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TRANSACTIONS

OF THE

GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS.

VOL. II.— YEAR 1872-73.

/a^ / i''; cF o'' cF

TRANSACTIONS

THE GAELIC SOCIETY

INVERNESS

I

"^OL. II. ^2^E.A.I?- 18V2-V3.

CUuu nan (Jlaiiheil ri (SnaiUcan a' Cluile

INVERNESS :

PRINTED FOE THE SOCIETY BY

i The Highlander Newspaper Printing and Publishing I Company, Limited, 42 Church Street.

! 1873.

I

V 0 N T E X T S.

Office-Bearers

Constitution

Introduction

Kesults of the^Battle of Culloden

Celtic Sympathies of Burns

Gaelic Lecture by the Rev. A. MacGregor, M.A.

Toirioc na Taine, by A. A. Carmichael, Cor. M.S. A. Scot

Notes on " Toireachd na Taine," by Standish O'Grady, Esq., M

The Study of the Gaelic Language, by W. Mackay

Laoidh nan Ceann, by A. A. Carmichael

The Annual Supper .....

Our Fires and Firesides, a Paper on Peats, by J. Murdoch

Sgeulachdan GhHnn-L'rchudainn, by "Wm. Mackay

Scottish Gaelic Literature, by N. MacXeill

Second Annual Assembly ....

"On Letters," by Alex. Halley, Esq., M.D., F.G.S. &c.

List of Members .-..-.

P. LA.

PAGE.

vii viii xiii

1

6 25 39 42 46 49 65 74 80 92 109 120

tbce:

Gaelic ^xineii) of Ijnverucii^

(IFFICE-BEARERS FOR THE YEAR 187:"..

CHIEF. CLUXY MAOPHEUSOX OF CLUXY MACPHERSUN.

CHIEFTAINS.

THOMAS MACKENZIE. | ALEXAXDEPv DALLAS.

ALEXAXDEE .\L4CKEXZIE.

HONORARY SECRETARY. •JOHX MURDOCH.

SECRETARY.

WILLIAM MACK AY, 67 CHCRtH Streex-.

TREASURER. DUNCAN MACKIXTOSH, Bank of Scotland.

BARD.

AXCUS MACDOXALD.

LIBRARIAN.

LACHLAX MACBEAX.

MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

CHARLES MACKAY. | 0. J. CAMPBELL.

DUNCAN MACIVER. | ALEXANDER M'LEAN.

PETER MACKINTOSH.

BANKERS. THE CALEDONIAN BANKING COMPANY.

COMUNN GAILIG INBHIRNIS.

CO-SHUIDHEACHADH.

I. 'Se aiiim a Chomuinn " Coinunn Gailig Inbhiriiis."

II.

*Siad riiintean a Chomuiim : — na buill a dheanamli foirfe ann an cleachdadh na Gailig ; cinneas canaine, bardachd, agus ciiiil Gai- dhealtaclid na h-Alba ; bardacbd, seann-aithrisean, sgeulaclidan, leabhraicliean agus sgriobhanna Gaidhealach a tliearnadh 'o dhi- chuimhn'; leabhar-lann a shuidheachadh ann an Inbhirnis de leabliraichibh agus sgriobliannaibh, an c^naiii sam bitb, a bhuineas do chkileachd, flioghlum, eachdraidheachd, sheanachasaibh agus f hior-thairblie na Gaidhealtachd agus nan Gaidlieal ; coir nan Gaidheal a dhion 's an leas a chuideachadh, an cein 's am fagus.

III.

'Siad a bhitheas nam buill do'n Chomuinn dream a ghabhas suim do a ruintibh, agus a bhitheas air an tairgse agus an tairgse daingnichte aig aon choinneamh, agus air an roghnachadh le, aig a chuid a 's lugha, tri-cheathramh de na buill a roghnachadh le crannchur aig coinneamh eile. Air do'n neach a roghnaicheadh an co-tlioirt iocadh gheibh e stigh gu ainm-chlar nam Ball.

IV.
Bithidh co-thoirt nam ball gu ionmhas	a Chomuinn	mi
leanas : —
Buill-beatha, aon iocadh de Buill-Urramach 'sa bhliadhna - Buill-Chumanta Do. Og-bhuill Do.	- £7 7 0 10 0 .-) 0 1	0 6 0 0

GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS.

CONSTITUTION.

I.

The Society sliall be called the " Gaelic Society of Inverness."

II.

The objects of the Society are : — The perfecting of the members in the use of the Gaelic language ; the cultivation of the language, poetxy, and music of the Scottish Highlands ; the rescuing from oblivion of Celtic poetry, traditions, legends, books, and manu- scripts ; the establishing in Inverness of a Library, to consist of books and manuscripts, in whatever language, bearing upon the genius, literature, history, antiquities, and material interests of the Highlands and Higliland people, the vindication of their rights, and the furtherance of their interests, both at home and abroad.

III.

The Society shall consist of persons who take a lively interest in its objects, and who shall be pi'oposed and seconded at one meeting, and elected by at least three-fourths of the members voting by ballot at a subsequent meeting. On payment of the Subscription the person elected shall be admitted to the Roll of Membership.

IV.

The Subscription of members to the funds of the Society shall be as follows : —

Life Members, one payment of - Honorary Members, annually - Ordinary Members, Do. Junior Members, Do.

''1	7	0
0	10	6
0	5	0
0	1	0

X CO-SHUIDHEACIIADIf.

V.

Earbar riaghladh giiothuicliean a Chomumn ri Comliairle de da- bhall-deug, roghnaiclite le crannchur au Ceud-Mliios gacli bliadhna, agus air a deanamh suas do Clieann-feadhna, tri lar-chinn-flieadh- na Cleireach Urramacli, Run-cbleii-each, lonmliasair, agns cwig buill eile de'n Chomuun ; feumaidb iad uile a Gliailig a thuigsrnn 's a bliruidliinn, agiis feuniar ciiigear dhiubh airson coiiineanili. Lionar, o am gu am, airson an eadai'-uin,' dreiichd sam bith a nithear falamli re na bliadhna.

VI.

Cumaidh an Comunn coinneamhan gacb seachdhmn o tboiseacli an Deicheamh-Mios gu deireadli na Gibleiii, aii-son cur air agbaidh na nitlie ainmicbte anns an dara Reacbd ; feiimar seachdnar airson coinneamb. Aig gach coinneamh mu'n seacb bithidh an oraid no'n deasboii'eachd agus na labhrar umpa aim an Gailig.

VII.

Cumaidh an Comtmn Co-chruinneachadh Bliadhnail anns an t-Seachdamh-Mios aig am bith Oraidean, leughadhan, aithriseadh agus seinn an Gailig 's am Beurla, maille ri piobaireachd agus ceol Gaidhealach eile. Gheibh nithe Gailig an roimh-urram.

VIII.

Feudaidh an Comunn urrad 'us scachd de na buill, a tlia sonruichte airson am foghlum Gaidhealach, no airson gi-adh duthcha, a thaghadh gu bhi nan Cinn-fheadhna urramacli.

IX.

Cha'n atharraichear cuid sam bith de'n clio-sliuidheachadli gun aonta cheathar-chuigeamh do luchd-bruidhinn na Gailig an lathaii- aig coinneamh a ghairmeadh airson an aobhar so, air rabhadh mios aig a chuid a's lugha, agus aig an toir aig a chuid a's gaine fichead ball an gutli. Feumaidh atharrachadh sam bith a thairgear a bhi daingnichte fo lamh-sgriobhadh aig a chuid a's lugha seaclid buill, agus air a roi-innseadh aig coinneamh chumanta.

X.

Feudaidh an Comunn mion-laghan a dheanamh o am gu am, ach cha'n fheudar na mion-laghan so a dheanamh, atharrachadh, no chur am miitha ach air suidheachadh aig a chuid a 's lugha, da-thrian de na buill an lafchair aig coinneamh chumanta do'n Chomunn, an doigli rabhadh mios.

XI.

Taghaidh an Comunn Bardj Piobaire agus Fear-leabliarlanu.

CONSTITUTION'.

Tlie management of the atfairs of the 8ociety shall be entrusted to a Council of Twelve Members, chosen annually by ballot, in the month of January, and consisting of a Chief, three Chieftaus, an Honorary Secretary, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and five other Members of the Society, all of whom shall understand and speak Gaelic ; five to be a quorum. Vacancies occurring during the year shall, from time to time, be filled up ad interim.

YI.

The Society shall hold weekly meetings from the beginning of October to the end of April, for the furtherance of the objects specified in Article II ; seven to be a quorum. At every alternate meeting the Essay or Debate, and discussion thereon, shall be in Gaelic.

YII.

The Society shall hold an Annual Assembly in the month of July, at which there shall be Pipe and other Highland Music, Singing, Readings, Recitations, and Addresses in Gaelic and English. Gaelic subjects shall have the preference.

VIII.

The Society may elect gentlemen who are distinguished for Celtic Literary attainments or patriotism, and who are members, as Honorary Chieftans, to the number of seven.

IX.

No part of the Constitution shall be altered without the assent of four-fifths of the Gaelic-speaking members present at a meeting specially called for the purpose, on not less than a month's notice, and provided that not less than twenty members vote. Any pro- posed alteration must be signed by at least seven members, and given notice of at an ordinary meeting. No Rules or Bye-Laws can be enacted, modified, or rescinded, except on the resolution of at least two-thirds of the members present at a Business Meeting of the Society, after a month's notice.

X.

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

INTRODUCTION.

The Council regret the delay which has taken place in issuing this, the second volume of the Society's Transactions — which is largely owing to the large proportion of Gaelic lore — so much desiderated by the readers of the first volume, — forming its contents. This will be found, however, to have added to the intrinsic value of the work; and the Council are confident the volume will prove worthy to rank with the first, both in value and interest ; and they trust it will meet with an equally cordial reception from the members of the Society and from the public.

A large accession to the membership of the Society, and an in- crease at home and abroad, of societies formed to sei"\'e the objects for which the Gaelic Society of Inverness was founde."!, are some of the results expected to follow this issue.

The Comicil are glad to find that these objects were to a con- siderable extent accomplished by the first volume ; and the work of organization still goes on. In addition to this, several volumes of Gaelic Poetry, a commodity in which few men of business would but very recently have invested much money, have been published in the intei-val ; and a great variety of music, in one way or another, belonging to the Highlands, or celebrating the praises of the Celt, has been put into circulation. Reference may also be made to the increasing appreciation of Gaelic and Gaelic Litei-ature

among other peoples. The " Illustrations of Ossian," mentioned in the pre\'ious volume, were soon afterwards published — a splen- did tribute to the Gaelic bard and Celtic hero, from the graphic jieucil of a son of Italy, and very ajipropriately seconded by letter- press descriptions from the pen of Mr Murdoch, the Honorary Secretary of this Society. Special mention should be made hei-e of " The Pliilologic uses of the Celtic Tongue," by Professor Geddes, a work which, though small, has already exerted a lai-ge amount of influence on the destiny of the language of the Celt.

Mr 0. S. Jerram, an English gentleman and scholar, who has mastered the Gaelic tongue, has given to the world in very acce2)t- able form and style, an English version of Dan an Deirg and Tiotnna Ghuill, a fact which deserves special notice ; and in con- nection with this, it is also very gratifying to notice that during last session, and previous to the api^earance of Mr Jerram's book, a very meritorious English version of Dan an Derig was read to the Society by its Librarian, Mr Lachlan M'Bean. The members may possibly have the pleasure of perusing the latter in the next volume of the Transactions. The philological, topogi-aphical and other Gaelic papers appearing from time to time in the pages of the Gael ; and in the Gaelic and Antiquarian departments of the Highlander news2:»aper afford further evidence of an increasing interest iai Celtic literature and lore.

Several changes have taken place among the office-beai-ers since those here given were elected. Among them must be mentioned ^\^.th regret the resignations of the admirable Secretary and of the Treasui'er, both of whom have left the Highland Capital for other spheres of usefulness. It is gratifying to note, however, that the life membership is increasing ; and the Council would earnestly recommend that connection with the Society, to all ardent and patriotic Highlanders who desire to strengthen the foundation of the Society and to increase its usefulness and influence.

The; Coiuicil woidd again beg to solicit the attention of the

members to the claims of the Library. Quite an unusual demand for Gaelic books has sprung up, particulax-ly from the colonies ; and unless a special effort be made at once to make the Library what it ought to be, it will ere long become a difficult matter to make satis- factory progress with that important branch of the Society's woi'k.

The practical recognition of Gaelic as a branch of early education in our Highland Schools, and the founding of Gaelic Professorships in our Universities, are two other important objects, deserving some attention from the public, and demand- ing a special and speedy effort for their accomplishment on the part of the Gaelic Society of Liverness.

TRANSACTIONS.

October 3. — Upon Tliiu-sday, the 3rd day of October, 1872, tlie Gaelic Society of Inverness held their first meeting of the second year of their existence, -witlmi the Guildry Hall. The evening Was devoted to the election of members and other business.

October 10. — Upon this evening a debate took place in Gaelic upon the question — " Were the results of the battle of Culloden beneficial to the Highlands V The discussion was opened by Mr James Fraser, commission agent, who, in an able and interesting address, maintained that the results ivere beneficial to the High- hxnds. The negative side was opened by Mr Mackay, the secre- tary, and thereafter a number of those present spoke i;pon the subject. The discussion was animated, and brought out many interesting incidents of the stirring times of the Forty-five. At the close a show of hands was taken, which was found to be in favour of the negative.

October 17. — Upon this evening Mr Murdoch read a paper upon " The Celtic Sympathies of Burns," from which we take the following : —

THE CELTIC SYMPATHIES OF BURNS.

Ptobert Burns, having been born and brought up among Saxon- speaking Lowlanders, is, of course, claimed and appi'opriated as a gem in the crown of the chief of races, the mythic Anglo-Saxon ! No doubt his mother was an Ayi'shire woman. It does not, how- ever, follow that she was a Saxon ; for Ayrshire, until very recently was as Celtic as the neighbouring county of Argyle. The names

Z TKANSAOTIONS.

of the old towns, villages, parishes, and farms are Gaelic \ and so are the names of most of the people — as is the case in Wigtonshire and the rest of Galloway. Nay, until within the last two hundred years, Gaelic was the vernacular of all that country. So that the probabilities are in favour of the supposition that even Burns's mother was a Celt. Her maiden name, " Brown," falls readily into the same preponderating scale. In the Highlands it is com- mon, where it has two origins — the one through a literal translation, and the other through an accommodating corruption. The former, Donn, the Gaelic for the colour hroivn — the other is a corruption of Brkdnn, the Gaelic of judges. Hence many in the Highlands who are called Brown in English are, in the language of the country, called clann a! Bhriuxnn. The transition in sound from Briuin to Brown is slight, although in sense the stride is consider- able between the colour Brown and the ancient Celtic functionaries the Briuins. Briuin itself, by the way, as well as the modern Irish Brehon, is a slight departure in sound, and more in spelling, but none in sense, from the real old word Breitheamhna (judges). Breith (pronounced nearly brae) is the verb to judge; Breitheamh (pronounced bre-av, or bre-u) is the novm which designates the oificial who judges ; and Breitheamhnas (pronounced bre-anus) is the name of what the judge does (judgment). To return : William Burness, the poet's father, was, we may say, a fugitive member of a Celtic or Highland Jacobitical clan in the North of Scotland, and characterised by those qualities which bound the Highlanders to their country, their clans, their chiefs, and their king, so long as faith was kej^t and liberty could be enjoyed ; but which, when these failed, compelled them to betake themselves to other lands.

So far, then, the Highlanders, from whose frmtful Celtic stem sprang the imperishable sons and fathers of song — Ossian, Oran, XJllin, Clan Mhuirich, Clan Chodrum, Mackay, Ross, Macdonald, Maclntyre, MacNeill, McColl, &c., would seem to have no slight claim to Coila's Rustic bard. If this claim be valid, as it certainly is plausible, it will help to account simply and naturally for his Highland predilections and sympathies. The object of his great love was Mary Campbell, a Highland girl ; a circumstance to which the world is indebted for one of his best and most generally received songs, " Highland Mary." This love may, on the one hand, be traced, in some measure, to the kindred sympathy of Celtic blood ; or, on the other, be regarded as the origin of that sympathy. Or, what is still more probable, this event may have roused to life and activity those inherited, but hitherto latent, Celtic tendencies and susceptibilities which ever after manifested themselves imder the slightest stimulation. So that wo may thus say that the Celt and

ROBERT BURXS. 5

tlie Poet were at once awakened by the melody of love, as his muse exj)resses it in the " Vision " : —

'' When youthful Love, warm-blushing strong, Keen-shivering, shot thy nerves along, Those accents, grateful to thy tongue,

Th' adored name, I taught thee how to pour in song

To soothe thy dame."

Now it is not unworthy of notice that these very lines have •certain marks of Celtic kinship. " Warm-blushing, strong, keen- shivering," are as if imitations of Ossian or DonnchadL Bcin. But as we cannot call them imitations we must trace them to the same fountain.

Allan Cimningham, after referring to Macpherson's Rant, says, " the genius of the North had an influence over the Poet's musings in other compositions. In 'The Highland Lassie,' the lover complains of want of wealth and of the faithlessness of fortime ; but strong in afiection, declares — -

' For her I'll dare the billows' roar, For her I'll trace the distant shore, That Indian wealth may lustre throw Ai'ound my Highland Lassie, O ! '

In the ' Northern Lassie,' he utters similar sentiments ; and in the ' Braw, braw Lads of Gallawater,' his hand may be traced by the curions in Scottish song." " Stay, my Charmer," if not of High- land extraction, owes its air to the North.

He shews a strong predilection for the ideas, the spii'it, the poetry, and the music of the North. In his Highland travels he was quite smitten with the ease, elegance, and sweetness of the vsociety, as well as with the songs and their airs. Of course it was seldom that mnch of the original richness of the poetry was con- veyed to him by a translation, which is but a miserable cribbing, cabining and confinmg of the Celtic poetic genius, within the bounds of the language of a " nation of shopkeepers." The music, however, took possession of him at once, as strains of liquid lan- guage fraught with wealth and melody to every tuneful sonl. So thoroughly was this music cast in the same mould w^ith his own poetic muse, that he has several scores of songs to purely Gaelic «irs. manv of which had not before his dav even acquiretl Lowland

u 2

4 TKANSACTIO!?S.

i>amcs.* Allan Ciinningliain again says, " I have said that he ex- hibited early symptoms of Jacobitism : his Highland tours and conversations with the chiefs and the ladies of the ISTorth, strength- ened a liking which he seems to have inherited from his fathers." And Burns himself says, " By the bye, it is singular enough that the Scottish muses were all Jacobite. I have paid more attention to every description of Scots songs than perhaps anybody living has done, and I do not recollect one single stanza, or even the title of the most trifling Scots air, which has the least panegyrical reference to the families of Nassau or Brunswick, whilst there are hundreds satii'izing them. This may be thought no panegyric on the Scots' poets, but I mean it as such. For myself, I would always take it as a compliment to have it said, that my heart ran before my head. And surely the gallant though unfortunate House of Stewart, the kings of our fathers for so many heroic ages, is a thing much more interesting than . . . . "

All the above facts, sentiments, and observations go to show the same things — the Celtic constitution and predilections of Bm-ns ; and his observations relative to the Scottish muses generally being so Jacobitical, is to the effect that they were eminently Celtic. There were many Celts on the BrunsA\T.ck side, but certainly all the Scots on the Stuart side may be said to have been Highlanders. So that in saying that the Scottish muses were Jacobitical, he virtually represents them as being Highland too.

And why should it not be added in passing, that even Walter Scott drew no small share of his inspiration from Highland scenes, • sentiments, and lore, as well as from this same Jacobitism. "Was not Byron's harp strung in the Highlands, and \'ibrated by the boreal breath of ' ' Dark Lochnagar. " Campbell, too, though boi'n in the Lowlands, it was whilst in the Higlands, the home of his fathers, in the retu-ement of the glens and valleys around Duntroon, listening to the roar of the western waves, as, after a race of a thousand leagues, they forced their -^vay through the gulf of Coire Bhreachdain, the beaiitiful pastoral picture of his retreat, backed by the rugged crags of Scaraba and Alpine heights of Jura, that the

*0f the latter are — Angille duhh, ciarr, duhh ; Banarach dhonn a' Chruidh ; A' chaora Chr6m ; Baile 'mhonaidh mhoir ; Druimiomi duhh; Failte iia misg ; " Gille Morke ;" "/Tee baloo;" Latha Eaon rnadhraidli ; An Gli- (jearum chas; Mdrar) ; Oran gaoil; Oran an Aolg ; Port Ruairklh dha'dl; Iiinn m'^udail mo m/icaUadh ; Rohaidh dona, gdracli; Iain buidhe ; Talloch' gorm; Coilk-Chragaidh. Besides these, several of his songs are simply to " A Gaelic Air, " and to "A Highland Air;" and some to airs whose names would seem to Ijc in a transition state from one language to another.

UOBERT BURXS. 9'

northern breeze wliicli passed o'er tlie liills of Morvern and ruins of Selma, inspired the Celtic bard with the genius of Ossian to sing the song of liberty in the chivalric spirit of Fingal, king of heroes. And when Bvirns wanted the essence of Scottish valour and warlike power, where did he look for it but among the Highland hills ! In his " Earnest cry and prayer to the Scottish Representa- tives," although it is Scotland at large which complains, when he wants her to assume an attitude of terror to those who would refuse her demands, it is her Highland phase which he presents : —

" An' L d, if ance ye put her til't,

Her tartan ijetticoats she'll kilt. "

Alas the wearers of the "tartan kilt," who, in time of war have been the defence of England as well as of Scotland, are in time of security swept away to make room for sheep and deer. Here again : — -

" But bring a Scotsman frae his hill, Claj) in his cheek a Highlan' gill, Say such is royal George's will,

An' there's the foe : He has na thought but how to kill

Twa at a blow."

There is surely onuch in the little, that all ho wants in the future life, is " A Highland Welcoma" One of his "Twa Dogs" is called —

" After a dog in Highland sang. Was made lang syne — Lord knows how lang."

This is Cuchulin's Limth; and the fact and manner of his intro- duction show to the careful and competent reader that the bard had more than a passing acquaintance with the poems of Ossian ; that he must have learned the Gaelic x>^ommciation of some at least of the names which figure in Fingal — although Saxon-si^eak- ing editors, mispronouncing the dog's name, mangled the passage, thereby, reflecting but little credit on the versifying powers of their author, by making hcC into have, in a vain attempt to rhyme it with an English pronunciation of I, u, a, t, h I Burns never was so hard up for harmonious sounds as to speak or write : —

" I've often wondered, honest Luaf/i, What sort of life poor dogs like yoih have,

with the view of th or ve being sounded. "When he penned that passage, he knew that th in Gaelic was mute, and he finished the secoucl line accordingly with the broad Scotch, you ha', and not

b TKANSACTIOXS-.

you have ; thixs commending it, as perfect rhyme, to the Gaelic esr which demanded that it should be read —

" I've often wondered^ honest Lu-a, What sort of life poor dogs like you ha\ "

But from criticism let us come to his "Native Muse," "who counselled him —

" Thy tiineful flame still careful fan, Preserve the dignity of man,

With soul erect ; And trust the universal plan

Will all protect."

Co (la is but a Highland lassie deified, as well in exjiression as in costume and proportions : —

" A hair-brained, sentimental trace Was strongly marked in her face ; A wildly-witty rustic grace

Shone full upon her ; Her eye, ev'n tum'd on empty space,

Beam'd keen wi' humour.

Down flow'd her robe in tartan sheen;, Till half a leg was scrim ply seen ; And such a leg ! My bonny Jean

Could only peer it ; Sae straight, sae taper, tight, and clean,

Nane else cam' near it.'

These liurried notes, which are but so many straggling gleams falling from an unusual point on some of the many glorious traits which formed the character of Scotia's darling bard, indicate that whatever may have been the accidents of tongue and birth, the Poet and the Man were intensely Celtic. But, in thus appearing less Lowland and more Highland, he only stands higher as the more perfect Scot.

LECTURE BY THE REV. ALEXANDER MACGREGOR.

Upon the evening of 24th October the Rev. Mr Macgi-egor, Inverness, delivered the following Gaelic lecture in the hall of the Association Buildings, befoi'e a large audience. The chair was occupied by Mr Dallas, town clerk, who introduced the lecturer in a short but eloquent Gaelic address. Thereafter Mr Macgregor

ViHld • —

LKCTURE U\ THE REV. A. 3IACGREG0R. t

Fliir-suidlie Urramaich, a Bhantigliearna, agus a Dliaoiii'-uailse,

Ct^iid mile fkilte,

Air Comunn Giielig Inbherneis ;

Sonas a's kgli,

Soirbheas a's slkinte,

Do Comunn Giielig Inbhenieis.

Tlia dbchas again gu'ni bi sibh bMglieil rinin, an iiair a tha mi chum diciiioll a dlieanamh aii- an flieasgair so, chum beagan nithc a leigeadh ris duibh a thaobh nan ciiisean cudthromach air son an do dhealbhadh an Comunn ^luinn a ta nis cruinn aims an talla so. Bha e riamh, agus bithidh e a chaoidh na ni taitneach do na Gaidh- eil a bhi 'cbmhhxchadh a' cheile, a' labhairt r'a cheile, agus a' cumail comuiim agus conaltraidh r'a cheile ann an ionad sam bith ; agus cha'n urrainn nach 'eil sin ro thaitneach gu'n teagamh ann an aite mar so, far am bheil sliochd nam beanii aii* an aonachadh ra cheile mar Chomimn dileas anus a' bhaile so, chum gach ni a bhuineas do'n Ghaelig, agus do na Gdidheil a cliur air an aghaidh, agus a chumail air chuimhne. Tha e, iiime sin, 'na aobhar aoibh- neis dbmhsa a nis a bhi 'labhaii-t ruibh, agus a' cur failte oii-bh 'n 'ur cainnt birdheii'c fein, — cainnt aig nach 'eil coimeas chum smuainte a' chridhe, agus feartan na h-inntinn a leigeadh ris. Tha e sblasach an comhnuidh, a bhi tachairt ri cairdibh ann an cearnadh sam bith de'n t-saoghal ; ach theirinn, gu'n sgath gu'n eagal, nach 'eil toilinntinn talmhaidh ann ni's mb, na sluagh a bhi 'gabhail cbmh- nuidh cuideachd ann an carantas agus gi-adh, a' labliairt r'a cheile anns a' chainnt sin a bha ann o chian, agus a' cuideachadh le cheile mar bhrathaire, a ta air an aonachadh le cleachd, le cainnt, agus le cineadas.

Tha deagh-f hios agam air mo neo-iomlanachd fein chum na nithe sin bu mhath leam a chur an ceill duibh, a dheanamh co soilleir, reidh a's a dh' fheumadh iad, — ach feuniaidh sibh an toil a gliabh- ail air son a' ghniomh, agus foighidinn a dheanamh rium re tamuill bhig. Bu ro mhath leam gu'n cuidicheadh gach treubh agus fine air feadh na Gaidliealtachd air fad, leis a' Chomunn so a ta air a shuidheachadh ann am baile-cinn so na h-airde-tuatha, — agus gun tigeadh cairdean ann an lionmhorachd o thigh Iain Ghrbta a'n Gallthaobh, gu iomallaibh na Gaidhealtachd 'san ^irde- deas, agus gu'n seasadli iad gu deas, dian, tairis, agus treubhach air bhur taobh.

