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MACDONALD BARDS

MEDIEVAL TIMES.

KEITH NORMAN MACDONALD, M.D.

{REPRINTED FROM THE "OBAN TIMES."]

EDINBURGH

NORMAN MACLEOD, 25 GEORGE IV. BRIDGE.

1900.

PRBPACB.

\y^HILE my Papers on the " MacDonald Bards" were appearing in the "Oban

Times," numerous correspondents expressed a wish to the author that they would be some day presented to the pubUc in book form. Feeling certain that many outside the great Clan Donald may take an interest in these biographical sketches, they are now collected and placed in a permanent form, suitable for

reference ; and, brief as they are, they may be found of some service, containing as they do information not easily procurable elsewhere, especially to those who take a warm interest in the language and literature of the Highlands of Scotland.

K. N. MACDONALD.

21 Clarendon Crescknt,

EDINBURGH, October 2Uh, 1900. INDEX. Page.

Alexander MacDonald, Bohuntin, ^ ...... 13

Alexander MacAonghuis (son of Angus), ...... 17

Alexander MacMhaighstir Alasdair, ...... 25

Alexander MacDonald, Nova Scotia, ...... 69

Alexander MacDonald, Ridge, Nova Scotia, ...... 99

Alasdair Buidhe MacDonald, ...... 102

Alice MacDonald (MacDonell), ...... 82

Alister MacDonald, Inverness, ...... 73

Alexander MacDonald, An Dall Mòr, ...... 43

Allan MacDonald, Lochaber, ...... 55

Allan MacDonald, Ridge, Nova Scotia, ...... 101

Am Bard Mucanach (Tlie Muck Bard), ...... 20

Am Bard CONANACH (The Strathconan Bard), ...... 48

An Aigeannach, ...... 32

An Ciaran Mapach (Archibald MacDonald), ...... 14

An Domhnallach Furanach (Colonel Alex. MacDonald),.. ... 104

Angus MacDonald (Glenurquhart Bard), ...... 68

Angus MacDonald, xxii., of Keppoch, ...... 80

Captain Donald Roy MacDonald, ...... 38

Concluding Remarks, ...... 119

David MacDonald, ...... 57

Donald Donn (Bohuntin .and Aberarder), ...... 12, 95

Donald MacDonald, Tiree, ...... 45

Donald MacDonald (The Barvas Bard), ...... 78

Donald MacFhionnlaidh (The Loch Treig Hunter), ...... 5

Donald Gruamach, ...... 96

Donald MacDonald, son of Ranald, ...... 22

Donald Ban a' Bhocain (of the Spectre), ...... 24

Donald Ban a' Bhocain's Residence, ...... 98

Farquhar MacDonnell, ...... 66

Flora MacDonald, ...... 114

George MacDonald, ...... 63

GiLLEASBUlG NA Ceapaich (Archibald MacDonald), ...... 40

GiLLEASBUlG NA ClOTAlG (Archibald MacDonakl, Keppoch),...... 15

James MacDonald, ...... 56

Iain Lom (The Lochaber Poet), ...... 8

Iain Lom's Son, ...... 12 INDEX—(Continued.) Page. Iain Dubh (Black John MacDonald), 19 John MacDonald (son of Dugald, Uist Bard), 31

John MacDonald, Oban, ... 79

John MacDonald, of Uig, Skye, ... 111 John MacDonald, Lochbroom, 49

John MacDonald (Mull), ... Josephine MacDonald (MacDonnell),

MacDonald Musicians, ... Martial Achievements of the MacDonalds of Keppoch, Mairi Nighean Iain Bhain (The Skye Poetes.s), Mrs Fraser MacDonell, Culbokie (Ardnabie),

Margaret Shaw MacDonald (Crowbeg, Lewis), 71 Margaret MacDonald, Mull, 33 Michael Mor MacDonald (Uist), 43 Neil MacEachainn MacDonald,... 105

Nighean MhicAonghuis Oig, 19

Norman MacDonald (Waternish, Skye), ... 109 MacDonald Pibrochs,

Ossian's Poems (evidence of authenticity), .. Rachael MacDonald (North Uist),

Ranald MacDonald (of tlie Shield, Glencoe), Ranald MacDonald (Eigg),

Ranald MacDonald (Minginish, Skye), ... 47 Ranald MacDonald (Ardness), 51 Rev. Allan MacDonald (Eriskay), 70

Rev. Angus MacDonald (Barra), ... Rev. Charles MacDonald (Moidart), Rev. Tain Mor MacDonald, Rev. John MacDonald, Fenintosh,

Rev. Hugh MacDonald (Portree, Skye), ... 47 Residence of Alastair Carrach, &c., 97 Robert MacDonald, Dingwall, 107

SiLis MacDonald (M'Donell of Keppoch), ... IS, 92 Sir Alexander, Lord MacDonald (Skye), 36 Thomas MacDonald (Abriachan Bard), — ;

CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS.

Donald Donn p. 12, see also p. 95.

Silis Nighean Mhic Kaonaill p. 18, corrected p. 92.

Nighean Mhic Aonghais Oig p. 19, also corrected p. 95.

Iain Dubh ^lac 'Ic Ailein p. 19, continued p. 99.

P. 30, 16th line from top, for "flow," read "flaw."

P. 62, 11th line from top, for "Breaknish," read " Breakish." " P. 64, add to Foot Note, died in 1896 ; delete some 7 or 8 years ago."

P. 66, last line, for "flay," read "flev."

P. 67, the witty dialogue was only related by Farquhar MacDonald ; he died some 10 years ago.

P. 68, Angus MacDonald died September 9th, 1874.

P. 86, 6th line, for "Loch Treig," read "Glen Roy."

P. 89, 5th line from bottom, for "Logan," read " Laggan."

P. 89, 27th line from bottom, for " 1493," read " 1495."

P. 107, under the head of Robert MacDonald, add, he also composed an excellent poem of

8 stanzas, entitled " Opposite Characters," on

" The greedy prodigal and miser, And honest men wlio yet are wiser."

He died at Inverness in May, 1876.

P. 109, line 13 from bottom, left column, for "relayed," read "relaxed."

P. Ill, 20th line from the top, for " 1S75," read "1878."

P. 113, Foot Note for "Lagan," read "Logan."

P. 118, The stanzas quoted from the Ledaig bard as having been comiiosed to Flora Mac- Donald were not composed to her, but for the late Miss Campbell, Lochneli, who afterwards became the wife of Mr William Hosack, now of the Crofters Commission. The following fragment of a poem from "The Royalist" of April 16th, 1890, may

take its place-

Clan of the Isles, thy men could fail at need, But one brave woman that was born of thee,* Such full atonement for thy crime could make Drummossie is forgotten for her deed, And all the race of Somerled shall be Redeemed and glorified for Flora's sake.

* Flora MacDonald was born at Milton, South Uist, not in Skye. MACDONALD BARDS FROM MEDIEVAL TIMES.

";

MacDonald Bards from Mediaeval Times.

INTRODUCTION. annals for preserving the memory of past trans- actions and of stimulating the youth to an ^pHE Ijjirdic order was a very ancient institu- imitation of the virtuous deeds of their an- i tioii among tlie Celts. They were originally cestors. Tlieir achicNonicnts were detailed so members of the priesthood, and no class of graphically, and national calamities portrayed in society among tlie ancients has been more cele- such aUrctiii- laii-ii,i,i;c, tliat their hearers were brated. "Whether we consider the influence animated In deeds ot the most daring heroism. which they possessed, their learning, or poetic So important and powerful an influence did tiiey genius, they ai'e one of the most interesting exert that Diodorus informs us the bards had order of anti(iuity, and worthy of our entire power to [irevent an engagement even when the admiration." spears were levelled for immediate action. The The fiivourite songs of the bards are said to jjractice of animating warriors by chanting iieroic have been those celebrating the renown of their poems is of most ancient origin. Tyrtaeus, tiie ancestors. The praises of great men were Lacedemonian, who flourished 680 years Ijefore the accompanied with a sort of religious feeling, Christian era, composed Ave books of war verses, which was not only useful in exhorting the fragments of which are supposed to be still in living to deeds of heroism, but was supposed existence. It M-as not only in actual war that to be particularly pleasing to the spirits of the bards rehearsed tlieir soul-stirring verses tliose who liad died in battle, and consequently each chief was constantly attended Ijy a number became a sort of religious duty as well as an of these poets, who LMitcrtaincd him at meals, and incentive to inspire youth with a generous spirit roused his ardoui- ;iiid liis followers" ronrage with of emulation ; and these, having often been their powerful ri>citatiParis, it is said that Druidic virtues of liis ancestors ; and it. is universally learning comprised 60,000 verses, which those admitted that the Celtic bards influenced their of the first class were obliged to commit to liearers with a spirit of freedom and independence memory ; and Campion says that they spent ten whicii has been handed down to us, and which or twenty years at tlieir education, and talked exists among the Celtic populations even to the Latin like a vulgar tongue. When a student present day. was admitted to the pi'ofession of bard ism he Their compositions commemorating the worth was honoured with the degree of " Ollamh," and e.xploits of heroes were a sort of national and received an honorary cap called a " barred. In 192 the lawful price of the clothing of an and "bards of other years." "Thou shalt ph- " "oUamh" and of an"anra" or second poet in dure," said the bard of ancient days, after the Ireland, was fixed at five milch cows. In very moss of time shall grow in Temora, after the blast ancient times the bards sang the praises of the of years shall roar in Selma." The Tain-bo or good and valiant, and the Seanachies Avere the cattle spoil of Cualgne, commemorating an event registrars of events and custodians of family that occurred about 1905 years ago, is believed to history. be the oldest poem in the Gaelic language. The " Albanic Duan," a poem recited at the corona- The Caledonian bards officiated as sort of tion of Malcolm III. about 1056, and which is an aides-de-camp to the chief, communicating his undisputed relic, have been composed from orders to the chieftains and tlieir followers. must "When Fingal retired to view the battle, three poems much anterior to its own age. bards attended liim to bear his words to the Hugh MacDonald, the seanachie of Sleat, has chiefs." In later limes tlie offices of bard and left on record an account of the crowning of seanachie were often held by one person, and one the Lords of the Isles, as well as of the Council of the duties was to preserve the genealogies and of Finlaggan of Isia, Avith its gradation of social descent of the chiefs and the trilie, which were rank. The proclamation of the Kings of Innse solemnly repeated at marriages, baptisms, and Gall was attended with much pomp and cere- burials. The last purpose for which they were mony, at which the chief bard performed a retained by the Highlanders was to preserve a rhetorical panegyric setting forth tlie ancient faithful history of their respective clans. The pedigree, valour, and liberality of tiie family office was also a hereditary one, which received as incentives to the young chieftain and fit for its death-blow by the Government Act of 1748. his imitation. The Bishop of Argyle and the Lachlan MacNeil, Mhic Lachlan, Mhic Domhnuill, Isles gave tiie benediction of the Church, while Mhic Lachlan, Mhic Neil ]\Ior, Mhic Domhnuill, the chieftains of all the families and a ruler of of the surname of MacVurich, declared before Mr the Isles were also present. Roderick MacLeod, J. P., in presence of six The newly-proclaimed king stood on a square clergymen and gentlemen, that he was the stone 7 or 8 feet long, with a foot-mark cut in eighteenth in descent from " Muireadhach it, and this gave symbolic expression to the Albanich," who flourished in 1180 to 1222, whose duty of walking uprightly and in the footsteps posterity had officiated as bards to Clan Ranald, of his predecessors. He Avas clothed in a white and thac they had as salaiy for their office the habit as a sign of innocence and integrity, that he farm of Staoiligary and four pennies of Drimisdale would be a light to his people, and maintain the during fifteen generations. true religion. Then a white rod was placed in his Lachlan Mor MacVurich accompanied Donald, hand, indicating that he was to rule his people

