. 

MEMBERS    OF    COUNCIL. 

John  Macdonald. 
Duncan  Mactavish. 
William  Fraser. 
Alex.  Mackenzie. 
Wm.  Macdonald. 

LIBRARIAN. 

William  Fraser. 

PIPER. 
Pipe-Major  Ronald  Mackenzie. 

BARD. 
Neil  Macleod,  Edinburgh. 


TRANSACTIONS. 


ANNUAL  ASSEMBLY. 

THE  Twenty-second  Annual  Assembly  was  held  in  the  Music 
Hall,  on  Thursday,  12th  July,  1894,  and  proved  one  of  the  most 
successful  ever  held  under  the  auspices  of  the  Society.  The 
attendance,  every  available  seat  being  occupied,  included  High- 
landers from  all  parts,  who  had  come  to  do  business  in  the  great 
Wool  Fair  of  the  year,  and  to  which  this  annual  concert  forms 
somewhat  the  nature  of  an  introduction.  The  hall  was  artistically 
adorned  for  the  occasion,  the  tartans  of  the  various  clans,  neatly 
draped,  forming  a  harmonious  colouring  and  setting  for  the  stags' 
heads,  specimens  of  ancient  armour,  and  other  adjuncts  of  High- 
land decoration,  which  altogether  lent  an  air  of  character  to  the 
gathering.  For  the  second  time  in  succession  Mr  Charles  Fraser- 
Mackintosh,  as  Chief  of  the  Society,  occupied  the  chair,  and,  with 
a  considerable  number  of  other  gentlemen,  wore  the  dress  of  his 
clan.  Supporting  the  Chairman  on  the  platform  were  Provost 
Ross  ;  Captain  Chisholm  of  Glassburn ;  Mr  Macpherson-Grant,  yr. 
of  Balliudalloch ;  Rev.  Dr  Norman  Macleod ;  Mr  Alexander 
Mackenzie  of  the  Scottish  Highlander ;  Mr  William  Mackay, 
Craigmonie ;  Dr  F.  M.  Mackenzie ;  Rev.  A.  J.  Macdonald, 
Kilearnau  ;  Mr  James  Fraser,  C.E.  ;  Mr  Donald  Fraser,  Augusta, 
Georgia  ;  Mr  Colin  Chisholm  ;  Mr  A.  F.  Steele,  Bank  of  Scotland  ; 
Mr  Alexander  Mackenzie,  Silverwells ;  Dr  Moir ;  Rev.  Mr  Mac- 
queen  ;  Mr  Mackinnon,  Drummond  ;  Major  R.  A.  Fraser ;  Rev. 
William  Davidson,  Oban ;  Rev.  Mr  MacConnachie,  Paisley ;  Mr 
Alexander  Bunress,  banker,  Gairloch ;  Mr  J.  E.  Horrigan,  Inland 
Revenue,  and  Mr  D.  Mackintosh,  Secretary  to  the  Society. 

The  Chairman,  who  was  very  cordially  received,  said  : — Ladies 
and  gentlemen, — By  the  favour  of  the  Committee  of  Management, 
i  have  been  honoured  by  re-election  as  your  chief.  This  has 
involved  my  making  three  public  appearances  within  the  year, 

1 


2  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

and  I  almost  fear  you  will  have  had  enough  of  me,  and  feel,  if 
you  don't  express  it,  "  Superfluous  lags  the  veteran  on  the  stage." 
However,  here  I  am,  and  though  it  is  time  I  were  put  on  the 
retired  list,  yet  I  can  say  for  myself  that  the  youngest  of  the 
Society  is  not  more  hearty  in  its  objects,  nor  more  willing  to 
assist  in  carrying  them  out.  In  the  name  of  the  Gaelic  Society 
of  Inverness,  I  bid  this  large  audience  a  hearty  welcome,  and  trust 
the  programme  will  meet  with  your  approbation.  The  past  half- 
year  has  been  one  of  great  activity  in  Highland  literature,  and 
several  of  our  members  have  again  distinguished  themselves.  I 
would  specially  refer  to  Mr  Mackay's  book  on  the  parish  of 
Urquhart  and  Glenmoriston.  Mr  Mackay  is  one  of  the  founders 
of  the  Society,  and  has  been  closely  connected  with  it  ever 
since.  In  this  volume  he  has  treated  his  subject  with  skill  and 
erudition,  and  withal,  so  modestly  as  to  be  a  pattern  and  example 
for  me  and  other  writers  to  follow.  I  observe  with  interest  that 
"  Nether-Lochaber  "  and  he  have  crossed  swords  as  to  "  Monie," 
and  when  "  Greek  meets  Greek  then  comes  the  tug-of-war."  Far 
be  it  from  me  to  interfere  rashly,  but  I  do  suggest  to  Mr  Mackay 
that  he  should  call  in  and  make  "  Mealfourvonie  "  a  part  of  his 
testimony.  If  every  parish  in  the  county  had  its  historian, 
Inverness-shire  by  itself  would  form  a  respectable  library.  I 
cordially  approve  of  Nether-Lochaber's  suggestion  that  a  fitting 
memorial  of  the  seven  men  of  Glenmoriston,  who  directed  Prince 
Charlie's  fortunes  when  they  were  at  their  lowest,  should  be 
erected.  I  am  quite  sure  that  it  has  only  to  be  submitted  to  the 
public,  when  sufficient  subscriptions  will  be  received  to  raise  a  hand- 
some monument  to  mark  the  respect  that  we  in  these  days  have  for 
those  men  whose  names  are  held  in  the  most  respectful  remembrance. 
Then  my  friend  Mr  Mackenzie,  that  indefatigable  writer  of  clan 
histories,  has  brought  out  a  new  edition  of  the  Clan  Mackenzie,  a 
fact  most  creditable  to  the  enterprise  and  position  of  that  Clan, 
aid  showing  their  undoubted  status  and  continued  progress.  It 
also  shows  in  a  remarkable  degree,  particularly  to  those  who  are 
connected  with  Celtic  literature,  which  seldom  or  ever  pays,  that 
there  is  a  demand  for  such  works.  But  Mr  Mackenzie  is  going 
further.  I  believe  he  is  now  engaged  on  the  History  of  the 
Frasers,  and  now-a-days,  he  must  be  a  bold  man  who  will  take  it 
upon  himself  to  write  a  history  of  the  Clan  Fraser,  when  he 
considers  what  has  happened  in  the  field  and  in  the  Courts  of  Law 
in  olden  times.  He  also  must  be  very  careful  in  face  of  the 
prophesy  of  Coinneach  Odhar  that  the  two  Clans  will  again  meet, 
.ind  the  Rivers  Ccnon  and  Beauly  will  run  in  blood.  I  will  myself 


Annual  Assembly.  3 

•be  curious  to  see  how  Mr  Mackenzie  deals,  for  instance,  with  the 
marriage  of  the  elderly  lady  of  Tarbat,  with  the  Lord  Lovat  aged 
sixteen,  the  Prestonhall  and  Frazerdale  questions,  and  whether  he 
•will  condemn,  alleviate,  or  exculpate.  We  shall  see  what  the 
results  will  be.  There  has  been  produced  within  the  last  six 
months,  under  the  (superintendence  of  Mr  Macbain  of  .Rainings' 
School,  a  second  volume  of  Reliquiae  Celticse.  The  publication  of 
the  Clanranald  and  Fernaig  Manuscripts  is  really  an  era  in  the 
history  of  our  literature.  One  thing  these  brought  out  is  the 
prominence  assigned  to  Sir  Alexander  Macdonald  in  the  times  of 
Montrose.  It  is  too  true  that  Macdonald  and  his  followers  have,  in 
far  too  great  a  degree,  being  either  accused  of  crimes  and  cruelties 
or  relegated  to  a  back  seat.  The  reputation  of  the  great  Montrose, 
his  career  and  actions,  were  such  as  to  make  it  quite  unnecessary 
to  belittle  the  exertions  of  others,  his  allies  and  followers.  The 
learned  editor  would  have  done  well,  in  the  Fernaig  MS.  case,  in 
recognition  of  the  frailty  of  the  Gaelic  of  many  of  us,  to  have  given 
an  English  translation ;  but  Mr  Macbain,  who  has  borne  the  lead- 
ing part,  has  done  his  work  nobly,  and  I  am  glad  to  see  that  he  is 
now  engaged  on  a  new  Gaelic  .Dictionary.  Dr  Cameron's  transla- 
tions of  some  hymns  is  beyond  praise,  and  I  may  specially  mention 
the  ancient  and  touching  one,  beginning  with*  the  line,  "  0  mother, 
dear  Jerusalem."  He  has  shown  what  a  wealth  and  what  a  power 
there  is  in  the  Gaelic  language.  I  have  also  been  delighted  to  see 
that  Mr  Henry  Whyte,  so  well-known  under  the  name  of  Fionn, 
and  Mr  Macfarlane  have  published  a  little  book  of  Gaelic  songs  for 
use  in  schools.  This  is,  in  truth,  an  advance  step  most  gratifying 
to  all  lovers  of  music,  especially  when  I  recollect,  and  many  on  the 
platform  recollect,  the  difficulty,  not  many  years  ago,  of  getting 
Gaelic  recognised  in  the  code.  The  most  beautiful  of  our  songs 
have  generally  been  composed  by  dwellers  in  the  country,  and  it 
has  been  thought  that  without  actual  knowledge  of  country  life  in 
youth,  no  good  songs  can  be  composed.  But  we  must  not  forget 
that  there  are  now  living  in  our  large  towns  many  to  T.'hom  the 
country  is  comparatively  unknown,  but  who  are  descended  of  the 
soil,  cherish  the  traditions  of  the  place  of  their  birth,  and  speak 
and  sing  in  the  Gaelic  tongue.  I  desire  that  by  the  teaching  of 
Highland  music  in  schools  further  facilities  be  given  for  its  acquisi- 
tion, and  that  where  the  gift  exists,  it  may  find  voice  and  expression 
even  in  the  back  streets  of  great  cities.  The  programme  has  this 
year  been  modified,  so  as  to  make  the  musical  portion  more 
peculiarly  Highland  than  formerly.  I  hope  this  will  be  appreciated 
•and  now  shall  no  further  trespass  on  your  attention,  but  call  011 
the  first  performer. 


4  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Dr   F.  M.   Mackenzie,   Inverness,   delivered  the   usual  Gaelic- 
address,  speaking  as  follows  : — 

Fhir-na-Cathrach,  a  Bhaintighearnan,  's  a  dhaoin-uaisle — Tha 
e  na  chleachdach  a  bhi  labhairt  focal  no  dha,  aig  a  choinneamh 
bhliadhnal  so,  ami  an  cainnt  ar  mathar — a  Ghailig  bhinn,  cheol- 
mhor.  Agus  gu  dearbh  bu  narach  agus  maslach  an  gnothuich 
n'am  bithidh  buill  Comuinn  Gailig  Inbhirnis  a'  caithidh  an 
fheasgar  so  gun  focal  Gailig  'nan  cinn.  Ach  is  ann  a  tha  againn,. 
oranain,  ceol,  'us  dannsa  a  chuireadh  aoibhneas  air  Ossian  Aosda 
fein  na'n  robh  e  n'ar  comunn  an  nochd.  'S  e  so  an  dara  uair  a 
chuir  luchd  riaghlaidh  a  Chomuinn  an^-urram  ormsa  an  oraid 
Ghailig  a  thoirt  seachad,  oir  aon  bliadhna  diag  o'n  nochd  labhair 
mi  ribh  'sa  Ghailig.  Cha  'n  eil  fios  agam  carson  chaidh  iarraidh 
ormsa  an  t-searmoin  so  thoirt  duibh,  oir  mar  is  trice,  aig  leithid 
so  do  dh'  am,  's  e  ministear  a  tha  dol  na  chubaid.  Tha  mi  chm- 
teach  nach  'eil  an  com  nun  tinn,  agus  uime  sin  a  cuir  feum  air 
leighiche,  oir  cha  robh  e  riamh  cho  laidir,  slan,  falain,  's  tha  e 
nochd.  Anns  a  cheud  aite,  dh'  iarrainn  a  bhi  'g  ainmeachadh  mu 
bhas  Mr  Andrea  MacCoinnich,  ministear  Chill-a-mhoraig,  a  thachair 
o'n  choinnicli  sinn  an  so  mu  dheireadh.  B'  esan  a  thug  a  cheud 
oraid  seachad  aig  steidheachadh  a  Chomuinn  — seanar  uasal,  fogh- 
lumta,  agus  ard  sgolair  Gailig.  Ach  bu  choir  dhuinn  a  bhi 
taingeal  an  uair  a  tha  aon  saighdear  a'  tuiteam,  gu  'm  beil 
fear  eile  air  eiridh  na  aite.  Anns  a  bhaile  so  fein,  tha  againn  nor 
sgolair  Gailig  aim  am  Mr  MacBeathainn ;  agus  bithidh  sibh 
toileach  a  chluinntinn  gum  beil  am  Foclair  Gailig  a  bha  e  cuir  ri 
cheile  airson  iomadh  bliadhna  a  nise  gu  bhi  ullamh.  Cha  'n  ann 
na  h-uile  la  thig  leithid  a  leabhar  air  tir.  Leabhar  eile  dh-iarraimi 
ainmeachadh — "  Eachdraidh  Urchudain  'us  Ghlinne  Morustain," 
le  mo  charaid  'us  m'  fhearr  duthcha  Mr  MacAoidh — leabhar  a  tha 
Ian  eolais  agus  fiosrachadh  mu'n  Taobh-tuath — agus  companach  ro 
mhath  air  oidhche  fhada  gheamhraidh.  Tha  mi  an  dochas  nach 
bi  Gaidheil  eadar  so  agus  Australia  agus  America  nach  faigh  an 
da  leabhar  so.  Airson  m'  fhear  cinnidh,  Mr  Alastair  MacCoinnich, 
seanachaidh  nam  fineachan  Gaidhealach,  cha  'n  'eil  tamh  air  a 
latha  no  oidhche  ach  a  sgriobhadh  eachdraidh  fine  air  chor  eigin. 
Tha  mi  tuigsinn  gu'm  beil  na  "  Frisealaich"  gu  bhi  gu  h-aith- 
ghearr  an  lamhan  an  luchd  leughaidh,  agus  tha  mi  cinnteach  gu'm 
bi  i  cho  foghlumta  ris  na  chaidh  roimpe.  Tha  mi  'n  dochas  gu'm 
bi  na  Frisealacih  na'n  leughdairean  cho  math  ri  Clann  'Ic  Coinnich, 
air  chor  's  gu'm  bi  clo  bhualadh  eile  air  iarraidh  air  ball,  mar  a 
thachair  do'n  fhiiie  agam  fhein.  Gu  dearbh  tha  bhriathra  a 
IShiiird  ;iir  teachd  gu  teach  : — 


Annual  Assembly.  5 

"Nis  togaidh  na  Gaidheil  an  ceann, 
:S  cha  bhi  iad  am  fang  nis  mo  ; 
Bidh  aca  ard  fhoghlum  nan  Gall, 
A's  tuigse  neo  mhall  na  choir." 

Agus  c'  arson  nach  bitheadh  sin  mar  sin.  Nach  'eil  againn  Ard 
fhear-teagaisg  na  Gailig  an  Oil-Thigh  Dhuinedin  ;  nach  'eil  Parla- 
maid  a'  toirt  airgiod  airson  a  bhi  ga  teagasg  's  na  sgoilean.  Cha 
robh  i  riamh  cho  measal  aig  uaisle  'us  daoine  foghlumta  's  tha  i 
an  diugh.  Cha  'n  eil  aobhar  sam  bith  a  nise  gun  deanadh  fear 
teagaisg  'san  taobh-tuath  a  leithid  do  mhearachd  eagalach  's  a 
rinn  ministear  araidh  roimhe  so.  Aon  la  bha  e  dol  o'n  taigh  ; 
agus  a  chionn  's  gun  robh  e  dol  an  rathad  garbh,  goirid,  agus 
cha'n  ann  an  rathad  fada  reidh,  thug  e  ordugh  dha  sheirbheiseach 
an  diollaid  a  chur  air  an  each  anus  na  briathra  so  : — "  Ian,  Cuir 
an  Diabhul  air  an  each,  oir  tha  mise  dol  do'n  aite  's  miosa  an 
diugh" — nor  droch  eisemplair  o'n  bhuachaille  do'n  trend  !  Mar 
^hanan  aosmhor  's  mar  chanan  binn,  blasmhor,  bu  choir  dhuinn  a 
Ghailig  a  chumal  suas — 

"Ma  chreideas  sinn  MacAlpainn  fiughal 
B'  i  Ghailig  tus  nan  canan ; 
Bh'  aig  Adamh  anns  a  gharalh  ur 
Mus  d'  fhuair  e  cunadh  Shatain." 

Ach  co  dhiubh  a  labhair  Adamh  i  gus  nach  do  labhair,  cha  'n  eil  e 
•deanamh  moran  eadar-dhealachadh,  Tha  aon  ni  cinnteach — 
labhair  m'  athair  's  mo  mhathair-se  i  agus  iomadh  duine  coir  agus 
ibean  mhath  eile — 

"  Tha  Ghailig  cruadalach,  cruaidh,  sgairteal 
Do  dhaoin'  uaisle  reachdmhor,  laidir ; 
'N  am  treubhantais  na  gaisge 
'S  i  's  deas  fhacalaich  'san  ait'  ud. 

v  "  Tha  i  ciuin  an  cuiseaii  fialaidh 

Chur  an  gniomh  a  briathra  blatha  ; 

Tha  i  corr  a  sgoilteadh  reusan 

Chum  daoine  gun  cheil  'chur  samhach. 

"  S  i  fhuair  sinn  o'n  na  parantan 
A  rinn  ar  n-arach  og  ; 
'S  i  bu  mhath  leinn  fagal 
Aig  an  al  a  tha  teachd  oirn." 


6  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'S  an  dam  aite,  bheirinn  comhairle  do'n  mhuinntir  og  a  rugadh  's 
a  dh'  araicheadh  am  measg  nam  beann.  "  Lean  gu  dluth  ri  cliu 
da  shhmsear,  'us  na  dibir  bhi  mar  iadsan."  Dh'  ullaich  am 
Frcasdal  fialaidh  gach  ni  tha  freagarach  airson  a  bhi  cumail  suas 
inntinean  'us  cuirp  an  luchd  aiteachaidh.  Tha  oranan  'us  ceol  a 
bhuineas  do  gach  duthaich  tha  freagarach  'us  nadurach  do 
mhuinntir  na  duthcha  sin,  Na  bitheadh  sibhse,  uime  sin, 
coltach  ri  rocas  ga  sgeadachadh  fein  le  iteagan  peacaig  agus  a 
toirt  a  chreidsinn  oirbh  fein  gur  iad  oranan  'us  ceol  na  h-Eadailte 
is  fearr  air  bhur  sonsa  no  oranan  'us  ceol  na  Gaidhealtachd. 
Bheirinn  a  nise  comhairle  lighiche  oirbl*— gun  a  bhi  'g  iarraidh 
or  no  airgiod  oirbh.  Ithibh  na  nithe  sin  a  tha  fas  'nar  duthaich 
fein — lite  agus  bainne,  buntata  agus  sgadan,  agus  feol  muilt  a'' 
chinn  duibh.  Thubhairt  an  t-oran. 

"  Feumaidh  mnathan  uaisle  ti, 
'Sgur  goirt  an  cinn  mur  faigh  iad  i." 

Cha'n  ami 's  na  Innsean  no  an  China  a  rugadh  sibh  air  chor  's  gum 
bi  sibh  a  ol  ti  a  dh'  oidhche  's  do  latha.  Is  bronach  a  bhi  faicinn 
gillean  'us  daileagan  oga  le  gruaidhean  glasa  'us  cuirp  chaola  a 
chionn  's  gu'm  beil  iad  a  deanamh  dimeas  air  a  bhiadh  's  an  deoch 
a  dh'  ullaich  am  Freasdal  dhoibh.  Tha  moraii  do  thrioblaidean  a 
dol  an  diugh  nach  cuala  's  nach  d'fhairich  ar  seanairean  iii  mu'u 
deibhinn.  Ach  tha  so  ga  mo  thoirt  gu  treas  ceann  na  searmoin. 
Cha  'n  fhas  buntata  no  coirce  air  na  sraidean,  uime  sin 
feumaidh*  an  talamh  a  bhi  air  aiteachadh,  agus  air  a  chur 
gus  an  fheum  airson  an  deach  a  chruthachadh.  'S  e  cheisd 
mhor,  cha'n  e  a  mhain  amis  a  Ghaelteachd  ach  air  feadh  na 
rioghachd  gu  leir — Ciamar  is  urrainn  sinn  an  sluagh  a  thoirt 
air  ais  gus  an  duthaich  a  rithist  ?  Canaidh  mi  so — agus  b'  fhearr 
learn  gun  tuigeadh  gach  neach  'am  eisdeachd  mi — gu'm  beil  an 
Cruithear  a  ghna  ni 's  glice  's  ni  's  caoimhneile  na'n  creutair ;  agus 
cha'n  urrainn  neach  air  bith  bristeadh  air  ruintean  'us  air  laghannan 
an  Uile-Cnumhachdaich  gun  a  bhi  fulang  call  agus  peanas  air&on 
a  dheanadas.  Mar  thubhairt  mi  ribh  a  cheana,  mur  ith  sibh  am 
biadh  a  dh'  ullaich  am  Freasdal  air  nar  son,  fulaingidh  sibh  nar 
slainte ;  'us  mar  d'theid  talamh  na  the  a  chuir  gus  a'  bhuil  airson. 
an  deach  a  chruthachadh,  tha'n  riaghachd  gu  leir  a  fulang  call. 
Agus  chan'eil  neach  'sam  bith  a  cur  an  teagamh  nach  b'e  run 
Freasdail  gum  bitheadh  na  glinn  bhoidheach,  's  na  srathan 
tarbhach,  's  na  sliosan  uaine  air  feadh  na  Gaidhealtachd  air  an 
aiteachadh  le  daoine  's  le  mnathan,  's  le  clann  bhig,  agus  cha'n  ami 
le  fiadh-bheathaichean  na'm  machrach.  Ach  gu  co-dhunadh  mo 
slicarmoin.  Air  mo  shon  fhein  tha  mi  Ian  dochas  agus  creideamh 


Annual  Assembly.  7 

a  thaobh  na  Gaidhealtachd.  Bithidh  na  glinn  fathast  air  an 
lionadh  le  sluagh.  Bithidh  seidrich  an  eich  iarruimi  ri  chluinntinn 
dol  troimh  na  glinn,  'us  thairis  air  na  monaidhean,  agus  cuiridh  e 
eagal  'us  broilein  air  chrith  air  gach  buidseach  'us  bocan,  gach 
sithiche  'us  each-uisge,  air  chor  's  nach  faicear  's  nach  cluinnear  gu 
brath  tuilleadh  iad.  Bithidh  sluagh,  cruadalach,  laidir,  falain  ag 
aiteachadh  tir  nam  beann ;  agus  iadsan  's  na  Bailteaii-mora  tha 
cuir  feum  air  slainte  cuirp  na  fois  inntinn,  thigeadh  iad  do'n 
Taobh-tuath,  'us  gheibh  iad  na  bhitheas  a  dhith  orra.  Gu  ma 
fada  beo  sibh,  Fhir-na-Cathrach,  agus  Comunn  Gailig  Inbhirnis, 
chum  a  bhi  toirt  mun  cuairt  na  nithe  math  agus  feumal  sin. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks,  on  the  call  of  Provost  Ross,  to  Mr 
Fraser-Mackintosh  for  his  conduct  in  the  chair  and  the  interest 
he  takes  in  the  Society  was  cordially  awarded.  Mr  Fraser-Mac- 
kintosh expressed  his  thanks,  and  proposed  a  similar  compliment 
to  the  performers. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  programme  for  the  evening, 
which  was  carried  out  successfully.  The  Society's  piper,  Pipe- 
Major  Ronald  Mackenzie,  Gordon  Castle,  and  Pipe-Major  Ferguson, 
1st  Batt.  V.C.H.,  supplied  pipe  music  during  the  evening,  which 
was  much  appreciated.  Miss  Cosey  Fraser  presided  at  the  piano. 

PART  FIRST. 

Address ,. CHAIRMAN. 

Song "  Cam'  ye  by  Athol " 

Mrs  MUN  BO. 

Song  (Gaelic) "Is  toigh  learn  a'  Ghaidhealtachd  " 

Miss  LIZZIE  B.  MACKAY  (Glasgow). 

Song  (Gaelic) "  Macgregor's  Gathering" 

Mr  R.  MACLEOD. 

Song  (Gaelic) "  The  Tocherless  Lass  "  ("  Gun  chrodh  gun  Aighean") 

Miss  RODA  TAIT. 

Piano  and  Violiu  Selection Scotch  Airs 

Mrs  MUNRO  and  Mr  WATT. 

Song "The  March  of  the  Cameron  Men " 

Mr  J.  A.  CALDEB. 

Piano  and  Bagpipes Selection  of  Highland  Airs 

"Major  R.  A.  FHASER  and  Pipe-Major  R.  MACKENZIE. 

Song ..."The  Bonnie  Brier  Bush" 

Mrs  MUNRO. 

Dance Scotch  Reel 

Oganaich  Ghaidheala<  h. 

Song "  Lochnagar  " 

Miss  LIZZIE  B.  MACKAY. 
Interval  of  Five  Minutes. 

Bagpipe  Music  by  Pipe-Major  RONALD  MACKENZIE,  Piper  to  the  Society, 
and  Dance. 


Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

PART  SECOND. 

Address  (Gaelic) Dr  F.  M.  MACKENZIE. 

Song "  The  Flowers  o'  the  Forest  " 

Miss  LIZZIE  B.  MACKAY. 

Song "Ann  Fleasgach  dounn  " 

Miss  RODA  TAIT. 

Dance "  Reel  of  Tulloch  " 

Oganaich  Ghaidhealach. 

Piano  and  Violin  Selections Scotch  Airs 

Mrs  MUNRO  and  Mr  WATT. 

Song "  A'r,  fal  al  al-0  " 

Miss  LIZZIE  B.  MACKAY, 

Song "Oran  na  Cailleach" 

Mr  R.  MACLEOD. 

Song "  Willie's  gane  to  Melville  Castle" 

Mrs  MUNRO. 
"  Auld  Langsyne." 

The   following   song   to   the    Society   was   composed    for  the 
occasion  by  Mrs  Mary  Macpherson,  the  Skye  poetess  :— 

ORAN  DO'N  CHOMUNN  GHAILIG. 

A  Chomuinn  rioghail  runaich, 

Air  tus  a'  choisinn  buaidh, 

Tha  cruinn  aig  Clach-na-Cudainn, 

Ag  urachadh  air  cumhnantan, 

Gun  dian  sibh  coir  'ur  duthcha, 

Gu  cliuiteach  mar  bu  dual, 

Bho  'ur  ceannard  Friseil  Mac*m  Toisich, 

Ts  moralach  ra,  luaidh. 

'S  coir  dhuinn  a  bhi  taingeil, 

Nach  eil  air  cainnt  fo'n  uir, 

'S  gu  bheil  i  falainn  comhlionta, 

Fo  bhratach  luchd  na'n  feilidhnean, 

'S  na  ciadan  agaibh  cruinn  a  nochd, 

Le  aoimhnaas  air  ur  gnuis, 

A  tighinn  ga  dian  bho  Thir  na  Beann, 

Gu  Baile-Cinn  nan  Tur. 

'Sibhse  oighreachan  na  'n  uaislean, 
A  tha  nochd  nan  suain  gun  chainnt, 
'Chuir  a  Ghailig  air  ur  guaillean, 
Gun  chiorum  na  gun  truailleadh, 


Annual  Assembly- 

Bu  chairdeil  rithe  Cluainidh, 

'S  bu  shuairc  e  air  a  ceann 

Ach  bidh  cuimhii  air  "  Sgiathanach"  nam  buadh 

Cho  fad  's  bhios  buar  air  gleann. 

Gu  soirbhich  leis  na  h-armuinn, 

'S  gach  cearnaidh  bhos  us  thall, 

Tha  cumail  suas  ar  Canain, 

JS  nach  leig  a  chaoidh  gu  lar  i, 

Sliochd  onarach  nan  Gaidheal, 

Chaidh  arach  feadh  nan  Gleann 

'S  nuair  bheirear  dhachaidh  leis  a  bhas  sibh 

Bidh  'ur  n'  al  ga  seinn. 

Beanneachd  leibh  a  chairdean, 

Tha  snaithne  'ruidh  gu  cheann 

'S  a  reir  cursa  naduir, 

Bithidh  mise  ga  nar  fagail, 

Ach  eiridh  cuid  na'm  aite, 

Leis  an  deanar  dain  us  rainn 

'S  a  chumas  cuimhn'  air  cliu  na  ?m  bard 

Cho  fad  's  bhios  Gailig  aim. 

MAIRI  NIGHEAN  IAIN  BHAIN. 


nth  DECEMBER,  1894. 

At  the  meeting  on  this  date  the  following  gentleman  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Society,  viz.,  the  Rev.  Alex.  Macdonald, 
Muasdale,  Kintyre.  Thereafter  Mr  Alex.  Macbain,  M.A.,  read  a 
paper,  contributed  by  the  Rev.  A.  Maclean  Sinclair,  Nova  Scotia, 
entitled  "  Unpublished  Gaelic  Songs,  with  Notes."  Mr  Sinclair's 
paper  was  as  follows  : — 

OLD  GAELIC  SONGS. 
Teachdaireachd  Mhic-Cailein  gu  Macdhomhnuill 

'S  mis'  a  bheithir  laidir,  bhorb, 
'S  mairg  a  bheanadh  ri  m'  cholg. 
Ge  b'e  'bheireadh  am  mach  m'  fhearg 
Tha  i  dearg  mar  dhriothlunn  6rd. 


10  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Teachdaireachd  Mhic-Dhomhnuill  gu  Mac-Cailein. 

JS  mairg  a  bheanadh  ri  m'  shamhuil, 
Mar  cheann  nathrach  's  a  teang  air  chrith. 
Tha  mi  geur  an  deigh  mo  bhearradh, 
Beist  air  bun  a  h-earra  'dh  'ith. 

— From  Dr  Maclean's  M.S* 


IORRAM. 
Do  dh-Iain  Garbh,  Triath  Chola. 


'Righ,  nach  eireadh  i  tuath, 

'S  i  'bhi  siobhalta,  buaii, 

'S  gu'n  togadh  ar  n-uaislean  breid  rith, 

'Righ,  nach  eireadh,  &c. 

ii. 

A  Righ  fheartaich  nan  dul, 
Cum  an  soirbheas  sin  ciuin, 
'S  gu'n  gabhadh  mo  run  na  dheigh  e. 

in. 

Ceann  mo  thaighe  gu  ceart, 
'M  fear  a's  urranta  smachd, 
Criosd  ga  d;  choimhead  's  gach  feachd  'an  deid  thu. 

IV. 

Dhuit  a  V  fhasan  bho  thus, 

A  bhi  dileas  do'n  chrun, 

Gun  bhi  foilleil  an  ciiis  fo'n  ghrein  da. 

v. 

Ceist  mo  chridhe-sa  'n  t-ainm 
Leis  'n  do  bhaisteadh  Iain  Garbh  ; 
S  og  a  rinn  mi  suil-leanabas  deideig. 

VI. 

Mac  na  lanaine  ceart 

'Dheonaich  Dia  'san  aon  ghlaic ; 

'S  fhuair  sibh  dioladh  gu  maith  d'a  reir  sin. 


Old  GaeliclSongs.  11 

VII. 

Tha  mi  tamull  gun  suain, 

Agus  m'  aigne  fo  ghruaim  ; 

Moir,'  tha  ionndraichinn  bhuain  a's  leir  dhomh. 

VIII. 

Gum  b'e  'n  t-ogh'  ud  bho  Eoin 

Is  bho  nighinn  Mhic-Leoid, 

'S  mac  na  deagh  mhna  o'n  Mhorthir  m'  eudail. 

IX. 

Gu'n  robh  frei?gradh  'ud  cheann, 

Agus  deasbad  neo-ghann, 

'N  Gaidhlig,  Laidinn,  is  Fraingis,  's  Beurla. 

x. 

Gu'n  robh  susbainn  'ad  chorp, 
Agus  uaisle  gun  spot, 
'Fhir  a  b'  urrainn  's  gach  cnoc  an  reiteach' 

XI. 

Craobh  de'n  iubhar  a  b'  fhearr, 

'Bu  mhath  luth  agus  fas, 

As  a  choille  a  b'  airde  geugan. 

XII. 

Leam  bu  taitneach  an  geard 

'Bha  mu  d'  thimchioll  'san  aite  ; 

B'  ann  de  dh-abhall  do  gharaidh  fein  e. 

XIII. 

Mo  chreach  an  tanaistear  og, 
Leis  an  rachadh  tu  'd  dheoin, 
'Bhi  ga  t'  fhaicinn  gun  deo  'ad  chreubhaig. 

XIV. 

'S  mairg  do'n  uachdaran  og 

'Bhi  ga  t'  fhaicinn  fo  leon ; 

Ged  a  thuit  thu  bu  chonspunn  cheud  thu. 

xv. 

Bhi  ga  t'  fhaicinn  gun  deo 
An  ar  cumaisg  nan  sr61, 
'Fhir  a  leanadh  an  toir  's  nach  geilleadh. 


12  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 


Tha  do  chinneadh  fo  sprochd 

O'n  la  chaidh  do  lot ; 

'S  aim  bha  'n  diubhalas  goirt  fo  d'  leine. 

XVII. 

'N  caisteal  tubaistech  bh'  aim 
Mu'n  robh  chaiseamachd  shearbh, 
Righ,  bu  shoilleir  ar  call  mu  dheibhinn. 

Lachlan  Maclean,  8th  of  Coll,  married  Marion,  daughter  of 
John  MacdonaLl  of  Moidart,  by  his  wif^  Marion,  daughter  of  Sir 
Roderick  Macleod,  Ruairi  Mor.  Lachlan  was  drowned  in  Loch- 
aber  1687.  He  was  succeeded  by  his  only  son  John,  Iain  Garbh. 
John,  who  was  a  promising  youth,  was  killed  whilst  pursuing  his 
studies  in  Edinburgh.  He  was  killed  by  a  splinter  from  a  grenade 
which  had  been  fired  to  disperse  a  mob.  He  was  in  the  eighteenth 
year  of  his  age. 

ORAN  Am  STOIRM  MHARA. 

i. 

Moch  sa  mhaduinn  Di-domhnaich 
Mur  nach  d'  ordaich  am  focal, 
Ghluais  sinn  'mach  bho  'n  t-seann  doirlinn, 
?S  a  righ,  bu  bhoidheach  ar  coltas. 
Bha  tri  fichead  fo  sheol  diu 
Ann  an  ordagh  'dol  dachaidh  ; 
'S  mor  m'  eagal  's  mo  churam 
Nach  deid  bhur  cunntas  a  fhabhail. 

ii. 

'S  mor  mo  churam  mu  'n  Eachann 
So  a  dhealaich  an  de  rium ; 
'S  truagh  nach  mise  bha  lamh  riut 
Nuair  a  theann  i  ri  seideadh  ; 
Naile  dheanainn  riut  fuireach 
Mar  a  b'  urrainn  mi-fein  deth  ; 
'N  t-og  ur  dha  'n  robh  mhisneach, 
'S  raor  an  it  as  mo  sgeith  thu. 

in. 

Nuair  a  chaochail,  a  ghaoth  oirnn, 
Righ  !  gum  b'  aoghuidh  sud  dhuinne, 


Old  Gaelic  Songs.  13 

Bha  gach  fear  mar  a  dh'  fhaodadh 

Gleidheadh  aodaich,  's  bu  duilich. 

Ach  nuair  bhuail  i  air  seideadh 

'S  ann  a  b'  eigin  dhuinn  tilleadh ; 

Bha  sinn  uile  ga  'r  sgaoileadh 

Mar  threud  chaorach  roimh  shionnach. 

IV. 

Nuair  a  rainig  mi  'chabag, 
High,  bu  ghrannd'  i  ri  'faicinn. 
Bha  gach  duine  na  eigin, 
Gun  solus  greine  no  gealaich, 
Ri  oidhche  ghairbh,  dhorcha 
'S  ri  stoirm  chlacha-meallain  ; 
'S  sinn  a  ruith  le  croinn  ruisgte, 
'S  muir  dhu-ghorm  'dol  tharruinn. 

v. 

An  sin  thubhairt  Anna, 
'S  i  a  fanaid  le  uaill  oirnn, 
'S  mor  m'  eagal  's  mo  churam 
Nach  giulain  mi  'm  fuaradh, 
'S  trie  a  chuir  thu  mi,  'mheirlich, 
Ann  an  gabhadh  bu  chruaidhe  ; 
Thoir  an  aire  do  m'  stiuradh, 
'S  na  biodh  curam  a  chuain  ort. 

VI. 

Na  biodh  curam  mu  m'  aois  ort, 
No  as  na  saoir  'bha  gam  chumadh  ; 
Dh'  fhag  iad  mise  cho  laidir 
Ri  aon  bhat  th'  air  an  turas. 
Cum  bho  rochdan  's  bho  ruadh  mi, 
'S  bithibh  cruadalach  umam  ; 
'S  naile  ruigidh  mi  Leodhas 
Ged  bhiodh  moran  a  muigh  dhiu. 

The  man  from  \vhom  I  got  this  poem  says  that  it  was  com- 
posed by  Murdoch  Mackenzie,  Murchadh  Mor,  Fear  Aichealaidh. 
I  suspect  that  it  is  of  a  much  later  date  than  the  days  of 
Murchadh  Mor. 


14  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness, 

ORAN. 

L?  Domhnull  Donn,  mac  Fhir  Bhoth-Fhiimndainn,"aifuair  a 
bha  e  sa  phriosan. 

I. 

Gura  mi  'th'  air  mo  sgaradh 
Bho  thoiseach  an  earraich  ; 
Tha  mo  chas  air  a  sparradh  fo  dheile, 
Gura  mi,  <fec. 

"•      * 

B'  fhearr  gu'n  digeadh  an  t-aiteamli, 

Is  gu  'm  falbhadh  an  sneachda, 

Is  gu'n  teannadh  gach  aigneadh  ri  'cheile. 

in. 

B'  fhearr  gu  'm  faicteadh  mo  chairdean 
'Tigh'nn  a  staigli  le  Creig  Phadruig, 
Is  cha  b'  fhada  'bhiodh  cabhsair  ga  reiteach. 

IV. 

'S  iad  a  chuireadh  an  gradan, 

Hi  duthaich  nan  adag, 

Ohan  fhagadh  iad  caisteal  ri  'cheile. 

v. 

'S  iad  gu'n  cuireadh  an  sguradh 
Fo  luchd  nan  gruag  fudair  ; 
Chan  fhagadh  iad  luth  an  coig  cend  diu. 

VI. 

Bhidhinn  cinnteach  a  'r  cruadal 

'N  am  an  claidheabh  a  bhualadh ; 

€huirteadh  laigh'  air  na  Tuathaich  nach  eireadh. 

VII. 

Bhidhinn  earboach  a  'r  dillseachd 

Nach  fagteadh  mi  'm  priosan, 

'S  gu  'm  faighinn  a  risd  air  an  reidhlein. 

VIII. 

Ach  na  ciurraibh  an  gobhainn, 

(Jed  a  dh'  fhagainu  e  'm  dheoghaidh  ; 

'S  ro  mhath  's  aithne  dhomh  co  e  gan  geill  e. 


Old  Gaelic  Songs.  15 

IX. 

Tha  e  mhuinntir  Mhic-Shimie, 

Sliochd  an  t-sar  chinne-cinnidh 

'N  uair  a  tharladh  gorch  fine  ri  cheile. 

x. 

Luchd  nam  breacanan  loinneil, 
Is  nan  claidheannan  soilleir, 
Nach  robh  riamh  am  brath  foille  'righ  Seumas. 

XI. 

Tha  sibh  'm  barail  an  drasta 
Gu  bheil  Sim  agaibh  caillte, 
Ach  bidh  e  fhathast  air  Cabhsair  Dhun-Eideann. 

XII. 

Olc  air  mhath  le  'r  luohd  diumba, 

Bidh  sibh  'n  uachdar  na  cuise, 

'S  bidh  fir  Athuill  a  cunntas  an  leir  chreach. 

Gun  Leannadh  gach  aigneadh  ri  cheile. — There  was  a  disagree- 
ment between  Donald  I)onn  and  Coll  of  Keppoch.  John  Loin 
was  also  opposed  to  Donald  Donn.  Donald  Donn  had  killed  his 
son  in  a  duel.  An  Gobhainn. — The  blacksmith  was  a  Fraser  who 
was  in  jail  with  Donald  Donn.  It  is  well-known  that  Simon 
Fraser,  Lord  Lovat,  and  the  Marquis  of  Athole  were  bitter  enemies. 
The  trouble  between  them  began  in  1696.  Lord  Lovat  was 
condemned  to  be  executed  in  1698,  and  fled  to  France  in  1702. 
Donald  Donn  was  put  to  death,  but  in  what  year  I  do  not  know. 
It  is  probable,  however,  that  it  was  not  earlier  than  1698. 

ORAN. 

Mu  bhlar  Sliabh-an-t-Siorraim. 
Le  Sile  na  Ceapaich. 

I. 

'Mhic-Coinnich  bho  'n  traigh, 

'S  e  'n  gniomh  nar  rnar  theich  thu ; 

'N  uair  a  chunnaic  thu  'm  blar 

'S  ami  a  thair  thu  'n  t-eagal. 

Rinn  thu  coig-mile-deug 

Gun  t'  each  srein  a  chasadh  ; 

Bha  claidheabh  ruisgt'  aim  ad  dhorn 

Gun  fhear-cleoc'  a  leagail. 


1C  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Ho  ro  agus  ho, 
Ho  ro  an  t-eagal ; 
Mo  inhallachd  gu  leir 
An  deigh  na  theich  dhiu. 

ii. 

Fire,  faire,  'Lochiall, 

Sud  mar  thriall  do  ghaisgich, 

Nan  ruith  leis  an  t-sliabh 

Lan  fiamh  is  gealtacbd ; 

Ged  is  iomad  fear  uior 

Bha  mu  Lochaidh  agaibh, 

'S  thall  's  a  bhos  mu  Ghleann-Laoighv 

'S  mu  dha  thaobh  Loch-Airceig  ! 

Fir  nach  seasadh  ri  teine 

\S  an  cnap  geire  nan  achlais. 

in. 

Theicb  Gordanaich  uainn 
Le  luaths  an  casan  ; 
Agus  cinneadh  an  righ, 
Lan  spid  is  maslaidh. 
Clann-Fhionghain  bu  luath 
Air  ruaig  le  gealtachd  ; 
Theicb  buidtieann  nam  faochag 
Gun  aodach  dhachaidh. 

IV. 

Fir  Athuill  is  Bhaideanaich 
Dh'  fhalbh  iad  uile  ; 
Theich  iad  bho  '11  bhlar 
Gun  stath,  gun  fhuireach. 
Cha  robh  iad  ach  sgathach 
'Bhualadh  bhuillean ; 
'S  cha  b'  fhearr  iad  na  mathair 
Gu  namhaid  fhullang. 


Ach,  a  Raibeart  nam  bo, 
'S  mor  an  sglco  a  thachair  ; 
Bho  'n  bhan-righ  nach  beo 
Fhuair  thu  or  am  pailteas. 
Gheall  thu  corr  is  coig  ceud 
Be  dh-fhearaibh  treuna,  sgairteil 


Old  Gaelic  Songs.  17 

'S  cha  b'fhiach  iad  am  biadh 
An  t-aon  chiad  a  bh'  agad. 

VI. 

An  t-Alasdair  Ciar 
Chaidh  e  sios  an  rathad, 
'Gu  cruadalach  dian 
'N  uair  bha  'n  triath  laighe. 
Bha  Clann-Domhnuill  an  fhraoich 
Air  do  thaobh  's  bu  nihath  iad  ; 
'S  iad  a  cha-idh  air  ghleus 
Nuair  a  dh'  eubh  thu  claidheabh. 

Air  chalrnain  duinn,  0  ! 
Gun  d'  fhalbh  ar  Caiptin  ; 
Call  iii  ri  o, 
Cha  dam'  e  dhachaidh. 

VII. 

'S  iad  nach  tilleadh  's  a  bhlar, 
No  an  lathair  gaisge 
'S  nach  gabhadh  bonn  sgath 
Roimh  namhaid  fhaicinn. 
Fir  ghasda  mo  ruin 
Nach  diultadh  aiteal, 
'S  a  chuireadh  an  ruaig 
Nuair  bu  chruaidh  am  baiteal. 

The  Mackinnons  are  spoken  of  as  buidheann  nam  faochag, 
simply  because  they  lived  on  the  seashore,  and  not  in  such  an 
inland  district  as  Lochaber.  The  sixth  verse  refers  to  the  fall  of 
that  accomplished  and  popular  chieftain  Ailein  Muideartach,  and 
to  the  exclamation  of  Alexander  Macdonald  of  Glengarry,  Alasdair 
Ciar,  when  he  found  Allan's  followers  mourning  over  him, 
**  Revenge  to-day  and  mourning  to-morrow." 

RANNAN. 
Le  Sile  na  Ceapaich. 

r. 

'Chaoidh  chan  urrainn  mi  gu  brath 
Dol  'thoirt  cunntais  ann  do  chach 
Air.  na  rug  orm  eadar  da  Dhi-Sathaime. 


18  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

ii. 

'Chiad  Di-Sathairne  'bha  dhiu 
Chuir  mi  Anna  bhuam  do'n  uir, 
Bu  trie  o  ghluais  mi  gu  sugradh  aighearrach. 

in. 

'N  ath  Dhi-Sathoirne  na  dheigh, 
Thug  e  malairt  dhomh  am  cheill ; 
Gu'n  do  liubhair  mi  'Mhac  De  m'  fheartaighe  bhuam. 


'S  trie  a  shuidh  thu,  'ghaoil,  gam  choir, 

Thu  gam  amharc  's  mi  leith-bheo, 

Is  cha  chaomhnadh  tu  an  t-or  a  chaitheamh  rium. 

The  poetess  was  nearly  cut  off  by  a  severe  illness  some  time- 
before  the  death  of  her  husband. 


ORAN  BEGIN. 
Le  Sile  na  Ceapaich. 

i. 

'S  i  so  'bhliadhua  's  fhaide  'chlaoidh  mi, 
Gun  cheol,  gun  aighear,  gun  fhaoilteas ; 
Mi  mar  bhat'  air  traigh  air  sgaoileadh, 
Gun  stiuir,  gun  seol,  gun  ramh,  gun  taoman. 

0  's  coma  learn  fhin  co  dhiu  sin 

Mire,  no  aighear,  no  sugradh, 

An  diugh  o'n  theann  mi  ri  'chunntadh 

'S  e  ceann  na  bliadhn'  thug  riadh  dhiom  dubailt'. 

ii. 

'S  i  so  'bhliadhna  'chaisg  air  m'  ailleas, 
Chuir  mi  fear  mo  thaighe  'n  caradh 
'N  ciste  chaoil  's  na  saoir  ga  sabhadh  ; 
'S  mi  tha  faoin  's  mo  dhaoin'  air  m'  fhagail. 

in. 

Chaill  mi  sin  's  mo  chuilein  gradhach, 
'Bha  gu  foinnidh,  banail  aillidh, 
'Bha  gun  bheum,  gun  leum,  gun  ardan, 
'S  guth  do  bheoil  mar  cheol  na  clarsaich. 


Old  Gaelic  Songs.  19 

IV. 

Ma's  beag  learn  sud  fhuair  mi  barr  air, 
Ceann  mo  stuic  is  pruip  nan  cairdean, 
'Leag  na  ceid  le  bheum  ;s  na  blaraibh, 
Ga  chur  fo'n  fhoid  le  61  na  graisge. 

Last  verse. 

'Nis  bho  'n  chuir  an  saoghal  cul  ruinn, 
Ard  Righ,  dean  sinn  ortsa  cuimhneach, 
'N  deigh  an  latha  thig  an  oidhche, 
'S  thig  an  t-aog  air  chaochladh  staidhle. 

This  poem  was  originally  published  in  Gillies's  collection.  It 
is  copied  into  Sar-Obair  nam  Bard  by  John  Mackenzie,  who  made 
a  few  changes  in  it.  In  the  third  verse  Gillies  has  "  'Bha  gu 
foinnidh,  'bha  gu  h-aillidh."  Mackenzie  has  "  Bha  gu  foinnidh, 
fearail,  aillidh."  I  have  given  this  line  as  it  is  in  a  version  in  my 
possession.  Gillies  has  in  the  first  line  of  the  last  verse  "  0  's  e  so 
deireadh  an  t-saoghail  bhruidhnich."  This  line  appears  in  Sar- 
Obair  narn  Bard,  evidently  owing  to  a  typographical  error,  as 
follows — "  0  's  e  so  deireadh  an  t-saoghail  bhrionnaich."  The  poem 
refers  to  three  different  persons.  The  first  two  verses  are  about 
Julia's  husband,  the  third  verse  is  about  her  daughter,  whilst  the 
remainder  of  the  poem  is  about  Sir  James  Macdonald  of  Sleat, 
who  died  at  Forres  from  the  effects  of  a  spree  on  wine  in  1723. 

MARBHRANN. 

Do  dh-Alasdair  Dubh  Ghlinne-Garadh,  a  ehaochail  'sa  bhliadhna 
1724.     Le  Sile  na  Ceapaich. 

This  beautiful  elegy  was  published  originally  in  Ranald 
Macdonald's  collection.  No  one  could  read  it  without  regretting 
that  a  portion  of  the  last  verse  was  lost.  I  am  happy  to  state 
that  the  lost  lines  have  been  recovered  in  the  gloomy  woods  of 
America,  'sa  choille  ghruamaich.  The  verse  in  full  is  as 
follows : — 

Guidheam  t'  anam  a  bhi  sabhailt' 

Bhon  a  chaireadh  ann  san  uir  thu ; 

Guidheam  sonus  air  na  dh'  fhag  thu 

Ann  ad  aros  's  ann  ad  dhuthaich ; 

Guidheam  do  mhac  a  bhi  t'  aite 

Ann  an  saibhreas  's  ann  an  curam, 

Alasdair  a  Gleanna-Garaidh, 

Thug  thu  'n  diugh  gal  air  mo  shuilean. 


20  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

GRAN. 

Air  Blar  Sliabh-an-t-Siorraim,  le  fear  de  Chloinn-Domlmuill  a 
bha  ga  chosnadh  an  Duneideann,  agas  a  chaidh  a  ghabhail 
seallaidh  air  a  bhlar  ga  chur. 


Tha  mi  fo  leann-dubh  's  fo  bhron, 

'S  a  chaoidh  ri  m'  bheo  bidh  mis'  mar  sin ; 

Stiallaire  bat'  ann  am  dhorn 

Mar  neach  gun  treoir  'sa  ghlio'gadaich ; 

Bhon  a  dh'  fhalbh  an  Righ'  thar  sail, 

'S  gu  la  brath  nach  dig  e  oirnn, 

Gu  'm  bi  oirnn  ar  cinn  a  dhith 

'S  gach  ni,  ma  chitear  biodag  oirnn. 


Bha  mi  uair  le  m'  ghunna  brisg, 
Claidheabh,  da  chrios,  is  biodag  orm ; 
Mo  thrnaighe  leir  gu'n  d'  fhalbh  iad  sud, 
'Bhiodh  air  mo  chrios  a  gliogarsaich. 
'S  ann  a  bhliadhna  gus  an  de 
A  bha  mi  eutrom  aighearrach, 
'N  am  dhuinn  a  bhi  tarruing  suas 
Ris  an  t-sluagh  gu  h-athaiseach. 

in. 

Nuair  a  chruinnich  sinn  gu  leir, 
Bu  lionmher  fear  sgeith  is  claidhibh  ann 
'S  sinn  a  falbh  a  dh-ionnsaidh  'n  t-sleibh 
An  ordagh  feum'  mar  ghabhadh  sinn. 
Bha  sinn  ann  am  barril  mhoir 
Mun  dugadh  ordagh  catha  dhuinn, 
Nach  robh  de  shluagh  aig  Righ  Deors' 
Na  chumadh  comhrag  lath  a  ruinn. 

IV. 

Air  dhuinn  a  bhi  da  la  'n  ar  tamh 
Tharruinn  gach  pairt  am  brataichean  ; 
'S  b'  fhearr  a  bhi  'n  Duneideann  thall 
Na,  bhi  'san  am  an  taice  riuth', 
Fhuair  sinn  fios  sinn  air  mhears 
Nach  robh  ar  namhaid  fada  bhuainn, 
'S  dh'  fhuirich  sinn  le  ordagh  Mharr 
Anns  a  bhlar  a  b'  fhaisge  dhuinn. 


Old  Gaelic  Songs.  21 

v. 

Chuir  sinn  seachad  an  oidhch'  fhuar 
Gun  ni  mu'n  cuairt  thoirt  fasgaidh  dhuinn"; 
'S  bha  sinn  uile  deas  gle  thrath 
Gu  dhol  a  sas  le'r  glas  lannaibh. 
Nuair  a  dhirich  sinn  an  t-uchd 
Chunnacas  na  h-uilc  le  'm  bideinibh ; 
'S  'nam  dusgadh  an  tus  an  truid 
Gu  'n  d}  fhag  sinn  cuirp  a  clisgeanaich. 

VI. 

Bha  'n  lamh  thoisgeil  air  dhroch  ceann, 

'S  an  am  's  an  cridhe  briosganaich, 

'S  nuair  theann  ar  namhaid  an  nail 

Ghabh  Clanh-Chamarain  brisdeadh  bhuainn. 

Ruitheadh  agus  throtadh  iad, 

Bhocadh  agus  leumadh  iad, 

'S  iad  nan  duibh-rith  leis  a  ghleann ; 

'S  ann  's  droch  am  a  threig  iad  sinn. 

VII. 

Mur  h-e  'n  sronan  bhi  cho  cam 

A  chuir  nan  deann  ratreut  orra, 

Gun  an  cruadul  'chur  ri  crann, 

'S  i  'n  fhoill  a  bh'  ann  's  gum  b'  eucorach. 

Bha  'n  ruaig  air  rneirlich  nam  bo 

Feadh  mointich  agus  fheitheachan ; 

JS  bho  nach  d'  fhuair  iad  mir  de  'n  fheoil 

Cha  deanteadh  leo  car  feuma  dhuinn. 

VIII. 

Ghabh  Mac-Coinnich  an  ratreut, 

'S  a  shluagh  na  dheigh  chan  f  hanadh  iad ; 

Dh'  fhag  e  na  Saihch  ri  feum, 

Mo  thruaighe  leir  mar  thachair  dhaibh. 

Cba  dainig  's  cha  dig  am  feasd 

Na  bha  cho  deas  's  cho  tapaidh  riu  ; 

Cha  do  smaointich  iad  a  gheilt 

Ged  sgoilt  na  h-eich  na  claiginn  ac'. 

IX. 

Bhuail  a  gheilt  Diuc  Gordan  og, 
'S  air  muillein  oir  chan  fhanadh  e. 


22  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Dh'  fhalbh  a  choisichean  na  dheigh, 

'S  gur  gann  nach  d'  leum  an  t-anam  asd' 

Mac-na-Ceirde  le  'chuid  each 

Bharr  na  lie  cha  d'  chairich  e  ; 

'S  na  bh'  ann  de  luchd  an  aodaich  ghlais 

Gu  'n  d'  thar  iad  as  le  Hamilton. 

x. 

Clann-Fhionghain  is  cinneadh  an  righ 

Bu  ruhi-chiatach  le  gealtachd  iad  ; 

B'  fhearr  leo  an  onair  a  chagjdh 

'S  an  stoc  's  an  ni  dhol  dachaidh  leo. 

Gu  'n  do  sheas  Clann-Ghriogair  thall, 

'S  bha  fir  Athuill  cuide-riu  ; 

Thainig  Clann-Mhuirich  nan  ceann, 

'S  bu  neo-cheannsgalach  a  chaideachd  iad. 

XI. 

Mo  cheud  mallachd  feiu  'n  ur  deigh, 

Gu  leir  o  'n  rinneadh  bnidseachd  dhuibh 

A  mhuinntir  a  bhuaileadh  na  speic 

Cha  d'  rinn  iad  feum  's  cha  d'  fhurtaich  oirnn, 

Ged  a  fhuair  iad  ordagh  teann 

Tighinn  an  nail  g'  ar  cuideachadh. 

'Cha  b'  ionghnadh  ged  a  dh'  fhalbh  ar  camp, 

JS  a  mheud  's  a  bh'  ann  de  thrusdaraibh. 

XII. 

Mo  ghradh  Clann-Domhnuill  an  fhroich, 

'S  iad  fhein  nach  d'  aom  ie  gealtaireachd, 

An  am  direadh  ris  a  mham 

Fhuair  bhur  namhaid  faicinn  dibh 

An  am  tarruinn  bhur  cuid  lann 

Gum  b'  fhuaimear  trom  a  chuapadaich, 

Fuil  gu  talamh  'ruith  na  deann ; 

'S  gur  h-iomad  ceann  a  shracadh  leibh. 

XIII. 

S  ard  a  bhuidheann  'sheas  a  choir, 
'S  nach  d'  rinn  an  cleoc  ac'  iomlaid  riamh ; 
Bu  leoghainn  glmineach  iad  gun  sgath 
Nuair  dh'  eireadh  spairn  na  h-iorghuille. 
Thug  iad  buaidh  air  sluagh  Righ  Deors' 
Le  comhrag  mor,  cruaidh,  fear  bhuilleach  ; 


Old  Gaelic  Songs.  23 

'S  mur  biodh  an  Seanailear  cho  fann 
Cha  d'  fhag  iad  ceann  air  earrball  diu. 

XIV. 

Buidheann  eile  Bha  ro  mh6r, 

'S  nach  robh  fo  chleoc  na  gealtaireachd ; 

Nan  seasadh  each  mar  bu  choir 

•Gu  'n  d'  fhag  righ  Deorsa  Sasunn  ac' ; 

€lann-Ghilleain  nach  robh  tais, 

Bu  ghaisgich  neartmhor,  ainrneil  iad. 

Nach  dugadh  troigh  air  an  ais 

Ach  a  sior  churas  do  Dhearganaich. 

xv. 

Thug  sibh  orra  tarsuinn  as 
Le  'r  lannaibh  glas  's  le  'r  garbh  bhuillibh, 
'S  cuid  nan  sineadh  air  feur  glas 
'S  an  claiginn  air  dhroch  carbhaireachd, 
Bha  larla  Mharsal  ann  gu  deas, 
Le  thrupa  seasmhach  f  ear-bhuilleach ; 
Chuir  e  eich  righ  Deors'  an  geilt, 
Is  iomadh  fear  a  mharbhadh  diu. 

XVI. 

Chruinnich  na  bodaich  gun  bhaigh, 

Parlamaid  de  dh-eucoraich ; 

'S  b'  e  an  glaodh  gach  oidhch'  is  la 

Am  bas  'thoirt  do  na  reubaltaich — 

Ach  a  chuid  a  chaidh  do'n  Fhraing, 

'S  nach  dig  an  nail  'chur  faoilte  oirnn, 

An  deoch  s'  air  an  slainte  ni  mi  ol, 

'S  tha  mi  fo  bhron  bhon  sgaoil  sibh  bhuainn. 

In  one  version  of  the  song  the  last  half  of  the  14th  stanza  is 
given  as  follows  : — 

Clann-Ghilleain  nach  robh  tais, 
'S  a  bhratach  a  Braidalbainn  leo, 
Nach  drachaidh  riamh  troigh  air  ais, 
Ach  'sior  chur  as  do  Dhearganaich. 

ORAN  GAOIL. 

As  ino  chadal  cha  bheag  m'  airsneal, 
'S  gun  thu  again,  'ghraidh, 


24  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'N  deigh  dhoruh  t'  fhaicinn  aim  an  aisling 

Eadar  mo  dha  laimh. 

Sud  an  aisling  bho  nach  ceart  mi, 

Chuir  as  domh  gu  brath ; 

Tha  saighed  Chupid  gu  geur,  guineach, 

Annam-s'  ann  an  sas. 

This  song  will  be  found  in  Gillies's  Collection  at  page  148. 
The  name  of  the  author  is  not  given  in  that  work.  I  have  some 
reason  for  believing  that  it  was  composed  by  a  son  of  Macdonald 
of  Dalness,  Mac  Fear  Dhail-an-Easa.  ^ 


ORAN  GAOIL. 
Do  Mhoir  nighean  Fear  Thir-na-Drise,  le  mac  Fear  Dhail-an-Easa 

i. 

Mor  nigh'n  Raonuill,  cailin  gaolach, 
'Bu  ghlan  taobh  is  braighe  ! 
Mor  nigh'n  Raonuill. 

ii. 

Leannan  fleasgaich  'bu  leoir  deisead 
'S  beag  nach  dug  i  'm  bas  dhomh ! 

in. 

Cha  V  ann  air  cladach  nan  cuan 
Bu  dual  dhuit  bhi  ga  t'  arach. 

IV. 

Ach  an  tir  nan  gallan  uaine 
'M  bi  boc  ruadh  's  a  mhathair. 

v. 

'S  truagh  nach  robh  mis'  is  ise 
'Nis  ann  san  ait  ud  ; 

VI. 

'N  leaba  lair  no  'n  seomhar  mullaich 
Far  nach  cluinneadh  each  sinn. 

VII. 

Far  an  cluinnteadh  guth  a  choillich 
Ann  san  doire  lamh-ruinn. 


Old  Gaelic  Songs.  25. 

ORAN. 

Do  Dhonnachadh  Ban  Caimbal,  Tighearna  Loch-nan-Eala, 
le  Seumas  Mac-Gillesheathanaich,  Bard  Loch-nan-Eala. 

Fonn — ;S  tearc  an  diugh  mo  chuis  ghaire. 


Gu  ma  beairteach,  sean,  buadhmhor, 
An  t-og  uasal  gun  mheang. 
Chaidh  mi  shealltuinn  Di-luain  ort, 
;S  faoilidh  'fhuair  mi  do  chainnt. 
Sar  cheannard  an  t-sluaigh  thu 
Gan  cur  suas  ann  an  camp. 
'S  ann  dhuit  bu  duthchas  an  cruadal 
An  am  bualadh  nan  lann. 

ii. 

'S  e  mo  run  an  t-og  sgiobalt, 
Gan  dig  biodag  ghlan,  ur, 
Agus  paidhir  mhath  phiostal 
Mar-ri  crios  nam  ball  dluth. 
Claidheabh  caol  nan  tri  faobhar 
Air  do  thaobh  'chosnadh  cliu. 
'S  tu  'n  leoghann  armailteach,  guineach,, 
'Bhuidhneadh  urram  's  gach  cuis. 

in. 

'S  ann  ad  cheann  a  bha  mhisneach, 
'S  ann  ad  chridhe  'bha  'n  reachd, 
'S  ann  ad  shuil  a  bha  'n  leirsinn, 
'S  ann  ad  bheul  a  bha  'n  smachd. 
Ri  am  cruadail  no  feuma 
'S  ann  ort  a  dheireadh  an  gart. 
'S  beag  an  t-ionghuadh  leinn  fein  sud,, 
'S  iomhaigh  threun  ort  le  tlachd. 

IV. 

Marcaich  sunndach  nan  seang  each 
A  b'  aotrom,  eangarra  leum ; 
Cruidheach,  aigeannach,  meanmnach,, 
A  b'  fhior  mearachdasach  ceum. 
Nuair  bhiodh  each  a  dol  tharta, 
'S  iad  le  gealtachd  gun  fheum, 


26  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Dh'  fhanadh  tus'  ann  ad  dhiollaid 
Air  thus  nan  clad  a  chur  reis. 

v. 

Mac  an  athar  'bha  cliniteach, 
'S  a  bha  fiughantach,  fial ; 
An  am  seasamh  na  curtach 
'Bhuidhneadh  cuis  am  measg  chiad ; 
Uasal  iriseal,  baigheil, 
'S  e  sud  a  b'  abhuist  da  Mamh ; 
Ursann-chatha  nan  Gaidheal 
Anns  gach  aite  gan  dion. 

VI. 

(.uidheam  buaidh  agus  piseach 
Air  an  t-sliochd  'thig  ad  dheigh  ; 
S.ioghal  fad  'an  deagh  onair, 
Agus  sonas  d'  a  reir, 
Air  oighr'  og  Loch-nan -Eala 
Nach  coisinn  sgainneal  no  beum, 
'S  t'  aghaidh  aobhach  is  t'  ailleachd 
A  toirt  barr  air  a  cheil'. 

VII. 

S  mor  an  onair  dha  d'  dhuthaich, 
'S  mor  an  cliu  dha  d'  chuid  tuath, 
Fhad  's  a  dh'  fhuir'eas  tu  aca 
Bhi  ga  t'  fhaicinn  cor  uair, 
Nuair  a  theid  thu  do  Shasunn 
Thu  thigh'nn  dachaidh  le  buaidh, 
'S  gun  do  leithid  ri  'fhaotuinn 
Air  aon  taobh  dhinn  mu  'n  cuairt. 

VIII. 

<*un  do  leithid  ri  fhaotuinn 
Ann  an  aobhachd  's  an  dreach 
Thall  no  bhos  mu  na  caoiltean ; 
Bu  tu  'n  laoch  'dhol  am  mach. 
'S  beag  an  t-ionghnadh  gu  cinnteach 
Thu  bhi  rioghail  ad  bheachd, 
'S  gur  a  h-ogh'  thu  do  Dhughall 
'Bhuidhneadh  cuis  an  am  feachd. 


Old  Gaelic  Songs. 

IX. 

An  am  cogaidh  no  siochainnt, 
An  am  strithe  no  moid, 
Gur  a  h-iomadh  fear  ullamh 
'Bhiodh  le  ghunn',  ann  ad  choir. 
Nuair  a  ghlaoidhteadh  lann  thana 
Bhiodh  i  'n  tarruinn  's  gach  dorn  — 
'S  ann  le  cruadal  do  ghaisge 
'Chluinnteadh  sracadh  air  feoil. 


'S  nearachd  baintighearna  pheucach 
Dha  'n  doir  thu  speis  mar  mhnaoi  phosd', 
'S  gach  buaidh,  th'  ort  mar  threun  fhear, 
'S  gach  bith  tha  'g  eiridh  mu  d'  shroin. 
Eadar  braighe  Loch-Eite, 
Do  theaghlach  fhein,  's  Loch-an-Eoin, 
Dha  'in  bu  duthchas  an  Eala 
'S  i  bho  shean  ann  ad  choir. 

XI. 

Calpa  cruinn  ann  an  osan, 
Troigh  nach  dochinn  am  mang, 
Ceum  ealamh  neo-thuisleach, 
Beul  nach  sgudalach  cainnt, 
Suil  a  's  aoibheile  sealladh 
Fo  chaol  mhala  gun  sgraing  ; 
Is  gruaidh  dhearg  mar  na  caorann 
Air  bharr  aotrom  nan  crann. 


Bha  thu  ardanach,  beachduil, 
Rioghail,  reachdmhor  gun  taing; 
Seasmhach,  cinnteach,  ri  t'  fhacal 
Ged  nach  glacadh  tu  peann, 
'S  mor  an  iiaisle  's  an  t-urram 
Tha  air  tuinneadh  ad  chom  ; 
'S  ard  a  chraobh  as  an  d'  fhas  thu, 
'S  gur  a  laidir  a  bonn. 

XIII. 

Sin  a  chraobh  a's  mor  onair, 
'S  lionmhor  sonas  is  buaidh  ; 


L>S  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'Chraobh  a's  mor  onair, 
Is  boidhche  cum'  agus  snuadh. 
Tha  slat  am  bliadhna  na  mullach 
A's  laidir  fullang  ri  fuachd, 
'S  a  barr  air  lubadh  le  ubhlan, 
'S  cha  b'e  'sugradh  am  buain. 

XIV. 

Na  faiceam  t'  fhearann  gun  oigbre, 
No  do  bhaintighearn'  ri  Oron, 
Tha  gach  duin'  aim  an  gaol  ort 
Le  meud  t'  aoigh  's  tu  cho  og, 
Biodh  do  mbac  ann  ad  dheoghainn 
Gabhail  liubhairt  sa  choir, 
Fear  an  ionad  an  athar, 
'S  gach  aon  rathail  ri  bheo. 

xv. 

'S  truagh  nach  b'  urrainn  mi  innse 
Na  tha  'm  inntinn  gu  leir 
Mu  gach  buaidh  a  tha  fas  ort 
Ann  an  abhachd  'san  ceill. 
Tha  gach  math  ort  ri  innse, 
Sin  an  fhirinn  gun  bhreug, 
Mar  chleiteig  shneachda  ri  gaillinn 
'Tigh'nn  o  anail  nan  speur. 


6th  DECEMBER,  1894. 

At  this  -meeting  the  Secretary  intimated  the  receipt  of  <£5 
from  Mr  John  Mackay,  C.E,,  Hereford,  and  a  copy  of  "Kachdraidh 
Beatha  Chriosd  "  from  the  author,  Rev.  John  Macrury,  Snizort,  as. 
a  donation  towards  the  Society's  Library.  On  the  motion  of  Mr 
Alex.  Mackenzie,  seconded  by  Mr  John  Macdonald,  the  meeting 
unanimously  agreed  to  record  the  Society's  loss  and  deep  regret 
at  the  death  of  the  Rev.  A.  D.  Mackenzie,  Free  Church  minister 
of  Kilmorack,  and  the  Rev.  Charles  Macdonald,  Moidart — both 
valuable  members  of  the  Society.  Thereafter  the  Secretary  read 
a  paper  contributed  by  Mr  Charles  Fraser-Mackintosh  of 
Drummond,  entitled  "  Minor  Highland  Families,  No.  8 — The 
Macgillivrays  of  Dunmaglass."  Mr  Mackintosh's  paper  was  as 
follows  : — 


Minor  Highland  Families.  29 

MINOR  HIGHLAND  FAMILIES,  No.  VIII 
THE  MACGILLIVRAYS  OF  DUNMAGLASS. 

Of  old  the  Clan  Chattan  were  reckoned  under  two  classes, 
the  first,  nine  in  number,  sprung  of  the  Chiefs  own  house,  and  the 
second,  those  who  had  incorporated  or  attached  themselves  though 
of  other  names  than  that  of  Mackintosh,  being  sixteen  in  number. 
Amongst  the  latter  class  the  Macgillivrays  stood  the  first  and 
-oldest,  for  according  to  the  Croy  M.S.  history,  compiled  by  the 
Rev.  Andrew  Macphail,  who,  it  is  understood,  died  minister  of 
Boleskine,  1608,  it  is  said  that  about  the  year  1268  "Gillivray, 
the  progenitor  of  the  Clan  vie  Gillivray,  took  protection  and 
dependence  for  himself  and  posterity  of  this  Farquhard  Mac- 
kintosh "  (5th  of  Mackintosh,  who  was  killed  in  1274,  aged  36). 

Sir  Eneas  Mackintosh  in  his  manuscript,  privately  printed  in 
1892  by  the  present  28th  of  Mackintosh,  gives  the  date  as  1271. 

The  origin  of  the  name  may  be  looked  for  in  the  fourth  or  last 
part  of  Macgillivray,  for  invariably  in  Gaelic,  and  in  my  younger 
days,  elderly  people  of  good  position  put  the  weight  on  this  last 
portion,  and  not,  as  is  now  invariably  done  in  English,  on  the 
second. 

Betwixt  this  first  and  Duncan  (whom  I  placed  as  1st  of  Dun- 
maglass),  who  lived  about  1500,  is  a  long  step,  and  it  is  not  the 
purpose  of  these  papers  to  do  other,  as  a  rule,  than  deal  with  facts. 

It  may  be  taken  for  granted  that  the  Macgillivrays  came  from 
the  West,  and  have  been  settled  at  Dunmaglass,  in  the  braes  of 
Strathnairn,  and  along  the  valley  of  Nairn,  long  before  we  know 
their  authentic  history.  The  descent  of  the  Dunmaglass  family 
was  reckoned  very  good  in  the  Highlands,  and  the  late  John 
Lachlan  the  10th,  who  was  exceedingly  proud,  and  in  his  later 
days  a  very  reserved  man,  used  in  his  cups  to  declare  "  he  was 
descended  of  kings." 

Dunmaglass,  at  least  one  half  of  it,  belonged  to  the  old  Thanes 
of  Kalder,  and  is  first  mentioned  in  the  service  of  Donald  as  heir 
to  his  father,  Andrew,  in  the  lands  in  the  year  1414.  The  other 
half  belonged  to  a  family  named  Menzies  in  Aberdeenshire,  was 
bargained  to  be  disposed  of  in  1419  to  the  above  Donald  Kalder, 
who  in  1421  gets  a  disposition  of  them,  described  as  lying  within  the 
barony  of  Kerdale.  This  was  one  of  the  extensive  baronies  be- 
longing to  the  old  estate  and  earldom  of  Moray,  but  the  estate 
having  been  broken  up,  the  barony  has  been  long  in  desuetude. 
The  estate  of  Dunmaglass  proper,  now  in  one,  was  of  considerable 
value,  being  rated  as  a  four  pound  land  of  old  extent,  equivalent 


:50  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

t-»  two  freeholds,  and  is  generally  found  described  in  connection 
with  the  lands  of  Invermarkie  in  Badenoch. 

It  is  worth  while  for  a  moment  referring  to  the  lands  of  Inver- 
markie. Like  the  adjoining  lands  to  the  south  of  Kinrara  and 
Dalnavert,  these  lands  belonged  in  superiority  to  the  old  Earls  of 
Ross,  afterwards  to  the  Lords  of  the  Isles,  Earls  of  Ross. 

Invermarkie  came  to  the  Kalders  through  the  marriage  of 
William,  apparent  of  Kalder,  with  Mariotta-de-Sutherland  about 
1458.  The  peculiarity  about  Invermarkie  is  this,  that  to  this  day 
it  has  never  dropped  out  of  the  Cawdor  titles,  though  it  has 
caased  to  be  possessed  by  the  family  for  over  300  years. 

In  1619  the  then  Campbell  of  Calder  was  either  anxious  to 
reclaim  it,  or  desired  to  know  how  matters  stood  with  the  Marquis 
of  Huntly,  Lord  of  Badenoch,  and  requested  his  agent  in  Edin- 
burgh, Mr  John  Mowatt,  to  look  into  the  matter,  who  on  4th 
April  says  to  Calder  in  reply — "  I  have  spoken  my  Lord  Enzie, 
who  assures  me  that  his  predecessors  has  the  lands  of  Innermarkie 
by  your  predecessors'  resignation,  and  promised  to  let  me  see  the 
rights  thereof." 

Again,  when  Angus  Macpherson  of  the  "  Sliochd  Gillies"  got 
his  first  charter  of  any  lands  from  George,  Marquis  Huntly,  with 
consent  of  Lady  Anna  Campbell,  his  spouse,  and  George,  Lord 
Gordon,  his  son,  by  disposition  and  feu  contract,  dated  22nd 
October,  1627,  there  was  included  "the  lands  of  Innermarkie  (a 
davoch  of  land)  with  the  mill  thereof  comprehending  the  lauds  of 
Achnisuchan,  alias  Aultguisachan,  with  the  mill  croft  of  Inner- 
markie," and  from  that  date  Innermarkie  has  been  possessed  by 
the  Invereshies,  first  under  the  family  of  Huntly,  and  now  under 
the  Crown. 

There  is  evidence  of  a  Farquhar-vic-Couchie  styled  "of  Dunma- 
glass"  in  the  year  1547.  I  purpose  beginning  with  his  father — 

I.  DUNCAN  MACGILLIVRAY,  born  say  about  1500 — his  son 

II.  FARQUHAR,  found  in  1547 — his  son 

III.  ALLISTER  MORE,  designated  as  "  Allister-vic-Farquhar-vic- 
Couquhe  of  Dunmaglass,"  ?s  found  on  28th  May,   1578,  having 
some  connection  with  a  William-vic-Farquhar  and  Maggie  Kar, 
spouse  of  Provost  William  Cuthbert  of  Inverness. 

By  160y,  when  the  great  bond  of  union  among  the  Clan 
Chattan  was  feigned,  Allister  was  dead,  and  his  son  Farquhar,  a 
minor,  for  those  who  signed  for  the  clan  Vic-Gillivray  were 
Malcolm-vic-Bean  in  Dalcrombie,  Ewen  vic-Ewen  in  Aberchalder, 
and  Duncan-vic-Farquhar  in  Dunmaglass.  It  would  also  seem 
that  the  clan  was  at  this  time  pretty  numerous  and  influential, 


Minor  Highland  Families.  31 

and  the  leader  Malcolm,  son  of  Bean  Macgillivray  in  Dalcrombie. 
In  1593  mention  is  made  of  Duncan  Macgillivray  in  Dunmaglass. 

IV.  FARQUHAR.  By  the  year  1620,  and  probably  at  a  much 
earlier  period,  Dunmaglass  had  been  wadsetted  by  the  family  of 
Calder  to  the  Macgillivrays  for  1000  merks.  In  that  year  Calder 
was  much  pinched,  and  on  Dunmaglass  was  to  be  raised  other 
2000  merks,  or  sold  for  5000  merks. 

The  first  alternative  was  meantime  adopted,  2000  merks  eiked 
in  1622,  but  the  pecuniary  pressure  still  continuing,  the  estate 
was  feued  to  Dunmaglass. 

It  may  here  be  noted  that,  though  lying  in  the  centre  almost 
of  Inverness-shire,  these  lands  were  by  an  arbitrary  exercise  of 
power  by  the  Scottish  Parliament,  annexed  at  Calder's  instance,  to 
the  County  of  Nairn. 

By  feu  contract  dated  at  Inverness  4th  April,  1626,  John 
Campbell,  fiar  of  Calder,  with  consent  of  Sir  John  Campbell,  life- 
renter  of  Calder,  his  father,  feued  to  Farquhard  Mackallister  of 
Downmaglasch,  his  heirs  male  and  assignees  whomsoever,  "  All 
and  singular  the  lands  and  towns  of  Downmaglasch,  extending  to 
a  four  pound  land  of  old  extent,  with  the  mill,  multures,  mill 
lands,  and  sequels  of  the  same,  together  with  houses,  biggings,. 
tofts,  crofts,  woods,  fishings,  sheallings,  grazings,  parts  pendicles, 
and  pertinents  thereof,  lying  within  the  Barony  of  Calder  and 
Sheriffdom  of  Nairn."  The  feu-duty  is  <£16  Scots,  with  obligation 
when  required  to  appear  and  accompany  at  his  own  expense  the 
lairds  of  Calder  in  their  progress  and  journey  between  Calder  and 
Innerlochie  or  Rannoch ;  to  assemble  in  all  lawful  conventions, 
armings,  and  royal  combats,  and  attend  three  Head  Baron  Courts 
to  be  held  in  the  Castle  of  Calder.  This  destination  to  heirs 
male  was  kept  up,  and  under  it  Neil,  the  12th  laird,  succeeded  to 
Dunmaglass. 

Dunmaglass,  the  earliest  possession  of  the  family,  is  a  fine 
estate  of  some  1 7,000  acres,  with  a  great  mass  of  tableland  on  the 
summit,  from  whence  the  waters  run  eastward  to  the  Findhorn, 
and  westward  to  the  Farigaig.  The  old  mansion  house  was  built 
towards  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  and  is  picturesquely 
situated  on  a  level  ground,  the  western  sides  dropping  rapidly  to 
the  river.  I  have  transversed  the  estate,  but  though  it  is 
impossible  to  forget  this  fact,  I  can  hardly  say  I  saw  it,  from  an 
unlucky  losing  of  our  way.  Some  30  years  ago,  accompanied  by 
a  youth,  now  a  respected  solicitor  in  a  northern  city,  we  started 
from  Dunachton  in  Badenoch,  not  too  early  in  the  day.  We  had 
no  proper  guide,  and  in  place  of  ascending  from  Newtonniore,  went 


32  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

up  the  Guynack,  and  to  avoid  the  precipitous  heads  which  guard 
the  sources  of  the  Dulnan  river,  kept  to  the  south  and  \vest, 
undergoing  many  obstacles  before  we  reached  the  north  or 
Findhorn  watershed.  Then,  thinking  we  had  gone  too  far  south 
or  west,  we  kept  to  the  right,  and  got  into  the  deep  and 
precipitous  valley,  through  which  runs  the  Crodach,  after  being 
strengthened  by  the  waters  of  Elrick,  which  we  had  much 
difficulty  in  crossing.  By  the  time  we  reached  the  Findhorn  it 
was  getting  late,  and  we  were  pretty  well  used  up.  A  guide  here 
met  us  by  appointment,  who  hurried  us  up  a  stream,  but  by  the 
time  we  reached  the  table-land  it  was  dark  ;  the  wind  rose,  and 
there  having  been  dry  weather  for  some  time,  the  gigantic  scoops 
of  the  many  peat  bogs  had  also  become  dry,  and  sent  forth 
quantities  of  dust.  Our  guide,  wishing  to  make  a  bee  line,  went 
apparently  straight  on  through  the  vast  table-land,  broken  up  by 
deep  dry  bogs — the  real  "  Mona-liath" — and  on  coming  to  the 
head  of  a  streamlet  we  thought  we  were  all  right,  and  joyfully 
descended.  Our  guide  soon  discovered  that  it  \vas  not  the  stream 
intended,  but  we  had  descended  very  considerably  before  he 
became  satisfied  we  were  going  backwards  to  the  Findhorn. 
Nothing  for  it  but  to  re-ascend,  cross  dry  bog  after  bog,  while  the 
wind  rushing  along  in  severe  gusts,  shaking  the  bog  sides,  raising 
quantities  of  peat  dust,  and  roaring  like  thunder,  was  enough  with 
our  extreme  fatigue  to  depress  us  to  the  lowest.  At  length  we 
came  to  a  stream  undoubtedly  going  in  the  right  direction,  and 
the  guide  being  now  sure  of  his  ground,  kindled  a  fire,  round 
which  we  lay.  My  companion  and  I  could  go  no  further,  so  the 
guide  said  he  would  leave  us,  and  go  to  Mr  Angus  Macgillivray 
of  the  Mains  of  Dunmaglass  for  assistance,  but  we  were  on  no 
account  to  sleep.  In  a  couple  of  hours  assistance  came,  and  we 
were  helped  to  a  point  where  a  cart  was  waiting,  driven  as  far 
over  the  dry  moor  as  was  possible,  in  which  we  were  ingloriously 
carried,  more  dead  than  alive,  to  the  old  house  of  Dunmaglass 
about  2  A.M.  Mr  Angus's  kindness  I  will  never  forget,  nor  the 
grin  which  generally  pervaded  his  honest  face  when  we  happened 
to  meet  occasionally  in  after  years,  and  he  remembered  my  first 
and  last  visit  to  Dunmaglass. 

Farquhar-vic-Allister  also  acquired  the  half  of  the  lands  of 
Culclachie  from  the  Earl  of  Moray,  and  was  infeft  20th  December, 
1631.  He  had  one  sister,  Catherine,  married  to  William  Mackin- 
tosh in  Elrig,  who  is  infeft  therein  28th  September,  1638.  1 
have  not  observed  to  whom  Farquhar  was  himself  married,  but  he 
had  a  numerous  issue— Alexander,  Donald,  William,  Bean, 


Minor  Highland  Families.  33 

Lachlan,  and  at  least  one  daughter,  Catherine,  first  married  as  his 
second  wife  to  William  Mackintosh  of  Aberarder  in  1653,  and 
after,  in  1663,  to  Martin  Macgillivray  of  Aberchalder.  Farquhar's 
eldest  son,  Alexander,  married  Agnes  Mackintosh,  second  daughter 
of  William  Mackintosh  of  Kellachie.  Farquhar  settled  on  the 
young  couple,  by  charter,  dated  Inverness,  '27th  June,  1643,  the 
two  Western  Ploughs  of  Dunmaglass. 

The  Cullodens  did  not  find  Allister  a  good  neighbour  at 
Culclachie,  for  by  Bond  registered  24th  June,  1654,  Kellachie 
binds  himself  as  cautioner  in  a  law-burrows  that  his  son-in-law 
Allister  will  keep  the  peace  towards  Duncan  Forbes  of  Culloden, 
John  fiar  thereof,  and  their  tenants. 

Allister  died  young,  and  his  widow  married,  in  1657,  William 
Forbes  of  Skellater. 

Farquhar's  second  son,  Donald,  commonly  called  "  the  Tutor 
of  Dunmaglass,"  married  Marie  Mackintosh,  and  was  founder  of 
the  Dalcrombie  and  Letterchullen  family,  and  his  descendant  in 
the  fifth  degree,  Neil,  ultimately  succeeded  to  Dunmaglass.  His 
relict,  Marie,  married,  in  1677,  Alex.  Mackintosh  of  Easter  Urquill. 

William,  the  third  son  of  Farquhar,  married  Mary  Macbean, 
,and  settled  in  Lairgs,  and  was  great  grandfather  to  the  Rev. 
Lachlan  Macgillivray,  who  was  the  unsuccessful  competitor  for 
the  Dunmaglass  estates  destined  to  heirs  male,  40  years  ago.  In 
1644  there  were  three  Macgillivrays  heritors  in  Daviot  and 
Dunlichity,  viz.: — Allister-vic-Farquhar,  Malcolm-vic-Bean,  and 
Duncan  Macgillivray,  and  in  the  time  of  this  Farquhar  the  Mac- 
gillivrays were  perhaps  at  the  height  of  their  power,  he  himself  having 
a  deal  of  property,  his  sons  Donald  and  William  establishing  a  good 
footing  for  themselves,  and  his  kinsman  at  Easter  Aberchalder 
representing  an  old  branch  of  the  house.  Not  much  is  known  of  his 
sons,  Bean  and  Lachlan,  further  than  that  Bean  left  a  son,  John,  and 
reputation  not  yet  forgotten  of  being  a  good  fighting  man,  badly 
wounded  and  mutilated  in  one  of  the  numerous  Clan  Chattan 
expeditions  to  Lochaber.  Farquhar  generally  signed  not  Mac- 
gillivray but  "  Mackallister,"  of  which  he  seemed  proud.  He 
would  appear  also  to  have  got,  in  the  year  1654,  assignation  of  a 
heritable  tack  of  the  two  plough  lands  of  Wester  Lairgs  and 
Easter  Gask  by  James,  Earl  of  Moray,  to  Hector  Mackintosh  in 
1632,  with  the  usual  obligation  from  the  Earl  to  grant  a  feu 
charter  when  he  could  ;  but  in  consequence  of  the  quarrels  and 
ill-feeling  tetwixt  the  Morays,  and  the  Cawdors  the  over  superiors 
holding  the  crown,  it  was  not  until  after  the  battle  of  Culloden 
.and  the  passing  of  the  Jurisdictions  Acts  that  the  Moray  Strath- 

3 


34  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

uairu  heritable  tacksmen  got  their  holdings  converted  into  feus, 
without  Lord  Moray  incurring  the  danger  of  recognition. 

Farquhar  and  his  two  sons  sign  the  Clan  Chattan  Bond  of 
1664,  which  as  an  important  historic  document  is  now  given.  It 
is  signed  by  28  gentlemen,  heads  of  families,  including  9  Mac- 
phersons,  5  Mackintoshes,  4  Farqunarsons,  3  Macgillivrays,, 
2  Mac  beans,  2  Shaws,  1  Macqueeu,  and  two  others  by  initials : — 
"  Wee  under  subscryt,  Gentlemen  of  the  name  of  Clan  Chattan, 
in  obedience  to  His  Majesty's  authority  and  letters  of  concurrence 
granted  by  the  Lords  of  His  Majesty's  <Privie  Council  in  favour  of 
Lauchlan  Mackintoshie  of  Torcastle,  our  chieffe,  against  Evan 
Cameron  of  Lochyield,  and  certain  others  of  the  name  of  Clan 
Cameron,  and  for  the  love  and  favour  we  bear  to  the  said  Lauchlan, 
Doe  hereby  faithfully  promitt  and  engage  ourselves  everie  one  of 
us  for  himself  and  those  under  his  power,  in  case  the  prementioiial 
Evan  Cameron  and  those  of  his  kin,  now  rebells,  do  not  agree  with 
the  said  Lauchlan  anent  their  present  differs  and  controversies,, 
before  tne  third  day  of  February  next  ensuing,  that  then  and  in 
that  case,  we  shall  immediately  thereafter  upon  the  said  Lauchlan 
his  call,  rise  with,  fortify,  concurr  and  assist  the  said  Lauchlan  in 
the  prosecution  of  the  commission  granted  against  the  said  Evan 
to  the  uttermost  of  our  power,  with  all  those  of  our  respective 
friends  followers  and  dependers,  whom  we  may  stopp  or  lett,  or 
who  will  any  way  be  counselled  and  advised  by  us  to  that  effect. 
Now  thereto  we  faithfully  engage  ourselves  upon  our  reputation 
and  creclite  and  the  faith  and  truth  in  our  bodies  by  these  sub- 
scribed at  Kincairne  the  nineteent  day  of  November  and  year  of 
God  sexteen  hundred  sextie  and  four  years." 

Farquhar  died  about  1678.  His  eldest  son  Allister  died 
young,  and  by  law  the  active  management  of  affairs  fell  to  the 
uncle  Donald  (though  the  grandfather  was  alive),  so  well  known 
as  the  tutor,  a  man  of  considerable  talent  and  business  capacity. 
The  date  of  Alexander's  death  is  uncertain,  but  before  1658,  and 
besides  his  son  and  successor,  he  had  at  least  one  daughter, 
Margaret,  who  married  in  1670  William  Eraser,  apparent  of 
Meikle  Garth. 

VI.  FARQUHAR,  only  son  of  Allister,  is  first  noticed  in  March, 
1658,  when  he  gets  a  precept  on  the  half  of  Culclachie  from 
Alexander,  Earl  of  Moray,  as  heir  to  his  father  Alexander,  son.e 
time  fiar  of  Dunmaglass. 

On  his  marriage  in  1681  with  Emilia  Steuart  of  Newtoune,  he 
settled  a  jointure  on  her,  furth  of  Wester  Lairgs,  Easter  Gask, 
and  Easter  Culclachie.  By  this  lady,  who  seems  to  have  been. 


Minor  Highland  Families-  35 

shrewd  and  sensible,  her  letters  to  Inverness  merchants  sometimes 
from  Dunmaglass,  sometimes  from  Gask,  always  wanting  "  a  good 
pennyworth,"  Dunmaglass  had  a  numerous  family — Farquhar,  who- 
succeeded,  Captain  William,  Donald,  Janet,  Magdalene,  and  Anna, 
all  married.  This  Dunmaglass  sold  the  half  of  Culclachie,  and 
(iied  early  in  1711,  his  widow  surviving  until  about  1730. 

In  1685  Farquhar  is  named  a  Commissioner  of  Supply  by  Act 
of  Parliament,  and  the  district  continued  so  disturbed  after  the 
Revolution,  that  in  1691  Sir  Hugh  Campbell  of  Cawdor  recom- 
mended 100  soldiers  to  be  stationed  for  a  time  at  Dunmaglass  as 
one  convenient  centre.  It  was  in  time  of  this  Farquhar,  styled 
"  Fiadhaich,"  as  he  was  of  haughty  and  turbulent  disposition,, 
that  the  question  of  marches  at  Lairgs  with  The  Mackintosh 
arose,  when  a  witness  who  swore  falsely  for  Dunmaglass, 
convicted  of  perjury  on  the  spot,  was  buried  alive,  and  the  place 
of  burial  is  still  pointed  out. 

Captain  William,  the  second  son,  married  Janet  Mackintosh, 
daughter  of  Angus  Mackintosh  of  Kellachie,  contract  dated  i)th 
February,  1714,  and  had  a  son,  Lachlan  of  Georgia,  commonly 
called  Lachlan  u  liath,"  afterwards  noticed,  also  a  daughter,  Jean 
"  Roy,"  whose  descendants  succeeded  to  Faillie,  Inverernie,  and 
Wester  Gask.  David  or  Donald  married  Miss  Macgillivray  of  Mid 
Leys,  and  was  father  of  Mr  Alex.  Macgillivray  of  Ballintruau,. 
whose  male  issue  are  extinct. 

Of  Farquhar's  three  daughters,  Janet  became  Mrs  Donald  Mac- 
gillivray of  Dalcrombie,  which  Donald  was  by  the  Hanoverians 
killed  near  Leys  the  afternoon  of  the  16th  April,  1746  ;  Magdalen, 
afterwards  Mrs  Mackintosh  of  Holm  ;  and  Ann,  Mrs  Fraser  of 
Farraline. 

Of  this  Captain  William  Ban,  who  died  in  1734,  the  following 
curious  ancedote  was  recorded  by  the  late  Mr  Simon  F.  Mackintosh 
of  Fair  in  the  year  1835  :  — 

"  A  Fairy  Tale — The  Captain  Ban. — About  the  beginning  of 
the  18th  century  thc^wite  of  one  of  the  tenants  in  Druim-a-ghauiia, 
upon  the  estate  of  Dunmaglass,  had  been  carried  away  by  the 
fairies,  and  was  said  to  have  been  taken  by  them  into  a  small 
hillock  in  that  neighbourhood  calltd  '  Tomnashangan,'  or  the 
Ants  Hill,  and  had  been  absent  from  her  family  for  nearly  a  y«.;.v 
No  person,  however,  could  tell  exactly  where  she  was,  although 
their  suspicions  fell  upon  the  fairies,  and  that  she  must  be  wuh 
them  in  the  hill  now  mentioned.  Several  attempts  were  madr  to 
discover  her,  and  none  were  bold  enough  to  encounter  the  residence, 
oi:'  the  fairies.  At  last  Captain  William  Macgillivray,  alias  the. 


36  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Captain  Baan,  i.e.,  'White,'  son  of  Farquhar  Macgillivray  of 
Dunmaglass,  who  was  resident  at  the  spot,  volunteered  his 
services  to  endeavour  to  get  the  woman  released  from  her  long 
captivity  in  the  '  Fairy  Hill '  if  it  was  possible  that  she  could  be 
there.  The  Captain  being  informed  that  John  Dim  (M'Chuile) 
Macqueen  of  Pollachaik  was  familiar  and  on  good  terms  with  the 
fairies,  and  that  he  had  wax  candles  in  which  there  was  a 
particular  virtue,  he  despatched  a  messenger  to  the  far-famed 
Pollachaik  for  one  of  his  candles  in  ord^*  to  assist  him  in  discover- 
ing the  lost  female.  The  candle  was  given  by  Pollachaik  to  the 
messenger,  who  got  particular  instructions  never  to  look  behind 
him  until  he  reached  home,  otherwise  something  might  happen  to 
him,  and  he  would  lose  the  candle.  This  person  heard  so  much 
noise  like  that  of  horses  and  carriages,  accompanied  with  music 
and  loud  cries  of  '  Catch  him,  catch  him '  at  Craiganuan,  near 
Moyhall,  that  he  was  so  frightened  that  he  could  not  help  looking 
behind  him,  and  although  he  saw  nothing,  he  lost  the  candle,  then 
he  made  the  best  of  his  way  home.  A  second  courier  was 
despatched,  who  received  another  candle,  and  the  same  injunctions. 
In  coming  through  the  same  place  as  the  former,  he  withstood 
all  the  noise  he  heard  there,  but  at  a  place  near  Farr 
it  was  ten  times  worse,  and,  not  being  able  to  withstand 
taking  a  peep  over  his  shoulder,  he  lost  the  object  of  his 
message.  In  this  predicament  it  became  necessary  to  send 
a  third  bearer  to  Pollachaik  for  another  candle,  which  he 
also  got,  but  on  coming  to  the  River  Findhorn,  it  was  so  large 
that  he  could  not  cross,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to  go  back  to  the 
Laird  for  his  advice,  who,  upon  coming  down  to  the  bank  of  the 
river,  desired  the  man  to  throw  a  stone  upon  the  opposite  side  of 
the  river,  and  no  sooner  was  this  done  than  much  to~his  astonish- 
meut  he  found  himself  also  there.  He  then  proceeded  upon  his 
journey,  and  having  taken  a  different  route  across  the  hills,  even 
here  he  occasionally  heard  considerable  noise,  but  he  had  the 
courage  never  to  look  behind  him,  and  accordingly  he  put  the 
virtued  candle  into  the  hands  of  the  Captain  Baan. 

"  The  Captain  being  now  possessed  of  Pollochaik's  wax  candle, 
he  one  evening  approached  the  hillock,  and  having  discovered 
where  the  entry  was,  he  entered  the  passage  to  the  fairy  habi- 
tation, and  passing  a  press  in  the  entrance,  it  is  said  that  the 
cmdle  immediately  lighted  of  its  own  accord,  and  he  discovered 
that  the  good  lady,  the  object  of  his  mission,  was  busily  engaged 
in  a  reel,  and  the  whole  party  singing  and  dancing,  and  dressed  in 
neat  green  jackets,  bedgowns,  &c.  The  Captain  took  her  out  of 


Minor  Highland  Families-  37 

one  of  the  reels,  and  upon  obtaining  the  open  air,  he  told  her  how 
very  unhappy  her  husband  and  friends  were  at  the  length  of  time 
she  had  been  absent  from  them,  but  the  woman  had  been  so 
enchanted  and  enraptured  with  the  society  she  had  been  in,  that 
she  seemed  to  think  she  had  been  only  absent  one  night,  instead 
of  a  year,  from  her  own  house.  When  the  Captain  brought  her 
off  with  him,  the  fairies  were  so  enraged  that  they  said  '  they 
would  keep  him  in  view.'  The  woman  was  brought  to  her  dis- 
consolate husband,  and  the  candle  was  faithfully  preserved  in  the 
family  for  successive  generations  in  order  to  keep  off  all  fairies, 
witches,  brownies  and  water  kelpies  in  all  time  to  come. 

"  Some  time  afterwards,  as  the  Captain  was  riding  home  at 
night  by  the  west  end  of  Lochduntelchaig,  he  was  attacked  and 
severely  beaten  by  some  people  he  could  not  recognise.  He  got 
home  to  his  own  house,  but  never  recovered,  and  it  is  said  that 
the  mare  he  rode  was  worse  to  him  than  even  those  that  attacked 
him  ;  so  he  ordered  her  to  be  shot  the  following  day.  He  was 
granduncle  to  the  present  John  Lachlan  Macgillivray  of  Dunrna- 
glass. 

"The  third  and  successful  bearer  of  the  candle  was  Archibald 
Macgillivray  in  ,  alias  '  Gillespic  Luath,'  i.e.,  Swift 

or  fast  Archibald.  He  was  granduncle  to  Archibald  Macgillivray, 
now  tenant  in  Dunmaglass.  Pollochaik  said  to  him  that  he  would 
have  preferred  the  Captain  to  have  sent  for  his  fold  of  cattle  than 
for  the  candle. 

"The  candle  was -in  possession  of  some  of  her  descendants 
about  thirty  years  ago,  but  was  afterwards  taken  away  by  some 
idle  boys. 

"  The  woman  lived  to  such  an  old  age  that  some  of  the  people 
still  in  life  (1835)  remember  quite  well  having  seen  her  shearing  the 
corn  upon  her  knees,  in  consequence  of  her  having  lost  the  use  of 
her  lower  limbs." 

VII.  FARQUHAR,  eldest  son  of  the  above  Farquhar,  succeeded 
in  1714,  and  entered  into  marriage  articles  with  Elizabeth  Mack- 
intosh, daughter  of  William  Mackintosh  of  Aberarder,  upon  8th 
September,  1716,  but  the  contract  is  not  dated  till  8th  May,  1717, 
the  lady  not  being  infeft  in  Dunmaglass,  Lairg,  and  Gask  until 
29th  July,  1730,  after  her  mother-in-law's  death. 

The  Macgillivrays  took  an  active  part  in  the  rising  of  1715, 
the  laird  and  his  brother  William  being  captain  and  lieutenant 
respectively  in  the  Clan  Chattan  regiment,  while  there  was 
another,  Farquhar  Macgillivray,  also  lieutenant. 


33  Gaelic  Society  of  /nuerness. 

The  two  former  at  least  got  off,  but  one  John  Macgillivray, 
apparently  of  good  standing,  was  tried  and  convicted  on  25th 
January,  and  executed  at  Wigan,  10th  February,  1716. 

This  Farquhar  was  a  leading  man  under  Lachlan  and  William 
Mackintosh,  Chiefs  of  Clan  Phattan,  and  did  much  to  bring  about 
the  agreement  with  the  Macphersons  in  the  year  1724.  He 
received  from  Lachlan  Mackintosh  a  feu  of  the  Davoch  of 
Bochruben,  in  Dores,  which  was  parted  with  to  Fraser  of  Bochruben, 
the  dominium  utile  ultimately  falling  in^>  the  hands  of  William 
Fraser  of  Balnain,  whose  posterity  still  retain  it. 

He  was  an  excellent  man  of  business,  but  interfering  too  much 
with  other  people's  affairs,  his  own  became  involved.  He  died  in 
1740,  but  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Mackintosh,  is  found  as  late  as  1769. 
He  had  several  children — Alexander,  who  succeeded,  William,  who 
succeeded  his  brother,  John,  Farquhar,  and  Donald,  also  Anne. 
Catherine,  and  Elizabeth.  With  the  exception  of  William,  none 
left  issue. 

VIII.  ALEXANDER,  the  eldest  son,  succeeded,  and  was  exten- 
sively engaged,  like  his  uncle,  Captain  William,  and  other  members 
of  his  family,  in  cattle  dealing,  being  known  as  "  Alastair  Ruadh 
na  Feille."  The  reason  for  his  selection  by  Lady  Mackintosh  to 
command  the  Clan  Chattan,  in  preference  to  Duncan  Mackintosh 
of  Castle  Leathers,  the  natural  leader  failing  the  Chief,  I  have 
given  elsewhere.  That  he  was  well  worthy  of  the  honour  is 
undoubted,  and,  as  he  lived  at  Easter  Gask.  the  tradition  that 
many  of  the  men  who  fought  at  Culloden  sharpened  their  swords 
on  the  singular  druidical  standing  stone  or  slab  near  Easter  Gask, 
deserves  some  weight.  His  gallant  conduct  on  that  fatal  day,  and 
his  death  on  the  field  at  the  well  still  bearing  his  name,  is  well 
known. 

It  was  part  of  the  cruel  system  of  the  conquerors  not  to  allow 
the  bodies  of  the  Highlanders  killed  in  battle  be  carried  away  for 
interment  by  their  friends,  and  consequently  they  were  buried  at 
Culloden  in  trenches,  the  green  covering  of  which  is  still  to  be 
seen.  The  ordinary  place  of  sepulture  of  the  Dunmaglass  family 
was  and  is  at  Dunlichity,  but  Dunmagl ass's  friends  feared  the 
publicity  of  re-interring  the  remains  so  far  distant,  and  buried 
them  quietly  at  Petty.  It  is  recorded  in  the  Farr  Collections  :— 

"In  the  church-yard  of  Petty  lies  the  Chief  of  the  Mac- 
gillivrays,  who  was  killed  at  the  Battle  of  Culloden.  After  the 
battle,  his  body,  with  50  others,  was  thrown  into  a  large  pit,  and 
so  far  did  the  King's  troops  carry  their  animosity,  that  for  six 
weeks  they  guarded  the  field,  and  would  not  grant  the  poor  consola- 


Minor  Highland  Families.  39 

tion  to  the  friends  of  men  who  had  fought  so  well  of  placing  their 
mangled  carcases  in  their  family  burying-places.  However,  at  the 
end  of  that  time,  the  relations  of  Dunmaglass  dug  up  the  pit 
where  his  body  had  been  laid,  and,  when  taken  up,  was  perfectly 
ifresh,  and  the  wound,  which  was  through  his  heart,  bled  anew. 
The  place  they  had  been  thrown  into  being  a  moss,  is  supposed 
to  be  the  cause  of  the  corpse  remaining  uncorrupted.  The  inter- 
.ment  was  private." 

Alexander  Macgillivray  died  unmarried,  but  Mr  Bain  of  Nairn, 
:in  his  interesting  history  of  Nairnshire  lately  published,  says  he 
was  engaged  to  Elizabeth  Campbell,  only  child  of  Duncan  Campbell, 
eldest  son  of  Sir  Archibald  Campbell  of  Climes,  and  that  they  met 
the  morning  of  the  battle.  That  they  did,  is  not  likely,  but  the 
engagement  may  be  true. 

1  visited  the  ruined  chapel  of  Barevan  three  years  ago,  and 
found  Miss  Campbell's  grave,  and  by  the  kindness  of  a  good  clans- 
man, Mr  William  Mackintosh,  farmer  at  Barevan,  received  a  copy 
of  the  inscription,  which  run  thus  : — "  Under  this  stone  are 
interred  the  remains  of  Duncan  Campbell  of  Chinese,  and  Eliza- 
beth, his  only  child,  by  Catherine,  daughter  of  John  Trotter  of 
Morton  Hall,  Esq.  He  died  23rd  January,  1796,  aged  75  ;  and 
she,  22nd  August,  1746,  aged  24.  D.C.,  E.C."  Supposing  the 
story  true,  she  only  survived  the  death  of  her  betrothed  about 
•four  months.  Her  father,  Duncan  Campbell,  was  accessory  to  the 
i-ising  of  1715,  and  had  to  live  abroad  several  years,  where  he 
married,  his  wife  dying  young  at  Rome.  I  possess  some  of 
Elizabeth's  letters,  written  in  a  beautiful  clear  hand,  of  elegant 
diction,  showing  unusual  cleverness  and  dignity  in  one  so  young, 
I  give  one  of  them,  dated  22nd  September,  1743,  which  will  be 
.found  very  interesting,  addressed  to  one  of  her  aunts,  who  has 
pinned  to  the  letter  this  memorandum — "  Betty  Campbell,  dyed 
rthe  19th  August,  1746.  Lady  Mclntosh,  dyed  in  the  year  1750." 
Probably  the  date  in  the  inscription — 22nd  August,  1746 — refers 
to  her  interment.  Lord  Lovat,  in  1737,  refers  to  Elizabeth  in  a 
lletter  to  her  father — "  It  is  only  to  serve  you  and  Miss  Campbell, 
;your  daughter,  whose  education  should  now  be  taken  care  of,  and 
if  she  be  like  her  mother,  or  your  mother,  she  will  be  an  honour  to 
.the  family  of  Calder,  and  to  the  name  of  Campbell." 

"  Dr.  Aunt, — As  I  have  been  in  a  sort  of  a  hurry  ever  since  I 
[parted  with  you,  and  there  was  no  occasion  offerd  for  my  writing 
you,  nor  had  I  anything  to  say  that  was  of  such  consequence  as 
was  worth  while  sending  apurpose,  I  hope  youl  therefor  excuse 


40  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

my  neglecting  it  till  now;  I  am  just  now  busy  paying  my  visits 
in  this  country,  for  as  I  have  fixed  the  month  of  October  for  my 
going  South,  I  have  but  little  time  to  lose.  My  Father  and  I  was- 
lately  at  Kilraick,  where  we  found  Lady  Geddes  bedfast,  and  was 
so  most  part  of  the  time  we  stayd ;  I  made  your  complements  and 
apology  to  her.  We  hear  that  she  is  now  much  better.  I  should 
be  glad  your  visiting  at  Castle  Downie  and  Moyhall  happened  at 
a  time  with  mine,  as  I  intend  being  at  both  places  soon,  for  I 
must  make  the  best  use  of  my  time  I  can.  But  if  it  was  never  so 
short  I  shall  endeavour  to  see  you  and  ask  your  commands,  as  it 
was  not  only  my  promise,  but  is  my  inclination.  When  you  see 
ffairfield  next,  if  he  talks  to  you  of  the  subject  you  spoke 
to  me  about  when  last  at  Budgate,  which  I  then  told  you 
my  plain  and  positive  sentiments  of  (as  I  did  himself 
before)  that  you  might  put  a  stop  as  soon  as  possible  to  a  thing 
it  was  to  no  purpose  to  follow,  and  which  I  thought  was  enough 
to  hinder  his  pursuing  or  entertaining  any  thoughts  of  that  kind, 
nor  can  I  say  anything  plainer  or  stronger,  without  being  rude  or 
uncivil,  which  is  what  I  should  be  sorry  be  forced  to,  as  'tis  what 
I  do  not  incline  being  to  any  gentleman  ;  and  if  he  does,  let  him 
blame  himself  for,  I  have  done  all  I  can  to  prevent  it,  and  you 
may  assure  him  from  me  that  he  needs  never  expect  a  better 
answer  from  me  than  what  he  has  already  got,  nor  will  I 
ever  talk  of  any  particular  objections,  for  that  would  be  entering 
on  a  subject  that  I  would  scarce  know  where  to  begin  or  end,  so- 
that  the  sooner  he  gives  over  any  thoughts  of  that  kind,  he  will 
certainly  find  it  the  better  for  himself.  Make  my  compliments 
acceptable  to  Duncan,  and  believe  me  to  be,  dr.  aunt,  your  affc. 
niece  and  humble  servt.,  "  ELIZ.  CAMPBELL." 

"Chines,  Sept.  22nd,  1743. 

"  This  I  hope  you'l  have  occasion  to  call  being  over  cautious 
(after  what  I  before  told  you)  in  stopping  what  is  already  ended,, 
but  there  can  be  no  harm  in  what  I  write  to  you,  so  may  make 
what  use  of  it  you  please." 

The  Macgillivrays  fell  in  scores  at  Culloden,  including  of  officers; 
at  least  one  colonel,  one  major,  two  captains,  and  one  lieutenant. 

The  mismanagement  on  the  Prince's  side  was  dreadful. 
Although  the  Camerons  were  put  on  the  right,  the  Macdonalds, 
instead  of  sulking  and  allowing  themselves  to  be  shot  down,  ought 
to  have  behaved  like  Malcolm,  10th  Mackintosh  at  Harlaw.  Mal- 
colm was  much  displeased  at  being  displaced  from  the  right,  but 
accepting  the  position  of  left,  declared  he  would  make  the  left  the 


Minor  Highland  Families.  41 

real  right  in  course  of  the  action,  and  did  so  fighting  with  his 
followers  like  heroes. 

"  Wherever  Mackintosh  sits,  that  is  the  head  of  table." 

Then,  again,  the  poor  Mackintoshes  were  in  the  centre  at 
Culloden,  but  kept  back  notwithstanding  a  galling  fire,  until  in 
desperation  they  broke  forward  in  fierce  charge  too  late  to  be  of 
material  service,  the  commanders  well  knowing  that  with  High- 
landers, victory  only  followed  an  early  and  impetuous  attack  on 
their  part. 

IX.  WILLIAM  MACGILLIVRAY,  a  minor,  succeeded  his  brother 
Alexander,  and  to  a  very  embarrassed  estate.  William  Mackin- 
tosh, younger  of  Holm,  took  charge,  and  even  a  new  suit  of 
clothes  for  the  boy  required  grave  consideration.  He  afterwards, 
through  the  interest  of  Lady  Mackintosh,  got  a  captaincy  in  the 
Gordon  Regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Staats  Long-Morris,  and 
though  a  vassal,  most  meanly  prevented  by  the  Earl  of  Moray  in 
1757  from  raising  if  he  could  recruits  out  of  the  Lordship??  of 
Petty  and  Stratherne.  He  saw  a  good  deal  of  service  at  home 
and  abroad,  and  was  a  most  kind-hearted  man  in  his  family.  He 
got  Cask  and  Lairgs  converted  into  feu  holdings,  acquired  Faillie 
from  Captain  Macbean,  and  the  half  of  Inverarnie,  originally  part 
of  the  Kilravock  estate,  but  occupied  for  generations  by  the 
Macphails.  His  three  brothers,  John,  Farquhar,  and  Donald,  had 
to  make  their  way  in  the  world,  and  the  two  younger  died  without 
issue.  John,  who  died  at  sea  in  the  end  of  1787,  amassed  a  con- 
siderable fortune,  which  ultimately  fell  to  John,  the  10th,  and 
set  up  the  family  in  a  strong  position.  Neither  of  the  three 
sisters,  Anne,  Elizabeth,  or  Catherine,  married,  the  eldest,  Anne, 
managing  the  involved  affairs  of  her  brother  and  nephew  up  to  her 
death  in  June,  1790,  with  great  shrewdness  and  determination. 
Bishop  Forbes  speaks  highly  during  his  northern  itineraries  of  the 
Dunmaglass  ladies. 

From  Captain  Macgillivray's  numerous  letters  I  select  two  as. 
specimens,  both  being  addressed  to  Provost  John  Mackintosh  of 
Inverness : — 

"  London,  Feby.  16th,  1779. 

"  D.  Sir, — I  wish  you  joy,  nay  double  joy,  both  on  account 
of  your  marriage  with  my  cousin  (Miss  Mackintosh,  Aberarder),. 
and  the  addition  she  has  made  to  your  family.  She  was  but  a 
child  when  I  left  the  country,  but  promised  a  great  sweetness  of 
temper,  a  very  necessary  ingredient  in  the  matrimonial  state  ;  and 
I  know  your  own  disposition  so  well  that  I  cannot  hesitate  to- 
pronounce  you  a  happy  couple.  I  flattered  myself  that  I  would 


42  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  your  happiness,  but  my  fortune  seems 
now  to  place  that  at  a  distance,  as  I  expect  ^oon  to  return  to 
Georgia,  to  recover  as  much  of  my  property  as  possible.  I  hope 
it.  is  by  this  time  in  the  hands  of  the  Kings  Troops,  without  which 
I  have  no  business  there,  as  I  am  under  sentence  of  death  should 
they  catch  me.  Please  to  remember  me  most  affectionately  to 
Mrs  Mackintosh,  your  sisters  and  brother-in-law,  and  believe  me 
to  be  sincerely,  D.  sir,  }  our  friend  and  humble  servant. 

(Signed)         "  WILL.  MACGILLIVRAY." 

"  D.  Sir, — Tho'  I  hear  but  seldom  from  your  quarter,  yet  you 
and  all  my  friends  are  as  near  my  heart  as  ever,  and  every  favour- 
able account  warms  my  heart  with  joy  ;  but  the  present  occasion 
of  my  writing  you  is  of  a  different  nature,  and  tho'  expected,  dis- 
tressing, and  must  be  felt  like  everything  of  the  kind  for  a  length 
of  time.  I  mean  my  good-sister  Katy's  death.  She  deserved  weU 
of  me  and  everybody.  Her  change  must  be  happy.  Her  illness 
and  death,  and  the  illness  of  my  other  sister  Betty,  must  be 
attended  with  expense.  I  wrote  my  sister  Anny  (who  must  have 
suffered  much  on  this  occasion)  some  considerable  time  ago  to 
draw  on  me  for  what  they  might  stand  in  need  of  ;  but  as  I  have 
had  no  intimation  on  that  head,  I  shall  be  much  obliged  to  you  if 
you  will  let  my  sister  Anny  have  what  money  s.he  may  want,  and 
by  the  first  opportunity  acquaint  her  accordingly.  Upon  letting 
me  know  the  amount,  I  will  order  your  bill  to  be  answered  at 
London. 

"  Mrs  Macgillivray  joins  in  wishing  you  and  yours,  and  our 
friends  and  acquaintance  about  the  Ness  many  merry  and  happy 
returns  of  the  season. — I  am,  D.  sir,  yours  sincerely, 

(Signed)         "WILL.  MACGILLIVRAY. 
"Plymouth  Citadel,  Jan.  19th,  1781." 

Captain  William  died  in  1783  leaving  two  children,  John 
Lachlan  and  Barbara  Anne,  both  very  young. 

X.  JOHN  LACHLAN  MACGILLIVRAY.  Itis  affairs  as  well  as  those 
of  his  uncle,  John  Macgillivray  of  Georgia,  were  carefully 
administered  in  his  minority  chiefly  by  "  Lachlan  lia,"  son  of 
Captain  Baan,  who  had  returned  and  spent  his  old  age  chiefly 
twixt  Dunmaglass  and  Inverness.  The  great  black  wood  of  Faillie 
was  planted,  and  two  further  acquisitions  of  land  were  made,  viz., 
Wester  Gask  from  Col.  Duncan  Macpherson,  and  Easter  Aber- 
chalder,  the  old  possession  of  an  important  branch  of  the 
Macgillivrays. 

In  June,  1800,  John's  only  sister,  Barbara,  a  lady  of  great 
beauty,  died  in  Edinburgh,  her  fortune  falling  to  her  brother,  who, 


Minor  Highland  Families.  43 

at  his  majority,  was  possessed  not  only  of  a  good  deal  of  money, 
T^ut  also  of  the  seven  estates  of  Dunmaglass,  Easter  Aberchalder, 
Wester  Gask,  Easter  Gask,  Faillie,  Wester  Lairgs,  and  half  of 
Inverarnie. 

A  sum  of  .£39  19s  was  laid  out  in  repairing  the  tornb  of  Dun- 
lichity  after  Miss  Barbara  Macgillivray's  death,  in  1800. 

John  Lachlan  possessed  the  estate  for  nearly  70  years  (1783- 
1852),  and  his  rental  at  his  accession  was  about  ,£225,  rising  by 
the  year  1803  to  £543  12s  8d,  as  follows,  from  71  tenants  : — 
EASTER  ABERCHALDER. 

Robert  M'Gillivray,  Kenmore          £4  16     0 

Alex.  M'Tavish,  ditto  4  16     0 

David  Smith,  ditto  ...    .      4  16     0 

Ewen  M'Gillivray,  ditto       ' 9  12     0 

William  M'Gillivray,  Balnoidan       3   10     0 

Mary  M'Gillivray,  widow  of  Don.  Macpherson,  or 

his  son 3  10     0 

Finlay  M'Lean,  Balnoidan 2   10     0 

John  MacTavish  and  WiJ Ham  Douglass,  Keppoch...          700 

Duncan  M'Tavish,  Balnalick  3  10     0 

Widow  Rose,  ditto 900 

Jno.  Mackintosh,  Balnacharnish      400 

Malcolm  M'Gillivray  there 400 

Donald  M'Gillivray  there 400 

The  Heirs  of  Miss  Annie  M'Gillivray  for  the  winter- 
ing of  the  Mains  from  Whity.,  1802,  to  ditto, 
1803  20  0  0 


Sum  rent,  Easter  Aberchalder...  £85     0  0 

DUNMAGLASS. 

Eobt.  Campbell,  The  Mains £70     0  0 

Jno.  M'Gillivray  and  Jno.  Smith,  Dummacline      ...  21     6  0 

•Jno.  Moir  M'Gillivray,  Balnagaich ...          17     7  4 

The    Heirs   of   Donald    M'Gillivray,   Dalscoilt  and 

Dalnagoup         21     2  9 

Jno.  M'Bean  and  John  Mackintosh,  Miltown         ...  10  19  6 
Willm.    Smith,    Donald     M'Gillivray,    ar.d     Wm. 

M'Bean,  Croachy           13     6  0 

Wm.  Graham,  Croft  of  Croachy       19     1  0 

Donald  M'Gillivray,  Sack 713  0 

Dun.  M'Gillivray,  Drumchline        200 

Jno.  Duncan  and  Wm.  M'Gillivray,  Achloddan     ...  13  10  7 

Sum  rent  of  Dunmaglass         ...£178     8  3 


44  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

HALF  OF  INVERERNY. 

Angus  M'Phail         £570 

Jno.  Bain,  Dunbreck             ...  406 

Mr  Mackintosh  of  Holm,  for  part  of  Mains             ...  880 

Angus  M'Culloch      600 

Mr  Mackintosh  of  Fair,  for  grazing  of  Shalvanach...  500 


Sum  rent  of  half  of  Invererny...    £2815     6 


WESTER 

Donald  Climes          ...............  £420 

Farquhar  Smith        ......          .........  470 

John  M'Gillivray       ...............  470 

Alex.  M'Kenzie         ...............  1   15     0 

John  M'Phail            ..............  500 

Duncan  Shaw            ...          ...          ...          ...          ...  500 

Win.  Davidson          ...............  600 

Donald  Mackenzie    ...............  600 

John  Macgregor  and  John  Smith      ..          ...          ...  600 


Sum  rent  of  Wester  Gask        ...  £4211     0 
EASTER  GASK. 

The  Heirs  of  Donald  Hood  for  Mains          £31   10     0 

Widow  Duncan  M'Kintosh 416 

Alex.  M'Gillivray,  Shanval 46-6 

Alex.  Smith,  Smith 400 

Alex.  M'Gillivray,  Caulan 1   17    '0 

Donald  M'Intosh  Miller,  for  part  of  Faillic             ...  7   10     0 

Angus  M 'Bean,  Dal  vellan 700 

John  Shaw  576 


Sum  rent  of  Easter  Gask         ...    £65  12     6 

FAILLIE. 

Alex.  Fraser,  Balnaluick        ............  £8     8     2 

Colin  M  'Arthur,  Dyster          ............  450 

Alex.  Munro,  Mains    ...                      .........  28  11     2 

Alex.  Fraser,  Midtown            ............  476 

William  Macbeath       ............          ...  7   12     6 

Alex.  Macgillivray,  Achlaschylye       .........  9  15     0 

Alex.  Macgregor,  do".  .....  .         ...           .....  5  10     0 

William  Shaw              ...............  2  18     6 

Evan  Macdonald,  Torveneach            .........  466 

Wm.  Macgillivray,  West  End            .........  140 


Sum  rent  of  Faillie         ...         ...£7618     4J 


Minor  Highland  Families.  45 

LAIRGS, 

Alex.  M'Gillivray,  Ballindruan          £870 

Wm.  Davidson  or  Dean          ...         ...         ...         ...  6     1     8 

James  Sutherland       6  19     1 

Widow  Ann  M'Gillivray  or  Mackintosh        5     4     3 

Donald  Caldcr             300 

Wm.  M'Bean,  Meikle  Miln 10     8     0 

Don.  Macgillivray,  Cabrach   ...          ...          ...          ...  2  17     0 

Lieut.  M'Gillivray,  Dell  of  Lairg       2310     0 

Sum  rent  of  Lairgs        ...  ....£66     7     0 

In  1819  the  rent  from  59  tenants  was  as  follows  : — 

Easter  Aberchalder,  13  tenants     £26614     9| 

Dunmaglass,  from  13  tenants        ...          ...          ...  453     8     9 

Faillie,  6  tenants 1611010 

Easter  Gask,  9  tenants       159  15     0 

Wester  Gask,  9  tenants     10250 

Inverernie,  4  tenants          ...          ...          ...          ...  70     3     0 

Wester  Lairgs,  5  tenants 16013     If 

Total  from  59  tenants  ...£137210     6J 

and  it  will  be  kept  in  view  that  shooting  rents  had  not  begun. 
John  Lachlan  was  very  wild  in  his  youth,  and  Sheriff  Fraser, 
Farraline,  one  of  the  guardians,  had  some  difficulty  in  com- 
pounding for  his  pranks  at  the  College  of  St  Andrews  in  1797. 
lie  purchased  a  cornetcy  in  the  16th  Li^ht  Dragoons  in  1800  for 
£735,  and  a  lieutenancy  in  same  regiment  in  1802  for  £262  10s, 
and  was  very  extravagant.  Fortunately  he  left  the  army  about 
1805,  when  he  married  Miss  Jane  Walcott  of  Inverness,  a  lady 
who  had  much  influence  with  him  for  good,  though  some  of  his 
exploits  with  old  Culloden  and  other  "  Braves"  of  the  day  are  still 
remembered.  They  lived  at  Culduthel,  Drummond,  travelled 
abroad  a  good  deal,  but  had  no  regular  residence  except  Inver- 
ness. After  his  wife's  death  Dunmaglass  led  a  somewhat  retired 
life,  and  many  will  recollect  his  fine  military  carriage,  and  how 
well  he  sat  on  horseback  as  he  took  his  daily  rides  in  Inverness. 

During  his  long  possession  of  the  estates  it  says  much  lor  him 
that  he  only  had  three  factors  all  the  time — 1st,  Mr  Campbell 
Mackintosh;  2nd,  Mr  Robert  Lagan  ;  and  3rd,  Mr  Alex.  Grant. 
His  father-in-law,  Captain  Thomas  Walcott,  thus  refers  to  him  in 
his  holograph  will  of  1807  : — "  Item  to  John  Macgillivray,  my  own 


46  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

desk  that  I  write  at,  with  the  old  stock  buckle  that  he  gave  me.. 
Had  I  anything  worth  his  acceptance  I  should  out  of  gratitude 
have  left  it  to  him."  His  rental  at  his  death  was  only  £1496  4s, 
which  included  £180  for  shootings.  This  was  less  than  in  1819, 
but  the  tenants  had  reduced  from  71  in  1803  to  59,  and  in  185k£ 
numbered  less  than  half,  or  35. 

He  died  in  1852,  possessed  of  some  .£40,000  of  money,  which 
was  destined  by  will,  including  a  year's  rent  to  all  the  tenants  ; 
also  the  heritable  estates  undisposed  ^f,  but  free  and  unburdened. 
A  severe  competition  arose  as  to  all  the  estates  except  one,  that  of 
Easter  Aberchalder,  there  being  no  doubt  that  it  fell  to  the  Hon.  John 
Macgillivray,  of  Upper  Canada,  heir  male  of  line  of  Donald,  Tutor 
of  Dunmaglass,  and  eldest  surviving  son  of  Farquhar  Macgillivray 
of  Dalcrombie.  Dunmaglass,  Easter  Gask,  and  Wester  Lairgs. 
were  destined  to  heirs  male,  and  the  contest  was  betwixt  the  said 
John  Macgillivray,  who  dying,  his  son  Neil  John,  descendant  of 
Donald  Uie  Tutor,  on  the  one  part,  and  the  Rev.  Lachlan  Mac- 
urillivray,  descendant  of  William  of  Lairg,  brother  of  Donald  the 
Tutor,  on  the  other  part,  the  question  being  whether  Donald  or 
William  was  the  elder,  determined  in  favour  of  Neil  John,  Faillie, 
Wester  Gask  and  Inverernie  were  destined  to  "  the  heirs  and 
assignees  of  Clan  Chattan,"  and  competed  for  by  the  said  Neil  on 
the  one  part,  and  the  descendants  of  Jean  "  Roy,"  sister  of 
Lachlan  "  Lia,"  and  daughter  of  Captain  William  Ban  Macgillivray^ 
all  before  mentioned,  on  the  other  part,  the  latter  contending  that,, 
being  the  nearest  heirs  of  John  Lachlan,  the  limitation  to  being 
of  Clan  Chattan  was  inoperative.  Judgment  was  given  for  them, 
and  shortly  after  these  estates  were  sold. 

XI.  The  Honourable  JOHN  succeeded  as  heir   male   to  John 
Lachlan  in  1852,  and  died  in  1855. 

XII.  NEIL  JOHN,  who  succeeded  his  father  in  Aberchalder,  and 
made  good  his  claims  to  Dunmaglass,  Easter  Gask,  and  Wester 
Lairgs.      He   sold   the  last  two  estates,   and  was   succeeded    in 
I  hmmftglaaa  and  Easter  Aberchalder  by  his  son. 

XIII.  JOHN  W.  MACGILLIVRAY,  the  present  Dunmaglass,  in  whose 
time,  alas,  the  remaining  estates  had  to  be  compulsorily  sold,  and 
the  whole  of  the  once  important  estates  of  the  Magillivrays  are  lost 
to  the  Clan  Chattan,  except  Wester  Lairgs,  which  is  the  property 
of  The  Mackintosh.     Though  the  Macgillivrays  are  now  dissociated 
from  all  landed  connection  with  Strathnairn,  their  memory  ou^Iit 
not  juid  is  not  likely  to  fade,  for  Iain  Douu  Mac  Sheumais-vic- 
Dhaibhidh  trulv  said  of  the  name  and  race — 


Oidhche  Chaflainn  ann  an  Tigh  a'  Chaiptein.         47 

"  Gradh  do  'n  droing  luainneach, 
Mhuirneach,  ai[>eannach  ur 
Acfuinneach,  chluiteach 
Mhuirnicht'  th'  aguinn  an  Cuirt 
An  fhine  nach  crion  's  a  shiolaich 
Fad'  as  gach  taobh 
Far  Braighich  an  Duin 
D'  an  tug  mi  mo  run  a  chaoidh. 

Air  chaismeachd  luath, 

Thig  do  chairdean  gu  tuath  o  dheas  : 

Fir  ghlinne  's  glain  snuadh, 

Thig  a  Muile  nan  stuadh-bheann  glas, 

Peighinn-a'-Ghaeil  le  sluagh 

Thig  thar  bhuinne  nan  cuaintean  bras  ; 

Bi;dh  iad  again  n  's  an  uair 

Mu  'm  bi  mulad  no  gruaimean  ort." 


23rd  JANUARY,  1894. 

At  this  meeting  the  nomination  of  office-bearers  for  1894  took 
place.  Afterwards  Mr  Alexander  Macbain,  M.A.,  read  a  Gaelic 
dialogue,  entitled  "  Oidhche  Challainn  aim  an  tigh  a'  Chaiptein," 
contributed  by  the  Rev.  D.  Machines,  Obari.  Mr  Machines'  paper 
iv  as  as  follows  : — 

OIDHCHE  CHALLAINN  ANN  AN  TIGH  A'  CHAIPTEIN. 

An  Caiptean — Failt  is  furan  oirbh.  Tha  mi  toilicht'  'ur 
faichm  cruinn  an  so  aon  uair  eile  is  nach  'eil  a  h-aon  air  ionndraiii 
de  iia  bha  c6mhla  ribh  air  a'  challainn  mu  dheireadh.  Tha  mi, 
mar  is  abhaist  dhomh,  a'  toirt  gu  'r  n-ionnsuidh  na  chuidicheas 
sibh  gu  'n  oidhchc  'chur  seachad  gu  sunndach.  Tha  mi  'n  dochas 
gu  'n  ceadaichear  dhuinn  iomadh  coinneamh  de  'n  t-seorsa  so,  agus 
nach  dealaich  sinn  ri  'cheile  an  da  la  so.  Bithidh  fiughair  again 
'ur  coinneachadh  am  maireach  le  'r  camain  air  an  fhaiche  so  shios. 

Rob  Chailein — So!  pp  !  lionaibh  'ur  gloineachan  los  gu 'n  61 
sinn  dcoch-slaiiit'  a'  Chaiptein,  a  tha  cho  suairce,  fialaidh.  ririu. 

Donnchadh  Saighdear — »Is  airidh  an  Caiptean  air  gach  urram 
is  urrainn  duinn-ue  'chur  air.  Na  'm  faiceadh  sibh  e  'n  la  'chuir 
sinn  an  tuichcadh  air  na  Frangaich  l)hiodh  sibh  moiteil  as. 


48  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Celt  Dhughaill — Dh'  fhaodadh  sibh  cunntas  a  thoirt  air  mar 
thachair. 

Donnchadh  Saighdear— Ni  mi  sin  ma  bhitheas  a'  chuideachd 
toileach  eisdeachd  rium. 

Rob  Chailein — Cha  'n  'eil  sean  no  6g  '11  ar  rneasg  leis  nach  bu 
mhath  do  sgeul  a  chluinntimi.  Rach  air  t-aghaidh,  'fhir  mo 
chridhe. 

Donnchaidh  Saighdear — Beagau  laithean  roimh  bhlar  ainmeil 
Shalamanca  bha  leth-cheud  dhinn^air  an  cur  air  falbh  fo  'n 
Chaiptean  gu  beul  glinne  'bha  niu  mhile  gu  leth  o  'n  arm  a  chum 
faire  'dheanamh  air  na  Frangaich  Bha  'n  gleann  so  mu  dha 
uihil'  air  fad,  agus  bha  rathad  mor  a'  dol  troimhe.  Oidhche  de  na 
h-oidhchean,  's  mi  mach  air  freiceadan,  thainig  bhorbhan  gu  m' 
chluasan  a  chuir  gu  sinaointean  mi  Chrom  mi  sios  is  chuir  mi 
mo  chluas  ris  an  lar  dh'  fheuch  am  faighinn  a  mach  gu  d'  e  'bu 
chiall  da.  Mar  bha  mi  's  an  t-suidheachadh  so  co  'thainig  orm 
ach  an  Caiptean.  "Am  bheil  gach  ni  ceart  an  so?"  thuirt  e. 
**  Air  learn,"  arsa  mi-fhein,  "  gu  bheil  mi  'cluinntinn  farum  chas  a' 
tighinn  a  nios  an  gleann."  Chuir  an  Caiptean  a'  chluas  ris  an  lar 
agus  thuirt  e,  "  Tha  thu  ceart."  Bha  bristeadh  na  fair'  annaig  an 
am  so,  agus  chuir  an  Caiptean  a  ghloin-amhairc  ri  'shuil,  agus  thuirt 
e,  "  Tha  na  Frangaich  a'  tighinn  :  greasamaid  a  dh'  ionnsuidh  nan 
gillean."  An  uair  a  rainig  shm  ar  cairtealan  aig  beul  a'  ghlinne 
chaidh  na  gillean  a  chruiuneachadh,  agus  labhair  an  Caiptean 
rinn  mar  so,  "  Tha  na  Frangaich  a'  tighinn,  agus  feumaidh  sinn 
coinneamh  smiorail  a  thoirt  doibh.  Cuimhnichibh  air  na  daoine 
o  'n  d'  thainig  sibh  is  air  aix  arm  d'  am  buin  sibh."  Gun  tuilleadh 
a  radh  mu'n  chuis  thug  e  sinn  gu  doire  dhluth  a  bha  goirid  o  'n 
rathad  mh6r,  agus  leig  sinn  sinn-fhei^  'a  ar  sineadh  an  sin  gun 
smid  as  ar  beoil.  Cha  robh  sinn  fada  'n  bLi  an  uair  a  chunnaic 
sinn  na  Frangaich  a'  tighinn  a  nios  an  rat  Lad  gu  faruniach, 
spaireiseach,  neo-umhaileach  mar  gu'm  bu  leo-fhein  an  duthaich  is 
nach  robh  namhaid  mar  fhichead  mile  dhoibh.  Dh'  iarr  an 
Caiptean  oirnn  ami  an  guth  losal  a  bhi  deas  gu  losgadh  orra 
'nuair  a  bheireadh  esan  sanus  dhuinn.  Bha  iad  a'  tighinn  na  bu 
dluithe  's  na  bu  dluithe  oirnn.  An  uair  a  bha  iad  mu'r  coinneamh 
air  an  rathad  mh6r  thuirt  an  Caiptean,  "  A  nis,  'illean,  thugaibh 
dairireach  dhoibh."  Loisg  sinn  orra  is  thuit  na  h-uibhir  dhiubh. 
Au  sin  ghlaodh  an  Caiptean,  "  'N  am  badaibh  leis  a  ghunna- 
bhiodaig."  Thog  sinn  iolach  dulain  is  ghreas  sinn  g'  an 
ionnsuidh.  • 

Rob  Chailein — An  do  sheas  iad  roimhibh  ? 

Donnchadh  Saighdear — Cha  do  sheas.  "Tha  na  Frangaich 
math  air  teine  gus  an  teannar  goirid  uapa,"  mar  thuirt  am  bard. 


Oidhche  Cha/lainn  ann  an  Tigh  a'  Chaiptein.         49 

Theich  iad  cho  luath  's  a  bheireadh  an  casan  as  iad,  a'  tilgeil  an 
,airm  uapa  thall  's  a  bhos.  Smuainich  mi  aig  an  am  air  briathran 
Dhonnchaidh  Bhain  mu  bhlar  na  h-Eaglaise  Brice  : — 

"  Mar  gu  'n  rachadh  cu  ri  caoirich 
'S  iad  'n  an  ruith  air  aodann  glirme, 
'S  ann  mar  sin  a  ghabh  iad  sgaoileadh 
Air  an  taobh  air  an  robh  sinn-ne." 

Lean  sinn  na  Frangaich,  agus  sguirs  sinn  romhainn  iad  gus  an  do 
chuir  sinn  as  a'  ghleann  iad.*  An  uair  a  thill  sinn  a  nios  an  gleann 
thainig  sinn  air  na  daoine  a  thuit.  A'  chuid  dhinbh  a  bha  marbh 
thiodhlaic  sinn  taobh  an  rathaid.  Ghabh  sinn  deagh  churam 
dhiubh-san  a  bha  lebinte. 

Ceit  Dhughaill — Bu  deisinneach  an  obair  ris  an  robh  sibh. 

Donnachadh  Saighdear — Bha  i  mar  sin,  ach  cha  robh  atharrach 
againn  air.  Bha  ceartas  air  ar  taobh.  Bha'n  sloightear  Bonipart 
a'  dusgadh  iorghuill  is  a'  deanamh  m6ran  croin  air  feadh  na  Roinn 
Eorpa,  agus  chuir  Breatann  Mor  roimpe  a'  chiosnachadh.  Shoir- 
bhich  leatha  mu  deireadh  an  deigh  iomadh  blair  fuilteich. 

Rob  Chailein — Moran  taing  dhuit,  a  Dhonnchaidh.  Is  math  a 
dh'  innis  thu  do  sgeul.  Fhad  's  a  bhios  leithid  a'  Chaiptein  Js  do 
leithid  fhein  lionmhor  's  an  duthaich  cha  'n  eagal  dhi.  An  cluLin 
thu  mi,  'ille  bhig.  Thoir  an  so  am  botul  dubh  's  na  gloineachan, 
agus  feuch  nach  leig  thu  leo  tuiteam.  Sin  thu,  mo  ghille  gasda  ! 
Lionaibh  'ur  gloineachan  i§  61amaid  deoch-slaint'  a  Chaiptein. 
Eireamaid  uile  'n  ar  seasamh.  Deoch-slaint'  a'  Chaiptein,  an 
duine  cneasda,  nach  fhaca  duine  bochd  riamh  an  eigin  gu'n  fhuas- 
gladh  air.  A  nis  o'n  rinn  sinn  ar  dleasnas  's  a  chuis  so  bheir 
Alastair  m6r  dhuinn  oran. 

Alastair  Mor — Feuchaidh  mi  ris,  ach  tha  eagal  orm  nach  teid 
.agam  air  leis  a'  chnatan  dhraghail  so  'th'  orm. 

Air  mios  deireannach  an  fhoghair 
An  dara  la,  's  math  mo  chuimhne, 
Ghluais  na  Breatannaich  bho'n  fhaiche 
Dh'  ionnsuidh  tachairt  ris  na  naimhdean 
Thug  Abercrombaidh  taobh  na  mara  dhiubh 
Le  'chanain  's  mi  'g  an  cluinntinn : 
Bha  foirne  aig  Mur  gu  daingeann 
'Cumail  aingil  ris  na  Frangaich. 

'Cha  'n  urril.m  domh  dol  na's  fhaide.  Feuiuaidh  sibh  rno  leisgeul  a 
-ghabh ail.  'S  ann  da  rireadh  a  tha  mi. 

4 


50  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Ceit  Dhugaill — Ma's  ann  mar  sin  a  tha  chuis  cha  'n  'eil  comas - 
air.  So,  a  Roib,  thugaibh-sa  sgeul  dhuinn.  'S  iomadh  aite  's  an  robh 
sibh  an  Albainn,  an  Sasunn,  's  an  Eirinn.  Cha  'n  'eil  fhios  again 
nach  robh  sibh  ann  an  North  Faroe  fhein. 