Fhir-suidhe urramaich, — Ged a bhithinn-sa cho deas-bhriathrach ris an Olladh Ian Stiixbhart Blackie, — no co min-eblach air cuisibh agus cleachdannaihh na tireri " Lochabar lochdarach," — cha'n 'eil e a'm' chomas, air aon fheasgair mar so, labhairt ach air fior neo-ni <le na nithibh eugsamhla sin bu mhiann leis a' Chomimn so a

b TUAXSACTIOXS.

theasairginn agus a chumail air cliuinxhne. Tlia riaghailtean ura riogliaclid air an dealbliadh, — innleaclidan agus ealaidliean eile air am faotiiinn a macli, — laghailtean agus tiounsgnaidhean air an leigeadh. ris anns na linntibh foghluimte so, a ta feumail agus freagarrach annta feiu ; ach, tha iad so uile, mar gu'm b'ann, a' tiodhlacadh, agus a' cur tiugli-f lioluchaidh air gach ni air son an robh na Gaidheil mar cbinneadli ail* an comhari-acliadh a'm measg xiile cliinneacha na talmkuinn. Oha'n 'eil e taitneach gxi'm biodh na nithe sin air an c411 ; agus le run gu'n teasairgimi, agus le deagb-dhurachd clium an cumail air cbiiimlme, tha Comunn Gaelig a' bhaile so air an suidheachadh. Tha na Gaidheil 'nan sluagh comharraichte, tha eachdraigh nan Gaidheal comharraichte, tha cainnt, ceol, caiitaireachd, cdmhdachadh, cinneadh, cleachdanna, cruadal, agus cctirdeas 'nan Gaidheal, cha'n e mhain na'n nithe ro chomharraichte annta fein, ach tha iad 'nan nithe a mheasadh co cudthromach, co ciatach, agus co cail-ghluasadach, 's gu'n do dheal- bhadh iomadh comunn eile, ceart cosmhuil ri Comvmn Gaelig Inbherneis, chum an teasairginn. Tha na bxiaidhean so gvi leir airidh air leudachadh orra, gach aon fa seach ; ach cha cheadaich an uine dhomh labhairt ach air beagan dhiQ.bh aig an iim. Thugam fanear, 'san dol a mach,

Na Gaidheil fein. Co iad 1 Cia as a thainig iad 1 Ciod is ceud-thus doibh % Ciod air am bheil fios agaiiin mii'n timchioll a thaobh an stuic agus am freum.aca 1 Tha na nithe so uile air an cbmhdachadh agus air am foluchadh le tiugh-dhiomhaireachd agus dorchadas nan ceud limi. Cha Tuig eachdraidh air ais gu priomh-thoiseach a' chinnidh so. Tha lionmhorachd dhaoine foghluimte ann, a rinn an dichioll chum so a rannsachadh a mach, — agus ged a tha iad a' co'-chordach, gu'm bheil na Gaidheil agus a Ghaelig anabarrach sean, gidheadh, cha'n 'eil e furasd doibh a' cheart fr^umh o'n d'fh^s agxis o'n d' thainig iad a dheanamh gu soilleir a mach. Air so, chuir an Granntach, tighearna Choiridhmhonaidh, leabhar ro fhbghluimte a mach, o chionn thri f ichead bliadhna aii' ais, — leabhar a ta leigeadh ris mbran nithe ro iongantach mu fhr^umh agus ghinealach nan Gaidheal. Tha esan a' deanamh mach, mar a ta na h-iiiread de luchd-eachdraidh eile gu'n d'th^inig na Gaidheil a nail o mhor-thir na h-Eorpa, agus gur i a' Ghaelig am priomh-bhun o'n d'thainig a' Ghr^ugais, an Laidinn, agus canain eile. Cha'n 'eil teagamh nach iad na Gaidheil an t-aon sluagh ris na Caledoniich, agus na Piocaich an sinsearra fein, eadhon na daoine gaisgeil sm a dhion an diithaich agus an saorsa fein, an aghaidh gach ionnsuidh a thugadh orra le arinailtibh treun' nan Rbmanach. Bha Alba, no Caledonia

THE GAEL AND THE GAELIC. U

ail- a li-aiteacliadli leis na Piocaicli, agus thugadh leosaxi ainmean, 'nan cainnt fein, air gach beimi agus baile, loch agus abhainn, agus ionad eile 'san rioghaclid. Uime sin, tlia sum a' faicinn gu ruig an la an diugh, agus dh' aiiideoin gach atharrachaidh a rinneadh leis na h- Anglo-Saxons, Loclilunnaich, agus treubhan eile a thug ioiuisuidh aii* Alba, agus a rinn gr^im air earrannaibh di, — gu'm bheil iomadh aite anns a' Ghalltachd, agus ami an taobh deas na h-Alba, a' giulan fathast nan ainmean Gaelig a thugadh dhoibh, o cheann cbrr agus da mhile bliadhna air ais, leis na Caledoniich. Tha gach ainm a tha toiseachadh le Dim, Beinn, Monadh, Baile, Craig, Magh, Machair, Ach, Abl&m, Aird, Uachdar, Carn, Blar, Ciil, Driiim, Eas, Gleann, Srath, Imiis, Gill, Meall, Tbrr, Cnoc, Tom, Loch, Lum, Poll, Eos, Port, Tuillich, agus mbran eile, a' feuchainn air ball gur ainmean Gaelig iad. Ann an siorramachd Ail', — tha Dalbeg, Ballantrae, Auchanleck, Dairy, agus na h- iiiread eile, — agus ciod iad sin ach an Dail-bheag, Bail'-an-traigh, Ach-iian-leachd, agus Dail-an-rigli 1 "

Cuiiidh mi a iiis beagaii an c6ill mu chainnt nan Gaidheal, eadhon A Ghaelig.

Do gach cainnt thugamaid an t-urram do'n Ghaelig. Tha i liath-aosda, gidheadh is lughmhor, laidir, liirach i, is fallain, fiachail, fior-ghlan i. Mar oigh gheaninuidh, cha'n aill leatha gnothuch a bhi aice ri ni sam bitli a ta truaUlidh, no drabasda, no droch- mhuinte. Ann am beul naii laoch, is binn, blasda a fuaini ; agus is tiomhaidh, trbm a guth aim an gearan gach dream a ta fo bhrbn ! Air Laidiim, 's air Gr^ugais bheir i barrachd, agus cha'n f haighear a leithid 'ga labhaii-t fo'n ghi'ein !

Is ceart a thubhaii't Ian Griogaireach, am bard, anns na briath- raibh fileanta a leanas : —

Tha 'Ghaelig co luachmhor, 'S nacli cuir simi i suaracli ; Co nach seasmhadh r'a guallain ? 'Si tha'n coradh nan uaislean, 'Ga labliaii-t gu'n truailleadh, Feadh gach kit' anns an gluais iad, Gu caithreamacli, cruaidh, ceolmhor. Gu caitlu-eaniach, &c.

Gad' cliaidh a sh,ruch' 'na triall, Cha do chain i a miagh ; Tha i fallain o cluan, Gun ghalar, gun ghiamli, Euan, farumach, dian. Gun alladh, gun fhiamh, Anns gach talamh a dh' iarr eblas. Anns gach talamh, &c.

10 TRANSACTIONS.

'Si bh' aig Adliamh 'sa ghkradh, 'Si bh' aig Eubha 'ga thkladh, Giis 'n do mheall i gu bh.s e, 'N Hair a dh' itli e meas Muinn, Cliaidh a thoirmeasg dhk fhh,gail, 'Se dh' f hag sinne 'na'r traillibh, Ach f huair sinn ar slkniich' is dbchas. Ach f huair sinn, &c.

'Nuair a chaidh an saoghal a bhkthadh, Chaidh a' Ghiielig a thekrnadli, Si bh' aig Noah 's an h,irce, 'S aig gach curaidh a dh' f hks uaidh, Fhnair i 'n t-xxrram gu crkbhadh, 'S cha mhios i gu diinachd, 'S tha i milis a ghabhail brain. 'S tha i milis, &c.

'Si bh' aig Treunmor an toiseach, A thog CIS o Righ Lochluinn, Aig Fionn is aig Toscar, Aig Cuchullin 's aig Oscar, 'S aig Caoilte nan cos-luath, A' siubhal aonach, is slochd, is mhor-bheann. A' siubhal aonach, &c.

'Si bh' aig Conan 's aig Diannad, Aig Dubh-Chomar, 's aig Diaran, Bha i uil' aig na Fiannaibh, 'N km togail gu fiadhach, No chasgadh an iotadh, De f Iniil an nh.imhdean 'san dian thbrachd. De f huil an nkimhdean, &c.

Co thairgeadh dhi mi-mhodh ? 'S nach cuniadh a'm miagh i ? Sgur i 'Ghaelig bha sgriobhte, Air na clachanna crlche, Anns gach ionad de'n rioghachd ; Ged bha i fuidh mhi-ghean, Tha i nise a' direadh, S' gu'm mair i gu dilinn, Mar bha i 's na linntibh o thus ! Mar bha i, &c.

Mar so mliol am Bard Griogaircach a' Ghaelig, agus feudar a radh m'a tliimcliioll fein : —

'S urramach, neo-spbrsail, Ro chbmhnard 'na labhairt e, 'S chuir rogha caoin air cbmhradh Gach Ceblraidh bha tairis da ;

THE BARD MACGKEGOK. 11

Tlia iomadli ni gxi seblta, 'S gu ceblmhor air aitliris leis ; 'S mbr iongantas nan c^udan, Mu'n gheurad a thachair da.

O I 's hiachmhor, gur hiaclmihor, O I 's luaclunlior a cheileirean, Gun aon ni annta suarach, No tual, acli fior ekeachdail, Gu dian iad saoradh Gaelig O sharucli' 's o dhearasan, 'S clia tearc na facaill aluinn, O'n bhas leb chaidh. theasairginn.

Saor o dhonas, l^n do shonas.

Air srath, monadh, 's glas thonnan, Gu'n robh 'm f irean, riamli nacli sireadh Coinglieal lide Sliasunnaich ; Do'n teangaidh bhinn, bha geamnuidh grinn^ 'N luchairt Suinn nan Ailpaineach ; 'S bha fbs aig Oisean de'urach, A' caoidli na Feinn cliaidli thasgadh leis !

A' clianain a' chanain,

A' clianain bha'n toiseach i,

'S mar mhbr-chruaidh-clu'eagan laidir,

A tamlisa biodh socaireach ;

'jM feadli ghleusas slugan call neacli,

Cha bhas is cha dochunn di,

Ach bheir i mach buaidh-larach,

Feadli ghablianna 's dhosgannan !

'S lionmhor gaisgeach a ta aice, 'Cumail taic' is cotlirom rith', Agus caraid, le cruas daraig, 'Dol do'n charraid 'cliogadh dhi, Chum a dionadh anns gach pianadh, 'S chum a lionadh dli' f hocalaibh, 'S mar lasau--cliatha an le'ii-sinn, Gu le'ir-sgi'ios smid dhochaireach !

Rev. Robert IVIacGkegor, Skye.

Is lionmhor na daoiue f oghhiimte agus tuigseach, ami an iomadh rioghachd, a him, agus a tha 'toii-t nibr-sp6is do'n Ghiielig, agus 'ga raiinsachadh a mach mar sheann chanaiii a ta iongantach a thaobh a freumhan agus a co'-dhealbhaidh. Cha'n 'eil iiin' agam na daoiue sin aiiimeachadh an nochd ; ach 'nam measg-san a ta fathasd beo aig am bheil mbr-thlachd do'n Ghaelig, agus an deigh sin, nach urrainn a labhaiii;, tha an t-OUadh Ian Steuart Blackie, a chual silih a'n so, o clieaim beagan mhiosan air ais, Tha, mar an ceudna,

1 2 TRAXSACTIOSS.

an t-Olladh Tomas Stratton, a chuir a niacli leabliar beag o cheann da bhliadhna aii- ais, a' feucliainn gu'm bheil a' Ghiielig 'na bimait do'n Ghi'eugais, 's do'n Laidiiin. A ris, tlia am Prionnsa Louis Lucien Bonaparte, anabarracli deidheil aii' a' Gliaelig, agus ro f hiosracli air gach meanglan a bliuiaeas di, mar a ta a' Ghaelig Flirangacli ann am Brittani, agus an Armoi-ic, an Cornish, agus an Cimbric, agus a Gliaelig a ta 'ga labliarrt fatliasd 'san Odhailt (Wales), 'san Eilein Mhainneanaich, agus ann an Eirinn. Chuii- am Prionnsa f am clionihair-sa an Apocripha eadar-theangacliadli chum na Gaelig Albanaicli, agus rinn mi mo dhiclioill air sin a dheanamh. Ach a thuilleadli air a' mliuinntir u^rramaich so uile, tha tlachd mor aig ar n-ard-Uaclidaran a' Bhanrigli fein do'n Ghaelig, mar a ta aice do na Gaidheal, agus do'n Gh'aidhealtachd ; agus f huair i a ris agus a ris maighstirean-sgoile, chum a' Ghaelig a theagasg d'a cuid mhac ; ach ciod an adhartas a rinn iad nan sgoilearachd Ghaidliealach, cha'n fhios domh-sa.

Rinneadh, mar an ceudna, dichioll nach.bu bheag, o h,m gu h-km, o chionn da f hichead bliadhna air ais, aii- luchd-turais beaga, baganta, a chur a mach anns an dididh Ghaidhealach, chum sliochd nam beann a theagasg a thaobh nithe eugsamhla a bhiodh feiunaU dhoibh ; ach mo thniaigh ! f huau- fear an deigh fir dhiubh bas. Chaochail iad uUe, agus bu laoghach iad ! An toiseach gliabh "An Teachdaire Gaidhealach" an t-slighe, agus thug e ruaig air feadh nan garbh-chrioch, ach cha b' fhada gus an deachaidh e a dhith. A ris, dh' eirich suas " Caraid nan Gaidheal" 'sa bhaile so fein ; agus a ris " Cuairtear nan Gleann," " Fear-tathaich nam beann," agus na h-uii-ead eile, ach chaidh as doibh gu l^ir, agus b' olc an airidli e. Ach cha d' f hagadh sinn fathast gu'n dochas, oir dh' eirich o chionn ghoirid " Gaidheal " eile suas ann an Glaschu, a ta 'nis air a thurus, agus s'e dleas'nas a' Chomuinn so, agus gach uile neach eile aig am bheil dualchas agus duchas 'nan cridhe ; an aire a thoirt gu'm bi an " Gaidheal " laoghach so air 'eiridiiin, agus aii- a chumail suas !

Air ai^ laimh eile, cha bheag an strith a rinneadh le muinntir chinneadail air feadh na rioghachd, chum iad fein aonachadh r'a clieile ann an comunnaibh, gu leas na Gaidhealtachd a clivu- air aghaidh. Chum na criche so tha Comunn Gaidhealach ann an Obaixeadhaiti, Clllribhiun, Duneidin, Lunnain, Glaschu, 'n- America, agus ann an aitibh eile ; agus cha luglia ann an dealas agus deagli- dhurachd, an leanabh a's bige dlie'n teaghlach aluinn so, " Comunn Gaelig Inbherneis " : —

Glacam an t-iim so chum cbmhdachadli,

Sir bhuaidhean agus iilleachd a' clioir chonuunn;

HIGHLAND SOCIETIES. 13

Ilia eMach, tuigseach, gtJur, — Ian gliocais agus ceill,

Gii'n mhearachd'gu leir, ann 'nan seblannaibh ;

Subhailceach 'nam bens, — ro urramach gn loir,

Gur toilicht' tha mi fein, a bhi comhladli riu.

Cha'n f hacas riamh 'san tir, aon cliomnnn bheir dliiubli cis,

'S ceanalt', suairce, sioblialt', neo-spbrsail iad ;

Mar dhoimain ann an s^ud, tha na h-6ganaicli,

Le'm foghlum, beachd, is reusan, is oirdheirceas ;

'S mar sgathan do gliloin rtJidh, a' glacadh gathan grdin',

Tha'n cvidlie le creidimli threun, air a stbladh dhoibh.

Fir dionaidh na Gaelig,

O gach gh,bhadh is ducoir,

'S on dh' f h^s suas na h-c\rmuinn,

Cha chimnard dlii geilleadh.

Cha'n ioghna ged tha i,

Sir ^iridh ni's ^rde,

'S gur i bha aig Adhamh

'Sa ghkradh ri Eubha ;

'S gur i bha roimh so

'N talamh 'na h-Eiphit,

Feadh mhor-thir na h-Eorpa,

'Ga labhairt, 's ga h-eisdeachd,

'S ged 'chaidh' ruagadh air astar,

Thar na euantaibh tha favsuing,

Fhuair i tkmh agtis fasgadh

A'n Albainn 'sa'n Eirinn.

O'n t-urram, an t-iu-ram,

An t-urram, do'n cheud chainnt'

Nach deach' mar chaidh mbran

Do chc\inntibh an eug oirnn ;

Ma bhios canain air thalamh,

'Ga labhairt a'm flaitheas,

Tha mbran 'sa bharail

Gur Gaelig un te sin !

Tha nis a' Ghaelig ghrinn , Anns an rioghachd so, Sir thogail suas a cinn, 'S 'dol an lionmhorachd. Ged bha i ionnan 's bklbh. Gun ghuth oirre, no sealbh, Cha robh i fathasd m^,rbh, Agus di chuimhnich'. Ach fo dheagh ghean gach aoin, A freumhan rinn i sgaoil, Is dh' eirich i mar chraoibh Bha 'na min-phreasan.

Tha uaisle nan Gall Uile foir oirre,

14 TRAXSACTIONS.

'S ga cumail ann an luacll Agiis sporsalaclid ; Seadh, tha na Goill iad fein, 'Toiit aire d'a mor-fheum, 'S bu mhiannach leo gu leir A bhi eolach oirr' — A clmm gu'm mealar leo, Gach ionmhas tha 'na coir 'S gu'm faicear air gacli seul Uile bhoidhcheadan. A' chh,nain a bha i-iamli Feadh blieanntan agns shlialjh, Ban-oighre dhligheach f hior Chaledonia ! A' clianain a's fearr Fo na spe'iiran i, Chum gach smaoin is ni 'Ohur an ceill innte. Lh,n thorrach i gach am, Air focail nach 'eil gknn, ' Tha gach ckinnt eile th'knn

A' toirt ge'illidh dhi. Ach tha i 'nis 'dol suas, Air bunnchar nach gluais, Le comhnadh Comuinn uasail, 'S cha treig iad i.

B' iad sud an Comunn ceanalta, Bha aineolach air do-bheirt ; Caoimhneil, fearail, gribheagach, Ltin misniche, gu'n mhor-chiiis ! Bu bheothail iad gu deasboireachd, Co'-pairteachadh gu h-eircachdail An eolais le ge'ur spreigeileachd, Gun easbhuidh, le mor-shebltachd, O ! 's mor an speis a ghabh mi dhiubh. 'Sa chaoidh cha ghabh mi aithreachas, 'S is mor mo dhiiil, mar meallar mi, Gu'm bi sinn trie comhladh ! Cha'n urrainn, is cha'n aithne dhomh, An cliu a chur an rannaireachd, 'S cha'n innseadh Homer barraichte, Gach snuadh tha orr, is mor-thlachd ; No Bhirgil mor am Feadailteach, Bh,rd urramach gun teagamh e ; B'e Oisean liath nan ceileirean, A mholadh air a choir iad !

Rev. Robt. MacGregok, Kilmuir, Skye.

the poetry op the celts. 15

Bardachd nan Gaidheal.

Labhram a nis re mionaid no dlia aii- bardachd nan Gaidheal. 'Si, feudaidh e bhi, bardachd Oisein, a' bhardachd a's sine a ta againn, agus tha i aillidh gun choimeas. Tha e aii- a dheanamh mach gu'm bheil dluth air sea ceud deug bliadhna o linn Oisein. A r6ii- gacli ramisachaidh a riimeadli, f huair Fionn, athair Oisein has anns a' bhliadhna 285, agus mharbhadh a mhac Oscar ann am blar fuilteach Ghabhra, bliadhna an deigh sin. Is birdheirc na dain a rinneadh le Oisean, agus tha nithe air am filleadh a stigh annta, a ta gu soilleii' a' nochdadh an aois aca. Cha'n 'eil guth annta aii" aiteachadh an f hearainn, no aii* tr^udaibh, no aii* ciobair- eachd ; acli tha iad a.' cur an cedl gach ni mu chogadh, mu threubh- 9,ntas, mu ghaisge, mu'n fhoghaid, mu'n raaig, agus mu sheilg, a' feuchainn gu'n robh muinntu- na linne sin a' teachd beb air sitheann, agus air gach gne f hiadh-bheathach 'nan cbill agus na macharach, Tha moran ann, aig nach 'eil eolas no meas air bardachd nan linn sin, a ta 'cumail a mach nach urrainn na dain sin a blii co sean, a' chionn nach robh iad air an sgriobhadh sios. Dh' fheudadh iad an leisgeul cfeudna a thoirt an aghaidh na Giielig fein ; oil- ghleidheadh i a mliaui mar chanain gun truailleadh o na ceud linntibh le b^ul- aitlu'is. Cha robh leabhraichean, no clbdh-bhualadh ann, ach thainig i 'niias o'n aithair dh' iomisuidh a' mhic, ceart mar a thainig dain Ullin, Oisein, agus Orrain, gu ruig an la an diugh. Cha'n 'eil sin iongantach an uaii" a chuimhnichear gu'n robh aig gach treubh, cuineadh, fineadh, agus ceann-feadhna, am baird fein gu bhi 'deachd- adh an cridhe le misnich anns a' chath, agus gu bhi 'g aitlu-is an treubhantais agus an cliii ami am filidheachd bhinn agus bhlasda. Bha mar bu ghnath aig gach ceann-cinnidh bard, agnis piobair, agus amadan, mar bhuUl do-sheachnach 'na theaghlach, agus do na bardaibh agus piobaiiibh bha baile saor fearainn air a thoirt o linn gu linn. An uair a sheas Ian Lom air baidealaibh Chaisteil Inbher- lochaidh, ag amharc ah- a' chath fhuilteach a bha 'ga chur gu h-iosal air an raon am fagus da, thugadh an aghaidh ah- a' bhard g^ur-bhriathrach so, a cheann nach do thog e a chlaidheamh 'san teugmhail. Ghrad-flu-eagaii- e, agus thubhairt e le h-uaill 'na dhi-^uchd — " Na'ii rachainn-sa sios do'ii chath, agus 'nan cuirteadh gu bas mi, cb an sin a dh' aitliiiseadh na gniomharan euchdach agus allail a rinneadh ; agus cb a sheinneadh cliu a' chinnidh ghais- geil a thug a mach a' bhuaidh 1 "

B'e Lachlunn Mac Neill Mhic Mhuiiich, am bard, no'n Sean- chaidh mu dheireadh a bha aig Cloinn Raoiiiull. Thug Lachlunn sgriobhadh ro iongantach seachad ann an Gaelig do dhuin'-uasal da'm b'ainn lonraic (Henrv) Mac Coinnich, a liha 'cruinneachadh

IG TUAXSA(;TI0X5.

nltlie mu Oisean, aii' son Comuinn Gaidliealaicli Lunainn. Ptiii- headh an sgriobliadh so ann an Eilean Bliarraidli aii- an 9 '"'^ la de cheud mhios an fhogliaraidli, 'sa bliliadlma 1800, ann an lathair Ruairidh Mhic Neill, Tighearna Bliarraidli, agiis mar an c6udna, an lathair Dliomlmuill Mliic Dliomhnuill, fear Bhaile-Raill, Eogliainn Mliic Dliomhnuill fear Gheara-sheilich, Eoghainn Mhic Dliomh- nuill, fear Ghriminis, Alasdair Mhic Ghilleain, fear Hosteir, Alaa- dair Mhic Neachdail, Ministeir Bheinne-bhaoghla, agus Ailein Mhic Chuinn, Ministeii' Uist-a-chinntuath.

Air do'n sgriobhadh so 'bhi ro fhada, clia cheaduich uine dhomh acli beagan deth aithris a'n so, agus tha mi' deanamh sin gu fh^uchainn mar bha ciiimhne aig na baii'd air an sinnsear fein gu c6udan bliadhnaichibh air ais. Thoisich an sgriobhadh mar so : —

" Ann an tigh Phadruig Mhic Neachdail a'n Torluim, goirid q o Chaisteal Bhuirghi, ann an Siorramachd Inbherneis, an naothamh la de cheud mhios an f hogair, anns an da fhicheadamh bliadhna ao-us naoi deug dA aois, thainig Lachlunn Mac Neill, Mhic Lach- hiinn, Mhic Neill, Mhic Dhomhnuill, Mhic Lachluinn, Mhic K^ill Mhoir, Mhich Lachluinn, Mhic Dhomhnuill, do shloinne clilann Mhuirich, ann an lathair Ruairidh Mhic Neill, Tighearna Bharraidh, a thabhairt a chodaich, mar is fiosrach esan, gur e fein an t-ochdamh glun-d^ug 0 Mhuireach, a bha 'leantuinn teaghlaich Mhic-'ic- Ailein, Ceannard Chloinn Raonuiil, mar bhardaibh ; agus o'n am sin gu'n robh fearann Stoileagairi, agus ceithir peighinean do Dhriomasdail aca, mar dhuais bardachd o linn gu linn, feadh chuig ghluin deug, a chumail suas sloiiiiieadh agus seanchas Chloinn-Domh- nuill. Agus bha mar f hiachan ori'a, 'nuair nach biodh mac aig a' bhard, gu'n tugadh e foglilum do mliac a bhrathar, no dha oighre, chum an coir air an fhearann a ghleidheadh ; agus is ann a reir a' chleachdaidh so, fhuair Niall, athair fein, ionnsachadh gu leughadh, sgriobhadh, eachdraidh, agus bardachd, o Dhomhnull Mac Neill, Mhic Dhomlmuill, brathair athar fein.

Tha cuimhne mhath aige gu robh " Saothair Oisein" sgriobht' air craicneann, ann an gleidhteanas 'athar fein o shinnsii-ibh ; gu robh cuid dheth na craicnean air an deanamh suas mar leabhraichean, agus cuid eile fuasgailte o cheile, anns an robh cuid do shaothair bhard eile, 'bharrachd aii- " Saothaii- Oisein."

Agus mar sin sios. Tha'n sgriobhadh so aig Lachlunn Mac Mhuirich tuilleadh 's fada, chum a bhi air a leughadh gu leir air an fheasgair so. Feudaidh cuid agaibh smuaineachadh gu'm bheil e 'na ni iongantach, gu'm biodh cuimhn' aig a' bhird air iiinmean a shinnsear fein, re na h-uii-ead de linntibh air ais. Ach cha'n 'eil ach beag neach a rugadh 'san Eilean Sgiathanach, nach sluinn e fein air an duigh cheudna gu cuig, deich, agus eadhon

THE OLD BARD S WISH. 1 /

tuilleadh limitean aii' ais. Aii- do na h-uiread a blii dhe'n aoii ainm, blia'n cleaclid so freagarrach, clivim eadar-dhealachadli a dheaiiamli 'nam measg. Tha e gle chumanta gu'n cliiinn sibli Sgiathanacli ag radh ; " Cliunnaic mi an diugli Alasdair Mac Aonghais, Mliic Dliouuill, Mliic Mluircliaidli, Mliic Dhomhnuill, Mliic Mhurcliaidli, Mliic Sheumais, Mliic Alasdair, Mliic Aonghais. Cliunnaic fear eile, Aonglias Mac Alasdaii', 'ic Raonuill, 'ic Uisdein, 'ic ClioUa, 'ic Dliomlmuill, 'ic Sheumais. Mar so sloinnidh iad an sinnseara clio luath 'sa ta 'n teangadh comusach air sin a dheanamh.