Lord of the Isles, at the battle of Haarlaw in witii discretion and sincerity ; and, after the 1411, and rehearsed his great poem to animate ceremony was over, mass was said and the blessing the followers of the Islay chief. This war song of the bishop and of priest given, and Avhen they consists of 338 lines. The theme is - " children were dismissed the Lord of the Isles feasted tliem of Conn of the hundred fights, remember hardi- for a week, and gave liberally to the monks, hood in the time of battle." Round this subject poets, bards, and musicians. Lachlan Mor had gathered some six hundred and Hugh MacDonald does not inform us Avhere fifty adverbial adjecti\-es arranged alphabetically, the coronation of the Lords of the Isles took and every one of them bearing specially and place, but the inference to be draAvn from his martially on the great theme of the song. It is description is that " Eilean na comhairle," the altogether one of the most wonderful productions island of council, Avas the scene of the ceremony. in the Gaelic language. Donald of HaarlaAv Avas croAvned at Kildonan in That poems of great antiquity existed at the Eigg, but it is more than probable that the islet period when Ossian sang, is evident from the on Loch Finlaggan, Avith its table of stone and its " frequent allusions he made to the " songs of old place of judgment, close by the larger isle, on which stood the chapel and palace of the kings, DOMHNULL MAC FHIONNLAIDH NAN * must have been the scene of the historic rite. DAN MacDonald of the Isles Council was held at (DONALD MACDONALD). the island on Loch Finlaggan in Isla, and con- sisted of 4 thanes, 4 arniins, that is to say, 4 The first MacDonald bard of any importance lords or sub-thanes; 4 bastards (e.g.) squires was Donald MacDonald, better known by the or men of competent estates who could not name of " Domhnull Mac Fhiunnlaidh nan Dan," come up Avith the armins or thanes— that is, the famous Lochaber deer stalker and wolf freeholders or men tliat Iiad the land in factory hunter and author of the remarkable poem or magee of tlie Rhinds of Isla, MacNicoU in " A' chomhachag." He is supposed by some to Portree in Skye, and MacEachren, MacKay, have flourished before the invention of fire-arms, and MacGillivray in Mull. Tiiere was a tab- and by others as late as 1550. There is also let of stone where the Council sat in the islet some difficulty in making out whether he was a of Finlaggan, and the whole table, with the Lochaber or Badenoch man. The probability is stone on which MacDonald sat, was carried away that he hunted in both places. Tradition says l»y Argyle with the bells that were at Icolmkill. that he was the most expert archer of his ilay, There was, besides, a judge for every isle and at the time he lived, wolves were very for deciding controversies, who got for his trouble troublesome in Lochaber, but he killed so many an eleventh part of every action decided. Mac- of them that before he died there was only one Finnon was obliged to adjust weights and left alive in Scotland, which was shortly after measures, and MacDuffie or MacPhie of Colon- killed in Strathglass by a woman. say kept the records of the isles, thus showng He composed his famous song when old and that they had a regular system of government. unalile to follow the chase, and it is the only one There is a poem in the books of Clan Ranald of his compositions which has been handed down on the Lords of the Isles by O. Henna, A.D. to us. The poem " A' chomhachag " is a very

1450, and one on John, Lord of the Isles, 1460 ; remaikable one, and extends to 268 lines, and is and in the Dean of Lisniore's book there is also a in the form of a dialogue between himself and the poem on Joim, Lord of the Isles, and Angus, his owl. The occasion of the poem arose in the son, by Gilliecallum mac an OUaimh, 1480 ; one following manner : —He married a young woman on the murder of Angus, son of John, Lord of the when acUanced in years, who turned out a Isles, by John of Knoydart (probably a MacDon- regular "nagger." When the poet and his dog ald), 1490 ; and one on MacDonalds, by Gillie- Mere lioth worn down from age and infirmities, callum mac an Ollaindi, 1493. slie seems to have taken great pleasure in After the period when Ossian, Grain, Ullin, tormenting them, and took every opportunity of Fergus, Fonar, Dauthal, and other unknown ill-using the jjoor dog. One day, finding an old l)ards flourished, which reaches to the union of and feeble owl, she brought—it home, and, hand- the Pictish and Scottish Kingdoms, there seems ing it to the old man, said " This is a fitter to have been for a long time ìg\ì' poets of any companion for you than I am." Donald was not note, and it was not until about tlie end of the to be done, so he set to work and imiduccd the famous rival of its in 13th century that a revival took place ; but poem, which has no kind since then numerous bards of acknowledged ex- the language. In the 57th stanza he alludes to cellence appeared from time to time, though his " crooked rib," and hints gently that the many of their productions have not been handed birch rod would not be a bad thing for her. The dow n to us. music of " An Sealgair 's a ciiondiaciiag " is very quaint and beautiful, and has got a very ancient ring about it—far superior to anything produced at the present day. The late Professor Blackie of Edinburgh, pub-

' See the History of the Clan Donald, p. 399. lished a very good translation of this celebrated — ! ; — —

poem in the Celtic Magazine for September, 1885, Pleasant to hear was the rustle of leaves On the sheer-sided mountain's breast. of which will he interesting to English i» fewstanzas When the antlered hind on green wood shade, speaking people, and give them an idea of the At heat of noon lay down to rest, &«., &c. High- character of the poem, and what our early There are 67 stanzas of 4 lines in each, making of plagiar- land hards could do before the days 268 lines in all in the original, 63 stanzas of which ism : have been translated. " poor old owl of the sron. The Uev. Mr MacLean Sinclair in his " Gaelic Hard is your bed this night in my room, Bards from 141 1 to 1715," remarks with regard to But that it you be as old as Clan Donald You had cause enough in your day for gloom. the origin of this poem that when DomlinuU MacFliionnlaidk was an old man and unable to " I am as old as the oak on the moor. By many a wintry blast o'er blown, hunt the deer, the young laird of Keppoch Kaonall And many a sappling grew to a tree Gorach invited his principal followers to an enter- Ere I became the old owl of the sron." tainment at Taigh-nam-fleadh. The aged bard was are so very old. Sith you say you not asked, but started of his own accord and Confess your sins before you die, went as far as Taigh-na-fuine. Finding, however, I'll be the priest this night, and you'll that he was not Avanted at the entertainment, he Tell all the truth, and nothing deny ! turned home. On his way back, he heard an owl " never broke into a church. I in the woods of Strone, and linding it as old and Or stole a kerchief, or told a lie, lonely as himself, he gave vent to his poetical I never gadded abroad with a beau. inspiration. But a chaste old lady at home was I. There is also an account of our famous hard in I have seen Breham, the doughty old blade. The Gad, vol. v., p. 828, signed " Diarniid," said And Torridan with locks all grey, to have been contributed by the late Donald Fergus I knew, both tall and stout. MacPherson, a Lochaber man, who was for a long Brawny boys, and brave were they, time employed in the Advocate's library in Edin- seen the rough-skinned Alasdair, I have burgh. His account is in Gaelic, and reads very Though but handsome was he in his day, much like a sgeulachd, but one thing he has Full oft I listened from the crag. apparently settled, viz. that the author of " The When he came hunting up the brae. — Hunter and the Owl," was a Lochaber man. As After Alasdair, Angus I knew. the work is out of print, and not easily procurable He was a blameless hand at his trade. I shall give some extracts from it. The mills at Laraeh were made by him. " It has been the fortune of Donald, son of And better mills no where, never were made." Finlay, that more than one district has claimed Wild times were in Lochaber, I trow, kinship with him. Some say that he was of the Harrying east, and harrying west, folk of Braemar, others that he was a native of When you were frowning with eye-brow grim, Glencoe, and there are those who assert that the A little brown bird, in a little brown nest. age in which he lived is unknown. But there is " Some of my sires betwixt the Fearsaid one point on which all are agreed—and it is this And the Insch were lodged full well. that it was he who composed the " Song of the And some at Deating were nightly heard, the history of Hooting at sound of the vesper bell. Owl." Anyone acquainted with the clans, and considers this poem attentively, will And when I saw the plundering clans. perceive that about 300 years have elapsed since Striking and slaying, and driving about Donald lived, and that he must have had his On the nodding cliff 1 took my stand. hearing old And there I kept a safe look out." abode in Brae-Lochaber. I remember men talk about Donald, son of Finlay. Accord- Crag of my heart ! nodding cliff ing to their account he was of the people of Joy of all birds, so fresh and fair ; standard 'Tis there I was born, and there the stag Glencoe, and his father, Finlay, was Stands and snuffs the breezy air. bearer to Mac-'ic Iain—son of John MacDonald of Glencoe. His mother was a native of Loch- crag ! the home of the chase. father was Ijard and Where I would sit and hear »Iie bay aber. His maternal grand Of the eager hounds, as they drove the deer huntsman to Mw'ir- /:,n,inii// (M;MÌ)unaId of Down the steep and narrow way. Keppoch), and his Ikhiic \\as ,ii Cica- ( uianach. It that D.mald itMX'ivcd his early And the scream of the eagles from the scour. was with him from his And swan and cuckoo with floating song. training, so that he was thus brought up And sweeter than these the belling to hear early youth to an acquaintance with poetry and Of the dappled youngdeerasthey trotted along! the "chase, so he himself says — ;