Rolt  Chailein — Cha  innis  mi  breug.  Bha  'm  athair  a'  seoladh 
do  North  Faroe  le  fear  R\sa,  ach  cha  robh  mise  riamh  ann. 

Buachaill — 'S  ann  a  dh'  \nnseadh  dhomh-sa  gu'n  robh  sibh< 
greis  d'  'ur  n-iiine  'giiilan  dhaoine  dubfca  bho  Africa  gu  Portigil. 

Rob  Chailein — Co  thuirt  sin  riut  ? 

Buachaill — Thuirt  Iain  ban. 

Rob  Chailein — 'S  math  dha  nach  'eil  e  'n  so  an  nochd.  Arrt 
bumailear  !  Bha  e  tri  miosan  's  an  Taobh  Tuath  ag  iasgacb 
sgadain,  is  tha  e  'm  barail  gu  bheil  e  'n  a  Ian  she61adair.  Na  'n 
cuirteadh  air  an  stiuir  e  eadar  so  is  Eirinn  cha  'n  'eil  fhios  c'  ait 
an  ruigeadh  e. 

A  chuideachd  uile — 'Ur  sgeul,  a  Roib. 

Rob  Chailein — A.  muigh  's  a  rnach,  ach  na  cuireadh  duine 
grabadh  orm. 

Buachaill — Bithidh  sinn-ne  cho  bidh  ri  luch  fo  sp6ig  a  chait. 

Rob  Chailein — Bha  mi  'n  sud  uair  a'  dol  o  Ghlascho  do  dh' 
aon  de  na  h-eileanan  tuathach  le  luchd  mine.  Leis  gur  h-e  'n 
samhradh  a  bh'  ann  chaidh  sinn  mu'n  cuairt  na  Maoile,  ghabhi 
sinn  troimh  Chaol  He,  agus  ghleidh  sinn  a  mach  culaobh  Mhuile. 
Mar  bha  sinn  a'  dluthachadh  air  an  eilean  thbisich  e  air  seideadhi 
gu  gailbheach,  agus  b'  eigin  duinn  tarruing  air  falbh  rathad  tire 
moire.  Air  lorn  eigin  fhuair  sinn  a  stigh  do  chamus  tearuinte, 
fasgach  bha  'n  sin.  An  uair  a  bha  na  siuil  air  am  pasgadh  is  gach 
ball  air  an  ceartachadh  chaidh  mi-fh&n  air  tir  a  dh'  fhaicinn  fir- 
eolais  a  bha  's  an  aite.  Mar  bha  mi  'gabhail  a  dh'  ionnsuidhi 
a  thigh,  co  'thachair  orm  ach  an  Guidsear  m6r,  air  am  bheil  sibh. 
uile  eolaeh !  Bu  luaithe  deoch  na  sgeul.  Chaidh  sinn  a  stigh 
agus  ghlaodh  e  leth-bhotach  branndaidh.  Dh'  fhe6raich  mi-fheini 
dheth  cia-mar  a  bha  '11  duthaich  a'  tighinn  ris.  "  Cha  'n  'eil  ach 
meadhonach,"  ars'  esan.  "  Cha  'n  eil  an  sluagh  's  an  run  a's 
fhearr  do'm  leithid-sa.  Thachair  dhomh  o  cheann  ghoirid  a  bhi 
dol  seachad  air  beul  glinne  am  nieadhon  na  duthcha,  'n  uair  a 
mhothaich  mi  ceithir  no  coig  de  bhothain  aig  a  cheann  shuas. 
dheth  is  smiiid  as  gach  aon  diubh.  Bhuail  e  mi  gu'n  gabhainn 
ceum  suas  an  gleann  dh'  fheuch  gu  de  'n  se6rsa  thighean  a  bh' 
annta.  Mar  bha  mi  dluthachadh  orra  gu  de  'chunnaic  mi  ach 
sgaotb  bhan  a'  tighinn  ann  am  choinneamh  !  '  Is  leam-sa  e,'  arsa 
e  dhiubh  :  '  Cha  leat  ach  leam-sa',  arsa  te  eile.  Leis  a  so  chuir 
e  dhiubh  a  lamhan  mu  m'  mhuineal,  glac  dithis  eile  mo  ghaird- 


Oidhche  uhallainn  ann  an  Tlgh  a'  Chaiptein.        51 

eanan,  agus  leag  each  mi.  An  sin  shuidh  dithis  air  mo  ghairdeanan 
te  air  gach  taobh  dhiom  ;  shuidh  dithis  eile  air  mo  chasan.  Dh' 
oiltich  mi.  Ged  is  iomadh  cunnart  's  an  robh  mi  cha  robh  riamh 
uiread  eagail  orm.  Ghuidh  mi  orra  mo  leigeil  as,  ach  cha  d'  thug 
iad  feart  orm  car  tamuill.  An  aite  sin  's  ann  a  th6isich  iad  air 
figheadh  stocainean  thairis  orm  is  air  mo  chaineadh  's  mo  smadath. 
Mu  dheireadh  an  deigh  dhomh  gealltainn  nach  rachainn  tuilleadh 
a  ch6ir  a  ghlinne  's  nach  cuirinn  tuilleadh  dragh  orra  leig  iad  mu'r 
sgaoil  mi. 

Ceit  Dhughaill — Gabhadh  esan  sin.  Bithidh  greis  mu'n  teid 
e  'ris  a  mheachranachd  air  daoine  bochda  nach  bi  'gabhail  gnoth- 
aich  ris. 

Rob  Chailein — An  ann  mar  sin  a  tha  thu  'bruidhinn  mu 
dhuine  cho  c6ir  's  a  bha  riamh  ann  an  duthaich.  Na'm  biodh 
na  ceart  mhnathan  ud  agam-sa  air  b6rd  a  Mhary  Ann  cha  mise 
Rob  Chailein  mur  cuirinn  na  h-iarainn  orra  's  mur  cuirinn  air 
aran  is  uisge  iad  fad  thri  laithean. 

Alastair  MOT — Mo  naire  !  mo  naire,  a  Roib.  Ann  an  mar  sin 
a  tha  sibh  a'  bruidhinn  mu  na  mnathan  gaolach  ? 

Rob  Chailein — Tha  uiread  mheas  agam  air  na  mnathan  gaolach 
no  gradhach  no  ionmhuinn  's  a  th'  agad-sa  no  aig  fear  eile,  ach  so 
their  mi  gu'n  do  thoill  na  mnathan  ud  sea  miosan  am  priosan  airson 
droch  ionnsuidh  a  thoirt  air  fear-gnothaich  an  righ. 

Ceit  Diighaill — Mur  sguir  thu  ni  sinn  ort  mar  rinneadh  air  a 
Ghaidsear. 

Rob  Chailein — Ma  tha  sibh  uil'  air  an  aon  sgeul  tha  cho  math 
dhomh-sa  'bhi  samhach. 

Ceit  Dhughaill — Tha  sin  dlreach  cho  math  dhuit. 

Rob  Chailein — Gu  de  'th'  air  tighinn  air  na  caileagan  laghach, 
gaolach  1  Cha  chualas  facal  as  am  beul  an  nochd.  Tha  iad  cho 
malda,  narach  's  ged  b'e  la  'm  bainnse  'bhiodh  ann.  Mur  fhaigh 
sinn  bruidhinn  asda  cha  'n  fhaod  e  'bhi  nach  fhaigh  sinn  orain. 

Ceit  Dhughaill — Nach  ann  agad  a  tha  'n  aghaidh  an  deigh 
na  rinn  thu  'g  an  smadadh  is  'g  an  caineadh. 

Rob  Chailein — Nach  cuist  thu,  'Cheit  ?  D'e  'n  canran  a  th* 
air  t-aire  1  So,  a  Mhairi  Ailein,  thoir  dhuinn  "  Tha  'tighinn 
fodham  eiridh."  Is  gasda  'sheinn  thu  e  air  an  deireadh-bhuana 
mu  dheireadh. 

Mairi  Ailein — Nach  feuch  sibh  Se6naid  an  so  ;  'si  's  fhearr 
air  na  h-6rain  na  mise. 

Rob  Chailein — 'S  cinn teach  mi  nach  diiilt  Seonaid  dhuinn 
6ran,  ach  's  e  t-oran-sa  tha  dhith  oirnn  an  drast. 

Mairi  Ailein — Very  ivell,  mata. 


52  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Rob  Chailein—Coma,  leat  a'  Beurla,  'ghraidh  :  tha  Ghaidhlig 
uasal  na  's  Ie6ir  air  ar  son-ne.     Rach  air  t-aghaidh. 
Mairi  Ailein— Cuidichibh  mi  leis  an  fhonn— 

Fonn—"  Tha  'tighinn  fodham,  fodham,  fodham, 
Tha  'tighinn  fodham,  fodham,  fodham, 
Tha  'tighinn  fodham,  fodham,  fodham, 
Tha  'tighinn  fodham  eiridh. 

"  Sid  an  t-slainte  churamach 
Olamaid  gu  sunndach  i, 
Deoch-slaint'  an  Ailein  Mhuideartaich, 
Mo  dhurachd  dhuit  gu  'n  eirich. 
Tha  'tighinn,  etc. 

"  Ged  a  bhiodh  tu  fada  uam 
Dh'  eireadh  sunnd  is  aigne  orm, 
'Nuair  chluinntinn  sgeul  a  b'  aite  learn 
Air  gaisgeach  nan  gniomh  euchdach 
Tha  'tighinn,  etc. 

"  'S  iomadh  maighdean  bharrasach, 
Dha  'm  maith  a  thig  an  earrasaid 
Eadar  Baile  Mhanaich 
Is  Caolas  Bharraidh  'n  deigh  ort. 
Tha  'tighinn,  etc. 

^giobair  ri  \k  gaillin  thu 
A.  jjbladh  cuian  nam  marunnan, 
A  bheireadh  long  gu  calachan 
Le  spionnadh  glac  do  threun  fhear. 
Tha  'tighinn,  etc." 

Dh'  fhag  mi  na  h-uibhir  a  rannan  a  mach  air  eagal  gu'm  fasadh 
sibh  sglth  de  'n  6ran. 

Rob  Chailein—&g\t\\  de  'n  6ran  !  Sinn  nach  fhasadh  a's  thusa 
Jg  a  sheinn.  Do  shlaint',  a  Mairi.  'S  iomadh  cearn  's  an  robh  mi 
an  Alba,  an  Sasunn,  's  an  Eirinn,  ach  cha  chuala  mi  fhathast 
6rain  cho  taitneach  ris  na  h  orain  Ghaidhlig,  is  cha  'n  fhaca  mi 
fhathast  caileagan  cho  aoidheil,  tlachdmhor  air  gach  d6igh  ri 
caileagan  na  Gaidhealtachd. 

An  Gaidheal  o  'n  blcaile  mhbr — Fhuair  mi  toil-inntinn  a  nochd 
nach  di-chuimhnich  mi  'chlisgeadh.  Chaidh  mise  'thogail  's  a 
Ghalldachd,  ach  tha  'Ghaidhlig  a  cheart  cho  deas  learn  ris  a' 
Bheurla.  Bha  deagh  chothrom  agam  air  a  h-ionnsachadh.  Cha 


Oidche  Challainn  ann  an  Tigh  a'  Chaiptein.          53 

robh  facal  Beurla  aig  mo  mhathair  is  cha  robh  ach  prabarsaich 
Beurla  aig  m'  athair.  Uime  sin  's  i  Ghaidhlig  a  bha  daonan  air  a 
bruidhinn  's  an  tigh  againn.  B'abhaist  do  m' athair  's  do  m' 
mathair  a  bhi  'g  innseadh  dhuinn  sgeulachdan  Gaidhealach.  's  na 
h-oichean  geamhraidh.  'S  iad  leabhraichean  Gaidhlig  a  b'  abhaist 
doibh  a  bhi  leughadh — am  Biobull  Gaidhlig,  an  Teachdaire  Gaidh- 
ealach, leabhraichean  Bhuinnean,  gu  S6nraichte  Turns  a'  Chrlosd- 
aidh,  laoidhean  Dhugaill  Bhuchanan,  agus  an  leithidibh  sin.  Tha 
iomadh  bliadhna  o  'n  dh'  fhalbh  iadsan,  ach  cha  do  dhi-chuimhnich 
rnise  'chanain  a  chleachd  iadsan  no  an  t-ionnsachadh  a  fhuair  mi 
uapa.  Tha  iomadh  cuimhneachan  agam  oira  ris  nach  dealaich  mi 
fhad  's  is  be6  mi.  'S  ann  diubh  sin  anart-buird  a  rinn  mo 
mhathair  mu  'n  d'  fhag  i  Ghaidhealtachd  agus  deise  de  dh'  aodach 
Gaidhealach  a  fhuairjm'  athair  o  'n  tailleir  Js  a  bhail  'ud  shuas. 
Tha  an  t-anart-buird  air  a  thoirt  a  mach  a  h-uile  bliadhn'  air  la 
na  bliadhn'  uire,  agus  air  a  chur  seachad  a  ris  'n  uair  a  bhios  sinn 
u'  dol  a  luidhe. 

Niall  Ruadh — A  mach  o  thighean  nan  uaislean  agus  na 
caileagaii  a  bhios  a'  dol  do  'n  Ghalldachd  airson  cosnaidh,  cha  'n 
fhaicear  's  an  duthaich  so  ach  aodaicbean  a  tha  air  an  deanamh 
aig  an  tigh.  Ar  n-anairtean-biiird,  ar  searadairean,  ar  leintean,  ar 
deiseachan,  a  h-uile  snichdean  a  tha  sinn  a'  caitheamh,  's  ami 
aig  an  tigh  a  tha  iad  air  an  deanamh.  Tha  'n  lion  's  an  olainn 
againn-fhein.  Tha  ar  mnathan  'g  an  sniomh,  tha  'n  figheadair  a' 
deanamh  aodaich  dhiubh,  agus  tha  'n  tailleir  'g  an  cumadh  's  'g  am 
fuaghal.  Na'm  biodh  marsantan  Ghlascho  an  eisimeil  na  diithcha 
so  air  son  margaidh  d'  am  bathar  cha  b'  fhada  sheasadh  iad. 

Rob  Chailein — Tha  'n  t-am  dhuinn  dealachadh.  Tha  e  leth- 
uair  an  deigh  deich  uairean.  Oidhche  mhath  leibh,  a  mhuinntir 
mo  ghraidh.  Aig  Ni  Math  tha  brath  an  coinnich  sin  uile  an  so 
am  feasda  tuilleadh. 


30th  JANUARY,  1895. 

At  this  meeting  office-bearers  for  1895  were  elected,  and  Mr 
George  Macleod,  fishmonger,  Church  Street,  was  elected  a  member 
of  the  Society.  The  paper  for  the  evening  was  contributed  by 
Rev.  D.  J.  Macdonald,  Killean,  Kintyre,  entitled  "Jottings, 
Legendary,  Antiquarian,  and  Topographical,  from  West  Kintyve," 
Mr  Macdonald's  paper  was  as  follows  : — 


54  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

JOTTINGS,  LEGENDARY,  ANTIQUARIAN,  AND  TOPO- 
GRAPHICAL, FROM  WEST  KINTYRE. 

The  peninsula  of  Kintyre  seems  to  have  formed  in  bygone 
times  a  battle-ground  on  which  contending  races  and  clans  strove 
for  supremacy.  It  was  rich,  and  therefore  coveted,  land.  That 
it  was  much  exposed  to  invasion  maybe  inferred  from  the  number 
of  "  duns,"  or  forts,  that  are  scattered  ^iroughout  its  extent.  We 
are  only  immediately  concerned  with  that  stretch  of  the  west 
coast  of  Kintyre  included  in  the  united  parishes  of  Killean  and 
Kilchenzie.  Within  these  limits  the  following  "duns,"  or  forts, 
are  to  be  found,  nor  do  they  exhaust  the  whole  number : — 

Dim  Domhnuill  (Donald's  fort). 

Dun  na  farnhair  (Giants'  fort). 

Dun  Cachaileith  Mhicheil  (The  fort  of  Michael's  gate). 

An  Caisteil  (The  castle). 

Dun  Chill-a-Ghruir  (The  fort  of  the  Church  of  the  Creator). 

Dun  Cheallaidh  (The  fort  of  the  view  (-sealladh),  or  of  obser- 
vation). 

Dun  Chlaonghart  (Claongart  fort,  or  the  fort  of  the  sloping 
corn  field). 

Dun  Phuitechan  (The  fort  of  the  little  field  of  the  point). 

Dim  Dhaibhidh  (David's  fort). 

An  Dun,  at  "Port  an  Duin"  (The  fort). 

Dim  Chlachaig  (The  fort  of  the  stoney  place). 

Dim  Ach-na-Ath  (The  fort  of  the  kiln  field). 

Dim  Ach-a-loisginn  (The  fort  of  the  pimpernel  field). 

Dun  Domhnuill  was  very  strongly  posted  on  the  top  of  an 
isolated  rocky  mound  of  considerable  height.  The  stones  cast 
down  from  the  top,  when  the  fort  was  demolished,  are  strewn 
along  two  of  its  sides.  On  one  side  the  ropk  is  sheer.  Here,  it  is 
said,  the  chiefs  of  Macdonald,  the  ancient  lords  of  Kintyre,  held 
their  courts  of  justice.  Criminals  condemned  to  death  were  hurled 
from  the  top  of  the  "  dun,"  and  despatched  by  executioners  at  the 
foot. 

I  »un  Cheallaidh,  which,  judging  from  the  ruins,  seems  to  have 
been  a  spacious  fort,  stands  on  the  sharp  edge  of  the  ridge  over- 
looking the  shore,  right  over  the  burying-ground  of  Paitean.  It 
commands  a  magnificent  prospect.  Looking  out  on  the  Atlantic, 
there  is  to  be  seen,  to  the  south,  the  Mull  of  Kintyre,  and  much 
of  the  land  intervening ;  to  the  west,  the  North  of  Ireland 
and  the  island  of  Rathlin  ;  towards  the  north-west,  Islay  and 


Jottings  from  West  Kintyre.  55 

Jura ;  and  to  the  North,  Kilberry,  Knapdale,  Scarba,  and,  beyond, 
the  crest  of  Ben  M6r  in  Mull. 

It  is  stated  that  the  line  of  forts  along  the  west  of  Kintyre 
was  so  constructed  that  one  fort  stood  in  sight  of  the  other,  so 
that  a  signal  of  danger  could  be  flashed  from  one  post  to  another 
almost  instantaneously. 

Dun  Phuitechan  is  situated  on  a  detached  rocky  eminence 
between  the  public  road  and  the  sea,  a  short  distance  to  the  south 
•of  Bealach-an-t-suidhe,  commonly  written  Ballochantee.  The 
•old  road  wound  up  the  steep  ascent  in  front  of  the  village  of  Bal- 
lochantee, and  kept  the  higher  ground  until  within  a  few  miles  of 
Campbeltcwn.  It  was  natural  that  the  weary  pedestrian  should, 
on  gaining  the  upper  level,  halt  in  order  to  draw  breath.  Hence 
the  name  Bealach-an-t-suidhe — the  sitting  pass. 

The  present  road  was  made  in  1777.  It  skirts  the  sea-shore 
for  several  miles.  When  excavating  near  Dun  Phuitechan  for 
forming  the  new  road,  seme  workmen  found  gold  rings  or  parts  of 
:rings.  The  derivation  of  Putechan  puzzled  us  for  long,  but  we 
are  now  convinced  that  it  is  derived  from  "  but"  or  "  buta,"  a 
point  or  butt.  A  glance  at  the  map  will  show  that  at  Putechan 
the  coast  line  runs  out  into  a  promontory.  "  Put"  is  Gaelic  for 
push.  Hence  the  word  is  connected  with  an  object  which 
projects  like  a  point,  as  "put,"  a  buoy,  "  butag,"  an  oar- 
pin,  "buta,"  butt,  the  point  to  be  shot  at  in  archery,  also  a 
promontory  as  in  the  butt  of  Lewis  ("am  buta  Leodhasach  "), 
"  putan,"  a  button.  There  are  contiguous  to  Putechan,  Putechan- 
tuy  and  Corrputechan.  The  former  is  behind  Bealach  an  t-suidhe, 
with  the  same  derivation  for  the  last  syllable.  For  Corr- 
putechan,  the  first  syllable  may  be  derived  from  "cor,"  a  point  or 
"  coire,"  a  circular  hollow.  Deep  circular  cuttings  are  made  in 
the  red  sandstone  by  a  stream  that  flows  through  the  place.  As 
for  the  last  syllable  in  Putechan,  it  may  be  "  achan,"  a  little  field. 

Dun  Ach-na-h-ath,  the  fort  of  the  kiln  field.  Limestone  abounds 
in  the  neighbourhood,  and  the  origin  of  this  name  may  be  traced 
to  the  existence  of  a  lime  kiln.  As  a  stream,  crossed  by  the  road, 
runs  along  the  foot  of  the  field  here,  the  proper  derivation  of  the 
.name  may  be  Ach-na-h-ath,  the  field  of  the  stream.  This  fort 
stands  on  the  farm  of  South  Muasdale,  strongly  posted  on  a  hill. 
It  is  very  steep  on  the  north.  The  ascent  from  the  south  and 
•east  is  gradual.  The  lines  showing  the  ground  plan  of  the  fort 
are  distinctly  marked.  The  foundation  is  formed  of  huge  blocks 
of  undressed  stones.  Magnificent  views  are  to  be  seen  from  this 
dun  and  also  from  Dun  Chlachaig.  Almost  all  the  forts  may  be 
said  to  have  a  more  or  less  commanding  site.  A  man  living  in 


56  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

this  neighbourhood  told  us  that  when  ploughing  the  field  to  the 
east  of  Dun  Ach-na-h-ath  he  found  two  flint  arrow  heads,  or  spear 
heads.  He  kept  them  for  some  time.  Ultimately  he  broke  one 
of  them,  and  used  a  fragment  to  strike  sparks  from  with  a  steel 
for  lighting  his  pipe.  We  are  not,  however,  disposed  to  be  hard 
upon  our  friend,  for  he  rehearsed  to  us  the  following  legends  con- 
nected with  Muasdale  and  Dun  Ach-na-ath.  We  give  them  word, 
for  word  as  spoken  : —  + 

SGEUL   GILLE-COCHULL    NAN    CRAICHEAN. 

"Thanaig  Gille-Cochull  nan  craiceann  agus  ghabh  e  fasdadh  aig 
Fionn  Mac  Couil.  B'  fhabhaist  do  Fhionn  fein  an  dun  a  ghleidh- 
eadh  's  an  oidhche.  Cha  robh  e  airson  an  dun  earbsa  ri  Gille- 
Cochull  nan  craiceann,  ach  ghabh  e  as  laimh  e,  agus  "  mhend"  s& 
e  cuidheachd.  Mu  mheadhon  oidhche  thanaig  a  nuas  gleann  eas- 
la-cruit',  beist  cosmhuil  ri  tarbh.  Bho  na  gheall  e  bhi  dileas  do* 
Fhionn  Mac  Couil,  sheas  Gille-Cochull  nan  craiceann  anns  an 
dorus,  agus  cha  leigeadh  e  steach  a  'bheist.  Chaidh  iad  a  ghleacr 
agus  thilg  an  Gille-Cochuill  an  ceann  dheth  leis  a'  chlaidheamlu 
'Nuair  a  bhuail  e  an  ceann  dheth,  chaidh  an  ceann  suas  astar  m6r 
agus  phill  e  agus  chaidh  e  air  a'  cv.cluinn  a  ris.  Thilg  e  an  ceann 
a  ris  dheth,  agus  dh'  eirich  e  i.aar  rinn  e  roimhe.  Agus  thanaig 
spiorad  tharais  air  Gille-Cochull-nan-craiceann,  agus  thubhairt  e 
ris,  an  claidheamh  a  chumail  air  an  srnior.  Rinn  e  sin,  agus  nuair 
a  thainig  an  ceann  a  nuas  a  ris'  bhuail  e  anns  an  talamh,  agus 
mharbh  Gille-Cochull-nan-craiceann  a'  bheist.  Bha  Mac  Couill 
fuathasach  buidheach  dheth,  agus  thubhairt  e  gun  o'  rinn  e  ni 
nach  deanadh  e  fein.  Rinn  e  ceaimard  dheth,  agus  dh'  fhas  e  ni 
bu  tapaidh  na  e  fein."1 

1  Since  writing  the  above,  I  came  across  a  reference  bearing  on  this  subject 
in  Dr  Hyde's  learned  "  Story  of  Early  Gaelic  Literature,"  pp.  168-171.  This- 
account  makes  Gille-Cochull-nan-craichean  step  out  into  the  light  of  history. 
His  name  was  Muircheartach  or  Murtag,  and  he  was  son  of  Niall  Glun-dubh, 
or  the  black-kneed,  who  became  high  king  of  all  Ireland.  In  the  10th  or  llth 
century,  there  flourished  in  Ireland  a  poet  of  the  name  of  Cormac  "  an  Eigeas," 
who  celebrated  the  martial  prowess  of  Muircheartach,  or  Murtag  of  the  leather 
cloaks,  "  na  gcochal  croicinn."  Muircheartach  took  Sitric,  the  Danish  lord  of 
Dublin,  Ceallachan  of  Munster,  the  King  of  Leinster,  and  the  Royal  heir  of 
Connacht  as  hostages.  Cormac's  poem  of  556  lines  begins  : — 

"  A  Mhuircheartaigh  Mheic  Neill  nair 
Ro  ghabhais  gialla  Inse-fail." 

"  0  Muircheartach,  son  of  noble  Niall, 
Thou  hast  taken  hostages  of  Inisfail." 

According  to  Dr  Hyde,  Fionn  MacCool  lived  in  the  3rd  century,  and  on  these 
data  this  legend  of  Gille-Cochull-nan-craichean  affords  an  example  of  the  way 
in  which  folk-lore  annihilates  time,  and  brings  persons  separated  by  many 
centuries  together. 


Jottings  from  West  Kintyre.  57 

TRANSLATION  OF  THE  TALE  OF  THE  LAD  OF  THE  SKIN  MANTLE  OR 
SKIN  HOOD. 

"  The  lad  of  the  skin  mantle  came  and  engaged  himself  with, 
Fionn  MacCoul.  Fionn  himself  was  in  the  habit  of  watching  the 
fort  at  night.  He  was  not  for  entrusting  the  fort  to  the  lad  of 
the  skin  mantle.  But  he  took  it  in  hand,  and  managed  it  too. 
About  midnight  there  came  down  the  glen  of  the  croft  waterfall l 
a  beast  like  a  bull.  As  he  had  promised  to  be  faithful  to  Fionn 
McacCoul,  the  lad  of  the  skin  mantle  stood  in  the  door,  and  would 
not  let  the  beast  get  in.  They  fell  a  fighting,  and  the  lad  of  the 
mantle  struck  the  head  off  the  beast  with  the  sword.  When  he 
struck  the  head  off  it,  the  head  went  up  a  great  distance,  and 
came  back  and  united  to  the  body  again.  He  struck  the  head  off 
it  again,  and  the  head  rose  as  it  did  before.  And  a  spirit  came 
over  the  lad  of  the  skin  mantle  and  said  to  him  to  keep  the 
sword  on  the  marrow.  He  did  that,  and  when  the  head  came 
down  again  it  stuck  in  the  ground,  and  the  lad  of  the  skin  mantle 
slew  the  beast.  Fionn  MacCoul  was  vastly  pleased  with  him.  and' 
said  that  he  had  done  a  thing  that  he  could  not  do  himself.  He 
made  a  captain  of  him,  and  he  became  abler  than  himself." 

Glac  an  t'  saic  bhain  is  a  small  valley  behind  Dun  Ach-na-h-ath. 
The  following  legend  is  told  about  this  place  : — 

"'S  e  spiorad  a  bha  anns  an  t-sac  bhan.  Bha  se  bodaich  dheug 
air  Muasdal.  Bha  caile  shearbhanta  aig  fear  do  na  bodaich,  agus . 
bha  mac  a  bhodaich  a'  suiridhe  orra.  Bha  "pic"  mhor  aig  a 
mhathair  do  'n  nighinn.  Cha  robh  fhios  aice  ciamar  a  fhaodaidh 
i  cur  as  dhi.  Bha  iad  a  reic  deoch  thall  anns  a  Chreagaii.  Cha 
robh  chridhe  aig  neach  an  bith  dol  thar  Glaic  an  t-Saic  bhain  aon 
uair  's  gun  luigheadh  a'  ghrian.  'S  e  'n  doigh  a  ghabh  a  mhathair 
gu  'n  cuireadh  i  do  'n  Chreagan  a  dh'  iarraidh  deoch  i.  Nuair  a 
bha  i  falbh  fhuair  i  an  luman  a  bha  air  an  t-Shac  bhan,  agus 
sguab  i  leatha  an  luman.  Bha  fios  aice  nach  b'  urraitm  e  ni  air 
bith  a  dheanamh  gun  i.  Nuair  a  fhuair  i  an  deoch  anns  a 
Chreagan  thug  i  'n  luman  do  bhean  an  tigh  Chainge.  Thubhairt 
i  rithe  an  luman  a  ghleadhadh  gus  a'  saoladh  i  gu  'm  bitheadh  ise- 
aig  an  tigh.  An  sin  thanaig  an  Sac  ban  gus  an  tigh  Chainge,  agus 
a  h-uile  buille  a'  bheireadh  e  do  'n  dorus  shaoileadh  iad  gu  'm 
briseadh  e  an  tigh.  Bha  bhean  a  deanamh  foidheinn  feuch  am 

1  "  Eas  la  emit,"  we  take  it,  is  a  form  of  "  Eas  na  cruit,"  the  waterfall 
of  the  croft.  There  is  a  beautiful  waterfall  here. 


•58  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

bitheadh  a  chaile  aig  an  tigh  mu  'n  toireadh  i  air  aise  a  luman. 
Ach  leis  an  uamhas  a  ghabh  i,  thilg  i  an  lurnan  air.  Thuig  an 
gille  mar  a  bha  na  gnothuichean,  agus  bho  e  's  an  dorus  gus  a 
ceapail.  Bha  'n  Sac  ban  aig  an  dorus  cho  luath  rithe,  aoh  f huair 
esan  a'  slaodadh  uaith'.  An  sin  fhuair  an  Sac  ban  greim  air  a 
phlaide  bha  orra-se,  agus  leis  an  eagal  a  fhuair  a  chaile  shiubhail 
i.  Bha  duileas  mor  air  a  bhean  gu  'n  d'  rinn  i  lethid,  agus  cha  d' 
•  fhuair  i  socair  na  dheidh  sin."  ^ 


TRANSLATION  OF  THE  LEGEND  OF  THE  HOLLOW  OF  THE  WHITE  SAC. 

"The  White  Sac  was  a  spiric.  There  were  sixteen  old  men  in 
Muasdale.  One  of  them  had  a  servant  girl,  and  the  son  of  the 
old  man  was  courting  her.  His  mother  took  a  great  spite  to  the 
girl.  She  did  not  know  how  she  might  do  away  with  her.  They 
sold  drink  over  at  the  Creggan.  No  one  dared  to  cross  the 
hollow  of  the  White  Sac  once  the  sun  set.  The  way  that 
his  mother  took  was  that  she  should  send  her  to  the  Creggan  to 
fetch  drink.  When  she  (the  girl)  was  going  she  found  the  shaggy 
covering  that  was  on  the  White  Sac,  and  she  swept  away 
with  her  the  shaggy  covering.  She  knew  that  he  could  not 
do  anything  without  it.  When  she  got  the  drink  at  the  Creggan, 
she  gave  the  shaggy  covering  to  the  change-house  wife.  She  said 
to  her  to  keep  the  shaggy  covering  until  she  thought  that  she 
would  be  at  the  house.  Then  came  the  White  Sac,  and  every 
blow  that  he  would  give  to  the  door,  they  would  think  that  he 
would  break  through  the  house.  The  wife  was  waiting  (making 
patience)  to  see  if  the  girl  would  be  at  the  house  ere  she  gave  back 
the  shaggy  covering.  But  with  the  awe  she  felt,  she  threw  the 
snaggy  covering  at  him.  The  lad  understood  how  matters  were, 
and  he  was  at  the  door  to  catch  her.  The  White  Sac  was  at  the 
door  as  soon  as  she,  but  he  was  able  to  pull  her  from  him.  Then 
the  White  Sac  got  a  hold  of  the  plaid  which  was  about  her,  and 
with  the  fright  that  the  girl  got  she  died.  The  woman  was  very 
sorry  that  she  did  the  like,  and  she  got  no  rest  after  that." 

On  the  farm  of  Rosehill  or  Rosshill  there  is  a  hillock  overlook- 
ing the  sea  called  "  Carnan  Fionn."  Within  the  memory  of  people 
still  living  a  cairn  of  considerable  size  stood  on  the  hillock.  There 
was  also  an  underground  passage.  An  old  man  told  us  that  many 
years  ago  he  groped  his  way  for  some  distance  down  through  this 
passage.  The  cairn  stones  were  cleared  away,  and  the  plough 
driven  over  the  crown  of  the  hillock,  obliterating  its  peculiar 
features.  It  looks  as  if  there  had  been  a  fort  and  earth  dwelling 


Jottings  from  West  Kintyre.  59 

'Combined.  Its  name  suggests  that  it  may  have  been  associated 
•with  the  fairies.  It  was  customary  to  use  complimentary  terms 
in  referring  to  them  and  to  their  habits.  Hence,  perhaps,  the 
name  "  Carnan  Fionn,"  the  beautiful  little  cairn. 

About  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  south,  on  the  farm  of  Glen- 

•  acardoch,    there    is   a   cone-like    hillock   called    "  Cnocan   na-te- 
riabhaich,"  the  hillock  of  the  grizzly  (she)  one.     At  the  foot  of 
this  hillock  there  are  the  foundations  of  a  house  said  to  have  been 
•occupied  by  the  personage  who  bore  this  ominous  name,  "  An-te- 
riabhach."      We   ventured   to    suggest   that    the   name    might 
probably  be  "  Cnocan-na-fo'r-riabhaich,"  having  heard   of  Dalrioch 
and  Knockrioch,   but  our  kindly  gossip  maintained  that  it  was 
named  for  some  unamiable  female.     The  house  had  seven  doors, 
for  the  story  goes  that  she  had  no  fewer  that  seven  husbands,  each 
of  whom  entered  the  house  by  a  door  of  his  own.      Was  the 
"  Te-riabhach  "  a  notable  witch  1     Or  was  she  the  personification, 
in  her  stormy  moods,  of  the  Atlantic,  whose  waves  all  but  wash  the 
foot  of  "  Cnocan-na-te-rhiabhaich  ?"     And  who  then  are  the  seven 
husbands  of  the  Atlantic  ?     Are  they  cloud,  darkness,  and  rain, 
the  wind  and  the  wave,  the  sun  by  day  and  the  moon  by  night  1 

Beneath  the  hillock  just  described,  there  is  a  detached  rock, 
;  steep  on  every  side,  flat  at  the  top,  and  almost  touched  by  the 
waves.  Over  the  top  of  this  rock  are  scattered  a  great  quantity 
of  stones,  the  remains  of  a  fort.  A  little  bay  beside  it  was  called 
"  Port  an  Duin,"  and  at  no  great  distance  is  a  sea-girt  skerry 
called  "  Sgeir  a'  Bhlair,"  from  which  the  enemy  is  said  to  have  shot 
.his  arrows  when  attacking  the  dun. 

There  lived  in  these  parts  at  the  time  of  the  Peninsular  War 

a  man  of  the  name  of  Matthew  W .     It  was  known  that  the 

press  gang  was  actively  employed  in  the  neighbourhood.  Matthew 
W—  -  became  so  frightened  that  he  left  home  and  betook  himself 
for  safety  to  the  island  of  Cara,  some  five  miles  distant.  While  in 
exile  there,  he  afterwards  reported  that  he  heard  the  voice  of  a 
friend  of  his  crying  from  the  other  side  :  — "  Ho  !  Mhatha,  tha'  m 
press  a'  'm  port  an  duin  ;  ho  !  Mhatha,  tha  'm  press  a'  'm  port  an 
duin." 

At  Blary,  in  Barr  Glen,  there  is  a  small  hillock  called  "Cnocan 
na'm  piobairean."  A  little  to  the  south  is  a  longish  narrow 
hillock  called  "  Cnocan-na-sithichean."  Close  to  this  a  battle  is 
said  to  have  been  fought,  and  in  the  engagement  there  fell  nine 
pipers,  who  were  buried  in  the  hillock  called  Cnocan-na'm 
piobairean. 

In    the    same    glen,   on    the    farm  of  Charlottetown,   there  is 

•  another  hillock  called  "  Cnocan  na'm  ban."     This  is  its  story  : — 


60  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 


SGEUL   CNOCAN    NAM    BAN. 

"  Bha  bean  ann  an  so  aig  an  robh  paisde.  Thugadh  air  falbh- 
h-aon  no  dithis  do  na  paisdean  a  bha  aice  leis  na  sithicheau.. 
Bhithte'  faire  nam  paisdean  a  nuair  sin  air  eagal  mu  'n  toirte  air 
falbh  iad.  Thubhairt  fear  an  tighe  nach  leigeadh  e  le  duine  sam 
bith  faire  a  dheamah  ach  e  fein  an  ofclhche  sin.  Gus  a  chumail 
na  fhaire  thug  e  leis  noigean  agus  fhuair  e  sgian  agus  bha  e 
snaidheidh  a  chearcail  gus  a  chuir  air.  Chual  e  aon  che61  bu. 
bhoidhche  a  chual  e  riamh.  Cha  b'  urrainn  se  e  fein  a  chumail 
'na  fhaireachadh  aig  a  cheol.  Bha  'n  ceol  ga  chuir  na  chadal. 
Chaidh  an  sgian  na  laimh,  agus  dhuisg  sin  e,  agus  chaidh  e  gus. 
an  dorus.  Bha  e  'g  eisdeachd  ris  a'  cheol  aig  an  dorus.  '  'S 
maith  dhuit  gur  h-ann  agamsa  'bha  'n  saighead  thubhairt  fear  da- 
na  sithichean  ris,  '  No  cha  robh  thusa  an  sin  an  nochd.  Agus 
mar  chomharra,'  ars'  esan,  '  seall  agus  chi  thu  an  coilleach  marbh 
air  an  sparr."  Chaidh  an  duine  agus  thug  e  leis  solus  agus  fhuair 
e  mar  thubhairteadh  ris,  bha  an  coilleach  marbh  air  an  sparr. 
Cha  do  chuir  iad  riamh  dragh  tuilleadh  air  an  teaghlach  sin,  bho- 
'n  rinn  e  fein  faire." 


TRANSLATION    OF   THE   TALE   OF   THE   WOMEN  S    HILLOCK. 

"  There  was  a  woman  here  that  had  a  child.  One  or  two  of  the 
children  which  she  had  were  taken  away  by  the  fairies.  The 
children  used  to  be  watched  then  for  fear  that  they  would  be 
taken  away.  The  man  of  the  house  said  that  he  would  not  let 
anyone  watch  on  that  night  but  himself.  To  keep  himself' 
wakeful,  he  took  a  wooden  pail,  and  he  got  a  knife  and  began 
whittling  a  ring  to  put  on  it.  And  he  heard  the  sweetest  music 
he  ever  heard.  He  could  not  keep  himself  awake  for  the  music. 
The  music  was  lulling  him  to  sleep.  The  knife  went  into  his 
hand,  and  that  woke  him,  and  he  went  to  the  door  and  was 
listening  to  the  music  at  the  door.  '  It  is  good  for  you  that  it  was 
I  that  had  the  arrow,'  said  one  of  the  fairies  to  him,  *  else  you 
had  not  been  there  to  night,  and  as  a  sign,'  said  he,  *  look  and  you 
will  see  the  cock  dead  on  the  perch.'  The  man  went  and  took  a 
light,  and  he  found  as  was  said  to  him — the  cock  was  dead. 
They  never  troubled  that  family  again,  as  the  man  himself  had! 
watched." 


Jottings  from  West  Kintyre.  61 

Near  "  Cnocan  nam  ban"  is  "  Cnocan  na  cainntearachd,"1  so 
•called  from  the  sound  of  discourse  or  music  which  the  quick  ear 
-of  imagination  heard  proceeding  from  the  knowe.  One  wonders 
whether  the  eloquence  and  music  with  which  fairy  hills  were  sup- 
posed to  be  replete  accounts  for  the  saying  "  cho  glic  ri  cnoc," 
"  as  wise  as  a  hillock."  As  these  two  knovves  are  not  far  apart, 
the  fairies  were  believed  to  pass  from  the  one  to  the  other  by 
secret  ways. 

To  the  south  of  the  island  of  Gigha,  which  is  separated  from 
the  west  coast  of  Kintyre  by  a  sound  about  3  miles  in  breadth,  is 
the  small  island  of  Cara.  It  is  about  1  mile  in  length,  and  over 
J  mile  from  side  to  side.  At  the  south  end  is  the  Mull  of  Cara,  a 
bold  headland  which  rises  abruptly  to  the  height  of  150  to  180 
feet.  Towards  the  centre  of  the  island  the  elevation  stands  at 
100  feet,  and  from  thence  the  ground  slopes  down  gradually  to  the 
sound  on  the  north.  The  outlines  of  the  island  are  such  as  to 
.give  it  a  remarkable  resemblance  to  a  body  laid  out  for  burial. 
Hence  the  name  "  An  caradh,"  the  laying  out,  which  now  takes 
the  form  Cara. 

The  island  is  at  present  inhabited  by  one  family,  and  that  a 
•small  one.  That  a  little  community  occupied  it  at  one  time  may 
be  surmised  from  the  fact  that  close  to  the  ample  dwelling-house, 
there  stand  the  ruins  of  a  diminutive  chapel.  This  romantic  little 
island  is  stocked  with  sheep,  goats,  and  deer.  But  what  specially 
invests  Cara  with  interest,  and  appeals  strongly  to  the  popular 
imagination,  is  its  reputation  as  the  home  of  the  brownie.  We 
have  been  told  that  the  origin  of  the  brownie  may  be  traced  to  a 
tragedy  in  which  one  of  the  Clan  Macdonald  fell  by  the  sword  of  a 
'Campbell.  For  what  reason,  it  does  not  appear,  the  slaughtered 
Macdonald  took  the  form  of  the  brownie.  His  friendship  for  the 
•clan  is  one  of  his  most  distinctive  peculiarities.  It  is  said  that  on 
one  occasion  Macdonald  of  Largie,  the  proprietor  of  the  island, 
sent  his  boat  and  crew  across  to  fetch  a  cask  of  wine  from  the 
cellar  of  Cara  house.  Arriving  at  their  destination,  the  men  were 
so  unwise  as  to  offend  the  brownie  in  some  way  or  other.  They 
•descended  into  the  cellar,  and  laid  a  plank  in  position  whereon  to 
roll  the  cask  of  wine  up  to  the  low  storey  of  the  house.  But  they 

1  An  old  farmer  in  the  district  told  me  that  in  ploughing  here,  many 
years  ago,  he  turned  up  a  great  quantity  of  broken  pottery.  As  he  expressed 
it,  "  Bha  Chriosdachd  a  phigcachan  ann."  Doubtless  there  was  here  ao 
ancient  burying-place  containing  urns  such  as  are  frequently  associated  witli 
places  of  this  kind.  A  lingering  tradition  that  it  was  a  pagan  burying-place 
may  account  for  its  being  connected  later  with  the  fairies. 


62  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

reckoned  without  their  host.  When  they  came  to  handle  the  cask,, 
they  found  that  lead  could  not  be  heavier.  Do  all  they  could,, 
they  were  not  able  so  much  as  to  move  it.  Discovering  their- 
mistake,  they  forthwith  began  to  make  overtures  of  peace  to  the 
brownie.  Apologies  and  expressions  of  regret  were  freely  offered, 
and  then  they  betook  themselves  to  their  task  again.  No  sooner 
had  they  touched  the  cask  than  it  ran^  up  the  plank  of  itself,  out 
at  the  door,  rolled  down  helter  skelter  to  the  sea,  clearing  banks 
and  bounding  over  rocks,  and  never  halted  until  it  reached  the 
spot  where  the  boat  was  moored  at  the  shore. 

On  another  occasion  Macdonald  of  Largie  challenged  a  lowland 
crew  to  a  rowing  match  against  a  home  crew.  They  were  four- 
a-side,  with  one  at  the  helm.  The  match  came  off  near  Cara.  So- 
complete  and  easy  was  the  victory  of  the  home  crew  as  to  warrant 
a  general  belief  that  the  brownie  was  towing  their  boat. 

It  is  told  how  the  Cara  herd  and  his  wife  were  one  day  burning 
kelp,  and  they  sent  the  servant  girl  to  drive  the  cow  into  the- 
byre.  She  searched  the  whole  island  for  the  cow,  but  all  in  vain 
— the  cow  was  not  to  be  found.  At  last  the  cow  was  found  in  the 
byre,  the  door  of  which  was  secured  on  the  outside  as  usual.  It 
was,  of  course,  attributed  to  the  brownie. 

The  brownie  has  the  reputation  of  being  a  capricious  sprite. 
He  is  a  good  hater,  but,  when  in  the  humour  of  it,  a  most  willing 
and  helpful  servant.  The  story  goes  that  domestic  servants, 
oppressed  with  the  prospect  of  much  serving,  have  found  the  work 
somehow  taken  out  of  their  hands.  Mysterious  sounds  were  heard 
after  the  inmates  of  the  house  had  retired  to  rest.  Unseen  hands- 
plied  their  labours ;  confusion  gave  place  to  order.  Tables  were 
cleared,  kitchen  utensils  scoured,  dishes  washed  and  laid  in  appro- 
priate places,  none  who  were  not  in  the  secret  of  the  brownie's 
ways  knew  how.  A  herd  who  lived  at  one  time  on  the  island 
always  spoke  of  the  brownie  as  "the  gentleman."  But  woe  betide 
any  one  who  incurred  his  displeasure.  A  domestic  servant 
has  been  known  to  do  this,  with  the  result  that  grievous  bodily 
chastisement  was  inflicted  upon  her  when  the  brownie  got  his. 
opportunity. 

It  is  told  that  on  one  occasion  a  feast  was  about  to  be  given 
in  Cara.  Among  the  invited  were  some  who  were  obnoxious 
to  the  brownie.  On  hospitable  thoughts  intent,  the  good  wife  of 
the  house,  going  to  the  press  to  bring  forth  the  provisions  laid 
past  for  the  visitors,  found,  to  her  consternation,  that  the  press 
door  would  not  open.  She  rugged  and  tugged,  but  all  to  no 
effect.  At  last,  stamping  her  foot  on  the  floor,  she  said  sternly, 


Jottings  from  West  Kintyre.  6& 

"  Do  you  mean  to  put  me  to  shame  in  the  presence  of  the  people 
who  are  coming  V  when,  hey,  presto  !  without  any  more  ado  the 
cupboard  door  swung  open. 

Of  the  brownie  it  may  be  said,  without  any  great  stretch  of 
imagination,  that  he  is  "  monarch  of  all  he  surveys" — in  Cara  at 
least.  To  match  his  dignity,  therefore,  it  will  surprise  no  one  to . 
learn  that  he  is  the  possessor  of  a  kind  of  throne  called  "  the 
brownie's  chair."  It  is  such  a  chair  as  we  might  expect  a  rustic 
sprite  to  choose  for  resting  on.  It  is  rude  and  solid,  formed  by  a 
ledge  in  the  rock,  and  poised  at  a  considerable  altitude.  Visitors 
rarely  land  in  Cara  for  the  first  time  without  sitting  in  the 
brownie's  chair,  nor  have  we  ever  heard  that  he  resented  this 
intrusion. 

WELLS. 

Near  Port  an  Duin,  already  referred  to,  there  gushes  from  the 
foot  of  a  rock  quite  close  to  the  sea  a  well  called  "  Tobar  na 
Foinneachan,"  or  the  Well  of  the  Warts.  It  was  said  to  have 
healing  properties,  which  effectually  removed  these  excrescences. 

On  the  farm  of  Barrmains  there  is  another  well  credited  with 
healing  virtues.  It  is  called  "  Tobar  Mhiceil"  or  Michael's  well. 
Close  to  it  is  a  heap  of  small  white  pebbles.  Doubtless  these 
constituted  the  offerings  of  persons  seeking  relief  from  their 
sufferings  at  the  well. 

There  was  found  in  cleaning  out  "  Tobar  an  t-Sagairt,"  the 
Priest's  well,  or  wishing  well,  which  at  one  time  supplied  water  to 
the  Church  of  St  Kenneth  or  Kilchenzie,  a  square  dressed  piece  of 
silver  mica,  2J  by  3J  by  J  inch,  perforated  in  centre,  and  with 
two  incised  concentric  rings.  On  the  inner  ring  are  seven 
punctured  holes,  and  immediately  outside  the  outer  ring  are  nine 
larger  holes.  The  opposite  side  of  the  stone  is  ornamented  with 
an  inner  circle  of  nineteen  small  punctures  (but  without  incised 
ring),  and  an  outer  circle  of  twelve  large  punctures.  Unfortu- 
nately, one  corner  of  the  stone  was  damaged  by  the  Workmen's 
tools.  The  stone  was  probably  connected  with  charm  working, 
and  was  thrown  into  the  well  for  benefits  hoped  for  or  received. 
The  water  of  the  well  was  believed  to  have  great  healing  power, 
provided  the  patient  possessed  sufficient  faith,  and  performed  all 
the  necessary  rites  correctly,  one  of  which  was  the  throwing  of  a 
white  stone  or  other  offering  into  the  well. 

A  small  square  block  of  white  sandstone,  with  a  socket-hole  on 
upper  surface,  probably  a  stand  for  a  cross  or  small  image,  was 
also  found  in  the  well.  We  have  quoted  from  the  account  given 
in  a  local  newspaper  of  this  find.  The  articles  mentioned  are  in 
the  Campbeltown  Museum. 


:64  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

We  have  been  told  that  a  man  who  dwelt  in  this  parish, 
believing  that  it  would  restore  him  to  health  when  he  was  dying, 
desired  to  drink  of  the  water  of  this  well  or  of  the  water  of 
41  Tobar  a  chath,"  the  battle  well,  close  to  it,  as  David  longed  to 
drink  of  the  water  of  the  well  of  Bethlehem. 

PLACE-NAME^* 

The  names  in  this  district,  pointing  to  ecclesiastical  founda- 
tions, are  Killean,  Kilchenzie,  Kilmory,  Kilmaluag,  Killegruir, 
Killocraw,  and  Kilmahoe. 

Killean  (Cill-Sheathain),  the  Cell  or  Church  of  St  John.  The 
same  name  is  found  in  Oa,  Islay,  and  in  Sutherlandshire.  At 
Killean  there  are  the  ruins  of  a  pre-Reformation  church,  and  also 

•  several  sculptured  stones. 

Kilchenzie  (Cill-Chaineach),  the  Church  of  St  Kenneth),  who 
'was  born  in  Co.  Deny,  died  517.  He  laboured  in  the  Western 
Islands  and  in  Ireland.  At  Kilchenzie  also  there  are  the  ruins  of 
a  pre-Reformation  church. 

Kilmory  (Cill-Mhuire),  the  Church  of  the  Virgin  Mary. 

Kilmaluag  (Cill-Moluoc),  the  Church  of  Moluoc,  bishop  and 
confessor,  died  June  25th,  .r>77.  Connected  with  Lismore  and 
buried  at  Rosemarchy.  Many  churches  dedicated  to  him.  The 
bachul  mor,  or  great  staff  or  crosier  of  the  saint,  is  in  the 
possession  of  the  Duke  of  Argyll. 

Killegruir  (Cill  a'  chruithfhear),  the  church  of  the  Creator.  So 
we  understand  it,  though  we  cannot  quote  an  authority  for  it. 

Killarrow  (Cill-Maelrubha),  the  Church  of  Maelrubha,  abbot, 
born  January  3rd,  642,  died  April  21st,  722.  Descended  of  Irish 
and  Dalriadian  stock.  Founded  Church  in  Appincrossan,  now 
Applecross,  said  to  have  been  a  second  lona.  This  saint's  name 
underwent  great  changes,  such  as  Mulruby,  Marrow,  Mury, 
Arrow  and  Olrow. 

Kilmahoe  (Cill-na-hough?),  the  church  of  the  hough  or  lowland. 
The  found  of  a  small  chapel  has  been  traced  here,  and  a  cist  was 
discovered  near  it. 

Killocraw,  pronounced  Cill  o'  Craich.  We  are  at  a  loss  to 
account  for  this,  as  Celtic  hagiology  does  not,  as  far  as  we  know, 
furnish  a  name  to  which  it  can  be  referred.  Was  this  a  dedica- 
tion to  some  ecclesiastic  unknown  to  fame,  named  0'  Crath  or  0' 

•  Crach  ? 


Jottings  from  West  Kin  tyre.  65 

The  following  are  place-names  of  the  district  referred  to  : — 

Achadaduie  (Ach  fada  dubh). 

Arinanuan  (Airidh  nan  nan),  the  sheiling  of  the  lambs. 

Balevain  (Bale  mheadhon),  middle  town. 

Balnagleck  (Bale  na  glaic),  town  of  the  hollow. 

Barr,  a  hill  top. 

Barlea  (Barr  liath),  the  gray  hill  top. 

Baruchdarach,  the  upper  hill  top. 

Barragm6nachach,  the  little  peaty  hill  top. 

Blary  (Blar  field  and  i?),  island  probably  so  called  because 
enclosed  on  two  sides  by  Barr  river  and  stream. 

Breckachy  (Brec  achadh),  spotted  field. 

Cleit.  (a  rock  or  cliff),  trap  dykes  at  the  place. 

Cnoc  an  rois  (Rosshill),  the  hill  of  the  point. 

Beachmore,  the  big  birch. 

Beachmeanach  (Beauhmeadhonach),  the  middle  birch. 

Beachar  (Beath  a  charragh),  the  birch  of  the  pillar,  so  called 
from  monolith  that  crowns  the  hill. 

Creagruadh,  red  rock. 

Dalmore,  the  big  plain. 

Drumnamucklach  (Druim  nam  mulo  chlach),  the  ridge  of  the 
stone  lumps. 

Dunashery  (Dun  aisridh)  the  fort  of  the  hill. 

Gaigen  (Gagan),  ths  little  cleft.  On  each  side  of  the  place  is  a 
deep  fissure. 

Garvolt  (Garradb  mholt),  the  wedder  copse  or  den. 

Glencloioi  (Gleann  clach  a  gheoidh).  the  glen  of  the  goose  stone. 

Gortinanaue  (Goirtean  nan  eun),  the  birds'  paddock. 

Glemtcardoch  (Gleann  na  ceardach),  the  smithy  glen. 

Langa  (Lann  ath),  the  church  stream  ;  the  place  is  situated 
beside  a  stream  that  runs  past  Kilchenzie  Church. 

Largy  (Lairig),  sloping  hill  or  hill  aide. 

Lagalgarve  (lagan  garbh),  the  rough  little  hollow. 

Lenanmore  (Lean  mor),  the  big  meadow. 

Tangy  (Tcaiiga),  tongue.  The.  configuration  of  the  land  exactly 
resembles  a  tongue. 

Bhunahaorine  (Rudha  na  aoireann),  the  point  of  the  beach  or  of 
the  low-lying  land  near  the  sea  ;  aoireann,  from  Norse  "  eyrr,"  a 
beach. 

There  are  also  Peninirine  (Peghinn  nan  aoiream),  Aoireann 
jil  Ibhir  and  Aoireann  a  bhalla  (the  beach  of  the  wall),  at 
t:  annUist,  Kilberry,  Tarbat,  and  Lochfyne  respectively. 


66  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness, 

Between  Killocraw  and  Putechan  there  is  a  stream  spanned  by 
a  high  narrow  bridge  over  which  the  old  road  passed.  Here,  it 
is  said,  two  funeral  processions  once  met.  Both  companies  had 
been  indulging  freely  in  drink.  It  was  necessary  that  one  party 
should  stand  aside  while  the  other  crossed  the  bridge,  but  neither 
was  in  the  temper  to  give  way.  A  battle  there  and  then  began, 
in  which  many  fell  on  both  sides.  A  memorial  of  the  disaster  is 
preserved  in  the  name  of  the  stream^-"  Allt-na-dunach,"  or  the 
stream  of  misfortune. 

It  is  said  that  a  tenant  of  Killocraw  gave  some  man  a  piece  of 
ground  to  cultivate  for  himself.  It  was  supposed  that  he  happened 
to  light  upon  a  place  where  there  were  human  remains,  either  a 
burying-place  of  the  usual  kind  or  an  old  battlefield.  Whatever 
it  was  that  the  man  saw  or  felt,  he  struck  the  spade  into  the 
ground,  went  home,  fell  sick,  and  died.  He  paid  the  last  penalty 
for  desecrating  the  ground. 


8th  FEBRUARY,  1895. 
TWENTY-THIRD  ANNUAL  DINNER. 

The  twenty-third  annual  dinner  of  the  Society  took  place 
in  the  Caledonian  Hotel  this  evening.  In  the  absence, 
owing  to  illness,  of  Mr  Charles  Fraser-Mackintosh  of  Drummond, 
Chief  of  the  Society,  Provost  Ross  presided.  The  croupiers  were 
Mr  Alexander  Macbain,  M.A.,  and  Mr  Alexander  Mackenzie, 
publisher.  There  were  about  fifty  gentlemen  present,  in- 
cluding : — Mr  William  Mackay,  solicitor,  hon.  secretary ;  Rev. 
Mr  Macdonald,  Killearnan ;  Rev.  Mr  Macdonald,  Kiltarlity  ; 
Mr  Steele,  Bank  of  Scotland  ;  Mr  Robertson,  H.M.I.S. ; 
Mr  John  Ross,  Stornoway ;  Mr  Machardy,  chief  constable  ;  Mr  W. 
G.  Stuart,  Mr  Wm.  Mackenzie,  clothier  ;  Mr  Fraser  of  Millburn  ; 
Mr  Macleod,  fishmonger ;  Mr  W.  Macdonald,  contractor ;  Mr 
Medlock,  jeweller;  Mr  George  Ross,  solicitor;  Mr  F.  Grant, 
solicitor ;  Mr  J.  S.  Fraser,  solicitor  ;  Mr  Stronach,  assistant, 
H.M.I.S. ;  Mr  Macgregor,  Bank  of  Scotland  ;  Mr  Macgillivray,  do.; 
Mr  Alex.  Fraser,  Balloch ;  Mr  J.  Macbean.  of  Messrs  Ferguson  & 
Macbean  ;  Mr  Macleod,  Drumsmittal ;  Mr  Keeble,  Church  Street ; 
Mr  Henry  Munro,  Union  Street ;  Dr  F.  M.  Mackenzie  ;  Mr  Mac- 
kenzie, fishmonger ;  Mr  Fraser,  Upper  Kessock  Street ;  Mr  Alex. 
Macdonald,  Tomnahurich  Street ;  Mr  Wark,  Lancashire  Insurance 
Coy.  ;  Mr  Alex.  Fraser,  Tomnahurich  Street;  Mr  Davidson,  Union 


Annual  Dinner.  67 

Street;  Mr  D.  M.  Cameron,  Dempster  Gardens;  Mr  Findlater,  of 
Macdonald  &  Mackintosh;  Mr  Duncan  Campbell,  Craignish  ;  Mr 
Livingston,  Helenslea ;  Mr  Nairne,  and  others.  The  assembled 
.gentlemen  marched  to  the  dining  room,  headed  by  the  gifted  piper 
to  the  Society,  Mr  Ronald  Mackenzie,  Gordon  Castle,  pipe-major. 
Mr  Mackenzie  played  stirring  and  well-selected  music  during 
the  dinner,  also  after  many  of  the  toasts,  and  was  frequently 
applauded. 

The  Chairman,  who  was  received  with  applause,  gave  the 
customary  loyal  and  patriotic  toasts,  which  were  pledged  with 
enthusiasm. 

Captain  Findlater,  1st  V.B.C.H.,  replied  for  the  Auxiliary' 
Forces,  which,  he  said,  were  never  in  a  more  prosperous  state  than 
at  present,  especially  the  Highland  Battalions.  Than  the  3rd 
Seaforth  and  the  2nd  Camerons,  there  were  no  finer  Battalions 
in  the  British  Isles,  and  they  knew  what  a  splendid  Brigade  was 
the  Highland  Artillery.  That  remark  was,  he  thought,  equally 
applicable  to  the  Infantry  Volunteers.  Their  Brigade  was  up  to 
its  full  strength,  and  they  intended  to  have  a  Brigade  camp  this 
year,  although  the  time  and  place  had  not  yet  been  decided. 
They  looked  forward  to  having  a  line  regiment  at  the  camp,  and 
he  believed  that  if  that  were  introduced,  it  was  calculated  to  do  a 
great  deal  of  good — (hear,  hear).  Considering  the  out-door  games 
•that  were  now  pursued,  Captain  Findlater  thought  it  was  a 
wonder  that  volunteering  had  kept  up  so  well.  Much,  however, 
remained  to  be  done  by  the  War  Office,  such  as  paying 
travelling  expenses  to  the  Volunteers. 

Mr  Duncan  Mackintosh,  secretary  to  the  Society,  then  read  a  long 
list  of  apologies  for  absence  from  members  of  the  Society,  and  sub- 
mitted the  annual  report  of  the  Executive,  which  was  as  follows  : — 
The  Council  have  pleasure  in  reporting  that  the  prosperity  and 
usefulness  of  the  Society  continue  to  increase.  During  the  past 
year,  two  life  members  and  sixteen  ordinary  members  had  joined 
the  Society,  and  the  membership  now  stood  as  follows : — 30  life 
members,  56  honorary  members,  and  367  ordinary  members — in 
all,  453.  Volume  XIX.  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Society  would 
be  forwarded  to  the  members  in  a  few  days,  bringing  the  publica- 
tion of  their  proceedings  down  to  the  beginning  of  the  present 
session.  The  income  aud  expenditure  for  the  year  showed  a 
balance  to  the  credit  of  the  Society  of  £55  2s  Id.  Out  of  that 
•sum,  however,  there  fell  to  bo  paid  the  cost  of  printing  and 
binding  Volume  XIX.  The  Council  had  to  acknowledge  a  further 
•contribution  of  £5  towards  the  printing  account  from  Mr  Mackay, 


68  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Hereford— (applause).  They  had  to  regret  the  recent  death  of  the- 
Rev.  A.  D.  Mackenzie,  Kilmoarck,  who  delivered  the  inaugural 
address  to  the  Society. 

The  Chairman  said — We  have  had  a  most  satisfactory  report,. 
and  it  now  falls  to  me  to  propose  the  toast  of  the  evening, 
"  Success  to  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness"— (applause).  This  is 
now  the  23rd  anniversary  of  its  existence,  and  I  am  glad  to  say 
that  we  may  congratulate  ourselves  onjtontinued  success,  and  look 
with  some  pride  on  the  good  work  of  past  years.  Vol.  XIX., 
which  is  now  placed  in  your  hands,  is  not  a  whit  behind  the 
former  ones  in  interest  and  value,  though  the  second  volume  in. 
one  year.  The  members  of  the  Society  continue  to  increase  in 
numbers  and  influence,  its  fame  is  spreading  far  and  wide,  and  the 
number  of  members  is  now  450,  and  the  Society  of  Inverness  is- 
being  taken  as  a  model  for  other  kindred  societies— (applause). 
Apart  from  the  more  immediate  work  of  the  Society,  the  individual 
members  are  doing  good  work — a  splendid  example  being  the 
volume  on  Glen-Urqulmrt  by  our  honorary  secretary,  Mr  William 
Mackay,  and  we  are  promised  more  in  Presbytery  Records  of 
Inverness  and  Dingwall  by  the  same  writer.  Mr  Macbain  also 
shows  good  work  in  his  Gaelic  Dictionary,  now  nearly  ready.  Dr 
Maccallum  also  gives  us  a  collection  of  Hymns  and  Spiritual 
Songs  ;  many  other  works  arc  announced — notably  that  of  Mr 
Macdonald,  Kiltarlity,  who  gives  a  collection  of  Uist  Songs,  &c. 
It  is  difficult  year  by  year  "to  address  the  Society  on  the  same 
subject,  and  I  may  be  pardoned  a  few  words  on  the  present  condi- 
tion of  the  country  from  a  social  point  of  view.  I  think  the 
condition  of  the  Highlands  is  generally  a  matter  for  congratula- 
tion ;  for  although  times  have  been  somewhat  hard,  yet  we  have 
not  felt  the  commercial  pinch  so  much  as  our  neighbours  in  the 
South,  nor  have  our  pastoral  farms  been  so  ruinously  affected  as 
our  agricultural  ones.  During  the  past  season  work  has  been 
plentiful  throughput  the  Highlands,  and  our  railway  extension  lias 
given  employment  to  many,  producing  thereby  comfort  and  con- 
tent, and  with  this  employment  arid  steady  labour  there  is  loss 
unrest  and  discontent  than  has  been  exhibited  for  some  years 
back — (hear,  hear).  One  irivat  factor  in  ameliorating  the  condi- 
tion of  the  schools  in  the  Highlands  has  been  the  great  educational 
movement ;  our  youths  arc  now  able  to  enter  the  lists  with  our 
southern  neighbours,  and  I  hope  to  see  the  higher  grade  of  our 
Civil  Service  rilled  to  a  greater  extent  with  native  Highlanders  than 
has  hitherto  been  the  case.  It  has  struck  me  and  many  others 
that  our  Civil  Service,  such  as  the  Inland  Revenue  and  Excise,  are 


Annual  Dinner.  69 

largely  made  up  of  Englishmen  and  Irishmen,  and  that  in  the  large 
staff  of  their  officials  now  in  Inverness,  the  percentage  of  High- 
landers and  even  Scotchmen  is  very  small.     Now,  why  should  this 
be  ?     These  services  are  well  paid  and  carry  a  pension,  yet  cur 
Highland  youth  have  failed  to  secure  their  fair  share  of  them.   No 
doubt,  to  a  large  extent  the  Highland  youths  have  been  debarred 
by  the  difficulties  of  preliminary  training,  the  distance  of   the 
examination  stations,  and  the  want  of  information  as  uo  the  mode 
of  procedure,  but  with  our  secondary  schools  and  the  establish- 
ment of  examining  stations  at  Inverness,  Portree,  and  Stornoway, 
it  is  to  be  hoped  that  a  new  era  will  dawn  fer  our  young  men,  and 
that  many  may  succeed  in  getting  some  of  the  good  things  hitherto 
unobtainable  by  them.     Through  the  intervention  of  the  Scottish 
Education   Department,    important  concessions  have  been  made, 
.and  the  three  Northern  centres  referred  to  will  become  available 
to  our  country  lads  near   home  for  education   and  examination, 
instead  of  their  travelling  away  South  at  a  great  expense  and 
inconvenience,   with  possible  failure  and    disappointment   before 
them.     I   am   glad   to   say,    however,    that   where   the    venture 
was    made    success   has    crowned    the    effort ;    and   I   have    no 
fear  of  the   Highland  youths — they   came  to   the   front   in   the 
military  service  of  their  country,   and  brought  home  laurels  of 
honour  to  their  home  and  name,  and   I  cannot  think  that  they 
will  do  less  in  the  Civil  Service  than  they  did  in  the  military. 
All  that  is  wanted  is  that  a  regular  system  of  training  should  be 
established  in  our  local  schools  to  enable  the  young  men  to  take 
advantage  of  this  concession.     I   understand  that  the  Inverness 
School  Board  are  about  to  start  special  classes  for  the  purpose,  and 
no  doubt  the  other  centres  will  follow  suit ;  and  when  the  impor- 
tance of  the  movement  is  realised,  the  Highland  youths  will  come 
to  the  front  and  secure  their  fair  share  of  the  good  things  going. 
'The  success  of  our  Society  and  those  already  in  operation  seems  to 
have  stimulated  others  in  the  movement,  and  I  note  the  formation 
of  several  other  societies,  notably  one  in  Aberdeen,  the  prospectus 
for  which  has  just  reached  me,   and    I    heartily   concur   in  the 
scheme,  and  wish  them  success  in  the  extension  of  those  national 
and  patriotic  societies.     Aberdeen  is  a  place  where  such  a  society 
should  have  flourished  long  ago.     A  large  number  of  Highland 
y  ouths  have  annually  flocked  there  to  attend  the  College  classes, 
and  nowhere  could  a  society  such  as  ours  do  so  much  to  assist  the 
young  student  and  foster  a  feeling  of  brotherhood  amongst  true 
Highlanders.     Aberdeen  has  been  a  centre  of  education  for  the 
North  of  Scotland  for  centuries,  and  I  am  sure  we  wish  a  Society 
such  as  ours  every  success  in  the  Granite  City.     I  was  amused  to 


70  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

see  after  an  influential  committee,  and  the  Marquis  of  Huntly  as 
Chieftain,  a  following  of  no  less  than  12  pipers.  We  have  few 
losses  to  record  by  death,  but  there  is  one  notable  Highlander  who 
has  disappeared  from  our  midst.  I  mean  Macleod  of  Macleod.  I 
can  recollect  hearing  of  his  generosity  and  self-sacrifice  in  the 
terrible  year  of  1845-46,  when  the  Highlands  suffered  from  the 
potato  blight,  and  how  he  came  to  the  front  and  helped  his  people. 
We  have  heard  that  many  gentlemeff  have  been  prevented  by 
health  and  weather  from  attending  our  meeting  to-night,  and  we 
miss  many  old  faces,  yet,  at  the  same  time,  it  is  pleasing  to  observe 
their  places  all  filled  by  capable  and  enthusiastic  young  members, 
and  it  augurs  well  for  the  future  of  the  Society.  I  hope  these 
juniors  will  walk  in  the  footsteps  of  their  fathers,  and  keep  afloat, 
both  by  their  presence,  and  more  particularly  by  their  writings 
and  contributions,  the  traditions  and  happy  associations  of  the 
olden  time,  for  it  is  not  enough  that  you  should  come  here  to- 
enjoy  yourselves,  but  each  one  of  you  could  and  ought  to  do  some 
work  for  the  Society,  and  contribute  to  this  Society,  and  thus  help 
to  the  preservation  of  the  lore  and  records  of  the  past. 

The  toast  was  pledged  with  Highland  honours. 

Rev.  Mr  Macdonald,  Kiltarlity,  in  proposing  the  Language  and 
Literature  of  the  Gael,  said  it  was  a  theme  of  surpassing  interest 
to  every  true  Highlander,  and  proceeded  : — As  loyal  sons  of 
Caledonia  we  love  the  language  of  our  sires,  the  language  of 
sweetest  minstrelsy  and  most  fascinating  romance,  which  speaks  to. 
the  Highland  heart  in  accents  more  tender  and  winsome  than  any 
other  language  beneath  the  sun.  If  we  forget  the  mountain 
tongue,  the  dear  old  speech  of  Scotia's  bards  and  heroes,  may  our 
right  hand  forget  its  cunning.  We  reverence  the  venerable  Gaelic 
language  because  it  is  venerable.  The  time  of  the  first  great 
Celtic  movement  westward  from  the  Aryan  cradle  of  our  race  is 
buried  in  the  mists  of  a  dim  and  hoary  antiquity.  But  we  know 
that  the  Gael  was  the  pioneer  of  that  movement,  that  he  swept  out 
of  his  way  the  pre-historic  races  of  Europe,  and  that  at  last  he- 
penetrated  to  our  British  shores.  He  has  left  footprints  in  many 
European  lands,  and  the  testimony  of  numerous  place  names 
proclaims  to  the  traveller  that  the  "ancient  Gael  passed  by  that 
way.  Hence,  whether  or  not  we  agree  with  my  poetic  clansman 
Alexander  Macdonald,  that  the  progenitor  of  humanity  couched  his- 
conjugal  endearments  in  the  language  of  the  Gael,  the  results  of 
modern  research  leave  no  doubt  as  to  its  great  antiquity.  Judging 
from  its  structure  and  genius,  we  conclude  that  it  has  floated  for 
many  and  many  an  age  down  the  stream  of  history — that  its  life- 


Annual  Dinner.  71 

may  be  counted  by  milleniums,  and  that  its  birth-place  is  very  far 
up  those  everlasting  hills  of  time  whence  the  river  of  human  speech 
has  sprung.  The  antiquity  of  the  venerable  language  of  the  Gael 
is  at  once  its  weakness  and  its  strength.  It  was  born  too  early, 
perhaps,  in  the  history  of  the  world  to  be  able  successfully  to 
grapple  with  the  manifold  requirements  of  our  complex  modern 
life.  The  English  language  came  into  being,  and  underwent  the 
process  of  being  shaped  at  a  time  when  the  human  spirit  was 
awakening  to  many  of  the  great  problems  of  nature  and  life,  and 
for  that  reason,  among  others,  its  genius  adapts  it  for  the  formation 
of  abstract  terms,  and  for  processes  of  analysis,  generalisation,  and 
research.  For  commerce,  science,  and  philosophy,  the  masterful 
tongue  of  the  Saxon  serves  us  well.  Our  mother  tongue  is  a 
language  of  the  world's  youth,  when  the  mind  looked  out  at 
nature,  as  upon 

"  The  scenery  of  a  fairy  dream." 

It  abounds  in  concrete  rather  than  abstract  terms — it  is  the  speech 
of  passion,  pathos,  and  fancy — the  speech  of  poetry  rather  than 
of  science ;  and  thus  it  is  that  in  this  age  of  toiling  hands  and 
brains,  the  language  which  was  born  when  the  world  was  young, 
has  in  many  relations  to  give  way  to  the  language  of  the  world's 
manhood.  But  if  we  turn  aside  from  the  world's  thoroughfares 
into  the  byways  of  domestic  life,  or  if  we  go  forth  into  those 
stirring  fields  where  the  trumpet  speaks  to  the  armed  throng, 
scenes  in  which  the  heart  utters  itself  and  the  passions  of  the  soul 
are  called  into  play,  where  can  we  find  a  more  fit  exponent  of  the 
thoughts  that  arise  in  us  than  this  old  tongue  of  ours,  which  has 
in  it  the  "  glee  of  the  waterfall,  the  sighing  of  the  wind,  and  the 
sough  cf  the  forest?"  ,  He  who  would  sing,  whether  in  joyful 
strains  or  in  those  sweetest  songs  that  tell  of  saddest  thought, 
or  the 

"  Love-lorn  swain  in  lady's  bower," 

who  would  make  love  convincingly  and  successfully,  can  find  no 
lf>ys  more  capable  of  bearing  the  burden  of  his  heart  than  the 
minstrelsy  of  our  native  land.  And  as  the  antiquity  of  our  Gaelic 
speech  makes  it  strong  as  the  language  poetry,  so  has  it  also 
rendered  it  a  powerful  instrument  for  philological  research. 
Thanks  to  the  methodical  plodding  patient  Teuton  rather  than  to 
the  brilliant  emotional  but  not  too  persevering  Celt,  the  lamp  of 
Gaelic  learning  has  shed  a  most  interesting  light  upon  the  dim 
mazes  of  comparative  philology.  L  suppose  the  educated  Teuton 
of  to-day  will  admit  that  the  Gael  has  a  literature.  Ignorant 


72  Gaelic  Society  of  Inuerness. 

prejudice  on  this  subject  lias  been  hydra-headed  ;  contempt  of  the 
(Vlt  has,  undoubtedly,  been  very  hard  to  lull.  Yet  even  our 
devisers  have  not  always  been  consistent  in  their  contempt.  The 
stately  genius  of  England's  latest  laureate,  who  seldom  used 
>n  measured  terms,  allowed  itself  to  speak  in  "In  Memoriam  "  of 

"  The  schoolboy  heat, 
The  blind  hysterics  ofjhe  Celt." 

Yet  the  hero  on  whom  he  lavishes  the  lich  and  varied  resources  of 

his  genius — 

"  Who  reverenced  his  conscience  as  his  king, 
Whose  glory  was  redressing  human  wrong," 

was  Arthur,  the  Celtic  King  of  Strathclyde.  Similar  inconsistency  is 
perceptible  in  Dr  Johnson,  who  held  up  the  Celtic  race  and  literature 
to  ridicule,  and  yet  who  paid  them  a  great  but  not  undeserved  com- 
pliment in  the  most  famous  sentence  he  ever  penned.  It  is  too 
familiar  to  need  quotation.  It  has,  however,  been  well  remarked 
that  while  it  is  difficult  to  say  \\hat  force  the  doctor's  patriotism 
would  gather  upon  the  plains  of  Marathon — if  we  are  to  measure  his 
piety  by  his  truthfulness  on  Celtic  themes,  it  would  not  grow  very 
warm  among  the  ruins  of  lona.  Dr  Johnson's  famous  utterance 
contains  a  great  historical  truth.  While  the  ancestors  of  our 
proud  Norman  barons — those  of  Dr  Johnson,  Pinkerton,  et  hoc 
yenns  omne,  miserable  traducers  of  our  noble  race  —were  emerging 
out  of  barbarism  and  showing  their  superiority  as  a  people  by 
demolishing  monasteries  and  destroying  their  literary  treasures, 
Culdee  monks,  Gaelic  missionaries,  were  scattering  the  seeds  of 
learning  and  art  not  only  among  our  Celtic  forefathers  but  over 
many  European  lands.  Up  to  the  16th  century,  when  the  lord- 
ship of  the  Isles  collapsed,  and  the  strongest  bond  of  union  between 
the  Gael  of  Ireland  and  Scotland  departed,  the  language  and 
literature  of  the  two  countries  were  virtually  one.  Ancient  Gaelic 
literature  precedes  that  time.  In  Ireland  there  exists  in  manuscripts 
and  in  print  a  mass  of  literature  in  the  Gaelic  tongue  of  which 
any  country  might  be  proud.  In  Scotland  the  ancient 
literature  of  the  Gael  is  represented  by  MSS.,  almost  all  of 
which  are  preserved  in  the  Advocates'  Library — but  portions 
of  which  have  been  printed.  Modest  in  amount,  though 
valuable  in  character,  represented  by  such  works  as  the 
"  Book  of  the  Dean  of  Lismore"  and  other  MSS.,  published  and 
unpublished,  it  is  highly  probable  that  the  ancient  literature  of 
the  Scottish  Gael  which  exists  to-day  is  only  the  fragment  of  a 


Annual  Dinner.  73 

greater  literary  past — a  few  bits  of  precious  ore  preserved  out  of  a 
vast  mine  which  was  engulfed  by  the  ravages  of  Scandinavian 
marauders,  or  overwhelmed  by  that  tide  of  Saxon  influence  which 
began  to  flow  in  the  days  of  Malcolm  Canmore,  and  has  been 
flowing  ever  since.  Take,  however,  that  ancient  Gaelic  literature 
as  a  whole,  take  it  in  its  heroic  cycles — that  of  Cuchullin  with  the 
story  of  the  sons  of  Uisneachan  and  the  Ossianic  cycle— no  matter 
how  you  explain  their  origin  and  growth,  whether  they  are  the 
•Gaelic  development  of  the  wider  cycle  of  Aryan  myth  or  not ;  look 
at  them  in  their  higher  forms  and  phases  and  you  see  a  creative 
but  unconscious  art,  a  vividness  of  imagination,  a  pictureequeness 
of  fancy,  a  pathos  and  tenderness  of  emotion,  and  even  a  sublimity 
of  conception,  which,  combined  with  purity  of  moral  sentiment, 
reflect  lasting  glory  upon  the  heroic  literature  of  the  Gael.  In 
such  a  connection  a  passing  reference  to  that  comet  of  a  season, 
James  Macpherson,  is  inevitable.  I  use  the  word  comet  advisedly, 
because  his  orbit  was  decidedly  erratic,  and  he  introduced  terrible 
confusion  into  the  study  of  our  heroic  poetry.  A  poetic  genius 
undoubtedly  he  was;  for  his  Ossian  was  his  own,  and  not  that  of 
•Gaelic  tradition,  and  it  bears  the  same  relation  to  the  real  Ossianic 
cycle  as  Tennyson's  poems  on  the  "  Knights  of  the  Round  Table" 
to  Arthurian  legend  and  romance.  In  the  seventeenth  century, 
after  the  disappearance  of  the  strolling  singers,  a  school  of  native 
bards  arose,  who  sang  in  the  native  dialect  of  Scotland,  and  there 
is  to  some  extent  a  parting  of  the  ways  of  Irish  and  Scottish 
Gaelic  literature.  From  the  fallen  Lordship  of  the  Isles  down  to 
the  Rebellion  of  1745,  the  Highland  chiefs  and  clans  transferred 
their  allegiance  to  the  Stuart  dynasty.  In  spite  of  Lord  Mac- 
aulay's  ascription  of  sordid  motives,  a  disgraceful  insinuation 
echoed  by  feebler  voices,  and  notwithstanding  the  fatal  folly  of 
these  misguided  kings,  there  is  nothing,  in  my  opinion,  more 
chivalrous  in  modern  history  than  the  devotion  of  the  High- 
landers to  the  unfortunate  House  of  Stuart.  I  tell  you  that  when 
the  bribe  of  £30,000  was  flung  back  in  the  face  of  the  British 
Government  by  a  people  who,  though  poor,  had  still  a  sense  of 
honour,  and  when  the  whole  immortal  episode  was  crowned  by  the 
heroism  of  Flora  Macdonald,  the  Scottish. Gael  rose  to  a  height  of 
unselfish  devotion  which  will  be  recorded  with  honour  to  the  end 
of  time.  And  this  thrilling  period  of  Scottish  history  has  been 
voiced  melodiously  by  our  Highland  bards.  Much  of  our  Gaelic 
poetry  of  the  last  200  years  is  connected  with  these  struggles,  and 
the  bards  were  always  to  be  found  on  the  side  of  the  old  line  of 
kings  who,  whatever  were  their  faults,  were  the  legitimate  occu-' 


74  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

pants  of  the  ancient  Scottish  throne.  Of  the  varied  merits  of  the 
Jacobite  minstrelsy  of  the  Gael,  its  spirit,  its  enthusiasm,  its 
patriotic  fervour,  its  glowing  and  graceful  ardour,  I  have  no  time 
to  speak.  For  the  same  reason  I  can  only  refer  to  some  of 
tiie  greatest  masters  of  Gaelic  song  in  the  last  two  centuries — the 
feeling  for  nature  in  the  charming  songs  of  Donnacha  Ban,  the 
beauty  and  tenderness  of  William  Ross,  and  the  chaste  style, 
sparkling  fancy,  and  brilliant  wit  of  o^r  own  John  MacCodrum. 
I  wish  also  I  were  able  to  enlarge  upon  the  beauties  of  our  prose 
literature,  which,  though  limited  in  amount,  has  been  for  ever 
redeemed  from  commonplace  by  that  gem  among  books,  Caraid 
nan  Gaidkeal,  and  the  invaluable  tales  of  Campbell  of  Islay.  And 
now,  to  conclude,  I  am  to  couple  this  toast  with  the  name  of  a 
gentleman  to  whom  the  Celtic  world  is  deeply  indebted.  We 
know  how  much  Mr  Mackenzie  has  at  heart  the  social  advance- 
ment of  his  race,  and  we  know  what  yeoman  service  he  has 
rendered  in  his  sphere  of  Highland  historical  research.  In  a 
manner  that  has  won  the  admiration,  even  the  wronder  of 
all,  he  has  been  marshalling  the  clansmen  of  500  years,, 
and  still  that  prolific  and  unwearied  pen  runs  on,  and  we 
are  all  deep  in  the  interesting  Fraser  history  which  weekly  appears 
in  the  Scottish  Highlander,  Mr  Mackenzie's  services  to  Celtic 
literature  are  worthy  of  the  warmest  recognition  from  the  race  to 
which  he  belongs,  and  we  hope  he  may  live  long  to  serve  the  sons 
of  the  Gael. 

^  Mr  Alex.  Mackenzie,  in  the  course  of  his  reply,  recalled  the 
time  when  to  speak  in  Gaelic  to  any  gentleman  in  Inverness  was 
regarded  as  an  insult.  The  times  had  changed,  and  he  attributed 
the  change  very  much  to  the  influence  and  operations  of  the  Gaelic 
Society.  It  was  well  known  that  Lochiel's  boys  spoke  Gaelic  as 
well  as  he  (the  speaker)  did  himself ;  and  the  same  was  true  of 
Lord  Macdonald's  boys  and  The  Mackintosh  family,  while  as  for 
the  Duke  of  Atholl's  family  Gaelic  was  thoroughly  understood  as 
well  as  spoken.  As  regarded  the  language  generally,  there  had 
been  a  perfect  revolution  during  the  past  quarter  of  a  century. 
In  fact,  no  man  was  considered  respectable  unless  he  spoke  Gaelic. 
Mr  Duncan  Campbell  proposed  the  toast  of  Highland  Education, 
coupled  with  the  name  of  Mr  John  L.  Robertson,  H.M.I.S,  who,  he 
said,  was  a  good  Highlander  as  well  as  an  Inspector  of  Schools.  As- 
far  as  he,  himself,  was  concerned,  his  only  right  to  speak  to  the  toast 
was  that  he  happened  to  be  the  oldest  parish  schoolmaster  alive  in 
that  part  of  the  country.  He  began  in  1849.  Of  course  there 
*  was  a  sharp  contrast  between  the  past  and  the  present  systems, 


Annual  Dinner.  75. 

and  perhaps  the  change  in  every  respect  was  not  in  favour  of  the 
new  system.  He  had  been  reading  Ian  Maclaren's  book,  and  here 
he  might  parenthetically  say,  one  of  the  things  in  which  he  was 
in  accord  with  Mr  Gladstone,  was  his  appreciation  of  the  sketches 
of  character  the  reverend  author  gave.  Those  sketches,  particu- 
larly that  of  the  old  dominie,  brought  back  to  him  very  vividly 
the  life  in  Perthshire  of  the  large  class  of  old  schoolmasters  who 
dosed  their  pupils  heavily  with  Latin,  and  with  more  than  a 
sprinkling  of  Greek.  It  was  not  generally  considered  that  the 
parochial  schoolmasters  of  the  olden  days  were  thoroughly 
orthodox,  even  when  under  the  Society  for  Propagating  Christian 
Knowledge,  but  for  all  that  they  salted  the  education  they 
imparted  well  with  the  Shorter  Catechism  and  Scripture.  The 
S.P.C.K.  was  incorporated  in  1709  ;  and  the  other  day  he  noticed 
in  the  first  volume  of  the  Scots  Magazine  that  in  the  preceding 
year  there  were  40CO  children  in  113  schools.  In  later  days 
some  notable  schoolmasters  came  upon  the  scene,  such  men  as 
Dugald  Buchanan,  Rannoch,  and  other  characters  of  the  same 
kind,  who  had  no  objection  to  what  were  called  human  hymns  ; 
they  threw  their  religion  into  a  form  that  was  pleasant  and 
attractive,  and  made  the  children  learn  the  hymns.  He  thought 
such  men  as  Buchanan  did  more  for  true  Galvanism  in  the  High- 
lands than  the  Shorter  Catechism,  with  or  without  proofs.  After 
giving  some  other  critical  reminiscences  of  the  days  of  parochial 
education,  Mr  Campbell  concluded  by  submitting  the  toast. 

Mr  Robertson  said  public  officials  connected  with  the  civil 
service  were  not  supposed  to  give  any  deliverances  on  these 
subjects  in  public,  but  in  a  general  way  he  thought  it  was  interest- 
ing and  proper  for  officials  to  note,  at  such  a  meeting  as  that,  the 
public  appreciation  shewn  in  the  matter  of  education  all  over  the 
country.  Enormous  progress  had  been  made  in  education  within 
recent  years.  Mr  Campbell  had  remarked  upon  the  limited  supply 
of  competent  teachers  there  was  in  the  old  days  :  that  want  had 
been  practically  if  not  entirely  removed.  In  no  part  of  the 
country  more  than  in  the  Highlands  had  eductional  progress, 
particularly  in  elementary  education,  been  more  marked.  The 
enormous  sums  spent  by  Government  in  the  Highland  counties  on 
education  was  too  little  understood.  He  might  say  in  this  con- 
nection that  the  various  public  bodies  co-operate  loyally  in 
improving  matters.  There  could  be  no  doubt  in  the  minds  of 
those  who  looked  below  the  surface  and  took  cognisance  of  how 
things  were  moving,  that  education  was  one  of  the  most  powerful 
remedial  agents  that  could  possibly  be  brought  to  bear  on  the 


76  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

social  condition  of  the  people.  The  more  marked  the  progress  of 
education  was,  the  less  complex,  he  was  convinced,  would  the 
situation  become  in  the  Highlands.  The  difficulties  of  the  people 
would  be  mitigated.  He  might  be  expected  to  refer  to  the  Gaelic- 
speaking  aspect  of  education  in  the  Highlands.  There  also  the 
progress  made  had  been  exceedingly  gratifying.  Highland  lads 
in  the  Gaelic-speaking  districts  had  shown  that  with  any  reason- 
able amount  of  encouragement,  they  olJuld  find  their  way  into  the 
universities,  and  there  hold  their  own ;  and  there  was  good 
expectations  that,  now  that  the  Government  had  made  the 
important  concession  of  establishing  civ.il  service  examination 
centres  at  three  northern  points,  before  long  a  greater  number  pf 
Highland  young  men  would  iind  their  way  into  the  civil  service 
of  the  country.  There  could  be  no  doubt  whatever  that  Highland 
lads  had  got  the  brains  to  do  this.  All  that  was  wanted  was 
simply  good  schools  He  was  glad  to  hear  from  the  Chairman 
that  while  the  practical  side  of  education  was  looked  after  so 
thoroughly  by  the  Government,  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 
was  not  losing  sight  of  the  important  function  of  encouraging  the 
study  of  the  Gaelic  language  and  literature,  and  that  it  had  been 
resolved  to  offer  a  medal  to  be  competed  for  by  pupils  in  the 
secondary  department  of  the  High  School.  It  was  a  marked 
feature  in  the  educational  state  of  the  county  that  the  Burgh 
School  Board  of  Inverness  had  established  a  secondary  department 
so  thoroughly  equipped  that  boys  of  parts  could  mid  their  way 
from  it  into  any  University  in  the  United  Kingdom.  This  was  a 
matter  of  great  encouragement  to  those  who  had  a  strong  belief 
in  the  future  of  the  Highland  people,  that  this  advantage  had 
been  gained  without  charge  of  any  kind  whatever  to  so  many 
youths  of  the  country. 

Mr  Henry  Munro  gave  the  toast  of  Agricultural  and  Com- 
mercial Interests  of  the  Highlands.  With  regard  to  agriculture, 
upon  the  successful  prosecution  of  which  the  Highlands  so  much 
depended,  he  said  the  cloud  of  depression  many  years  ago  was 
no  larger  than  a  man's  hand,  and  now  it  darkened  the  whole 
horizon.  It  was  not  simply  depression  agriculture  suffered  from, 
but  a  gradual  ebbing  away  of  capital.  Many  an  honest  fellow 
not  able  to  meet  his  obligations  might  adopt  the  words  of  the 
old  song — 

"  I  got  my  gear  wi'  muckle  care, 

And  kept  it  wee!  together, 
Now  it's  gane  wi'  muckle  mair, 

I'll  gang  and  be  a  sodger." 


Annual  Dinner.  77 

Prophets  had  arisen  amongst  them  who  said  there  was  no  such 
thing  as  agricultural  depression.  He  did  not  think  such  a  state- 
ment had  any  foundation.  There  had  not  only  been  depression, 
but  it  was  really  much  worse  than  before,  and,  unless  something 
was  done,  it  promised  to  abide  with  them.  Various  suggestions 
had  been  made  to  alleviate  the  distress  prevailing  at  the  present 
moment.  Some  people  proposed  artificial  means  whereby  to 
raise  prices,  but  the  extraordinary  thing  was  that  the  men  who 
made  them  ran  away  from  their  own  proposals.  Without  entering 
upon  the  political  aspect  of  the  matter,  he  might  say  that  he  did 
not  think  atry  natural  advantages  would  be  secured  through 
unnatural  agents.  If  any  suggestions  could  be  made  that  would 
lighten  present  difficulties,  and  place  agriculture  in  a  more  satis- 
factory position,  the  author  of  it  would  attain  fame  as  a  public 
benefactor.  He  did  not  attribute  anything  to  the  landlords  ;  many 
of  them,  in  that  locality  particularly,  had  done  nobly  and  bravely 
in  trying  to  suit  their  own  altered  circumstances  to  the  altered 
circumstances  of  the  farmers.  It  would  nT  become  that  company 
not  to  recognise  the  efforts  the  landlords  had  made  to  get  over  the 
difficulties  which  surround  them  and  their  tenants.  No,  he  did 
not  blame  landlords  for  the  position  in  which  many  of  the  farmers 
had  very  foolishly  placed  themselves.  He  knew  cases  where 
farmers  had  been  obliged  to  quit  their  farms  because  they  would 
not  pay,  and  yet  those  very  identical  farms  were  taken  by  neigh- 
bouring farmers  at  an  increased  rent.  The  landlord  could  not  be 
blamed  for  that.  The  great  run  on  farms  could  be  traced  to  one 
cause,  viz.,  the  difficulty  in  finding  farms  through  the  consolidation 
of  small  farms  into  large  ones  that  had  taken  place.  No  man  was 
more  utterly  helpless  when  cut  adrift  from  the  cultivation  of  the 
soil  than  the  farmer.  If  he  was  sent  into  the  towns  it  was  noticed 
that  moral  and  physical  deterioration  at  once  set  in ;  it  came  like 
a  sentence  of  death  upon  him.  That  being  the  case,  landlords  in 
every  case  should  consider  seriously  indeed  before  they  did  any- 
thing to  deprive  a  tenant  of  the  opportunity  of  earning  his 
•livelihood  by  the  cultivation  of  the  soil.  He  blamed  the  farmers 
themselves  in  one  respect,  and  the  remedy  lay  in  their  own  hands, 
yet  they  would  not  avail  themselves  of  it.  There  was  not  sufficient 
cohesion  amongst  them  ;  they  failed  to  combine  to  attain  a  mutual 
end.  A  better  understanding  would,  he  thought,  yet  arise  between 
tenants  and  their  landlords.  With  regard  to  commerce,  he  had 
seen  the  Highlands  in  a  considerably  better  state,  and  also 
considerably  worse.  He  was  extremely  gratified  to  observe  the 
progress  some  of  their  native  institutions  were  making,  notably  the 
Highland  Railway  and  the  Caledonian  Bank — both  had  rendered 


78  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

immense  service  not  only  to  Inverness,  but  to  the  whole  Highlands 
of  Scotland. 

Mr  Alexander  Fraser,  farmer,  Balloch,  and  Mr  Alexander  F. 
Steele,  banker,  Inverness,  replied. 

Rev.  Mr  Macdonald,  Killearnan,  proposed  the  health  of  the 
^Chairman,  who  had  presided  over  them  in  a  manner  that  had  been 
acceptable  to  all.  The  toast  was  pledged  with  Highland  honours. 

There  were  a  number  of  other  toasrs  given,  Gaelic  and  English 
songs  sung,  and  the  meeting  closed  by  the  whole  company  singing 
<4  Auld  Lang  Syne." 


13th  FEBRUARY,  1895. 

At  this  meeting  the  following  gentlemen  were  elected  members 
-of  the  Society,  viz. : — Mr  Wark,  Local  Secretary  Lancashire  Insur- 
ance Coy.,  Inverness;  Mr  Sef  ton,  Inland  Revenue  Office,  Inverness; 
Mr  H.  Macdonald,  solicitor,  Aberdeen ;  Mr  Jas.  Holmes,  4  Finchley 
Road,  AVal worth,  London  ;  Mr  Donald  Macgregor  and  Mr  Donald 
Paterson  Macgillivray,  both  of  the  Bank  of  Scotland,  Inverness. 
The  Secretary  laid  on  the  table,  as  a  donation  towards  the  Society's 
Library,  a  copy  of  "  The  Songs  and  Poems  of  J.  MacCodrum,"  from 
the  editor,  the  Rev.  Alex.  Macdonald,  E.G.  Manse,  Kiltarlity. 
Thereafter  the  Secretary  read  a  paper  contributed  by  the  Rev. 
Neil  Mackay,  Croick,  Ardgay,  entitled — "The  influence  of  the 
Norse  Invasion  on  the  Language  and  Literature  of  the  Highlands." 
Mr  Mackay's  paper  was  as  follows  : — 

THE  INFLUENCE   OF   THE   NORSE   INVASION   ON   THE 

LANGUAGE  AND  LITERATURE  OF  THE 

SCOTTISH  HIGHLANDS. 

The  importance  of  the  Norse  as  a  factor  in  the  ethnology  of 
Europe  is  greater  than  one  who  knew  their  country  would  be 
.ready  to  expect.  Norway  never  was,  and  indeed  never  can  be,  a 
populous  country.  Its  inhospitable  climate  and  the  peculiarly 
irregular  formation  of  the  land  are  unfavourable  to  the  increase  of 
life.  The  vast  table  of  mountain  land,  of  which  it  is  for  the  most 
part  composed,  is,  in  general,  too  high  to  be  of  use  for  agricultural 
-or  even  for  pastoral  purposes.  From  this  plateau  there  branches 
out  numerous  mountain  ridges,  so  steep  that  they  shoot  up  into 
those  lofty  peaks  for  which  the  country  is  famous.  These  ridges 
^are  in  general  separated  only  by  the  fiords,  narrow  arms  of 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  79 

the  sea,  some  of  which  are  over  a  hundred  miles  in  length,  or  by 
rapid  rivers,  or  lakes.  All  the  land  that  is  of  use  to  the  inhabi- 
tants is  what  lies  between  the  foot  of  these  mountains  and  the 
water.  This  is  not  much,  for  in  many  places  the  bare  rock  dips 
sheer  down  into  the  sea  or  lake.  As  one  sails  up  these  fiords,  he 
may  see  here  and  there  farms  of  a  few  acres,  with  many  miles  of 
country  between  them.  The  little  estates  do  not  average  each 
fifty  acres.  They  have  been  improved,  so  far  as  nature  left  it 
possible,  ages  ago,  and  they  are  densely  inhabited.  Ten  years  ago 
the  population  did  not  amount  to  two  millions. 

Yet,  for  several  centuries,  the  inhabitants  of  this  country  were 
the  terror  of  the  whole  sea-coast  of  Europe.  From  750  till  1100 
Norway  sent  out  horde  after  horde  of  immigrants,  and  fleet  after 
fleet  of  pirates,  which  we  know  to  have  found  their  way  south  as 
far  as  the  Black  Sea,  and  north  as  far  as  Greenland,  and  the 
American  coast  even.  First  we  find  a  general  exodus  from  all  the 
Scandinavian  lands.  This  arose  probably  from  commotions  in 
Central  Europe  having  led  many  to  seek  refuge  in  countries 
farther  north.  These  fugitives  must  have  forced  the  original 
inhabitants  of  the  Peninsula  before  them,  and  ultimately  com- 
pelled them  to  seek  for  a  home  across  the  seas.  In  795  Norse 
pirates  were  for  the  first  time  seen  in  the  Irish  seas.  In  798  they 
plundered  the  Isle  of  Man  and  the  Hebrides.  Eight  years  after- 
wards they  ravaged  the  ecclesiastical  settlement  in  lona,  slaying 
sixty-eight  of  the  monks,  an  event  that  forshadowed  the  effects 
they  were  afterwards  destined  to  produce. 

Some  time  after  this,  we  find  Harold  Harfagri  welding  together 
what  is  now  the  Kingdom  of  Norway.  The  pirates,  who  would 
seem  to  have  made  Orkney  and  Shetland  their  headquarters,  were 
so  little  influenced  by  patriotic  feelings  that  they  made  inroads 
upon  their  native  land.  As  early  as  870,  we  find  Harold  making 
an  expedition  to  these  islands  to  punish  them  for  harrying  his 
lands.  In  883,  by  the  victory  of  Hafursfiord,  he  became  sole 
Monarch  of  Norway.  He  dispossessed  many  of  his  wealthy 
opponents,  and  they,  in  revenge,  betook  themselves  to  the 
Orkneys,  and  joined  in  the  Viking  raids  against  Norway.  Harold 
was  not  the  man  to  tolerate  such  treatment,  so  he  led  an  expedition 
against  these  islands,  swept  their  coast  clear  of  the  plunderers, 
and  took  possession  of  the  Western  Islands  all  the  way  south  to 
Man.  Thus  began  the  supremacy  of  Norway  over  the  Scottish 
Islands,  a  supremacy  upheld  in  regard  to  the  Hebrides  till  1266, 
and,  in  the  case  of  Orkney  and  Shetland,  for  a  hundred  and  two 
years  longer. 

The  lands  of  Orkney  and  Shetland,  with  the  title  of  Earl  of 


80  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Orkney,  were  offered  by  Harold  to  a  Norwegian  earl  of  the  name 
of  Rognvald.  He  being  unwilling  to  uphold  his  claim  to  these 
possessions,  made  them  over  to  his  brother  Sigurd. 

Sigurd  was  a  warlike  chieftain,  and  one  well  adapted  to  hold 
his  own  in  such  a  stormy  period.  He  called  to  his  aid  Thorstein, 
the  Red,  the  son  of  the  Norse  King  of  Dublin,  and  they  both  set 
out  on  an  expedition  against  the  mainland.  They  subdued  Caith- 
ness and  Sutherland,  and  made  raids^into  Ross  and  Moray.  In 
onu  of  these  raids  Sigurd  met  his  death.  Maelbrigd  (the  buck 
toothed),  a  Scottish  Maormor,  thinking  to  overcome  force  by 
treachery,  invited  him  to  a  conference,  to  which  he  contrived  to 
bring  double  the  number  of  men  that  his  opponent  brought.  The 
Norsemen,  however,  discovered- the  plot  in  time  to  take  measures 
against  it,  and  they  slew  the  Maormor  and  all  his  followers. 
Sigurd  tied  the  head  of  his  fallen  enemy  to  his  saddle  bow,  but  as 
he  galloped  along  the  "buck  tooth"  inflicted  a  wound  upon  his  leg 
which  caused  his  death. 

After  Sigurd's  death  his  alley,  Thorstein,  reigned  as  King  over 
the  conquered  districts.  The  Sagas  tell  us  that  he  was  very 
successful  in  war,  and  that  he  ruled  as  King  over  the  half  of 
Scotland.  We,  indeed,  see  a  recognition  of  his  greatness  in  t he- 
fact  that  a  daughter  of  the  Scottish  King  was  given  him  in 
marriage,  but  his  conquest  of  the  native  population  was  too 
rapid  and  extensive  to  be  thorough,  so  that  we  are  not 
surprised  to  find  that  shortly  afterwards  he  was  slain  by  the 
Scots  in  Caithness.  After  his  death  the  Earldom  of  Caithness 
passed  for  a  time  into  the  hands  of  one  of  its  native  chiefs,  who 
had  married  his  daughter.  But  Thorfinn  Hausekliffer,  Earl  of 
Orkney,  and  grandson  of  the  above-mentioned  Rognvald,  having 
married  a  daughter  of  this  couple,  the  Earldom  of  Orkney  and 
Caithness  met  in  one.  Thorfinn  took  up  his  residence  in  Orkney, 
and  would  seem  to  have  been  a  man  bold  in  war  to  have  earned 
from  that  generation  the  terrible  surname  of  Hausakliffer  (skull 
cleaver).  We  pass  by  his  fratricidal  family  till  we  come  to  his 
grandson,  Sigurd,  who  came  into  possession  of  the  joint  -earldoms 
about  980. 

Sigurd  II.  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  of  the  Norse  Eails. 
He  would  seem  to  have  aimed  at  nothing  less  than  the  subjuga- 
tion of  all  the  islands  and  lands  in  the  west  where  the  Norwegians 
had  made  settlements.  He  appears  to  have  possessed  a  good  deal 
of  administrative  talents,  together  with  all  the  restless  disposition 
of  a  Viking.  Some  time  before  Sigurd's  accession  to  the  Earldom, 
the  King  of  Norway  had  been  trying  to  exact  tribute  from  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Hebrides.  This  would  appear  to  have  been 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  81 

difficult  to  do,  and  some  time  afterwards  we  find  Sigurd  acknow- 
ledging the  supremacy  of  the  King  of  Norway  by  paying  him  an 
annual  tribute,  and  acting  as  absolute  ruler  of  all  the  islands.  He 
defeated  Godred  Haroldson,  who  pretended  to  be  King  of  the 
Isles,  and  set  up  his  sister's  husband,  Earl  Gilli,  who  resided  at 
Colonsay,  as  his  representative  in  the  west.  Wishing  to  have  a 
firm  footing  upon  the  mainland,  he  drove  the  Scots  completely  out 
of  Caithness.  This  could  not  but  provoke  a  struggle,  and  Sigurd 
found  himself  confronted  by  the  Maormor  Finla^,  the  father  of 
Macbeath,  with  an  army  seven  times  the  size  of  his  own.  He  at 
first  hesitated  to  fight  against  such  odds,  but  stung  by  the 
taunts  of  his  mother,  he,  after  encouraging  his  followers  with 
pronjises  of  great  rewards,  attacked  and  routed  the  Scottish  army. 
He  then  subdued  Sutherland,  Koss,  Moray,  and  Argyle,  and 
Malcolm  II.,  between  whom  and  the  Macbeath  family  there 
existed  no  friendly  relation,  made  a  treaty  with  him,  and  gave 
him  his  daughter  in  marriage. 

Shortly  after  his  accession  to  the  Earldom,  Sigurd,  in  a  harbour 
on  the  Pentland  Firth,  came  in  contact  with  the  Great  Olaf 
Tryggvison,  the  Missionary  King  of  Norway.  The  King,  in 
accordance  with  the  great  design  in  which  he  was  absorbed, 
commanded  the  Earl  to  renounce  Paganism,  become  a  Christian, 
and  endeavour  to  convert  his  people.  If  not,  he  threatened  to- 
slay  him  on  the  spot,  and  to  destroy  the  Orkneys  with  fire  and 
sword  if  they  should  not  yield  to  his  request.  Sigurd  at  last 
unwillingly  consented,  and  the  King  departed,  leaving  behind  him 
priests  to  instruct  the  people  in  the  faith.  The  Earl  himself 
seems  to  have  been  little  influenced  by  these  teachers,  for  nearly 
twenty  years  afterwards  we  find  him  bearing  his  enchanted  banner 
on  the  side  of  Paganism  at  the  battle  of  Clontarf.  Yet  there  are 
evidences  that  Christian  ideas  of  a  kind  were  gaining  ground 
among  his  people.  One  of  his  chiefs,  fleeing  from  the  field, 
was  in  danger  of  being  drowned  in  the  river,  and  was  heard 
making  a  vow  as  follows — "Thy  dog,  Apostle  Peter,  hath  run 
twice  to  Rome,  and  he  would  run  the  third  time  if  thou  gavest 
him  leave." 

On  the  death  of  Sigurd,  his  son  Thorfin,  by  the  daughter  of 
Malcolm,  received  the  Earldom  of  Caithness,  while  his  three  sons, 
by  a  former  marriage  were  allowed  to  divide  the  Orkneys  between 
them.  Thorfinn  was  Earl  of  Caithness  for  the  long  period  of 
seventy  years,  during  the  last  eighteen  years  of  which  he  held  the 
Earldom  of  Orkney.  The  Norse  influence  in  Britain  would  in  his 
day  have  appeared  to  have  reached  its  zenith.  He  made  expedi- 

6 


82  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

tions  to  Irelaud,  to  Man,  and  to  England,  and  ruled  over  the 
Norse  settlement  that  extended  from  the  Sol  way  to  Carrick.  No 
fewer,  indeed,  than  nine  earldoms  were  under  his  sway,  most 
likely  Caithness,  Sutherland,  Ross,  Moray,  Buchan,  Athole,  Lorn, 
Argyle,  and  Galloway  (Munch).  He  is  said  to  have  maintained  in 
Orkney  something  like  a  Court,  to  which  many  men  of  note  were 
invited.  In  1050  he  went  on  a  pilgrimage  to  Rome  to  obtain 
absolution  for  his  sins.  After  his  retiu»  he  left  off  making  war 
and  turned  his  mind  to  government  and  the  making  of  laws.  He 
built  Christ's  Kirk  at  Birsay,  and  established  the  first  see  in 
Orkney. 

Thorfinn  died  in  1064,  and  his  two  sons  Paul  and  Erlend  ruled 
his  dominions  conjointly.  But  the  solidity  which  Thorfinn  had 
given  to  the  Norse  rule  soon  disappeared.  The  saga  laments  that 
many  provinces  subjected  to  the  Norsemen  were  now  again  setting 
up  the  chiefs  that  had  been  deposed.  This  may  have  led  to  the 
expeditions  of  Magnus  Barelegs,  King  of  Norway,  who  conquered 
the  Orkneys,  and  ravaged  and  subdued  the  Western  Islands  all 
the  way  south  to  Anglesea,  sparing  only  lona.  He  was  slain  in 
Irelaud  in  1103.  On  his  death,  Hakon,  the  son  of  Paul,  and 
Magnus,  the  son  of  Erlend,  held  the  earldoms  conjointly,  like  their 
fathers.  The  life  of  Magnus  demands  our  attention  as  illustrating 
the  growing  power  of  Christianity.  He  took  his  station  as  Earl 
with  the  highest  idea  of  the  responsibilities  it  brought  him. 
Magnus,  says  his  biographer,  then  became  "  Magnus"  (great) 
indeed.  He  slew  the  man  self,  and  buried  him  in  the  sand.  He 
exercised  himself  much  in  repentance  and  such  other  exercises  as 
belong  to  a  truly  religious  life.  In  all  things,  says  the  saga,  he 
strictly  obeyed  the  divine  command.  He  punished  rich  and  poor 
impartially  for  robberies,  for  thefts,  and  for  all  crimes.  He  was 
murdered  by  his  cousin  Hakon,  and  pilgrimages  for  a  long  time 
used  to  be  made  to  his  grave. 

Rognvald,  a  nephew  of  Magnus,  became  one  of  two  Earls  of 
Orkney  in  1136.  We  find  in  him  a  spirit  of  culture  and  chivalry 
that  was  rare  in  that  dynasty.  A  poet  himself,  he  was  also  a 
patron  of  poets,  for  we  find  him  maintaining  along  with  him 
Reveral  such  who  had  come  all  the  way  from  Iceland  and  Shetland. 
In  conjunction  with  one  of  these  he  wrote  a  work  on  versification. 
He  went  on  an  expedition  to  Jerusalem,  which  called  forth  much 
attention,  and  died  in  1158. 

A  cotemporary  Earl  was  Harold  Maddadson.  The  saga 
reckons  him  to  have  been  one  of  the  three  greatest  Earls  of 
Orkney.  He  was  for  a  short  period  sole  ruler  of  Orkney  and 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  S3 

^Caithness,  but  the  King  of  Norway  deprived  him  of  Shetland, 
which  after  that  belonged  no  more  to  the  Earl  of  Orkney.  His 
;son  John  died  without  issue  in  1231,  and  Alexander  II.  granted 
the  Earldom  of  North  Caithness  to  Magnus,  the  second  son  of  the 
Earl  of  Angus.  When  in  1263  King  Hacon  was  making  his  ill- 
fated  expedition  to  Scotland,  the  Norse  element  was  thought  to  be 
:so  strong  in  Caithness  that  King  Alexander  demanded  hostages 
ifor  their  fealty  to  him.  After  that  the  connection  between  the 
•Scottish  Islands  and  Norway  was  almost  nominal.  In.  1266 
Magnus  IV.,  King  of  Norway,  ceded  the  Hebrides  and  Man  to 
Scotland,  and  Orkney  and  Shetland  were  ceded  in  1468. 

A  word  upon  the  character  of  this  race  with  whom  the  Celts  of 
'Scotland  for  so  long  a  time  came  in  contact.  They  were  a  people 
•of  enormous  mental  energy — energy  which  the  circumstances  in 
which  they  were  placed  caused  to  appear  in  a  very  evil  form. 
Their  history  reveals  to  us  so  much  restlessness  and  cruelty  that 
we  feel  as  if  they  were  altogether  beyond  the  pale  of  our 
sympathies.  Yet  they  possessed  qualities  that  must  have  recom- 
mended themselves  to  any  people,  and  which  could  not  have  failed 
to  make  them  influence  strongly  the  races  among  whom  they 
mingled.  It  has  been  given  as  a  marked  distinction  between  the 
'Celt  and  the  Teuton,  that,  while  the  former  has  an  aversion  to 
bloodshed  except  when  his  passions  are  roused,  the  latter  can 
•delight  in  inflicting  pain  and  death  even  in  his  ordinary  mood. 
This  family  characteristic  would  seem  to  have  been  strongest  in 
the  Norseman,  and  his  circumstances  at  the  period  during  which 
we  have  to  do  with  him  were  well  calculated  to  call  it  into  action, 
for  he  had  no  alternative  to  his  being  at  war  with  mankind.  But 
•  «uch  a  tendency,  where  it  exists,  is  happily  merely  in  posse — one 
that  may  grow  if  men  yield  to  it,  and  the  predominating 
sympathies  of  the  race  seem  to  have  been  very  different.  No 
•ancient  literature  gives  one  such  an  idea  of  simple  and  strong 
natural  affection  as  theirs  does.  Instead  of  being  incapable  of 
•sympathy,  as  we  would  be  apt  to  consider  them,  they  were  above 
most  races  open  to  it.  True,  their  sympathy,  like  their  other  good 
qualities,  they  confined  within  narrow  limits,  for  they  were  ever 
«low  to  live  on  neighbourly  terms  with  the  races  they  dispossessed, 
but  within  these  limits  they  had  a  peculiar  intensity.  Their 
•appreciation  of  home  life  comes  out  strongly  in  their  mythology, 
and  the  strength  of  the  ties  of  kinship  forms  the  mainspring  of 
many  a  tragic  tale  in  their  sagas.  That  even  in  Iceland  they  did 
not  fight  for  the  love  of  it  may  be  seen  from  the  proverb — "  Not 
long  is  hand  fain  to  fight." 


84  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

They  were  also  a  devout  people  :  they  were  L,oo  sincere  to  have- 
been  otherwise.  Theirs  was  not  the  nature  to  be  without  a  faith 
or  without  restraint  in  life.  Nature  found  them  observant  enough 
to  allow  of  her  giving  them  a  creed,  and  more  of  showing  them 
that  it  would  be  a  terrible  thing  for  them  to  make  light  of  it. 
They  found  greatness  and  mystery  enough  in  nature  to  be  unable 
to  have  self  as  the  centre  of  their  thought^  and  aims — a  great  effect 
certainly  by  whatever  means  produced.  Norse  mythology  is,  like 
every  other  mythology,  a  reproduction  of  the  genius  of  the  race,  but 
of  all  mythologies  it  is  the  least  subjective.  It  was  in  keeping  with 
their  character  as  a  people  to  perceive  that  beliefs  to  be  worth 
having  must  be  received,  not  made.  That  is  probably  the  reason 
why  we  find  them  continually  seeking  what  may  be  called  a 
natural  or  physical  basis  for  their  religion.  So  much  was  Carlyle 
impressed  with  this  tendency  in  their  writings  that  he  roundly 
declares  they  worshipped  science.  In  the  grandeur  and  mystery 
of  nature  they  recognised  those  of  their  gods,  and,  what  constitutes 
their  peculiar  characteristic,  they  perhaps  unconsciously  yet 
uniformly  made  nature  the  .measure  or  standard  of  their  faith. 
They  could,  like  all  men,  think  of  immortality,  of  immunity  from 
fate  and  from  trouble,  but  nature  showed  none  of  these.  They 
saw  in  the  future  only  a  mere  reflection  of  the  present,  bearing  all 
its  lights  and  shades.  A  religion  leaning  so  much  upon  material 
nature  necessarily  partakes  of  its  instability.  They  saw  the 
dismal  conclusion  their  system  committed  them  to,  yet  they  dared 
to  accept  it.  Odin,  they  believed,  had  appointed  his  fate  for  every 
man.  His  Valkyrs  brought  the  soul  of  every  warrior  who  met 
his  death  bravely  to  Walhall.  But  even  he  could  not  give 
immortality,  for  his  own  end  would  sooner  or  later  come.  The 
"  Twilight  of  the  gods"  was  drawing  near,  as  fate  had  decreed, 
when  the  all -devouring  wolf  would  be  let  loose,  and  the  serpent,, 
coiled  round  the  universe,  would  lash  itself  into  fury,  when  the 
gods  and  their  enemies  would  perish  in  internecine  strife,  and  all 
creation  sink  into  chaos. 

Some  think  that  the  national  love  of  the  tragical  accounts  for 
this  dismal  belief.  But  men  do  not  dramatise  on  such  subjects, 
and  indeed  one  cannot  read  the  Edda  without  feeling  that  it  is  the 
natural  outcome  of  their  habits  of  thought.  The  sanguine  Celt 
would  bid  defiance  to  reason  and  tradition  before  he  would  sub- 
mit to  such  an  incubus.  But  to  the  Norseman  this  belief  had  the 
merit,  to  him  the  all-redeeming  merit,  of  agreeing  with  the 
natural  order  of  things  It  was  probably  this  feature  of  character 
that  led  them  in  the  south  to  sympathise  with  the  heretic  Arius, 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  85 

.•and  to  cleave  to  his  doctrines  for  a  century  and  a  half  after  they 
had  been  rejected  by  the  whole  Christian  Church. 

The  Norsemen,  notwithstanding  the  comparative  soberness 
that  characterised  their  religious  beliefs,  were  a  superstitious 
people,  not  less  superstitious,  perhaps,  than  the  Celts  themselves. 
Their  surroundings  in  their  mother  country  were  well  calculated 
to  make  them  so.  The  deep  gloom  of  their  narrow  valleys  ;  the 
mournful  dashing  of  waves  along  the  fiords  and  lakes  ;  the  noise 
•of  waterfalls,  multiplied  by  surrounding  rocks  and  caverns,  and 
the  weird  play  of  the  light  upon  their  snow-clad  peaks,  could  not 
fail  to  call  into  action  the  imagination  of  the  lonely  inhabitants, 
.and  make  them  the  objects  of  melancholy  and  delusive  fears. 
They  believed  in  witches,  who  could  spoil  cattle,  raise  storms, 
inflict  sickness  and  death  upon  men,  and  assume  the  form  of 
;animals.  In  the  Orkneyinga  Saga  we  have  a  long  account  of  an 
interview  that  Hakon,  Paul's  son,  had  with  a  Swedish  spae-man. 
The  seer  had  evidently  a  high  time  of  it,  for  "  he  went  from  one 
feast  to  another,  and  foretold  the  seasons  and  other  things  to  the 
country  people."  Such  were  evidently  regarded  as  questionable 
characters  by  all,  for  Hakon  broadly  hints  that  he  had  neither 
Teligion  nor  virtue. 

At  the  time  of  the  viking  exodus,  we  find  a  powerful  literature 
coming  into  existence  among  them.  The  national  spirit  was 
stirred  by  the  wildly  adventurous  life  that  was  opened  up  to  it, 
.and  the  old  beliefs  were  thrown  by  master  minds  into  a  form  more 
in  keeping  with  the  circumstances  of  the  race.  The  Edda,  the 
oldest  collection  of  Norse  poetry,  is  believed  to  have  grown  up  in 
Western  lands.  There  are,  indeed,  several  circumstances  that 
would  lead  us  to  think  they  were  largely  composed  in  the  North 
and  West  of  Scotland.  The  "  Everlasting  Fight"  is  represented 
-as  taking  place  at  Hoy,  and  the  "Magic  Mill"  is  sunk  in  the 
Pentland  Firth.  There  are  many  Gaelic  words,  such  as  "niol," 
darkness,  "  tir,"  earth,  and  "  lind,"  stream,  scattered  throughout 
the  collection,  and  the  people  of  the  region  are  represented  as 
using  peat  as  fuel.  King  Swerri,  who  was  born  in  Faroe,  and 
brought  up  in  the  Western  Islands,  tells  us  that  these  poems  were 
well  known  there  in  his  youth  (1150),  and  his  saga  would  show 
himself  to  have  been  long  familiar  with  them.  That  they  entered 
largely  into  the  life  of  that  period  is  seen  from  the  fact  that 
quotations  and  ideas  from  them  are  to  be  found  in  many  of  the 
sagas.  Once  the  quotation  is  called  a  snatch  of  a  song. 

The  poetry  has  the  realism  and  power  that  fitted  it  to 
gain  the  ear  of  a  people  accustomed  to  excitement  and  not  given 


M,  Gaelic  Society  of  /nuerness. 

to  abstract  thinking.  In  some  parts  it  reflects  a  sensual  and 
somewhat  shallow  state  of  life,  but  generally  it  may  be  said  to  \>e 
the  expression  of  the  life  of  a  people  whom  peril  and  adversity 
have  educated  and  made  strong.  The  ethical  teaching  is  often 
.defective,  but  sometimes,  as  in  the  Sun  Song  and  th«  Christian's 
Wisdom,  the  moral  earnestness  is  intense^ 

The  race  were  also  characterised  by  their  love  of  tales.  Story- 
telling was  a  recognised  amusement.  In  Eric  the  Red's  Saga  we 
find  the  Greenland  family  sitting  round  the  table  and  telling 
stories  at  the  Yule  feasts.  We  find  stories  told  at  the  Al things 
and  by  sailors  on  their  voyages.  In  the  Hauksbok  we  are  told 
how  a'crew  landed  for  the  night  and  sat  beside  a  howe  where  one 
relates  a  story,  and  the  ghost  who  heard  it  was  so  delighted  that 
he  gave  up  to  them  the  treasures  that  were  within.  These  stories 
usually  took  the  form  of  a  narrative  of  the  deeds  of  heroes  that 
were  gone,  and  they  showed  a  strict  adherence  to  facts  that  would 
have  been  damaging  to  their  popularity  among  most  other  races.  In 
this  they  were  imitated  by  the  Sagas ;  indeed,  the  Sagas  merely  eni  er 
more  minutely  into  the  incidents  of  the  life  and  give  greater  attention 
to  style  and  arrangement.  They  allow  of  no  fictitious  embellish- 
ments or  additions.  Of  this  important  branch  of  literature 
Yigfusson,  in  his  Preface  to  Sturlinga's  Saga,  says  : — *'  The  author 
gives  no  description  of  scenery,  no  analysis  of  character,  no  reflec- 
tion of  his  own  ever  breaks  the  flow.  The  plot  is  nearly  always  a 
tragedy,  and  the  humour  dark  and  gloomy,  but  this  is  relieved  by 
the  brighter  and  more  idyllic  home  and  farm  scenes,  and  by  the 
pathos  and  naivete  which  are  ever  present." 

A  strong  influence  in  regard  to  knowledge  and  to  sentiment 
these  works  were  fitted  to  produce,  and  they  would  seem  to  have 
been  widely  circulated.  We  know  from  Njal's  Saga  that  he  was 
acquainted  not  only  with  the  sagas  of  his  own  island,  but  knew 
also  the  Orkney  Saga,  the  Irish  Saga  of  Brian;  and  the  Norwegian 
one  of  St  Olaf. 

Let  us  now  consider  more  closely  what  was  the  relation 
subsisting  between  our  Celtic  forefathers  and  these  invaders. 
Some  are  inclined  to  think  that  when  they  fixed  upon  a  district 
which  to  occupy  their  first  care  was  to  make  a  wholesale  slaughter 
of  the  inhabitants.  This  terrible  hypothesis  would  enable  us  to 
explain  how,  in  the  Western  Islands,  almost  all  the  place  names 
are  Norse,  and  indeed  there  is  nothing  in  the  supposition  inconsist- 
ent with  the  known  character  of  the  people.  The  author  of  the 
Wars  of  the  Gaedhil  (chap.  28)  says :— "  The  whole  of  Munster 
was  ravaged  by  them,  so  that  there  was  not  a  house  or  hearth 


7 he  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  87 

from  Lui  southwards."  We  feel  how  useless  the  inhabitants 
found  resistance  to  be  when  he  describes  to  us  these  robbers 
wandering  through  the  land  ransacking  the  caves  in  which 
property  had  been  hid.  Wherever  they  went  we  get  a  like 
account  of  them.  Simeon  of  Durham,  in  describing  the  ravages 
they  committed,  says  : — "  They  were  like  wolves,  slaying  priests 
and  Levites,  and  whole  choirs  of  monks  and  nuns."  In  the 
Landnamabok  we  find  a  settler  of  the  name  of  Barnakarl  (Bairn's 
man),  a  name  given  to  him  because  he  would  not  join  in  the 
sport  of  killing  children  by  catching  them  on  the  point  of  his 
spear.  But  these  savages  had  come  from  a  country  where  slavery 
was  prevalent,  and  having  become  on  a  sudden  the  owners  of 
much  property,  they  were  likely  to  spare  of  the  vanquished  so 
many  at  least  as  would  labour  their  land.  And  that  this  was  the 
case  even  in  regard  to  the  Western  Islands  is  seen  from  the  fact 
that  when  they  had  to  emigrate  to  Iceland  many  of  the  slaves, 
and  not  a  few  of  the  land  owners,  showed  by  such  names  as 
Malcolm,  Dufthac,  and  Kearan  that  they  were  Celts.  On  the 
northern  mainland  also  the  Norse  words  to  be  found  in  the  Gaelic 
would  seem  to  show  that  there  was  between  the  two  races  a  close, 
but  very  unfriendly,  relation  ;  perhaps,  indeed,  the  relation  of 
masters  and  slaves.  The  Norse  word  Bondi  (land  owner),  of 
which  the  older  form  was  Buandi,  had  different  meanings  in 
different  countries.  When  the  influence  of  a  despotic  nobility 
had  become  paramount  in  Norway,  we  find  the  word  coming  to  be 
used  in  the  sense  of  our  word  "  Boor."  In  democratic  Iceland 
the  word  was  also  a  term  of  respect,  and  indeed  it  was  used  in 
Shetland  by  farmers  when  addressing  one  another  as  late  as  the 
end  of  last  century.  On  the  north  coast  of  Sutherlandshire  the 
word  lost  its  original  meaning,  and  is  now  significantly  used  to 
signify  a  bully,  buaiii  (R.  Donn),  or  one  who  will  strike  his  fellow 
without  thinking  twice  about  it.  Also,  when  we  corne  to  consider 
the  words  we  took  from  them,  we  will  find  that  a  disproportionately 
large  number  of  them  are  epithets  of  contempt. 

When  we  come  to  ask  what  were  the  relative  positions  of  the 
two  races  upon  the  land,  we  have  to  be  guided  chiefly  by  history 
and  topography.  In  the  Red  Book  of  Clan  Ranald,  written  about 
the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century  by  Niel  Mac  Vuirich,  the 
hereditary  seanachie  of  the  clan,  we  read  that  about  this  period 
all  the  islands  from  Man  to  the  Orkneys  and  all  the  bordering 
country  from  Dumbarton  to  Caithness  were  in  the  possession  of 
the  Lochlinnich,  and  that  such  of  the  Gaedhil  of  the  time  as 
remained  were  protecting  themselves  in  the  woods  or  in  the 


88  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

mountains.  This  general  statement  is  corroborated  by  what 
Fordun,  the  historian,  who  lived  (if  I  remember  well)  in  the 
twelfth  century,  says  about  the  state  of  matters  in  his  own  day. 
He  says  that  the  inhabitants  of  Scotland  were  divided  into  t\\o 
distinct  races,  one  living  along  the  coast  and  speaking  Saxon,  the 
other  speaking  Irish  and  living  in  the  interior. 

The  evidence  from  topography  tend?  pretty  much  to  the  same 
thing.  Captain  Thomas,  after  a  careful  examination  of  the  place 
names  in  Lewis  and  Harris,  finds  that  opposed  to  42  Gaelic  names 
there  are  160  Scandinavian,  and  that  while  the  Scandinavian 
townships  have  an  average  population  of  15'1,  that  of  the  Gaelic 
townships  is  only  9*2,  thus  showing  that  among  the  small  number 
of  Gaelic  names  we  must  include  most  of  those  places  that  would 
not  have  been  brought  under  cultivation  till  a  late  date.  On  the 
mainland  the  place  names  would  lead  us  to  believe  that  the  North- 
men took  possession  of  the  coast  as  described,  and  worked  their 
way  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  inland.  The  names  of  most  of  the 
inlands  and  rivers  are  Scandinavian,  while  those  of  the  mountains 
and  lakes  are  mostly  Gaelic.  A  knowledge  of  the  names  and  the 
places  on  the  north  coast  of  Sutherlandshire  would  lead  one  to 
think  that  almost  all  the  important  townships  for  twelve  miles 
inland  have  Scandinavian  names. 

1.  "  Rhu  Phoirbh."     Cape  Wrath  is  the  Gallicised  form  of  the 
Norse  name  of  the  promontory.     Hvarf  (turning  round). 

2.  "Durness"  (Dyr  +  ness).      Sir  Robert    Gordon   says    that 
in  his  day  it  was  the  best  deer-stalking  district  in  Scotland. 

3.  "  Erribol."     Eyrr  +  Bolstadr  (steading  on  the  beach). 

4.  "  Hope."      Hop   (a  small  land-locked  bay).       It  gives  its 
name  to  the  river  and  to  Ben  Hope,  which  is,  I  should 
think,  seven  miles  away  from  it. 

5.  Melness.     Mel  +  ness  (Links'  district).     So  Melvich. 

6.  Tongue.      Tunga  (a  point  of  land).      So  called  from  the 

isthmus  in  the  Kyle. 

7.  Borgie,  Borg  (a  fortification).       Ruins  of  a  tower  were,  I 
was  told,  discovered  a  few  years  ago. 

8.  Farr.     There  is  a  Norse  word   "  far,"  a  passage,  but  it  is 
not  suited  to  the  character  of  the  place.     There  is  another 
place  of  that  name  nine  miles  south  of  Inverness. 

9.  Swordly  (Svord  +  dalr),  soft  grass  dale. 

10.  Kirktomy,  Gaelic  Guerstomidh,  the  "  r"  being  hardly  per- 
ceptible.     (Kjos  +  Holmr),    the    holm  in  the    hollow,  the 
"h"  as  usual  becoming  a  "  t."     Kirk  in  such  a  place  is  out 
of  the  question. 

11.  Bowset  (Boda-setti),  the  meeting  place  for  justice. 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  89 

By  noting  the  place  names  in  Strathnaver,  one  may  be. able  to 
•estimate  how  far  the  foreigners  encroached  upon  the  land.  It  will 
be  seen  that  below  Ross  wall,  a  place  14  miles  from  the  shore, 
there  is  only  one  township  of  size  that  has  a  Gaelic  name,  namely, 
Carnachadh.  Above  this  point,  however,  the  place  names  are 
almost  all  Gaelic. 

12.  Dalharold   (a  name  of  Gaelic  formation)  has  a  tall  stone 

column  which  is  said  to  mark  the  grave  of  a  Norse  general. 

1 3.  Bad-anloskain,  the  field  of  the  toad.      And  here  it  may  be 

of  interest  for  me  to  say  that  we  have  Badanloskain, 
Meallandorain,  and  Geo-antsheobhaig,  and  there  arej|  not 
half-a-dozen  people  in  the  Reay  country  that  know  what 
Doran,  Losgann,  or  Sheobhag  mean.  Our  words  for  these 
now  are  Balgar-dubh,  Leumachan,  and  Spearrag. 

14.  We  have  Achness  ( A.ch  an  eiss),  Grummore  (Grub-,  Gruid-), 

Acchoul  (Ach  +  choile),  and  many  more,  all  Gaelic.  But 
even  in  the  interior  we  find  here  and  there  in  out-of-the- 
way  places  a  Norse  settlement,  such  as 

15.  Tuddersgaig,  or    Tuddersgait,  Norse    (Tuddr  +  skaut),  the 
bull's  comer,  just  as  Polr-sgait,  on  the  coast,  signifies  the 
corner  in  the  hollow. 

I  have  spoken  this  little  on  our  topography  to  show  what  I 
take  to  be  the  relative  strength  of  the  two  elements  in  it,  but 
chiefly  because  I  consider  that  in  dealing  with  the  constitution  of 
a  language  the  origin  of  its  place-names  must  not  be  overlooked. 

The  Northmen,  no  doubt,  fought  and  slew  and  enslaved  to 
make  room  for  themselves  on  our  coast,  and  picked  quarrels  with 
the  native  Celts  whenever  they  wished  to  extend  their  domains. 
But  we  are  not  to  think  of  the  two  races  living  in  a  relation 
of  independence  and  defiance  to  one  another.  The  invaders,  as 
far  as  we  know  of  their  operations,  and  probably  as  far  as  these 
operations  could  be  effective,  were  organised  under  leaders,  and 
their  invasions  were  no  irregular  skirmishes,  but  conquests.  Every 
battle  was  followed  by  the  imposition  of  taxes.  The  author  of 
"The  Wars  of  the  Gaedhil"  tells  us,  with  some  exaggeration,  no 
doubt,  that  in  Ireland  the  Northmen  had  a  king  over  every  terri- 
tory, an  abbot  over  every  church,  and  a  soldier  in  every  house,  so 
that  men  could  not  give  even  an  egg  in  kindness  to  an  aged  man. 
They  may  not  have  carrried  on  this  process  of  enriching  them- 
selves so  systematically  in  Scotland  as  they  did  in  Ireland,  but 
that  they  did  not  neglect  it  we  are  certain.  We  read  several 
times  of  the  imposition  of  taxes  in  the  Orkneyinga  Saga ;  and  so 


<JO  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

well  established  had  these  exactions  become,  that  the  standard,, 
according  to  which  they  were  made,  was  by  David  I.  authorised  as 
that  of  the  Northern  Counties,  under  the  name  of  Pondus 
Cateniense.  There  must,  from  these  and  from  other  causes,  have 
been  a  close  intercourse  between  the  races,  an  intercourse  doubt- 
less darkened  by  violence  and  sorrow,  wanting  in  all  moral  safe- 
guards, and  in  which  there  must  have  been  lasting  scorn  on  the 
one  side,  and  lasting  hate  on  the  other.  We  have  more  than  a 
hint  of  that  in  the  old  proverb — "  Is  goirid  an  Gall  an  ceann  chuir 
deth."  The  idiom  in  this  saying  is  ndf  Gaelic,  but  the  Norsemen, 
with  their  grim  humour,  commonly  express  the  idea  of  beheading 
by  the  phrase — "  Lata  h6f#i  skemra" — to  make  one  a  head 
shorter  (Cleaseby).  The  Gael  had  intercourse  enough  with  the 
foreigner  to  know  his  language,  but  such  intercourse  as  gave  him 
no  kindlier  feeling  than  that  towards  him.  There  is  a  good  deal 
of  irrepressible  Celtic  humour  to  be  seen  in  their  borrowing  of  the 
phrase  in  such  circumstances  and  for  such  a  purpose. 

There  are,  doubtless,  many  words  in  Gaelic  derived  from 
Norse,  the  descent  of  which,  from  want  of  literary  remains,  can 
never  be  traced.  Who  would  think  in  English  of  deriving 
parchment  from  Pergamus,  or  trivial  from  "tres  viae"  (a  place 
where  three  ways  meet,  and  where  much  gossip  is  talked),  if  the 
development,  or  transformation  rather,  were  not  a  matter  of 
history  ?  There  are  many  words  also  in  Northern  Gaelic  con- 
cerning which  it  will  be  hard  to  decide  whether  they  came  to  us 
from  Norse  or  from  Scotch.  Who  can  say  whether  the  Sutherland 
words  "annser"  and  "reapan"  came  from  the  words  "answer" and 
"  rope,''  rather  than  from  the  Norse  "annsvar"  and  "reip?"  I 
have  refrained  from  giving  of  these  except  as  many  as  I  consider 
to  have  a  strong  presumption  in  their  favour. 

1.    WORDS   SURVIVING    IN    PHRASES. 

1.  "  Tap'  leibh,"  said  by  way  of  thanks  ;  Ic.  happ,  good  luck. 

2.  "Cha  d'thug  e  taing  air" — It  did  not  in  the  least  aft ect 
him — in  regard  to  pain  or  sorrow.     Ic.  tanga,  a  point,  but 
plur.  in  the  phrase — "Hoorki  tangr  ne  tegund"  =  not  a 
\vliit. 

3.  "  Bual  do  shtis  ri  earn,"  said  to  exasperate  one  ;  Ic.  sess, 
seat. 

4.  "  Cuiridh  mi  stall  ort,"  I  will  do  for  you  ;  Ic.  hel,  death,  or 
the  ogress. 

5.  " Rhag  chrochair,"  you  consummate  villain;  Ic.   hrak,  in 
compounds  =  wretched  ,  wicked  ;    hrak    bui,    a   wretched 
dwelling. 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Inuasion.  91 

6.  "  Gasadh  chlach,"  or  "  casadh  smugaid,"  always  with  the- 
idea  of  contempt ;  Ic.  kasa,  to  throw  stones  upon,  of  witches 
or  carcases. 

7.  "  Sgeic"  or  "  rac  eudaich,"  a  stitch  of  clothes  ;  Ic.  skikki  and 
rak,  both  =  strip. 

8.  Mairg,  many. 

Is  mairg  na  daoine  dalla  borl) 

Tha  cuir  an  earbsa  san  t-saoghal — (J.  Mackay,  1750). 

Ic.  mergd,  multitude,  plenty. 

In  the  following  we  see  Gaelic  words  taking  the  meaning  of  Norse 
words  that  resemble  them  in  sound— 

9    Dun  (heap),  made  to  signify  band. 

JS  na  huile  beana  phusda  bha  sud  (Ic.  pus,  espouse). 

A  dol  nan  dunaibh  suas — (Rob,  Dunn). 

Ic.  dunn,  a  band  (sober,  moderate). 
10.   In  Sutherland,  stuama  means   merely  that  the  person  is  no 

babbler.     There  is  an  Ic.  stumi  =  dumb. 

A  good  many  of  the  words  which  I  shall  give  here  I  found  in  the 
vocabulary  attached  to  Rob  Bonn's  poems.  I  shall  mark  these 
by  his  initials. 

II.    EPITHETS. 

1.  A  thriotar,  you   knave  ;  Ic.    priotr,   a    knave.      I   do  not 
remember  having  heard  the  t  unaspirated. 

2.  A  liugar,  you  sneak  ;  Ic.  Ljugari,  a  liar. 

3    Dais,  a  blockhead  ;  Ic.  dasi.  a  lazy  fellow  (R.D.). 

4.  Duaire,    a-   pig-headed    character ;  Ic.    dm^ra   (dvergr),   a 

sulky  fellow  (R.D.). 

5.  Duil  fhear,  a  sulky  fellow  ;  Ic.  dulr,  adj.  silent,  close  (R.D.). 

6.  ftolbhar,   a  greedy  fellow ;  Ic.  kol-bitr,    a  coal- eater,  one 

sitting  always  by  the  fire-side  (R.D.) 

7.  Roudhlais,  a  through-other  person ;  Ic.  raudlaus,  shiftless. 

8.  Slafaist,  a  loosely-built  person  ;  Ic.  slafast,  adj.  slacken,  be 
slovenly. 

9.  Slaucar,  a  spiritless  fellow ;  Ic.  adj.  slakr,  idle. 

10.  Qlbh,  you  brute  ;  Ic.  ulfr,  a  wolf. 

11.  Glutai*,  a  glutton;  Tc.  glutr,  extravagance. 

12.  Aular,  a  dunce;  Ic.  auli,  a  dunce. 

13.  Ealbhar,  a  good-for-nothing  fellow;  Ic.  alfr,  an  elf.     As  the 

elves  had  power  to  bewitch  men,  a  silly  vacant  person  is  in 
Iceland  called  "  alfr"  (Cleaseby). 