Ach abram beagan fathasd a tliaobh na bardachd. Tha bardachd ro iongantacli a lathair gu ruig an la 'n diugh, a rinneadh le aon de na bardaibh a dh'ainmicheadh, 'se sin Lachlunn Mor Mac Dhomh- nuill Mliic Mhuirich, anns a' bhliadhna 1411. Tha ceithir cheud, tri fichead agus aon bliliadlma o'n rinneadh a' bhardachd so, ris an abrar, " Brosnachadh catha do Dhbmhnull, righ Innse-Gall, le Lachlunn Mnr ]\Iac Mhuii-ich Albanaich," a bhrosnachadh Chloinn Domhnuill, a bha deich mile ann an aireamh, gu blii gaisgeil agus treun, chum baiteal "Harla" a chur, air 25^^ de Mhios Deiiionnach an t-Samhraidh 'sa' bhliadhna sin. Tha bhardachd so 'na h-oclid earrannan deug, earrania air son gach litir 'san aibidil Ghaelig, agus gach earrann a' toiseachadh leis an litir sin.

Cha'n aithris mi a'n so ni sam bith de bhardachd Oisein, air am bheil moran agaibh eolach. Tha comas a nis aig na Goill fein, air deagh eolas a ghabhail aii- na seann danaibh so, air doibh a blii gu cothromach aii' an eadar-theangachadh, leis an Olladh Urramach Gilleasbuig Cleireach, Aodhaii- Chillemhaillidh.

Tha seann dan eile ann fathasd air a ghleidheadh a ta gu h-anabarrach boidheach air a chur r'a cheile, ris an abrar " INIiann a' Bhaird Aosda." Tha e 'toiseachadh mar so : — -

" 0 ! caraibh mi ri taobh nan allt, A sliiubhlas mall le ceumaibh ciuin, Fo sgail a' bhai'raicli leag mo cheann, 'S bi thus', a ghrian, ro cliairdeil rium. Gu socair s\n 'san fheur mo tliaobh, Air bruaich 'nan dithean 's nan gaoth tlii, 'S mo clias 'ga sliobadli 'sa' bliraon mhaotli, 'S e lubadh thairis caoin tro'n bhlar."

Agus mar sin sios. Tha sea earrainnean deug thar f hichead 'san dan aluinn so; ach cha'n 'eil fios ciod an linn anns an robh "Am Bard Aosda " beo, no c'ait an robh e. Tha cuid a' deanamh mach gu'm bu Sgiathanach e, agus cuid eile gu'm b' Abrach e. Cha robh reir coslais, eolas aige air a' Chreidimh Chriosduidh, ged bha e ann an deigh laithean Oisein, oir tha e 'guidhe air a' ghaoith, a cheo, no 'anam, a ghiulan gu talla Oisein asjus Dhaoil. far an luidh

18 TRANSACTIONS.

e sios gu bnith li taobli a cliruit, a. ^hlige, agiis sgeithe a sliimisear. Thubhairt e :—

Thig le cairdeas tliar a' clinain, Osag mliin a gliluais gu mall ; Tog mo clieo air sgiath do luathais, Is imicli chum an Innis thall !

Biodh cruit a's slige Ian rim' shaobli,

'San sgiath a dhion mo shinnsear s' cliath,

Fosglaibh-sa talla Oisein 's Dliaoil,

Thig an oidhch' 's cha bhi 'm Bard air bhrath.

Ach O ! ma'n tig i, seal ma'n triall mo cheo, (tu ceach nam bai'd, air Ard-bheimi as nach pill, Fair cruit, 's mo shlige dh' ionnsuidh 'n roid, An sin, mo chruit, 's mo shlige ghraidh, slan leibh !

Olia clieadaicli nine dliomli leudacliadh aii* gacli bard, ban-bliard, filidh, agus fear-dain, a bha aig na Cinn-fheadhna, agiis aig na Fineachaibli Gaidhealach, o clieann ceud no dha bliadhna air ais. Bha iad ro lionmlioi', agus ioma-gnetheacli. Na'm measg so, bha Mairi Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh, Silis Nighean Mhic Raonuill, Mac Fhionnlaidh nan da'n, Ian Lorn, an Oiaran Mabach, Ian Dubli Mac Iain Mliic Ailein, an Clarsaii- Dal], Lachlunn Mac Thearlaich, Ian Mac Flieai-achair Mhic Codriiim, (jilleasbuig na Ciotaig, Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair, Dughall Bochannan, Donnchadh Ban nan Oran, Bob Donn, Ian agus Seumas Mac Griogair, Uilleam Bos, Eobhan Mac Lachluinn, agus na ficheadan eile. Clia choir domh filidh Comunn Gaelic Inbherneis 'fhagail air deireadli, a thionndaidh chum na Gaelig oran aluinn ar Ban- righ choir. Is lionnilior oran, iorram, chin, duan, rami, agus laoidh a rinneadh leo-san a dh' ainmich mi ; seadh, orain de gach gne agus cumadh, orain gaoil, orain-molaidh, orain-cogaidh, orain- buaidhe, orain-treubhantais, orain sgaiteach agus eisgeil, orain cainidh agus caoidh agus cunihaidli agus broin, orain-luaidhe agus iomraidh agus buain, marbh-ranna, agus an leithidibh sin. Tlia na fuinn, agus na luinneagan a's boidhiche 'sa' Ghaelig, a gheibhear ann an cainnt 'sam bith eile.

Nach boidheach an t-oran a rinneadh le DomlniuU Mac Aonghais, am bai'd Uisteach 1

" Mo nighean bhuidh bhan nam falbhadh tu learn, (tri uaircan) Gu'n ceannaichinn gim de'n t-sioda dhuit."

C'ait am blieil oran a bheir barrachd air an aon a rinneadh Ic DomhnuU Caimboul. a liha 'na chleireach-eaglais aig an Urramach

HIGHLAND MUSIC. 19

Mac Aulai, sean-athair a' Mhorair IMhic Aulai, ani feav-eaclidraidh cliuiteach. a cliaochail o cheanii bliadlina no dha 1

" Gu mo slan a chitli mi Mo chailin dileas, domi, Air an d' flias an cuailean reidh, 'S ail- an deise dh' eireadh fonn ; 'S i cainnt do blieoil bu bhinn learn, 'N uair bliiodh m' inntinn trom ; 'S tn thogadh suas mo chridhe, 'Nuair bhiodh tii 'bruidhinn riuiu."'

PlOBAIREACHD AGUS CeOL NAN GrAIDHEUL.

Is i a' Pliiob-mlior inneal-ciuil sonraicbte Glaaidlieal na li-Allja. Clia'n 'eil teagamli nach 'eil an t-inneal so auabarrach sean. Blia i r'a faotiunn ann an talla an aoibhneis agus na caoidli. Dheachd a fuaim na gaLsgicli chum a' chath', agus cbuii* i failt' orra 'n am doibli pilltinn gu beanntailjli am breith. Bha aig gach ceann-cinnidli a pliiobair fein, agus bha e 'del maille ris chum gach tuasaid agus cogaidh. Bha Clann Mhic Cruimein aig Siol Leoid, Dhunbhegain mar phiobaii'ean, o iomadh linn aii- aLs, agus bha baile Bhoreraig aca saor aii* son sin. Mar an ceudna, bha Clann Mhic Artaii* aig Mac Dhomhnuill nan Eilean, agus Peigliinn-ghobhainn aca saor mar aite comhnuidh. Bha'n da theaghlach so a' teagasg na Pio- baii'eachd do mhoran eile, a bha 'teachd 'nan ionnsuidh as gach cearnadh dlie'n Ghaidhealtachd. Tha eadhon, gu ruig an la 'n diugh, Piobair aig gach Cath-bhuidheaira Gaidhealach, a' dol maille riu do na blaraibh, agus,

" Cha do ghluais chum na tuasaid, 'S a chaoidh iad clia ghluais, Gun am bolg-f headan meur-thoUach, Fhuaimneacli 'nan cluais."

Tha iomadh gne Phiobaireachd ann. Tha cuid ann ris an abrar " Cruiimeachadh," cuid eile " Brosnachadh," cuid eile " Cumha," cnid eile " Failte," agus cuid eile "Tuii-eadh" mar a bha a' Phio- baii-eachd thiamhaidh, nihall, bhi'onach, bu ghnath bhi 'ga clui- cheadh aig adhlacadh nam marbh. Bha duil aig na Gaidheil gu'n robh a' phiob mar gu'm b'ann a' labhairt bhriathra na Failte, no an rabhaidh, no an tuii-idh, mar a dh' fheudadli a' chuis a bliith. Mar so, ann an " Cumha Mhic Leoid " bha phiob ag radh : —

" Cha till, clia till, cha till Mac Cruimean, Olia till e gu brath, gu Ik na cruinne, Cha till, cha till, cha till Mac Cruimean, Cha till Mac Leoid, 's cha blieo Mac Cruimean."

L'( 1 TRAXSACTIONS.

Tha " Gunilia Mhic an Toisich " air an doigli cheudna. Rinneadh " Failte " do Uilleam Dubh Mac Comnich, le Fiomiladli DuIjIi Mac R^, 'sa bhliadlma 1715, ris an goireai- gii cumanta Failte Thighearna Sheafoirt." Is piobaireachd ro ghi'inn an " Fhailte" so ; agiis bha duil aig Cloinn Cboinnicli gu'n robh a' pMob a' labliaii't, agiis a' gradh : —

SLan gu'm pill fear 'chinn duibli, Slan gu'n till fear 'chinn duibh, Slan gu'm pill fear 'chinn duibh, Slan gu'n till Uilleachan.

Slan gu'n tig, slan gu'n ruig, Slan gu'n tig Uilleachan, 'S toil learn fein fear 'chinn duibh, 'S toil leam fein Uilleachan,

'S gaisgeach treun Uilleachan, Claidheamh geur, 'n laimh 'n f hir-f heill, 'S na seoid ag eigheach gu leir, 'S trom beuman Uilleachain !

Bha Colladh Mac Dliomhnuill, ris an abradh iad CoUadh Ciotacli, 'na gaisgeach treun 'na la fein, agus bha piobair aige. Bha Colladh 'na chaisteal fein aig am araidh, 'ga dhionadh fein mar a dh' f heud- adh e ; agus chunnaic am piobair na naimhdean a' tarruing dlutli, agus cha b'f had gus an d' rinn iad greim air fein, agus aii* a phiob. Air da a bhi deonach air a rahaighstir a theasairginn, dh'iarr e cead piobaireachd a chluicheadh, agus thug iad cead dha. Sheid e suas, agus chual Colladh 'san Dun a' phiob mar gu'm b'ann ag radh :—

" A cholladh, cuir mnad, bi ullamh, bi falbh, Bi ullamh, bi falbh, bi ullamh, bi falbh, A Cliolladh, cuir umad, bi ullamh, bi falbh, Tha sinne a'n laiiiih, tha sinne a'n laimh !

Fag an ni, fag an ni, fag an ni, Fag an ni, fag an ni, fag an ni. Fag an ni, fag an ni, fag an ni, Tha sinne a'n laimh, tha sinne a'n laimh !

Ramh is taoman, ramh is taoman, Ramli is taoman, ramh is taoman, Ramh is taoman, ramh is taoman, Tha sinne a'n laimh, tha sinne a'n laimh I

Lamh dhearg, lamh dheai'g, lamh dhearg, Lamh dhearg, lamh dhearg, lamh dhearg, Lamh dhearg, lamh dhearg, lamh dhearg, Tha sinne a'n laimh, tha siinie a'n laimh.

THE prince's welcome. 21

'CholLadh, mo gliaol, seachainn an caol, Seachainn an caol, seachainn an caol, 'Cliolladh, mo ghaol, thoir ort a' Mhaol, Buidhinn an ath, buidhinn an atli !

'Cliolladh, mo ruin, seachainn an dun, Seachainn an dun, seachainn an dun, 'Cholladh, mo ruin, seachainn an dun, Tha sinne a'n laimh, tha sinne a'n laimh !

Bha Clann Mhic Cruimein, Dliunbheagaiu, a' sgriobhadli na }jio- baireachd sios ann an leabhar, gu bhi 'ga cimiail air chuimhne ; ach clia d' rinn iad sin air an doigh air am bheil ceol 'ga sgriobh- adli le muinntir eile a nis. Blia iadsan 'ga dlieaiiamh le focail bheaga, ghoirid, a blia iad a' cur a'n altaibh a' cheile, chum fuaim an flieackiin, agiLS na puirt a chiallachadh. Bha e md eigin cos- mhuil ri imileachd an Sol-Ik, a ta 'ga gnathacliadh 'san am so, ann an ceol nan Salm. Bha iadsan a' gabhail lionmhorachd fliocal ghoirid, mar hi, ri, ro, bhi, lia, ra, din, hia, di, rit, hio, dra, ti, re, dro, tii'i, bhia, tara, tetrri, agus mar siii sios. Air an diogh so chuireadh iad sios piobaii-eachd " Failte a' Phrionnsa " mar' a leanas —

AI^ T-URLAR.

hi o dro hi ri, hi an an in ha rti, hi o dro lik chin, hh, chin hi a chin, hi o dro hi ri, hi an an in ha ra, hi o dro hk chin, hh chin hi i chin, hi o dro hi ri, lii an an in ha r;\, hi o dro ha chin, ha chin hi a chin, hi o dro hi ri, hi an an in ha ra, lii o dro hh chin, hh chin hi i chin.

hi o dro hi chin, lit\ chin Im chin, hi o dro h^ cliin, hi chin ha chin, hi o dro hi chin, hh chin ha chin, hi o dro ha chin, hh, chin hi chin, hi o di'o hi chin, hi chin hi chin, hi o dro ha chin, hi chin ha chin, hi o di-o lii cliin, hh, chin hh cliiii, hi o dro ha chin, ha chin hi chin.

TAOBHDUDH.

hio dro to, hi dro to, hh dro to, hh dro to, ho di'o to, ha dro to, hi dro to, hi h chin. &c., .^c, &Q.

2'1 TKAXSACTIONS.

ElDEADH AGUS ArMACHD NAN GaIDHEAL.

A tliaobh eididh nan Gaidlieal, cha rviig mi'leas moi-an a radh, do brigh gn'm blieil sibh uile eolach oirre. Is eideadli mhaLseach i gun teagamh. Tha " Breacan-an-flieile " 'na tlirusgan ata anabar- racli sean, agns a bha air a chleachdadh leis na Gaidheil o na ceud linntil^b. An toiseacli, gidlieadh, clia robh an eideadh so, air a deanamli mar a tha i a nis. Blia i an sin, air a deanamh suas<de dha sblat deug de bbi-eacan gun a blii air a gheari-adli idu\ Blia 'm breacan so air a sliuanadh, no air a phasgadli mn'n cuairt do na giiaillibh, agus do'n cbom, agns air f hagail an crochadli sios dh* ionnsuidh nan glun. Bha e air a cheangladli niu'n cnairt do'n chom le crios, agus bha e air a dhaingneachadh aii- a' ghualainn chli le bior, no le braist' airgid, no oir. An deigh sin, gluiathaich- eadh an " Flieile-bheag " a bha air a deanamh air letli o'n bhreacan, agus a bha ni's cuimii-', sgit)balta na'm breacan air fad, gu'n ghearradh. Tha iomadh dearbhadh againn gu'm bheil an eideadh so anabarrach sean. Thog na Romanaich balla tarsuing air Alba, eadar an amhainn "Forth" agus " Cluaidh," aii- an tugadh an t-ainm " Balla Antonine," an t-Impear Roimheach a chuir suas e. Thogadh am Balla so 'sa bhliadhna 140. An uair a bha an steidli aige 'ga bhuireachadh suas o cheann beagan bhliadhnaichean air ais, fhuaradh leac aii' an robh aii- an gearradh dealbh triuir dhaoine, a bha air an eideadh 'san trusgan Ghaidh- ealach so. Tha'n leac so air a gleidheadh gu ciiramach. Tha mar an ceudna, Diodorus Siculus, Tacitus, agus Gassar, an luchd-eachd- raidh Roimheach, a' cur an ceill gu'n robh na Caledoniich air an eideadh le cotaichibh air am breacadh le h-iomadh dath. Fhuaradh iomadh leac eile a ta 'dearbhadli an ni ceudna. Tha aon aig " Dupplin " ann an sion-amachd Pheirt, aii* am bheil Gaidheal air a ghearradh 'san eideadh so, le targaid chruinn, agns le sleagh bhiorach 'na laimh. Tha aon eile a chladhaicheadh a mach aig Dili, ann an Siori-amachd Pheirt, air am bheil na fir air an gear- i-adh le sgiathaibh cruinn air an gairdean chli, agus le sporranaibh beine. Tha iomadh dearbhadh eile ann mar an ceudna, air gne, dreach, ag\is cumadh eididh nan Graidheal.

'S math 'thig breacan an f heilidh

Gu leir do na suinn,

Osain ghearr air an calpannaibh

Domhail, geal, cruinn,

Iteagan dorclia air slios

Gorm uidheam cheann,

Sud i eideadh nam blar,

'S cha bi an te f hada theann !

Eev. Robert MacGkegor, Kilmuir, Sl<ye.

IIIGIILAXD AMUSEMENTS. 23

A tlirtobli ai-maclid nan Gaidlieal, tlia'n luclid-eaclulraiclh Ro- manach, mar a ta Tacitus, a' cur an ceill gu'n do clileaclid iad " Claidhean-mora, ftida," le targaidibli beaga, cruinn, agus biodagan. Air an cosaibh bha osain-ghearra, brogan, no cuarain. An uair a chuireadla an oath air " Innis Plieii-t," an lathair Ptigli Roibeirt III. 'sa bliliadlina 1396, le deich thar fliicliead Ghaidlieal air an aon taobli, an agaidli dlieich thar f hicliead air an taobli eUe, tlia fear-eaclidi-aidli (Abbot Bower) ag innsea<:Ui 'na leabliar, gu'n robli na Gaidlieil aii- an armadli a mhain le claidliibli, boghannaibh- saighead, agus tuaghamiaibh-catha. Tha e soilleir gu'n robh annacbd an t-sluaigli ghaisgeil so ag atbarracliadh gu mor o Hnn gu linn, mar a bha innealan ura cogaidh 'gan dealbhadh, agus 'gan cleachdadh. Ach ge b'e ciod an armachd a laimhsich iad, cha b' iadsan a thionndaidheadh an cul aon chuid li caraid, no ri namhaid !

Ach a thuilleadh air gach ni a dh' ainmicheadh, dh' flieudainn moran radh mu fhearachas-tighe, cleachdanna-du'chail, inneala- treabhaidh, buill-acfhuinn, agus aii-neis nan GaidheaL Tha na nithe sin gu leii- aiiidli aii* beachd a ghabhail diubh, a chionii gii bheU iad nan nithe a ta air an cleachdadh gu sonraichte leis na Gaidheil fein, agiis moran diubh na'n nithe nach faicear agus nacli faighear, ach am measg an t-sluaigh' chliuitich so. Tlia cuid a'n so a lathair an nochd, aig nach 'eil fios ciod e " Caschi-om, Cas- dhireach, Slachdan, GroideaUan, Poit^Uii'earaidh, Leachd-ghradain, Muileandeth-coise, Muilean-bradh, Bbrd-luaidh, Racan, Plocan, Cisean, Iris, Siomaid, Cliabh, Caineag, Plat, Sgonnan, Tallau, Sunnag," agus mar sin sios.

Dh' fheudadh moran a bhi au- aithris, mar an ceudna, mu na Gnathfhocail, saobh-chrabhadh, giseag, ranntachd, dubh-cheisd, toimhseachan, taibhsearachd, sugi-adh, iomah-t, agus cluiche, a gheibhear am measg nan Gaidheal, ach fagaidh mi iad sin, gu bhi gu soilleir aii' an lorgadh a mach, agus air an aithris gu. h-ullamh, h-eallamh, deas-chainnteach, leis an Urramach fhogliluimte sin '' Bun-Lochabar ! "

Cha'n inndrinn mi, mar an ceudna, air eachdraidh chianail shliochd nam beann, a thaobh an doigh aii- an robh iad air an ruagadh o aois-larachaibh an sinnsear fein, aii' an greasadli gu. criochaibh cubhaiin, agus na miltean diubh air an co'-eigneachadh gu dol air imirich do dhuchamiaibh cein, thar ciiuanta farsuing agus am-adhack Is suarach an dionadh a oii na feidh, na caoraich bhana, agus na ceai-can-coille agus fraoich, an aghaidh an namhaid, an coimeas ri sliochd nan garbh-chrioch nach do dhiobair riamh !

Ach a thuilleadh air so, cha'n 'eil e 'a'm' chomas an nochd, mar a bha aon uair a' mhiann orm, cunntas a thoii't air na FineaehaiVtli

24 TKAXSACTIOXS.

Gaidhealacli, agus air gach connsacliadli, cogadli, creach, agus blar fuilteach, a bha aca 'nan aimhreitibh an aghaidh a' clieile. Ghabh- adh sin moran nine. Bhiodli e taitneach, mar an ceudna, leudach- adh air breacannaibh nan Fineacban fa leth, air snaicheantas, gairmibh-catha, brataichibb, agus briatbraibb-brosnachaidh gacb Fineadh 'sa Gbaidbealtacbd. Bha mor-chnmlachd aig na Cinn- fheadbna anns gacb aite, agus air doibh a bhi mar i-ighre beaga tbar an luchd-cinnidh, bba comas beatha agus bais aca 'nan laimh. Acb db' fbalbb na h-amanna deistinneacb sin a nis ; agns tba e taitneach gu'n d' fbalbb. Am feadh 'sa ta sliocbd 'nam beann, 's nan gleann air feadh Gaidhealtachd na h-Alba, co cliuiteach agus cruadalach 'sa bha iad riamb, bha 'n dillseachd agus an treubhantas air an gnathachadh o cheann linntean air ais, cha'n ann ri comb- strith an aghaidh a' cheile, mar is minic a bha iad, acb mar chath- bhuidhean gu'n striochdadh, bha iad deas agus dileas, thar tuigse, gu bhi 'dionadh an saorsa, an dacha, 'san lagh !

" 'S iomadh deuchaimi a f huair Na fir ardanach, bhras, O nach geilleadh dhiubh l^uih, Is nach tionnd'adh dhiubh cas ; 'S o nach feudadh gu'n caochl'adh An dualchas 'san cleachd, Leis an d'f hagadh gun samhhxdh An sinnseara 'sa ghleachd."

Rev. Robert MacGregor, Kihnuir, Skye.

Gha tug saighdearan ni b' fhearr riamb aghaidh do namhaid. Leo-san sguabadh air falbh an eascairdean as an araich, mar a sguabar am moll le neart na gaoithe. Cha di-chuimhnichear gu brath an gaisge aig " Ticonderago," an treubhantas air la "Fontenoi," am morchruadal 'san Eiphit, agus an dian-thairis- neachd anns gach cath sgriosail a chuireadh leo, air mor-thir na Roinn-Eorpa ! O ! cia fearail, cuimear, agus eireachdail iad 'nan eideadh fein ! Cia garg agus colgach, a'n am dol sios do'n chath ! Cia minic, luath mar na h-iolairean a' dol air iteig chum cobhart- aich, a ruith iad air feachd nan namh, agus a cbuir iad as doibh- gu tur ! Cha'n 'eil e acb 'na fhearas-chuideachd dhoibb an dream a sheasas nan aghaidh a ghearradh as ! Is gann a nochdas iad an treubhantas, ach an uair a tba an cunnard mor, no an namhaid garg agus dalma. An sin combdaicbidh an corruich an talamh le closaichibh nam marbh, mar a chombdaicheas corran a' bhuanaiche an t-achadh le sguabaibb ! Fhad 'sa bhios meas air fior-shaigh- dearachd, cha leagar air dearmad am fearalas air faiche fuilteach " Bhaterlu,"—

TOIRIOC XA TAIXE. 25

'S ann an sud a bha 'ghriobliag, Le luaidh ghrad, lannaibh biorach, 'S claidhibh sgaiteach 'gan iomaii-t, Le dream cliahiia gun tioma, Chaidh Siol All)a gu'n ghiorraig, Anns an t-searbh-chath air mliireadli, 'Creuchdadh chorp is 'gan liodairt, Is 'gam fagail 'san ionad gun deo ! "

Rev. Robert MacGregor, of Kilmuir, Skye.

A nis, beannaclid k'ibli air fod. Cha'n ioglma ged bhiodh iiaill oirbh mar Chomunn, an uair a dli' ainmichear sibh air a Ghiielig !

" Mile beannachd, mile buaidh, Air Comunn Uaislean mo ruin ; Clia ghluaisear Breatunn le tiamh, 'S sibhse mar dliion air a cul. Thog Albainn a ceann le h-uaill ; Dh' fhuasgladh a' Gliaelig a' snuim : Tha coir gacli saorsainn gu feum, Aig sliochd Ghaidheal nam bens grinn. Tliig Sonas, is Bliochd, is Maoin, Fialachd, is Tins, Faoilt, is Baigli, Sgaoilidh 'nam miltibh bliur siol, Mar rainicli 'nam fiadh-ghleann fas ! "

E. Mac Lachluinn. " An \h a chith 's nach fhaic."

On tlie 14th November the following paper, from Mr A. A. Carmichael, C.M.S.A.S., Creagory, Benbecula, was read : —

TOIRIOC NA TAINE.

[Seanchaidh Eachann Mac-iosaig (" Eachann Mac Ruaraidh ") Croitear, Ceann langabhat, locar, Uist a Chinne Deas. Sgriobhta le Alastaii' G. Macgillemhicheil, Creagoiridh, Beinn 'a faola, La- fheill Moire.]

Deilbh agus aobhar na sgeuil.

Bha dnin-uasal ann an Eirinn ris an canadh 'ad an Du'altacli. Cha b\i tighearna fearainn idir e ; ach bha cuid mhor an t-saoghal aige agns ionnsachadh math agus e o theaghlach miosail, agns leis a sin bha aite suidhe aige ann an cuideachd uaillsean. Cha ro eir a tlieolach ach aona ghille mic d'am b'ainm Cuchullain. Bha c fhcin

2 b TRANSACTIONS.

agus larla Gblinn-cliuilisg comhla anns a' cliolaiste agus blia 'ad nan cairdean 's nan companaich. Blia nighean an larla posadh agus chxiir an t-Iarla cuLreadh cliun na bainnse dh-ionnsuidh an Du'allaich seacliduin roimlie 'n am. Dh-f halbh an ])u'allach agus a bhean chun na bainnse le'n gillean, 's le'n eicli dhiolta. Bha Cuchullain a' sireacUi falbli acli cha leigte leis. 'Nuaii- a dli-fhalbh 'adsan dli-f liall^li easan as an deogliaidh. Bha ball 'us caman aige 's bha e g-iomain fad fin foineach an la air an rathad. Am biall na h-oiche an dul fodha na greine rainig 'ad an drochaid mhor bha dol thun pelios an larla. Bha cu eir an drochaid ga gleidheadh 's cha leigeadh e duine seachad gim phe'eadh. Cha ro airgiod aig a' ghille. Smaointich e aige f hein gu'm bu tamailteach dha tilleadh dhachaidh agus chuir e 'm ball eir sui'achag agus bhuail e steigh eir an dala ceaiui a choin 's a mach eir a cheann eil' e 's chuir e 'n cu na bhuta leis an drochaid.