covered with great forests, and wolves were Ann accordingly met there. I was ever since I was born, Wlien he became aged he could hardly move In fellowship with deer and roe. between the bed and the fireside, Imt his liunting instinct never left him, for once in the twilight, liis Glencoe, Wlien father died lie went to live at while looking out at the wimhnv towards the but it is not known how long he remained there. mountain he observed a grand stag coming to- I'roiii llie iioeni it will be understood tliat lie wards the gai-den behind tln^ lanise. His daugh- and lii.s chief Iiad some disagreement ; wliatever ter Mary wa.sNÌtlin- by the lireside and heard her " tlie cause may have been hoiiald l<'ft Eoiii-a- father's' oppressed Ineal liiim, and hastily asked Tigh-na-Crei^r,- v.,wi,,- tli:a hr w.mld never him what he Avas feeling, "lln>h:" he'rej.lie.l, return, which d(M-lar;iii..ii wa-^ fnUillc.l, f(,r he "get me my bow." She lli.iii-hl that he had never Avent tlicic a^aiii. When hi> niaiulfatlier become delirious as the hmv had been hanging up became old and iiiliiiu lie ii'tiiincil lo Cica-- —air an fharadh—on the hens roost for a long Guanach, and he was apiMiintcd Laid ami Imiits- time, but she took it down. " Bend it," said he man to the chief, Ma<' 'ic-IJadimill, w\u> uavc him —" Cuir air High e "—" Alas," said Mary, "there is not a man in Lochaber to-day who can liend it," In the summer he would stay in a shieling at " try," said her father, showing her how to do it Creag-Guanach, at the upper eiid of Loeli Treig, at length she succeeded. " Where are the and at the other end of the loch, at Fearsaid, he arrows ? " he said. Mary brought the quiver and made his winter residence. (liolh places ;uv. put it on his knee. Donald chose an arrow (Balg well-known to the writer. Hi-; lii-i cxiiciiciicc nf Shaighead) and the stag fell. " God be thanked," Loch Treig was in 1S61, when a ,uaiiickcc],cr he exclaimed, " I had no expectation of such suc- carried him seven times across Tjoch Treig i;i\cv cess for ever more, but it is my last feat of hunt- in the middle of the night, taking short cuts for ing." He commanded that he was to be buried our destination.) But to return to our jioet. in the skin of this deer, and his grave to be made When he found himself in comfortable circum- at the door of the Church with face turned stances he married a daughter of MacDonald, towards " Cròdhearg," a mountain rising above Braghad, but they were not long together as she Fearsaid. It is needless to state that his wish died soon after. He had one daughter, Mary, was complied with. The grave may be seen to who kept house for him, and he never married a this day—air bile na bruaieh —by the edge of the second time. hillock, at the Church of Gille Chaorral, and a One occasion when stalking a stately stag that grave stone upon it which he himself carried on frequented Gual-'an Liathghiuthais—shoulder of his back from the moorland —"na Monaidhnean" Pine, as Grey misfortune would have it who was —and it is alleged that it was he who said : on the hunting mountain but Dunnachadh Dubh-a- " Fhir a cheunias air mo lie, Chnrraic (Black Duncan of the Cap) and his men, Seall a rithisd as do dlieigh, and before Donald Avas aware of it they had him 'S cuimhnich ged tha mi 's an uaigh, firmly in their grasp, and he was obliged to ac- Gu'n robh mi uair cho luath riut fhein "" " company them to Fionn Lairig ; as they went man who stejjs upon my grave stone, aloKg they saw a hind lying beside a well or Look again—behind— into the past. spring, and they said derisively to him, we shall And remember that though I am in the grave, let you have your liberty if you will send an I was once as fleet of foot as thou," arrow through the right eye of the hind. Donald He was very indulgent to his daughter Mary, bent his bow but missed, when he failed to touch and one day between fun and earnest she asked her he uttered a harsh whistle, and the hind him to give her the goats he possessed (he had lifted iier head. He repeated the sound and she sheep and— black cattle as well), but he refused came in front of him, then he took aim keeping and said " dead or alive, for me, I will not part the arrow to his eye, and there was not an inch with the goats." This gave rise to an amusing from the point of the shaft to the bend that was "port" (song), being sung about Donald, son of not immersed (gun air a bhàthadh, literally Finlay's goats. drowned) in the blood of the hind. When the Chorus— Knight (I'.lack Duncan) beheld how well he had Eadarainn a-ho, odia done lie set him free, and not only that, but in- Gobhair Dhu' ill 'ic Fhionnlaidh, vited him to come and stay with himself for the Eadarainn a-ho. o-lui rest of his days. Donald thanked him, saying Gobhair Dho' ill 'ic Fhionnlaidh, that should he be given Fionn Lairig altogether Eadarainn a-ho, o-ha, Gobhair mo chridhe 's ghràidh, he could never forsake Loch Trei^ and the deer. mo Eadarainn a-ho, o-ha, At that time a considerable part oi Lochaber was Gobhair Dho' ill 'ic Fhionnlaidh. —

Verse- caused him to be feared and respected by those who knew him. 's e gaol nan caorach 's nan gobhar, Gifted with poetic powers of a very high order, Gaol nan caorach 's nan gobhar, Gaol nan caorach 's nan gobhar, and extraordinary power of invective, he com-

Gobhar Dho' ill ' ic Fhionnlaidh, posed a number of very valuable poems, songs, 'S e gaol nan caorach 's nan gobhar, and elegies, which were taken down from oral 'Us nio làmh-sa 'bhi ga'm bleoghann. recitation long after the poet's death. The first Gaol nan caorach 's nan gobhair, thing that brought him into notice, beyond the Gobhair Dho' ill 'ic Fhionnlaidh. confines of Lochaber, was the active part he took &c. Eadarainn, in punishing the murderers of the lawful heir of In his famous poem to the owl tiie poet com- Keppoch and his brother. This massacre was pares the owl to himself in his dialogue with her. perpetrated by the cousins of the youths about He breaks out in praise of " Creag-Guanach," 1663. " Iain' Lom " perceiving that the minds of and talks of how Heeting is this world and life. the people were alienated from the lawful heir in He praises the deer, and addresses his favourite his absence, he and his younger brother having white liound with afi'ection, and ends with some been sent abroad for their education during their words of reproach to old age for taking away his minority, and the affairs being entrusted to their strength. cousins, who took advantage of the opportunity in establishing themselves by the power and authority they exercised in administering his affairs, and, in fact, suspecting what was likely to did all in his power to prevent it and (JOHN MACDONALD). happen, stood single-handed in defence of the right. The next Clan bard was John MacDonald— Failing in his attempts to awaken the people to a " Iain Loni "—the celebrated Lochalier l)ard and sense of their duty, he applied to the most potent politician, who lived in tiie reigns of diaries I. neighbour, the Chief of Glengarry, but the latter and II., and died at an advanced age about 1709 declined to interfere in the attairs of a celebrated or 1710. He was commonly called " Iain Lom," branch of the Clan Dughaill, and there was no or Bare John, on account of his never having had other who could have aided him with any prospect any hair upon his face, or from his acuteness and of success. In this dilemma, and still determined severity when occasion demanded freedom of that tlie murderers should be punished, and being speech. He was born in the Braes of Lochaber disappointed with the action of Glengarry, he about 1624, and was a great great-grandson of invoked the muse and began praising Sir Donald John Ailein, fourth MacDonald of Keppoch. Gorm Og of Sleat and his son, Sir James, con- He was also sometimes called " Iain Manntach," on fident that the cause he espoused was honourable, account of an impediment in his speech. The and trusting to his own powers of persuasion, his Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair, of Piince Edward overtures were favourably received by Sir James Island, who published an excellent collection of his MacDonald, and measures were concerted for poems and songs in 1895, says that he was present punishing the murderers, which met with Sir at the battle of " Stron-a-chlachain," near Loch James's approval, showing the judgment and Tay, in 1(340, where his father and Angus Mac- sagacity of the faithful clansman. A person was Donald —Aonghas Macllaonuill Oig— of Keppoch sent to North Uist with a message to Archibald were killed. This Aonghas MacRaonuill Oig was MacDonald, "An Ciaran Mapach," brother of Sir mortally wounded at the battle of Sti"on-a- James MacDonald, and a poet as well as a soldier, chlachain, and was taken by his men to a bothy requesting him to bring a company of chosen men in Coire-a-Choramaig, where, unfortunately, he to the mainland, where he would meet with the was discoveied by the enemy and killed, "hence Lochaber bard, who was to be his guide and the Lochaber soiig " Coire-a-Choramaig," from instructor in future proceedings. the death having taken place there. He must In order to understand the state of affairs at this liave been then at least sixteen years of age, juncture, I may mention that "Alexander probably more, so in all likelihood he was born as MacDonald of Keppoch—Alasdair nan cleas early as 1620. Being a man of superior talents had three sons, RaonuU Og, Domhnull Glas, and and possessing a large amount of general infor- Alasdair Buidhe. He was succeeded by his son mation he was intimately acnuainted Avith all tlie Raonull Og, who was succeeded l)y his son Angus. ])olitical plans and nio\ements of his day, and Angus who was killed at Stroiia-l'hlachain in like the rest of his countrymen in the Braes of 1640, was succeeded by Domhnull Glas, second Lochaber he was a Koman Catholic, a keen son of Alasdair nan cleas. Donald Glas married Jacobite, and a very influential member of his a daughter of Forester of Kilbaggie, in Clack- party, while his earnestness and determination mannanshire, by whom he had two sons, Alex- —

ander and Ronald. Alexander—Alasdair Mòr— threw it carelessly down, whereupon there was a succeeded his father. Alasdair Buidhe, third son rattling— of the heads. John exclaimed on hearing of Alexander nan Cleas, had acted as tutor of it " Ud ! ud ! nach cord sibh ! nach cord sibh ! !" (" ! Keppoch for a number of years. He was an 's gur cloinn chàirdean sibh What what !