92  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

14.  Amulaid,  an  unsteady  person ;  Ic.  amlodi,  a  weak  person. 

Perhaps  Robb  Bonn's  word   "amuel teach,"   ludicrous,   is 
from  the  same  root. 

15.  Croppau,  a  deformed  person  ;  Ic.  kroppin,  crippled. 

16.  Gocamann,  a  fool ;  Ic.  Gauksman,   one    who    watches  the 
cuckoo's  throat. 

III.    ADJECTIVES. 

1 .  Graufal,  revolting ;  Ic.  grufa,  crouch,  cower ;  Danish,  gru, 

horror. 

2.  Rollaisteach,  according  to  Macleod  and  Dewar  signifies  to 
be  given  to  exaggeration.     With  us  it  always  signifies  the 
restless  disposition  of  children  ;  Ic.  rolaus,  restless. 

3.  So  with  us  "  sgeugach"  always  signifies  a  physical  not  a 
mental  peculiarity.     It  is  applied  only  to  men  and  signifies 
(1)   that  one  has  a  projecting  chin,  or  (2)  that  one  has  a 
beard  of    that  peculiar   strong   straight  hair;  Ic.  skegg, 
beard. 

4.  Tapaidh,  big,  manly ;  Ic.  tap,  pith,  pluck. 

5.  Foraileach,  imperious ;  Ic.  for,  forward,  haughty.     Perhaps 

this  is  the  prefix  in  forneart. 

6.  Driopail,  to  be  busy  ;  Ic.  drepa,  v.  doing  a  thing. 

7.  Compare  the  adjectives  costail  and  ladarna,  expensive  and 
bold,  with  Ic.  kostall,  costly,  and  labrann,  robber. 

IV.    ABSTRACT  NOUNS. 

1 .  Gleadhraich,  din,  gleadhar,  blow ;  Ic.  gledi,  gledir,  merry- 
making of  a  festival. 

2.  Capparaid,   wrangling ;    Ic.   v.  kapp,   seen  in  kappord,   v. 

wrangling,  kapprodr,  a  rowing  match. 

3.  Radh,  intention,    "  Tha   mi   air   ladh  so  a  dhean^mh,"   I 
intend,  &c.;  Ic.  rad,  counsel,  settled  plan. 

4.  Trosg,  thud  or  crack,  "  thuilt  e  le  trosg,"  he  fell  with  a 
crash  ;  Ic.  prosk,  a  noise,  beating  as  from  threshing. 

5.  The  u  in  uspairn,  strife,  is  the  regular  Ic.  negative  prefix. 
G.  Spadrach,  attention  to  dress ;  Ic.  spatra,  behave  like  a  fop. 

7.  Dragh,  as  v.  drag,  as  n.  annoyance ;  Ic.  draga,  draw. 

8.  Farbhas,  rnmour,  surmise ;    Ic.  fyrir-visa,  forboding ;  Lit. 
knowing  from  afar.     Probably  it  is  the  same  prefix  that  is 
in  farabhalach,  stranger. 

9.  Campar,  hindrance,  annoyance ;  Ic.  kampr,  a  crest  or  front 
wall. 

10.  Deilig,  dealing,  converse;    Ic.  dael   liki,  familiarity,   easy 
dealing. 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  9& 

11.  lalltaich,  howling  of  dogs  ;  Ic.  yla,  howl  of  a  dog. 

12.  Solumas,    plenty,    a   word   given   as    peculiar   to    Donald 

Mathieson,  and  the  probably  related  word  soluidh,  a 
treasure,  found  with  Bob  Donn,  may  be  found  from  Ic  [sala,. 
cloth  used  in  buying  and  selling.  Soluvad  was  the 
standard  for  payment  of  wadmal. 

v.  NOUNS. 

(a)  Words  in  connection  with  the  sea — 

1.  Sgoth,  the  larger  winter  fishing  boat;  Ic.  skuta,  a  small 

craft  or  cutter. 

2.  Sgulag,  the  basket  for  holding  the  lines ;  Ic.  skutill,  a  plate 

trencher  or  even  a  small  table. 

3.  Tobhta,  a  rowing  bench  ;  Ic.  thopta,  ditto. 

4.  Tobha,  a  rope  ;  Ic.  tog  or  tau£,  ditto. 

5.  Stuir,  the  rudder ;  Ic.  syra,  ditto. 

6.  Rachd,  the  rack  or  "  traveller ;"  Ic.  rakki,  ditto. 

7.  Sudh,  the  seam  between  the  planks  of  a  ship ;  Ic.  sudh, 

suture. 

8.  Rangan,  the  ribs  of  a  vessel ;  Ic.  rong,  ditto. 

9.  Fracht,  freight ;  Danish  fragt,  ditto. 

10.  Stagh,  stay  rope  ;  Danish  stag,  ditto. 

11.  Tearr,  tar;  Ic.  tjar,  ditto. 

12.  Spor,  a  flint ;  Ic.  spori,  ditto. 

13.  Dorgh,  a  hand  line  ;  Ic.  dorga,  a  line  for  fishing  through 

holes  in  the  ice. 

14.  Sgal  (sgal  gaoithe),   the  sound  of  high  wind ;  Ic.   skjall,. 

shriek  used  of  a  storm. 

I  find  the  following  names  of  birds  and  fishes : — 

15.  Sulair,  the  solon  goose ;  Tc.  haf-sula,  ditto. 

16.  Scarbh,  the  scarf;  Ic.  skarv,  ditto.' 

17.  Stearnag,  the  sea  swallow  ;  Ic.  Therna, 

18.  Ale,  the'auk  ;  Ic.  alk. 

19.  Lamhidh,  a  sea  bird  ;  Ic.  Langve. 

20.  Ceilig,  the  cod  ;  Ic.  keila,  ditto. 

21.  Sgait,  the  skate  ;  Ic.  skata,  ditto. 

22.  So  our  cnudan  and  geaddag  are  from  Ic.  cnudr  and  geddas. 

23.  Uirisg,  a  monster ;  Ic.  Ofriskja. 

24.  Sgiddair     medusa;    Ic.    skjoldr,    shield,     hence    medusa 

(sgioldair). 


•94  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

{b)  The  names  of  such  natural  objects  as  :— 

1.  Sabh,  the  sea,     Mairi  Nin-Alasdair  has 

Ri  fuaim  an  tshaimh 

Is  uaigneach  mo  ghean.     Ic.  haf,  the  sea. 

2.  Sgriodan,  the  broken  face  of  a  declivity  ;  Ic.  skridha,  land- 
slip. 

3.  Sgeir,  a  reef ;  Ic.  sker,  ditto. 

4.  Grunnd,   the  bottom,   especially  of   the   sea ;    Ic.   grunnr, 
bottom  of  the  sea. 

5.  Cleit,  a  rock,  cliff ;  Ic.  klettr,  ditto. 
£.  Os,  the  mouth  of  a  river ;  Ic.  oss. 

7.  Uig,  a  nook,  a  retired  hollow ;  Ic.  ogr,  an  inlet  creek. 

8.  Ob,  a  bay,  a  creek ;  Ic.  opna,  an  opening ;  so  Oban,  the 

place  name. 

9.  Geodh,  a  creek  ;  Ic.  gja,  a  creek,  or  rift ;  so  Staxigoe  in  the 
north  of  Caithness. 

10.  Cos,  a  hollow  ;  Ic.  kvos,  a  little  hollow. 

11.  Bodha,  a  breaker  or  sunken  rock  ;  Ic.  bodi. 

12.  Bruic,  seaweed  ;  Ic.  bruk. 

(c)  The  Norsemen  claimed  for  Torf-Einar,  one  of  their  leaders, 
the  honour  of  being  the  first  man  to  cut  peats,  a  claim  which 
language  would  in  some  measure  seem  to  countenence. 

1.  Bac,  our  word  for  the  peat  bank  is  Ic.  bakki,  a  bank. 

2.  Toraisger,  the  basket ;  Ic.  torf  +  ausker,  peat  scoop. 

3.  Bar,  the  regularly  waving  bank  of  peats  by  the  side  is  Ic. 

bar,  undulations  on  the  surface  of  anything. 

4.  Rudh,  the  small  stack  of  peats  is  Ic.  hruga,  heap. 

(d)  Carpenter's  trade — 

1.  Tal,  adz  ;  Ic.  talga-ov,  ditto. 

2.  Locar,  plane ;  Ic.  lokarr. 

3.  Sparr,  a  beam  ;  Ic,  sparre,  a  bar. 

4.  Sgeilm,  a  chisel ;   Ic.  skalrn,  a  short  sword  (or  a  pointed 
stick). 

5.  Sgor,  a  notch,  cutting  ;  Ic.  skor,  ditto. 

6.  Glamradh,  a  vice ;  Ic.  klembra,  pinch  in  a  vice. 

(e)  Household — 

1.  Isbean,  a  sausage;  Ic.  ispen,  ditto. 

2.  Ceapair,    bread  and    "kitchen;"    Ic.   keper  (1)  a  cudgel; 

(2)  then  from  the  shape  a  sausage.  The  change  to  the 
present  use  suggests  a  change  from  a  pastoral  to  a  more 
agricultural  condition.  The  former  would  have  been  the 
only  state  of  life  tolerable  to  people  whom  parasitism  must 
have  enervated. 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  95 

3.  Obhan,  the  blown  milk  on  the  surface  of  the  milking  vessel. 

4.  Keisgeadh,   the  hanging  of  fish  or   flesh  up   to   dry ;  Ic. 

raskerd,  split  fish  hung  up  to  dry. 

5.  Crcgan,  from  crog,  a  pitcher ;  Ic.  krukka,  a  pot. 

6.  Crogaig,  a  hook  ;  Ic.  krokr,  ditto. 

7.  Suith,  soot ;  Ic.  so#,  ditto. 

8.  Brisgein,  gristle  ;  Ic.  brjosk,  ditto. 

9.  Shearradair,  towel ;  Ic.  thera,  ditto. 

10.  Cnag,  stump  to  sit  on  ;  Ic.  knakkr,  a  little  chair. 

11.  Arainn.  hearth  ;  "  Aig  arainn  an  tigh;"  Ic.  arinn,  ditto. 

12.  Diosc  (Skye),  a  plate  ;  Ic.  diskr. 

13.  Seoin,  a  feast ;  Ic.  son,  a  sacrifice. 

VI.    VARIOUS. 

1.  Bunndais,  weaver's  fee  in  kind  ;  Ic.  band,  pi.  bond,  yarn  of 

wool  (R.D.). 

2.  Nabuidh,  neighbour ;  Ic.  nabui,  ditto. 

3.  Sioman,  a  straw  rope ;  Ic.  sima,  ditto. 

4.  Sgrath,  covering ;  Ic.  skra,  a  scroll,  dry  skin. 

5.  Sg6r,  the  swaithe,  sweep  of  the  scythe  ;  Ic.  skori,  ditto. 

6.  Suist,  the  flail ;  Ic.  pust,  sometimes  zust,  ditto. 

7.  Fosgar,  an  extravagant  word  applied  to  the  grunting  noise 

that  some  men  make  while  eating ;  Ic.  oscra,  bellow,  roar, 
oscarra  (Gaelic),  loud,  is  another  form. 

8.  Ocar  (Sutherland,  Focar),  interest  of  money ;  Ic.  okr,  ditto. 

9.  Sgillinn,  a  penny ;  Ic.  skillingr,  a  shilling. 

10.  Mod,  a  court  of  justice,  meeting  ;  Ic.  mot,  ditto. 

11.  Basdal,  noise;  Ic.  bastl,  turmoil. 

12.  Steornadh,  govern  ;  Ic.  stjorna,    ditto,    lit.  guide   by    the 

stars  (stjarna). 

13.  Ruta,  a  ram  ;  Ic.  hrutr,  ditto. 

14.  Maghan,  the  stomach;  Ic.  magi,  ditto. 

15.  Magul,  "cod";  Ic.  flesh  of  the  belly,  especially  of  sheep. 

16.  Gadhar,  a  greyhound;  Ic.  gagarr,  a  dog. 

17.  Cromadh,  finger  length  ;  Ic.  krumma,  4  or  5  inches. 

18.  Sgall,  baldness;  Ic  skalli,  a  bald  head. 

19.  Mai,  rent,  tax ;  Ic.  payment  to  soldiers,  &c. 

20.  Opposite  to  "  turn,"  turn  ;  stri,  strife  ;  lioda,  lisp  ;  teadhair, 
tether ;  cairteal,  quarter ;  beid,  bait ;  we  have  the  following 
Ic.    words    with    similar   meanings — Turna,    strifr;   lioda, 
tjofrr  ;  kvartill,  beit. 

21.  Sad  (Lewis),  seed,  "sad  min;"  Ic.  sad,  ditto. 

22.  Rotach,  storm,  "  Rotach  na  caisge      Ic.  rota,  storm. 


96  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

23.  Spreodadh,  to  incite ;  Ic.  spretta,  cause  to  spring  up.     So- 

crann-spreoit,  bowsprit. 

24.  Mughach,  gloomy ;  Ic.  mugga,  mugginess,  mist. 

25.  Gemeac,  distortion  of  the  features  ;  Ic.  geme,  gibe. 

26.  Bocan,  a  hobgoblin  ;  Ic.  bakn,  a  big  monstrous  thing. 

27.  Gliom  (R.D.),  a  mild  tussle,  or  =  Gaelic  starradh;  Ic.  glima, 

wrestle. 

28.  Ruparachdh     (Suther.),     scandalmongering  ;    Ic.      hropa,, 

slander,  defame. 

29.  Taibhse,  a  spectre ;  Ic.  tafsi,  a  scrfp,  shred. 

30.  Misgiord,  indecent  behaviour ;  Ic.  misgord,  transgression. 

31.  Calamand,  stout ;  geirse  (Sutherland),  madness  ;  cumpann- 

ach,  a  mate.     Compare  these  Ic.  words  of  like  meanings, 
halmand,  geisa,  and  kumpann. 

32.  Mur,  a  bulwark ;  Ic.  murr,  a  wall. 

33.  The    Sutherland    word    olach,    hospitable,    may   be    from 

orlatr,  Ic.,  open-handed,  or  from  Ic.  61,  ale. 

34.  Fuigh,  an  exclamation   used    on    feeling   any  unpleasant 

smell ;  Ic.  fui,  rottenness. 

35.  Huskus,  a  word  for  calling  a  cow  ;  Ic.  kuskus,  ditto. 

36.  Tuadhi,  a  word  for  calling  a  bull;  Ic.  tuddi,  ditto. 

37.  Ciomball,  bundle  (Lewis),  "  ciomball  fraoich  ;"  Ic.  kimbill, 

ditto. 

38.  Ceiss,  round  belly  ;  "  Is  ann  air  tha  a  cheis ;"  Ic.  keisi,, 

ditto. 

39.  Crebeilt,  garter ;  Ic.  knebelti,  ditto. 

40.  Cuidhe,  snow  wreath ;  Ic.  kufr,  heap  over. 

41.  Ulldaich,  a  night  stalker;  Ic.  hulda,  to  hide. 

I  have  no  doubt  but  that  a  great  proportion  of  these  words  will 
be  found  to  be  only  cognate.  Concerning  some,  too,  I  suspect  the 
fact  is,  that  instead  of  our  getting  them  from  the  Norsemen,  the 
Norsemen  got  them  from  us.  Cleaseby,  however,  does  not 
acknowledge  Gaelic  as  the  source  of  any  word  that  I  have  given, 
but  then  he  does  not  do  that  in  regard  to  kro,  a  pen ;  hverr,  a 
cauldron,  and  others  which  Vigfusson  proves  to  have  been  got 
from  us. 

The  mingling  of  a  foreign  race  with  the  Celts  of  the  North  of 
Scotland,  and  the  contact  of  the  two  languages  over  a  longer  or 
shorter  period,  could  not  fail  to  produce  phonetic  peculiarities  in 
the  Gaelic  of  these  districts.  These  peculiarities  are  appreciable, 
but  they  have  been  so  modified  by  local  surroundings  that  it  may 
be  difficult  to  make  general  statements  that  will  hold  true  in  all 
the  districts. 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  97 

1.  The  softening  of  tennis  to  medials  a  general  feature  of 
modern  Gaelic,  is  most  prevalent  in  the  Northern  districts.    Clag, 
a  bell,  Lewis  and  Sutherland,  glag.     So  "  an  gomhnuidh"  for  "  an 
comhnuidh"  ;  "an  drasda"  for  "an  trathsa."     In  Lewis  they  say 
"  d'  athair"  for  "  t'  athair,"  and  though  we  keep  the  t  in  t'  atliair 
in  Sutherlandshire,  we  show  the  tendency  by  saying  "  do  d'  athair." 

2.  Our  treatment  of  the  liquids  1,  m,  n,   r,  is  peculiar,      [n 
Lewis  and  in  Sutherland  (1)  n  before  g  is  dropped,  "  tarruig"   and 
"  fuluig"  for  "  tarruing"  and  "  fuluing"  ;  (2)  n  after  g  becomes  r, 
"grothuich"  for  "guothuich,"  "  gruis"  for   "  gnuis."     In  Suther- 
landshire, at  leash,  we  change  n  between  the  two  vowels  into  r, 
"airm"  for  "ainm,"   "  m'  aramsa"  for   "  m'  anamsa,"  by  my  soul. 
In  Sutherlandshire  we  take  the  harder  forms  of  1,  in,  r,  but  uni- 
formly change  the  vowels  around  them. 

r.   "  Cura"    for     "  caora,"  •  "  an     irridh"    for    "  an     uraidh," 
"  darus"  for  "dorus." 

1.  "  Bollan"  for  "  ballan,"  a  wooden  vessel ;  "  damhan-olluidh" 

for  "  damhan-alluidh  "  "  soult"  for  "  suit." 

In  Lewis,  on  the  other  hand,  they  take  the  softer  forms  of  these 
consonants,  indeed,  their  T  sounds  more  like  "  dh"  than  anything 
else,  buaradh,  Lewis  buadhadh.  These  consonants  do  not  there- 
fore maintain  the  necessary  distinctness  in  the  words,  indeed  they 
sometimes  disappear  altogether.  The  Lewis-men  says  "  fea'inn"' 
for  "  feamainn."  For  this  want  of  distinctness  in  consonants  they 
have  to  make  up  by  giving  more  attention  to  their  vowels,  and 
that  is  probably  the  reason  why  they  are  more  sensitive  in  that 
respect  than  their  relatives  on  the  mainland. 

3.  "Sr"  is  a  Gaelic  combination,  but   it  is  not  to  be  found  in 
Norse,  and  we  in  the  North  under  this  foreign  influence  insert  a  t 
between  the  two  letters,  e.g.,  "  struth,"  "  streang." 

4.  We  do  not  show  the  appreciation  of  old  and  rare  forms  that 
the  pure  Celt,  to  whom  the  language  has  been  a  traditional  inheri- 
tance, does.     Our  dialects  yet  bear  traces  of  the  learner's  tend- 
ency to  make  rules  go  too  far  in  such  forms  as  "tinneachan"  for 
•'  tinntean,"   "  dromaichean"    for    "  domannan,"     "  ainmean"    for 
"ainmeannan." 

We  were  considering  different  aspects  of  the  Norse  occupation 
that  were  likely  to  make  it  influential  in  affecting  our  language 
and  literature.  We  showed  some  of  the  effects  of  that  event  in 
our  language,  and  that  they  are  not  more  numerous  and  striking 
is  only  one  of  many  instances  that  prove  to  show  how  much  the 
survival  of  a  language  depends  upon  social  and  political  circum- 
stances. In  tracing  the  influence  of  this  event  in  our  literature, 

7 


98  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

we  shall  consider— (1)  How  far  we  find  the  historical  facts  reflected 
in  our  writings  and  popular  idea  ;  (2)  Consider  what  we  got  from 
them  by  way  of  communicated  ideas,  i.e.,  through  the  medium  of 
proverb  and  tale  ;  (3)  Make  a  comparison  of  general  characteristics. 

1.  Our  tales  and  ballads  are  the  only  part  of  our  literature 
that  lead  us  back  to  the  'period  which  we  have  been  considering. 
These  are,  as  we  should  expect,  founded  to  a  great  extent  upon 
historic  facts.  Historical  exactness  in  such  a  species  of  literature 
is,  of  course,  not  to  be  looked  for.  Only  events  that  fixed  them- 
selves upon  the  popular  mind  from  tUfeir  greatness,  their  strange- 
ness, or  from  their  being  a  matter  of  general  observation,  could 
live  through  such  a  method  of  transmission.  In  these,  especially 
in  the  tales,  the  Lochlinnich  act  one  of  the  most  prominent 
parts.  They  are  represented  as  the  common  enemies  of  Alba  and 
Erinn  and  the  constant  opponents -of  the  Feinn.  They  had  the 
knowledge  of  imparting  magic  power  to  weapons,  but  although  in 
this  superior  to  the  Feinn,  they  are  represented  as  going  to  them 
to  learn  "  draoidheachd,"  a  testimony  to  the  ancient  greatness  of 
Ireland  as  the  "  Light  of  the  West."  The  original  home  of  the 
Lochlinnich  is  a  bare  cold  country,  where  people  [stick  to  the 
earth  with  frost,  but  their  headquarters  are  generally  represented 
as  being  about  the  Hill  of  Howth,  near  Dublin.  They  were 
invincible  by  sea,  and  even  on  land  Fionn  is  often  worsted  by 
them,  and  is  "  alive  and  no  more,"  when  some  happy  event  takes 
place  that  changes  the  aspect  of  affairs.  They  are  made  to  follow 
up  their  victories  and  take  advantage  of  the  absence  of  the  Feinn 
by  imposing  "  cess." 

Among  the  historical  characters  recognisable  in  these  Tales 
are  Goodred  Crovan,  who,  in  1079,  seized  the  Norse  kingdom  of 
Man,  and  attempted  to  subdue  the  Hebrides  and  King  Magnus 
Bareleggs.  In  the  tales  the  former  of  these  goes  by  the  name  of 
Cronal  Crobhie,  and  is  represented  as  rising  out  of  a  humble 
station,  bringing  kings  to  terms  with  him  by  spoiling  their  lands,  and 
as  showing  great  resources  in  extricating  himself  out  of  difficulties. 
Magnus,  who  was  slain  in  Munster  in  1103,  is  known  under  the 
name  of  Manus.  He  is  represented  as  making  several  invasions 
upon  Ireland  with  more  or  less  success,  but  as  being  at  last  slain 
with  his  whole  army  by  the  Feinn. 

These  tales  bring  us  back  to  a  state  of  society  that  has 
features  that  are  non-Celtic.  We  hear  of  wives  being  bought,  of 
heroes  having  some  of  their  most  trying  conflicts  with  females, 
and  a  punishment  we  find  inflicted  upon  criminals  is  the  cutting 
off  from  them  of  a  strip  of  skin  from  the  head  to  the  heel.  These 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  99 

are  doubtless  traditional  reminiscences  of  Scandinavian  customs 
that  were  once  observed  in  this  country.  In  Iceland,  in  heathen 
times,  when  a  man  married  a  wife  he  had  to  pay  for  her  a  sum  of 
money  proportionate  to  his  rank.  If  this  were  not  done,  the  issue 
of  the  marriage  were  held  to  be  illegitimate.  There  are  also 
several  examples  in  Scandinavian  history  of  female  adventurers 
having  the  command  of  fleets.  The  author  of  the  "  Wars  of  the 
-Gaels  "  gives  us  the  names  of  the  leaders  of  a  fleet  of  pirates  that 
-wasted  Munster,  and  that  some  of  these  were  women  we  learn 
from  the  female  name  of  Audunn,  and  the  popular  appellation  of 
Ighean  Ruadh,  by  which  another  was  known.  We  can  easily 
understand  how  such  a  matter  would  live,  and  be  exaggerated  in 
the  tales,  when  more  important  but  more  prosaic  events  would 
fall  out  of  memory.  The  barbarous  method  of  punishment  referred 
to  would  also  seem  to  have  been  practised  among  the  Norsemen, 
for  we  find  evil  doers  in  their  tales  subjected  to  it. 

Donald  Duagald,  the  hero  of  Sutherlandshire  tales,  has  by  some 
been  identified  with  Donald  Mackay,  Baron  Reay,  who  lived  in 
1628.  On  what  grounds  this  was  done,  I  cannot  say;  I  suspect  they 
must  have  been  very  slight.  His  name,  however,  would  seem  to 
mark  him  as  a  Dane,  who  were  called  Dubh-Ghalls,  in  opposition  to 
the  Fionn-Ghalls  or  Norwegians.  How  he  came  to  be  considered 
the  possessor  of  so  much  supernatural  power  we  cannot  now 
discover.  Probably  rapidity  of  movement  and  a  powerful  influence 
in  other  regions  explains  it  all.  In  Sutherland  tales,  however, 
"  Donald"  is  the  name  given  to  all  personified  objects.  We  even 
call  sleep  "  Bomhnull  Samhach,"  and  Satan  is  called  "  Domhnull 
Dubh ;"  and  this  magician  may  be  only  the  personal  representa- 
tive of  a  fleet  of  Danish  j  i rates. 

Scandinavian  paganism  is  comparatively  late  :  it  is  nearer  to  us 
by  five  centuries  than  Druidic  paganism.  We  should  therefore  expect 
to  find  its  shadows  cast  more  clearly  in  popular  customs  and  traditions 
than  those  of  the  other.  And  this  is  certainly  so.  Logan  found 
that  in  Orkney,  even  as  late  as  the  beginning  of  this  century, 
lovers  used  to  go  by  night  to  the  ruins  of  heathen  temples  and 
call  upon  Woden  to  witness  their  vows.  As  late  as  the  seventeenth 
century,  bulls  were  sacrificed  to  saints  on  the  West  Coast.  Here 
is  a  story  in  connection  with  the  little  village  of  Halmadary,  on 
the  top  of  Strathnaver,  which,  in  my  opinion,  illustrates  nothing 
.more  than  the  terrible  power  and  tenacity  of  Norse  heathen  ideas. 
The  Fear  of  Halmadary  had  begun  to  hold  prayer  meetings  at  his 
Jiouse,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  district  attended 
them.  One  day  after  the  people  had  assembled,  and  the  services 


100  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

were  proceeded  with,  a  large  raven  was  seen,  in  the  dim  light,, 
sitting  on  the  "coilbh."  The  worshippers  all  instinctively  felt 
that  it  was  an  evil  spirit,  and  they  became  conscious  of  a  dark  and 
powerful  fascination.  Meanwhile  the  curiosity  of  the  neighbours 
around  was  aroused  by  seeing  that,  though  it  was  getting  late,  the 
meeting  was  not  being  dismissed.  One  after  another  went  in  to- 
see  what  might  be  the  reason,  but,  once  in,  they  were  seized  with 
the  spirit  that  possessed  the  worshippers  and  they  did  not  return 
to  tell  the  tale.  The  night  passed,  ana  so  did  the  following  day 
and  night,  and  the  meeting  was  net  dismissed.  At  the  end  of 
that  time  the  people  who  had  assembled  from  the  country  around! 
decided  to  take  the  roof  off  the  house,  and  when  this  was  done 
the  spell  that  bound  the  worshippers  was  broken.  It  is  said, 
however,  that  some  of  them  never  shook  off  the  effects  of  the 
influence  under  which  they  were  brought,  and  that  they  showed 
great  reluctance  in  telling  how  they  had  been  engaged  during 
that  time.  It,  however,  transpired  that  they  had  decided  to  offer 
a  human  sacrifice  to  the  spirit,  and  that  the  victim  fixed  upon  was. 
the  Fear's  son.  A  servant  in  the  house  had  enough  of  reason  left 
to  protect  the  child,  and  thus  a  terrible  crime  was  prevented. 

The  good  people  of  Sutherlandshire  called  this  event  Tniteanu 
Halmadary,  and  not  wishing  that  so  much  dark  superstition  should' 
ever  be  seen  associated  with  Christian  worship,  they  discourage 
enquiring  into  it.  The  general  idea  is  that  the  event  took  place 
about  the  end  of  the  seventeenth  century.  My  own  opinion  is 
that  the  story  takes  us  back  to  the  time  when  the  Norse  settlers 
were  renouncing  Paganism,  or  at  least  to  a  period  when  Thor  was 
yet  an  object  of  popular  dread.  Thor  is  always  represented  as  the 
determined  foe  of  all  who  forsook  the  old  faith,  and  he  had  two 
ravens,  Mind  and  Memory,  which  acted  for  him  in  the  world. 
Some  such  beliefs  as  these  would  seem  to  have  been  held  by  the 
people  of  this  retired  Norse  hamlet,  and  to  have  led  to  their 
putting  into  practice  some  of  the  worst  features  of  the  religion  of 
their  ancestors. 

As  the  Norsemen  lived  chiefly  around  the  coast,  we  should' 
naturally  expect  to  fiud  some  survival  of  their  ideas  and  ways 
among  fishermen.  A  peculiarity  of  the  superstitions  of  fishermen 
aloujj  the  north  and  west  coasts  is  the  efficacy  that  they  attribute  to 
article's  belonging  to  women  or  used  in  household  work.  On  the 
ea>t  coa>t  of  Caithness  the  fisherman's  wife  throws  a  besom  after 
him  to  insure  his  catching  herring,  In  Uist  I  am  told  there  is  a 
belief  that  if  one  goin£  on  a  trip  takes  a  spoon  with  him  he  is- 
cei  tain  to  have  fair  wind  going  and  coming.  I  was  also  told  by 


The  Influence  of  the  Norse  Invasion.  101 

an  old  woman  in  Sutherlandshire  that  some  of  her  husband's 
•crew  went  to  consult  a  wise  woman  that  they  might  get  fish. 
She  told  them  to  take  a  woman's  ring  and  tie  it  in  a  piece  of 
worsted  cloth,  and  put  it  in  the  "ear  of  the  baulk."  The 
existence  of  such  ideas  are  all  the  more  striking  when  we  remember 
that  nothing  is  thought  to  be  more  unlucky  than  to  talk  of 
women  or  land  affairs  on  the  sea.  These  customs  are  probably 
remnants  of  the  appeals  of  the  old  Norsemen  to  their  female 
•divinities.  Frsyja,  who  was  believed  to  teach  women  household 
work,  was  with  her  son,  Niord,  held  to  be  the  giver  of  all 
temporal  prosperity.  I  find  from  Dasent  that  after  the  intro- 
duction of  Christianity  the  mantle  of  this  benignant  goddess  fell 
upon  a  half  mythical  being  of  the  name  of  "  Holda"  (the  satis- 
fying). Does  this  explain  the  continual  use  in  northern  parts  of 
the  glaringly  heathen  expressions,  "  Gu  'm  beannaich  seala  thu" 
or  "  Gu  'n  gleidh  seala  thu,"  to  preserve  against  the  influence  of 
the  "  evil  eye." 

2.  We  find  in  our  literature  many  ideas  that  had  their  original 
home  on  Scandinavian  soil.  The  heroes  are  clearly  endowed  with 
many  of  the  characteristics  of  the  fighting  Norwegian  gods.  Fionn 
like  Thor  has  a  hammer,  the  stroke  of  which  can  be  heard  all  over 
the  world.  Like  Odin  he  is  continually  seeking  for  knowledge. 
Then  in  tales  all  over  the  Highlands  we  find  men  gaining  super- 
natural knowledge  by  tasting  the  flesh  of '  serpents,  others  cast 
into  deep  sleep  by  a  poisoned  thorn  being  thrust  into  them, 
animals  being  brought  alive  by  their  bones  being  wrapped  up  in 
their  skin  and  a  charm  pronounced  over  the  whole.  These  ideas 
are  all  peculiar  to  Norse  mythology,  and  are  all  found  in  the 
Edda. 

If  we  are  to  judge  by  the  similarity  between  the  Gaelic  tales 
collected  by  Campbell,  and  those  collected  in  Norway  by  Dasent, 
we  should  be  inclined  to  think  that  two-thirds  of  the  material  of 
Highland  tales  were  derived  from  the  Scandinavian  settlers. 
Between  many  of  the  tales  we  find  an  agreement  in  all  the  main 
features.  We  shall  find  an  illustration  of  that  by  comparing 
Tale  IV.  in  Mr  Campbell's  Collection  with  "  Shortshanks"  in 
Dasent's  work.  In  the  Gaelic  tale  we  read  that  a  three-headed 
'"  uilbheist"  living  in  the  sea  had  acquired  a  right  to  a  prince's 
•daughter.  The  prince  promised  her  in  marriage  to  any  one 
who  should  save  her  from  the  awful  danger.  A  gallant 
suitor  ofters  to  go  and  fight  for  her,  but  at  sight  of  the 
monster  he  loses  heart  and  flees.  The  prince's  servant, 
who  had  a  magic  sword,  goes  and  defends  the  lady,  and 


102  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

puts  the  "  uilbheist"  to  flight  after  striking  off  one  of  its  heads^ 
The  servant  receives  a  ring  from  the  lady  in  acknowledgment  of 
his  bravery,  and  the  head  of  the  monster  is  sent  to  the  prince. 
But  as  the  lady  is  returning  home  her  faint-hearted  suitor  meets- 
her,  takes  possession  of  the  head,  and  forces  her  by  threats  to- 
declare  him  to  be  her  deliverer.  The  next  day  the  monster 
returns,  the  servant  renews  the  fight,  and  he  loses  a  second  head. 
The  same  incidents  take  place  as  before  ;  and  so  on  the  third 
day.  At  the  end  of  that  time  the  suitor  demands  of  the  prince 
the  hand  of  his  daughter  in  accordance  with  his  promise. 
The  justice  of  his  claim  is  admitted,  but  the  princess- 
declares  she  will  marry  only  the  man  who  can  take  the  heads  of 
the  dragon  oft'  the  twig  on  which  they  were  put,  and  who  will 
produce  the  jewels  given  away  by  her.  This,  of  course,  leads  to- 
the  natural  and  desired  conclusion. 

In  the  Norse  tale  the  three  characters  are  a  princess,  a  knight, 
and  a  servant  with  a  magic  sword.  The  enemy  in  this  case  are 
three  ogres  from  beyond  the  sea.  The  parts  acted  by  the  char- 
acters are  the  same,  the  only  difference  being  in  the  means  chosen 
to  bring  the  deception  to  light. 

A  number  of  proverbs,  perhaps  more  than  we  yet  know  of,, 
clearly  came  to  us  through  these  settlers.  I  give  a  few  examples. 

1.  Is  lorn  guallain  gun  bhrathar — Bare  is  one's  back  unless  he- 

have  a  brother  (Burnt  Njal). 

2.  Is  righ  duine  na  thigh  fern — Everybody  is  somebody  at 
home  (Guest's  Wisdom). 

3.  Chan  fhiosrach  mar  feoraies — Who  asks  will  become  wise — 

(Edda). 

In  others  we  can  detect  Norse  ideas,  or  the  spirit  that  their 
rule  inspired.  "  Tha  fios  fithich  agad"  was  probably  suggested  by 
Odin's  ravens  that  communicated  everything  to  him.  ''Isfuar 
gaoth  nan  coimheach"  and  others  of  like  meaning  show  no  friendly 
feeling  towards  the  foreigners. 

(3).  We  can  thus  see  that  much  of  the  bones  and  the  sinews  of 
our  literature  was  supplied  by  the  Scandinavians.  The  spirit  that 
enlivens  this  body  must,  to  a  great  extent,  be  their's  too.  The 
impress  of  their  character  alone  could  not  perish,  as  their 
language  did,  but  then  that  character  itself  survives.  Probably 
most  of  our  bards  are  by  nature  as  much  Scandinavian  as  they 
are  Celtic.  No  doubt  this  living  influence  has  tended  to  do  away 
in  our  literature*  with  much  that  need  not  be  missed.  Celts,  as  a 
race,  have  been  accused  of  being  the  victims  of  a  reckless 
imagination,  of  having  a  fund  of  enthusiasm  so  boundless  that 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  103 

they  can  get  crazy  over  trifles,  and  of  having  the  habit  of  painting 
the  absent  and  unattainable  in  such  attractive  hues  as  to  make 
the  sober  present  intolerable.  That  there  is  something  in  the 
charge  we  are  not  careful  to  deny.  Liveliness  of  sentiment  is 
certainly  a  characteristic  of  our  race.  It  is  a  great  endowment, 
saving  the  character  from  tameness,  and  making  a  people  original, 
adventurous,  and  patriotic.  But  it  has  its  dangers,  and  one  who 
has  only  a  very  slight  knowledge  of  the  history  and  the  literature 
of  the  Celtic  races  will  perceive  that  they  have  all,  more  or  less, 
fallen  into  them.  In  every  field  of  thought  they  are  prone  to 
extravagance.  They  see  visions  and  they  dream  dreams  ;  they 
howl  and  rant  over  things  that  have  no  existence  outside  of  their 
own  minds.  To  counteract  this  tendency,  our  acquaintance  with 
the  Norsemen,  with  their  love  of  reality  and  their  fear  of  self- 
deception,  was  the  antidote  that  we  needed,  and  our  contact  with 
them  has  brought  us  lasting  advantages.  The  Gael  of  Scotland 
has  yet,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  enough  of  sentiment  for  all  useful 
purposes,  but  he  certainly  has  a  reputation  for  sanity  and  com- 
mon sense  which  his  relatives  in  France  and  Ireland  never  had. 
Our  literature,  limited  though  it  be,  has,  in  addition  to  its  purely 
Celtic  merits,  a  restraint  a*nd  an  earnestness  that  will  increase 
its  value  for  mankind.  Even  Rob  Donn,  with  his  keen 
appreciation  of  life,  his  absorbing  sympathy  with  his  fellow  men,  is, 
in  spite  of  a  reckless  dash  we  can  find  in  him,  a  born  sage.  He 
cannot  get  over  the  fact  that  life  is  a  more  serious  thing  than  most 
men  are  inclined  to  make  it,  and  the  distinction  between  right 
and  wrong  in  spirit  and  action  has  to  him  a  sacred  dignity. 


27th  FEBRUARY,  1895. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  elected  members  of  the  Society 
at  this  meeting,  viz.  : — Arthur  Bignold  of  Lochrosque,  Ross-shire, 
life  member;  and  Mr  John  Mackay,  editor,  Celtic  Monthly,  Glasgow, 
an  ordinary  member.  Thereafter  Mr  Wm,  Mackay,  honorary 
secretary,  read  a  paper  contributed  by  Mr  John  Mackay,  Hereford, 
on  "  Sutherland  Place  Names — Parish  of  Lairg  and  Creich."  Mr 
Mackay's  paper  was  as  follows  : — 

SUTHERLAND  PLACE  NAMES. 
PARISH  OF  LAIRG. 

This  parish  once  extended  from  the  confines  of  Dornoch  and 
Creich  right  away  to  the  Minch,  and  included  the  ancient 


104  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

divisions  of  Brae-chat,  Diri-meanigh,  Diri-mor,  and  Edderachylis, 
till  ecclesiastical  requirements,  upon  the  inti eduction  of  Pro- 
testantism, and  more  particularly  Presbyterianism,  rendered  it 
necessary  to  alter  the  boundaries  of  certain  parishes  in  the  county, 
and  form  new  parishes  for  religious  and  civil  purposes.  In  the 
early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  district  of  "  Edderachylis'' 
was  taken  from  Lairg  and  constituted  into  a  parish  of  itself,  the 
"  Parph"  part  of  it  being  annexed  to  Durness.  Sir  R.  Gordon,  of 
the  "Genealogy"  renown,  states,  j*f>.  9-10,  "Although  Edder- 
achylis doth  appertyn  at  this  day  (1620)  to  Macky,  yet  it  was 
never  a  pairt  of  Strathnaver,  bot  it  wes  a  portion  of  the  baronie 
of  Skelbo  in  Sutherland,  and  hath  been  a  pairt  of  the  parish  of 
Lairg." 

The  parish,  as  now  constituted,  is  24  miles  long,  and  varying 
in  breadth  from  6  to  12 \  miles,  a  land  area  of  121,358  acres; 
the  greater  portion  of  the  cultivated  land  lying  round  the  village 
of  Lairg  and  the  northern  shore  of  Loch-Shin  at  Shinness.  the 
scene  of  the  late  Duke  of  Sutherland's  costly  but  unremunerative 
reclamation  works. 

From  the  village  of  Lairg  to  the  Minch,  in  a  north-westerly 
direction,  runs  a  chain  of  lakes  and  conjoined  rivers,  forming  a 
fitting  "  pass  "  for  a  canal  or  a  railway  were  other  considerations 
and  auspices  propitious.  The  "Shin,"  16^  miles  in  length,  270 
feet  above  sea  level;  the  "  Griam,"  If  mile,  304  feet;  the 
'  Merkland,"  2£  miles,  367  feet :  the  "  Lochmore,"  4|-  miles,  140 
feet;  the  "Stack,"  2£  miles,  118  feet  above  sea  level,  thence  to 
the  sea  through  Loch-Laxford. 

In  this  parish  are  fifty  other  lakes  of  much  repute  for  angling. 
Sinking  in  the  extreme  south  along  the  Shin -to  120  feet  above 
sea  level,  the  aspect  of  the  parish  is  everywhere  hilly  and 
mountainous  on  its  northern  confines  reaching  altitudes  of  nearly 
3000  feet,  presenting  few  geological  features  of  much  interest. 
The  prevailing  rocks  are  granite  and  trap ;  limestone  exists  on 
the  northern  shore  of  Loch-Shin,  probably  an  off-shoot  from  the 
great  belt  of  limestone  running  diagonally  through  to  Durness. 

The  cultivated  land  is  chiefly  light  gravelly  loam,  mixed  with 
.  lying  in  a  clayey  subsoil.  The  uplands  are  generally 
covered  with  peat  and  heather,  valuable  for  pasture,  grouse, 
and  hog-fir.  The  antiquities  in  this  parish  are  few,  consisting  of 
s«.  .-ailed  Pictish  towers,  or  their  ruins,  called  by  the  natives 
"  Fiagalian,"  and  near  them  are  found,  as  in  many  other  parts  of 
the  parish,  tumuli  and  hut  circles,  where  the  ancient  inhabitants 
\\eiv  Imrird,  whether  slain  in  battle  by  the  spear  or  sword,  or  cut 
down  by  the  scythe  of  death,  where  they  had  lived. 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  105 

In  1801  the  population  was  1209,  when  a  great  number  of  the 
tmanhood  of  the  parish  was  enrolled  in  the  93rd  Regiment  and 
•other  Highland  corps,  serving  at  home  and  abroad.  In  1841  the 
population  dwindled  to  913,  increasing  in  1871  to  978,  and  in 
1881  to  1355. 

In  this  parish  was  born  the  famous  Samuel  Macdonald,  familiarly 
called  "  Big  Sam,"  a  veritable  giant,  seven  feet  four  inches  in  height, 
and  proportionately  strong.  His  feats  of  strength,  at  home  and  in 
the  army,  have  been  told  and  retold  for  years  round  firesides  in 
Sutherland.  In  the  churchyard  are  two  notable  monuments,  the 
•one  recording  the  virtues  of  two  Mackay  ministers,  father  and 
•son,  who  officiated  in  the  parish  for  99  years,  from  1714  to  1803, 
and  of  two  brave  and  gallant  sons  of  the  latter — Captain  Hugh, 
who  headed  the  last  cavalry  charge  at  the  battle  of  Assaye  in 
1803,  and  secured  to  Wellington  his  maiden  victory;  Captain 
William,  of  the  East  India  Company's  Naval  Service,  whose 
relation  of  the  shipwreck  of  the  "Juno"  formed  the  groundwork 
of  Byron's  celebrated  epic  "  Don  Juan,"  which  fact  Thomas  Moore 
pronounced  to  be  the  only  instance  he  knew  of  prose  excelling 
poetry.  The  other  monument,  erected  in  1880  to  Sir  James 
Matheson,  Bart,  of  Achany  and  the  Lews,  is  a  splendid  structure. 
Sir  James  was  a  nephew  of  the  above  two  officers,  his  mother 
'being  their  eldest  sister.  He  was  born  at  Shinness  in  1796  ;  died 
1878. 

MOUNTAIN    NAMES. 

Ben-Hee — G.  beinn-na-sith,  or  beinn-an-t-sith,  ben-shidhe. 
Sith  in  various  forms  is  seen  as  a  prefix  in  many  mountain  names 
in  Ireland  and  Scotland.  The  Irish  definition  of  the  word  sidhe 
or  sithe  is  invariably  "  fairy."  Whether  a  prefix  or  suffix,  sidhe  is 
fairy,  sidhean  is  the  fairy  hillock,  which,  too,  is  the  acceptation  of 
this  word  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland.  Ben-Hee  is  situated  in 
the  centre  of  the  great  Reay  Forest,  far  away  from  any  habitation 
of  man.  If  it  be  Beinn-an-t-sith,  the  definition  would  be  mountain 
of  tranquil  solitude.  2864  feet 

Ben-Sgreamhaidh — G.  sgreamhaidh,  sgremhach,  sgreamhail, 
abhorrent,  horrid,  the  horrid  mountain.  1428  feet. 

Cnoc-bhaid-bhan — G.  cnoc,  hill ;  bhaid,  gen.  of  bad,  thicket  or 
.grove,  and  ban,  pale,  hoary;  the  hill  of  the  pale  or  hoary  grove. 
Arm.  bod,  hot.  Heb.  bad,  grove.  1264  feet. 

Cnoc-maol-a-bliealaidh — G.  cnoc-maol,  bare  or  bald  hill ;  a 
bhealaidh,  gen.  of  bealaidh,  broom.  Arm.  balan.  Fr.  balai,  a 
broom.  Frenchmen  make  brooms  of  this  shrub.  1673  feet. 

Cnoc-a-ghreim — G.  greim,  pain,  hill  of  pain  ;  possibly  in  allu- 
sion to  the  pain  or  fatigue  in  climbing  it.  1220  feet. 


>J 


106  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Cnoc-a-choire — G.  coire,  hollow  in  a  mountain  side,  corrie  ;  hill 
of  the  corrie. 

Cnoc-ghuibhas — G.  cnoc-a-ghuibhais,  guibhas,  nom.,  fir-wood,, 
hill  of  the  fir-wood.  1035  feet. 

Cnoc-Sgeivach — G.  sgeivach,  rocky  ;  the  rocky  hill.    1780  feet. 

Creag-riabhach — G.  riabhach,  brindled  rock.      1573  ft. 

Creag-dhubh-mhor — G.  the  big  black  rock,  or  mountain ;  du, 
G.  black ;  Ir.  dubh  ;  Manx,  W.,  Corn.,  Arm.  du  ;  Heb.  and  Punic 
dua  ;  Malay  du,  black  ;  Chal.  dutha,  ink*  Heb.  din.,  ink.  1821  ft. 

Creag-na-h-iolaire — G.  rock  of  the  eagle.     1243  ft. 

Grianan-a-choire — G.  the  sunny  eminence  of  the  corry.. 
1549  ft. 

Meallau-odhar — G.  meallan,  dim.  of  meall,  lumpy  eminence, 
generally  applied  to  rounded  hill  or  mountain  tops,  the  small  dun, 
lumpy  eminence.  Odhar — G.  dun;  W.  and  Arm.  moel,  lumpy 
bill.  Meall-a-chalpa — G.  the  calf  of  the  leg.  We  have  in  Eng. 
ochre,  from  Gr.  ochros,  corresponding  with  the  G.  odhar,  dun. 

Meallan-a-chuaile — G.  cuaile,  nom.  cudgel,  bludgeon,  staff,  the 
small  rounded  eminence  of  the  staffs.  2460  ft.  From  its  height 
it  is  more  likely  to  be  "  Meallan-a-ghuaile,"  from  the  "  Meallan, 
having  a  shoulder-like  projection. 

Meallan-an-fheur-loch— G.  eminence  of  the  grassy  lake.   2010  ft. 

Meall-na-cloiche-gile — G.  eminence  of  tbe  white  stone.  1330  ft. 
G.  geal,  white ;  W.  goleu,  light ;  Gr.  gala,  milk. 

Meallan  Hath  mor — G.  the  high  grey  eminence.     2250  ft. 

Meallan  liath  beag — G.  the  low  grey  eminence.     1500  ft. 

Sron-na-larachan — G.  the  headland  of  the  ruins.     1223  ft. 

LAKE    NAMES. 

Loch-an-Staing — G.  lake  of  the  trench.  Arm.  and  Corn, 
staucg,  a  trench  or  ditch  ;  G.  staing  domhan  :  Arm.  stancg  doun, 
a  deep  ditch. 

Loch-a-Bhainbh  — G.  bhainbh,  gen.  of  bainbh,  contraction  of 
ban. or  bain,  an  taobh,  a  sire.  Ban-taobh  was  an  ordinary  expres- 
sion applied  in  olden  times  to  uncultivated  or  fallow  land.  Loch- 
a-bhain-taobh  contracted  to  Loch-a-Bhainbh,  lake  of  the  fallow  or 
uncultivated  side.  Here  the  lake  is  an  arm  of  Loch  Shin,  running 
parallel  to  it.  The  promontory  thus  formed  is  the  uncultivated 
land,  and  its  end  is  the  Ness,  which,  added  to  the  lake  name, 
forms  the  place  name  Shin-ness,  adjoining  it. 

Loch-a-ghorm-choire — G.  lake  of  the  blue  corrie. 

Loch-Coire-na-Sith — G.  lake  of  the  fairy  corrie,  This  lake  is. 
near  "  Beimi-an-t-sith,"  or  Ben  Hee.  (See  mountain  names.) 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  107 

Loch  Beannaichte — G.  the  blessed  lake.  Ir.  Lough-beannaighte ; 
Arm.  Lagen  benequet ;  Corn,  lagen  beingaz  ;  G.  Barr-beannaichte  ; 
Arm.  bara  benniquet,  blessed  bread  ;  W.  bara-bendigaid  ;  G.  loch; 
Ir.  lough  ;  Manx  luch  ;  W.  lluch  ;  Bisc.  and  Fr.  lac  ;  Arm.  lagen  ; 
Gr.  lakkos  ;  Lat.  lac-us  ;  Pers.  laca  ;  Coptic  pha-lakkos. 

Loch-na-Caillich — G.  lake  of  the  hag,  or  nun. 

Loch-na-fuar  leac — G.  lake  of  the  cold  flagstone. 

Loch-Fiodhag* — G.  lake  of  the  bird  cherry ;  or  it  may  be  fiod- 
hach,  woody,  copsy,  if  so,  the  woody  lake .  would  be  the 
signification. 

Loch-Eileanach — G.  lake  abounding  in  islands,  which  it  is. 

Loch-Craggie — G.  Creagach,  lake  of  the  rocky  banks. 

Loch-nan-Sgarbh — G.  lake  of  the  cormorant  or  heron. 

Loch-Dulaich — G.  lake  of  the  muddy  banks.    See  place  names. 

Loch-Shin — G.  Shin  is  a  contraction  of  Sithean,  round  green 
mounts,  or  small  round  hills,  of  which  there  are  many  on  the 
north  and  south  shores  of  this  noble  lake.  Near  its  south  end,, 
and  immediately  below  the  church  and  manse  of  the  Established 
Church,  is  an  island  dedicated  to  St  Murie,  St  Mulray,  or  St 
Maolrubha,  about  60  yards  from  the  shore.  Possibly  this  Culdee 
missionary  had  a  cell  on  the  island,  and  a  coracle  of  his  own  to  go 
to  it  and  come  from  it,  before  and  after  the  church  dedicated  to. 
him  was  built.  The  island  for  ages  was  regarded  with  veneration 
and  awe  by  the  natives.  On  the  induction  of  Mr  John  Mackay  to 
the  church  of  Lairg  in  1714,  being  the  first  Presbyterian  minister 
who  was  settled  in  the  parish,  he  experienced  great  difficulty  in 
inducing  the  people  to  attend  the  church  on  Sundays.  They,  like 
most  Highlanders  of  their  day,  paid  more  attention  to  the  British 
Solomon's  "  Book  of  Sports  "  than  to  any  Gospel  ministrations 
week  day  or  Sunday.  They  paid  no  heed  to  their  minister's, 
remonstrances.  He  was  a  man  of  learning  much  beyond  his  day, 
having  for  several  years  studied  hi  the  University  of  Leyden.  He 
was  also  a  man  of  great  physical  strength  and  undaunted  courage, 
which  acquired  him  the  cognomen  of  the  "  Ministear  laidir,"  the- 
strong  minister.  He  was  not  making  much  headway  with  his 
rebellious  flock.  He  always  carried  an  immense  cudgel  in  his 
hand.  If  his  flock  did  not  respect  him  for  his  new  fangled,  strict 
doctrine,  they  respected  and  feared  him  for  his  strength  and  big 
staff,  and  the  manner  in  which  he  could  use  it  at  tin\es.  Finding 
his  remonstrances  to  have  no  effect,  and  Sunday  sports  going  on 
daringly  during  worship  time,  he  issued  from  the  church,  the  big 
stick  in  hand,  and  compelled  the  players  to  enter  the  church 
before  him.  After  locking  the  doors  he  ascended  the  pulpit,, 


108  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

preached,  and  frightened  them  to  attend  ever  after,  and  to  cease 
their  sports  on  Sundays.  He  soon  formed  a  Kirk  Session,  and 
with  the  aid  of  his  elders  began  to  take  cognisance  of  every  breach 
of  morals.  A  little  shoemaker  was  cited  before  the  Session  for 
assault  and  drunkenness.  The  culprit  pled  guilty,  but  disputed 
the  authority  of  the  Kirk  Session,  and  indignantly  refused  to  pay 
any  penalty.*  Seeing  it  useless  to  continue,  the  minister  said  to 
him,  "Robert,  I  will  talk  alone  with  yoiyibout  this.  Will  you  meet 
me  to-morrow  at  the  loch-side  at  two  in  the  afternoon?"  Robert 
consented.  Next  day,  at  the  appointed  time  and  place,  the 
minister  and  Robert  met,  and  faced  the  loch-side  for  half-an-hour. 
The  resolute  Robert  was  as  obdurate  as  ever.  The  minister  gave 
up  the  argument  at  last,  and  said— "  Robert,  can  you  swim?" 
'"  Not  a  stroke,"  replied  Robert ;  upon  which  the  minister  grasped 
Robert  by  the  collar  of  his  coat  with  his  left  hand,  plunged  into 
the  lake,  and  swam  with  his  prisoner  to  St  Murie's  Isle,  and  landed 
him  on  a  heap  of  stones,  quietly  saying  to  him—"  Robert,  my 
man,  when  you  come  to  be  of  a  better  frame  of  mind  you  can  tell 
me  so.  I'll  hear  your  cries  at  the  manse,  and  send  the  ferry  boat 
for  you.  In  the  meantime  you  had  better  walk  about  and  not 
catch  cold."  The  minister  swam  back  to  the  shore,  gave  orders 
that  the  ferry  boat  should  not  go  to  the  island  without  his  orders 
and  permission,  and  walked  down  to  the  manse.  When  Robert 
recovered  somewhat,  his  first  cries  were  threats  of  vengeance.  He 
would  complain  to  the  Sheriff,  to  the  Earl,  to  the  Court  of  Session, 
to  the  General  Assembly.  He  would  never  yield.  No,  never.  As 
soon  as  the  shades  of  evening  began  to  fall  Robert  became 
terrified.  The  island  was  an  "  eerie "  spot  at  all  hours,  and 
awfully  solitary  at  night.  Thoughts  of  the  water  elf  and  water 
horse,  that  most  terrible  of  Highland  ogres,  came  into  his  mind. 
To  pass  a  whole  night  alone  upon  the  island  was  far  more  formid- 
able than  any  penalty  the  Kirk  Session  might  inflict.  At  last  to 
the  manse  came  the  cry,  "  Take  me  out  of  this,  Mr  Mackay,  I'll 
submit  and  never  again  offend."  The  boat  was  sent  for  him, 
Robert  returned  home  humbled  and  penitent,  and  the  minister's 
supremacy  was  secured. 

Loch  AJerkland — A.  S.  Merk,  a  coin  value  13s  4d  Scots,  applied 
t<>  valuation  of  land  ;  there  were  penny  lands,  four  penny,  as  well 
as  merk  land*.  A  place  not  far  oif  is  named  Midpenny. 

Loch  of  Treasure,  Na-h-ulaidh — G.  ula.,  long  rank  grass,  lake 
of  the  long  rank  grass  ;  there  is  a  river  and  glen  of  the  same  name 
proceeding  from  this  lake.  Ulaidh,  of  the  map,  must  be  a 
mistake  ;  it  means  treasure,  and  also  pack-saddle,  unlikely  names 
for  a  lake. 


Sutherland  Place  Names. 

Allt  bhuin  bheag,  Allt  bhuin  mhor — G.  Allt,  stream,  torrent ; 
bhuin,  gen.  of  buin,  base,  or  bottom  of  the  stream ;  beag  and  mor, 
relative  adjectives  of  size,  the  stream  of  the  small  base,  the  stream 
of  the  larger  base. 

Allt-a-chairn  bheag,  Allt-a-chairn  mhor — G.  chairn,  gen.  of 
cairn,  heaps  of  stones,  beag  and  mor  as  above,  stream  of  the  small 
heaps  of  stone,  and  stream  of  the  large  heaps. 

Allt  steall  a  choire — G.  steall,  spout,  cataract ;  choir,  gen.  of 
coire,  corrie,  or  hollow  in  a  mountain  side,  stream  of  the  corrie 
cataract. 

Allt  lag  iia-cuilean — G.  lapr,  a  hollow,  cave,  or  den,  and  euilean, 
whelp,  stream  of  the  whelp's  den. 

Cuilionn,  holly,  has  very  nearly  the  same  pronunciation  as 
euilean,  whelp,  hence  it  may  signify  the  hollow  of  the  holly. 

Cuilean — G.  euilean,  Ir.,  Corn,  coilean,  Arm.  galen. 

Cuilionn — G.  cuileann,  Arm.  gelenen,  Cor.  gelen,  Arm.  ceyln  W. 

Allt  domhain — G.  the  deep  stream. 

Allt-na-claise  mor — G.  claise,  trench,  extended  hollow,  stream 
of  the  big  hollow;  Ir.  clais,  pro.  clash,  trench;  Manx,  clash, 
furrow  :  W.  clais,  a  stripe ;  Arm.,  Cor.  clais,  claiz,  cleis,  cleez. 

Arnhainn  Tirrie  —  G.  pro.  terrie,  said  to  mean  tuireadh, 
lamentation.  Near  this  river,  on  a  rising  ground,  was  fought,  in 
1561,  a  severe  conflict  between  the  Sutherlands  and  Mackays,  the 
latter  being  defeated.  Some  years  after  the  battle  of  Druim-na- 
cupa,  near  Tongue,  where  the  aged  Mackay  Chief,  Angus  Du,  was 
shot  by  a  Shinness  man  lurking  in  a  bush,  after  the  fight  was 
over.  This  man  was  some  years  after  slain  by  William  du 
Abrach,  grandson  of  Angus  Du,  while  crossing  the  river  Tirrie. 
These  events  were  not  sufficient  to  cause  the  river  to  be  named 
"  Amhainn-taireadh,"  river  of  lamentation.  Then  we  must  try  to 
find  a  more  probable  derivation.  It  seems  to  be  in  itself.  Tirrie 
is  Diri  (dithreabh),  wilderness,  or,  as  the  word  itself  implies  when 
analysed,  unploughed,  uncultivated  lands,  from  diordith,  without, 
or  want  of,  and  treabhadli,  ploughing,  or  cultivation.  Diri  is  the 
corrupted  form  of  "  Dithreabh,"  as  given  in  old  maps  and  charters. 
It  is  an  approximate  pronunciation  of  "  Dithreabh."  The  river 
Tirrie  having  its  sources  in  the  "  Dirimeanigh,"  the  ancient 
appellation  of  the  district  took  its  name  from  it,  a  most  appro- 
priate appellation.  See  Place  Names. 

Amhainn-a-choire — G.,  river  of  the  corrie. 

Amhainn-a-ghrudaire — G.  See  Gruids  in  Place  Names.  This 
river,  like  many  others,  takes  its  name  from  the  Barony  of  Gruids 
or  Grudie,  through  which  it  flows. 


110  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Amhainn-sgeithe— G.  sgeithe,  is  vomiting,  belching  out.  This 
•is  an  exceedingly  rapid  mountain  torrent  when  in  flood,  vomiting 
its  waters  into  the  Tirrie  a£  a  most  furious  rate  ;  falls  more  than 
200  feet  in  a  mile. 

Feth-a-chuile — Another  affluent  of  the  Tirrie ;  chuile  is  the 
gen.  of  cuil,  back  corner.  It  rises  in  a  corner  behind  the  Tirrie. 
Feith  is  a  marshy  stream;  hence  its  signification,  the  marshy 
stream  from  the  back. 

Feith  Osdail — Feith,  as  above,  ftarshy  stream,  is  Gaelic. 
Osdail  is  from  the  Norse,  oss,  mouth  of  a  river ;  and  dal,  meadow, 
the  meadow  at  the  river  mouth.  Here,  LO  doubt,  the  Norsemen 
hunted  and  summered. 

PLACE    NAMES. 

An  Crasg — G.  a  common  appellation  in  Sutherland  for  a  way 
across  a  mountain  from  one  plac-i  to  another  ;  crasgach,  crosswise. 

Achanny — G.  old  form  (1560),  Auchanne  (1586),  Auchanny  ; 
Abhadh-a-chanaich,  field  of  the  moss  cotton. 

Achafris— G.  Achadh-a-phris,  field  of  the  bush,  from  preas, 
bush  ;  gen.,  phris. 

Ach-na-pearain — G.  Achadh-na-peurain,  field  of  the  pears. 

Allt  tigh-leanna — G.  the  ale-house  brook,  a  habitation  and  land 
by  the  side  of  the  old  road  from  Lairg  to  Altnaharra  and  Tongue. 
The  house  is  long  ago  gone  ;  the  name  with  its  story  and  patch 
of  green  sward  remains. 

Arscaig — G.  corruption  and  contraction  of  Aird-na-Sgiathaig, 
when  rapidly  pronounced.  It  refers  to  a  township  south  side  of 
Loch  Shin,  well  sheltered  by  tufts  of  copsewood.  Skiag,  Sgiathaig, 
a  common  appellation  of  such  situated  places  in  Sutherland. 

Balloan — G.  bale-an-loin,  the  township  by  the  marshy  meadow. 

Ballandialish — G.  baile-an-diolaidh,  the  place  where  fines  are 
paid,  and  recompense  made. 

Balnatobernich-G.  baile-na-tobraichean,  the  township  of  the 
wells  or  springs  of  water. 

Balcharn — G.  baile-a-chairn,  the  township  of  the  cairn  or  stone 
heap. 

Badan — G.  dim.  of  bad,  a  grove  or  clump  of  trees,  applied  to 
a  habitation  near  a  clump  of  trees. 

Claonel— G.  old  form  of  charters  (1554),  Clunok  (1560),  Cly- 
nall,  modern  spelling,  Claonail,  inclining,  side-lying.  This  town- 
ship is  situated  on  small  declivities.  Gr.  Klino. 

Ceann-nar-coille — G.  head  or  end  of  the  wood.  W.  Pencoed, 
end  of  the  wood. 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  Ill 

Carn-an-eilde — G.  the  cairn  of  the  hind.  Ir.  earn.  W.  earn  a 
heap. 

Coire-nam-mang — G.  the  corrie  of  the  fawns. 

Coire  leacach — G.  the  flaggie  corrie. 

Corry-Kinloch — G.  coire-ceami-an-loch,  corrie  at  end  of  the 
lake. 

Colaboll — Taking  this  word  as  given  in  Ord.  map,  we  must  give 
•a  Norse  translation  of  it.  Cola  means  Kola,  charcoal,  and  bol 
-abode,  cultivated  farm,  equivalent  to  G.  baile  ;  hence  the  definition 
would  be,  the  charcoal  township.  If  the  Norsemen  settled  here 
in  the  10th  or  llth  century,  it  is  very  possible,  finding  wood  here 
on  the  banks  of  Loch  Shin,  they  would  convert  it  into  charcoal 
for  the  manufacture  of  arms.  Sutherland  traditions  impute  to 
them  a  determined  passion  for  wood-burning  and  destruction. 
Finding  the  natives  well  armed  with  iron  implements  of  war, 
manufactured  by  charcoal,  they  destroyed  the  woods  to  prevent 
their  manufacturing  them,  peat  being  then  unknown  and  unused 
for  fuel.  The  more  probable  origin  of  this  place-name  is  not 
Norse,  for  very  few,  if  any,  place-names  in  this  inland  parish  can 
"be  attributed  to  the  Norse,  it  seems  to  be 

Cul-na-buaile — G.  the  back  corner  of  the  cattle  fold. 

Cul-mhaillidh — G.  back  part  belonging  to  the  Bailie,  or  cuil- 
•a-bhaillidh,  cuil,  plu.  of  cul,  back,  the  back  parts,  or  grounds 
belonging  to  the  Bailie. 

Cuil-bhuidhe— G.  cuil,  sing.,  a  back  corner.  Cuil,  plu.,  back 
parts  and  places.  It  requires  much  local  knowledge  and  discrimi- 
nation to  properly  determine  what  sense  was  intended  to  be  given 
to  the  prefixes,  Cul  and  Cuil.  It  may  have  been  a  corner,  or  it 
may  have  been  back  parts  beyond  a  hill  or  rising  ground. 

Crionoch-mhor — G.  literally,  the  big  withered  tree,  which  was 
probably  near  the  place  to  which  it  gave  the  name. 

Dalchork — G.  dail-a-choire,  the  field  upon  which  oats  were 
.grown,  the  oats  field. 

Diri-meanigh — Such  in  Charters — G.  dithreabh  meadhonach 
<dithreabh,  uncultivated  waste.  Meadhonach,  in  the  middle,  the 
middle  district  or  part  of  the  waste  ;  otherwise,  the  Mid  Ascent. 

Dirie-more — G.  as  above  ;  the  big  waste,  or  wilderness,  or  the 
big  ascent. 

Duchaimich — G,  du-chairnich,  black,  stony  ground. 

Dulaich — G.  muddy,  miry  ground  or  land. 

Druim-na-uamha — G.  ridge  of  the  cavern,  or  cave. 

Drochaid-a-chrasg — G.  the  Crasg,  or  Crask  bridge  ;  drochaid, 
to  be  the  Gaelic  name  for  a  bridge,  is  very  singular,  being  derived 


112  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

from  droch-aite,  bad  or  dangerous  place  to  cross ;  W.  drwg  ;  Arm., 
droog,  bad.  Our  Caledonian  fathers  had  not  yet  learned  the  art 
of  bridge  building,  or  if  they  had  made  an  attempt  to  bridge  a 
stream  or  a  river,  it  probably  would  be  by  throwing  a  tree  over  it, 
a  dangerous  mode  of  crossing  a  river  in  flood  ;  possibly  from  thi& 
came  the  Gaelic  term,  drochaid,  for  bridge. 

Dalmhichy — G.  dail-mheidh-eiche,  meadow  of  the  stallion. 

Dalnamein — G.  dail  of  the  ore,  probably  bog  iron. 

Dalnaminn — G.  Dail  of  the  kids. 

Garbhallt — G.  rough  or  rapid  stream  or  river.  The  adjective 
pirbh  seems  very  general.  G.  gar  oh,  Manx  garoo,  W.  garw, 
Corn,  garou,  Arm.  garv,  Punic  and  Phenician  garvv,  Arab,  garaph, 
Lat.  gravis ;  pronunciation  similar ;  applied  meaning,  the  same. 

Gruids — now  a  township,  formerly  a  barony.  G.  if  it  took  its- 
appellation  from  malting  and  brewing;  old  form  (1560),  Grudy 
and  Gruids,  Grudear,  is  in  G.  maltster,  brewer,  distiller,  or  a 
tavern-keeper,  who  possibly  combined  the  other  operations 
necessary  for  the  tavern.  Gruid,  Gruide,  singular  and  plural, 
is  the  grounds  of  malt,  not  significant  enough  in  those  days  to 
give  a  name  to  a  place  which  must  have  had  a  name  before  malt- 
ing or  brewing  came  into  vogue.  It  is  therefore  more  probably  of 
Caledonian  Pictish  origin.  Grnt,  Grud,  grit  stones  strewed  on 
the  surface,  and  such  is  the  aspect  of  the  township  and  Barony  to 
this  day.  There  is  Grudie,  or  Gruidee,  in  Rogart,  and  elsewhere 
in  the  county,  all  situated  alike  on  valley  flanks,  and  their  surface 
similarly  strewn  with  stones,  small  and  large.  Grut,  Grud, 
Grudie,  all  form  the  first  part  of  the  adjective,  grudeach,  liquified 
to  gruideach,  the  old  meaning  of  which  was  grit,  and  grit  stones,, 
hence  Gruids  would  mean  stony,  gritty  land  ;  W.  grut,  Arm.  grit, 
pebbles. 

In  the  Norse  language  the  word  "  grjot "  means  pebbles,  grit. 
This  Norse  or  Teutonic  word  is  the  root  of  the  English  word  grit, 
from  Norse  grjot,  shingle  or  pebbles.  A.  S.  greot,  grytt. 

Lairg — G.  Parish,  and  village  name,  old  form  (1223)  Larg  ; 
(1574)  Lairg;  (1662)  Largie ;  (1515  and  1568)  Larg.'  It  is 
evident  that  this  appellation  is  Gaelic.  Lairig  means  hill  slopes  ; 
I^irg,  Lurg,  Luirg,  Luirgean,  base  of  hills,  extending  into  a  plain ; 
Learg,  Leirg,  Leargan,  slope  of  declivities. 

Of  this  place  name  there  are  several  instances  in  the  south  of 
Ireland,  such  as  Lemg,  Largy ;  and  in  the  north,  Lurg,  Lurga,. 
Lurgan,  Lurraga,  all  signifying  hill  slopes.  See  Joyce,  Vol.  I.  II. 

The  whole  aspect  of  Lairg  confirms  the  opinion  that  Lairg  was 
named  from  the  hill  slopes  surrounding  the  village  in  which  the 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  113 

first  Christian  place  of  worship  was  erected  and  dedicated  to  St 
Maolrubha,  the  noted  missionary  and  disciple  of  St  Columba. 
The  village  with  a  church  gave  importance  to  the  locality,  the 
name  of  which  was  eventually  extended  to  the  whole  parish. 
Such  was  done  elsewhere. 

Leac-an-eich — G.  the  stone  of  the  horse. 

Midpenny — Anglicised  form  of  Peighinn  meadhonach ;  peighimi 
being  a  penny  value,  as  a  measure  of  land. 

Ord  (The) — G.  a  hammer  of  any  kind  or  size.  Manx  oard,  a 
hammer,  oayrd,  a  sledge  hammer ;  Ir.  a  hammer,  ordan,  a  small 
hammer ;  W.  gordd,  a  mallet ;  Corn,  and  Arm.  orth,  a  hammer ; 
N.  urd,  pro.  urth,  a  large  pile  of  rocks  by  the  seashore  in  the  form 
of  a  mallet,  as  the  Ord  of  Caithness,  very  probably  so  named  by 
the  roving  Norsemen.  Here  the  name  seems  to  represent  the 
form  and  shape  of  a  hammer,  the  thin  end  of  which  juts  into  the 
south  end  of  Loch  Shin  to  a  point,  rising  gradually  from  the  lake 
to  a  flat  area  on  the  summit,  upon  which  may  be  seen  hut  circles, 
the  ancient  abodes  of  the  Pictish  inhabitants. 

Overscaig,  now  a  noted  angling  resort  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Shin  lake.  Quite  near  it  runs  into  the  Shin  a  rapid,  roaring 
mountain  torrent,  falling  in  the  1J  miles  of  its  course  470  leet  ; 
dry  in  summer,  but  in  winter,  or  after  a  heavy  fall  of  rain, 
plunging  down  an  impetuous,  irresistible  volume  of  water 
tumbling  over  boulders  and  rocks  in  such  a  way  that  every 
obstacle  or  impediment  to  its  violence  forms  a  cascade  ;  hence 
its  apellation  Overscaig,  corrupted  from  the  O.G.  Abereasaich — 
Abereas-aig  in  modern  form,  signifying  the  "  confluence  of  the 
cascade  torrent." 

Rhian-brec — G.  ruighan,  dim.  of  ruigh,  declivity,  brec,  breac, 
speckled,  the  small  speckled  slope. 

Rhi  marstaig  — G  ;  corruption  of  rhi-martaich,  the  hillside  of 
the  cows,  or  the  sloping  declivity  upon  which  they  were  wont  to 
graze.  It  is  a  common  usage  of  Highlanders  to  introduce  when 
pronouncing  a  word  having  rt  in  a  syllable  an  s  between  the  r  and 
(t,  making  such  a  word  as  mart  marst.  In  several  Highland 
counties  it  is  an  inveterate  practice,  and  in  reading  mart, 
martaich,  they  pronounce  them  as  if  printed  marst,  marstaich. 
Rhi,  the  old  form  of  the  Caledonian  Pictish  Gaelic,  is  still  pre- 
served in  Sutherland,  as  it  is  in  Wales  in  rhiw,  pro.,  rioo ;  Com.  rhi; 
Arm.  ri ;  Ir.  and  G.  ruigh. 

Saval,  beag  and  mor — G.  sath-bhaile,  the  township  of  plenty  ; 
sath,  plenty,  and  baile. 

Shin-ness — G. ;  old  forms  (1540)  Schennynes,  (1620)  Eynenes. 

8 


114  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

It  seeins  apparent  that  this  place  name  has  been  composed 
anciently  from  the  several  green  knolls  or  mounds  surrounding  it 
north  and  west,  Sitheanan,  contracted  in  speaking  to  "  Shee- 
an-an."  From  this  pronunciation  came  the  old  form  given  above  ; 
the  adding  ness  to  promontory  formed  by  Loch  Bainbh  gives 
Shin-ness. 

Tomich— G.  tom-aich,  fall  of  knolls,  a  Pictish  word  ;  torn,  a 
heap,  a  knoll ;  tom-an,  a  small  knoll ;  W.  torn,  a  heap,  torn-en,  a 
small  heap ;  Arm.  tumb ;  Ir.  torn,  a  knoll ;  Lat.  tum-ulas,  a 
mound  ;  Gr.  tomb  os,  a  tomb. 

Torbrec — G.  torr-breac,  the  speckled  eminence. 

Torrobal — G.  Old  form  in  charters  of  the  sixteenth  century, 
Thurebol  and  Thureboll.  Below  this  township,  which  lies  on  both 
sides  of  the  railway  station,  Lairg,  is  a  series  of  conical  knolls  or 
hillocks,  partially  green.  The  place  of  the  bol  or  baile,  in  this 
place-name,  being  the  last  syllable,  makes  it  appear  as  if  of  Norse 
origin,  as  the  practice  in  that  language  is  to  place  bol  and  dal  last 
in  words  of  two  syllables.  If  the  word  be  of  three  syllables,  bol  is 
given  the  second  place.  In  Irish  and  Gaelic,  baile  ami  daile  have 
generally  first  place,  except  in  a  few  cases,  such  as  Braigh-a-bhaile. 
"  The  Norsemen,  so  far  as  can  be  found  by  place-names,  had  not 
made  a  lodgement  in  Lairg,  therefore  we  are  less  disposed  to  go  so 
far  as  Norway  for  a  definition  of  this  place-name,  and  we  must 
take  it  to  be  essentially  Gaelic.  The  "  tors"  here  being  the  more 
important  physical  aspect,  must  be  given  first  place  to  cover  the 
baile  in  the  oblique  case,  the  word  will  then  become  Torra-a-bhaile. 
Sliding  the  a  in  torra,  according  to  rule,  we  have  Torr-bhaile,  not 
Torro-boll,  the  "  tors"  of  the  township.  In  the  ordinary  way  it 
would  be  Baile-an-torran,  township  of  the  tors.  There  is  another 
Torbol  in  the  parish  of  Dornoch. 

Ton-  is  a  primitive  and  ancient  word  found  in  all  the  old 
languages  of  the  East  and  West.  W.  tur,  a  tower  ;  taren,  knoll. 
Corn.  tor.  Arm.  tur  and  tor.  Ger.  thor.  Moorish  dyr,  a  mountain; 
Taurus,  a  mountain  in  Asia  Minor  and  in  Poland.  The  Pied- 
montese  Alps  are  sometimes  called  Taurinian,  still  preserved  in 
Turin.  Chal.  and  Syr.  thur.  Pers.  toor.  Lat.  tur-ris,  a  tower. 

Clais-bhan — G.  ban,  white,  pale,  fair ;  the  pale  hollow.  W. 
ban,  conspicuous ;  Manx  banee,  whitish ;  Ir.  ban,  fair  or  white ; 
Arab,  bain,  clear  ;  Heb.  bahin,  bright. 

Clais-na-fad— G.  fad,  foid,  turf-sod,  peats  ;  hollow  of  the  turf- 
sods,  peats,  or  divots. 

Clais-ha-faire — G.  faire,  rising  ground,  the  hollow  in  the  rising 
ground.  The  a  in  faire  is  pronounced  long ;  the  a  in  faire, 
watching,  is  short. 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  115 

Caplich — G.  cabuill,  wicker  basket  or  creel  used  for  fishing, 
•and  ag,  dim.,  small  wicker  basket ;  Arm.  cuvelle,  a  hose  net  for 
fishing.  Here  at  a  bend  of  the  river  many  a  salmon  and  trout  has 
been  caught  by  the  "  cabuill,"  which  gave  the  place  its  name. 

Ceann-loch — G.,  head  or  end  of  the  loch. 

Coille-nuadh — G.,  new  wood,  recently  planted.  Nuadh  is 
.frequently  spelled  nomha ;  Lat.  nov-us  ;  Gr.  neos ;  Norse  ny ;  Manx 
jioa ;  Arm.  nene  ;  Fr.  neuf ;  W.  newydd,  newydh ;  Corn,  nawydh ; 
Eng.  new ;  Ir.  no. 

PARISH  OF  CREICH. 

This  is  one  of  the  large  parishes  in  Scotland,  and  is  situated 
in  the  south  and  south-west  of  the  county,  separated  from  Ross  by 
the  Doruoch  Firth  on  the  south,  and  the  River  Oykel  (the 
.Eccialbakki  of  the  Norse  sagas)  on  the  south-west  and  west  to  the 
•confines  of  Assynt  on  the  Benmore  water-shed.  Its  greatest 
length  from  its  boundary  with  Dornoch  parish  to  the  borders  of 
Assynt  is  nearly  3l£  miles,  and  its  average  breadth  varies  from 
1J-  miles  to  9J  miles.  It  comprises  an  area  of  110,737  acres,  1912 
•of  which  being  water  and  735  foreshore.  Its  mountains  range  in 
.altitude  from  Benmore,  on  its  western  border,  3273  feet  above  sea 
level,  the  highest  altitude  in  Sutherland,  to  Beinn-au-Eorn,  1783 
feet;  Beinn-an-Rasail,  1341  feet;  Cnoc-a-choire,  1318;  and  Beinn 
Donuill,  in  the  east,  1144  feet.  Its  lakes  and  tarns  are  numerous, 
•and  well  stocked  with  trout.  Its  principal  rivers  are  the  Oykel, 
the  Cassley,  and  the  Shin,  all  renowned  for  their  salmon,  as  its 
.numerous  smaller  streams  are  for  trout  of  various  kinds. 

The  aspect  of  this  parish  is  mountainous,  as  may  be  seen  from 
the  altitudes  given  above.  It  may  be  said  of  it  that  it  represents 
ithe  general  features  of  a  Highland  parish.  In  the  valleys  there  is 
;good  verdant  pasturage,  and  comparatively  good  soil  for  cultiva- 
tion, yet  experience  of  frequently  recurring  floods,  especially  in 
'the  Oykell,  induced  the  inhabitants  to  devote  the  lower-lying 
'lands  to  pasture,  and  adapt  their  flanks  to  corn-growing.  The 
soil  varies  from  the  gravelly  alluvial  in  the  valleys  to  the  peaty 
and  light  gravelly  on  the  hillsides.  At  the  east  end  of  the  parish, 
•at  Creich  Mor,  Ospisdale,  and  Pulrossie,  good  loamy  clay  forms 
the  soil,  producing  excellent  crops ;  but  on  the  hills  above  these 
places  the  soil  is  wretched,  its  cultivation  being  simply  a  matter 
of  necessity  for  the  bare  livelihood  of  the  population.  Along  the 
•coast  on  the  Dornoch  Firth,  from  Skibo  to  Bonar,  the  land  is 
well  wooded,  and  partly  along  the  Oykell ;  along  the  Shin  on  both 
.sides,  is  to  be  seen  in  perfection  the 

"  Land  of  brown  heath  and  shaggy  wood." 


116  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

The  greater  portion  of  the  area  of  the  parish  is  in  the  occupation- 
of  sheep  farmers.  The  Invercassley  sheep  farm  comprises  35,000 
acres,  almost  one-third  of  the  whole  area  of  the  parish,  but  being 
all,  or  nearly  all,  mountain  land,  no  objection  on  national 
grounds  can  reasonably  be  raised  against  this. 

The  geology  of  the  parish  is  not  very  interesting.  On  the 
western  border,  quartzite  and  trap  rock  abound,  and  lodes  of  iron 
ore  have  been  found.  At  Rosehall,  manganese  has  been  dis- 
covered, but  nowhere  has  shale  or  coal  been  found  in  course  of  the 
few  searches  which  have  been  made.  * 

There  are  not  many  antiquities  in  the  district  beyond  the 
ruins  of  Invershin  Castle,  once  belonging  to  the  Duffus  family,  an 
offshot  of  the  Moray-Sutherlands ;  Caisteil  Mearn,  near  Rosehall ; 
Pictish  towers,  tumult,  and  hut  circles ;  Druidic  circle  of  stones  at 
Rosehall,  and  two  circles  of  the  same  kind  above  Bonar  ;  standing- 
stones  at  Ospisdale  ;  and  the  vitrified  fort  of  Duncreich. 

The  topography  of  the  parish,  with  a  few  exceptions,  is  Celtic, 
as  will  be  seen  in  Place  Names. 

The  population  in  1801  was  1974  ;  1831,  2562  ;  1861,  2521  ; 
1871,  2524;  1881,  2223;  1891,  2013.  Valuation,  I860,  £5466  ;. 
1882,  £11,732. 

After  the  expulsion  of  the  Norsemen  in  1198  by  William  the 
Lion,  that  King  granted  this  district  and  others,  in  the  south  of 
Sutherland,  to  Hugh  Freskyn,  a  Fleming,  whose  ancestors  had. 
been  merchants  and  shipowners  at  Berwick-upon-Tweed,  and 
eventually  proprietors  in  county  Berwick.  Hugh  had  by  men  and 
money  assisted  William  in  his  expedition  into  Moray  shire  in  1187, 
and  for  his  services  got  grants  of  land  in  that  county.  In  1198 
he  again  assisted  the  King  in  his  expedition  into  Caithness  against 
Harold,  the  Norse  Earl  of  Caithness  and  Sutherland,  receiving  as 
his  reward  Sudrland  of  the  Norsemen.  The  Freskyns  were  styled 
"  De  Moravia"  or  Moray,  the  title-  eventually  becoming  the  sur- 
name Murray,  as  Sudrland  became  the  title  and  surname  Suther- 
land. 

Between  1202-14  Hugh  Freskyn  conveyed  to  his  relative, 
Gilbert  de  Moravia,  Archdeacon  of  Moray,  and  his  heirs,  the  whole 
of  this  district  under  the  names  of  Fernebuthlyn  and  Inner-chyn, 
afterwards  variously  described  in  conveyances  as  Feren-brtithlin, 
Ferin-beildin,  Ferrin-busky,  Ferrincoskarie,  Chilis,  Slishchelis,, 
Innerchen,  Innerschyn,  Invershin. 

About  1235,  Gilbert,  now  Bishop  of  Cateness,  grants  the  same- 
lands  to  his  brother,  Richard  de  Moravia,  and  his  heirs. 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  117 

In  1275,  William,  Earl  of  Sutherland,  cedes  a  portion  of  the 
parish,  with  the  fishing  of  the  Bunnach  (Bonar)  to  Archibald,  the 
Bishop  of  Cathanes. 

In  1S08,  Robert  Bruce,  by  charter,  conveys  the  above 
districts  of  Cieich  and  other  districts  in  Sutherland  to  the 
Earl  of  Ross,  the  great  patriot  Earl  of  the  Highlands  who 
favoured  and  assisted  Wallace  and  Bruce  in  asserting  the 
independence  of  Scotland  and  opposing  Edward  Longshanks 
and  his  myrmidons,  with  the  result  that  he  was  the  rebel 
of  Edward,  who  dispossessed  him  of  his  Earldom,  which, 
however,  Bruce  restored  to  him  by  the  1308  Charter  with  the 
Sutherland  addition.  Edward  Bruce  married  this  Earl's  daughter. 
The  Earls  of  Ross  and  their  successors  held  the  superiority  of  all 
these  Sutherland  lands  till  about  1476.  Paul  Mac-an-t-saor  (Paul 
Mactyre),  probably  a  descendant  of  a  Norse  noble  of  the  district, 
whose  residence  is  said  to  have  been  in  Duncreich,  a  noted  vitrified 
fort  between  Creich  and  Spinnindale,  married  a  relative  of  the 
Earl  of  Ross,  who  ceded  to  him  some  of  his  lands  in  the  parish. 
He  seems  to  have  been  in  great  favour-with  the  Earls  who  suc- 
ceeded Earl  Hugh,  killed  in  1330  at  Halidon  Hill.  He  was 
apparently  in  charge  of  all  these  Earls'  possessions  in  Sutherland 
and  Caithness,  collecting  rents  and  superiority  dues,  which,  if 
tradition  be  relied  on,  he  did  very  effectually,  as  it  is  said  that, 
when  arrears  were  unpaid,  he  forcibly  seized  cattle,  and  brought 
them  in  droves  to  Duncreich,  to  be  there  disposed  of.  He  dis- 
appears in  1372.  The  Sutherland  lands  granted  by  Bruce  to  the 
Earl  of  Ross  in  1308  were  termed  Ferncrosky,  Ferncrosker,  Farn- 
<;rossern,  with  Strathalladell,  Dunbeath,  and  other  districts  in 
•Caithness. 

On  the  death  of  Alexander,  ninth  Earl  of  Ross,  an  only 
•daughter  was  the  heiress.  She  was  grand-daughter  of  Regent 
Albany,  who  became  her  guardian.  He  prevailed  upon  her  to 
resign  the  Earldom  in  favour  of  his  second  son  and  her  own  uncle, 
and  enter  a  nunnery.  Donald  of  the  Isles,  who  had  married 
Alexander's  sister,  Mary,  and  aunt  of  the  young  heiress,  considered 
himself  the  proper  heir  according  to  Celtic  custom,  opposed  the 
Regent's  plans,  and  advanced  his  own  claims  to  the  Earldom  in 
right  of  his  wife.  To  strengthen  his  position  he  made  a  treaty 
with  Henry  IV.  of  England,  and  proceeded  to  take  possession  by 
force  of  arms.  He  was  opposed  by  the  Ross  confederated  clans, 
aided  by  the  redoubtable  Angus  du  Mack  ay  of  "  Strathnavernia." 
The  confederates  were  defeated  at  Dingwall,  Angus  Du  taken 
prisoner,  and  Ross  surrendered  to  the  Lord  of  the  Isles.  Angus 


118  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Du  was  released  in  a  few  months,  the  Lord  of  the  Isles  giving 
him  his  sister  Elizabeth  in  marriage,  and  the  whole  of  the  parish 
of  Creich  and  Strathalladale  as  her  dowry. 

Angus  Du  in  1414  portioned  out  this  territory  amongst  his 
three  cousins,  Thomas,  Neil,  and  Morgan,  the  sons  of  his  uncle 
Neil. 

•  In  1430,  Thomas  Mackay  (Neilson)  was  attainted  for  slaying 
Mowatt  of  Freswick,  and  burning  St  Duthus  Church  in  Tain,  and 
his  lands  divided  between  Angus  Murray  of  Pulrossie,  and  his 
brothers  Neil  and  Morgan,  who  betrayed  him  and  sent  him  prisoner 
to  Inverness. 

In  1431  these  three  ruffians  were  slain  in  the  battle  of  Druim- 
na-cupa,  near  Tongue,  and  all  their  lands  reverted  to  the  Lords  of 
the  Isles,  who  retained  possession  of  them  till  their  final  forfeiture 
to  the  Crown  in  1476. 

In  1464,  John,  Earl  of  Ross  and  Lord  of  the  Isles,  disposed  of" 
Ferncroscreche,  viz.,  Crech  roor,  Spanigdill,  Davochcarry,  Plodd, 
and  Pulrossy,  to  his  brother,  Celestine  of  the  Isles. 

In  1467  the  Earl  of  Sutherland  was  infeft,  by  a  Crown  precept,, 
in  the  lands  of  Pulrossie  aud  Spainzidell. 

In  1515  the  fishing  of  Kelysakkell  (Kyles  of  Oickell)  were 
granted  by  Sir  Donald  of  Lochalsh  to  his  brother-in-law,  Hector 
Munro  of  Foulis. 

In  1541,  Margaret  of  the  Isles,  wife  of  Glengarry,  grants  to 
Hector  Munro  of  Foulis,  the  superiority  of  the  lands  of  Creich- 
more. 

In  1553  were  sold  the  lands  of  Spanzedaell,  Floid,  Aucheany, 
and  Pulrosse. 

In  1614  John,  Eail  of  Sutherland,  was  served  heir  to  his 
father,  Alexander,  in  the  lands  of  Strathokell  and  Invercaslay, 
with  the  fishings  belonging  thereto. 

Then  follow  other  changes,  grantings  of  lands  and  fishings,  of 
less  note. 

NAMES    OF   PLACES. 

Achness — G.  old  form,  1577,  achinzeis,  achenes;  achadh-an-eas> 
field  of,  or  at,  the  waterfall. 

Auchnafairne — G.  old  form,  1341,  acheferne ;  1642,  auchna- 
fairne  ;  achadh-an-fhearna,  the  field  of  the  alder  wood. 

Achinduich — G.  old  form,  auchendowech,  1525 ;  ach'-an- 
dubhaich,  the  field  of  gloom  or  sorrow. 

Ach-uaine — G.  achadh  uaine,  the  green  field. 

Achadh-an-uirghill — G.  field  of  white  heather ;  uir  and  ghill,, 
gen.  case,  governed  by  an. 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  1.19 

Achuil — G.  achadh-a-chuil,  the  field  at  the  back. 

Airdeens — G.  airdean,  heights. 

Achaidh — G.  fields,  home.  This  word  by  itself  is  now  obsolete 
in  Gaelic,  except  when  preceded  by  d,  as  d'  achaidh,  dh'  achaidh, 
homewards. 

Acharrie — G.  the  a  in  arrie  pronounced  short.  From  achadh, 
field,  and  carradh,  or  carrugh,  a  rock  or  standing-stone ;  achadh-a- 
charraigh,  the  field  of  the  standing-stone.  This  place  is  above 
Ospisdale,  in  the  line  of  the  retreat  of  the  Norsemen  from  the 
battle  of  Drumliath,  behind  Bonar,  to  their  ships  at  Port-na-culter. 

Altas-mor;  beag — G.  old  forms,  1541,  altas  ;  1552,  altes. 
This  name  is  very  probably  from  the  now  obsolete  Gaelic  words, 
alt,  eminence,  high  ground ;  pro.,  alt,  not  as  allt,  stream  and  ais, 
a  hill,  a  stronghold,  Manx  alt,  a  high  place  ;  W.  allt,  a  precipice, 
a  cliff,  side  of  a  hill ;  Ir.  alt,  cliff,  side  of  a  hill  ;  Lat.  alt-us,  high  ; 
Gr.  alt-os.  This  place-name  is  possibly  of  Pictish  origin  ;  near  are 
tumuli  and  a  Pictish  tower.  Both  of  these  townships  are  on 
eminences  rising  abruptly  from  the  River  Oykell  to  a  height  of  300 
and  400  feet  respectively. 

Arnat — G.  old  form,  1578  amot,  1642  amott  There  are 
several  places  of  the  same  name  in  Sutherland,  all  of  them 
similarly  situated  by  river  sides,  a  meadow  adjoining,  semi-circular 
in  shape,  skirted  by  rising  slopes  of  high  ground,  leading  to  the 
definition  that  by  its  shape  and  form  the  first  part  of  this  word, 
am,  may  mean,  round,  and  aite,  a  place,  the  round-shaped  place. 
Am  is  obsolete  in  G.  It  is  still  used  in  W.,  signifying  round 
about.  Am-ad,  bordering  all  round,  am-ran,  a  circular  division. 
Lat.  am,  round,  ambiens,  going  round.  The  obsolete  G.  or  Pictish 
am,  pro.  as  aam,  signified  circle,  like  the  Lat.  circum.  pro.  as  aum, 
signified  time.  Am  has  also  the  signification  of  moist,  watery. 
Am-aite  might  therefore  be  moist  place.  Am,  amn,  amteh-an,  in 
ancient  languages  is  found  in  river  names.  Am-an,  Am-on, 
amhainn,  amn-is,  Lat.  hence,  am-aite,  may  bo  the  river  place,  the 
moist  place.  Where  amat,  am-aite  is  seen,  there  is  a  river  in 
front,  and  a  semi-circular  meadow,  bordered,  or  partially  sur- 
rounded by  hills. 

An-tualich — G.  tulach,  green  knoll,  or  summit  of  a  gently 
rising  ground.  An  tulaich,  the  knoll. 

Attandu — G.  from  aite-ar.,  little  place,  du,  black,  the  black 
little  place. 

Bad-beithe — G.  literally,  birch  grove,  the  prefix  bad  enters 
largely  into  G.  topography,  meaning  habitation  at  a  grove. 
Throughout  Ireland  all  the  peasants'  old  habitations  have  their 


120  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

thicket  of  trees  to  windward,  and  their  kailyards,  common  in  the 
Highlands  in  former  days. 

Bad-bog — G.  bog,  soft,  watery,  the  soft  place. 

Bad-mor — G.  the  big  habitation  near  the  grove,  or  the  habita- 
tion near  the  big  grove. 

Bad  an  tagart — G.  bad-an-t-sagairt,  habitation  of  the  priest. 

Bad-a-chuil — G.  chuil,  gen.  of  cuil,  back  ground,  habitation  in 
the  back  ground,  or  at  the  back  of  a  hill^ 

Bad-na-cuaich  — G.  cuaich,  gen.  of  cuach,  cuckoo,  cuckoo's 
grove. 

Bad  guineach — G.  guineach,  prickly,  habitation  of  the  prickly 
grove. 

Bard-na-beinu — G.  barda,  a  dyke,  an  enclosure  dyked  round, 
or  walled,  possibly  derived  from  the  enclosure  allocated  in  olden 
times  to  the  bard  of  the  chief  or  village. 

Balblair — G.  bail  a  bhlair.  Blar  means  a  level  moor,  or  plain  ; 
the  moor,  or  plain  township. 

Balachraggan  — G.  creag-an,  small  rock,  the  habitation  or 
township  at  the  small  rock,  or  a  rocky  place. 

Balnacroit — G.  croit,  croft,  or  small  farm,  township  of  the 
small  farm. 

Bonar — 0.  G.  old  form,  Bunnach,  1275,  later  on  Bon-aw  and 
Bun-aw,  meaning  river  end,  or  mouth,  as  Bun-illigh,  the  ,mouth  of 
the  Illigh.  Aw  is  an  ancient,  now  obsolete  Caledonian  Pictish 
word  for  water,  running  water,  as  in  modern  G.:  in  the  form  of, 
Ath,  a  ford,  otherwise,  shallow  running  water.  Here  there  is 
always  running  water,  tide  coming  in,  tide  going  out.  Here,  too, 
ends  the  broad  water  of  the  Dornoch  Firth,  and  begins  the  narrow 
of  "Caolas  Oikell"  or  the  Kyle  specially  mentioned  in  Sutherland 
Charters,  phonetically  spelled  Kelys,  Killis,  and  Kellis,  and  Kyle  ; 
hence  Bun-aw  would  mean  the  end  or  mouth  of  the  river  Oikell, 
as  Bon-a,  Bon-a\v,  at  the  north  end  of  Loch-Ness  means  the  mouth 
of  the  water  of  the  loch  discharging  its  accumulated  waters  away 
by  the  river  at  the  "  Aw"  end  ;  any  way,  there  is  a  pointed 
analogy. 

Caisteil-na-coire — G.  the  castle  in  the  hollow  ;  it  is  near  Inver- 
ca^k-y  ;  only  the  site  remains.  This  castle  is  called  "  Castle- 
niL'arn"  by  Sir  R.  Gordon. 

Clais-bhuie — G.  clais,  bhuidhe,  the  yellow  hollow. 
<  'luis-ean-glas — G.  glass,  pale,  grey,  green,  the  green  hollows. 
Ir.  glas.  Manx,  glass,  pale  grey,  pale  blue,  green  or  verdant.  W. 
gl.is,  blue,  green.  Arm.  glas.  Corn,  glas,  blue,  green,  marc  glas. 
Arm.  march  glas.  G.  each  glas.  Ir.  each  glas,  all  these  signifying 
grey  horse. 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  121 

Clais-na-sinneig — G.  this  place  is  at  the  foot  of  the  "  Sithean 
Mar,"  and  quite  near  it  is  a  knoll,  small,  very  small  in  comparison 
with  the  "Sithean  Mor,"  hence  the  name  Sithean-ag  to  mark 
relative  size  and  height ;  ag  is  a  Gaelic  dim.  corresponding  with 
the  Oriental  dim.  terminals,  ac,  ak,  ik.  Sinneig  is  the  quick  or 
rapid  pro.  of  Sithean-ag,  as  "  Shin"  is  of  Sithean,  or  Sithainn. 
What  is  more  common  in  Gaelicdom  than  to  call  a  young  girl 
nighean-ag. 

Creich — Parish  and  village  name;  old  form,  1223-45,  Crech, 
Creych;  1562-74,  Creich;  163u,  Creigh;  probably  an  old  Gaelic  or 
Pictish  word  signifying  rock.  It  appears  in  England  in  the  form 
of  Crich ;  in  Derby,  Creech ;  in  Somerset,  Critch ;  in  Dorset  and 
Oick,  in  different  parts  of  Wales,  signifying  rock,  or  high  tumps ; 
creig,  crug,  the  u  pro.  as  ee,  rock,  high  tump.  Here  is  Dun- 
creich,  din-creig,  dincrug,  the  fort  or  fortress  in  the  rock,  a  notable 
place  in  Caledonian-Pictish  times  ;  the  vitrification  of  the  fort 
marks  its.  antiquity,  much  older  than  local  tradition,  which 
imputes  its  erection  to  Paul  Mac-Tyre,  a  noted  man  in  his  day 
•(1350-72).  The  first  church  was  built  near  this  rock,  and  dedi- 
cated to  St  Tearnach,  the  place  taking  its  name  from  the 
fortified  rock,  and  the  church  being  the  only  one  in  the  district 
for  ages  gave  its  name  to  the  parish  ecclesiastically  formed  in  1225. 
Another  view  may  be  taken  of  this  parish  name.  It  forms  the 
south-west  boundary  of  Sutherland,  separating  it  from  Ross,  hence 
it  becomes  the  boundary  parish ;  and  if  Creich  be  a  corruption  of 
•Crioch,  limit,  boundary,  such  would  be  its  signification.  Another 
definition  has  been  hazarded  that  Creich  is  a  corruption  of  Craob- 
haich,  woody,  full  of  trees.  It  is  true  that  it  was,  and  is  now, 
well  wooded ;  but  all  facts  and  aspects  considered,  the  most 
.notable  spot  in  the  parish  is  that  rocky  headland  looking  down  the 
Dornoch  Firth  upon  which  the  fort  was  built,  probably  in  an  age 
when  churches  were  unknown  and  unheard  of  in  the  Highlands  of 
Scotland,  and  hence  the  parish  name  had  its  origin  from  that  rock 
on  its  borders. 

Croich — G.  crois.  This  is  a  place  on  the  right  bank  of  the 
Cassley  River  ;  on  the  left  bank  opposite  is  Bad-an  t-sagairt ;  on  a 
•tump  in  the  meadow  the  priest  erected  a  cross,  whence  probably 
the  name. 

Dalnaclave — G.  cleibh,  gen.  of  cliabh,  a  creel,  the  dal  of  the 
creels  or  fishing  baskets,  placed  in  a  ford  of  the  Cassley  River, 
and  trout  or  salmon  driven  into  them.  This  place  is  far  up  the 
•Cassley,  the  Dal  shows  there  was  at  this  place  smooth  water  for 
salmon  or  trout. 


122  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Dal-teamhair— G.  teamhair,  pleasant,  the  pleasant  dale. 

Doire-a-chatha — G.  doire-a-chadha,  chadha,  gen.  of  cadha,  a 
narrow  pass,  grove  of  the  narrow  pass. 

Donne— G.  ;  old  forms:  1430,  Daane  ;  1578,  Downe.  This 
hamlet  was  so  called  from  the  stream  running  by  it  being  the 
Du-an,  black  water;  du,  black,  and  an,  obsolete  Gaelic  word  for 
water,  element;  W.  an,  element,  seen  in  many  ancient  names  of 
rivers.  May  not  "an"  be  a  contraction  of  Amhainn,  Aron,  Gar- 
onne, Sa-one,  Mar-one,  now  Morne,  Anio,  &c.,  &c. 

Drum-Hath— G.  grey  ridge,  liath,  grey;  W.  lluyd  ;  Gr.  lei-os. 
On  this  ridge,  and  on  the  north  slope  of  it,  was  fought  a  very  severe 
battle  between  the  natives  and  the  plundering  Norsemen,  who,  it 
seems,  landed  near  Ospisdale,  and  ravaged  the  country  before  them 
until  they  espied  the  inhabitants  in  battle  array,  ready  on  this 
advantageous  position  to  fight  for  hearth  and  home.  The  Norse- 
men, brave  fellows  as  they  were,  never  loth  to  accept  the  gage  of 
battle,  advanced  to  the  attack,  arid  the  fight  of  heroes  .began,  face 
to  face,  foot  to  foot,  with  sword  and  spear.  The  natives  seem  to 
have  manfully  resisted  the  onset  of  the  Norsemen,  driving  them 
off  the  ridge  down  the  slope,  where  the  fierce  invaders  rallied  and 
continued  the  fight,  with  increased  fury,  if  the  numerous  cairns 
with  which  the  battlefield  is  strewn  tell  a  true  tale.  At  length. 
the  "  Reivers  "  were  defeated,  and  retreated  to  their  ships,  pursued 
by  the  natives.  It  would  appear  that  the  Norse  commander 
Ospis,  or  Hospis,  made  a  stand  at  Ospisdal,  to  cover  the  embarka- 
tion, and  fell  at  the  head  of  his  rearguard.  Most  of  the  fugitives 
got  away,  but  the  natives  seized  and  burnt  some  of  the  ships 
before  the  defeated  Norsemen  got  away. 

Dun-garvarie — G.  dun,  a  heap  or  fort,  and  garbh-airidh,  rough 
shelling,  fort  of  the  rough  shieling,  or  hill  grazing.  Garbh,  rough 
unequal  surface,  enters  largely  into  Highland  and  Irish  topography. 
Ir.  garbh,  Manx  garroo,  W.  garw,  Corn,  garou,  Arm.  garv,  Lat. 
grav-is.  Bochart,  in  his  Phoenician  Colonies,  states  that  in  the 
Punic  language  garw  means  very  rapid. 

Drochaid-an-fheidh — G.  the  deer  bridge,  more  probably  where 
a  deer  was  caught  and  killed. 

Druim-an-tighe — G.  ridge  of  the  house,  applied  in  this  word  to 
a  house  ridge,  like  hill,  or  the  ridge  near  the  house. 

Du-chally — G.  du  choille,  the  dark  wood,  or  dubhadh-a-choille, 
shade,  or  darkness  of  the  wood. 

(larbh-lcathad— G.  uneven  or  rough  slope,  hillside. 

Innis-na-damph — G.  innis,  an  island,  here  pasture  field,  and 
n  stag,   the  pasture  field  of  the  stags;   G.   innis,  island, 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  12a 

pasture,  resting-place  for  cattle  at  night ;  Ir.  inis,  inish,  island ; 
W,  ynys,  island  ;  Corn,  ennis ;  Arm.  enez. 

Innis-na-bioraiche — G.  bioraiche,  gen.  pi.  of  the  word  biorach, 
an  instrument  set  with  pointed  iron  pins  fixed  round  the  lower 
part  of  calves'  heads  to  prevent  them  from  sucking  their  dams 
when  out  pasturing  ;  hence  the  pasture  field  was  named  the  field 
of  the  "bioraich." 

Inver-oykell — G.  innbhior,  point  of  land  at  the  confluence  of 
two  rivers.  Invercassley,  Invershin,  the  same.  It  is  notable  that 
the  smaller  stream  or  river  joining  a  larger  gives  its  own  name  to 
the  Inver.  G.  innbhior  ;  Ir.  inbir.  Here,  where  the  Oykell  joins 
the  Cassley  and  the  Cassley  the  Oykell,  there  are  two  invers,  one 
the  Cassley,  on  the  Sutherland  side,  the  other,  Oykell,  on  the  Ross 
side,  as  if  to  prevent  that  mutual  jealousy  once  too  rife  amongst 
clansmen  and  chiefs. 

Inveran — G.  inver,  as  above,  and  an,  dim.  the  small  inver ; 
to  make  a  difference  between  it  and  Invershin.  The  Inveran  is 
at  the  confluence  of  Allt-na-ciste-duibhe  (stream  of  the  black  chest, 
or  coffin) ;  G.  cisd,  Manx  kish-tey,  W.  cist,  Corn,  cist,  Arm. 
ciste,  Ir.  ciste,  Lat.  cista,  Span,  cista,  Gr.  kis-te,  Norse 
kista,  Swed.  kista,  Dan.  kiste,  Dutch  kist,  Fr.  cisse. 

Invershin — G.  confluence  of  the  Shin,  with  Oykell  river.  Old 
form,  innerchyn  (1620).  On  the  east  side  of  the  Shin,  near  the 
confluence,  are  the  remains  of  a  castle,  once  the  property  and 
abode  of  the  Duffus  family,  descendants  and  younger  branch  of 
the  Sutherland  family. 

Leathad-breac — G.  leathad,  slope,  hillside,  and  breac,  speckled, 
spotted  ;  the  speckled  hillside.  Ir.  breac,  Manx  breck,  W.  brych, 
Arm.  brecs,  bris,  Chal.  brakka,  Arab,  abrek. 

Linside-croy — Old  form,  1541,  Linsett-croy  ;  1552,  Liynside- 
croy;  1557,  Leinset ;  1589,  Lynsettcroy,  croy,  cruaidh. 

Linside  mor — Old  forms,  1541,  Linsettmore  ;  1552,  Leyn-side 
mor;  1557,  Leinset;  1589,  Lynsett  moir.  There  is  evidence  in 
this  name  of  a  mixture  of  G.  and  Norse  ;  the  first  part,  lin,  is  the 
lins  or  lyns  of  the  Charters,  and  means  salmon  pools  ;  the  second, 
sett,  side,  ceat,  of  1608,  is  evidently  Norse,  from  setr,  a  seat,  or 
residence,  or  sida,  side,  in  coast,  or  water-side,  local  names  in 
Norway ;  the  qualifying  adjectives,  croy,  is  cruaidh,  hard,  sterile, 
and  mor,  more  big.  "  In  1584  George  Ros,  apparent  of  Balna- 
gown,  sold  to  Hugh  Munro  of  Asschyn  the  town  and  lands,  <fec., 
with  the  salmon  fishing  of  the  *  bin '  and  the  '  lyncs '  of  Inner 
caslaw,  in  the  barony  of  Strahokell."  Taking  all  these  into  con 


124  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

sideration,  the  definition  to  be  given  to  Linside  must  be  the 
sloping  coast  of  the  salmon  pools. 

Lub-croy — G.  lub,  bend,  and  croy,  cruaidh,  hard,  sterile.  This 
hard  bend  refers  to  a  bend  in  the  river  Oykell,  where  the  land  is 
anything  but  fertile. 

Langwell— N.  lang-vollr  or  long-field  ;  here  it  refers  to  a 
narrow  strip  of  pasture  by  the  side  of  the  Oykell,  low  lying. 
There  are  several  Langwells  or  Laflgwalls  in  Sutherland  and 
t)ther  Highland  counties. 

Moine  bhuidhe — G.  literally  yellow  peat,  which  gave  the 
appellation  to  the  place. 

Moine  dhaor — G.  dhaor,  oblique  case  of  daor,  dear  in  value, 
the  dear  moss  or  peats  ;  very  significant.  This,  too,  gave  the 
appellation  to  the  place  where  a  poor  cottar  squatted  with  his 
family  for  a  home. 

Maikle — G.  meigeal,  the  bleating  of  goats ;  the  goat-bleating 
places. 

Migdale— Norse.  Old  form,  1275,  Miggewethe;  1561,  Mog- 
dail ;  Mid-dale,  Mid-dule. 

Ospisdale— Norse,  from  Ospis  or  Hospis,  ths  Norse  commander 
blain  and  buried  here  after  his  defeat  at  Drum-liath,  above  Bonar  ; 
to  commemorate  his  fall  and  defeat,  a  high  stone  was  reared  near 
the  spot,  to  be  still  seen  by  the  roadside  below  Ospisdale  House. 
Such  is  the  tradition. 

Oape — G.  ob,  creek.  Here  is  a  bend  of  the  river  Oikell  in  the 
shape  of  a  small  creek,  a  sharp  widening  out  of  the  river  Oape, 
named  from  this  creek. 

Ochtow,  uch,  and  tu — Pictish  Gaelic,  upper  side.  W.  uch, 
upper.  G.  uachd,  upper.  W.  tu,  side.  G.  toabh,  side ;  pro.,  in 
Sutherland,  as  tu. 

Ouraig — G.  aw-beag,  aw-bheag,  small  water  or  rivulet.  The 
Ouraig  runs  down  close  to  the  place  in  the  heights  of  Ospisdale. 

Reidh-mor — G.  ruigh-mor.     Old  form,  Rhi-mor,  big  declivity. 

Reraig  —  G.  ruigh-bheag.  Old  form,  Rhi-bheag,  small 
declivity. 

Reidh-breac — G.  ruigh-breac.  Old  form,  Rhi-breac,  speckled 
declivity. 

Rossall — G.  old  form,  rossach  (1582),  ros,  promontory  al  or  ail, 
rock  or  steep  bank,  the  rock  promontory. 

Rose-hall — Anglicised  from  the  preceding. 

Rhivra — G.  rhi  and  bra,  brow,  rhibhra,  the  slope  of  the  brow 
or  hill  brow. 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  125 

Sleasdairidh — G.  sleasd,  marking,  and  airidh,  hill  pasture, 
where  cattle,  sheep,  and  ponies  were  wont  to  be  marked  on  the 
horn,  hoof,  or  ear. 

Strathan — G.  sra,  srath,  valley,  and  an,  dim,  srath  an,  small 
valley.  Manx  strah.  W.  y-strad,  broad  valley.  Corn,  strath, 
valley. 

Salachy — G.  sallach,  miry,  dirty ;  and  Achadh,  field,  the 
nasty  field.  In  the  Ferin-coskary  district  of  the  "  Old  Charters  " 
is  a  place,  Swlach  ;  being  unable  to  locate  it  here,  it  is  not 
possible  to  say  if  it  be  the  0  form  of  the  present  Salachy. 

Swordale— N.  old  forms,  1275,  Swordisdale ;  1554,  Swerdell ; 
1561,  Soirdaile;  1577-79,  Suai-dell ;  1680,  Sordail;  from  svordr, 
sward,  and  dalr,  dale,  the  green-sward-dale. 

Spinningdale — Eng.  true  description  of  the  place  when 
"  Dunnichen,"  and  "  Skibo"  Dempster,  the  Dempster  of  "  Burns," 
reared  here  his  flax  spinning  mills,  and  set  them  to  work,  giving 
employment  to  many ;  but,  alas  !  the  name  was  imposed  by 
different  kind  of  men,  the  Norsemen,  or  Loch-linnich,  of  Suther- 
land tradition  and  story ;  from  their  own  language,  spenja, 
attractive,  and  their  common  affix,  in  local  names,  dalr,  a  dale,  the 
attractive  dale. 

Stocdach — G.  old  form,  1341,  stogok  ;  1642,  stogak ;  means 
full  of  tree  roots. 

Tigh-a-chumainn — G.  chumain ;  gen.  of  cuman,  a  milk  pail, 
the  house  of  the  milk  pails. 

Tarnaig — G.  old  forms,  1578,  turnoch,  turnak,  turn-ag,  turn, 
bend,  here  used  for  a  bend  or  turn  in  the  river  Oykell,  this  river 
turn  giving  the  name  to  the  habitation  near  it. 

Tutim-tarvach  —  G.  tutim,  tuiteam,  fall,  and  tarbhach, 
plentiful,  decisive ;  said  by  Sir  R.  Gordon  to  be  so  named  from  a 
decisive  battle  here  fought  between  the  Macleods  of  Assynt  and 
Lewis  and  the  Mackays  about  the  year  1400,  the  Macleods  being 
all  slain  except  the  traditional  one,  who  carried  home  the  doleful 
intelligence  of  the  direful  event.  Old  forms,  1430,  tutim-tarrak  ; 
1578,  tutem-tarroch  ;  1614,  tutum-treach. 

Tulaich--G.  knolls,  common  in  Gaelic  and  Irish  topography. 

Tacher-in-road — G.  tachair-an-rathad,  met  by  the  way ;  a 
waggish  appellation  surely.  This  habitation  is  half-way  between 
one  above  it  and  another  below. 

Uirghill — G.  uire,  heather,  and  geal,  white. 


126  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 


6th  MARCH,  1895. 

At  this  meeting  Mr  William  Kemp,  of  Messrs  Strother  &  Co., 
Inverness,  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Society.  On  the  motion 
of  Mr  Alexander  Mackenzie,  editor,  Scottish  Highlander,  it  was 
resolved  to  record  sincere  regret  for  the  death  of  Professor  John 
Stuart  Blackie,  one  of  the  Honorary  Chieftains  of  the  Society,  and 
it  was  remitted  to  a  special  committee — Mr  Alex.  Macbain,  M.A.  ; 
Mr  William  Mackay,  solicitor ;  and  Mr  D.  Mackintosh,  secretary — 
to  draw  up  a  minute  of  condolence,  and  convey  the  same  to  the 
late  Professor's  representatives.  Thereafter  Mr  Alex.  Macbain, 
M.A.,  read  a  paper,  contributed  by  the  Rev.  John  Kennedy, 
Caticol,  Arran,  on  "  Arran  Gaelic  Dialect."  Mr  Kennedy's  paper 
was  as  follows  : — 

•ARRAN  GAELIC  DIALECT. 

Arran  is  well  and  widely  known  as  a  rich  and  remunerative 
.field  for  studying  botany  and  geology,  but  it  has  not  yet  been 
duly  studied  as  a  region  where  philology  might  glean  much 
material.  As  there  are  specimens  of  the  oldest  and  of  the  most 
recent  formations  of  rock  to  be  found  in  it,  so  also  of  roots  and 
words.  The  genuine  Gaelic  here  spoken  is  very  old  and  valuable, 
but  the  recent  mixed  formations  are  to  be  sedulously  avoided.  I 
only  offer  a  few  specimens  for  consideration  and  criticism,  under 
the  headings  "  Words,"  "  Proverbs,"  and  "  Superstitions,"  and 
trust  the  drvness  of  the  subject  may  not  prove  too  fatiguing  for 
the  patience  of  the  kindly  audience  now  to  be  addressed. 

WORDS. 

Tha  coslas  tinn  air  an  la — The  day  is  looking  sickly. 
Uisge  solus — Clear  water. 

Eudach  solus — White  or  light-coloured  clothing. 
An  clochair — The  death  rattle. 
Fe  for  fein. 
Frasdan — Showers. 
MaU  or  I — A  basket. 
Taineamh — Thaw. 
An  damh-suirne—  A  corn-kiln. 
Fail-shlatan  and  Faileantan — Honeysuckle. 
Madadh-uisge — Otter ;    also    madadh   donn,    dorain  donn  ail 
t-shruth.     Biasta  dubh  in  the  north. 

Lomag  agus  tior(a)man— Whisky  and  oatmeal. 


Arran  Gaelic  Dialect.  127 

Bldie — Satan  ;  also  called  Old  Dan  or  Daniel. 
Mallaichte — Cross,  akin  to  curst. 
Dnine  ceannar,  cireil — A  wise,  managing  man. 
Tudraig — Vigorous. 
Monusc — A  particle, 
lubhar-beinne — Juniper  berries. 

A'  chaiseal-chr6 — A  hearse.      Vide  Dean  of  Lismore's  Book. 
Macgillesheathanaich — Shaw  (in  Mull). 
Maith  (or  moithe  in  sound) — Good. 
Ceart — Right ;  has  no  s-sound. 
C6ir — Holy  ;  not  liberal  or  hospitable. 

Ordag,  calagag,  fionna  fad,  macanab  agus  cuisteag — A  rhyme 
for  the  thumb  and  four  fingers. 

Gabh  na  guaid  e — Take  or  leave  it. 
Guaideil — Leaving  alone,  refusing. 

So  an  te  a  leag  an  sabhul, 

So  an  te  a  ghoid  an  sil  (not  siol), 

So  an  te  a  sheas  ag  amharc, 

So  an  te  a  ruith  air  falbh, 

So  an  te  bheag  a  b'  fheudar  dhith  a  phaigheadh  air  fad. 

— A  rhyme  for  thumb  and  four  fingers,  somewhat  resembling  the 
rhyme  of  the  "  House  that  Jack  Built." 

Suil-chrich — A  mossy  swamp. 

Knockmaniseular — Hills  at  Lenimore. 

Knockbuid — Halfway  between  Caticol  and  Lochranza. 

Air  a'  mhoth  'n  raidhir — The  night  before  last. 

Air  a'  mhoth  'n  de—  The  day  before  yesterday. 

Muigh-buan,  claidheag — The  harvest  home. 

Deasachadh  —Baking. 

Eadar  long  is  lamairic — Between  the  ship  and  the  pier. 

Albhag  or  falbhag — Ring  or  wheel. 

Galair-gl6ig  or  g!6igeach— The  mumps.  In  Kintyre  it  is  "  an 
galair-plocach." 

Balagadan — The  calf  of  one's  leg. 

Magan — Hands. 

Siubhal  air  do  mhagan — Going  on  all  fours. 

An  t-oighre  agus  an  tanaistear — The  heir  and  the  next  son,  or 
heir-presumptive. 

Blasachd  air—  A  taste  of  it,  like  "  boit  air"  in  Badenoch. 

Meall  do  naigheachd — Enjoy  your  news.  "I  wish  you  joy," 
said  after  the  home-coming  of  a  young  couple. 

Feusgan — Mussels. 

Barnuigh  — Limpets. 


128  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Coitich-  -Argue. 

Gairtleam — To  weed  ;  no  s-sound. 

Buan  a'  ghart— Cutting  com  ;  no  s-sound. 

Cha  chroic— It  is  not  difficult. 

Cara-meilidh — Liquorice. 

Riasg — Sedge. 

Sailean — Willow. 

Eilean  Ion — Mud  island.  * 

Linne  Mhuirich — Murdoch's  linn. 

Traighleachan— A  bird  with  a  brown  bill  that  makes  its  nest 
on  the  shore  above  high-water  mark. 

Brid — Whisper.     Tha  mi  airson  brld  riut. 

Loisdean  and  loisgean — A  primrose. 

Luidhear — A  vent. 

Am  breas — The  chimney  piece. 

Gugan — A  daisy. 

Fanaiseach,  farraideach — Mocking. 

Eidheannach — Ivy. 

Fearn-alder — Scotch  mahogany. 

Gunna-peilear,  gunna-steallair  (gunna-sput) — A  syringe. 

Smearain — Brambles. 

Mucagan — Wild-rose  fruit. 

An  eanntag — Nettles. 

Airnean — Slaes. 

Cnotul — Brown  dye. 

Liath-lus— Mugwort,  a  substitute  for  tobacco. 

An  dreolan — The  wren, 

lalltag — The  bat ;  in  Badenoch,  an  dialtag. 

Glaisean-seillich — Water  wag-tail;  it  builds  its  nest  under 
stones,  and  it  has  a  long  tail. 

Druideag — A  starling. 

Broinn-deargan — Robin  Redbreast. 

B6,  plur.  ba,  and  short  sound  also,  bai — Cows. 

Bara-rotha — Wheel-barrow. 

Bara-laimhe — A  hand-barrow. 

Bladach  nan  ronn — Slavers. 

Maide-raingeis  (like  rongus) — Ladder-step. 

'  Guisean  and  guiseag  rainigh,  old  gen. — Bracken. 

Ugh  maola  feannaig — The  little  egg  sometimes  laid  by  a  hen, 
at  one  time  supposed  to  be  laid  once  in  seven  years  by  the  cock 
(cockatrice  story).  The  cockatrice  is  the  bird  that  is  hatched 
from  the  cock's  egg — seriously  explained  to  be  so  once  in  Raasay. 

Spuinnear — A  tarry  rope.  . 


Arran  Gaelic  Dialect.  129 

Tot  tilgte — Movable  seat  in  the  centre  of  a  boat. 

Tha  mi  cha  mh6r  ullamh — I  am  nearly  ready  (all  but). 

Cannadh — Porpoise. 

Canna — Isle  of  porpoises. 

Breagh,  pronounced  bragh — Fine,  beautiful. 

Lubag  cas  laoidh — A  half-hitch  knot. 

Spearrach — A  string  on    a  lamb's  foot,   a  sort   of  tether  at 
spinning  time  to  prevent  running. 

Cabhruich  (cath) — Flummery. 

Lagan — Sowens  ;  also  easraich. 

Stapag  (fuarag) — Milk  and  meal  mixture. 

Casan    (frith-rathad) — Footpath ;     also    aithghearan    in    the 
North — a  short  cut. 

Ulabur  (earbull)— Tail. 

Leamh- — -Sneering. 

Druimtighmhicgillechatain — Longest  name  in  Mull. 

Samhailt  aithne  ormsa — Unrecognised  by  me ;  you  have  the 
advantage  of  me. 

Ru-ra — Topsy-turvy. 

Graisg — Offscouring. 

Golum— Trifling,  flattery. 

Strupag  and  toineag — A  little  drop  of  spirits. 

An  ainm  an  aigh — In  the  name  of  good;  good  grea't,  like  good- 
ness gracious. 

Air  muire — On  or  by  Mary  ;  same  as  by'r  lady — dame. 

Alt  a'  ghoirtein  a'  mhaol-mhuire — -The  burn  of  the  field  of  the 
shorn  priest  of  Mary.     Above  Caticol. 

Air  m'  fhalluinn — By  my  garment. 

Air  m'  anam — By  my  soul. 

Air  m'  onair — By  my  honour. 

La  dobhaidh — A  wild,  stormy  day. 

La  frasachdach — A  showery  day. 

La  sgreunach — A  wet,  gusty  day. 

Ludan — A  pool. 

('C-jisan — isayth. 

Suidhean  and  piocach — Lythe. 

Cuiteag — Whiting. 

Lcabag — A  flounder.     "Bithidh  leabagan  aig  BhuiJle  fathast, 
said  by  way  of  reprisals. 

Saorgan  (daorgan) — A  pewit. 

Falmairean — Herring  hakes. 

Crucian — A  gurnet. 

Seorsa  bigeach — A  small  thing. 

9 


130  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Baile  na  h-Aiimit— Goddess  Aneitus.     R.C.   used   it  for  con- 
fessing. 

Geannaire — A  hammer.     Some  say  from  ceann-ord. 

Casaire A  hammer.     Some  say  from  cas-6rd.     I  think  the 

former  more  likely  to  be  connected  with  geinne,  a  wedge. 

Sior-uisyje — Constant  rain. 

Fior-uisge — Flowing  (living)  water. 

Tha  cho  docha— It  is  as  likely.       * 

Gu  beachdaidh — Certainly.     A  common  expression. 

Is  dalta  sin — Like  that. 

Dalta  Mhairi — Like  Mary. 

Tha  'daicheil  gu'n  d'  teid — Likely  to  go.     Not  peculiar,  as  in 
some  parts  of  the  Highlands. 

Frog  (meuran)  na  cnaig — Cuckoo  flower. 

Rineach — A  mackerel. 

Ordag,  corrag,  ineur-meadhon,  mathair  an  ludain,  or  luideig — 
Another  rhyme  for  fingers. 

Cathair  thalmliainn — Cure  for  jaundice. 

Dudan  and  Dus — Dust  and  chaff. 

Tha  thu  cur  meanaidh  orm — You  provoke  me. 

Mearadh  sionachain — Phosphorus.     Also  mcaradh-loisgeach. 

Tarbh-nathrach,   or  a'   chuibhle   mhor — The  moth  that  goes 
round  the  light. 

Carathaisd — Statute  labour. 

Dol  'narn  mogain — Putting  on  their  foot  gear. 

A'  cur  speuran  mo  chinn  roimh  a  cheile — Putting  the  skies  of 
my  head  through  other — a  brown  study. 

Claba-dudaidh — Like  cockles,  but  with  larger  shells. 

An  t-aile  air  a  sguabadh  le  gaoith — The  air  swept  by  the  wind. 

A'  mhuir  na  caora1  geala — The  sea  in  white  foam. 

Cha  d'  fhuair  norra  codail — I  got  not  a  wink  of  sleep. 

A'  postadh  le  'casan — Tramping  blankets — in  lona. 

Gealbhan — A  fire. 

Sgeul  thairis — To  change  the  subject. 

Danaire  —Dogged. 

Trosdan — A  crutch. 

Casachdaidh  (casdaich) — A  cough. 

Aon  bheag — Very  little. 

Aon  mh6r — Not  a  bit. 

Beart — Plough.     No  s-sound,  as  in  the  north. 
|      Cota  beag — Petticoat. 
L      Cota  ban — A  groat. 

1  Waves  spindrift.     Buchanan's  "  'N  a  cao^aibh  dearg." 


Arran  Gaelic  Dialect  131 

'Cladain — Burrs,  thistles. 
Fonntain — Thistles. 

Dearcan-suiridhe — A  weed,  good  for  gravel. 
'Gubernach-meurach — Octopus  or  devil-fish. 
Fiabhruidh — Ask. 

Garbhanach — A  silver  haddock  or  sea-breem. 
Braise — A  sudden  sickness. 
Fasdaid  — Fee'd,  as  at  market. 
Dioll. — Diligence. 
Cochull — Envelope. 

Damhan  allaidh,  breabair  and  breabardan-smagach — Spider. 
Tailearan  and  scleirtearain — Slaters. 
Toirmeachan-de— A  butterfly. 

'Cailleach  oidhche  and  dealain  de — Also  a  butterfly. 
Drurnlach-sithe  (dom-ghlas) — Gall. 
Ulag — A  mouthful  of  meal,  in  Badenoch. 
Tdrradh— A  funeral,  in  Tyree. 
Isearan — Oyster. 
Muisgean — Spoutfish. 
Muasgan — A  fish  that  opens  like  a  boot. 
Toimhseachan — A  guess. 

Aireamh — Reckon,  think.     Tha  mi  'g  aireamh. 
Am  bathach  Ruairidh  Ghobha — In  Rory   the   Smith's  byre. 
In  the  open  air  (North). 
Caranach — Grumbling. 
Uircean-garaidh — A  hedgehog. 
Toraicinn — A  peat-knife. 
Ceanna-pholag — Tadpoles. 
Blair-f  eile  — Market  stance. 
Mall  sneimh  (Mall  Sne) — Delay.     Mall  sniamh. 
Bad — Many. 

Coiteachadh — Coaxing.     Fuiteachadh  in  Badenoch. 
•Cudthrom-siudain — A  pendulum. 
Lamairean — A  trifler. 
Dubaidh — A  pool,  Irishman's  Burn. 
Strubladh — Wetting,  hard  bested. 

A'  ghliogaig  nan  dramag  or  dlamag — A  clumsy  bad  woman 
Clacha  meilear — Goatfell  pebbles. 
Cur  r'a  theinidh  (faloisg) — Heather-burning. 
Le  cas  is  fras — Corn-growth  :  with  foot  and  root. 
Sgroinneach — Ragged. 
Carracaig — A  pancake. 
<€ha  'n  'eil  aon  dath — Not  a  whit. 


132  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Ann  na  h-asgailt — In  her  bosom. 

Bochain  (bothain)— A  bothy,  tent. 

Maide-coire  (groidlean) — Spirtle. 

Riabhach — Yellow-gray. 

Gun  i,  gun  o,  gun  aobhar— When  a  thing  is  done  without 
rhyme  or  reason. 

Greim  neirt — Strengthening  muscle. 

Oidhrig,  Eiphrig,  Oirig— Euphemia,  Ferny. 

Teasach — Early  stage ;  fiabhrus — later  stage  of  fever. 

Coille-beanain — Phosphorus . 

Caoineach  (cbineach)- — Moss. 

L'  fhios  am  bheil  1 — Is  it  so  1 

Guaileach — Shoulders  ;  also  guallaich. 

Am  Fear-dona — Satan. 

Am  Fear-math — God. 

Tlaiteachd — Mild  rain,  smurring. 

Dedta  (deota) — Dry. 

Sialach — Harum-scarum. 

Farachaidh  chnocaidh — A  mell,  or  a  stone  for  grinding  barloy.. 

Bleagain — Peeled  grain. 

Cnocad — Barley  hammered. 

Tiridh — Drying  corn. 

Oraisg — To  vomit ;  also  oirlis  (Kintyre). 

Ath-eo — Hemlock. 

Air  deo  (air  neo) — If  not,  except — P.  Grant's  Hymns. 

Spar  a'  choillidh  (spur) — Cock's  spur. 

Lasgaird — A  young  man. 

Siobadh — Drift  in  g. 

Garbhainn — 111,  sick,  complaining. 

Ealaig — A  peg  or  block,  the  same  as  ealachaig  or  cipean. 

Sgriosan — Trousseau. 

A'  dhiolan  sinne  !  A  thiochaidh  fhein ! — Bodenoch  exclama- 
tions. 

Breaca-seanadh — Fern  tickles  ;  breac-eunan  in  Badenoch. 

Buinte — Relationship. 

Luircach — Pretty. 

Lughach — Kind. 

Coiuneal,  candle,  is  masculine. 

Ililieug — One  hair. 

Thu  mise  a'  coimheis — I  don't  care. 

Car—Screwing  up  the  face ;  like  drein. 

Leine  chaol— A  white  shirt.     Small  stitches,  as  in  "Burns.'" 

Cnudh  (cnodh) — A  nut. 


Arran  Gaelic  Dialect  133 

•dnudh  ch6mhlaich — A  full  nut. 

•Cnudh  chaoch— An  empty  nut. 

Leathanach — Hoar-frost. 

'Cearr  's  a'  cheann — Wrong  in  the  head  (mind). 

Is  mi-thapaidh  (pronounced  miapaidh) — 'Tis  pity  (utinam). 

Duine  thapaidh — A  grumbler. 

Uisgeanan  rothadh — Icicles. 

Orios — Grease. 

Sneabhartaich  (sreodaich  and  streodaich  in  B.) — Sneezing. 

A'  casachdaidh  (casdaich) — Coughing. 

Failcin — Pot-lid. 

Mult-cr6 — liarvest  home  after  potatoes  have  been  secured. 

Seal-mara — Cut-wreck,  seaweed. 

Brochan-cail — Kail  broth. 

Dotshag — A  fat  female. 

Caoineachadh  an  fheoir — Haymaking,  in  Badenoch. 

Sgannan — Membrane. 

Teas  na  luaithreach  'nan  ladhairean — Heat  of  ashes  in  their 
feet. 

Crodhan — Hoof. 

Ludhar — Toes. 

Caigilt — Rake  the  fire. 

A  chorra-chagailt — The  fire-fairy. 

Smaladh  an  teine — Keep  fire  in  (in  Badenoch). 

Fuar-achadh — Untilled  land. 

Tosg — A  peat  instrument. 

Coib-a-lair — An  instrument  for  cutting  turf  (divots). 

Croineagan — Small    peats    (in    B.),    caorain    (in   Skye),    and 
caoireag  (in  Diet.). 

A'   dhuilean,  an  duileag,   na  duil — Creature  ;    all   endearing 
epithets. 

Dalag-fe6ir — A  mole. 

Fiolagan — A  field  mouse. 

Asach  (asbhuain) — Where  corn  has  been  newly  cut. 

Muill  (munchioll) — A  sleeve. 

'Cuileag-lin — Earwig  ;  same  as  gobhlachan. 

Bralag — A  caterpillar. 

Spleuchdan — A  tobacco  pouch. 

Gluis — Slush ;  also  liquid  food. 

Ones — A  stenlock. 

Cluadain — Care. 

Spearrach — A  sheep  hobble. 

Duinean  talamhaidh,  b'  fheairrd  thu  'dhol  air  farragan — A 
3ittle  cleft  in  a  rock. 


134  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

An  grioglachan,  an  seachdairean — The  Pleiades;  am  briogailean- 
searmaid  (in  Badenoch). 

Gur  dubh  ino  chas 

'S  gur  geal  mo  leas, 

'S  gur  mise  an  eala  ghle-gheal, 

Gun  snamhain  loch  cho  luath  ri  lach 

'S  gu  'n  rachainn  dachaj^h  dh'  Eirinn. 

— Badenoch  rhyme. 

Feill  .Bride — February. 
Foill  Bealltainn — May. 
Lunasdaia — August. 
Samhuinn — November. 

A  Game. 

Fidiri,  foideri,  a'  chrothain,  a'  chapuill,  a  sheana  bho  liagath,, 
feugath,  faoileach,  air  an  t-slip,  air  an  t-slap,  suisneach  saoisneach,,, 
buile  beag  air  ceann  na  slaite,  crub  a  steach  an  ialltag — Then  the 
last  one  spoken  to  has  to  fall  down  on  knee  and  things  are  then 
placed  on  his  back,  and  then  the  game  proceeds.  Trom,  trom  air 
do  dhruim,  tomhais  de  oit — Heavy,  heavy  on  thy  back;  guess, 
what  it  is  (is  on  you). 

Deoch  an  Doruis. 

Deoch  an  doruis, 

Deoch  an  t-sonais ; 

Sith  is  sonas 

Gu  'n  robh  againn. 

Ni  dona 

Cha  bu  dual  duinn  ; 

Air  ghaol  Dhia 

Is  ghradh  chairdean, 

Thoiribh  deoch  an  doruis  duinn. 

La  seachanta  na  seachduin,  Di-h-aoine — Friday,  in  Badenoch. 
Ceo  an  teas  de  'n  a'  chuan — Heat  mist  from  the  sea. 
'S  ce6  'n  fhuachd  dhe  'na  bheinn — Cold  mist  from  the  hill. 
Caith-sgioladh,  caisgdhleidh,  caich-mhine — Chaff. 
Speuclair — Spectacles. 
Aingidh — Cross. 

Li  cheal  na  chuag— 1st  of  April;  the  day  of  hiding  the 
cuckoo. 

Mac-a-Reudaidh — Sim. 


Arran  Gaelic  Dialect  135 

Aon  ghlun — First  cousin  ;  da  ghlun — second  cousin. 

Spuidsear — A  bucket  with  a  wooden  handle  to  lift  water  from 
the  sea. 

Cha  leann  ghillean  a  th'  aim — It  is  not  beer  for  lads ;  no  small 
beer. 

Na  abair  do  cheann-fhacal — Say  not  thy  last  word — yet. 

PROVERBS. 

Is  boidheach  an  aon-fhalbh— Beautiful  is  the  going  together, 
the  one  going. 

Is  eutrom  duine  fo  ghalair  duine  eile — A  man  feels  lightly 
under  another  man's  burden. 

Is  trorn  tubaisdean  air  na  libisdean — Misfortunes  fall  heavily 
on  the  awkward  folk. 

Gach  h'odh  nabharr  ach  am  fearn  'nabhun — All  kinds  of  wood 
from  the  top,  but  the  elder  from  the  root  (will  split). 

Is  e  'n  gniomh  an  gnothuch — Deeds,  not  words.  The  act  is 
what  proves. 

Comain  a  laimhe  fein — A  man  indebted  to  his  own  hand, 
independence. 

An  uair  a  bhitheas  an  sgadan  mu  thuath,  bithidh  Dol  Ruadh 
mu  dheas — When  the  herring  is  in  the  north,  Red  Donald  will 
be  in  the  south. 

Am  muilean  a  bhios  gun  chlaban,  is  iomadh  clach  a  theid  a 
shamhlachadh  ris — The  mill  that  has  no  clapper,  many  a  stone 
will  be  mentioned  for  (compared  to)  it. 

Cha  d'  fhag  a  bheannachd  nach  do  thill  a  ris — No  one  left  his 
blessing  without  returning  again. 

Cha  'n  'eil  fios  air  sta  an  tobair  gus  an  traigh  e — The  worth  of 
the  well  is  not  known  until  it  is  empty. 

Cha  sasuich  saibhreas  sannt — Wealth  will  not  stench  greed. 

Ruithidh  na  sruthain  bheaga  thun  na  sruthain  mhora — (All) 
the  small  streamlets  flow  in  to  the  large  streams. 

Is  ionnan  fuigheall  madadh  is  fuigheall  meiriich — cha  dean  e 
math  dhuit — The  leavings  of  a  dog  are  like  the  leavings  of  a  thief, 
they  do  you  no  good. 

Rugadh  am  fear  sin  mu'n  d'  fhalbh  a  mhathair — That  man  was 
born  before  his  mother  departed. 

Cha  'n  fhiach  an  dragh  an  t-saothair — The  worry  is  not  worth 
the  work. 

Di-h-aoine  an  aghaidh  na  seachduin — Friday  against  the  week. 

Is  fial  an  coileach  mu  shiol  an  eich — The  cock  is  liberal  with 
the  horse's  corn. 


136  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Is  lorn  an  leachd  air  nach  deanadh  tu  maorach — The  stone  is 
bare  on  which  you  could  gather  no  mussels. 

Is  minig  a  thainig  moran  danadas  gu  droch  oilein — Many  a 
time  much  boldness  came  to  (ended  in)  bad  behaviour. 

Tha  im  dha  'na  cholainn  mar  a  tha  oladh  dha  na  guuachaii — 
Butter  is  to  the  body  as  oil  to  the  guns. 

Fodh  rnhallachd  nam  baiij  fodh  thabhan  nan  con,  's  fodh 
shnidhe  an  ard-doruis  (N.  Macleod) — T^ider  women's  ban,  under 
dogs'  barking,  and  under  dropping  from  the  lintel  (alike  evil). 

Is  e  'n  t-shuiridhe  chnampach  a's  fhearr  —  The  thumping 
courting  is  the  best. 

Is  cara  chairdean  iad  da  cheile — They  are  near  friends  to  one 
another. 

Is  e  cunntas  cheart  a  dh'  fhagas  cairdean  buidheach — It  is 
right  reckoning  that  satisfies  friends. 

Is  coma  le  baigeir,  baigeir  eile — One  beggar  does  not  like 
another. 