Sin a' chiad euc a rinn Cuchullain.

Gha' e steigh an bhaile 's ch;in' e gdlean a g-iomain agus thoisich e air iomain co-riu. D'uair thainig an uiche thuirst e ri fear dhe na gillean bha g-iomain co ris,"Nach ann an seo" ors easan "tha teigh an larla]" " Sami" ors an gille eile ; " De seo do ghnothuchsa ris?" " Nach eil beanais (banais) ndior ann ? " "Tha." " B'fhearr liom gu'n ionnsuiche tu dhomh e." " Cha leig 'ad is teigh thu." " Tha m' athair 's mo mhathair eii- a' bheanais agus fiachaidh ini an leig."

Bha 'n caisteal eir a lasadh Je craoslach chraobhach sholuist. Gha' e steigh 's gha' miosg na cuideac 's thug e ridth a null 's chaidh e eadar da ghlun athar. " An tu tha seo Chuchullain 1 " ors athair, "'S mi" orsa Cuchullain. " Ciamar fhuairthu steigh 's an cu eir an drochaid 1" " Mharbh mi 'n cu."

De'art bha ach fear do stiubhartan an larla 's an riim agus falbhar agus innsear dha mhaighstir cainnt Chuchvillain. Leum an t-Iarla nuas. " Co tha seo ors easan a mharbh mo chu eir an drochaid 1 " Cha tuirst duine diog — bha eagal orra.

Thuirst an Du'altach, *' Seo e, tha g-rathain rium gu'n do mharbh e do chu." " Cha chi-eid mi sin, gu'm marbhadh giullan beag mar sin mo chu." " O ! 's mi mharl^h e gu deai'bh 's cha chuir thu gu duin' 's am bitli eil' e ach mise " ors Cuchullain. " Bhuil," ors an t-Iarla, " feumaidh tu fuireach seac blianna sir an drochaid ga gleidheadh go 's an tog mise cu ni t-aite, neo pe'idh tu £700 Sasannach dhomh." " An ta pe'idh mise sin eir son momhic" ors an Dvi'altach ; " ach mu phe'eas cha mlior is fhiach mi f he' na dlieo'- idh. Ach nam faighiun nine phe'inn sin 's mi fhe' l)hi mar bha mi roimhe."

Dh-eirieh Cuchullain ua shcasadh agus thuirt e " Cha phaigh tlm

TOIRIOC XA TAIKE. 'J i

atliair aon sgillin, acli theicl mis' tliiiiii na drochaid ga gleidlieadh dha, agiis fuiridh mi l)liaima, agiis feumaidli easan cearstas a' choin a chxxmail riumsa."

Bha Cviclmllain a sin blianna eii' an drochaid. Bha e fuasach eii'son sgoil, agns a chuile duine tliigeadli chnn na drochaid theireadh e ris "(Jha leig mi nidi thu mar toir thu dhondileasan, agns d'nair thigeadh dxiin-nasal bheii'eadh e dha am pe'eadh, agns an leasan co-ris.

Leis cho dichiollach 'sa bha e ga togail, dh-iomisnich e mar-seo moran sgoil'. Thainig e sin dachaidh. Bha aims an am sin dh'an t-saoghal colaiste ami mi Dxin-sgathaich 's an EUeann-Sgitheanach agns cha ro fear ris am b'fhiach fear a ra an rioghac na h-Alba, an Sasunn no an Eii'inn nach cuireadh a mhac ga itjnnsachadh ami. Cha ro meas eir fear ach fear a gheu'adh ionnsuchadh an Diin- sgathaich. Cha ro sgoil no faolnm no math-chleas nach faight aim, 's cha ro meas eir cleas ach cleas a gheol>ht' ami. Cha bhiodh CuchuUaui Ijeo mar leigt' eir falbh a sgr)il Dhnn-Sgathaich e, agus leigeadh air falbh e. Bha e naogh blianna an sin. Bha uasal Albannach d'am b'ainm Am Feardiag mac Daimbain anns an sgoil ra linn Chuchnllaui agais be ciad ghaisgeach an t-saoghail e ra linn fhein. Bha'm Feardiag agns CuchuUaui a' laidhe 'sa g-eii-idh comhla fad nan naogh blianna agus 'ad nan companaich aig a' cheile. 'N am bha 'ijd a dealachadh mhiomiaich 'ad ga cheile nach cuireadh an dala fear trioblaid eir an fhear eile gu brach. Cha ro sian a dh-ionnsuich an dala fear nach d-iomisuich am fear eile ach aon chleas a bh' aig Cuchullain ris an cante an gath- balg. ■^■

Bha gillean aca agus b'iad an da bhrathair an da gliille. 'Se gille na h-Inraich a b-ainm do ghille 'n Fhii'dhiag agus Laochaire Mac "iSTearst a b'ainm do ghille « !huchuUain.

Bha na gillean aca nam pagechrm aca 's an sgoil agus cha ro 'ad f heiu cli. Lean Laochaire Mac Nearst Cuchullain agus Gille na h-Iuraich am Feardiag.

Dh-fhag 'ad ]3un-Sgathaich agus thill Cuchullain dachaidh a dh-Eii'iim. Thainig (Juchullain agus Laochaire Mac Nearst dhach- aidh gu ruig teigh an Du' altaich an Grianan-math an Eirinn. Bha lechiad agh aig an Du'altach aim an eileann mara agus, de ach rug te aca laogh agus cha ro fios fo thalamh na criosdac cait an d-fhuair e tara. Cha ro dath bh'ann am bogha frois no arm an

* Tlia'n Seanchaidh ag rath gnr h-ann a inuigh eii" iiacar uisge dh-f heunita an gath-ljalg a cliluich.

rRANSACTIOXS.

agiis larla Gblinn-cliiiilif comhla anns a' cholaiste agiis blia 'ad nan cairdean 's nan coroanaich. Bha nighean an larla posadh agiis cbuir an t-Iarla cu-eadh chun na bainnse dh-ionnsuidh an Du'allaich seacliduin roiihe 'n am. Dh-f halbh an ])u'allach agns a bhean chun na bainnse e'n gilleao, 's le'n eicli dhiolta. Bha Cuchullain a' sireadh fall ach cha leigte leis. 'Nnaii- a dh-fhalbh 'adsan dh-fhalljh easan aan deoghaidh. Bha ball 'us caman aige 's bha e g-iomain fad f irfoineach an la aii' an rathad. Am biall na h-oiche an dul fodha l greine rainig 'ad an drochaid mhor bha dol thun peliijs an larla. Bha cu eir an drochaid ga gleidheadh 's cha leigeadh e duine se:had gun jihe'eadh. Cha ro airgiod aig a' ghille. Smaointich e a"e f hein gu'm bu tamailteach dha tilleadh dhachaidh agus chuir e a ball eir soi'achag agus bhuail e st eir an dala ceann a choii s a mach eu- a cheann eil' e 's 'n cu na bhuta leis an dnhaid.

Sin a' chiad euc a riruCuchullain.

Gha' e steigh an bhailei chun' e gillean a g-iomain , e air iomain co-riu. D'uLr thainig an uiche tht na gillean bha g-iomain cois,"Nach ann an seo" an larla V " Sami" orf^n gille eile ; " De ris 1 " " Nach eil l)eanai!(banais) ndior liom gu'n ionnsuiche tulhomh e.' " Tha m' athair 's mo mathair an leig."

Bha 'n caisteal eir a ass Gha' e steigh 's gha' mios e eadar da ghlun at athair, "'S mi" orsa cu eir an drochaid '

De'art bha falbhar agus ini t-Iarla nua drochaid 1 "

Thuirst, mharl mar si thi

4

■*'^^'^^S^^^'

TOIRIOC NA TAIK. L'7

atliair aon sgillin, ach theitl mis' thuin a drochaid ga gleidlieadh dha, agiis fiiiridh mi 1 "liamia, agiis feum.dli easan cearstas a' choin a cliumail riumsa."

Bha Cucliullain a sin Lliaiina eir an rochaid. Bha e fuasach eii-son sgoil, agiis a cliiiile duiiie thigeadh nm na drochaid theireadli e ris "Cha leig mi nidi thu mar toir thuliomJi'leasan, agus d'liair thigeadh duin-uasal bheireadh e dha ar p^'eadh, agus an leasan co-ris.

Leis cho dichiollach 'sa bha e ga togd, dh-iomisnich e mar-seo moran sgoil'. Thainig e sin dachaidh. lia anns an am sin dh'an t-saoghal colaiste ann im Dun-sgathaich an Eileann-Sgitheanach agus cha ro fear ris am b'fhiach fear a nun rioghac na h-Alba, an Sasunn no an Eirinn nach cuii'cadh a mac ga ionnsachadh ann. Cha ro meas eir fear ach fear a gheo'ah ionnsuchadli an Dun- sgathaich. Cha ro sgoU no faohim nc math-chleas nach faight aim, 's cha ro meas eir cleas ach cleas a geobht' ann. Cha bhiodh Cuchullaiii l)eo mar leigt' eir falbh a sgo: Dhun-Sgathaich e, agus leigeadh aii- falbh e. Bha e naogh bliana an sin. Bha uasal Albannach d'am b'aiiim Am Feardiag nac Daimbain anns an sgt>il ra linn ChuchuUain agais be ciad aaisgeach an t-saoghail e ra linn fhein. Bha'm Feardiag agus Uuchullain a' laidhe 'sa g-eiridli comhla fad nan naogh blianna ag^ 'ad nan companaich aig a' cheile. 'N am l)ha 'ijd a dealachadh iliiomiaich 'ad ga cheile nach cnireadh an dala fear triobl aid eiian fhear eile gu brach. Cha ro sian a dh-iui^Hciich an dala fear ach d-ionnsuich am fear eile ach aon c!Ul^^^^ii' aig CuchuUai ris an cante an gath-

la bhithair an da ghille. 'Se n 'hirdhiag agus Laochaire

chullai.

1 ' an sgoil agus cha ro 'ad st 'uchullain agus Gille na

Cucliullain dachaidh a I aire Mac Nearst dhach- n-math an Eii-inn. Bha ann mara agus, de ach h na criosdac cait an )e:ha frois no ann aii

acar uisge dh-f heumta

mi

m f w 9 V .« :^

# 4:t ;f

§^MMWJ> *J*.

28 TRANSACTIONS.

iarmailt nan speur no ann an coille-blianain a' chuain nach robli eir an laogli. Clia bhiodh. Cuchullain beo 'se na ghille tapaidh an deigh tighinn far na drochaid mar li-ainmichte an laogli eir f hein. Cha ro athair deonacli an laogli a tlioirt dlia bho'n nacli bu laogli boirionn e. "Feumaidh mi fliaigliinii. 'S fliearr Horn am firionn seo na deicli bhoirionn, agns fliuair en laogh. Cha robh an laogh ach na laogli ri linn Cucliullaiii falbli a sgoil an Dim-Sgathaich acli blia 6 na tharbb ri linn dlia tilleadh as. Cha ro a leithid an Eirinii ach e fhein. Tlia e 'san eachdraidh gu'n cuireadh e marst eir dhair le geum an Coig Choigeamh na h-Eirionn. Be'n Donn- Guaillionn a b'ainm dlia.

Thill Cuchullain dachaidh a Ghrian-math an Eirinn agus bliith- eadh e fhein 'sa Ghille Laochaire Mac Nearst a' falbh a shealg gu tao' eile na h-Eirionn. Blia e taghal eii* nighiiin a Ghairbh Mhic Stairn, agus theireadh e rithe, " Tliig nii'n dingh, 's thig mi 'm niaireach," 's dhianadh e coineamh rithe, agns 'se bvin a bh-ann gu'n do tlieich i leis. Thug e dhachaidh i gu teigh athar agus chaidli e eir teigh dlia fhein 's bha e flie' 's ise riarachadh a cheile gle mliatli.

Bu bharuinn eir dala letli Eirinii 's an am boiiiomiach ris an canta Maoim a Chniachain agus bu righ eir an letli eile Oiriol Fhaolamach. Bha 'ad nam bantraichean le cheile. Bliuail an cau-dean 's an comhairleichean eir a dh-rath riu gu'm bu choir dhaibh posadh 's an cuid a chur ri cheile. Bha fear ionad righ aicese, mac peathar 'i fhein d'ni b-ainm Fearghus Philisteach agus chuii- a Bharuinn a comhairle ris am posadh i Oii'iol. "Am bi thu deonacli mise phosagh Oirill ? " oi's ise. " Bithidh mi " orsa Fearghus " gle dheonacli thu ga phosadh gu dearbh. Tha uallach trom orm fhein agus tha mi eirson aotromachadh."

Chuireadh gu posadh 'ad agus phbs Maoim a Chruachain agus Oiriol Fhaolumach. Am ceann mios no laid-eigin chaidh 'ad gu butar-scionn 's tlirod 'ad. Bhuail an dala h-aon eir cur a dh-ailis eir an t-aon eile gu ro baiTac aig eir a cliuid an t-saoghal. Thois- icheadh a seo eir cunntas an stuic agus d'uair chunntadh 's a chuir- eadh ra cheile 'n stoc bha tarbh aigesan a bharrac oii'ise. Be ainm an taii-bh, am Binne-bheoch. *

* The reciter says tlicat Binne-bheoch means "the horned beast," and I think he may be right. In Uist, "binneach," or "beannach," is ap- plied to a homed animah generally to an animal with high horns. " Caora- bhiiineach, " or, more correctly, ' ' Caora-blieannach, " is applied to the old and no%v nearly extinct llebridcan breed of sheep with four, live, and even sometimes six horns.

TOIRIOC NA TAIXK. 29

Bliuail a' Bliaruin a sin eir feoraicli a dli-Fliearglius cait am faighte tarbli a glia'aclli eir a Bliiune-blieocli agus a gheo'adh buaidh eir 's nach bitlieadli a beo shaoghail aice mar faiglieadli.

" Clia'n 'ainne dliomlise sin" orsa Feargbus "cait am faighear tarbb a gha'as eir, 'sa bheii" buaidh eir ach an Donn-giiaillionn aig an Du'allach 's a ri f hein cha'n e sin an sugi-adli dol na dhail no f haigh- inn uaithe. Tlia e f hein laidii- 's tha mhac ro laidir leomach moralach 's mar faighear le sith e chan fheighear idir le feirg e." " Cha 'n eil diiin agam dha 'n f heaiT thig a chuis chur an ceil na sibh f hein. Theid sibh a shireadh an tairbh agi;s bheir silih leibh tri-tliag dha na gillean mora," orsa Bharuinn.

Chaidh Fearghus Philisteach agiis tri-diag dha na gillean mor' aig Maoim a Chruachain a shireadh an Donn-ghuaillionn. Rainig 'ad teigh an Du'altaich ma mheadhan la 's chaicUi Fearghus is steigh a tlialla an Du'altaich. Sliii' e'n tara as a sheasamh " Tha cabhag orst" ors an Du'allach, " 'n ami eir toil" teine thainig thu ? Dian suidhe 's ga' do sgial."

" Cha dian gos am faigh mi fios ceann mo ghnothuich." "An ta cha 'n ami agams tha sin ri thoirst dhuit ach aig mo INIhac, CuchuUain. Tlia e 'sa bheinn sheilg ach bithidh e dhachaidh am bial an anamoich. 'Se do bheatha cb-rium fhein a noc agus fuirich gos an tig CuchuUain o'n t-sheilg." Tha gillean mor' agam, a thug mi liom gus mo chuideacha leis an tara 's cha'n eil e freagrach 'ad- san a bhi co-ruinn." Tha saillean gu leoir agamsa 's an cuir sinn eir dlioigh 'ad.

Chuii-eadh biadh 'us deoch agus aodach leapa gu leoir tliun nan gUlean mora. Ghabh 'ad an dall daorach. Bha Fearghus agus an Du'altach ag ol 's an teigh mhor gos an tainig Cuchidlain dhachaidh am bial na h-oiche.

Cliuala CuchuUain roicealac 's an t-sobhal aig athair agus ghabh e null. Thainig e an sin an teigh mhor agus glia' e steigh far an ro athar agus Fearghus a' caitheamli an fheasgair gu cridheil. " Sin fear do ghnothuich " ors an Du'allach ri Fearghus. Tlioisich a sin Fearghus eii' sii'eadh an tairbh eir CuchuUain clio milist 's cho seolta's cho briathrach'sab'urradha. "Gheo' thu" ors easan " do dh- or 's do aii'giod agus caiixleas na Maoim Chruachain agus lamh dheas Oii'ill." Cha tuirst CuchuUain guth ach dh-eisd e ris. Tliionndaidh e chulaobh. "Am faigh mi 'n tarbh?"

"Cha'n eil fiosam nach foigh." Ghrad dh-eirich Fearghus a, mach agus thug e 'n sothal eir far an ro na gillean-mora. Lean Cuchidlain e. Bha na gillean en- an dalladh leis an daoraich. " An d-fhuair thu'n tara*?" ors a chuile fear ria' ri Fearghus.

" Fhuair mi ach cha'n fhaitjheadh mo ghillean e." " Am fear

So TRANSACTIONS.

seo 's am fear 'ad eile carson nacli faiglieadh do gliilleau e 1 Mar faiglieadh 'ad a dlieoin e blieireadli 'ad a dliaineoin e" oi-sa chiiile fear riabli. Chiiala Cuchiillain a' cliainnt agiis thill e eh- ais. Tliill Fearghus eir ais dlia'n teigh agus chaidil e f hein agiis an Du'allach *s an aon rum.

Chaidh CuchuUain 's clinir e gad eir dorust an t-saotliail los nach faigheadh duiue macli agus cliuir e'n teigh na theiiie 's loisg e ma'n ceann e.

Bha Fearghus agus an Du'allach fada gun chadal ach a seana- chas — duine thail 's duiue bhos. 'D uair thainig CuchullaLu a steigh 'sa mhaduia thog Fearghus a cheann 's chunnaig e CuchuUain thall eadar e 's an xiioneag. " Seadh l)heil sibh dol bhi cho math 's 'ur gealltanas an diugh ? " orsa Fearghus.

" Tha gu dearbh. Gu deart [de ruid 1] a gheall mi 1 " " Nach do gheall sibh dhomh an tarbh — an Donn-guailliomi dhomhl" " Gu de 'n gealltanus a rinn mi ? An tuirst mi riut ach nach ro fiosani nach faigheadh agus tha fiosam an diugh nach faigh thu e. Na'n tuga tusa leat cuideaca mhoghail 's docha gu'm faighe tu leat an tarbh."

Chuir Fearghus uime agus chaidh e macli agus b'e chiad sealladh a bhuail a shuil an sothal na shiueadh agus cna})hann nan daoin' aige eu- ghoil nan gual loLsgte. Chaidh e dhachaidh.

" All d-fhuaii- thu'n tara— an tara Fhearghuis — caite bheil an tara 1 " orsa Mhaoim Chruachain.

" Cha d-fhuair 's ga de chuire' tu cuideac bu mhutha eir falbh cha'n fhaigheadh 'ad an tara," agus dh-innis e dha'n Bharinn 'mar dh-eirich dlia na gillean.

Bhoinicheadh a sua eir a Bharuin agus eir Oiril dol cola rist, 's chaidh 'ad cola. Ach mu'n tainig ceann mhios throd iad a rist agus a rist ma'n Bhiune-bheoch. Chuir a sin a Mhaoim Chrua- chain litii-icliion a mach fad agiis farsuinn feadh Albainn, Shasuinn agus Eirinn, fear 's am bith thigeadh thoirst a mach an Donn ghuailliomi gu'm bu leis or agus airgiod gu leoii', cairdeas leaghais na Manim Chruachain agus lamh dheas Oirill."*

Bha Mhaoim Chruachain na seann chaillich ghraiunde ghlais.

Chuii- a sin boiiionnach bha mu'n caii-st di f hein na ceami litir a chuir thim an Fhir-diag.

* The reciter ex^jlains this frequent phrase thus : — He says that "C'airdeas leaghas na Maoim Chruachain" means the Queen's "healing friendship " ; and that " Lamh dheas Oirill " means Oiriol's place with her- self. To my thinking, " Lamh dheas Oiriol " would signify Oiriol's right- hand friendship."

TOIRIOC NA TAINE. 31

Riiiii i sill ach clia b' ann gu j osadh na dad acli gii ciiilm mhoi' bha i gos a thoii-st seacliad. Bha brathairean an Fliirdhiag a muigli aig a bliuain agus am Feardiag a spaidsearac mu'n cuairst daibli 's gu'n e dianadli dad niiair a thaiiiig an litir. Sluiidh e eir earn faisg eii' na buanaichean agus leugli e litir na Maoim Chruach.- ain.

" Tha litir a seo oi"s easan, a thainig thugam o'n Mhaoim Clirua- chain ag cur ma 'm choineamlx dol a cliumail cuihn agus cuideac letlie." " Cliuala sinn ma 'n litii- sin roimhe. Gos do pliosadli ! " ors a bhratliaii" 's e taruinn as. " Deart tha thu g-ratli? Ne mise pliosadli an t-seann scrait cliaillicli. Leora cha phosadb ga nam bitheadli eir thalamh na talamhuin ach i fhein a bhoirionnaich, Ach gun teagamh 's am bith feumaidh mi a Bharuinn a f hreagairst o na chuii- i iios orm.

Dh-fhalbh am Feardiag, e fhein agus a ghille, gille na h-Iuraicli, agus rainig 'ad polios Baruinn Eii'iiin. Bha la'n sgaoilte rompa. Thoisich ol 'us ceol 'us danns agus gairdeachas 'us greanna- clias mor ri linn ciad ghaisgeach an t-saoghail tighinn dha'n duthaich.

['S ann dha na fir mliora bha am Feardiag agus dha na fir bheaga Cuchullain.] Chuii' a Mhaoim Chruachain ceist ris an Fhear-dhiag. " De 's laglia glia'as tu" ors ise " agus dol a ghleic ri Cuchidlain eir faiclie-choraig eir da uair 'iag a'm maireach "? "

A Mhaoim Chruachain agus a Bliaruin Eiriiin dhianainse gniomh gaisgich agus euc curaidh a chuire 'tu ma m'choineamh, agus a b'urra mi dhianadh ; aah dol a ghleic m' chaomli chom- paiich Cuchullain rud iiach urra 's nach dian mi. Mise dhol a ghleic Cuchullain ! 'Ne am fear bha laidhe 'sa g'eiridh nam bhrollach fad nan naogh blianna agus is docha Horn na gin dha'm bhra- thairen f he' ! Mise dhol a ghleic ri Cuchullain ! Ghleacainn fear a ghleacadh ris agus cha chuirinn eir eirson rud 's am bith."

'Thoisich a sin an t-ol agus chuireadh eir 'us eir gus na chuireadh an dall daorach eir a ghaisgeach, am Feardiag, agus thuit e far an ro' e. Cha ro do nearst ann am imgeachun leibideach Maoim a Chruachain na thogadh as a siod e, agus leigeadh leis laidh far an ro' e agus chuireadh cuirigeann fairis eir. Sgri' a Mhaoim Chruach- ain litir fhoilleil mhosach an ainm an Fhirdiag gu'n reachadh e ghleac Cuchullain agus chuir i siod na plioca. Aig a bhraiceas an la'ir na mhaireach thuirst ise :

" Seadh Albannaich mliath bheil thu deas deonach do ghealltanas an raoir a chumail dhomh an diugh — dol a ghleic Cuchullain 's an Dnnn-<jiiaillioiin thoirst thuffiimsa'? "

32 thansactioxs.

" Ne mise reachadh a glileac Cuchullain ! Fear mo bhitliklli 'h mo blirollaich 's mo bhraghaid a I ha laidhe 'sa g-eiridh co-rium fad nan naogh blianna. Bu chr«iaidh bhiodh a chuis orm d'uair nacb reachainn a ghleac ri fear a glileacadh ris. Mas ann eirson seo thug tliu cuireadh cuUme dhomhsa cba'n 'eil ini d'cho- main."

" Seall eir an litir tha d' pboca 's eir a gliealladh thug thu dhomh."

Chuir am Feardiag a lamh na phoca 's thug e mach an litir 's leugh e i. Ohrom e cheaun, 'us bhruc a dheoir gii frasach trom.

Ach mar dhuine 's mar ghaisgeach cha tigeadh e'n cois fhacail, agus sgri' e litir thun Cuchullain a choinneachadh eir Faiche. choraig eir da uair-iag am maireach. DLreach d'uair bha Cuchul- lain agus Laochaire folbh an bheinn-sheilg co choinnich 's an dorust 'ad acta teacaire an Fhir-dhiag leis an litir.

" Seadh ! seadh ! Bheil fios agadsa Laochaire de'u litir a fhuair mise seol" orsa Cuchullain agus dh-inns e dha.

" Cha'n aona ghnothuch cearst tha eir aire" arsa Laochaire 's cha teid thu thoirst coinneamh no comhail dha. Na 'm bu ghnoth- ach cearst a bhitheadh ga dhi thigeadh e lom 'us direach far an ro' thu cho luath 'sa bhuail a chas fiar Eirinn." " 'S docha nach do bhrist e eir na mionnan a bh' eadaruinn " ors Cuchullain. " O 's docha nach do bhrLst" orsa Laochaire " ach de idir a thug dha gu'n tighinn lom us direach far an so thu an aite fios a chur orst gufaiciie-choraig'? " " 'Sdrochuair," orsa Cuchullain; bheu- mi comh- ail dha CO dhiu biodh i math no dona.

Choinnich na fir eir Faiche-choraig 's chuir 'ad failte chridheil eir a cheile. Phog an da bhrathair Laochaii-e Mac Nearst, agus Gille na h-Iuraich, a cheile aon uair agus, phog an da ghaisgeach, Cuchullain agus am Fear-diag, a cheile da uair. Bha 'ad a sin a spaidsearac a sios 'sa suas agus nan caiixlean m'an bha 'ad riabh. " De na cleasun ris am bith sinn an diugh 1 ors am Feardiag. " Cleas 's am bith thogras sibh fhein orsa Cuchullain." "Nach bith sinn a caitheamh na sleagha an cul na h-eara ? " Thug 'ad treis, mar sin. " Coma liom, ors 'm Fear-diag de'n doigh leibi- deach shuarach sin, cloimae bige. Ga'amid an t-seann doigh chearst." " Taing a Ni-math orsa Cuchullain gur tusa bhrist eir na mionnan 's nach mise.''

Lean an ruaig a seo Cuchullain gus na chuireadh a mach eir tao' eile faiche-choraig e. N'ann abrath am bas a leigeil thugamathathu, ors easan ri Laochaii-e Mac Nearst? Ruith Laochaire 's chuir o stad eir a bhial ath. Thill Cuchullain an toi-ac eir an Fhear-dliiair.