ambitious, selfish man, and resolved to get rid of wont you agree ; wont you agree, and j'ou being his two nephews, Alexander and Ronald, by so near a kin."t) Soon after the above event the assassination, in order to secure the chieftainshi]) poet and Glengarry were reconciled. The chief of the MacDonalds of Keppoch for himself. He well knew the influence which the poet exercised had five sons—Allan, Archibald, Alexander, in the country, and had the prudence not to Donald, and Ronald. Allan and Donald, assisted despise one so skilled in diplomacy. No one of by Alasdair Ruadh Mac Dhughaill of Inarlaire his rank could command greater respect and de- (inverlair), and his six sons, went stealthily to ference. He seems to have been born for the age Keppoch House, and murdered Alasdair Mòr and in which he lived, and the influence which he his brother Ronald, who was only a young boy possessed and swayed amongst all classes was at the time. This horrible massacre was com- very remarkable. He entered heart and soul into mitted in September, 1663. ' Iain Lom's ' poem whatever cause he espoused, and was in con- " on the occasion—" Mort na Ceapaich —extends sequence both feared and respected. It is alleged

to 184 lines, and is a beautiful poem ; it shows of him that he was no soldier, yet he managed to the author at his best. He stands before us as a set people against each other. Men of influence tender-hearted and faithful friend, a preacher of throughout the country knew this as well as the truth and righteousness, and a man of firm faith chieftains at a distance, and dreaded his influence in a just God." accordingly. " The " Siol Dùghaill from which Alasdair So great was his power as an indispensable Ruadh, the instigator of the Keppoch murders agent to his friends that he received a yearly pen- was descended, were MacDonalds who came from sion from Charles II., who made him his Gaelic Moidart to Lochaber, about 1547. Alasdair poet laureate. He was the means of bringing Ruadh was the principal man among them in together the armies of Montrose and Argyll at the Alasdair Buidhe's time, and lived as already battle of Inverlochy, which was fought on Sunday, mentioned at Inverlair. So well had the poet 2nd February, 1045, where so many of the heads and his coadjutors laid their plans, chief of whom of the families of the Clan Campbell were slain. " was the Ciaran Mapach," that the assassins The Campbells on hearing of the intention of their were surprised in their beds in September, 1665, enemies to make a second raid on their coun- and had summary justice inflicted upon tliem try, marched north to prevent that course being seven in all —Alasdair Ruadh and his six sons. taken. "Iain Lom" was aware of what was By dawn next day, so goes the traditional story, taking place, and hastened or sent a message to at Kepjioch, their heads were laid at the feet of the army of Montrose at Fort Augustus with the Lord iVIacDonell* at Invergarry Castle, by " An intelligence that the Campbells were in Lochaber, " Ciaran Mapach," lainLom," and theSleat or Uist numbering 3000 strong, under the Marquis of men. On their way to Invergarry the heads were Argyll, who was burning and laying waste the washed in a spring or well, since called " Tobar country. " nan Ceann —the well of the heads—and over Montrose marched back with all possible speed, which a chieftain representative of Lord Mac- and arrived at Glen Nevis on the evening of Donell erected a monument with a long inscrip- February 1st, 1645, and the battle was fought tion upon it in Gaelic. Many is the time the next day. In the meantime, Argyll, after writer has ridden past this " Tobar nan Ceann," committing his army to the charge of his cousin, at all hours of the day and night and viewed it, Campbell of Auchinbreck, abandoned his men, by and the old tree at Invergarry on which one of the going during the night on board a boat in the Glengarry's used to hang some of his subjects loch, excusing himself by alleging his incapacity with intense interest and wonder. From Inver- to enter the field of battle, in consequence of a garry John Lom and his men proceeded to Inver- contusion he had received by a fall. Montrose's ness by direction of Lord MacDonell, and an army consisted of the Irishmen who came over to incident occurred on the way which shows the Scotland with Alasdair Mac-ChoUa, the Mac- stern and satirical character of our poet. The Donalds, the Stewarts and Robertsons of Athole man who carried the creel with the heads on the Farquharsons, Camerons, and others. arrival at the Inn of Cluanmore in Glenurquhart, Montrose won a signal victory. He lost only 8 men, Lord Ogilvie, a Captain Brian, and 6 privates. * ^neas MacDonell, 9th of Glengarry was raised to

the Scottish Peerage in 1660 by the title of Lord t See Rev. Allan Sinclair's paper in Celtic Magazine. MacDonell and Arcs. January, 1880. Argyll lost 14 barons of his own clan, and 1500 received him courteously, and took him through common soldiers. Our poet having acted as guide the castle treating him with the respect due to so to Alasdair Mac-Cholla in search of the Camp- influential a guest. MacKenziein his beauties of bells, and not finding them at first, lie began to Gaelic poetry, relates the following anecdote in suspect his guide, and declared that if he deceived connection with his visit to Inveraray Castle. On him he would hang him on tiie tirst tree he met, entering a room hung round with— the heads of " unless," answered the poet, " you lind all the blackcock, his Grace asked John " Am fac thu Campbells before this time to-morrow, you may riamh Iain an uiread sin de choilich dhubha an do so." Before the battle commenced, Mac- aon àite?" "Chunnaic," ars Iain, "C'àite?" Cholla said, " Make ready, John, you shall march "An Inbhir-LiK'haidh," "A! Iain, Iain, cha along witli me to the light." The poet, who was sguir thu gu biacli de chagnadh nan Caim- a bit of a coward, was at his wit's end, but the beulach ?" " Sc s iluili<'li leam," ars Iain, " nach thought immediately struck him tliat "discretion urradh mi g'an sluga

Thu- Alastair mac Clu.lla dli-'Albainn ; His lament for Angus MacDonald of Keppoch leis r.,nna(lli is mailihadh, Rinnuadh i " Raonuill Oig" is a very 'S leugadh Icis coilracli «lralli-Bha]gaidh. Cumha Aonghuis Mhic Hi rim, ho, etc. line composition. It consists of 10 verses of 3 lines in each verse, cand contains some very tender (!fh Verse- passages. It is strange that there is no lament Dhirioh mi mocli maduin cheòraieh, for his own father, " Domhnull Mac Iain mhic (jru braigh' caisteal Inbhir-Lòchaidh ; Dhomhnuill mhic Iain Ailein," who was killed at Chunnaic mi 'n t-arm a' dol an òrdugh, the same time. 'S bha buaidh a' bhlàir Ic Clann-Dòmhnuill. In connection with his " Oran do Dhomhnall Hi rim, ho, etc. Gorm òg of Sleat," it may be mentioned that We are indebted to Mrs MacDonell, Keppoch, Donald MacDonald, 6th of "Sleat, married Mary, for having preserved a good set of this splendid daughter of Hector Alòr MacLean of Duart, by song. Tlie natives of the Braes of Lochaber still whom he had three sons, Donald, Archibald, repeat tiiese iieroic verses to which the writer and Alexander. He died in 1585. Donald, 7th has often list (Mied with great interest. The beauty of Sleat, Domhnall Gorm Mòr, died without of the language, and the boldness of expression, issue in 1616. Archibald married Margaret, lia\e seldom been equalled, and, perhaps, never daughter of Angus MacDonald of Isla, by whom surjiassed. he had Donald. Donald (Domhnall Gorm Og), The poet's hatred of the Campbells was un- succeeded his uncle in Sleat. He was created a bounded, and his satire against them on all occa- baronet in 1625 and died in 1643.* sions was most bitter. So keenly did Argyll ftel His "Cumha Mhontiois," elegy on the death this, and the influence and ridicule of such a of Montrose, extends to 5G lines. James Graham, bard, that he offered a considerable reward for his Marcjuis of Montrose, was the only son of John, head. So confident was MacDonald of his own fourth earl of Montrose, and Margaret Kuthven, influence and the sacred character of a bard, that he repaired to Inveraray and delivered himself u)! to the Marquis demanding his reward, Argyll —

ilaughter of the Earl of Gowrie. He succeeded Mary, daughter of Robert Douglas, third Earl of his father as Earl of Montrose in 1626. He Morton. The poet does not speak of him as the married in November, 1629, Magdalene Car- chief of the MacDonalds, but as captain of the negie, daughter of the Earl of Southesk, by whom clan. There is also a very long and eulogistic he had three sons, and was lianged in Edinburgh, song to the Marquis of Athole, consisting of 21 27th May, 1650. He liad been arrested by Neil verses, of S lines in each verse, extending to 16S MacLeod, 11th of Assynt, at Carbiesdale, in lines. " Koss-shire, on April 27th, 1650, who received a In his Cumha do Ghilleasbuig na Ceapaich," sum of money and 400 bolls of meal as a reward Maclean Sinclair is of opinion that the 13th, 14th, for his services. This Neil MacLeod afterwards 15th, and 16th verses may or may not belong to refers to Raonull Og, lost ills estate and died without issue in 1691. tlie poem. The 13th verse Served him right. and the 14th verse to his son, Angus. The 15th Glas and his murdered sons, "Tilleadh an Dara Righ Tearlach,"—the may refer to Donald while the 16th may refer to Alasdair Buidhe, who return of King Charles II. — extends to 60 lines, was drowned in tlie Spean river. His song on and is a fine composition. Charles II. returned union between England and Scotland, which to Britain in 1660, entered London on 29th May, the place in and was exceedincdy unpopular was crowned in NVestminster Abbey, April 23rd, took 1707, Scotland, extends to 112 lines, and his elegy on 1661, and the Marquis of 4rgyll was executed in in of Sir Donald MacDonald, tenth of Edinburgh, 27th May, 1661. the death Sleat, who died February 5th, 1695, extends to 96 His elegy on the murdered Keppochs— " Cumha lines. There is also a doubtful elegy of 96 lines Do Mhac Mhic Raonaill, na Ceapaich, agus a — entitled " Marbhrann do dh-Alasdair Dubh Bhràthair a chaidh a mhort 's a' Bhliadna 1663," Ghlinne-Garaidh. This Alasdair Dubh of Glen- consists of 70 lines. One would have expected garry died in 1724. If John Lom was living at a longer song for his coadjutor, " An Ciaran tiiat time he would have been 100 years of age, Mapacli," it consists of 11 verses only, of 4 lines which is improbable. It is more likely that he died in each verse. The third line in the 1st stanza about 1710 as already stated, even then he would " Glòir do Dhia 's do dh-Iarla Shifort," have been 86 at least, or 90 if he were born as refers to his having been under tlie Earl of Sea- early as 1620. There were other very good forth's protection. It seems that after the poems by our voluminous author, but it would Keppoch murders the poet was persecuted and had occupy too much space to notice them all. Our to Hy for his life to Koss-shire, Avhere he got a poet lived a stormy life full of danger, and place from Seaforth in Glensheal, where he and political and domestic trouble, and died at a good his family might reside until the murderers could old age, full of years, and honour, and fame, be apprehended, as Seaforth, at the poet's reqviest, and was buried at Tom-Aingil in the Braes of had petitioned Government lor carrying that Lochaber, where his grave used to be pointed out point into efl'ect. The Government finding it to the curious. Another bard, Alex. MacDonald impossible to bring the murderers to justice in a of Glencoe, composed an elegy to him when legal way, sent a " commission of fire and sword" standing on his gravet beginning thus— to Sir James MacDonald of Sleat, signed by the 'Na shineadh an sud fo na pluic, Duke of Hamilton, Marquis of Montrose, the Tha gaol an Leòmhainn 's fiiath an Tuirc. Earl of Eglinton, and other six of the Privy handsome monument was erected over his grave between t A Council, hence the relations that existed some years ago. the poet and Sir James. Anion" his other poems are " Rannan Eadar DomhnuU Gruamach agus In MacPherson's "Dunaire" it is said that when was buried, Coll of Keppoch said to Angus lain Lorn," " lorram," or boat song, for Sir James John Lom Mac-Alasdair Ruaidh of Glencoe, " Let us now hear Mòr MacDonald, of 78 lines, an elegy on the same what you have got to say," and he produced the - of 39 lines, and a long song of 128 lines to Angus following elegy : MacDonald of Glengarry, who was forfeited by Chunna mi crÌGch air m' fhear cinnidh, Cromwell in 1651. His estate was given to the 'G a charamh an diugh 'an TomAingeal; luchair nam bard—righ nam filidhj— Sir Marquis of Argyll, who gave it to Ewen Dia dheanamh sith ri d'anam. Cameron of Lochiel, who gave it to the original B' fhuath leat Màiri b'fhuath leat Uilleam, owner. Glengarry claimed the chiefship of the 'S b'fhuath leat Siol-Diarmaid uile, whole of the ClanDonald. This led to a dispute 'S a h-uile haon nach biodh rioghail Dh'innseadh tu dhaibh e gun iarraidh. with Sir James MacDonald of Sleat. There is Tha gaol an Leòghainn, 's fuath an Tuirc, also an " Gran " (song) and " Marbhrann '' (elegy) Anns an ùaigh 's am bheil do chorp, to Lord MacDonell of Glengarry, who died in 1682. Gu'n tugadh Dia niathanas dut 's olc One to MacDonald of Sleat of 17 verses. This Bha thu dioghaltach an ! was Sir Donald MacDonald who married in 1662, } King of poets. — —