Tachairidh  ri  uair  nach  tachair  ri  aimsir — They  (may)  meet 
in  an  hour  \vho  will  not  meet  in  an  age. 

Tha  e  cho  Ian  do'n  di'al,  is  a  tha  ugh  do  'n  bhiadh — He  is  as 
full  of  mischief  (the  devil)  as  an  egg  is  of  meat. 

Uile  duine  a  toirt  scarbh  a'  creag  dha  fein— Every  man  taking 
a  scarf  (scart  and  cormorant)  out  of  a  rock  for  himself. 

Fear  a'  ruith  nighinn,  ma  thubhairt  an  Ni  math  gu  'm  bi  thu 
agam,  bithidh  tu  agam — -A  man  courting  a  maid ;  if  God  has  said 
that  I  shall  have  you,  you  shall  be  mine. 

Miann  a'  choit  (a'  chait)  as  traigh  is  cha  teid  e  fein  'ga  iarraidh 
—The  desire  of  the  cat  (fish)  in  the  sea  (ebb),  but  he  will  not  go 
for  it  himself. 

Na  na  sheas  e  'na  d'  amhaich  bhiodh  cuimhne  na  bh'  fhearr 
agad  air — If  it  had  stuck  in  your  throat  you  would  remember  it 
better — said  of  ingratitude. 

Gnothuichean  iasachd  falbhaidh  na  's  eallamh — Things 
borrowed  go  (come  to  grief)  the  quickest. 

Is  maith  a  dh'  fhasas  an  droch  lus — Well  grows  the  bad 
weed. 

Cha  dubhairt  math  no  sath — I  said  neither  good  nor  bad. 

Ma  dh'  fhalbhas  a'  chaora  'feitheamh  air  an  fheur  iiir— -What 
if  the  sheep  die  waiting  for  the  new  grass  ? 

Is  olc  a'  ghaoth  nach  seid  an  seol  fear-eigin — It  is  an  ill-wind 
that  does  not  blow  in  some  one's  sail. 

Cha  'n  'eil  bas  duine  gun  ghras  duine — There  is  no  death  of 
man  without  benefit  to  man. 


Arran  Gaelic  Dialect.  137 

Is  math  bonnach  agus  toll  's  am  bruithear  e — 'Tis  good  to 
have  a  bannock  and  a  place  for  baking  it. 

Mar  cluinn  thu  sin  cha  chluinn  thu  'chuag— If  you  don't  hear 
that  you  won't  hear  the  cuckoo. 

Is  olc  an  t-each  nach  giulain  an  asair — Poor  is  the  horse  that 
-can't  carry  his  harness. 

Cha 'n  :eil  a'  choir  ach  mar  chuniar  i — Right  is  just  as  it  is 
maintained 

Am  fear  a  rug  airsou  a  bhonn-se,  cha  bheir  e  air  an  sgiliun — 
The  man  that  was  destined  (born  for)  the  half-penny  cannot  obtain 
(overtake)  the  penny. 

Is  coimheach  a'  bhiatachd — Poor  hospitality ;  offering  one 
nothing  while  at  meals. 

Cha  'n  urrainn  dhuit  a'  mhin  itheadh  agus  an  teine  a  sheideadh 
— You  cannot  eat  meal  and  blow  the  fire. 

Is  maith  an  sas  man  (mar)  am  bi  an  siol  air  a  roiseadh — The 
wind  of  adversity  (fix)  is  good  if  the  corn-seeds  are  not  shaken  off. 

Foighneachd  air  fios,  foighneachd  a  's  miosa  a  th'  ann — Asking 
what  one  knows  is  the  worst  kind  of  asking. 

Tha  meur  a'  ghobha  eadar  thu  fein  is  mise — The  smith's 
finger  (a  key)  is  between  you  and  me. 

Cha  do  ghabh  mi  (d'  ithich)  mi  uidhear  ri  sgiath  faochaig — 
(tiny  scale  on  the  top  of  a  periwinkle's  head) — I  did  not  take  (eat) 
as  much  as  the  scale  on  a  periwinkle's  head. 

Theid  an  duthchas  an  aghaidh  nan  creag— Heredity  (blood) 
will  go  against  rocks ;  blood  is  thicker  than  water. 

Cha'n  ann  na  h-uile  la  a  mharbhas  Martan  mult — It  is  not 
every  day  that  Martan  kills  a  wedder. 

Ann  snuim  (snaim)  a  's  dluithe  (dluiche)  do  'n  amhach  fhuas- 
gladh — To  untie  the  knot  that  is  nearest  the  neck. 

Is  bochd  an  fheill  a  dh'fhagas  duine  fhein  falamh — The  market 
is  poor  that  leaves  oneself  with  nothing. 

Comunn  gun  fhuath  gun  ghradh,  comunn  a  's  fhaide  a 
mhaireas — Friendship  (company)  without  hate  or  love  is  the 
friendship  that  lasts  longest. 

Bithidh  duil  ri  fear-feachd,  ach  cha  bhi  ri  fear-leac — There  is 
hope  (of  the  return)  of  a  soldier,  but  none  of  the  one  under  a  stone 
(dead). 

Tha  rud  eadar  ciall  is  caoch — There  is  a  difference  between 
wisdom  and  madness — the  golden  mean. 

Their  iad  nach  'eil  dithis  ais  aon  smuain — It  is  said  that  two 
hit  not  the  same  thought ;  there  are  no  two  people  altogether  at 
one. 


138  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Cha  chuir  buidheachas  leth-bhoinn  air  mo  bhr6gan — Thanks, 
won't  put  soles  on  my  shoes. 

Is  math  gach  galair  o'n  tig-— Every  illness  is  good  from  which 
one  recovers. 

Ma  tha  meirg  's  an  iul  tha  triiiir  's  an  aineoil — If  there  is  a 
fault  (rust)  in  the  known,  there  are  three  in  the  unknown. 

Na  creic  a'  chearc  ris  an  la  fhliuch — Do  not  sell  the  hen  on  a 
wet  day. 

Cha  thuig  e  Gaidhlig  gus  am  fas  i  tiugh — He  cannot  under- 
stand Gaelic  until  it  grows  thick. 

'Xuair  a  theirgeas  gach  meas,  is  math  am  meas  na  mucagan — 
When  every  fruit  is  at  an  end,  good  are  the  berries  of  the  dog-rose. 

An  treasa  uair  is  dual  dha  cinneach — The  third  attempt  (time) 
is  likely  to  succeed. 

Am  fear  air  am  bheil  an  uireasbhuidh,  bitheadh  an  t-saothair 
air — The  man  who  is  in  need,  let  him  undergo  the  labour. 

Cha  'n  'eil  duthchas  aig  mnaoi  na  aig  ministear — There  is  no- 
nationality  for  wife  or  for  minister ;  neither  must  regard  any 
birth  tie. 

Is  buidhe  le  bochd  beagan — A  needy  man  is  thankful  for  little. 

Fear  gun  bhiadh  gun  tuarasdal,  cha  bhi  e  uair  gun  mhaigh- 
stear — A  man  with  neither  food  nor  fee  shall  not  for  an  hour 
want  a  master. 

0  Hath  gu  leanabh — From  hoar  head  to  babe  ;  both  old  and 
young. 

Tha  cuid  is  culbheas  air  na  h-uile  rud — There  is  a  share  and 
a  measure  to  everything.  Enough  is  as  good  as  a  feast. 

Is  lughaid  orm  bun  do  chluais — I  little  like  the  root  of  your 
ear. 

Is  buan  claim  nam  mallachd — Long-lived  are  the  children  of 
mischief. 

Is  e  'n  duine  an  t-eudach,  ach  is  e  'n  laochan  am  biadh — The 
clothes  are  the  man,  but  food  is  the  hero. 

Cha  d'  thainig  ubh  (ugh)  mhor  riamh  a  t6in  dreblain — A  big 
egg  was  never  laid  by  a  wren. 

'S  ann  deireadh  an  la  a  ni  an  fheannag  a  muin — It  is  at  the- 
close  of  the  day  that  the  hooded  crow  micturates. 

C6  cinnteach  a's  a  tha  na  fabhaireantan  ort — As  sure  as  you 
have  eyebrows. 

Cha  robh  aon  uilear  againn— There  was  not  a  bit  too  much. 
It  taxed  all  our  strength. 

Is  easgaidh  droch  impire  (emperor)  an  tigh  a'  choimhersnaich, 
—A  bad  emperor  readily  frequents  his  neighbour's  house. 


Arran  Gaelic  Dialect.  139. 

Ma  bheir  thusa  dhomh-sa  a'  mhiodalach  mhor  thun  steog- 
aireachd1  an  diugh,  bheir  mise  dhuit-sa  an  stalcaire  a  tharruing 
fraoch  am  maireach.— Said  by  a  Buteman.  The  Kintyre  varia- 
tion is  :• — Ma  bheir  thusa  dhomh-sa  do  mhiodalach  mhor  gu  barra- 
puil  (wheeling  peats),  bheir  mise  dhuit-sa  mu  steocaire  gu 
stughaireachd  (for  flailing). 

Cha  bu  tu  mi,  's  eha  bu  mhi  an  cu  (B.) — You  are  not  I,  and  I 
am  not  a  cur. 

Is  e  an  oighreachd  an  t-slainte — Health  is  the  heritage. 

Miann  an  duine  lochdaich,  each  uile  a  bhi  amhluidh — The 
desire  of  the  wicked  man  is  that  everyone  else  should  be  like  him. 

Is  e  'n  nochd  oidhche  Shamhna,  is  theirear  gamhna  ris  na 
laoidh — To-night  is  Halloween,  and  calves  are  called  stirks. 

Am  fear  a  cheanglas,  's  e  'shuibhleas — The  man  that  ties  best 
travels  best.  Fast  bind,  fast  find. 

Gobhlach  air  an  Nollaig — Astride  the  New  Year ;  or  work 
continued  from  one  year  to  another  is  unlucky. 

Cha  'n  'eil  peacadh  'na  d'  thomhas — There  is  no  lack  (sin)  in 
thy  measure. 

Toiseach  eididh  dealgan — The  beginning*  of  weaving  is  to. 
spindle. 

Tha  leigheas  air  gach  cas,  ach  cha  'n  'eil  leigheas  air  a'  bhas — 
There  is  a  cure  for  every  ill,  but  there  is  no  cure  for  death. 

SUPERSTITIONS. 

A  quaint  account  of  the  origin  of  the  Island  of  Arran  : — Bha'n 
Donas  dol  a  null  do  dh'  Eirinn,  agus  poc  Ian  uir  air  a  dhruim. 
Thuit  gu  'n  d'thainig  toll  air  a'  phoc,  agus  thuit  ur  as,  agus  b'  e 
sin  Arain.  The  story  relative  to  Ailsa  Craig,  or  Paddy's  Milestone 
is  similar. 

In  Lochfyneside  it  is  regarded  as  unlucky  to  dry  a  sheet  to 
the  fire,  or  to  turn  the  stroup  of  a  teapot  towards  one. 

The  friends  of  the  last  body  buried  hold  guard  till  the  next 
corpse  comes. 

The  boots  of  a  murdered  man  should  be  buried  between  shore 
and  sea,  within  tide  mark.  (Witness  the  Rose-Lavvrie  trial). 

The  first  glimpse  got  of  the  new  moon  should  be  followed  by  a 
look  over  one's  shoulder. 

Cracking  the  joints  of  one's  fingers  indicates  the  number  of 
sweethearts  or  children  one  will  have. 

It  is  lucky  to  bring  fish  alive  to  the  house. 

1  steog,  to  churn. 


UO  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

It  is  better  that  a  child  should  cry  when  being  baptisd.e 
After  the  ceremony  the  child's  temper  improves. 

It  is  not  lucky  to  take  coppers. 

To  break  a  bannock  on  the  bride's  head  on  her  return  home 
after  the  honeymoon,  and  to  make  her  sweep  the  fireside  and  poke 
the  fire,  is  accounted  lucky. 

If  work  is  left  over  from  Saturday,  it  will  take  seven  weeks 
before  it  is  finished.  * 

It  is  unlucky  to  cut  one's  hair  if  there  is  not  new  moon  ;  but 
if  cut  when  there  is  new  moon,  it  grows  with  the  growth  of  the 
moon. 

The  first  shaving  (speil)  from  the  keel  of  a  newly  commenced 
boat,  if  it  falls  on  its  face  to  the  ground,  is  a  bad  omen  for  the 
future  of  that  boat. 

Bodach  a'   Chipein. 

It  is  believed  by  many  that  before  the  death  of  any  member 
of  a  certain  sept  of  Kerr,  Bodach  a'  Cheipein,  or  the  old  man  of 
the  stump  or  peg,  may  be  heard  moving  about  and  giving  timely 
warning  as  to  coming  fatalities. 

Am  Piobair  tilthe. 

Similarly,  prior  to  the  death  of  another  sept  of  Kerr,  Am 
Piobair  S'tthe,  or  the  Fairy  Piper,  may  be  heard  attempting  to 
play  a  tune  by  way  of  intimating  that  the  hour  of  departure  is  at 
hand. 

The  story  of  the  Fairy  Piper  has  some  interest.  Some 
centuries  since  a  battle  was  fought  at  Lochranza,  and  a  certain 
piper  promised  his  wife,  if  he  should  return  alive  from  the  fight, 
that  he  should  be  playing  a  particular  air.  He  was  mortally 
wounded  in  the  fray,  but  was  able  to  creep  slowly  homeward.  As 
he  was  moving  painfully  along  he  was  endeavouring  to  tune  his 
pipe  to  play  the  promised  air,  but  his  life-blood  was  fast  ebbing 
away,  and  he  could  not  get  begun  with  the  actual  tune.  He 
fainted,  and  failed  to  reach  his  home.  Hence  whenever  he  is  still 
heard  it  is  in  the  same  agonising  effort  to  make  good  his  promise 
to  his  spouse.  Not  many  years  ago  one  coming  home  by  boat 
heard  mournful  preparation  for  play  on  the  part,  as  was  at  first 
supposed,  of  a  travelling  gipsy  piper;  but  when  a  certain  cove 
where  such  usually  lodge  was  passed  it  was  then  felt  and  feared 
that  the  land  companion  could  be  none  other  than  the  Fairy 
Piper,  who  kept  pace,  but  could  not  come  at  the  commencement 


Briathran  Nan  Daoine  'dh'  Fhalbh.  Ul 

of  the  attempted  air,  until  the  house  was  reached  where  this 
account  was  penned.  An  old  woman  of  the  name  referred  to 
passed  away  shortly  afterwards  from  the  near  neighbourhood. 

Whatever  may  be  thought  and  said  of  all  such  stories,  it  is 
extremely  difficult  to  give  any  satisfactory  explanation  of  a  world- 
wide belief,  save  to  acknowledge  that  it  must  have  some  founda- 
tion in  fact. 

"  There  are  more  things  in  heaven  and  earth,  Horatio, 
Than  are  dreamt  of  in  your  philosophy." 


13th  MARCH,  1895. 

At  this  meeting  Mr  David  Young,  secretary,  Caledonian 
Banking  Company,  Inverness,  and  Mr  James  M.  Fraser,  agent,, 
Caledonian  Bank,  Lochmaddy,  were  elected  members  of  the 
Society.  On  the  motion  of  Mr  Alex.  Mackenzie,  publisher,  it  was, 
resolved  to  record  sincere  regret  at  the  death  of  Professor  John. 
Stuart  Blackie,  one  of  the  Honorary  Chieftains  of  the  Society ;, 
and  it  was  remitted  to  a  special  committee,  viz.  : — Mr  Alex. 
Macbain,  M.A. ;  Mr  William  Mackay,  honorary  secretary  ;  and 
Mr  Duncan  Mackintosh,  secretary,  to  draw  up  a  minute  of  con- 
dolence, and  convey  same  to  the  Professor's  representatives. 
Thereafter  the  Secretary  read  a  paper  by  the  Rev.  John. 
MacRury,  Snizort,  entitled  "Briathran  nan  daoine 'dh' fhalbh.. " 
Mr  MacRury's  paper  was  as  follows  : — 


BRIATHUAN  NAN  DAOINE  'DH'  FHALBH. 

Mar  is  m6  a  ghabhas  sinn  de  bheachd  air  na  bheil  air  chuimhne 
againn  tie  bhriathran  nan  daoine  a  dh'  fhalbh,  agus  mar  an  ceudna, 
air  na  chaidh  a  sgriobhadh  mu  thimchioll  na  d6igh  anus  an  robh 
iad  a'  tighinn  beo,  agus  nam  beachdan  a  bh'  aca  air  na  bha  iad  a' 
faicinn  's  a'  cluhmtinn  mu  'n  cuairt  daibh  amis  an  t-saoghal,  is. 
aim  is  mo  a  clmireas  e  dh'  ioghnadh  oirnn  cho  glic  's  a  bha  iad.. 


142  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Tha  e  'na  ni  iongantach  da  rireadh,  gu  'm  biodh  cuid  de  na 
beachdan  a  bh'  aig  na  Gaidheil  o  chionn  cheudan  bliadhna,  ami  an 
*co-ch6rdadh  ris  na  beachdan  a  th'  aig  ard  luchd-foghlum  an 
t^saoghail  air  an  latha  'n  diugh.  Iongantach  's  mar  a  tha  so,  tha 
•e  f  lor  gu  leor.  Bu  choir  dha  so  a  thoirt  oirnn  uile,  gu  'm  biodh 
m6ran  a  bharrachd  meas  againn  air  canain  aosda  nan  Gaidheal  na 
th'  againn  oirre.  Ged  a  tha  m6ran  de  na  Gaidheil  ag  amharc  sios 
air  a'  Ghailig,  agus  air  na  daoine  a  bh'«nu  o  shean,  gidheadh  tha 
moran  de  na  daoine  cho  measail  's  cho  f6ghluimte  's  a  gheibhear 
amis  na  tri  rioghachdan,  agus  mar  an  ceudna,  air  feadh  Tir-m6r  na 
Roinn-Eorpa,  a'  faicinn  a  nis,  gu  bheil  Litreachas  nan  Gaidheal 
airidh  air  iiite  urramach  'fhaotainn  ami  am  nieasg  Litreachais  gach 
cinnich  air  am  bheil  iomradh  againn.  Bu  mho  a  bha  de  mheas 
aig  na  Frangaich  's  aig  na  Gearmailtich  air  bardachd  Oisein  na 
bh'  aig  na  Gaidheil  f  hein  oirre,  ged  nach  robh  aca  ach  an  t-eadar- 
theangachadh  a  rinneadh  air  a'  Ghailig.  Mar  a  dh'  fhaodas  neach 
«am  bith  a  thuigsinn,  cha  'n  urrainear  na  smaointeanan  a  th'  aim 
•am  bardachd  Ghailig  a  chur  gu  Ian  mhath  ann  an  eadar- 
theangachadh  sam  bith  a  nithear  oirre.  B'  iad  na  Sasunnaich 
nach  tuigeadh  a'  Ghailig  a  th6isich  an  toiseach  ri  radh  nach  robh 
i  aon  chuid  'na  canain  mheasail  no  'na  canain  fheumail,  agus  idir 
nach  robh  gliocas  no  geur-chuis  anus  na  Gaidheil  o  thoiseach  a' 
<cheud  latha.  Ach  ged  a  bha  na  Sasunnaich  'ga  ruith  sios  mar  a 
b'  fhearr  a  b'  urrainn  daibh,  cha  mhor  a  bheireadh  geill  daibh,  mur 
b'  e  gu  'n  d'  aontaich  aireamh  mhor  de  na  Gaidheil  ihein  leotha. 
Mar  a  tha  'n  sean-fhacal  ag  radh,  "B'  e  sin  aontachadh  brionuaig 
le  breuuaig."  Tha  cuid  de  dhaoine  ami  nach  cuir  de  dhragh  orra 
fhein  na  sheasas  air  taobh  na  corach.  Ged  a  thoisicheadh  na 
Gaill  agus  na  Sasunnaich  ri  'n  ruith  sios  than  am  brog,  theireadh 
iomadh  fear  dhiubh,  "  Tha  mi  ag  aontachadh  leibh."  Is  goirid 
o  'n  a  thuirt  Sasunnach  mini,  nach  robh  cainnt  anns  an  t-saoghal 
leis  am  b'  urrainn  duine  miomian  a  dheanarnh  cho  sgrathail  's  a 
dheanteadh  anns  a'  Ghailig.  Thuirt  mi  ris,  suil  mu  'n  t-sroin,  gur 
ami  o  'n  Bheurla  a  fhuair  na  Gaidheil  e61as  air  na  mionnan 
sgrathail  air  an  robh  e  ag  iomradh.  Is  gann  a  bha  e  'g  am 
chreidsinn  gus  an  do  shoilleirich  mi  dha  mu  'n  chuis.  Ach  tha 
cuisean  a  nis  air  atharrachadh  gu  mor.  Tha  cuid  de  na  Gaill  agus  de 
na  Sasunnaich  m6ran  ni  's  measaile  air  a'  Ghailig  no  na  Gaidheil 
fhein.  Tha  iad  a'  tuigsinn  gu  bheil  i  'na  canain  a  tha  gle  shean 
^agus  gu  bheil  fiosrachadh  m6r  ri  fhaotainn  anns  na  sean-fhacail, 
agus  anns  na  seann  naigheachdan  Gaidhealach.  Tha  e  anns  an 
amharc  agam,  ma  ta,  beagan  a  sgriobhadh  mu  thimchioll  nam 
briathran  glice  a  labhair  na  seana  Ghaidheil.  Tha  a'  chuid  a's  mo 


Briathran  Nan  Daoine  W  Fhalbh.  143 

-de  na  bheil  air  faotainn  de  na  briathran  glice  a  labhair  iad,  air  am 
fagail  againn  aims  na  sean-fhacail.  Tha  na  sean-fhacail  so  luina- 
lan  fiosrachaidh.  Nan  rachadh  againn  air  an  tuigsinn,  bheireadh 
iad  dhuinn  beachd  soilleir  air  an  tiom  a  bh'  ann  o  sheann.  Bheir 
eolas  air  an  tiom  a  bh'  ann  o  shean,  an  nair  a  bheachdaicheas  sinn 
•air  ami  an  solus  an  ama'  tha  lathair,  oirim  a  thuigsinn,  co  dhiubh 
tha  gus  nach  'eil  sinn,  anns  gach  doigh,  cho  dichiollach  agus  cho 
deanachadh,  cho  glic  agus  cho  tuigseach,  ris  an  t-sluagh  a  bha  'nar 
duthaich  'san  am  a  dh'  fhalbh.  Tha  aon  ni  gle  shoillcir  dhuimi 
ma  bheir  sinn  fa  near  e,  agus  is  e  sin,  nach  'eil  sinn  a  leith  cho 
math  gu  beachd  a  ghabhail  air  obair  a  chruthachaidh  's  a  bha 
na  seana  Ghaidheil.  Tha  na  daoine  a's  mo  fbghlum  a  tha'n  diugh 
•anns  an  t-saoghal  ag  radh,  gur  ami  le  bhith  gu  trie  agus  gu 
curamach  a'  toirt  fa  near  gach  ni  a  bha  iad  a'  faicinn  mu'n  cuairt 
orra  air  muir  's  air  tir,  a  f  huair  iad  a  chuid  a's  1116  de'n  eolas  agus 
de'n  fhdghlum  a  th'  aca.  Gun  teagamh  sam  bith  bha  na  daoine 
so  a'  leughadh  moran  leabhraichean,  agus  air  an  doigh  so  bha  iad 
a'  faotainn  moran  fiosrachaidh.  Ach  cha  b'  urrainn  daibh  a  bhith 
'nan  daoine  foghluimte,  mur  b'e  gu  robh  iad  aig  gach  am  a' 
.gabhail  beachd  air  gach  ni  a  bha  iad  a'  faicinn  's  a'  cluinntinn. 
Ged  nach  robh  na  Gaidheil  a  dh'  fhag  againn  an  aireamh  a's  mo 
•de  na  sean-fhacail,  agus  de  na  bheil  air  faotainn  de  nasgeulachdan, 
a'  leughadh  a'  bheag  de  leabhraichean,  bha  iad  o'n  oige  ag 
eisdeachd  ursgeulan  agus  eachdraidh  amis  an  robh  moran  fios- 
rachaidh nach  'eil  gu  cumanta  ri  'fhaotainn  anns  na  leabhraichean 
•a  tha  nis  cho  pailt  am  measg  dhacine.  Bha  iad  mar  so  a'  faotainn 
eolais  o  na  bha  iad  a'  cluinntinn  o  bheul  nan  daoiue  a  bh'  ann 
Tompa  moran  ni  b'  fhearr  na  ged  a  bhiodh  iad  a'  leughadh  leabh- 
raichean. Dh'  fheumadh  iad  gach  facal  a  chluinneadh  iad  a 
•chumail  air  chuimhne,  agus  mar  so  bha  na  h-inntinneaii  aca  araon 
air  an  neartachadh  agus  air  an  geurachadh.  Ach  air  an  latha  'n 
diugh  is  ann  a  tha  leabhraichean  is  paipearan  an  deis  cuimhne 
an  t-sluaigh  a  mheatachadh.  Cha  'n  'eil  "  cuimhne  uirce';  aig  an 
aireamh  a's  m6  de  shluagh  na  duthchadh  an  diugh.  Ged  a  thach- 
radh  ceud  fear  num  ann  an  latha,  is  gann  gu'm  bi  fear  dhiubh 
nach  fheum  lamh  a  thoirt  air  leabhar  mu'n  urrainn  e  innseadh 
ciod  a  bha  e  deanamh  da  latha  roimhe  sin.  Cha  b'  ann  mar  so  a 
bha  na  seana  Ghaidheil  idir.  Bhiodh  deagh  chuimhne  aca  air  a' 
chuid  mhoir  de  na  nithean  a  chunnaie  agus  a  chuala  iad  o  laithean 
an  6ige.  Cha  ruig  mi  leas  a  bhith  labhairt  uime  so  ni's  fhaide 
aig  an  am  so. 

Is  gann  a  tha  fhios  again  c'  aite  an  coir  dhomh  toiseachadh  ri 
cunntas   a  thoirt  seachad  mu  na  bheil  air  chuimhne    again  de 


144  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

bhriathran  nan  daoine  a  dh'  fhalbh  ;  ach  feumaidh  mi  toiseachadh 
an  aitc-eiginn.  Cha  bhiodh  e  as  an  rathad  dhomh  toiseachadh  aig 
na  briathran  a  tha  nochdadh  dhuinn  cho  dichiollach  's  a  bha  iad 
gu  obair  de  gach  se6rsa  a  dheanarah  'na  h-am.  Mar  a  theireadh 
iad  fhein,  "  Ge  b'  e  a  ni  an  obair  'na  h-am,  bidh  e  rithist  'ca  leith- 
thamh."  Is  e  their  m6ran  dhaoine  an  drasta,  "  Uine  gu  Ie6r,  ni 
sinn  am  maireach  e."  Agas  an  uair  a  bhios  an  obair  deas,  co- 
dhiubh  a  bhios  i  air  a  deanainh  ceart  no  cearr  their  iad,  "  Ni  e  an, 
guothach." 

Fad  an  dara  leith  de  'n  bhliadhna  cha  bheireadh  an  latha  air 
duine  dichiollach  sam  bith  's  an  leabaidh,  agus  cha  mho  iia  sin  a 
bhiodh  e  fada  gun  dol  a  chadal  's  an  oidhche.  B'  e  coinharradb 
na  leisge  a  bhith  fada  gu  'n  dol  a  chadal  agus  fada  gun  eirigh. 
"  Is  leasg  le  leis^ean  a  dhol  a  chadal,  is  ro  leasg  leis  eirigh  's  a> 
mhaduinn."  "Am  fear  a  bhios  fada  gun  eirigh,  bidh  e  'na  leum 
fad  an  latha."  Is  e  am  fear  a  dh'  eireadh  trath  's  a'  mhaduinn  a 
dheanadh  an  obair  'na  h-am,  agus  a  dheanadh  gu  math  's  gu  ro- 
mhath  i.  Am  fear  a  bhiodh  fada  gun  eirigh  's  a  bhiodh  'na  leumi 
fad  an  latha,  cha  chuireadh  e  car  a  dh'  obair  shnasail  as  a  laimh  o 
'n  a  dh'  eireadh  e  gus  an  laigbeadh  e,  agus  idir  cha  bhiodh  tiotadh, 
de  dh'  fhois  aige.  Tha  agus  bha  ceann  sgaoilte  air  gach  obair  a 
nithear  ami  an  cabhaig.  An  obair  air  am  bi  ceann  sgaoilte  cha 
bhi  i  buileach,  agus  an  obair  nach  bi  buileach,  cha  bhi  i  buanach- 
dail. 

An  am  an  earraich  agus  an  am  an  fhoghair,  an  da  am  anns  am 
m6  a  bhios  aig  daoine  ri  dheanamh  fad  na  bliadhna,  bha  e'  na 
ohleachdadh  aig  na  daoine  'dh'  fhalbh  a  bhith  gle  thrang  aig  obair. 
Dh'  oibricheadh  iad  air  a'  chuid  bu  lugha,  d&  uair  dheug  a  h-uile 
latha.  Theireadh  iad,  "  La  Fheill  Padraig,  la  mo  chridhe  's  mo 
chleibh,  la  a  dh'  fhoghnadh  do  dhuine  's  a  dh'  fhoghnadh  dnine 
dha."  Tha  da  uair  dheug  eadar  eirigh  agus  dol  fodha  na  greine, 
La  Fheill  Padraig.  Anns  an  am  ud  cha  chluinnteadh  iomradh  air 
latha  nan  ochd  uairean  no  idir  air  latha  nan  deich  uairean.  Cha 
ruig  sinn  a  leas  ioghnadh  a  bhith  oirnn  ged  a  bha  daoine  aig  nach 
robh  ach  fior  bheagan  fearainn  agus  stuic  'gan  cumail  fhein  agus 
an  teaghlaichean  suas  anns  an  am.  Is  m6r  am  feum  a  ni  dichioll. 

Ach  their  cuid  de  dhaoine  ruinn  an  diugh,  gu  bheil  e  tuilleadh 
is  fada  do  dhuine  sam  bith  a  bhith  aig  obair  chruaidh,  earraich  fad 
deich  uairean  an  uaireadair.  Ach  nan  rachadh  daoine  a  chadal 
aig  am  mar  a  dheanadh  na  seann  daoine  air  am  bheil  sinn  ag 
iomradh,  cha  bu  taing  leotha  'bhith  aig  obair  chruaidh  fad  an 
latha.  So  mar  a  theireadh  's  a  dheanadh  iad,  "  Suipear  soills'  an 
latha  oidhch'  Fheill  Bride,  's  a  dhol  a  chadal  soills'  an  latha  oidhch" 


Briathran  Nan  Daolne  W  Fhalbh.  145 

Fheill  Padraig."  Cha  robh  guth  no  iomradh  an  uair  ud  aig  na 
daoine  a  bha  glic,  dichiollach,  deanadach,  air  a  bhith  air  ch&lidh 
gus  am  biodh  e  dluth  air  a'  mheadhon  oidhche.  Mar  a  tha  'n 
seanfhacal  ag  radh,  "  Tha  uair  aig  an  achasan  is  am  aig  a' 
cheilidh."  B'  e  am  a'  gheamhraidh  am  a'  cheilidh,  ach  b'  e  am  an 
earraich  am  na  h-obrach.  Tha  dluth  air  da  uair  de  sholus  lacha 
ann  an  deigh  do  'n  ghrein  a  dhol  fodha  mu  Fheill  Padraig,  agus 
faodaidh  sinn  a  radh  gu  robh  e  mar  chleachdadh  aig  daoine  's  an 
am  ud  a  bhith'  dol  a  chadal  eadar  a  h-ochd  's  a  naoi  a  dh'  uairean 
's  an  oidhche.  An  deigh  ochd  uairean  cadail  fhaotainn,  bhiodh 
iad  deas  gu  eirigh  aig  c6ig  uairean  's  a'  mhaduinn.  Bhiodh  iad 
mar  an  ceudna  gle  shunndach,  urail  gus  a  dol  a  dh'  obair ;  oir  tha 
e  air  a  dhearbhadh  gu  bheil  an  cadal  a  gheibh  daoine  roimh  'n 
mheadhon  oidhche  m6ran  ni  's  fhearr  dhaibh  na  'n  cadal  a  gheibh 
iad  an  deigh  a'  mheadhon  oidhche. 

An  am  an  fhoghair  tha  'n  latha  goirid,  agus  mar  sin,  feumaidh 
daoine  a  bhith  gu  math  moch  air  an  cois  ma  bhios  toil  aca  obair 
mhath  a  chur  as  an  deigh.  Cha  bhiodh  daoine  's  an  am  a  dh' 
fhalbh  ag  itheadh  greim  bidh  air  an  latha  an  am  an  fhoghair.  Mar 
a  tha'n  sean-fhacal  ag  radh,  "  Tri  bidh  air  an  oidhche  's  gun  aon 
ghreim  air  an  latha."  Bha'  cheud  bhiadh  aca  'ga  ghabhail  ri  solus 
a'  chruisgein,  air  choir  's  gu  'm  biodh  iad  deas  gus  a  dhol  a  bhnain 
no  a  dhluthadh,  no  a  thogail  a'  bhuntata  cho  luma  luath  's  a 
chitheadh  an  suil  an  latha.  Cha  rachadh  greim  'nan  ceann 
tuilleadh  gus  an  tigeadh  iad  dhachaidh  anamoch  's  an  fheasgar. 

An  uair  a  ghabhadh  iad  an  dara  biadh  cha  b'  e  suidhe  agus  an 
lamhan  a  phasgadh  mu  Jn  gluinean  a  dheanadh  iad  idir.  Bheireadh 
na  mnathan  lamb  air  caird  agus  air  cuibhil,  no  air  figheadh 
stocainn,  no  air  obair  fheumail  sam  bith  eile  a  bhiodh  aca  ri 
dheanamh.  Bhiodh  na  fir  a'  froiseadh  anns  an  t-sabhal,  no  a' 
sniomh  fhraoich,  no  mhurain,  no  chonnlaich,  a  chum  gu  'm  biodh 
tubhadh  is  sioman  gu  leor  aca  gu  gabhail  gu  math  's  gu  ro  mhath 
mu  na  taighean  's  mu  na  cruachan  mu  'n  tigeadh  stoirmeannan  a' 
gheamhraidh.  An  uair  a  bhiodh  e'  tarruinn  dluth  ri  trath-cadail 
dheanteadh  deas  greim  suipearach.  'Na  dheigh  sin  ghabhadh 
muinntir  an  taighe  mu  thamh.  Air  dhaibh  a  bhith  sgith  an 
deigh  obair  an  latha,  chaidleadh  iad  gu  trom  gus  am  biodh  an 
t-am  aca  eirigh  an  la-iar-na-mhaireach. 

Bhiodh  sri  mh6r  eadar  theaghlaichean  feuch  c6  bu  luaithe 
bhiodh  ullamh  de  'n  bhuain,  cha  b'  ann  a  mhain  a  chum  gu 
faighteadh  an  t-arbhar  a  chur  fo  dhion  ann  an  am  gun  domail 
sam  bith,  ach  mar  an  ceudna  air  eagal  gu  'n  cuirteadh  "  a* 
chailleach"  orra.  Cha  'n  'eil  furasda  dhuinn  a  dheanamh  a  mach 

10 


146  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

ciod  a  bha  daoine  a'  ciallachadh  leis  "  a'  chaillich."  Tha  cuid  a 
deanamh  a  mach  gu  robh  "  a'  chailleach"  'na  samhladh  air  gorta. 
Tha  iad  ag  radh  gu  'm  bu  ghnath  leis  na  daoine  a  bhiodh  air 
dheireadh  le  obair  an  fhoghair  o  chionn  fad  an  t-saoghail  a  bhith 
'call  carrann  mh6r  de  'n  bharr  le  domail  spreidhe  de  gach  seorsa. 
Tha  so  furasda  gu  Ie6r  dhuinn  a  chreidsinn.  Cha  ghleidh  fear 
sam  bith  air  a  chuid  barra  bhith  fajja  muigh  air  an  achadh  aig 
deireadh  an  fhoghair.  Bidh  an  t-side  fliuch,  stoirmeil ;  bidh  an 
oidhche  fada ;  agus  bidh  crodh  is  eich  is  caoraich,  agus  eadhon  na 
feidh,  na  cearcan-fraoich,  agus  na  coilich-dhubha,  ag  gabhail  a 
h-uile  fath  a  gheibh  iad  air  a  dhol  do  'n  arbhar.  Cha  bhiodh  m6r 
thoradh  ami  an  achadh  arbhair  sam  bith  air  am  biodh  iad  so  a' 
taghal  fad  scachduin.  Cha  'n  'eil  teagamh  nach  fhaodadh  a 
leithid  so  tomhas  de  ghorta  'thoirt  an  rathad  tuathanaich  ;  oir 
mar  a  tha  'n  seanfhacal  ag  radh,  "Am  fear  a  bhios  air  deireadh 
beiridh  a'  bhiast  air." 

Ach  a  reir  mo  bharail-sa  cha  'n  e  so  a  tha  air  a  chiallachadh 
leis  "a'  chaillich."  Anns  an  t-seann  aimsir  bha  seadh  aig  na 
facail,  "  bodach,"  agus,  "  cailleach,"  nach  'eil  aca  an  duigh.  Bha 
"  bodach"  a'  ciallachadh,  seann  duine  aig  nach  robh  teaghlach, 
agus  mar  an  ceudna  bha  •'  cailleach"  a'  ciallachadh,  seana  bhean 
aig  nach  robh  teaghlach.  Anns  an  am  ud  bha  daoine,  mar  bu 
trice,  ag  amharc  sios  air  muinntir  a  bhiodh  p6sda,  agus  aig  nach 
biodh  teaghlach.  Theirteadh,  "  an  seann  duine,'''  agus,  "  an 
t-seana  bhean,"  ris  gach  fear  agus  te,  an  uair  a  thigeadh  iad  gu  aois, 
ma  thachair  gu  robh  iad  posda  agus  teaghlach  aca.  Mar  an 
ceudna  theirteadh  " seana ghille," agus,  "seann  nighean"  riuthasan 
a  rainig  aois,  agus  nach  robh  p6sda  riamh,  co  dhuibh  thachair  gus 
nach  do  thachair  sliochd  a  bhith  aca. 

Nan  do  thachair  gu  robh  "  am  bodach  agus  a'  chailleach"  cho 
math  air  an  d6igh  's  nach  ruigeadh  iad  a  leas  a  dhol  a  dh'  iarraidh 
cuideachaidh  uir  neach  sam  bith,  is  docha  nach  biodh  uiread  de 
mhi-mheas  orra.  Ach  gu  math  trie,  bhiodh  iadsan  aig  nach  robh 
teaghlaichean  feumach  air  a  bhith  'faotainn  cuideachaidh  o  dhaoine 
cile  aim  an  deireadh  an  laithean.  Is  ainneamh  a  chunnacas  riamh 
seann  duine  a'  falbh  o  thaigh  gu  taigh  a  dh'  iarraidh  na  deirce,  gu 
h-araidh  ma  thachair  dha  a  bhith  pdsda,  agus  gu  robh  a  bhean 
be6  cho  fada  ris  fhein.  Ach  ged  a  tha  so  fior,  tha  e  mar  an 
ceudna  fior,  gu  robh  agus  gu  bheil,  na  seana  mhnathan  gu  math  gu 
siubhal  nan  taighean,  agus  gu  iarraidh  gach  ni  a  bhiodh  a  dhith 
orra. 

Anns  an  t-seann  aimsir  cha  robh  aig  bochdan  na  duthchadh 
ach  a  bhith  'feuchainn  ri  faotainn  troimh  an  t-saoghal  mar  a 


Briathran  Nan  Daione  W  Fhalbh.  147 

b'  fhearr  a  dh'  fhaodadh  iad.  Cha  robh  lagh  nam  bochd  aim.  Gu 
math  trie  bhiodh  bochdan  a'  bhaile  aig  muinntir  a'  bhaile  ri  'n 
<jumail  suas,  agus  is  ann  aig  an  fhear  a  bhiodh  air  dheireadh  le 
obair  an  fhoghair  a  bhiodh  "  cailleach"  a'  bhaile  ri  'cumail  suas 
fad  na  bliadhna.  Ach  nan  tachradh  do  dhuine  aig  an  robh 
teaghlach  lag,  no  aig  an  robh  trioblaid,  a  bhith  air  dheireadh  le 
obair  an  fhoghair,  bheireadh  na  coimhearsnaich  lamh-chuideachaidh 
-dha,  air  eagal  gu 'n  cuirteadh  "a'  chailleach"  air.  Mar  bu  trice, 
is  ann  air  an  fhear  bu  lugha  meas*agus  bu  spiocaiche  a  bhiodh 
arms  a'  bhaile  a  chuirteadh  "  a'  chailleach." 

Gus-  an  latha  'n  diugh  tha  cuid  de  dhaoine  aim  a  tha  'creidsmn 
gu  'n  d'  thig  mi-fhortan  air  choireiginn  'nan  rathad  a'  bhliadhna  a 
•chuirteadh  "  a'  chailleach"  orra.  B'aithne  dhomh  aon  teaghlach  a 
bha  'creidsinn  gu  faigheadh  duine  no  ainmhidh  bas  orra  a'  bhliadhna 
a  chuirteadh  "  a'  chailleach"  orra.  Cha  robh  duine  amis  a'  bhaile  a 
bha  'creidsinn  so  ach  iad  fhein.  Agus  air  ghaol  dragh  a  chur  air 
na  h-inntinnean  aca,  bhiodh  na  coimhearsnaich  a'  feuchainn  ris 
"a'  chaillich"  a  chur  orra  a  h-uile  bliadhna.  Bhiodh  iomadh 
neach  a'  caithris  na  h-oidhche  aig  am  na  buana  air  eagal  gu  'n 
cuirteadh  "  a'  chailleach"  orra. 

Ged  a  thainig  iomadh  atharrachadh  air  an  t-saoghal  o'n  uair 
ud,  tha  grain  aig  daoine  air  na  cailleachan  gus  an  latha  'n  diugh, 
agus  tha  e  coltach  gu'm  bi  gu  latha  deireannach  an  t-saoghail. 

Bha  na  seana  Ghaidheil  a'  creidsinn  gu  robh  farmad  a' 
dea-namh  cron  m6r  do  shluagh  an  t-saoghail.  Theireadh  iad  "  gu 
sgoilteadh  am  farmad  na  clachan  glasa"  A  reir  am  barail,  b'  e 
farmad  a  bha  'g  aobharachadh  na  "  droch  shiiil."  Cha  bu-  nihisde 
leotha  daoine  a  bhith  'g  am  moladh  fhein  agus  gach  ni  a  bhuineadh 
dhaibh,  nan  saoileadh  iad  nach'laidheadh  suil  an  neach  a  bhiodh 
'g  am  moladh  orra.  O'n  a  bha  an  sluagh  am  bithdheantas  a' 
creidsinn  gu'm  biodh  daoine  agus  ainnihidhean  air  an  gonadh  le 
droch  shuil,  theireadh  iad,  an  uair  a  mholadh  iad  ni  no  neach, 
"  Cha  laidh  mo  shuil  air."  Nan  tachradh  dhaibh  gun  so  a  radh, 
theirteadh  riutha,  "  Fliuch  do  shuil."  Bha  cuid  de  dhaoine  ann 
a  bha  comharraichte  anns  an  duthaich  air  son  na  bha  de  dh'  eud 
's  de  dh'  f  harm  ad  annta  ris  gach  neach  aig  am  biodh  a'  bheag  no 
mhor  de  shoirbheachadh  anns  an  t-saoghal. 

Bha  e  air  aithris  gu  robh  aon  diubh  so  air  latha  araidh  Js  an 
earrach  a'  dol  seachad  air  fear  a  bha  treabhadh.  Bha  a  bhean  a' 
falbh  an  ceann  nan  each,  no,  mar  a  theirteadh,  "a'  ceannaireachd." 
Anns  an  am  ud  cha  robh  fear  sam  bith  a'  cleachdadh  loinneachan- 
treabhaidh.  Cha  bhiodh  aca  ach  croinn-threabhaidh  fhiodha, 
agus  bhiodh  eagal  orra  gu  'm  bristeadh  na  h-eich  iad,  nam  biodh 


148  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

an  talamh  cruaidh,  creagach.  Cha  b'  e  srianan  a  bhiodh  aca  an. 
ciun  nan  each,  ach  taoid,  agus  mar  sin,  cha  deanadh  e  feum  sani 
bith  dhaibh  loinueachan  a  chur  ris  na  h-eich  an  am  a  bhith 
treabhabh.  B'  e  obair  a'  "  cheannaire  "  falbh  an  comhair  a  chuil 
roirnh  na  h-eich,  agus  greim  a  chumail  air  taoid  nan  each  anns 
gach  dorn.  Bha  na  h-eich  mar  so  air  an  cumail  o  f  halbh  tuilleadh 
is  bras,  agus  air  an  cumail  anns  an  aon  fhad  o  cheile.  An  uair  a 
chunnaic  a'  bhean  gu  robh  fear  na  droch-shuil  a'  tighinn  an  rathad 
a  bha  iad,  thuirt  i  ris  an  fhear  a  bha'  treabhadh,  "  Tha  am  fear  so 
a'  tighinn,  agus  gonaidh  e  sinn  fhein,  no  na  h-eich  mu  'm  falbh  e." 
"Leig  thusa  eadar  mise  's  e.  Ma  mholas  esan  sinn  fhein  's  ar 
n-eich  's  ar  n-obair,  dimolaidh  mise  a  h-uile  ni  a  mholas  esan," 
ars'  am  fear  a  bha  treabhadh,  's  e'  stobadh  cloiche  anns  an 
sgriob. 

An  uair  a  rainig  fear  an  fharmaid  agus  na  droch-shuil  far  an. 
robh  iad,  thuirt  e,  "Is  math  an  obair  a  rinn  sibh  o  'n  a  chaidh  mi 
seachad  an  so  's  a'  mhaduinn  an  diugh." 

"  Cha  mhath,  cha  mhath,"  ars'  am  fear  a  bha  'treabhadh,  's  e 
'seasamh  ;  "  cha  'n  'eil  adhais  againn  gu  obair  mhath  a  dheanamh.. 
Cha  'n  'eil  agam  ach, 

Crann  dhomhain,  gann-fhadach, 
Talamh  tana,  teann, 
Eich  dhona  gun  riaghailt, 
'S  bean  gun  chiall  'nan  ceann.' 

An  uair  a  chuala  fear  na  droch-shuil  so  dh'fhalbh  e.  Cho 
luath  's  a  thug  e  'chill  riutha,  sheall  am  fear  a  bha  'treabhadh  air 
a'  chloich  a  stob  e  anns  an  sgriob,  agus  bha  i  'na  da  leith.  Bha  so 
mar  dhearbhadh  aig  daoine  gu  sgoilteadh  am  farmad  na  clachan 
glasa. 

Tha  e  anabarrach  comharraichte  gu  robh  beachdan  cuid 
de  na  daoine  a  dh'  f  halbh  ann  an  co-chordadh  ri  beachdan 
cuid  de  na  daoine  foghluimte  a  tha  'n  diugh  beo.  Mar  a  tha 
fhios  againn  uile,  tha  daoine  foghluimte  ag  innseadh  dhuinn, 
gu  bheil  aireamh  do-aireamh  de  chreutairean  beaga  anns  a' 
chruthachadh — creutairean  a  tha  cho  beag  's  nach  urraiun  an 
t-suil  a's  geire  am  faicinn  ach  le  cuideachadh  glaine-mheudach- 
aidh.  Tha  na  creutairean  so,  ma  's  fhior  an  luchd-foghluim, 
anns  an  uisge  a  tha  sinn  ag  61,  anns  an  aile  a  tha  sinn  ag  analach- 
adh,  agus  anns  gach  lot  agus  creuchd  a  tha  araon  air  taobh  a 
muigh  's  air  taobh  a  staigh  cuirp  gach  creutair  beo.  Ged  nach 
'eil  uine  fhada  o  'n  a  chuala  na  Gaill  iomradh  air  creutairean  de  'n 


Briathran  Nan  Daoine  'dh'  Fhalbh.  149 

•t-seorsa  so,  is  fhada  's  cian  o  'n  a  bha  fhios  aig  na  Gaidheil  gu  robh 
.an  leithidean  ann.  Is  i  an  fkrlde  creutair  cho  beag  's  is  urrainn 
.-suil  daine  fhaicinn.  Is  ioinadh  duine  aig  nach  'eil  fradharc  cho 
geur  's  gu  faic  e  i.  Is  minic  a  chunnaic  mi  feadhain  aig  am  biodh 
fradharc  geur  'g  an  toirt  a  mach  a  craicionn  nan  lamh  ri  latha 
soilleir,  grianach  's  an  t-samhradh.  Dheanainn  a  mach  i  a  cheart- 
air-eiginn  air  gob  na  snathaide-bige.  Aig  an  am  bha  mo  fhradharc 
.anabarrach  geur.  A  nis,  bha  na  Gaidheil  a'  creidsinn  gu  robh 
creutair  ann  a  bha  mile  uair  ni  bu  lugha  na  fride.  B'  e  sin  an 
Stiolcam-staodhram  a  bha  ann  am  bacan  na  h-ioscaid  aice.  Mar  a 
bha  smfhrlrfe  a'  tighitm  be6  le  bhith  'cnuasach  ann  an  craicionn 
.an  duine,  bha  an  Stiolcam-staodhram  mar  an  ceudna  a'  tighinn  beo 
le  bhith  'cuuasach  ann  an  craicionn  na  fride.  Ged  a  bha  daoine  a' 
deanamh  fanaid  air  na  Gaidheil  a  bha  'creidsinn  gu  robh  creutairean 
•  cho  beag  so  amis  a'  chruthachadh,  gidheadh  tha  sinne  a  nis  a' 
creidsinn  gu  bheil  iad  ann.  Nan  toisicheamaid  ri  aicheadh, 
bhiomaid  'nar  culaidh-mhagaidh  aig  daoine  eile  mar  a  bha  iadsan. 
Tha  na  beachdan  so  a'  nochdadh  dhuinn,  gu  robh  na  seana 
Ghaidheil  gu  nadurra  gle  gheur-chuiseach,  agus  gu  robh  iad 
comasach  air  nithean  iongantach  a  dhealbh  'nan  inntinnean. 

Anns  an  am  a  dh'  fhalbh,  mar  anns  an  am  a  tha  lathair,  bha 
mnathan  mhac,  coimheach,  air  uairean,  ris  na  mathraichean-ceile. 
Mar  a  tha  'n  seanfhacal  ag  radh — 

"  Mar  dhobhran  am  bun  uisge, 
Mar  sheabhag  gu  eun  sleibhe. 
Mar  chii  gu  cat,  mar  chat  gu  luch, 
Tha  bean  mic  gu'  mathair-cheile." 

So  seanfhacal  eile — "  Anns  an  rathad,  mar  a  bha  mathair  fir-an- 
taighe."  Bha  mathair-cheile  ann  aon  uair,  agus  cha  'n  fhaigheadh 
i  ach  a'  chuid  bu  mhiosa  de  'n  bhiadh  o  bhean  a  mic.  Bliadhna 
de  na  bliadhnaichean,  an  uair  a  mharbhadh  mart  's  an  taigh, 
chuireadh  an  adha  air  leith  gus  a  bhith  'ga  toirt  do  'n  t-seana- 
mhnaoi.  Cha  d'  thubhairt  an  t-seana-bhean  bhochd  diog  mu  'n 
chuis  ri  neach  sam  bith.  Bha  toil  aice  innseadh  d'a  mac  mar  a 
bha,  ach  bha  eagal  oirre  gu'n  togadh  an  gnothach  aimhreit  anns  an 
taigh.  Air  oidhche  araidh  's  an  teaghlach  gu  leir  'nan  suidhe 
mu  'n  teine,  dh'  eirich  an  t-seana-bhean  o  'n  teine  agus  chaidh  i' 
mach  as  an  taigh.  An  uair  a  thainig  i  steach  thuirt  a  mac, 
"Ciod  e  an  oidhche  a  tha  muia'h  a  nochd,  a  mhathair1?"  "Innaidh 
mi  sin  dhut,  a  mhic,"  ars'  ise  's  i'  freagairt,  "tha  oidhche 
runnagach,  rannagach,  reulagach,  gun  ghaoith,  gun  turadh,  gun 
viiisge."  "  Is  iongantach  an  oidhche  a  th'  ann,  a  mhathair,"  ars'  a 


150  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

mac.  "  Is  iongantaiche  na  sin,  a  mhic,  mart  m6r  a  bhith  na 
h-aon  adha."  Ghrad  thuig  am  mac  mar  a  bha  cuisean,  agus  na 
dheigh  sin  dh'  fhcumadh  a  mhathair  a  bhith  aig  an  aou  bhord  ris- 
fliein. 

Mar  bu  trice,  bha  na  seana  Ghaidheil  'nan  daoine  stuama  gu 
nadurra.  Gun  tcagamh  sam  bith  gheibhteadh  aon  is  aon  'nam 
measg  a  dh'  itheadh  's  a  dh  oladh  tuilleadh  's  a'  choir.  Cha  robh 
am  fear  a  dh'  oladh  tuilleadh  's  a'  choir  a  leith  cho  suarach  ami  an 
sealladh  dhaoinc  ris  an  fhear  a  dh'  itheadh  tuilleadh  's  a'  choir. 
Bu  mho  a  bhiodli  de  mhasladh  airman  fhcar  a  ghabhadh  ail 
"  tairbhean"  aon  uair,  na  bhiodli  air  an  fhear  a  ghabhadh  an 
daorach  fichead  uair.  Air  eagal  gu  'n  gabhadh  daoine  an 
"  tairbJiean"  bhiteadh  a'  comhairleachadh  dhaibh  gun  am  bru  a 
lionadh  le  biadh  aig  am  sam  bith.  Am  fear  a  lionadh  a  bhrii  le 
biadh  math  laidir,  bhiodh  e  ami  an  cunnart  an  "tairbhean" 
a  ghabhail  an  uair  a  th6isicheadh  am  biadh  ri  at  air  an  stamaig 
aige.  Ach  am  fear  nach  lionadh  a  bhra  idir,  cha  b'  eagal  da  ged 
a  thoisicheadh  am  biadh  vi  at  air  an  stamaig  aigc.  A  chum  a 
nochdadh  do  dhaoine  cho  suarach  's  a  bha  am  fear  a  dh'  itheadh 
a  leor,  thcirteadh,  "  Cha  '11  ith  a  leor  ach  an  cu."  Nam  biodh 
fear  ami  a  dh'  itheadh  moran,  theirteadh,  "  Dh'  itheadh  e- 
uircad  ri  cu  ged  bhiodli  a  bhru  air  at."  Tha  e  duilich 
dhuinn  a  dheanamh  a  inach  co  dhiu  bha  gus  nach  robh  an 
cii  'na  chreutair  truaillidh,  grameil  aim  an  sealladh  nan 
seana  Ghaidheal.  An  am  dhaibh  a  bhith  'caincadh  a'  cheile 
theireadh  iad  "  Cha  'n  'eil  annad  ach  an  cu."  "  Tha  thu  'falbh 
mar  gu'm  biodh  cu,  o  shitig  gu  sitig."  "  A  mhic  a'  choin."  "A 
nighean  a'  choin."  Ach  air  an  laimh  eile,  gheibhear  iomadh 
comharradh  air  e  mheas  a  bha  aig  daoine  air  a'  chii.  Is  fhada  a 
chualas  na  briathran  so,  "Mo  charaide  baigh  's  mo  namhaid 
munaidh,"  no,  ami  am  briathran  eile,  "Mo  chu  's  mo  bhean." 
Tha  e  furasda  dhuinn  a  thuigsinn  gu  bheil  an  cu  baigheil  ris  a' 
mhaighstir  a  bhios  caoimhneil  ris.  Dh'  fhaodamaid  iomadh 
naigheachd  innseadh  mar  dhearbhadh  air  so.  Ach  cia  mar  a  tha 
bean  fir  sam  bith  'na  "namhaid  munaidh,"  cha  'n  'eil  e  furasda 
dhuinn  a  thuigsinn.  Cha  'n  'eil  am  facal  so,  "  munadh,"  a  nis  air 
a  chleachdadh  'nar  measg.  Ach  bha  e  aon  uair  cumanta  gu  leor. 
Tha  e  fhathast  cumanta  gu  leor  ann  an  Eirinn.  Tha  e  ciallachadh, 
"  foghlum,"  no  "  fiosrachadh." 

Tha'ndk  fhacal  so,  "freiteach,"  agus,  "b6id,"  leith-choltach 
ri'  cheile  ann  an  seadh.  Ach  mar  a  dh'  eirich  do  dh'  iomadh  facal 
eile  a  tha  leith-choltach  ri'  cheale,  tha  a  leithid  a  dh'  eadar-dheal- 
achadh  eatorra  's  nach  urrainnear  an  dara  fear  a  chur  ann  an  aite 


Giraldus  Gambrensis.  151 

an  fhir  eile.  Tha  am  facal,  "  b6id"  air  a  ghnathachadh  an  uair  a 
tha  daoine  a'  cur  rompa  gu'n  dean  iad  gniomh  math,  ar  neo  gu 
seachainn  iad  droch  obair,  no  droch  cleachdadh,  no  droch  cuid- 
eachd.  Air  an  laimh  eile  tha  am  facal,  "  freiteach,"  air  a  ghnath- 
achadh an  uair  a  tha  duine  a'  cur  roimhe  gu'n  dean  e  olc  air 
duine  eile,  no  gu  sguir  e  de  dheauamh  math,  agus  de  nochdadh 
caoimhneis  do  dhaoine  eile.  Is  fhad  o  'n  a  chualas  an  seanfhacal 
so  : — 

"  Cha  chum  air  a  fhrei teach, 

Ach  an  deamhan  eitidh." 

Bu  ghnothaoh  math  do  dh'  fhear  cumail  air  a  bhoid  ;  ach  b'  olc 
an  gnothach  dha  cumail  air  a  fhreiteach.  Is  iomadh  uair  a  gheibh 
an  droch  nadur  a  leithid  de  bhuaidh  air  .duine  's  gu'n  abair  e  gu'n 
dean  e  an  t-olc  so  's  an  t-olc  ud  eile  air  a  cho-chreutair.  Ach  mar 
is  trice  cha  chum  e  ri  'fhacal.  An  uair  a  thraoghas  'fhearg,  chi  e 
gur  gaothach  ro  eucorach  dha  a  bhagraidhean  a  chur  an  gniomh. 
Ach  o  nach  'eil  ni  math  sam  bith  anns  an  deamhan  cumaidh  e  air 
a  fhreiteach.  Ach  ma  tha  neach  sam  bith  a'  cumail  air  a  fhreiteach 
feumaidh  gu  bheil  tomhas  m6r  de  nadur  an  deamhain  ann. 
Cha'n  aithne  dhomh  ni  a's  fhearr  a  chuireas  solus  air  nor  sheadh 
an  fhacail,  "  freiteach,"  na'  chunntas  a  tha  againn  air  mar  a  chuir 
an  da  fhichead  ludhach  iad  fhein  fo  mhallachadh,  ag  radh  nach 
itheadh  agus  nach  61adh  iad  gus  am  marbhadh  iad  Pol.  Cha  do 
chum  na  fir  so  air  am  freiteach,  do  bhrigh  's  nach  b'  urrainn 
daibh. 


20th  MARCH,   1895. 

At  this  meeting  Mr  Wm.  Kemp,  of  Messrs  Strothers  &  Co., 
Inverness,  was  elected  an  ordinary  member  of  the  Society.  There- 
after Mr  Duncan  Campbell,  editor,  Northern  Chronicle,  read  a 
paper  on  "Giraldus  Cambrensis,"  which  was  as  follows  : — 

GIRALDUS  CAMBRENSIS. 

Giraldus  Cambrensis — or  Welsh  Gerald,  whosie  first  baptismal " 
name  was  Silvester — was  born  about  the  year  1146  in  the  Castle 
of  Manorbeer,  Pembrokeshire.     He  was  of  mixed  descent.     His 
father,    William  de    Barri,    was   apparently   a   man   of   Norman 
descent,  who  derived  the  territorial  surname  "  de  Barri"  from  the 


152  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

little  island  of  Barri,  on  the  coast  of  Glamorganshire,  which  was 
the  first  possession  of  the  family  in  Wales.  William  de  Barri's 
second  wife,  and  the  mother  of  our  author,  was  Angharad,  full 
sister  of  William,  Maurice,  and  David  Fitzgerald,  and  half-sister 
both  of  Henry  Fitzhenry  and  Robert  Fitzstephen.  Our  author's 
cousin,  William,  eldest  son  of  Maurice  Fitzgerald,  married  Alina, 
daughter  of  Eirl  Strongbow.  We  have  to  go  back  to  our  author's 
grandmother,  Nesta,  daughter  of  Rhys,  Prince  of  South  Wales, 
for  the  origin  of  the  remarkable  Norman- Welsh  kindred  that 
undertook,  and  to  a  wonderful  extent  accomplished,  the  conquest 
of  Ireland.  In  the  first  adventure  and  conquest  the  Saxons  had 
no  share.  But  to  explain  how  the  Norman-Welsh  kindred  had 
been  formed,  let  us  revert  to  Nesta.  She  was  celebrated  for  her 
beauty,  and  when  she  was  a  very  young  woman  she  had  an  ille- 
gitimate son  to  Prince  Henry,  the  youngest  son  of  the  Conqueror, 
afterwards  Henry  I.  That  son  was  the  father  of  the  Fitzhenry 
clan.  By  her  marriage  with  Gerald  de  Windsor,  Nesta  became 
the  mother  of  the  Fitzgerald  brothers  and  of  Angharad.  After 
Gerald  de  Windsor's  death,  Nesta  married  Stephen,  Castellan  of 
Abertivy,  and  by  him  had  a  son,  Robert  Fitzstephen,  founder  of 
the  clan  of  the  same  surname.  Being  destined  for  the  Church, 
our  author  received  his  early  clerical  training  and  education  from 
his  uncle,  David  Fitzgerald,  Bishop  of  St  David's.  He  remained 
with  his  uncle  until  he  entered  upon  his  twentieth  year,  when  he 
went  to  the  University  of  Paris,  where,  as  he  tells  us  —for  he  is 
never  shy  about  blowing  his  own  trumpet — he  gained  great  dis- 
tinction. He  certainly  acquired  a  large  acquaintance  with  the 
Latin  classics,  and  learned  to  write  in  that  language  with  a  fluent 
and  lively  pen.  There  is  scarcely,  indeed,  any  mediaeval  Latinist 
who  came  as  near  as  Gerald  to  the  gossipy  newspaper  corres- 
pondent of  our  times,  who  passes  from  subject  to  subject  as 
the  bee  passes  from  flower  to  flower,  sucking  some  honey 
from  all.  On  his  return  to  England  in  1172,  he  was  appointed 
Archdeacon  of  Brecknock.  His  uncle's  successor  having  died, 
the  Chapter  elected  Gerald  to  be  Bishop  of  St  David's,  but  King 
Henry  and  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  would  not  let  him  be 
instituted.  Although  paternally  of  Norman  lineage,  he  was  too 
much  of  a  Welshman  to  suit  them.  He  claimed  for  the  see  of 
St  David's  metropolitan  jurisdiction  over  Wales,  and  had  his 
election  been  allowed,  it  is  more  than  probable  that  he  would 
have  repudiated  obedience  to  Canterbury.  He  was  again  elected 
by  the  Chapter  on  a  vacancy  occurring  in  1198,  and  was  again 
refused  institution.  Having  set  his  mind  on  the  Welsh  metro 


Giraldus  Cambrensis.  153 

politan  see,  he  declined  to  accept  the  Bishopric  of  Bangor  in  1190, 
and  the  Bishopric  of  Landaff  in  1191.  Ab  last,  in  1215,  the 
coveted  position  was  offered  to  him,  but  he  then  declined  to  accept 
it  on  account  of  age  and  studies.  He  is  supposed  to  have  died 
about  1223.  Seemingly,  Henry  Plantagenet  and  his  sons  wished 
to  patronise  and  promote  Gerald,  although  they  wonld  not  let  him 
get  into  the  position  where  he  could  best  vindicate  the  independ- 
ence of  the  Welsh  Church.  His  relations  with  King  Henry,  King 
Richard  Cceur-de-Lion,  and  King  John  were  half  friendly,  half 
hostile.  He  spoke  so  freely  about  them  in  his  books — books 
which  he  wished  them  to  get  translated  for  him  into  Norman 
French,  for  the  general  edification  of  their  noble  vassals — that 
one  should  think  he  only  owed  his  immunity  from  punishment  to 
his  clerical  habit.  But  as  no  hint  is  given  that  he  was  ever 
threatened,  we  must  assume  that,  with  all  their  faults,  the 
Plantagenets  were  tolerant  of  severe  personal  criticism.  On  his 
first  election  by  the  Chapter  of  St  David's  being  quashed,  Gerald 
went  off  in  a  huff  to  enjoy  the  company  of  loarned  men  in  the 
University  of  Paris.  He  was  not  deprived  of  his  benefices — he 
had  more  than  one,  being,  for  all  his  strictures  on  others,  a 
pluralist  himself.  When  it  suited  him  to  return,  he  was  well 
received.  He  spent  some  of  his  time  at  Henry's  Court,  both  in 
France  and  in  England,  and  when  Henry  made  his  youngest  son, 
John,  Lord  of  Ireland,  he  sent  Gerald,  as  a  sort  of  monitor,  with 
the  royal  scamp  and  his  gay  retinue  to  that  country.  Gerald  had 
paid  a  previous  visit  to  Ireland,  and  stayed  a  year  there  among 
his  own  Norman-Welsh  kindred,  gathering  information  about  the 
history  of  the  conquest,  and  about  the  country,  its  inhabitants, 
and  marvels.  It  was  in  1185  that  he  went  with  Prince  John  to 
Ireland.  He  made  a  stay  of  two  years  on  this  second  visit,  and 
diligently  gathered  materials  for  his  two  books  on  Ireland — "  The 
Topography  of  Ireland"  and  "  The  Vaticinal  History  of  the  Con- 
quest of  Ireland." 

"  The  Topography  of  Ireland"  is  divided  into  three  parts, 
which  the  author  calls  "Distinctions."  In  the  first  "Distinction," 
Gerald  gives  a  description  of  the  country,  its  lakes,  rivers,  climate, 
soil,  wild  animals,  birds,  and  fishes.  He  corrects  Bede,  who, 
writing  in  the  early  part  of  the  8th  century,  said  that  Ireland  did 
not  lack  vineyards  ;  and  Solinus  and  Isidore,  who  said  that  it  had 
no  bees.  Gerald  found  bees  and  honey  in  Ireland,  but  no  vine- 
yards. "Vines,"  he  says,  "it  never  possessed  nor  cultivators  of 
them.  Still,  foreign  commerce  supplies  it  with  so  much  wine, 
that  the  want  of  the  growth  of  vines  and  their  natural  production 


154  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

is  scarcely  felt.  Poitou,  out  of  its  superabundance,  exports  vast 
quantities  of  wine  to  Ireland,  which  willingly  gives  in  return  its 
ox-hides  and  the  skins  of  cattle  and  wild  beasts."  He  thought 
the  Irish  bees  would  thrive  better  and  gather  sweeter  honey  if 
the  country  had  fewer  yew  trees.  Although  he  made  a  strange 
mistake  about  the  Shannon,  one  branch  of  which  he  thought 
flowed  northward  into  Donegal  Bay,  his  topographical  description 
of  Ireland  is  valuable,  and  accurate,  too,  as  far  as  he  saw  the 
country  himself.  He  gives  a  list  of  the  wild  beasts,  birds,  and 
fishes  of  Ireland,  but  it  is  by  uo  *eans  as  full  as  the  list  in 
"  Caoilte's  Rabble"  that  is  in  the  Gaelic  poem,  which  tells  how 
Caoilte  ransomed  Fionn,  by  capturing  a  pair  of  all  the  wild 
animals  of  Ireland.  He  praises  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  yet 
tells  us  that  the  natives  grew  oats  which  were  so  light  that  it  was 
difficult  to  winnow  them  from  the  chaff.  Black  oats,  cultivated 
formerly  in  the  Highlands  in  upland  places,  were  of  this  light 
kind.  They  defied  the  winds,  which  spoiled  heavier-headed  oats, 
and  made  excellent  fodder.  It  is,  indeed,  a  question  whether  they 
should  not  yet  be  re-introduced  for  fodder  and  feeding  purposes. 
A  rather  heavier  kind  of  black  oats  forms  the  chief  forage  of  South 
Africa  to  the  present  day.  Gerald,  who  always  gave  a  ready  ear 
to  marvellous  stories,  was  told  that  Irish  grasshoppers  sang  better 
when  their  heads  were  cut  off,  and  revived  spontaneously  after 
being  long  dead.  He  was  told,  of  course,  what  was  more  of  a 
fact,  that  reptiles  could  not  live  in  Ireland,  and  yet  he  has  to 
confess  that  in  his  own  time  a  frog,  or  toad,  was  discovered  in  a 
grassy  meadow,  near  Waterford.  He  attributes  the  absence  of 
reptiles  to  the  position  of  Ireland  as  the  mo&t  westerly  country  in 
the  world,  as  was  thought  in  his  time — the  east  being  the  fountain- 
head  of  poisons,  and  the  west  the  opposite.  America  and  its 
rattlesnakes  were  not  then  dreamed  of,  if  they  were  not  in  a  dim 
way  prophesied  by  the  tales  about  the  lost  Atlantis.  About 
Ultima  Thule  Gerald  sensibly  observes  that,  if  not  a  fabulous 
island,  it  must  be  looked  for  in  the  most  remote  and  distant 
recesses  of  the  northem  ocean,  far  off  under  the  Arctic  Pole.  It 
struck  our  author  that  the  stags,  boars,  and  hares  of  Ireland  were 
small — in  short,  that  all  animals  except  man  were  smaller  there 
than  in  other  countries. 

The  Second  Distinction  is  dedicated  to  monstrous  births,  trans- 
formations, prodigies,  and  above  all  to  Saints'  miracles.  But  it  has 
stray  notes  of  natural  history  also,  such  as  the  following : — 
"  Cocks  at  roost  in  Ireland  do  not,  as  in  other  countries,  divide 
the  third  and  last  watches  of  the  night  by  crowing  at  three 


Giraldus  Cambrensis.  155 

successive  periods  in  the  interval.  Here  they  are  heard  a  little 
before  dawn  ;  and  the  day  is  known  to  be  as  far  off  from  the  first 
cock-crowing  here  as  it  is  elsewhere  from  the  third.  Nor  is  it  to 
be  supposed  that  they  have  here  a  different  nature  from  those  in 
other  countries  ;  for  cocks  which  are  brought  over  to  the  island 
from  other  parts  crow  here  at  these  periods."  Gerald  writes 
about  the  Book  of  Kildare,  which  has  been  unfortunately  lost, 
with  all  the  fervour  of  a  man  who,  from  its  beautiful  writing  and 
illustrations,  could  well  believe  that  it  had  been  dictated  by  and 
completed  under  the  superintendence  of  an  angel  more  than  seven 
hundred  years  before  his  time.  He  tells  us  that  it  contained  the 
Four  Gospels  according  to  St  Jerom,  and  that  almost  every  page 
was  illustrated  by  drawings  illuminated  with  a  variety  of  brilliant 
colours.  He  concludes  the  catalogue  of  Saints'  miracles  and  the 
third  Distinction  by  the  following  suggestive  chapter : —  "  It 
appears  to  me  very  remarkable  and  deserving  of  notice  that,  as  in 
the  present  life,  the  people  of  this  nation  are  beyond  all  others 
irascible  and  prompt  to  revenge,  so  also  in  the  life  that  is  after 
death,  the  saints  of  this  country,  exalted  by  their  merits  above 
those  of  other  lands,  appear  to  be  of  a  vindictive  temper.  There 
appears  to  me  no  other  way  of  accounting  for  this  circumstance 
but  this : — As  the  Irish  people  possess  no  castles,  while  the 
country  is  full  of  marauders  who  live  by  plunder,  the  people,  and 
more  especially  the  ecclesiastics,  made  it  their  practice  to  have 
recourse  to  the  churches  instead  of  fortified  places,  as  refuges  for 
themselves  and  their  property :  and  by  divine  Providence  and 
permission  there  was  frequent  need  that  the  Church  should  visit 
her  enemies  with  the  severest  chastisements,  this  being  the  only 
mode  by  which  evil-doers  and  impious  men  could  be  deterred  from 
breaking  the  peace  of  ecclesiastical  societies,  and  for  securing  even 
to  a  servile  submission  the  reverence  due  to  the  very  churches 
themselves,  from  a  rude  and  irreligious  people." 

The  Third  Distinction  treats  of  the  people  and  history  of 
Ireland.  Gerald  found  Ireland  peopled  by  mixed  races.  Until 
the  Norman-Welsh  invasion  the  Ostmen  or  Northmen  held 
Dublin,  Waterford,  Wexford,  arid  Limerick  as  their  walled  cities,, 
with  much  adjacent  land  attached  to  each.  These  Ostmen  came 
as  traders  after  their  kinsmen  the  Norwegians  had  lost  the 
supremacy  they  obtained  over  Ireland  in  the  middle  of  the  ninth 
century.  Gerald  gives  the  early  and  fabulous  history  of  Ireland 
before  the  coming  in  of  the  Norwegians  much  as  it  is  given  by 
Keating.  He  copied  it  in  full  from  Irish  books.  The  greatest 
leader  of  the  Norwegians,  who  made  himself  King  of  Dublin,  and 


156  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

subsequently  gained  a  thirty  years'  sort  of  supremacy  in  Ireland, 
was  Thorgils,  one  of  the  twenty  sons  of  Harold  Fairhair,  the  first 
sole  King  of  Norway,  who  died  about  the  year  931.  Gerald 
Latinises  *fehe  name  of  Thorgils  into  Turgesius.  The  Saga  of  Olaf 
Tryggwason,  nephew  of  Thorgils,  says  : — "  To  Thorgils  and  Frodi 
King  Harold  gave  ships  of  war,  and  they  went  on  Wicking 
expedition  to  the  west,  where  they  harried  Scotland,  Bretland 
(Wales),  and  Ireland.  They  were  the  first  Northmen  who  gained 
possession  of  Dublin  in  Ireland.  Frodi,  it  is  said,  had  a  drink 
given  him,  mixed  with  poison,  whiCh  caused  his  death ;  but 
Thorgils  was  for  a  long  time  King  of  Dublin,  and  at  last  fell  there 
by  the  treachery  of  the  Irish."  Gerald  tells  how  Thorgils  was 
overcome  by  Irish  guile  : — Turgesius,  being  deeply  enamoured  of 
the  daughter  of  Omachlachhelin,  King  of  Meath,  the  King, 
dissembling  his  vindictive  feelings,  promised  to  give  him  his 
daughter,  and  to  send  her  to  a  certain  island  in  Meath,  in  the 
lake  called  Lochyrcnus,  attended  by  fifteen  damsels  of  high  rank. 
Turgesius,  being  highly  pleased  at  this,  went  to  meet  them  at  the 
appointed  day  and  place,  accompanied  by  the  same  number  of 
nobles  of  his  own  nation.  On  his  arrival  on  the  island,  he  was 
met  by  fifteen  courageous  but  beardless  youths,  who  had  been 
selected  for  the  enterprise,  and  were  dressed  as  young  women, 
with  daggers  secreted  under  their  mantles ;  and  as  soon  as 
Turgesius  and  his  companions  advanced  to  embrace  them,  they 
fell  upon  them  and  slew  them."  A  general  revolt  of  the  Irish 
and  a  massacre  of  Norwegians  followed  the  slaughter  of 
Thorgils  and  his  chiefs. 

According  to  Gerald's  information,  the  Norwegians  who  made 
their  first  settlements  in  Ireland  in  838  had  Turgesius  for  their 
leader.  The  Norwegians  had  as  pirates  ravaged  the  coasts  of 
Wales,  Scotland,  Ireland,  and  England  forty  years  before  that 
time.  But  it  was  not  till  about  the  date  mentioned  by  Gerald 
that  they  made  permanent  settlements  in  Ireland,  and  the  first 
settlers  were  Danes  as  well  as  Norwegians.  Thorgils  could  not 
have  been  the  leader  of  the  first  Norwegian  settlers,  for  the  very 
good  reason  that  even  his  father,  Harold  Fairhair,  was  not  born 
till  some  twenty  years  after  838.  Thorgils'  expedition  to  Ireland 
could  not  have  taken  place  much  earlier  than  900.  Hevre,  then, 
there  is  a  great  time  discrepancy  to  be  noted.  We  trust  the 
statement  of  the  Saga  that  Thorgils  was  the  first  Norwegian  king 
of  Dublin,  and  that  he  reigned  there  for  a  long  time.  The  Saga 
writers  knew  of  no  other  Norse  invaders  of  Ireland  except 
Thorgils,  whose  life  and  death  could  be  made  to  agree,  in  any 


Giraldus  Cambrensis.  157 

reasonable  manner,  with  the  Irish  stories  of  Turgesius.  We 
therefore  assume  that  Thorgils,  when  draped  in  myths,  became 
the  Turges  or  Turgesius  of  the  Irish  legends,  and  that  to  him 
were  ascribed,  as  the  consolidator  of  their  conquests,  all  the  deeds 
of  the  earlier  settlers.  The  Norse  power  in  Ireland  was  not 
overthrown  by  the  death  of  Thorgils.  It  lasted  until  it  was- 
terminated  by  the  Battle  of  Clontarf,  in  1014 — and,  strange  to 
say,  the  Saga  of  Olaf  Tryggwason,  and  Gerald,  make  no  mention 
whatever  of  that  decisive  Celtic  victory,  in  which  the  men  of 
Gaelic-speaking  Scotland  and  their  Irish  kinsmen  fought  shoulder 
to  shoulder  against  the  foreign  invaders,  and  erstwhile  ravagers 
and  conquerors. 

,  With  the  exception  of  the  Ostmeri  and  the  remnants  of  the 
older  Norse  conquerors  and  colonists  who  associated  themselves 
with  them  after  the  Battle  of  Clontarf,  the  inhabitants  of  Ireland, 
at  the  time  when  Gerald's  friends  invaded  that  country,  all  spoke 
the  Gaelic  language,  and  were  held  to  be  one  people,  although 
their  own  traditions  indicated  diverse  descents.  Gerald  draws 
from  his  own  knowledge  and  experience  a  broad  line  of  distinction 
between  the  North  and  Southern  Irish.  "  We  find,"  he  writes, 
"  that  the  people  of  the  North  of  Ireland  were  always  warlike,, 
while  those  of  the  South  were  subtle  and  crafty  ;  the  one  coveted 
glory,  and  the  other  was  steeped  in  falsehood  ;  the  one  trusted  to- 
their  arms  and  the  other  to  their  arts  ;  the  one  full  of  courage, 
and  the  other  of  deceit."  Let  us  be  thankful  that  it  was  from 
the  North  the  Scots  came  to  Alba.  Perhaps  the  line  of  demarca- 
tion was,  in  some  respects,  weak  or  confused  ;  but  we  have  to 
bear  in  mind  that  it  existed  clearly  in  Gerald's  mind,  and  his 
accusations  of  treachery,  cruelty,  and  immorality  apply  more 
directly  to  the  people  of  Leinster  and  Munster  than  to  those  of 
Connaught  and  Ulster,  particularly  the  latter.  Gerald  enthusi- 
astically admired  the  incomparable  skill  of  the  Irish  in  music  and 
in  playing  on  musical  instruments,  of  which  they  had  only  two, 
the  harp  and  the  tabor,  while  Scotland  had  three,  the  harp, 
tabor,  and  crotta,  or  emit,  and  Wales  had  three,  the  harp,  pipes, 
and  cruit.  He  adds,  "  Scotland,  at  the  present  day — that  is  in 
1187 — in  the  opinion  of  many  persons  is  not  'only  equal  to 
Ireland,  her  teacher,  in  musical  skill,  but  excels  her ;  so  that  they 
now  look  to  that  country  as  the  fountain-head  of  this  science." 
The  fosterage  or  codhaltachd,  by  mixing  and  drinking  each  other's 
blood,  which  he  found  existing  in  Ireland,  disgusted  and 
frightened  Gerald,  although  he  liked  well  enough  the  fosterage  by 
nursing  which  existed  in  Wales  and  in  Scotland,  and  made  the 


158  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

foster-brothers  truer  to  one  another  than  the  natural  brothers. 
Irish  uncanonical  marriages,  marriage  of  first  cousins,  and,  above  all, 
the  marriage  of  deceased  brothers'  widows  by  surviving  brothers, 
in  strict  accordance  with  the  Levitical  law,  and  for  the  purpose 
of  perpetuating  the  dead  brothers'  lineage,  horrified  him 
utterly.  He  attributed  very  detrimental  consequences  to 
these  uncanonical  marriages,  for  truly  he  had  a  sort  of 
craze  on  the  subject,  and  was  quite  as  severe  on  the  Welsh  as  he 
was  on  the  Irish  for  their  forbidden  Alliances.  Speaking  of  the 
Irish,  he  says: — "Moreover,  I  have  never  seen  in  any  other  nation 
so  many  individuals  who  were  born  blind,  so  many  lame,  maimed, 
or  having  some  natural  defect.  The  persons  of  those  who  are 
well  formed  are  indeed  remarkably  fine,  nowhere  better ;  but  as 
those  who  are  favoured  with  the  gifts  of  nature  grow  up  exceed- 
ingly handsome,  those  from  whom  she  withholds  them  are 
exceedingly  ugly.  No  wonder  if  among  an  adulterous  and 
incestuous  people,  in  which  both  births  and  marriages  are 
illegitimate,  a  nation  out  of  the  pale  of  laws,  nature  herself  should 
be  foully  corrupted  by  perverse  habits."  Gerald  was  not  an 
unbiassed  witness  in  respect  to  matters  which  concerned  the  order 
of  the  Roman  Church.  It  must  be  remembered  that  Henry  II. 
held  a  Papal  bull  not  only  sanctioning  his  conquest  of  Ireland, 
but  enjoining  him  to  accomplish  that  conquest  as  a  sacred  duty. 
On  the  agricultural  state  of  Ireland  at  the  time  of  the  Conquest, 
Gerald,  who  was  a  sharp  observer,  and  knew  how  matters 
agricultural  were  in  Wales,  England,  and  France,  is  a  good 
unbiassed  witness.  And  what  does  he  say?  "The  Irish  are  a 
rude  people,  subsisting  on  the  produce  of  their  cattle  only,  and 
living  themselves  like  beasts — a  people  that  has  not  yet  departed 
from  the  primitive  habits  of  pastoral  life.  In  the  common  course 
of  things,  mankind  progresses  from  the  forest  to  the  field,  from 
the  field  to  the  town  and  to  the  social  condition  of  citizens,  and 
this  nation,  holding  agricultural  labour  in  contempt  and  little 
coveting  the  wealth  of  towns,  as  well  as  being  exceedingly  averse 
to  civil  institutions,  lead  the  same  life  their  fathers  did  in  the 
woods  and  open  pastures,  neither  willing  to  abandon  their  old 
habits  or  learn  anything  new.  They,  therefore,  make  only  patches 
of  tillage  ;  their  pastures  are  short  of  herbage ;  cultivation  is  very 
rare,  and  there  is  scarcely  any  land  sown.  This  want  of  tilled 
fields  arises  from  the  neglect  of  those  who  should  cultivate  them, 
for  there  are  large  tracts  which  are  naturally  fertile  and  produc- 
tive. The  whole  habits  of  the  people  are  contrary  to  agricultural 
pursuits,  so  that  the  rich  glebe  is  barren  for  want  of  husbandmen, 
the  fields  demanding  labour  which  is  not  forthcoming." 


Gi raid  us  Cambrensis.  159 

If  we  bear  in  mind  that  Gerald,  from  his  kinship  with  the 
invaders  who  went  to  Ireland  with  Papal  sanction  and  authority 
to  conquer  that  country,  in  the  name  of  Christianity,  would  be 
naturally  disposed  to  magnify  the  evils  and  abuses  of  the  national 
Irish  Church,  we  must  take  his.  report  of  what  he  found  to  be 
really  the  very  opposite  of  condemnation.  He  went,  like  Balaam, 
prepared  to  curse  ;  but,  as  an  honest  man,  when  he  investigated 
matters,  he  felt,  upon  the  whole,  constrained  to  bless.  He  speaks, 
indeed,  of  finding  in  Ireland  a  class  of  uncanonical  lay-ecclesiastics, 
whom  he  thus  describes  : — "  It  must  be  observed  also  that  the 
men  who  enjoy  ecclesiastical  immunity,  and  are  called  ecclesias- 
tical men,  although  they  be  laics,  and  have  wives,  and  wear  long 
hair  hanging  down  below  their  shoulders,  but  only  do  not  bear 
arms,  wear  for  their  protection,  by  the  authority  of  the  Pope, 
fillets  on  the  crown  of  their  heads,  as  a  mark  of  distinction." 
But  in  Ireland  the  lay-ecclesiastics  had  not,  as  they  had  done 
about  the  same  time  in  Scotland,  appropriated  to  a  very  marked 
extent  the  Church  lands,  or  vitally  degraded  or  transformed  the 
Church's  character.  Gerald,  who  was  a  strong  partisan  of  the 
secular  clergy,  attributes  the  Irish  Church's  loss  of  spiritual 
influence  over  princes  and  people,  in  a  large  degree,  to  the  fact 
that  the  Irish  bishops  were  mostly  elected  from  the  monasteries. 
"  They  seclude  themselves,"  he  says,  "  according  to  ancient 
custom  within  the  inclosures  of  their  churches,  and  are  generally 
content  with  indulging  in  a  contemplative  life.  They  scrupul- 
ously perform  all  the  duties  of  a  monk,  but  pass  by  all  those 
which  belong  to  the  clergy  and  bishops."  The  worst  faults  to  be 
found  with  these  Irish  bishops,  therefore,  are  the  comparatively 
venial  ones  of  monkish  seclusion,  and  deficient  pastoral  oversight 
and  discipline.  It  is  admitted  that  they  led  blameless  lives,  and 
were  examples  of  Christian  goodness  to  clergy  and  people.  But 
what  does  Gerald  say  of  the  most  important  body  of  the  clergy, 
the  parish  priests  1  Let  him  speak  for  himself  :— "  The  clergy 
of  the  country  are  commendable  enough  for  their  piety ;  and 
among  many  other  virtues  in  which  they  excel,  are  especially 
eminent  for  that  of  continence.  They  also  perform  with  great 
regularity  the  services  of  the  psalms,  hours,  lessons,  and  prayers, 
and,  confining  themselves  to  the  precincts  of  their  churches, 
employ  their  whole  time  in  the  offices  to  which  they  are  appointed. 
They  also  pay  attention  to  the  rules  of  abstinence  and  a  spare 
diet,  the  greatest  part  of  them  fasting  almost  every  day  till  dusk, 
when,  by  singing  complines,  they  have  finished  the  offices  of  the 
several  hours  for  the  day.  Would,  that  after  these  long  fasts, 


160  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

they  were  as  sober  as  they  are  serious,  as  true  as  they  are  severe,, 
as  pure  as  they  are  enduring,  such  as  they  are  in  appearance. 
But  among  so  many  thousands  you  will  scarcely  find  one  who,, 
after  his  devotion  to  long  fastings  and  prayers,  does  not  make  up 
by  night  for  his  privations  during  the  day,  by  the  enormous 
quantities  of  wine  and  other  liquors  in  which  he  indulges  more 
than  is  beceming.  Dividing  the  day  of  twenty-four  hours  into 
two  equal  parts,  they  devote  the  hours  of  light  to  spiritual  offices,. 
and  those  of  night  to  the  flesh,  so  that  in  the  light  they  apply 
themselves  to  the  work  of  the  light,  and  in  the  dark  they  turn  to 
the  works  of  darkness.  Hence  it  may  be  considered  almost  a 
miracle  that  where  wine  has  the  dominion  lust  does  not  reign 
also."  We  should  much  like  to  know  whether  or  not  the  "  drop 
of  potheen"  was  included  in  the  "  other  drinks"  consumed  by  the 
Irish  priests  of  Gerald's  time.  We  daresay  it  was,  for  there  were 
"  distillers"  in  the  south  of  Scotland,  according  to  the  ancient 
poems  of  Wales,  in  the  sixth  and  seventh  centuries,  and  the- 
monks  made  "  the  water  of  life"  probably  earliest  of  all.  Gerald 
declares  that  a  large  number  of  the  Irish  people  remained  un- 
baptised.  But  was  that  due  to  clerical  neglect?  Was  it  not 
more  probably  due  to  that  peculiar  idea  of  the  cleansing  efficacy 
of  the  sacrament,  which  could  not  be  twice  repeated,  that  made 
Constantine  the  Great  put  off  his  baptism  till  he  felt  he  was- 
dying? 

"  The  Vaticinal  History  of  the  Conquest  of  Ireland,"  although 
the  most  important  of  all  our  author's  works,  does  not  fall  within 
the  scope  of  this  paper.  We  pass  on,  therefore,  to  his  two  books 
on  Wales — "The  Description  of  Wales"  and  "The  Itinerary 
through  Wales." 

The  "Description"  was  probably  written  earlier  than  the 
"  Itinerary."  The  latter  is  Gerald's  record  of  his  travels  in  Wales 
along  with  Baldwin,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  when  preaching 
the  third  Crusade,  in  the  year  1188.  Gerald  was,  as  he  tells  us, 
the  first  man  in  Wales  who  took  the  cross,  but  he  does  not  tell  us 
that  he  got  a  dispensation  absolving  him  from  his  vow  afterwards, 
and  remained  at  home,  while  Baldwin,  the  venerable  man,  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Holy  Land  and  died  there. 

Gerald  is  disposed  to  be  as  friendly  in  his  remarks  on  the 
Welsh  as  he  was  to  be  severe  on  the  Irish.  Still,  honesty  com- 
pels him  to  admit  that  the  irascibility  of  the  Irish  finds  its  equal 
in  Wales,  and  that,  upon  the  whole,  the  Welsh  marriage  customs, 
and  the  relation  of  the  sexes  in  that  country,  are  worse  than  in 
Ireland.  We  may  pass  over  his  condemnation  of  the  marriage  of 


Giraldus  Cam b re n sis.  161 

first  cousins,  which  was  a  prevalent  custom  throughout  Wales 
then,  as  it  is  now.  But  it  seems  that  there  was  in  Wales  a  custom 
of  having  girls  as  concubines  for  specified  periods,  on  specified 
conditions,  which  sometimes  ended  in  marriage,  but  more 
frequently  in  separation  at  the  end  of  the  engagement  time,  like 
the  "hand-fasting"  of  the  Scotch  Borders.  And  if  the  matri- 
monial morals  of  the  princes,  chieftains,  and  people  were  low, 
they  had  among  them  some  clerics  who  were  every  bit  as  bad  as 
themselves.  We  read  in  the  "  Itinerary  "  of  a  church  of  ancient 
importance  situated  near  Aberystwyth,  in  Cardiganshire  : — ''*  It  is 
remarkable  that  this  church,  like  many  others  in  Wales  and 
Ireland,  has  a  lay  abbot ;  for  a  bad  custom  has  prevailed  amongst 
the  clergy  of  appointing  the  most  powerful  people  of  a  parish 
stewards,  or  rather  patrons  of  their  churches,  who,  in  process  of 
time,  from  a  desire  of  gain,  have  usurped  the  whole  right, 
appropriating  to  their  own  use  the  possession  of  all  lands,  leaving 
only  to  the  clergy  the  altars,  with  their  tenths  and  oblations,  and 
assigning  even  these  to  their  sons  and  relatives  in  the"  church. 
Such  defenders,  or  rather  destroyers  of  the  church  have  caused 
themselves  to  be  called  abbots,  and  presumed  to  attribute  to 
themselves  a  title,  as  well  as  estates,  to  which  they  have  no  just 
claim.  In  this  state,  we  found  the  church  of  Lhanpadarn  without 
a  head,  a  certain  old  man,  waxen  old  in  iniquity  (whose  name  was 
Eden  Oen,  son  of  Graithwoed),  being  abbot,  and  his  sons  officiating 
at  the  altars.  This  wicked  people  boast  that  a  certain  bishop  of 
their  church — for  it  formerly  was  a  cathedral — was  murdered  by 
their  predecessors  ;  and,  on  this  account  chiefly,  they  ground  their 
claim  of  right  and  possession. 

Barring  the  murder  of  a  bishop,  it  was  by  a  precisely  similar 
process  that  the  Columban — or  Culdee — Church  of  Scotland  was 
deprived  of  spiritual  energy  and  robbed  of  her  possessions.  Ireland 
comes  out  best.  In  Gerald's  time,  "the  portable  bells,  and  the 
staves  of  the  saints,  having  their  upper  ends  curved  and  inlaid 
with  gold,  silver,  or  brass,  were  held  in  great  reverence  by  the 
people  and  clergy  of  Ireland,  Scotland,  and  Wales ;  insomuch, 
that  they  had  much  greater  regard  for  oaths  sworn  on  these  than 
on  the  Gospels."  The  "  Staff  of  Jesus  "  in  Ireland,  and  the  "  Staff 
of  St  Cyric  "  in  Wales  were  particularly  famous. 

There  was  one  Culdee  establishment  in  Wales  in  1180.  The 
small  island  of  Enhli,  now  called  Bardsey,  was  then  inhabited  "by 
very  religious  monks,  called  Coelibes  or  Colidei."  It  is  a  pity  that 
we  are  not  told  whether  they  were  Gaelic-speaking  monks  from 
Scotland  or  Ireland,  or  natives  of  Wales. 

11 


162  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Gerald  is  always  unsatisfactory  in  regard  to  the  question  of 
languages.  Latin  was  the  universal  language  of  the  clergy  and 
the  learned.  Gerald  seems  to  have  had  some  knowledge  of  Gaelic 
and  a  plentiful  command  of  Welsh.  He  could  also  judge  between 
the  Saxon  dialects  of  the  North  and  South  of  England.  But  as 
Latin  served  him  everywhere  among  the  clergy,  he  does  not  throw 
as  much  light  as  he  could  011  the  lingual  divisions  of  the  people  of 
the  British  Islands  in  his  day.  He  intended  to  write  a  book 
about  Scotland  and  another  about  England,  corresponding  to  his 
Irish  and  Welsh  "  Topographies."  Unfortunately,  he  did  not 
carry  out  that  laudable  intention,  and  even  the  map  of  England, 
which,  he  says,  he  drew  with  great  care,  got  lost  because  he  did 
not  insert  it  in  his  written  works,  but  kept  it  for  the  book  on 
England  which  he  intended  to  write.  Speaking  of  the  Dalriadic 
Scots  who  migrated  from  Ireland  to  Scotland,  he  says  in  his 
"  Topograpy  of  Ireland,"  "  What  caused  them  to  migrate  there, 
and  how  and  with  what  treachery,  rather  than  force,  they  expelled 
from  those  parts  the  nation  of  the  Picts,  long  so  powerful,  and 
vastly  excelling  them  in  arms  and  valour,  it  will  be  my  business 
to  relate,  when  I  come  to  treat  of  the  remarkable  topography  of 
that  part  of  Britain."  The  Scotland  and  the  Ireland  of  his  own 
day  he  evidently  grouped  as  Gaelic-speaking  countries,  notwith- 
standing the  non-Celtic  elements  in  both.  As  to  the  Brythonic 
Celtic  group  he  is  very  distinct  and  accurate  : — "  The  people  of 
Cornwall  and  the  Armoricans  speak  a  language  similar  to  that  of 
the  Britons ;  and  from  its  origin  and  near  resemblance,  it  is 
intelligible  to  the  Welsh  in  many  instances,  and  almost  in  all; 
and  although  less  delicate  and  methodical,  yet  it  approaches,  as  I 
judge,  more  nearly  to  the  ancient  British  idiom." 

We  iubjoin  some  Welsh  words  with  Gerald's  explanation  of 
their  meanings — 

"  Aber,  in  the  British  language,  signifies  every  place  where  two 
rivers  unite  their  streams." 

In  Scotland  the  Gaelic  "Inbhir"  and  "Aber"  are  almost 
interchangeable.  If  "  Aber"  is  a  purely  British  word,  as 
its  prevalence  in  Gerald's  Welsh  Topography  indicates,  it 
can  tell  nothing  about  the  language  of  the  Picts  except 
this,  that  if  they  were  not  themselves  of  the  same  race  as  the 
Britons,  they  superseded  and  succeeded  Briton  inhabitants 
of  Alba. 

"  Nant  means  a  flowing  stream." 

There  is  no  Gaelic  word  similar  to  "  Nant." 


Gi  raid  us  Cambrensis.  163 

•"Lhan  =  Church." 

We  have  Lhanbryde  near  Elgin,  which  is  pure  Welsh 
for  the  Church  of  St  Bride  or  Brigit. 

"  Caerleon  =  City  of  the  Legions." 

This  is  the  old  name  for  Chester,  which  was  one  of  the 
stations  of  the  Roman  Legions.  "  Caer"  in  Gaelic  is 
"  Cathair,"  but.  both  are  pronounced  alike. 

"Cruc  Mawr  =  the  great  hill." 

"  Cnoc  mor"  in  Gaelic  means  rather  the  great  knowe 
than  the  great  hill.  "Cnoc  is  pronounced  as  if  the  "  n" 
was  "r,"  but  no  doubt  there  must  have  been  a  time  when 
Celts  and  Romans  had  an  older  mode  of  pronouncing  "en" 
or  "  kn"  than  by  simply  killing  the  first  consonant  or 
changing  the  second  into  "  r." 

"  Lhandewi  Brevi  =  the  Church  of  St  David  of  Brevi," 

"  Lhanphadarn  Vawr,  or  the  Church  of  Paternus  the  Great." 
The  Gaelic  of  this  would  be  "  Cilphadarn  Mhoir." 

"  Lhanvair,  that  is  the  Church  of  St  Mary." 
Gaelic,  "  Cilmuire"  or  "Cilmailli." 

"  Traeth  Mawr  and  Traeth  Bachan,  that  is  the  greater  and 
smaller  arms  of  the  sea.  Traeth,  in  the  British  language, 
signifies  a  tract  of  sand  flooded  by  the  tides  and  left  bare 
when  the  sea  ebbs." 

Gaelic,  "  Traigh  Mor"  and  "  Traigh  Beag." 

"  Cantred,  a  compound  word  from  the  British  and  Irish  languages, 
is  a  portion  of  land  equal  to  a  hundred  vills.  Wales  in  all 
contains  fifty-four  cantreds.  The  word  cantref  is  derived 
from  cant,  a  hundred,  and  tref,  a  village." 

"  Trcubh,"  in  Gaelic,  has  come  to  mean  a  blood-kindred 
tribe  or  clan.  "  Ciad-treubh"  would  now  mean  to  us  a 
hundred  tribes,  and  not  the  inhabitants  of  a  hundred 
villages  or  "  toons." 

"  Mon  mam  Cymbry,  that  is  Mona,  mother  of  Wales  (Cambria)." 

Mon  or  Mona  is  the  island  of  Anglesey,  which,  from  its 
fertility,  came  to  be  proverbially  called  the  mother  or 
nursing  mother  of  Cambria. 

"  Ynys  Lenach,  or  the  ecclesiastical  island,  because  many  bodies 
of  saints  are  deposited  there,  and  no  woman  is  suffered  to 
enter  it." 

In  Gaelic,  "  Innis  Mhanach"  would  mean  "  Isle  of 
Monks." 


164  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

One  gets  the  impression  from  Gerald's  description  that  at  the 
close  of  the  twelfth  century  Wales  was  far  ahead  of  Ireland  in 
agriculture,  industrial  arts,  and  amenities  of  civilisation.  On  the 
other  hand,  while  our  author  boasts  the  Trojan  descent  of  the 
Welsh  people,  he  practically  admits  that  they  were  less  moral 
than  the  Irish,  while  quite  as  irascible  End  inconstant.  They  had, 
he  says,  inherited  the  courage  of  their  Trojan  ancestors,  and  got 
their  arms  and  military  discipline  from  the  French — that  is  from 
the  Normans  who  settled  among  thein,  intermarried  with  their 
princely  and  noble  families,  and  built  frowning  feudal  castles, 
which  enabled  the  owners  to  gather  in  rents  and  produce  tributes, 
to  resist  sudden  onsets,  to  protect  their  own  people,  and  to  enforce 
the  penalties  of  law  necessary  to  the  establishment  of  peace,  and 
order.  While,  however,  the  valour  of  the  native  Welsh  is  praised, 
it  is  admitted  that  when  they  met  with  a  repulse  they  were 
subject  to  get  into  panic  and  disorder.  Another  misfortune  of 
theirs  was  that  they  were  always  quarrelling  among  themselves, 
and  that  feuds  were  perpetuated  from  generation  to  generation. 
Good  qualities,  however,  brighten  the  dark  shades  of  the  picture 
— hospitality,  arts,  poetry,  music,  and,  in  fact,  for  the  time,  a  high 
state  of  culture,  which  betokened  a  legacy  from  Roman  days  that 
had  been,  with  some  Roman  vices,  preserved  throughout  all  the 
centuries  intervening  between  the  middle  of  the  fifth  century  and 
the  end  of  the  twelfth. 

We  get  an  enthusiastic  description  of  the  Teivy  and  its  salmon 
leaps,  aud  then  we  are  further  informed  of  this  peculiarity  con- 
cerning that  river,  that  it  was  the  only  one  in  Wales  or  even  in 
England  which  had  beavers.  He  adds  : — "In  Scotland  beavers  are 
said  to  be  found  on  one  river,  but  are  very  scarce."  In  Ireland 
the  beaver  had  been  killed  out  before  our  author  went  to  that 
country.  When  the  preachers  of  the  Crusade  reached  Chester 
they  were  nobly  entertained  by  the  Earl  and  Countess  of  Chester, 
and,  '•  here,:'  says  our  author,  "  we  saw  what  appeared  novel  to 
us  ;  for  the  Countess  and  her  mother,  keeping  tame  deer,  pre- 
sented to  the  Archbishop  three  small  cheeses  made  from  their 
milk." 

Gerald's  books  on  Wales  are,  like  his  books  on  Ireland,  well 
stuffed  with  marvels  and  miracles.  A  prophecy  was  current  in 
Wales  that  a  king  of  England  coming  from  Ireland  through  Wales 
should  die  on  the  flag  ten  feet  long  and  six  feet  broad  which 
formed  the  bridge  over  the  small  stream  near  St  David's 
Cathedral.  Henry  the  Second  coming  from  Ireland  through 
Wales  crossed  this  bridge,  and  then  asked  the  Welsh  who  waited 


Giraldus  Cambrensis.  165 

for  the  fulfilment  of  the  alleged  prophecy  of  Merlin — "  Who  now 
will  have  any  faith  in  that  liar,  Merlin."  The  flag-bridge  had  a 
legend  of  its  own,  independent  of  the  prophecy  disproved  by  the 
bold  Plantagenet.  It  was  said  to  have  once  spoken  and  to  have 
given  itself  the  crack  visible  in  1188  by  that  supernatural  effort. 
"  Lechlawar,"  therefore,  was  its  name,  which  Gerald  explains  to 
mean  "  speaking-stone."  In  the  form  of  "  Leac-labhair"  a  High- 
lander of  our  own  day  would  see  the  meaning  of  "  Lechlawar"  at 
once. 

Gerald  believes  in  King  Arthur  and  in  Merlin's  prophecies. 
But  he  tells  us  that  there  were  two  Merlins,  separated  in  time  by 
a  full  century.  This  is  his  statement: — "There  were  two 
Merlins  ;  the  one  called  Ambrosius,  who  prophesied  in  the  time 
of  King  Vortigern,  was  begotten  by  a  demon  incubus,  and  found 
at  Caermarden  (now  Carmarthen),  from  which  circumstance  that 
city  derived  its  name  of  Caermarden,  or  the  city  of  Merlin  ;  the 
other  Merlin,  born  in  Scotland,  was  named  Celidonius,  from  the 
Celidonian  wood  in  which  he  prophesied  ;  and  Sylvester,  because 
when  engaged  in  martial  conflict  he  discovered  in  the  air  a  terrible 
monster,  and  from  that  time  grew  mad,  and  taking  shelter  in  a 
wood  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  a  savage  state.  This 
Merlin  lived  in  the  time  of  King  Arthur,  and  is  said  to  have 
prophesied  more  fully  and  explicitly  than  the  other."  A  very  old 
Welsh  legend  about  the  Caledonian  Merlin  says  that  he  was  born 
heir  to  a  large  estate  near  the  forest  of  Celyddon  or  Dunkeld,  that 
having  lost  his  estate  in  the  war  of  his  prince,  Gwenddolan,  and 
Aeddan  Vradog  against  Khydderck  Hael,  he  went  to  Wales,  and 
that  after  fighting  at  the  battle  of  Camlan  under  King  Arthur's 
banner  in  542,  he  accidentally  killed  his  nephew,  which  misfortune 
caused  him  to  go  mad.  The  birthplace  of  this  Merlin  near  the 
Celyddon  forest  is  named  Caerwertheven,  which  if  not  fabulous 
must  have  been  on  the  Perthshire  lowland  border  or  in  Lennox. 
When  the  preachers  of  the  Crusade  reached  Nefyn,  a  village  on 
•Carnarvon  Bay,  our  author  found  there  a  book  containing  the 
prophesies  of  the  Caledonian  Merlin. 

Our  author,  who  totally  ignored  the  Irish  fairies,  gives  the 
following  pretty  little  story  of  the  Welsh  ones  : — 

"  A  short  time  before  our  days,  a  circumstance  worthy  of  note 
occurred  in  these  parts  (Glamorganshire),  which  Elidorus,  a  priest, 
most  strenuously  affirmed  had  befallen  himself.  When  a  youth  of 
twelve  years,  and  learning  his  letters,  since,  as  Solomon  says,  *  The 
root  of  learning  is  bitter,  although  the  fruit  is  sweet,'  in  order  to 
avoid  the  discipline  and  frequent  stripes  inflicted  on  him  by  his 


166  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

preceptor,  he  ran  away,  and  concealed  himself  under  the  hollow 
bank  of  a  river.  After  fasting  in  that  situation  for  two  days,  two 
little  men  of  pigmy  stature  appeared  to  him,  saying — '  If  you  will 
come  with  us,  we  will  lead  you  into  a  country  full  of  delights  and 
sports.'  Assenting,  and  rising  up,  he  followed  his  guides  through 
a  path,  at  first  subterraneous  and  dark,  into  a  most  beautiful 
country,  adorned  with  rivers  and  sand  meadows,  woods  and  plains, 
but  obscure,  and  not  illuminated  with  the  full  light  of  the  sun. 
All  the  days  were  cloudy,  and  the  nights  extremely  dark,  on 
account  of  the  absence  of  the  moon  and  the  stars.  The  boy  was 
brought  before  the  King,  and  introduced  to  him  in  presence  of  the 
Court,  who,  having  examined  him  for  a  long  time,  delivered  him  to 
his  son,  who  was  then  a  boy.  These  men  were  of  the  smallest 
stature,  but  very  well  proportioned  in  their  make  ;  they  were  all  of 
fair  complexion,  with  luxuriant  hair  falling  over  their  shoulders 
like  that  of  women.  They  had  horses  and  greyhounds  adapted  to 
their  size.  They  neither  ate  flesh  nor  fish,  but  lived  on  milk  diet, 
made  up  into  messes  with  saffron.  They  never  took  an  oath,  for 
they  detested  nothing  as  much  as  telling  lies.  As  often  as  they 
returned  from  our  upper  hemisphere,  they  reprobated  our  ambi- 
tion, infidelities,  and  inconsistencies.  They  had  no  form  of  public 
worship,  being  strict  lovers  and  reverers,  as  it  seemed,  of  truth. 
The  boy  frequently  returned  to  our  hemisphere,  sometimes 
by  the  way  he  had  first  gone,  sometimes  by  another ;  at  first 
in  company  with  other  persons,  and  afterwards  alone,  and  made 
himself  known  to  his  mother,  declaring  to  her  the  manners,  nature, 
and  state  of  that  people.  Being  desired  by  her  to  bring  a  present 
of  gold,  with  which  that  region  abounded,  he  stole,  while  at  play 
with  the  King's  son,  the  golden  ball  with  which  he  used  to  divert 
himself,  and  brought  it  to  his  mother  in  great  haste.  And  when 
he  reached  the  door  of  his  father's  house,  but  not  unpursued,  and 
was  entering  it  in  great  hurry,  his  foot  stumbled  on  the  threshold, 
and  falling  down  into  the  room  where  his  mother  was  sitting,  the 
two  pigmies  seized  the  ball  which  had  dropped  from  his  hand,  and 
departed,  showing  the  boy  every  mark  of  contempt  and  derision. 
On  recovering  from  his  fall,  confounded  with  shame  and  execrating 
the  evil  counsel  of  his  mother,  he  returned  by  the  usual  track  to 
the  subterraneous  road,  but  found  no  appearance  of  any  passage, 
though  he  searched  for  it  on  the  banks  of  the  river  for  nearly  a 
year.  But  since  these  calamities  are  often  alleviated  by  time 
which  reason  cannot  mitigate,  the  youth  having  been  brought 
back  by  his  friends  and  mother,  and  restored  on  his  right  way  of 
thinking,  and  learning,  in  process  of  time,  attained  the  rank  of 


Giraldus  Cambrensls.  167 

priesthood.  Whenever  David  II.,  Bishop  of  St  David's  (our 
author's  uncle),  talked  to  him  in  his  advanced  state  of  life  con- 
cerning this  event,  he  never  could  relate  the  particulars  without 
shedding  tears.  He  had  made  himself  acquainted  with  the 
language  of  that  nation,  the  words  of  which  in  his  younger  days 
he  used  to  recite,  which,  as  the  bishop  had  often  informed  me, 
were  very  conformable  to  the  Greek  idiom.  When  they  asked  for 
water,  they  said,  Ydor  ydorum,  which  meant  *  bring  water,'  for 
Ydor  in  their  language,  as  well  as  in  the  Greek,  signifies  water,  from 
which  vessels  for  water  are  called  hypriai ;  and  Dur  also  in  the 
British  language  signifies  water.  When  they  wanted  salt,  they 
said,  Halgein  ydorun,  '  bring  salt.'  Salt  is  called  Hal  in  Greek, 
and  Halen  in  British." 

When  the  first  great  eruption  of  the  sea  in  1107  laid  a  wide 
district  of  Flanders  under  water,  Henry  I.,  who  had  obtained  a 
power  over  Wales  which  was  lost  in  King  Stephen's  time,  and  not 
fully  regained  by  Henry  Plantagene-.,  planted  several  colonies  of 
sea-evicted  Flemings  on  the  frontiers  of  Wales.  One  of  these 
colonies  was  planted  in  Pembrokeshire,  about  Haverfordwest. 
Among  the  Flemings  of  that  district,  whom  he  praises  for  their 
hardihood  and  industry,  Gerald  met  with  a  form  of  divination 
that  was  quite  new  to  him.  Here  is  his  description  of  it  : — "  It  is 
worthy  of  remark  that  these  people  (the  Flemings),  from  the 
inspection  of  right  shoulders  of  rams,  which  have  been  stripped  of 
their  flesh,  and  not  roasted  but  boiled,  can  discover  future  events, 
or  those  which  have  passed  and  remained  long  unknown."  The 
strange  thing  to  Highlanders,  among  whom  slinneanachd  was 
practised  from  old  to  nearly  our  own  days,  if,  indeed,  it  has  been 
wholly  abandoned  yet,  is  that  the  shoulder-blade  sort  of  divination 
was  not  found  by  Gerald  among  the  Welsh  and  Irish.  In  late 
times  the  Highlanders  did  not  think  it  of  much  consequence 
whether  the  shoulder-blade  to  be  inspected  was  that  of  a  ram  or 
goat,  or  even  hare,  but  they  thought  the  divination  spoiled  unless 
the  shoulder  had  been  boiled,  and  the  flesh  stripped  off  without 
letting  the  knife  or  tooth  touch  the  bone.  This  mode  of  divina- 
tion belongs  to  the  sacrifice  divinations  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans. 
But  both  Flemings  and  Highlanders,  who  had  far  less  connection 
with  the  Romans  than  the  Welsh,  might  have  inherited  it  from 
the  Aryan  ancestry  common  to  Greeks,  Romans,  Celts,  and  Teutons. 


168  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 


MARCH  27th,  1895. 

The  principal  business  at  this  evening's  meeting  was  a  paper 
by  Rev.  Thomas  Sinton,  Dores,  entitled  "Snatches  of  Song 
collected  in  Badenoch."  Mr  Sinton's  paper  was  as  follows  : — 

SNATCHES  OF  SONG  COLLEcffiD  IN  BADENOCH. 

Keeping  in  view  the  bulky  proportions  of  the  MSS.  that  now 
lie  before  me  containing  this  contribution  of  old  songs,  it  must  be 
my  endeavour  throughout  to  make  whatever  explanatory  notes 
are  added  as  brief  and  pithy  as  may  be. 

i. 

Early  in  this  century,  among  the  workmen  engaged  upon  the 
construction  of  Telford's  road,  that  winds  along  the  picturesque 
shores  of  Loch  Laggan,  were  two  brothers  from  Skye.  One  of 
them  suddenly  burst  a  blood  vessel  and  died.  Having  seen  him 
decently  buried  in  St  Kenneth's  Church-yard,  the  survivor  hurried 
home  with  his  mournful  tale.  As  he  took  his  way  he  composed 
this  beautiful  threnody.  Having  informed  his  friends  of  the  sad 
event,  a  company  of  them  set  out  for  Laggan,  exhumed  the 
recently  interred  body,  and  carried  it  back  all  the  way  to  Skye. 

Aig  Ceann  Loch  Lagain  so  thall, 
Dh'  f  hag  mi  'n  tasgaidh  mo  ghradh, 
'S  cha  tig  e  gu  brach  an  taobh  so. 

'S  ann  am  Baideanach  shuas, 

'Measg  nan  Domhnullaich  suairc, 

Dh'  fhag  mi  'n  cadal  mo  luaidh  's  cha  duisg  e. 

Dh'  fhag  mi  'm  Baideanach  thu, 

'Measg  nan  Gaidheal  'fhuair  cliu — 

Fir  a'  Bhraighe  chaidh  learn  chuir  uir  ort. 

Ged  a  bha  mi  learn  fhin, 

Cha  robh  cairdean  am  dhith, 

'N  am  togail  'na  chill  air  ghiulan. 

'N  ciste  ghiuthais  chinn  chaoil, 
An  deis  a  dubhadh  bho  'n  t-saor, 
Chunnacas  thairis  bhi  taomadh  uir  ort. 


Badenoch  Songs.  1C9 

Ach  tha  mise  'do  dheigh, 

Mar  bha  Oisean  's  na  Feinn, 

'Gabhail  an  rathaid  's  cha  leir  dhomh  taobh  dhe. 

Bha  full  a'  sruthadh  bho  d'  bheul, 
Nach  gabhadh  caisg  ach  sior  leum, 
'S  i  bhi  tighinn  bho  d'  chleibh  na  bruchdan. 

Ach,  fhir  a  stiuireas  a'  ghrian, 

Bho  'toiseaeh  gu  'crioch, 

Glac  'anam  fo  sgiath  do  churaim  ! 

ii. 

This  elegy  was  composed  by  Duncan  Fraser,  Balgown — aria 
breabair  mor  Frisealach — upon  the  death  of  Colonel  Duncan 
Macpherson  of  Cluny,  which  took  place  at  Cupar-Fife  in  1817. 
After  an  ancient  mode,  it  is  intended  to  express  the  feelings  of  his 
bereaved  lady,  Catherine  Cameron  of  Fassifern,  but  it  is  evident 
that  the  bard  passes  occasionally  to  describe  the  sorrow  of  a  whole 
clan  and  coumry. 

0  !  gur  mis'  th'  air  mo  sgaradh, 
'S  cha  'n  e  'n  t-Earrach  a  liath  mi ; 
Ach  na  chaill  mi  an  Cupar, 
'S  mor  mo  dhiubhail  'ga  iargainn. 
Chaill  mi  deagh  fhear-an-tighe, 
Ceannard  cheatharn  is  cheudan, 
'S  trie  a  bhuannaich  an  latha, 
An  am  catha  'ga  dhioladh. 

Nam  b'  ann  an  sabaid  na  'n  carraid, 
Chaidh  do  ghearradh  cho  luath  bhuainn, 
'S  lionar  bratach  bhiodh  sgaoilte, 
•  Agus  faobhar  'g  am  fuasgladh ; 

Bhiodh  Mac  Shimidh  na  h-Aird  ann, 
'S  Cloinn  Chamarain  a'  chruadail, 
Mar  ri  Toisich  is  Granndaich, 
Mu  'm  biodh  annran  na  gruaim  ort. 

Do  chinneadh  fein  Clanna  Mhuirich, 
Bhiodh  iad  uile  gu  d'  6rdugh, 
Fearail,  treun,  ascaoin,  fuileach — 
Sud  na  curaidh'  nach  s6radh ; 
'Dol  ri  aodainn  a'  chatha, 
Claidh'  leathann  'nan  dorn-san, 
Ann  an  aobhar  mac  d'  athar — 
'S  iad  gun  athadh  gun  soradh. 


170  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'Nuair  sgaoiieadh  tu  d'  bhratach, 

Dh'  eireadh  feachd  an  Taoibh-tu-ath  leat, 

Tha  e  soilleir  ri  fhaicinn, 

Chite  cat  ann  'na  gruaig-se  ; 

Dh'  eireadh  leat-sa  buaidh-larach, 

'Nuair  bhiodh  each  air  an  ruageadh  ; 

Fath  mo  mhulaid  ri  aithris, 

Thu  bhi  'n  drasda  fo  'n  fhuar  lie. 

Dh'  eireadh  sud  ann  do  tHTonal, 
Mile  fear  agus  piobair, 
'Dol  fo  smachd  do  chrois-tara, 
'Nuair  bhiodh  d'  ardan  a  direadh. 
Sud  na  curaidh  gun  sgath, 
'Nam  gabhdair'  'ga  dhioladh 
Dh'  fhagadh  cuirp  air  an  laraich — 
Fuil  'fasgadh  's  i  Violadh. 

Marcaich  treun  nan  each  uaibhreach  I 

Ann  an  cruadal  na  'n  gabhdair, 

An  geall-ruith  na  leum 

Bu  leat  fein  am  buaidh-larach. 

'S  math  thig  ad  agus  cleoc  dhuit, 

Mar  ri  botan  's  spuir  airgid  ; 

Bu  lein'-chrios  do  Righ  Deors'  thu, 

'Na  am  comhdach'  nam  fear-ghleus. 

Righ  !  bu  mhath  thig  dhuit  seasamh. 

An  lathair  seisean  na  binne, 

A'  chumail  a'  cheartais, 

'S  a'  chur  as  do  luchd  mhi-ruin. 

Bu  cho  chinnte  l<mm  d'  fhacal, 

'S  ged  a  ghlaiste  le  h-mk  e, 

Learn  is  cinnte  do  dhachaidh, 

Ann  am  Flathais  na  ftrinn. 

Tha  do  bhaile  gun  smuid  de — 
E  gun  sunnd  gun  cheol-gaire, 
Tha  na  dorsan  ann  duinte, 
Cha  n-eil  suird  ann  mar  b'  abhaist ; 
'S  bochd  learn  gaoir  do  chuid  tuath', 
Mar  threud  fuadan  am  fasach, 
Co  bith  fear  ni  am  bualadh, 
Co  a  thuainigeas  cas  dhaibh. 


Badenoch  Songs.  171 

Bha  'fhasan  dha  d'  theaghlach, 
'Bhi  gu  graoiueachail  pairteach, 
Uasal,  cinneadail.  caoimhneil, 
Mor-sgoinn  do  luchd  danachd  : 
Ceir  a'  lasadh  an  coinnleirean, 
'S  fhaide  oidhch'  aig  do  cheatharnaich, 
'S  iad  'g  61  air  fion  daithte, 
As  na  casgaichean  dear-Ian. 

Gheibhte  sud  ann  do  chlobhs', 
Fonn  piob'  agus  clarsaich, 
Mac-talla  'g  am  freagairt, 
Fuaim  f  head  an  gun  aireamh. 
'Nuair  sgaoileadh  tu  d'  bhratach, 
Chite  cat  ann  gu  h-arda ; 
'S  'n  uair  a  dh'  fhaicte  a  mach  i, 
Gum  bu  leats'  am  buaidh-larach. 

Cha  teid  mise  gu  coinneamh, 
L&  Nolluig  na  Samhna, 
'S  cha  teid  mi  measg  cuideachd, 
'S  ann  a  shuidheas  mi  'n  aon  aite. 
Bho  nach  tigeadh  an  Tighearn, 
JS  e  bhi  rithisd  na  shlainte  : 
Cha  bhiodh  feum  air  an  lighich, 
'S  bhiodh  sinn  dithis  dhe  sabhailt'. 

Cha  b'  e  crionach  na  coille, 
Bha  'san  doire  'san  d'  fhas  thu, 
Ach  na  gallanan  priseil, 
'Fhuair  direadh  gu  'n  ailgheas. 
Mur  gearrt'  iad,  cha  sniomht'  iad, 
Gus  an  spionta  gu  lar  iad  : 
Craobh  de  'n  chuilionn  nach  crionadh, 
'S  ioma  freumh  bha  gu  'n  arach. 

An  Tigh  Chluainidh  nam  bratach, 
Bithidh  gach  aiteal  mar  b'  abhaist, 
Tha  a'  ghrian  oirnn  a'  soillseadh, 
,'S  tha  an  t-oighre  an  lathair. 
Oighre  dligheach  an  fhearainn, 
Tha  'na  leanabh  an  drasda. 
Saoghal  buan  an  deagh  bheatha, 
An  ait'  d'  athar,  gu  brath  duit ! 


172  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

m. 

Mr  John  Macdonald,  the  well-known  tacksman  of  Garvamore' 
—Iain  Ban  a'  Gharbha — died  in  1830,  and  has  been  com- 
memorated in  more  than  one  elegy.  That  hereinafter  set  forth 
was  composed  by  his  old  and  fast  friend,  Captain  Macpherson, 
Biallid.  Both  these  tacksmen  were  esteemed  in  their  day  as 
among  the  best  of  countrymen ;  and  it  is  pleasant  to  observe  that 
their  descendants  are  represented  in  jjie  county,  in  the  persons  of 
Mr  and  Mrs  Macpherson  of  Corriemony.  For  these  verses  I  am 
indebted  to  my  excellent  friend,  the  late  Father  Coll,  Fort- 
Augustus  : — 

A  High  !  gur  diomain  an  saoghal, 

'S  ioma  mealladh  a 's  faoineis  a  th'  ami ; 

Mar  ueul  's  e  'caocliladh, 

Theid  fhuadach  's  a  sgaoileadh  na  dheann. 

Mar  cheathach  an  aonaich, 

Air  a  sgapadh  le  gaoith  bharr  nam  beann, 

'S  ionann  sin  a  's  clann-daoine, 

Gun  fhios  thig  an  t-aog  aig  gach  am. 

Fhuair  mi  sgeula,  's  bu  shearh  e, 

Chaidh  mo  leirsinn  gu  h-anmhimnachd  le  bron, 

Gun  <T  eug  Fear  a'  Gharbha, 

Mo  chreach-leir  tha  e  dearbhta  gu  leoir. 

Ach  ma  chaidh  thu  air  falbh  uainn, 

Ged  a  shiubhlainn  leth  Alb'  agus  corr ; 

Cha-n  fhaic  mi  'n  coimieainh  no  'n  armailt, 

Fear  do  bheusan,  do  dhealbh,  a  's  do  neoil. 

Dhomhsa  b'  aithne  do  bheusan, 

Bha  thu  ciuin  mar  ghath  greine  tre  che6 ; 

Bha  thu  ascaoin  na  'm  b'  fheudar, 

'S  ann  a'  d  aodann  a  dh'  eireadh  an  colg. 

'S  tu  chaisgeadh  an  eucoir, 

'S  a  sheasadh  gu  treun  leis  a'  choir ; 

A  's  cha  ghabhadh  tu  deis-laimh, 

Bho  fhear  a  thug  ceum  ann  am  br6ig. 

. 

Bu  tu  deadh  fhear-an-tighe, 
JS  ann  a  bhitheadh  an  caitheamh  mu  d'  bhord  ; 
Bu  tu  poitear  na  dibhe, 
'N  uair  a  tharladh  dhuit  suidhe  's  tigh-osd'. 


Baden och  Songs.  173- 

Bha  thu  fialaidh — 's  bu  dligheach, 

Bha  thu  'shiolach  nan  cridheachan  mor ; 

A'  d'  cheann-riaghailt  air  buidheann, 

'S  ami  bha  'chiall  ann  am  bruidhinn  do  bhe6il. 

Bu  tu  sealgair  a'  mbonaidh, 

'S  ro  mhaith  dhireadh  tu  mullach  nan  sron ; 

Le  do  chuilbheir  's  maith  ctimadh, 

'S  trie  a  leag  thu  air  uilinn  fear-croic'. 

'S  an  am  dol  air  thurus, 

B'  e  do  mhiann  paidhir  chuileanaii  borb  ; 

Bu  tu  an  t-iasgair  air  buinne, 

Le  do  mhorbha  geur  guineach  a'  d'  dhorn. 

Faodaidh  'n  eilid  's'an  ruadh-bhoc, 

'S  an  damh  mullaich,.  bhi  uallach  's  an  fhrith, 

Tha  'm  bradan  tarra-gheal  a'  cluaineis, 

Feadh  shruthaibh  a  's  chuartaig  gun  ggios. 

Tha  do  mhial-choin  a'  bruadar 

Bhi  's  a'  gharbhlaich  a'  ruagadh  an  fheidh, 

Tha  na  h-armaibh  fo  ruadh-mheirg, 

'S  lamh  gu  'n  dearbhadh  's  an  uaigh  o  cheann  tim. 

'S  ann  bha  'n  aoidh  ann  a'd  aodann, 

;S  trie  a  rinn  thu  rium  faoilte,  'fhir  mhoir  ! 

'S  trie  a  ghlac  thu  air  laimh  mi, 

'S  bhiodh  d'  fhuran  a  's  d'  fhailte  'ua  lorg. 

'S  trie  a  ruisg  mi  mo  bheachd  riut, 

'N  uair  bhiodh  smuairean  no  airtneal  'gam  leon, 

'S  chuireadh  sugradh  do  chnacais, 

Air  chul  gach  aon  acaid  bhiodh  orm. 

Gura  cruaidh  learn  do  chlann, 

'Bhi  fo  mhulad,  fo  champar,  's  fo  bhron ; 

Dh'  fhalbh  an  taice  's  iad  fann  de, 

0  'n  chaireadh  do  cheann-sa  fo  'n  fh6id. 

Nam  biodh  eiridh  's  a'  Cheapaieh, 

'S  gu'n  eighteadh  na  gaisgich  fo  'n  t-srol, 

Gu'n  robh  leus  air  a'  bhrataich, 

Fear  cho  treun  's  a  bha  ac'  bhi  fo  'm  fh6id. 

Ach  's  e  tha  mi  ag  acain, 

Thu  bhi  nis  anns  an  Lagan  a'  tamh, 

Air  do  dhuineadh  fo  leacan, 

'S  nach  didsg  thu  's  a'  mhaduinn  bho  d'  phramh. 


174  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'S  e  mo  dhiubhail  mar  thachair, 

Thu  bin  's  an  iiir  an  tasgaidh  a'  cnarnh  ; 

Fhir  n.o  ruin  a  bha  smachdail, 

Nach  do  chuir  culaobh  ri  caraid  no  namh. 


IV. 

This  is  an  ode  in  celebration  of  James  Stewart,  who  resided  at 
Ruthven,  and  appears  to  have  been  baron -bailie  for  the  Duke  of 
Gordon,  about  the  year  17GO.  We  l^S-rn  that,  like  many  another 
popular  Highland  gentleman,  he  fell  into  financial  difficulties,  and 
had  gone  abroad.  Giorsal  \vas  his  sister.  The  author  of  this  ode 
is  said  to  have  been  Duncan  Mackay,  Ardbroilach — Dunnach 
Gobha — whose  elegy  on  the  "  Loss  of  Gaick"  brought  him  into 
fame. 

Beir  mo  shoraidh  so  bhuam, 

Gum  beil  doran  is  gruaiin  orm  fein, 

Tre  mo  dhiochain  's  gach  uair, 

Air  an  iarla  ghlan,  uasal,  reidh ; 

Dha  'm  beil  onoir  mo  chleoc, 

'S  e  gun  sgarrn,  gun  bhosd,  gun  bhreig, 

Kis  an  earbainn  mo  chluain, 

Ged  bhiodh  ceannsgalach  sluaigh  mu  'sgeith. 

An  tigh  geal  'sam  biodh  'n  fhuaim, 

'S  na  clair  mhear  air  am  buailt  an  teud, 

Le  ceol  farumach,  cruaidh — 

Na  meoir  gheal  a  bu  luaith'  's  a  chleir ; 

Air  an  tarruing  bho  d'  chluais, 

Mhic  na  maise  !  mo  thruaigh  an  te, 

Ghabhas  beachd  air  do  shnuadh, 

'S  nach  fhaigh  dhachaidh  thu  buan  dhi  fein. 

'Bharr  air  maise  gun  uaill, 

Gabh  do  chleachdainnibh  suairce,  fein, 

Sar-bhall  seirc  an  dith  gruaidh  ! 

'S  tearc  ri  fhaicinn  do  luach  air  feill. 

Tha  ctil  buidh'  ort  mar  or, 

Air  an  suidhich  bean-og  a  speis, 

Taobh  do  chleamhnan  air  choir, 

'S  gheibh  thu  airgiod  is  or  gun  deidh. 

'S  beag  an  t-ioghna  learn  or, 

A  bhi  sinte  ri  moisean  ceil, 

Aig  an  sinnsir  bu  chdir, 

'Bhi  'g  61  fion  air  a'  bhord  mu  'cheir. 


Badenoch  Songs-  175 

Full  an  High  's  Mhic-an-Toisich 
Air  an  linigeadh  be6  'n  ad  chre ; 
'S  tha  thu  dileas  do  'n  t-seors'— 
Cho  glan  Violadh,  's  tha  'm  feoil  fo  'n  ghrein. 

'S  nam  faigheadh  Giorsal  bho  'n  stol, 

Fear  a  lionadh  a  cleoc  's  gach  ceum, 

Bu  sgiath  e  air  mod, 

Chuireadh  srian  ann  an  sron  luchd-beud  ; 

Fear  a  thogadh  a  sunnd — 

Mar  iiach  lionar  na  duthaich  fein — 

A  lioiiadh  a  suil — 

'S  fear  a  mile  dha  'n  lub  a'  gheug. 

'S  fhir  mu  'n  ionndraich  mi  'n  tus  ! 

'S  leathan,  lionar,  do  chul  ri  feum, 

'S  truagh  gun  rian  air  do  chul, 

'S  d'  airgiod  deant'  aig  an  Diuc  gun  fheum  : 

Ruathainn  sgriobhta  bho  'ghrunnd, 

Tighinn  gu  cis  gu  d'  dhuthaich  fein ; 

Agus  Righ  oirnn  as  ur, 

'S  bhiodh  gach  ni  Sheumais  Stiubhairt  reidh. 


v. 

This  elegy  is  said  to  have  been  composed  upon  a  member  of 
the  Balnespick  family,  who  was  lost  at  sea.  Dunnach  Gobha  is 
understood  to  have  been  the  author. 

JS  mor  pudhar  na  gaoithe, 
Fad  an  t-saoghail  gu  leir, 
'Ghaoth  thainig  Di-h-aoine, 
'S  i  chaochail  mo  sgeul ; 
Dh'  fhag  i  aobhar  nan  ochan, 
Aig  luchd  nam  portaibh  gu  leir, 
Air  fad  Eurann  is  Bhreatunn 
Bha  'n  eigh-creach  'ga  sheinn. 

Ach  aon  duin'  tha  mi  'gearain, 

Dhe  na  chaillear  's  a  chuan, 

Cha  bhiodh  mo  chlann-sa  gun  charaid, 

Nam  bu  mhairinn  e  buan. 

Ach  a'  Righ  Mhoir  nan  aingeal ! 

Glac  an  anam-sa  suas  ; 

Na  leig  orm  do  ainiochd, 

Bi  gu  trocaireach,  tairis  ri  d'  shluagh. 


176  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Ubh  !  ubh  !  a  dhaoine  ! 

Nach  aobhar  smuaineach'  is  br6in  ; 

An  ti  a  dh'  fhalbh  bhtiainn  Di-h-aome, 

Sughail,  aotrom  gu  leoir  ; 

A'  bhi  'n  innis  nani  faochag, 

'S  nach  faodar  dhe  'choir  ; 

'S  ioma  ni  tha  'cur  aois  oirnn, 

'S  ioiiia  caochladh  'tighinn  oirnn. 

Tha  do  bhraithrean  's  do  phiuthar, 

Trom,  dubhach,  fo  bhron, 

'S  iad  a  chaoidh  'ga  do  chumhadh, 

'S  cha  bhi  iad  subhach  ri  'm  beo. 

Tha  do  chinncadh  mor,  laidir, 

Trom  craiteach  gach  16, 

Bho  'n  a  chual'  iad  gu  'n  d'  bhait'  thu, 

An  cuan  barcach  nan  seol. 

Ach  's  truagh  nach  miso  bha  laimh  riut, 

Mu  'n  do  sgain  i  fo  bhord  ; 

'S  nan  robh  tir  faisg  air  laimh  oirnn, 

Dheanainn  d'  shabhaladh  beo. 

Tha  do  chinneadh  gu  h-iomlan, 

Fo  imcheist,  Ian  broin, 

Mu  do  bhi  amis  an  luma-dheirg, 

Measg  uile-bhiast  is  ron. 

Dh'  fhalbh  lob  le  chuid  mhacaibh, 

Le  'uile  bheartas  is  ni, 

'S  rinn  e  aodach  a  shracadh, 

'S  spion  e  'm  fait  bharr  a  chinn  ; 

Laidh  e  sios  air  an  oidhch', 

'S  thubhairt  e,  "  'S  coisrigt'  an  Ti, 

A  thug  dhomh  gach  ni  taitneach, 

'S  ghabh  air  aia  bhuam  e  ris." 

Thug  e  treis  ami  am  bochdainn, 
'Na  chulaidh-fhochaid  's  an  tir, 
Gun  neach  'threoraicheadh  'fhocal, 
Na  bheireadh  deoch  dha  's  e  tinn ; 
Ach  as  sin  fhuair  e  urram, 
Bho  gach  duine  dhiubh  ris, 
'S  chinn  e  'n  storas  gun  chumadh, 
'S  fhuair  e  oighribh,  urram,  is  miadh. 


Baden  och  Songs.  177 


VI. 

This  elegy  was  composed  by  the  late  Mr  Donald  Macrae, 
banker  and  writer,  Kingussie,  upon  his  wife,  Christina  Stewart, 
who  died  within  a  year  of  their  marriage. 

Cha  n'  eil  dhe  na  bhliadhna, 
Deich  miosan  air  falbh, 
Bho  fhuair  mi  coir  air  mo  leannain, 
'S  bha  i  ceanalta'  an  dealbh. 
Thug  mise  mo  ghaol  dhi, 
'S  bha  i  aonda  gun  chearb  ; 
Bha  i  siobhalta,  suairce, 
'S  cha  chualas  a  fearg. 

Cha  robh  ann  mo  run-sa 
Aon  smuain  's  an  robh  giamh ; 
Cha  robh  ann  do  chridhe 
Aon  sireadh  nach  b'  fhiach. 
Bha  d'  inntinn  cho  saor  dhomh, 
'S  bha  i  'taomadh  le  ciall ; 
Bu  tu  caraid  an  fheumnaich, 
Cha  do  threig  thu  e  riamh. 

'S  beag  mo  shunnd  ri  thighinn  dhachaidh, 

'S  cha  ;n  eil  mo  thlachd  's  an  tigh-osd' ; 

Ged  a  theid  mi  air  astar, 

Cha  'n  eil  taitneas  ann  dhomhs'. 

Cha  'n  fhaigh  mi  toil-inn tinn, 

Ged  a  chruinnicheadh  mo  stor  ; 

Cha  n'  eil  ann  's  an  t-saoghal, 

Ach  faoineas  is  sgleo. 

A'  cheud  la  chunnaic  mi  'n  tus  thu, 
Thug  mi  run  dhuit  gun  dail, 
Dh'  aithnich  mise  le  firinn, 
Nach  robh  sith  dhomh  gu  brath. 
Mur  fhaighinn  coir  air  a'  mhaighdein, 
Nach  robh  m'  aoibhneas  aig  each ; 
Fhuair  thu  'n  t-urram,  's  tu  thoill  e, 
Bha  do  shoillse  gun  smal. 

Bu  bhoidheach  rugha  do  ghruaidhean, 
'S  ann  bha  'n  t-suairce  'n  ad  ghnuis, 
B'  ainneamh  samhladh  do  bhilean, 
Du'  ghorm,  cridheil,  do  shuil ; 

12 


178  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Mala  chaol  air  deadh  chumadh, 
A'  cumail  oirr'  dian  ; 
Slios  mar  chanach  's  a'  Cheitein, 
'Fas  leis  fhein  air  an  t-sliabh. 

'S  mi  'nam  shineadh  air  m'  uilinn, 
Fo  mhulad  's  fo  bbron, 
Tha  mo  shuilean  gun  sireadh, 
A'  sileadh  nan  deoir.        ^ 
Cha  'n  fhaic  mi  mar  b'  abhaist, 
Mo  ghradh  tighinn  'am  choir ; 
B'  eibhinn,  aighearach,  dileas, 
A  Christina  !  do  phog. 

C'  ait'  an  robh  ann  's  an  duthaich, 
A  thigeadh  dluth  air  mo  run  1 
Ann  am  buaidhean  's  an  giulan, 
Fhuair  thu  cliu  bho  gach  aon. 
Ard-mheangan  a'  lubadh 
Le  meas  ur  air  gach  taobh, 
'S  fuil  rioghail  nan  Stiubhart, 
'Kuith  an  duthchas  's  a'  chraoibh. 

Ged  a  theid  rni  do  'n  leabaidh, 
Cha  n'eil  mo  chadal  ann  buan ; 
Fad  na  h-oidhche  gu  maduinn, 
Tha  do  chagar  'nam  chluais. 
Bidh  mi  bronach  a'  dusgadh, 
'S  e  mo  dhiubhail  ri  luaidh  ; 
Nach  cluinn  mi  do  ghaire, 
Mar  a  b'  abhaist,  gun  ghruaim. 

Cha  'n  ioghnadh  mar  tha  mi, 

Chaidh  mo  ghradh  chuir  fo  'n  fh6id ; 

Mus  gann  a  fhuair  mi  air  laimh  i, 

Rinn  i  m'  fhagail  fo  leon. 

Ach  ged  'dhealaich  am  bas  sinn, 

Tha  ar  Slanuighear  beo ; 

'S  tha  mi  'n  duil  ann  an  am  math, 

Gu'n  cuir  thu  failt  orm  'an  gloir. 

VII. 

A  poor  crofter  in  these  verses  gives  an  affecting  little  picture 
of  domestic  sorrow. 