TOIRIOC XA TAIXE. 33

Dli-e\il)]i am Feai'cliag ri Gille na li-Iuiaich ruitli a leigeil dha'u bhial-ath 's leig e niith (Lha'n t-sruth 's tliill am Fearcliag an torac eir Cucliiillain gix tao' eil Faiche-choraig. Leum Laocliaii-e 's iiig e eir a bliratliaii- agus span- e taraim na cliluais ri eraoibh. Spion Gille na h-Im-aich a' chraobb as a friamli agus lig e 'n t-atb agus chuir am Feardiag eir Cucbullain. Leum Laochaii'e agus rug e eil- a bhrathair agus spion e 'n ceann as an ambuich aige agas stad e am bial-ath. Bba bbratbair marbb. Bba Cucbullain ris a gbatb-bbalg agus cba ro 'n cleas seo idu* aig an Fhear-dbiag.

Mbarbbadb am Feardiag. Sgriobb Cucbullain a sin litir db- ionnsuidb na Maoim Cbruacbain : '* Db-f baii*stlicb siod orst mar a db-fbaii'stlicb a cbuile b-ionsuidb eile 'tbug 'sa bbeir tbu eir an Donn-guaillionn a tboiret a macb." An nllai-tbniis a bb-ann, ebuii-eadb iios eir a Gbarbb mac Staim 'us teigbeteas aig eir taobb eile db-Eirinn.

Tbainig e 's cbuir a Bbaruin failte cbridbeil cbaoimbneil eii" agus mar cbumba 's mar cboineamb eir dol a gbleac CbucbuUain cbiun an tairbb a tboirst a macb. '■ Gbeo tbu ors ise or agus airgiod gu leoir, caii-deas leigbLs na Maoim Cbruacbain agus lamb dbeas Oirib" " Bba mise la dba'n ro' mi" ors an Garbb coii- " 's bbeii-inn tarbh a macb dba'n Mbaoim Cbi-uacbain na'm b'uri-a mi, 's an la eir a bbeil an diugb bbeii-inn diacbuin dba n'am b'eudar." Bba e sin fad seacuin ga pbrapadb (? pro}:/) 's ga pbripadb (? hrihe) 's ga bbia'adb aig a Bbaruinn. " 'S ann a blu'ogaicbeas mi orm " ors an Garbb " fiach am faic mi mo nigbean 's am faigb mi 'n Donn- Guailiionn dba'n Bbaruinn." * * * *

Bba Cucbullain a' falbb gu beinn-sbeilg la agus cbunnaic e 'n Garbb a' tigbinn agus tbill e dbacbaidb le cabbaig. "Xacb eil d'atbaii" a tigbinn gu faicbe-cboraig '' ors else r'a mbnaoi. " An ta cba'n aon rud matb tba ga dbi. "S cinnteacb gur b-ann eir tboir an taii-bb tba e tigbinn — tarbb na duibbe 1 " '• De ni sinn? " (Cba ro toil aig Cucbiillain dol a mbar'adb a Gbaii'bb.) " Ni, tilg tbusa dbiot do cbombdacb, 's leum eir mo cbulao an leabaidb \s tbeir mise gur leana mic a cbuir mi cbun an t-Saogbail tbu. Fuinnidb mi bonnacb 's cuiridb mi gbreidiol na bbi'oinn 's bbeir mi " dba e mar gbreim curaidb."

Tliainig an Garbb eir a sbnbdan fbein, a' sealltuin tbuige 's bb' uaitbe. Tbainig e steigb 's bbeannaicb e dba'n teigb 's db'an teolacb.

" Tba gbaotb eii- dorust nan laocb," ors easan. "An ta tba," ors ise le gutb boc "acb cba bbiodb e mar sin na'n ro' na laoicb fbein aig an teigb."

" Gu de dbianadb 'ad 's gu'n acb an aon dorust eir an teigb ?"

" Bbeireadb 'ad eir antaigb agiis chuireadh 'ad taona gaoith' san

n

34 TUANSACTIOXS.

fliasga agiis tao' an f hasgai 'sa gliaoith." " An ta tha gniomh ghais- geach a sin gii' clearbh agus blia mi fhe' la dlia'n ro mi 's clhianainn gniomh gaisgicli ciiideac ; acli cha duiliom gii'n deanainn siii an la b'fhearr bha mi riabh ach fiacliam ris."

Cliaidh an Garbli a macli agns sgaoil e 'lamhun ri ceann an teighe agus thug e ionsuidh thogail eir agus a sliiamh mu'n c-uairst, ach cha tug e glidneachadh eir."

Thill e steigh. " Dh-fhairstlich siod omi 's ma riar fhein cha'n ioghnadh ged' a dh-f hairstlicheadh an la b'fhearr bha mi riabh. Ach caite bheil na laoich fhein 1 " '■ Th4 sa bheinn slieilg." " 'S gu de tha thus dianadh 's an leabaidh 's do shuil cho beo 's do ghuth cho laidir '?" "Tha mi'n deigh m' asaid 's leana chur chun ant-saoghail." " U 's ciadach an tinneas a th-orst — an tinneas is fhearr na'n t-slainte. De chlann a th'agad 1 " " Tha mac.'' " Cha b'urra bhi b'fhearr. Thatar ag rath riumsa gu'm bi fiaclann aig mic nan gaisgeach d'liair a bheirear 'ad. Fiachair am mac mar an t-athair do mhac-sa," Chuir e mhiar am bial an leainibh 's chaill e barr a mheoir ra linn. " Ud ! ud ! iid ! 's mac mar an t-athaii' thu gu dearbh. 'S math liom nach mi bhios beo ri linn dhuit tighinn gu ire deich blianna fichead a dh-aois. Ach gu de 'm bonnach mor seo an oir an teine is mutha dha na chuniia mi riabh 1 " " Cha'n eil ach bonnach a bhios aig na laoich d'uair thig 'ad as a bheinnsheilg." " Theirte laoch rium fhein la dha'n ro mi 's fenmaidh mi bias a bhonnaich fhiachain."

Thug e greim as a bhonnach agus chuireadh tri chlaragun a dorust a bheoil. " Ud ! ud a ri ! fhein tha gi-eim cumidh a seogu dearbh."

" Ach cait a bheil an Donn-guaillionn ? " " Tha e aig a bhiiach- aille co-ris a chrodh." " An eirich thvi 's an leig tliii fhaicinii dhomh cait a bheil an crodli. 'S e sin rud is laogha is cor 'omh dhiana agus dh-eirich i agus sheall i dha an rathad a gha'adh e. Cluiir an "leanabh" eir a culaobh cagar na cluais i ga sheoladh rathad fada fiaraidh agus rinn i sin. " Thatar ag rath riumsa" ors an Garbh mac Stairn, 's eax dealachadh "gurtu mo nigheau — 's tha mi nist a faicinn gur tii."

Sgiobalaich Cuchullain aodach eir agus thar e as, 's bha e aig a chrodh mu'n rainig an Garbh.

" Tilg dliiot a bhuachaille" ors easan "agus thoir dhomhs do chuid aodaich 's cuir thus oret m'aodach-sa 's teich dha'n ghleann ad shios leis an Domi-guaillionn agus ceithir no coig da na mairst." Rinn am buachaille mar a shireadh eir.

Thainig a sin an Garbh 's e na chriithail chrjithail, mhor bhodaich. " Seadh a bhuachaille an e siod an Donn-gnaillionn," ors eise 's e tothndh ri tarbh bha shios a miosg na tain 's cha ro 'u

TOIRIOC XA TAIXE. 35

tarbli, sin f hein cli ga da V)' ao-coltach ris an Donn-ghuaillionn e. " 'S e " ors am " buachaille." Gliabh an Garbh 'sam " buachaille " sios a clioi'ead na taine 's an taii-bh, agus mhol 'us mhol an Garbh an tain agus tarbli Cliuchullain.

" 'Sannathainig mis eirsou an tairbh" ors an Garbh "'s tha nam' a bhi folbh leis 's an t-anamoch a tighinn a "bhuachaille ! " " Cha bhi'n t-im sin eii- an roinn sin, cha leig mise leat an tarbh gos am foigh mi ordan mo mhaighstir 's gos an tig e dhachaidh as a bheinn sheilg." " Cha bhi mi fuireach rLs," ors an Garbh 's rug e eii- oiric eii- an tarbh gos a thoirt leis. Leum am " buachaille " 's rug e eir oiric eile 'n tairbh 's an tarbh cha leigeadh e leis. Bha 'ad a sin a draothadh an tairbh o cheile. " Agam fhein a bhios e " theireadh an darna fear ; "fiach riut theii'eadh am fear eile," gos na shrac 'ad an tarabh o cheile o chlar aodain gu bun urahail. Ghuir am " bviachaille " car ma cheann dha'n leth aige fhein 's bhuail e'n Garbh leis 's riiui e biita dheth 'sa pholl. " 'Usa ! bhodaich mhosaich le d' sj^adaireac a tighinn a chur draogh eir tarbli mo mhaighstii- 's gu'n e fhein aig an teigli gus a thoiret dhuit." Dh-eii-ich an Garbh 's chrath e'm poll dheth fheiii. "Crosam adhol an carrabh a mhaighstir d'uair tha 'm buachaille oho treasa seo" ors easan 's e crathadh a phuUl dheth fhein. "Bu cho math liom Cuchullain a bhi am beinn 's a bhi aig baile an la thiginn an rathad. Ach a bhuachaille, bheil cleas 's am bitli agadsa bhios Cuchullain a dianadh fiach an dian mi fhein el" "Tha sin agam, fear na dha." " Siuthad ma tha ! dian e," agus bhrosnaich e am " buachaille '' gu cleasun Cliuchu.llain a shealltaiti dha. Gu'm b'e chiad chleas a sheall am " buachaille " dha, traigh us dorn-gulban * a thomhas thar bearradh creaige.

* "TraigK 'us dom-gulban " is a trick that used to be practised by boys of old in the Highlands, though probably they are becoming wiser now. A boy stands on the edge of a rock, and places the heel of one foot on the edge, and the heel of the other foot to tlie toe of that one, and his two closed fists side by side to the point of that toe again. He then leaps back- ward— if he can. The higher the rock the greater the feat. See Leo.bhar Na Feinnc, —

" Thomh'se tn traigh 'us dorn-gulban Mach o urracagun (a) na dairich (b). Wor Chalum, Mor dhugh Chalum, Dian laidhe le Moir a Chalum."

An old sarcastic Barra song, levelled at a former factor there, who was famous for his j'arns about his own feats of agility and strength.

(a.) "Urrachagun" are the pins to which the halyards of a boat are fastened.

(b.) " N",i daraioh." the boat, an old name, not now used. — A. A. C.

u :.'

3G TltAXSACTIOXS.

Achga do thomhais am " Ijuacliaille " an traigli 's an dorn-gulbaii gu sgiolta cha b' ionan sin 's mar a dh-eiiicli dha'n Gharbh. D'uair chrom e cheann a dhianadh a clileas chuir am " buachaille 'J ghlaic an cul a amhcha 's thilg e sios leis a chreaig e.

Dh-fhalbh Cucliiillain a sin gu dol dhachaidb 's de thachair eir anns a glileann acli lorg mlior-mlior duine agus bruit. Bha f bad agus a Had f hein an lorgan duine bha an deo'aidh na bruit agus mu dhe'inn lorg na bruit cha 'n 'eil fios de mheudac a bh'ann. Lean Cuchullain an da lorg mhor a bha seo fiach am faiceadh e de bu 's ciall daibh. D'uair bha e dol seachad gualain na beiniie chunnaic e duine shios ri taobh an lochain agus tarbh aig eir oific. Smeid an duine eir agus dh-eubh e ris. Bha eagal eir Cuchullain dol na choir ach coma co-dliiu chaidh e far an ro e.

" Siuthad, cuidich mis " ors am fear mor. " Cha chuidich mi gos an cluinn mi de's aobhar dhviit mo chuideachadh iarraidh." " Innsidh mi sin dhuit. Tha mi o chionn sheac blianna toii'st toirioc na taine bho m' bhrathair ; ach mu'n tar mi dhol na dail tha easan agam, 's ga toirst uam. Ach cviidich thusa mi 's bithidh i againn marbh mu'n tig e agus tha cruach mhor mhoine thallad eir am bruich sinn i agus bithidh sinn na's treasa gu cath an deigh a h-ichidh."

Mharbh am fear mor agus Cuchullain an tarbh agus dh-f hadaidh 'ad teine fo'n chruaich mhoine agus chuir 'ad an tarabh eir a muin ga rosladh. D'uair bha 'an rosladh bruich thoisich 'ad ri icheadh ach mu'n d' fhuair 'ad ach gle bheag icheadh dheth thainig brathair an fhir-mhoir err am mi;in. Bha chraos fosgailt 's dhianadh a chridhe 's a ghruthan solust romh bhial. Sheas e ri tao' thall a bhaigh 's shin an da bhrathair eii- caitheadh nan sleagh. eir a cheile. Shin Cuchullain ri cuideachadh an f hii- mhoir- bha eir a thaobh f heiu ach cha tilgeadh [chuireadh] e 'shaighead treasa trian dha'n astar. Buith e sin mvi chuaii'st a' bhaigh agus shin e ri dochan an fhir mhoir o chul (reachadh e steigh fo gho'al), ann an cul nam bailc. Bha'm fear mor a faireacain tachas ri cul a chas agus thug e suil far a ghualain agus faicear Cuchullain. Bhuail e breab eir o thaobh a chuil agus tilgear Cuchullaiti a null gu tao' thall a bhaigh agus cait a mhi-sheala a phorst an do stad e ach gu'm b'ann an oiric an taii'bh ! Ach na fhuair easan a mhialainte tighinn as a sin cha d'fhuair duine riabh roimhe no na dheo'igh urrad. Co-ris mhialaint a fhuair e, bhrist e chlaidh a tighinn as.

Dh-falbh e sin, 's a chlaidh briste na dhorn. Bvi tamailteach leis dol dhachaidh gu'n fhios nach saoileadh bean-an-teighe gur h-ann a gleac ri h-athaii- fhein a bhrist e 'n claidh. Thaghail e sin ann an ceardaich 'san dol seachad fiach am faigheadh e chlaidh eir a charadh. Bha cheardach Ian dhaoine mar a bha chuile

TOIJtIOC; XA TAIXE. .W

ceardacli riabli 's a. bhitheas. Shir e eir a gliubha chlaidh a cliaradh.

" Cha cliairicli mi 's cha glia' e caradh gos an inns thu ciamar a bhrist thu e no gii de an gniomli gaisgich no an tapadh a rinii thu 1 " Cuii- a mach na daoine mata (bha tamailt eir innseadh an la'ar na'n daoine gur h-ann ri linn dha bi ga thoirst fhein a oh-ic an tairbh a bhrist e chhiidh). Chviir an gobha mach na daoine. Ach dh-fhalaich nighean mhor mhungach rua eis a gho'a i fhein fo'n bhalg 's bha i g-eisdeac a chuile druideadh seanchais bha eadar a h-athair agus Cuchullain. " Cha'n ann ad' Chu ChuUain bha thu 'n uair sin idir ach ad Chu adhriac " ors ise ri linn dlii seanachas Chuchullain a chluinntinn. Siod Cuchullain a mach an dorust leis an tamailt. Cha do sheall e na dheo'igh 's cha d' f huirich e ri sleagh no claidL * * * *

Treis an deo'igh seo thainig te do chlann a Challadair far an robh a Mhaoim Chruachain agus thug i comhairle oii're. " O na dh-fhairstlich an Donn-guaillionn eir gaisgich an t-saoghail cuir a nis fios eir reisemeid de bhoirionaich na h-Eirionn agiis boii'ionn- ach 'na sinilear eir an ceann agus thoir la blair 'us baiteil do Chuchullain eir faiche-choraig agus bithidh mi fhein is mo dha phiuthair ga d' chomhnadh. ''

Rinneadh seo. Chruiimich a IMliaoim Chruchain reisemeid do bhoiriounaich na h-Eii'ionn agus boirionnachna sinilear (? seanalair) eir an ceann agus chuireadh gu faiche choraig ad gu la blair as baiteil a thorist do Chuchullain.

Chuala Cuchullain seo ach cha ro bheag no mhor a dh-umhail aige dhiu. Bha e dianadh gu'n cuireadh e fhein agus a ghille ri boirionnaich an t-saoghail. Rinneadh a seo la blair. Chaidh Cuchullain agus a ghille chun a bhial 4th. Bha Maoim a Chruach- ain fhein eir ceann a sluaigh.

Bha Cuchullain ga'n leagail nam butaichean a sios lis an t-struth gus an ro e toii'st sgrios eir reisemeid an deigh reisemeid. Le teas na h-obrach thug e chlogad far a chinn agus leag e ri tliaobh e.

Thionndaidh a Mhaoim Chruachain a sin gu gnua ri Feannag, nigheann a Challadair, agus thuirt i rithe — " Na'nn a brath mo chuid airm leigeil gu bas tha thu an deigh dhuit duals mhor a gha- 'ail nam 1 "

Ghrad leum Feannag an rioc feannaig anns an speur agus thainig i nail 's bhuail i eir seoladh anns an adhar o's cionn Chuchullain. Cha do chuii- easan diu dhi — shaoil leis gu'm b'f heannag ghrannda ghlas i. Leig ise sios mionnach glaisein Ian puisein eir a cheann ruisgte. Laidh siod eir an ionachain aigesan agus leig e osna ghointe bhais as. Tha mo nearst 's mo leirsin am thi-eigsin, a dhco Laochaire caite liheil thu?" "Bid' thaobli." " Cuir clach

38 TRAXSACTIOXS.

am lainili fiacli gii de 'n euc a ni mi." Chuir Laocliaire clacli na laimh agus shad Cuchullain a chlach. " Am fac thu ca na bliviail a chlacli a Laochaire ]" "Bhuail an cul a cliinii eii* an dobhar-cliu 's e eir sti-abh na fal' eir an ath. "An do mharbli mi el" "O mharbh gu dearbh ; cha'n eil sgrid ann — shaor e na raimli." " Tha sin ag innseadh gii bheil am bas agamsa. Bha e 's an dailgneac gii h-e sin a cbiad euc 's an t-euc mu dheireadh a dhianainnse, cii 'mbar'adh. Tog thusa an claidh mor eir mo ghualain agiis ciiir an t-sleagh mbor fo m' nc. SaoDidh 'ad gn'm bith mi beo 's cba tig 'ad a nail eir an ath. Sinidh tus aiste gn Goll brathair mo mliathar agiis innsidli tu dha mar thachair, acli fiach gu'n tiaruin tlm do bheatha eir ra linn."

Shin Laochaire mac Nearst a mach agns raiiiig e'n Fhinn — bha 'ad an Eirum 's an am. " Seadh a Laochaire, ciamar a dh-fhag thu mo chaomh charaid Cuchullain," orsa Goll. " Bha e diana teigh ur dha f hein d'uair a dh-fhag mis, e." " O ! Seadh ! seadh ! 'n ann mar seo a tha. ' Togaidh an goraiche 'n caisteal 's ga'aidh an gliocaire comhnuidh ann.' Nacli math gu'm foghnadh dhasan an seann talla bh' aig an Dii'altach athair. Ach bithidh an oige 'san leom fuaighte ri eheile agus sin mar a dh-eirich do Cuchvdlain 's dha'n teigh ur tha e togail." " U ! cha'n 'eil ann ach bothan beag, d'uair a laidheas e eii- dhruim direach bithidh a shron 'sa ghath-droma." " Deart a thuirst thvi mar sin] 'S ionnan sin 's gu bheil mo chaomh chai'aid Cuchullain marbh." " Cha tug mise guth eir bas — fhianuis sin orstfhein." "Cha tug thu 'ille mhaith 's tu nach tug. Co eir am bu chruaidhe bas deagh mhaighstir no eir deagh ghille 1 Ach cha'n am seo gu fuireach 's Cuchullain na eigin." 'N am bhi dol seachad eu- coille bhiiain Goll tri ghadun chaola chruaidh agtis chuir e siod eir bac ruithe Laochaii-e. " Seo" ors easan "cum sin gos an lion mis 'ad leis na cinn is docha leat fhein a blii eir ghad."

Thainig Feannag nigheann a Challadair a nail agus bhuail i eir seoladh o's cionn Chuchullain. Bha i tighinn na bii daine 's na bu daine mar bhios na feannagun grannda 'n comhuich gus mu dhireadh na laidh i eii- a ghualainn dhios.

" Tha'n t-suil a dunadh 'sam bial a grobadh 's faodaidh luc nan clcas tighinn a nail" orsa Feannag.

Clu'om Goll agus Laochaire le Faiche-choraig agus shin 'ad eir arm na Maoim Chiuachain as an h-uair. Leig Laochaire ruitli leis na gadan tri uairean. Thiondaidh Goll ris gu gnua. Ma bhios ceann a dhi nan tii ghad seo feumaidh do cheann fhein no mo cheann fhein dol eir a ghad ga lionadh. Seo d'uair a leig Lao- cliaire ris do Gholl gun h-ruitli a leig leis na guid.

NOTES OM ••TOIHEACIID NA TAIN'E." 39

Tlioo; ':ul a sill k'o corp I'liudiullaiu agus (lli-amhlaiceadh e. Tlia 'n strial a iiiacli.

Note. — The reciter is 76 years old. He was a joiner by trade, but failing health and sight disabled him from work for some j'ears back. He is a de- scendant of, and is called after, Hector Macleod, the Uist bard, who so sweetly sung —

" Moch maduimi Cheitein 's a cheo 'Nam dlia'n ghrein togail fo neoil,"

and who rendered good ser\-ice to many who were out in the '45.

JThe reciter says he heard " Toirioc Na Taine " 60 years ago from a Euaraidh Paia Mac Cuithein, a native of North Uist, but who travelled in South Uist as a sort of catechist. This catechiser was a celebrated reciter and seanchaidh. He probably knew more ancient Gaelic poetry than any man of his day. The poetry and traditions of the Feinne were his princi- pal themes, and these he always handled with much ability and acceptance to his ever varying yet ever admiring audience.

Mac Cuithein gave much information about Gaelic poetry to Campbell, the author of " Albyn's Anthology " (?), and through Campbell's influence, Lord Macdonald, the present young lord's grandfather, gave Mac Cuithein a piece of land rent-free in N. Uist during the remainder of his life. His son is grieve with the Misses Macdonald, Scolpaig, N. Uist, ach cha mhac mar an t-athair e. He has no old lore whatever.

Mac Cuithein, better known as " E,uaraidh Kuadh," died about fifty years ago.

NOTES ON "TOIREACHD NA TAINE."

We are indebted for the following valuable Notes on " Toireachd >-A Taine" to Standish O'Grady, Esq., M.KI.A. :—

This story begins with one of that series of feats by Cuchullin wliicli in Irish are known as " Maic-glmioinhartha Cliongculainn," or " Cn- clmllin's exploits while a boy." In the "Tain Bo Chuailgne," these doings are related round the camp fire to " Meadhbh Chruaclma " and her husband Ailill, by Fergus Mac Il6ich and other warriors of Ulster who were then in the service, having left their own country in the matter of the sons of Uisneach, who had been killed whilst under the protection of Fergus. These exploits are narrated shortly after the setting out of the " Toireacht," in order to prepare Meadhbh of Cruachan and Ailill, and give them to understand what they might expect at Cuchullin's hands. In the Book of Leinster and other MSS. , Culann, smith to Conchabhar Mac Neasa, King of Ulster, makes a feast for the latter. The King asks CuchuUin, whose name was at that time Se'tanta Beag Mac Sualtaim, to join them. The boy says he will follow later. He does so, and is attacked by a famous " ar-chil " of Culann's outside the fort. Having taken Avith him his ball (liathroit, as a ball is still called at present,) and " caman " (word still in use, as is also the implement itself.) to beguile the way, he slays the hound

-iO TKANSACTIOXS.

as here described. Culann makes a great fuss over his loss, and Setanta having promised not only to get him a pup of the same breed, but to act himself as watchdog until the whelp should be "inghniomha," or fit for action ; that wise man Cathbhadh Draoi, who was present, is so delighted with the lad's judgment against himself, that upon the spot he dubs him " Cu Chulainn ; " " Fearr liom m'ainm fein, eadhon Setanta mac Sualtaim," ar an mac beag. " Na h-abair sin, a mhic bhig," ar Cathbhadh Draoi, " oir canfaid fir Eireann agus Alban an ainm sin, agus bhus Ian beoil fear Eireann agus Alban de'n ainm sin." Thereupon he adopts the name.

His father's name is -RTitten in the Book of Leinster, •' Sualtach and Sualtaim." In a good vellum MS., of about 1460, in the British Museum, I find " Sudholtach." (The orthography of this MS. k, however, very affected and uncouth, and evidently of purpose. The scribes of this jjeriod, or rather some of them, appear to have amxised themselves by altering the spelling of almost every word). In a fine jiaper copy of the " Tain Bo Chuailgne," Avritten in the County Louth in 1800 from another MS. of 1730, it stands " Subhaltach." When the tale has for so long a period been perpetuated orally, it is quite natural that the name should have glided into one quite similar in sound, but more intelligible to the reciters of the day. Hence we have here " Dubhaltach." This was common as a Christian name in Ii-eland down to the latter half of the seventeenth century.

There are in Irish two versions of " Coimpert Chongculainn," or CuchuUin's Birth, difiering in some respects, but agreeing in this, that Sualtach was his mother's husband, but only nominally his father. The circumstances connected Avith CuchuUin's birth are flavovired with the supernatural. Sualtach, in the Tain Bo Chuailgne, appears more or less in the light of an old woman, and is treated with scant respect by his hardy stepson, or whatever we may call him. He is eventually killed by CuchuUin's horse, "An Liath Macha " — Macha's Grey — which plaj^s a great part in the CuchuUin cycle of legends. In the Tain Bo Chuailgne Svialtach does not appear much, nor does he fight at all.

We have in Irish no record of the time during which Cuchullin played the watchdog's part.

The " Maic-ghniomhartha " do not speak of his being sent into the *'Doanhan shoir," but his journey to and sojoiu-n at Scathach's shool of arms in Skye are minutely related in the tale called " Tochmarc Eimhre," or the Wooing of Eimhear (by Cuchullin). In the Irish tales " an Domhan shoir " is often used for Alba.

In Irish the " gilla " or "ara" of Cuchullin is Laogh Mac Rian- ghabhra, a very fine character, who accompanied him in all his doings till death. He never dissuaded him from any enterprise. Among the " Maic-ghniomhartha " is an account of the day upon which Cuchullin first took arms, and first went into a chariot. Arms and chariot had been given to him by Connor, the King, who also lent him one of his charioteers, lomhar Mac Rianghabhar, a brother to Laogh Mac Rianghabhar. This lomhar was a man of a different stamp from Laogh, Hiid on CuchuUin's first expedition seeks to dissuade him from killing

-VOTES OX ''toireaciid xa taink." il

some deer (which, however, we are not told were pets of Connor's), from ascending a mountain, and from entering the stronghold of the three sons of Neachfa (their mother), &c., &c. Ciichullin acts in spite of him, and of course triumphs. I cannot account for the name Neart. CuchuUin had a great friend, Lughaidh stiabh 11,-dearg (Lughaidh of red stripes), being so marked round neck and waist. He also had a contemporary named Laoghaire, but his cognomen Avas Buadhach.