MAC IAIN LUIM (JOHN LOM'S SON). about him. It seems that he was in love with a daughter of the chief of the Grants, whose seat son fought under Dundee at the John Lom's was at Glenurquhart, but the Grants would not battle of Killiecrankie in 16S7. It is said that he hear of the match on account of his poverty, captain. was killed in a duel by Donald was a He though of high lineage. The poetand his lady-love Fhir-Bhothfhiunntain, about 1690. Donn Mac having planned an elopement, Donald to be at hand duel was fought at High Bridge about eight The hid himself in a cave on the north side of Loch- miles from Fort William. He was a good poet, ness, near " Reilig Ghorraidh." Here he was of course not so famous as his father. In though to remain until Miss Grant was able to join him, to become famous as he must fact, he had no time but Donald's secret and retreat were betrayed to killed comparatively a young have been when the brother of his love, and he was decoyed into a following song was composed by him, man. The house in the neighbourhood of the castle, by a but owing to the fame of his father few of his pretended message from Miss Grant. Donald, have been preserved : productions thrown off his guard by the kindness and hospi- " Latha Raon Ruari." tality of the lady's pretended confidant, was pre- vailed on, not only to drink freely, but also to An Raon-Ruari so 'blia'nn sleeji in the barn. No sooner was he asleep than B' lionrahor ceann is colunn gu làr, his sword and target were removed by his Mòran Ghàidheal is Ghall Bh' air chall's an uilinn ri bàir. treacherous host, hence, when his foes came upon 'Nuair a thàinig an clann him in the morning, he had no weapon but his 'Nan deann an deireadh an la, gun, which missed fire, so that he was literally Cha b' e tilleadh gun chall unarmed, on which he composed " Mile mallachd A shanntaich gillean mo ghràidh. gu bràth air a' ghunna mar arm," &c. Donald Bha an t-Alastair Ciar expected that his clan would interfere and pay his eirig fine, but the bad terms he was on Gu dian le 'bhrataichean ; f Ann an am del a sios with his chief, and Iain Lom, prevented that.

Cha b'mhiann leis f uireach 'nan deigh : The night before his execution while in prison, he chlaidheanih no sgiath Cha bu composed the beautiful song :

'Bu dion do'n ehuraidh 'bha troun ; Righ ! Donn, Co a chumadh ris strith, 'S truagh a Mo nighean Nach robh mi thall 'am Muile leat. 'S an Righ mar spionnadh d' a sgeith ? Far am faighinn iasg is sithionn fheidh, Is bha Dòmhnall nan Dun 'S cha bhiodh, a chiall, oirnn uireasaibh.

Gu dlùth air uilinn a' bhàir ; to tradition sister Bha 'chuid ghillean ri 'chtil, According Donald's was present at his execution, and the head articulated, 'S cha seachnadh iad cùis le dàil : Bha tir ghasda mo ruin after being struck oft", the words, " A Cheit tog 'G 'ur leanailt gu dliith mu'n sail, an ceann," " Kate, take up the head." So far as Is mar bhuineadh da'n cliù, I am aware only a few of his other songs have Ri casgairt le lùths nan làmh. been preserved. DonaldDonn was a handsome man, There are other four verses of the above song a brave warrior, a good poet, and an excellent equally good, but as the air is not known to which harper. He was executed in 169L " it was sung, it has not so much interest at the His allusion to Mull in 'S truagh a Righ," present day. etc., was probably on account of his having

planned his elopement for that locality ; he would be safer on an island than on the mainland. DOMHNULL DONN (BROWN DONALD). MacLean Sinclair says that he had a son by a girl in Sutherlandshire—"An nighean donn a Donald MacDonald, poet and politician, com- bha 'n Cataobh "—and a daughter by another called " of monly Donald Donn," was the house girl, and that the latter paid him a visit while in of of Bohnntin and Aberarder, a branch the prison, and that it was to her he addressed the MacDonalds of Keppoch, the second son of John MacDonald, fourth of Bohnntin, and uncle to * See Ma,cLean Sinclair's Bards, 1411 to 1715. Gilleasbuig of Keppoch. His mother Avas a daughter of Cameron of Glenmailie. Donald was not on friendly terms with his chief. Coll of of tiie Druids and was determined by the quality, or birth of the individual. One hundred and forty cows Keppoch, or " Iain Lom," whose son, as already " " was the eirig of an Earl ; one hundred that of an mentioned, he had killed in a duel. Like many Earl's son or thane ; and sixteen of a villain or plebeian. of his countrymen he was a " creachadair," or Tacitus tells us that the same custom prevailed among the ancient Germans—" Luitur homicidium certo raider, his exploits direction history fails in which armentorum ac pecorum numero, pars civitati pars to record. There is, in fact, not very much known propinquis." — — — ;

" poem, 'S truagh, a righ ! mo nighean donn." ALASTAIR BHOTH-FHIUNNTAIN I prefer, however, holding by the Grant romance (ALEXANDER OF BOHUNTIN). as being more likely. He composed other three " songs at least, besides 'S truagh a Kigh ! mo John Dubh, natural son of Raonall Mòr na nighean donn." They will be found in Mr Mac- Ceapaich, was the first MacDonald of Bohuntin) Lean Sinclair's Gaelic bards. One is His descendants are known as Sliochd-an-taighe, " Cha Taobh mi na Srathan." and also as Sliochd-na-banfhighiche. He married Cha taobh mi na srathan, a daughter of Donald Glas Mackintosh with issue Clia bhi mi 'gan tathaich five sons—Alexander, his successor, Donald, John, Fhad 's a chumas fir Atholl am mod. Ranald, and Angus. He had also a natural son, Cha taobh mi, etc. Gillecalum Mòr; Donald, John, and Ranald were Mi aig sail beinn Muc-Duibhe, put to death by the unprincipled Alastair-nan- 'S neoshocrach mo shuidhe, cleas of Keppocli. Alexander, second of Bohuntin, 'S mi coimhead strath dubh uisge 'n eoin. Cha taobh mi, etc. married a daughter of MacDonald of Glencoe, by whom he had one son, Aonghus Mòr. This The above is rather a good song, and consists of Aonghus Mor, third of Bohuntin, married a nineteen verses. Another is an " bran " (song). daughter of Cameron of Strone, and had three sons, John, his successor, Aonghus a' Bhocain, Beir an t-soraidh so bhuam. and Alastair na Rianaich. John, fourth of Do Ghleann-Ruaidh le fear eigin, Bohuntin, married (hi buidheinn mo ghaoil, a daughter of Cameron of 'S iad nach saoilinn 'mhealladh orm. Glenmallie, by whom he had Alexander, his successor, Domhnall Donn, and Domhnall Chorus. Gruamach, all men of good poetic talents. Hugoran o u e ho, John Og, sixth of Bohuntin, and Domhnall I ri ri hiag o, Glas, his brother, Avere transported to North Hugan o lail o, Carolina for taking part in the unfortunate re- No ho i ri ri ho ro. bellion in 1745. Alexander of Bohuntin was a poet of consider- This is also a good song, and extends to twelve able merit. Mr MacLean Sinclair gives two of verses. The third is : his poems in his " Gaelic Bards," nearly all his "Mile mallachd do'n òl." other poems have perished.

Those preserved are : (A thousand curses on the drink). " Cumha Nam Mac." Mile mallachd do'n òl. Bho'n luighigeadh 'thug 'S mairg a dheanadh dheth pòit, Dia dhomh, 'S bhi' iarraidh, 'Se mo mhealladh gu mòr a fhuair mi. mo mhath a ga Gu'm faic gach duine liath Mile mallachd, etc. mi 'S ann tha mi trom, trom. Mile marbhphaisg do'n dram Cha dirich mi ri fuar bheinn 'Chuir an daorach 'am cheann, An fhireach 's am bi 'n ruadh bhoc ; 'Nuair a ghlac iad 'san àirde-tuath mi, Tha m' anail goirid luath dhomh, also a very good song of fifteen verses, drawn 'S ann' tha mi trom, trom. from personal experience of a pretty bad bout, The other is : reminding one of the Highlander, who once had a " Cumha Eile Mhic." splitting headache next morning after a spree, D'A " and remarked Ah ! Avhisky is a very bad thing, Seachduin dòlach bho Fheill Pàtric especially bad whisky." Poor Donald Donn, Sgeula cràiteach, dh' fhalbh na bràithrean, though he upheld the reputation of the Mac- 'Thug sguab-làrach air na càirdean, Donald bards, had a checkered career and an un- 'Bhios gu bràth 'n ar cuimhne, Bhios gu bràth, &c. fortunate ending, which, at the present day, we can only look back upon witii juty and sadness. Dh' fhalbh na h-àrmuin 'dheanadh stàth dhuinn, 'Bu mhòr tàbhachd ri uchd gàbhaidh 1 believe he also composed a song to tlie " nigliean ; Och, mo chràdh-lot 's goirt a tha donn tlia 'n Cataobli," whom he abducted from mi Dh' fhàg sid m' àirnean brùite. Sutlierlandsliire. The former consists of eleven verses, and tiie latter of seven verses. Both seem to be fairly good songs, but we lack the airs to which they were sung. — ——