Badenoch  Songs.  179 

Naile  !  's  mise  tha  gun  aighear, 
Fo  mhi-ghean  a  dh'  oidhch'  '5.  a  latha, 
Gun  toil-inntinn  'tha  fo'n  adhar, 
Bho  chuir  iad  's  an  uir  mo  dheadh  bhean-tighe. 

E  !  ho  !  mo  dhiubhail  fo'n  fhod, 
Fo  ruighe  nam  bord, 
Ho  !  gur  mis'  tha  gun  aighear  fo  leon, 
Mu  do  dheidhinn. 

Naile  !  's  mise  tha  fo  mhi-ghean, 
Gar  'n  diun  mi  'chach  'innseadh, 
Mi  bhi  'cuimhnach'  ort,  a  mhmeag  ! 
'S  thu  bhi  do  laidhe  'n  Clachan  na  sgireachd. 

Naile  !  's  mise  tha  gun  aiteas, 
'S  mi  bhi  'thamh  an  so  an  Clachaig, 
Bho  nach  tigeadh  thusa  dhachaidh, 
A  shealltuinn  air  do  phaisdean  laga. 

Bha  da  ghruaidh  dhearg  ort  mar  an  siris, 
Beul  is  binne  bho'n  tigeadh  iorram, 
Cul  do  chinn  air  dhreach  an  fhithich, 
Is  gun  d'  thug  mi  dhuit  run  mo  chridhe. 

Phos  mi  thu  le  deoin  gun  aindeoin, 
Gun  toil  ath'r,  no  math'r,  no  caraid, 
Rug  thu  dhomhs'  do  sheachdnar  macan, 
:S  do  nighean  6g  's  cha  d'  fhaod  thu  'h-altrum. 

VIII. 

I  do  not  think  any  words  of  mine  are  necessary  to  make  this 
waggish  lilt  as  intelligible  as  it  was  intended  to  be. 

Goirtean  nam  Broighleag ! 
Sgiot  e  mo  theaghlach, 
Chuir  e  mo  choirmeamh, 

B'  fhaide  na  'm  iul. 
Dh'  fhalbh  an  damh  ban, 
'S  dh'  flralbh  an  damh  riobhach ; 
Dh'  falbh  iad  uile, 
Bho  'n  theirig  am  biadh  dhaibh. 
Goirtean  na  dunaich ! 
Dar  chunnaic  mi  riamh  e, 
Goirtean  nam  Broighleag, 

Thachair  e  rium. 


180  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Goirtean  nam  Broighleag  ! 
Agus  Fear  Eadarais, 

Thachair  iad  riurn, 
'S  gun  thachair  mo  sheic  rium. 
Dh'  fhalbh  an  t-each  ban 
'Dhianadh  an  uir  dhomh  ; 
Mairi  a  baile, 
'S  e  dhianadh  a  giulan. 
Goirtean  na  dunaich  !  *fec. 

IX. 

The  above  remark  surely  applies  to  this  case. 

De  ni  mi  gun  leine  ghlain, 

Guu  leine  ghlain,  gun  leine  ghlain ; 

De  ni  mi  gun  leine  ghlain, 

'S  mi  dol  as  a'  bhaile  maireach. 

Tha  tigh  agam,  tha  bean  agam, 
'S  am  burn  aig  ceann  an  tigh  agam, 
Tha  punnd  do  shiabunn  geal  agam, 
Is  leine  shalach  ghrad'  orm. 

'Nuair  thug  mi  dhi  gu  nigheadh  i, 
'S  ami  thoisich  i  ri  bruidhinn  rium ; 
'S  an  uair  a  fhuair  mi  rithist  i, 
Bu  mhios'  i  na  mar  bha  i. 

x. 

The  rats  and  mice  which  infested  Highland  homesteads  were- 
supposed  to  be  particularly  susceptible  to  bardic  satire.  That  is 
to  say,  they  could  not  endure  it.  The  most  audacious  and 
persistent  mouse  quailed  under  a  sarcastic  rhyme,  and  hurriedly 
made  tracks  for  pastures  new.  The  playful  effusion  here  given 
contains  nothing  very  scathing.  In  my  note  book  it  is  entitled — 
Aoireadh,  le  Alasdair  Catanach,  an  Saor  Ruadh,  anns  a'  Chreagan, 
'n  uair  bha  e  fuadach  nan  luch  bho  sabhal  Bhiallaid.  While 
banishing  the  unwelcome  tribe  to  Drumuachdar,  he  condescends 
to  wheedle  them  with  promises  of  luxuries  there  in  store  ! 

Ma  ghabhas  sibh  mo  comhairl',  luchan  ! 

Tmisidh  sibh  oirbh  's  bidh  sibd  falbh. 
Ma  theid  mise  'ga  n-ur  aoireadh, 

Cha  bhi  aon  agaibh  gun  chearb. 


Badenoch  Songs.  181 

-Cha'n  'eil  cat  eadar  Ruathainn, 

'S  braigh  Chluainidh  nach  bi  sealg. 
'S  aim  an  sabhal  Sandy  Ban, 

Ghearr  sibh  an  snath  as  a'  bhalg. 

'N  sin  dar  thubhairt  an  Inch  mhor  's  a  'freagairt, 

•'  Stad  beag  ort,  a  shaoidh  oig, 
'S  eagal  learn  gun  gabh  thu  miotblachd, 

Rinn  mi  di-chuimbn'  ann  am  fhrog. 
'S  peacach  dhuit  mo  chuir  a  balla, 

'S  cur  is  cathadh  ri  mo  shroin ; 
'S  mi  gun  fhios  a'm  ceana  theid  mi — 

'S  ioma  beum  a  gheibh  mo  sheors." 

Innsidh  mis'  dbuit  ceana  theid  sibh, 

'S  ioma  gleus  tha  air  a'  bhord. 
Ruigibh  am  fear  mor  'san  Spideal, 

'S  gheibh  sibh  liocair  ann  gu  leor. 
Ithibh  's  olaibh  n-ur  teannath, 

Ged  a  ghearradh  sibh  'chuid  bhr6g ; 
Dhiult  e  dhomh  oidhch'  mo  dhinneir, 

Ged  a  phaidhinn  gini  oir. 

Gabhaidh  sibh  'n  rathad  air  n-ur  athais, 

Bidh  sibh  'n  ath  6idhch'  an  Gleann-Truim, 
Tur  ruigidh  sibh  clobhs'  Dail-Choinmmh, 

'S  ann  an  sud  bhios  an  cruinneachadh  grinn. 
'H-uile  te  le  dronnag-eallaich, 

An  deidh  dealachdainn  rium  fhin  ; 
'Dol  a'  shealltuinn  an  fhir  ghallda, 

'Chuir  cuid  Ailein  gu  dith. 

XI. 

The  Saor  Ruadh  once  upon  a  time  having  got  the  loan  of  a 
horse  from  Lachlan  Mackenzie,  am  post  ban — a  far-seeing  man 
who  refused  to  accompany  the  Black  Officer  to  Gaick  on  the  plea 
of  illness — after  bringing  home  a  heavy  load  of  deals  with  the 
help  of  the  good  grey  gearraii,  thus  expressed  his  approbation  of 
that  plucky  creature's  exertions  on  his  behalf. 

Eich  ghuirm  bha  'n  Allt-lairidh, 
'S  ioma  ait  eile  bharr  air, 
Gur  fheairde  mis'  an  lad, 

Thug  thu  'n  airde  dhomh  gun  chunntadh. 


182  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

0  !  theid  mi  dhacbaidh  leat, 

'S  bu  bheud  sud  mur  tachradh  e, 

A'  shealltninn  air  Lachlatm, 

A  mhic  a'  chapuill  ahunndaich  ! 

Ged  chuirinn  ceithir  dusan  ort, 

Na  'n  cairinn  iad  's  gun  trusainn  iad 

Gun  siubhladh  tu  gu  h-uchdarach, 

'S  an  cuip  cha  bhiodh  ty,  'g  ionndrain, 

Gur  mise  bhios  bronach, 

'Nuair  chluinneas  mi  nach  beo  thu, 

Cha  toir  mi  'choin  na  Sroin'  thu, 

Theid  cisd  nam  bord  mu  'm  chursan. 

Ged  thubhairt  am  Post  Ban  riut — 
Bho  'n  's  e  ainm  a  thuigeas  each  e : 
De  Clanna  Choinnich  tha  thu, 

'S  bi  Salaich  ort  a'  cunntadh. 


A  crapulous  age  has  left  its  traces  in  Gaelic  poetry  as  else- 
where. But  it  was  long  before  the  bards  would  condescend  to 
mention  in  their  verses  any  less  gentlemanly  potion  than  the  red 
wine  of  France.  It  is  now  perhaps  impossible  to  discover  when  it 
was  that  whisky  fairly  ousted  wine  and  ale  from  popular  favour  in 
the  Highlands.  We  know  that  smuggling — i.e.,  illicit  distillation 
— became  general  among  tacksmen,  crofters,  and  cottars.  The 
bothie  was  a  mystic  shrine  of  Bacchus — the  "black  pot"  his 
symbol.  The  vessels,  great  and  small,  from  the  cask  to  the  glass, 
utilised  in  connection  with  the  exhilarating  nectar,  were  each 
regarded  as  a  sort  of  fetish.  In  this  ditty,  the  poit-dubh  is 
addressed  as  a  bride.  The  scene  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
Garvamore.  We  are  afforded  a  peep  at  the  "still"  in  full 
operation.  The  btream  of  cold  water  flows  freely  over  the  pipes, 
and  the  assembled  company  watch  the  proceedings,  not  without 
shadowy  thoughts  of  Nemesis,  in  the  person  of  the  Exciseman — 
am  Belleach. 

Bean  na  bainnse,  h6  !  h\ ! 

Hathaill  u !  hathaill  6  ! 
'S  i  bean  og  a'  chuil  duinn, 

Bidh  na  suinu  leat  ag  61. 


Baden och  Songs.  183- 

Tha  'bhean-6g  arm  an  cuil, 

Faile  cubhraidh  bho  'str6n. 
Chan  'eil  gaidsear  fo  'n  chrun, 

Nach  bi  dluth  air  a  t6ir. 

Thig  am  Belleaoh  mu  'n  cuairt, 
Gheibh  e  'm  bruaich  a'  bhean  6g ; 

Bheir  e  'n  collar  dhi  's  a  chuairt, 
Falbhaidh  buannachd  an  st6ip. 

Nam  faiceadh  sibh-s'  Iain  Ban, 

Botul  Ian  ann  a  dhorn, 
Chan  'eil  fear  thig  mu  'n  cuairt, 

Nach  fhaigh  cuach  thar  a'  chbir. 

Tha  'bhean-6g  air  a'  chuan, 

Sruth  mu  'guaillean  gu  leoir, 
Chan  'eil  gaidsear  fo  'n  chrun, 

Nach  bi  null  air  a  t6ir. 

Ge  m6r  agaibhs'  an  tea, 

B'  ait  learn  fhin  a'  bhi  'g  61 
Glain  do  'n  gharbh-ghucaig  mhin, 

Thogadh  m'  inntinn  bho  bhr6n. 

Fear  a'  Gharbha  so  shuas, 
Chuir  air  chuan  a'  bhean  6g. 

XIII. 

A  busy  miller  plying  his  work,  upstairs  and  downstairs  and 
out  and  in,  may  be  heard  grumbling  and  humming  throughout 
these  strains,  wherein  one  seems  to  hear,  too,  the  noise  of  the 
clapper,  the  pour  of  the  water,  and  the  creaking  of  the  old 
machinery. 

H6r6  ro  !  is  hiri  mobha  ! 

H6r6  no  !  is  hiri  mugh  !  &c. 

Tha  'ghaoth  mh6r  air  an  uinneig, 

Learn  is  coma  co  dhiubh, 
Ged  a  bheireadh  i  leatha, 

Gruid  loibheach  dhubh  nach  fiu. 

Eadar  chais'  agus  acfhuinn, 

Eadar  amar  agus  burn, 
Eadar  draghaid  agus  claban, 

Agus  chlachan  agus  chlud. 


184  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

Ach  na  'n  tigeadh  an  Samhradh. 

Gu  'n  rachainn-sa  air  m'  iul, 
Do  thalamh  Mhic-Dhomhnuill, 

Gheall  e  dhomh-sa  muileann  ur, 

Far  am  faighte  na  mnathau, 
Air  a'  bhraigheann  gu  dluth, 

Far  am  faight'  am  bonnach-gradain, 
'S  im  an  taice  ri  'tha<flbh. 


XIV. 

This  animated  duologue  took  place  between  two  worthies  of 
the  Clan  Mhuiricb.  It  is  only  necessary  to  add  that  the  Mr  Blair 
mentioned  was  minister  of  Kingussie  for  the  greater  part  of  last 
century. 

H6 !  Calum  Figheadair, 

Le  'leannanan  's  le  'nigheanan, 
H6  !  Calum  Figheadair, 
Tha  mi-altradh  an  dan  da. 

"  Dh'  fhighinn-se  mar  dh'  fhuaghaila'  tu," 

Thubhairt  Calum  Figheadair  ; 
"Dh'  fhuaghailinn-se  mar  dh'  fhigheadh  tu," 

Thubhairt  Calum  Tailear. 

•'  'S  mise  Calum  'B  fhearr  tha  ann," 

Thubhairt  Calum  Figheadair ; 
"  Tha  thu  briagach  anns  a  cheann," 

Thubhairt  Calum  Tailear. 

"  Gheibh  mi  bean  bho  Mr  Blair," 

Thubhairt  Calum  Figheadair  : 
"  'N  i  chaileag  air  am  beil  an  spag  V  k 

Thubhairt  Calum  Tailear. 

"  'S  ioma  Calum  tha  sinn  ann," 

Thubhairt  Calum  Figheadair ; 
"  Calum  dubh  is  Calum  cam." 

Thubhairt  Calum  Tailear. 


xv. 

Miss  Barbara  Macpherson  of  Ralia,  a  witty  spinster  of  good 
family,  composed  this  jeu  d1  esprit  when  fulling  a  certain  web  of 
cloth,  about  the  beginning  of  the  century.  I  took  it  down  from 
one  who  had  been  in  the  service  of  the  merry  old  lady. 


Badenoch  Songs.  185 

Mo  chlolan  dubh,  a  thaobh  !  a  hu  ! 
Chan  'eil  e  tiugh  's  tha  fallus  air. 

Mo  chlolan  dubh,  a  thaobh  !  a  ho. 

'N  uair  bhioe  mo  chlolan  fighte,  luaidhte, 
Gheibh  Fear  Chluainidh  falluinn  dhe. 

Tha  fear-taca  Ghasga-mh6ir, 
An  ro-gheall  air  earvan  dhe. 

Bheir  sinn  cot'  dha  Caiptean  Clare  dhe, 
Bho  'n  tha  gradh  nan  caileag  dha. 

Bheir  sinn  deis'  dha  Caiptean  Bhiallaid, 
Ged  bhiodh  sianar  falamh  dhe. 

'S  bheir  mi  c6t'  dha  Robaidh  Bhiallaid, 
'G  a  fhiachainn  anns  a'  Ghearrasdan. 

Chuirinn  earrann  thar  a'  chuan, 
Gu  daoin'-uails'  a  dhealaich  ruinn. 

Bheir  sinn  briogais  dha  na  Ghreumach, 
A  righ  fein  !  gum  meal  e  i. 

Ach  cha  teid  snathainn  gu  Noid-mhoir  dhe, 
Gus  an  geall  e  banais  dhuinn. 

Fear  an  Lagain,  's  duine  coir  e, 
Ach  gabh-s'  an  clo  ni  Ealsaid. 

Tha  daoine-uailse  an  Dun-Eidinn, 
Bhios  dheigh-laimh  ma  dh'  fhanas  iad. 

XVI. 

This  pathetic  fragment  is  part  of  an  elegy  by  Captain  Andrew 
Macpherson  of  Ralia,  upon  the  death  of  a  comrade  and  Ms  brother, 
who  belonged  to  the  old  Breakachy  family  figuring  in  the  history 
of  the  '45.  Captain  Andrew  and  Miss  Barbara,  his  sister,  were  of 
the  later  Breakachy  family,  styled  in  their  time  as  of  Ralia. 

Righ  !  gur  mor  mo  chuis  mhulaid, 

Gar  n-urra  mi  'luaidh, 

Mu  Eoghann  's  mu  dh-Iain, 

Da  chridhe  gun  ghruaim. 

'S  trie  a  bheum  do  lamh  teine, 

Taobh  Loch  Eireachd  so  shuas, 

Leis  a'  ghunna  nach  diultadh, 

'S  leis  an  fhudar  chaol,  chruaidh. 


186  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Gur  e  'm  fear  a  tha  'cainnt  ort, 
Caiptean  Aindrea  'n  Ra'-Leith. 

XVII. 

Alasdair  Ban  Macdouald,  piper  and  carpenter,  who  resided  at 
Lagganlia,  in  the  parish  of  Alvie,  was  the  author  of  this  spirited 
hunting  song.  One  acquainted  with  Braemar  could  no  doubt 
identify  the  places  mentioned.  ^ 

Och  !  is  ( ch  !  mar  tha  mi, 

'S  mi  'bhi  'm  aonar  'siubhal  fasaich, 

'S  gur  e  nabuidh  a  chleachd  mi. 
'Siubhal  gach  stuc  is  cul  gaoh  cnocain, 
Clais  gach  allt  is  gleann  'gam  beachdach', 

Gus  an  d'  fhas  mi  diubh  seachd  sglth. 

Mach  Coire  Ghunntail  is  stigh  na  Glaiseachan, 
'S  Creag  Phadruig,  cha  b'  i  b'  fhasa, 

Mu  'n  deach  mi  crosgach  air  a  druim, 
Air  a  culaobh  thachair  mi  's  na  seoid  ud, 
'S  iad  ag  ionaltradh  aii  a'  mhointeich, 
JS  le  ceart  de6in  chaidh  mi  'nan  comhdhail, 

Ach  an  comhnaidh  dol  fo  thuim. 

Thug  mi  'ghruagach  mach  a  fasgadh, 

Stiuir  mi  i  ri  lagan  m'  achlais', 

'S  cha  dubhairt  mi  rithe  ach  aon  fhacal, 

Dar  chaidh  an  casan  fos  an  ceann. 
Laidh  na  combaich  an  sin  c6mhlath, 
Gun  aon  agam  'ga  mo  chomhnadh. 
Bu  mhor  mo  ionntrainnse  air  Domhnull 
'Chleachd  bhi  comhlath  rium  'sa  bheinn. 

Thug  mi  as  cho  fad  'sa  dh'  fheudainn, 
Leig  mi  'n  da  chuid  'n  fhuil  's  an  gaorr  asd', 
Dh'  fhalaich  mi  fo  bhruaich  dhubh  fhraoich  iad, 

'S  chaidh  mi  caol  gu  Tigh  an  Tuim. 
Sheoi  mi  ciod  bha  'n  lub  mo  bhreacain, 
'S  mi  gle  fheumach  air  mo  neartach,' 
'S  mi  gun  aon  dheanadh  rium  cnacas, 

B'  fhad  gu  feasgair  's  mi  learn  fhin. 

Air  dha  'bhi  cromadh  gu  an  anmoch, 
Chaidh  mi  'shealltuinn  air  m'  chuid  ainmhidhean, 
Ceithir  eallaichean  nach  robh  aotrom, 
'S  bha  mo  chaol-drom'  goirt  nan  deidh, 


Badenoch  Songs.  187 

Ach  ged  tha  'chuis  so  draghail  an  drasda, 
Bi'dh  e  feumail  dha  na  paisdean, 
Ni  e  annlann  dha  'n  bhuntata, 

'S  mir  na  spaig  dha  'n  bhean  's  dhomh  fhin. 

Ach  nis  bho'n  fhuair  mi  dhachaidh  sabhailt, 
Leis  na  h-eallachan  rinn  mo  sharach', 
Ged  tha  'n  croicionn  dhiom  'na  shailean, 
Olaidh  mi  deoch-slaint'  na  frith. 

XVIII. 

In  strains  of  this  sort  one  feels  wa'ted  into  a  region  misty, 
mystic,  and  uncanny. 

Tha  'chailleach  's  i  bodhar, 

Tha  'm  bodach  ;s  e  cam ; 
Cha  leir  dhaibh  an  crodh  odhar, 

Le  ceothach  nam  beann. 

XIX. 

The  same  remark  applies  to  this  wild  note  of  warning.  Both 
these  verses,  like  many  others  of  a  similar  character,  are  sung  to 
the  air  known  as,  "  Chrodh  Chailein." 

Nach  duisg  thu,  nach  duisg  thu, 

Nach  duisg  thu,  'fhir  ruaidh  ! 
'S  an  fhoill  air  do  chul-thaobh, 

'Nach  duisg  thu,  'fhir  ruaidh  ! 

xx. 

This  verse  is  connected  with  an  ancient  tale  of  mortal  danger 
and  escape  in  a  lonely  inn.  It  used  oftentimes  to  make  one's  flesh 
creep. 

He  !  am  beil  thu  'd  chadal  idir  ? 

He  !  am  beil  thu  'd  chadal  trorn  ? 
Laimhsich  's  tigh  fo  do  leabaidh, 

Gheibh  thu  'n  gairdean  rag  'se  trom. 

XXI. 

The  lochs  mentioned  here  are  in  the  Forest  of  Gaick — that 
haunt  of  horrors.  The  verse  was  sung  by  a  fortunate  hunter  as 
he  leaped  on  the  back  of  an  honest  stallion,  and  thus  made  his- 
escape  from  sirens  ! 


188  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Tha  gaoth  mhor  air  Loch-an-t-Seilich, 

Tha  gaoth  eil'  air  Loch-an-Duin  ; 
Ruigidh  mise  Loch-a-Bhrodainn, 

Mu  'n  teid  cadal  air  mo  shuil. 

XXII. 

This  doleful  ditty  was  sung  by  a  maiden  all  forlorn.  She  had 
been  'cruelly  deserted  by  her  lover,  jyho,  by  the  way,  knew  no 
Gaelic,  and  yet  married  a  fair  one  with  scarely  a  word  of  English. 
These  verses  afford  a  good  specimen  of  the  colloquial  Gaelic  of 
Badenoch.  The  poor  authoress  died  shortly  after  singing  her 
song  of  grief. 

0  !  gur  mise  tha  air  glasadh, 
Is  air  snaidheadh  fo  m'  fheoil, 
Mu  'n  oganach  chuil  dumn. 
Dha  'm  beil  rim  uam  ban  6g. 

An  diugh  chaidh  thu  chum  na  feille, 
'S  each  gu  leir  gu'n  deach  iad  ami ; 
'S  dh'  fhag  thu  mise  aig  a'  bhaile, 
Mur  nach  biodh  ru'  fhear-farraid  ann. 

Ach  bha  na  gillean  eil'  rium  caoimhneil, 
Agus  rinn  iad  'fharraid  rium, 
"  Am  beil  thu  dol  chum  na  feille," 
No,  "  'n  diugh  fhein  ciod  e  do  shunnd." 

'Dearbh  cha'n  'eil  mi  dol  chum  na  feille, 
Och  !  cha  teid,  ciod  e  ni  mi  ann, 
'S  ann  tha  m'  fheill-sa  a's  mo  chlachan, 
Air  an  leabaidh  so  'thamh. 

Ged  is  trie  tha  mi  air  mo  leabaidh, 
Cha'n  e  bho  ro-ghoirteas  mo  chinn, 
Ach  'mheud  's  a  thug  mi  gaol  dha  'n  6igear, 
Nach  d'  thug  dhomh-sa  gaol  'ga  chionn. 

0  !  gur  g6rach  mi  thug  gaol  duit, 

An  rud  a  dh'  fhaodainn  bhi  dhe  dhith, 

Ach  thu  bhi  ro  bhoidheach  's  mi  bhi  ro  ghorach, 

'S  cha  robh  do  chomhradh  'n  sin  orm  a  dhlth. 

O  !  gu'n  chuir  thu  mi  bho  obair, 

A  ghaoil,  gu-n  chuir  thu  mi  bho  'n  ghniomh, 

0  !  gu-n  chuir  thu  mi  bho  'n  chadal, 

JS  chuir  thu  baileach  mi  bho  'n  bhiadh. 


Badenoch  Songs.  189 

0  !  gur  mise  chaill  bhi  cridheil, 

0  !  gur  inise  chaill  a'  phr6is, 

'S  ami  a  ghoid  thu  bhuam  mo  chridhe, 

Is  cha'n  urra  'mi  inns'  rno  dhoigh. 

'N  uair  a  thigea'  tu  'stigh  'na  chitsin, 
Bhiodh  tu  cridheil  am  measg  chach, 
Rium  cha  deana'  tu  guth  no  comhradh, 
Ged  bheireadh  e  beo  mi  bho  na  bhas. 

'N  uair  a  thigea'  tu  seach  an  uinneag, 
Bhiodh  mo  chridh'-sa  air  a  Ie6n, 
'N  uair  a  chithinn  do  chul  donn  dualacb, 
'S  ann  is  truagh  gu-m  beil  mi  be6. 

Tha  Iain  'ga  mo  iarraidh, 
Bho  cheann  bliadhna  no  dha, 
Ach  mur  fhaigh  mi  fhin  Sebrus, 
0  !  cha  ph6s  mi  fear  eil'  gu  brach. 

'S  ann  Di-D6mhnuich  dol  'na  chlachan, 
Ghabh  mi  beachd  air  gach  fear  bha  ann, 
Fear  a  bh6idhchead  cha'n  fhaicinn, 
Ged  is  ioma  giir  6g  a  bh'  aim. 

0  !  cha'n  fhaic  mi  is  cha  leir  dhomh, 
Fo  na  ghrein  ghil  ach  thu, 
'S  ged  bu  learn  na  tri  rioghachdan, 
Bheirinn  saor  iad  na  'm  faighinn  thu. 

'S  ann  a  thoisich  each  ri  radh, 
Gur  e  do  ghradh  a  thug  dhomh  laidh'  sios  ; 
Do  phog  le  failte  cha  dean  bonn-sta  dhomh, 
Ach  mar  ni  Jn  t-slainte  dha  'n  duine  thinn. 

Ach  is  coma  learn  dha  sin, 

Ciod  e  their  each  air  mo  chul, 

Ach  mur  fhaigh  mi-fhin  thu,  'Sheorais  ! 

Ni  mi  bron  gu  dhol  chum  h-uir. 

xxiir. 

Very  different  was  the  mood  of  the  high-spirited  damsel  who 
composed  this  song.  It  is  evident  that  she  had  been  deeply 
infected  with  the  martial  enthusiasm  which  was  rampant  in 
Badenoch  about  the  time  a  certain  illustrious  regiment  was 
raised. 


190  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Tha  Nollaig  a'  tighinn, 

'S  cha  'n  'eil  mi  cridheil  gu  ce61, 

Cha  'n  eisd  mi  ceol  fid  hie, 

No  ni  's  am  bi  spors. 

Cha  'n  eisd  mi  ceol  fidhle, 

No  ni  ?s  am  bi  sp6rs, 

'S  mi  fo  chumhadh  an  fhleasgaich, 

So  ghreas  mi  gu  fh6d.  ^ 

Tha  mo  chion  air  a'  ghille, 

Dh'  fhag  fo  iomadan  mi, 

'S  chaoidh  cha  ghabh  mi  fear  eile, 

Gus  an  tig  thu  mi  ris  ', 

Gus  an  tig  thu  'mi  dhachaidh, 

Le  do  phass  agad  sgriobht', 

B'  annsa  pog  bho  d'  bheul  daithte, 

Na  n'  bheil  aca  do  m. 

Tha  mo  chion  air  a  ghaisgeach, 

Is  maisich  thh.  beo, 

Dha  'm  math  an  tig  breacan, 

Feile  preasach  is  cot ; 

Ite  'n  e6in  an  deadh-chleachdadh, 

Air  an  fhleasgach  is  b6idhch', 

'S  thug  mi  gaol  dhuit  gun  teagamh, 

A  ghreas  mi  gu  'n  fhod. 

Tha  mo  ghaol-sa  an  c6mhnaidh, 

Fo  ch6t'  aig  an  righ, 

'S  gur  e  'm  fleasgach  is  bbidhche, 

Thug  Diuc  G6rdain  bhuam  fhin. 

Ach  na  'n  tigt'  thu  air  f6rlach, 

'S  mi  gu  'm  p6s'  tu  gun  ni, 

'S  ged  a  bhiodh  tu  a  d'  Choirneal, 

Ghaoil,  bu  leoir  dhuit-sa  mi. 

'S  lionar  maighdean  6g  uasal, 

Tha  's  an  uair  so  gun  mhiadh, 

'S  mur  p6s  iad  ri  buachaillean, 

Cha  'n  'eil  daoin'-uails'  ann  d'  an  trian, 

'S  raa  's  a  nil  Ie6  bhi  luaidh  riu, 

Balaich  shuarach  nach  fhiach, 

'S  ann  tha  na  fiuranan  suairce, 

'S  an  ruaig  fo  an  righ. 


Badenoch  Songs.  191 

Tha  mi  fhein  air  a  h-aon  ann, 
Ged  nach  fhaod  dhomh  bhi  m6r, 
Ann  am  beartas  an  t-saoghail, 
Cha  taobh  mi  ri  'm  bheo, 
Fear  air  son  chaorach, 
No  crodh-laoigh  mu  'n  a'  chro, 
Chaoidh  cha  phos  mi  ri  umaidh, 
'S  cha  churaidh  learn  e. 

Bha  mi  uair  ann  am  barail, 

Gu  'n  robh  mi  daingionn  dhiom  fhin, 

'S  nach  robh  'fheara  air  thalamh, 

Na  mhealladh  mo  chridh', 

Gus  an  d'  thainig  an  gallan, 

A  dh'  fhas  fearail  air  thir, 

'S  rinn  e  nise  mo  mhealladh, 

'S  fhuair  e  'n  gealladh  ud  dhiom. 

XXIV. 

Most  appropriately  after  the  above  ma.y  be  placed  a  gay  and 
gallant  lilt  which  I  first  heard  sung  under  circumstances  which 
.always  continue  to  give  it  very  pleasing  associations  in  my  mind. 

A  ri  li  o,  ci  h-orannan, 
A  ri  hor6,  mo  Cheiteag  ! 
A  ri  li  o,  ci  h-orannan. 

Latha  dhomh  bhi  sraid-imeachd 

'S  mi  mach  am  braigh  Dhun-Eidinn  ; 

Thachair  orrn  na  saighdearan, 

A  dh'  fhaighneachd  mi  's  a'  Bheurla. 

Thachair  orm,  &c. 

'S  gu'n  d'  thu'irt  mi  riu  's  a'  Ghailig, 

"  Co  dh'  araich  luchd  an  fheile  ?" 

'S  ann  thu'irt  iad  gur  i  'Ghaidhealtachd 
An  t-ait'  a  b'  fhearr  fo  'n  ghreine. 

'S  gu'n  d'  thug  iad  a  'n  tigh-osda  mi, 
An  t-6r  gu'n  d'  ghlac  mi  fhein  ann. 

Thug  iad  dhomh  ri  ph6sadh 
Nighean  Dheors'  mar  cheile. 

'S  ann  thug  iad  dhomh  ri  ghiulan, 
Te  dhubh  nach  sgur  i  fein  dhomh. 


192  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

'Ga  giulan  air  mo  ghualainn, 

'S  nach  fhuaghail  i  dhomh  mo  leine. 

Ach  'fhir  theid  thar  fta  cuaintean, 
Na  ceil  mo  dhuan  nach  leugh  thu 

Mo  shoraidh-sa  gu  m'  mhathair, 
'S  i  dh'  araich  gun  eis  mi. 

Gu  m'  phiuthair  is  gu^m'  bhraithrean, 
'S  gu  Mairi  bhain,  mo  cheud  ghaol. 

Mo  mholachd  gu  na  Frangaich, 
'N  an  campaichean  cha  teid  sinn. 

'S  olc  a  chuir  an  6ige  rium, 
'S  a'  gh6raiche  le  cheile. 

Chuir  mi  feile  cuachach  orm, 
'S  an  c6ta  ruadh  mar  eididh. 

'S  trie  bha  mi  's  tu  sugradh, 
'Am  bruthaichean  Ghlinn  Eite. 

Ag  iomain  a  chruidh  ghuanaich, 
'S  'gam  fuadach  feadh  an  t-sleibhe. 


xxv. 

A  young  woman  at  the  sheilings  in  Gaick  was  one  day  visited 
by  her  lover,  to  whom  she  had  been  betrothed,  before  leaving  the 
Strath.  But  now,  alas  !  having  prospects  of  another  and  better 
tochered  maid,  he  came  to  "  break  the  engagement."  Neverthe- 
less when  he  fairly  reached  the  bothie  he  felt  rather  ashamed  of 
his  purpose,  and  remarked  in  a  sheepish  way  that  he  had  merely 
looked  in  as  he  was  searching  for  horses  in  the  vicinity.  Having 
had  private  information  as  to  his  conduct,  she  at  once  divined 
what  had  been  the  real  object  of  his  visit,  and  no  sooner  had  that 
faithless  swain  turned  from  the  door  than  he  was  arrested  by  a 
sad,  familiar  voice  singing  as  follows  : — 

Sgeul  a  chualas  bho  'n  de, 
Mu  shealgair  an  fheidli, 

Clach  eadar  mi-fein  's  mo  bhrog. 

Ghabh  thu  leisgeul  'sail  uair, 
Gur  e  eich  a  bha  bhuat, 

Cas  a  shiubhladh  nam  fuaran  gorm. 


Badenoch  Songs.  193 

\  • 

Cas  a  dhireadh  nan  stuc, 
'S  a  thearnadh  nan  lub  ; 

'Dheanadh  fiadhach  ri  druchd  gun  cheo. 

Bu  tu  mo  cheannaich'  air  feill, 
Mo  chrios  is  mo  bhreid, 

Is  sgian  bheaga  na  reidh-chois  6ir. 

Bu  tu  mo  chompanach  ruin, 
Nach  fhagadh  mi  'n  cuil, 

'Nuair  bhiodh  each  ann  an  cuirt  an  oil. 

'S  bho  nach  'eil  agam  spreidh, 
De  mu  'n  cuirinn  ort  deigh  ? 

Ach  mo  bheannachd  ad  dheigh,  's  bi  falbh  ! 

As  he  listened  his  heart  relented,  and  all  his  old  love  returned, 
so  that,  her  song  being  ended,  he  replied  : — 

Ach  ged  tha  aic'-se  spreidh, 
De  mu  'n  cuirinn  oirr'  deigh  1 

Fhad  'sa  mhaireas  tu  fein  rium  beo. 


XXVI. 

A  certain  bridegroom,  accompanied  by  the  customary  train  of 
young  men  and  maidens,  was  gaily  journeying  to  the  home  of  the 
bride.  Beside  a  knoll  near  the  road  a  sorrowful  damsel  sat  and 
sang.  The  bridegroom  recognises  the  form  and  the  voice  of  her 
whom  he  had  jilted  for  one  more  richly  endowed  with  worldly 
goods.  He  is  so  fascinated  that  he  cannot  proceed  a  step  farther. 
He  desires  his  companions  to  proceed  to  a  neighbouring  inn, 
where  he  promises  shortly  to  rejoin  them.  Then  he  listens  until 
that  melting  strain,  which  held  him  spell-bound,  came  to  an  end ; 
whereupon,  in  manner  fitting,  he  takes  up  the  refrain,  protesting 
that  neither  wealth  nor  plenishing  would  evermore  seduce  his 
heart  from  "  the  meek  and  mcdest  maid  of  excellent  parentage," 
who  had  first  gained  his  affections;  and  the  marriage  party  waited 
long,  but  in  vain.  Such  is  the  legend  in  connection  with  one  of 
the  most  exquisite  pastoral  lyrics  in  the  language.  The  sweet 
images  of  pastoral  life,  combined  with  equally  enchanting  glimpses 
of  natural  scenery,  so  skilfully  introduced  by  the  songstress,  were 
indeed  well  calculated  to  stir  deep  emotions  in  the  heart  of  her 
Celtic  lover.  The  whole  piece  might  form  an  interlude  in  the 
Forest  of  Arden. 

13 


194     .  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Ni  mi  suidh'  agus  cruban, 

'S  cha  'n  'eil  sugradh  air  m'  aire  ; 

Ann  am  bun  an  tuim  riabhaich, 
Far  'na  liath  mi  's  nii  'm  chaileig. 

'S  mi  'nam  chaileig  bhochd,  ghoraich, 
Bu  mhor  mo  dhoigh  ri  na  fearaibh. 

Oeisd  nam  ban  !  thug  iad  fchuam  thu, 
'Ghleannain  uaigneich  a'  bharraich  ! 

Gleannan  cuthagach,  cuachach, 
'S  an  cinn  an  luachair  's  an  canach. 

Gheibhte  crodh  ann  air  bhuailtibh, 
Agus  gruagaichean  glana, 

'Toirt  na  laoigh  bhuap'  air  eiginn, 
'S  iad  'g  an  seideadh  le  'n  anail. 

Gheibht'  ann  cnothan  a's  caorrunn, 
'S  iad,  a  ghaoil !  air  bhlas  meala. 

Cnothan  cruinn  air  a'  challtuinn, 

'S  thus',  a'  ghraidh  !  's  mi  'g  an  tional. 

Mile  marbhaisg  air  mo  chairdean, 
'S  beag  a  b'  fheaird'  mi  dhe  'n  tional ; 

Bho  naoh  d'  thug  iad  dhomh  storas, 
Air  son  do  bhoidhchead  a  cheannach. 

'S  ann  a  thog  iad  mor-sgeul  oirnn, 
Gu  'n  robh  mi  fein  a's  tu  falamh. 

Nach  robh  airgead  'nar  poca, 

Na  cheannaicheadh  stop  's  an  tigh-leanna. 

Ge  b'  e  dh'  aithris  an  sgeul  ud, 

High  fein  !  bu  mhor  am  mearachd. 

Tha  tri  fichead  bo  ghuallach, 
Air  do  bhuaile,  's  gum  b'  airidh  ! 

'S  uiread  eile  chrodh  ciar-dhubh, 
Tighinn  nuas  a  Buri  Ranaich. 

Gheibhte  sud  leat  air  ailean, 
'S  greigh  do  laraichean-searraich  ; 
Tri  fichead  do  ghobhair, 
'S  Ian  fonn  chaorach  geala. 


Badenoch  Songs.  195 

3S  ged  a  thu'irt  iad  Iain  Claon  riut, 
'Ghaoil,  b'  aoidheil  do  shealladh. 

Bha  do  shlios  mar  an  fhaoilinn, 
JS  do  dha  thaobli  mar  an  eala. 

Bha  do  phog  mar  na  h-ubhlan, 
'S  d'  anail  chubhraidh  mar  chanal. 

Gur  ann  oidhche  do  bhainnse, 
Dh'  fhas  thu  ceannsgalach,  fearail. 

Le  do  fhleasgaichibh  oga, 

'G  61  air  b6rd  's  an  tigh-leanna ; 

Le  do  mhaighdeanaibh  riomhach, 
Lan  siod  agus  anairt. 

Ach  mur  fhaigh  mi  dhiot  tuille, 
Dean  mo  chuireadh  gu  d'  bhanais  ; 

Gu  banais  an  oig-fhir, 

Dha  'n  robh  mo  dhoigh  bho  chionn  tamuill. 

Ged  nach  deanainn  ach  gaire, 
'Chumail  each  as  am  barail. 

'S  ceannaich  dhomh-sa  paidhir  lamhainnean, 
'S  na  bi  gann  rium  mu  'n  anart ; 

Theid  'g  am  chuibhrig  fo  'n  talamh. 
Agus  ciste  dhe  ;ii  uinnseann, 

'S  ge  b'  e  taobh  do  'n  teid  thu, 
A  righ  fein  !  gur  tu  mhealas. 

ESAN. 

Ach  na  mealadh  mi-fein  iad, 
Mu  theid  mi  'gan  gabhail. 

'S  cha  dean  mi  do  threigsinn, 
Airson  feudail  no  earrais. 

Bean  gun  lasadh  gun  ardan, 
'S  a  cairdean  bhi  ro-mhath. 

XXVII. 

Notwithstanding  that  this  very  fine  ballad  was  in  much  favour 
among  the  milkmaids  of  Kingussie  and  Laggan,  it  has  been 
extremely  difficult  to  get  anything  like  a  complete  version  of  it. 


196  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

That  given  below  has  been  collected  in  snatches  from  the  recitation 
of  a  dozen  persons.  The  untoward  event  which  it  celebrates  made 
a  profound  impression  throughout  the  country.  About  six  score 
years  ago,  the  cattle  belonging  to  Captain  Macpherson,  tacksmaii 
of  Blaragie,  being  let  loose  on  a  sunny  day  in  early  spring,  became 
frantic  with  delight  at  their  novel  and  unexpectedly  acquired 
freedom,  and  betook  themselves  to  the^  hills,  heedless  of  conse- 
quences. The  herd — a  young  man  named  Macdonald — followed 
them  as  far  as  Drumuachdar.  While  he  traversed  that  bleak 
and  solitary  tract  which  extends  between  Dalwhinnie  and  Dalna- 
cardoch,  the  weather,  proverbially  fickle  at  that  season,  suddenly 
and  terribly  changed.  A  blinding  snow-storm  set  in,  and  the 
unfortunate  lad  never  more  found  his  way  home.  Among  those 
who  set  out  in  quest  of  the  lost  herd  was  his  true-love.  When 
the  body  was  found  in  a  well,  the  famished  deer  were  stripping 
the  willow  branches  overhead.  What  a  wild  wail  of  heart-grief 
resounds  through  these  verses  ! 

'S  fhir  nan  sul  donna 
Cha  choma  learn  be6  thu  ; 

'S  fhir  nan  sill  miogach. 

B'e  mo  mhiann  bhi  do  chodhail. 

Tha  mo  chridhe  cho  briste 
Hi  itealaich  eoiriein ; 

'S  tha  mo  chridhe  cho  ciurrta, 
'S  nach  giulain  e  'n  cotan. 

'S  ioma  suil  a  bha  'sileadh, 
Eadar  Raineach  's  Druimuachdar. 

La  Fheill  Bride  'san  Earrach, 
Chaidh  na  h-aighean  air  fhuaireas 

'S  tha  mi  sgith  le  bhi  siubhal 
Leacann  dubha  Dhruimuachdair. 

Ged  a  fhuaireadh  na  h-aighean, 
Cha'n  fhaighear  am  buachaill'. 

'S  ann  bha  'n  Domhnullach  finealt, 
'Na  shineadh  'san  fhuaran  ; 

'Na  shineadh  air  'uilinn, 

Gun  ion  duine  mu  'n  cuairt  dha. 

Bha  a  cbeann  am  preas  aitinn, 
'S  a  chasan  'san  luachair ; 


Badenoch  Songs.  197 

'S  luchd  nam  biodagan  croma 
'Gearradh  connaidh  mu  'n  cuairt  dha. 

Ach  's  truagh  nach  mise  chaidh  seachad, 
Mu  'n  do  mheilich  am  fuachd  thu ; 

Le  mo  bhreacan  dluth  tioram, 
Dheanainn  fhilleadh  mu  'n  cuairt  duit ; 

'S  cuach  mhor  uisge-bheatha, 
Chuireadh  rugha  'nad  ghruaidhean  • 

Uisge-beatha  nam  feadan 
Air  a  leigeadh  tri  uairean  ; 

'S  grainne  beaga  de  'n  chanal, 
Mu  'n  deach  d'  anail  am  fuairead ; 

Agus  bothan  math  cluthaicht', 
An  deis  a  thubhadh  le  luachair. 

Teine  mor  air  lar  tighe, 

'S  e  gun  deathach,  gun  luath  dhe. 

Tha  do  chinneadh  's  do  chairdean, 
Ro  chraiteach  an  uair  so  ; 

Gu  'n  do  chuir  iad  'san  ath  thu, 
Gu's  an  d'  thainig  Fear  Chluainidh  ; 

Gu's  an  d'  thainig  Claim  Thamhais, 
Nach  saradh  an  cruadal ; 

Gu's  an  d'  thainig  Clann  Ian, 

An  triuir  bu  shine  'sa  b'  uails'  dhiubh ; 

Gu's  an  d'  thainig  Clann  Mhuirich, 
'S  gach  aon  duine  mar  chual'  e. 

'S  ann  bha  'n  eigheach  's  an  sgreadail, 
Anns  na  creagan  sin  shuas  uait ; 

Agus  sliochd  do  dha  sheanair 
A  sior-thional  mu  'n  cuairt  duit. 

'N  uair  a  thainig  do  bhraithrean, 
Bha  iad  craiteach,  bochd,  truagh  dhe  ; 

'N  uair  a  thainig  do  phiuthair, 
Bha  leann-dubh  air  a  gruaidhean. 

'N  uair  a  thainig  do  mhathair, 
Gu  'm  b'  i  an  t-asran  truaigh  i ; 


198  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Bha  a  ceann  air  dhroch  cheangal, 
'S  a  basan  'gam  bualadh. 

la  cha  b'  fhas'  e  dha  d'  athair, 
Bha  e  '  casadh  a  ghruaige. 

'N  uair  a  thain'  do  bhean-diolain, 
Bha  i  spionadh  a  cuailein^ 

'S  tha  mi  sgith  's  mi  bhi  siubhal, 
Monadh  dubha  Dhrumuachdar. 

XXVIII. 

The  first  verse,  forming  the  chorus  of  this  weird  fragment,  is 
connected  with  a  familiar  fairy  tale.  What  the  particular  tragedy 
was  to  which  the  subjoined  stanzas  point  no  man  can  tell ;  and 
the  Forest  of  Gaick,  where  it  took  place,  keeps  its  own  counsel. 
Hearing  this  little  ballad  for  the  first  time  sung  by  a  woman 
almost  ninety  years  of  age,  I  endeavoured  to  ascertain  from  her 
what  event  had  occasioned  it,  but  with  evident  signs  of  impatience 
she  said  abruptly  that  it  had  to  do  with  elf-land ;  and  upon  that  I 
knew  it  would  be  useless  to  pursue  the  subject  further. 

Chi  mi  'n  toman  caorruinn,  cuilinn, 
Chi  mi  'n  toman  caorruinn  thall ; 
Chi  mi  'n  toman  caorruinn,  cuilinn, 
'S  laogh  mo  cheill'  air  'uilinn  ann. 

'N  creagan  dubh  taobh  Loch-an-t-Seilich, 
Far  an  d'  rinn  mi  'n  cadal  seang ; 
'S  'n  uair  a  dhuisg  mi  's  a'  mhaduinn, 
Cha  robh  leth  mo  leabaidh  ann. 

Dh  eirich  mi  moch  maduinn  Earraich, 
Agus  sheall  mi  mach  an  gleann ; 
Suil  dha  'n  d'  thug  mi  tbar  mo  ghualainn, 
Bha  d'  cheum  uallach  suas  nam  beann. 

Ach  na  'm  b'  aithne  dhomhs'  an  rathad 
Gu  bean-tighe  an  Uillt-Bhain, 
Dh'  innseadh  dhomh  mu  eirigh  greine, 
An  e  fuil  an  fheidh  bha  ann. 

XXIX. 

MacDhonnachaidh  Ruaidh  referred  to  here  was  a  noted  hunter 
in  his  day.  He  belonged  to  the  Sliochd  Thomais  of  Invertrommie. 


Badenoch  Songs.  199 

He  died  young,  and  his  widow  was  forced  to  marry  against  her 
will  the  tacksman  of  Ardbroileach,  a  successful  agriculturist  from 
Moray.  She  used  to  ascend  the  height  above  her  home — Tom 
Barrai — and  looking  across  the  valley  of  the  Spey  to  Invertromie, 
and  the  hills  often  traversed  by  her  first  husband,  would  sing  this 
plaintive  song,  which  she  had  composed.  On  this  spot  she  was 
found  dead. 

'Mhic  Dhonnochaidh  Ruaidh !  gur  tu  th'  air  m'  aire, 
'Mhic  Dhonnochaidh  Ruaidh !  gur  tu  th'  air  m'  aire, 
'Mhic  Dhonnochaidh  Ruaidh !  gur  tu  th'  air  m'  aire, 
Cha  bhiodh  tu  beo  is  mi  air  aran. 

Theirminn  horo  !  'ghraidhein  ghaolaich, 
Theirminn  horo  !  'ghraidhein  ghaolaich, 
Theirminn  horo  !  'ghraidhein  ghaolaich, 
'Fhir  'mhuineil  ghile  's  a'  chinn  chraobhaich. 

Fhuair  mi  sud  'sna  ceithir  laithe, 
Ceithir  daimh  mhor,  ceithir  aighean, 
Ceithir  saic  de  dh'  iasg  na  h-amhuinn, 
Gun  bu  nearach  bean  og  fhuair  leithid. 

Bu  tu  'm  fear  mor  'san  robh  an  tomad, 
Bhiodh  tu  null 's  a  nail  tre  Thromaidh 
Le  do  mhorghath  's  le  do  chromaig, 
Mharbhadh  tu  'n  t-iasg  air  bharr  nan  toima. 

Dhireadh  tu  Croidhlea  mhor  nan  aighean, 
Gun  gljreim  air  aon  dhos  fhraoich  na  raineich, 
Mharbhadh  tu  fiadh  air  Ruigh  an  Lonaidh, 
'S  dh'  fhagadh  tu  'n  gaorr  aig  an  f heannaig. 

'Nuair  a  thiginn  'stigh  an  ruighe, 
Dh'  aithni'inn  do  bhothan  'na  shuidhe, 
Bhiodh  slat,  bhiodh  morghath,  bhiodh  lion  ann, 
'S  gunna  caol  am  bac  an  t-suidhe. 

Bu  tu  mo  luaidh  na  'n  robh  thu  agam, 
Ged  nach  d'  fhuair  mi  dhiot  ach  sealan, 
Coisich'  dian  air  Druim  Pheathraich, 
Is  moch  a  shiubhladh  Coir'  a'  Bhealaich. 

Fhuair  mi  sealgair-sithinn  suaircean, 
Fhuair  mi  rithisd  sar  mhac  thuathanaich, 
Chuireadh  ciste-mhine  suas  bhuam, 
Ach  ged  a  fhuair  cha  b'  e  mo  luaidh  e. 


200  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

'S  mi  mo  shuidh'  air  Tom  Barrai', 
Chi  mi  'n  t-ait  's  an  robh  mi  fallain  ; 
Gheibhinn  teine  mor  'g  am  gharadh — 
'S  bidh  mis'  an  nochd  mar  ri  'm  leannan. 

Some  say  that  this  beautiful  stanza  belongs  to  Bean  'ic  Dhonn- 
achaidh  lluaidh's  elegy —  ^ 

Chaill  mo  shuilean  a  bhi  meallach, 
Chaill  mo  ghruaidhean  snuadh  na  fala, 
Tha  da  thrian  an  osain  falamh, 
'S  toil  teine  mor  's  mo  gharadh. 


xxx. 

These  are  probably  the  oldest  verses  of  all.  They  refer  to  the 
ancient  discord  between  the  rival  houses  of  Cluny  and  Mackintosh, 
and  afford  a  delightful  glimpse  of  seignorial  magnificence  in  this 
country  a  couple  of  centuries  ago.  They  form  part  of  a  bardic 
passage-at-arms  between  two  female  champions,  who  maintained 
the  honour  of  their  respective  clans  with  the  weapon  that  fell 
readiest : — 

"  Gheibhte  sud  an  Tigh  na  Maighe, 
01  is  fidhleireachd  is  aighear, 
Farurn  sioda  ris  na  fraighean, 
'Cur  bhain-tighearnan  a  laighe." 

"  Gheibhte  sud  an  Tigh  Chluainidh, 
Cuirm,  is  copan,  is  cuachan, 
Teine  mor  air  bheagan  luaithre, 
'S  iad  fein  ag  61  air  fion  uaibhreach." 

"  'Ghaoil  Lachlainn  na  biodh  gruaim  ort, 
Cha  do  ghlac  do  mhathair  buarach — 
Plaide  bhan  chuir  mu  'guallainn, 
Ach  sioda  dearg  is  srol  uaine. 

'N  uair  theid  Lachlann  do  Dhun-Eidinn, 
Le  'each  cruidheach,  craobhach,  leumach, 
Air  beulaobh  an  righ  gheibh  e  eisdeachd ; 
'S  gheibh  a  ghillean  gun  e  fein  e." 


Gleanings  from  Cluny  Charter  Chest  201 


4th  APRIL,  1895. 

At  the  meeting  held  this  evening,  the  Secretary  intimated  that 
the  Special  Committee  appointed  to  draw  up  and  forward  to  Mrs 
John  Stuart  Blackie  a  message  of  condolence  from  the  Society  on 
the  occasion  of  the  death  of  her  husband,  Professor  John  Stuart 
Blackie,  Edinburgh,  one  of  the  Society's  honorary  chieftains,  had 
done  so,  and  that  he  had  received  the  following  reply  from  Mrs 
Blackie  : — 

"  9  Douglas  Crescent,  Edinburgh, 
"  2nd  April,  1895. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Please  convey  to  the  members  of  the  Gaelic 
Society  of  Inverness  my  deep  gratitude  for  the  kind  expression  of 
sympathy,  and  for  the  generous  tribute  which  you  have  for- 
warded to  me  on  their  behalf. 

(Sgd.)         "  E.  H.  STUART  BLACKIE." 

The  Secretary  also  intimated  that  he  had  sent  a  wreath  in 
name  of  the  Society  to  be  laid  on  the  coffin  of  their  late  lamented 
Chief,  Field-Marshal  Sir  Patrick  Grant,  and  had  received  the 
following  reply  from  his  son,  Captain  Grant : — 

"Roya1  Hospital,  Chelsea, 
"  3rd  April,  1895. 

"  The  family  of  the  late  Field-Marshal  Sir  Patrick  Grant  wish 
very  sincerely  to  express  their  thanks  to  the  members  of  the 
Gaelic  Society  for  the  beautiful  wreath,  and  for  the  message  of 
condolence  which  they  have  received.  Such  expressions  of 
sympathy  coming  from  the  men  of  the  Highlands,  for  whom  Sir 
Patrick  always  bore  such  strong  affection,  are  most  gratefully 
received  by  his  family." 

The  Secretary  laid  on  the  table  two  copies  of  Rev.  J.  G. 
•Campbell's  "  Celtic  Gleanings"  as  a  donation  towards  the  Society's 
library — one  from  J.  Mackay,  Esq.,  C.E.,  Hereford,  and  one  from 
Miss  Amy  Frances  Yule,  Tarradale  House,  Muir  of  Ord. 

The  paper  for  the  evening  was  a  contribution  from  Mr  Alex. 
Macpherson,  Kingussie,  read  by  himself,  entitled,  "Gleanings 
from  the  Charter  Chest  at  Cluny  Castle,"  No.  II.  Mr  Mac- 
pherson's  paper  was  as  follows  : — 


202  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

GLEANINGS  FKOM  THE  CHARTER  CHEST  AT  CLUNY 
CASTLE. 

II. 

On  28th  February,  1894,  I  had  fhe  pleasure  of  reading  to  the 
Society  selections  from  the  Lovat  Letters  to  Cluny  of  the  '45,  as 
contained  in  Volume  XIX.  of  our  Transactions  recently  published. 
I  now  proceed  to  give  some  selections  from  the  numerous  other 
historical  letters  in  the  Cluny  Charter  Chest,  extending  from  1689 
down  to  1756,  none  of  which,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  have  hitherto 
been  published.  These  further  selections  embrace  one  letter 
from  the  Chevalier  de  St  George,  four  from  his  son,  Prince  Charlie, 
with  twelve  relative  receipts,  one  from  the  Duke  of  Perth, 
four  from  the  Marquess  of  Huntly,  four  from  the  Earl 
of  Dunfermline,  two  from  the  Earl  of  Mar,  two  from  Earl 
Marischall,  one  from  the  Earl  of  Moray,  one  from  the  Earl  of 
Rothes,  seven  from  John  Graham  of  Claverhouse  (Viscount 
Dundee),  one  from  Viscount  Frendraught,  one  from  Lord  George 
Murray,  one  from  Sir  John  Dalrymple,  seven  from  Sir  John  Hill, 
one  from  Sir  Thomas  Livingstone,  six  from  Major-General  Buchan, 
six  from  General  Cannon,  one  from  General  Keith,  four  from 
General  Hugh  Mackay  of  Scourie,  one  from  Colonel  Cunningham, 
two  from  Robert  Craigie,  Lord  Advocate,  two  from  Donald 
Cameron  of  Lochiel,  one  from  "  Glenorchy,"  one  from  M'Donell  of 
Glengarry,  two  from  Robertson  of  Strowan,  one  from  "  Clan 
Ranald,"  and  two  from  Murray  of  Broughton. 

All  these  letters  relate  more  or  less  to  the  Risings  in  the  High- 
lands on  behalf  of  "  the  hapless  Stewart  line,"  from  the  time  of 
Dundee  down  to  the  '45,  and,  besides  throwing  a  good  deal  of 
light  on  that  eventful  period  in  Highland  history,  indicate  the  great 
importance  attached  by  Jacobites  and  Whigs  alike  to  secur- 
ing the  active  co-operation  and  support  of  the  Cluny  Chiefs  of  the 
time,  to  whom  the  letters,  with  two  or  three  exceptions,  were 
exclusively  addressed. 

I.  THE  CLAVERHOUSE  LETTERS. 

As  first  in  point  of  time  and  interest,  I  begin  with  the  letters 
from  the  "  lion-hearted  warrior,"  Viscount  Dundee.  By  way  of 
introduction,  let  me,  at  the  outset,  give  some  testimonies,. 


Gleanings  from  Cluny  Charter  Chest  203 

gathered  from  various  sources,  as  to  his  character  and  services. 
Alluding  in  his  "  Vision  of  Don  Roderick"  to  the  various  achieve- 
ments of  the  warlike  family  of  Graham,  Sir  Walter  Scott  thus 
apostrophises  General  Graham,  Lord  Lynedoch  : — 

"  0,  hero  of  a  race  renown'd  of  old, 

Whose  war-cry  oft  has  waked  the  battle-swell, 
Since  first  distinguish'd  in  the  onset  bold, 

Wild  sounding  when  the  Roman  rampart  fell  ! 
By  \\  allace'  side  it  rung  the  Southron's  knell, 

Alderne,  Kilsyth,  and  Tibber  owii'd  its  fame  ; 
Tummel's  rude  pass  can  of  its  terrors  tell. 

But  ne'er  from  prouder  field  arose  the  name, 
Than  when  wild  Ronda  learn'd   the  conquering  shout  of 
Gneme !" 

"  The  pen  of  romance" — says  Professor  Aytoun — "  has  been  freely 
employed  to  pourtray  as  a  bloody  assassin  one  of  the  most 
accomplished  men  and  gallant  soldiers  of  his  age.  In  order  to  do 
justice  to  Claverhouse,  we  must  regard  him  in  connection  with  the 
age  and  country  in  which  he  lived.  The  religious  differences  of 
Scotland  were  then  at  their  greatest  height ;  and  there  is  hardly 
any  act  of  atrocity  and  rebellion  which  had  not  been  committed 
by  the  insurgents.  ...  To  this  day  the  peasantry  of  the 
western  districts  of  Scotland  entertain  the  idea  that  Claverhouse 
was  a  sort  of  fiend  in  human  shape,  tall,  muscular,  and  hideous  in 
aspect,  secured  by  infernal  spells  from  the  chance  of  perishing  by 
an  ordinary  weapon,  and  mounted  on  a  huge  black  horse,  the 
especial  gift  of  Beelzebub  !  On  this  charger  it  is  supposed  that 
he  could  ride  up  precipices  as  easily  as  he  could  traverse  the  level 
ground ;  that  he  was  constantly  accompanied  by  a  body  of 
desperados  vulgarly  known  by  such  euphonious  titles  as  "  Hell's 
Tarn"  and  the  "  Deil's  Jock ;"  and  that  his  whole  time  was 
occupied,  day  and  night,  in  hunting  Covenanters  upon  the  hills  I 
Almost  every  rebel  who  was  taken  in  arms  and  shot  is  supposed  to 
have  met  his  death  from  the  individual  pistol  of  Claverhouse." 

By  other  critics  Dundee  has  been  characterised  as  a  remarkable 
man,  whose  name  can  never  be  forgotten  while  military  skill  and 
prowess  and  the  most  loyal  and  active  fidelity  to  an  almost  hope- 
less cause  shall  challenge  attention.  Napier — his  partisan 
biographer — describes  him  as  "  the  most  heroic  genius,  the  most 
clear-headed  statesman,  the  most  accomplished  and  humane 
captain  that  Scotland  had  known  since  the  murder  of  Montrose." 


204  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

In  the  Grameid,  an  historical  Latin  poem,  composed  by  James 
Philip  of  Almerieclose — Dundee's  standard-bearer—descriptive  of 
the  campaign  on  behalf  of  the  Stewarts  in  1689,  we  have  an 
instructive  contribution  to  our  knowledge  of  contemporary  feeling 
regarding  Iain  Dulh  nan  Cath,  as  the  Highlanders  loved  to  call 
him.  The  original  of  that  poem  is  a  small  duodecimo  volume 
bound  in  old  brown  calf  in  the  A<Jyocates'  Library,  and,  in  1888, 
it  was  ably  edited  with  an  excellent  translation,  and  valuable 
notes,  by  the  Rev.  Canon  Murdoch  of  Edinburgh,  for  the  Scottish 
History  "Society.  "The  very  labour,"  says  the  Canon,  "of  such 
an  epic  in  praise  of  Claverhouse  by  a  contemporary  and  neighbour 
is  a  set-off  against  the  volumes  of  abuse  with  which  a  later 
generation  assailed  the  memory  of  that  gallant  Graham. 
Assuredly  Philip  saw  in  his  hero  a  general  brave  and  wise, 
patient  and  dashing;  a  cavalier  chivalrous,  loyal,  and  generous, 
the  centre  of  a  circle  of  gay  youths,  the  mover  of  the  Highland 

heart,  feared  yet  loved  by  the  Scottish  dragoon 

Assuredly  it  would  be  difficult  to  believe  that  the  portrait  by 
Wodrow  and  Macaulay  and  that  by  Philip  had  the  same  subject. 
The  Grameid  is  entitled  to  an  important  place  among  contem- 
porary witnesses  to  the  character  of  Dundee,  and  must  contribute 
materially  in  rescuing  that  character  from  the  region  of  darkness 
to  which  polemical  prejudice  has  doomed  it  in  Scotland.7' 

In  the  description  of  Dundee's  progress  through  Badenoch 
in  Book  II.  of  the  Grameid,  there  is  an  interesting  reference  to 
Presmuckerach  (near  Dalwhinnie),  now  the  property  of  Colonel 
Macphersou  of  Glentruim. 

"  Presmochorae  tenues.     .     .    penates" 

"  Quickly  he  passed  the  Spey  at  the  fords  where  Cluny  looks  out 
on  her  wide  plains,  and  deigned  to  visit  the  humble  hearth  of 
Presmochora.  There  he  issued  the  Royal  letter  to  all  the  faithful 
clans,  bidding  them  to  be  ready  with  their  men  by  the  Kalends  of 
May  to  follow  the  orders  and  the  camp  of  the  Graham."  Dundee's 
route  on  that  occasion  evidently  lay  by  the  Pass  of  Corryarrick  to 
the  Spey,  and  along  that  river  he  would  pass  from  where  the 
Bridge  of  Laggan  now  is  to  the  fords  near  Cluny.  From  thence 
there  was  a  strait  road  to  Loch  Garry  by  Dalwhinnie. 

In  his  march  from  Fort-Augustus  through  Badenoch,  Dundee, 
we  are  told,  succeeded  in  "  engaging  most  part  of  the  men  of  note 
to  be  ready  at  a  call  to  join  in  his  master's  service."  .  .  "  He 
found  the  Macphersons  very  keen  and  hearty  in  their  inclinations 


Gleanings  from  Cluny  Charter  Chest  205- 

for  his  service."  In  Book  IV.  of  the  Grameid  there  is  a  graphic 
description  of  Dundee's  subsequent  progress  from  Lochaber 
through  the  ancient  Lordship  of  Badenoch,  embracing  his  stirring 
and  inspiring  address  to  the  assembled  clans.  The  following- 
portion  of  the  admirable  translation  by  Canon  Murdoch  is  of  so 
much  interest  in  connection  with  Badenoch,  and  Dundee's  letters 
to  Cluny  of  the  time,  that  I  may  be  pardoned  for  giving  that 
portion  at  length  : — 

"  Dundee,  passing  a  sleepless  night,  revolved  his  cares  in  his 
anxious  breast,  turning  over  in  his  mind  the  doubtful  chances  of 
fortune.  On  the  approach  of  light  he  rises  from  his  hard  couch, 
and  at  once  rouses  the  sentinels  of  the  camp  and  the  whole  host. 
Lo  !  at  the  first  rays  of  the  rising  sun  the  camp  resounded  with 
joyous  tumult,  and  a  great  shout  went  up  when  the  commander, 
mounted  on  his  noble  charger,  took  his  place  in  the  midst  of  the 
army.  With  encouraging  cheer  they  welcome  their  leader.  He 
exults  as  he  beholds  the  bands  gleaming  with  brass,  and  admires 
the  companies  in  their  brilliant  colours,  and  is  refreshed  by  the 
sharp  note  of  the  pipe.  Then  from  the  rampart  of  the  high 
Grampian  camp  he  thus  addresses  the  clans,  and  from  his  heart 
gave  utterance  to  these  words : — '  0,  sons  of  Fergus,  Scots, 
illustrious  in  war,  faithful  ever,  through  so  many  ages,  to  the 
royal  race  of  Stuart,  I  rejoice  that  the  clans  rise  unanimous  in  this 
war,  and  am  happy  to  look  upon  brave  men,  who,  with  strong 
arms  to  revenge  dishonour,  may  also  retrieve  our  ruin,  and  bring- 
back  the  heir  of  the  Caesar  to  his  country's  sceptre  !  0,  faithful 
band  !  bravely  expel  the  enemy  from  the  northern  border,  and 
drive  him,  the  robber  of  his  country,  across  the  Grampians,  and 
quickly  condemn  to  Stygian  darkness  the  monstrous  head  of  the 
tyrant.  Glory  goes  as  companion  to  virtue,  vile  infamy  to  guilt. 
Each  following  the  spirit  beyond  the  grave.  Neither  ambition 
nor  the  glory  of  a  name  holds  me  loyal,  nor  the  love  of  civil  war, 
but  the  majesty  of  the  lofty  Caesar,  ground  under  the  evil  yoke  of 
the  robber,  has  impelled  me  to  demand  the  aid  of  your  race.  Yet 
in  this  request  I  have  no  purpose  of  seeking  by  pay  the  right 
hand  of  mercenaries.  Let  him  who  fears  to  follow  my  standard 
seek  the  impious  camp  of  the  Dutch  tyrant.  Let  the  sluggard 
and  the  coward  depart,  and  all  whose  hearts  throb  not  for  the 
honour  of  the  king,  and  all  whom  true  love  of  honour  impels  not. 
My  spirit  will  not  suffer  me  to  lead  an  ignoble  life  in  the  close 
camp,  or  to  waste  time  in  vain  tumult.  Let  us  turn  our  dreaded 
arms  against  the  enemy.  And  you,  O  northern  race,  most  faith- 


206  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

f  ul !  you,  0  chieftains  and  nobles  and  axe-bearing  clans  !  advance  ! 
show  your  faces  terrible  to  the  enemy,  and  have  at  his  throat  with 
the  drawn  sword  !  Let  not  my  words  delay  you ;  action  itself 
demands  us.  Men,  seize  the  avenging  arms  in  your  strong  right 
hands  !  Standard-bearer,  raise  aloft  the  tawny  lion  in  the  camp  ! 
While  I  am  your  leader,  I  will  prove  by  the  success  of  our 
campaign  whether  any  splendid  glory  may  be  found  in  the 
north,  and  I  myself  will  be  in  the  van  when  I  hurl  your 
united  bands  against  the  foe,  and  fiercely  scatter  the  host 
of  the  enemy.'  Thus  he  spoke.  Meanwhile  the  golden 
sun  in  rapid  car  had  nearly  passed  meridian.  Lo !  after 
the  deep  silence  a  mighty  shout  arose  from  the  camp,  and 
here  the  heavens,  and  there  Ben  Nevis,  resounded,  and  the  stricken 
mountain  tops  re-echo  the  terrible  thunder.  At  once  the  pipes 
struck  up  the  pibroch,  and  the  clarion  and  bugle  sounded  from 
hoarse  throat  the  dreadful  note  and  chant  of  war.  Already 
squadron  and  battalion  prepare  to  leave  the  camp.  The  army, 
brilliant  with  the  varied  weapons  of  Lochaber,  moves  the  standard, 
while  the  pipe  sounds,  and  the  whole  force  in  marching  order 
advances  into  the  open  country.  The  bold  Glengarry,  as  leader 
of  the  first  line,  marched  in  the  van,  accompanied  by  thirty  horse 
in  due  order.  Then  the  rest  of  the  chiefs  advanced  each  in  his 
own  station,  and  followed  by  his  own  people.  Swift  Foyers,1 
following  with  his  marshalled  clan,  brought  up  smartly  the  rear. 
And  now  the  tartaned  host  had  poured  itself  out  upon  the  fields, 
and  forced  its  way  through  rocks  and  rivers,  and  had  left  behind 
the  confines  of  Glen  Roy  and  the  lofty  mountains  and  walls  of 
Garvamore.  Now  it  is  over  the  fords  of  Spey,  and  is  holding  the 
open  country.  With  mighty  cheer  they  assail  the  skies,  with 
heavy  tramp  they  oppress  the  earth.  The  Highland  army,  with 
its  glitter  of  brass  and  flash  of  bright  musket,  braves  the  sun, 
and  with  bristling  spears  affrights  the  air  as  it  moves  forward. 
When  at  length  it  touched  thy  borders,  0  Badenoch !  its  wings 
were  extended  widely  over  the  declivities  of  the  hills.  Far  off  the 
clans  were  seen  shining  in  the  light  of  the  sun.  A  thousand 
helmets  glitter,  as  many  quivers  resound ;  a  thousand  spears, 
from  their  points  bright  with  golden  light,  reflect  the  rays,  and 
the  fields  feel  the  tread  of  the  axe-bearing  Gael,  and  the  Grampians 
are  terrible  with  the  flaunting  banners. 

"Forthwith  in  terror  the  whole  district  trembles,  and  every  one 
who  joins  not  the  camp  of  the  great  Graham  deserts  his  household 

1  Fraser  of  Foyers. 


Gleanings  from  C/uny  Charter  Chest  207 

gods  and  cottage  with  its  overhanging  thatch  and  seeks  some 
cave,  hiding  as  a  fugitive  among  the  rocks.  Dundee  himself,  full 
of  confidence,  conceived  great  hopes  in  his  breast,  and  in  exulta- 
tion revolved  the  weighty  questions  of  the  war  in  his  mind.  He 
led  his  force  towards  the  enemy  awaiting  him  beside  the  deep 
waters  of  the  chilly  Spey.  He  reached  the  green  fields  of  Cluny, 
where  the  earth  is  clothed  with  fruitful  corn.  There  the  Graham 
calls  to  arms  the  race  deriving  its  name  from  the  priest.1 
Presently,  surrounded  by  his  whole  force  with  flying  colours,  he 
seeks  the  Castle  of  Raitts.2  Already  was  Titan,  with  descending 
team,  seeking  the  bounds  of  the  Hesperian  shore,  and  his  long 
course  ended,  was  plunging  his  wearied  chariot  in  the  sea ;  and 
night  coming  on  covers  the  earth  with  gloomy  shadows. 

u  The  morrow — it  was  the  29th  of  May  3 — arose,  and  with  its 
light  dispelled  the  shades.  Dundee  gathered  together  the  leaders 
of  the  host,  and,  standing  on  a  grassy  knoll,  he  thus  addressed 
them  : — *  0  Grampian  race  !  the  glory  of  the  Fergus-descended 
kings,  the  annual  festal  day  of  the  restored  Charles  has  at  length 
shone  out  in  golden  light.  This  day,  were  I  a  wanderer  on 
Batavian  shore,  were  I  flying  as  a  wretched  exile  to  the  Adriatic 
waves,  would  I  observe  with  its  due  offices  and  honours,  and 
wherever  under  the  heavens  I  may  be,  I  will  perform  this  annual 
solemnity  in  honour  of  the  peace-bringing  Charles.  He,  arms 
being  laid  down,  put  an  end  to  the  civil  war,  and  peace  restored 
brought  round  the  Golden  Age.4  Therefore,  with  glad  plaudits 

1  The  Macphersons.   In  tfie  translation  given  by  Napier  in  his  Life  and  Times 
of  Dundee  they  are  described  as  "the  priest-descended  Clan  Vurich."     "Tradi- 
tion," says  Skene,   "  attaches  to  Gillichattan  the  epithet  of  Clerach  or  Claric, 
and  he  and  his  descendants,  the  Clan  Vurich,  are  said  to  have  been  hereditary 
lay  Parsons  of  Kingussie.     One  of  them,  Duncan,  the  son  of  Kenneth,  appears 
in  1438  as  Duncan  Parson,  from  whom  the  Chief  of  the  Clan  takes  his  name 
of  Macpherson.     The  Earls  of  Ross  are  descended  from  the  lay  Priests  of 
Applecross." 

2  The  old  Castle  of  R&itts  stood  on  an  eminence  on  the  site  of  the  present 
mansion  house  of  Balavil,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Spey,  within  three  miles  of 
Kingussie,  commanding  a  magnificent  view  of  the  Grampians  and  the  valley 
of  the  Spey.     The  estate  is  now  the  property  of  Mr  Brewster-Macpherson,  a 
grandson  of  Sir  David  Brewster,  and  a  great-grandson  of  the  tianslator  of 
Ossian's  poems.     In  a  prominent  position  in  the  immediate  vicinity  there  is  a 
very  beautiful  and  appropriate  monument   in   memory  of    the   translator 
erected  soon  after  his  death  in  1796. 

3  The  29th  of  May  was  the  birthday  of  Charles  II.,  as  well  as  the  day  of 
his  entry  into  London  on  his  restoration. 

4  "Our  author,"  says  Canon  Murdoch,  "in  so  often  alluding  to  the  reign 
of  Charles  II.  as  the  Golden  Age,  is  using  a  phrase  of  the  time,  quoted  in  the 

Vicar  of  Bray  and  revived  in  the  novel  by  Edna  Lyall,  In  the  Golden  Days. 
The  first  chapter  is  styled  '  Good  King  Charles's  Golden  Days.'" 


208  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

sent  up  to  the  skies,  let  us  all  celebrate  the  birthday  and  the 
honour  of  Charles.'  This  he  said,  and  with  one  heart  and  mouth 
they  all  sent  up  the  cheer.  In  the  midst  of  the  camp  there  was  a 
plain,  rough  with  wild  heather,  and  on  it  rose  a  little  hill. 
Thither  the  hero,  amid  his  thousands,  betook  himself,  and  bidding 
his  officers  stand  around  in  wide  circle,  and  the  rank  and  file  to 
form  behind,  he  orders  a  huge  pyre^of  brushwood,  branches,  and 
logs  steeped  in  resin  to  be  raised  and  fired.  He  first  applied  the 
lighted  sparks,  and  aroused  them  into  flame  with  sulphur.  Then 
the  dread  pipes  with  their  music  inaugurate  the  solemnity.  The 
Graham,  olive  crowned  and  in  his  wonted  scarlet,  and  holding  a 
cup  of  foaming  wine,  stood  before  the  pile,  and  silence  being  com- 
manded, thus  he  speaks  : — '  To  the  due  honour  of  the  late  King, 
to  his  natal  day,  and  the  day  of  the  happy  restoration  of  Charles, 
to  the  success  of  his  pious  brother,  to  the  health  of  the  King  and 
his  restoration  to  his  sceptre,  with  glad  lips  I  drink  this  full  cup/ 
He  spoke,  and  with  uncovered  head  he  stood  before  the  whole 
throng,  and  quaffed  the  bowl  at  a  mighty  draught.  These  words 
all  his  captains  repeated,  and  with  eager  throats  they  drained 
their  full  goblets.  The  crash  and  clang  of  the  pipes  rose  to  the 
skies,  and  the  flaming  fagots  lighten  up  the  whole  camp,  so  that 
one  might  believe  that  the  distant  fields  and  all  the  mountains 
were  enkindled  by  the  blaze.  Already  the  sun  was  going  down  in 
rapid  course  from  Olympus,  and  said  the  Graham — 'This  is  no 
time  for  the  games  of  the  day,  nor  may  we  indulge  in  the  light 
dance.  Generals,  raise  your  standards ;  give  the  little  that 
remains  of  the  day  to  Bellona,  and  dispense  with  the  games.' " 

Near  at  hand  the  lofty  castle  of  liuthven,1  built  in  bygone 
days  of  stones  of  an  older  building,  is  held  and  fortified  as  a  post 

1  No  other  stronghold  in  the  north  was  more  identified  with  the  history  of 
the  Highlands — or  indeed  with  the  history  of  Scotland — from  the  time 
of  the  "Red  Comyn "  downwards,  than  "the  lofty  Castle  of  Ruthven," 
so  frequently  burnt  down  and  re-built.  Standing  on  a  prominent  site 
on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  within  half-a-mile  from  Kingussie, 
at  "a  crossing  point  of  tracks  north,  south,  east,  and  west,  in  the 
great  valley  of  the  Spey,  it  saw  and  felt  every  raid  westward  by  Gordons^ 
Grants,  Mackintoshes  ;  eastwards  by  Macdonalds,  Camerons,  Macleans,  and 
Campbells ;  southwards  by  them  all,  with  additions  of  Macphersons,  Mac- 
ken/ies,  and  many  more ;  and  northwards  by  the  regular  forces  of  the 
kingdom.  The  poet  seems  to  allude  to  the  old  stones  which  had  had  their 
places  in  many  succeeding  buildings.  Huntly,  in  fighting  the  bonny  Earl  of 
Moray,  repaired  it ;  Argyll  beseiged  it  in  vain  when  held  by  Macphersons  ; 
Montrose,  Monck,  Lilburn,  and  now  Mackay  garrisoned  it,  each  successive 
occupant  having  to  make  it  habitable  for  himself  ;  and  next  Dundee  burns  it. 
It  again  figures  in  the  '45,  when  the  relics  of  Prince  Charles's  force,  several 
thousands  strong,  under  Macpherson,  rallied  round  the  old  walls.  At  that  time 
it  was  commonly  known  as  Ruthven  Barracks.  It  was  made  a  garrison  for  40 


Gleanings  from  U/uny  Charter  Chest.  209- 

of  the  Dutch  General.  Dundee  commands  the  castle  to  be 
destroyed,  its  towers  thrown  down,  and  the  place  given  to  the 
flames.  He  despatched  a  man  of  courage,  chosen  from  his 
host,  to  carry  his  orders  to  the  commander  of  the  Castle. 
As  he  seeks  (with  him)  the  outworks  of  the  stronghold, 
he  says,  "  0  Scot,  tell  that  youth,  in  my  name,  to 
leave  these  walls,  or  I  will  level  their  lofty  turrets 
to  the  ground.'  He  faithfully  bears  the  message  of  his  great 
master,  and  first  sounding  his  bugle,  he  bids  the  garrison  depart, 
and  orders  the  castle  to  be  quickly  rendered.  But  from  the  high 
rampart  came  the  reply,  *  I,  a  Forbes,1  hold  this  castle  for  the 
Prince  of  Orange,  and  for  him  will  I  hold  it,  if  the  gods  permit/ 
There  was  no  delay,  all  were  roused  at  the  proud  response. 
Keppoch,  as  the  commander,  was  sent  at  once  with  a  strong  force. 
He  approached  the  walls  with  sound  of  horn  and  pipe,  and 
encircled  Ruthven  Castle  with  his  men.  Thrice  with  loud  voice 
he  summoned  the  commander  to  conference.  He  told  him  that 
the  Highland  clans  had  taken  the  field,  and  that  the  Graham  was 
in  arms,  and  that  unless  he  yielded  up  his  post,  himself,  and  his 

'  musketters '  in  1664,  and  in  1668  it  is  ranked  as  one  of  the  strongholds  of 
the  kingdom  appointed  for  the  incarceration  of  prisoners.  Its  condition  in 
1693  is  spoken  to  by  Colonel  John  Hill,  and  his  words  apply  equally,  he  says, 
to  Blair  Atholl.  He  says  it  is  'almost  ruinous,  being  neither  wind  nor  water- 
tight, so  that  many  of  the  soldiers  there  posted,  through  the  incessant  rains  in 
the  night  time,  have  contracted  fluxes,  scurveys,  and  other  diseases,  and  others 
of  the  soldiers  do  frequently  desert  because  of  the  bad  accommodation,  there 
not  being  habitable  space  for  40  men,  though  there  were  4  score  centinells 
besides  officers  in  the  garrison.' — Treasury  Register t  September  8th,  1693, 
quoted  by  Ross  in  Old  Scottish  Colours,  p.  27.  Mackay  had  stationed  Captain 
John  Forbes,  with  some  of  Grant's  men,  in  the  castle  as  an  advanced  post,  and 
in  order  to  make  easy  the  junction  of  Ramsay,  who  was  trying  to  force  his- 
way  through  Atholl  with  the  reinforcements  sent  from  the  South.  Mackay, 
having  advanced  about  half  way  to  Ruthven  from  Inverness,  got  a  message 
from  Forbes  that  Ramsey  was  retreating  southward,  and  that  Dundee  was 
only  twelve  miles  from  Ruthven  up  the  Spey.  Mackay  moved  to  Culnakyle 
and  Belcastle,  i.e.  Castle  Grant,  and  from  that  base  moved  up  the  Spey  to 
within  a  short  distance  of  Dundee's  camp  at  Raitts.  Finding  him  strongly 
posted  he  fell  back  upon  the  kirk  of  Alvie,  where  we  shall  next  find  him, 
Ruthven  being  left  to  its  fate." 

1  Captain  John  Forbes,  brother  of  President  Forbes  of  Culloden.  "  He 
was  employed  by  his  brother  to  convey  his  address  to  the  Prince  of  Orange, 
and  by  his  influence  was  made  Major  in  Grant's  regiment,  I  presume,  in  1690, 
over  the  nominees  of  Melville  and  Mackay.  He  became  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
and  was  employed  (as  he  was  at  anyrate  going  north)  to  carry  the  order 
respecting  the  Glencoe  massacre  to  Sir  John  Hill.  He  expressed  his  horror  at 
the  order  when  the  letter  was  opened.  He  afterwards  commanded  at  Fort- 
William.  Dundee  treated  him  with  great  leniency  on  this  occasion,  and  let 
him  depart  free  with  his  garrison." 

14 


210  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

force,  the  castle  would  be  levelled  to  its  foundations.  It  is  in 
vain.  Both  parties  prepare  for  the  fray  ;  this  one  determines  to 
defend  the  stronghold  committed  to  him,  and  Keppoch  vows  that 
he  will  give  the  place  to  the  flames.  Forthwith  he  discharges  his 
guns,  surpassing  the  weapons  of  Jove,  and  like  hail  fly  the  bullets 
of  lead.  Ladders  are  fixed  to  the  walls,  and  he  bids  the  ditch  be 
filled  with  piles  of  wood  and  beams,  and  to  apply  the  rapid  flame 
to  the  fortress.  At  length  the  signal  being  given,  Forbes  himself 
spoke  : — '  That  general,  who  gave  me  this  castle  to  hold,  is  near. 
If  he  come  not  within  three  risings  of  the  sun  in  the  east,  the 
Graham  shall  have  these  walls,  and  I  will  depart  inglorious,  laying 
down  my  arms.'  Thrice  sank  the  sun  in  Tartessian  waters,  and 
thrice  he  raised  his  rosy  head  from  the  dark  Indies.  When  the 
day  appointed  for  the  surrender  of  the  castle  arrived,  there  was 
no  host  on  the  plain.  Mackay  pressed  not  forward,  nor  brought 
relief.  Forbes  yielded  the  captured  castle,  and  himself,  and  his 
whole  force  to  the  victor,  who  at  once  applied  the  torch  to  the 
roofs,  and  threw  down  the  burning  walls.  Then,  as  a  conqueror, 
he  leads  the  captured  throng  in  long  line,  and  in  the  manner  of 
an  ancient  triumph  he  sought  the  camp. 

"Meanwhile,  General  Mackay  was  now  encamped  at  the  Kirk 
of  chilly  Alvie,  in  a  position  difficult  to  attack.  In  his  front  lay 
a  wooden  bridge  of  vast  timbers  ;  in  his  rear  was  a  ditch  of  deep 
rolling  water  ;  a  burn1  protected  his  right,  and  the  woods  his  left. 
Here,  passing  away  his  time  in  sluggish  lethargy,  he  relieves  his 
breast,  conscious  of  anxious  care.  The  Graham,  mounted  in  the 
midst  of  his  array, of  Highlanders,  leaving  with  raised  standards 
the  Castle  of  Raitts,  made  his  way  through  the  open  country. 
The  earth  was  trembling  under  the  heavy  tramp  of  his  cavalry, 
when  a  messenger  with  a  lying  rumour  reported  that  the  enemy 
was  crossing  the  mountains  in  strength,  and  that  the  Orange 
troopers  were  pressing  on  in  his  rear.  He  wheels  about,  and 

"  It  is  difficult,"  sayi  Canon  Murdoch,  "  without  study  on  the  spot,  to 
identify  this  camp.  If  the  bridge  was  over  the  Spey,  which  is  not  probable, 
we  may  suppose  the  camp  at  the  north  end  of  it,  the  rear  covered  by  the  Loch 
of  Alvie,  the  right  by  a  local  stream,  and  the  left  by  the  woods,  'if  he  were 
facing  up  the  Spey,  he  might  have  his  rear  towards  the  west  side  of  the  loch, 
with  a  bridge  over  a  considerable  stream  in  his  front,  the  winding  of  the  burn 
would  protect  hi?  right,  and  the  woods  between  him  and  the  Spey,  the  left. 
Perhaps  Bruce  addressed  him  from  the  Waterloo  Cairn  Rocks,  or  from  the 
Tor  of  Alvie,  or  froni  where  the  Duke  of  Gordon's  monument  now  stands." 

The  "  burn  "  referred  to  was  probably  the  outlet  from  Loch  Alvie  to  the 
river  Spey,  now  crossed  by  a  stone  bridge,  within  two  or  three  hundred  yards 
from  the  present  inn  of  Lynwilg. 


Gleanings  from  Cluny  Charter  Chest  211 

Loyell1  leads  the  way.  Dundee  also  despatched  a  body  of  foot 
under  his  brother,2  to  a  rising  ground,  which,  with  a  dense  girdle 
of  wood  surrounding  it,  was  also  fenced  by  the  current  of  the 
J3pey.  He  himself  leads  some  horse  over  the  rocky  heights, 
and  through  the  rugged  denies  he  sends  out  chosen  scouts. 
Nowhere  was  there  an  enemy  to  be  seen,  and  nowhere  could  any 
wing  of  the  alleged  army  be  descried.  Bruce,  who  was  sent  for- 
ward towards  the  Kirk  of  Alvie  with  a  dozen  horse,  and  approached 
the  enemy,  discovered  him  holding  his  safe  post  within  his  camp. 
Stationing  himself  on  the  top  of  a  high  rock,  he  assails  the  general, 
and  lashes  him  with  bitter  words  : — 'Art  thou  then  that  Mackay 
from  the  North,  faithless  to  your  country,  who,  on  behalf  of  the 
robber,  wages  this  ill-starred  war,  and  oppressest  the  father  of  the 
country  1  0  wretch  !  worthy  of  all  the  penalties  of  Stygian 
darkness,  faithless  to  God,  and  to  your  country  and  your  King  a 
rebel !  not  with  impunity  shall  you  long  rejoice  in  such  crime. 
Leave  the  defiled  camp  of  the  Orange  tyrant,  give  him  back  his 
own,  and  take  up  the  arms  of  the  Caesar ;  or,  if  you  prefer  it, 
leave  your  stronghold,  and  trust  to  the  issue  of  a  battle  on  the 
open  plain.'  Presently,  with  uplifted  voice,  he  addressed  the 
dragoons,  and  calls  his  former  comrades  in  agitated  tones — '  0 
comrades,  do  you  who  once  followed  the  sacred  standards  of 
the  King,  your  master  deserted,  do  you  now,  a  pack  of  turn- 
coats, bear  the  arms  of  the  robber  against  the  astonished  North  ? 
Do  you  against  the  Scottish  King  turn  your  impious  force  1 
Does  such  villainy  possess  your  degenerate  souls?  0  pack  of 
slaves,  disgrace  of  ^your  age,  seek  now  the  darkness  and  trust  to 
your  heels,  for  the  strength  of  your  position  will  not  avail  you  in 
such  crime.  Dundee,  with  the  sword  of  vengeance  for  your  guilt, 
is  near  you  in  force.  Look  at  me,  your  commander  in  former 
times.  If  in  your  face  any  shame,  and  in  your  heart  any  virtue, 
remains,  men !  turn  your  standards  and  come  to  our  camp.' 
Thus  he  spoke,  and  for  answer  Scourie  sent  a  smoking  reply,  the 
powder  being  fired  in  the  terrible  guns.  Bruce  quickly  'fired  back 
and  withdrew  from  the  walls  of  Alvie.  Giving  rein  to  his  light 
horse  through  woods  aud  fields,  he  returned  to  the  camp,  having 
reconnoitred  from  his  post  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  and  made 
his  report,  that  they  in  sloth  were  taking  safe  rest  within  their 
camp.  At  once  Dundee,  rejoicing  at  the  tidings  of  the  nearness 
of  the  foe,  advances  with  a  compact  body  of  troops  in  good  order. 

1  Napier  translates   "  Loyello "   in   the   original   as   Lochiel,   and   Canon 
Murdoch  says  he  may  be  right. 

2  David  Graham,  a  brother  of  Dundee. 


212  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Having  left  Dun  Nachtan  some  way  behind,  he  marvelled  to  see 
there  clouds  of  smoke  rising  to  the  skies.  Keppoch,  after  he  had 
destroyed  Ruthven  Castle,  having  returned  with  great  pomp  to 
this  house,  fired  it,  urged  by  the  spur  of  revenge  and  the  love  of 
plunder,  and  reduced  it  to  ashes.1  The  flocks,  the  ravished  wealth 
of  the  harried  houses,  oxen,  and  the  common  booty  of  the  fields- 
were  carried  off.  Nor  was  our  general  able  to  restrain  the  violence 
of  this  savage  soldier  from  breaking  out  and  wrapping  the  whole 
district  in  flames.  Dundee,  on  horseback,  moved  swiftly  forward 
both  horse  and  foot,  and  at  quick  step  passed  through  the  fields 
of  Dalraddy,  crossing  rocks  and  streams,  till  he  threatens  the 
camp  at  Alvie.  Scourie,  when  he  perceived  the  enemy  upon  him, 
with  precipitate  flight  left  his  camp  secretly  at  midnight  and  in 
fear  took  to  the  hills  and  the  woods.  Thus  does  the  formidable 
army  of  lions,  when  led  by  a  stag,  fear  the  army  of  stags  when 
led  by  a  lion.  Thus  the  bright  fame  of  a  hero  is  worth  a  thousand 
swords.  The  name  of  the  Graham  was  enough  to  affright  the 
enemy  and  to  compel  him  to  desert  his  post  in  disgraceful  flight. 
Dundee  hurries  on  and  passes  the  house  of  Alvie,  and  thy  woods,. 
0  Kothiemurchus,  and  at  the  fields  named  from  Coilus  he  fords 
the  Spey.  With  wary  skill  he  traverses  the  woods  and  vast  forest 

1  Dunachton  was  the  old  castle  of  Mackintosh  on  Loch  Insh,  and  was  never- 
re-built  after  its  destruction  by  Macdon?ld  of  Keppoch  in  1089.  Dundee 
had  moved  down  the  north  bank  of  the  Spey  from  Raitts,  had  passed 
Dunachton.  leaving  it  unharmed,  and  was  pressing  forward  towards  Alvie  by 
Boat  of  Inch,  Kincraig,  and  Dalraddy  when  he  beheld  Dunachton  in  flames, 
and  the  country  around  in  a  blaze,  through  the  personal  vengeance  of  Keppoch. 
"  Our  author,"  says  Canon  Murdoch,  "  presents  him*  as  besieging  Ruthven 
Castle,  and  without  authority  burning  the  house  of  Dunachton  and  ravishing 
the  country  with  fire  and  sword.  He  confesses  that  Dundee  could  not  at  all 
times  control  this  wild  soldier.  We  learn,  however,  from  the  Memoirs  of 
Lochicl  that  on  this  occasion  Dundee  had  him  up,  and,  in  presence  of  all  the 
officers  of  his  small  army,  he  told  him  '  that  he  would  much  rather  choise  to 
serve  as  a  common  souldier  among  disciplined  troops  than  command  such 
men  as  he,  who  seemed  to  make  it  his  business  to  draw  the  odium  of  the 
country  upon  him.  That  though  he  had  committed  these  outrages  in  revenge 
of  his  own  private  quarrel,  yet  it  would  be  generally  believed  that  he  had 
acted  by  authority  ;  that  since  he  was  resolved  to  do  what  he  pleased,  he 
begged  that  he  would  immediately  begone  with  his  men,  that  he  might  not 
hereafter  have  ane  opportunity  of  affronting  the  General  at  his  pleasure,  or  of 
making  him  and  the  better-disposed  troops  a  cover  to  his  robberies.'  Keppoch 
humbly  begged  his  lordship's  pardon,  and  told  him  'that  he  would  not  have 
abused  Macintosh  so  if  he  had  not  thought  him  an  enemy  to  the  King,  as 
well  as  to  himself  ;  that  he  was  heartily  sorry  for  what  was  passed,  but  since 
that  could  not  be  amended,  he  solemnly  promised  a  submissive  obedience  for 
the  future,  and  tliat  neither  he  nor  any  of  his  men  should  at  any  time  there- 
after stir  one  foot  without  his  lordship's  positive  commands.'" — Memoirs  of 
Lochiel,  p.  243. 


Gleanings  from  C/uny  Charter  Chest.  213 

paths  of  Abernethy,  and  onward  marches  through  the  haughs  of 
•Crorndale,  pursuing  the  flying  general,  He  presses  after  him  with 
his  whole  force,  and,  as  a  whirlwind,  disperses  the  hostile 
squadrons.  He  shakes  the  earth  with  the  clang  of  the  trumpet, 
and  affrights  the  stars  with  the  fire-flashing  muskets. 

"Quickly  on  flying  wing,  amid  the  applause  of  the  plaided  host, 
the  word  passes  that  the  Dutch  general  is  giving  way,  and  has 
indeed  taken  to  base  flight,  that  he  was  leaving  the  glens,  and 
Avith  swift  foot  was  seeking  the  south.  Dundee  pushes  on,  and  in 
ihe  winding  Glenlivet,  as  he  turned  his  eyes  on  the  distant 
watered  plains,  he  beheld  the  hostile  force  passing  into  conceal- 
ment behind  a  hill.  At  once  to  the  heavens  rose  the  shout  of  the 
clans.  They  rejoice  that  the  da'y  has  come  when  they  see  their 
enemy,  and  when  they  may  display  their  valour  in  brave  deeds. 
With  alacrity  they  draw  their  swords,  and  extended  on  the  plain, 
they  move  in  ordered  ranks  ;  they  cast  their  brogues  of  bull's 
hide  and  make  a  pile  of  their  plaids,  and  thus  stripped  prepare  for 
the  battle.  The  Graham,  looking  from  a  hill-top,  perceived  that 
the  enemy's  squadrons  were  stealing  away  from  their  position. 
He  bids  the  trumpet  sound  the  set  on,  to  incite  th&  Highland  host 
to  the  pursuit.  Then  inished  out  the  trumpeters  and  affrighted 
the  Dutchmen  with  the  blare  of  the  clarions,  pouring  out  from  the 
curved  brazen  throats  in  his  very  face  the  grand  notes  of  "  The 
King  shall  enjoy  his  own  again."  As  the  war  trumpets  sounded 
to  the  fray,  Mackay,  swifter  than  the  east  wind,  turns  his  dusty 
back,  and  panting  hurries  towards  the  coast.  Thus  the  hungry 
fox,  seeking  in  the  darkness  of  night  the  full  sheep-fold,  turns 
when  he  hears  the  barking  of  the  fierce  dogs,  and  with  drooping 
neck  and  brush  trailing  in  the  mire  he  hides  his  shame  under  the 
cover  of  the  woods. 

"Dundee  moves  his  standards  waving  on  to  battle  into  the  open 
plain,  and  speeds  headlong  after  the  flying  enemy.  In  exultation 
he  weights  his  shoulders  with  his  corslet,  and  presses  back  his 
flowing  locks  within  his  gleaming  helmet.  He  calls  for  his 
charger,  and  in  complete  armour  he  leapt  into  the  lofty  saddle. 
The  war-horse  seemed  to  feel  the  pride  of  his  rider,  and  flew  faster 
than  the  north  wind.  Not  the  horse  of  Castor,  nor  of  Achilles, 
went  thus  ;  nor  Pegasus  on  fleet  wing.  Bellerophon  ne'er  cleft 
the  light  air  more  fleetly.  Now  the  Graham  gallops  circling 
amid  the  plaided  host,  and  exhorts  the  leaders.  He  calls  the 
cadet  of  the  Erasers,  faithful  to  his  commands,  and  addresses  him 
as  he  goes  in  few  words  : — '  Go  !  0  son  of  Beauly,  nevor  found 
opposed  to  the  Royal  Stuart,  press  on  the  rear  of  the  flying 


214  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

enemy,  and  begin  the  battle.  Swift  must  be  your  course,  pass 
the  light  clouds  in  your  speed.'  He  flies,  fleeter  than  any  stag, 
and  attacks  the  rear  of  the  Dutch  force  with  musket  fire,  and 
bids,  in  cutting  words,  the  harassed  enemy  to  stand,  and  trust 
himself  on  the  level  ground.  But  he,  urging  his  steps  all  the 
more  rapidly  towards  the  coast,  hastened  his  precipitate  course 
southwards.  The  lightning-like  Graham  presses  him  with  his 
whole  line,  and,  like  a  whirlwind,  Allows  the  fugitives  through  the 
fields.  In  one  day  he  thrice  drove  the  enemy  from  his  position. 
Already  he  had  crossed  the  high  declivities  of  snowy  Balrynnis, 
and  left  the  fields  of  Balveny  far  behind.  The  sun,  meanwhile, 
is  setting,  and  the  evening  star  coming  forth  on  the  heavens. 
Still  rise  the  shouts  .of  men,  still" comes  the  panting  of  the  pur- 
suing horses  ;  the  air  resounds  with  loud  clamour,  the  hollows 
groan,  the  earth  trembles,  stricken  with  the  force  of  their  heavy 
tramp  ;  here,  at  the  double,  comes  a  regiment  of  foot,  there  the 
iron  hoof  of  the  cavalry  cuts  the  quivering  turf  at  the  gallop. 
There  is  no  rest  till  black  night  steals  colour  from  the  scene,  and 
outspread  darkness  covers  the  earth.1' 

In  the  "Memoirs  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  from  the  dis- 
solution of  the  last  Parliament  of  Charles  II.  until  the  Sea  Battle 
of  La  Hogue,"  by  Sir  John  Dalrymple  of  Cranstoun  (a  later 
baronet  of  the  family  than  the  Sir  John  of  Glencoe  notoriety), 
published  in  1771,  it  is  related  of  Dundee — while  the  severity 
of  his  discipline  is  commented  upon — that  "if  anything 
good  was  brought  him  to  eat  he  sent  it  to  a  faint  or  sick 
soldier.  If  a  soldier  was  weary  he  offered  to  carry  his  arms.  He 
kept  those  who  were  with  him  from  sinking  under  their  fatigues, 
not  so  much  by  exhortation  as  by  preventing  them  from  attending 
to  their  sufferings.  For  this  reason  he  walked  on  foot  with  his 
men  ;  now  by  the  side  of  one  clan,  and  anon  by  that  of  another. 
He  amused  them  with  jokes.  He  flattered  them  with  his  know- 
ledge of  their  genealogies.  He  animated  them  by  a  recital  of  the 
deeds  of  their  ancestors,  and  of  the  verses  of  their  bards.  It  was 
one  of  his  maxims  that  no  general  should  fight  with  an  irregular 
army  unless  he  was  acquainted  with  every  man  he  commanded." 

While  the  character  and  services  of  Dundee  are  no  doubt 
exaggerated  by  such  partisan  champions  as  Napier  and  Aytoun,  it 
is  equally  clear,  on  the  other  hand,  that  his  memory  has  been  to 
no  little  extent  unjustly  traduced  by  extremely  prejudiced  critics 
like  Wodrow,  Macaulay,  and  others.  Of  course  the  old  adage- 
1  holds  good  that  "two  blacks  don't  make  a  white."  But  even 
assuming  that  Dundee  was  guilty  of  all  the  cruelties  laid  to  his- 


Gleanings  from  C/uny  Charter  Chest.  215 

charge  by  his  bitterest  opponents — a  very  extreme  assumption 
indeed — these  cruelties  altogether  pale  in  comparison  not  only 
with  the  infamous  butchery  on  the  part  of  the  Whigs,  with 
the  Prince  of  Orange's  express  authority,  at  Glencoe,  but  also 
with  the  inhuman  barbarities  perpetrated  more  than  half  a 
century  later  by  "the  bloody  Duke  of  Cumberland"  and  his 
minions  on  the  defenceless  Highlanders  after  Culloden. 

With  the  Jacobites,  Dundee  was  the  brave  and  handsome 
cavalier,  the  last  of  the  great  Scots  and  gallant  Grahams.  With 
the  Covenanters  he  was  "  bloody  Claverse,"'  the  most  cruel  and 
rapacious  of  all  the  mercenary  soldiers  of  that  age.  "  He  was 
neither,"  says  an  impartial  critic,  "  the  best  nor  the  worst  of  his 
class.  As  a  military  commander  he  had  no  opportunities  for  dis- 
play. He  was  the  hero  of  only  one  important  battle,  and  in  that 
his  skill  was  shown  chiefly  in  his  choice  of  position.  As  a  perse- 
cutor, he  did  not,  like  Dalyell,  introduce  the  thumb-screw,  nor, 
like  Grierson  of  Lagg,  drown  helpless  women  at  the  stakes  oil  the 
sea-sands.  '  In  any  service  I  have  been  in,'  he  said,  '  I  never 
inquired  further  in  the  laws  than  the  orders  of  my  superior  officers.' 
.  .  .  It  was  fortunate  for  his  reputation  that  he  died  after  a 
great  victory,  fighting  for  an  exiled  and  deserted  monarch." 

"  In  the  garden  of  old  Urrard, 

Among  the  bosky  yews 
A  turf  en  hillock  riseth 

Refreshed  by  faithful  dews; 
Here  sank  the  warrior  stricken 

By  charmed  silver  ball, 
And  all  the  might  of  victory 

Dropped  nerveless  in  his  fall. 
Last  hope  of  exiled  Stuart, 

Last  heir  of  chivalrie, 
In  the  garden  of  old  Urrard 

He  fell,  the  brave  Dundee." 

It  is  related  of  Dr  Munro,  minister  of  St  Giles,  the  distinguished 
Principal  at  the  time  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  that  he 
was  accused  of  rejoicing  at  the  victory  of  Dundee  at  the  battle 
of  Killiecrankie.  At  the  enquiry  instituted  before  the  Parlia- 
mentary Commission  in  1690,  the  rev.  Principal,  after  calling 
upon  his  accuser  for  proofs,  thus  boldly  expressed  himself  : — 

"  The  libeller  does  not  think  I  rejoiced  at  the  fall  of  my  Lord 
Dundee  !  I  assure  him  of  the  contrary  ;  for  no  gentleman,  soldier, 


216  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

scholar,  or  civilised  citizen  will  find  fault  with  me  for  this.  I  had 
an  extraordinary  value  for  him  ;  and  such  of  his  enemies  as  retain 
any  generosity  will  acknowledge  he  deserved  it." 

"  *  Bloody  Claverse,'  '  Bonnie  Dundee  ' — the  two  names,"  says 
the  unprejudiced  writer  of  the  article  on  Viscount  Dundee  in  the 
last  edition  of  Chambers'  Encyclopaedia,  published  in  1890, 
"illustrate  the  opposite  feelings  bcrne  towards  one  whom  the 
malice  of  foes  and  the  favour  of  frfends  have  invested  with  a 
factitious  interest.  He  was  neither  the  devil  incarnate  that  legend 
and  Lord  Macaulay  have  painted  him,  nor  the  17th  century 
Havelock  of  Aytoun,  Napier,  and  Paget.  Wodrow  himself  admits 
that  '  the  Hell- wicked- witted,  bloodthirsty  Graham  of  Claverhouse 
hated  to  spend  his  time  with  wine  and  women.'" 

Here  is  the  testimony  as  to  the  character  of  Dundee  given 
by  Drummond  of  Balhaldy,  the  biographer  of  Sir  Ewen  Cameron 
of  Lochiel : — 

"  His  Lordship  was  so  nice  in  point  of  honour,  and  so  true  to 
his  word,  that  he  never  was  known  once  to  break  it.  From  this 
exactness  it  was  that  he  once  lost  the  opportunity  of  an  easy 
victory  over  Mackay  in  Strathspey,  by  dismissing  Captain  Forbes ; 
who,  meeting  the  two  troopers  sent  by  the  Lord  Kilsyth,  not  only 
discovered  that  intelligence,  but  the  neighbourhood  of  the  High- 
land army,  as  I  have  formerly  related.  This  is  the  only  real  error 
chargeable  in  his  conduct  while  he  commanded  in  this  war.  But 
this  is  the  more  excusable  that  it  proceeded  from  a  principle  of 
religion,  whereof  he  was  strictly  observant;  for,  besides  family 
worship  performed  regularly  evening  and  morning  at  his  house,  he 
retired  to  his  closet  at  certain  hours  and  employed  himself  in  that 
duty.  This  I  affirm  upon  the  testimony  of  severals  that  lived  in 
his  neighbourhood  in  Edinburgh,  where  his  office  of  Privy  Coun- 
cillor often  obliged  him  to  be ;  and  particularly  from  a  Presby- 
terian lady,  who  lived  long  in  the  storey  or  house  immediately 
below  his  Lordship's,  and  who  was  otherwise  so  rigid  in  her 
opinions  that  she  could  not  believe  a  good  thing  of  any  person  of 
his  persuasion,  till  his  conduct  rectified  her  mistake." 

Writing  in  the  Celtic  Magazine  for  August,  1877,  the  Rev.  Dr 
Stewart  of  Ballachulish,  so  well  and  favourably  known  under  the 
nom-de-plume  of  "Nether  Lochaber,"  remarks  of  Lord  Dundee, 
'  that  whatever  his  Covenanting  opponents  may  have  thought  and 
said  of  him,  the  Highlanders,  at  least,  loved  him  with  all  their 
heart,  and  held  him  a  general  of  name  and  fame  beyond  anyone 
else  then  living  ;  and  that  they  so  honestly  believed,  rightly  or 


Gleanings  from  Cluny  Charter  Chest.  217 

"wrongly,  is  evidenced  by  their  constantly  and  fondly  speaking  of 
him  as  Iain  Dubh  nan  Cath — dark  or  swarthy  John  of  Battles — a 
soubriquet  which  must  have  been  proper  and  apropos,  for  to  this 
day  it  has  never  died,  and  you  meet  with  it  in  almost  all  the 
songs  and  fireside  sgeulachds  that  go  back  to  the  days  of  Sir  Ewen 
Dubh  of  Lochiel  and  '  Bonnie  Dundee.'  Next  to  James  Graham, 
the  '  Great'  Marquis  of  Montrose,  Lord  Dundee  stands  first  and 
foremost,  if  Highland  song  and  Highland  story  are  to  be  taken  as 
factors  in  the  appraisement.  How  highly  Dundee  was  esteemed 
as  a  leader  or  '  King'  of  men,  to  use  the  Homeric  epithet,  how 
much  he  was  thought  of  as  a  gentleman .  and  accomplished 
soldier,  sans  peur  et  sans  reproche,  finds  very  striking  illustration 
in  the  bitter  exclamation  of  Macdonald  of  Clan  Ranald"  (Gordon 
of  Glenbucket  ?) — "  at  the  battle  of  Sheriffmuir,  when  he  saw  that 
things  that  might  have  gone  otherwise  were  going  amiss — '  0  ! 
for  one  hour  of  Dundee.' "  .  .  .  "I  am  quite  prepared  to 
couch  and  splinter  a  lance  in  honour  of  Lord  Dundee  and  Killie- 
crankie,  if  called  upon,  were  it  but  for  the  sake  of  '  Auld  Lang 
Syne'  and  the  days  when  Scotland  was  spoken  of  on  the  Continent 
of  Europe  as  a  '  nation  of  heroes.'  " 

In  a  subsequent  letter  appearing  in  the  Celtic  Magazine  for 
November,  1877,  "  Nether- Lochaber"  writes  :—"  Like  William 
Edmonstone  Aytoun,  I  can  very  honestly  say  that  '  I  am  not 
ashamed  to  own  that  I  have  a  deep  regard  for  the  memory  of  Lord 
Dundee,  founded  on  a  firm  belief  in  his  public  and  private 
virtues,  his  high  and  chivalrous  honour,  and  his  unshaken  loyalty 
to  his  sovereign.'  " 

As  is  well  known,  Dundee  fell  by  a  musket  shot  at  the  Battle  of 
Killiecrankie  on  27th  July,  1689,  while  waving  on  one  of  his 
battalions  to  advance.  It  appears  clear,  however,  that  his  death 
did  not  immediately  ensue.  In  the  evidence  given  before  the 
Commission  of  the  Scottish  Parliament  in  1690,  the  sworn  testi- 
mony of  Lieutenant  Nisbet  (a  Government  witness)  is  to  the 
effect  that  a  soldier  named  Johnston  related  that  he  had  caught 
Dundee  in  his  arms  as  the  brave  general  sank  from  his  saddle 
after  being  shot.  "  How  goes  the  day  ?"  murmured  Dundee. 
"  Well  for  King  James,"  said  Johnston,  "  but  I  am  sorry  for  your 
Lordship."  "  If  it  is  well  for  him,"  was  the  dying  man's  touching 
answer,  "  it  matters  the  less  for  me" — an  heroic  sentiment  worthy 
of  the  last  hours  of  such  a  devoted  champion  of  the  "  almost 
hopeless  cause"  of  the  exiled  and  unfortunate  Stewarts  as  Jain 
Dul>h  nan  Cath,  whom  the  Highlanders  loved  so  well.  In  the 
Latin  epitaph  by  his  learned  and  accomplished  contemporary,  Dr 


218  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Archibald  Pitcairn,  as  translated  by  the  poet  Dryden,  Dundee  is. 
thus  apostrophised  : — 

"  Oh,  last  and  best  of  Scots  !  who  didst  maintain 
Thy  country's  freedom  from  a  foreign  reign  ; 
New  people  fill  the  land,  now  thou  art  gone, 
New  gods  the  temples,  and  new  kings  the  throne  ! 
Scotland  and  thou  did  in  each  other  live  ; 
Nor  would'st  thou  her,  nor  coufft  she  thee  survive. 
Farewell,  who  dying  did'st  support  the  State 
And  could  not  fall  but  with  thy  country's  fate." 

According  to  some  accounts  Dundee  died  where  he  fell. 
Others  maintain  that,  wrapped  in  two  plaids,  he  was  carried  off 
the  field  to  Blair  Castle,  and  there  expired  not  many  hours  after- 
wards. In  the  "  Life  and  Times  of  Dundee,"  published  in  1862, 
it  is  stated  "  that  the  invariable  tradition  in  Blair-Athole  is  that 
Dundee  was  carried  from  the  field  to  the  Castle  and  died  therein." 
Tn  the  Bodleian  Library  at  Oxford  is  preserved  the  Letter  Book  of 
Nairne,  Secretary  to  King  James,  and  in  this  book  is 
the  copy  of  a  letter  written  or  dictated  by  Dundee  after  he 
had  received  his  death-wound,  and  been  carried  to  Blair  Castle, 
giving  the  King  a  brief  account  of  the  victory.  That  letter  has 
been  treated  by  Macaulay  and  others  as  a  forgery,  but  it  is  simply 
inconceivable  with  what  possible  motive,  or  for  what  purpose, 
Nairne,  or  anybody  else,  could  have  forged  such  a  document, 
which  remained  imprinted  for  a  period  of  nearly  90  years.  The 
letter  was  firtt  published  in  1775  by  James  Macpherson,  of 
Ossianic  fame,  in  his  valuable  historical  collection,  entitled, 
"  Original  Papers  containing  the  Secret  history  of  Great  Britain 
from  the  Restoration  to  the  Accession  of  the  House  of  Hanover." 
In  reply  to  queries  addressed  by  Mark  Napier  in  1862  to  the 
Reverend  W.  D.  Macray  of  the  Bodleian  Library,  the  following 
answers  were  returned  by  that  gentleman  : — 

"  Bodleian  Library,  Jany.  2,  1862. 

"  Dear  Sir, — Nairne's  Papers  are  preserved  in  Carte's  Collection 
in  this  Library.  Amongst  them  is  the  volume  marked  '  A.  L.'  in 
folio,  from  which  Macpherson  printed  the  papers  enquired  for  by 
you.  The  Speech  and  Letter  are  copies  by  a  contemporaneous 
hand,  written  on  the  two  sides  of  the  same  leaf,  and  numbered 
242,  as  in  Macpherson.  The  one  is  headed,  '  The  Ld.  Dundee's 
speech  before  ye  Battle,'  and  the  other  «  Lord  Dundee's  Ire.  to 
King  James  after  ye  ffight,' 


Gleanings  from  Gluny  Charter  Chest.  219 

"  They  are  very  correctly  printed  by  Macpherson  ;  the  only 
trifling  variations  being  the  following  : — In  the  speech  '  usurpa- 
tion]^] and  rebellion^] ;'  '  but  ['twill]  inspire.'  In  the  letter 
'  ['tis]  certain  ;'  *  Mackay's  '  [instead  of  McKays]  ;  '  [in]  this 
occasion,'  '  [to]  your  service,'  '  (V]ntirely  yours.' 

"  There  is  no  endorsement  upon  the  paper,  nor  is  it  more 
fully  described  in  the  table  of  contents  prefixed  to  the  volume. 

"  The  other  references  are  correct.  The  letters  in  D.  N.  vol.  i. 
folio  46,  48,  are  copies,  not  originals.  I  believe  Macpherson  is 
perfectly  trustworthy.  In  the  course  of  cataloguing  the  Pepys 
Papers,  I  found  that  his  papers  printed  from  that  Collection  were 
very  correct,  with  the  exception  that  the  letters  from  Abbeville 
to  Lord  Preston  are  described  by  him  as  being  to  Lord  Sunderland 
(p.  285) ;  and  I  believe  the  Tanner  extracts  are  equally  faithful. 

"  Any  further  information  in  my  power  I  shall  be  happy  to 
give. — I  am,  sir,  yours  very  faithfully, 

(Sgd.)         "W.  D.  MACRAY." 

To  further  enquiries,  Mr  Macray  responded  in  the  following 
terms  : — 

"Lord  Macaulay,"  he  says,  "did  consult  the  Carte  Papers 
personally.  I  recollect  showing-  him  some  other  papers  myself. 
But  I  do  riqt  know  whether  he  saw  this  volume  or  not.  . 
When  I  say  that  t.he  copies  " — of  Dundee'^  speech  to  the  soldiers, 
and  letter  to  the  King — "  are  contemporaneous,  I  mean  that  they 
are  evidently  before  1700.  There  can  be  no  doubt  ivhatever  that 
they  were  written  aboat  1690." 

In  a  subsequent  letter,  Mr  Macray  says  : — 

"  There  is  not,  as  far  as  the  paper  itself  is  concerned,  for  any- 
thing that  I  can  see,  a  shadow  of  reason  for  pronouncing  the  dying- 
letter  a  forgery.  Probably  Lord  Macaulay  did  not  look  in  the 
right  volume  for  it,  as  the  variety  of  labels  affixed  by  Carte  is 
rather  perplexing,  and  that,  therefore,  not  finding  it,  he  assumed 
its  non-existence." 

Macray,  it  will  be  seen,  carefully  examined  the  copy  of  the 
letter  "  by  a  contemporaneous  hand  "  among  the  Nairne  papers  in 
the  Carte  collection  preserved  in  the  Bodleian  Library.  Against 
the  conjectures  or  prejudiced  statements  of  Macaulay  and  his 
followers  we  have  accordingly  the  clear  and  emphatic  testimony 
of  Macray  to  the  effect  that  for  anything  he  could  see  there  was 
not  "  a  shadow  of  reason  "  for  holding  "  the  dying  letter"  to  be  a 
forgery.  Even  supposing  that  the  conjectures  referred  to  were 
well  founded,  it  is  quite  evident  from  Macray's  testimony,  as  well 
as  from  the  testimony  of  the  impartial  author  of  the  article  on 


220  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

"  Dundee "  in  the  last  edition  of  Chambers'  Encyclopaedia,  "  that 
the  forgery  was  not  Macpherson's." 

"  The  next  morning  after  the  battle,"  says  the  biographer  of 
Lochiel,  "the  Highland  army  had  more  the  air  of  the  shattered 
remains  of  broken  troops  than  of  conquerors;  for  here  it  was 
literally  true  that 

*  The  vanquished  triumphed,  and  the  victors  mourned.' 
The  death  of  their  brave  general,  and  tHe  loss  of  so  many  of  their 
friends,  were  inexhaustible  fountains  of  grief  and  sorrow.  They 
closed  the  last  scene  of  this  mournful  tragedy  in  obsequies  of 
their  lamented  general,  and  of  the  other  gentlemen  who  fell  with 
him,  and  interred  them  in  the  church  of  Blair  of  Atholl  with  a 
real  funeral  solemnity,  there  not  being  present  one  single  person 
•who  did  not  participate  in  the  general  affliction." 

"  Open  wide  the  vaults  of  Atholl, 

Where  the  bones  of  heroes  rest — 
Open  wide  the  hallowed  portals 

To  receive  another  guest ! 
Last  of  Scots  and  last  of  freemen — 

Last  of  all  that  dauntless  race, 
Who  would  rather  die  unsullied 

Than  outlive  the  land's  disgrace  ! 
0  thou  lion-hearted  warrior  ! 

Keck  not  of  the  after  time  : 
Honour  may  be  deemed  dishonour, 

Loyalty  be  called  a  crime. 
Sleep  in  peace  with  kindred  ashes 

Of  the  noble  and  the  true, 
Hands  that  never  failed  their  country, 

Hearts  that  never  baseness  knew. 
Sleep  !  and  till  the  latest  trumpet 

Wakes  the  dead  from  earth  and  sea, 
Scotland  shall  not  boast  a  braver 

Chieftain  than  our  own  Dundee." 

On  the  200th  anniversary  of  Dundee's  death  in  July,  1889,  the 
Duke  of  Atholl  appropriately  erected  a  tablet  in  the  vault  of  the 
Atholl  family,  in  the  churchyard  of  Old  Blair,  with  the  following 
inscription  :  — 

JOHN  GRAHAM  of  Claverhouse, 

Viscount  Dundee, 
Who  fell  at  the  Battle  of  Killiecrankie, 

27th  July,  1689  ;  aged  46. 
This  Memorial  is  placed  here  by  John,  7th  Duke  of  Atholl,  K.T.,  1889. 


Gleanings  from  Cluny  Charter  Chest.  221 

The  following  letters  from  Viscount  Dundee,  which  are  given 
in  their  original  spelling,  are  all  written  to  Cluny  of  the  time  on 
tiny  sheets  of  notepaper.  Himself  a  Protestant,  although  an 
Episcopalian,  Dundee,  it  will  be  noticed,  in  his  first  letter  to 
Cluny  says  that  he  is  "  as  much  concerned  in  the  Protestant 
religion  as  any  man,  and  will  doe  my  best  indevors  to  see  it 
secured."  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  4,  6,  and  7  are  holograph  of  Dundee 
himself.  No.  5  is  apparently  written  by  an  amanuensis,  with 
the  exception  of  the  latter  portion  of  the  postscript,  which  is 
in  Dundee's  own  handwriting.  They  are  all  signed  "  Dundie." 
Five  are  addressed  on  the  outside  simply — "  For  the  Laird  of 
Glume."  Nos.  5  and  7  are  addressed  "For  the  Laird  of  Clunie  in 
Badenoch."  Nos.  1  and  4  do  not  bear  the  name  of  the  place  from 
which  they  were  dated,  but  they  must  have  been  written  from 
Lochaber,  where  Dundee  appears  to  have  been  at  the  time.  Nos. 
2,  3,  5,  and  6  are  all  dated  from  "  Str«an" — or,  as  it  is  spelt  in 
one  letter,  "  Stron" — in  Lochaber.  It  was,  undoubtedly,  from  the 
same  place  also — and  not,  as  stated  by  Napier,  from  Struan,  in 
Blair-Atholl— that  Dundee's  letters  of  15th  and  19th  July,  1689, 
to  Lord  Murray  were  written.  In  the  "  Life  and  Times  of 
Dundee"  Napier  states  that  Dundee  (about  the  middle  of  July, 
1689)  "established  his  quarters  at  Struan,  the  stronghold  of  the 
loyal  Robertson,  situated  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Garry  from 
Atholl's  castle."  This  is  certainly  a  mistake  on  the  part  of 
Napier,  arising  in  all  probability  from  his  want  of  accurate  know- 
ledge of  the  district  through  which  Dundee  traversed  at  the  time, 
and  of  the  similarity  in  the  old  spelling  and  pronunciation  of 
"  Stroan"  or  "  Strone  "  in  Lochaber,  and  "  Strowan"  or  "  Struan," 
in  Blair-Atholl.  '  This  appears  clear  from  the  postscript  to  Dun- 
dee's letter  to  Cluny  of  22nd  July,  1689  (No.  6  of  the  series),  in 
which  he  says  : — "  In  answer  to  yours,  you  and  your  friends  are 
to  meet  me  to-morrows  night  (without  faill)  at  Garva."  Garva  is 
in  the  parish  of  Laggan,  in  Badenoch,  and  Dundee  was  on. 
his  way  at  the  time  from  Lochaber  to  Blair  in  Atholl.  His 
last  letter  to  Cluny  is  dated  from  Blair  Castle,  on  26th  July,  just 
the  day,  or  probably  the  evening,  before  the  eventful  battle  of 
Killiecrankie,  where  the  devoted  and  heroic  leader  received  "  his 
death  wound." 

1. — VISCOUNT  DUNDEE  to  CLUNY,  dated  19th  May,  1689. 

Sir, — I  hear  M[ajor]  G(eneral)  McKay  has  been  by  threats- 
and  promises  indevoring  to  engadge  you  in  his  rebellion  against 
our  Laufull  Suverain  King  James,  but, I  knou  your  constant 


222  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

Loyalty  your  honor  and  your  conscience  will  secur  you  against 
such  proposalls.  I  have  nou  received  Letters  from  Yrland 
(Ireland)  by  which  I  am  seur  nothing  but  want  of  fair  wynd  can 
hinder  the  landing  of  a  considerable  force  in  this  contrey  from 
thence,  and  that  the  King  will  be  with  us  very  soon.  In  the 
meantime  he  is  pleased  to  apoint  me  to  be  Lt.  Gen  :  and  comand 
the  forces  whereupon  I  am  to  requyr  ajf  honest  men  to  attend  the 
Kings  Standart.  I  perswad  my  self  you  will  not  be  wanting  in  so 
good  ane  occasion  as  this  is  of  indevoring  under  God  to  restor  our 
gracious  monarch.  I  will  not  desyr  you  to  apear  in  armes  untill 
such  time  as  you  see  us  in  body  able  to  preserve  you  which  I  hop 
in  God  you  shall  in  a  feu  days  see.  There  is  on  thing  I  forwarn 
you  of  not  to  be  alarumed  with  the  danger  they  would  make  the 
world  believe  the  protestant  religion  is  in.  They  must  make 
religion  the  pretext  as  it  has  been  in  all  times  of  rebellion. 

I  am  as  much  concerned  in  the  protestant  religion  as  any  man, 
and  will  doe  my  indevors  to  see  it  secured. 
I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

(Signed)         DUNDIE. 

The  foregoing  letter  supplies  an  illustration  of  Dundee's  skill, 
as  it  has  been  said,  "  in  the  Epistolary  way  of  writing  ;  for  he  not 
only  expressed  himself  with  great  ease  and  plainness,  but  argued 
well,  and  had  a  great  art  in  giving  his  thoughts  in  few  words. 
And  this  chiefly  appears  when  he  had  occasion  to  write  to  such 
gentlemen  as  he  knew  Mackay  had  been  tampering  with  ;  where 
he  frequently  not  only  answers  all  that  was  then  pled  in  favour  of 
the  Revolution,  but  also  lays  before  them  the  duty  and  obedience 
they  owed  to  King  James,  as  their  natural  sovereign,  with  great 
perspicuity  and  strength  of  argument,  in  the  compass  of  a  small 
page  or  two." 

2. — VISCOUNT  DUNDEE  to  CLUNY,  dated  "  Stroan,"  July  14th,  1689. 

Sir, — I  have  just  now  received  a  letter  from  Colonell  Cannon 
then  abt  the  Castle  of  Dowart  in  Mull  giving  ine  ane  account  of 
.  his  arrivall  there  the  twelvth,  and  that  the  Kings  shippes  had 
brought  along  a  great  number  of  officers  with  a  considerable  body 
of  men  ammunition  and  armes — the  particulars  he  refers  till 
meeting,  when  he  is  to  deliver  me  his  Majesties  letters.  He  gives 
account  of  the  defeat  of  the  Scotes  fleet.  They  fell  upon  the  two 
Glasgow  friggots  killed  both  the  Captains,  taken  the  shippers  and 
have  all  the  rest  of  the  men  prisoners.  He  tells  me  likways  that 


Gleanings  from  C/uny  Charter  Chest.  223 

Dairie  (Derry)  is  certainly  taken,  and  the  French  Fleet  is  att  sea, 
and  the  first  newes  we  will  hear  will  he  the  King's  landing  in 
ye  west.  The  men  of  warr  are  by  this  time  in  Ireland,  to  attend 
that  service,  so  with  the  asistance  of  Almighty  God  we  will  now 
in  a  verie  short  time  see  our  Gracious  King  restored  to  the  Throne 
-of  his  Ancestors.  Wherefore  tis  high  time  for  you  to  draw  to 
armes,  which  I  desire  you  to  do  with  all  your  men  and  folowers, 
arid  I  shall  give  you  notice  where  to  join  us. 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

(Signed)         DUNDIE. 

Sir,  this  I  wryt  to  you  to  be  comunicat  to  all  the  gentrey  of 
Eadenoch,  so  call  them  togither  for  from  the  head  to  the  foot  I 
will  spair  non  that  Joyns  not.  The  gentrey  must  march  them- 
selves, and  I  expect  400  men  and  no  expenses  will  be  allowed. 
Mclntosh,  Grants,  and  all  must  come  out. 


3. — VISCOUNT  DUNDEE  TO  CLUNY,  dated  "  Stron,"  July  18th,  1689 

Sir, — I  need  not  say  much  because  the  bearer  can  tell  you  all 
the  newes.  There  is  a  regiment  come  from  Yrland  (Ireland)  and 
74  officers  beseyds  35  barel  of  pouder  ball  match  and  flints,  with 
severall  other  provisiones  with  tuo  ships  they  have  left  to  us.  I 
have  a  letter  all  writen  with  the  King's  oun  hand  asseuring  me  of 
mor  assistance  imediatly,  and  he  is  just  ready  to  land.  The 
french  fleet  having  bate  the  dutch  and  keeped  the  inglish  in. 
The  french  have  15,000  men  aboard  and  30,000  camped  at 
Dunkerk  mating  only  if  the  King  has  use  for  them. 

The  parlements  of  ingland  and  Scotland  ar  all  by  the  ears 
amongst  themselves — D[uke]  Hamilton  was  cheased.  D[ukeJ 
Gordon  is  treacherously  imprisoned  after  all,  and  many  other 
nobles,  such  opressiones  wer  never  heared  of  and  must  be  shaken 
of.  AH  mankynd  almost  nou  beggs  our  asistance  and  you  will 
see  a  great  apearance.  All  behynd  you  ar  here  saive  M'cklowd 
who  is  coming — E[arl]  Seaforth  is  to  land  in  his  own  contrey,  and 
has  undertaken  to  rease  3  regiments.  I  dessein  to  march  on 
Saturday  or  Mimday.  I  would  not  have  delayed  so  long  had  it 
not  been  that  the  Yrish  (Irish)  forces  could  not  conveniently  cross 
from  mull  because  of  the  great  wynds.  I  expect  you  will  have 
all  your  contrey  in  armes  on  rnunday,  and  I  shall  send  you  word 


224  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

where  to  Joyn  us.     Nobody  offers  to  sit  my  sumonds  so  I  expect 
that  you  will  not. 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

(Signed)         DUNDIE. 

This  I  desyr  you  will  comimicat  to  the  rest  of  the  gentry  of 
the  contrey  and  befor  Sundays  night.  Lait  me  have  your  positive 
answer  in  wryt  not  by  proxie  and  that  signed  or  I  will  not  notice  it. 

4. — VISCOUNT  DUNDEE  TO  CLUNY  (undated). 

Sir, — I  send  you  here  a  proclamation  and  a  copie  of  the  King's 
instructions.  You  will  see  thereby  hou  you  oght  to  walk.  The 
french  fleet  is  nou  com  betuixt  Scotland  and  yrland  (Ireland). 
We  expect  the  King's  Landing  or  troops  from  him  evry  day.  I 
expect  to  hear  from  you  what — M[ajor]  G[eneral]  Makay  is  lyk 
to  doe.  I  can  be  tuyce  as  strong  as  ever  when  I  please 
I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

(Signed)         DUNDIE. 

Any  word  you  have  a  mynd  to  send  to  me  you  may  cause 
delyver  it  to  Alex.  Mcdonald  who  keep  gaird  in  Glenroy.  Lait 
the  rest  of  your  friends  see  this  proclamation. 

5.— VISCOUNT  DUNDEE  to  CLUNY,  dated  "Stroan,"  July  20,  1689. 

Sir. — You  hear  what  is  fallen  out  in  breamar.  The  Atholl  men 
ar  resolved  to  stand  by  them  and  both  have  gent  to  me  for  relief. 
I  am  ready  to  asist  all  honest  men.  It  is  nou  no  mor  time  to 
look  on  when  all  your  nighboors  ar  ingadged.  I  asseur  you  it 
will  prove  your  uter  ruin  if  you  doe;  so  you  will  doe  well  to  drawe 
to  armes  or  be  looked  on  as  rebelles.  If  you  sit  this  Sumonds 
you  shall  not  be  often  troubled  with  mor  letters  from  me  so  I 
desyr  a  positive  answer  and  I  requyr  you  to  call  the  contrey  and 
intimat  this  to  them.  The  man  that  corns  from  you  is  honest 
but  I  believe  he  mynds  not  what  he  says  for  I  know  a  great  many 
things  he  tells  me  not  to  be  treu.  Darie  (Derry)  is  certenly  taken 
by  storm  last  week.  Shomberg  has  refused  to  head  the  P  [rince] 
of  Orange  armey  for  fear  of  loosing  his  honor  with  new  troops  that 
will  run  for  it.  I  expect  the  landing  evry  minut. 
I  am  Sir 

Your  humble  Servant 

(Signed)         DUNDIE, 


Gleanings  -from  Cluny  Charter  Chest  225 

That  McKintosh  is  a  lying  rogue.  The  D  [uke]  of  Gordon 
gave  him  no  comision  to  forbid  you  to  ryse.  I  spok  with  on[e]  that 
sawe  [him]  on  Thursday  last  -and  was  in  the  castle  as  well  as 
McKintosh.  This  Sir  I  desyr  you  will  acquaint  the  con  trey  of 
and  when  he  came  first  he  said  no  such  thing. 


6.— VISCOUNT  DUNDEE  to  CLUNY,  dated  "Stroan,"  22  July,  1689. 

Sir, — Our  people  coming  from  this  countrey  which  doeth  not 
abound  in  provisions  will  want  meat  when  they  come  into 
Badinoch.  I  am  unwilling  that  they  should  go  loose  in  your 
countrey  (to  seek  provisions  as  they  did  last)  for  fear  of  ruining 
it,  wherefore  I  send  yow  this  advertisment  that  you  may  cause 
piovisions  come  in  again  to  morous  night  near  to  the  place  of 
Clunie,  for  fiveteen  hunder  men  for  two  dayes.  The  rest  of  our 
men  are  provided.  If  yow  fail  in  this  lett  the  blaim  of  all  the 
dissorders  that  shall  be  comitted  be  upon  yow.  These  who  bring 
in  the  provisions  shall  be  fully  satisfyed  for  them.  I  expect  that 
the  country  will  be  raidy  in  arms  to  join  us  seeing  Marr  and 
Atholl  are  immediatly  to  do  it,  and  I  may  say  almost  all  benorth 
Tay  and  a  good  pairt  besouth,  so  now  is  the  time  if  ever,  for  to 
show  yourselves  loyall  men.  I  pray  yow  force  me  not,  to  do 
things  to  yow,  against  my  inclination. 

I  am  Sir 
Your  assured  freend  and  humble  servant 

(Signed)         DUNDIB. 

In  answer  to  yours  yow  and  your  friends  are  to  meet  me 
tomorows  night  (without  faill)  at  Garva. 

Sir,  bak  these  Letters  and  send  them  to  the  most  considerable 
of  the  gentrey  of  Badenoch. 


7. — VISCOUNT  DUNDEE  to  CLUNY,  dated  "  Blair  Castle,"  July  26, 

1689. 

Sir, — My  Lord  Muray  is  retyred  doun  the  contrey.  All  the  Atholl 
men  have  left  them  saive  Stratherel,  Achintully,  and  Baron  Read 
Straloch,  and  they  will  not  byd  my  doun  coming  to  morou.  The 
rest  of  the  heritors  will  be  here  to  morou.  They  will  joyn  us,  and 
I  supose  to  morou  you  will  have  ane  answer  so  if  you  have  a 
mynd  to  preserve  yourself  and  to  serve  the  King  be  in  armes  to 

15 


•226  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

moron  that  when  the  letter  comes  you  may  be  here  in  a  day. 
All  the  world  will  be  with  us  blissed  be  God. 

I  am,  Sir, 
Your  most  humble  Servant, 

(Signed)         DUNDIE. 
My  service  to  all  the  loyall  gentrey  of  baddnoch. 

The  immediately  preceding  autograph  letter — of  which  a 
fac-simile  is  here  given — is  particularly  interesting,  as  being 
probably  the  last  one  written  by  Dundee,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  his  letter  to  King  James  giving  a  brief  account 
of  the  battle  of  Killiecrankie.  In  the  "Life  and  Times" 
of  Dundee  it  is  stated  that  "  it  is  uncertain  whether 
Dundee  slept  in  Blair  Castle  on  the  night  of  the  26th,  or 
only  arrived  there  early  in  the  morning  of  the  27th  (as  stated  in 
Lochiel's  Memoirs),  which  was  the  day  of  the  battle."  His  last 
letter  to  Cluny  clearly  proves  that  he  arrived  at  Blair  Castle  on 
the  26th,  the  day  before  the  battle,  and  must  have  slept  there 
that  night. 

Browne,  in  his  "  History  of  the  Highlands"  (vol.  II.,  page  156), 
says  that  "  Dundee,  who  had  been  duly  advertised  of  Mackay's 
motions,  had  descended  from  the  higher  district  of  Badenoch  into 
Athole  on  the  previous  day,  with  a  force  of  about  two  thousand  five 
hundred  men,  of  whom  about  one-fifth  part  consisted  of  the  Irish, 
which  had  lately  landed  at  Inverlochy  under  Brigadier  Cannon. 
Some  of  the  clans  which  were  expected  had  not  yet  joined,  as  the  day 
appointed  for  the  general  rendezvous  had  not  then  arrived,  but  as 
Dundee  considered  it  of  paramount  importance  to  prevent  Mackay 
from  establishing  himself  in  Athole,  he  did  not  hesitate  to  meet 
him  with  such  an  inferior  force;,  amounting  to  little  more  than 
the  half  of  that  under  Mackay." 

In  a  footnote  on  page  57  of  the  Grameid  (Book  II.),  quoted  on 
page  204,  it  is  stated  that  Dundee,  in  his  march  from  Fort- 
Augustus  by  the  Pass  of  Corryarrick  to  Badenoch,  in  May,  1689, 
succeeded  in  "  engaging  most  part  of  the  men  of  note  to  be  ready 
at  a  call  to  join  in  his  master's  service"  and  that  he  "  found  the 
Macphersons  very  keen  and  hearty  in  their  inclinations  for  that 
service."  There  appears  to  be  no  room  for  doubt  that  in  his  sub- 
sequent  march  from  Lochaber  to  Blair,  in  July  following,  he  was 
met  by  the  Chief  (Duncan  Macpherson  of  Cluny)  and  his  "  friends," 
at  Garva  in  Badenoch,  on  the  23rd  of  that  month,  in  accordance 
with  the  request  contained  in  Dundee's  letter  from  Strone  to' 


Gleanings  from  Gluny  Charter  Chest  227 

Cluny  the  previous  day.  At  that  meeting  it  was  evidently 
arranged  that  the  Macphersons  should  join  Dundee,  immediately 
on  receiving  orders  to  that  effect.  This  is  borne  out  by  the  terms 
of  Dundee's  letter  to  Cluny  of  26th  July,  written  from  Blair 
Castle.  It  is  clear  that  Cluny  could  not  have  received  the  letter 
referred  to  by  Dundee — and  consequently  could  not  give  effect  to 
the  instructions  in  that  letter — until  after  the  battle  .of  Killiecrankie 
took  place  the  following  day.  But  that  the  Macphersons,  like 
other  Highland  clans,  espoused  the  cause  of  King  James,  and  com- 
plied with  Dundee's  orders,  is  abundantly  evident.  Browne,  in 
his  History  (vol.  II.,  p.  176),  states  that  "on  arriving  at  the  Braes 
•of  Mar,  Cannon"  (Dundee's  successor  in  the  command  of  King 
James'  forces)  "was  joined  by  the  Farquharsons,  the  Erasers,  the 
Gordons  of  Strathdown  and  Glenlivet,  and  by  two  hundred  of  the 
Macphersons" 

II.  GENERAL  MACKAY  OF  SCOURIE'S  LETTERS. 

The  next  in  order  are  four  letters  from  Dundee's  opponent  at 
the  Battle  of  Killiecrankie,  Hugh  Mackay  of  Scourie,  Major- 
general  of  the  Forces  of  William  and  Mary.  In  the  "  History  of 
his  own  Times,"  by  Bishop  Burnet,  Mackay 's  contemporary,  the 
Bishop  speaks  of  him  as  "a  general  officer  who  had  served  long  in 
Holland  with  great  reputation,  and  who  was  the  piousest  man  I 
ever  knew  in  a  military  way,  was  sent  down  to  command  the 
army  in  Scotland.  He  was  one  of  the  best  officers  of  the  age, 
when  he  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  obey  and  execute  orders,  for  he 
was  both  diligent,  obliging,  and  braye,  but  he  was  not  so  fitted  to 
command.  His  piety  made  him  too  apt  to  mistrust  his  own 
sense,  and  to  be  too  tender  or  rather  fearful  in  anything  where 
there  might  be  a  needless  effusion  of  blood."  Macaulay,  the  great 
apologist  of  the  alien  Prince  of  Orange  and  his  Whig  supporters, 
characterises  Mackay  as  "  distinguished  by  courage  of  the  truest 
temper,  and  by  a  piety  such  as  is  seldom  found  in  soldiers  of 
fortune." 