In the Irish versions the attendants of Meadhbh's envoy are all called " eachlachs," as are also their equals in all other tales of this and considerably later ages. The " Galldglach," or, as sometimes wi'itten, " Goglaoch," was the heavy, armed soldier of Ireland down to the middle ages, and down to the close of the Elizabethan war. He was sa called because of the long shii't of mail in which lie fought, as well as, perhaps, the great battle-axe which distinguished him from the Ceatharnach (kern, or " light-infantry " man), who borrowed from the Gall, or Scandinavian. The word is always spelt with two Vs.

It was Cuchullin that had the " Ga Bulga " (in the Irish version), and Feardiadh calls out to his gille to prevent Laogh's sending it down to the stream to Cuchullin. He succeeds a few times, but eventually Cuchullin gets the " ga," and slays Feardiadh.

The story of the bannock with the griddle inside, and mock-child in bed, is known in Ireland, but not told of Cuchullin. It is sometimes told of Fionn, sometimes of some anonymous Fathach or other, and so on.

With the death of the Feardiadh this tale diverges quite away from the Tain Bo Chuailgne, in which there is notliing answering to what follows. The counsel given to Meadhbh to send for the children of " An Caladair," belongs to the story called " Brisleach mor Maighe Muirtheimhrie," in which Cuchullin lost his life by practices of magic. During the Tain he fought with and slew one Calaitin dana and his twenty-seven sons. Calaitin, however, had left his wife torrach when he went to follow the Tain, and she brought forth three sons, and as many daughters. These Meadhbh had educated as sorcerers, with a view to the futiu'e punishment of Cuchullin, for whom she had " a stone in her sleeve " ever since the Tain. The story of the Brisleach is very long, occupying 77 closely- written qviarto pages in a MS. in the British Museum, in the old hand, and full of contractions.

In the Brisleach, Cuchullin, wounded to death, goes down to the brink of a small loch. " Agus do ghabh Laogh ag ceangal agus ag cornghadh a chneadh agus a clu'eucht, go rabhadar ag imtheilgean fola, gur ba chaoba crodheargo agus linnte fola foir-dheirge an lochan leathan linn-uaithne uadha ; agiis ni fada do bhi amhlaidh sin an uair do chonnairc an dobhar-chu ag 'ol a fhola, agus an uair do chonnairc- sean crii a chuirp ag an g-coin da chaitheamh do ghabh cloch chuige de chiumhais an chalaidh, agus thug urchar do'n dobhar-choin, agus do mharbh i. Beir buaidh agus beannacht, a Chuagain ! ar Laogh ; ni tugadh riamh urchar budh fhearr na sin, agus ni thainic do shaoghal fos, agus dioghail thu fein air fhearaibh Eireann. Truagh sin, a Laoigh ! ar Cuchulainn. Ni mhuirbhfead-sa duine na ainmhidhe d'a eis-si Slid go brath I agus cu an chcud ciicht do righnc misi ariamh.

"l 2 TKANSACTIOXS.

agus do taiiTngii-eadh go m-biidh elm m'enclit deidlieanach." I quote the above from a MS. of 1712, to show how closely the two versions agree in this incident. Dohhar-chu is an otter. Dohhar is water. In Cormac's Glossary we find "Dobnr=uisce. Unde dicitur dobar-cu ; agus do breth dobar-ci imorro is in Chombreic {i.e., Dobur= water, whence is named dobar-cu ; and moreover [the name of] dobor- ci is given it in the Cambrian [Welsh]). " Under another head he says, " Dobur=uisce,imde dicitur dobar-clni. i. dobran." (Modern dobhran = dobharan. From Stokes's translation of Cormac's Glossary).* The mo- dernWelsh words are "Dwfr,"water. " Ci," adog in composition, "dwfr- gi," water-dog, otter. Cornish, " dofer-ghi" (the same). Breton, " dour- gi," and also" " ki-dour " (this last " Cu dobhair). " Dobhar-chu " is obsolete all over Ireland, except in the County Donegal, where " Dobhar " also enters into the names of places, as " Gaoth-dobhair " (Anglice, Gweedore ; gaoth = a stream left on the strand by the fal- ling tide). Brother Michael O'Clery (one of the "IV. Masters," and himself a Donegal man), in his Glossary of Old Irish Words, printed at Louvain in 1641, explains " Dobhar-chu " by madra uisge, which is the present name for an otter in Munster and South Leinster. In Connaught and the West of Ulster and Leinster, it is called "madadh uisge." In Irish " cu " is feminine, and thus declined : — " An chu, na con, do'n choin ; Plural, na cointe, or na coin (the latter the commonest form), na g-con, do na conaibh.

It looks as if "dobhar-chu" had lost its meaning in the district where this tale was taken down, and its place supplied by a word of very similar sound and intelligible to the people of the jjeriod, just as the Norman French Oyez ! Oyez ! (listen ! listen !), by which silence is proclaimed in an English Court of Justice, has long been transformed into Oh yes ! Oh yes! It is evident that "dobhar-chu" is a better description of an otter than " odhar-chu," for that is not his colour. So thought the Gaelic bard who sang —

" Fhuair mi lorg an dobhrain duinn,

An dobhrain duinn, an dobhrain duimi ! Fhuair lorg an do):)hrain duinn,

'S cha d'f huair mi lorg mo choineachain ! "

November 21. — We take the following extract from a paper read by Mr. William Mackay, on

THE STUDY OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE.

" Sweet tongue of our druids and bards of past ages !

Sweet tongue of our monarchs, our saints, and our sages ! Sweet tongue of our heroes and free-born sires ! When we cease to preserve thee, our glory expires."

* Tohiir, well, remains in use as one form of the ancient word Dohh- '<r, water. Also Dohhran. a sulky boy : and haU-dnhhrahi.]

THE STUDY OF THE GAELIC LANGUAGE. 4J

The Gaelic langiiage lias iu its time encountered many a foe ; but of all those, the Gaelic people has been its most deadly. This seems strange, but it is no less the truth. We cannot blame any but oxirselves for the decay of our iiational tongue. The blame is often placed upon the shoulders of our Saxon neighbours, biit it is as well to lay it at the door of the Hottentot or of the Red Indian — the fault is ours and no other's. In what respect, then, have we Highlanders erred ? Simply in this- — that we have neglected the language Avhich Providence gave us to foster and presei-ve. We may think that we do well if we learn to speak Gaelic ; but m the circumstances which now exist, we prove faith- less in the trust placed in us as keepers of our language if we do not read, wi-ite, and cultivate it. To-day, scholars rejoice in the venerable pages of Greek and Roman authors ; but how much of Greek and Latin would we now have, if the people whose lan- guages these were, were content with the mere ability to speak them ] And in what condition would the English, French, and other modern languages be, were the people who speak them so dead to their responsibilities as we, and our brethren the Kelts of Ireland, are to ours 1 The Kelts of Wales hold an honourable position in regard to theii' language. Although they are hemmed in by the English to a greater extent than either we or the Irish are, it is as difficult to find a Welshman who cannot write Welsh as it is to find a Highlander or an Irishman who can ^\Tite Gaelic. The Welsh language is taught in the Welsh schools ; there are numer- ous Welsh periodicals, and there is not in Wales a to-wn of any importance \\dthout its Welsh newspaper or newspapers. Let us contrast with this flourishing state of matters, the sad state of native literature in the Highlands, and Ireland. Except in a few remote districts, the children in these countries are not taught, or even allowed to speak, theLr native tongue in school ; and con- sequently we have an anomaly which does not in any other country exist — people " educated and intelligent," and yet unable to read or ^vi'ite their mother tongue ! But there is another and more painful result of this tmnatiiral system of education ; — there are numerous cases of persons who are able to read English fluently A\dthout understanding a sentence of what they read !

As to the Gaelic press, only two Gaelic magazines exist, and there is no Gaelic newspaper.* Our magazines, the Gael and the

* Since the above was %vritten, The H'Kjhlandcr (luveruess), containing a Gaelic department, has been started. The Very Eev. Professor Bonrke, of Tuam, Ireland, has also commenced to publish a series of Gaelic lessons, ^'c, in the columns of the Taant i\>»->".

4t THANSACTIOXS.

Banner of Truth, are well conducted and merit our best su})port. If Highlanders do their duty towards these young periodicals, Gaelic literatiu-e will greatly gain thereby. There is room for more such publications, were we Kelts only ^\alling to devote a very short time to the acquisition of a scholarly know^ledge of our language. Once able to i-ead Gaelic, there will be no danger of our being willing to forget it. The gems hid under its folds are too precious to admit of their being slighted by any one able to appreciate them ; and I consider that we commit a crime indeed, if, through oiu- apathy and neglect, we fail to hand down those treasures to posterity. The beauties of our tongue already attract the notice of the intelligent and luibiassed stranger. Among the Gei'mans, French, and English, are enthusiastic Keltic students, and if we Highlanders do not in this revival become the leaders, and gather that which Gaelic-speaking people only can gather, we shall, as I have said, incur a heavy responsibility to posterity. Low as the Keltic languages are in the estimation of many,' they will yet be deemed as valuable to philology as Greek or Latin. We may rejoice in the anticipated death of the Keltic, but that language shall not die. As a spoken language, at present the mother-tongue of 5,000,000 of people, we may guarantee to it a lease of several centuries yet to come ; but after it does, in a good old age, follow the course of the ancient languages already gone, and cease to be spoken, it will live in books and in the heads of the learned.

It is generally taken for granted that Gaelic is a language diffi- cult to learn — impossible to spell ; but had those who are of this opinion devoted to Gaelic but the hundredth pai-t of the time ■vvhich they devoted to English before they became masters of its orthography, their tale would be very different. The principles of Gaelic orthography are few and simple ; and if these principles are mastered, the language is mastered. If you speak Gaelic, I assure you that two months' earnest study — two hours every evening — Avill result in your being able to write it. This is more than can be said of English. In a pamphlet by an " Englisliman, B.D.," the following passage occurs : — " In orthogi-aphy, Irish "■ — that is, Gaelic — "has great superiority over English. There are easy rules which insure correctness. The Welsh claims the same superiority. According to Dr Johnson, the Welsh, two hundred years -ago — we must say three hundred — insulted the English for the instability of their orthography. They reproach us on the same ground to this day. We have in English no fixed principle (^)f orthography, ajid it is one of the serious imperfections of our ]anguac:e. IMr. Ellis asserts (1). that no Englishman can tell Avith

THE STUDY OF THE GAELIC! LANOTACE. 45

certainty how to pronounce any word which he has only seen written ; (2) that no Englishman can tell with certainty how to spell aword which he has only heard spoken and never seen written." Of the principles to which I have referred, I shall here only make mention of that of " broad to broad and naiTow to narrow," which in itself is almost a complete key to our orthogi-aphy.

As members of the Gaelic Society, our duty is to make ourselves perfectly acquainted ^vith our language, as it is written. As Secretary of the Society, I experience the greatest difficulty in getting members to write Gaelic papers. This state of matters in the second year of our existence is a slur upon our reputation which must not be allowed to exist. We must have the language practically and systematically taught to us, either at our ordinary meetings, or at a class specially formed. Acquaint yourselves with the wi'iting of the language, by corresponding in it. If there is any one among my young friends here — and it is but charitable to suppose that there is — who has not yet forgot his first love towards some daughter of the mountains, in his native glen, let him corre- spond mth her in the sweet and natural tongue of Uilleam Ros.

The subjects of my observations to-night are such as may be discussed ; I therefore conclude. Permit me to do so in the words of the Rev. Professor Mullin, of Lochrea, Ireland, slightly altered to suit Highlanders. No Irishman will censure us for the liberty we take in thus adopting unto ourselves the words of an eloquent poem of which the sons of Erin are jvistly proud. The Kelts of Ireland and the Kelts of Scotland have a common language ; and all diflerences and quarrels between them over that language are suicidal to their common cause. Let us hope that the unfortunate jealousies which for so long a time separated the Keltic scholars of Scotland and Ireland are now cast into that oblivion which endeth not —

" Oh, be Highkmd, Highlanders, and rally for the dear old tongiie. Which, as ivy to a ruin, to the dear old land has chmg ! Oh, snatch this relic from the wreck, the only and the last. To show what Albin ought to be, by pointing to the Past ! "

December 5th. — There was a paper read this evening, which may be regarded as a sequel to, if not a fragment of the tale, of which so much is given, under the head of " To'irioc na Taine." Throughout the Highlands this paper is known as

46 TUAN'SACTIOKi

L A O I D H NAN C E A X X.

[Bho Dhoimll Mac-an-t-Saoir,* Aird, Bjinn-nam-faotliala, Uist, 22na Mart, 1867. Taken down by

Alex. A. Carmichael.]

Mharbliadli Cucliullaiii a' cogadli an aghaidh Mauini a Cliruacli- ain. 'Nuair a leonadh e leis a' bliuitsich Feannag nighean a Challadair, thuirst e r'a gliille, Laogbaire mac Nearst, " A Laogbaire mbic Neirst, a tbrein gbaisgicb, agus a dheagb sheirbbeisicb dhilis, fhuair mis mo bbuille bais. Ach cnir tbusa 'm sheasamb mi agus sleagb fo gacb acblais agam agus te eile fo m' uc [bbroUacb] a cbumas am sbeasamb mi am fianuis sluagh Maoim a Cbruacbain ; agus cumaidh so Maoim a Cbi-uacbain agus a cuid airm gu'n tigbinn a nail eu- Atb-Criocb." Rinn Laogbaire mar a sbir a mbaighstir eir. " Falbbaidb tu nis a Laogbaire, agus bbeir tliu fios ga'm cbaomb cbaraid Conuul gu'n do mbarbbadb a dbalta (? oide) CucbuUain."

Cbuii- Connul boidean agus briatlu-an eir fbein gu marbbadh e neacli eir bitb a tbigeadb a tboirt iios dba eir bas Cbucbullain. Bba fios aig Laogbaire eir a so.

Rainig Laogbaire taigb Cbonnuil agus cbaidb e 's taigb. Gbabb Connul naigbeac Cbucbullain detb gu suilbbearra — " Seadb a Laogbaire, ciamar tba mo cbaomb cbaraid CucbuUain 1 " orsa Con- nul. " Tba gu matb," orsa Laogbaire. "Tba e 'n trast deigli taigb iir a dbianadb." " Gu de 'n taigb a rinn e mar sin]" orsa Connul. " Nacb bu mbatb gu'm fonadb dbji,san' an t-seann aitreamh aosmbor mbor bba aig a sbinnsre 1" " Rinn teigb anns an fbasan ur." " Gvi de am fasan a fbuair e mar sin ?" " O cba'n eil ann acb taigb beag. An uair a laidbeas e eir a dbruim-dii-eacb eii- an urlar agus a shineas e a cbasun buailidb bonn a cbas ceann-iocracli, agus crun a cbinn ceann-uacracb, agus barr a sbroine droma-mbaide 'n taigbe." " 'S ionnan sin" orsa " Connul agus gu bbeil mo cbaomb cbaraid CucbuUain marbb." " Cba tug mis iomara eir bas a Cbonnuil," orsa Laogbaire, " f biannis sin orst fbein, is tu tbug iomara eir a bbas agus cba mbise."

* Donald Macintyre, usually called " Do'ul mac Dho'uil 'ic Thearlaich," died in 1868. He was a sort of catechist among the Roman Catholic popula- tion of Uist and Barra. His lays of Ossian were in more request than his lays of Rome. The younger people used to tease him much, when he would break out into great fits of swearing. One of the priests told me that tlie Barra people — no saints — complained that he introduced several new oatlis amongst them. A. A. (".

I.AOinn XAN" CEANX. 17

" 0 clia tug a laochaiu 's tu nacli tug. Co leis am bu cliruaidlie l>as Cluichullain na leatsa fhein. Biodhmid a falbli a Laoghaire," agus dli-falbli Connul agiis Laoghaire.

A cliiad choille clioinnicli Conuul cliaidli e 's taigh iiinte agus bliuain e seac gaid (? gold) ura dlia'u cliaol bu ruigliiie agus cliuir e siod eir bac ruighe Laoghaire.

lunsidh tu nis dhomhsa a Laoghaire co ua daoine bu deise agus na cau-dean bu dUse bha aig Maoim a Chruachain agus a b-fhaide bh' eh* a taobh 'sa chogadh agus cha'n fhag mise ceann eir amhach [aca) gus au lion mi na seac goid so."

Rainig 'ad Atli-Crioch far an tugadli am Ijhir agus fhuaii- 'ad Cuchullain na sheasadh ris na sleaghun agus e marbh gun deo, agus sluagh Maoim a Chruacliain thall ma choineamh ga choimhead agus nach leigeadh an t-eagal leo tighiiin a nail na b'fhaisg eir (gu'n f hios an robh e marbh).

Grhabh Connul a null agus shin e eir sliocadh agus eir seacadh sluagh Maoim a Chruachain. Ghabh e sios roimh 'n teis meadhoin 's a suas roimh 'n teis meadhoin ; a null eir an tarsuui sa nail eir an tarsuin, eir an oil", eir am fiaradh agus eii" am fad-f hiaradh gus an robh na seac goid aig Laoghaire Ian dha na cinn. Ach an deigh sin uile bha tuille namh aig Cuchullain bu mhath le Laoghaire mbarbhadh agus leig e ruith le fear dha na gaid. Thoisich Connul as ur agus bha e ga'm bualadh thall 's gan seacadh a bhos ; ga'n sliocadh shios 's ga'n leagail shuas fad da la agus da oiche gus na lionadh na gaid a rist.

Dh-falbh a sin Connul agus Laoghaii'e agus na cinn ac eir a muin anns na gaid. Bha 'ad ga'n leon leis an acras agus an am bhi dol seachad eir aitreabh mhor a bha sin ; f huair 'ad cuireadh a staigh gu'n dinnteir. Nuair a ghabh iad an dinnteir (agus m' anam fhein bu mhath a thoill 'ad i), thainig 'ad a mach, agus thainig ainnii' aillidh a mach as an deigh oir bu ghaisgeach sgiamliach Conniil. An trath chimnaig an auinir na cinn eii- na gaid bhuail i eir faighneac do Chonnul co na cinn a bha ann agus bha Connul ga freagairst.

All Aiuidr — "A Chonnuil shealbhaich nan ceann,

Is cinnteach mi gu'n dhearg thu t-airm ; Na cinn sin a th'agad eir ghad — An sloinntear leat eir fad na soiim ?"

Connul — "A nigheau shoirbhearstach nan each, Ainnir og nam bria'ra binn An eirig Chochullain nan cleas Thugadh (Thoijadh 1) Horn fo dheas na cinn."

48 TRANSACTIONS.

An Ahinir — " Co e an ceann, donn, molach. roor Is deirge nan ros a ghruaidh glilan A cliuii- thu tliall eir a thaobh cli ? A Clionnuil nihoir is ailli dreach."

Connul — " Maoire foirbhearstach nan each Macan le'n creaclita gacli cuan ; Sgar mi dheasan f hein an ceann 'S ann Horn fein a tliuit a shluagh."

An Ainnir — "A Chonnuil mhoir le d' gliaisgeadh righ Co a (? e) an ceann ed eir dhiol chaicli, Thalt orbliuidh eir dhealra grinn — Gu molach sliom mar airgiod namh (bin).

Connul — " Mac-a(n)-Luthaidh o (n) Ros-rua(dh) Mac na h-uaille thuit le m' nearst, Mo dhoigh ! gur h-e siod f hein a th'ann Ard Righ Lochlan nan lann breac."

An Ahinir — " Co an da cheann so th'eir a laimh chli

Is aille li 's cha'n olc (1 mhiosa) an dealbh, A Chonnuil mhoir le d' ghaisgeadh righ Is cinnteach mi gu'n dhearg thu d' airm."

Connul — " Cumhal agus Connul cruaidh

Dist a bhuineadh buaidh 's an leirg \cmi feircj ]] Thugadh liom an cinn fo dheas Dh-fhag mi an cuii'p fo an aon leirg."

An Ainnir — " Co an da cheann so eir a laimh dheis A Chonnuil nan cleasun aigh — Aon dath eii- falta nam fear % O ! 's meii-ig bean ga bheil am baigh."

Conmd — " Ceann Mhanuis us Mhuinngidh mhoir, 'S e mo dhoigh gu'r h-eud a th' ann ; Aca fhuaradh ceann a' Choin ELrmaogh Theamh-righ nan struth seimh."

An Ainnir — " Co a (? e) an ceann a chitheam thall 'Us fhalt fann gu molach sliom A rasg mar f heur 's a dheud mar bhlath Is ailli na each cruth a cliinn % "

Connul — " Mac mo pheathar o'n Tur-sheimh Sgar mi fheiu a cheann o chorp;

THE ANXUAL SUPPER. 49

'S niarach an onair mac rigli lomacliair gu min eir an fhalt."

An Ainiiir — " Co na sia cinn a chitheam thall

A chuir thu dliiot eir a thaohh ma thuath

Is guirme aogasg 's is caoine rasg

Is duighe fait a Clionnuil chruaigh 1 "

Coniml — " Seisear bhraithrean a bh' ann

'Siod 'ad thall 's an clab ri gaoitb —

Clann ClialladaLf nan cleas

Dream nach robli eir leas mo ghaoil.

" Ceann eir fhicliead 's ficbead ciad Gu'n iomaradb eir fear creuc no lot Do cblann mbetbeun 'us mhaca righ 'un Tluiit an eirig ceann a Cboin."

" Feannag, agus Aiinag, agiis Mor chiar triuii' clilann a Clialladair, a bha g' ionnsacliadh na sgoil fhausanac fad sbeac blianna ann an in'arna." Seanachaidh.

Spc this poem in the " Dean's Book," pp. 58 and 41.

See also " Torac na Taiue," a tale called in Irish "Taiu Bo Chuailgne " in "Manuscript Material of Irish History," p. 716.

THE ANNUAL SUPPER

"Was beld on tlie 26tb December, in the Royal Hotel. "We give the report which appeared in the Inverness Advertiser : —

There was a large and influential attendance. Mr Eraser- Mackintosh of Drummond occupied the chaii', and the croupiers were Mr. Dallas, solicitor, and Mr. Murdoch. The company- included — Sheriff Macdonald ; Mr. Colvin, solicitor ; Mr. Alex. Eraser, solicitor; Mr. Eraser, C.E. ; Mr. Mackintosh, Bank of Scotland ; Mr. Barclay, accountant ; Mr. Maclennan, Tartan Warehouse ; Mr. R. Grant, do. ; Mr. Macdonald, the Exchange, Treasurer of the Society ; Mr. Duncan Maciver, cabinetmaker ; Mr. Einlay Maciver, gilder ; Mr. Donald Maciver, student ; Mr. Charles Mnckav. Dinmmnnd ; Mr. Alex. Mackav. Rose Street ;

5P TRAXSACTIOXS.

Bailie Simpson ; Bailie Macbean ; Bailie Baillie ; Mr. IMackenzie, Clachnacuddin House ; Mr. T. D. Campbell, Church Street ; Mr. G. J. Campbell, writer; Mr. J. H. Mackenzie, bookseller; Mr. Mackay, bookseller ; Mr. D. Campbell, draper ; Mr. A. Mac- kenzie, Church Street ; INIr. A. Macdonald, New Market ; Mr. Huntly Fraser, merchant ; Mr. Angus Macdonald, Baixl to the Society ; Mr. Boss, Gas and Water Co.'s Office ; Mr. Tulloch, painter : Mr. Kenneth Fraser, writer ; Mr. Alex. Fraser, do. ; Mr. W. B. Forsyth, Advertiser ; Mr. Barron, Courier ; Mr. W. Mackay, Secretary to the Society ; Mr. John Mum-o, wine mer- chai.t ; Mr. Alex. Grant, Church Street ; Mr. Cumming, Allan- fearn; Mr. \Vm. Mackenzie, Workman's Club Buildings; Mr. D. Fraser, Glenelg ; Mr. Wood, Courier Office ; Mr. Mackenzie, teacher, Maryburgh ; Mr. A. Macleod, Huntly Street ; Captain Mackenzie, Telford Road ; Mr. Logan, Stoneyfield ; Mr. William Campbell, Castle Street, &c.

After an excellent supper (served up in Mr Christie's best style, and including a first-class bUl of fare) had been done ample justice to, the Chairman rose and proposed in succession the usual loyal and patriotic toasts. Captain Robert Grant, 4th I.H.R.V., res- ponding for the volunteers. At the call of the Chair, the Seci'etary, Mr William Mackay, then read the following report : —

"At the end of the first year's existence of the Gaelic Society of Inverness, it may not be out of place to refer to a few particulars in connection with its founding and constitution. After some correspondence in the columns of the Inverness Advertiser by " U. M'C," "Clachnacuddin," " Mealfourvonie," &c., on the subject of a Gaelic Society in the Capital of the Highlands, an advertisement appeared in the papers announcing that a meeting of those favour- able to the proposal would be held in the Association Buildings, on the evening of the 4th September 1871. At this meeting it was formally resolved that a Gaelic Society should be established in Inverness, and a committee was appointed to frame a consti- tution. By the 28th of the same month, this committee had their work finished, and that evening the Society was formally con- stituted, the number who em-olled themselves as members being twenty-four. From this date the Society met regularly, and additions were made from time to time to the membership, until, at the first annual assembly, held on 12th July last, there were 119 on the roll. This gathering, at which there were about 1,000 present, was a success in every respect, and the immediate result was a large accession of members. It is now gratifying to report that at this, the close of our first financial vear, there are 182

THE ANNUAL KKl'ORT. 51

members on tlie I'oll. The Gaelic Society, haviug objects so tliorouglily national and patriotic, ought to be one of our most popular institutions, and in order that it should continue to prosper as it has hitherto done, I would suggest that each member should make it a point to secure at least one new member during the year upon which we are now about to enter — a plan which has been so successfully adopted by a kindred Society, the Inverness, Ross, and Nairn Club.

" Of the work done by the Society, I need not give details, seeing that the first volume of our Transactions is now on the table, and that each member will be presented with a copy in a few days. Suffice it to say that our doings have been as varied in character as the objects of the Society. The lectnres and essays delivered, to the date of the assembly in July, wdl be found in the Transac- tions, except six papers not published, as explained in the intro- duction to the volume. The opening lecture of this session was delivered in Gaelic by the Rev. Mr. Macgregor, and up to this date the following j^apers were read at the ordinary meetings, viz. : — "Toireachd na Taine," an ancient Gaelic legend collected by Mr. Carmichael, Lochmaddy ; " The Study of the Gaelic Lan- guage," by the Secretary ; " Laoidh nan Ceann," an ancient Gaelic legend, collected by Mr. Carmichael ; and " The Undeveloped Resources and Capabilities of the Highlands," by Mr. Eraser, C.E.

" One of the objects of the Society is the formation of a library of books and manuscripts bearing upon the genius, literature, history, antiquities, and material interests of the Highlands and Highland people ; and in connection with this a valuable collection has already been made, principally by donation. A list of the donations is given at the end of the Transactions.