'AN CIARAN MAPACH," that he was a sportsman also, for in the second stanza he says GILLEASBUIG RUADH MAC DHOMHNUILL. Agus Uiginnis riabhach An trio a dh'iarr mi an damh donn, with " Iain Loin was Contemporaneously " adding to his attainments of poet and soldier better known as Archibald MacDonald, "An that of deer-stalker. His " Marbhrann Do Shir hardly been done justice Ciaran Mapaeh," who has Seumas Mac-Dhonuill "— " Elegy on Sir James to historians. I am indebted to the Rev. A. by MacDonald," the poet's brother—is a much longer one of the historians J. MacDonald, Killearnan, poem, and extends to 144 lines. In the 6th Donald, for a coirect account of of the great Clan stanza there is mention of " Port Raoghuill pedigree. was a this famous clansman's He Uidhir " "Dun Donald's tune," about which Donald Gorm Og, Mac- lawful son of Sir the following story is told. " RaoghuU Odhar of Sleat, and a brother of Ghilleasbuig Chleirich was a jjiper and a great coward. On one occasion, who died on the 8th Sir James Mor MacDonald, in the exercise of his calling on the field of battle soldier was a of December, 1678. This poet and with his clan, he was seized with such fear at the of bravery, sagacity, and prudence, man great sight of the enemy that he left ott' playing and Lom's co- and, as alieady mentioned, was Iain began to sing some dolorous song to a lachrymose murderers of the lawful adjutor in punishing the air, some stanzas of which had been picked up the greatest heirs of Keppoch. His father placed and preserved by his fellow soldiers, and which, requiring reliance upon his fidelity in any thing on their return from the war, they did not fail to zeal, allotted him a grant jn-udence, tact, and and repeat. When an adult is seen crying for some seldom given of land in North Uist, which was trifling cause, he is said to be singing "Port except to gentlemen of liberal education for the Raoghuill Uidhir." Similai'ly, when a High- seem to have been times. As a poet he does not lander is threatening vengeance against any one a voluminous author, few of his compositions he will say— " Bheir mi ort gu seinn thu Port having been preserved, which is a pity, as his Raoghuill Uidhir, —" I will make you sing Dun taste, education, and natural powers entitle him Donald's tune." The folio >ving stanzas give an place among our Gaelic bards. to a high idea of the song : songs, " B' annsa cadal air Fraoch," One of his " B'e so an talanih mi-shealbhach ! com- "'Twere better to sleep on heather," was Tha gun chladach gun gharbhlach gun chòs posed when the poet-soldier was in Edinburgh Anns an rachainn da' ra fhalach, under the care of a surgeon for an injured ankle. 'S sluagh gun athadh a' teannadh faisg oirnn. It extends to 66 lines, each verse consisting of 8 Fonn (Chorus). lines, and judging from the tenor of the song, the Tha mi tinn leis an eagal, air of which is slow and plaintive, it must have Tha mi cointeach gur beag a bhios beò ; Chi mi lasadh an fhiidair, been very popular. The melody is in the last Chluinn mi sgoilteadh nan dubh-chlach ri ord. edition of the " Gesto Collection of Highland Fhuair mi gunna na^h diiilt mi, about it Music," and has got an ancient ring Fhuair mi claidheamh nach lùb ann am dhòrn, which is very pleasing. Ach ma ni iad mo mharbhadh, The plaintive nature of the song, " B'annsa Ciod am feum a ni 'n àrmachd sin dhòmhs' ? Tha mi tinn, etc. cadal air Fraoch," will be seen from the following Ged do gheibhinn-sa sealbh. words in the 1st stanza : Air li\n a' chaisteil de dh-airgead 's de dh-òr,

Ge socrach mo leabaidh, Oich ! ma ni iad mo mharbhadh ! B' annsa cadal air fraoch Ciod am feum a ni 'n t-airgead sin dhònihs' ? Ann an lagan beasc vxai^neach Tha mi tinn, etc.

A's bad de'n luachair ri'm thaobh ; should like to know a little more about 'Nuair a dh'eirinn 's a' mhaduinn We 'Bhi siubhal ghlacagan caol, this famous man, how many songs he composed, Na bhi triall thun na h-Abaid, and how long he lived, etc., but I fear that little 'G èisdeachd glagraich nan saor. more can be ascertained about him. The above lines breathe home-sickness. It seems —

Ì5

GILLEASBUIG NA CEAPAICH. books and papers not accessible to ordinary (ARCHIBALD MACDONALD, KEPPOCH.) collectors, or, at any rate, not very convenient for reference. It is not known how many songs Tliis di.stinguishecl branch of the MacDonakls Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich composed, but the were notable for their bardic gifts. Besides Iain following are authentic, so far as can be ascer- Loni, who was himself a cadet of the family, and tained :—" Tearlach Stiuart, Fear Chail-Bhinn," his son, who inherited a considerable measure of air fonn " Mac-talla 's an Dim," of which the his father's poetic talents, both Gilleaslmig following is a stanza^ (Archibald) and Coll, and several others were Gu'm bheil mulad orm thein, bards as well as chiefs. The subject of the present Agus m' inntin gu leir fo sprochd ! sketch was the 15th chief of Keppoch, and father Mu'n naidheachd so fhuair of Silis (Cicely), the celebrated poetess. He had Mi air Caoil-Bhinne chruaidh nan cnoc : Thus', a Thòiirlaich òig ùir, a large family of four (some say nine) daughters 'Bhi 'nad laidhe 's an ùir an nochd ! and four sons. It may here be mentioned that Fhir a' chridhe gun sgàth, the chiefs of the MacDonalds of Keppoch could 'Dheanadh faoilte 'n uair thàrlainn ort. bring out on an emergency three hundred fighting It extends to 56 lines, and was evidently an " oran men of their own people* as brave and gallant mulaid," the air of which must have been sad and heavy. " Rannan-Firinneach " is a poem a band as ever trod on heather. Indeed, they of 26 lines, not a song, so is " Rannan-Brc-ige " of were by far the most patriotic of all the Highland .SB lines, the former being a true epigram, the clans in the Stewart cause, and would have shed latter a false one. the last drop of their blood in the cause of their His " Oran do Domhnnll-Donn, Mac-Fhir cliief. The chiefs always appeared at the head Bhoth-Fhiiinntain" (song to brown Donald, younger of Bohuntin) also consists of 8 lines in of their own men, although only a branch of the each verse. The chorus goes : great Clan Donald. They might have secured Ho hi ri gheallaidh, rights as they had just claims to land for signal Air faire co naile ! services, but they, unfortunately, cared not for Ho hi ri gheallaidh

titles on parchment, they claimed their rights and Air faire co naile ! Air falbhan beag oho, titles by the edge of their sword. Trom othoro naile ! Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich (Archibald) was the 'Bhi'g'ur ruith air feadh dalach, second son of Alasdair Buidhe of Keppoch, and Le geur-lanna 's e b' fheàrr leani ! succeeded his father about 1665. He married This song seems more lively than the previous Mary, daughter of MacMartin of Lettertinlay, by one, and has got some humour about it, and some satire regarding the of whom he had four sons and four daughters— Coll, marks small pox upon his nose. Kaonall Mòr, Thìr-na Drise, Aonghas Odhar, The " Freagairt" (reply) to Alastair Friseil's Alasdair Odhar ; Mòr, Janet, Catherine, and (Fraser's) song on " Iain òg MacAlasdair " consists Cecelia (or Cicely). He died in 1682, when Iain only of 8 verses of 4 lines in each verse, but reads Lom composed a splendid elegy for him. Mac- well, and the language is fluent, as shown in the " Pherson's " An Duanaire says that he was the following stanzas : — grandfather of Cicely, the poetess. Soraidh uara dhuit 'Alastair, Regarding Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich's claims as Ge mòr do phròis 's do mhearaichinn, Clann Dòmhnuill os cionn d' analach a poet, I find in Donald MacPherson's collection Ge b' oil leat e 's am bàs. of Gaelic songs, "An Duanaire," published in Ma is sgoilear leughaidh thu 1868, several songs never printed before, amongst 'Tha Ian de bheachd's do-leirsinneachd ; which are several songs and poems by the subject Thoir cuimhne cheart mar dh'èirich do Bhlàr-Luinc sid under consideration. This Donald MacPherson 'bha thall. was a native of Bohuntin, in Brae Lochaber, Iain iMi'iiclcittach mòr, iomartach, 'Mar iii-luc sill 'bu shine dhiubh who was long employed in the Advocates' Library ; A dli' aindeoiii na bha 'd chinneadh ann in Edinburgh, and, of course, had access to many Gu'n robh Mac-Shimidh 'n làimh. " Rannan Firinneach," a true 1 at the Battle of Falkirk in epigram, and " Rannan Breige," a false epigram, are also —

good poems. Besides the above, "An Chailleacli," 'S coma leam a bhrigis lachdunn, B'annsa 'm feile-beag 's am breacan " Moladli na Pioba," and many other poems, were ; beag a ghalih mi riamh de thlachd written by Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich. 'S De'n fhasan a th'aig clann nan Gall. Ni' Mhic Aonghais oig, of the Achnancoichans was a great-grand-daughter of Alasdair nan cleas, " Cronan Nan Nighean " was composed by one she was a poetess also. " An Ulaidli Phriseil bha of the Keppochs, but not sure which of them bhuainne," about the coming of Prince Charlie, is am ; it is entitled one of hers. " Angus Odhar," a brother of Silis, " and son of (Jilleasbuigna Ceapaich, considered by Cronan a rinn Mac-'ic Raonuill d' a thriiiir some superior to his father as a poet, also com- nighean a bhàthadh 's iad 'g am fairigeadh fhein jiosed a number of songs, one of which is in air bun Ruaidh. Kis an linge sin theirear gus an " " Leabiiar llaonuill Duibh," published in 1776, là-an-diugh Linge-na-h-ighinne —a pathetic ode page 2-26. He left no descendants. There is also by MacRanald, Keppoch, for his three daughters, some of his songs published in MacLean Sinclair's who were drowned. (iaelic bards, entitled " Thugas Ceisc Do Mhnaoi Fonn (Chorus). 0, boban gaoil, wife, consisting Ghasta," in praise of an excellent O, gaolach Iain, of eleven stanzas : O, boban gaoil. Thugas ceist do mhnaoi ghasta 'Sann 'tha 'n cadal ciùin,

A's glan leachd, is a cùl mar an t-òr ; Aig an triiiir nighean. Cìd cam-lùbach, barr-bhachlach, 0, boban, etc. 's snaighte mar nòs Gruaidh dhearg dhathte, 'deud ; Aig Anna mo ghràidh, Sùil chorrach mar ehriostal, 'Us aig Mòir chridhe. binneas ann am briotal a beòil ; 'S theud 0, boban, etc. Aghaidh shoilleir an co-strith, Cobhais àiUidh an neòinein no 'n ròs. fee, &c. 'S aig an t-Seònaid duinn, Dh' eireadh m' fhonn rithe. of a very good poet. Evidently the song 0, boban, etc. These " crònans " were generally sung when Lachlan MacPherson, Strathmashie, the famous nursing, or working at and turning the quern. Gaelic poet and writer, was a son of Catherine na There is another song entitled " Tiileadh Ceapaich, a sister of Silis, from whom he inherited Ealaidh t Nan Nighean," "LeG. DòmhnuUach liis poetic genius. Numerous poems were com- 's a' Bhràighe "^The Quick Return of the Girls, posed by him. He was born about the year 1723. by G. MacDonald, Brae Lochaber—but whether His grandfather was married to a daugiiter of this was Gilleaspuig na Ceapaich or not, I can't MacDonald of Gellovie and Laggan. His father, say. It seems a good song, as will be seen from John of Strathmashie, was a good scholar and an tiie following chorus and stanza. intelligent and sensible man. Lachlan received a good education and succeeded his father in Strath- Fonn (Chorus). mashie sometime after 1758. He assisted James Ho, gu'n tiileadh, gu'n tiileadh, MacPherson in collecting ancient poems in 1760, Na'm faodainn, and in preparing his Gaelic Ossian for the press. Ealaidh nan nighean, gun dad innt'