Undoubtedly  Mackay  was  a  brave  and  distinguished  soldier. 
But  in  view  of  the  disclosures  in  his  subsequent  letters  to  the  Duke 
of  Hamilton  and  Lord  Melville,  the  terms  of  his  letter  to  Cluny  of 
21st  May,  1689,  savour  surely,  to  some  extent  at  least,  of  fanatical 
zeal.  In  judging  the  character  of  Mackay,  as  well  as  that  of 
Dundee,  regard  must,  of  course,  be  had  to  the  very  turbulent 
times  in  which  they  lived,  and  the  fierce  and  uncontrollable 
animosities  of  the  opposing  factions.  When  the  Whig  forces 


228  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

wore  in  the  ascendant,  after  Dundee's  death,  or  when  opportunity 
occurred,  it  is  abundantly  evident  that  Mackay,  with  all  his  piety, 
did  not  hesitate  to  recommend  or  commit  acts  as  cruel  and 
oppressive  as  were  ever  proved  to  have  been  perpetrated  by  his 
great  antagonist".  In  a  letter  to  the  Duke  of  Hamilton,  dated 
from  Elgin  on  27th  June,  1689,  Mackay  does  not  scruple  to 
suggest  that  some  of  the  adherents  of  King  James  should  be  put 
"  to  the  torture,"  and  he  earnestly  pleads  that  the  "  law  allows  it." 
Then  again  we  have  his  own  statement,  to  the  effect  that  he  carried 
fire  and  sword  through  fertile  tracts  of  country  in  the  north,  and 
rendered  houseless  hundreds  of  poor  Highlanders — his  own  kith  and 
kin — while  similar  devastations  on  the  part  of  the  Jacobites  were 
comparatively  insignificant.  As  already  indicated,  Dundee  strongly 
disapproved  of  such  wholesale  ravages,  and  remonstrated  in  very 
severe  terms  with  Macdonald  of  Keppoch  for  the  burning  in  1689, 
without  any  authority,  of  Dunachton,  the  old  seat  of  the  family  of 
Mackintosh,  overlooking  Loch  Insh.  In  a  letter  to  Lord  Melville, 
dated  26th  August,  ]  690,  when  Dundee  was  in  his  grave,  Mackay 
triumphantly  boasts  that  he  had  "  burnt  twelve  miles  of  a  very 
fertile  Highland  country  (Strathdee),  and  at  least  twelve  or 
fourteen  hundred  houses,  but  had  no  time  to  go  up  the  length  of 
Brae  mar." 

In  connection  with  Mackay's  allusions,  in  one  of  his  letters  to 
Cluny,  to  "  Papists,"  it  is  instructive  to  find  that  even  before  the 
year  1570  almost  all  the  parishes  in  the  diocese  of  Moray  had 
Protestant  religious  teachers.  Except  where  the  influence  of  the 
Gordon  family  prevailed,  all  adhered  firmly  to  Protestant  principles 
from  the  very  first.  "  Among  the  Highland  clans,"  says  Shaw,  the 
historian  of  Moray,  "the  Erasers,  Mackintoshes,  Grants,  Mac- 
phersons,  Macgillivrays,  scarce  any  Papists  are  to  be  found.  Even 
in  the  country  of  Badenoch,  though  all  are  either  vassals  or 
tenants  of  the"  Duke  of  Gordon,  there  are  few  if  any  of  that 
religion.  This  has  been  owing  to  the  gentry  and  chiefs  of  clans 
who  early  embraced  the  Reformation,  and  both  encouraged  and 
promoted  it  in  their  lands."  Devoted  as  the  successive  Cluny 
Chiefs  were  to  the  Jacobite  cause,  they  all  along,  from  the 
Reformation  downwards,  steadfastly  adhered  to  the  Protestant 
faith,  notwithstanding  the  influence  of  the  Gordons  as  superiors  of 
the  Lordship  of  Badenoch  in  the  opposite  direction. 

Much  as  Mackay  contributed  in  the  way  of  establishing 
William  and  Mary  on  the  British  throne,  his  important  services 
were  but  very  poorly  and  grudgingly  rewarded.  He  commanded 
the  British  at  the  Battle  of  Steinkirk  on  3rd  August,  1692,  where 


Gleanings  from  C/uny  Charter  Chest.  229 

he  was  killed  and  three  thousand  of  his  troops  were  lost.  Accord- 
ing to  Bishop  Burnet,  Mackay,  having  been  ordered  to  a  post 
which  he  saw  could  not  be  maintained,  expressed  an  adverse 
opinion  as  to  the  proposed  course  of  action,  but  the  former  orders 
being  confirmed,  he  went  on  saying  only — "  The  will  of  the  Lord 
be  done." 

Earnest  as  they  were,  Mackay's  attempts  to  persuade  Cluny  of 
the  time  to  join  the  Whig  forces  proved  unavailing.  Here  are 
transcripts  of  his  four  letters  to  Cluny  : — 

1. — GENERAL  MACKAY  to  CLUNY,  dated  Elgin,  6th  May,  1689. 

You  are  required  to  assemble  your  men  together  upon  the 
Laird  of  Graunt's  advertisment  as  Sharif  of  the  shire  and  having 
perticullar  warant  therto  from  the  Estates  of  this  Kingdom,  and 
with  them  follow  such  directions  and  orders  as  the  said  Laird 
shall  give  you  for  the  present  service,  as  you  shall  be  answerable 
vpon  your  highest  peril  for  all  things  that  shall  fall  out  contrarie 
to  the  interest  of  the  service  by  your  non-concurraiice  and  dis- 
obedience. 

Given  at  Elgin  the  6th  May  1689. 

(Signed)         H.  MACKAY. 

For  his  maties.  speciall  service  to  the  Laird  of  Cluny,  Chief  of 
the  Macphersons  in  Badenoch. 

2. — GENERAL  MACKAY  to  CLUNY,  dated  Inverness,  21  May,  1689. 

Sr., — I  cannot  beleeve  you  so  much  an  ennemy  to  your  eternall 
and  temporall  happynesse,  as  to  joyn  with  a  compnie  of  papists 
(or  wors  then  papists  such  as  sacrifise  all  that  ought  be  of  value 
to  men  of  raison  and  pietie,  which  consists  in  the  mantenance 
of  Religion  and  liberty)  to  labour  to  overturn  the  begun  deliver- 
ance which  God  hath  in  his  mercy  wrought  this  far  for  vs.  My 
advyce  then  is  that  you  order  your  following  to  draw  to  a  head, 
and  vpon  the  least  advertisment,  which  you  can  easily  have,  send 
all  their  good  movable  out  of  the  way,  I  mean  their  cattell, 
assuring  you  that  what  litle  harme  you  can  suffer  in  the  King's 
and  Kingdom's  service  shall  be  richly  repaired,  besydes  the  honour 
and  satisfaction  of  conscience  you  shall  gaine  in  hazarding  freely 
and  cheerfully  all  things  for  the  mantenance  of  a  cause,  which  by 
the  blessing  of  the  author  thereof,  and  in  all  humane  probabilitie 
will  cary  it  in  spyt  of  all  opposition ;  you  shall  be  pleased  to 


230  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

gire  me  speedy  notice  of  your  resolution,  that  I  may  take  mesures 
accordingly,  assuring  yourself  of  all  the  service  which  shall  ly  in 
the  power  of 

Sir, 
Your  most  humble  and  affectioned  servant, 

(Signed)         H.  MACKAY. 

* 

3. — GENERAL  MACKAY  to  CLUNY,  dated  Coulnakyle,  27th 
June,  1690. 

Sir, — Sr  Thomas  Livingstoune  haveng  allready  acquanted  you 
that  I  was  to  call  for  sheep  and  cowes  for  the  vse  of  the  Army, 
when  I  encamp  in  Badenough,  I  doubt  not  but  they  are  allready 
provyded,  so  I  desyre  that  you  may  have  two  hundred  cowes  and 
six  hundred  sheep  at  Rivan  in  Badenough  again  Sunday  at  twelve 
a'cloak  being  the  29  instant  and  you  shall  have  ready  money  for 
them.  If  you  faill  in  this  I  assure  you  I  will  turne  the  army 
loose  upon  the  country,  who  will  not  spaire  neither  houses  nor 
comes.  Take  this  advertisment  from 
Sir, 

Your  assured  ffriend, 

(Signed)         H.  MACKAY. 
Att  the  Camp  att  Coulnakyle,  the  27  June,  1690. 

4. — GENERAL  MACKAY  to  CLUNY,  dated  Edinbr->  20th  of 
October,  1690. 

Sir, — I  Receaved  your  letter  giveing  account  of  the  Devasta- 
tions made  by  the  fforces  latly  in  Badenoch,  for  which  they  had 
no  ordor  neither  from  the  Goverment  nor  from  me.  I  am  sorrie 
that  it  is  fallen  out,  but  yett  I  cannot  but  blame  your  own  con- 
duct as  the  occassion  therof,  who  wold  not  come  into  me,  when 
I  was  in  the  countrey,  and  take  the  protection  of  the  Goverment; 
and  mine  to  secure  you  from  such  accidents,  withall  I  am  informed 
by  Collonell  Cuninghame  that  it  was  the  scruples  of  the  Gentill 
men  of  the  Countrey  to  take  the  oaths  ordained  by  law  which 
brought  in  the  fForces  after  they  had  been  informed  that  the 
enimie  was  dispersed.  However  in  tyme  to  come  I  shall  contribute 
what  I  can  that  they  shall  not  be  used  otherwayes  then  the  rest 
of  their  Maties  good  subjects,  and  make  no  question  (provyded 
they  show  themselves  weell  affected  to  the  service)  that  when 
things  are  come  to  a  perfect  setlement  that  their  loss  shall  be 


Gleanings  from  Cluny  Charter  Chest  231 

considered  upon  application  to  the  Goverment,  which  is  all  at  pre- 
sent from 

Your  very  affectionat  servant, 

(Signed)         H.  MACKAT. 


III.  GENERAL  CANNON'S  LETTERS. 

We  have  next  five  letters  and  a  commission  from  General 
Cannon,  who  joined  the  forces  of  Dundee  with  a  contingent  from 
Ireland,  and  who,  on  the  death  of  Dundee,  assumed  the  command 
of  the  army  of  King  James.  Napier,  in  hig  "Memoirs  of  Dundee," 
characterises  Cannon  as  "the  miserable  second  in  command  to 
Dundee  at  the  Battle  of  Killiecrankie,  whose  imbecility  ruined 
the  King's  cause  in  Scotland."  It  will  be  seen  that  in  Cannon's 
last  letter,  Cluny  is  authorised  to  raise  for  the  King's  service 
"the  Mackintoshes,  as  weal  as  Thos  leving  upon  the  Duke  of 
Gordon's  Interest."  Cannon  signs  his  name  "Canan,"  and  it 
appears  to  have  been  spelt  indifferently  u Caiman,"  "Cannon,"  and 
"Canon." 

1. — GENERAL  CANNON  to  CLUNY,  dated  Dunan,  July  4  [1689.] 

Sir, — Being  com  this  lenth  with  the  Viscont  of  Dundee  and 
several  oficiers  and  gentlemen  with  us  on  purpos  to  rais  all  the 
Kings  friends  that  will  embrace  this  oportunity,  and  hath  found 
euery  on  hear  about  extrem  chearful  and  willing  to  Joyn  us, 
Laying  asyd  that  we  have  good  promises  from  a  great  part  of  the 
nobility  and  gentry  who  was  not  engadged  befor,  Therfor  I  hope 
that  as  yow  have  still  evidenced  your  loyalty  at  all  tyms,  so  now 
yow  will  be  pleased  to  continue,  which  no  man  that  knos  yow  will 
dout  of,  and  send  to  joyne  me  at  bal wither  al  the  fensable  men 
yow  can.  I  am  sur  the  measurs  that  is  taken  at  this  tym  in  al 
apearance  will  answer  the  expectation.  I  nead  not  say  befor  yow 
what  extreamety  this  undertaking  will  put  our  Enemys  to  pro- 
vyded  things  be  don  quickly.  Expecting  your  speedy  answer,  I 
Remain,  Sr, 

Your  Real  humble  Servant, 

ALL.  CANAN. 

Sir, — I  desyr  that  favor  that  yow  will  be  pleasd  to  send 
Inclosd  to  Kepoch  and  let  me  kno  what  Inteligence  you  have  of 
Makay. 


232  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

2. — GENERAL  CANNON  to  CLUNY,  dated  Blair,  20th  July,  1689. 

Sr., — I  se  a  Leter  of  yours  directed  to  my  Lord  Dundy.  I  fynd 
you  complain  of  som  injury  don  you  by  Locheel's  men.  Sr  I 
expect  you  wil  joyn  me  with  yoifr  men  iinediatly  and  you  shal 
find  al  justice  I  may  inable. 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  humble  servand, 

(Signed)         ALL.  CANAN. 
July  20, 
blair. 

3. — GENERAL  CANNON  to  CLUNY,  dated  Carandal, 
23rd  December,  1689. 

Sr, — 1  received  yours  of  the  27  of  Novr.  I  am  extreamly 
glad  to  hear  of  your  Readines  and  yow  may  ashur  yourself  that 
with  the  first  ocasion  that  I  writ  to  the  King  that  I  shal  Repre- 
sent your  case  so  that  you  may  have  every  favor  that  any  other 
gentlemen  hath  had 'in  his  con  trey.  As  for  news  just  now  I  have 
the  sure  confirmation  of  Shomberk's  total  defait  whic  is  al  at 
present  from, 

Sir, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

(Signed)         ALL.  CANAN. 

4. — COMMISSION,  GENERAL  CANNON  to  CLUNY,  dated  Lochaber, 
27th  December,  1689. 

Allexr.  Canan  Brigadier  General  and  Commander  in  Chief  of 
His  Majesties  forces  in  the  Kingdom  of  Scotland. 

Thes  ar  to  authoriz  and  warante  Mackpharson  of  Cluiny  to 
Rais  for  the  King's  service  The  Makintoshes  as  weal  Thes 
leving  upon  the  Duke  of  Gordon's  Interest  as  Thes  holding  of  the 
Duke  of  Gordon  within  The  Interest  of  badenoche.  Dated  at 
Lochaber. 

(Signed)         ALL.  CANAN. 
Dec.  27,  1689. 

5. — GENERAL  CANNON  to  CLUNY,  dated  Carendal,  29th  Jany.  [1690]. 

Sr,-— Least  my  first  letre  might  fail  I  haw  given  you  the 
trouble  of  this  second  to  let  you  kno  that  this  Rendevous  is  to  be 


Gleanings  from  C/uny  Charter  Chest  233 

the  8  of  february  at  Dalmacomar.  Therfor  I  doe  not  doubt  but 
vow  will  be  in  Readings  with  your  men  against  that  tyme.  The 
E.  of  Dunfermling  writ  you  al  the  news,  to  whom  I  pray  give  my 
humble  service. 

I  am,  Sr, 

Your  most  humble  Servant, 

ALL.  CANAN. 

C6. — GENERAL  CANNON  to  CLUNY,  dated  Lochaber,  27th  May  [1690]. 

Sr, — I  do  not  dout  but  M.  Gen.  buchan  hath  giwen  you  ane 
acount  of  the  good  condition  of  our  Masters  afaires  and  hath 
lykways  sent  the  double  of  his  leter  to  al  of  you  Chiefs  of  Clanes. 
Ther  is  also  a  Comision  from  the  King  to  you.  Pray  be  pleased 
to  let  me  hear  from  you  what  way  it  may  be  sent.  So  giving  you 
thanks  for  your  kynd  Entertainment  when  I  sawe  you  last, 
I  am,  Sr, 

Your  Real  humble  Servant, 

ALL.  CANAN. 


TV.  THE  EARL  OF  DUNFERMLINE'S  LETTERS. 

The  Earl  of  Dunfermiine  joined  Dundee  with  a  troop  of  horse 
which  he  commanded  at  the  Battle  of  Killiecrankie.  In  1690  he 
was  outlawed.  Following  King  James  to  St  Germains,  he  had  the 
Order  of  the  Thistle  conferred  upon  him.  He  died  in  exile  in 
1694.  He  signs  his  name,  it  will  be  seen,  "  Dunfermeling." 

1. — THE  EARL  OF  DUNFERMLINE  to  CLUNY,  dated  Inver^arry, 
5th  April,  1690. 

Sir, — I  was  soe  misfortunat  as  to  mis  you  when  I  came  from 
Badinoch  and  you  may  remember  that  at  my  parting  with  you  it 
was  your  promise  to  do  all  you  could  to  get  out  the  people  of 
Badinoch  and  now  I  having  spoke  to  Major  Generall  Buchan 
thereanent  he  hath  ordered  me  to  command  you  upon  your 
alegiance  to  have  all  the  men  in  readines  upon  Wednesday  or 
Thursday  at  the  furthest  for  if  they  doe  not  joyne  us  against  that 
time  we  will  pay  them  a  visit  in  the  buy  going  which  will  be 
'about  the  time  above  mentioned  if  they  doe  rise  and  send  out 
their  best  men  it  will  both  stop  our  quartering  upon  them  and  if 
yt  does  not  doe  they  may  asure  themselves  of  being  burnt  just 


234  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

upon  the  backe  of  it.     Soe  hoping  you  will  hinder  anything  of  this 
nature  both  for  the  Duke  of  Gordon's  and  your  own  sake. 
I  am,  Sir, 

Your  very  humble  seruant, 

(Signed)         DDNFBRMBLING. 
You  will  send  an  express  with  yo^ur  answer. 

2. — THE  EARL  OF  DUNFERMLINB  to  CLUNY,  dated  Gordon  Castler 
30th  April,  1690. 

Sir, — Having  often  heard  of  your  forwardness  in  ye  King's 
seruice  hath  occasioned  me  in  the  Duke  of  Gordon's  name  to  gvie 
you  this  trouble  desiring  that  you  and  your  friends  may  be  in 
readincs  upon  twentie  four  hours  advertisrnent  with  ther  best 
armes  to  joyn  with  his  grace's  men  for  the  King's  seruice  where 
you  shall  be  attended  by  him  who  is  in  all  sincerity, 
Sir, 

Your  most  humble  and  obedient  seruant, 

(Signed)         DUNFERMELING. 
At  meeting  I  shall  show  you  my  warrant  for  this. 

3. — THE  EARL  OF  DUNFERMLINE  to  CLUNY,  dated  Invernesse, 
3rd  May,  1689. 

Sir, — I  send  these  desiring  ye  may  Imediatlie  convein  the- 
haill  Badenoch  Men  and  keip  them  on  foot  togidder  and  ye  shal 
be  advertised  when  and  where  to  march.  Let  the  number  of  men 
be  proportionable  to  the  number  of  Daachs,  and  take  the  same 
methods  for  their  output  that  were  taken  formerlic.  Be  diligent 
herein  if  ye  would  obledge 

Your  assured  freind  to  serve  you, 

DUNFERMELING. 

List  the  Mackintosh  Men  and  gett  them  out  as  formerly  in 
the  same  etent  wt  yours. 

4. — THE  EARL  OF  DUNFERMLINE  to  CLUNY,  dated  Invergary, 
27th  May,  1690. 

Sir, — I  have  sent  you  hear  inclosed  a  double  of  the  King's 
letter  to  the  Clans  and  Generall  officiers.  I  am  likewayes  desired' 
to  show  you  that  there  are  generall  blank  commissions  come  over 
and  that  if  you  be  as  ready  to  except  of  ane  commission  for  the 


Gleanings  from  Cluny  Charter  Chest.  235 

King's  seruice,  as  I  think  you  should,  you  shall  have  it  any  time 
the  nixt  week  you  pleas.  I  doe  very  sudinly  expect  to  hear  from  ye 
Duke  of  Gordon  who  I  am  confident  will  be  hear  in  a  short  time.  Tt 
is  my  owne  opinion  that  you  should  writ  to  Major  G.  Buchan  and 
likewayes  too  Cannan  and  thank  them  for  ye  getting  you  ane  com- 
mission and  not  refuse  to  except  of  it  for  in  a  few  dayee  you  will 
see  more  then  some  doe  believe.  Soe  not  doupting  of  your  returne  I 
shall  say  noe  more  but  yt 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

(Signed)         DUNFERMELING. 


V.    SIR    THOMAS  LIVINGSTONE    TO    CLUNY, 

dated  Delradie,  6th  May,  1690. 

Sir  Thomas  Livingstone  represented  an  old  cadency  of  the 
family  of  Kilsyth,  and  was  for  a  considerable  time  in  the  Dutch 
service.  He  served  under  Mackay,  and  commanded  the  Whig- 
forces  at  the  skirmish  between  them  and  a  small  remnant  of  the 
adherents  of  King  James,  which  took  place  at  Cromdale  on  1st 
May,  1690.  It  was  he,  who,  after  receiving  the  inhuman  order 
from  the  Master  of  Stair  for  the  carnage  at  Glencoe,  expressed,  in 
a  letter  to'  Lieut.-Col.  Hamilton,  his  satisfaction  that  Glencoe 
had  not  taken  the  oath  within  the  time  prescribed.  At 
the  same  time  he  urged  Hamilton,  as  "fair  occasion"  offered, 
for  showing  that  his  garrison  was  of  some  use,  and  as 
the  order  from  the  Court  was  positive,  not  to  spare  any 
that  had  not  come  timeously  in,  and  desiring  that  he  would 
begin  with  Glencoe,  and  save  nothing  of  what  belongs  to 
them,  "  but  not  to  trouble  the  Government  with  prisoners,"  or,  in 
other  words,  to  spare  no  lives. 

In  the  following  letter  it  will  be  seen  that,  as  in  the  case  of 
General  Cannon's  orders,  on  the  Jacobite  side  the  number  "  of  your 
best,  and  best  armed  men,"  which  Cluny  was  ordered  to  raise,  on 
the  Whig  side  were  "to  consist  of  Macentos's  [Mackintoshes], 
Macfers's  [Macphersons],  and  Grant's." 

Sr, — You  are  hereby  ordered  in  the  King's  neain  to  rais  the 
numbr  of  a  Hundred  and  twenty  of  your  best  and  best  armed  men 
with  aigt  days  food  out  of  the  Lordship  of  badinog  and  to  send 
them  with  sufficient  Comanders  upon  their  head  to-morrow's  nigt 
at  Balachastel  [Castle  Grant]  being  the  7th  instant.  These  men  are 


236  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

to  Consist  out  of  Macentos's  and  Macfers's,  and  Grant's.     This  you 
are  ordered  upon  your  hyghest  peril. 

Given  at  Delradie  6  May. 

(Signed)         T.  LIVINGSTONE. 

For  theer  Majesty's  service  to  Cluenie  Mct'erson. 

VI.  MAJOR-GENERAL  BlftHAN'S  LETTERS. 

General  Buchau  was  of  the  family  of  Auchmacoy,  Aberdeen- 
shire,  who  were  remarkable  for  their  steady  loyalty  to  the 
Stewarts.  He  was  the  last  officer  who  had  the  chief  command  of 
King  James's  forces  in  Scotland  after  the  Revolution  of  1688. 
Born  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century,  he  entered  the 
army  when  very  young,  and  after  serving  in  subordinate  ranks  in 
France  and  Holland,  he  was  in  1682  appointed  by  Charles  the  II. 
Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  in  1686  by  James  the  VII.  Colonel  of  the 
Earl  of  Mar's  regiment  of  foot  in  Scotland.  He  received  the 
thanks  of  the  Privy  Council  for  various  services,  and  in  1689  was 
promoted  by  King  James  to  the  rank  of  Major-General .  After  the 
fall  of  Dundee  at  Killiecrankie,  and  the  subsequent  repulse  of  his 
successor,  Colonel  Cannon,  at  Dimkeld,  he  was  appointed  by  King 
James,  who  was  then  in  Ireland,  Commander-in-Chief  of  all  the 
Jacobite  forces  in  Scotland.  He  was  defeated  by  the  Whig 
forces,  under  Sir  Thomas  Livingstone,  at  Cromdale,  in  May,  1690. 
He  is  supposed  to  have  been  present  at  the  battle  of  Sheriffmuir, 
with  the  Earl  of  Mar's  forces,  in  November,  1715. 

1. — GENERAL  BUCHAN  to  CLUNY  (undated). 

Sir, — I  ame  cum  hier  by  the  King's  order  to  tret  wt  the  Chieffs 
off  the  Clans  and  youe  being  on  I  dessyre  that  ye  maye  have  your 
proportion  off  men  Redje  aganst  the  1 2  off  Marche  Your  number  is 
a  100  men  that  is  put  upon  youe  by  our  Cunsell  of  Ware.  Iff  ye 
wantt  a  Colls.  Comision  I  oblige  mysellff  to  procure  on  to  youe 
provyding  you  can  Rais  on  Reginientt.  I  will  doe  youe  all  the  servis 
I  can  but  have  a  care  off  bad  Cunselle. 

I  ame,  your  humbell  servant, 

(Signed)         THO.  BUCHAN. 

For  the  laird  off  Clunje  at  badenoche. 

2. — GENERAL  BUCHAN  to  CLUNY  Sunday  (undated). 

SIR, — We  haue  spared  youe  as  long  as  we  can  and  noue  my 
master's  servis  requyrs  that  youe  may  joyn  us  tusday  nixt  'srt  out 


Gleanings  from  Gluny  Charter  Chest.  237 

faill  and  to  bring  6  days  provisione  wt  youe.     So  houping  ye  was 
your  sellff,  and  peoplle  so  weille  that  ye  wiell  not  faille  off  this. 
I  ame,  Sir, 

Your  assured  frind  to  serve  youe, 

(Signed)         THO.  BUCHAN. 

3. — GENERAL  BUCHAN  to  CLUNY,  dated  Inverlochi,  March 
18th,  1690. 

Sir, — This  is  to  lett  youe  knoue  that  I  am  informed  the  want 
off  the  King's  Coemision  kepts  youe  from  jorning  his  Majestie's 
forces.  I  confes  it  is  not  Rytt  to  be  soe — but  I  doe  oblieg  mysellff 
on  my  honore  youe  shall  have  it  for  a  Coll.  werie  sine,  and  I  ame 
sure  my  good  frind  the  Duk  of  gordon  wiell  not  be  displeased  wt 
youe  considering  houe  affers  stands  at  pressentt.  All  the  Chieffs 
off  the  Clans  ar  to  Bys  werie  sine  so  we  all  dessyre  that  ye  wiell 
haue  your  proportion  off  men  Redie  against  the  first  off  Aprylle 
nixt  precisly.  Your  number  is  only  to  be  200  at  this  tyme.  I 
haue  Receved  orders  to  Requyre  everi  subject  upon  ther  alegens. 
to  joyn  the  King's  ost  vnder  Jthe  paine  off  hy  treson  so  I  should  be 
sorie  that  badinoche  should  be  on  off  thos  cuntras  shoulld  Refus 
ther  master's  coemands.  I  lyeff  all  the  Rest  to  the  berar  and 

I  am  yours 

(Signed)         THO.  BUCHAN, 

4. — GENERAL  BUCHAN  to  CLUNY,  dated  Inverlochy, 
31st  March,  1690. 

Sir, — I  haue  receiued  yours  wt  your  tuoe  Frinds  and  all  off 
ws  is  not  off  the  opinione  to  giue  annie  tyme  to  noe  persone  noue 
when  we  are  in  the  fiellds,  so  sir  youe  wielle  be  pleased  to  haue 
your  men  Redie  imediatly  or  stand  to  your  hazerd.  I  haid 
allways  a  good  opinion  of  the  badinoche  men  and  shoulld  be  sorie 
to  take  annie  misors  [measures]  wt  youe  that  wille  not  be  agrie- 
able  but  you  may  persuad  yoursellues  that  I  wielle  sie  my 
master's  orders  obeyed  punctuallie  and 
I  ame, 

Your  humbl  servantt, 

(Signed)         THO.  BUCHAN. 

5. — GENERAL  BUCHAN  to  CLUNY,  dated  Lochaber,  22nd  May,  1690. 

Sir, — I  was  informed  that  youe  haid  gon  into  the  enamie  and 
promised  them  all  asistans  but  noue  being  informed  by  your 


238  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

Cussing  that  youe  wentt  only  to  speak  wt  them  to  presserue  your 
cuutrae  ye  can  not  be  blemed  for  houewer  is  mester  of  the 
fielld  the  cuntrae  people  most  submit.  I  haue  sent  youe  a  duble 
off  the  king's  letter  that  cam  wt  the  Marquis  off  Sieforthe.  1  haue 
blank  Coemisions  for  Collonols.  The  berare  young  borlem  wielle 
inform  youe  from  the  King  off  all  affers.  I  houpe  that  this  last 
flvtte  wille  not  discureg  your  frinds  for  iff"  all  haid  don  as  sume  off 
the  badenoche  men  did  it.  voulld  have  gon  othervays ;  so 
I  ame, 

Your  humbl  servant, 

(Signed)         THO.  BUCHAW. 

6. — GENERAL  BUCHAN  to  CLUNY,  dated  8th  June,  1690. 

Sir, I  receued  yours  and  thinks  itt  werje  Resonabelle  what 

ye  wroattin  the  circumstanses  we  are  in  for  the  hieds  off  the  Clans 
are  to  mit  wt  broedallbun  as  to  ane  cesation  off  Armes.  Whoue  it 
wiell  goe  I  knoue  nott  as  yett.  The  Macgrigors  hes  taken  7 
prisoners  whiche  1  haue  sentt  for  to  Reliueff  7  off  yurs.  Soe  send  me 
a  list  off  your  men's  names  and  that  frind  of  yours  thatt  wentt  off 
the  fielld  wt  me  to  Stradoun  T  vielle  doc;  him  a  faivore  if  I  cane./ 
Lett  me  knoue  when  the  enamie  curns  and  what  is  becum  off 
young  borlame,  and 

I  ame,  Sir, 

Your  affectionate  friend  and  servantt, 

(Signed)         THO.  BUCHAN. 

7. — LETTER,  backed,  in  hand  of  the  period,  "  M.  G.  BUCHAN  to  Sir 
AEN.  M'PHERSON,"  but  addressed  "  For  Mr  Villiamson  at  I., 
and  signed  "  Ja.  forbes."  The  letter  is  undoubtedly  in 
Buchan's  handwriting. 

"Janr.  3  [1691]. 

Sir, — I  receued  yours  and  thanks  yow  verie  kyndly  for  your 
good  vosses — I  pray  youe  giue  my  kyndly  respects  to  Clunie,  and 
doe  not  lett  him  vrong  him  selflf  for  his  kyndnes  to  ws.  I  beliue 
his  men  ville  not  feght  villingly  against  ws.  As  to  our  resoulition 
ve  ville  haue  a  capitolation  for  glengeries  f  rinds  and  foullours  as 
Locheyell  and  Kepache  hes  got  and  passes.  For  my  selff,  ma.  g. 
Canon,  and  the  officers  that  hes  a  mynd  to  go  abrod,  othervays,  iff 
this  be  refused  ve  ville  goe  to  all  extrematy,  and  I  beliue  our 
euamies  knous  ws,  so  ville  that  they  ville  not  dout  off  this.  Ther 
ar  stille  cumplents  cuming  against  youe  for  your  coraspondans  vfc 


Gleanings  from  C/uny  Charter  Chest  239 

any  lord  mellvine.     Ye  may  easalie  gis  vhat  airt  they  cum  from. 
I  pray  yow  [word  illegible]  your  uories  that  youe  haue,  and  I  anie 
Your  assured  frind  arid  Servantt 

JA.  FORBES. 


VII.  COLONEL  SIR  JOHN  HILL'S  LETTERS. 

It  was  Sir  John  Hill,  then  Governor  of  Fort- William,  who,  in 
accordance  with  the  instructions  he  received  from  Sir  John 
Dairy mple,  the  Master  of  Stair,  sent  the  sanguinary  order  to 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Hamilton,  which  resulted  in  the  infamous 
massacre  of  Glencoe. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  of  1689-91,  Cluny  laid  down 
.his  arms  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  William  and 
Mary.  Neither  he,  however,  nor  any  of  the  other  Highland 
chiefs  did  so  until  they  had  previously  obtained  permission  to  that 
effect  from  King  James,  for  which,  in  the  negotiations  with 
the  Whig  commanders,  they  had  expressly  stipulated.  Still 
.suspected  of  being  secretly  favouring  the  cause  of  King  James, 
Cluny  was  in  1696  imprisoned  and  kept  in  restraint  for  a  time  in 
the  garrison  at  Fort-William.  In  May  of  that  year,  his  wife  being 
"extreamlie  ill  and  at  ye  Poynt^of  Death/'  Colonel  Hill,  as  will  be 
seen  from  the  letters,  treated  him  with  no  little  respect  and  con- 
sideration, and  gave  him  liberty  to  go  and  see  her,  Clnny  having 
first  granted  a  bond  for  .£5000  Scots  for  his  return  to  imprison- 
.inent  "  how  soone  his  wife  mends  or  expires." 

1. — Sm  JOHN  HILL  to  CLUNY,  dated  Inverness,  12th  May,  1690. 

Sr>  —  The  kinde  acquaintance  I  had  wth  yor  prdecessors  and 
•some  with  yourselfe  as  well  as  with  all  the  rest  of  the  Gent  of 
Badenough  dois  oblige  me  to  all  the  kindnes  and  service  for  yow 
.and  them  yts  possibly  in  my  power.  And  hauing  now  a  power  in 
my  hands  from  the  King  I  would  gladly  extend  it  to  ye  uttermost 
for  the  Good  of  my  freinds  and  if  yow  please  to  give  me  the  favor 
of  a  visit  (because  I  cannot  come  to  yow)  yow  shall  finde  I  will 
not  only  be  Glad  to  see  you,  but  very  ready  to  serve  yow.  I  would 
(because  I  know  more  of  matters  then  most  others  doe)  sett  yow 
right  by  a  true  information  of  things  by  wch  you  will  know  the 
better  how  to  Governe  yourselfe  to  ye  best  advantage.  You  know 
or  at  Least  may  have  heard  of  my  former  Conversation  in  the 
highlands,  and  wth  how  much  truth  and  honesty  I  mannaged 
myself  towards  them  and  that  I  never  deceived  or  broke  with  ony 
man.  You  may  come  safe  to  me  Either  into  this  town  or  neire  it. 


240  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

You  have  here  my  hand  for  itt.  I  am  concerned  for  ye  Posture  the 
highlands  are  now  in  being  the  highway  to  utter  Ruin.  I  would 
gladly  save  them  it  being  (by  my  own  intreaty)  put  into  my 
Power  by  ye  King  if  they  please  to  meet  my  proposalls  of  peace 
and  quietness  if  not  twill  be  Hum  and  vtter  destruction.  For  old 
freindship  Let  me  see  you  and  have  some  Discourse  with  you 
who  am, 

Your  true  freind  j^nd  humble  servant, 

(Signed)         Jo.  HILL. 


2. — SIR  JOHN  HILL  to  CLUNY,  dated  Inverness,  17th  June,  1690. 

Sr»  —  Out  of  my  old  kindnes  to  your  countrey  I  have  procured 
an  order  for  ye  release  of  ye  men  yt  are  Prisoners  in  the  Castle 
(whose  names  are  after  written)  therefore  desire  yow  to  advertise 
your  freinds  to  come  and  set  Cation  for  their  peaceable  demeanor 
in  tyme  comeinge,  and  seeing  I  have  undertaken  for  the  peacable 
carryage  of  ye  men  of  Badcnoch,  T  desire  yow  and  Dalraddy  and  as 
many  of  the  best  of  yr  countrey  (as  conveniently  can)  may  goe  to- 
the  Major  Genii  when  he  comes  to  yre  countrey  upon  his  march  to 
Loquhabbor  and  Let  him  know  yor  peaceable  inclinations,  and 
alsoe  yt  I  advised  yow  soe  to  doe  and  Let  none  of  your  people  be 
seen  in  Armes  when  the  Army  marcheth  yt  way,  also  waite  on  Sr 
Tho.  Livingston  who  will  be  freindly  to  you.  I  have  written  to 
Dall-Raddy  to  ye  same  effect.  The  King  is  goii  for  Ireland  from 
whence  I  have  late  intelligence  yt  ye  Irish  desert  King  James 
apace.  1  beleive  your  neighbours  in  Lochabbor  hang  of  to  see 
the  Issue  of  yt  war  in  Ireland  wch  they  will  soone  find  to  their 
disadvantage.  Let  me  hear  from  yow  as  soone  as  you  can,  and 
aboute  the  prisoners. 

I  am,  Sr> 

Yor  very  affecconate  servant, 

(Signed)         Jo.  HILL. 

The  Prisoners'  Names. 

Duncan  M'Pherson.  Wm.  M'Lelan. 

Alexander  M'Pherson.  Allexr.  Stuart. 
Duncan  Roy  M'Phersoun.         Donald  Downe. 

John  M'Pherson.  James  Cummin. 

Donald  M'Pherson.  John  M'Laurine. 

John  M'Inish.  Evan  M'beth. 
John  M'Ranald. 


Gleanings  from  Cluny  Charter  Chest  241 

3. — SIR  JOHN  HILL  to  CLUNY,  dated  Kuthven  Castle, 
29th  June,  1690. 

Sr>  — I  twice  gave  you  advice  to  meete  the  Major  Generall  who 
as  well  as  Sir  Thomas  Levingston  expect  you  as  they  did  others  of 
ye  countrey  and  tis  ill  taken  yt  none  appear,  alsoe  hee  sent  yester- 
day to  yow  aboute  a  quantitie  of  cowes  and  sheep  for  wh  hee  payes 
Ready  money  as  he  did  in  Strathspey  wh  if  he  get  not  I  fear  heel 
burn  the  countrey.  I  have  perswaded  him  to  take  nothing  amisse 
because  his  warning  was  short,  and  he  will  be  sattisfid  if  those 
cowes  and  sheepe  meete  him  to-morrow  about  Brecahe.  If  not  I 
feare  the  countrey  will  suffer  as  well  in  poynt  of  losse  as  reputation 
because  the  Army  much  wants  them.  I  pray  if  you  send  let  me 
have  two  cowes  and  one  sheep.  All  will  be  justley  and  presently 
paid.  Having  sd  this  I  need  say  noe  more,  but  you  wrong  yorselfe 
exceedingly  if  you  appear  not. 
I  am, 

Your  affectionate  servt., 

(Signed)         Jo.  HILL. 

4.— SIB  JOHN  HILL  to  CLUNY,  dated  Fort- William, 
5th  August,  1690. 

Sr>  — I  am  sorry  to  find  you  soe  young,  or  so  Conceited  a  man 
as  to  refuse  the  Advice  of  those  who  are  yer  freinds  and  love  yow. 
You  know  how  many  tymes  I  writ  yow  to  appear  to  ye  Major 
Genii,  and  of  wt  use  it  would  be  to  yow  and  the  wholl  Countrey  of 
Badeiioch ;  yt  neither  Comeing  nor  goeing  yow  would  see  him,  tho 
your  word  and  promise  was  passed  to  Sir  Tho.  Liveingston,  and  I 
fear  the  Laird  of  Calder  may  suffer  on  yor  Acct.  it  being  generaly 
beleived  by  the  Major  Genii  and  cheif  officers  of  ye  Army  yt  hee 
advised  you  to  yt  manage  and  should  be  full  sorry  (being  my 
freind)  yt  he  should  be  misinterpreted  on  yr  accot  by  your  not 
comeing  in.  Its  believed  some  of  the  worst  sort  of  the  Brae  men  in 
Badenoch  presumed  to  strip  some  faint  and  wearyed  soules  yt  were 
not  able  to  keepe  up  with  his  Army  which  he  is  wresolved  to 
revenge  upon  the  country,  and  your  not  appearing  is  the  reall 
cause  why  Captain  M'Kay  is  planted  in  the  Garrison  of  Ruthen  as 
a  guard  upon  yt  countrey,  and  for  any  other  inconvenience  yt  may 
fall  out  yow  may  thank  your  selfe  whose  parroll  is  henceforth 
never  to  be  regarded,  and  I  am  resolved  since  you  have  soe  far 
slighted  my  freindly  advice  to  be  revenged  of  those  Rogues  in  the 
brae  yt  stript  those  men,  except  you  cause  them  to  be  delivered, 

16 


242  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

or  else  you  may  expect  to  suffer  for  it  your  selfe  for  myne  is  hurt 
and  wounded  freindship.  I  expect  you  will  doe  something  in 
bringing  those  villaines  to  punishmt  or  else  take  yor  hassard  of 
wt  followes  since  by  yor  refractory  humour  it  was  all  occationed. 
I'me  sure  in  short  tyme  you'll  have  occation  to  repent  your 
carryage  or  else  it  shall  be  out  of  ye  power  of 

Your  gervant, 

(Signed)         Jo.  HILL. 


5. — SIR  JOHN  HILL  to  CLUNY,  dated  Fort- William, 
27th  July,  1693. 

Sir, — Being  come  hence  I  desire  yow  to  take  the  first  occation 
to  come  to  roe  and  only  take  the  alleagance  and  signe  the 
assureance  as  others  doe,  and  then  after  I  have  Eaten  and  Drunken 
with  yow  and  reneued  old  kindnes  yow  may  return  home  againe 
to  my  Good  freind  yor  Lady.  This  I  assure  yow  is  all  I  have  to 
doe  wth  yow,  and  yor  appearance  here  will  doe  yow  much  service 
and  be  an  obligation  upon 

Your  old  true  freind  and  servt., 

(Signed)         Jo.  HILL. 

My  service  to  yor  Lady  and  my  thanks  for  her  last  kindnes. 

6. — SIR  JOHN  HILL  [to  the  Gentlemen  of  Badenoch],  dated 
Fort-William,  30th  November,  1695. 

Gentn, — I  have  yours  and  am  very  sensible  of  ye  hardship 
Done,  and  further  intended  against  yow,  but  can  better  regret  itt 
then  know  how  to  helpe  itt  for  by  the  complaints  of  some  gentn  of 
jor  countrey  joyned  with  Borlum  and  put  into  Grant's  hands  to 
magnifie  them  of  Greivances  done  by  the  Garrison  of  Ruthen 
(wch  they  never  thot  fitt  to  acquainte  me  wth  till  I  heard  it  from 
the  secretary  or  else  I  should  soone  have  rectified  any  thinge 
amisse).  I  say  by  these  complts  and  of  my  too  much  kindnes  to 
ye  highlands  my  hands  are  shortened,  so  yt  I  know  not  but  my 
interposition  may  doe  more  hurt  then  good,  but  yet  I  will  venture 
to  give  you  my  advice  presuminge  you  will  keepe  it  secret.  The 
truth  is,  there  seemes  to  be  much  Peique  ill  will  and  selfe  interest 
in  these  warme  proceedinges,  for  at  the  same  tyme  yor  people 
•weere  summoned  all  or  most  of  the  Brae  of  Lochabbir  and  Loch- 
abbir  itselfe,  and  much  of  Ardgour  and  Morvaine  were  called  to  ye 
aame  Cor*  to  ye  numr  of  neere  1000,  upon  wh  Locheil  Keppach 


Gleanings  from  C I  tiny  Charter  Chest  243 

and  others  sent  Downe  an  Agent  to  luvernesse  to  plead  for  a  new 
•day  of  hearinge  in  regard  most  of  them  had  noe  tyme  (after  the 
sumons)  to  appear  or  to  find  out  and  bringe  their  men.  How  yt 
succeeded  I  cannot  yet  tell,  but  I  know  they  sent  to  Edenr  to 
complaine  to  ye  Governmt  of  this  way  of  procedur  and  of  ye 
unhappie  inconveniences  yt  may  attend  it,  by  turninge  soe  many 
of  the  countrey  Loose  (as  this  method  must  needs  doe)  I  beleeve 
Locheil's  sonn  is  by  this  tyme  at  Invernesse  wth  some  order  abt 
itt,  but  as  yet  I  know  not  wt  is  done.  Now  [  know  not  what  way 
you  cann  save  yor  selfes  from  this  injury ;  but  by  sending  some 
one  to  ye  Duke  Gordon  (whose  interest  both  in  this  countrey,  and 
yours  alsoe,  will  be  much  wronged)  and  pray  his  Grace  yt  either 
the  Govermt  may  be  acquainted  with  ye  Inconvenience  of  these 
proceedines  and  of  ye  ill  consequences  they  may  produce  and  get 
it  stopped  yt  wayes,  or  at  least  that  a  suspention  may  be  granted 
(for  wch  the  reasons  in  yor  Letter  are  very  pregnant)  and  doubtles 
will  prove  effectuall,  and  in  doeing  this  you  must  be  full,  punctuall 
.and  certaine  in  yor  information,  and  (if  the  Duke  will  not  appear 
in  it  himselfe)  hee  will  (noe  Doubt)  imploy  his  Agents.  Another 
way  I  know  not,  but  this  must  be  done  with  all  expedition  or  they 
will  be  apt  to  require  parties  from  me,  wh  I  am  ordered  to  Give, 
or  if  I  refuse  then  I  migt  (of  ffresh)  be  Loaded  with  new  com- 
plaintes.  But  it  is  your  Great  inconvenience  to  Let  yor  people  sitt 
.a  charge,  and  not  compeir  wch  is  yr  advantage .  against  yow 
and  they  Desire  noe  better,  and  yor  owne  injury.  I  would  not 
thinke  itt  ill  advice  yt  Cluny  or  some  other  Did  apeak  with 
'Colloden,  who  is  a  powerfull  man  in  yt  Court  and  whom  I  know 
not  to  be  soe  warme  in  such  methods  as  some  others,  this  way  (if  you 
take  it)  with  ye  complts  of  like  nature  yt  have  gon  from  others  to 
ye  Government,  may  probabily  move  them  to  consider  the  case  and 
Reprimand  itt.  But  there's  one  thing  Looks  ill  upon  the  countrey, 
yt  Drumoond's  son  who  comitted  a  Barbarous  murder  is  sheltered 
by  the  countrey,  with  about  16  broken  men  wth  him,  and  not 
brot  to  justice,  it  looks  as  if  you  would  bring  innocent  blood  upon 
your  owne  heads  and  upon  the  countrey,  and  this  (if  once  Com- 
plained on  at  Edenbgh)  will  be  a  wrong  to  yr  countrey.  I  am 
concerned  yt  I  can  helpe  yow  noe  further  then  by  this  Advice, 
wch  I  hope  you  will  follow,  and  I  have  hopes  yt  Good  may  come 
-of  it  who  am, 

Gentn, 

Yor  very  affectionate  servant, 

(Signed)         Jo.  HILL. 


244  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 


7. — PERMISSION  BY  SIR  JOHN  HILL  TO  CLUNY  TO  VISIT  His 
DYING  WIFE. 

Whereas  Duncan  M'Pherson,  Laird  of  Climy,  was  ordered  by 
me  to  be  kept  in  restrainte  at  this  Garrison,  and  yt  upon  notice 
and  sumous  given  to  him  by  me  to  render  himselfe  and  cause  here 
and  Did  render  his  person  accordiogle  and  hath  Continued  here  a 
prisoner  for  the  space  of  one  moneth.  And  now  being  ascertained 
yt  his  wife  is  extreame  ill  and  at  ye  Poynt  of  Death,  I  have  given 
him  Liberty  to  goe  and  see  her,  and  I  have  taken  bond  of  five 
thousand  pounds  Scots  for  his  returne  to  imprisnmt  how  sooiie  his 
wife  mends  or  Expires,  or  sooner  if  I  call  him.  This  I  have  pre- 
sumed to  Doe  out  of  Comon  charity. 

Given  at  ffort  Wni  the  6th  Day  of  May  1696. 

(Signed)         Jo.  HILL. 


8. — BOND  BY  CLUNY  REFERRED  TO  IN  THE  FOREGOING  PERMISSION. 

Whereas  I  Duncan  M'Pherson  of  Cluny  have  been  ordered  by 
the  Government  to  make  my  appearance  at  ffort  William  and  there 
to  continue  under  Restraint  until  their  further  pleasure,  and  now 
my  spouse  being  Dangerously  sick  and  in  great  hazard  of  her  Life, 
Sir  John  Hill,  Governour  of  ffort  William,  hath  granted  me  Liberty 
to  goe  home  and  see  her  upon  condition  of  my  Returning  when 
called  for.  Therefore  I  hereby  bind  and  oblige  me  to  return  how 
soon  my  spouse  shall  be  in  better  health  of  body  or  sooner  when- 
ever the  said  Sir  John  Hill  shall  call  for  me  or  any  other  in  his 
name,  and  for  the  true  performance  hereof  I  bind  and  oblige  me, 
my  heirs,  Exrs  or  Successors  or  Intrometters  with  my  goods  Geer 
Lands,  Rents  and  heritages  whatsomever  in  the  penalty  of  five 
thousand  pound  Scots  money  to  be  converted  to  his  Maities.  use, 
and  to  be  Collected  and  Levied  out  of  my  said  Estate  of  Cluny, 
and  for  the  more  security  consents  thir  presents  be  insert  and 
Registrate  in  the  Books  of  Councell  and  Session  or  any  other 
Judges  Books  Competent  within  the  kingdom  to  have  the  strength 
of  a  Decreet  of  any  of  the  Lords  or  Judges  thereof  interponed 
thereto  that  Letters  of  horning  and  other  Execons.  needful  may 
pass  hereupon  as  effeers,  and  thereto  Constitutes  my  prors.  : 

In  witness  whereof  I  have  subst  these  presents  (written  by 
Andrew  Crosby  Servant  to  the  said  Sir  John  Hill,  at  ffortwilliam 
the  sixth  day  of  May  jajvje  and  ninty  six  years  before  these  wit- 


Gleanings  from  Gluny  Charter  Chest-  245 

nesses  Liett  Charles  Boss,  Lieutt.  Gilbert  Kennedy  and  the  said 
Andrew  Crosby. 

GILBERT  KENNEDY,  Wittnes. 

C.  Ross,  Wittnes. 

ANDR.  CROSBY,  Witness. 

Note. — Cluny's  signature  to  the  above  bond  was  afterwards 
torn  off,  and  the  document  thereby  cancelled  and  delivered  up  to 
him. 

9. — SIR  JOHN  HILL  to  SIR  JAMES  STUART,  Lord  Advocate, 
dated  Fort-William,  11th  July,  1696. 

Right  Honble, — The  Laird  of  Cluny,  beinge  to  goe  south  in 
•obedience  to  ye  charge  hee  got  at  your  instance  hath  desired  me  to 
certifie  you  wt  his  circumstances  have  been  viz.,  yt  in  Aprill  when 
I  sent  to  him  by  vertue  of  the  order  I  had  to  seize  his  person,  hee 
did  voluntaryly  come  in  and  surendered  himself  prisoner  and  con- 
tinued soe  a  considerable  tyme  till  his  wife  fallinge  sick  (of  which 
sickness  she  dyed)  I  did  give  him  liberty  upon  a  bond  of  500  Ibs 
sterl.  to  goe  and  see  her  ere  she  dyed,  by  wch  bond  hee  was  obliged 
to  come  here  whenever  I  called  him.  I  doe  a.lsoe  certifie  yt  hee  tooke 
the  oathes  required  vizt.,  the  oath  of  allegeance,  and  signed  the 
assureance,  and  yt  hee  hath  been  (since  his  first  submitting  to  ye 
Goverment)  very  obedient  to  orders  from  the  Goverment  and 
allwayes  Ready  to  render  himselfe  and  hath  set  cation  for  his 
peaceable  Demeanor  (as  himselfe  will  more  particularly  informe) 
and  now  comeing  south  in  obedience  to  ye  charge  he  got  I  pray 
on  his  behalf e  (in  respect  of  his  circumstances  wh  can  hardly 
admit  of  Longe  Delay  or  much  charge)  yrby  that  he  may  Be 
favord  wth  as  much  dispatch  as  conveniency  will  admit,  which  is 
.all  at  present  from 

My  Lord, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

(Signed)         Jo.  HILL. 

VIII.    SIR   JOHN   DALRYMPLE   TO    CLUNY, 

dated  London,  13th  December,  1691. 

In  1686  Sir  John  was  appointed  Lord  Advocate  in  room  of  Sir 
•George  Mackenzie.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Convention  Parlia- 
liament  held  at  Edinburgh  in  March,  1689.  and  was  one  of  the 
three  Commissioners  sent  by  that  Convention  to  London  to  offer 
the  crown  to  William  and  Mary.  In  1690  he  was  re-appointed 
Lord  Advocate,  and  in  1691  was  constituted  one  of  the  principal 


246  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Secretaries  of  State.  His  conduct  in  regard  to  the  massacre  of 
Glcncoe  has  branded  his  name  with  everlasting  infamy.  In  his 
letters  to  the  military  officers  in  December,  1691,  previous  to  the 
massacre,  he  exulted  in  the  circumstance  that  as  the  winter  was  the 
only  season  in  which  the  Highlanders  could  not  escape,  they  could 
be  easily  destroyed  in  the  "  long  cold  nights."  Apparently  he  con- 
templated nothing  less  than  the  total  extirpation  of  the  clans.  In 
a  letter  to  Sir  Thomas  Livingstone,  dated  January  7th,  1692,  he 
says  : — "You  know  in  general  that  the  troops  posted  at  Inverness 
and  Inverlochie  will  be  ordered  to  take  in  the  house  of  Invergarie, 
and  to  destroy  entirely  the  country  of  Lochaber,  Lochiel's  lands, 
Keppoch'e  Glen gaiie's,  and  Glenco,"  and  he  adds,  "I  assure  you 
your  powers  shall  be  full  enough."  .  .  .  In  sending  Livingstone 
the  instructions  signed  and  countersigned  by  William  of  Orange 
on  the  llth  January,  "  to  march  the  troops  against  the  rebels  who 
had  nut  taken  the  benefit  of  the  indemnity,  and  to  destroy  them 
by  fire  and  sword,"  he  adds  as  a  hint  to  Livingstone—"  Just  now 
my  Lord  Argyle  tells  me  that  Glenco  had  not  taken  the  oath,  at 
which  I  rejoice.  It  is  a  great  work  of  charity  to  be  exact  in  root- 
ing out  that  damnable  sect,  the  worst  of  the  Highlands." 
Additional  instructions  bearing  date  16th  January,  and  also  signed 
and  countersigned  by  the  alien  Prince,  were  sent  to  Livingstone, 
and  in  the  letter  containing  these  instructions  Sir  John  said — 
"  For  a  just  example  of  vengeance  I  entreat  the  thieving  tribe  of 
Glenco  may  be  rooted  out  to  purpose." 
As  Sir  Walter  Scott  has  it  : — 

"  The  hand  that  mingled  in  the  meal, 
At  midnight  drew  the  felon  steel, 
And  gave  the  host's  kind  breast  to  feel 

Meed  for  his  hospitality. 
The  friendly  hearth  that  warmed  that  hand, 
At  midnight  armed  it  with  the  brand, 
That  bade  destruction's  flames  expand 

Their  red  and  fearful  blazonry." 

In  1705  Sir  John  was  named  one  of  the  Commissioners  for  the 
Treaty  of  Union.  He  died  suddenly  on  8th  January,  1707.  Here 
is  a  transcript  of  his  letter  to  Cluny  : — 

Sir, — I  am  comanded  by  the  King  to  writ  to  yovv  signifnng 
his  Majestie's  Intention  presentlie  to  reduce  thehylanders  who  had 
bein  in  armes  agt  the  government,  and  his  Majestic  doth  desirand 
expect  that  yow  send  a  companie  of  weell  armed  men  with 
fourtein  dayes  provisiones  to  joyne  his  Majestie's  forces  at  Invernes 
the  first  day  of  Jany  and  ther  to  obey  such  orders  as  they  shall 


Gleanings  from  Cluny  Charter  Chest.  247 

receiwe   from   the  comander  of  his  Majestie's  troopes,  qrby  you 
will  giw  a  werie  good  evidence  of  yor  affection  for  ther  Majesties 
service.     This  is  by  ye  Kinges  order  from 
Sir, 

Your  humble  servant, 

(Signed)         Jo.  DALRUMPLE. 
Deliwered  to  Cluny  the  30  day  of  Deer.,  1691. 

IX.  COLONEL  CUNNINGHAM  TO  CLUNY,  dated 
Inverness,  llth  January,  1692. 

Colonel  Cunningham  commanded  one  of  the  Whig  regiments 
under  Mackay,  and  took  part  in  the  engagements  with  the 
Jacobite  forces,  after  the  skirmish  of  Cromdale.  The  following 
letter  is  addressed  •'  To  the  Laird  of  Cluny  at  his  house"  : — 

Sir, — I  have  Received  yrs  and  am  very  glad  to  hear  yr  men  ar 
in  redines.  As  for  those  men  that  ar  so  refractrie  in  sending  their 
proportion  of  men  you  should  comeplain  to  the  Government  of 
them  that  this  may  be  markd  and  punished  for  their  disobedience. 
I  hope  the  worke  is  almost  over  and  that  we  shall  want  no  men  at 
this,  time  the  Highlans  Generalls  being  disposed  to  leave  the  King- 
dom now  that  they  can  get  no  men  to  follow  themselvs.  Their  is 
one  thing  you  can  oblige  me  extreamly  in  and  that  is  to  get  me 
two  or  three  of  yr  bigest  sort  of  Dear  Dogs.  I  know  they  are 
very  good  in  that  countrey.  Let  me  have  your  answer  with  the 
first.  Give  my  service  to  benecher  [Banchor]  and  need  [Nuide]1 
with  al  the  Rest  of  my  acquants  not  forgeting  yr  Lady. 
I  am,  in  hast,  Sir, 

Your  most  humble  servant, 

(Signed)         H.  CUNINGHAM. 

[As  the  letters  from  1689  down  to  the  close  of  the  17th 
century  have  extended  to  such  a  length,  the  remaining  numbers, 
of  the  series,  down  to  1756,  will  be  given  in  the  next  volume  of 
the  Transactions.] 

25th  APRIL,  1895. 

At  this  meeting  J.  P.  Grant,  Esq.  of  Rothiemurchus,  was 
elected  an  honorary  member ;  and  the  following  gentlemen  were 
elected  ordinary  members  of  the  Society,  viz.  : — Mr  Donald 

1  Two  Macphersons,  the  one  of  Banchor  and  the  other  of  Nuide,  both  in 
Baden  och. 


248  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Campbell,  merchant,  Kingussie  ;  Mr  Alex.  Mackenzie,  C.E.,  do. ; 
Mr  W.  A.  Martin,  Beauclerc  Road,  London  ;  Mr  Alex.  Mitchell, 
E.C.  Railways,  Inverness. 

The  Secretary  submitted  a  communication  from  Professor 
Mackinnon,  Edinburgh,  regarding  a  proposed  Highland  memorial 
to  the  late  Professor  Blackie,  in  the  form  of  a  valuable  scholarship 
in  connection  with  the  Celtic  Chair,  of  which  the  meeting  cordially 
approved.  <• 

Thereafter  the  Rev.  Alex.  Bisset,  Nairn,  read  a  paper  on  the 
"  Topography  and  Folklore  of  Stratherrick." 


2nd  MAY,  1895, 

At  this  meeting  Mr  Magnus  Maclean,  M.A.,  assistant  professor, 
University,  Glasgow ;  Mr  J.  G.  Mackay,  merchant,  Portree ;  and 
Mr  Duncan  Macdonald,  Culcabock  Village,  Inverness,  were  elected 
members  of  the  Society.  Thereafter  Mr  Charles  Ferguson,  Fair- 
burn,  read  a  paper,  entitled  "  The  Early  History,  Legends,  and 
Traditions  of  Strathardle — No.  4."  Mr  Ferguson's  paper  was  as 
follows  : — 

SKETCHES   OF    THE   EARLY   HISTORY,  LEGENDS,  AND 
TRADITIONS  OF  STRATHARDLE  AND  ITS  GLENS. 

PABT  IV. 

1560. — I  ended  my  last  paper  at  the  troublous  times  of  the 
Reformation,  when  all  Scotland,  and  more  particularly  the  High- 
lands, was  in  a  very  disturbed  unsettled  state  ;  and  to  add  to  all 
the  other  troubles  and  hardships  of  the  poor  people,  there  came  a 
succession  of  very  bad  seasons,  and  consequently  very  poor  crops. 
The  summers  were  either  very  cold  and  wet,  or  else  so  extremely 
hot  and  dry,  as  to  burn  up  the  crops ;  harvests,  late  and  bad, 
followed  by  winters  of  extreme  severity,  with  very  deep  snows  and 
extra  hard  frost ;  so  that  the  poor  people  of  the  Highlands  were 
reduced  to  great  straits  by  want  and  famine.  This  will  be  seen 
from  the  following  extracts  from  the  good  old  Dean  of  Lismore's 
"  Ch^uiclee  of  Fortingall"  : — 

"  1559. — Evill  symmyr,  hairst,  and  vyntyr. 

"  1560. — The  symmyr  richt  deyr,  evyll  haryst  that  evyr  was 
seyn,  mekil  hungyr  and  darth. 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.        249 

"1561. — Mekill  snaw,  frost,  and  storms;  the  begynnyn  of 
April  evill  frosts,  snaw,  and  gret  windis,  in  May  rycht  dry  and 
het,  and  frosts,  and  vind. 

"1562. — Mekill  snaw  in  all  partis,  mony  deyr  and  ray  slain 
that  yer  (many  deer  and  roe  starved  that  year). 

"  1567 — The  symmyr  rycht  dry  and  het,  that  brynt  and  did 
kill  corne,  and  grys,  evyl  haryst." 

To  anyone  who  really  knows  the  state  of  the  country  at  that 
time,  when  the  people  had  to  rely  almost  entirely  upon  the  crops 
of  their  own  respective  districts,  what  a  tale  of  hunger  and 
starvation  it  revealed  by  these  short  accounts  of  so  many  bad 
harvests,  especially  as  the  whole  country  was  likewise  then  in  a 
state  of  war  and  turmoil. 

1563. — All  over  Perthshire  and  eastern  Ar^yle  there  raged  at 
this  time  fierce  war  and  persecution  against  the  gallant  but 
unfortunate  Clan  Gregor,  who  were  harried  and  hunted  all  over 
the  country.  I  find  the  following  quaint  entry  at  this  date  in  the 
Chronicle  of  Fortingall  : — "  The  Lard  of  Glenvrquhay  wryrth 
(wareth)  against  Clangregor."  The  Earl  of  Athole  was  also 
ordered  by  the  Privy  Council  to  hunt  the  Clan  Gregor  out  of 
Athole,  Strathardle,  and  Glenshee,  where  many  of  them  had 
found  a  refuge,  particularly  with  the  Robertsons  of  Straloch  and 
the  Clan  Fergusson,  who  often  were  in  trouble,  and  fined  for 
resetting  and  harbouring  the  Clan  Gregor. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Order  of  the  Privy  Council  to 
the  Earl  of  Athole  to  hunt  the  Macgregors  out  of  his  bounds  : — 

"  22  Sept.  1563.— At  Stirling.  The  Queene's  Majestie  under- 
standing that  the  Clano-regour,  being  Her  Hienes  rebellis,  and  at 
her  home  for  divers  horrible  attemptatis  committat  by  thame 
selfis  in  greit  cumpanyis,  bot  also  lies  drawn  to  thame  the  maist 
part  of  the  broken  men  of  the  hale  countre  quhilks  at  their 
at  their  pleasour,  birnis  and  slays  the  pour  leiges  of  this  relme, 

revis,  and  taks  their  gudis,  &c And  knawing  that 

the  saidis  malefactours  for  the  maist  pairt  hantis  and  repam 
within  the  bounds  following  and  that  the  nobleman  underspecifut 
quha  is  principal  of  the  boundis  under  mentioned,  is  maist  able  to 
expell  the  said  evill  doers,  furth  of  his  boundis.  Thairfor  ordains 
the  said  Nobleman,  John,  Earl  of  Athole,  to  expell  and  hald  the 
said  broken  men  furth  of  his  bounds  of  Athole,  Strathardoll, 
Glensche  and  Dunkeld." 

However,  in  spite  of  all  the  strict  laws  passed  by  the  Govern- 
ment, and  of  the  cruel  way  in  which  these  were  carried  out  by 


250  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

their  enemies,  the  unfortunate  Macgregors  always  found  a  refuge 
in  Strathardle,  and  though  most  of  the  proprietors  were  very 
often  very  heavily  fined  for  doing  so,  they  still  continued  to 
shelter  Clan  Gregor  down  to  the  end  of  the  persecution  in  the 
days  of  Rob  Roy,  who  often  took  refuge  in  Strathardle  when 
hardest  pressed,  especially  in  Ashintully  Castle,  where  the  room 
which  he  used  to  occupy  is  still  called  Rob  Roy's  Room  to  this 
day.  * 

The  enemies  of  Clan  Gregor  carried  their  persecution  to  such 
an  extreme  length  that  they  specially  trained  a  fierce  breed  of 
dogs  to  hunt  them  to  their  hiding  places  amongst  the  hills  and 
woods.  This  they  did  by  bringing  up  the  young  puppies  on  the 
milk  of  Macgregor  women,  so  that  when  the}7  grew  up  they  would 
know  the  scent  of  a  Macgregor  amongst  crowds  of  other  people, 
and  follow  them  anywhere.  These  were  the  notorious  "  Coin 
Dhnbh,"  or  Black  Dogs,  about  which  so  many  traditions  still 
linger  in  Perthshire.  Only  once  did  the  Black  Dogs  come  to 
Strathardle  to  hunt  Clan  Gregors,  and  the  result  of  that  hunting 
was  so  unsatisfactory  that  they  never  repeated  the  visit. 

Campbell  of  Persie,  knowing  that  there  were  many  Macgregors 
then  taking  refuge  in  Strathardle,  sent  word  to  his  relation  Argyle, 
who  at  once  sent  a  strong  force  of  Campbells,  under  command  of 
one  of  his  chieftains,  and  with  t\vo  of  the  Black  Dogs;  and  with 
orders  to  go  to  Campbell  of  Persie,  who  was  to  organize  a  grand 
hunt  agaiust  all  the  Macgregors  lurking  in  the  district.  The 
Argylemen  came  by  Breadalbane  and  Moulin,  and  across  the  hill 
to  Glen  Brierachan,  where  the  weather  got  so  very  stormy  and  bad 
that  when  they  reached  the  Garaidh-riabhach,  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
west  from  Kindrogan  House,  the  Campbell  chieftain  decided  not 
to  go  on  to  Persie  that  day,  but  to  take  up  his  quarters  there  for 
the  night,  as  there  were  plenty  houses  there  then  to  shelter  his 
large  force,  though  there  are  no  houses  there  now,  since  my  grand- 
father and  granduncle  left  there  over  sixty  years  ago.  The 
Strathardle  people  had  received  warning  that  "the  Campbells 
were  coming  "  from  Fergusson  of  Balyoukan,  a  great  friend  of  the 
Macgregors,  and  who  was  soon  after  very  heavily  fined,  along  with 
other  five  gentlemen  of  the  Clan  Fergusson,  for  harbouring  Clan 
Gregors.  The  Campbells  had  stopped  at  the  village  of  Moulin  for 
refreshments,  and  Balyoukan,  being  in  the  neighbourhood,  seeing 
such  a  large  force,  and  the  much-dreaded  Black  Dogs,  knew  they 
were  on  some  evil  errand  bent ;  so,  to  try  and  find  out  their 
destination,  he  joined  their  officers,  and,  by  supplying  them  with 
plenty  driifk,  soon  got  on  such  friendly  terms  with  them  that  the 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.        251 

leader  confided  to  him  where  they  were  going  and  their  purpose 
there.  As  quickly,  and  as  quietly  as  possible,  Balyoukan  managed 
to  get  a  word  with  his  servant,  who  at  once  slipped  off  unnoticed, 
and  by  the  quickest  route  made  his  way  to  Strathardle,  and  warned 
the  people  of  the  approaching  danger".  The  alarm  soon  spread,  so 
that,  shortly  before  the  Argylemen  reached  the  Garaidh-riabhach, 
the  good  people  of  that  hamlet  might  be  seen  carrying  several 
M^cgregors,  who  were  then  living  with  them,  on  their  backs,  so  as 
to  leave  no  scent  on  the  ground  for  the  much-dreaded  Black  Dogs 
up  the  steep  face  of  Kindrogan  Rock,  whose  gigantic  cliffs  tower 
seven  hundred  feet  overhead,  and  where  from  a  snug  retreat, 
always  ready  for  such  sudden  emergencies,  they  could  in  safety 
look  down  on  their  foes  passing  below,  secure  even  from  the  keen 
scent  of  the  Black  Dogs. 

When,  owing  to  the  severity  of  the  storm,  the  Argylemen 
decided  to  remain  overnight  at  Garaidh-riabhach,  the  good  folk 
there  were  much  alarmed  and  annoyed,  but  dare  not  show  it.  The 
leader  and  his  officers  took  possession  of  the  largest  and  best  house, 
and  safely  kenneled  the  Black  Dogs  in  an  outhouse  near  the  door, 
placing  a  sentry  over  them.  The  goodman  of  the  house,  a 
Robertson  of  the  family  of  Straloch,  was  a  very  shrewd  man,  so, 
judging  it  best  to  keep  the  fair  side  of  his  dangerous  guests,  after 
he  had  first  dispatched  his  wife  and  family  to  a  neighbouring 
house,  to,  be  out  of  harm's  way,  he  proceeded  to  entertain  them  as 
hospitably  as  he  could,  and  so  well  did  he  succeed,  that,  with  the 
aid  of  plenty  good  liquor,  he  had  them  all  before  midnight  in  a 
rather  elevated  condition,  when  the  leader  drank  to  his  health,  and 
complimented  him  on  his  hospitality,  adding  that  if  all  the  Strath- 
aidle  men  were  as  hospitable,  he  did  not  wonder  at  the  hungry 
Macgregors  choosing  it  as  their  place  of  refuge.  Old  Robertson 
thanked  him,  and  said  that  the  only  thing  he  regretted  was,  that 
he  was  very  short  of  bed-clothes,  but,  to  make  up  for  that  want,  he 
had  just  sent  a  messenger  round  all  his  neighbours  to  collect  all 
the  plaids  he  could  get,  so  that  if  they  now  retired  he  would  cover 
them  up  with  these  plaids  when  his  messenger  returned,  to  which 
they  willingly  agreed,  and  they  lay  down  to  rest  in  high  glee. 

Now  old  Robertson,  besides  being  a  very  shrewd  man,  was  also 
a  bit  of  a  wag,  and  having  a  bitter  hatred  against  the  Argylemen, 
his  hereditary  foes,  which  he  dared  not  then  show  openly,  he  had 
devised  a  round-about  scheme  of  revenge,  which  he  now  proceeded 
to  carry  out.  So,  instead  of  sending  his  messenger  to  his 
neighbours  for  plaids  to  cover  his  guests,  he  sent  him  up  Kindrogan 
Rock,  to  the  hiding-place  of  the  Macgregors,  and  got  all  their 


252  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

plaids  from  them.  On  his  return,  the  Argylemen,  overcome  with 
fatigue  and  drink,  were  all  sound  asleep,  so  old  Robertson  took  the 
Macgregor  plaids  and  wrapt  them  tightly  and  snugly  round  the 
.sleepers,  then  gathering  all  the  bones  and  scraps  of  meat  left,  he 
made  a  heap  of  them  behind  the  outer  door,  and  extinguishing  the 
light,  went  out  to  the  sentry  at  the  door,  with  whom  he  began  a 
friendly  chat  about  the  dogs,  pretending  that  he  thought  they 
were  for  hunting  deer.  After  he  baa  praised  the  dogs  very 
highly,  he  then  suggested  that  as  the  night  was  so  cold,  he 
thought  the  "  bonnie  beasties  "  would  be  more  comfortable  in  the 
house  beside  the  fire,  adding  that  he  had  left  a  big  supper  for 
them  on  the  floor.  The  unsuspecting  sentry  at  once  agreed,  and 
letting  the  dogs  out  of  the  outhouse  where  they  were  confined,  he 
opened  the  house  door  and  let  them  in.  Old  Robertson  now 
thought  it  prudent  to  get  out  of  the  way,  so  he  told  the  man  that 
lie  must  now  go  to  his  family,  but  would  return  at  daybreak,  and 
departed.  On  entering  the  house  the  dogs  smelt  the  bones  left 
f  jr  them,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  devour  them  ;  then  they  began 
a  tour  of  inspection,  and  coming  near  the  sleepers  they  scented 
the  Macgregor  plaids,  which  at  once  aroused  their  most  ferocious 
instincts,  and  with  fearful  howls  they  sprang  on  the  slumbering 
Campbells,  and  began  biting  and  tearing  them  savagely.  Then 
began  a  scene  of  wild  confusion,  the  ferocious  dogs  howling  and 
barking,  and  the  half- asleep,  half-drunken  Campbells  cursing  and 
swearing,  and  as  they  thought  that  old  Satan  himself  was  let 
loose  upon  them,  they  drew  their  dirks  and  stabbed  and  slashed 
right  and  left  in  the  dark,  with  the  result  that  when  the  alarmed 
sentry  and  guard  rushed  in  with  lights,  they  found  the  two  dogs 
cut  to  pieces,  and  all  the  men  more  or  less  severely  wounded. 
They  never  suspected  the  trick  played  on  them,  but  put  the 
blame  of  the  whole  affair  on  some  of  the  famous  Athole  witches, 
whom  they  thought  had  by  their  spells  set  their  dogs  mad. 

When  old  Robertson  appeared  before  daybreak,  he  appeared 
very  much  surprised  at  what  had  happened,  quite  agreed  with  the 
witchcraft  theory,  and  lamented  very  much  the  loss  of  the 
"  bonnie  black  beasties"  of  dogs  ;  however,  he  took  very  good  care 
that  he  very  quietly  gathered  the  Macgregor  plaids,  and  slipped 
them  into  a  dark  corner,  for  fear  that  the  Macgregor  tartan  might 
be  noticed.  I  may  here  mention  that  the  Robertson  and  Mac- 
gregor tartans  are  both  very  red,  and  somewhat  similar  in  sett. 
After  some  breakfast,  the.  Argylemen  prepared  to  begin  their 
onward  march  to  Persie,  but,  before  starting,  the  leader,  who  was 
sorely  wounded,  and  in  very  bad  humour,  said  that  he  must  first 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strath  ard/e.        253- 

see  his  favourite  dogs  get  "  Christian  "  burial  before  he  went,  and 
he  ordered  old  Robertson  at  once  to  dig  a  grave  for  them.     Now, 
that  worthy  did  not  believe  in  giving  "Christian"  burial  to  any 
dogs,   let   alone   the    hated    Black    Dogs,   but,   as   the    Campbell 
chieftain  was  not  in  a  humour  to  be   trifled   with,  he  had   to  be 
very  careful.     He  made  several  excuses,  which  only  irritated  the 
other,  who,  drawing  his  sword,  swore  if  he  did  not  instantly  bury 
his  dogs  he  would   cut  him  down   where  he  stood.      Upon   this 
Robertson  replied  that  he  thought  it  needless  to  make  a  special 
grave  for  the  dogs,  as  "  there  would  be  plenty  of  room  for  them  in 
the  '  Big  Grave,'  and  per  hapsthe  bonnie  beasties  would  be  quieter 
if   they   were   laid   beside   somebody  they  kent."      This   rather 
astonished  the  other,   who  asked   what  he   meant  by  the   "  Big 
Grave,"  to  which   Robertson    coolly  replied,   "  that  when  coming 
along  in  the  morning  a  neighbour  had  told  him  that  Baron  Robert- 
son of  Straloch,  with  a  strong  force  of   Strathardle  men,   were 
waiting  for  them  beyond  Kindrogan,  and  that  Baron  Fergussori  of 
Dunfallandy,  with  his  clan,  had  followed  them  from  Athole,  and 
were  close  at  hand,   to  protect  their   lands  in   Strathardle  and 
Glenshee,  and  that  if  these  two  Barons  fought  that  day  as  they 
were  wont  to  do,  there  would  be  a  big,  big  grave  required  before 
night,  in  which  there  would  be  plenty  room  for  the  dogs."     Upon 
hearing  that  there  was  a  large  force  both  before  and  behind  them^ 
the  Campbell  officers  got  alarmed,  and  their  leader  asked  Robertson 
if  he  coujd  not  yet  lead  them  by  some  quiet  way  out  of  the  fix 
they  were  in,  and  offered  him  a  large  reward  if  he  would  do  so, 
Robertson  told  him  that  the  only  way  now  was  to  go  -up  Kindrogan 
.Rock,  where  men  could  climb,  but  not  horses,  so  the  leaders  agreed 
to  leave  their  steeds  behind,  and  they  set  off  at  once.     Robertson 
led  them  up  the  face  of  the  Rock,  within  sight  of  the  hidden 
Macgregors,  and  over  the  Kindrogan  hills,  and   by  the  head  of 
Glenderby,  to  the  Pass  of  Atholeford,  where  they  could  see  Ben 
Lavvers  and  the  Campbell  country,  so  he  there  bid  them  adieu,  and 
returned,  the  richer  by  a  purse  of  gold  and  several  good  horses, 
and  so  he  got  that  large  hostile  force  out  of  the  district  without 
bloodshed.     The  two  Barons  really  were  close  at  hand,  as  Robertson 
had  said,  but  with  only  a  very  small  force,  with  which  they  had 
hastened  to  watch  the  invaders,  leaving  orders  for  gathering  their 
full  forces  as  quickly  as  possible,  which  they  did,  only  to  find  the 
Argylemen  "ower  the  hills  an'  far  awa,"  by  "  the  Birks  o'  Aber- 
feldy,"  on  the  way  back  to  their  own  country,  and  it  was  thirteen 
years  after  that  before  they  ventured  back  on  another  raid  to 
Strathardle. 


254  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

1564. — Last  year  we  were  with  the  foes  of  Clan  Gregors,  and 
their  cursed  black  dogs,  following  the  gruesome  sport  of  hunting 
that  outlawed  race  on  the  hills  of  Athole  ;  it  is  therefore  with  the 
more  pleasure  that  we  turn  this  year  to  the  more  congenial  sport 
of  hunting  the  deer  with  "  Bonny  Queen  Mary"  in  the  Athole 
Forest. 

In  August  of  this  year  Queen  ^ry  visited  the  Perthshire 
Highlands  as  the  guest  of  the  Earl  of  Athole  at  Blair  Castle,  when 
another  of  those  grand  royal  hunts  took  place  in  which  the  Stuart 
monarchs  took  such  a  delight.  Mary  had  her  full  Court  with 
her,  all  the  principal  nobility  of  the  kingdom.  She  came  by 
Perth  to  Cupar-Angus  Abbey,  where  she  stayed  some  days,  then 
rode  UD  Strathardle  and  Glenbrierachan,  past  Ben  Veachie  by  the 
Leacainn-Mhor,  and  down  by  Glengirnaig  to  Blair  Castle.  After 
the  hunt  she  went  on  by  Drumuachdar  to  Inverness.  Cupar 
Abbey  had  to  pay  £124  10s  8d  of  her  travelling  expenses  out  of 
its  revenue  for  this  journey,  as  I  find  the  following  entry  in  ("  The 
Register  of  Cupar  Abbey,"  vol.  ii.,  page  281  : — "For  the  Queinis 
Majesteis  expensis  in  passage  throucht  Athoil  from  the  huntis,  to 
Inuernes,  as  the  particularis  subscritiit  be  Alexander  Durhame 
beris,  extending  to  jc  xxiiii.lib-  x8  viii.d 

The  grand  hunt  was  arranged  to  take  place  in  Glen  Tilt,  and 
the  Earl  sent  two  thousand  Athole  men,  for  two  months,  to 
gather  all  the  deer  from  Dunkeld  to  Argyle,  and  from  there  to 
Inverness  and  Aberdeen,  and  all  the  country  between,  and  to  drive 
them  all  to  Glen  Tilt.  To  the  Strathardle  men,  under  the  Baron 
Ruadh  of  Straloch,  the  difficult  duty  was  given  of  blocking  Glen 
Loch,  the  Pass  of  Beallach-na-leum,  and  other  passes  leading  east- 
ward from  Glen  Tilt,  from  the  top  of  Ben-y-gloe  to  the  marches  of 
Mar,  where  they  were  on  sentry  night  and  day  for  two  months. 

Pennant  (Part  II.  page  64)  gives  the  following  translation  of 
the  account  given  of  this  great  hunt,  by  Professor  Barclay,  who 
was  present  at  it  when  a  young  man  : — "  The  Earl  of  Athole,  a 
prince  of  the  royal  blood,  had,  with  much  trouble  and  vast 
expense,  a  hunting  match  fur  the  entertainment  of  our  most 
illustrious  and  most  gracious  Queen.  Our  people  call  this  a  royal 
hunting.  I  was  then  a  young  man,  and  was  present  on  the 
occasion.  Two  thousand  Highlanders,  or  wild  Scotch,  as  you  call 
them  here,  were  employed  to  drive  to  the  hunting  ground  all  the 
deer  from  the  woods  and  hills  of  Athole,  Badenoch,  Mar,  Murray, 
and  the  counties  about.  As  these  Highlanders  use  a  light  dress, 
and  are  very  swift  of  foot,  they  went  up  and  down  so  nimbly  that 
in  less  than  two  months'  time  they  brought  together  2000  red 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strath ardle.        255 

•deer,  besides  roes  and  fallow  deer.     The  Queen,  the  great  men, 
and  others,  were  in  a  glen  when  all  the  deer  were  brought  before 
them.     Believe  me,  the  whole  body  of  them  moved  forward  in 
something  like  battle  order.     This  sight  still  strikes  me,  and  ever 
will,  for  they  had  a  leader  whom  they  followed  close  wherever 
he  moved.     This  leader  was  a  very  fine  stag,  with  a  very  high 
head.     The   sight  delighted  the  Queen  very  much ;  but  she  soon 
had  occasion  to  fear,  upon  the  Earl's  (who  had  been  accustomed 
to  such  sights)  addressing  her  thus  : — '  Do  you  observe  that  stag 
who  is  foremost  of  the  herd?     There  is  danger  from  that  stag  ;  for 
if  either  fear  or  rage  should  force  him  from  the  ridge  of  that  hill, 
let  everyone  look  to  himself,  for  none  of  us  will  be  out  of  the  way 
of  harm ;  for  the  rest  will  follow  this  one,  and  having  thrown  us 
under  foot,    they  will   open  a  passage  to    this   hill    behind    us.' 
What  happened  a  moment  after  confirmed   this  opinion,  for  the 
Queen  ordered  one  of  the  best  dogs  to  be  let  loose  upon  a   wolf ; 
this  the  dog  pursues,  the  leading  stag  was  frightened,  and  he  flies 
by  the  same  way  he  had  come  there,  the  rest  rush  after  him,  and 
break  out  where  the  thickest  body  of  Highlanders  was.     They  had 
nothing  for  it  but  to  throw  themselves  flat  upon  the  ground  and 
.allow  the  deer  to  pass  over  them.     It  was  tcld  the    Queen  that 
several  of  the  Highlanders  had   been  wounded,  and  that   two  or 
three  had  been  killed  outright,  and  the  whole   body  had  got  off 
had  not  the  Highlanders,  by  their  superior  skill  in  hunting,  fallen 
upon  a  stratagem  to  cut  off  the  rear  from  the  main  body.     It  was 
of  those  that  had  been  separated  that  the  Queen's  dogs  and  those 
of  the  nobility  made  slaughter.     There  were  killed  that  day  360 
deer,  with  five  wolves  and  some  roes." 

Such  is  the  short  account  left  us  of  this  great  royal  hunt  by 
one  of  the  greatest  scholars  of  the  day,  who  was  present  and 
enjoyed  the  sport  like  his  royal  mistress.  It  was  one  of  the  few 
bright  and  happy  incidents  in  the  troubled  life  of  poor  un- 
fortunate Queen  Mary. 

1565. — Under  this  date  we  find  the  following  entry  in  the 
chronicle  of  Fortingall : — "  Great  hayrschyppiss  in  mony  partis  of 
Scotland,  in  Stratherne,  in  Lennox,  in  Glenalmond,  in  Braydalbin, 
bayth  slattyr  and  oppressyon  beant  mayed  in  syndry  udyr  partis 
by  the  erll  of  Ergill  and  M'Gregor,  and  their  complices.  Sblyk 
in  Strathardil  mony  men  slayn  be  the  men  of  Atholl  and  the 
Stuartis  of  Lorn." 

Now,  to  explain  why  the  men  of  Athole  and  the  Stuarts  of 
Lorn  made  this  great  "  slattyr"  of  the  Strathardle  men,  we  must 
go  back  to  1488,  when  we  saw  that  Neil  Stewart  of  Garth  and 


256  Gaelic  Society  of  /nuerness. 

Fortingall  was  superior  of  the  Kirk  of  Strathardle,  and  held  all 
the  land  of  that  Kirk.  This  Neil  was  succeeded  by  his  son, 
grandson,  and  great-grandson — all  Neils — and  a  wild,  warlike  race 
they  were  these  Neils,  worthy  descendants  of  the  ferocious  Wolf 
of  Badenoch.  By  their  wild  extravagance  they  reduced  their 
estates  so  much  that  in  the  time  of  the  third  Neil  we  read  in  the 
"Book  of  Garth  and  Fortingall,"  page  183— "The  then  Earl  of 
Athole  is  found  in  full  possession  of  his  whole  patrimonial  barony. 
Neil,  however,  sought  and  found  a  protector  who  could  defend 
him  against  the  Earl  of  Athole.  He  resigned  his  barony  of 
Fortingall  (including  Strathardle)  into  the  hands  of  the  Earl  of 
Huntly  in  1509,  and  was  that  nobleman's  tenant  and  vassal  ever 
afterwards." 

Again,  at  page  189 — "It  would  seem  that  from  1509  down  to 
the  rebellion  and  forfeiture  of  George,  Earl  of  Huntly,  in  1563, 
Fortingall  (and  Strathardle)  was  an  outlying  possession  of  the 
Gordon  chiefs.  The  fourth  Earl,  John  of  Athole,  of  the  Stewarts 
of  Lorn  was  the  ablest  of  his  race.  He  adroitly  availed  himself  of 
Huntly's  forfeiture  in  1563,  and  of  the  favour  he  had  gained  in  Queen 
Mary's  eyes,  by  his  vote  against  the  Reformation  in  Parliament  in 
1560,  to  get  hold  of  Fortingall,  and  obtained  other  advantages 
from  Huntly's  fall.  In  his  days  of  favour  he  persuaded  Queen 
Mary  to  exempt  his  lands  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Justice 
General,  and  to  give  him  a  commission  for  life  to  be  chief  judge 
within  his  own  lands  and  the  lands  of  some  of  his  neighbours, 
who  very  much  disliked  to  be  placed  under  him." 

This  commission,  dated  April,  1564,  is  : — "Given  and  granted 
to  John,  Earl  of  Athole,  a  Commission  of  Justiciary  for  all  the 
days  of  his  life  time,  within  all  and  sundry  the  bounds  and  lands 
afterwards  specified  : — To  wit,  all  and  haill  his  lands  lying  within 
his  Earldom  of  Atholl,  with  lands  and  tenandries  thereof,  and  all 
and  sundry  lands  pertaining  to  the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Cupar, 
lying  within  the  said  Earldom.  The  lands  of  Fortingall,  and 
Fosses,  the  lands  of  the  Forest  of  Cluny,  and  Baronies  of 
Strowaul,  Apnachull,  Grantully,  lands  of  Weene,  the  lands  of 
Rannoch,  and  Strathardill,  Glensche,  and  the  lands  and  Barony  of 
Rattray  lying  within  the  Sheriffdom  of  Perth." 

I  find  this  commission  confirmed  again  at  Edinburgh,  16th 
May,  1578,  Records  Privy  Council,  page  698.  Again,  I  find  it 
confirmed  in  1672,  in  the  Acts  of  the  Scots  Parliament,  Vol.  VIII., 
page  103,  where  the  names  of  the  different  lands  in  question  in 
Strathardle  and  Glenshee  are  given  : — "  Ratification  in  favors  of 
John,  Earl  of  Atholl,  of  lands  in  Strathardill.  In  lyke  manner 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.       257 

the  towne  and  lands  of  Wester  Callies  .  .  .  the  towne  and 
lands  of  Blackcraige  and  Mylnelands  thereof  .  .  .  the  lands 
of  Blackghines  and  Drumfrog.  All  and  haill  the  lands  of  Bletoun, 
Haly*,  with  tennants,  tennandries,  service  of  free  tenants,  pairts 
and  pendicles  thereof  .  .  .  and  syclyke  all  and  haill  the  lands 
and  barronie  of  Downy,  viz.,  Over  Downie,  Middle  Downie, 
Boreland,  Ednarnachtie,  Cuttelony,  Stronamuck,  Ffenze,  and 
Inveraddrie,  with  the  Mylne,  Bennanmore,  Bennanbeg,  Ran- 
daiioyak,  Kerrache,  Cuthill,  Ballinbeg,  Dalmunge,  with  the  pairts 
of  Pitbrabine,  Glengaisnett,  and  Glenbeg,  with  the  pertinents  of 
the  samen  whatsomever."  Most  of  these  lands  belonged  to  Baron 
Fergusson,  of  Dunfallandy,  as  we  have  already  seen,  in  1510,  and 
we  have  also  seen  that  in  1521,  through  some  quirk  of  the  law,  the 
chief,  John  Fergusson,  was  declared  a  bastard,  and  these  lands 
taken  from  his  son  Robert,  which  act  of  injustice  was  very  much 
resented  by  the  members  of  the  Clan  Fergusson  residing  on  the 
lands  of  Downie,  &c.,  in  Strathardle,  and  on  the  lands  of  Finne- 
gand,  Dalmunzie,  and  others  in  Glenshee,  so  that  these  Fergussons 
became  "  broken  men,"  lawless  and  turbulent,  and  as  such,  are 
found  in  the  roll  of  "  broken  men,"  against  whom  an  Act  of 
Parliament  was  passed  afterwards  in  1587,  in  which  "  Black  List," 
the  rest  of  the  Clan,  the  Athole  Fergussons,  are  not  found. 

These  Strathardle  and  Glenshee  Fergussons,  with  Spalding  of 
Ashintully,  and  Rattray  of  Dalrulzion,  and  other  lairds  of  the 
district,  aided  by  their  outlawed  friends  the  Macgregors,  taking 
advantage  of  the  troubled  times,  became  so  lawless  and  so  powerful, 
that  though  the  Queen  had  given  the  Earl  of  Athole  the  com- 
mission to  be  chief  judge  of  Strathardle,  yet  even  that  powerful 
noble  was  quite  powerless  to  quell  them  and  restore  order  with  his 
own  followers,  so  Queen  Mary  had  to  issue  a  proclamation  to  the 
Sheriffs  of  Perth  and  Forfar,  Strathern  and  Menteith,  to  raise  all 
men  within  their  bounds  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  sixty, 
"  to  be  reddy  to  pass  with  the  Earl  of  Athole  to  suppress  the 
mony  herschippis,  slaughteris,  and  depredationis  committit  in 
Athole  and  Strathardle." 

This  proclamation  is  given  in  the  "  Records  of  the  Privy 
Council,"  Vol  I.,  page  383,  and  is  as  follows  :— "  26th  Oct.,  1565. 
Proclamation  to  be  reddy  to  pass  with  the  Earl  of  Atholl,  &c. 
The  quhilk  day  the  King  and  Queen's  Majesties,  understanding 
the  mony  herschippis,  slauchteris,  and  depredationis  committit  to 
diverse  wicket  and  mischevious  personis  upoun  the  trew  and 
faythful  subjectis  inhabitants  of  Atholl  and  boundis  adjacient 
thereto,  quhilks  intends  to  lay  the  samyn  cuntre  and  boundis  all 

17 


•258  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

waste  and  desolat,  to  evert  so  far  in  thame  lyis  the  haill  state  of 
this  common  weill,  gif  their  mischevious  attemptattis  be  nocht 
repressit ;  thairfair  ordains  lettres  to  be  direct  to  officers  of  armes, 
Sheriffs  in  that  part,  charging  them  to  pass  to  the  mercat  croces 
of  the  borrowes  of  Perth  and  Forfar  and  other  places,  neidful  and 
their  be  oppan  proclamation,  in  their  Heiness'  name  and  authority, 
command  and  charge  all  and  sundrie  their  Majesties'  leiges  betwix 
sextie  and  sextene  yeris,  and  uth^fs  fensible  personis  alswell 
dwelland  to  burgh,  as  to  land  within  Regalitie  as  Rialte  within  the 
boundis  of  the  Sherifdoms  of  Perth  and  Forfar,  Stewartries  of 
Stratherne  and  Menteith,  that  they  and  ilk  ane  of  them  weill 
bodden  in  feir  of  weir  prepare  thaimessesellffs  and  mak  them  in 
reddiness  as  they  shall  receive  advertisement  and  commandment 
by  their  traiste  cousing  and  counselor,  Johnne,  Erll  of  Atholl, 
Lord  of  Balvany,  Lieutenant  of  the  north  pairts  of  this  realme, 
with  eight  days  vitoul  and  provisions,  upon  two  days'  warning  to 
nieit  the  said  Erie  at  sic  pairt  and  place  as  he  sal  appoint  till 
thame,  and  frathyne  to  pas  furthwart  for  defence,  on  invasionn  of 
the  saidis  wickit  personis  and  rebellis  according  to  the  command- 
ment and  direction  of  the  said  Lieutenant  upon  the  pain  of  tinsall, 
of  lyff,  land  is,  and  guidis." 

With  this  strong  force,  placed  at  his  disposal  by  the  Queen,  and 
also  assisted  by  his  own  kinsmen,  the  Stuarts  of  Lorn,  the  Earl  of 
Athole  came  to  Strath ardle,  with  the  result  that  there  were  "  mony 
men  slayn,"  as  we  have  already  seen  from  the  quotation  from  the 
"  Chronicle  of  Eortingall,"  with  which  I  began  the  notice  of  this 
year — "Great  hayrschyppis  in  inony  partis.  Liclyk  in  Strathardill, 
mony  men  slayn  be  the  men  of  Atholl  and  the  Stuarts  of  Lorn." 

1570. — In  following  the  history  of  Athole,  as  we  have  done 
from  the  earliest  period,  we  find  the  natives  of  that  beautiful  and 
romantic  district  famous  in  many  different  ways.  We  find  Diarmid 
and  the  prehistoric  Ossianic  warriors  hunting  in  lone  Glenshee ;  we 
find  Athole  giving  a  royal  race  to  reign  over  Scotland  for  ages  ;  we 
find  its  sons  great  Churchmen,  statesmen,  warriors,  and  huntsmen ; 
we  find  it  a  land  of  brave  men  and  bonnie  lasses ;  but  now  we  find 
it  famous  for  still  another  class,  and  that  rather  an  uncanny  lot, 
viz.,  witches,  for  which  Athole  was  famed  from  the  earliest  times. 

Old  George  Buchannan,  writing  of  the  murder  of  King  James 
I.,  by  Walter,  Earl  of  Athole,  details  the  different  tortures  to 
which  the  Earl  was  put  for  two  days,  and  on  the  third  day  : — 
"  Then  he  was  set  on  a  pillory,  that  all  might  see  him,  and  a  red- 
hot  iron  crown  set  on  his  head,  with  this  inscription,  that  he  should 
be  called  King  of  all  Traitors.  They  say  the  cause  of  this  punish- 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.       259 

ment  was,  that  Walter  had  been  sometimes  told  by  some  female 
witches,  as  Athole  was  always  noted  to  have  such,  that  he  should 
be  crowned  king  in  a  mighty  concourse  of  people ;  for,  by  this 
means,  that  prophecy  was  either  fulfilled  or  eluded."  Book  X., 
page  357. 

Dr  Marshall,  also,  in  his  "  Historic  Scenes  in  Perthshire," 
Blair-A thole  parish,  says  : — "  In  the  latter  part  of  the  sixteenth 
century,  and  the  first  part  of  the  seventeenth,  Athole  was  greatly 
infested  with  witches."  This  seems  to  have  been  the  golden  age 
of  witchcraft  in  Athole,  witches  were  very  numerous,  and  their 
power  over  the  people  was  very  great,  and  they  regularly  held 
grand  gatherings  or  councils,  to  discuss  all  the  important  topics  of 
the  day.  We  now  find  at  this  time  all  the  witches  of  Athole  hold- 
ing a  great  meeting  in  favour  of  Queen  Mary,  and  presenting  her, 
as  a  token  of  their  friendship,  with  a  deer's  horn  covered  with  gold. 
We  are  not  told  how  many  of  the  unhallowed  sisterhood  were 
present  on  this  occasion,  but  we  know  that  at  another  of  their 
great  meetings  in  1597,  when  they  met  on  a  hill  in  Athole,  there 
were  2300  of  these  hags  present.  We  have  several  accounts  of 
this  great  meeting  in  support  of  Queen  Mary  preserved.  The 
following  is  from  Dr  Marshall's  "  Historic  Scenes  in  Perthshire  " : — 
"The  King's  party  and  the  Queen's  then  divided  the  country, 
each  struggling  for  the  ascendancy,  The  Earl  of  Athole  took  the 
Queen's  side,  and  the  witches  of  Athole  did  the  same.  In  1570 
they  sent  the  Queen  a  present  of  a  pretty  hart  horn,  riot  exceeding 
in  quantity  the  palm  of  a  man's  hand,  covered  with  gold,  and 
artificially  wrought.  The  emblems  graven  on  it,  and  the  inscrip- 
tions, were  all  prophetic  of  the  sure  triumph  that  awaited  Mary 
over  her  enemies.  In  the  head  of  it  were  curiously  engraven  the 
arms  of  Scotland ;  in  the  nether  part  of  it  a  throne,  and  a  gentle- 
woman sitting  in  the  same,  in  a  robe  royal,  with  a  crown  upon  her 
head.  Under  her  feet  was  a  rose  environed  with  a  thistle.  Under 
that  were  two  lions,  the  bigger  one  and  the  lesser.  The  bigger  lion 
held  its  paw  on  the  face  of  the  other,  as  his  lord  and  commander. 
Beneath  all  were  written  these  words : — 

'  Fall  what  may  fall, 

The  lion  shall  be  lord  of  all.' 

This  was  evidently  designed  to  convey  a  hope  and  a  wish,  that 
Mary  should  ere  long,  in  spite  of  all  contrarious  circumstances,  be 
in  possession  of  England,  as  well  as  of  her  native  dominions. 
Unhappily  for  Mary,  and  for  the  credit  of  the  witches,  the  prophecy 
did  not  come  to  pass.  The  event  falsified  it." 


260  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

1571. — Whether  the  Athole  witches  themselves  had  any 
power  for  evil  over  the  weather  or  wot,  or  whether  it  was  a 
judgment  on  the  district  for  such  uncanny  gatherings  and  doings> 
I  know  not ;  but  the  winter  of  this  year  was  the  most  severe  and 
calamitous  on  record  in  the  annals  of  Athole. 

In  the  "Chronicle  of  Fortingall"  we  read  : — "Samyn  yer,  viz. 
ane  M  Vc  sexte  lewn  yeris  (one  thousand  five  hundred  and  sixty- 
eleven  years)  the  xxii.  day  of  FebrusUf,  ther  com  eftyr  nown  ane 
gret  storym  and  sna\v  and  hayll  and  wind  that  na  man  nor  best 
micht  tak  up  ther  heddis  nor  gang  nor  ryd,  and  mony  bestis  war 
parcist  furth  in  the  storm,  and  mony  men  and  vemen  war  parisht 
in  syndry  partis,  and  al  kynd  of  vyttellis  rycht  deyr,  and  that 
becaus  na  millis  mycht  gryii  (no  mill  might  grind),  for  the  frost. 
All  cornis  com  till  the  mill  of  Dunkell  out  of  Sane  Johnisthoun 
(St  Johnston,  old  name  of  Perth)  betwyxt  that  and  Dunkell,  and 
all  udyr  boundis  about  far  and  neyr.  The  maill  that  tyme  in 
Sane  Johnistoun  was  xliiii.s 

Amongst  the  other  mills  that  "  mychtint  gryn  "  (mightent 
grind)  for  frost  was  the  famous  Black  Mill  of  Tullochcurran^-the 
:'  Muilionn-dubh,"  Black  Mill,  of  song  and  story,  and  it  was  on 
the  first  starting  of  the  mill-wheel  and  machinery — well  on  in  the 
following  summer,  after  the  long  enforced  idleness  caused  by  this 
great  storm,  when  the  country  people  were  starving  for  meal — 
that  the  words  and  music  of  this  famous  reel  were  first  composed. 

Angus  Mackay,  in  his  pipe  music  book,  and  some  others  who- 
knew  only  the  name  and  music  without  the  real  origin  of  the 
tune,  have  fallen  into  the  mistake  of  supposing  that  it  is  the 
"  Black  Snuff  Mill,"  which  almost  every  Highlander  then  carried 
in  his  pocket,  which  was  referred  to,  and  so  the  English  name 
often  found  in  books  for  this  grand  old  reel  is  "  The  Black  Snuff 
Mill " — a  most  absurd  mistake,  as  the  old  Gaelic  words  clearly 
prove. 

According  to  tradition,  the  miller,  who  was  a  bard,  composed 
the  music  when  he  first  got  the  mill  started  after  this  long 
enforced  idleness.  The  big  water  wheel  thundered  round  once 
more,  and  all  the  little  wheels  whirled  about  so  merrily  that  the 
old  miller  felt  so  happy  he  was  inclined  to  dance  for  joy  :— 

"  Tha  'm  Muilionn-dubh  air  bhogadan'  &c. 
'S  e  'togairt  dol  a  dhannsa." 

He  tells  how  the  "snow  and  drift  and  wind  "  came  on  so  fierce  as.. 
to  block  up  the  mill : — 

"  Bha  cur  's  cathadh  's  gaoth, 
Anns  a'  Mhuilionn-dubh,"  &c. 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.      261 

He  thought  there  was  a  little  barley  meal  left  in  the  mill,  but  not 

a  2r?jn — 

"  Shaoil  learn  gun  robh  min-eorna, 

'S  a'  Mhuilionn-dubh,  Js  gun  deann  an." 

Instead  of  barley  meal,  there  were  many  things  in  the  Black  Mill 
not  dreamt  of  in  their  philosophy  : — 

"  Tha  ioma  rud  nach  saoil  sibh, 
'S  a'  Mhuilionn-dubh,"  &c. 

From  the  uncanny  noises  heard  about  it  at  nights,  he  thought 
the  great  muckle  Deil  himself  was  there  by  the  horns  : — 

"  Tha  'n  Diabhull-dubh  air  adhaircean 
'S  a'  Mhuilionn-dubh,"  &c. 

If  Great  Hornie  himself  was  not  there,  there  certainly  were 
smaller  hornies,  as  the  cows  and  goats  had  taken  possession  of 
the  deserted  mill,  in  which  calves  and  kids  were  born. 

"  Tha  'n  crodh  a  breth  nan  laogh, 

Anns  a'  Mhuilionn-dubh,  's  a'  Mhuilionn-dubh, 

Tha  gobhair,  's  crodh-laoigh, 

'S  a'  Mhuilionn-dubh  o  Shamhradh." 

Such  a  forsaken  spot  had  the  Black  Mill  become  for  so  long, 
that  the  very  grouse  had  selected  it  as  their  nesting  place  : — 

"  Tha  nead  na  circe-fraoiche, 
'S  a'  Mhuilionn-dubh,"  &c. 

After  such  a  desolate  state  of  affairs,  who  can  wonder  at  the 
old  poet-miller  singing  and  dancing  for  joy  when  he  once  more 
got  his  beloved  mill — "  Air  bhogadan,"  so  that  it  "  mycht  gryn." 

"  Tha  'm  Muilionn-dubh  air  bhogadan, 
Tha  'm  Muilionn-dubh  air  bhogadan, 
Tha  'm  Muilionn-dubh  air  bhogadan, 
'S  e  'togairt  dol  a  dhannsa." 

And  from  that  day  to  the  present,  the  mill,  occasionally  renewed, 
has  continued  to  "  gryn"  good  meal ;  and  from  that  day  to  "  very 
near"  the  present,  the  Black  Mill  was  always  reckoned  an  uncanny 
place  to  go  near  after  dark,  being  haunted  by  everything  evil, 
more  especially  by  the  largest  and  most  dangerous  water  kelpie  on 
the  Ardle,  which  haunted  its  mill-lade  and  croy  when  the  Ardle  was 


262  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

in  flood.  This  great  kelpie  was  last  seen  shortly  after  the  fall  of 
Sebastopol  by  an  Ennochdhu  worthy,  long  since  dead,  who  had 
been  along  at  Kirkmichael  Hotel  to  drink,  like  a  loyal  subject,  to 
our  great  victory  over  the  Russians.  No  doubt  he  did  his  duty  in 
that  line,  and  all  went  well  till  when  on  his  homeward  journey  he 
was  passing  the  Black  Mill  croy.  The  Ardle  was  in  very  high 
flood,  almost  washing  over  the  road,  when  lo  !  there  came  the 
great  kelpie  swimming  almost  to  his  feet.  As  our  friend  did  not 
wait  to  make  a  scientific  examination  of  the  kelpie,  he  could  not 
afterwards  tell  exactly  what  he  was  like,  but  he  solemnly  declared 
ever  after  that  if  the  British  Government  could  have  only  cap- 
tured that  kelpie  in  time,  and  let  it  loose  in  the  harbour  of 
Sebastopol,  the  Russians  would  have  cleared  out  in  a  few  hours  ! 
The  idea  of  enlisting  our  old  kelpies,  &c.,  once  such  mighty 
powers  for  evil,  but  now  seemingly  so  useless  at  home,  and  sending 
them  abroad  to  fight  our  battles  for  us,  was  one  of  the  brightest 
ideas  of  one  of  our  brightest  worthies  ;  may  he  rest  in  peace. 

1576. — This  was  another  year  of  war  and  want  in  Strathardle  ; 
bad  harvest,  very  severe  winter  and  spring,  and  great  war  between 
the  Earls  of  Athole  and  Argyle  and  fierce  raids  by  the  Lochaber 
men.  Well  might  the  poor  people  join  in  the  prayer  of  the 
worthy  Dean  of  Lismore,  at  the  end  of  his  notice  of  these 
calamities  in  his  "Chronicles  of  Fortingall": — "  Evyl  haryst, 
evyl  wyntyr,  evyl  Merche,  contynual  wet ;  ther  wes  wyer  betwyxt 
my  Lord  of  Argyll  and  my  Lord  of  Awtholl,  and  great  spwytion 
mayd  by  the  men  of  Lochabyr  on  pwyr  men.  God  see  til  that." 

The  Strathardle  men  being  very  bitter  against  Argyle,  joined 
Athole  in  great  force,  and  so  fierce  did  the  war  rage  that  the 
Regent  Morton  had  to  issue  the  following  order  to  stop  hostilities. 
Privy  Council  Records,  Appendix,  Vol.  II.,  page  533  : — "  Edin- 
burgh, 26  June,  1576.  Charge  to  the  Erllig  of  Ergyle  and 
Atholl,  to  keip  gude  rewle.  Foresamekill  as  it  is  understood  to 
the  Regent's  Grace  and  Lordis  of  Secrit  Counsale  that  there  is  of 
late  slaughter  and  utheris  enormities  happynit  betwext  the 
friendis,  servandis,  and  dependaries  of  the  Erllis  of  Ergyle  and 
Atholl,  quhair  upon  there  is  appearance  of  great  convocations  and 
further  inconvenientis  to  follow  gif  tymous  remeid  be  not  pro- 
vider. .  .  .  His  Grace  directs  and  orders  all  further  trouble 
and  misrule  to  rest  and  to  observe  our  Sovereign  Lordi's  peace  and 
quietness  in  the  cuntre  ...  at  their  heichast  charge  and 
perrell,"  &c. 

1577. — From  the  almost  continual  wars,  raids,  forays,  and 
slaughters  which  we  have  seen  taking  place  in  Strathardle  for 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.      263 

many  years  back,  we  would  have  thought  that  the  Strathardle  men 
would  have  had  enough  fighting  ;  but  no,  their  martial  spirit  was 
so  strong  that  not  content  with  all  the  hard  fighting  at  home  in 
Scotland,  they  must  needs  go  abroad  for  more,  as  we  find  in  this 
year  Captain  David  Spalding  of  Ashintully  raising  a  body  of 
Strathardle  Highlanders  to  go  to  Flanders  to  fight  for  the  King 
of  Spain,  who  had  granted  a  colonel's  commission  to  the  chief  of 
the  Spaldings  on  condition  that  he  recruited  a  regiment  amongst 
his  clan  and  countrymen,  "  certane  cumpanyis  of  futemen,"  and 
he  was  to  choose  his  own  officers.  Spalding  had  to  apply  to  the 
Regent  Lennox  and  the  Privy  Council  for  a  license  to  raise  these 
men  for  foreign  service.  It  was  granted,  and  the  Privy  Council 
passed  a  special  Act  authorising  Ashintully  to  : — "  Stryke  drum- 
mis,  display  ensigns,  and  lift  and  collect  the  saidis  companyis  of 
futemen  and  to  depart  to  the  wars  of  Flanders."  So  successful 
was  Spalding  in  recruiting  that  he  very  soon  raised  his  full  com- 
plement of  officers  and  men,  and  many  a  brave  strapping 
Strathardle  lad  left  for  Flanders  that  never  returned.  The 
Act  of  license  to  Spalding  is  preserved  in  the  "Records  of 
the  Privy  Council,"  Vol.  II.,  pages  641  and  736,  and  is  as 
follows: — "Holyrood  House,  October  10th,  1577.  Act  anent 
the  departing  of  the  men  of  war  to  Flanderis  anent  the 
supplication  presented  to  my  Lord  Regent's  Grace,  and 
Lords  of  Secret  Counsale,  by  Captain  David  Spalding.  That 
quhair  thair  is  certain  commissions  laitlie  brocht  in  this 
realme  in  name  of  the  King  of  Spayne,  and  the  Estates  of  his  Low 
Countries  appointand  the  said  Captain  David  Spalding  as  Colunnel 
ower  certane  cumpanyis  of  futemen  of  this  nation  under  his  regi- 
ment to  be  levyed  and  transported  to  the  said  Low  Countries  for 
the  service  of  the  said  Estaitts  humlie  desyring  thairfor  license  to 
stryke  drummis,  display  hand-enseignes,  and  lift  and  collect  the  said 
companies  of  futemen,  and  at  first  commodite  to  transport  them. 
.  .  .  The  Regents  Grace  therefore  with  advice  of  the  Lords  of 
the  Secrete  Counsale  grants  and  gives  license  to  the  said  Captain 
David  Spalding  and  the  Captains  elected  and  chosen  by  him  under 
his  regiment,  to  stryke  drummis,  display  enseignes  and  lift  and 
collect  the  saidis  companyis  of  futemen  at  at  the  first  cornmodite 
to  transport  thaine  at  their  pleasour." 

1582. — In  August  of  this  year  King  James  VI.  held  another 
grand  royal  hunt  amongst  the  hills  of  Athole  and  Strathardle. 
There  was  a  great  gathering  of  clansmen  beforehand,  as  usual,  to 
gather  in  the  deer,  &c.,  from  the  surrounding  districts.  The  great 
meeting-place,  to  which  all  the  deer  were  driven  to,  was  at  the  hill 


264  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

of  Elrick,  on  Dirnanean  Moor,  which  hill,  as  its  name  indicates, 
had  been  for  ages  before  one  of  the  noted  hunting-places  of  Athole. 
An  elrig  was  an  enclosure  of  trees,  posts  intertwined  with  brush- 
wood, etc.,  specially  constructed  by  the  old  Highlanders,  in  suitable 
situations,  to  enclose  the  hunted  deer  they  had  collected  from  a 
distance  on  all  sides  except  that  on  which  they  entered.  This 
enclosure  was  always  overlooked  by  an  overhanging  rock  or  hill, 
called  Craggan-an- Elrig,  from  which  ladies  could  see  the  sport  in 
safety.  As  a  proof  of  what  a  hunting  country  Strathardle  must 
have  been  in  olden  times,  I  may  mention  that  my  late  uncle, 
Robert  Forbes  (than  whom  none  better  knew  these  hills),  told  me 
that  he  knew  twelve  elrigs  in  the  district  above  Kirkmichael. 

Dr  Robertson  of  Callander,  in  his  valuable  work  on  the 
"Agriculture  of  the  County  of  Perth,  1799,"  page  328,  describes 
<in  elrig  as  follows  : — "  While  the  deer  were  permitted  to  inhabit 
the  valleys,  and  the  country  was  under  wood,  the  natives  hunted 
them  by  surrounding  them  with  men,  or  by  making  large 
enclosures  of  such  a  height  as  the  deer  could  not  overleap,  fenced 
with  stakes  and  intertwined  with  brushwood.  Vast  multitudes  of 
men  were  collected  on  hunting  days,  who,  forming  a  ring  round 
the  deer,  drove  them  into  these  enclosures,  which  were  open  on 
<jne  side.  From  some  eminence,  which  overlooked  the  enclosure, 
the  principal  personages  and  others,  who  did  not  choose  to  engage 
in  the  chase,  were  spectators  of  the  whole  diversion.  The 
enclosures  were  called  in  the  language  of  the  country  elerig,  which 
is  derived  from  another  word  that  signifies  contest  or  strife.  One 
of  the  farms  in  Glenlochy  of  Breadalbane  is  called  '  Craggan-an- 
Elerig,'  a  small  rock  which  overhangs  a  beautiful  field  resembling 
the  arena  of  an  amphitheatre,  probably  the  first  that  was  cleared 
of  wood  in  that  district,  and  admirably  adapted  for  this  purpose 
by  the  natural  situation  of  the  adjacent  ground.  There  are  elerigs 
in  various  parts  of  the  country." 

King  James  enjoyed  the  hunting  very  much,  and  it  was  on  his 
way  south  from  it  that  he  was  made  prisoner  at  Ruthven  Castle, 
an  incident  which  is  known  in  Scotch  history  as  "The  Raid  of 
Ruthven." 

1583.— Going  to  the  war  in  Flanders,  in  1577,  with  his 
Strathardle  lads  had  proved  a  paying  venture  to  Colonel  Spald- 
ing,  who  out  of  the  pay  and  plunder  got  there  now  built 
Ashintully  Castle,  on  the  plan  of  ihe  neighbouring  ancient  Castle 
of  Morcloich,  on  Whitefield.  Above  the  door  is  the  date,  1583, 
and  the  words— "The  Lord  defend  this  house." 

We  have  already  seen  a  century  ago  that  the  Stewarts  held  a 
lease  of  the  Kirklands  of  Strathardle  and  Moulin,  from  the  Abbey 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.       265 

of  Dunfermline,  and  I  now  find  in  the  Records  of  the  Priory 
Council  a  complaint  by  Sir  John  Stewart  of  Tullypouries  and  his 
wife  against  the  Commendators  and  Brethren  of  Dunfermline 
because  they  would  not  sign  a  renewal  lease  of  these  Kirklands. 
This  complaint  is  as  follows  (Records  Privy  Council,  Vol.  III., 
page  642)  :— 

"Holyrood  House,  17th  March,  1583-4.  Complaint  of  Johnne 
Stewart  of  Tullipuries  and  Margaret  Carwood,  his  spouse,  as 
follows  : — They  have  been  kindlie  tennentis  and  takismen  to  the 
Commendators  and  Convent  of  Dunfermling  of  all  and  sundrie  the 
teind  sehaves  (teind-sheaf)  small  teinds  and  utheris  teinds 
quhatsumever  of  the  paroche  Kirkis  of  Strathardill  and  Muling, 
alswele  personage  as  vicarage,  with  mannssis,  glebis  and  kirk- 
land  thereof  and  all  pendiclis  and  pertinentis  of  the  same,  thir 
divers  years  bygone,  and  hes  presentlie  tacks  thereof  for  years  yet 
to  run  lyke  as  they  have  laitlie  causit  mak  ane  new  tak  of  the 
said  teind  sehaves,  &c.,  of  the  said  kirks,  to  be  subscrivet  be  the 
saidis  Commendators  and  Convent  to  the  saidis  complainers  for 
their  lyftimes,  and  efter  thair  deceis  to  the  airs,  assignais,  and 
sub-tennentia  of  the  said  John  quhatsover,  not  hurtand  nor 
•demiuisching  the  auld  rentall  for  the  space  of  twigis  nyntene 
jearis.  But  though  the  same  tak  is  already  subscrevit  by  Robert, 
Commendator  of  Dunfermline,  yet  the  conventual  brethern 
planelie  refussis  to  subscrive,  though  the  complainers  hes  offerit 
thame  reasonable  composition  and  enters  sylver  for  the  same." 

Orders  were  at  once  given  to  these  stubborn  brethren  to  sign 
the  tack,  but  they  took  no  notice,  and  John  Stewart  and  his 
spouse  again  applied  to  the  Privy  Council,  and  "the  defenders  not 
-appearing,  the  Lords  decree  that  they  shall  be  ordered  ance  man- 
to  subscrive  the  tak  within  three  days  under  pain  of  rebellion." 
The  fear  of  being  declared  rebels  frightened  the  brethren,  and 
they  signed  the  tack. 

1584. — The  Abbey  of  Dunfermline  having  become  vacant 
through  the  death  of  Robert,  "  last  Commendator  thereof,"  it  had 
pleased  the  King,  with  advice  of  his  Council,  "to  reserve  and 
retain  the  fruitis  and  rentis  of  the  saidis  Abbey  to  his  ain  proper 
use  for  the  support  of  the  chairgis  of  his  Hienes  house  and 
•estate." 

The  Act  closes  with — "  Reservand  always  the  thingis  exceptit 
in  his  Hienes  lait  revocation,  as  alsua  the  tak  sett  be  the  said 
umquhile  Commendaton  and  Convent  to  John  Stewart  of  Tullie- 
puris  and  his  spouse  of  the  Kirks  of  Strathargill  and  Muling." 


266  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

Holyrood  House,  March   22,   1584-5.     Records   P.  Council,   Vol. 
III.,  p.  730. 

1587. — in  this  year  the  Scots  Parliament  passed  an  important 
Act  for  the  quieting  of  the  Highlands  and  Islands.  To  this  Act  is 
appended  : — "  A  roll  of  the  names  of  the  landlordis  and  baillies 
of  landis  in  the  Hielands  and  lies,  quhair  broken  men,  hes  duelt 
and  prcsentlie  duellis,  1587."  Maxwell  of  Teling,  who  at  this 
time  held  the  third  part  of  the  parish  of  Kirkunchael  (family  of 
Robertson  of  Straloch,  page  22),  is  named  in  this  roll.  There  is 
also  another  roll  added  to  this  Act  : — "  The  roll  of  the  clannis  in 
the  Hielandis  and  lies,  that  hes  capitanes,  cheiffis,  and  chiftanes- 
quhome  on  they  depend,  oft  tymes  agains  the  willis  of  thair 
landislordis,  and  of  sum  speciale  personis  of  branchis  of  the  saidis 
clauuis,  1587."  There  are  four  Strathardle  clans  named  in  this 
black  list  : — "  Clandonoquhy,  in  Athoill,  and  pairtis  adjacent  "- 
the  Robertsons  of  Struan  and  Straloch  ;  then  in  Glenshee  we  have 
three  clans  named  : — "  The  Clan  M 'Thomas  or  M'Combies,  the 
Fergussonis,  and  the  Spaldingis."  These  clans  kept  Glenshee  in 
a  very  disturbed  state,  principally  because  the  Fergusson  lands 
there  had  been  taken  from  their  chief,  Baron  Fergusson  of  Dun- 
fall  and  y,  on  a  charge  of  bastardy,  and  had  riot  yet  been  returned, 
and  also  because  they  objected  to  pay  taxes,  or  "  cain,"  to  their 
new  lord  superior,  the  Earl  of  Athole.  When  the  Earl  of  Huntly 
was  superior,  he  was  very  easy  with  them,  as  the  district  lay  so 
far  from  his  castle  ;  but  now  Athole  sent  regular  collectors  to* 
gather  in  all  his  dues,  and  a  good  deal  more  generally,  which 
raised  discontent.  Spalding  of  Ashintully  also,  since  he  had 
built  his  new  castle,  had  become  very  turbulent,  and  ruled  with  a 
high  hand,  so  much  so,  that  we  read  that  the  Baron  Ruadh  of 
Straloch  had  to  go  to  church  on  Sundays  with  a  piper  playing  and 
a  large  body  of  armed  men  to  "  prevent  or  quell  tumults  occasioned 
by  Rattray  of  Dalrulzean  and  Spalding  of  Ashintully." 

1590. — In  an  Act  of  Caution  for  good  behaviour  of  this  year, 
I  find  Sir  John  Murray  of  Tullybardine  becoming  surety  in  JOOO 
merks  each  for  the  following  Strathardle  lairds  : — "  Johnne  Robert- 
son of  Straloch  alias  Barroun  Reid  ;  Andro  Spalding  of  Aschintully ; 
Walter  Robertson  of  Dcwny ;  Walter  Leslie  of  Morecloich  ;  Johnne 
Rattray  of  Dalrulyan ;  Alaster  Stewart  of  Cultalonies ;  James 
Wemyss  at  Mylne  of  Werie  ;  and  Barroun  Fergusson." 

1591. — Strathardle,  Lower  Glenshee,  and  Glenisla  were  all 
badly  harried  in  August  of  this  year  by  the  Campbells  of  Argyle,. 
brought,  as  usual,  by  their  relative,  Archibald  Campbell  of  Persie, 
to  revenge  his  own  private  quarrels  with  his  neighbours.  A 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.       267 

Glenshee  man  was  getting  married  to  a  Glenisla  woman,  and,  as 
usual,  a  large  body  of  Glenshee  folk  accompanied  the  bridegroom 
to  Glenisla  to  ths  wedding,  and  amongst  them  Campbell  of  Persie. 
During  the  evening  Persie  made  some  insulting  remarks  to  the 
bride 'about  her  clan,  the  Ogilvies.  Her  father  heard  him,  and 
resented  the  insult,  and  a  quarrel  ensued,  and  Persie  stabbed  the 
old  man  badly  with  his  dirk.  Lord  Ogilvie  then  came  upon  the 
scene,  who,  drawing  his  claymore,  called  upon  Persie  to  defend 
himself.  Ogilvie  quickly  disarmed  Campbell,  and  the  enraged 
Glenisla  men  were  for  hanging  him  there  and  then  to  the  nearest 
tree,  but  Lord  Ogilvie  would  not  allow  that,  as  he  had  been  their 
guest  on  this  festive  occasion,  so  he  made  them  tie  a  halter  round 
Persie's  neck,  and  then  ordered  a  band  of  young  men  to  lead  him 
by  the  halter  beyond  the  bounds  of  the  glen,  and,  "  if  he  did  not 
go  quietly,  they  might  hang  him."  He  did  go  quietly,  even 
though  it  is  said  that  these  frolicsome  young  men  dragged  him  by 
the  rope  through  various  peat  holes,  and  scourged  him  with  nettles 
and  thorns  to  try  and  make  him  "not  to  go  quietly."  But  he 
went  silent  and  sullen,  so  they  kicked  him  beyond  the  bounds  of 
Glenisla,  and  then  returned  to  their  interrupted  festivities. 
Campbell  came  to  Persie,  but  he  staid  not  there,  but  went  straight 
on  to  the  Earl  of  Argyle,  and  told  him  the  rich  booty  he  could  get 
so  easily  in  these  eastern  glens,  with  the  result  that  Argyle  sent  a 
force  of  500  men,  under  John  Campbell,  brother  to  Lochnell,  who" 
was  accompanied  by  Campbell  of  Glenlyon,  Macdonnell  of  Keppoch, 
young  Macdonald  of  Glencoe,  and  other  powerful  leaders,  with 
Campbell  of  Persie  as  guide.  They  raided  Glenisla  first,  and  then 
cleared  Strathardle  on  their  westward  journey.  Such  a  powerful 
force,  coming  so  suddenly,  Lord  Ogilvie  could  not  resist  them,  as 
he  complains  to  the  King: — "Sic  suddantie,  I  was  nocht  able  to 
resist  thame,  but  with  grite  difficultie,  and  short  advertisment,  he, 
his  wyffe,  and  bairnis  eschaiped." 

Lord  Ogilvie  complained  to  the  King,  and  the  Privy  Council 
ordered  Argyll  to  keep  all  his  "  brokin  men"  in  his  own  country. 
Instead  of  doing  so,  Argyle  was  so  pleased  with  the  large  quantity 
of  plunder  brought  him,  and  hearing  that  a  number  of  Glenisla 
men  had  escaped  eastwards  into  Glenclova  with  their  cattle,  he 
sent  the  whole  force  back  again  in  September  to  gather  up  all  that 
had  escaped  them  in  August,  and  also  to  raid  Glenclova  and  other 
parts  adjacent.  Again  Lord  Ogilvie  complains  to  the  King  "  that 
they  hae  murdered  and  slain  3  or  4  innocent  men  and  women,  and 
reft  and  taken  away  ane  grit  pray  of  guiddis."  These  complaints 
of  Lord  Ogilvie's  are  preserved  in  Pitcairns'  Criminal  Trials,"  Vol. 
I.,  page  263. 


L'tis  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

"Oct.  28th,  1591. — On  the  complaint  of  James,  Lord  Ogilvie 
of  Airlie  ....  Archibald,  Earl  of  Ergyle,  and  his  friends 
upon  what  motive  or  occasion  the  said  Lord  knows  not,  without 
any  deserving  on  his  part  having  concludit  the  wrack  of  his  hous, 
and  being  informit  that  he  had  retirit  himself  in  sobir  manner  to 
dwell  and  mak  his  aesidence  in  Glen  Elay.  Finding  the  place 
convennent  for  their  interprise  the  ^aid  Earle  and  his  friends  set 
out  certain  brokin  Hielandmen,  they  are  to  say  : — John  Campbell, 
brother  to  Lochinyell ;  John  Dow  McCondoquhy  in  Iimeraw ; 
Neil  Leich  in  Lochquhabir ;  Donald  McCarlich  in  Laird  of  Glen- 
urquhay's  land ;  Allan  Roy  McMolg,  son  to  the  Laird  of  Glenco  ; 
Archibald  Campbell  of  Persie ;  Colin  Campbell  of  Glenlyon  ; 
Archibald  Campbell  his  brother ;  John  McRannald  (Keppoch)  in 
Lochquhaber  ;  quha  in  the  month  of  August  lastly  past  to  the  • 
number  of  500  men  of  the  cuntre  of  Ergyle,  off  sett  purpois  and 
deleberation  to  have  slain  the  said  Lord,  and  to  have  wrackit  and 
spulzied  the  cuntre.  Like  as  upon  the  xxi.  day  of  August  last 
by  past  they  enterit  Glen  Elay  under  silence  of  night,  with  sic 
force  and  violence  that  the  said  Lord  bydan  for  frome  his  friends, 
upon  sic  suddantie  wes  nocht  able  to  resist  thame,  bot  with  grite 
difticultie  and  schorte  advertisment,  he,  his  wyffe  and  bairnis 
having  eschaiped,  they  enter  the  countre  with  sic  barbarous 
crultie  not  sparing  wyffs  nor  bairnis,  but  murthowrit  and  sle\v  all 
quhame  theyfand  therein  to  the  nowmor  of  xviii.  on  xx.  personnis, 
and  spulziet  and  awa  tuke  ane  grit  nowmer  of  nolt,  scheip,  and 
plenessing  to  the  uttar  wrack  and  undoing  of  the  haill  peur 
inhabitants  of  the  countre.  Whilk  being  made  known  to  his 
Majesty,  he  orderit  the  Earll  and  his  friends  to  retain  the  broken 
men  in  their  am  cuntre.  Nevertheless — the  upon  .  .  .  (date 
not  legible)  day  of  September  last  bypast  within  the  time  of  the 
Assurance  ;  under  silence  of  night  invadit  the  inhabitants  of  Glen 
Elay  and  Glen  Clova,  ane  hes  murdered  and  slain  3  or  4  innocent 
men  and  wemen,  and  reft  and  taken  away  ane  grit  pray  of  guiddis, 
so  that  the  peur  men  that  dwelled  in  Glen  Elay  and  Glen  Clova 
and  uther  partis  adjacent  to'  the  Mounth  quha  are  nocht  able  to 
nuik  resistance  are  so  oppressit  be  the  broken  men,  and  for  sorners 
houndit  out  by  the  Earll  of  Ergyle  and  his  friends  and  maintained 
and  resettit  be  thame,  that  neither  be  his  Majesties  protection  nor 
assistance  of  the  partey  can  their  lives  and  guidis  be  in  suretie." 
The  above-named  persons  are  accordingly  charged  to  appear  before 
the  King  and  Privy  Council  under  the  pain  of  rebellion,  &c. 

Lord  Ogilvie  appeared  on  the  day  appointed  to  call  them  to 
account  for  these  barbarities,  but  none  of  them  having  come 
forward,  they  were  ordered  to  be  pronounced  rebels,  etc. 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.       269 

1597. — This  was  a  very  stirring  year  in  Strathardle — wars 
and  sieges  and  great  feuds  between,  the  Strathardle  lairds  and  the 
Earl  of  Athole.  Both  the  castles  of  Ashintully  and  Morecloich, 
on  Whitefield,  were  besieged  and  taken,  and  their  masters  carried 
away  captive  ;  and  as  most  of  the  principal  men  in  Strathardle 
had  refused  to  pay  teind-sheaves,  they  were  declared  guilty  of 
treason,  and  condemned  to  be  confined  in  the  Castle  of  Blackness. 
And  during  these  unsettled  times  the  district  was  also  very  much 
overrun  with  witches,  who  held  a  high  time  of  it.  We  have 
already  noticed  a  great  meeting  of  Athole  witches  in  1570,  and 
now  we  come  to  another  of  these  great  gatherings  of  the  uncanny 
sisterhood,  for  which  Athole  was  always  so  famous,  though  the 
whole  of  Scotland  was  at  this  time  swarming  with  them  ;  and 
witch-hunting  was  a  favourite  pursuit  of  King  James  VI.,  as  we 
read  in  Ty tier's  History  of  Scotland,  Vol.  IV.,  page  261  :— 
"During  the  summer  and  autumn  (1597)  James  was  busily 
occupied  with  the  trial  of  witches."  And,  again,  at  page  266  : — 
"These  constant  cares  were  only  interrupted  by  the  alarming 
increase  of  witches  and  sorcerers,  who  were  said  to  be  swarming 
in  thousands  in  the  Kingdom ;  and  for  a  moment  all  other  cares  wese 
forgotten  in  the  intensity  with  which  the  monarch  threw  himself 
once  more  into  his  favourite  subject" — witch-hunting.  Had  he 
come  to  Athole  he  would  have  found  plenty  witches  to  hunt,  as 
we  read  that,  in  this  year,  at  one  of  their  great  gatherings  oii  a 
hill  in  Athole,  no  fewer  than  2300  witches  were  present,  and  the 
devil  himself,  of  course,  was  chairman  of  the  meeting. 

In  Dr  Marshall's  "Historic  Scenes  in  Perthshire,"  parish  of 
Blair  Athole,  we  read  : — "The  year  1597  was  noted  for  the  trial 
of  a  great  number  of  witches,  both  male  and  female,  in  Scotland, 
more  especially  in  Athole.  That  year  the  uncanny  sisters  held  a 
great  convention  on  a  hill  in  Athole.  So  Patrick  Anderson 
relates  in  his  MS.  History  of  Scotland ;  but  he  does  not  name  the 
hill,  so  that  we  are  not  able  to  point  it  out.  No  fewer  than  2300 
of  the  hags  were  present  on  that  occasion,  and,  of  course,  the 
devil  was  among  them.  A  famous  witch  of  Balweary,  named 
Margaret  Aitken,  told  this ;  and  said  that  she  knew  them  all  well 
enough,  and  what  mark  his  Satanic  Majesty  had  put  on  each  of 
them. 

Many  of  them  were  tried  by  the  water  ordeal.  .Their  two 
thumbs  and  their  two  great  toes  were  bound  together,  and  in 
this  state  they  were  thrown  into  a  loch  or  into  some  deep  pool. 
If  they  sunk  they  were  innocent  of  wibchcraft,  which,  however,  did 
not  keep  the  water  from  drowning  them.  If  they  floated  they 


270  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

were  guilty.  Many  subjected  to  this  ordeal,  at  the  time  to  which 
we  are  referring,  "  floated  aye  aboon  : "  and  as  they  would  not 
drown  there  was  no  alternative  but  to  burn  them. 

The  Bal  weary  witch  was  put  to  the  torture,  and  confessed  her 
own  guilt ;  but  to  save  her  life  she  informed  against  others, 
whom,  she  said,  she  knew  infallibly  by  a  secret  mark  in  their 
eyes.  For  three  or  four  months^  she  was  carried  about  the 
country  for  the  purpose  of  detecting  witches.  Margaret  was  at 
length  found  to  be  an  impostor.  Persons  whom  she  pronounced 
witches  one  day  were  brought  before  her  the  next  day  in  a 
different  dress,  and  she  pronounced  them  innocent.  She  was 
tried  for  her  imposture,  and  Spottiswood  saj's  that  on  her  trial 
she  declared  all  that  she  had  confessed  either  of  herself  or  of 
others  to  have  been  utterly  false.  This  put  all  who  had  believed 
in  her  in  an  awkward  plight.  It  loosed  on  them  the  tongues  of 
unbelievers,  who  did  not  even  spare  the  ministers.  But  the 
brethren  considerately  threw  a  shield  over  themselves.  In 
November  the  Presbytery  of  Glasgow  took  notice  of  "  divers 
persons  who  traduces  and  slanders  the  ministry  of  the  city  as  the 
authors  of  putting  to  death  the  persons  lately  executed  for 
witchcraft,"  and  it  ordained  any  person  hereafter  uttering  this 
slander  "  shall  be  put  in  the  branks  at  the  judge's  will." 

So  it  was  a  dangerous  game  at  this  time  to  meddle  writh  the 
clergy — it  did  not  matter  how  many  innocent  old  women  they 
burnt  for  witchcraft — for  fear  of  being  put  in  the  branks.  To 
refuse  to  pay  the  ministers'  tiends  (which  then  were  collected  by 
so  many  sheaves  of  corn  being  taken  out  of  every  field  in  a  parish) 
was  even  a  more  heinous  crime,  and  such  defaulters  "  were  to  be 
punished  in  their  personis,  lands,  and  guidis,"  as  most  of  the 
Strathardle  lairds  found  out  this  year  to  their  cost.  John  Mac- 
lagene  was  the  then  minister  of  Kirkmichael,  and  as  the 
Strathardle  and  Glenshee  lairds  refused  to  pay  the  tiends,  the 
Privy  Council  brought  them  to  trial,  and  being  found  guilty  they 
were  imprisoned  in  Blackness  Castle,  as  we  read  in  the  Records  of 
the  Privy  Council,  Vol.  V.,  page  416. 

"Linlithgow,  October  llth,  1597. — Charge  having  been 
given  to  James,  Master  of  Ogilvie ;  Walter  Leslie  of  More- 
cloich  (Whitefield) ;  Andro  Spalding  of  Essintullie ;  John 
Rattray  of  Dalrilyeane ;  Lauchlane  Ferquharsone  of  Broich- 
darg;  Duncan  McRitchie  in  Dalvungy;  James  Wemyss  of  the 
Mill  of  Werie;  John  Robertson  alias  Reid  of  Straloch,  elder; 
John  Robertson  alias  Reid  of  Cray,  his  son  and  apparent  heir ; 
David  Murray  of  Soilzerie ;  Robert  McComie  in  Thome;  John 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.       271 

Rattray  in  Wester  Bleaton ;  John  Reid  of  Douny ;  Alexander 
Rattray,  apparent  of  Dalrilyeane  ;  and  Donald  McEan  Molich 
VcComie  in  Werie,  to  appear  and  answer  for  disobeying  Andro 
Murray  of  Balwaird  in  the  matter  of  the  tiend-sheaves  of  Strath- 
arlie  and  Glenshie  of  the  present  year.  John  Robertson,  younger, 
appearing  for  his  said  father,  and  the  remnant  persons  appearing 
all  personally,  His  Majesty  '  declairit  his '  Heynes  mynd  and 
intentioun  wes  onlie  to  have  intertenyit  peace  and  quietness  in  the 
cuntrey  liklie  at  that  time  to  be  desolvit  by  the  leiding  of  the  said 
teyndis ;  for  the  whilk  cause  his  Majesty  directit  uthiris  lettres 
discharging  all  pairties  to  mell  on  leid  the  same  teyndis  bot  to 
suffer  and  permit  the  said  Andro  Murray  to  have  collectit,  led,  and 
stakit  the  same  in  sic  neutrall  and  indifferent  places  as  he  should 
think  gude,  with  a  charge  therein  to  the  foresaidis  personis  to 
assist  him  to  that  effect.'  Further,  the  said  persons  for  their 
disobedience,  and  for  not  rendering  to  the  said  Andro  the  fortalice 
of  ....  (word  missing,  unfortunately),  had  been  lately 
denounced  rebels,  and  they  had  also  disobeyed  *  utheris  letteris  of 
tressoun  direct  lykewise  agains  them  for  rendering  of  the  same 
place  and  fortalice.'" 

Of  these  facts  there  is  proof  in  the  said  letters  of  horning  and 
treason  registered  in  the  Sheriff  books  of  Perth,  and  produced  by 
Sir  James  Stewart.  All  which,  being  considered,  together  with 
all  the  circumstances  of  His  Majesty's  proceedings  in  the  case,  "and 
chieflie  of  the  doings  and  behaviour  of  Johnne  Ogilvie  of  the  Craig 
(being  alswa  present  personallie),  affermit  be  his  Heyness  to  have 
been  the  chieff  author  of  all  the  disobedience  professit  agains  his 
Heynes,  and  of  the  particular  answers  of  him,  and  of  the  foresaidis 
personis  gevin  thairto,"  the  Lords  approve  of  His  Majestie's  pro- 
ceedings, and  the  King,  with  the  aolvice  of  the  said  Lords,  finds 
and  declares  that  the  foresaid  letters  of  treason,  commission  and 
horning  were  orderly  directed,  and  lawfully  executed,  and  that  the 
-  foresaid  persons  are.  to  be  punished  in  their  "  personis,  landis,  and 
guidis,  quhilk  kynd  of  punishment  is  reservit  in  his  Heyness  self." 
He,  therefore,  ordains  James,  Master  of  Ogilvie,  and  John  Ogilvie 
of  Craig  to  be  committed  to  ward  within  the  Castle  of  Edinburgh, 
and  the  other  persons  within  the  Castle  of  Blackness,  therein  to 
remain  till  relieved  by  His  Majesty.  They  soon  made  pe-ace  with 
the  King  and  Council,  and  returned  home  to  Strathardle,  as  within 
six  weeks  of  their  trial  at  Linlithgow  we  find  both  Andrew  Spalding 
of  Ashintully  and  Walter  Leslie  of  Morecloich  besieged  and  taken 
captive  from  their  castles  there. 