" From the Treasurer's account for the year it appeal's that the amount of the receipts, including svibscriptions and money taken at the public lectures, is £102 18s 6d; the total expenditure, including expenses in connection with the lectures, the publishing of the Transactions, &c., £82 9s 9d ; leaving a balance in favour- of the Society of £20 8s 9d.

" It has to be explained that after each member is supplied with a copy of the Transactions there will be over 200 copies in the hands of the Society for sale ; and I may also mention that, as it was decided that the Society's year should close on 31st December, the expenditure extends over fifteen months, while the subscrip- tions are only for one year.

" A proposal to found a Gaelic bvirsary in one of our Universities was brought under the consideration of the Council, and they hojie

E 2 '

TRANSACTIONS.

that at an early period the Society will be in a position to carry this proposal into effect.

" The Council take this opportunity of impressing upon the members the desirability of a regular attendance at the meetings of the Society. Seeing that the office-bearers give their onerous services gratuitously, their work will be materially facilitated if the members will be prompt in paying their subscriptions, and otherwise assist in furthering the objects of the Society.

'' The present acting Council now retire from office, and at a meeting to be held early in January, it falls to the Society to nominate office-bearers for next year. The meeting will be announced by advertisement, and it is desirable that there should be a large attendance, as the appointment of office-bearers for the year is obviously a very important matter."

The Chairman, in rising to propose the toast of the evening, " Success to the Inverness Gaelic Society," which was received with enthusiasm, said that before proceeding to read some notes he had prepared for the occasion, he had a remark to make, suggested by an observation in the excellent report just read. He referred to the importance of procuring additional members to the Society. He undertook to act on that suggestion himself, and he trusted the other members would do the same, and at least secure one addi- tional member each. He was the more pressed to do this, because looking at the handsome volume of the Society's Transactions just published, he felt himself placed in rather a peculiar position. Only two individuals appeared on the list of life members. One of these was their excellent President and Chief, Cluny Macpherson, and the other his humble self Now, in heraldry a Highland Chief held the rank of an English Baron, and was entitled to two sup- porters. As to getting additional members, for his part he under- took to procure the one recommended, so he hoped the company would exert themselves, for the importance of a Chief depended upon his following. Another remark he wished to make was with reference to the two hundred surplus copies of the Society's Trans- actions. He thought that work would increase their membership, and that it would be an excellent plan for procuring members were a circular and copy of the Secretary's report sent out to forty or fifty of the most influential Highland gentlemen in the north. Mr Fi-aser-Mackintosh then proceeded as follows : — Twice happy is such a society as the present, since it combines two such potent elements of strength as judgment and enthusiasm. Upon the latter I need not dwell — it is unquenchable ; but if we carry the former also, we must attain our ends. Are the ends then we seek, namely.

OBJECTS OF THE SOCIETY. bo

"■ The perfecting of the members in the use of the Gaelic language ; the cultivation of the language, poetry, and music of the Scottish Highlands ; the rescuing 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 literatm-e, 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 " — justifiable and necessary? The presence of such an attendance as I now see before me answers in the afiirmative. All of us are working men, and in turning for a time from the harassing and anxious exertions of every-day life, could any pursuit or relaxa- tion be more fit than that which, combining judgment with enthusiasm, causes us to investigate the past. In the expressive words of Dr Johnson, " Whatever ^^^.thdraws us from the power of our senses, whatever makes the past, the distant, or the future predominate over the present, advances us in the dignity of thinking beings.-" Our views are not aggressive ; they are, on the contrary, defensive and preservative. We are proud of being Highlanders, and of our language ; and jealous of the fame of those who have preceded us. We owe much to Sii- Walter Scott for his pictures of the Highlands and Highlanders — in truth, a debt which can never be re2:)aid. Such an expression as "my heart warms at the sight of the tartan," merits, and will have, immortality. But when it is gravely said that he created Scotland, and especially the High- lands— while we are forced to admit that such a statement is but the reflex of English opinion — we ai-e called on to deny its truth. These ideas are not confined to the common people, for you wHl find in works by such an accomplished author as the "WTiter of " The Greatest of the Plantagenets," tfcc, such a distortion of facts, such a barefaced justification of Edward the Fii'st's proceed- ings, as compels any Scotsman of proper feeling indignantly to protest against the language used, the inferences dra^^^l, and the results arrived at. In the matter of our unrivalled scenery, the au.thor of the " Playground of Europe " -rn-ites of the Highlands as " a country of dumpy heather-clad hills" In the keeping up of national traits and feeling, and in a minor degree, local aspira- tions, we are broadly and frequently told that being now an integi'al part of a great empire, we but betray a narrow and petty provincialism. I have yet to learn that men devoted to their country, to its ancient langiiage, to their place of nativity, are thereby generally worse citizens. This field is, however, vdde, and I for the present shall confine myself to four points. First, I

54 TKANSACTIOXS.

shall touch upon the necessity of societies such as ours remo\'ing by every legitimate in,ode the idea that the Highlands was a bar- barous country, and the people little better than savages. Such charges have been iterated and reiterated. Let them be refuted and again refuted by facts, as these are gathered from cotemporary sources and documents of the past. We at once admit that in the early and middle ages, as they may be termed, of authentic Scottish history, much shedding of blood, ciiielties, and rapine prevailed. But I ask, were these so peculiar to the Highlands that thetj mvist be singled out and held up to reprobation 1 Were there no Border feuds ? Was there no debateable land, so rife with murder and bloodshed as to have necessitated the most arbitrary exercise of power by one of the Scottish Kings 1 So much for the South of Scotland. Again, in the noi-th, in the counties of Sutherland and Caithness, and in the northern isles, I say unhesitatingly that more purposeless, more sanguine, and more cruel slaughters occurred among the population of Scandinavian descent than will be found in the darkest aixnals of the Highlands, properly so called. Just let me ask, would any true Highlander — of whom it has been well said that he is always a gentleman — parade by way of epitaph his misdeeds upon his tombstone ] But what says a Scandinavian called Donald Mac-Mhorchie-ic-eoin-mhoir of himself 1 Here it is - — " Donald Mack, here lyis lo ; vas ill to his frend and var to his fo, true to his maister in veird and vo. 1623." AVhy, a dog is faithful to his master. Again, was it a Highlander who ordered the head of a man of some status to be instantly struck off because, in the streets of Inverness more than 300 years ago, the uixfor- tunate took " the crown of the causeway 1 " The more original documents are searched out, the more will it be found, as I feel satisfied from my own researches, that the general character of the Highlander was peaceful, and the undoubted painful events which are scattered over histoiy will be traced to the fact that the people and theii- immediate masters were driven to desperation by the grindiQg encroachments of strangers from the south and west. The Parliamentary and criminal records which exist containing such deplorable complaints of the doings of " broken men " in the Highlands and Islands must be received with caution, now that we are acquainted with the favoui'itism and corruption which surrounded the Court, and sat vipon the bench. I do not deny that these criminal proceedings took place, but I say that many of them were unjustifiable, and instigated for private ends. If the Highlanders were, as they have been so often depicted, how is it that so great a change has taken place within little more than a cen- tury ? The instincts, habits, and actings of race can not, and are

ABSENCK OF CRIME IN THE HIGHLANDS. 0-')

iiut, removed or set aside by Acts of Parliament. We in the High- lands are perhaps the most peaceable, law-abiding people in the world, and if we wish our posterity to think well of us, as all of us must do, then it is not only our duty, but we ought to esteem it our privilege, to rehabilitate our predecessors, by giving them the justice they have not hitherto received. In reference to our own peaceful state and immunity from crime of any magnitude, not merely in the country, but in our northern towns and villages, is it unjustifiable to notice what has been said a few days ago of the assizes of the south ? — " A succession of murders and minor outrages has presented a picture of drunken brutality such as might be more fitly expected in some savage island in the far Pacific, where the natives have just tasted for the first time the terrible poison of drink. The northern circuit has been the chief scene of these horrors, and they tell a shocking story of the state of the well-paid working classes in the district of which Durham is the centre." Do I refer to these Avdth satisfaction? No. I merely wish to remind dwellers in " Merrie England " of the danger of throwing stones from within glass houses. Second — I shall refer to the collection and preservation of Gaelic literature of whatever character. In referring to Gaelic literature, we can never over- estimate om- indebtedness to Macpherson. Before his first appear- ance, everything connected with the ancient state of the Highlands was looked on with disfavour, and by many then living in the Highlands with contempt. It needed, therefore, some strong stimulant to arouse a counter-spii'it of enquiry and defence. This was presented in the works of Ossian, which as given by Macpher- son so startled the public, that two violent currents set in, one in disparagement and the other in vindication. The enquiries insti- tuted by the Highland Society, and by private parties, had the great good fortune to bring to light vast masses of song, recitation, and legend, which otherwise would in all probability have been lost. We now know pretty well what parts are authentic, and what Macpherson's own. In justice to Macpherson it may be admitted that the portions supposed to be his own are equal to the originals ; and his great poetic genius is undeniable. We, of course, don't justify his conduct in respect of the famous poems, but really his reputation, private and political, was so bad, that as con- cerns the poems, the indii-ect results having been so important, a veil, at least by Highlanders, may be drawn over his translations. Fresh upon the discussions, Dr. Johnson, rough but honest, comes upon the scene, and were it only for his language in regard to Flora Macdonald and his reflections upon landing in lona, we do forgive all his harsh sayings. He says — " We are now treading that illustri-

&G TRANSACTIONS.

ous island which was once the luminary of the Caledonian regions, whence savage clans and rovuag barbarians derived the benefits of knowledge and the blessings of religion. Far from me, and from my friends, be such frigid philosophy as may conduct us indifferent and vmmoved over any gi'ound which has been dignified by wis- dom, bravery, or virtue. That man is little to be envied whose patriotism would not gain force upon the plain of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer among the ruins of lona." Talk of Scotland being destitute of wood. What now-a-days would English railways and collieries do without ovir Highland timber 1 What would Johnson say, what would the hundreds of scribblers say, when decrying the antiquity of the Gaelic language, if they had lived to read the "Book of Deerl" This discovery marks a white stone in the history of Gaelic literature. It is neither more nor less than this, that the oldest Scottish document known to exist, is not wi-itten in the English language, but in the Gaelic. Aye, and in Gaelic which is readable by ordinary Gaelic students. I observe Professor Innes describes the writing of the Gaelic chronicle as the hand of the 11 th century. Others put it earlier, but in any case it now stands as the very first document purely relat- ing to Scotland which exists. The few other documents remainmg of that century are in Latin. The antiqtiity of the language as a written one being thus so satisfactorily established, it would be highly becoming in a Society like ours to search for and print all manuscripts in the language, and to issue in a convenient form new editions of scarce and curious works. Further, all poetry, songs, stories, legends, riddles, incantations, and others should be carefully sought out, collected, and printed. That much in this way has been done, and particularly of late by Camjjbell of Islay and others is gladly admitted ; but much more can yet be preserved of what still floats about in the Highlands and Islands. And here I would hope and trust that the first volume of our Transactions, so satisfactory in every respect, is but the beginning of a long and useful series. A word of caution, however, is 2)erhaps necessary in the collection of stories. If we are listening to a fairy or other legend, imagination alone is at work, and the more vivid the scenes the better. On the other hand, historical stories must be very carefully sifted, for it is well known that events and per- sons have become blended, though having in reality no con- nection with each other. And as for dates, few Highlanders only speaking Gaelic can be relied on for periods prior to Cuiloden. There are many enquiries, no doubt, of a minor character, but still of interest, which our Society might xmdertake, serving for " Occasional Papers," as I may call them.

PIOBAIREACIID DHOMHNUILL DUlBII. 07

We must not forget to keep in view that the sure mode of per- manently and widely enlisting the sympathies and support of Highlanders generally is by popularismy Gaelic literature, and the past history of the Highlands. It will not do to have learned essays alone, which, to many, and these leal Highlanders too, are as pleasant reading as a dictionary or grammar. Carrying out these views I would suggest such an investigation as the real origin of Piohaireachd Dhomiinuill Duibh. If you were to ask nine out of ten, they would doubtless say, of course, it is a tune composed in honour of one of the chiefs of the Camerons. Is Lochiel not Mac Domhnuill Duibh ? But, notwithstanding, there will be foimd one man who will say, and perhaps he alone is right, that it was com- posed in honour of Donald Balloch, at the time of the first battle of Inverlochy. The name of Donald Balloch has had to me from a child something of a charm — as I doubt not it has had to many of you — and I, just in passing, notice that lately, when painfully deciphering an old charter, signed at Inverness in 1446, I was de- lighted to find the name of Donald Balloch as one of the witnesses, bringing him, as it were, almost bodily before me. Another enquiry might, as I have referred to Inverlochy, be this — Was or was not Montrose actually present at the battle therein 1645? Did he command the royal army, and see Mac-Cailean-Mor sneak off" ignominiously in his galley '? Most people will say — Yes, he was present ; but others will say N"o : that the battle was a siu-prise brought on by the wonted impetuosity of the Macdonalds, and that Montrose, who had been in the neighbourhood of Killy- chumin, did not get'back until all was over. Third — The placing of monuments, tablets, or memorials in honour of distinguished Highlanders, or to commemorate great historic events, might well form an important part of the objects of oiu' Society. The name of Flora Macdonald has lately been honoured by a monument which confei-s the highest credit on the inceptors of the scheme, and those who carried it out ; and I must pai-ticularly refer to Mackintosh, Avho lent the influence of an ancient and honoured name ; to Mr. Walter Carruthers, who brought the tact, know- ledge, and perseverance which have made his paper such a power ia the north ; to Mr. Alexander Ross, whose massive but chaste design will hand down his name with honour to late generations. Here I cannot help saying of Mr. Ross, that I feel assm-ed the polished citizens of Athens would not have used any artist ia the shabby and unfair way those who affect to call their city the Modern Athens have used him ! Also, Mr. For.syth, sculptor, who did his part so well. The name of the Rev. Mr. Macgregor, also a true Highlander, who suggested the memorial forty years

58 TKANSACTIOXS.

ago, and assisted to cany it out, should uot be overlooked. In look- ing over the list of subscribers, Highland feeling may be seen in miniature, and although we don't find the name of the two Skye potentates, we find with pleasure scores of Macdonalds and Mac- leods giving their shillings and half-crowns. Next, I would speak of the iield of CuUoden. The scene of the battle is visited by hundreds yearly, and from the farthest corners of the earth. That visitors are disapjjointed will I think be conceded. What form the memoi-ial should take it is not for me to say. All I say is that something ought to be done, and I am aware that Culloden is very willing that something be done, and to take that leading part which becomes him. It occui's to me that this is a subject faii-ly falling within our province to discuss, and to endeavour in concert with those interested to carry out. Lastly, we have tablets to erect in honour of poets such as Ian Lorn and others. He lived and had his croft of Clachaig in Brae-Lochaber, " the bard's croft," from the time of the Lords of the Isles. His politics were so much in unison with my own, that before this I should have caused a monument to be erected at Kilchaoril, where it might be natur- ally supposed his remains woiild lie ; but the matter has stood over, as I have read that he was biiried in the church of Duthil. Now, with this locality, or the name of Grant, he coiild have had no sympathy whatever. I will be very thankful to receive in- formation on this point, and if the story about Duthil be mythical, and there be every reason to suppose he was buried with his kindred, then the picturesqvie and commanding spot which holds the remains of so many of the brave men and fair women of the Brae of Lochaber, shall not want a suitable memorial of the re- nowned Ian Lorn. Fourth, I would direct attention to the importance of encouraging feelings of attachment in Highlanders to the place of their own or their ancestoi's' birth. This opens such wide questions as to prevent more than a passing reference. "VVe complain that in the past too many have been compulsorily expatriated. I complain of the great indifierence shown by many who have made fortunes in the south or abroad to the land of theii- birth or origin. Unfortunately, land in the Highlands has changed hands greatly ; nay, is changing, and will continue to change. Who are taking possession of the Highlands % As a rule, we are safe to reply sportsmen, or business men. The former necessarily wish as few as possible, and they have no common sympathies. The latter look to returns for their money, and that, it is well known, is easier, if not more certain, from large farms and skilled husbandry. I must not be misunderstood on the matter of sports- men. Through them rents have quadrupled, whereby the area

THE IIIOIILAXDEH CU.MING TO IIIS UWX. 0\)

of taxation has been so uiuch enlarged, as materially to reduce it. Superior houses haAe beeu planted everj^vhere, good wages are given, and the nature of the occupations evokes rude health to the employed, pei-petuated in a vigorous offspring. But notwith- standing, the Highlands can sustain a much larger population than now exists, always, however, if judiciously distributed, taking the climate and locality into account. To do away with sport in a rough and ready manner would be fatal to the Highlands ; but, on the other hand, how much fine arable land, what pretty green spots, where cattle were wont to be herded, what numbei-s of hovises, with occasionally an ash tree or a rowan, to denote that one with a taste above his fellows had there his loved abode, are to be found on large sheep fai'ms 1 But the grass of the arable lands is grey from decay ; heather slowly but surely encroaches on the natural pastures ; and not the ruins of cottars' houses, but dismantled walls of the habitations of gentlemen tenants, are found on the possession of a large non-resident sheep farmer. Such places ought again to have theii- healthy and happy occxipants ; the land should again be tilled ; cattle should again abound, and with all this sport cotdd have its fail* place and share. Now, it appears to me that as we cannot look ibr amelioration from the new classes of buyers I have referred to, we can with reasonable assurance of hope look to such an amelioration, if the Highlands were o^Tied chiefly by Highlanders. What I would wish to impress upon every ambitious yomig Highlander, deter- mined to win fortime, that he ought to keep in view the acquisition of land as his last and ultimate object, and having so acquii-ed it, to do all in his power for its improvement and development, and for the comfort and happiness of the inliabitants. Such as have followed learned professions, engaged in the ser^-ice of ovir country, or occupied in trade, and enabled to retu'e with comfort, should spend as mvich of the remainder of their days in the Highlands as possible, where their wealth would do good to trade, and theii- influence be productive of benefit. Now, as an example of what I have been alluding to, take the case of Mr. Matheson, M.P. Is there a better landlord anywhere ? How much has he not done for the North ? Is not his name and reputation such as may be envied by the oldest, proudest, or noblest of our northern houses 'i Now when young, let us say when at school at Inverness, and with the world all before him, must he not have often thought that his ancestors had been gi-eat Eoss-shii-e proprietors ; were imjustly forfeited at Inverness 400 years ago, and it shoidd be his ambition not only to refound his ancient house, but to extend its borders. We cannot doubt that such feelings and aspirations existed, waft-

GO TRANSACTIONS.

ing liim on to fortune. Why should not others do the same 1 Rather is there not every call upon Fi-asers, Macdonalds, Mac- leods, Macneills, Macleans, &c., to bestir themselves, re-acquire their old habitations, and inaugurate a new and happier era, when wealth and sympathy would go hand in hand. In furthering such and kindred objects, societies like ours may do much good, and I now ask you to drink jirosperity to " The Gaelic Society of Inver- ness."

A Gaelic song was then su.ng by Mi\ Hugh Rose.

Mr. Dallas proposed the next toast. Tliis duty, he said, is greatly simplified and rendered easier by the very felicitous and lucid manner in which the Chairman has already set forth the objects of such societies as the Gaelic Society of Inverness. My toast is "Kindred Societies" — a very comprehensive style and title of toast as you will presently see, not by the length of my re- marks, but by the bare enumeration of societies established and now existing for purposes kindred to our own. Our leading pur- poses among others are the perfecting of the members in the use of the Gaelic language — the cultivation of the language, poetry, and music of the Scottish Highlands — and the rescuing from oblivion of Celtic poetry, traditions, legends, books and MSS., and also the furtherance of the interests of the Gaelic people whether at home or abroad. The Gaelic language, it is commonly believed, is destined soon to die out as a spoken language. I am inclined to join this belief, and to say for many reasons which I deem cogent, that I think it would not be against the prosperity of the Highlands of Scotland that it should to that extent disap- pear. It happens that this island of Great Britain is a gi-eat com- mercial country ; and I think no one will deny that we should all agree upon one common vernacular tongue for the transaction of our common business. We are not sufficiently extensive com- mercially even to render separate languages in the least necessary for our own internal or home transactions, and the English language is now the language iii which all our business is transacted. The stated periodical and most welcome visits of English sportsmen to our Higliland glens has tended greatly to the extinction of Gaelie as a spoken language. This, however, need not in any way interfere with or impede the progress of such societies ; but on the contrary, the very fact that a language so interesting as disclosing legendary lore is destined in the course and progress of events to die out as a spoken language is the best reason why such societies should start up for its preservation and proper culture. The kindred societies to whose prosperity I ask you to join me in this toast comprehend no fewer than sixteen

t ELTIC LITERATURE.

Gl

separate bodies. But before naming tliem perhaps you will allow me so far digress as to say that I in common with others regret that we have no ladies present this evening. The ladies must form a part of all such societies as ours. I have no doubt that the different societies whose prosperity you are asked to toast have lady members, and so have we to a limited extent. I have no intention of violating the rules by introducing politics, but what- ever may be said of the great question of women suffx-age, and whether the concession of that vast privilege to the fair sex would be attended on the one hand with the immense advantages to the human race which its advocates contend for, or on the other with the dire consequences anticipated by some people, I think we will agree here that the co-operation of the silken cords of all society — the bonds that bind men in peace and harmony with each other — would certainly be a most potent auxiliary to such societies as ours and our kindred brethren. Mr. Dallas concluded by enumei-ating the kindred societies referred to, and asking for a hearty bumper to their health and prosperity. Should any of theii' members ever come among us here we would receive them with a hearty ceud mll-e failte.

After some excellent pipe music, including a beautiful piohair- eachd, from Pijie-Major Maclennan, the veteran piper of the H.L.I. Militia, who was in attendance, and performed during supper and between the toasts,

Sheriff Macdonald rose and proposed, in the Gaelic language, the toast of " The Gaelic People," vrhich called forth loud cheers.

Mr. Murdoch proposed " Celtic Literature." He said that after the very excellent opening address of the Chairman, and the refer- ence of Mr. Dallas to so many kindred societies engaged in advancing Celtic Literature, there was little left for him to say at that late hour. He always felt the awkwardness of the position in which he stood, owing to the attitude taken up by considerable numbers who asserted that there was no Celtic literature at all. He seemed as if he were acting in antagonism where he was only asserting facts, which should be knoAvn to all intelligent men. There was neither antagonism nor anji;hing narro^ving in setting forth the facts and claims of Celtic literature ; we were rather insisting upon contributing our share to the literature of the world, and in our researches we came into friendly contact with our friends in Wales, in the Isle of Man, and in Ireland, which were teeming %vith valuable materials of this kind. Indeed, Celtic literatixre was to be found where but very few looked for it ; and it was curious to observe the different treatments extended to Macpherson when he laid before the world what were really and

G2 TRANSACTIONS.

ostensibly Celtic poems, and to Tennyson when lie brought forth really Celtic poems under an English guise. No one raised a question as to the latter, whilst a regular war arose out of the former. The " Idyls of the King " were not only Celtic in their subject and their incidents, but they were positively Welsh ballads, and so much so, that whole lines, sentences, paragraphs, and even pages, with merely artistic touches, could be traced to Lady G-. Fuller- ton's translations of Welsh into English. Another unexpected quarter in which we found Celtic literature was Buchanan's His- tory of Scotland, composed by a born Celt, from Celtic authorities, and with an intensely Celtic argument. The spirit of the Celtic polity is particularly strong in his arguments on the succession to the throne. It was, perhaps, after all, consistent, first to steal our literature, and then say we had none ! There were three famous Gaelic compositions of which it was said : — " Gach dan gu dan an Deirg ; gach sgeul gu sgeul Chonail ; agus gach laoidh gu laoidh an amadain nihoir ; " conveying that the standard to which each poem was to be referred was the song of the Red ; each story to the story of Connal ; and each lay to the lay of the Great Fool. "The Red" was Diarmid O'Duine ; of all the great Connals, the one in the story was Connal Gulbinn ; and the Great Fool was no fool at all. There was no occasion for him to say another word in favour of the toast, unless it were that they should fill then- glasses of good Ness water, and drink a bumper to Celtic Literature.

The song " Scotland Yet " was sung in excellent style by Mr. Campbell (of Messrs. Davidson & Scott, solicitors).

Mr. Eraser, C.E., gave the health of " The Provost and Magistrates of Inverness," and in doing so referred to the importance and extent of their duties, discharged without fee or reward, and fre- quently he believed at the cost of much time and trouble which might have been devoted to their own business. Three bailies had honoured this meeting with theii- presence, and were members of the Society ; but every member of the Council ought to join them, and thereby show a good example to the rest of the community.

Bailie Simpson responded. Any little time or trovxble devoted to the afiairs of the town by his colleagaies and himself was amply repaid by secviring the good will of those they represented. He was particularly well pleased to see pi'esiding over the com- pany to-night his old and esteemed friend so long at the Council board, and would for one be delighted if Mr. Eraser-Mackintosh came back among them and gave them a helping hand. They had fought together for a long time in a minority, but the tables were now turned, and the side with which he acted had things now pretty much tlieu- own way. He trusted their excellent Chaii'man

COMPLIMEN'TS. 63

to-night would by-and-bye return with honour to the Council where he served so long and faithfully.

" Come under my plaidie," an excellent Gaelic translation, was sung in a hearty and humorous style, at the call of the Chairman, by Mr. Cumming, Allanfearn.

The Chairman then proposed " the Ladies," which, he said, might have more appropriately been given to Mr. Alexander Mackenzie, who had lately been acting as gallant advocate for the sex. He expressed cordial approval of the proposal to have lady members, and their presence at the festive meetings of the Society.

Mr. Fraser, Faillie, gave " the Press," coupled with the local newspapers, which was responded to by Mr. W. B. Forsyth.

The song " Wha'll be King but Chaii'lie," in Gaelic and English, was sung in capital style by Sheriff Macdonald, after which the Chaii-man proposed a hearty bumper to the worthy Sheriff's health, and the Sheriff suitably acknowledged the compliment, stating that now he was an enrolled member of the Society he should be only too glad to do all that lay in his power to promote its interests.

Ml-. Alex. Mackenzie proposed "the Members of Committee," coupled with theii* excellent and efficient Secretary, Mr. William Mackay. Next to the toast of the ladies, this was the one he most preferred to give. The gi'eat and successful exertions made by the members of the committee in conducting the aflaii's of this Society, and the perseverance and sound practical sense they invariably exhibited, led to the gratifying position which the Society had now attained. And to the Secretary they were specially indebted for the attention he devoted to their affairs. He had other duties of his own to attend to, and yet without fee or reward he gave much of his time and talents — many of his hours of sleep, it was to be feared — to pushing forward the work of the Society. He trusted the Society would not loose his services, which had been invaluable up to the present and would be so henceforward.

Mr. Mackay, in thanking the company for the honour done him, said he only regretted that he was not able to devote more of his time to the Society's affairs ; but what he had been able to do, had been a pleasure and delight to him — it had brought him many personal friends, whose acquaintance he might never otherwise have formed, and it had brought him into correspondence with some of the most eminent literary men in the country — a circum- stance of which he would be proud as long as he lived. He had been greatly helped in the performance of his duties by Mr. Dun- can Mackintosb, Bank of Scotland, and biit for that oentleman'.s

6-4 TRAXSACTIOXS.

willing and valuable assistance lie could never have undertaken the amount of work that had occasionally to be done.