He was a man of strong mental powers and un- Ach faoineachd ! doubtedly a good poet. He did not, however, 'Teannadh ri fileachd gun fhios attempt any great songs, those he composed were Ciod an t-aobhar— a' cheàird a mostly humorous poems. He died in 1767. One Gun sgil ac' air bàrdachd— sid " Bhios daor dhaibh. of his songs is " Commun an Uisge-Bheatlia (the fellowship of whisky); another is "Cor an t- Ge b'e 'theann ris an ealaidh, Bha e'n doille gun lèirsinn Saoghail " (the condition of the world), and a ; " Bha droeh Gailig 'g a riabadh, third is "A' Bhainnis Biiànt (the fair wedding) Gun ach blialam fo'n deudaich, all very good, and exhibiting a considerable Chuirteadh feum air cloich-lionraith, amount of ingenuity, humour, and talent. Not nach b' fhiach an cuid geire : being a MacDonald' we only claim him as a dis- 'S mis' am fear a chi pàidht' i, tinguished relative. I find there are otlier two 'Dh' aindeoin càileachd nam bcist ud. soiigs that were composed by Lachlan M'Pherson, Another song, by the same author, is " Oran Strathmashie " Cumha do Dh'Eabhon Mac- Phearson, Tighearna Chluainidh," and " A N'ic-Raing (Rankine) an Gleann-a-Comhann," in bhrigis lachdunn." Glencoe.

i also composed by Strath- — ' — — ; § ; ; ;

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Fonn (Chorus). MR IAIN MOR MAC-DHUGHAILL 0, 'chruinneag, e 'chruinneag, (Big John MacDonald, son of Dugald), 0, 'chruinneag na buaile, O, 'chruinneag mo chridhe, The Reverend John MacDonald was a native of 'S ann leat a ruithinn 'am fuadach. Lochaber, and a grandson of Alasdair Ruadh Mac-Dhiighaill of Inverlair. His mother was a Gur h-ann thall anns a' Chàrnaich daughter of MacDonald of Craineachan, people of 'An Gleann àrd nan sruth fuara, very powerful physique. He was a priest, and A tha 'n ribhinn a's bòidhchc— in Braes of Lochaber. 'Dh' fhùg fo leòn gu L;i-luain mi. was stationed the He died 0, chruinneag, etc. in 176L He composed two songs at least ; one of them Tha do thochradh 'n ad aodann, was entitled^ Gur a caoin leam do shealladh. " 'S a cheart aindeoin mo dhaoine, Ann' Eudmhor Nighean Ailein." Gu'ra beil thu daonnan air m' aire. Verse. 0, chruinneag, etc. Thog thu ormsa mar thuaileas Gu'n d'thug mi fuath do'n fhior ghloine Another Brae Lochaber bard was Allan Mac- 'S cha robh agad dhe d' shaothair Ach mar shnòd caol 'chur mu ghainimh Donald. He composed Fonn (Chorus). " An Dronn." Ann' eudmhor nigh'n Ailein, " Aig bainnsean dh' fheumadh am fear air an 'S neo-bheusach a' bhean i tigeadh an dronn rann a dheanamh oirre, no bhiodh Ann' eudmhor nigh'n Ailein, ' An Dubh-ChapuU ' air. Rinneadh an rann a leanas 'S i-fein 'thcg an all' oirnn. aig bainis a bh' aig Ceann-Loch-Treig. " An Dubh- The other was Ghapull ort, 'Ailein,' osa Raonull na Ceapaich 's e 'slneadh na druinne dha." " Marbhrann Do Dh-Anna DhomhnuUach,"

A song composed by Allan MacDonald at a the first stanza of which is : wedding at the head of Loch Treig, at the 'N ainnir a chunnaic mi 'm cliadal request of llonald MacDonald of Keppoch. Cha robh i agam 'nuair 'dhùisg nii 'S e bhi smuaineachadh nach beò thu " Dronn " was the part of an animal when cut up 'Dh' fhàg na deòir a ruith o m' shùilean ; and served, to which tlie tail adhered. Whoever '8 gearr an sealladh dhiot a fhuair mi got that part had to compose a verse or song, oi' 'S truagh nach robh 'm bruadar na b'fhaide, gu'm faicinn gach ni mu'n cuairt dhuit "the black mare would get him"—a figurative 'S Gun ghluasad o m' shuain gu maduinn. expression of disgrace. If Allan MacDonald The whole elegy is a very fine one, showing a composed the following poem on the spur of the great deal of genuine pity and sorrow, and fine moment, he was certainly not devoid of jjoetic feeling. gifts. It is not known whether he M'as of the The Ann MacDonald referred to was a niece of Keppoch family or not. the poet's, and was married to Angus Mac- Donald, son of Gilleasbuig Dubh of Biorichean, Chuidich mo charaid mi leis an dr('>nn, Aberdar. She died in child birth. Gun 'bhi lom ann am feòil, Ach chuirteadh air a luchd-diicha fhein Gu'n tug iad speis d'i gu leòir. ALASDAIR MAC AONGHUS 'S trie a chreim iad mart-bradach, 'An deis a spadadh, ann am fròig, (Alexander, son of Angus). 'S ged a dh' itheadh iad dhith an sàth, Alexander MacDonald— (Alasdair Mac-Aonghus) mhath an àicheadh air mod Bu ; —was a son of MacDonald of Achatriochadan, in Ghabhadh iad an t-seiche gun chartadh, Glencoe. He was born about 1665, and lived at Mu'm biodh iad casruisgt' a chion bhrog— Tigh-a-Phuirt. He was 80 years of age when he Ach a nise, cuiridh mi uam i Prince Charlie in 1745 ; but he never Gu Raonall ruadh, ogh' Aonghais òig joined ; glen. 'S gu Alastair Mac-Mhuirich 'an Loch-Treig returned again to his native He died at 'S càirdean duinn fhein na seùid. Dunblane and was buried there, where some kind Cha'n'eil ciobair anns na criochan, person placed a tomb-stone over his grave. He Do'm mathainn biatachd' am feòil, was an excellent poet, but we have the same com- 'S cho luath 's a loisgeadh an teine 'n asgairt Sinclair's Bards. These Chuirinn a' ghlas-ghuib air am beòil ! § From Rev. A. MacLean valuable works of Mr MacLean Sinclair have gone much too soon out of print. — — — —

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plaint here as with many others in the small Her husband died while on a visit to Inverness, number of his compositions that have been pre- and she composed an elegy for him— " Marbh- served. He was married, and had one child at rann air bàs a Fir," which is a very fine product-

least, a daughter. It is supposed that he was a ion, extending to 48 lines. It begins : son of Aonghus Mac A^asdair Ruaidh. He was " 'S i so bliadhna 's faid' a chlaoidh mi, the author of Torradh Iain ' Luim, John Lom's Gu'n cheòl gu'n aighear gun fhaoilteas. elegy already quoted. He was also the author of Mi mar bhàt air tràigh air sgaoileadh " Brosnachadh Dona Gaidheal 's a' Bhliadhna Gun stiùir gun seòl, gun drànih gun taonian. 1745"—an incitement to the Highlanders in the Fonn.— O's coma leam fhin na cò dhuibh sin, year 1745 long of 118 lines, —a poem in a very Mire no aighear, no sxigradh, earnest and semi-religious strain. I quote the 'N diugh o shin mi r'a chunntadh, first stanza to give an idea of the poem as a 'S e ceann na bliadhna 'thug riadh dhiom whole : dùbailt. A Chlanna nan Gaidheal Her elegy on " Alasdair Dubh Ghlinnegaraidh " Dha 'm b' àbhuist 'bhi rioghail. is a most' beautiful poem, and has served as a Ho ro togaibh an àird, model for many Gaelic songs. It consists of 9 Is freasd' libh an dràsta verses in each verse, as follows : Do Thearlach mar dhilsean of 8 lines Ho ro togaibh an àird, Alasdair à Gleanna-Garadh, Seadh freasd' libh dha uile Thug thu'n diugh gal air mo shnilean, Gun fhuireach gun righneas, 'S beag ioghnadh mi bhi trom creuchdach,

Na leughaibh bhur cunnart, Gur trie g'ar reubadh as i\r sinn :

Ar muinghin tha 'n Criosda ; 'S deacair dhomhsa bhi gun 'n osnaidh, Gu storniail, acfhuinneach, '8 an dosgaidh th' air mo chàirdean meud ; Le sunnd gu astar oirbh Gur trie an t-pug oirnn a' gearradh, Is colg gu tapadh oirbh Taghadh nan darag 'is àirde. Ho ro togaibh an Tdrd. After her husband's death she nearly died of a severe illness, and on her recovery composed SILIS NIGHEAN MHIC RAONAILL several sonos and hymns of uncommon pathos, some of which appeared in a hymn book pub- (CICELY MACDONALD). lished at Inverness in 1821. She lived to a good Cicely or Julian MacDonald, the celebrated old age, but the date of her death is uncertain.* Keppoch poetess, was a daughter of Gilleasbuig, Another lady of the Keppoch family deserving 15th chief of Keppoch, and flourished from tlie of mention is no less a personage than the sister reigns of Charles II., to that of George I. She was a keen Jacobite like the rest of her family, of the murdered heirs of Keppoch. There is not and, of course, hated the house of Hanover most much known about her, but that she composed a beautiful elegy on the death of her brothers. It cordially. In her youth she was full of life and spirit, and composed several epigrams, some of is entitled "CumhaNi' Mliic Raonuill," extending which are very clever. She was married to a to 72 lines, wherein she gives a minute description scion of the family of Lovat, and lived with him of what she saw when she went into her brothers' in " Moraghach Mhic Shimidh," which she room, and found their blood upon her shoes. describes in a poem as a place barren and Judging from the character of the song and the desolate, in comparison with her native country words, it must have been a very beaiitiful and of Lochaber. mournful one when well sung. Those interested The first piece she composed after her marriage will find the air in " Gran na h-Alba," p. 12. was the celebrated poem beginning " A theanga Tradition says that she was sent over the river sin 'sa theanga shraoil." While resident in the Spean to Insch on some pretext, .so that she was north, she also composed " Slàn gu brach le eeol not in the castle when the deed was actually na, clàrsaich," as a lament for Lachlan Mac- done. It is also said she received such a shock Kinnon, the blind harpist, who was a great on beholding her brothers' dead bodies that she favourite of hers, and who used to spend some lost iier reason, a thing not at all unlikely. I time in her father's family. He was also in the quote a couple of stanzas of the elegy for the

habit of paying her visits in the north, and curious : played on his harp while she sang. Another Dh' eirich mise moch Di-dòmhnaich, short piece she composed while in the north was Hi rithill iùthaill ! an answer to song a by Mr MacKenzie of Gruinard. 'S shuidh mi air an tulaich bhùidhich— It is entitled " An obair nogha." Fùth mo liunn-duibh o-hao-o ! —