The  Earl  of  Athole  and  his  Countess,  Mary  Ruthven,  with  the 
Captain  of  Blair- Athole  Castle,  with  a  large  force,  on  the  llth 


•27 -2  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Nov.,  besieged  and  took  Morecloich  Castle  (now  Whitefield).  The 
following  account  of  the  raid  is  given  in  the  "  Records  of  the 
Privy  Council,"  Vol.  V.,  page  440  :— 

"Edinburgh,  9th  Feb.,  1598.  Complaint  by  Walter  Leslie  of 
Moircleuch  as  follows: — Upon  11  Nov.  last  (1597)  Johnne,  Earl  of 
Atholl,  and  Dame  Marie  Ruthven,  his  spouse,  with  a  convocation 
of  a  great  many  leiges,  in  arms,  canJfc  lo  the  complainers'  house  of 
Morcleuch,  which  was  then  in  the  hands  of  His  Majestie's  Commis- 
sioners, '  and  thair  asseigeit  his  said  house  ane  lang  space,  intendit 
treassounablie  to  have  rissen  fyre,  and  to  have  brint  and  destroy  it 
the  sam,  \\er  not  the  said  Walter  randerit  himselff  and  the  said 
house  in  his  will,  and  having  the  said  complainer  in  his  handis,  he 
causit  cary,  and  transporte  him  to  the  castell  and  fortalice  of  the 
Blair  of  Athoill,  quhair  he  detains  him  in  strait  firmance  and 
captivitie,'  without  cause  or  commission.  The  complainer  appear- 
ing by  James,  Master  of  Ogilvie,  his  procurator,  but  the  said  Earl, 
his  spouse,  and  George  Leslie,  Captain  of  Blair,  having  failed  to 
appear,  or  to  present  the  said  Walter  conform  to  the  charge  given 
them,  the  Lords  ordain  them  to  be  denounced  rebels." 

At  the  same  time  Sir  James  Stewart  of  Auchmaddies,  and  Sir 
James  Stewart  of  Ballechin,  assisted  by  twenty-seven  other  Athole 
and  Strathardle  lairds  and  their  followers,  besieged  Ashi-ntully 
Castle,  and  took  Andrew  Spalding  prisoner.  For  this  the  Earl  of 
Atholl  was  at  once  called  upon  to  become  cautioner  in  500  merks 
for  each  of  them,  to  appear  for  trial  before  the  Privy  Council.  As 
Athole  did  not  produce  them  for  trial,  though  often  called  upon  to 
do  so,  for  over  a  year,  he  was  outlawed,  and  the  whole  twenty-nine 
principals  denounced  rebels,  and  all  their  goods  forfeited,  as  we 
are  told  in  "  Pitcairn's  Criminal  Trials,"  Vol.  II.,  page  63  : — 

"Nov.  24th,  1598.  Beseiging  the  Place  of  Ashintullie.— Sir 
.lames  Stewart  of  Auchmaddies  ;  Sir  James  Stewart  of  Ballie- 
achan  ;  James  Stewart  of  Bodinschawis  ;  Robert  Stewart  of 
Facastle ;  James  Stewart  of  Force  (Foss)  ;  Alex.  Robertson  of 
Fascallie ;  Alex.  Stewart  of  Cultelony ;  John  Falow  younger  in 
Balbrogie ;  George  Cuneistown  of  Ettradour  (these  nine  did  not 
"  compear"  at  the  trial)  ;  Patrick  Buttar  fiar  of  Gormack  ;  David 
Donald  of  the  Grange  ;  Patrick  Blair  of  Ardblair ;  William 
Chalmer  of  Drumlochy ;  James  Rarnsay  of  Ardbikie  ;  George 
Campbell  of  Crownan  ;  William  Wood  sometime  of  Latoune ; 
David  Campbell  of  Easter  Denhead  ;  Robert  Alexander  in  Cuper  ; 
Colene  Falow  in  Grange  ;  Patrick  Campbell  of  Keithick  ;  John 
Sowter  in  Cupar  Grange  ;  James  Blai*  in  Brunstoune  ;  Sir  Walter 


Sketches  of  the  Early  History  of  Strathardle.       273 

Rollock  Sutor  of  Duncrub  ;  Henrie  Durhame  in  Falow  ;  John 
Pitcairns  at  the  Mylne  of  Kilour  ;  David  Arnot  of  Incheok  ;, 
Lawrence  Name  of  Alliefargie  ;  Archibald  Herring  of  Drimmie  ; 
and  Archibald  Campbell  of  Persar  (Persie).  Dilatit  for  Assaging 
of  the  Place  of  Assintullie,  and  taking  of  Andre  Spalding  of 
Assintullie  coramittit  in  the  month  of  November  in  the  year  of 
God  1597.  Perserwar  Mi  Thomas  Hammiltoun  advocat. 

"The  advocat  producet  his  Maiesties  Warrand  for  continewation 
of  the  dyett,  to  the  XV.  of  December  nixtocurn.  The  Laird 
Arbokie  and  William  Wods  unity  me  of  Latoune,  now  of  Banblaue, 
David  Campbell  of  Deiiheid,  William  Chalmer  of  Drimilochy, 
Archibald  Herring  of  Drimmig,  offerit  them  to  as&yse,  and  dis- 
sassentit  to  the  continewationne ;  quhair  upoune  they  askit 
instrumentis,  John  Pitcarne  att  the  Mylne  of  Inver  Kelour  askit 
instrurnentis.  The  samin  day  John,  Earl  of  Atholl,  oft  times 
callit  as  cautioner  and  souirtee  for  Sir  James  Stewart  of  Auch- 
maddies,  &c.,  to  haif  enterit  and  presentit  thame,  <fec.,  was  unlawit 
for  nocht  entrie  of  the  said  Sir  James,  £c.,  for  ilk  ane  of  thame  in 
the  pane  of  500  merks  ;  lykeas  the  said  persons  principall  wer 
adjudge  t  to  be  denuncit  rebellis,  and  put  to  the  home,  and  all 
their  moveable  guidis  escheit  as  fugitives." 

The  Robertsons  of  Struan  made  a  raid  this  year  on  Glen- 
brierachan,  and  carried  off  a  lot  of  spoil,  for  which  damage  one 
of  the  tenants  complained  to  the  Privy  Council  five  years  after- 
wards, viz.  :— "At  Perth,  7th  August,  1602.  Complaint  by 
William  M'Gillemcyle,  in  Glenbarrachan  .  .  .  that  five  years 
ago  Duncan  M'Ewane  Bayne,  in  Camvoran,  with  his  accomplices, 
tenants  of  the  Laird  of  Struan,  reft  from  him  five  mares  worth 
twenty  pounds  each.  The  pursuer,  appearing  by  Finlay  Fer- 
gusson,  in  Baledmund,  and  the  Laird  of  Struan  being  himself 
present,  the  said  procurator  having  offered  that  if  Struan  would 
hold  Duncan  off  his  lands,  the  complainant  would  never  crave 
Struan  for  the  goods  libelled.  Struan  accepts  this  condition. — 
"  Privy  Council  Records,  Vol.  VI.,  page  447." 

1598. — Whatever  the  market  price  of  horses  was  at  this  time 
in  Strathardle,  I  find  the  tenants  could  always  put  a  good  value 
on  them  when  stolen  by  raiders  from  the  neighbouring  clans. 
We  have  just  seen  that  in  the  previous  year  a  Glenbrierachan 
tenant  claimed  £20  each  for  his  horses  from  Struan.  Now  we 
find  in  this  year  a  Straloch  tenant  claiming  double — £40 — for  a 
"  red  pyat  mare,"  eight  years  old,  from  the  Campbells  of  Bread- 
albane,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  extract  from  the  Privy 

18 


274  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Council  Records  (Vol.  VI.,  p.  462) :—"  Perth,  9th  Sept.,  1602. 
Charge  had  been  given  to  Sir  Duncan  Campbell  of  Glenorchy  to 
enter  John  M'Gillevorich  at  the  Beate  of  Finlarig,  his  man  to 
answer  a  complaint  by  Fergus  M'Coull  in  Straloch  of  reif,  from 
him,  furth  of  his  lands  of  Straloch  four  years  ago,  of  a  black  mare 
four  years  old  worth  thirty  pounds  ;  a  red  pyat  mare  eight  years 
old  worth  forty  pounds ;  a  browif*  horse  two  years  old  worth 
twenty  ;  and  a  black  mare  worth  twenty  merks.  The  pursuer 
appearing  personally,  and  Sir  Duncan  Campbell,  by  Robert  Camp- 
bell, his  son,  and  procurator,  the  order  is  to  denounce  Sir  Duncan 
for  not  entering  his  said  man." 

At  this  time  the  feud  between  the  Robertsons  of  Straloch  and 
the  Spaldings  of  Ashintullie  was  at  its  height,  so  that  when  these 
two  powerful  barons — the  natural  leaders  and  defenders  of  the 
district — were  at  feud  with  each  other  their  outside  enemies  had 
a  better  chance  of  raiding  and  plundering  the  country,  an  oppor- 
tunity of  which  their  warlike  and  restless  neighbours  took  full 
advantage,  as  we  have  already  seen  from  the  number  of  forays 
made  from  all  quarters  on  Strathardle  about  this  time. 

So  bitter  did  this  feud  become  now,  and  so  great  the  slaughter- 
ing and  plundering  that  the  Privy  Council  had  to  interfere,  and 
by  an  Act  of  Caution,  dated  Edinburgh,  17th  Feb.,  1598,  John 
Robertson  of  Straloch  became  surety  for  .£500  for  his  three 
leaders — John  M'Coneill,  alias  Duncanson,  in  Larig  ;  John  Adam- 
son  (M'Adie  or  Fergusson),  younger  in  Larig  ;  and  John  Reid, 
alias  Fleming,  in  Minoch,  not  to  harm  Andro  Spalding  of  Ashin- 
tullie or  David  Spalding — P.C.  Records,  Vol.  V.,.p.  714.  And  on 
10th  March,  Henry  Balfour,  procurator,  registered  at  Edinburgh 
a  bond  by  James  Wemyss  of  Weriemyln  for  Andrew  Spalding  of 
Ashintullie,  £1000,  not  to  harm  John  Robertson  of  Straloch,  John 
Robertson,  his  son,  John  Fleming  in  Menoch,  John  M'Intoshe  in 
Lair,  and  John  Adamson  there ;  whilst  Spalding  himself  gave  a 
bond  to  same  effect,  in  300  merks  each,  for  Edwin  Cunnyson, 
Robert  Malcolm,  Donald  M'Wattie,  -  -  Gillandreis,  and  John 
Mitchell — all  in  Ashintullie;  John  M'lndewarin  Dallwoid;  Patrick 
Grant,  John  M'Allane,  Andrew  Spalding,  Donald  M'Condoquy, 
and  John  M'Cairtney — in  Dalhaugan ;  and  John  M'Coneill 
Grassick,  in  Spittal,  not  to  hurt  John  Robertson  or  his  men. 


Annual  Assembly.  275 

ANNUAL  ASSEMBLY. 

The  Twenty-third  Annual  Assembly  of  the  Society  was  held 
in  the  Music  Hall,  Inverness,  on  Thursday  evening,  llth  July, 
1895.  There  was  a  large  attendance  of  members  and  the  public. 
Sir  H.  C.  Macandrew  discharged  the  duties  of  the  chair  in  place 
of  the  late  Chief,  Field-Marshal  General  Sir  Patrick  Grant,  and  he 
was  supported  on  the  platform  by  Colonel  Macpherson,  Inverness ; 
Colonel  Macdonald,  Portree ;  Provost  Ross,  Inverness  ;  Provost 
Macpherson,  Kingussie ;  Mr  Chas.  Innes,  solicitor ;  Mr  William 
Mackay,  solicitor,  honorary  secretary  of  the  Society ;  Mr  Steele, 
banker;  Mr  Alex.  Fraser,  president  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of 
Toronto ;  Mr  Fraser  of  Merlewood  ;  Rev.  Dr  A.  C.  Macdonald, 
Inverness ;  Mr  Alex.  Mackenzie,  of  the  Scottish  Highlander  ;  Mr 
Dawson,  president  of  the  Caledonian  Society,  Dunedin ;  Mr  Wm. 
Mackenzie,  clothier,  Inverness ;  Mr  P.  G.  Macdonald,  Mile-end  ; 
Mr  Crerar,  Kingussie  ;  Mr  R.  F.  Matheson,  Harris ;  Mr  Duncan 
Mackintosh,  secretary.  The  party  were  played  on  to  the  platform 
by  Pipe-Major  Ronald  Mackenzie,  piper  to  the  Society,  who  had 
come  specially  from  Gordon  Castle  to  be  present  at  the  Assembly. 

The  Secretary  intimated  that  apologies  for  absence  had  been 
received  from  the  following,  among  many  others  : — Mackintosh  of 
Mackintosh,  Cluny  Macpherson  of  Cluny,  Mr  Duncan  Forbes  of 
Culloden  ;  Mr  Lachlan  Macdonald  of  Skeabost ;  Mr  J.  E.  B. 
Baillie  of  .Dochfour  ;  Mr  R.  B.  Finlay,  Q.C.  ;  Rev.  Dr  Stewart, 
Nether  Lochaber  ;  Captain  Chisholm,  Glassburn  ;  Mr  John  Mackay, 
Hereford  ;  Sheriff  Davidson,  Drummond  Park  ;  Sheriff  Campbell, 
Stornoway ;  Rev.  Robert  Blair,  Edinburgh  ;  Major  Jackson  of 
Swordale  ;  Mr  John  Henderson,  Fortrose. 

Sir  Henry  C.  Macandrew,  who  was  cordially  received,  said  he 
had  to  thank  the  Society  for  asking  him  to  preside  on  that 
occasion.  He  desired  to  congratulate  the  members  upon  the 
Society  attaining  its  twenty-third  year,  when  it  appeared  to  be  in 
such  a  nourishing  condition.  The  Society  had  not  only  to  be 
congratulated  upon  its  large  membership  and  the  successful 
meetings  held  during  the  year,  but  it  had  also  to  be  specially  con- 
gratulated upon  the  records  to  be  left  to  future  generations  of  the 
work  done  by  it.  They  were  all  aware  that  annually  the  Society 
published  a  volume  of  its  Transactions.  These  Transactions  wera 
very  valuable.  They  contained  a  great  deal  of  information  which 
was  of  permanent  interest,  not  only  to  this  district,  but  to  High- 
landers all  over  the  world.  They  were  also  of  interest  to  scholar- 
ship, as  evidenced  by  the  interest  manifested  in  them  by 


276  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Continental  scholars.  He  thought  they  might  congratulate  them- 
selves upon  the  great  amount  of  Celtic  literature  which  had  been 
inspired  by  the  Society,  and  if  there  was  criticism  he  might 
venturs  to  offer  it  would  be  this,  that  an  attempt  might  be  made 
to  endeavour  to  trace  and  record  in  the  Transactions  not  only  the 
genealogies  of  the  Highland  families,  but  also  the  social  condition 
and  general  history  of  the  Highland  people.  That  had  been  to 
some  extent  neglected,  and  it  was  desirable  that  they  should  have 
every  possible  contribution  to  show  the  state  of  society  in  this 
country  a  long  time  ago,  what  kind  and  manner  of  men  they 
were,  and  how  our  remote  ancestors  lived.  So  far  as  his  (Sir 
Henry's)  researches  had  gone,  he  had  arrived  at  the  very  confident 
opinion  that  their  ancestors  were  not  by  any  means  barbarous  or 
savage — that  they  were  not  very  far  different  from  what  they 
found  in  the  far  remote  Highlands  at  the  present  time ;  and  that 
they  led  not  a  more  useful  life  but  perhaps  a  more  joyous  life 
than  their  descendants  did  now.  Another  point  was  that  the 
Inverness  Gaelic  Society  had  left  its  mark-  upon  the  history  of  the- 
country.  It  had  been  mainly  instrumental  in  resisting  the  pro- 
posal to  abolish  the  tartan  in  connection  with  the  Cameron 
Highlanders.  He  suggested  i)hat  they  might  influence  their 
young  men  to  join  their  Highland  regiments  which  had  such 
distinguished  records.  He  concluded  by  wishing  success  to  the 
Society,  and  he  hoped  he  might  live  for  many  more  years  to  be 
present  at  their  annual  assemblies. 

In  the  course  of  the  proceedings,  the  Chairman  introduced 
Mr  Alexander  Eraser,  president  of  the  Gaelic  Society  of  Toronto, 
who  delivered  the  Gaelic  address.  He  said  :— 

Fhir-na-cathrach  inbheach,  agus  a  mhnathan  's  a  dhaoin'- 
uaisle, — Tha  e  'na  thoil-inntinn  nach  beag  dhomhsa  a  bhi  'giulain 
thugaibh  ceud  mile  failte  agus  deagh  run  bho  bhur  co-luchd- 
cinnidh  ann  an  Canada.  Tha  mi  g'  a  mheas  na  shochair  a  bhi 
fa  'r  comhair  an  nochd,  eadhon  ged  nach  ann  air  mo  sgath  fhein, 
ach  air  sgath  tir  mo  dhualchuis  a  chuir  sibh  an  t-urram  so  oim. 
Agus  tha  an  ni  so  mar  an  ceudua  'n  am  inntinn — gu  bheil  mi  gu 
bhi  'labhairt  mu  Chanada  ri  luchd-aiteachaidh  Inbhirnis,  priomh- 
bhaile  na  Gaidhealtachd,  dlu  ri  aite  mo  dhuthchais,  agus  cha  'n  e 
sin  a  nihain  ach  a'  labhairt  ri  Comunn  Gaidhlig  Inbhirnis  air  a 
bheil  cliu  ro-shonraichte  am  measg  nan  Gaidheal.  Cha  bhiodh 
e  iomchuidh  gu  'n  leudaichinn  air  cuspair  sain  bith  aig  lethid  so 
do  choinnidh  ;  ach  ged  nach  bi  mo  bhriathran  lionmhor  bu  mhath 
learn  innseadh  duibh  gu  bheil  'ur  comunn  air  a  mheas  mar 
bhuidheann  chliuiteach,  fheumail  agus  chumhachdach  le  Gaidheil 


Annual  Assembly.  277 

•Chanada,  mar  le  Gaidheil  gach  tir  chein  eile.  Is  toigh  leo  a  bhi 
toirt  suil  thai*  a'  chuan  air  bhur  coinnidhean,  bhur  conaltradh 
maille  ri  cheile  air  cuspairean  dhiomhair  ar  canain  's  ar 
n-eachdraidh,  agus  air  na  h-oidheirpean  foghainteach  a  ta  sibh  a' 
deanadh  a  chum  cuisean  agus  suidheachadh  bhur  duthcha  a 
lensachadh  ;  agus  is  toigh  leo  a  bhi  'leantuinn  ann  bhur  cos- 
cheuman  ann  an  cuid  do  na  nithibh  a  tha  an  cumandas  aig  na 
Gaidheil  air  feadh  an  t-saoghail  air  fad.  Is  math  an  t-eisempleir  a 
tha  sibh  a'  toirt  dhuinn  agus  a  dh'  aindeoin  taobh  do  'n  teid  e  is 
•dual  do  'n  Ghaidheal  tionndadh  gu  reul-iuil  oige,  airson  treor- 
achaidh  agus  solais.  Mar  tha  dearbh  fhios  agaibh  cha  '11  'eil 
cinneach  fo  '11  ghreiu  a  tha  air  an  ceangal  oho  dluth  ri  tir  am 
breth  ris  na  Gaidheil  agus  an  gradh  a  thug  iad  og  do  na  glinn  's 
do  na  beanntan  cha  treig  gu  brath  iad.  'S  cha  '11  e  a  mhain  sin 
ach  tha  an  gradh  sin  air  a  mheudachadh  a  chionn  an  sgarraidh 
troimh  an  deachaidh  iadsan  a  dh'  fliag,  no  a  dh'  f hogradh  bho,  thir 
.an  athraichean.  Ged  is  nor  so,  gidheadh,  tha  taobh  eile  air  a 
chuis.  Faodar  a  radh  le  firinn  uach  'eil  muinntir  chinnich  sam 
bith  'eil  a  fhreumhaicheas  cho  daingeaii  's  cho  soirbheachail  aim 
an  duthaich  chein.  ris  na  Gaidheil.  'S  ann  gun  teagamh  le  firinn 
a  dh'  fhaodas  Clarsair  an  Doire  a  bhi  seinn  air  "  a  ghleann  's  an 
robh  e  og  ;"  Clarsair  nam  Beann  air  cradh  an  eilthirich  Ghaidh- 
ealaich  a  fagail  a  dhuthaich ;  agus  Clarsair  na  Coille  air  doirbheachas 
agus  deuchainnean  nan  Gaidheal  ann  an  America.  'S  math  a 
thig  e  dhoibhsan — do  Mhac  Leoid,  do  Mhac  Colla,  's  do  Mhac 
Illeathain  a  bhi  ceileireachd  air  gaol  nan  Gaidheal  do  'n  duthaich  : 
tha  na  fuinn  's  na  facail  araon  ceolrnhor  agus  fior,  ach  tha  e  cheart 
cho  fior  gu  bheil  na  Gaidheil  a'  tuineachadh  's  gach  cearn  fo  'n 
iarmailt  a  tha  fosgailte  do  dhaoine,  agus  gu  bheil  iad  a  buinig 
•dachaidhean  dhaibh  fein  ann  an  tiribh  chein,  a  tha  cosnadh  an 
gradh  's  an  dilseachd.  An  Cruthaidhfhear  a  clmir  gaol  an  dach- 
aidh  ann  an  cridhe  a'  Ghaidheil  chuir  Esan  mar  an  ceudna  misneach 
na  inntinn  gu  bhi  'fagail  a  dhachaidh,  gu  bhi  'togail  a  chrannchur, 
's  gu  bhi  coimhlionadh  ruintean  an  Fhreasdail  air  feadh  a 
chruinne-che  gu  leir.  Air  an  aobhair  sin  tha  e  iomchuidh  gu  'm 
biodh  riaghailt  a  bheatha  air  a  steidheachadh  air  bunchar  seas- 
mhach,  a  reir  teagaisg  agus  eiseimpleir  ar  n-athraichean.  Fhad  's 
a  tha  'Ghaidhealtachd  a  cur  a  mach  daoine  oga  gu  criochan  fad'  as 
is  chmteach  gnr  e  an  dileab  is  luachrnhoire  is  urrainn  iad  a 
ghiulain  leo,  cridheachan  onarach,  cogiiisean  beo,  agus  beachdan 
fallain  air  cuisean  mora  na  siorruidheachd.  An  latha  a  chailleas 
na  Gaidheil  an  seann  duineala?,  na  seann  chleachdaidhean,  na 
seann  ria^hailtean  's  an  t-seann  chreideamh — faodaidh  iad 


278  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

fasainean  ura  a  bhuannachadh  ach  caillidh  iad  an  seann  chliu. 
Agus  is  i  mo  bheachd-sa  gum  faodadh  Comunn  Gaidhlig 
Inbhirnis  tuileadh  is  na  tha  iad  a'  deanamh,  a  dheanamh 
amis  an  doigh  so.  Cha  'n  'eil  mi  cinnteach  nach  'eil  mi  dol  car 
fada  'n  am  bhriathran  'n  uair  a  their  mi  gur  i  mo  bheachd  gu  'm 
bu  choir  do  'n  Chomumi  so  a  bhi  'toirt  tuileadh  gnuis  na  tha  iad 
a  toirt,  do  na  h-oidheirpean  a  tl^  air  an  cur  a  mach  a  chum 
beachdan  creidimh  fallain  a  chumail  beo.  Cha  'n  'eil  teagamh 
agamsa  nach  aim  mar  thoradh  bho  'n  chreidimh  sin  a  fhuair  na 
Gaidheil  an  t-ard  chliu  a  bhuineas  daibh  gus  an  latha  diugh. 
Cha  'n  urrainn  duibh  sochair  is  mo  a  thoirt  do  na  Gaidheil  a  tha 
sibh  a'  cur  thugainn  gu  Canada  na  oileanachd  'us  grunndachadh 
ami  an  stuaimeachd  is  ceartas,  agus  amis  na  dleasdanasan  eile  a 
bhuineas  do  dheagh  arach.  Tha  moraii  Ghaidheil  ann  an 
Canada  mu'm  biodh  cuid  agaibh  toilichte  a  chluinntinn.  Fogli- 
naidh  aon  no  dha.  Tha  faisg  air  tri-fichead  bliadhna  's  a  deich 
bho  na  bha  Uistean  Muillearach  'na  ghille-buith  aims  a  bhaile  so. 
Tha  e  an  diugh  na  sheann  aois  comasach  air  a  bhi  air  ceann  a 
ghnothaich  bho  mhoch  gu  dubhach  agus  tha  e,  mar  tha  fhios  aig 
cuid  agaibh,  ard  ann  am  meas  a  cho-luchd  duthcha.  Buinidh 
Bard  Lochfine  do  na  Gaidheil  air  fad.  Tha  e  suas  ri  ceithir 
fichead  bliadhna  's  a  deich,  ach  tha  'n  aois  a  laighe  gu  h-eutrom  air 
a  glmalainn.  Tha  e  comasach  air  a  shraid  a  ghabhail  na  h-uile 
latha,  agus  e  cho  sgiobalt,  smearail  's  ged  a  bhiodh  e  fichead 
bliadhna  ni  's  oige  na  tha  e  Tha  e  runachadh  leabhar  eile  a 
chlo-bhualadh  mus  leig  e  sios  pailliun  a  cheolraidh.  Tha  mar  an 
ceudna  an  Ridire  Daibhidh  Mac-a-Phearsain  a'  cumail  ris  gu 
h-iongantach,  a'  sgapadh  gu  fialaidh  's  gu  curamach  an  soibhreas  a 
chuir  am  Freasdal  'na  earbsa.  Chi  sibh  bho  so  nach  'eil  tir  no 
aimsir  Chanada  trom  air  slainte  nan  Gaidheal  a  thilg  an  crannchur 
air  a  roinntean  fharsuing,  's  tha  mi  'n  dochas  gum  bi  dorus 
fosgailte  ann  an  Canada  air  son  na  h-uile  neach  a  dh'  fhaodas 
aghaidh  a  thionndadh  ri,  a  thig  le  tapachd  's  le  duinealachd  iiam 
beann'a  lorgachadh  a  mach  an  fhortan  sin  nach  'eil  ri  fhaotainn,. 
an  comhnuidh,  anns  an  tir  so. 

The  musical  part  of  the  programme  was  well  sustained  by  Mr 
W.  L.  Cockburn,  Miss  Margaret  Macdonald,  Miss  Mona  Donaldson, 
and  Mr  R.  Macleod,  all  of  whom  were  encored.  Selections  of 
Scotch  and  Highland  airs  were  played  by  a  string  band,  and  reels 
and  other  dances  gave  an  interesting  variety  to  the  proceedings  ; 
and  Pipe-Major  Ronald  Mackenzie  supplied  pipe  music  of  a  high- 
class  character.  Miss  C.  Fraser — who  has  played  at  the  Society's 
assemblies  for  the  past  number  of  years-*- -presided  at  the  piano  in 
her  usual  happy  and  accomplished  manner. 


Personal  Names.  279 

Mr  William  Mackay,  honorary  secretary,  proposed  a  vote  of 
thanks  to  the  Chairman  and  artistes  ;  and  the  singing  of  "  Auld 
Langsyne"  by  the  performers  brought  a  most  enjoyable  and 
successful  assembly  to  a  close. 


DECEMBER,  1895. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  resolved  to  subscribe  <£5  5s  to  the 
proposed  Highland  memorial  to  the  late  Professor  Blackie,  and  to 
send  out  a  circular  to  the  members,  soliciting  subscriptions. 
Thereafter  Mr  William  Mackay,  solicitor,  moved,  and  Mr 
Alexander  Macbain,  M.A.,  seconded,  that  the  Society  record  their 
deep  regret  at  the  death  of  two  old  and  valuable  members  of 
the  Society,  viz.,  Mr  Colin  Chisholm,  Namur  Cottage,  Inverness, 
an  honorary  chieftain  of  the  Society,  and  Mr  Alex.  Mackenzie, 
Silverwells,  Inverness,  for  many  years  one  of  the  Society's  chief- 
tains ;  and  a  committee  was  formed  to  draw  up  and  forward 
messages  of  condolence  to  the  relatives  of  both  the  deceased.  It 
had  been  arranged  at  a  Council  meeting,  held  previously,  as  to 
the  Society  being  largely  represented  at  the  funeral  of  the  deceased 
Mr  Colin  Chisholm,  and  also  to  send  a  wreath  to  be  placed  on  his 
coffin,  and  to  write  Mr  Ronald  Mackenzie,  the  Society's  piper,  to 
play  with  the  other  pipers  on  the  occasion.  Thereafter  Mr  Alex. 
Macbain,  M.A.,  read  a  paper,  entitled  "  The  Old  Gaelic  System  of 
Personal  Names."  Mr  Macbain's  paper  was  as  follows  : — 

THE  OLD  GAELIC  SYSTEM  OF  PERSONAL  NAMES. 

The  names  and  surnames  of  the  present-day  Highlands  and 
Isles  belong  to  the  various  stages  of  development  through  which 
the  Gaelic-speaking  peoples  have  passed  since  the  Celts  parted 
company  with  the  other  Aryan  races  four  or  five  thousand  years 
ago.  The  name  Donald,  when  restored  to  its  pristine  purity  of 
form  as  Durnno-valos  ("  World-ruler"),  is,  in  composition,  meaning, 
and  main  root,  full  brother  to  Dumno-rix  ("  World-king"),  the 
name  of  Caesar's  great  Gaulish  opponent.  They  both  show  the 
double-stemmed  or  "double-barrelled"  formation  characteristic  of 
Aryan  or  Indo-European  names.  Fergus  and  Angus,  the  latter 
borne  by  the  Apollo  of  the  Gael  and  meaning  "  Unique-choice," 
were  names  common  to  the  two  great  historic  branches  of  the 


280  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Celtic  peoples — the  Gadelic  and  Brittonic,  inclusive  also  of  the 
Pictish.  The  Gadelic  developments,  probably  under  pre-Gadelic 
racial  influences,  previous  to  the  introduction  of  Christianity, 
which  produced  names  like  Cu-chulainn,  "Hound  of  Culann  ;" 
Nia-segamon,  "  Champion  of  Mars  ; "  and  Mog-nuadat,  "  Slave  of 
(the  God)  Nuada,"  are  now  represented  by  our  Macraes  and  Mac- 
beths  ("  Sons  of  Grace  and  Life")  ;  Jiut  the  full  development  of 
this  class  of  name  came  with  the  advent  of  the  Christian  Church, 
whose  saints  took  the  place  of  the  old  gods,  and  we  have  thence- 
forward names  like  Maol-iosa  ("  Shaveling  or  Slave  of  Jesus"), 
Maol-colaim  or  Malcolm  ("Slave  of  Columba"),  Gille-crist  ("Ser- 
vant of  Christ"),  and  others  such  in  so  plentiful  abundance  as 
greatly  to  swamp  the  old  Celtic  name-system  derived  from  Aryan 
times.  Till  the  twelfth  century  only  a  small  fraction  of  the  names 
of  either  Scottish  or  Irish  Gaels  were  borrowed  from  Christian  or 
Teutonic  sources — in  Ireland  scarcely  a  twentieth.  The  earliest 
Scottish  document — the  Book  of  Deer  (twelfth  century) — contains 
only  some  13  per  cent,  of  foreign  names  ;  and  it  is  interesting  to 
note  that  the  similar  Gaelic  portions — also  contemporary — of  the 
Irish  Book  of  Kells  has  a  percentage  slightly  lower  even  than 
that.  The  twelfth  century  was  fraught  with  great  change  both  to 
the  history  of  Ireland  and  of  the  Highlands.  Teutonic  influences 
of  all  kinds  began  to  prevail,  and  the  feudal  system  played  a  con- 
spicuous part  in  developing  the  names  and  surnames  of  the 
country.  Personal  names  from  English,  Norse,  and  general 
Christian  sources  rapidly  usurped  the  place  of  the  old  Celtic 
names,  or  were  accepted  as  equivalents  of  like-sounding  natives 
names  (Roderick  for  Ruadhraigh,  Hector  for  Eachann).  Surnames 
definitely  began  in  the  thirteenth  century :  they  were  either 
patronymics  like  M'Culloch  and  M 'Donald,  or  epithets  like  Camp- 
bell ("  Wryrnouth"),  or  place-names  like  Moray.  But,  as  a  matter 
of  fact,  surnames  were  by  no  means  universal  in  the  Highlands 
till  after  the  '45. 

The  foreign  Christian  names  of  Alexander,  John,  and  William 
soon  became  favourites  :  Alexander  had  been  popularised  by  the 
famous  Scottish  kings  of  that  name  ;  John  has  been  a  favourite 
name  everywhere — it  is  the  commonest  of  Christian  names,  as 
"initli  is  of  surnames — its  popularity  being  due,  as  Dr  Isaac 
Taylor  remarks,  "  to  the  supposed  suitability  in  baptism  of  the 
Baptist's  name."  At  present  it  is  the  commonest  Christian  name 
in  the  Highlands,  though  Donald  makes  a  fair  second,  as  it  should 
do.  Alexander  is  third  favourite,  and  thereafter  William,  which 


Personal  Names.  281 

early  planted  itself  in  the  Highlands,  the  MacWilliams  being 
powerful  Celtic  claimants  for  the  Scottish  throne  against  King 
William.  Nearly  40  per  cent,  of  the  population  bear  one  or 
other  of  the  three  names  John,  Alexander,  or  William ;  and  if  we 
add  the  Gaelic  Donald,  the  Christian  names  of  nearly  half  the 
population  are  accounted  for.  Indeed,  only  2  out  of  7  personal 
names — or  less  than  30  per  cent. — in  actual  use  asre  native,  that 
is,  of  Gaelic  origin  ;  and  only  some  37  per  cent,  of  the  population 
bear  native  or  Gaelic  Christian  names  like  Angus,  Donald,  or 
Duncan,  their  total  being  actually  fewer  than  those  bearing  the 
three  foreign  surnames  of  John,  Alexander,  and  William.  Of 
Highland  surnames,  if  we  omit  the  mac  surnames,  about  half  only 
are  Celtic,  but  many  names,  like  Brown  and  Livingston,  represent 
really  Gaelic  originals,  though  in  this  enumeration  they  have  to 
be  counted  as  non-Gaelic.  People  with  mac  surnames  form  close 
on  half  the  population  ;  but  even  the  mac  surnames  are  of  mixed 
origin.  M'Alister,  for  instance,  contains  the  Gaelic  mac  with  the 
favourite  Christian  but  non-Gaelic  name  of  Alexander.  In  fact, 
about  40  per  cent,  of  the  mac  surnames  are  hybrids  of  this  kind. 
The  conclusion  we  come  to  is  that  the  Celticity  of  the  surnames 
in  use  in  the  Highlands  and  Isles  amounts  to  60  per  cent,  of  the 
whole,  while  the  Celticity  of  the  Christian  names  is  less  than  half 
that  percentage. 

Until  some  eight  hundred  years  ago,  hereditary  surnames  did 
not  exist,  save  in  a  modified  form  among  the  Romans.  A  man 
had  only  one  name,  his  personal  or  Christian  name.  He  might  be 
further  designated  b\  his  father's  name,  as  Alexander  (son)  of 
Philip  (or  Alexander  the  Philip's),  or  by  the  locality  he  belonged 
to,  as  Alexander  the  Macedonian,  or  by  both  these  methods,  as  in 
the  Athenian  official  designations  of  a  citizen,  where  his  "  deme" 
or  parish  was  given,  such  as  the  designation  of  the  famous  orator 
Demosthenes,  called  "  Demosthenes  (the  son)  of  Demosthenes  (the) 
Paianian."  This  last  method  was  usual  all  over  the  civilised 
world.  "  Surnames,"  says  Dr  Isaac  Taylor,  "  were  of  very 
gradual  introduction.  In  the  case  of  Ethelred  the  Unready, 
Edmund  Ironside,  or  Harold  Bluetooth,  we  have  not  surnames, 
but  mere  nicknames,  which  did  not  descend  to  the  children. 
Hereditary  surnames  made  their  appearance  in  the  twelfth  cen- 
tury [in  England  and  southern  Scotland];  in  the  fourteenth 
century  they  are  usual  rather  than  exceptional,  and  even  now  in 
the  mining  districts  of  England  and  in  some  parts  of  Wales  [and 


282  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

some  Scottish  fisher  villages]1  they  are  not  universally  used/ 
Noble  families  that  can  trace  their  genealogies  back  beyond  the 
twelfth  century  have  no  surname  ;  the  present  Queen  Victoria  has 
no  surname,  for  the  name  Guelph  or  Wolf,  applied  to  the  royal 
house  of  Brunswick,  is  a  mere  nickname.  In  the  Highlands,  sur- 
names are  of  even  later  appearance  than  in  England,  and  charters, 
as  well  as  other  documents,  are  fou^d  as  late  as  last  century, 
wherein  a  man  is  designated  by  his  father's,  and,  perhaps,  his 
grandfather's  name.  Sometimes  a  list  of  ancestry  "as  long  as  his 
sword"  is  required  to  define  some  worthy.  That  the  Welsh  cousins 
of  the  Gael  were  equally  devoid  of  surnames  and  equally  fond  of 
genealogical  designations  may  be  proved  by  the  following  amusing 
extract  from  the  play  of  "Sir  John  Oldcastle,"  printed  in  1600  : — 

Jiulf/c. — What  bail  ?     What  sureties  ?  N 

[)(ivy. — Her  cozen  Ap  Rice  ap  Evan  ap  Morice  ap  Morgan  ap  Llewellyn 
ap  Madoc  ap  Meredith  ap  Griffin  ap  Davis  ap  Owen  ap  Shinkin  Jones. 
J-udyc. — Two  of  the  most  efficient  are  enow. 
Sheriff. — An  't  please  your  lordship,  these  are  all  but  one  ! 

In  the  Highlands,  even  in  the  seventeenth  century,  surnames 
are  rarely  used  by  ordinary  tenants.  For  instance,  in  the  numerous 
appearances  of  the  Lochiel  men  in  the  Privy  Council  Records,  we 
find  only  a  string  of  patronymics  defining  a  man,  together  with 
the  croft  or  farm  in  (note  the  in)  which  he  dwells.  The  names  of 
householders  in  Garvamore  in  Laggan  of  Badenoch,  in  the  Mac- 
pherson  country,  for  the  year  1679,  must  suffice  as  a  specimen  : — 
"  Allan  Mac  Iain  Gromach  in  Garvamore,  John  Mac  lain  Gromach 
there,  Ewen  Roy  vie  Wirrich  there,  John  Mac  Coil  vie  Ruarie 
there,  John  Mac  William  vie  Phaill  there,  Duncan  Mac  Iain  vie 

1  In  regard  to  the  Buchan  fishermen,  the  following  is  an  extract  from  an 
article  in  Blackwood  for  March,  1842  : — 

"The  fishers  are  generally  in  want  of  surnames.  .  .  .  There  are 
seldom  more  than  two  or  three  surnames  in  a  fish-town.  Among  the  twenty- 
five  George  Cowies  in  Buckie,  there  are  George  Cowie,  doodle  ;  George  Cowie, 
carrot  ?  and  George  Cowie,  neep.  A  stranger  had  occasion  to  call  on  a  fisher- 
man in  one  of  the  Buchan  fishing  villages  of  the  name  of  Alexander  White. 
Meeting  a  girl,  he  asked — 

"  '  Could  you  tell  me  fa'r  Sanny  Fite  lives  ?' 

' '  Filk  Sanny  Fite  ?' 

' '  Muckle  Sanny  Fite.' 

' '  Filk  muckle  Sanny  Fite  ?' 

' '  Muckle  lang  Sanny  Fite.' 

' '  Filk  muckle  lang  Sanny  Fite  ?' 

' '  Muckle  lang  gleyed  Sanny  Fite,'  shouted  the  stranger. 

"  Oh  !  it's  "  Goup  the  lift"  ye're  seeking,'  cried  the  girl,  '  and  fat  the 
deevil  for  dinna  ye  speer  for  the  man  by  his  richt  name  at  ance  ?'  " 


Personal  Names.  283- 

William  vie  Phaill  there,  Ewen  Mac  Iain  vie  Coinneach  there, 
Angus  Mac  Gillespie  there,  Donald  Mac  Gillephadrick  there,  John 
dhu  Mac  (illegible)  there,  John  dhu  Mac  Finlay  oig  there,  Ewen 
Mac  Aonas  vie  Ewen  there."  We  cannot  be  certain  that  in  the 
above  list  we  have  one  true  surname ;  in  fact,  we  may  say  with, 
fair  certainty  that  all  the  designations  are  patronymics  and  not 
surnames.  No  doubt  the  descendants  of  these  men  in  Garvamore 
would,  in  1745,  mostly  either  be,  or  assume  to  be,  Macphersons.1 

Surnames  are,  so  to  speak,  prefigured  in  the  totem  clan  system 
of  the  savage.  Indian  tribes  are  divided  into  clans  who  represent 
themselves  as  descended  from  some  animal  or  natural  object  which 
they  hold  in  special  reverence  and  which  is  called  their  totem. 
Personal  names  are  given  to  children,  however,  in  the  most  hap- 
hazard fashion  ;  some  accidental  circumstance  at  birth  may  decide 
the  matter,  with  names  like  "  Morning  Star,"  "  West  Wind,"  and 
"  Eldest  Daughter,"  as  a  result.  But  even  here  civilised  races 
tread  closely  in  the  path  of  the  savages.  Some  names  of  ancient 
Rome,  like  Lucius  (born  by  day).  Manius  (born  in  the  morning), 
and  Quintus  (5th  son)  have  been  adopted  on  like  primitive 
principles,  and  to  a  similar  cause  are  due  such  modern  names  as- 
Noel  (Christmas),  denoting  that  a  child  was  born  on  Christmas 
day;  and  the  popularity  of  Marcel  and  Marcelle  (Gaelic  and  early 
Irish  Marsali),  Jules  and  Auguste  is  due  to  the  children  being- 
born  in  March,  July  or  August,  not  to  the  ancient  names  of 
Marcius,  Julius  and  Augustus.  We  may  bold  it  as  certain  that 
many  children,  in  old  Gaelic  times,  born  on  certain  saints'  days 
were  baptised  as  the  maol  or  yille  of  these  saints ;  and  the  old 
Irish  name  of  Maol-mocheirigh,  "  Slave  of  Early-rising,"  may  no> 
doubt  be  placed  beside  the  Roman  Manius  as  explained  above. 

The  names  characteristic  of  Aryan  culture  were  not  given  in. 
this  hap-hazard  fashion.  Custom  regulated  name-giving.  The 
name-system  of  the  ancient  Hindoos,  Persians,  Greeks,  Slavs, 
Teutons,  and  Celts — all  descended  linguistically  from  the  same 
Aryan  parent  people— is  founded  on  the  same  principles,  and  is, 
in  fact,  an  heirloom,  in  «each  case,  from  their  Aryan  ancestors. 
The  Aryan  personal  name  was  usually  a  compound,  two  stems 
being  welded  into  one  whole.  Thus  in  Sanskrit  we  have  Deva- 
dattas,  "  God-given;"  in  Persian,  Xsay-arsan  or  Xerxes,  "Ruler  of 
Men;"  in  Greek  Dio-genes,  "God-begotten;"  Slavonic  Vladi-mir, 
"  Famed-in-rule  "  (Gaelic  flath-mhor  exactly)  ;  Teutonic  Heime- 
rich  or  Henry,  "  Home-ruler  ;"  and  Gaulish  "  Devo-gnata,  "  God- 

1  Compare  the  case  of  the  Buchau  fishermen  mentioned  in  the  note  to  page 

282  above. 


2S4  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

begotten "  ( =  Gr.  Diogenes).  Both  the  Brittonic  and  Gaelic 
branches  of  Celtic  have  abundant  examples  of  names  so  formed  : — 
Old  Breton  Morcant,  Welsh  Morgan,  Pictish  Morcunn  (Book  of 
Deer),  "  Sea-bright  "  (Mori-cantos)  ;  Old  Welsh  Mailcum,  Maglo- 
cnnus  of  (Hildas, Pictish  Mailchon,  "  High-chief  ;  Old  Breton  and 
Welsh  Tutgual,  Irish  Tuathal,  "  Folk-ruler"  (Touto-valos,  where 
tmito-  —  Gaelic  iuath).  The  meaning  o£the  names  belonged  to  the 
strenuous  and  pleasant  aspects  of  life,  such  as  Religion,  Strength 
and  Success  in  Wrar,  Fame  and  Name,  Headship  and  Kingship, 
Prosperity  and  Goodness,  and  also  accidental  circumstances  of 
Birth.  Animal  names  also  entered  into  these  compounds — such 
animals  as  those  whose  qualities  or  uses  belonged  to  the  ideas  just 
mentioned.  Among  the  Greeks  and  Teutonic  nations,  and  to  a 
small  extent  among  the  Celts,  it  was  a  custom-  by  no  means 
universal — to  insert  in  a  child's  name  one  of  the  elements  which 
were  found  compounded  in  the  father's  or  mother's  name  :  thus, 
Greek  Z)eno-krates,  son  of  Z>mo-kles  ;  YAi-krates,  son  of  Euru- 
kmtex  ;  and  Andro-m^.s,  son  of  Niko-\s\Q§.  Teutonic  examples  (of 
the  8th  and  9th  centuries),  are  : —  JFa/£-bert,  son  of  Wald-rum  ; 
Wald-forf  and  Wolf -bert,  sons  of  Hram-6er£ ;  JZthel-wu\f,  King  of 
England  (839-858),  father  of  Ethel-\*M,  Ethel-bert,  and  Ethel-red  ; 
£W-mund  (king  from  940  to  946),  father  of  jEW-wig  and  Ead-g&Y. 
This  was,  indeed,  the  only  method  of  showing  descent,  as 
hereditary  surnames  did  not  exist.  There  are  also  one  or  two 
cases  of  this  in  the  genealogies  of  the  Welsh  kings,  as  Cadwaladr 
(died  682),  son  of  Cadwallon,  son  of  Cad  van  ;  or  Artgloys,  son  of 
Artbodgu,  son  of  Bodgu.  Faint  traces  of  it  exist  in  Ireland : — 
Conn  (123-157)  is  father  of  Connla  ;  his  grandson  Cormac  (Corb- 
niac)  is  father  of  Coirbre  (Corb-re) — "  Mac-Chariot  father  of 
Charioteer."  Professor  Rhys  draws  attention  to  another  method 
of  showing  close  relationship,  which  also  existed  in  Greece. 
"  Another  way,''  he  says,  "  of  preserving  an  indication  of  relation- 
ship was  sometimes  practised  still  more  economically,  namely,  by 
merely  reversing  the  order  of  the  elements  of  the  compound,  as, 
for  instance,  in  the  case  of  an  inscription*  from  South  Wales,  which 
commemorates  Vendubarros,  son  of  Barrivendos.  This  would  be 
in  Irish  Finnbharr,  son  of  Barrfhinn,  and  in  Welsh  Gwynvar,  son 
of  Berwyn,  or  White-head  son  of  Head-white.  A  fashion  of  this 
kind  is  not  quite  extinct  in  Wales,  where  you  may  find  that  John 
Roberts  is  the  son  of  Robert  Jones,  or  Rowland  Thomas  the  son 
<>f  Thomas  Rowlands."  He  then  compares  similar  cases  from  Old 
German,  Slavonic,  Sanskrit,  and  Greek  : — 0.  Ger.  Berht-hari  and 
Hari-berht,  English  Herbert;  Servian  Drago-mil  and  Milo-drag ; 
and  Greek  Doro-theos,  son  of  Theo-doros. 


Personal  Names.  235- 

This  leads  us  to  the  consideration  of  the  resultant  meaning  of 
these  compounds.  No  doubt  originally  regard  was  had  to  the 
resulting  meaning  of  the  compound ;  the  rule  in  the  Aryan  langu- 
ages was  that  the  prefixed  word  should  qualify  the  other  to  which 
it  was  prefixed.  Thus  Theo-doros  ought  to  mean — and  does  mean 
— "  Gift  from  god,"  God-gift ;  but  when,  under  the  exigencies  of 
family  custom,  the  elements  are  reversed  and  result  in  "  Gift-god," 
the  meaning  is  not  satisfactory.  Yet  the  Greeks  managed  on  the 
whole  well  to  avoid  contradictory  or  absurd  meanings.  Not  so,  how- 
ever, the  Teutons.  There  we  meet  with  such  compounds  as  "  Peace- 
war,"  "Peace-spear,"  "War-peace"  (Hildif rid, Gunfrid," War-peace;" 
Fridihilde,  Fredegunde,  "Peace-war;"  Fredegar,  "Peace-spear). 
On  this  aspect  of  the  question  as  to  the  meaning  of  ancient 
personal  names,  Mr  Bradley,  in  speaking  of  Gothic  names,  says  : — 
"  There  are  many  books  which  profess  to  explain  the  meanings  of 
Anglo-Saxon  or  Old  German  names ;  thus  Frederick  is  often  said 
to  mean  '  one  who  rules  in  p'eace.'  This,  however,  is  altogether  a 
mistake.  .  .  .  The  true  explanation  is  that  Fred  (peace)  was- 
one  of  a  number  of  which  it  was  customary  to  use  as  beginnings  of 
names,  and  ric  (ruler)  was  one  of  the  words  which  it  was  customary 
to  use  as  endings.  Any  word  belonging  to  the  one  list  might  be 
joined  to  any  word  in  the  other  list,  even  if  the  two  were  quite 
contradictory  in  stnse.  There  are,  for  instance,  ancient  German 
names,  which,  if  translated  literally,  would  be  '  peace-spear '  and 
'peace- war.'" 

Another  feature  of  Aryan  names,  which  seems  to  have  existed 
in  Aryan  times,  is  the  curtailment  of  the  commonest  compound 
names,  so  as  to  form  "  pet "  names  or,  at  any  rate,  short  forms  of 
the  long  name.  It  was  the  last  element  of  the  compound  that 
usually  suffered  contraction  or  disappearance.  The  process  is  one 
that  still  goes  on,  not  merely  in  dealing  with  personal  names,  but 
also  with  other  words  in  a  language.  Thus  we  speak  of  "  consols  " 
for  "consolidated  annuities,"  "pops"  for  "popular  concerts," 
"zoo"  for  "zoological  garden,"  "lager"  for  "lager-beer,"  and 
"  bus  "  for  "  omnibus."  Diminutive  or  pet  forms  occur  in  the  case 
of  nearly  every  one  of  our  modern  Christian  names — Thomas, 
becomes  Tom ;  Elizabeth,  Liz  ;  Alexander,  Sandy ;  Margaret,  Meg- 
or  Peg;  Patrick,  Pat;  Cecilia,  Cis;  William,  Will;  Matilda,  Maud  ; 
Donald,  Donnie  or  Dan ;  Bridget,  Biddy.  The  early  Aryan  langu- 
ages present  plenty  of  examples  of  this  contraction.  The  first 
member  of  the  compound  word  remains  intact ;  the  second  suffers 
considerable,  if  not  total,  abridgment.  Greek  Demo-sthas  stands  for 
Demo-sthenes,  and  Kleommis  stands  for  Kleo-menes,  and  no  doubt 


i>86  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

for  Kleo-medes,  Kleo-medon,  and  any  other  with  m  beginning  the 
second  element;  Zeuxis  stands  for  Zeux-ippos,  but  Zeuxis  may 
also  do  duty  for  Zeuxi-demos,  Zeuxi-theos,  &c.,  in  fact,  for  the 
group  with  Zeuxi  as  the  first  element.  Tn  Old  High  German  Sicco 
stands  for  Sige-rich,  ISig-bert,  Sig-frid.  In  Norse  Goddi  probably 
stood  as  pet  form  for  all  compounds  in  prefixed  God-;  similarly 
Gunni  for  Gunn-arr,  Gunn-bjorn,  Gum^olfr,  Gunn-steinn,  &c.  The 
Celtic  languages  show  similar  contractions.  Gaulish  has  many 
names  in  -llos,  -/os,  and  the  like,  which  are  evidently  curtailments 
•of  longer  names,  such  as  Toutillus  and  Toutius  for  Touto-bocios, 
Touto-bodiacus,  Toutiorix,  &c.,  possibly  :  so  Catullus,  Eoud-illos, 
Curb-ilia,  Ep-illos,  and  especially  names  in  -acos,  as  Cat-acus,  which 
appears  in  Old  Welsh  as  Catoc,  later  Catawc,  now  Cadog.  This 
was  the  name  of  the  famous  Welsh  saint,  and  we  know,  for 
we  are  told,  that  it  is  a  diminutive  representing  the  full 
form  Catmail,  which  was  the  sajnt's  baptismal  name,  the 
other,  though  now  the  only  one,  being  a  pet  form.  Catmail 
stands  for  Celtic  Catu-maglcs,  "War-lord,"  in  Irish  Cath- 
mal  or  Cathmhaol,  whence  the  modern  M'Cavell,  M'Cambil, 
Coyle.  In  regard  to  Catacus  acting  as  short  for  Catu- 
maglos,  Professor  Rhys  says  :  "So  far  as  we  understand  the 
relationship  between  these  names,  Catawc  stood  connected  no  more 
nearly  with  Catmail  or  Cadvail  than  with  Cadwallon,  Cadvan,  or 
any  other  of  the  names  beginning  with  the  word  cat,  now  cad, 
battle."  That  is  to  say,  Catacus,  Catullus,  and  such  diminutives, 
which  show  no  trace  of  the  second  element  at  all,  must  have  stood 
for  any  or  all  of  the  catfw-compoimds.  We  shall  find  later  that 
Gaelic  names  partake  of  the  same  characteristic  curtailments  as 
other  Aryan  names,  and  lend  proof  to  the  contention  that  the 
diminutive  of  the  first  element  may  stand  for  any  compound 
names  made  with  it. 

Outside  these  double-barrelled  names  and  their  diminutives 
there  are  other  names  which  may  represent  Aryan  ancestry.  In 
Greek  names,  for  example,  we  find  some  "calendar"  names, 
derived  from  the  festal  day  of  the  month  on  which  the  child  was 
born  or  named,  as  Soterios,  from  the  feast  of  Zeus  Soter ;  but  there 
is  little  of  the  unimaginative  Roman  method  of  naming  children  as 
5th  or  10th,  Quintus  or  Decimus.  Names  showing  dedication  to, 
or  claiming  protection  from,  the  gods,  are  fairly  common ;  such  as 
Dionysios,  "dedicated  to  (or  born  on  the  festal  day  of)  Dionysos," 
whence  we  get  our  Dennis.  Demigod  and  Hero  names  were  rarely 
applied  to  human  beings,  such  as  Perseus.  Names  like  Hector 
.("  Defender,"  "  Holder,"  root  segh,  hold),  Helene  ("  Shining  one") 


Personal  Names.  287 

and  Aineias  ("  Praise,"  a  diminutive),  whence  we  get  our  Hector 
(Gaelic  Eachann),  Ellen,  and  ^Eneas,  maybe  regarded  as  belonging 
to  the  demigod  series.  Names  from  animals,  plants,  and  natural 
objects  were  fairly  numerous  among  the  Greeks,  but  nothing  near 
such  favourites  as  among  the  Teutons  and  Celts.  The  use  of 
animal  names  for  naming  is  common  all  the  world  over  and  at  all 
times  :  the  bear,  the  lion,  and  the  wolf  were  favourites  for  their 
strength,  and,  sooth  to  say,  ferocity.  'The  horse  was  a  great 
favourite  in  Greek  compound  names,  though  it  was  not  used 
simply  like  Lukos  and  Leon  (Wolf  and  Lion).  Nor  was  the  dog's 
name  used  simply,  as  it  was  among  the  Gaels  of  old.  In  regard 
to  a  name  like  Lukos  ("  Wolf"),  Professor  Zimmer  thinks  that 
both  Lukos  and  Lukon,  like  Gaelic  Aed  ("  Fire")  and  Aedan,  are 
simply  diminutives  of  longer  names  like  Luk-agoras,  Luko-leon, 
&c.  The  name  Stephen,  from  Greek  Stephanos,  garland,  may 
belong  to  the  double-barrelled  forms,  being  probably  a  diminutive. 
The  name  Peter,  from  Gr.  petros,  a  rock,  is  a  translation  from  the 
Hebrew.  Names  from  rank  and  office  are  generally  swallowed  up 
in  the  compound  names,  but  there  are  one  or  two  official  and 
craft  names  used  ;  our  George  is  from  Georgos,  farmer.  Gregory, 
Gregor,  and  M'Gregor  come  from  the  Greek  name  Gregorios,  mean- 
ing "Watchful."  Names,  also,  existed  derived  from  those  of 
towns,  provinces,  and  of  even  foreign  nations,  and  foreign  names 
also  got  a  place. 

To  get  a  good  conception  of  the  Aryan  name  system  in  its  late 
developments,  before  attacking  the  difficult  problem  of  Gaelic  com- 
pound names,  we  shall  examine  the  Teutonic  personal  names  now 
in  use  in  the  Highlands,  or  once  in  use  and  now  forming  part  of 
the  Mac  names.  In  the  quotation  above  from  Mr  Bradley,  we 
were  warned  not  to  expect  much  consistency  in  the  meaning  of 
Teutonic  names,  for  the  component  parts  of  the  double-barrelled 
names  were  brought  together  on  a  somewhat  rough  and  ready 
principle.  Some  stems  were  usual  as  prefixes  and  others  as 
suffixes,  and  a  few  others  could  be  used  as  both.  According  to 
the  whim  of  the  moment  possibly,  or  to  the  need  of  marking 
kinship,  the  stem  chosen  from  the  first  list  was  prefixed  to  one 
from  the  second  list.  In  the  following  two  lists,  placed  side  by 
side,  the  first  column  contains  root  forms  which  usually  begin 
names,  and  the  second  column  contains  roots  which  usually  end 
names.  These  roots  or  stems  are  modernised.  An  attempt  at 
classification  is  also  made  under  the  heads  of  Religion,  War, 
Property  or  Riches,  Nobility,  Fame,  and  Courage  : — 


288  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Religion Gud,  god,  god  frid,  fred,  urd,  peace 

Peace  Os,  As,  0,  An,  Anses,  gods  mund,  protection 

Rogn,  regin,  gods,  counsel  win,  friend  * 

Thor,  the  god  Thor  .red,  counsel 

A  If,  elf,  fairy  ward,  ward 

Hun,  hum,  giant  bert,  bright 

Ercan,  archi,  pure        *  ketill,  kell,  kettle 

War Her,  har,  army  wig,  warrior 

Sig,  victor}'  gar,  ger,  spear 

Rand,  shield  helm,  helmet 

Property Ead,  ed,  possessions  ric,  rick,  ruler 

Uodal,  ul,  patrimony  hard,  hardy 

Rule  Heim,  h<>n,  home  leif,  lave,  heritage,  relic 

Wil,  will  wald,  old,  wielder 

Nobility Ethel,  al,  noble  bald,  bold 

Fame Hrod,  rod,  ro,  praised  ivulf,  olf,  wolf 

Spirit  Hlod,  lud,  famous  bern,  burn,  bear 

By  combining  words  from  the  one  list  with  words  from  the 
other  we  get  our  best  known  names.  Godfrey,  older  Godefrid, 
means  "God's  peace  "  (god  frid)  ;  the  Norse  is  slightly  different — 
Gudhrodhr ;  in  old  Gaelic  it  was  borrowed  as  Gofraidh,  later 
Goraidh,  a  favourite  name  among  the  Macdonalds,  among  whom 
Gorry  and  M'Gorry  abound  in  the  older  documents. 

Osmund,  Oswald,  Osburn  =  Gods'  protection,  Gods'  ruler, 
Gods'  bear. 

Olave,  older  Anlaf,  "Relic  of  the  Gods,"  was  in  Gaelic 
Amhlaibh  (older  Amlaib),  now  found  in  M'Aulay. 

Osgar,  the  Gaelic  hero,  does  not  mean  "Gods'  spear,"  which  was 
a  common  Teuton  name  (Norse  Asgeirr) ;  it  is  a  native  name, 
despite  Prof.  Zimmer's  assertion  to  the  contrary.  So,  too,  Oisean 
is  not  from  6s win,  another  common  name — "  Gods'  friend "  or 
"  Friend  in  God  ; "  as  we  shall  see  it  means  "  Little  deer." 

Ronald,  "Gods'  ruler,"  is  in  Gaelic  Raonull,  whence  Clan-ranald; 
Norse  Rognvaldr,  Engl.  Reynold. 

Thor,  the  god,  gives  us  several  names: — Thor-mund,  "Thor's 
protection,"  is  3onfused  with  Thormodr,  "  Thor-minded,"  as  G. 
Tormailt  and  Tormoid,  charters  giving  Eng.  as  Tormond  and 
Tormode.  Thorketill  and  Thorkell,  "  Thor's  sacrificial  kettle,"  an 
instrument  famous  in  Northern  religious  rites,  remains  of  which, 
mounted  on  cars,  have  been  found,  give  us  M'Corcodale  and 
Torquil,  M'Corkle. 

M'Askill  is  from  As-kell,  "Kettle  of  the  Anses." 


Personal  Names. 

Further  English  names  from  Thor  are  Thorold,  Thorolf, 
Thorburn. 

Alfred  means  "  Fairy  counsel." 

Humfrey  means  "  Giant  or  great  peace." 

Archibald  appears  in  Domesday  as  Arcenbald  and  Erchenbald; 
it  means  "  Pure  or  bright  bold."  The  Gaelic  equivalent  is 
Gilleasbuig,  Gillespie ;  why  such  should  be  the  case  is  a  puzzle. 
Arkembaldus  de  Duffus  appears  in  1203-34  in  the  Moray 
Registrum. 

Herbert  and  Harold  mean  "Bright  warrior"  and  "Army- 
wielder,"  the  latter  being  the  same  as  Eng.  herald.  From  Harold 
comes  M'Raild,  G.  M'Ra'ilt.  The  elements  in  Harold  are  inverted 
in  Walter,  whose  diminutives  Watt  and  Wattie  have  given  the 
clans  M'Quat,  M'Quattie,  M'Watt,  and  M'Wattie,  the  latter  a 
branch  of  the  Buchanans  once  numerous. 

Sig,  victory,  gives  Sigurd,  the  name  made  famous  by  the 
Orkney  earls,  allied  to  Sieg-fred,  "Victory-peace,"  of  the  ether 
Teutons.  Sigtrygg,  "True-victory,"  whence  Sitric,  gives  us  the 
southern  name  of  M'Kettrick. 

Randolf  means  "Wolf-shield." 

William  or  Wilhelm  means  "  Helmet  of  resolution,"  denoting 
or  claiming  energy  in  war.  Hence  also  Wilfred. 

Edmund,  Edwin,  Edward,  Edwy  ( =  Edwig),  and  Edolf  (common 
in  old  Lennox),  come  from  ead  or  ed,  "  possessions,  riches." 

Ulrick  comes  from  Old  German  Uodal-rich,  explained  by  a 
Latin  gloss  as  "a  paterna  hereditate  dives,"  rich  hereditarily.  The 
name  came  into  Scotland  with  feudalism,  and  was  confused  with 
the  Gaelic  Ualgharg,  "  High-temper,"  which  is  no  doubt  the  old 
Galwegian  Ulgric.  One  of  the  Kennedys  of  Dunure  fled  to 
Lochaber  some  four  centuries  ago ;  his  name  was  Ulrick  or 
Walrick  Kennedy.  From  him  the  northern  Kennedys  are  called 
in  Gaelic  M'Ualraig  or  M'Uaraig. 

Henry,  "  Home-ruler,"  is  in  G.  Eanraig,  whence  the  Clan 
M'Kendrick,  Englished  also  as  Henderson. 

Ethel,  with  its  short  form  Al,  gives  such  names  as  Ethelfred, 
Ethelbert,  Ethelbald  ;  Alwin  or  Alwyn  is  the  name  in  the  Paisley 
charters  for  the  first  two  Earls  of  Lennox;  the  corresponding 
Gaelic  is,  of  course,  Ailin,  or  Allan,  a  name  of  very  different  origin. 
There  was  an  Old  Gaelic  Ailen  or  Ailene,  but  the  word  that  seems 
to  have  really  prevailed  was  the  Breton  Alan,  popularised  by  the 
early  Stewards.  It  seems  from  the  root  al,  cherish.  Albert  is  a 
late  importation,  "  Nobly-bright." 

19 


290  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Rod  or  Roy  glory  or  fame,  as  also  Lod,  Lud,  of  like  force,  were 
favourite  prefixes  in  names  :  Robert,  "Glorious  brightness;"  Roger, 
"  Glorious  spear ;"  Roderick,  "  Glorious  ruler  ;"  Rodolf  or  Rolf  or 
Ralf,  "Glorious  wolf;"  Ludwig  or  Ludovick  or,  through  French, 
Louis,  "  Famed  warrior,"  are  all  well  known  names.  The  Clan 
M 'Robbie  comes  from  Robert.  Boderick  is  made  to  do  duty  for 
Gaelic  Ruadhraigh,  "  Red-prince."  £t  is  true  that  Prof.  Zimmer 
has  more  than  once  declared  that  Gaelic  Ruadhri,  older  Ruadri, 
comes  from  the  Norse  Hrorekr  ( =  Hrofr-rekr,  Rod-ric) ;  but  how 
he  accounts  for  the  G.  d  in  Ruadri,  which  the  Norsemen  pro- 
nounced Rufrri,  he  does  not  say.  Fortunately  for  the  truth  of  the 
matter,  the  Norse  Hrorekr  has  left  descendants  in  southern  Scot- 
land. We  have  Margaret  M'Rerik,  in  Wigton,  in  1490  ;  Wm. 
M'Rerick,  Edinburgh,  1490;  a  M'Crerik  was  burgess  of  Wigton 
in  1579.  The  mac  was  also  dropped  :  Jo.  Rerik  de  Dalbaty,  1469 
and  1488  (afterwards  Redik  of  Dalbeattie) ;  Henry  Rerik,  Kirk- 
cudbright, 1501,  and  Fergus  Rerik.  The  borrowed  form,  which  is 
phonetically  what  we  should  expect  from  Hrorekr,  is  very  unlike 
Ruadhraigh  or  Rory  of  the  Gaelic. 

Some  elements  of  the  second  column  of  our  lists  come  first : 
Frederick,  "  Peace-ruler,"  diminutive  Fritz  ;  Gerald,  "  Spear- 
wielder;"  Richard,  "Hardy  king;"  Baldred  and  Baldwin,  which 
last  becomes  in  a  Gaelic  and  Scotch  pet  form  Baldy ;  and  Bernard 
(  =  Bern-hard),  "  Hardy  wolf." 

Gilbert  is  no  doubt  from  Gislebert  of  Domesday  Book,  meaning 
"  Bright-hostage."  Its  resemblance  to  the  G.  Gillebride,  "  Bridget's 
servant,"  ensured  it  a  permanent  place  in  the  Highlands  ;  its  pet 
form  Gibbon  was  an  especial  favourite  in  Perthshire  at  an  early 
date,  and  hence  the  Clan  M 'Gibbon.  Gibson  is  from  Gib,  the 
ancestor  of  Gibbon. 

Charles  is  from  the  Old  German  Karl,  originally  signifying 
"man,"  "goodrnan;"  the  Scotch  carle  is  the  same  word.  The 
modern  Gaelic  equivalent  is  Tearlach,  which  is  itself  of  native 
origin,  being  in  Middle  Gaelic  Toirrdhealbhach,  applied  to  Charles 
M'Lean,  the  ancestor  of  Dochgarroch ;  the  best  Gaelic  spelling 
then  should  have  been  Tairdhealbhach  or  Teardhalbhach,  Irish 
Tairdhealbhach,  Early  Irish  Toirdelbach,  "Well-shaped,"  from 
dealbh  and  the  prefix  tair,  "  over." 

Hugh,  as  it  stands,  means  "  intellect,  thought,"  but  the  older 
Hugo  shows  that  it  is  a  pet  form  of  a  compound  name  or  names. 
It  was  a  favourite  name  in  mediaeval  England  and  Scotland  ;  its 
pet  forms  were  Huet,  Hugon,  Hutchin  or  Scotch  Hucheon, 
Huggin.  Hence  our  northern  Hutchiesons  and  Hutchinsons.  In 


Personal  Names.  291 

Gaelic  was  a  name  i :  early  times  even  more  popular  than  Hugh 
in  England ;  this  was  Aodh,  earlier  Gaelic  Aed,  7th  century 
Aidus,  spelt  in  the  15th  century  documents  as  simply  Y.  It  was 
the  distinctive  name  of  the  Mackays  of  Sutherland  ;  in  fact, 
Mackay  is  M'Aoidh.  The  word  simply  means  "  fire  ;"  but  Pro- 
fessor Zimmer  maintains  that  it  is  a  pet  or  reduced  form  of  a 
double-stemmed  name,  such  as  Aed-gal,  "  Fire  of  Valour ;"  and 
this  may  be  true.  Csesar's  great  Gaulish  friends  and  foes  were 
the  Aeduij  "  men  of  fire;"  seemingly  they  were  the  first  Mackays  ! 
Unfortunately  for  Aodh,  it  was  in  the  Highlands  equated  with 
Hugh  ;  in  late  Gaelic  both  words  sadly  wanted  some  phonetic 
strengthening,  and  the  diminutive  of  Eng.  Hugh  offered  itself — 
Hutchin,  which  became  Gaelic  Huisdean.  Whether  the  Norse 
Eysteinn,  a  name  undoubtedly  common  in  the  Isles  under  the 
Norse,  helped  in  the  transformation,  it  is  at  present  too  early  to 
decide.  The  Latin  Austin,  which  in  the  17th  century  was  a 
favourite  rendering  of  Huisdean  of  Gaelic,  need  not  be  considered 
in  the  history  of  the  name.  Altogether,  the  evidence  points  to 
Huisdean,  the  supplanter  of  the  ancient  Aodh,  being  from 
Hutchin  or  Hucheon,  a  diminutive  of  Hugh.  Hence  the  Clan 
Mackay,  the  southern  Mackie,  M'Ghie,  the  North  Irish  Magee. 

Among  the  Celtic-speaking  peoples,  the  Gauls  and  the  early 
Britons  belong  to  the  same  stage  of  name-giving  as  the  Greeks. 
We  find  the  two  stems  in  full  welded  together  : — Teuto-mato-s, 
"  People's  good ;"  cf.  Irish  Tuathchar  (Touto-caro-s) ;  Catu- 
maros,  Macpherson's  Cathmhor,  "  Great  in  battle,"  W.  Cadfor ; 
Mori-rex  ( =  Mori-reg-s),  "Sea-king;"  cf.  Ir.  Muirchu  (  =  Mori-cuo, 
"  Sea-hound  ").  As  in  the  Teutonic  names  discussed  above,  the 
Brittonic  and  Gaelic  names  have  lost  the  stem  vowels,  and  are 
mere  stumps  :  Catu-  and  mdro-  against  G.  cat/i  and  mor.  Unlike 
the  Teutons,  however,  the  early  Irish  do  not  seem  to  have,'  to  any 
great  extent,  formed  new  names  by  using  these  "  stumps."  The 
names  which  we  meet  with  were  formed  at  the  time  when  the 
vowels  of  the  stems  still  existed ;  when,  in  fact,  the  first  element 
ended  in  a  thematic  vowel.  The  new  name-system  developed 
under  Christianity  debarred  the  Teutonic  "  stump  "  stage,  at  any- 
rate  in  any  appreciable  degree. 

Some  examples  of  Gaulish  and  early  British  names  may  be 
given: — (1)  Pure  double-stemmed  forms — Dubno-talus,  "World- 
brow,"  Argio-talus,  "  Silver-brow,"  the  reverse  of  the  Pictish  Talorg 
and  Talorgan  (whence  the  modern  place-name  Kiltarlity,  and 
possibly  the  Galwegian  clan  name  M'Lurg,  oldest  form  Maklurk) ; 
Epo-meduo-s,  "  Keen  about  horses,"  Epo-redo-rix,  "  Race-course- 


292  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

prince ;"  Viro-manduos,  "  Man-minding,"  Teutonic  Wer-mund,  Gr. 
Alexandros ;  Medu-genus,  "  Mead-born  "  ( =  Gr.  Dionysios,  and  0. 
Ir.  Mael-na-bracha) ;  Vasso-rex,  "  King  of  men  (serfs),"  Cluto-rix, 
0.  W.  Clotri,  "  Famed-king,"  an  Irish  Clothri,  Bitu-rix,  "  World- 
King,"  Orgeto-rix,  "King  of  slayers  ;"  Cuno-belinus,  "  High-bright- 
one  "  =  Cynibeline,  Cuno-barrus,  "High-headed,"  an  Irish  Conbharr 
as  it  were  ;  Cassi-vellaunos,  "  Elegantly-good,"  cassi  being  from  kad, 
fair,  and  found  in  the  German  Chatti,  now  Hesse,  Cassi-talos,  "  Fair- 
browed."  (2)  Prepositional  and  adverbial  compounds,  which  are 
common  also  in  Greek — Ande-com-bogios  ("  Hyper  co-breaker  "), 
the  prep,  ande,  before,  against,  and  com,  with,  Ande-camulos, 
"Hyper-Mars;"  Ate-bodvos,  "  Re-bellis  "  (Bodva  =  Bellona,  the 
war-goddess),  At-epo  (cf.  Gr.  Anth-ippos),  Old  G.  Aithech  ;  Ex- 
cingus,  "  Out  marcher,"  Ex-obnus,  "  Fear-less,"  a  Gaelic  "  Eas- 
uamhan-ach ;"  Ver-Cassivellaunus,  Ver-Cingetorix,  where  ver  =  super, 
Vor-tigernus,  "High-lord,"  Old  Irish  Foirtchern ;  Su-carus,  Old 
Breton  Hocar,  W.  Hygar,  G.  sochar-ach,  an  adjective.  (3) 
Diminutives  and  pet  names — Eppillus,  Medullus,  Catullus,  Condus 
(Ir.  Conn),  Condollius  (cf.  Ir.  Connla) ;  Camul-inus,  Carat-inus, 
Aged-inns  (cf.  G.  aghaidh,  face) ;  Sen-acus  (Ir.  Seanach,  sean,  old), 
Carat-acus  (Ir.  Carthach,  car,  dear)  ;  Divi-co  (deivo-s,  god),  Seneca, 
Boudicca,  G.  buadhach,  boidheach,  "  Victoria." 

In  meaning,  the  Gaulish  names  bring  out  the  same  ideas  as  the 
Greek  and  other  Aryan  peoples  who  adhered  to  the  Aryan  system 
of  names—  Religion  (deivo-  compounds,  Camulos,  "  Mars,"  Esus, 
Taranis),  War  (catu-,  bodvo-  as  Bodvo-gnatus,  "War-sprung"), 
Strength  and  Rule  (vellauno-  and  sego-  compounds  =  Teutonic  sig, 
-rix),  Fame  and  Name  (cluto-  compounds,  cuno-  "  high,"  cassi- 
fine),  Prosperity,  Property,  and  Goodness  (brig  or  "  burgh"  com- 
pounds, su-  and  dago-,  "  good,"  compounds).  Also  animal  names 
and  diminutives  or  compounds  therefrom  were  used :  Cattos, 
"cat,"  Artos  and  its  diminutives,  "bear,"  Luernios,  "Wolfish," 
Gabra,  "Goat  or  Horse,"  and  Gabrius,  Gabrillus;  Epaticus,  Epillos, 
from  epo-s,  horse.  The  dog  is  no  doubt  represented  in  the  many 
own-prefixed  names,  but  this  also  means  "high,"  and  it  is  impos- 
sible to  differentiate  the  two  meanings  in  the  resultant  forms. 

A  glance  at  .the  stock  of  roots  and  style  of  the  old  Brittonic 
names  is  of  interest  and  importance  as  bearing  on  those  of  the 
sister  Celtic  dialect  of  the  Gael.  We  take  the  most  important 
names  found  in  the  Old  Breton ;  they  have  been  compendiously 
gathered  together  in  M.  Loth's  excellent  "  Chrestomathie 
Bretonne,"  pp.  104-181.  The  roots  are  arranged  here  in  two 


Personal  Names. 


293 


columns,  as  were  the  Teutonic  ones,  the  first  column  containing 
stems  usual  as  prefixes,  the  second  stems  usual  as  suffixes  :-. — 


Anau,  inspiration 
Ar,  by,  G.  air 
Argant,  silver,  G.  airgiod 
Art,  bear,  so  G. 
Bresel,  war,  so  0.  Ir. 
Bri,  dignity,  G.  brigh 
Bud,  victory,  G.  buaidh 
Cat,  Cad,  fight,  G.  cath 
Cint,  Cent,  first,  G.  ceud 
Clot,  Glut,  famed,  Ir.  cloth 
Cc,  Co7n,  with,  so  Ir. 
Con,  Gun,  high,  Ir.  con- 
Dre,  Tre,  through,  G.  tre 
Drich,  aspect,  G.  dreach 
Dumn,  world,  G.  Domhn- 
Eu,  kind,  Tr.,  G.  Eo- 
Finit  (?) 

Gal,  valour,  G.  gal 
Gleu,  bright,  G.  gle 
Had,  generous 
Hidr,  Hird,  hardy,  W.  hydr 
Hin,  temper,  time,  G.  sian 
Ho,  Hu,  good,  G.  so- 
la rn,  iron,  G.  iarunn 
lud,  combat 
lunflunet,  light 
Loies,  Loes 

Mael,  chief,  0.  Ir.  mdl 
Maen,  stone 
March,  horse,  G.  marc 
Mat,  good,  G.  math 
Mor,  sea,  G.  muir 
Rat,  favour,  G.  rath 
Ri,  king,  G.  rigk 
Jtis,  rush  (?),  W.  Rhys 
Rit,  run,  G.  with 
Roiant,  Roen,  royal 
Sul,  from  Lat.  sol 
Tan,  fire,  Tanet,  G.  teine 
Tri,  three,  Fr.  tres,  G.  tri 
Tut,  folk,  G.  tuath 


-bidoe,  Gaelic  bith 

-bill,  Ir.  bil,  good 

-biu,  -uiu,  G.  beb 

-brit,  though t,W.  bryd 

-cant,  bright 

-car,  dear,  so  G. 

-ci,  -ki,  dog,  G.  cu 

-cum,  dear,  W.  cu,  G.  caomh 

-delu,  form,  G.  dealbh 

-deluoc,  shapely,  G.  dealbhach 

-detnuid,  felix 

-doithal 

-ganoc,  root  gen,  G.  gin 

-gen,  genus,  G.  gin 

-gnou,  -nou,  known 

-gost,  choice,  Ir.  -gus 

-hael,  generous 

-hitin,  -heten 

-hocar  =ho-car 

-hoiarn,  iron,  G.  iarunn 

-lioiam 

-laian,  religious 

-liuuet,  coloured,  G.  li 

-Ion,  full,  G.  Ian 

-louuen,  joyous,  G.  Ion 

-mael,  chief,  Ir.  mdl 

-man,  man 

-marcoc,  cavalier,  Ir.  marcach 

-ruin,  W.  min,  coast 

-monoc,  courteous 

-mor,  great,  G.  mar 

-tiern,  lord,  G.  tighearna 

-uual,  -wald,  W.  gual,  G.  -all 

-uualatr,  chief,  root  val 

-uuallon,  Gaul  -vellaunos 

-uualt,  cf.  -uual 

-uuant,  striking 

-uueten,  fighter 

-uuobri  =  uuo-bri 

-uuocon,  great,  =uuo-con 

-uuoion 


294  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Urb,  Ur,  Gaul  Verio-  -uuolou,  light 

Uueten,  fighter,  root  vie,  fight       -uuotal  =  uuo-tal,  brow 

Uuin,  white,  G.  Jinn 

Uuiu,  worthy,  G.  fiu 

Uuo,  Guo,  sub,  G.  fo 

Uuoet,  Uuod  =  *vo-ate 

Uuor,  Uur,  super,  Gaul.  Ver,  G.  Fer 

Uuoret,  helper,  =  uuo-rit,  G.  foir 

To  the  second  column  add  the  diminutives  in  -n  (-on,  -an,  -in)  and 
-c  (-oc,  -ic),  whence  comes  a  numerous  progeny  of  names. 

The  old  Gadelic  names  partake  of  the  same  features  as  are 
found  in  Greek,  Gaulish,  and  Old  Breton.  The  development  in 
the  direction  of  names  like  Cu-chulainn,  "Hound  of  Guiana,"  Mog 
Nuadat,  "  Slave  of  (the  god)  Nuada,"  and  Maol-coluim,  "  Shaveling 
of  Columba,"  must  be  treated  apart.  To  say  the  least  of  it,  it 
looks  non-Aryan,  and  therefore,  possibly  pre-Celtic,  the  latter 
being  Professor  Rhys's  view. 

The  development  of  diminutives  and  pet  forms  is  the  most 
remarkable  feature  of  the  names  which  we  meet  with  011  Gadelic 
ground  from  the  introduction  of  Christianity  onwards  to  the 
advent  of  the  Norse.  Adamnan's  Latin  even  abounds  in  dimin- 
utives of  ordinary  words — filiolus,  especially  the  vocative  filiole, 
"  sonny  !"  navicula,  viculus,  campulus,  rivulus,  versiculus,  lectuhis, 
monasteriolum,  <fcc.,  taking  it  at  random  at  the  end  of  Book  I.  The 
form  monasteriolum,  with  its  ecclesiastical  caress,  reminds  us  of 
the  use  of  mo,  my,  before  saints'  names,  which  found  vogue  at 
this  period,  usually  also  with  the  diminutive  -6c  at  the  end,  as 
Mo-cholm-6c,  "  My  Saint  Golum  or  Colman,"  Mo-ern-oc,  "  My 
Saint  Email"  (Kil-marnock),  Mo-laisi,  "  My  Saint  Lais-ren,"  &c. 

The  usual  diminutives,  practically  extruding  all  others,  are  in 
n  (-dn,  -in,  -Ine,  -e'ne),  and  6c  :  G>  -ag  and  -an.  True,  we  may  add 
stems  in  -io-,  0.  IT.  -e,  as  Bairre  for  Ban-find  ;  and  also  -ack.  The 
-6c  is  explained  as  an  agglutinate  of  oc  or  6ac,  G.  bg,  young ;  thus 
Aed-6c  meant  "  Young  Aed."  This  derivation  fully  explains  the 
accent  being  on  the  6,  that  is,  the  vowel  being  long  in  Old  and 
Modern  Irish.  The  diminutive  -dn  is  less  easily  explained.  Prof. 
Zimmer  has  equated  -dn  with  Greek  -on  ;  but  this  is  contrary  to 
Gadelic  phonetics.  No  unaccented  long  vowel  of  Celtic  or  Aryan 
times  now  or  in  Old  Irish  remains  long  ;  and  his  own  remarks 
about  G.  marcach  as  against  W.  marchawc  should  have  warned 
him  against  equating  -ow  with  -dn.  The  Celtic  termination  -dco-s, 
is  short  in  new  Gadelic  and  long  in  new  Brittonic.  So  -dn  is  from 
some  compensatory  lengthening  and  fairly  late  too  in  the  history 


Personal  Names.  295 

of  the  language.  There  is,  in  fact,  as  in  ceud  (for  centum),  a  con- 
sonant lost  before  the  n  of  -an.  The  Ogam  monuments  abundantly 
testify  that  this  is  g  :  thus,  Maolan  is  Mailagnas.1  The  -gno- 
or  -gnio-  is  from  the  root  gen,  beget,  Gr.  -yevTjs,  practically  meaning 
"  son  of "  or  "  descendant  from,"  its  English  analogue  being  -ing. 
Stokes  has  accounted  for  the  long  vowel  a  as  from  apo,  from,  which 
would  become  ao  or  a,  the  form  being  apo-gno-s,  descendant.  This 
theory  seems  unnecessary.  The  thematic  vowel  in  Celtic  com- 
pounds was  generally  o,  though  i  and  u  stems  usually  resisted 
assimilation  ;  in  the  later  Gaelic  period  this  final  o  was  becoming 
a ;  the  Ogam  monuments  prove  it,  and  modern  Gaelic  shows  the 
rule  consistently  carried  out,  even  accented  roots  in  o  becoming  a 
from  the  influence  of  succeeding  "  broad "  sounds.  Hence  Mail- 
agnas is  for  an  older  Mailo-gnos  ;  and  Mailagnas  naturally  becomes 
Mailan  ;  the  dropping  of  this  g  took  plnce  within  the  first  five 
centuries  of  our  era,  and  hence  the  sound  still,  though  unaccented, 
remains  long  in  0.  Irish.  It  is  short  in  Gaelic,  as  is  that  in  -6c, 
namely  -ag.  When  the  stem  ended  in  an  i  or  e  before  the  -gn-  or 
the  -gnio-  the  result  was  -ine  or  -in  and  -e'ne  or  -en  (Ben-igno-s  gives 
Ben-en  because  of  the  broad  o  or  a  at  the  end  ;  in  fact,  Benignus 
was  pronounced  Benegnas).  Sometimes  the  two  diminutives  were 
added,  -6c  and  an,  always  in  the  order  -oc-dn  (-uc-an),  and  the  -6c 
not  only  lost  its  length  of  vowel,  but  the  o  was  assimilated  to  the 
stem  vowel  of  the  main  root.  Hence  we  get  from  Old  Ir.  mace,  first 
diminutive  maccdn,  second  maccucdn ;  lutdn,  little  finger,  lutucdn, 
now  ludagdn ;  also  0.  Ir.  cride,  heart,  cridecdn,  which  would  in 
modern  G.  be  cridheagan.  Hence  come  proper  names  like  Aedacan, 
now  Aodhagan,  with  mac  becoming  M'Egan ;  Flanducan,  now 
Flaunagan  ;  old  Muirecan  (from  muir,  sea),  becomes  Muirigean, 
even  0.  Ir.  mail,  not  maol,  giving  Maellecan  and  becoming  Milligan 
in  Southern  Scotland. 

These  diminutives  stand  as  pet  names  for  double-stemmed 
names.  This  can  be  proved  in  two  or  three  striking  cases.  We 
are  told  in  one  of  the  saints'  lives,  and  also  practically  in  Adamnan's 
"  Columba,"  that  Bishop  Finnbarr  had  also  the  "  agnomen  "  Fin- 
nian ;  Finnian  was,  in  fact,  a  pet  form  for  Finnbarr  (Findbarr)  or 
"  White-head."  In  the  life  of  Finnian  or  Finden  of  Clonard,  we 
are  told  that  he  was  baptised  Finluch,  but  that  his  usual  name 
was  Finnian,  the  place  where  he  was  baptised  bearing  in  the 
writer's  time  the  name  "  Crux  Finniani "  or  Finnian's  Cross.  Here, 

1  Prof.  Zimmer  retorts  that  the  -agnos  of  these  Ogam  monuments  is  a 
learned  restoration  on  the  analogy  of  the  Latin  name  Benignus  (folk  Latin 
Benegnas),  which  in  Irish  was  Benen.  The  language  of  the  Ogam  monuments 
is  inflected  as  highly  as  contemporary  Latin  and  similarly  also. 


296  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

then,  we  have  Finnian  as  a  pet  form  for  both  Finnbarr  and  Finn- 
luch  ;  and  we  may  take  it,  as  Prof.  Zimmer  says,  that  Finnian  or 
a  like  diminutive  (Finden,  later  Finnen,  Gaelic  Finnean ;  or 
Findu,  *Vindons)  was  pet  form  to  all  compounds  beginning 
with  Finn,  now  Fionn ;  such  as  Findbarr,  Findloch,  Find- 
char,  Findchath,  &c,  Fintan  is  also  another  form  of  the 
diminutive,  later  Fionndan.  The  hardened  t  or  d  before  -an  may 
be  paralleled  by  the  same  phenomenal  in  Teutonic  and  Greek 
before  like  stems  and  in  like  contractions,  as  Teutonic  Sicco  for 
Sigbert  or  Sigerich,  Greek  Theokko  for  Theokles,  Theokrates,  <fcc. 
The  shortening  process  resulted  in  a  more  pronounced  strengthen- 
ing of  the  remuinLg  consonant.  So  Ir.  Tuatan  is  a  curtailed  and 
strengthened  form  for  Tuathal,  Tuathchar,  arid  Tuathghal  :  and 
Baitan  for  Baithloch  or  Baithgal,  more  modern  Baothghal, 
Baothlach,  Baothan. 

The  important  names  Findbarr  and  Barrnnd  must  claim  full 
treatment  in  all  their  forms.  Professor  Zimmer  maintains,  and  he 
is  no  doubt  right,  that  Findan  is  not  the  final  step  of  the  reduction 
or  curtailment  of  Findbarr ;  it  is  Find  or  Fionn  itself.  In  this 
way  he  can  explain  all  the  names  which  are  mere  adjectives, 
especially  those  of  colour  : — Find,  "  white  ; "  Dubh,  "  black  ; " 
Ruadh,  "red;''  Flann,  "red;"  Bonn,  "brown;"  Odhar,  "dun" 
(whence  M'Guire).  These  are  so  many  reduced  double-stems — 
the  last  stam  being  in  fact  dropped.  So  Aed,  fire,  is  reduced  from 
Aedgal,  Aedgen  or  Aedluch ;  in  O.Ir.  it  is  declined  as  a  -u  stem, 
exactly  the  same  as  the  word  aed,  fire.  Returning  to  Findbarr 
and  Barrfind,  we  find  that  the  former  shows  the  reduced  forms 
Find,  Findian,  Finnia,  Finnu  (*Vindons),  Fintan.  The  steps  may 
be  put  tabularly  thus,  ending  with  the  endearing  mo  forms  : — 

Vindo-barro-s. 

Vindons  (Vindos) :  Vindagna-s,  &c. 
Findu  '  :  Findan,  Fintan. 

Mo-Fhindu  :  Find. 

Munnu  or  Munna  :  Fionn 

And  so  we  arrive  at  St  Munn,  whose  other  name,  we  are  carefully 
told,  was  Fintan !  From  Munn  come  the  surnames  Munn  and 
M'Phun  (M'Mhunna).  In  the  case  of  Barrfind  we  shall  arrive  at 
the  explanation  of  another  saint's  name  no  less  puzzling : — 

Barro-vindo-s. 

Barrio-s : 

Bairre    :  *Barr6c, 

Mo-bharr6c. 

Moroc  (Maworrock). 


Personal  Names.  297 

And  hence  St  Moroc  or  Morack,  whence  the  parish  name  of 
Xilmorack :  the  Scotch  Moroc  and  Irish  Barrfind  are  identical 
linguistically,  and  are  so  by  their  festal  day,  being  both  on  the  8th 
November ;  they  are,  in  short,  the  same  person. 

A  selected  list  of  the  most  important  elements  that  go  to  form 
Old  Gaelic  compound  names  is  given  below.  The  list  is  in  alpha- 
betic order ;  the  elements  which  are  used  for  prefixes  have  a 
capital  initial  letter,  and  end  with  a  hyphen  if  not  used  inde- 
pendently as  a  reduced  form;  those  used  for  suffixes  have  a 
hyphen  prefixed.  Sometimes  the  same  word  can  be  used  both 
initially  and  terminally  ;  in  that  case  both  forms  are  given — 
initial  capital  and  initial  hyphen.  Early  Gaelic  forms  are  in 
italics ;  later  •  forms  are  given  in  ordinary  type ;  in  the  former, 
intervocalic  c,  t,  are  g  and  d  in  modern  times,  while  g,  d,  b,  and  m 
also  remain  unaspirated  in  Early  Irish. 

Aed,  Aodh,  "  fire."  Diminutives  :  -an.  -acdn  (whence  M'Egan), 
-6c,  -nat  (f.),  -ech.  Aed-gal,  -gen  (-gin),  -lug  (-luck).  Final : 
Cin-aed,  "Fire-kin,  Fire-sprung"  (whence  Kenneth  and 
M'Kenna,  but  not  M'Kenzie,  which  is  -from  Coinneach, 
Adamnan's  Cainnechus,  "  Fair  one"),  Lug-aed. 

-abair,  -abra,  "  eye-brow."     Find-alair,  Flann-,  Fiad-. 

-adach,  a  suffix  apparently.  Dun-adach,  Fer-,  Sluagh-  ("  Publi- 
cus");  but  Muiredach,  "lord,"  Muireadhach,  whence 
M'Vurich  and  Currie. 

Ael- :  Dim.  Ael-eocdn.     Ael-bran,  -chu,  -deith,  -geanan,  -gius,  -gbal. 

Aen-,  Aon-,  "  one,  unique."  Dim.  -an,  -agan.  Aen-gus,  "  Unique- 
choice,"  modern  Angus,  M'Ennes,  &c. 

Aer- :  -cath,  -laidh. 

Ail-  :  Dim.  Ail-eacdn,  -ene  (Adamnan's  Ailenus,  now  Allan  ?). 
Ail-be,  -erdn,  -ghius,  -gniad  (*Ali-gnato-s).  Ail-ill  (Ail-illan) 
is  from  Alp-illos  (Stokes)  1  Aili-thir=  "  Peregrin  us."  « 

Ainm-,  Anm-,  "  soul"  :  -cath,  -che,  -i-re  (g.  -reck),  "  Heart's  king." 

Air-,  Ir-,  "on"  :  -bertach,  -chinnech,  "praepositus,"  -echtach,  -ennan, 
-erdn,  -mir,  -galach. 

-aire,  "-arius"  :  Con-  (dog),  Loeg-  (calf). 

Aith-j  "re"  :  -be,  -che,  -chen  (-cen),  -ghein,  -nenn,  -recht.  Also  Eth- 
chen,  -ne  (f.). 

Ard-,  "  high,"  -cu,  -gal,  -gar. 

Art,  "bear."  Dim.  -an,  -agan.  Art-bran,  -corb,  -gal,  -ri,  -gus 
(Pictish). 

-ba.     See  -be. 

Bdeth,  Baoth»  "  simple,  foolish."  Dim.  -an,  -in,  -ene  (Adm. 
Baitanus,  Baitheneus),  -alach.  Baeth-gus,  -loch. 


298  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

-barr,  "  head."     Finn-,  Con-. 

-fo,  -ba,  *bio-&,  "living,"  root  bi,  live  :  Ail-,  Lug-. 

-bertach,1  "powerful,  rich"  :  Air-,  Eo-,  Flaith-. 

-bel,  mouth  :  Cei-r-bel,  "  Wry-mouth,"  Cearbhall,  Carroll,  whence 
M'Garroll. 

Be6-  "living."  Dim.  Beo-an,  Beo-tha.  Beo-gain,  -gna,  -aedy. 
-gnus. 

Bldth,  "flower,  Flora."  Dim.  Blaaif  Blath-mac,  Blaith-mec, 
"  Florentinus." 

Bodb,  Bodhbh,  Badhbh,  -bad,  *Bodvo-,  "  war,  slaughter,  war 
goddess,"  Bodhbh-chadh,  -ghal.  Cf.  Gaul.  Bodvo-gnatus, 
0.  W.  Arth-bodu  ;  G.  baobh.  Final  :  Cath-bad. 

Bran,  -bran,  "  raven."  Dirn.  -an,  -agan.  Bran-e/i?/,  -dub.  Art- 
bran,  Art-brandn  (Pict.). 

Bron,  "  sorrow."     Dim.  Bronach,  -chain. 

Caemh-,  "kind."  Dim.  -in,  -an,  -6c,  -oran,  -nech.  Caem-  comhrac, 
-gin  (-yen,  -gein),  -lack. 

Can-,  -can:  "sing."  Can-an.  But  -can  in  Find  -chan,  Bron-chain 
seems  a  derivative. 

Cath-,  -cath  (-cad},  "battle."  Dim.  -an,  -asach  (whence  Casey), 
-arnach,  -chan.  Cath-bad  ("""Catu-bodvos),  -air  ("^Catu-vir, 
Cathaoir),  -laid,  -mdl  (*-maglo-),  -mugh,  -nia,  -ub  ("  weapon"), 
-rae.  Final  in  Donn-,  Aer-,  Flann-,  Ini-  (*ambi-,  about). 

Caol,  "thin"  :  -an,  -6c.     Gael-  ba,  -chu,  -find,  -tigern. 

Car-,  -car,  "  love."  Dim.  Car-  thach  ( =  Caratacus) ;  Cairell  (Gaul. 
Carillus).  Cair-thenn.  Final :  Fer-  ("  Farquhar,"  super- 
dear),  Find-,  Tuath-. 

-certach,  "director,  ruler."  Muir-certach  (Ir.  Moriarty,  Sc. 
M'Murtrie,  M'Kirdie,  pronounced  in  G.  M'Urardaigh) — Norse 
Myrkjartag. 

Cell-,  -cell,  "warrior."  Dim.  Cell-ach  ("warrior,"  Norse- 
borrowed — Kjalakr,  whence  M'Killaig),  whence  O'Kelly, 
Kelly,  M'Kelly  ;  Cell-oc,  -an,  -achdn.  Final  in  Fin-cell,  Sin-. 

Cenn-,  -cenn,  "  head."  Cenn-eitig,  "  ugly  head"  (whence  Kennedy), 
-fada,  -salach  "dirty"  (Ua  Cennselaig,  Kinchela),  -gecan 
("goose"?),  -findan  (Gaul/  Penno-vindo-s,  "white-head"). 
Final :  Duib-cenn. 

Ciar-,  "  dusky."     Dim.  -an,  -6c,  -da.     Ciar-caille,  -mac,  -odar. 

Cloth-,  "famed,"  Gaul,  cluto- :  Der.  -ach,  "famous."  Cloth-ma* 
"  Famed-champion,"  -na,  -cu,  -rann  (f.). 

Cob-,  "  victory" :  Der.  -thach  (now  Coffy),  -fhlaith  or  -laith  (f.). 

1  Stokes  refers  this  to  the  same  root  as  Teutonic  lert,  bright. 


Personal  Names. 

-cobar,  "help";  Con-chobar,  "High-help"  (whence  Connor, 
O'Connor,  and  M'Connachers  of  Lorn  still  existent),  01-chobar, 
"much-help." 

Com-,  Comh-,  "  with"  :  Com-gan  (St  Comhghan,  Cowan,  M'Cowan), 
-gal  (whence  the  district  of  Cowal) :  -mem,  -moc,  -maig  (f.), 
-nat  (f.),  -seek  (f.),  -sid. 

Con-,  "  high,"  Gaul,  cuno-,  Teutonic  Hun-.  Con-chobar,  -aing, 
-all  (Conall  =  Cuno-valo-s),  -cand,  -cath,  -cenn,  -craid,  -cliath, 
-dal,  and  dalach,  -gal  (whence  Connel)  and  -galach,  -gus,  -mael 
or  mal  (Cuno-maglos),  -mac,  -nihach,  -odhar,  -laedh,  -ri  (-rach) ; 
-ing en  (f.). 

Conn,  "sense,"  "citizen"  (Jubahrville).  Dim.  -a  (Condios),  -egan 
(-ican),  -alach  (or  -*val-aco-s  ?),  -la  (Gaul.  Condollius).  Conri- 
achtach,  -adh,  -aith  (-aed  1),  -chadh,  -mhach,  -laedh. 

Cu,  ctL  "dog."  Dim.  Cudn.  Cu-allaidh,  Final:  Milchu, 
"  greyhound "  (also  pet  nominative  Miliuc),  Fian-chu,  Di-, 
Dobar-  ("otter,"  pet  form  as  common  noun  dobhrdn),  Glas-, 
Lomm- (Lomman) :  Bran-,  Cloth-.  Cf..Cua,  Cuanan,  Cuangus, 
Cuanna. 

-da,  participial  termination. 

-dal,  -dalach,  "assembly,"  "councillor."  Con-dal,  Con-dalach. 
Fear-.  From  Dalach,  "  councillor,"  comes  O'Daly,  Daly. 

Dearbh-,  "true."  Dearbh-ail,  "true-wish"  (f.),  -fhorgail,  "true- 
promise  "  (Dervorgilla). 

Deg-,  "  good,"  G.  deagh :  Deg-a  (*Deg-ios),  -itge,  "  prayer." 

Domn-,  Domhn-,  "  world  "  :  -all  (*Dumno-valo-s,  O.W.  Dumngual, 
" world- wi elder,"  whence  M 'Donald),  -gen,  -gart,  "Head  of 
the  World  "  (0.  Ir.  gart,  head,  W.  garth}. 

Donn,  -donn,  "brown,  lord."  Dim.,  -an,  -agan,  -abhan  (Donovan). 
Donn-cath,  or  -cad  (*Dunno-catu-s,  "  Warrior-lord  or  Brown- 
warrior"),  -cuan,  -gal  (whence  Donnelly),  -gus,  -lacha  (f). 
Final :  Each-donn  =  Eachunn,  Englished  "  Hector"  ("  Horse- 
lord.") 

Dub,  Dubh,  "black."  Dim.  -an,  -ogdn,  -da,  -neck,  -thach  (*Dubo- 
tdco-s,  Duffy).  Dub-aed,  -gen,  -cenn,  -conatt,  -cobhlaigh  (f.,  see 
Cob-laith),  -artach  (-bheartach  ?),  -ghilla,  -litir.  Final  =  Bran- 
dub. 

Dun-,  "  strong,"  a  short  form  of  dun,  fort  (or  dun,  mortal,  root  of 
duine,  man?).  Dim.  -adach.  Dun-chu,  -cath  or  cad  ("Strong- 
warrior  =  Duno-catus  of  the  Ogams  ?),  -gal,  -laing  (g.  linge), 
-sech  (f.). 

Ech-,  Each-,  horse :  -donn  (Eachunn  "  Horse-lord : "  hence 
M'Eachan),  -marcach,  -ri,  -tigerna  ("Horse-lord,"  whence 
M'Echern,  M'Kechnie).  Cf.  Echen. 


300  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

Ere,  *Er<jo-,  *Er<Li-,  Pictish  Erp,  "  brisk  "  (W.  erf,  brisk  ?)  :  -lack, 
-I any,  -nat.  Stokes  makes  Der-erce  mean  "  Daughter  of  the 
Sun." 

Eo-,  "kind,"  *evo-,  O.W.  Eu-,  Gaul,  am-  (?),  Gothic  awi-;  cf.  Ogam 
gen.  Eva-cattos,  which  seems  =  Eochaid,  g.  *Eochada).  Hence 
Eo-chaid  (g.  Ech-dach,  which  is  a  different  name  :  *Eqo- 
dec-os);  Eo-gan,  Ewen  (cf.  Eu-gjjriius),  -laing  (Ogam  Evo- 
lenggi,  explained  by  Rhys  as  "  long-lived,'*'  but  his  evo-  would 
not  suit  the  phonetics  of  G.  Eo-}.  Eo-dhus  for  Eo-ghus  1 

Faet,  wolf :  Fael-dn,   'sael-cliath,  -char,  -gus  ;  also  Faol-chii. 

Fer-,1  "  super,  man."  Der.  Fer-adach,  Fer-cair,  Fear-char  ("  Dear- 
man,"  Farquhar,  M'Erchar,  Farquharson),  -corb,  -dalach,  -gil 
(from  gel ?),  -gair,  -gen,  -gna,  -gus  ("Super-choice"  or  "Choice- 
man").  Genitive  or  late  compounds:  Fer-domnach  ("Church- 
man "),  -fesa  ("man  of  knowledge  "),  -graidh  ("love"). 

Fcth-,  "breeze"  (?),  -dn,  -aid,  -ain;  -chu,  -gna,  -mech. 

Fiach,  Feck-,  raven.  Dim.  Fiacc,  Fiach-a,  -ach,  Fechin.  Fiach-na, 
-ra  (Adm.  gen.  Fechreg,  "  Raven-prince"). 

Fian-,  "  heroic,  Fenian,"  Fian-amail,  "  Hero-like,"  -cil,  -qalach,  -gus. 

Fid-,  Fidh-,  "wood,"  "wit"  (?).  Fid-an,  Fidh-airle,  "wood-council" 
(from  lots,  &c.?),  -abhra,  -bhadhach  (^bodvacos),  -cellach 
(-gellach),  -gaile,  -gus,  -muine. 

Fin-,  "  shining."     Fin-dn,  -be,  -chell,  -shnechta  (Stokes). 

Find.  Fionn,  "  white."  Dim.  Finn-i,  -io,  -idn  (G.  Finnean,  whence 
M'Lennan  =  M'Gille-fhinnein),  -en, -tan, -toe  (G.  M'lll-fhionn- 
daig,  M'Lintock,  Dean  of  Lismore's  M'Gillindak),-agan,  -chan. 
find-beo,  -abair,  -cath,  and  -caddn,  -cu,  -cua,  -gen  or  guine 
(*Vindo-gonio-s,  "  Fair-born,"  whence  M'Kinnon  =  M'Fhionn- 
ghuin)  -lug  or  -Inch  (g.  Loga  or  lochd),  -mac,  -shneachta,  -che  (f.), 
-*edt  (f.).  The  Scotch  name  Finlay,  in  1020  Findlaech  (father 
of  Macbeth),  means  Fair-hero;  the  -laech  is  now  laoch,  a 
borrowed  Latin  word.  It  seems  to  be  a  popular  rendering  of 
Find-lug.  The  Norse  also  etymologised  it  in  rendering  it  as 
Finn-leikr  "Finn's  diversion,"  a  termination  common  in 
names.  Hence  M'Kinlay,  Finlayson. 

Flaitk-,  -flaith,  "dominion."  Flaith-bheartach  "Dominion-bearing" 
(Flaherty,  M'Larty),  -chua,  -gheal,  -amail,  -chins  (  =  gus), 
-nia  or  niadh,  -lemh,  -ri.  Final  (in  female  names)  :  Cob- 
fhlaith,  Dun-,  Gorm-  (G.  Gormla),  Tuath-. 

1  Dr  Stokes  makes  Per-  always  =  Fer,  super,  but  it  is  clearly  "  man"  in 
many  canes.  In  Gaelic  fcr  =  ver  ought  to  preserve  the  following  consonants, 
as  for  does. 


Personal  Names.  301 


Flann,  "red."     Dim.  Flann-an,  -agan  (Flannagan). 
-cath  (M'Fhlanncadha  =  Clancy),  -gus,  -gal. 

-gal,  "  valour."  Aed-,  Ad-,  Ard-,  Art-,  Baeth-,  Comh-,  Con-,  Doiin-, 
Dun-,  Fer-,  Flann-,  Gorm-,  Lear-,  Muir-,  Reacht-,  Saer-, 
Tuath-,  Uar-,  Uath-.  Also  -galach  in  several  cases  =  "  valorous," 
Dun-gha.lach,  Con-galach,  Ir-galach,  &c. 

-gel,   -geal,   "  white."      Flaith-gheal,   Muir-gel  (f.,  Scotch   Muriel, 
''  "Sea-white"). 

-gan,  -gen,  -gon,  -guine,  *geno-s,  *gono-s,  *gonio-s,  "kin  of,"  Gr. 
-yev-rys.  Aed-gin  or  -gen,  Caemh-,  Comh-,  Dub-,'  Fer-,  Find-  or 
Fionn  and  Fin-  (cf.  G.  Ceara-ionn,  "  White-head"  for  single  n, 
and  Brenann  for  Brendan). 

Gorm-,  "blue:"  -an,  -fhlaith  (f.),  -gal,  -gilla,  -gialla,  -leaghaidh. 

-gus,  "choice,"  Lat.  gustus,  Eng.  choice.  Aengus  (G.  Aonghus, 
"  Angus"  =  "  Unique  choice"),  Con-,  Donn-,  Fael-,  Fer- 
(•'  Super-choice"  or  "  Choice-man,"  now  in  M'Fhearghuip  or 
M'Fhear'uis,  "  Fergusson  ;"  Pictish  Forcus  is  the  same,  from 
for,  "  super").  Also  later  -gheas,  -cius,  -ghius. 

lar-,  "after,  post."     lar-laithe,  -lugh. 

Laid-  (  =  Laith),  Laidh-,  -laid,  "  warrior,"  E.Ir.  laith,  Gaul  -latis  (?) 
Laid-cenn  or  Laidhgeann,  -gnen,  -beartach.  Aer-laidh,  lar-. 

Ler,  Lear,  "  sea."     Lear-banbhan  ("  sea-pig"),  -gal,  -gus,  -than  (f). 

Lass-,  Lassair,  "flame."  Dim.  Lasse,  Mo-Laisse  (G.  St  Molais, 
whence  the  place  name  Lamlash),  Lassre  (f.),  Lassar  (f.), 
Lassren.  Lassar-fhina,  "Wine-flame"  (f.) 

Leth-,  "half  :"  -aithech,  -lobhair  ("Half-leper,"  now  Lawlor). 

Lug-,  Lugh-,  -Inch  (-loch,  -lach),  g.  -loga,  "  winning,  the  god  Lug"  — 
the  art  and  culture  deity  of  the  Gael.  Norse  Loki.  Dim. 
Lug-dn,  -e,  Mo-lua,1  Mo-luoc  (Scotch  Moluai?),  -aid  (Lugudius 
of  Adamnan).  Lug-aed,  -be  or  -ba,  -cell,  -crith  (Lucrid,  *Lugu- 
qritis),  -na,  -roth,  -tigern  (Luch-thigern),  -sech  (f.).  Caemh- 
lach,  Boeth-,  Find-lug  (Finn-lack,  &c.),  Ness-  ("weazel"), 
Noem-  ("  holy).  An  old  gloss  gives  lug  the  meaning  of 
"laoch,"  hero.  It  also  means  "little,"  a  modern  lugh,  G. 
lugha,  less  ;  with  an  Irish  form  lu  also.  Stokes  derives  the 
king's  name  Lulach  (Book  of  Deer  gen.  Luldig)  from  lu, 
little,  suggesting  "little  calf"  as  the  force.  It  is  possibly 
Lug-laech,  "little  hero"  or  "Lug's  hero."  Hence  M'Lulaich, 
Englished  as  M'Lullich,  and  at  times  M'Culloch,  a  different 
name  really. 

Mac-,  -mac,  "  son"  :  Mac  as  a  prefix  means  "  young,"  and  goes 
adjectivally  before  many  nouns  :  Macnia,  "young  champion  ;" 

1  Stokes  interprets  this  name  as  "  My  kick." 


302  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Mac-clerech,  "young  cleric,"  &c.  Cor-  (for  Corb-)  mac, 
Cormac,  "Chariot-son,"  "Charioteer,"  whence  M'C.orinick; 
Blath-raac,  Find-,  Ciar-. 

Mdl-,  "  prince"  (*Maglo-s),  confused  with  Mael-,  "  shaveling," 
-mdl,  niael,  Mael-mordha,  "  Great  prince"  (Englished  in 
Middle  Ages  as  Myles  =  to  Maol-moire,  "  Mary's  slave"),  -dub, 
-odar,  which  both  may  be  "  shaifeling."  Cat/i-  mdl,  -mad 
(whence  M'Cavell,  M'Cambil,  Con-  (*Cuno-maglo-s,  "High- 
chief").  Mdel-diiin,  "  Lord  (Slave  ?)  of  the  Fort,"  belongs  to 
the  mad  and  cu  system  of  name-giving  ;  hence  Irish  Muldoon. 

Mid,-  mith,  "  mead"  (?).  Mid-a,  -u,  -nat  (f.) :  -abair,  -aighre, 
-ighen,  -gus,  -ran.  The  famous  name  Meave  or  Mab  comes 
from  *Medva,  root  medu-  mead  :  "  Mead-goddess,"  Gaul. 
Meduna.  Final :  Fedd-mid,  Phelim. 

Mog-,  Mug-,  -mugh,  -niach,  "servant,"  0.  Ir.  mug,  slave,  g.  moga. 
•  Mog-aid,  -ain  (f.).  Cath-mugh,  Conn-mhach.  Mugh-ron 
rather  belongs  to  the  cu  names;  it  means  "Seal's  slave;" 
from  it  comes  M'Morran  of  Argyle  and  Southern  Scotland. 

Muir-,  "  sea."  Dim.  and  der.  :  Muir-ecan  or  -igen.  Muir-chath 
(*Mori-catu-s,  "  Sea- warrior,"  G.  Murchadh,  whence  the  sur- 
names Murchie,  M'Murchie,  Murchieson),  -ceartach  ("  Sea- 
director"  ;  see  under  ceartacJi),  -geal  (Scotch  Muriel),  -gus 
(-gius,  -chius,  -gheas,  whence  Irish  Morissy),  -gal,  -chii. 

-no,  for  *-gnio-s,  "  descended  from,"  "  belonging  to."  It  is  practi- 
cally a  diminutive.  Cloth-na,  Fiach-,  Lug-.  The  -gna  in 
Fergna  (Adm.  Virgnous)  is  for  gndvos,  "known." 

-nia,  -niad,  "  champion."  Cath-nia,  Cloth-,  Mac-,  Reacht-.  Niall 
is  a  diminutive  ;  see  next  word. 

Niall,  "  champion."  Niall-an,  -bran,  -gus.  From  Niallghus  comes 
the  name  M'Neilage  (for  the  ge  terminal  compare  M'Ambrois, 
giving  M'Cambridge  and  M'Phetruis  —  Petrus  —  giving 
M'Fetridge  ;  and  vulgar  Scotch  rubbage  for  "  rubbish"  and 
Irish  carcidge  for  "  carcase"). 

-ra,  g.  -rack.     See  -ri.     Fiach-ra.     Also  -rae. 

Reacht-,  "  right,"  -an,  -abra,  -gal,  -nia. 

-ri,  g.  -reck,  "  king."  Art-ri,  Each-,  Flaith-,  Ruad-,  Cath-rae 
(Gaul.  Catu-rix).  Flaith-ri  is  also  Flath-roi  and  Flath-rae. 
Ainmire  is  "  Soul-prince,"  g.  Ainmirech. 

Ruad,  "  red,  strong."  Ruad-dn,  -acdn,  -ri  (whence  G.  Ruadhraigh, 
M'Rory). 

Ro-,  "  very."  Ro-bartach  (see  bertach),  -dub,  -techtach.  Roi-bne, 
-gne. 

Saer-,  "free,"  -bhearg  ("soldier,  marauder"),  -brethach  ("judging"), 
-gal,  -gus,  -mugh. 


Personal  Names.  303 

Sin-,  -an,  -6c,  -u,  -che  (f.),  -ech,  -ell,  -chell. 

Seek-,  "secus,  past,"  -nail  or  -lainn  (  =  Lat.  Secundinus,  which 
translates  it),  -nasach  (whence  Shaughnessy),  -tan. 

Sen-,  "  senior,"  -an,  -ach,  -6c,  -chan  ;  Sen-berech,  -cad. 

Sued-,  "nit,"  -airle,  -bran,  -cest,  -gus,  -riaghail. 

£o-,  Su-,  "good,"  -adbar  ("reason"),  -barthain,  -dalach,  -delb  (f., 
"  Fair-form  "),  -chla  (clti,  "  fame  "  =  "  famous  "),  -i-chell,  -bhen 
(f.),  -bhartan.  Su-  arlech,  "Good-councillor,"  -bach,  "joyous," 
-bhtan,  -ibsech  (f.,  *su-bio-s-,  " glad-one  "),  Suibne,  "Sweeney" 
(Adm.  Suibneus,  from  So-ben-io-s,  root  ben  as  in  foirfe,  perfect ; 
it  means  "Good-going,  Good-one"),  whence  M'Queen. 
The  opposite  of  Suibhne  is  Duibhne,  whence  O'Duinn. 

-thach,  a  termination  =  -tdcos  :  Cob-,  Dub-,  Car-. 

Tigern-,  -tigern,  "  lord."  Tigern-dn,  -ach.  Ech-tigern,  Foir-tchern, 
Lug-. 

Tuath-,  "people,"  -an  (" Publicus "),  -al  (*Tonto-valo-s,  O.W. 
Tutgual,  Ir.  O'Toole,  ToOle),  -car,  -gal,  -laith  (^fhlaith,  f.). 

Possibly  the  excessive  use  of  animal  names  may  be  taken  as  a 
departure  from  the  purity  of  Aryan  nomenclature.  We  saw  that 
Professor  Zimmer  regarded  the  simple  name  Lukos,  "  Wolf,"  as  a 
reduced  name,  from  some  double-stemmed  form.  Even  then  the 
early  Gaels  show  an  extra  fondness  for  such  names,  more  so  than 
the  Teutons.  The  favourite  animal  is  the  dog,  or,  rather,  the 
hound  ;  its  importance  for  the  chase — and,  therefore,  as  a  food 
provider — may  account  for  this.  Somebody  has  suggested  con- 
nection between  this  extraordinary  dog  cult  and  the  Iberic  people 
called  by  Herodotus  and  the  other  early  historians  the  Kunetes 
("  Dog-people  "  or  "  Highlanders  "  ?),  a  people  in  Western  Spain, 
which  Irish  legend  always  claims  as  the  source  of  the  race. 
Unfortunately,  the  root  cun  not  only  means  "dog"  but  also 
"  high,"  and  it  is  impossible  to  differentiate  which  it  is  in  the 
resultant  names.  Thus  in  the  British  name  Conglas  or  Cynlas, 
the  Cuno-glasus  of  Gildas,  the  usual  explanation  is  that  it  is  from 
cuno-,  high,  and  that  it  thus  means  "  Highly-grey  ;"  but  Gildas 
himself  tells  us  the  true  and  sensible  meaning  of  the  combination, 
for  he  translates  it  as  "  lanio  fulve  "  or  "  tawny  butcher,"  where 
the  lanio  refers  to  the  "  hound  "  root  cun.  Similarly,  Gaelic  Conan 
is  to  be  explained  as  "  little  hound,"  not  as  "  little  high  one." 
The  name  appears  on  Ogam  inscriptions  as  Ounigni,  Cunegni, 
whence  the  latter  names  in  early  Ir.  Coinfn,  W.  Cynin,  while  Ir. 
Conan  comes  from  Cunagnas,  to  which  W.  Cynan,  Cinan  may  be 
compared. 


304  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

The  dog  names  themselves  are  numerous.  Besides  cu,  which 
is  rarely  used  alone,  there  are  its  diminutives  Corian,  Coinin. 
"  Whelp  "  appears  in  Cuilean,  E.  Irish  Culen,  a  favourite  Scottish 
King's  name,  translated  Catulus  and  Caniculus.  The  best  Irish 
form  is  Coilean,  and  we  may  suspect  that  the  Gaelic  Christian 
name  Cailean,  M.  G.  Cailin,  Englished  as  Colin,  is  from  some 
dialect  form  of  this  word  prevalent  in  Menteith  and  Perthshire  in 
the  thirteenth  century.  It  is  hence  the  Campbells  brought  it, 
and  that  date  is  rather  early  to  think  of  the  Eng.  Colin  as  being 
introduced  and  borrowed.  Compounds  with  cu  are  Branchu, 
"  Raven-dog,"  Faol-chii,  "  Wolf-dog,"  Mil-chii,  "  Grey-hound " 
(literally,  "Beast-dog"),  Fian-chii,  "Fenian-dog"  or  "Hunting- 
dog,"  Di-chu,  Glas-chu  and  Onchii,  "leopard."  The  Dobarchu, 
Mac  Dobarcon  in  the  Book  of  Deer,  literally  means  "  Water-dog," 
and  is  applied  to  the  otter ;  its  modern  Gaelic  form  is  dobhran,  a 
"pet"  reduction  of  the  longer  name,  as  Professor  Zimmer  well 
points  out.  Another  dog  name,  also  a  favourite  in  the  early 
Highlands,  was  madadh,  the  older  matad  or  maddad.  This  was 
the  name  of  the  Earl  of  Athole  in  the  early  twelfth  century,  who 
was  father  of  Earl  Harald  of  Orkney,  called  by  the  Norse  Harald 
Madda#ar-son.  The  diminutive  Matudan  is  also  common  (whence 
the  Irish  surname  Madden);  it  appears  in  the  Book  of  Deer  as 
Matadin,  and  it  is  no  doubt  the  same  name  we  have  in  the 
Norse  Moddan,  sister's  son  to  the  enigmatical  King  Karl  Hundason 
(King  Duncan  1)  of  the  Sagas.1 

Besides  the  dog,  there  are  of  other  domestic  animals  the  horse 
or  goat  as  Gabhran,  famed  in  Scotch  history  as  the  father  of 
Aedan,  Columba's  friend.  The  ox  gives  the  diminutive  Daimen, 
Adamnan's  Daimenus  ;  Daimhin  was  son  of  Cairbre  Damh-airgiod 
in  560,  and  this  last  name  and  epithet  are  in  the  Macdonald 
genealogy.  0'  Gamhna,  "  0'  Stirk,"  is  in  the  Book  of  Kells,  and 
L6eg  ("  calf,"  now  laogh\  was  Cuchulainn's  charioteer,  while 
Loegaire  ("  calf-tender")  is  not  merely  a  heroic  but  a  kingly  name ; 
it  was  in  Loegaire  or  Leary's  time  that  Patrick  came  to  Ireland. 
Serrach  or  "  Colt"  is  a  common  and  early  name,  whence  the  Irish 
clan  names  O'Sherry  and  M'Sherry.  Orcan,  Muccin,  and  Banbau 
prove  the  popularity  of  the  pig  among  the  Irish  in  the  days  of  the 
saints.2 

1  No  doubt  this  is  King  Duncan,  and  possibly  Karl  is  a  translation  of  the 
first  part  of  the  name,  dun-  being  regarded  as  "  man." 

•  The  Galwegian  surname  M'Culloch,  which  appears  in  the  13th  century 
as  Maculagh,  must  be  from  cuttach,  boar,  as  their  own  traditions  assert,  a 
Crusader  ancestor  having  the  boar  as  an  effigy  on  his  shield. 


Personal  Names.  305 

Outside  the  range  of  domestic  animals,  we  have  the  bear  and 
the  wolf  well  to  the  front,  as  among  the  neighbouiing  Teutons. 
The  bear  is  mathghamhuinn,  the  math  stirk,  whatever  math 
ultimately  is.  Hence  the  name  Mahon,  M'Mahon,  early  and  late ; 
our  northern  Mathesons  are  M'Mhathain  or  Mathanaich  in  Gaelic. 
The  wolf  isfael  or/ao/;  it  is  the  diminutive  faeldn  that  gives  the 
personal  name,  whence  our  M'GuT  Fhaolain  or  M'Lellan  and  Gil- 
fillan.  A  man  of  wonderful  ancestry  was  slain  in  Ireland  in  1051. 
He  was  Faelan,  son  of  Bradan,  son  of  Breac  "  Wolfie,  son  of 
Salmon,  son  of  Trout  (or  Grey)."  Another  name  for  the  wolf  was, 
if  we  trust  the  glosser,  sigheck,  or,  to  spell  it  properly,  sithech. 
The  namo  is  in  the  Book  of  Deer  as  (Mac)  Sithich,  and  the  female 
name  Sitheag,  was  well  known  in  the  late  middle  ages  and  during 
the  witch  prosecutions.  Hence  we  have  M'Shithich  or  M 'Keith 
and  Keith,  and,  no  doubt,  M'Kichan.  Hence,  too,  the  Irish 
Sheehy.  The  cat,  or  wild  cat  rather,  for  there  was  no  domestic 
cat  at  that  time,  appears  in  the  names  of  priests  ordained  by 
Patrick  :  Cat  and  Catan  (Catus,  Catanus  in  the  Book  of  Armagh) ; 
and  there  were  two  saints  Cattan.  The  Clan  Chattan  derive  their 
name  from  an  early  ancestor  styled  Gille-chatain  or  "  St  Cattan's 
gillie."  The  cat  people  lived  in  Sutherland  and  Caithness,  and 
have  left  their  name  there  :  G.  Cataobh,  "  Sutherland,"  and  Caith- 
ness, the  Norse  Katanes  or  Ness  of  the  Cats.  The  fox  gave  three 
names :  Loarn  or  Lorn,  the  Gaulish  Luernios,  the  Lovernios  and 
Lovernacos  of  two  Welsh  inscriptions,  discussed  above ;  Crim- 
thann,  a  favourite  old  king's  name  ;  and  Sionnach.  "  The  Fox  " 
was  the  official  name  of  the  O'Caharny,  chief  or  king  of  Teffia,  in 
Westmeath  and  Kilkenny,  even  as  late  as  1526,  when  M'Eochagan 
and  "  the  Fox  "  made  a  famous  covenant  in  Gaelic,  still  preserved. 
The  badger  gave  name  to  several  saints  under  the  diminutive  form 
of  Broccan.  The  weasel,  even,  was  utilised :  we  have  Ness, 
Nessan,  and  Ness-lug.  There  seems  to  have  been  a  river  goddess 
Ness  (root,  ntd,  wet,  Ger.  netzcn),  mother  of  Conchobar,  called 
hence  Conchobar  Mac  Nessa,  who  ruled  Ulster  in  the  heroic  days, 
about  the  year  one  of  our  era.  The  river  Ness  derives  its  name 
also  hence.  Whether  the  weazel  or  the  river  goddess  is 
responsible  for  the  personal  names  is  doubtful ;  likely  the  weazel. 
Beasts  of  the  chase  are  represented  by  the  famous  name  of  Oisin, 
our  Ossian,  which  denotes  a  "  little  deer "  or  os  (  =  Eng.  ox). 
Older  forms  are  Oissene  (Adm.  Oisseneus),  Ossan,  with  a  female 
form  Ossnat.  The  name  Segein  or  Segene  is,  no  doubt,  from  s^r, 
a  deer,  or  seig,  a  vulture  (*segi-) ;  the  name  Sege"ne,  with  seg, 

20 


306  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

short,  is  from  seg,  strength  (Teutonic  sig,  victory,  Greek  Hector), 
whence*  Gaul  Sego-maros,  Gaelic  seagh-mhor. 

Of  bird  names  we  have  first  Cailech,  cock,  which  is  on  the 
Ogmic  monuments  as  Caliaci ;  it  is  now  coileach  in  G.  Enan 
(tndn)  is  from  en,  bird;  likely  also  Enda  (enda),  "bird-like." 
Faeland,  "  gull,"  is  a  female  saint's  name.  The  names  Bran  and 
Branan,  and  the  various  compounds  of  jfach,  raven  (Fiacc,  Fiachra, 
<fec.),  have  already  been  discussed.  The  saint's  name  Columba, 
meaning  "  dove,"  appears  to  have  been  originally  borrowed  from 
Latin  ;  it  is  now  in  its  diminutive  form  of  caluman  or  caiman  the 
only  Gaelic  word  for  dove.  Hence  the  G.  personal  name  Calum, 
the  surname  M'Caluim,  Eng.  M'Callum.  Names  of  sea  and  water 
animals  are  not  numerous  in  name-giving.  Bradan,  the  son  of 
Breac,  has  already  been  mentioned ;  and  M'Bradain  is  the  modern 
Gaelic  of  the  name  Salmond.  There  were  several  saints  of  the 
marne  of  R6nan  or  "little  seal"  in  the  6th  to  8th  centuries. 
Adamnan  mentions  "  Ronanus  films  Aido,"  a  tigerna  of 
Oriel,  and  his  own  mother  was  Ronnat  ( =  R6n-nai).  The  pet 
form  Mo-Ronoc  gives  us  the  parish  name  of  Kilinaronock.  Dorb- 
ene,  or  the  "Tadpole,"  was  the  scribe  of  the  oldest  MS.  of 
Adamnan's  "Columba;"  he  died  in  713.  He  spells  his  name  as 
Dorbbeneus.  Even  insects  have  been  utilised  :  the  daol  or  beetle 
was  seemingly  a  favourite  :  Daol  Ulad,  "  Beetle  of  Ulster  :"  Daol- 
ghus,  "  Choice-beetle  ;"  with  this  compare  Sned-gus  and  the  other 
compounds  from  sncd. 

Hitherto  we  have  dealt  with  names  that  show  Aryan  descent 
and  have  Aryan  exemplars  elsewhere  in  Europe  as  in  India. 
Names  such  as  Cu-chulainn,  Mog-Nuadat,  and  Nat-Fraich,  which 
mean  respectively  "  Hound  of  Culaun,  Slave  of  (the  god)  Nuada, 
Champion  of  (the  demigod)  Fraoch,"  belong  to  a  different  name- 
system  from  that  which  we  have  discussed.  Naturally  Biblical 
parallels  occur  to  us  :  Obed-edom,  "  Servant  of  the  god  Edom," 
Ebed-melech,  "  Servant  of  Moloch,"  Ben-hadad,  "  Son  (worshipper) 
of  Hadad,"  Ariel,  "Lion  of  El  (God),"  Gabriel,  "Hero  of  El." 
The  Hebrew  use  of  words  denoting  kindred  (son,  father,  brother, 
uncle),  with  either  proper,  common,  or  abstract  nouns  is  on  all 
fours  with  the  use  of  mac  in  Old  Irish,  and  also  the  colour  names 
dubh  and  donn.  The  name  Absalom,  "  Father  of  Peace,"  is  parallel 
to  Dub-sithe,  "Black of  Peace"  (whence  M'Phee) ;  Barsabas,  "Son 
of  the  Sabbath  (born  on  the  Sabbath)"  may  be  equated  with 
Mac-na-h-oidhche,  "  Son  of  the  Night."  The  Irish  names  are  not 
modelled  on  the  Semitic  names,  for  the  best  specimens  of  these 
names  are  earlier  than  Christianity.  Some  of  these  genitive  com- 


Personal  Names.  307 

pounds  contain  undoubted  god  names.     Mog-Nuadat,  "  Slave  of 
Nuada,"  shows  the  £od  name  Nuada,  a  deity  common  to  Ireland 
and  Wales  ;  Mog-Neit  meant  the  "  Slave  of  the  war  goddess  Neit," 
for   such    we    know    her    to    have    been.      Nia-Segamon    means 
"  Champion   of  Segam,"  and  this  was  the  name  of  the  Gaulish 
Mars,  the  dative  of  which  in  Gaulish  is  Segomoni.     The  Druid 
Mog-Ruith  (3rd  century)  had  his  name  from  some  "  wheel  of  light 
or  fortune,"  for   it  means  "  Slave  of  the  Wheel."     Mog  appears 
with  such  other  names  as  Art,  Corb,  Dorn,  and  Lama.     The  last 
two  no  doubt  mean  "  Slave  of  the  Fists  and  Slave  of  the  Hand," 
and  the  latter  reminds  us  of  the  Scottish  Dewar  of  the  Hand  of 
St  Fillan,  one  of  that  Saints'  four  relics  guarded  by  the  mediaeval 
Dewars.     A  lap-dog  of  the  second  century  had  the  name  of  Mug- 
eime,  "  Slave  of   the  Haft,"  because  it  had  gnawed  the  haft  of  a 
valuable  knife.     Corb  appears  as  a   man's  name  once  or  twice  in 
more  or  less  genuine  historic   literature,   though  one  is  apt  to 
regard  it  in  its  literal •  sense  of  "Chariot."     Adamnan  has  Neth- 
corb,  "  Champion  of  Corb ;"  there  are  besides  Art  Corb  and  Mes  or 
Messin  Corb  ("  Bear  and  Lap-dog  of  Corb")  as  well  as  Fer-Corb 
(Corb's  Man),     lo  these  add  Nat-Fraich,  Nia  Febis,  "Champion 
of  the  heroine   Febis,"  Fer  Tlachtga  and  Fer  Ceirtne  (so  Prof. 
Rhys).       The  reason    of   the    above-noticed   departure    from    the 
Aryan  name  system  must  lie  in  the  fact  that  a  non-Celtic  and  non- 
Aryan  people  formed  part  of  the  population.     In  fact,  these  names 
belong  to  the  name  system  of  the  pre-Celtic  inhabitants  of  Ireland. 
With  the  introduction    of    Christianity  a  new   expression    of 
service  was  coined  from  the  tonsure  practised  by  the  priests.     The 
adjective  mael  or  maol,  bald,  was  used  as  a  noun  to  denote  "  bald 
one,  slave,"  the  Latin  of  which  was  calvus.     So  Mael-Patraic  is  in 
Lat.  Calvus  Patricii.     A  change  also  took  place  in  the  personages 
to    whom    dedication    or   service    was    made  ;    the  saints  of   the 
Christian  Church  took  the  place  of  the  old  pagan  deities,  demigods 
and   genii.     There  is  only  one  mael  name  in  Adamnan  ;  that  is, 
Mailodranus.     This  shows  that  in  the  sixth  century  the  saints  had 
not  been  long  enough  dead  to  be  thoroughly  canonical.    Mailodran, 
Slave    of    Odran,    Coluniba's   friend,    was  a    contemporary    of  St 
Adamnan's,    though   of   an    earlier    generation.     The  number   of 
names  made  by  mael  with  a  saint's  name  in  the  genitive  thereafter 
was  nearly   as  numerous  as  the  saints  themselves  ;  the  number 
recorded  is  large.     As  in  Scotland  mael  gave  way  within  the  last 
five  hundred  years  to  gille,  only  one  or  two  cases  of  its  use  remain. 
First   is  Malcolm,  the  Eng.  form  of  Mael-cholaim,  "  St  Columba's 
slave  ;"  its  place  even  was  usurped  largely  by  Gille-colaim,  and 


308  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

now  the  Gaelic  of  the  name  is  Calum.  Maol-isa,  "  Slave  of  Jesus," 
gave  the  Eng.  Malise  (whence  Mellis  as  a  surname),  and  it  has 
practically  lasted  till  the  present  time ;  so,  too,  with  Maol-moire, 
"  Mary's  Slave,"  which  is  Englished  as  Myles.  The  likeness  of 
the  aspirated  form  of  mad  and  gille,  that  is,  vaol  and  yille,  or,  in 
genitive,  with  the  initials  off,  aoil  and  ille,  make  it  difficult  to  say 
which  has  given  a  certain  Mac  surname.  Thus  the  Black  Book 
of  Taymouth,  for  the  16th  century,  writes  generally  M'Olchallum, 
M'Oldonuich,  and  M'Oulroy,  forms  which  in  the  case  of  M'Oldon- 
uich  stand  for  M'Mhaoil-domhnaich,  from  Maol-domhnach,  "  Slave 
of  the  Lord  or  Church"  =  Calvus  Dominicus,  and  in  the  other 
two  cases  may  be  for  M'Mhaoil-cholaim  and  McMhaoil-ruaidh. 

As  has  been  said,  gille  in  Scotland  usurped  the  place  of  maol 
in  the  last  few  centuries.  Gille  is  not  so  early  in  use  as  maol 
among  the  Irish.  Its  floruit  begins  in  the  10th  century,  and  it 
has  firm  hold  in  the  llth  century  and  thereafter.  Prof.  Zimmer 
maintains  that  it  is  a  Norse  word,  and  that  originally  it  was  used 
by  or  for  the  Norsemen  instead  of  maol.  There  is,  however,  no 
such  Norse  word  as  gillr  or  gildr  denoting  "servant;"  the  word 
gildr  denotes  "stout,  brawny,"  Eng.  guild,  Aug.  Sax.  gilda,  fellow, 
the  latter  coming  near  the  meaning.  It  is  useless  to  argue  as 
Prof.  Zimrner  does,  when  the  Norse  does  not  show  the  word 
actually  and  actively  in  use  and  of  like  meaning. 

Besides  maol  and  gille,  there  are  further  used  as  prefixes  fer 
and  mac  (der,  daughter),  and  possibly  older  than  any  of  these  is 
cu,  hound.  The  peculiarity  of  prefixed  cu,  maol,  and  mac  is  their 
use  with  abstract  and  material  nouns.  In  Gaelic,  mac  often 
renders  an  abstract  noun  into  a  material  one :  Mac-mollachd, 
"son  of  curse  "=»"  cursed-one,"  Mac-leisg,  "son  of  laziness,"  Mac- 
talla,  "son  of  the  Rock "  =  " echo "  =  Ir.  mac-alla,  Mac-na-bracha, 
"son  of  the  Malt  "  =  "Whisky"  =  Ir.  Mac-e6rna,  "son  of  Barley," 
Mac-na-croiche,  "son  of  the  gallows,"  Mac-na-h-eild',  "son  of  the 
hind  "  =  the  stag ;  with  Mac-samlaidh  or  Mac-sainhuil,  "likeness, 
examplar,"  may  be  placed  the  Irish  Mac-leabhair,  "copy  of  a  book." 
Mac-na-maoile,  "son  of  the  baldness,"  has  done  duty  for  M'Millan; 
in  fact  it  is  the  only  name  given  the  clan  in  the  M'Lagan  MSS. 
Mac-na-cearda,  "son  of  the  craft"  (  =  craftsman  =  tinker !),  may 
be  compared  to  the  epithet  given  to  Cu-chulainn,  viz.,  Cii-na- 
cerda,  beside  Cii-nan-cless,  "  Kound  of  the  feats."  But  Mac-na- 
cearda,  with  its  meaning  of  "tinker,"  Scotch  "tinkler,"  has 
landed  in  the  English  form  of  Sinclair  in  Argyle  by  a  well-known 
law  of  Gaelic  eclipsis.  On  the  extremely  physical  and  earth-born 
character  of  these  early  names  Dr  Whitley  Stokes  says  in  his 


Personal  Names.  309 

"  Martyrology  of  Gorman"  : — "[There  is  the]  occurrence  of  names 
such  as  Ler  erce,  'daughter  of  the  sun,'  Macliacc,  'son  of  a  stone,' 
Mac  caerthainn,  'son  of  a  mountain  ash,'  which  seem  to  have  been 
handed  down  from  primeval  savagery.  So  Circe  was  daughter  of 
Helios  [the  sun],  the  Oneidas  and  Dacotos  claim  descent  from 
stones,  and  the  Dryopes  were  a  race  of  men  born  of  ash-trees." 
To  names  of  the  above  kind  add  Mac-cuilinn,  "son  of  holly,"  Mael- 
craeibhe,  "slave  of  a  tree,"  Der-caerthainn,  "daughter  of  rowan," 
Fraech,  "heath,"  Leccan,  "little  flagstone,"  not  to  mention 
Lassar,  "  flame,"  or  even  Aed,  "  fire."  The  name  M'Tyre,  of  Paul 
M'Tyre,  a  Ross- shire  worthy  of  the  14th  century,  is  easily 
explained  when  we  know  that  mac  tire  in  Irish  means  "  wolf,"  son 
of  the  soil  !  Finally  the  two  great  names  of  Mac-beth  and 
Mac-rae  get  their  natural  and  historical  explanation  from  these 
ideas  :  they  are  both  personal  or  Christian  names,  not  surnames. 
Mac-raith,  "  son  of  grace  or  prosperity,"  that  is,  "  Favoured  one," 
appears  first  in  448,  and  there  are  several  persons  of  that  name 
mentioned  in  the  annals  in  the  9th  to  llth  centuries.  The 
Scottish  genealogies  of  MS.,  1467,  &c.,  show  the  name  used  as 
in  Irish  (Mac  Mec-raith,  for  instance)  as  a  Christian  name,  and  it 
is  found  as  such  in  the  Paisley  Charters  and  in  Carrick  in  the 
llth  and  12th  centuries.  As  a  clan  name  its  earliest  appearance 
is  in  Ayrshire  and  southern  Scotland  (M'Craith).  The  northern 
M'Raes  belong  to  the  M'Kenzie  clan  group.  Macbeth  appears 
often  in  Ireland  and  Scotla-nd  in  the  1 1th  and  12th  centuries  ;  it 
means  "  Son  of  life  "  ( =  Lively  one),  and  has  practically  the  same 
force  as  its  contemporary  names  of  Beathan  (Bethdn,  *Bitatagna-s, 
from  the  root  of  bcatha,  life  ;  compare  for  meaning  Ang.  Saxon 
Lifing  and  Living,  whence  the  Scotch  place  name  and  surname 
Livingston),  and  Beathag  (Beth6c).  From  these  come  the  clan 
names  M'Bean  and  M'Beth,  which  last  is  in  Gaelic  M'Bheathaig  as 
applied  to  the  Applecross  and  Caithness  M'Beths,  practically  the 
only  members  of  the  clan  existent.  fn  Perthshire  the  name 
M'Beth  was  rendered  into  M'Beathaiu,  where  there  has  always 
been  a  considerable  sept  of  M'Beans  or  M'Veans.1 

Mad  with  abstract  and  material  nouns  is  also  common.     Mael- 
umha,  "  Slave  of  Bronze"  (d.  606),  Mael-bracha  and  Mael-medha, 

1  The  name  Lachlan  may  have  originated  in  a  similar  way.  The  word  in 
its  earliest  form  is  Lochlann  and  Mac  Lochlainn ;  this  is  the  name  for 
Scandinavia,  and  possibly  one  of  the  northern  O'Neills  was  baptised  M'Loch- 
lainn  or  "  Scandinavian,"  and  latterly  the  personal  name  Lochlann  was  hence 
deduced.  Dugall  means  "  Bfeck  gall"  or  foreigner  =  Dane  (whence  M'Dougall 
and  M'Dowal).  Fingall,  "  Norse-man,"  that  is,  "  Fair  gall"  was  the  name  of  a 
King  of  Man  about  1070.  Compare  Norman  (= North-man)  for  G.  Tormoid-. 