Bailie Macbean proposed "the Chairman."

The Chairman, m responding, said that he had much pleasure in being present to-night, and when called on to preside over the meeting, though he had much other business to attend to, and his health was not what he would like it to be, he found he really could not refuse, for his sympathies and his heart were with them in this matter.

A Gaelic song was sung by Mr. Charles Mackay, Drummond.

The Chairman rose and proposed " the health of their friends from a distance," to whom the Society were much indebted for their attendance to-night, and for the interest they showed in its affairs. He coupled the toast with Mr. Fraser, a gentleman who had come all the way from Glenelg to be present at this meeting.

Mr. Fraser expressed his thanks for so kindly remembering the strangers from a distance. The best return he could make for this kindness was to state that having already become a member, he promised to secure another one to the Society. He was much gratified by the success of this meeting, and should have great pleasure in circulating all he had seen and heard to-night.

Mr. Dallas proposed " Our Chief, Cluny Macpherson," whom they should be proud of having at their head. Their CJiief had delivered the best Gaelic address ever given before the members of this Society. Cluny was not a young man, but he waS' still a splendid specimen of a Highlander. If he remembered aright, it was of Cluny that Sir Walter Scott wrote in 1825 as the "fine spirited lad " who headed the procession of Highlanders on the occasion of Mons Meg being placed in Edinbvu'gh Castle.

The Chairman said Mr. Dallas was right as to the remark of Sir Walter Scott.

The toast of " the Croupiers " was then proposed by Bailie Simpson, and acknowledged by Mr. Dallas, after which Mr. Alex. Mackenzie proposed " the Absent Members," and in so doing sug- gested that those members at a distance who were unable to attend the meetings of the Society, might show their interest in its con- cerns by writing papers, which would be read at their meetings by some other member residing in town — many could write such papers, and would have the pleasure of seeing them in the Society's handsome volume of Ti-ansactions.

JNIessrs. Mackay and Mackintosh then sung together a Gaelic song, and the Chairman proposed that as the hour was late it was about time to part. He said they were exceedingly indebted to the gentlemen who had favoured them with songs, especially Gaelic

OUR FIRES AND FIRESIDE.S. (>;)

ones, and who had contributed so much to the harmony of the evening. Before parting they could not do less than tender their acknowledgments to Mr. and Mrs. Christie for the excellent man- ner in which they had discharged their part of the duties — the attendance having been entirely satisfactory and all the materials supplied most excellent, for which they deserved the company's best thanks.

The meeting then broke up, after singing together at the Chair- man's suggestion the bard of the Society's G-aelic translation of the National Anthem.

January 30, 1874. — On this date Mr. John Murdoch read a paper on

OUR FIRES AND FIRE-SIDES.

The subject which I have chosen is a practical one, and I hope you will consider it seasonable. Even to those in whom the organs of ideality, wonder, and wit are largely developed, this evening devoted to the grosser matters of our Fires and FLre-sides will not, I hope, be a great sacrifice.

I have chosen this subject at the present time, thinking that the exhorbitant price of fuel might induce people to give an amount of attention to the economics of our fires and fire-places which they might decline to do when coals were only at a reasonable price.

No donbt there could be a good deal of poetry and sentiment entwined around the subject. Numbers of beautiful pictures could be conjured np about our ingle-sides, our blazing logs, and our family circles, with theii- endearing associations and memories ; but in one brief hour I can hardly dispose of the mass of matter which I have to lay before you ; and in justice to myself, and in mercy to you, I shall not give more time to the subject.

" And," some one asks, " if we are not to have poetry and sentiment around our hearths, what are we to have 1 "

You shall have a treatise on our Fires, our Fire-places, and our Fuel.

In the first place, I need hardly mention the fact, that no ques- tion presses so heavily upon all classes of the community at this moment as that of Fuel does ; and if I can do ever so little to- wards the solution of that question, it is my duty to do so.

F

66 TRANSACTIONS.

Hitherto, as a rule, we have applied our fuel as if it had been an object with us to get it out of the way ; or to bum as much as possible and get the least possible heat from it. For example, the practice of placing the fresh coal on the top of the fire is one of the most flagrant pieces of waste of which we need be guilty. A great deal .of the heat of the existing fire is expended in forcing np the chimney the gas which is distilled from the fresh coal. Large vokimes of smoke escape up the chimney, or out through the house, when a fresh supply of coal is put on. The smohe which we thus waste is the material out of which, with more scientific con- trivances, illuminating gas is manufactured. This smoke escapes, not only to our own direct and immediate loss, but it becomes a nuisance to the whole commimity ; and what should be heating and lighting our houses, falls in smuts and in flakes of soot upon our persons, and upon white dresses which are spread or hung out to dry. That this is good fuel, you have abundance of proof in the fact that soot takes fire so readily when it falls back into the fire-place ; and what we want is an apparatus which will burn it before it has gone up the chimney at all. Another proof is often dsplayed to you in the fire-place when you take time to watch it. You see a jet of brown smoke escaping from a piece of fresh coal which has begun to split and crumble with the heat. Set a taper to this jet, and it becomes a bright and beautiful flame. Now, what is true of these jets of smoke is true of nearly the whole smoke together ; and one of the practical questions which have been asked a thousand times is, " How can we best consume our own smoke, and convert it into heat and light 1 "

There have been a good many contrivances invented for this purpose, but there have been a good many — no doubt very stupid — excuses for not departing from the old wasteful way. The principle of all of them may be said to be one. You have a good example in the parafiin lamp of the present day. Without the brass dome and the glass, one-half the gas of the oil would escape in smoke, and rest in soot upon your ceilings and walls. But with the dome, the heat of the existing flame is kept in so as to set fire to part of that smoke ; and when the glass is added, much even of what escapes the dome is kindled, and light comes out of darkness. The same thing is done in those furnaces in which the smoke of the fresh coal is made to pass close'y over the red embers ; or still better, where this gas is made to pass up, or down, or across, as the case may be, right through the strong, red fire. This is the secret of the whole afiair — of consuming your own smoke, and taking both heat and light out of darkness.

The thing has been accomplished in thousands of instances, by

JiCOXOMIC INVENTIONS. 67

simply placing the red fire on the top of the fresh coal. Then, as the gas or smoke escapes from the newly-heated coal, it passes into the overlying tii-e, is kindled, and becomes fire instead of smoke.

But the waste of fuel in these and in other respects Ls almost insignificant, as compared with the waste of fire alter we have kindled it. The practice of putting our fixe places, three sides in the wall, and only one side towards us, is surely very absurd in a country where heat is an object. At a rough estimate, we do not get more than one-fourth of the heat which is thus generated. You have, in fact, fire enough in one stupidly arranged gi-ate or stove to give as much heat to each of three apartments as it at present gives to one, not to speak of the fuii:her heating which might be effected with what escapes by the vent.

Every one who has seen the American stoves and ranges in use knows the very small amount of fuel which can be made to do the work of a very large fire in our ordinary ranges. And I have seen a Belgian apparatus which heated five diflerent pans with a fire which you could put into a gallon measure. In Sweden they have carried their economical invention so far as to make one small fire cook half-a-dozen diflerent dishes in such rapid succession as to be done simultaneously. They have a case covered -with wadding, so as that it will allow scarcely any of the heat which it receives to escape. There is a cooking pan, or pot, or kettle, which fits exactly into this case. It is charged, say, with so many pounds of mutton to be boiled. It is placed in an opening in the stove, until it has begun to boil. The Swede lifts the heated vessel, and places it in the non-conducting wadding. The potatoes, the pie, the pudding, are in succession brought to the boil in the same manner, and placed in theii' respective non-conducting cases ; and thus you see another way in which one small fire can be made to do thi-ee, four, or five times the cooking wliich we, in our extrava- gance, would think of making it do !

Instead of letting the heat away into dead walls, we should let it into one or two other rooms, and instead of letting so much heat out at the top of the chimney, make it heat one or two apart- ments in different storeys. This has actually been done by a clergyman near Dumfries. Then, there is the heating of a whole house -by means of hot aii' pipes, by means of hot water, or by means of steam. The kitchen tire, with any of these, would render any other fu-e entii-ely unnecessai-y in a large house ; and what people would in former years have scouted as un-British, &c., will, in the year 1875, be adopted as eminently practical and necessary, and we will wonder at our own slavish confoi'mity to a wasteful custom.

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No doubt it is pleasant to see the flame of oiir fires, and to watch the faces, of which we have heard so much ; but these, I fancy, must give way to the inevitable, as our pleasant sailing craft gave way to the grinding and champing of the steamboat ; as the pleasant stage coach made way for the iron horse and his train of unpoetical vans ; and as the old system of signals from hill-top to hill-top has been banished by the telegi-aph.

For my owni part, I look forward to the time when these hot air ahd hot water appliances shall have made our houses ten times more pleasant than they ever were with grates.

Let us have those appliances once in general use, and you will have every new house fitted up with means of delectable cleanli- ness which will give to every family at home some of the luxuries; which cannot at present be enjoyed excepting at the cost of a visit to an establishment like Cluny Hill.

But I must pass from this mere economy in the use of fuel to the subject of how and where we are to get fuel with which to supply the more economical fii'e-places of the no distant futm-e.

For my part, I do not see any good reason why we, away in the North, or why others away to the West, have waited so long to be taught the use of oiu' peat bogs. I am afraid this waiting was only a matter of silly fashion and prejudice, begotten of a false deference to the denizens of the coal-producing regions of Great Britain, This is no mere flight of fancy ; nor is it a random shaft let fly at another people. It is a well-grounded conviction of mine that in too many things — I do not say in all — we in the High- lands neglect advantages which nature has given us, for no better reason than that the example of utilizing them has not been set in the Lowlands. England and the South of Scotland have their coal beds far down in the bowels of the eailh ; we have oiu's spread out on the face of the earth. Thus, coal has had to be i)rought up at ten-ible sacrifices, physical, social, and moral ; in so much, that whole populations have been, to a notorious degree and extent, demoralized, or, as some would say, brutalized — at any rate, de- gi'aded — far below the general level of our working classes. Yet, we have stood by lamenting the absence of the coal beds which cost so much, whilst oui" own coal beds might have been turned to account, in the light of day, and in the balmy breath of heaven. The right way of following the example of England woidd have been to go to work at the peat which God gave us, as she did at her own coal.

True, we have been cutting peats. But peats are not genteel. They are only fuel for poor, vulgar mountaineers ! We adopted the fire-places, too, of the coal countries, and thus shut ourselves

THE GOOD FIRE AT SNEEM. G9

out from the use of peats. Our peat-burning neighbours and pro- genitors had their fires in the middle of the fioor, with none of the heat escaping into dead walls, and not much of it even escaping by the " lum." They had the full benefit of all they burned.

To this night I have a lively impression, and a grateful recollec- tion of a warning I got at a peat fire in a village inn in the south- west of Ireland nine years ago. I had travelled twenty-five Irish miles on a Bianconi, out-side car, in pelting I'ain, all the way from Killarney to Kenmere. Finishing my business at the latter place, I set out on a forty-two miles' journey in the evening of the same day, on another outside car, drawn by a blind horse, as it proved, and driven by a dozing coachman. About ten o'clock we came to a stage at the village of Sneem. I need not tell jou that we were cold, and stifi", and himgry. I was shown into a tidy little stall- like room, to await the tea, the toast, the bacon, and the eggs. I did not stay long in my stall. I made a hurried svirvey, and shortly found the kitchen, bright and warm, and comfortable, and homely, where I readily received a hearty welcome from the inmates, who sat arovmd the peat fire in the middle of the floor. I feel as if some of that warmth were still abovit me, and the picture of that pleasant, homely group still hanging up among my mind's furnish- ings and adornments. In and around that fire you can get poetry and philosophy as well as domestic economy, if you choose to hover about it. For me, I must leave it, and turn to our ovm peats and peat bogs.

There are fourteen years, or more, since I endeavoured to impress the public with the value of our peat mosses ; and when the country began in the beginning of last autumn, to feel the pressure of the coal famine, and when there was reason to think that there would be some weather to dry peats, I wrote to one of our local papers on the subject, urging that steps should be taken imme- diately to cut peats, and have them ready for the winter. Since then, numbers of others have taken the subject up.

It is far within the mark to say that in the Highlands we have 1,000,000 acres of peat bog, the depth of three feet. In Ireland there are over four and a quarter million acies, estimated at an average depth of eleven feet.

Our own million acres will give nearly five billions of solid yards ; and if you assume that five yards will yield a ton of dried peat, compressed peat, or dense peat, as the case may be, we have one bUlion of tons of excellent fuel in Scotland, and somewhere abovit twelve billions in Ireland.

Now, as to the use of peat, that, as we have seen, is no innova- tion. There may, of course, be room for great improvements in

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the mode of preparation, botli as regards economy in production, and pleasantness and utility in consumption.

There are many processes in which jieat, even as at present pre- pared in the Highlands, is found more serviceable than coal ; as in smelting and finishing the best descriptions of iron, and in making malt for distillation. For both of these purposes tBere has been a considerable traffic in peats ever since I can remember.

The using of our peat mosses would give to our own people the employment and wages which we now pay to others for the mining of coals. It would create trafiic for the railways which pass over our mosses — as the Highland, the Dingwall and Skye, and the Sutherland and Caithness. It would lay bare for cultivation vast tracts of country now felt to be needed for the production of straw, hay, and turnips with which to produce more and cheaper beef and mutton.

In regard to the reclamation of land, I remember when Blair Drummond Moss was being reclaimed, and so great was the value attached to the land beneath the peat, that men were employed, and machinery was invented, to remove the jaeat moss into the river Forth, to be carried down the Firth, and now you will see some of the finest farms and crops in Scotland where, forty years ago, there was nothing but a browai wilderness, fit habitation for nothing but snipe !

I do not know any towns so well situated as Inver- ness, Nairn and Forres for turning our peat resources to account. I have been on the look-out for available mosses, and I find the finest fields for such an undertaking on the south side of the Highland line, between Dava and Grantown, and Kildrummie Moss, near Nairn.

The peats which come into Inverness are brought a distance of from seven to ten miles in small carts, at a cost which you can readily understand to be enormous. To Forres they could be taken by train from Dava, and thus be less than half the price we jiay for them in Inverness.

I know that many persons found coals cheaper than peats, and that coals are used in the heai-t of peat-producing countries. That is only analogous to the other fact that coals from Newcastle and from Lanark are burnt over the coal mines of Brora and Kilkenny. You can well understand that it would not pay the Durham and Stafibrdshire farmers to dig for their OAvn use, the coal which lies under then- own homesteads. The concentration of trained force and the division of labour make it better for the farmers to stick to their agriculture and for the miners to stick to theii' mining. If the coalmasters had no better roads to their pits than our farmers

PEAT IX FOREIGN' COUNTRIES. i 1

liave to tlieii- mosses, and if they had no regular ti'affic, they would find the production of coals just as bad, if not woi-se, than our ordinary citizens find the producing of peats.

"With trained hands, with proper implements and machinery, with drying sheds, with good roads, tramways, and railways — all made available for turning our mosses to account — does it not stand to reason that we might have peat fuel at our doors, at least as much cheaper as it is nearer to vis than coal.

And what is thus, as I think, so obAdous a jviori, is established by facts gathered from diflerent parts of the Continent of Europe and America.

It is reported that on the Grand Trunk Railway, peat is manu- factured in lai-ge quantities, at a cost of 9s to 10s per ton, where coals were 40s, and now, in all probability, 45s or perhaps 50s per ton. Peat, there, then, where the manufacture is gone about as it ought to be with iis, is not one-fourth the cost of the coal.

Another test. On a train running 177 miles, the coal expendi- ture was found to be £6. It took £6 3s worth of wood to do the same work ; but with peat it was done for £1 10s. There, they use machinery for pulping the peat moss. It is then lifted by another machine which travels over the ground, and spreads the pulp over the grass, heather, and rushes. In this rough way it is left to dry, and afterwards gathered in shapeless masses, and burnt without any further preparation. You will observe, that in this instance, the only improvement consists in the use of machinery. There is evidently no improvement in the finished article.

In Bavaria, there are considerable manufactories of peat, simply cut and prepared as is done already in this country ; and the chief use to which the article is applied Ls that of feeding railway en- giaes.

In the Netherlands, peat, of the ordinary description, is the staple fuel of the country ; and during the season peojjle flock in from Hanover, and from the adjacent parts of Germany to work in the mosses, the same as the Irish reapers used to migrate to the English and Scotch harvest, and as the hop-pickers flock to Kent and Farnham.

But in the Netherlands the manufacture of peat has made some progress towards the production of a perfect article of fuel. So it has in Bavaria, in Prussia, in Bohemia, and in France.

There have been two principles attempted to be carried out in this improved manvifacture. The one is that of compressing the peat by machinery. This finished article I wish you to remember under the name of " compressed peat." The other principle is that of so preparing and placing the material, that it will beci^me dense

t L TRANSACTIONS.

ia obedience to the law by wliicli the particles of matter are drawn to each other. The finished article in this case is called " dense peat."

Of the first of these, I shall only wait to say, that machinery is used to tear up the moss, and reduce it as quickly as possible to dust. This is then placed in a machine, and so driven together by force, that it comes out in solid cakes, ready for use. I have seen them, and in form they were very much like as if you cut a large sausage in discs of about an inch and a-half in thickness.

Attempts have been made to compress the peat in a wet state, but I do not know that it has been successfully done anywhere.

One of the methods adopted is that of reducing the moss to the finest pulp, then spreading it out of a certain thickness, and allow- ing it to dry and solidify of its own accord.

It is a curious thing that this method is simply an improvement upon what was done by our forefathers when the more tenacious bogs had been exhausted. I have seen them take the more brittle strata of the peat, mix the substance with water, and spread it out on the sward. In the course of a few days, it had acquired a cer- tain degree of solidity, when they entered with their bare feet, and cut it in long pieces from side to side of the patch. It was then cut across into lengths of an ordinary peat, and afterwards treated in every respect as is done with peats cut in the usual way.

Now, in the four northern provinces of Holland, in Branden- berg, in Gratzen, in Bohemia, and in the French department of Oise, the old-fashioned principle is being carried out by machinery. The material is macerated by being put through a machine somewhat like that used in preparing clay for making bricks.

In some of these places, the macerated mass comes out in two continuous pieces, which are cut, either by hand or by machinery, into suitable lengths. The peats are then placed on trays, and laid out to dry in racks.

At Aibling, in Bavaria, the material is prepared in pretty much the same way, under the direction of Dr. Herold of Munich ; but instead of being formed into peats or bricks, it is cut into junks of about four inches in length. These pieces are placed upon enclined trays, on which they move, gradually passing from one tray to another, until at the end of their journey they drop off in dry balls.

At Gratzen, and at several other places, the piilp is simply spread out on a i:»repared surface, and levelled to a certain thick- ness by means of boards attached to the feet of the workers. In the course of a day or two, or three, according to the state of the Aveather, the stratum is cut, lengthwise and across, into something

PEAT FUEL ABROAD. 73

the size and shape of bricks. And such is the attraction of the particles that every peat is found in the course of drying to con- tract and solidify so as to leave a large space between the rows, whei-e there was only a cut to begin with.

When they are sufficiently firm to be handled, they are lifted and placed in i-acks to dry.

It is to be noticed that in all the instances I have given, the exceptiing Aibling, the drying is done in the open air. Dr. Herold, however, has done what I have no doubt we shall do when we take the matter up — he has ei-ected sheds, so as not only to keep off the rain, but cause a greater draught through the racks.

There is one fact which I shall mention by way of counter- balancing what a very patriotic gentleman in Ross-shire said a short time ago. Early in the season he went manfully into the peat-cutting ; but when the time for carrying them home arrived, he made inquiry, and found that to get at them you had to wade through two lumdred yards of water ! This "dished" his peat- cutting enterprise, and he gave the fact to the world as an evidence of the impossibility of doing anything in the matter. But mark.

In the peat manufacture of M. Colart at Fontaine-sur-Somme, the material is all taken from a marsh under water, from one to two feet in depth. The peat is actually cut under the water. And a German of the name of Brosowsky has invented a machine to be used for the purpose. What would oui* friend in Ross-shii'e say to these Frenchmen and Germans ? What they would say to him, I presume, would be, to adapt his plans to the requirements of the case, and not to wait till Jupiter dried up the marsh.

Even in the German case, the finished article did not cost more than 6s per ton, including the labour of taking the raw matei'ial from under the water.

The cost at Herzfelde Avas 6s 6d per ton ; at Aibling, 1 2s 2d, but expected to be reduced by Dr. Herold ; in America, on the Grand Trunk, 9s to 10s; New England, 8s to 10s; New York, 9s to 10s.

I have said nothing about Box's method, which has been patented, and which has been pretty well ventilated in the press. Besides, there are some points connected -with that method of which some of us are not quite sure yet.

I must not, however, pass over the fact, that we can have light as well as heat from peat. I have seen peat gas made, I have seen it burnt, and have seen it tested, and know it to be a fact that it can be made ; and it is expected that the suburb of Inchecore, near Dublin, will be lighted with gas made from peat.

Another fact. You will see in this dav's Scotsman that a com-

I 4 TRANSACTIONS.

pany is being formed to manufacture fuel from the bogs of Kerry, in the south-west of Ireland.

And speaking of Ireland, as I should like to so do of Scotland, I must dii-ect attention to the fact that a commission, originated by Mr. Edward Purdon, ex-Lord Mayor of Dublin, and proprietor of The Irish Farmer's Gazette, has just returned from the Continent •with a large mass of valuable information — not merely in theory or in science— as to what has actually been done in the way of utilizing bogs to yield fuel. To the report published by this com- mission I am indebted for some of the most telling facts in this paper ; and when we in this country, as well as our friends in Ire- land, shall have had the sense to make proper use of our bogs, we shall, if we have the good taste and honesty which ought to characterise us, ascribe a good deal of the result to the patriotism and enterprise of Alderman Purdon, and to the information col- lected and made public by the other members of the commission.

February 6, 1873. — On this date Mr. William Mackay read a second paper on the Legends of G-len-Urquhart. For the first paper, see Transactions, Vol. L, p. 43.

SGEULACHDAN GHLINN-URCHUDAINN. (An dara earrann.)

'Nuair a leugh mi dhuibh a' cheu.d earrann de na sgeulachdan so, mu dheireadh na bliadhna 1871, dh' ainmich mi gu'm b'i mo dhiirachd, ged' b'i sud a' ch6ud oidhche, nach b'i an oidhche mu dheireadh a chuii'eadh an Comxxnn air leth aii'son sgeulachdan na Gaidhealtachd. Bho sin f huair sinn sgeula no dha bho Alasdar Mac Gillemhicheil, a tha ro-thaitneach. Is mbr am feum a dhean- adh sibhse a cliaidh ^rach ann an Glinn na Gaidhealtachd na'n sgriobhadh sibh gach seann sg6ul a chuala sibh 'am bun teintean c^didh bhur n-bige. Tha na sgeulachdan so taitneach ma tha iad faoia ; agus creidibh mise gu'n tig an Ik anns am bi iad gl6 mhea- sail. Cha'n eil cunntas chinnteach againn air moran de chleach- daidhean ar n-aithrichean, agus tha e iiraid dhuian am beagan a th' againn a thionail 'sa ghleidheadh gu ciiramach, am fad 'sa tha sian an comas sin a dheanadh.

Toisichidh mi nis' a rithist air sgeulachdan " Gleann mo chridhe rinn m' arach bg " le sgeula Mhonaidh Mac Eigh Lochlainn 'thoir dhuibh.

THE LIGHT OF TRADITION. 75

MoNAiDii Mac Righ Lochlainn.

Bho cliionn iomadh linn blia Albainn air a sgiursadh gu cruaidh le na Loclilannaicli — daoine borb a thaiiiig a nail h Lochlann a thogail creach 'sa ghabhail seilbli ann an tir a' Ghaidlieil. Bha Monaidh, Mac Righ Lochlaian, na laoch calm, agus b'e miann a claridlie cogadli a dlieanadli an aghaidh nan Gaidbeal, agus cliu a cliosnadli ann an rigbeacbd 'athar. Anns a' bheachd so thionail e buidheann mhatli dhe flatbaibh bga Lochlainn, agus gliabh esa agus iadsa an cuan, chum seoladh gu Albainn. B'la piuthait' aig Monaidh aig an robh mor ghaol dha, agus sheol ise maille ris. Thainig na Lochlannaich aii' tir ann an Araghaidheal, agus air ball thoisich iad air cixu- fas 'us losgadli. Dh'eii-ich na Gaidheil an guaillean a ch^ile, agus chuir iad an maig air Monaidh agus a chuid daoine. Rinn na Lochlamiaich air an cuid long, ach bha na Gaidheal rompa ; agiis b'f h6udar dhaibh tilleadh gu tuath agus na longan fhagail air an culaobh. Theich iad tre Ghleann mor na h-Alba, agus lean a' chuid bu ghaisgeanda dhe na Gaidheil gus an d' thainig iad gu Gleann-Urchudainn. Ann an so — air Craig Mhonaidh — riun na Lochlannaich seasamh chruaidh an aghaidh nan Gaidheal. Ach dhluthaich Sliochd nam Beann orra, agus chaidh catha chuir air Dail-a'-Mhonaidh annsand'theach cuir as dha neai-t nan Lochlannach. Theich Monaidh suas an Gleann le 'phiuth- air, ach chaidh chuu* gu bas ann an Coire-Mhonaidh, 'us e gu dicheallach ga 'dian-sa. Dh' adhlaic sluagh a' Ghlinn e ann an Uaigh Mhonaidh 'sa Chou'e agus ghabh iad gu caoimhneil ris a' bhoiriomiach. Bha i beo maille riu fad iomadh la, agvis fhuair i bas 'nam measg. Tha aite cumhang fasgathach eadar da sgorr ann an Craig Mhonadh ris an abarar f hathast Leabaidh nighean an Righ ; agus 's iomadh sineadh Sdbaid a rinn mi ionte. 'Nuair a tha mi 'n siu tha Srath Muinn Ui'chudainn gu leir fo mo chomhar, agus dhomsa cha'n 'eil sealladh eile fo'n ghrein coimeas ris air feasgar Domhnaich samhraidh !

DOMHNUL BrEAC 's NA PlOCHDAICH.

Tha 'n sgeula so air a toir bho Bheurla fhir de phaipearan naigheachd a' bhaile so (Inverness Courier, July 2, 1868). Mar a tha sgeula Mhonaidh, tha i cuir solus air ainmean nan aite 'tha tachairt ionte : —

Rion Domhnul Breac, righ Dhail-an-righ, a chaidh chrunadh ann an Diin-Stathanais 's a bhliadhna 637, cogadh an aghaidh nam Piochdach, no na Cruithne Tuath, agus dh' fhalbh e le moran sluaigh chum 's gu'n glacadh e liichau't righ nam Piochdach — ■

76 TRANSACTIONS.

Caisteal Spioradail, aig Ceann an ear Locli Nis. Air a sUighe thainig e gii Caisteal-na-Sroine (Caisteal Urchudainn) agus thug e ionnsuidli aii' a glilacadh. Ach clia robh e farasda so a dheanadh, agus air do Doixdmul 'chluinntinn gu'n robli armachd mhor de Piiiochdaicli a tarruing dluth air, dh'f h^g e an caisteal, agus cliaidh e 'nan coinneamli-sa ;