310  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

"  Slave  of  Malt,  of  Mead,"  Mael-fiona  ("  of  wine"),  Mael-tuile  ("  of 
flood"),  Mael-cluiche  ("  of  play"),  Mael-corghas  ("of  Lent,"  that  isr 
one  boni  in  Lent),  Mael-mocheirighe  ("of  early  rising"  =  Lat. 
Manilla),  Mael-snechta  ("snow"),  Mael-choisni  ("winning"),  &c. 
With  adjectixes  there  are  Mael-dubh,  Mael-odhar,  Mael-caich 
("blind"),  Mael-deid  ("holy,"  but  -d6id  seems  to  mean  "hand"1?) 
The  name  Mael-anfaid,  "  Slave  of  storm,"  appears  in  the  seventh 
century  and  afterwards;  it  is  also  found  in  the  1467  MS.,  in  the 
Genealogy  of  the  Camerons,  as  an  alternate  name  for  Donald  Du's 
father,  and  also  as  that  of  his  ancestor  six  generations  further 
back.  In  fact.  Mailanfaid  was  the  son  of  Gillroid  Camshroin,  "  G. 
the  wry-nosed,"  whence  the  race  have  their  name.  Later,  with  the 
usual  displacement  of  mae.l  by  gille,  Mael-anfhaidh  appeared  as 
Gill'-onfhaidh,  whence  M'Lon'aidh,  or  Englished  as  M'Lonvie  and 
M'Gillony,  a  sept  of  the  Camerons. 

The  word  cu  does  not  go  along  with  saints',  or  indeed  personal, 
names,  but  its  range  otherwise  is  wide.  It  is  used  with  abstract 
and  material  nouns  and  with  local  and  tribal  names.  Possibly  god 
names  may  have  been  its  objects  in  early  times  :  Cu-chulainn, 
"  Culann's  Hound,"  for  instance,  and  the  enigmatical  corb  in 
Cii-corb.  With  tribe  and  place  names  we  have  Cu  Cuailgne,  Cu 
Ulad  (Ulster),  -connacht,  -midhe  (Meath),  whence  M'Namee, 
-Breatan  ("of  the  Britons").  With  general  nouns  of  place  there 
are  Cu-mara,  whence  M'Con-mara  (M'Namara),  -snamha  (swim- 
ming, M'Kinnawe),  -sl&bhe  ("  hill"),  -glinne  (glen),  -locha  "  lake," 
-letrach  (hillside),  -lena  (mead),  -coigriche  (of  the'  province, 
foreign,  translated  by  Peregrinus)  -criche  (bounds),  -cathrach 
(town),  &c.  With  adjectives — Cu-allaidh,  -dubh,  -diiiligh  (hopeful), 
-caech,  to  which  add  Cu-cen-mathair,  "  Mother-less  Hound"  (date 
664)  !  With  abstract  nouns — Cu-gaela  (kin),  -cuimne  (memory 
=  Cu-cuinnech,  "mindful  hound"),  -catha  (battle),  -sithe  (peace), 
which  last  two  along  with  Cuduiligh  are  in  the  M'Lean  genealogy 
given  by  the  Irish  MSS. 

Compounds  with/cr,  man,  and  der,  daughter,  are  fewer — Fer- 
da-chrich,  "  Man  of  two  bounds,"  Fer-fugill,  "  Man  of  judgment," 
Fer-fesa,  "  Man  of  knowledge  ;"  Fer-domnach  and  Fer-corb  are 
already  discussed.  Der  appears  in  Der-lugdach,  "Lugaid's  der," 
Dar-belein,  Dar-bile  ("  of  a  tree"),  while  Der-caerthainn  and  Der- 
cuilain  are  already  explained. 

The  most  extraordinary  development  of  this  late  Gadelic  name- 
system  falls  now  to  be  noticed.  Either  on  the  analogy  of  maol, 
bald,  or  from  some  secondary  force  attached  to  colour  adjectives, 
as  when  we  are  told  that  donn  means  "  lord"  and  ruadh  means 


Personal  Names.  311 

"  strong,  lord"  ( =  the  strong  colour  ?  cf.  Lat.  robur,  strength),  two 
or  three  of  the  colour  adjectives  are  u«ed  as  nouns  much  in  the 
same  way  as  maol  and  mac.  In  Gaelic  legendary  lore  the  witch 
Dubh-ghiuthais,  "  Black-one  of  the  Pines,"  who  destroyed  the 
Caledonian  fir  forests  by  raining  fire  on  them,  is  a  well-known 
figure,  and  so  is  Liath-ghiuthais  (from  Hath,  grey).  Similarly  in 
the  period  from  600-1000  in  Ireland  names  with  dubh  and  donn 
followed  by  a  genitive  abound.  First,  we  have  dubh  with  names 
of  places,  general  or  proper :  Dubh-dothra,  "  Black  of  Dodder"  (a 
river),  date  738  ;  Dubh-tuinne  (wave),  -droma  (ridge),  -duin  (fort), 
-sleibhe  (hill),  -innsi  (island)  ;  especially  with  da  or  "  two" — Dubh- 
da-bhoireann  (2  rocks),  -da-enrich  (2  bounds),  -da-bharc  (2  barks), 
-da-dos  (2  tufts),  da-inbher  (2  confluences),  -da-ingean  (2  daughters), 
-da-lethe  (2  sides),  -da-locha  (2  lochs),  -da-thuile  (2  floods).  With 
more  or  less  abstract  and  material  nouns  there  are  Dubh-slaine, 
"  Black  of  surety,"  Dubh-cuilinn  (holly),  and  Dubh-sithe,  "  Black 
of  peace,"  whence  the  Scotch  Dnbh-shith  or  Dn'-sith.  both  as  a 
name,  and  as  a  patronymic  in  M'Dhubhshith  or  M'Phee  (M'DufFy, 
M'Haffie).  Dubside  was  rector  of  lona  in  1164.  It  is  similar  with 
donn,  brown  (or  "lord");  we  have  Donn-boo,  "Brown  (lord)  of 
Cows,"  Donn-cuan  (harbours  or  dogs?),  Donn-sleibhe,  "Brown  of  the 
Hill."  This  last  is  an  old  and  popular  name  both  in  Ireland  and 
the  Highlands ;  in  Ireland  it  latterly  appears  as  Donleavy 
(Dunlop),  and  in  the  Highlands  its  use  as  a  Christian  name  died 
out  in  the  sixteenth  century  (Downsleif  Makcure  of  Ulva,  1517), 
but  as  a  surname  it  continues  in  vigorous  use  in  the  form  of 
M'Leay  (G.  Ml-An-lJi'),  sometimes  Englished  as  Livingston. 
There  is,  of  course,  no  etymological  connection  between  Livingston 
and  M'Leay  ;  it  is  the  slight  resemblance  of  the  initial  part  of  the 
names,  together  with  the  fact  of  the  Livingstons  having  land  on 
the  Highland  frontier,  that  caused  the  equation  of  the  one  name 
with  the  other. 

Epithets  have  forme-i  a  most  important  element  both  in  the 
formation  of  Christian  r.ames  and  surnames.  The  Aryan  double- 
stem  names  are  mostly  epithetic  in  origin.  Later  epithets  became 
names  also,  and  ni(  st  persons  of  any  consequence  had  in  olden 
times  an  epithet,  which  epithet  was  not  always  complimentary. 
A  striking  example  of  how  an  epithet  developed  into  a  personal 
name  is  given  in  the  history  of  the  name  Cearbhall,  the  modern 
Carrol  (M'Carole,  16th  century,  now  M'Garrol).  The  name  first 
appears  as  the  epithet  of  Fergus,  son  of  Conall,  a  warrior  of  St 
Patrick's  time,  called  Fergus  Cerrbel  or  "Fergus  Wry-mouth." 
His  son  Diarmat  became  monarch  of  all  Ireland  (539-558),  and 


312  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

was  known  to  Adamnan  and  the  historians  as  Diarmat  son  of 
Cerrbel  (Adm.'s  genitive  is  Cerbulis).  The  name  was  a  favourite 
in  the  9th  and  10th  centuries,  spelt  Cearbhall  in  the  Middle 
Irish  records  and  written  Kjarvalr  in  the  Norse  sagas.  May  we 
not  point  to  two  similar  names  in  Scotland  which  became  sur- 
names ?  Campbell,  the  13th  century  Cambell,  1540  MS.  Cam- 
bel,  is  clearly  a  Scotch  equivalent  of  Cerrbel ;  it  stands  for  Cam- 
bel.  The  idea  that  the  name  Campbell  comes  from  Campo-bello 
is  founded  on  a  historical  fallacy  ;  the  ^>rder  of  these  words  was 
Bello-canipo,  producing  the  later  Beauchamp  or  Beecham.  Again, 
the  name  Cameron  in  the  Highlands  was  originally  an  epithet 
denoting  "  Wry-nose  ;"  it  is  so  stated  by  the  1467  Gaelic  MS.,  and 
the  writer  lived  within  two  or  three  generations  of  the  Wry -nosed 
one  that  must  have  given  his  nickname  to  a  clan  wrho  had  nothing ' 
awry  with  their  courage,  if  their  noses  were  not  always  straight. 
The  Camerons?  of  the  Lowlands  are  so  named  fiom  place  names 
called  Cameron,  of  which  there  are  or  were  three — near  Edin- 
burgh, in  Fife,  and  in  Lem.ox. 

Another  epithet  that  developed  into  a  surname  was  Cenn- 
salach,  "dirty  head  !"  Another  contemporary  of  St  Patrick's  was 
Endae  Cendsalach  (later  Cendselach  and  Cennsealach).  The  name 
gave  the  tribal  one  of  Ui  Cinnselaigh,  in  Wexford,  whence  the 
surname  Kinsela  ! l  Another  personal  name  in  ceann  that  must  at 
first  have  been  an  epithet  is  Kennedy  ;  its  earliest  appearance  is 
in  the  ninth  century,  and  it  is  common  thereafter.  It  is  spelt 
then  Cend-eitig,  showing  the  long  e  of  e'itig,  and  thus  proving  it  to 
be  a  late  combination — in  short,  an  epithet.  Like  cend-salach,  it 
has  no  complimentary  force ;' it  means  simply  "Ugly-head!" 
Kennedy  was  father  of  the  famous  King  Brian  Boru,  who  fell  at 
Clontarf  in  1014.  The  name  appears  in  Ayr  and  Galloway  early ; 
Gillecrist,  son  of  Kencdi,  in  1222,  and  John  M 'Kennedy  is  "Captain 
of  the  Clan  of  Muintircasduff  in  the  reign  of  David  II.  Without 
the  mac  it  becomes  the  surname  of  the  powerful  family  of  Cassilis, 
lords  of  Carrick  ;  the  first  of  the  noble  family  of  Cassilis  and  Ailsa 
appears  in  the  years  1214-1249  as  Gillescop  Mac  Kenedi,  seneschal 
of  Carrie,  and  his  descendant  next  century  married  the  heiress  of 
the  family  called  "  de  Carrick,"  at  the  same  time  dropping  the 
niac  and  calling  himself  simply  Sir  John  Kennedy  of  Dunure. 
A  name  so  characteristically  Celtic  naturally  found  a 
second  home  in  the  Highlands,  where,  as  *ve  saw,  owing 
to  some  original  Ulrick  or  Ualgharg,  they  are  locally  known  as 

1  Compare  the  name  of  Glun-salach,  "  Dirty-knee,"  the  name  of  a  saint 
(cir.  800),  who  had  been  a  notorious  brigand. 


Personal  Names.  313 

M'Uaraig,  at  least  in  Lochaber  "and  vicinity.  Cennfota,  "  Long- 
head," was  a  Pictish  name,  while  Fergus  Cennfata  shows  it  as  an 
epithet  in  early  Christian  days.  Cenn-faelad  is  a  name  like  Mac- 
con,  "  Dog's  son,"  or  Mael-uma,  "  Brass-slave  ;"  it  means  "  Wolfs 
head"  (from  faelaid,  a  wolf,  shorter  faol).  It  was  a  favourite 
name  in  Ireland,  whence  came  O'Cinnfhaelaidh  and  Kinealy ;  in 
Scotland,  especially  in  Ayr  arid  Galloway,  we  have  M'Neillie  in 
plenty  from  the  fifteenth  to  the  seventeenth  century,  that  is, 
M'Kinealy  curtailed. 

Epithet  surnames  were  adopted  early  on  the  borders  of  the 
Highlands  and  Lowlands.  Thus  we  early  (15th  century)  meet 
with  Bain,  "  fair,"  Duff,  "  black"  (also  Dow,  which  is  confused 
with  the  Scotch  Dow  for  Englich  Dove),  Roy  "  red"  (the  Scotch 
Reid  exactly),  Dunn,  "brown,"  Keir,  "  dusky,"  Reoch  or  Riach, 
"brindled,"  Begg,  little,  Moir  and  Ogg  of  the  Aberdeen  borders 
from  mor  and  by  ("big,  young"),1  Orr,  "dun"  (odhar),  and  others. 
A  favourite  epithet  within  the  Highland  borders  was  gorm,  blue  ; 
but  it  has  left  no  trace  of  itself  in  that  form,  though  the  absurd 
name  of  Blue  no  doubt  represents  it  rather  than  M'Ghille-ghuirm, 
which  now  translates  it.  "White"  and  "Black"  are  now  repre- 
sented in  Gaelic  by  M'llle-bhain  and  M'llle-dhuibh  (Gille-ban  and 
Gille-dubh,  "  Fair-lad,  Black-lad"),  which  were  undoubtedly  Gaelic 
Christian  names  ;  but  the  practice  is  possibly  not  old,  and  the 
Highland  Whites  and  Blacks  are  as  likely  to  be  descendants  of 
some  Iain  Ban  or  Donal  Dubh  as  to  t.  ave  a  patronymic  like 
M'llle-bhain  or  M'llie-dhuibh  really  originating  the  name. 

A  favourite  feudal  way  of  designating  a  man  was  by  his  estate. 
The  great  earldoms  soon  gave  rise  to  a  crop  of  cadets  bearing  their 
land  name  with  or  without  the  de  (of),  and  these  junior  branches 
again  often  fell  back  into  the  commonality  as  so  many  poor  tacks- 
men  or  crofters  known  as  being  by  descent  either  Ross,  Moray,  or 
Sutherland.  County  names  also  spread  without  titular  con- 
nection :  thus  in  Cupar  Abbey  Chartulary  one  or  two  tenants  are 
first  named  as,  say,  John  of  Fife,  that  is,  John  from  the  neigh- 
bouring county  of  Fife  ;  but  a  little  later  they  or  their  descendants 
became  simply  John  Fife.  Pollock,  a  name  that  was  early  intro- 
duced into  the  Inverness  district,  is  from  the  name  of  a  property 
near  Glasgow  ;  the  first  owners  were  De  Pollock.  Highland  semi- 
feudal  names  of  this  sort  are  as  early  as  the  war  of  Independence : 
Colquhoun,  Buchanan,  Drummond,  Blair,  Calder,  Urquhart,  Loch, 

1  The  favourite  Aberdeen  Mill  or  Milne  may  be  mixed  Gaelic.  We  have  in 
Petty  in  1502  John  Myill,  whose  name  in  Gaelic  means  "  John  the  Bald,"  but 
evidently  through  time  it  would  become  Mill. 


314  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Craig,  Tulloch,  and  to  the  south  Knox  (c»oc,  hillock,  Adam  of 
Knokkis,  1425).  It  must  be  said  that  this  was  not  a  Celtic  way 
of  naming  or  surnaming  even.  The  Irish  named  their  districts 
after  the  tribes  and  not  the  other  way.  Cataobh  and  Gallaobh 
(Sutherland  and  Caithness)  attest  to  this  on  Scottish  ground; 
and  such  expressions  as  Duthaich  'Ic-Aoidh  for  the  Reay  Country 
attest  to  the  vitality  of  the  national  habit. 

Trade  and  professional  names  give  a  large  supply  of  surnames, 
but,  unfortunately,  they  have  usually  been  translated  into 
English.  "  Smith  "  hides  many  a  native  Gow,  though  the  latter 
still  flourishes,  and  has  flourished  since  the  days  of  the  famous 
Gow  Crom  of  Perth  immortalised  by  Scott.  Baird  and  Caird  are 
early  Gaelic  surnames  (lard,  ceard,  "  bard,  craftsman ")  that  find 
a  Lowland  setting;  while  the  Crerars  and  Dewars  kept  more 
within  the  Highland  borders  (criathrar,  sievwright,  debradhy 
pilgrim,  religious  person  in  charge  of  relics).  The  name  Sinclair 
is  responsible  for  many  a  Highland  Tinkler  (Mac-na-cearda). 
With  patronymic  forms  we  have  Mackintosh  (toiseach,  chief), 
Macbrayne  (brehon,  judge),  M'Gown  (Smith),  M'Intyre  (wright), 
M'Gruther  (brewster),  not  to  mention  the  ecclesiastical  mac  and 
mac-less  surnames. 

Of  course  the  Gaelic  surname  system  is  the  patronymic.  The 
clan  names  took  definite  shape  in  the  15th  century,  and  though 
individuals  had  no  surnames  even  as  late  as  last  century,  it  can  be 
easily  seen  that  the  surname  was  there  ready  to  hand  in  the  clan 
name  of  the  district  to  be  assumed  or  appropriated,  if  not  justly 
one's  own,  whenever  occasion  demanded,  as,  for  instance,  the 
leaving  of  the  district  did  demand,  when  the  national  wars  of  the 
17th  and  18th  centuries  called  the  Highlanders  to  arms. 

Appended  is  an  index  of  the  Scotch  and  Irish  personal  names 
discussed  in  the  foregoing  pages  : — 

Aeneas,  287  Cameron,  311  Crerar,  314 

Alexander,  280  Campbell,  280,  311  Currie,  297 

Alfred,  289  Carroll,  298,  311  Daly,  299 

Allan,  289,  297  Casey,  298  Dewar,  314 

Angus,  279,  281,  297,  301     Charles,  290  Donald,  279,  280 

Archibald,  279,  289  Chattan,  305  Drummond,  313 

Baird,  314  Colin,  304  Dugall,  309 

Beathag,  309  Colquhoun,  313  Duncan,  *81 

Bethoc,  309  Columba,  306  Ellen,  287 

Blair,  313  Coyle,  286  Farquhar,  298,  300 

Brown,  281  Connel,  299  Farquharson,  300 

Buchanan,  313  Connor,  299  Fergus,  279,  300 

Caird,  314  Cormac,  302  Fergusson,  301 

Calder,  313  Cowan,  299  Finlayson,  300 

Calum,  306,  308  Craig,  314  FKherty,  300 


Personal  Names. 


315 


Flannagan,  295,  301 
Gibbon,  290 
Gibson,  290 
Gilbert,  290 
Gilfillan,  305 
Gillespie,  289 
Gow,  314 

Hector,  280,  287,  299 
Henderson,  289 
Henry,  289 
Hugh,  290 
Huisdean,  291 
Hutchieson,  290 
Hutchinsou,  290 
John,  280 
Keith,  305 
Kelly,  289 
Kennedy,  312 
Kenneth,  297 
Kinealy,  298 
Kinsela,  312 
Knox,  314 
Lachlan,  309 
Livingston,  281,  309,  311 
Loch,  313 
Lorn,  305 
Mahon,  305 
Malcolm,  280,  307 
Malise,  308 
Matheson,  305 
Mellis,  308 
Milligan,  295 
Muiriel,  301.  302 
Munn,  296 
Murchie,  302 
Murchieson,  302 
Myles,  308 
MaeAlister,  281 
MacAskill,  288 
Mac  Bean,  309 
MacBeth,  280,  309 
MacBradan,  306 
MacBrayne,  314 
MacCallum,  306 
MacCambill,  280,  302 
MacCambridge,  302 
MacCavell,  286,  302 
MacConnacher,  299 


MacCorcodale,  288 
MacCormick,  302 
MacCorkle,  288 
MacCowan,  299 
MacCrerick,  290 
MacCulloch,  280,  301 
M'Donald,  280,  299 
M'Dougall,  309 
M'Dowal,  309 
M'Duffy,  311 
M'Eachan,  299 
M  'Echern,  299 
M'Egan,  295,  297 
M'Erchar,  300 
M'Fetridge,  302 
M'Garrol,  298,  311 
M'Gibbon,  290 
M'Gillony,  310 
M'Gown,  314 
M'Gregor,  287 
M'Guire,  296 
M'Gruther,  314 
M'Haffie,  311 
M'Innes,  297 
M'liityre,  314 
M'Kay,  291 
M'Kechnie,  299 
MacKeith,  305 
MacKelly,  298 
MacKendrick,  289 
MacKenna,  297 
MacKenzie,  297 
MacKichan,  305 
MacKillaig,  298 
MacKinealy,  313 
MacKinlay,  300 
MacKinnon,  300 
MacKintosh,  314 
MacKirdie,  298 
MacLarty,  300 
MacLeay,  311 
MacLellan,  305 
MacLennan,  300 
MacLonvie,  310 
MacLurg,  291 
MacLullich,  301 
Mac  Mahon,  305 


M'Millan,  308 
M  Morran,  302 
M'Murchie,  302 
M'Murtrie,  298 
M'Neilage,  302 
M'Neillie,  313 
M'Phee,  311 
MThun,  296 
M'Quat,  289 
M'Quattie,  289 
M'Queen,  303 
M'Rae,  280,  309 
M'Raild,  289 
M'Rerick,  290 
M'Robbie,  290 
M'Rory,  302 
M'Sherry,  304 
M'Tyre,  309 
M'Uaraig,  313 
MacVean,  309 
MacVurich,  297 
M'Watt,  289 
M'Wattie,  289 
M' William,  281 
Norman,  309 
O'Daly,  299 
O'Kelly,  298 
Osgar,  288 
O'Sherry,  304 
Peter,  287 
Richard,  290 
Robert,  290 
Roderick,  280,  290' 
Roger,  290 
Ronald,  288 
Salmond,  306 
Shaughnessy,  303 
Sinclair,  314 
Smith,  280 
Stephen,  287 
Torquil,  288 
Tulloch,  314 
Ulric,  289 
Urquharb,  313 
Walter.  289 
Watt,  289 
William,  280,  289 


316  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 


23rd  JANUARY,   1896. 

At  this  meeting  Augustus  C.  Baillie,  Esq.,  Dochfour ;  Simon 
Mackenzie,  Esq.,  The  Hotel,  Lochboisdale,  South  Uist ;  and  Eric 
Mackay,  Esq.,  Wandsworth,  London,  were  elected  honorary  members; 
and  Dr  Campbell,  Laggan;  Mr  Paul  Campbell,  Kingussie;  Mr  John 
Macnab,  Kilmuir,  Skye  ;  Mr  Donald  Paterson,  Askernish,  South 
Uist ;  and  Miss  Goodrich  Freer,  Paddington,  London,  were  elected 
ordinary  members,  of  the  Society. 

Office-bearers  for  1896  having  thereafter  been  elected,  Mr 
William  Mackay,  solicitor,  read  a  paper  contributed  by  John 
Mackay,  Esq.,  C.E.,  Hereford,  entitled  "Sutherland  Place  Names — 
Parish  of  Dornoch."  Mr  Mackay's  paper  was  as1  follows  : — 

SUTHERLAND   PLACE   NAMES. 

PARISH   OF  DORNOCH. 

This  parish  in  extent  is  one  of  the  minor  parishes  in  the 
county,  yet  the  most  important  in  its  history,  ancient  and  modern, 
social,  religious,  and  political.  It  contains  the  county  town  of 
the  same  name,  with  its  Cathedral  Church,  Bishop's  Palace  and 
Castle,  Tolbooth,  and  County  Buildings.  Its  area  is  33,931  acres, 
of  which  3194  are  foreshore,  284  water,  and  includes  717  acres  on 
the  north  side  of  the  Fleet  River  detached  from  the  parish  of 
Rogart  in  the  early  part  of  the  13th  century  by  Bishop  Gilbert 
Moray  (de  Moravia)  for  the  benefit  of  the  Cathedral  built  by  him 
in  Dornoch  on  reorganising  his  diocese  of  Sutherland  and  Caithness 
(1222-45),  which,  previous  to  his  accession,  was  in  a  very  chaotic 
condition,  consequent  upon  the  continuous  plundering  expeditions 
and  invasions  of  the  pagan  Norsemen,  their  frequent  hostilities 
amongst  themselves  after  subduing  the  country,  the  desultory 
efforts  of  the  natives,  aided  by  some  northern  barons,  to  resist 
their  encroachments,  and  the  weakness  of  the  Scottish  Govern- 
ment, whose  rule  then  was  scarcely  felt  in  the  North.  Even  in 
the  reign  of  David  I.  of  pious  memory,  the  "Sair  Sanct,"  he 
could  only  command  (1127-53)  "  Rognald  Earl  of  Orkney  and  the 
Earl  (Harald),  joint  Earls  of  Orkney  and  Caithness,  and  all  good 
men  of  Cateneis  and  Orkney,  as  they  loved  him,  to  respect  the 
monks  dwelling  at  Durriach  in  Cateneis,  and  their  men  and  goods, 
and  to  defend  them  whithersoever  they  might  go  in  those  parts, 
not  allowing  any  one  to  do  them  injury  or  shame."  (Reg.  Dun- 
fermelyn).  During  the  rule  of  the  Norse  Earls  of  Caithness, 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  317 

which  then  included  the  whole  of  Sutherland,  from  875,  when 
Sigurd  Eysteinsen  and  Thorstein  the  Red  subdued  the  whole  of 
Sutherland  to  Ekkialsbakki  (Oykell),  to  1196,  when  Rognald 
(Reginald  of  the  Isles)  expelled  Harold  from  Caithness,  and 
relieved  Sutherland  of  Norse  subjection  and  oppression,  the  whole 
diocese  was  a  continual  scene  of  turmoil,  disorder,  rapine,  and 
bloodshed ;  nor  were  the  disorders  and  atrocities  committed  by 
Norse  Earls  and  Norsemen  finally  put  an  end  to  till  1222,  when 
Alexander  II.  led  an  army  into  Caithness  to  punish  the  Norse 
Bondi  for  roasting  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese.  Hence  we  need  not 
be  surprised  that  on  assuming  the  bishopric  Gilbert  de  Moravia 
found  only  one  single  priest  ministering  in  St  Bar's  old  Cathedral 
of  Dornoch.  This  able  and  eminent  ecclesiastic,  a  son  of  the  laird 
of  Duffus,  in  Moray,  of  which  diocese  he  was  Archdeacon  (1203-22), 
aided  by  Hugh  Freskyn  of  Sutherland,  his  relative,  and  by  the 
influence  of  Alexander  II. ,  the  Pope,  and  Abbots  of  the  South  of 
Scotland,  soon  restored  order  in  the  churches  of  his  diocese, 
obtained  grants  of  land  from  the  proprietors  for  their  support, 
divided  the  diocese  into  parishes  much  the  same  as  we  now  find 
them,  and  provided  them  with  priests  and  curates.  To  him  we 
owe  the  first  known  charters  in  Sutherland  and  Caithness,  a 
memorial  of  his  excellent  business  qualities. 

To  extend  worship,  and  propagate  the  benefits  of  religion,  he 
found  means  to  build  a  new  Cathedral  Church  in  Dornoch,  dedi- 
cated it  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  and,  in  proportion  to  his  means,  to 
make  it  conventual.  He  ordained  that  in  this  church  there  should 
be  ten  canons  constantly  ministering  either  by  themselves  or  their 
vicars,  five  of  the  canons  to  hold  the  dignity  of  Dean,  Precentor, 
Chancellor,  Treasurer,  and  Archdeacon,  each  of  whom,  as  well  as 
the  Bishop  and  the  Abbot  of  Scone,  who  had  been  appointed  a 
canon  in  the  church,  should  find  a  priest  or  vicar  to  officiate  daily 
in  his  own  absence,  and  the  other  three  canons  should  find  deacons 
continually  to  assist  and  serve  the  said  priests  within  the  church. 

Sir  R.  Gordon  states  that  the  glass  used  in  the  Cathedral 
windows  was  manufactured  at  "  Sytheraw,"  a  short  distance  west 
of  Dornoch. 

Bishop  Gilbert  Moray  died  in  1245,  was  afterwards  canonised, 
and  became  the  Patron  Saint  of  the  Cathedral  he  built,  and  the 
diocese  he  so  well  organised  and  ruled.  In  his  latter  days  he  had 
a  controversy  with  William  Earl  of  Sutherland  about  the  episcopal 
lands.  The  Bishop  was  too  strong  for  the  warrior  Earl,  and  the 
lands  were  continued  to  the  Cathedral  by  two  of  his  successors. 

The  length  of  the  parish  from  east  to  west  varies  from  4J  to  9 
miles,  and  its  breadth  from  north  to  south  varies  from  1  mile  to 


318  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

8i  miles.  It  has  a  seaboard  of  12  miles,  low  and  flat,  fringed  on 
the  south  by  the  Cuthil  and  Dornoch  sands  and  links,  and  on  the 
east  by  che'Embo  and  Coul  links.  From  these  low  flat  lands  the 
inland  gradually  rises  north-westwards  to  260  feet  above  sea  level 
at  Asdale,  700  feet  at  Creag  Asdale,  290  feet  at  the  Poles,  700  feet 
at  Creag  Amail,  930  feet  at  Creag  Liath,  1000  feet  at  Meall-nan- 
eun,  898  feet  at  Cnoc-na-feadaige,  1048  feet  at  Meall-a-chaorumu, 
and  1144  feet  at  Beinn  Douuil. 

The  river  Fleet  runs  on  the  northeA  limit  of  the  parish  proper, 
and  divides  from  it  the  part  detached  from  Rogart.  The  Carnaig, 
on  the  north-west,  issues  from  Loch  Buie  and  runs  north-eastward 
into  the  Fleet  estuary  at  Torboll,  a  course  of  about  six  and  a  half 
miles.  The  Evelix,  rising  amongst  the  hills  on  the  eastern 
confines  of  the  adjoining  parish,  Creich,  flowing  through  Loch-an- 
Lagain  by  Achlormlarie,  winds  eastward  to  Evelix,  then  south- 
westwards  into  the  Dornoch  Firth  near  the  Meikle  Ferry,  a  length 
of  13  miles. 

The  valley  of  the  Carnaig  is  now  devoid  of  population,  and 
forms  part  of  the  sheep  farm  attached  to  Torboll ;  but  the  valley 
of  the  Evelix,  anciently  "  Strath  Ormalaye,"  is  studded  with 
hamlets  of  small  tenantry  to  the  village  of  Evelix,  and  thence  to 
its  junction  with  the  sea,  runs  tkrough  several  well-cultivated 
large  farms. 

The  soil  is  sandy  and  gravelly  towards  the  seaboard,  clayey 
more  inland,  with  an  irregular  belt  of  black  loam  intervening. 

The  rocks  are  of  the  secondary  formation,  chiefly  sandstone, 
which  has  been  largely  quarried  for  house  and  fence  wall  building. 
Coal  was  found  near  Clashmore  ;  it  was  submitted  to  analysis  and 
pronounced  to  be  similar  to  that  raised  at  Brora. 

The  only  remains  of  Pictish  towers  are  those  at  Brae,  in  Strath- 
carnaig,  on  the  banks  of  the  River  Tollie,  near  its  confluence  with 
the  Carnaig.  In  this  Strath  are  also  cairns  and  tumuli,  probably 
burial  places  of  the  days  of  old,  and  memorials  of  the  conflicts  of 
the  natives  with  the  pagan  Norsemen.  The  ruins  of  another  are 
to  be  seen  near  the  Lecaich,  above  East-Kinauld. 

The  ruins  of  the  ancient  fortalices  of  Skelbo  and  Proncy  are 
still  to  be  seen.  There  is  another  at  Torboll.  These  will  be 
noticed  in  Place  Names. 

MOUNTAIN    NAMES. 

Beinn-an-tairbh — G.  tairbh,  gen.  of  tarbh,  bull,  Mountain  of 
the  bull,  from  its  shape  and  aspect;  more  correctly  Bull  .Mountain. 
The  word  tarbh  is  a  very  primitive  one  ;  it  occurs  in  one  shape  or 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  319 

other  in  many  languages  with  almost  £he  same  pronunciation. 
Ir.  tarbh,  Manx  tarroo,  W.  tarw,  Corn,  tarow,  Arm.  taru,  taro, 
Span,  toro,  taro,  It.  toro,  Lat.  taur-us.  Gr.  taur-os,  Fr.  taureau, 
Chal.  tor,  Syr.  taur,  Phen.  thor,  Arab,  taur,  tauro. 

Carn-a-phrionsa — G.  the  cairn  of  the  prince  ;  alleged  to  have 
been  reared  to  commemorate  the  fall  and  burial  of  a  Norse  noble, 
a  son  of  one  of  the  kings  of  Norway,  on  the  top  of  Creag  Amail, 
above  Torboll.  Cam  is  found  in  many  languages.  Ir.  earn,  Manx 
earn,  W.  earn,  Corn,  earn,  Arm.  earn,  It.  and  Span,  carro,  Chal. 
karun,  Arab.  kern. 

Carn-liath — G.  grey  rock  or  grey  heap  of  stones.  On  and 
around  the  Carn-liath  are  many  tumuli.  Ir.  liath,  grey ;  Manx 
Iheeah,  grey ;  W.  llwyd ;  Corn,  liu,  grey,  or  dye ;  Arm.  luz,  grey  ; 
Gr.  lei-os. 

Cnoc-odhar — G.  the  Dun  Hill.     600  feet. 

Creag-amail — G.  amail,  hindrance.  This  rock  rises  almost 
perpendicular  from  the  south  shore  of  the  Fleet  estuary  between 
Torboll  and  the  Mound.  Previous  to  the  construction  of  the 
Mound,  the  tides  rose  up  several  feet  against  the  face  of  the  rock, 
and  prevented  pedestrians  from  passing  along  it  while  the  tide 
was  at  the  full.  At  the  ebb  they  could  pass.  It  was  a  well- 
frequented  foot-road.  Hence  the  name,  Rock  of  the  Hindrance. 

Creag-dal-na-mein — G.  rock  of  the  field  of  the  ore  or  mineral. 
Ir.  mein,  W.  mwyn,  Corn,  moina.  870  feet. 

Creag-ainneidh — G.  ainneidh  or  ainneamh,  rare  ;  the  rare  rock. 
700  ft.  Meall-ainneidh,  the  rare  shaped  lumpy  hill. 

Meall-a-chaoruinn — G;  the  hill  of  the  mountain  ash. 

Meall-clais-nan-each — G.  the  hill  of  the  hollow  of  the  horses. 
Ir.  each,  Lat.  equ-us,  Gr.  Eo.  ik-kos  ;  W.,  Corn.,  Arm.  march  ;  G. 
marcach,  a  rider  ;  Manx  markiagh;  riding. 

Meall-nan-eun — G.  the  hill  of  the  birds,  probably  eagle, 
ptarmigan,  or  the  auk.  1000  feet. 

LAKES. 

Loch-an-tairbh — G.  Lake  of  the  bull. 

Loch-a-ghuibhais — G.  Lake  of  the  firwood. 

Loch-nan-laogh — G.  Lake  of  the  calves  ;  pi.  laoigh.  Ir.  laogh, 
calf  ;  Manx  Iheiy,  W.  llo,  Corn,  loch,  leauh,  Arm.  leue,  lue. 

Loch-lansaichte — G.  lan-sathaichte,  abundantly  filled,  in  refer- 
ence to  its  being  well  supplied  by  a  larger  lake  and  various 
streams.  It  lies  low  among  the  hills,  with  a  narrow  outlet.  G. 
Ian,  full  ;  Ir.  Ian,  Manx  lane,  W.  llawn,  Corn,  lann,  Arm.  Ian,  leun, 
Lat.  p-len-us. 


320  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Loch-ruagaidh — G.  Lajce  of  the  flight.  Near  it  are  many 
tumuli,  indicating  that  a  conflict  took  place  in  its  vicinity,  in 
Norse  or  clan  feud  times. 

RIVERS. 

A-charnaig — G.  charnaich,  gen.  of  carnaich,  rocky  ;  the  rocky 
river,  in  reference  to  its  rocky  bed  and  banks. 

Allt-tigh-Neill — G.  Stream  near  Neill's  house. 

Evelix — Takes  its  name  from  the  principal  hamlet  near  which 
it  passes.  (See  Place  Names). 

Fleet— N.  fljot,  A.S.  fleet ;  compare  fleet,  Fleet  Street,  North 
Fleet,  South  Fleet,  on  the  river  Thames,  equivalent  to  the  Lat. 
ostium,  river  mouth  The  Norsemen  had  several  settlements  on 
this  river,  particularly  at  Skelbo  and  Torboll,  where  in  the  twelfth 
century  lived  a  redoubtable  Norse  warrior  named  Liot,  whose 
ghost  haunts  Crcag  Amail,  near  Torboll ;  so  says  tradition  once 
believed  in  by  the  natives. 

Tollie — G.  toll-aich,  full  of  holes  and  pools.  G.  toll,  a  hole  ; 
Ir.  toll,  Manx  towl,  W.  twl,  Corn,  toll,  Arm.  toull,  Arm.  toull  don, 
G.  toll-domhain,  deep  hole  ;  Corn,  toll-down,  deep  hole. 

PLACE    NAMES. 

Ach-an-chanter — G.  and  E.  achadh-an-chanter,  the  field  of  the 
chanter  or  chief  singer  in  the  Cathedral  of  Dornoch. 

Ach-an-treasawrer — G.  and  E.  field  of  the  treasurer. 

Achley — G.  achadh  liath,  the  grey  field  ;  for  Hath,  grey,  and  its 
affinities,  see  Creag-liath. 

Achlormarie — G.  1557,  Auchegormalaye,  modern  G.  achadh- 
gorm-laraich,  verdant  site  of  the  ruined  building.  This  adjective 
of  colour  signifies  in  modern  G.  and  Ir.  blue;  Manx,  gorrym,  blue ; 
W.  gwrm,  dusky,  dun. 

Ach-an-duach — G.  achadh-na-dubhach,  field  of  the  gloom. 

Ach-loch — G.  achadh-an-loch,  field  at  the  lake. 

Achinel— G.  Achadh  Neill,  Neill's  field.  Allt-tigh-Neill  is 
quite  near. 

Achvaich— G.  1557,  Aucheveyich,  achadh-a-bheathaich,  the 
field  of  the  animal.  Beathaich  accords  with  veyich  in  pronunci- 
ation. Beach  is  wasp,  and  accords  to  the  pronunciation  of  veyich ; 
it  may  mean  the  field  of  the  wasps. 

Ach-chosnie— G.  1275,  Hachencossie,  achadhchoisneadh,  the 
field  of  service  (free  of  rent  for  service). 

Achvandra— G.  1525,  Auchandro,  1529  Hauchandrow,  Achadh- 
andra,  Andrew's  field.  This  is  likely  to  be  the  correct  definition, 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  321 

as  in  1510  King  James  the  Fourth  grants  to  Andrew  Kynnard 
the  dues  of  Skelbo,  and  Achvandra  is  in  the  vicinity  of  Skelbo. 
(Reg.  Sec.  Sig.  Vol.  4-79.) 

Ardallie- — G.  1557,  Ardellis,  ard-aillidh,  the  beautiful  emin- 
ence, from  which  an  extensive  view  can  be  obtained  up  and  down 
the  Dornoch  Firth  into  Ross  southward,  and  northward  as  far  as 
the  hills  will  permit.  Ard  is  derived  from  the  G.  root-word  ar, 
high,  lofty,  rock,  mountain,  or  eminence.  In  either  of  these 
significations  it  is  met  with  in  many  languages.  G.  ard,  high, 
height,  or  eminence  ;  Ir.  the  same,  Manx  do.,  Cor.  do.  W.  hardh 
(Pryce),  Lat.  ardu-us,  Gr.  Arden,  Zend,  ard  and  art,  high ; 
Ardennes,  a  department  in  the  north  of  France  is  Ard-innis,  high 
table  land ;  Heb.  ar,  rock ;  Armenian,  ar,  elevated,  ardyan,  sum- 
mit ;  Mogul,  artaga,  I  put  higher ;  Gaelic,  Ard-thog,  raise  aloft. 

Ard-shave—  G.  Ard-seimh,  quiet  height,  in  reference  to  its 
seclusion,  and  being  well  sheltered  by  surrounding  higher  heights. 

Bad-ninnish — G.  Bad-an-innis,  bad,  a  thicket;  inn  is  does  not 
invariably  signify  island ;  it  is  frequently  applied  to  pasture  or 
plain ;  here  it  has  this  signification.  Bad,  thicket,  or  grove  of 
trees  is  frequently  applied  to  a  habitation  which  has  a  clump  of 
trees  near  it.  In  the  past  the  better  class  of  houses  generally  had 
a  clump  of  trees  to  its  windward,  hence  the  origin  of  applying  bad 
to  a  habitation.  In  Donegal  and  the  West  of  Ireland  it  was  a 
common  custom  to  have  a  clump  of  trees  to  windward  of  the 
dwellings,  however  humble,  for  shelter. 

Bal-druim — G.  baile-an-druim,  township  on  the  ridge. 

Bal-loan — G.  baile-an-lon,  township  at  the  meadow. 

Balvraid — G.  baile-a-bhraghad,  braghad,  upper  parts,  the 
township  on  the  upper  parts  or  higher  land.  This  township  is  on 
the  ridge  of  land  west  of  and  much  above  Skelbo  Castle,  of  which 
it  forms  a  pendicle.  It  is  interesting  to  note  its  various  spelling 
in  the  Sutherland  Charters— 1525,  Balnobraid;  1536,  Balbrade ; 
1551,  Balnabrayt;  1560,  Ballewrat ;  1562,  Ballwraat. 

Birichen — G.  bioraichean,  colts  or  calves,  or  in  O.G.  wells  or 
springs  of  water,  of  which  there  are  many  in  the  district ;  but 
adopting  a  definition  which  signifies  its  natural  aspect,  it  would 
be  bior-a-chinn,  the  point,  or  end  of  the  head,  the  head  being  a 
ridge  sloping  down  to  the  Evelix  river,  where  it  makes  a  sudden 
turn  round  this  head. 

Black-hill — Anglicised  form  of  the  Gaelic,  Cnocan-du. 

Boggaii — G.  from  bog,  bogach,  damp,  swampy ;  Ir.  bog,  damp; 
Manx  bog,  moist. 

21 


3-22  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Brae— Anglicised  form  of  the  Gaelic,  braigh,  upper  part ;  W. 
brai,  outermost  part,  bre,  mount;  Arm,  breich  ;  Corn,  brech,  arm, 
the  upper  part  of  the  hand ;  Lat.  brachium,  arm,  from  G. ;  Norse 
bra,  brow,  bra-vollr,  brae-town,  braigh  bhaile. 

Camore — G.  cadha,  big  narrow  pass. 

Cambus-more — G.  camus-mor,  big  bay,  camus,  cambus,  bay, 
found  in  many  place  names,  Morcambe  Bay,  &c.  Gr.  Kamphos,  a 
curve  or  bend ;  W.  cam.  bent,  camu,  to  bend ;  Corn,  cam,  crooked; 
Manx  cam,  crooked  or  bent ;  Ir.  cam,  cr^)ked. 

Cambus-savie — G.  camus-sabhaidh,  the  bay  of  the  sorrel,  a 
large  bend  in  the  preceding.  The  shores  of  the  Camus-savie 
abound  with  sorrel.  Old  forms — 1525,  camrna-saffe  :  1536, 
cambus-affe ;  1551,  cambus-sawe  ;  1560,  cambusawye. 

Clash-more — G.  the  large  or  extensive  hollow.  G.  clais,  Ir. 
clais,  Manx  clash,  W.  clais,  Arm.  cleis,  clais,  claiz,  cleiz. 

Clash-mugach— G.  mugach,  gloomy,  the  gloomy  hollow. 

Clash-na-cuinneag — G.  cuinneag,  bucket,  the  bucket  hollow ; 
Ir.  cuinneog ;  Manx  cuinnag,  powder  horn ;  W.  cunnog,  milk  pail. 

Coille-poll-na-h-airde — G.  wood  at  the  pool  in  the  height,  coille, 
wood,  grove,  forest.  W.  Kelli,  grove ;  Gr.  Kalon  and  Kelon. 
Poll,  a  pool ;  Ir.  poll,  Manx  poyl,  W.  pwll,  Corn,  pol,  Arm.  poul. 
Airde,  poss.  case  of  Ard. 

Crasg — G.  a  pass  or  pathway  across  hills,  frequent  in  Suther- 
land. 

Cuil — G.  back,  back  land  ;  Ir.  coole.     See  Joyce  I.,  531. 

Cuthil — G.  may  bq  the  same  as  the  preceding.  Old  form — 
1265,  Sutherland  Charter,  cutthel  dawach,  the  davoch  of  Cutthell. 
This  is  probably  Norse,  and  may  be  the  name  of  a  Norseman  who 
held  this  land  under  a  superior.  Kettill  was  a  common  Norwegian 
name,  and  possibly  the  farm  was  named  after  him.  It  is  near  the 
Keikle  Ferry. 

Crockan — G.  corruption  of  cnocau,  a  small  hill  or  eminence. 

Croit-an-easbuig— G.  the  Bishop's  Croft. 

Dal-chail — G.  dal,  meadow,  field ;  chail,  gen.  of  cal,  cabbages ; 
the  cabbage  field.  Ir.  dail,  Manx  dayl,  W.  dol,  Corn,  dal,  Arm. 
dol,  Ger.  dal,  thai;  Norse  dalr;  Dan.,  Swed.,  Du.,  dal;  Eng.  dale. 
G.  cal,  cabbage ;  Ir.  cal,  Manx  kail,  W.  cawl,  Corn,  caal,  Arm. 
caol,  col ;  Gr.  kaul-os,  Lat.  caul-is,  Ger.  kohl,  Swed.  kol,  Fr.  chou, 
Eng.  kail. 

Dalnameinn — G.  meinn,  ore,  mineral ;  the  dale  of  the  ore. 

Davoch-fin — G.  davach,  dabhach,  a  measure  of  land,  or  lot ; 
and  fionn,  fair,  fine,  pleasant ;  fair  portion  of  land. 

Dornoch— 1131-53,  durnach;  1222-45,  durnach ;  1275,  durn- 
ach;  1456,  dornouch ;  1568,  dornoch;  1640,  dornagh,  dornoch ; 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  323 

traditionally  from  Dorneich,  horse-hoof.  When  Charles  I.  raised 
Dorncch  to  be  a  Royal  Burgh,  the  corporate  body  some  time  after- 
wards adopted  a  horse-shoe,  with  the  motto  "  Sans  Peur"  as  the 
burgh  arms,  from  the  local  tradition  of  a  victory  obtained  over  the 
Norsemen,  who  landed  near  the  town  in  the  year  1259,  by  the 
natives,  commanded  by  the  Earl  of  Sutherland,  the  Bishop 
Gilbert,  and  his  brother,  Richard  de  Moravia,  laird  of  Skelbo 
barony.  The  conflict  was  fierce  and  furious.  The  Earl  singled 
out  the  Norse  commander  as  the  opponent  worthy  of  bis  steel. 
In  the  course  of  the  combat,  the  Norseman  either  disarmed  the 
Earl,  or  broke  his  sword,  upon  which,  casting  about  for  another 
weapon,  he  saw  a  horse-hoof  near  him,  which  he  picked  up  and 
hurled  at  the  Norse  Commander  with  such  force  that  he  fell  life- 
less on  the  sward.  Seeing  their  commander  killed,  the  Norsemen 
fled  to  their  ships,  leaving  their  fallen  commander  and  comrades 
on  the  field,  \\here  they  were  interred.  Afterwards  a  large  stone, 
named  "  Clach-an-righ,"  was  erected  to  mark  the  spot  where  the 
fallen  chief  was  buried,  and  another  was  reared  where  the  combat 
took  place  between  the  two  generals  to  commemorate  the  victory, 
the  Earl's  prowess,  and  to  mark  his  gratitude  for  his  providential 
escape.  This  stone  was  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  and  named  "  Crois- 
a-Mhorfhear,"  or  the  Earl's  cross.  The  battlefield  is  a  short 
distance  eastward  of  the  town. 

Fatal  for  the  fond  legend  of  the  town  name  being  derived  from 
the  gallant  action  of  the  Earl  in  1259,  the  date  given  of  the  conflict, 
we  find  David  I.  commending  the  Monks  of  Durnach  to  the  Norse 
Earls,  Rognald  and  Harald,  probably  about  1150.  David  died 
1153 ;  so  we  see  that  Durnach  had  its  present  name  one  hundred 
and  nine  years  before  the  battle  on  the  Dornoch  links,  1259.  In 
Hugh  Freskyn's  charters,  confirmed  by  his  successor,  William, 
first  Earl  of  Sutherland,  1222-45,  we  have  in  these  charters  the 
town  name,  Durnach,  at  least  30  years  before  1259,  the  date  of 
the  battle  given  by  historians  and  annalists.  The  first  syllable  of 
the  name,  Durn,  Dwrn,  Dourn,  are  British  words  for  dorn,  pi. 
duirn,  fist,  fists,  in  Gaelic.  In  Cornish  it  was  dorn,  fist.  In 
Amcric,  dourn  means  hand.  It  seems  clear  that  the  town  name 
was  Durnach  previous  to  the  date  of  the  battle,  and  equally  clear 
that  the  incident  which  occurred  in  the  fight,  however  honourable 
to  the  gallant  earl,  did  not  give  its  name  to  the  town.  The  more 
probable  derivation  of  the  word  is  that  it  was  applied  to  the 
town  centuries  anterior  to  the  reign  of  David  I.,  and  the  charters 
•of  Gilbert  de  Moravia,  from  natural  aspects,  possibly  from  its 
pebbly  shore,  nearer  then  to  the  town  than  it  is  now.  Durnaig, 


324  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Dornaig,  are  obsolete  Celtic  words  for  pebbles.  Dornaidh  is- 
another  obsolete  Celtic  word  for  a  narrow  channel  of  the  sea, 
running  out  and  in,  according  to  ebb  and  flow  of  the  tides.  Quite 
close  to  the  east  side  of  the  old  part  of  Dornoch  is  Dornoch  Burn, 
with  its  pebbly  channel,  into  which  the  tides  ran  in  at  the  flow 
and  ran  back  again  at  the  ebb.  This  burn  channel  may  have  in 
the  lapse  of  centuries  risen,  and  the  phenomenon  of  tides  coming 
in  and  going  out  may  not  now  be  seen,  but  geologically 
speaking  ihe  very  site  of  Dornoch  and  westward  from  it  was  once 
under  sea  water  and  formed  a  kind  of  bay ;  the  filling  up  of  it 
was  favoured  by  the  upthrow  of  the  sandstone  on  the  east  side  of 
the  burn,  hence  the  probability  is  that  the  name  was  given  it  from 
its  ancient,  pebbly  shore,  and  tides  coming  in  and  going  out  its 
burn  channel.  Dornie  is  the  name  of  a  hamlet  situated  on  the 
narrow  channel  connecting  Loch-Duich  with  the  sea,  West  Coast  of 
Ross. 

Dornoch  is  very  pleasantly  situated  near  the  sea.  Its  links  for 
golfing  cannot  be  excelled.  Whatever  its  name  may  signify,  it 
imposed  it  upon  the  parish.  Sir  Robert  Gordon,  writing  of  it 
about  the  time  it  received  its  charter,  1628,  says,  "It  is  situate 
betuein  the  rivers  of  Portnecouter  and  Vnes  (lines,  N.  :  no  pro- 
montory), and  is  the  cheeff  burgh  and  seat  of  the  Shirreffs  of 
Soutberland,  wher  all  the  homings  and  inhibitions  are  registered 
and  all  denunciations  made  and  proclamations  red.  About  this 
town  along  the  sea  coast  ther  are  the  fairest  and  largest  linkes  or 
green  fields  of  any  pairt  of  Scotland,  fitt  for  archery,  gofling, 
ryding,  and  all  other  exercise ;  they  doe  surpasse  the  fields  of 
Montrose  or  St  Andrews.  In  the  town  of  Dornogh  ther  are  four 
fairs  kept  yeirlie,  Sanct  Gilbert  his  fair,  Sanct  Barr  his  fair,  Sanct 
Margaret's  fair,  and  Sanct  Bernard's  fayre,  unto  the  which  ther 
resorteth  a  great  confluence  of  people  to  traffique  from  all  pairts  of 
the  Kingdome,  St  Gilbert  his  fayre  is  keipt  yeirlie  the  first  day  of 
Aprile,  St  Margaret's  fayre  is  keipt  yeirlie  the  tuentie  daye  of 
August,  and  St  Barr  his  fayre  wes  keipt  in  former  tymes  the 
tuentie  fyfth  day  of  September,  bot  Alexander,  Erie  of  Southerland 
procured  it  to  be  transferred  and  removed  from  the  25th  day  of 
September  to  the  tenth  day  of  October.  Everie  one  of  these  fairs 
continues  for  the  space  of  thrie  dayes."  The  continuator  of  Sir 
Robert's  history  informs  us  that  "this  year  of  God,  1631,  there 
was  a  business  of  the  Earl  of  Southerland's  finished  which  cost  Sir 
Robert  Gordon  much  paines  and  travell  to  compasse  for  the  space 
of  seaven  years  together  both  at  court  and  before  the  commission 
of  surrenders,  since  the  same  was  established  ;  the  matter  was  the 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  32$ 

•settling  of  the  shriffship  legalitie  of  Southerland  and  enlarging  the 
bounds  of  the  shriffship  of  Southerland,  and  the  dismembering  off 
it  from  the  shriffdome  of  Invernes,  and  getting  the  town  of  Dornogh 
to  be  made  the  head  burgh  of  the  shire  in  all  time  coming." 

"In  1641  the  Parliament  passed  an  Act  changing  the  yearly 
fair  held  at  the  royal  burgh  of  Dornoch  on  the  10th  October  to  one 
to  begin  on  the  22nd  October,  to  continue  for  three  days,  and  to 
be  called  Saint  Gilbert  fair,  because  the  former  fair  was  hurtful  to 
the  burgh  and  its  neighbourhood  be  eatting  and  destroyeing  thair 
cornes  thane  being  vpone  the  grund  and  vsuallie  win  nor  lead  at 
the  tyme  thairof." 

The  original  Parish  Church  of  Dornoch,  of  unknown  antiquity, 
was  dedicated  to  St  Bar,  Finbar.  Fimber,  a  native  of  Caithness, 
and  Bishop  of  Cork,  who  nourished  in  the  6th  century  (Annals  of 
the  Four  M.),  but  according  to  others  in  the  llth.  Torfaeus  gives 
the  following  story  of  him,  which  he  dates  about  995: — "  Ulf  the 
Bad,  an  inhabitant  of  Orkney,  murdered  Harald,  an  inhabitant  of 
Ronaldsha ;  Helg,  the  son  of  Harald,  in  revenge  slew  Bar,  the 
friend  of  Ulf,  plundered  Ulf  s  house  and  lands,  and  carried  off  his 
daughter  Helga.  Ulf  pursued  and  overtook  him  on  the  coast  of 
Caithness.  A  sea  fight  ensued,  and  Helg,  getting  the  worst  of  it, 
threw  himself  into  the  sea  and  swam  ashore,  carrying  with  him 
Ulf  s  daughter.  They  were  kindly  and  hospitably  received  by  a 
poor  man  named  Thorfinn,  in  whose  cottage  they  were  married 
and  dwelt  for  two  years.  Ulf  being  dead,  they  returned  to 
Orkney,  and  their  son  Bar,  who  travelled  and  acquired  great 
learning,  became  Bishop  in  Ireland,  and  famous  for  his  miracles." 
His  festival,  which  has  been  noticed,  was  called  "  Feille  Barr," 
continued  to  be  held  in  Dornoch  as  a  term  day  and  fair,  till 
-  towards  the  end  of  the  18th  century. 

The  ancient  Church  of  St  Bar,  whether  in  ruins  or  otherwise, 
existed  till  the  beginning  of  the  17th  century.  Sir  R.  Gordon, 
writing  in  1630,  says  of  it,  "  that  it  was  of  late  demolished  in  the 
dayes  of  King  James  the  Sixth." 

The  Cathedral  Church  built  by  Bishop  Gilbert  during  his  rule 
(1222-45)  fared  fairly  well  amidst  intestine  disorders,  feuds,  raids, 
and  conflicts  till  1570,  when  the  Earl  of  Caithness,  becoming 
guardian  of  Alexander,  the  young  Earl  of  Sutherland,  during  his 
minority  conceived  mortal  enmity  against  the  Murrays  ,for 
assisting  the  young  Earl  to  escape  from  his  control,  and  taking 
him  to  his  relatives  in  Strathbogie.  Assembling  the  men  of 
Caithness,  and  procuring  the  assistance  of  the  Mackay  Chief,  he 
Towed  to  exterminate  the  Murrays,  and  sent  his  son,  the  Master 


326  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

of  Berriedale,  to  carry  out  his  designs.  Being  joined  by  Mackay, 
the  Master  of  Berriedale  marched  to  Dornoch,  where  the  Murray s. 
had  gathered  together.  The  Hurrays  were  brave  fellows,  and 
excellent  warriors  ;  being  outnumbered,  they  took  refuge  in  the 
Cathedral  and  the  Castle,  and  defended  themselves  with  their 
wonted  gallantry  for  several  days.  Their  assailants,  unable  to 
force  them,  set  fire  to  the  Cathedral.  The  besieged  fled  to  the 
steeple,  from  which,  nor  from  the  Castle,  could  thsy  be  dislodged. 
After  a  few  days,  a  surrender  was  agreea  to,  upon  condition  that 
the  Murray  s  would  leave  the  county  and  give  hostages  for  the  due 
performance  of  the  conditions.'  Earl  George  refused  to  ratify  the 
agreement,  and  because  the  Murrays  would  not  submit  to  his  own 
terms,  he  ordered  the  three  hostages  to  be  put  to  death.  Mackay 
was  indignant,  though  not  friendly  to  the  Murrays :  he  and  the 
Master  of  Caithness,  with  a  humanity  of  spirit  not  very  common 
at  that  time,  would  have  nothing  to  do  with  such  a  dastardly 
cruel  affair.  Mackay  marched  oft  with  his  men,  which  highly 
incensed  Earl  George,  who  was  at  the  time  King's  Justiciary  for 
Caithness  and  Sutherland.  The  eventual  result  of  this  atrocity 
was  the  ruin  of  the  wicked  Earl  and  his  successor. 

Three  years  previously  Dornoch  town  was  burned  by  the 
Mackay  Chief. 

The  Cathedral,  after  the  siege  and  burning  of  1570,  seemed  to 
remain  unrepaired.  It  is  recorded  by  Sir  Robert  Gordon  that  a 
portion  of  its  walls  fell  down  during  a  terrific  gale  on  the  5th 
November,  1605,  the  clay  upon  which  the  Gunpowder  Plot  was 
discovered ;  but  the  massive  central  tower,  topped  with  a  dwarfish 
spire,  remained  intact,  and  two  of  its  fine  Gothic  windows.  In 
1614  the  13th  Earl  of  Sutherland  partially  repaired  it,  so  as  to  be 
available  for  a  parish  church  ;  and  in  1835-37  it  was  wholly 
rebuilt  by  the  Duchess-Countess  at  a  cost  of  £6000.  The  present 
fabric,  containing  1000  sittings,  is  a  mixture  of  Gothic  and 
Vandalism,  and  measures  126  feet  by  92  feet  across  the  transepts. 
In  the  southern  transept  lie  sixteen  Earls  of  Sutherland.  In  the 
northern  is  a  stone  sarcophagus,  removed  from  the  choir,  and  sur- 
mounted by  a  cross-legged  effigy  of  the  founder,  or  his  brother, 
Sir  Richard  de  Moravia.  The  choir,  now  the  mausoleum  of  the 
Sutherland  family,  is  graced  by  a  marble  full-length  statue  of 
the  first  Duke  by  Chantrey,  with  a  large  tablet  behind  recording 
the  lineage  and  virtues  of  his  Duchess-Countess,  born  1765,  died 
1839.  He  was  born  in  1758,  died  1833. 

An  old  tower  fronting  the  Cathedral  represents  the  Bishop's. 
Palace,  which  was  also  burned  in  1570;  it  lay  in  ruins  till  1813,. 


Sutherland  Place  Names,  327 

when  part  of  it  was  fitted  up  as  the  County  Court-house  and 
prison.  Subsequently  the  whole  was  removed  except  the  west 
tower,  lofty  and  picturesque ;  and  on  the  site  thus  cleared  were 
built  the  large  and  handsome  County  Buildings,  comprising 
Court  house,  Prison,  Record  Room,  and  County  Meeting  Room. 
The  prison  was  discontinued  in  1880,  that  of  Dingwall  being  used 
for  the  few  malefactors  Sutherland  supplies.  In  188 1  the  ancient 
tower  was  refitted  and  refurnished  as  a  quaint  dwelling  for  sports- 
men. 

Till  the  beginning  of  the  present  century  the  town  was 
surrounded  by  a  court  and  a  wall,  in  the  inside  of  which  were 
vaults  or  booths  used  as  shops  or  dwellings  (Notes  1854  by  R  S. 
Taylor).  The  court  and  a  lane,  either  on  the  east  or  west  side  of 
the  wall,  were  probably  the  "  Castle  Yaird  "  and  "  Castle  Clos," 
noticed  in  the  titles  of  certain  tenements.  The  new  foundation 
called  the  Castle  appears  to  have  stood  on  a  different  site. 

It  would  appear  that  the  city  and  burgh  of  Dornoch  was 
formerly  of  much  larger  extent  than  at  present  The  burgh  cross, 
apparently  of  some  antiquity,  though  broken,  has  been  repaired, 
and  still  occupies  its  old  site  on  the  north  of  the  cemetery  of  St 
Gilbert.  Beside  it  stood  the  town  house  or  prison  mentioned  by 
Pennant  in  1769,  taken  down  in  1813.  The  fairs  were  formerly 
held  in  the  church-yard,  which  was  unenclosed,  and  through  which 
at  the  end  of  the  last  century  the  public  road  passed. 

The  burn  previously  noticed,  and  so  often  mentioned  in  the 
charters  of  the  burgh  property,  intersects  the  town  from  north  to 
south,  and  was  crossed  immediately  to  the  east  of  the  church-yard 
by  a  bridge,  also  mentioned  in  charters,  but  now  superseded  by 
another,  and  at  other  three  points  by  stepping-stones  correspond- 
ing to  the  roads  or  lanes.  (Notes,  1854,  R.S.T.). 

Of  all  sites  of  the  Canons'  Houses,  all  or  most  of  them  seem  to 
have  been  extant  in  1769,  only  two  are  now  remembered — the 
house  of  the  Caaon  of  Clyne  (the  dean)  at  the  east  end  of  the 
town,  and  that  of  the  Canon  of  Creich  (the  chanter)  at  the  south- 
east, now  1854,  the  site  of  the  Caledonian  Bank.  (R.S.T.) 

It  is  said  that  in  1271  Sir  Patrick  Moray  founded  a  convent  of 
Red  Friars  or  Trinity  Friars  at  Dornoch,  and  that  after  the 
English  became  masters  of  Berwick  the  lands  belonging  to  the 
Red  Friars  there  was  given  to  the  Friars  at  Dornoch. 

A  monastery,  in  modern  times  known  as  Franciscan,  stood  at 
the  south-east  corner  of  the  town  on  the  road  leading  to  the  links. 
(R.S.T) 

Druimastle — G.  druim,  ridges.     For  the  second  part  see  Astel. 


328  Gaelic  Society  of  Inuerness. 

Drumdivan—  G.  divan,  diomhan,  useless,  the  useless  ridge. 
This  rid^e,  a  little  to  the  west  of  Dornoch,  is  a  curious  and 
interesting  geological  feature.  It  is  from  50  to  60  feet  in  height, 
narrow  on  the  top,  and  slopes  down  on  both  sides  like  Tomna- 
hurich,  near  Inverness.  It  may  possibly  have  been  called 
diomhan,  literally  doing  nothing,  from  its  sterility,  uselessness  for 
pasture,  producing  nothing.  It  is  now  planted,  fine  trees  growing 
on  it. 

Enibo — N.  1222-45,  Ethenball ;  nativf  pronunciation,  Eyrribol, 
from  eyrar,  gravelly  banks,  and  bol,  farm,  cultivated  land.  Near 
this  fishing  village" stood  the  old  castle  of  Embo,  the  seat  of  the 
Gordons  of  that  ilk.  It  gave  way  to  the  present  house,  which  is 
now  used  as  a  farm-house. 

Evelix— G.  1222-45,  Awelech  ;  1275,  Awlec  ;  1448,  Evillik ; 
1560,  Avelik  ;  1563,  Evelik,  Evillik  ;  1566,  Awelik  ;  1607,  Evelik  ; 
1616,  Evilick.  Ath,  a  ford  ;  leac,  flag  or  flat  stone  ;  the  flag  ford, 
similar  to  Ath-cliath,  -hurdle  ford  ;  Dublin,  Eblana. 

Eagle-field— Anglicised  form  of  Achadh-na-h-iolaire. 

Flad — N.  flod,  flooding,  given  to  flooding  by  tides. 

Fleuchary — G.  fliuch-airidh,  wet  sheiling  or  pastures. 

Fourpenny — Anglicised  form  of  Gaelic  Ceathair  peighinnean, 
fourpenny  laud. 

Innis-aonar — G.  the  solitary  field,  in  reference  to  its  distance 
from  any  other,  or  from  any  other  habitation. 

Kinauld — G.  ceann-an-allt,  end  of  the  river  or  stream,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  river  stream  losing  itself  in  the  tide  which  reached 
this  place  at  even  low  tides,  and  at  high  tides  went  a  mile  farther, 
previous  to  the  construction  of  the  Mound,  1812. 

Kuock-glas — G.  cnoc-glas,  the  pale  or  grey  hillock,  glas,  faded 
green. 

Leacaich — G.  Flaggy  place. 

Leathad-a-chaoruinn — G.  the  mountain  ash  declivity. 

Leathad-na-cloiche — G.  the  declivity  of  the  stone. 

Leathad-nan-uan — G.  the  declivity  of  the  lambs. 

Led-na-shearmag — G.  leathad-na-seamraig,  the  declivity  of  the 
shamrock  or  trefoil ;  this  is  an  instance  of  Gaelic-speaking  people 
misplacing  letters  in  pronunciation,  shearmag  instead  of  sheamrag. 

Lon-doire-nan-each — G.  meadow  of  the  thicket  of  the  horses. 

Lon-fliuch — G.  the  wet  meadow. 

Lon-more — G.  the  big  meadow. 

Mullin-na-fua — G.  nauillinn-na-fuath,  mill  of  the  spectre. 

Milton — Anglicised  form  of  Baile-a-mhuillinn,  the  mill  township. 

Pitgrudie — O.G.   Pictish,   pit,   pet,   peth,   a  place,   and  grud, 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  329 

grudaieh,  grit,  the  gritty,  or  stony  place ;  Corn,  grow,  gravel, 
grouan,  stone,  moor  stone,  or  conglomerate,  composed  of  small 
stones,  sand  and  talc. 

Poles — Eng.  name  given  to  this  place,  where  one  piece  of  road 
diverges  into  four  ro»ds  leading  to  different  places  ;  poles  were  put 
up  to  indicate  whither  each  road  led. 

Pollie — G.  pollaich,  river-side  place,  where  pools  of  stagnant 
water  are. 

Proncy — This  Place  Name  seems  to  be  shrouded  in  the  mists 
and  mysteries  of  antiquity.  Old  forms  of  it  as  given  in  charters 
are  thus— 1222-45,  Promci;  1275,  Promsy  ;  1448,  Promsy;  1560, 
Pronsie;  1563,  Spronsy  ;  1566,  Prompsie  ;  1607,  Pronsie  ;  1616, 
Pronsie.  This  place  must  have  had  a  name  anterior  to  the  intro- 
duction of  Christianity  by  the  Columbian  missionaries,  and  the 
subjugation  and  occupation  of  it  by  the  Norsemen  from  875  to 
1196,  when  the  native  language  must  have  been  partly  Pictish 
and  partly  the  Irish  Gaelic  of  the  day,  the  language  of  the 
missionaries  of  Christianity  in  these  northern  quarters,  who  no 
doubt  introduced  the  Erse  or  Irish  Gaelic  into  the  Highlands. 
The  appellation  must  have  been  fixed  by  the  natives  long  before 
the  Norsemen  took  possession  of  it.  It  was  they  who  probably 
built  the  stronghold  here,  the  ruins  of  which  yet  remain  ;  but  the 
name  is  indefinable  by  Norse  or  Gaelic  ;  therefore  we  have  to  fall 
back  for  a  definition  of  it  by  the  language  spoken  by  the  natives 
before  the  advent  of  the  Columbian  monks  ;  the  Pictish.  which 
was  a  dialect  of  the  British,  more  related  to  the  Welsh,  Cornish, 
and  Armoric  than  to  the  Gaelic,  Irish,  or  Scottish.  The  remains 
of  it,  left  to  us  in  Place  Names  in  Sutherland,  Ross,  Inverness, 
and  the  East  Coast  of  Scotland,  seem  to  corroborate  this  view.  If 
we  assume  that  the  Pictish  language  was  a  dialect  of  the  British, 
as  the  Cornish  and  the  Welsh  are,  we  have  no  difficulty  in 
defining  Proncy  by  its  natural  aspect.  Nicely  situated  on  the 
middle  of  a  broad  declivity  north-westward  from  Dornoch,  and 
about  two  miles  from  the  sea  in  a  direct  northern  line,  260  feet 
above  sea  level ;  on  this  declivity  are  three  distinct  protuberances, 
the  Pictish  or  British  term  for  which  was  brcn,  protuberance, 
breast,  pap,  or  teat.  In  ancient  Gaelic  we  had  bronn,  breast,  bru, 
broina,  bruinne,  belly.  Welsh  bru  ;  Arm.  brou.  Like  many 
other  parts  of  the  body,  the  breast  enters  largely  into  the  com- 
position of  Place  Names  in  Britanny,  Cornwall,  Wales,  and 
Northern  Scotland.  Bron-sehan,  dry  rounded  hill ;  Bronheulog, 
sunny  breast,  Tynyvron,  <fec.  By  mutation  the  labial  b  frequently 
becomes  p,  and  we  have  pron,  breast,  and  se,  suidh  ;  O.G.  seat; 


330  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 

Corn,  se  ;  W.  sedd,  seat ;  then  pron-se  would  be  seat  on  the 
breast  (of  a  declivity),  a  perfect  description  of  Proncy.  W. 
bronedd,  breast  of  a  hill ;  see,  in  English,  the  seat  of  a  bishop. 

Proncy-nain — Proncy,  seat  on  the  hill  breast ;  nain,  corruption 
of  G.  mhan,  below.  Proncy-mhan,  Proncy  lower.  150  feet  above 
sea  level. 

Proncy-croy — Proncy-cruaidh,  cruaidh,  hard,  sterile,  soil-less. 

Pulrossie — Pictish,  Pul,  pool  and  ros,  promontory  peninsula, 
Pulrosaich,  pull  at  the  promontory.  The  sea  backs  up  here  at 
every  tide,  forms  the  pool,  the  promontory,  and  the  peninsula. 

Rian  — G.  ri,  rhi,  the  old  form  of  the  modern  ruigh,  slope, 
declivity,  and  an,  diminutive,  small  extent  of  declivity  ;  W.  rhiw. 

Rhiorchar— G.  1222-45  Ruthenercher,  1275  Rowechercher, 
1448  Ruryarchar,  1560  Rowarchar,  1607  Riarchar,  Rhi,  as  above  ; 
W.  rhiw,  slope,  declivity,  archar  or  erchar.  Farquhar,  Farquhar's 
hill  side.  It  rises  abruptly  from  the  left  bank  of  the  Evelix  river 
to  a  height  of  250  feet  in  half  a  mile  and  cultivated  from  the  river 
bank  to  400  f  set  above  sea  level. 

Rhimusaig — G.  rhi-mhusach,  marshy,  ill-smelling,  the  declivity 
to  the  ill-smelling  marsh  ;  W.  mws,  Corn,  mus,  Armoric  muezez, 
stinking. 

Skelbo— N.  1222-45  Scelleboll,  1529  Skailbo,  from  sker,  isolated 
rock  in  the  sea.  Skerjabol,  native  pronunciation,  skerribol.  Here 
on  an  eminence  rising  abruptly  from  the  shore  was  a  Norse 
fortress  or  castle,  the  residence  of  a  Norse  nobleman.  It  was 
granted  to  Hugh  Freskyn,  by  whom  it  was  given  to  his  relative 
Bishop  Gilbert,  who  transferred  it  by  consent  of  William  Earl  of 
Sutherland  to  his  younger  brother  Richard  de  Moravia  and  became 
a  free  Barony,  the  King's  rights  excepted.  Other  lands  were 
joined  to  it,  and  it  was  afterwards  conferred  on  a  younger  son  of 
the  Sutherland  family  created  Lord  Duifus,  again  reverted  to  the 
Earls  on  the  attainder  of  Lord  -Duffus.  The  old  Castle  is  in  ruins. 

Skibo— N.  1222-45,  Scithaboll ;  1275,  Schytheboll ;  1548, 
Skebo.  Skeith,  ship  of  war ;  and  bol,  a  farm  or  cultivated  land. 
From  the  Dornoch  Firth  runs  a  narrow  bay  right  up  to  the  land 
immediately  in  front  of  Skibo  Castle,  into  which  the  Norse  reivers 
came  with  their  long  war  galleys,  and  built  a  fort  and  castle, 
which,  on  their  expulsion,  became  the  residence  of  Bishop  Gilbert 
and  his  successors.  It  was  a  large  pile  of  buildings  surrounded 
by  a  rampart.  When  Bishop  Archibald  succeeded  in  1275  to  the 
See  of  Sutherland  and  Caithness,  a  long  controversy  took  place 
between  him  and  the  Earl  of  Sutherland  as  to  the  lands  and  castle 
of  Skibo,  but  by  the  intervention  of  certain  prelates  and  noblemen 


Sutherland  Place  Names.  331 

the  Earl  permitted  him  to  retain  the  castle,  with  six  davachs  of 
land  adjacent  to  it,  to  be  held  perpetually,  without  any  contro- 
versy, saving  the  "  forinsee"  service  to  the  King.  The  castle  was 
thenceforth  the  principal  residence 'of  the  Bishops  of  the  diocese. 
We  hear  no  more  of  it  till  1544,  when  the  Mackay  chief  took  and 
kept  possession  of  it  for  several  years  during  the  absence  of  the 
Bishop,  Robert  Stewart,  brother  of  the  Earl  of  Lennox,  in  the 
south  of  Scotland  and  in  England.  Getting  involved  in  the 
intrigues  of  the  Conrt  with  England  and  France,  and  the  shifting 
quarrels  of  the  nobility  during  the  minority  of  Mary  and  the 
regency  of  her  mother,  the  Bishop  entrusted  Mackay  with  the 
control  of  his  lands  in  the  county.  This  was  very  annoying  to  the 
Earl  of  Sutherland,  for  he  and  Mackay  were  far  from  being  on 
friendly  terms.  About  1549-50  he  and  Huntly,  then  Lord- 
Lieutenant  of  the  North,  made  terms  with  the  Bishop,  whose  sister 
the  Earl  of  Sutherland  married  about  this  time  and  arranged  to 
send  a  Captain  Cullen,  a  relative  of  Huntly,  with  a  large  force  of 
infantry  and  some  artillery  to  dispossess  Mackay  of  Skibo  and  its 
lands.  The  commander,  Neil  Macwilliam  Aberach  Mackay,  seeing 
that  his  small  garrison  was  unequal  to  resist  artillery,  evacuated 
the  castle,  and  quietly  retired  to  Strathnaver. 

In  1650  the  renowned  Montrose  was  confined  in  Skibo  Castle 
for  several  days  -after  his  capture  in  Assynt.  In  1760  Pococke,. 
Bishop  of  Ossory,  in  Ireland,  in  his  tour  through  Sutherland  and 
Caithness,  visited  Skibo,  then  possessed  by  the  Honourable  George 
Mackay,  half-brother  to  Lord  Reay,  and  M.P.  for  the  coun:y,  who 
planted  the  older  portion  of  its  woods,  and  to  whose  taste  and 
industry  in  making  other  improvements  the  Skibo  part  of  the 
parish  of  Dornoch  is  much  indebted.  In  1786  Skibo  estate  was. 
purchased  by  George  Dempster  of  Dunnichcn,,  who  also  greatly 
improved  it — an  eminent  agriculturist  and  a  public-spirited  gentle- 
man, "  the  true-blue  Scot,  I'se  warrant,"  of  Burns.  His  younger 
brother,  J.  H.  Dempster,  shortly  afterwards  purchased  the  estates 
of  Pulrossie  and  Overskibo.  Their  grandfather,  a  merchant  in 
Dundee,  bought  Dunnichen  in  1700.  Mr  J.  H.  Dempster  was. 
succeeded  by  his  daughter  and  heiress,  Harriet,  who  married  W. 
Soper,  Esq.,  of  the  E.I.C.S.  He  assumed  by  Royal  licence  the 
surname  of  Dempster  in  compliance  with  the  entail  of  the  estates. 
Mrs  Dempster  died  in  1810,  leaving  a  son,  George  Dempster  of 
Skibo,  and  four  daughters.  The  Dempsters  were  respected  by  all 
ranks,  and  as  landlords  most  kind  and  indulgent  to  their  tenantry. 
The  last  of  the  Dempsters  in  Sutherland  sold  the  estates  in  the 
sixties  to  Mr  Chernside,  an  Australian,  for  a  large  amount.  He 


332  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

disposed  of  it  in  1872  to  Evan  Sutherland  Walker  for  £130,000. 
Mr  Walker  greatly  improved  the  Castle  and  outbuildings,  adding 
considerably  to  their  capacity.  The  extent  of  the  estate  is  about 
20,000  acres.  Rental  under  £4200  ;  and  si  ace  judicial  rents  have 
been  fixed  by  the  operation  of  the  Crofters  Act,  1886,  the  rental 
is  greatly  reduced.  The  Skibo  Castle  grounds  and  policies  arc  the 
prettiest  in  the  county. 

Sitheraw — Pro.  Shi-er-a  ;  N.  SudrJ^a,  Sydera,  the  South  Hall. 
1222-45,  Siwardhoch  (Siguard-haugr)  ;  1557,  Sythera.  Here,  it  is 
said,  the  redoubtable  Siguard  Eysteinson,  who  subdued  Catenes 
and  Suderland  to  Ecciallsbakki  (Oykell),  and  defeated  and  killed 
Malbrigd  of  the  "  buck  tooth "  in  875,  was  buried,  and  a  great 
cairn  raised  over  his  grave.  Siward-hoch  or  Sigurd-haugr  means 
Si  ward's  or  Siguard 's  Cairn. 

Tor-boll — N.  torf-bol,  the  peat  place.  Norse  has  no  such  word 
as  tor.  Tor  is  essentially  Celtic,  and  has  various  significations, 
tower,  castle,  mound,  eminence,  hill,  rock,  even  tomb  and  grave, 
from  the  raised  cairns  or  mounds  on  tombs  and  graves.  Torr  is  a 
most  ancient  word  found  in  almost  all  languages,  Eastern  and 
Western,  evidently  borrowed  from  the  Celtic.  The  Welsh  seem  to 
have  preserved  the  root  word  in  "  Dwyre,"  to  rise  to  view  ;  what 
are  hills  but  objects  rising  to  view  1  hence  the  application  of  the 
primitive  signification  to  eminences  rounded  or  otherwise.  The 
Moors  call  the  Atlas  Mountains  Dyr,  Dyr-in  (Pliny,  Strabo). 
Taur-us,  a  mountain  in  Asia  Minor,  and  in  Poland,  Taurini  was 
applied  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  mountains  between  Italy  and 
Gaul ;  their  chief  town  was  the  modern  Tur-in.  We  have  no  end 
of  "tors"  in  Devon  and  Cornwall,  and  Mam- tor,  mother-tor,  in 
Derbyshire. 

Tur,  tower,  is  confined  to  that  signification.  It  is  also  found 
in  many  languages,  and  may  be  claimed  as  a  Celtic  word.  Ir. 
tur,  W.  twr,  Corn,  tur,  Arm.  twr,  tur  ;  Manx  toor,  Lat.  turr-is, 
Gr.  tur-os,  tur-is  ;  Dan.  tur ;  Swed.  tor ;  It.  torre,  Arab,  thar, 
tower,  tour,  hill ;  Pers.  tar ;  Armen.  tar,  hill ;  Syr.  thur,  hill ; 
Heb.  thor  and  thur,  hill. 

Whitefaced — Anglicised  form  of  Aodann  or  Eudann,  face,  fore- 
head, front,  visage.  Ir.  eadan,  Manx  eddin,  face,  and  ban,  fair  ; 
eudann-bhan,  the  white  face. 


MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


HONORARY   CHIEFTAINS. 

Sir  Kenneth  S.  Mackenzie  of  Gairloch,  Bart. 

Charles  Eraser-Mackintosh  of  Drummond,  LL.D. 

Alexander   Macbain,  M.A.,  F.S.A.  Scot.,  rector,  Raining's  School, 

Inverness 

William  Mackay,  solicitor,  Inverness 

Alexander  Mackenzie,  editor,  "  Scottish  Highlander,"  Inverness 
Duncan  Campbell,  editor,  "  Northern  Chronicle,"  Inverness 
John  Mackay,  C.E.,  Hereford 

LIFE   MEMBERS. 

Baillie,  James  E.  B.,  of  Dochfour,  M.P. 

Bankes,  P.  Liot,  of  Letterewe 

Bignold,  Arthur,  of  Lochrosque,  Ross-shire 

Brodie,  W.  A.  G.,  15  Rutland  Square,  Edinburgh 

Burgess,  Peter,  banker,  Fortrose 

Campbell,  Alasdair,  of  Kilmartin,  Glen-Urquhart 

Chisholm  of  Chisholm,  33  Tavistock  Square,  London 

Ferguson,  R.  C.  Munro,  of  Novar,  M.P. 

Fletcher,  J.  Douglas,  of  Rosehaugh 

Fletcher,  Fitzroy  C.,  Letham  Grange,  Arbroath 

Finlay,  R.  B.,  Q.C.,  Solicitor  General,  Phillemore  Gardens,  London 

Fraser-Mackintosh,  Charles,  of  Drummond,  LL.D. 

Fraser,  Donald,  of  Millburn,  Inverness 

Grant,  Ian  Murray,  of  Glenmoriston 

Jackson,  Major  Randle,  of  Swordale,  Evan  ton 

Lord  Lovat,  Right  Hon.,  Beaufort  Castle,  Beauly 

Macdonald,  Lachlan,  of  Skaebost,-  Skye 

Macfarlane,  D.  H.,  M.P.,  46  Portman  Square,  London 

Mackay,  Donald,  Gampola,  Kandy,  Ceylon 

Mackay,  George  F.,  Roxburgh,  Otago,  New  Zealand 

Mackay,  James,  Roxburgh,  Otago,  New  Zealand 

Mackay,  John,  C.E.,  J.P.,  Reay  Villa,  Hereford 

Mackenzie,  Sir  Kenneth  S.,  of  Gairloch,  Bart. 

Mackenzie,  Sir  Allan  R.,  of  Kintail,  Bart. 

Mackenzie,  Thomas,  Dailuaine  House,  Carron,  Strathspey 


334  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Mackenzie,  W.  D.,  of  Glen  Kyllachy  and  Fair,  Inverness 

Maclean,  L.,  Castle  Packets,  Cape  Town,  Africa 

Matheboii,  Sir  Kenneth,  of  Lochalsh,  Bart. 

Ross,  John  M.,  2  Devonshire  Gardens,  Glasgow 

Scobie,  Captain  N.,  late  of  Fearn,  Ross-shire 

Sivewright,  Sir  James,  K.C.M.G.,  "Commissioner  of  Crown  Lands, 

Cape  Colony,  Africa 
Yule,  Miss  Amy  Frances,  Tarradale  House,  Ross-shire 

HONORARY   MEMBERS. 

Baillie,  Aug.  C.,  Dochfour,  Inverness 

Beith,  Gilbert,  MR,  7  Royal  Bank  Place,  Glasgow 

Bell,  Sir  William  J.,  LL.D.,  of  Scatwell,  Muir  of  Ord 

Blair,  Sheriff,  Inverness 

Brown,  J.  A.  Harvie,  Dunipace,  Larbert 

Burgess,  Alexander,  Caledonian  Bank,  Gairloch 

Cameron,  Ewen,  manager  of  the  Hong  Kong  and  Shanghai  Bank- 
ing Company,  London 

Campbell,  Duncan,  editor,  "  Northern  Chronicle,"  Inverness 

Chisholm,  Captain  A.  Macra,  Glassburn,  Strathglass 

Chisholm,  Duncan,  Colorado  Springs,  U.S.A.  (Ell  Poso  Club) 

Chisholm,  Roderick  Gooden,  33  Tavistock  Square,  London 

Davidson,  Sheriff,  Fort-William 

Falconer,  Dr  J.,  St 'Ann's,  Lasswade,  Midlothian 

Fraser,  Alexander,  ex-Provost,  Tigh-an-eilan,  Dores  Road,  Inverness 

Grant,  Brigade-Surgeon  Alex.,  Reay  House,  Inverness 

Grant,  Hugh,  Lovat  Road,  Inverness 

Grant,  Ian  Macpherson,  yr.  of  Ballindalloch 

Grant,  J.  P.,  of  Rothiemurchus 

Innes,  Charles,  solicitor,  Inverness 

Lord  Kyllachy,  The  Hon.,  Edinburgh 

Macandrew,  Sir  H.  C.,  sheriff-clerk  of  Inverness-shire 

Macallister,  ex-Bailie  T.  S.,  Inverness 

Macdonald,  Colonel  Alexander,  Portree 

Macdonald,  Callum,  Highland  Club,  Inverness 

Macdonell,  ./Eneas,  of  Morar,  21  Rutland  Square,  Edinburgh 

Macdougall,  Miss  C.  E.,  Canaan  Lodge,  Canaan  Lane,  Edinburgh 

Macfarlane,  Alex.,  George  Hotel,  Nottingham 

Mackay,  Eric,  24  Haldon  Road,  Westhill,  Wandsworth,  London 

Mackenzie,  Mackay  D.,  National  Provincial  Bank  of  England, 
Clifton,  Bristol 

Mackenzie,  Simon,  The  Hotel,  Lochboisdale,  S.  Uist 

Mackintosh  of  Mackintosh,  Moyhall 


Members.  335 

Mackintosh,    A.    Mackintosh.   36  St  James   Street,  Buckingham 

Gate,  London 

Mackintosh,  A.  R.,  Balmoral  House,  Nairn 

Mackintosh,  Andrew  (of  Barclay,  Mackintosh,  <fe  Co.),  Monte  Video 
Mackintosh,  Angus,  of  Holme,  Palace  Chambers,  9  Bridge  Street, 

Westminster 

Mackintosh,  Eneas  W.,  of  Raigmore 
Macleod,  Rev.  Dr  Norman,  Ravenswood,  Inverness 
Macleod,  Reginald,  Granton  House,  Edinburgh 
Macmillan,  E.  H.,  manager  of  the  Caledonian  Bank,  Inverness 
Macpherson,  Cluny,  of  Cluny  Macpherson,  Cluny  Castle,  Kingussie 
Macpherson,  Charles  J.  B.,  of  Bellville,  Kingussie 
Macpherson,  George,  8  Walnut  Street,  Philadelphia,  U.S.A. 
Macpherson,  Colonel,  of  Glentruim,  Kingussie 
Robertson,  John  L.,  H.M.  Inspector  of  Schools,  Inverness 
Scott,  Roderick,  solicitor,  Inverness 
Sinclair,  George,  Caledonian  Hotel,  Inverness 
Smith,  J.  M.,  Woodlands,  Inverness 
Stewart,  C.  D.,  of  Brin,  Inverness 

Thomson,  Colin,  American  Exchange  Bank,  Duluth,  Minnesota 
Wimberley,  Captain  D.,  Ardross  Terrace,  Inverness 

ORDINARY   MEMBERS. 

Atkin,  Percy  H.,  barrister-at-law,  The  Temple,  London 
Barron,  James,  editor,  "  Inverness  Courier,"  Inverness 
Batchen,  Thomas  M.,  C.E.,  Highland  Railway,  Inverness 
Beaton,  Angus  J.,  C.E.,  Alexandra  Terrace,  Rockferry,  Cheshire 
Bentinck,  Rev.  Chas.  D.,  E.G.  Manse,  Kirkhill,  Inverness 
Birkbeck,  Robert,  '2Q  Berkeley  Square,  London 
Bisset,  Rev.  Alexander,  R.C.,  Nairn 
Black,  F.  A.,  solicitor,  Inverness 
Black,  John,  Palace  Hotel,  Inverness 
Boyd,  Thomas,  bookseller,  Oban 
Buchanan,  F.  C.,  Clarinnish,  Row,  Helensburgh 
€ameron,  Rev.  Allan,  Free  East  Church,  Inverness 
Cameron,  Dr  A.  H.  F.,  Campden,  Gloucestershire 
Cameron,  Rev.  Angus,  St  John's  Rectory,  Arpafeelie 
Cameron,  Colin,  ironmonger,  High  Street,  Inverness 
Cameron,  Donald,  of  Lochiel,  Achnacarry  House,  Fort- William 
Cameron,  D.  M.,  wholesale  grocer,  Dempster  Gardens 
Cameron,  D.,  teacher,  Blairour,  Spean-Bridge,  Kingussie 
Cameron,  Dr,  Nairn 


336  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Cameron,  John,  S.S.C.,  40  Castle  Street,  Edinburgh 

Cameron,  John,  bookseller,  Union  Street,  Inverness 

Cameron,  Kenneth,  factor,  Ullapool 

Cameron,  Miss  M.  E.,  of  Innseagan,  Fort-William 

Cameron,  Neil  R.,  of  D.  Cameron  &  Co.,  grocers,  Church  Street, 

Inverness 

Cameron,  Paul,  Blair-Atholl 
Cameron,  Rev.  Alex.,  Sleat,  Skye  ^ 

Campbell,  Donald,  merchant,  Kingussie 
Campbell,  Dr,  Laggan,  Kingussie 

Campbell,  Fraser  (of  Fraser  <fc  Campbell),  High  Street,  Inverness 
Campbell,  Sheriff,  Stornoway 

Campbell,  James,  builder,  Ardross  Place,  Inverness 
Campbell,  James  Lennox,  Dalmally 

Campbell,  The  Rev.  John,  Kilmore  Manse,  Glen-Urquhart 
Campbell,  Paul,  shoemaker,  Castle  Street,  Inverness 
Campbell,  Paul,  merchant,  Kingussie 
Campbell,  T.  D.,  16  Ness  Bank,  Inverness 
Carmichael,  Alexander,  29  Raeburn  Place,  Edinburgh 
Cesari,  E.,  Birnam  Hotel,  Dunkeld 
Chisholm.  Rev.  Alexander,  R.C.,  Dornie,  Kintail 
Cisholm,  Archibald,  P.F.,  Lochmaddy 
Cockburn,  Thomas,  Royal  Academy,  Inverness 
Cook,  James,  commission  agent,  Inverness 
Cook,  John,  commission  agent,  21  Southside  Road,  Inverness 
Cran,  John,  Kirkton,  Bunchrew 
Crerar,  Alexander,  merchant,  Kingussie 
Crerar,  Duncan  Macgregor,  93  Nasseu  Street,  New  York 
Cruickshanks,  Dr,  Nairn 

Cumming,  John,  Knoydart  Estate  Office,  Inverie,  Fort- William 
Davidson,  Andrew,  sculptor,  Inverness 
Davidson,  D.,  Waverley  Hotel,  Inverness 
J>ewar,  Daniel,  Beaufort 
Dewar,  John,  M.B.,  C.M.,  Portree 
Dey,  Robert,  M.A.,  Berryhill  Public  School,  Wishaw 
Dick,  Mrs,  Greenhill,  Lower  Drurnmond 
Donaldson,  Simon  F.,  librarian,  Free  Library,  Inverness 
Ferguson,  Charles,  The  Gardens,  Fairburn,  Muir  of  Ord 
Ferguson,  D.  H.,  pipe-major,  I.H.R.V.,  Inverness 
Finlayson,  Dr,  Munlochy 

Finlayson,  John,  commercial  traveller,  Hillside  Villa,  Inverness 
Forsyth,  Dr,  Abernethy 
Forsyth,  John  H.,  Southside  Road,  Inverness 


Members.  337 

Fraser,  ^Eneas  (Innes  &  Mackay),  Inverness 

Fraser,  Alex.,  draper,  High  Street,  Inverness 

Fraser,  Alexander,  solicitor,  Inverness 

Fraser,  Alexander,  grocer,  Tomnahurich  Street,  Inverness 

Fraser,  Alexander,  city  editor,  Toronto  Mail,  Toronto 

Fraser,  A.  R.,  Bank  of  Africa,  Capetown 

Fraser,  Miss  Catherine,  42  Union  Street,  Inverness 

Fraser,  D.  Munro,  H.M.  Inspector  of  Schools 

Fraser,  Hugh,  Arniadale  Cottage,  Greig  Street,  Inverness 

Fraser,  Dr  Hugh  E.,  Church  Street,  Inverness 

Fraser,  James,  C.E.,  Inverness 

Fraser,  James,  Mauld,  Strathglass 

Fraser,  James  M.,  agent,  Caledonian  Bank,  Lochmaddy 

Fraser,  John,  draper,  80  High  Street,  Nairn 

Fraser,  Roderick,  contractor,  Argyle  Street,  Inverness 

Fraser,  William,  Post  Office,  Greig  Street,  Inverness 

Freer,  Miss  Goodrich,  Holy  Trinity  Vicarage,  Paddington,  London, 

W. 

Gauld,  S.  W.  C.,  banker,  Balmacara 
Gillanders,  K.  A.,  grocer,  Queensgate,  Inverness 
Gillies,  Norman,  governor,  Poorhouse,  Lochmaddy  , 
Glass,  C.  C.,  122  North  Street,  St  Andrews 
Gossip,  James  A.,  Knowsley,  Inverness 
Gow,    James  Mackintosh,    F.S.A.    Scot.,    Union   Bank,    Hunter's 

Square,  Edinburgh 

Graham,  Hugh  M.,  solicitor,  Church  Street,  Inverness 
Grant,  George  Macpherson,  yr.  of  Ballindalloch 
Grant,  Rev.  J.,  E.G.  Manse,  Kilmuir,  Skye 
Grant,  James,  commercial  traveller,  Arthur  &  Co.,  Glasgow 
Grant,  Dr  Ogilvie,  Inverness 
Grant,  Rev.  Donald,  Dornoch 
Grant,   J.    B.,    factor   and   commissioner    for  Mrs   Chisholm   of 

Chisholm,  Erchless 
Grant,  F.  W.,  Mary  hill,  Inverness 
Grant,  Colonel  Robert,  Beanachan,  Inverness 
Grant,  William,  Gresham  Insurance  Office,  London 
Grey,  John,  T.,  Rosehaugh  House,  Fortrose 
Gunn,  Rev.  Adam,  Durness,  Lairg. 
Henderson,  John,  factor  for  Rosehaugh,  Fortrose' 
Holmes,  James,  4  Finchley  Road,  Plimlico,  London 
Holmes,  T.,  15  New  Alma  Road,  Portswood,  Southampton 
Hood,  John,  secretary  English  and  Scottish  Law  Life  Association, 

Edinburgh 

22 


338  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Home,  John,  H.M.  Geological  Survey,  Edinburgh 

Horrigan,  J.  E.,  collector  of  Inland  Revenue,  Oxford 

Keeble,  T.,  Italian  Warehouse,  High  Street,  Inverness 

Kemp,  D.  William,  Ivy,  Lodge,  Trinity,  Edinburgh 

Kemp,  Wm.  D.,  of  Messrs  Strothers  &  Coy.,  Inverness 

Kennedy,  Ewen,  Newtonmore,  Kingussie 

Kennedy,  Rev.  John,  Caticol  Manse,  Lochranza,  Arran 

Kerr,  Dr,  Inverness  . 

Kerr,  Rev.  Cathel,  Melness,  Sutherlandshire 

Kerr,  Thomas,  agent,  North  of  Scotland^Bank,  Inverness 

Krupp,  Wm.,  Victoria  Hotel,  Inverness 

Lawrence,  William,  Swordale,  Evanton 

Lindsay,  W.  M.,  Jesus  College,  Oxford 

Linton,  P.  J.,  Fort- William 

Livingston,  Colin,  Fort- William 

Logan,  Donald,  Public  School,  Broadford 

Lumsden,  Miss  Louisa  Innes,  Glenbogie,  Rhyme,  Aberdeenshire 

Macbain,  Alexander,  M.A.,  F.S.A.  Scot.,  rector,  Raining's  School, 
Inverness 

Macbean,  William,  Provost,  35  Union  Street,  Inverness 

Macbean,  George,  writer,  Queensgate,  Inverness 

Macbean,  James,  jeweller,  Union  Street,  Inverness 

Macbean,  Lachlan,  editor,  "Fifeshire  Advertiser,"  Kirkcaldy 

Macbeth,  R.  J.,  architect,  Queensgate,  Inverness 

Maccallum,  Henry  V.,  solicitor,  Queensgate,  Inverness 

Maccallum,  John,  builder,  Fort-William 

Maccowan,  Rev.  J.,  Cromdale 

Macdonald,  Professor  A.  G.,  Norman  School,  Truro,  Nova  Scotia 

Macdonald,  Alex.,  Accountant's  Office,  Highland  Railway,  Inverness 

Macdonald,  Alex.,  Station  Hotel,  Forres 

Macdonald,  Alexander,  62  Tomnahurich  Street,  Inverness 

Macdonald,  Rev.  Alex.,  Killearnan,  North  Kessock 

Macdonald,  Rev.  A.,  Kiltarlity 

Macdonald,  Rev.  D.  J.,  Killean  Manse,  Muasdale,  Kintyre 

Macdonald,  Rev.  Allan,  R.C.,  Dalibrog,  North  Uist 

Macdonald,  David,  St  Andrew's  Street,  Aberdeen 

Macdonald,  Dr  D.,  Glen-Urquhart 

Macdonald,  Dr  G.  G.,  26  King  Street,  Aberdeen 

Macdonald,  Bailie  Donald,  Inverness 

Macdonald,  Hugh,  Accountant's  Office,  Highland  Railway,  Inver- 
ness 

Macdonald,  Hugh,  solicitor,  Aberdeen 

Macdonald,  James,  builder  contractor,  Kingussie 


Members.  339 

Macdonald,  James,  hotel-keeper,  Fort-William 

Macdonald,  Thomas,  builder,  Hilton,  Inverness 

Macdonald,  Donald,  flesher,  Union  Street,  Inverness 

Macdonald,  D.  C.,  solicitor,  Aberdeen 

Macdonald,  Rev.  James,  M.A.,  B.D.,  F.C.,  Manse,  Dornoch 

Macdonald,  John,  collector,  Inland  Revenue,  Somerset  House 

Macdonald,  John,  wholesale  merchant,  Castle  Street,  Inverness 

Macdonald,  John,  chief  constable,  Inverness 

Macdonald,  John,  Loch  Ericht  Hotel,  Dalwhinnie 

Macdonald,  Rev.  J.,  Reay  Free  Church  Manse,  Shebster 

Macdonald,  Kenneth,  town-clerk,  Inverness 

Macdonald,  L.,  C.  and  M.  engineer,  1317  Eleventh  Avenue,  Altoona, 

Pennsylvania,  U.S.A. 

Macdonald,  Murdo,  C.E.,  Highland  Railway,  Inverness 
Macdonald,  Murdo,  M.A.,  Schoolhouse,  Dores 
Macdonald,  William,  contractor,  George  Street,  Inverness 
Macdougall,  Rev.  R.,  Resolis  Invergordon 
Macfarlane,  Peter,  chemist,  Fort- William 
Macgillivray,  Donald  P.,  Bank  of  Scotland,  Inverness 
Macgregor,  Donald,  Bank  of  Scotland,  Inverness 
Macgregor,  John,  Duncraig  Villa,  Fairfield  Road,  Inverness 
Macgregor,  Peter,  M.A.,  Assynt 

Machardy,  Alex.,  chief  constable,  The  Castle,  Inverness 
Macintyre,  P.  B.,  Commissioner,  Crofters'  Commission 
Macintyre,  Peter,  6  Parliament  Square,  Edinburgh 
Macintosh,  Rev.  John,  Free  Church  Manse,  Fort-William. 
Maciver,  Duncan,  Church  Street,  Inverness 
Mackay,  ^Eneas,  bookseller,  Stirling 

Mackay,  Charles,  contractor,  Dempster  Gardens,  Inverness 
Mackay,  Donald,  Braemore,  Dunbeath 
Mackay,  Francis  D.,  Standard  Bank  of  Africa,  London 
Mackay,  John,  editor,  "  Celtic  Monthly,"  Glasgow 
Mackay,  J.  G.,  merchant,  Portree 

Mackay,  Thomas  A.,  agent,  British  Linen  Coy.'s  Bank,  Inverness 
Mackay,  Rev.  Thomson,  B.D.,  Strath,  Skye 
Mackay,  William,  solicitor,  Queensgate,  Inverness 
Mackay,  William,  bookseller,  High  Street,  Inverness 
Mackenzie,  Alexander,  editor,  "  Scottish  Highlander,"  Inverness 
Mackenzie,  Alex.,  C.E.,  Kingussie 
Mackenzie,  Alex.  F.,  architect,  Union  Street,  Inverness 
Mackenzie,  A.  C.,  teacher,  Mary  burgh,  Dingwall 
Mackenzie,  Colin  C.,  F.C.  Manse,  Fasnakyle 
Mackenzie,  Evan  N.  B.,  yr.  of  Kilcoy,  Belmaduthy  House,  Munlochy 


340  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Mackenzie,  Dr  F.  M.,  Inverness 
Mackenzie,  Mrs  Isabel,  Silverwells,  Inverness 
Mackenzie,  John,  agent,  Commercial  Bank,  Inverness 
Mackenzie,  John,  gamedealer,  &c.,  Union  Street,  Inverness- 
Mackenzie,  John,  jun.,  Dun  vegan,  Portree 
Mackenzie,  John  T.,  factor,  Uig,  Skye 
Mackenzie,  Murdo,  Inland  Revenue,  Charleston,  Gairloch 
Mackenzie,  M.  T.,  M.B.  &  C.M.,  Scalpaig,  Lochmaddy 
Mackenzie,  William,  secretary,  Crofters' Commission 
Mackenzie,  William,  clothier,  Bridge  Street,  Inverness 
Mackinnon,  Alexander  D.,  solicitor,  Portree 
Mackiunon,  Charles,  Howden  &  Coy.'s,  Inverness 
Mackintosh,  Andrew,  H.M.  Customs,  Inverness 
Mackintosh,  JEneas,  The  Doune,  Daviot 
Mackintosh,  Duncan,  Bank  of  Scotland,  Inverness 
Mackintosh,  John,  57  Church  Street,  Inverness 
Mackintosh,  John,  solicitor,  Union  Street,  Inverness 
Mackintosh,  Neil,  yr.,  of  Raigmore 
Mackintosh,  Rev.  A.,  Chapel  House,  Fort-William 
Mackintosh,  Lachlan,  merchant,  Kingussie 
Mackintosh,  R.  L.,  wine  merchant,  Bridge  Street,  Inverness 
Mackintosh,  William,  Druminuir  Estate  Office,  Keith 
Maclachlan,  Dugald,  Caledonian  Bank,  Portree 
Maclachlan,  Duncan,  Public  Library,  Edinburgh 
Maclean,  Rev.  D.,  Duirinish,  Portree 
Maclean,    Magnus,    M.A.,    Assistant   Professor,    The   University, 

Glasgow 

Maclean,  Peter,  solicitor,  Lochmaddy 
Maclean,  Peter,  merchant,  Dunvegan 
Macleay,  William,  birdstuffer,  Church  Street,  Inverness 
Macleish,  D.,  banker,  Fort- William 
Macleiman,  Alex.,  flesher,  New  Market,  Inverness 
Maclennan,  A.  D.,  solicitor,  Portree 
Maclennan,  John,  Estate  Office,  Stornoway 
Maclennan,  Rev.  D.  S.,  Laggan,  Kingussie 
Macleod,  Angus  D.,  Bellsfield  Hotel,  Windermere 
Macleod,  G.  G.,  teacher,  Gledfield  Public  School,  Ardgay 
Macleod,  Henry  Dunning,  Oxford  and  Cambridge  Club,  London 
Macleod,  John,  Public  School,  Drumsmittal,  North  Kessock 
Macleod,  John,  M.P.,  Inverness 
Macleod,  M.  D.,  M.B.,  of  Beverley,  Yorkshire 
Macleod,  Neil,   22  Viewforth  Gardens,  Edinburgh,   Bard  to  the 

Society 


Members.  341 

Macleod,  R.,  clothier,  Castle  Street,  Inverness 

Macmichael,  the  Rev.  Duncan,  Duncansburgh,  Fort- William 

Macnab,  John,  teacher,  Kilmuir,  Portree 

Macnee,  James,  M.D.,  Inverness 

Macneill,  Rev.  J.  G.,  Free  Church  Manse,  Cawdor 

Macnish,  Rev.  Dr.  Cornwall,  Ontario,  Canada 

Macphail,  I.  R.  N,,  advocate,  Edinburgh 

Macphail,  Rev.  J.  S.,  Free  Church  Manse,  Griminish,  Benbecula 

Macphail,    Samuel    Rutherford,    M.D.,    medical   superintendent, 

Derby  Borough  Asylum 
Macpherson,  Alex.,  solicitor,  Kingussie 
Macpherson,  Alexander,  3  Seton  Place,  Edinburgh 
Macpherson,    Captain,    J.    F.,   Caledonian    United    Service   Club, 

Edinburgh 

Macpherson,  Duncan,  steamboat  agent,  Union  Street,  Inverness 
Macpherson,  Duncan,  Inverguseran,  Knoydart 
Macpherson,  George,  Scottish  Widows'  Fund,  St  Andrew's  Square, 

Edinburgh 

Macpherson,  John,  The  Hotel,  Ullapool 
Macpherson,  Alex.,  grocer,  Tnglis  Street,  Inverness 
Macqueen,  Rev.  John,  Chapel  House,  Inverness 
Macqueen,  William,  Baron  Taylor's  Lane,  Inverness 
Macrae,  Rev.  Farquhar,  M.A.,  E.G.  Manse,  Glenorchy,  Dalmally 
Macrae,  Rev.  A.,  Free  Church  Manse,  Clachan,  Kintyre 
Macrae,  R.,  posting  master,  Beauly 
Macrae,  John,  solicitor,  Dingwall 
Macrae,  John,  M.D.,  Lynwood,  Murrayfield,  Midlothian 

Macrae,  Dr,  242  Westgate  Road,  Newcastle 

Macrury,  Rev.  John,  Snizort,  Skye 

Mactavish,  Alexander,  Ironmonger,  Castle  Street,  Inverness 

Mactavish,  Duncan,  High  Street,  Inverness 

Mactavish,  P.  D.,  solicitor,  Inverness 

Macvean,  C.  S.,  Kilfinichen  House,  Penny ghael,  Mull 

Martin,  W.  A.,  Beauclere  Road,  London,  W. 

Masson,  Rev.  Dr  Donald,  57  Albany  Place,  Edinburgh 

Matheson,  Gilbert,  draper,  Inverness 

Matheson,  R.  F.,  factor,  Tarbert,  by  Portree 

Maxwell,  Thomas  Edward  Hall,  of  Dargavel,  Dunolly,  Inverness 

Medlock,  Arthur,  Bridge  Street,  Inverness 

Menzies,  Duncan,  farmer,  Blairich,  Rogart 

Miller,  Dr,  Belford  Hospital,  Fort-William 

Mitchell,  Alex.,  agent,  E.G.  Railways,  Inverness 

Moir,  Dr,  High  Street,  Inverness 


342  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

Morgan,  Arthur,  6  Parliament  Square,  Edinburgh. 

Morrison,  John  M.,  Stornoway 

Mortimer,  John,  344  Great  Western  Road,  Aberdeen 

Munro,  Rev.  Robert,  B.D.,  Old  Kilpatrick,  near  Glasgow 

Munro,  William,  bookseller,  Petty  Street,  Inverness. 

Murdoch,  John,  Horton  Cottage,  Uddingstone 

Murray,  Francis,  Messrs  James  Finlay  &  Co.,  34  Leadenhall  Street, 
E.C.  ^ 

Murray,  James,  M.D.,  Inverness 

Nairne,  David,  sub-editor,  "  Northern  Chronicle  " 

Nicolson,  Donald,  Primrose  Cottage,  Uig,  Portree 

Neil,  R.  A.,  Fellow  of  Pembroke  College,  Cambridge 

Paterson,  Donald,  factor,  Askernish,  So.  Uist 

Paterson,  Rod.,  town  chamberlain,  Inverness 

Poison,  A.,  Public  School,  Dunbeath 

Ritchie,  Rev.  R.  L.,  Creich,  Sutherlandshire 

Robertson,  Rev.  Charles  M.,  Mrs  Macdonald's  New  Buildings, 
Charles  Street,  Inverness 

Robertson,  Rev.  Duncan,  The  Manse,  Tarbert,  Lochfyne 

Robertson,  Ossian,  banker,  Stornoway 

Robson,  A.  Mackay,  Constitution  Street,  Leith 

Roddie,  W.  S.,  music  teacher,  Southside  Road,  Inverness 

Ross,  A.  M.,  editor,  "  The  North  Star,"  Dingwall 

Ross,  ex-Provost  Alex.,  LL.D.,  Inverness 

Ross,  David,  solicitor,  Church  Street,  Inverness 

Ross,  Donald,  assistant  audit  inspector,  Highland  Railway,  Inver- 
ness 

Ross,  James,  hotelkeeper,  Broadford,  Skye 

Ross,  John,  procurator-fiscal,  Stornoway 

Sharp,  D.,  81  Scott  Street,  GarnethilJ,  Glasgow 

Shaw,  James  T.,  Gordonbush,  Brora 

Shirres,  George  Buchan,  Fellow  of  Trinity  Hall,  Cambriige 

Sinclair,  Rev.  A.  Maclean,  Belfast,  Prince  Edward's  Island 

Sinton,  Rev.  Thomas,  Dores,  Inverness 

Skene,  Lawrence,  Portree 

Steele,  A.  F.,  agent,  Bank  of  Scotland,  Inverness 

Stewart,  Colin  J.,  Dingwall 

Stewart,  A.  J.,  grocer,  Union  Street 

Stewart,  Robert,  46  Shore  Street,  Inverness 

Stewart,  Robert  T,,  agent,  Commercial  Bank,  Tain 

Strachan,  Professor,  Marple,  Cheshire 

Strachan,  R.  R.,  H.M.  Inspector  of  Schools,  Inverness 

Stuart,  ex-Bailie  W.  G.,  Inverness 


Members.  343 

Sutherland,  John,  rector,  Andersonian  Institution,  Forres 

Swan,  Cameron,  58  Holland  Fark,  London 

Thomson,  Hugh,  stockbroker,  Inverness 

Urquhart,  Donald,  Public  School,  Staffin,  Portree 

Urquhart,  Robert,  jun.,  solicitor,  Forres 

Wallace,  Thomas,  rector,  High  School,  Inverness 

Wark,  0.   R.,  local  manager,  Lancashire  Insurance  Offices,  Inver 


Warren,  John,  accountant,  British  Linen  Co.'s  Bank,  Forres 
Watson,  W.  J.,  rector,  Royal  Academy,  Inverness 
Whyte,  Duncan,  live-stock  agent,  226  Duke  Street,  Glasgow 
Whyte,  John,  "  Highland  Times,"  Inverness. 
Young,  David,  secretary,  Caledonian  Bank,  Inverness 

DECEASED  MEMBERS. 

Bannerman,  Hugh,  Southport 

Chisholm,  Colin,  Inverness 

Finlayson,  John,  rector,  Farraline  School,  Inverness 

Forbes,  Duncan,  of  Culloden 

Grant,  John,  jun.,  Oakbank,  Glen-Urquhart 

Mackay,  John,  of  Ben  Reay 

Mackenzie,  ex-Bailie  Alexander,  Silverwells,  Inverness 

Mackenzie,  W.,  late  manager,  Moyhall 

Maclennan,  John,  teacher,  Bilbster  Public  School,  Wick 

Macpherson,  Campbell,  Bandon,  Co.  Cork,  Ireland 

Noble,  John,  bookseller,  Inverness 

Ross,  Hugh,  V.S.,  Inverness 

Sutherland,  H,,  Wick 


LIST  OF  BOOKS 


THE  SOCIETY'S  LIBRARY 


NAMES   OF   BOOKS. 

Ossian's     Poems     (H.    Society's     edition, 

Gaelic  and  Latin),  3  vols. 
Smith's  Gaelic  Antiquities 
Smith's  Seann  Dana         .... 
Highland    Society's    Report   on    Ossian's 

Poems      ...... 

Stewart's  Sketches  of  the  Highlands,  2  vols 
Skene's  Picts  and  Scots    .... 

Dain  Osiein  Mhic  Fhinn  .... 

Macleod's  Oran  Nuadh  Gaelach 
An  Teachdaire  Gaelach,  1829-30 
Carew's  Ecclesiastical  History  of  Ireland  . 
Grain  Ghilleasbuig  Ghrannd,  two  copies    . 
Connell's  Reul-eolas          .... 

Maclauchlan's  Celtic  Gleanings 
Maclauchlan's  Early  Scottish  Church 
The  Dean  of  Lismore's  Book     . 
Macleod  and  Dewar's  Gaelic  Dictionary    . 
Highland  Society's  do.,  2  vols. 

Ritson's  Caledonians,  Picts  and  Scots 
Dr  Walker's  Hebrides,  2  vols  . 
Campbell's  Language,  Poetry,  and  Music 

of  the  Highland  Clans 
Macnicol's  Remarks  on  Dr  Johnston's  Tour 

in  the  Hebrides         .... 
Somers'  Letters  from  the  Highlands 


DONOR. 

Colonel    Mackenzie 
of  Parkmount 
ditto 
ditto 

ditto 
ditto 

ditto 
ditto 
ditto 

Mr  W.  Mackay 
Mr  Charles  Mackay 

ditto 

Rev.  Dr  Maclauchlau 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 

Sir  Ken.  S.  Mackenzie 
of  Gairloch,  Bart, 
ditto 
ditto 

Mr  John  Murdoch 

ditto 
ditto 


346  Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 

NAMB8  OF  BOOKS.  DONOR. 

Cameron's  Chemistry  of  Agriculture          .  Mr  John  Murdoch 

Sketches  of  Islay ditto 

Cameron's  History  of  Skye  .  .  .  ditto 
Kennedy's  Bardic  Stories  of  Ireland  ,  ditto 
Hicky's  Agricultural  Class-Book  *  ..' .  ditto 
Grain  Ghaelach  Mhic  Dhunleibhe  .  .  ditto 
The  Wolf  of  Badenoch  ^  ditto 
Familiar  Illustrations  of  Scottish  Life  .  ditto 
Antiquity  of  the  Gaelic  Language  .  .  ditto 
The  Dauntless  Red  Hugh  of  Tyrconnell  .  ditto 
The  Kilchoman  People  Vindicated  .  ditto 
Caraid  a'  'Ghaidheil — Sermon  .  .  .  ditto 
Highland  Clearances  the  Cause  of  High- 
land Famines  .....  ditto 
Co-operative  Associations  ...  ditto 
Lecture  .  .  .  .  .  ditto 
Review  of  "  Eight  Days  in  Islay "  .  .  ditto 
Gold  Diggings  in  Sutherland  .  .  .  ditto 
Review  of  Language  of  Ireland  .  .  ditto 
Highland  Character  .  .  .  .  ditto 
An  Teachdaire  Gaelach,  1829-30  .  .  ditto 
The  Scottish  Regalia  ....  ditto 
Campbell's  West  Highland  Tales,  4  vols  .  Mr  Alex.  Mackenzie 
Bliadhna  Thearlaich  ....  ditto 
Macfarlane's  Collection  of  Gaelic  Poems  .  Miss  Hood 
Old  Gaelic  Bible  (partly  MSS.)  .  .  J.  Mackenzie,  M.D., 

of  Eileanach 

MacHale's,  Archbishop,  Irish  Pentateuch  .  Canon  Bourke 

Irish  Translation  of  Moore's  Melodies         .  ditto 
The  Bull   "Ineffabilis"    (Latin,    English, 

Gaelic,  and  French)  ....  ditto 

Celtic  Language  and  Dialects  .        f         .  ditto 

Bourke's  Irish  Grammer  ....  ditto 

Bourke's  Easy  Lessons  in  Irish          .         .  ditto 

Mackenzie's  Beauties  of  Gaelic  Poetry       .  Rev.    W.   Ross,    Glas- 
gow 

Mac-Crimmon's  Piobaireachd    .         .         .  Rev.  A.  Macgregor 

JStratton's  Gaelic  Origin  of  Greek  and  Latin  ditto 
Gaelic  Translation  of  Apocrypha  (by  Rev. 

A.  Macgregor)           .         .         .         .  ditto 
Buchanan's  Historia  Scotiae      .         .         .Mr  William  Mackay 

The  Game  Laws,  by  R.  G.  Tolmie     .         .  ditto 


Library. 


347 


NAMES    OF   BOOKS. 

St  James's  Magazine,  vol., i.       .     "...'I    I* 
Fingal  (edition  1762)       . 

Collection  of  English  Poems  (2  vols.) 
Philologic  Uses  of  the  Celtic  Tongue 
Scoto-Celtic  Philology 

Dana  Oisein  (Maclauchlan's  edition). 

Munro's  Gaelic  Primer      . 

M' Alpine's  Gaelic  Dictionary    . 

M'Pherson's  Duanaire       .      ,  . 

Munro's  Gaelic  Grammar 

Grain  Mhic-an-t-Saoir 

Grain  Uilleim  Ross  , 

Ceithir  Searmoinean,  le  Dr  Dewar    . 

Carsewell's  Prayer  Book  (Gaelic) 

Scots'  Magazine  (1757)     . 

History  of  the  Rebellion,  1745-46     . 

Welsh  Bible    .         .         . 

Gld  Gaelic  New  Testament 

Adhamh  agus  Eubh  (Adam  and  Eve) 

Old  Gaelic  Bible 

Grain  Ailein  Dughallaich 

Maopherson's  Poem's  of  Ossian 

An  Gaidheal  for  1873       . 

Grain,  cruinnichte  le  Mac-an-Tuairnear 

The  Gospels,  in  eight  Celtic  dialects 
Fraser  of  Knockie's  Highland  Music 

The  Clan   Battle  at  Perth,  by  Mr  A.  M. 

Shaw 

The  Scottish  Metrical  Psalms  . 

Sailm  Dhaibhidh  Ameadreachd  (Ed.  1659) 

Biographical      Dictionary     of      Eminent 

Scotsmen  (9  vols.)    .... 
Grain  Ghilleasbuig  Grannd 
Clarsach  nan  Beann          .         . 
Fulangas  Chriost     .         .         . 
Dain  Spioradail        .         .         ... 


DONOR. 

Mr     Mackay,  :  book- 
seller, Inverness 
C.  Fraser-Mackintosh, 

Esq.,  M.P. 
Mr  D.  Mackintosh 
Mr  D.  Maciver 
Lord   Neaves,   LL.D.,. 

F.R.S.E. 

Maclachlan  &  Stewart 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 

Purchased 
Mr  A.  Macbean 
Mr  D.  Mackintosh 
Mr  L.  Mackintosh 
Mr  L.  Macbean 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 

The  Publishers 
Mr     A.     Mackintosh 

Shaw,  London 
Mr  J.    Mackay,   J.P., 

Hereford 

Mr   Mackenzie,   Bank 
Lane,  Inverness 

The  Author 

Mr  J.  Fraser,  Glasgow 

)Mr    A.    R.    Macraild, 
J  Inverness 

Mr  J.  Craigie,  Dundee 

ditto. 

ditto. 

ditto. 


348 


Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 


NAMKS    OF   BOOKS. 

Spiritual  Songs  (Gaelic  and  English) 
Alexander  Macdonald's  Gaelic  Poems 
Cram  Mhic-an-t-Saoir       .... 
Leabhar  nan  Ceist    ..... 
Co-eigneachadh  Soisgeulach  (Boston) 
History  of  the  Druids  (Toland's) 
Melodies  from  the  Gaelic  ^. 

Maclean's  History  of  the  Celtic  Language. 
Leabhar  Sailm          ..... 
Origin  and  descent  of  the  Gael 
Stewart's  Gaelic  Grammar 
Macpherson's       Caledonian       Antiquities 

(1798) 

Biboul  Noimbh  (London,  1855) 

Searmona  Mhic-Dhiarmaid 

Dain  Oisein     ...... 

Fingal  (1798) 

Life  of  Columba  (1798)    .... 
Grain  Roib  Dhuinn  Mhic-Aoidh 
Dain  leis  an  Urr.  I.  Lees 
Searmons  leis  an  Urr.  E.  Blarach 
Eaglais  na  h-Alba,  leis  an  Urr  A.  Clare, 

Inbhirnis  ..... 

Bourke's  Aryan  Origin  of  the  Gaelic  Race 

Reid's  Bibliotheca  Scoto-Celtica 

Mimro's  Gaelic  Primer  (3  copies  in  library) 

Eachdraidh  ria  h-Alba,  le  A.  MacCoinnich 

(3  copies)          ..... 
Dain  Ghailig  leis  an  Urr.  I.  Lees 
Philologic  Uses  of  the  Celtic  Tongue,  by 

Professor  Geddes  (1872)   . 
Philologic  Uses  of  the  Celtic  Tongue  (1873) 
Poems  by  Ossian,  in  metre  (1796)    . 

Proceedings  of  the  Historical  and  Archaeo- 
logical Association  of  Ireland 
(1870-86) 

Shaw's  Gaelic  Dictionary  (1780) 

History  of  the  Culdees,  Maccallum's. 

Macdiarmid's  Gaelic  Sermons  (MS.  1773). 

Gaelic  Grammar,  Irish  character  (1808)    . 


DONOR. 

Mr  J.  Craigie,  Dundee 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 

ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 

ditto 

Mr  J.  Mackay,  Here- 
ford 
ditto 

Purchased 

The  Author. 

Rev.  Dr  Lees,  Paisley 

The  Author 

ditto 

Mr    Alex.    Kennedy, 
Bohuntin 


The  Society 

Rev.  A.  Macgregor. 

ditto 

ditto 
Rev.  A.  Macgregor 


Library.  349 

NAMES   OF   BOOKS.  DONOR 

Gaelic  Pentateuch,  Irish  character    .         .     Rev.  A.  Macgregor 

Gaelic  Book  of  Common  Prayer  (1819)      .  ditto 

Gaelic  Psalter,  Irish  character .         .         .  ditto 

Transactions    of    the    Gaelic    Society   of 
Inverness,  13  vols.    .... 

Bibliotheca  Scoto-Celtica 

Grain  le  Rob  Donn  .... 

Leabhar  Oran  Gaidhealach 

Vible  Casherick,  Manx      .... 

Biobla  Naomtha,  Irish      .          ... 

Dr  Smith's  Seann  Dana    .         

Evan's  Welsh  Grammar  and  Vocabulary   . 

Grain  Uilleim  Ros    ..... 

Grain  Dhonnacha  Bhain  .... 

Co-chruinneachadh  Grain  Ghailig 

Book  of  Psalms,  Irish       .... 

Grain   Nuadh   Ghaidhealach,    le  A.  Mac 
dhomhnuill       ..... 

Laoidhean  o'n  Sgriobtuir,  D.  Dewar . 

Leabhar  Gran  Gailig         .... 

Am  Biobla  Naomtha  (1690)      . 

The  Family  of  lona.         .... 

Grant's  Origin  and  Descent  of  the  Gael     . 

Rathad  Dhe  gu  Sith         .... 

Dain  Spioradail,  Urr.  I.  Griogalach   . 

Dara  Leabhar  airson  nan  Sgoilean  Gaidh- 
ealach     ...... 

Treas  Leabhar  do.  do 

What  Patriotism,  Justice,  and  Christianity 
demand  for  India     .          .         . 

Grain  Ghaidhealach          .         . 

Priolo's  Illustratons  from  Ossian       .         .     Purchased 

Photograph  of  Gaelic  Charter,  1408.         .     Rev.   W.   Ross,   Glas- 
gow 

The  Celtic  Magazine,  vol.  i.  The  Publishers 

Do.,  vols,  ii.  to  xi.  ....     Purchased 

Elementary  Lessons  in  Gaelic  .         .         .     The  Author 

Stewart's  Gaelic  Grammar         .         .         .     Mr  D.  Mackintosh 

Irish  Pedigrees,  by  O'Hart        .         .         .     The  Author 

Dan  an  Deirg  agus  Tiomna  Ghuill  (Eng- 
lish Translation),  2  copies          .         .     Mr  C.  S.  Jerram. 
Gaelic  and  English  Vocabulary  (1741)      .     Rev.  A.  Macgregor. 


350 


Gaelic  Society  of  /nuerness. 


NAMKS    OF   BOOKS. 

Aryan   Origin   of  the   Celtic. 

Language 
Old  Map  of  Scotland  (1746) 


Collection  of  Harp  Music  .  .  . 
Valuation  Roll  of  the  County  of  Inverness 

(1869-70)         ..... 
Do.  do.     Ross  (1871-72)  *. 

Inverness  Directory  (1869-70)  .          . 

Greek  Testament  ..... 
Greek  Lexicon  ..... 
Gospel  of  St  John  adapted  to  the  Hamil- 

tonian  System  (Latin)  .  .  . 
Historic  de  Gil  Bias  de  Santillane  (French) 
Prophecies  of  the  Brahan  Seer,  2nd  edition 
My  Schools  and  Schoolmasters  .  . 

Gaelic  Etymology  of  the  English  Language 

Dr  Charles  Mackay  .  .  .  . 
The  Highland  Echo  .  .  . 

The   Highland    Newspaper,    complete,    4 

volumes  .          .          .        .  .          .          . 

Hebrew—  Celtic  Affinity,  Dr  Stratton  . 
Illustrations  of  Waverley,  published  for  | 

the  Royal  Association  for  Promoting  V 

the  Fine  Arts  in  Scotland  (1865)        .  j 
Illustrations  of  Heart  of  Midlothian,  do. 

do  (1873)         .         ..... 

Illustrations  of  the  Bride  of  Lammermuir, 

do.  do.  (1875)  ..... 
Illustrations  of  Red  Gauntlet,  do.  do.  (1876) 
Illustrations  of  the  Fair  Maid.  of  Perth      . 
Illustrations  of  the  Legend  of  Montrose    . 
Guim  on  the  Harp  in  the  Highlands          . 


DONOR. 

Race    and  1  Mr   John   Mackay, 

/  Hereford 

..     Mr   Colin    M'Callum, 

London 
Mr  Charles  Fergusson 


ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 

ditto 

ditto 

Mr  A.  Mackenzie 
Mr  James  Reid 

J.  Mackay,  Swansea 
Purchased 

Purchased 
The  Author 
m^  p  Farraline 

vnl      N  V,       •  v 
Lla'  *'  * 

ditto 

ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
ditto 
Miss  Cameron  of  Inn- 


seagan 
English  Translation  of  Buchanan's  "Latha  ) 

'Bhreitheanais,"     by    the      Rev.     J.  >  Translator 

Sinclair,  Kinloch-Rannoch  (1880)       .  j 
An   t-Oranaiche,    compiled   by   Archibald 

Sinclair  (1880)          ....     Compiler 
Danaibh  Spioradail,  &c.,  le  Seumas  Mac-  \  A.  Maclean,  coal  mer- 

Bheathain,  Inverness  (1880)      .         .J       chant,  Inverness. 
Macdiarmid's  Sermons  in  Gaelic  (1804)     .     Colin      MacCallum, 

London 


Library. 


351 


NAMES   OP   BOOKS.  .    . 

Bute  Docks,  Cardiff,  by  John  M'Connachie, 
C.E.  (1876)       ..... 

Observations  on  the  Present  State  of  the  } 
Highlands,  by  the  Earl  of  Selkirk  V 
(1806)  ) 

Collection   of    Gaelic    Songs,    by   Ranald 
Macdonald  (1806)     .... 

Mary  Mackellar's  Poems  and  Songs  (1880) 
Dr  O'Gallagher's  Sermons  in  Irish  (1877) . 

John    Hill   Burton's   History  of  Scotland) 

(9  vols.)   .         .         .         .         .         .} 

Burt's  Letters  from  the  North  of  Scotland 

(2  vols.) 

A  Genealogical  Account  of  the  Highland  ) 

Families  of  Shaw,  by  A.  Mackintosh  > 

Shaw  (1877)     ....         .         .  ) 

History    of    the    Clan    Chattan,    by    A. 

Mackintosh  Shaw  (1880)  . 
Leabhair     an     t-Sean     Tiomna     air     na^ 

dtarruing     on     Teanguidh    Ughdar- 

rach  go   Gaidhlig   tre    churam   agus 

saothar   an   doctur  .  Uiliam    Bhedel, 

Roimhe    so   Easpog    Chillemhorie    'n 

Erin  (1830)      .         . 
Edmund  Burke's  Works,  8  vols. 
Land    Statistics  of   Inverness,   Ross,   and  ) 

Cromarty  in  the  Year  18,71,  by  H.  C. 

Eraser      .         .         .         .         .         .  ) 

Church  of  Scotland   Assembly    Papers — 

The  Poolewe  Case     .... 
Ossian's    Fingal     rendered     into     Heroic ) 

Verse,  by  Ewen  Cameron  (1777)        .  j 
Ossian's    Fingal   rendered   into   verse   by 

Archibald  Macdonald  (1808)     . 
Clarsach    an    Doire — Gaelic    Poems,    by 

Neil  Macleod    .       . .         

MacDiarmid's  Gaelic  Sermons  . 

Leabhar  Commun  nan  «Fior  .GhaeJ — The 
Book  of  the  Club  of  True  Highlanders 


DONOR. 

The  Author. 

John    Mackay,    J.P., 
Hereford 

F.  C.  Buchanan,  Clarin 
nish,  Row,  Helens- 
burgh 

The  Author. 
John     Mackay,    J.P., 

Hereford 

L.       Macdonald       of 
Skaebost 

ditto 
The  Author 


The  Author 


A.   R.    MacRaild,   In- 
verness 


Mr  Colin  Chisholm. 
The  Author 


Mr  W.  Mackenzie 
A.    H.    F.    Cameron, 
Esq.  of  Lakefield 

ditto 

The  Author 
Mr  Colin  MacCallum, 
London 

Purchased 


352 


Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness. 


NAMES   OF   BOOKS. 

Grammar  of  the  Gaelic  Language  (Irish), 

by  E.  O'C. 
Esquisse  de  la  Religion  des  Gaulois.     Par 

M.  Henri  Gaidoz.     1879  . 
Notice   sur   les    Inscriptions    Latines   de 

1'Irlande.       Par    M.    Henri    Gaidoz. 

1878 

Melusine  Recueil  de  Mythologie,  &c.     Par 

MM.  Gaidoz  et  Holland.  1878  . 
Guide  to  Sutherlandshire,  by  Hew  Morrison 
Transactions  of  the  Royal  National  Eist- 1 

eddfod  of  Wales        .         .         .         J 
Bute  Docks,  Cardiff,  by  J.  Macconnachie, 

M.LC.E.  ...... 

In  Memoriam — Earl  of  Seafield 


Past  and  Present  Position  of    the  Skye) 
Crofters  .         .         .         .         .          .  / 

American  Journal  of  Philology 

Revue  Celtique,  vol.  VI.,  No.  3 

Notes  on  St  Clement's  Church,  Rowdill, 
Harris     ...... 

Notes  on  Clan  Chattan  Names 

The  Proverbs  of  Wales    . 

J.  D.  Dixon's  Gairloch      .... 

Struan's  Poems        ..... 
The  Writings  of  Eola       .... 

The  Proverbs  of  Wales,  by  T.  R.  Roberts . 

An  Old  Scots  Brigade,  by  John  Mackay, 

Herrisdale        ..... 
Cromb's  Highland  Brigade 
Glossary  of  Obscure  Words  in  Shakespeare 

and  his  Contemporaries,  by  Dr  Chas. 

Mackay    ...... 

Pococke's  Tour  in  Scotland  issued  by  the  ) 

Historical  Society  of  Scotland    .         .  f 
Walcott's  Scottish  Church 


DONOR. 

Mr  H.  C.  Fraser 
M.  Gaidoz 

M.  Gaidoz 

M.  Gaidoz 
The  Author 
Mr  J.   Mackay,  J.P., 
Hereford 

The  Author 
The     Dowager-Count- 
ess of  Seafield 
L.  Macdonald  of  Skae- 
bost 

M.  Gaidoz 

Mr  A.  Ross,  Inverness 
J.  Macpherson,  M.D. 
Mr   J.    Mackay,   J.P., 

Hereford 
Mr  A.  Burgess,  banker, 

Gairloch 
Mr  A.  Kennedy 
Mr   John  Mackay  of 

Ben  Reay 

Mr   J.   Mackay,  J.P., 
Hereford 

ditto 
ditto 


ditto 
Mr  D.  William  Kemp, 

Edinburgh 

Mr  A.  Burgess,  Gair- 
loch 


Library.  353 

NAMES  OF  BOOKS.  DONOR. 

Dick  Lander's  Highland  Legends  Mr  A.  Burgess,  Gair- 

loch 

Book  of  Scottish  Story     .     - .  ..         .  ditto 

Stuart  Papers          ....  ditto 

The  Constitution    and   Bye-Laws  of   the|  Mr   John    Mackay  of 

Scots  Charitable  Society  of  Boston     .  j  Ben  Reay 

Notes  on  Early  Iron  Smelting  in  Suther- )  Mr  D.  William  Kemp, 

land         .....  j  Edinburgh 

Artificial  Lighting  .....  ditto 

The  Mountain  Heath,  by  David  Macdonald     Mr  A.  H.  F.  Cameron 

of  Lakefield 
Oratio  Dominica       .....     Mr  John  Mackay,  J.P., 

Hereford 
Old   Testament   in  the    Irish    Language,     Mr     Paul     Cameron, 

by  Dr  William  Bedel,  1685        .         .  Blair-Atholl 

The  Hermit  in  Edinburgh         .          .  Dr  Cameron,  Liverpool 

The  History  of  the  Macleans,  by  Professor  )  ^      ,        , 

J.  P.  Maclean f  * 

Fingal's  Cave,  Staffa,  2  vols.,  by  Professor  )        ,. 

J.  P.  Maclean  .         .         .         .         .  j 

m,     v>        TT       -i  i  I  Mr  John  Mackay,  J.P., 

The  Reay  tencibles  Hereford  J 

Reliquiae     Celticse.       Vol.    I. — Ossianica,  \ 

with  Memoir  of  Dr  Cameron.    Edited  (T,     ,-,,. 

by  Mr  A.  Macbain,  M.A.,  and  Rev.  f  1 

John  Kennedy  .          .          .          .  ) 

The    Elements   of   Banking.      By   Henry  1 

Dunning  Macleod     .          .          .          .  J 
John    Laurie,    an    Eccentric    Sutherland  1  ™      A    , , 

Dominie.     By  D.  W.  Kemp      .         .  /  A 

Irish  New  Testament       .  Dr    Cameron,    Wor- 

cester 
Report  of  the  Worcester  Diocesan  Archi-  )  ,. 

tectural  and  Archaeological  Society    .  J 
Manuscript  Collection  of  Music.     By  John  \  ,., , 

Anderson,  music  master,  Inverness     .  J 
Place    Names   of   Scotland,    by    Rev.   Mr 

Johnston Mr  W.  A.  G.  Brodie 

The  Christian  Doctrine,  by  the  Archbishop 

of  Tuam  .  ...     Mr  Colin  Grant,  Balti- 

more 

23 


354 


Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 


NAMES  OF  BOOKS. 

Light  of  Britiuna — Druidic  Mysteries,  by 

Owen  Morgan,  B.B.D.  (Morien) 
Reliquae  Celticse.    Vol.  II. — Dr  Cameron's. 

Edited  by  Mr  A.  Macbain,  M.A.,  and 

Rev.  John  Kennedy. 
History  of   Urquhart  and  Glenmoriston, 

by  William  Mackay 
History  of  the  Mackenzies,   2nd  Edition, 

by  Alex.  Mackenzie 
Eachdraidh  Beatha  Chriosd 
The  Songs  and  Poems  of  MacCodrum,  edited 

by  Rev.  Arch.  Macdonald,  Kiltarlity . 
Celtic  Gleanings,  by  Rev.  J.  G.  Campbell . 


Do. 


do. 


Pictish    Inscriptions,    by  E.   B.  Nicolson, 

Bodleian  Library,  Oxford 
Deponent  Verb  in  Irish,  by  Prof.  Strachan 
Presbytery    Records    of     Inverness     and 

Dingwall,  edited    by   Wm.    Mackay, 

solicitor,  Inverness 
Coinneach  'us  Coille,  by  Alex.  Macdonald, 

Inverness 


DONOR. 

Mr  John  Mackay,  J. P., 
Hereford 

•  The  Editors 

The  Author 

The  Author 
The  Author 

The  Editor 

Mr     John      Mackay, 

C.E.,  Hereford 
Miss     Amy     Frances 

Yule,    Tarradale 

House,  Muir  of 

Ord 

The  Author 
The  Author 

The  Editor 
The  Author 


PB 
1501 
G3 
v.20 


Gaelic  Society  of  Inverness 
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