'S daingeann a bhuail iad às gach taobh sibh, Slàn do'n t-saor 'rinn am bàta sàbhailt' gu tir thu 'Bràithrean nan gaol, ò chòin ! A thug ; Shuidh mi air an tulaich bhòidhich, Slàn do'n iùl-fhoar neo-chearbach 'Thug thar fairge gun dith thu, Hi rìthill iùthaiU ! etc. b' e sud preas toraidh A soTì^ ot' eighteen verses. Gu'm am 'Thug an sonas do n rioghachd : is like some of Tlie swing of the song something '8 lionmhor laoch 'thig fo d' chaismeachd, the slow waulking songs, which were generally 'Bheir air Sasunnaich striochdadh. sung at the beginning and ending of a luadhadh whole poem is a pretty long one, extending (waulking). The full of loyalty to the Stewart cause, One who could compose such a pathetic elegy to 106 lines, and lavish in its praise of the MacDonald's. Such was capable of a great deal more, but her early a poetess was capable of a great deal more, but grief nipped a life of fair promise in the bud, even if she had composed nothing else she is and nothing more can be ascertained about her. worthy of remembrance on account of this one. In Mr MacLean Sinclair's "Gaelic Bards," I lind another version of the above song, extend- ing to 100 lines, and difierently worded. It is 'IC AILEIN.* entitled " Cumha do dh' Alastair 's do Kaonull IAIN DUBH MAC mic Dhòmhnaill Cihlais na Ceapaich a chaidh a (BLACK JOHN, SON OF ALLAN.) mhort 's a' bliliadhna 1663," the first stanza of Iain which is as follows : John MacDonald, commonly called Dubh Mac 'Ic Ailein, or John of the black locks, son of Dh'eirich mi moch niaduinn Dhòmhnuich. John, the son of Allan, was a gentleman of the I ri u ho ro !

'S chunnaic mi ' tighinn 'am chòdhail family of Clan Ranald, and was born in 1665.

ho ! Fàth mo leann-duibh, ro He received a good education for the age in Mr Sinclair states that there were two sisters, which he lived, and was a man of considerable " " one of whom was married to Fear an Tulaich ability, and keen powers of observation. He was and that the authoress was at Tulloch (Tulloch), descended from the Maer family, a branch of the the night before the murders. Clan Ranalds, of whom many individuals were for prowess, martial spirit, It is known that she was living in 1721, the year highly distinguished of in which Alasdair Dubh of Glengarry died, and said to and poetic powers. He held the farm Grulean have been a long time in a trance. in the island of Eigg, where, we presume, he spent most of his life. Though net a poet by profession, he was considered by good judges to NIGHEAN MHIC AONGHUIS OIG. be not inferior to some of the best bards of his day. Should he never have composed anything (THE DAUGHTER OF YOUNG ANGUS MACDONALD.) but "Oran nam Fineachan Gaelach " it was immortalize his name as one of our Angus MacDonald, of the Keppoch family, who enough to great Gaelic poets. Living in fairly affluent was killed at the battle of Stron-a-Clachain in circumstances, and amid rural pursuits, he 1640, left a son who was known as Aonghas Og— courted the muses only occasionally when the young Angus. This Angus Og had a giand- insjiiration moved him by some occurrence to daughter who inherited the poetic gifts of the record his observations on men and manners, on exhibited poetic powers of a family. Little or nothing else is known about which occasions he high order, displaying a considerable acquaint- her except that she was a daughter of a son of ance with the power and force of the Gaelic song entitled, Angus Og, and composed the language as a living instrument for depicting " Oran air Teachd Phrionns' Tearlach." As I passing events with all their poetic, stirring have not much else to say about her I siiall (juote incidents and surroundings. Had he lived under there is no saying what a stanza or two of it :— any other circumstances he might have produced, but his solitary resi- 'N ulaidh phriseil 'bha bhuainne, i * battle of SherifTmuir, and besides 'S ann a fhuair sinn an dràsd' ; He fought at the he composed the follow- Gu'm b'i sud an leug bhuadhach, the songs already mentioned, " Oran do Mhac-Mhic-Ailcin," "Marbhrann do 'Ga ceangal suas leis na gràsan, ing— Mhac-Mhic- Ailein," "Aonghas Og Mac Sheumais," air adhart Ged leig Dia greis "Am Bruadar," in which he mentions Mars, the god of Do'n mhuic 'bhi 'cladbach 'ad àite, war. Bellova, the goddess of war, and "a mhuc 'Nis bho'n thionndaidh a' chuibhle iasaid," King George i., " Oran do Mhac-Shimi," eraser Thèid gach traoitear fo'r sàiltean. of Lovat, &c. — ; — —

dence on a comparatively remote island in those MacDonalds of Glencoe, to which the lament re- days, aAvay from the most stirring events that lates, was perpetrated by a party of sokliers under were going on in other parts, left him little choice the command of Captain Campbell of Glenlyon in in the selection of subjects to show the latent February, 1691. Thirty-eight persons suffered in spirit and fire of which he was evidently possessed. this massacre, the greater part of whom were sur- We have enough, however, in his poems which prised in their beds. The design was to butcher have been preserved, to warrant us in concluding all the males under seventy that lived in the that he was a great credit to the noble house of valley, the number of whom amounted to two Clan Kanald. His " Marbhrann do Shir Iain hundred ; but some of the detachments not arriving Mac 'Illean Triath Dhubhart " —lament for John in time to secure the jmsses, one hundred and MacLean of Duart— is a long poem of 180 lines, sixty escaped. Camjibell having committed this each stanza consisting of 16 lines ; about the brutal deed ordered all their houses to be burned, longest I know, if it were intended to be sung to made a prey of all the cattle and eft'ects that were any air. found in the valley, and left the helpless women " Ì consider his " Oran nam Fineachan Gaelach and children, whose fathers he had murdered, (song to the Highland clans) contains as much of naked and forlorn, without covering, food, or the fiery martial spirit as would have done shelter, in the midst of the snow that covered the credit even to the celebrated Alasdair Mac face of the whole country, at a distance of six Mhaighstir Alasdair (Alexander, son of Mr miles from any inhabited place." For a full Alexander). It is by far his best effort, and accoiint of this savage butchery see " Smollet's breathes a warlike spirit throughout. The air History of England." Though some of his other to which it is sung has also got a well-rounded poems or songs have been preserved the " Mort " measure, which suits the words admirably. In Ghlinne Comhann —the massacre of Glencoe it he describes all the clans, and their respective indicates that he was one of the best bards of his prowess and invincible qualities in battle. The day. most important stanza is, of course, to the Mac- As far as I can ascertain nothing is known of Donalds : our poet's life, or when he died, but it is probable 'Nuair dh' eireas Chlann Uòmhnuill that the poem was composed in the beginning Na leòghainn tha garg, of last century, the massacre having occurred in Na beò-bheithir mhòr-leathunn, 1691. An insular position seems to have been Chonnspunnaich, garbh, fatal to the preservation of particulars regarding Luchd sheasamh na còrach, the lives and poetic effusions of some of our High- G' an òrdugh làmh-dhearg, land bards two hundred years ago. The following Mo dhoigh gu'ni bu gh orach stanzas will give our Gaelic-speaking countrymen Dhaibh tòiseachadh oirbh !" an idea of the excellence of the poem. There are " His Cumha Chlann Dòmhnuill"—lament of seventeen verses of eight lines in each verse : the MacDonalds on the death of the Chief of Làmh Dhè leinn a shaoghail ! Clan Ranald at Sheriffmuir—is a very fine Tha thu carrach, mar chaochla nan sion, poem. "Trod nam ban Eigeach "—the scolding An ni nach guidheamaid fhaotainn wives of Eigg—is also very good, and some Mar na sruthaibh ag aomadh a nios ; others. 'S i chneidh fein, thar gach aobhar, Bhios gach duine ri caoine, 's e tinn, Breth Mhic-Samhain air saoidhean, MACDONALD, AM BARD MUCANACH. Tigh'nn a ghleachd ruinn a thaobh cùl ar cinn,

(THE MUCK BARD.) A Righ ! fheartaich na greine Tlia'n cathair na feile, dean sith, This bard, Christian name I have been whose Ri cloinn an fhir a bha ceutach, unable to ascertain, was the family bard of Mhic- Nach bu choltach ri feile fir chrion ; 'ic-Iain MacDonald of Glencoe who lived in the 'N uair a thogta leat bratach, Croinn chaola, fraoch dait', agus piob, island of Muck, hence styled " Am Bard Bhiodh mnai ghaoil, le f iiaim bhas Mucanach." He composed a very good poem on A' eaoi laoich nan arm sgaiteach 's an stri. the massacre of Glencoe, the air of which is very Gu'n robh aigne duin' uasail old and for which I am indebted to Miss Alice Aig a' bhail' agus uaithe a' d' choir, Cha b' i gheire gun tuigse MacDonell, Keppoch. It is a long poem extend- Bha 's a' bheul 'bu neo-thuisliche gloir ing to 136 lines, and noted the late was down by Ceann na ceille 's na cuideachd author of the " Beauties of Mr John MacKenzie, Rinn na h-eucoraich cuspair dheth t'fheòil : Gaelic Poetry," from the recitation of an old man Cha b' e 'm breugair' a mhurtadh in Glencoe in 1833. The cruel massacre of tlie Le luchd sheideadh nam pluicean air stòl. —

Some of our minor Scotch poets take a great without the target despised their swordmanship. interest in Gaelic literature and complain bitterly He said in Ronald's presence that if he had not that we don't give them full translations from been a prisoner he would fight the best Highlander the works of our Highland bards, whom we in Montrose's army with the sword alone against praise so much. They say that poems in any sword and target. " Man," exclaimed Ronald other European language they can guess at with indignantly, " do you think any Highlander the assistance of Latin, German, Greek, French, would take such an advantage in fighting you ? etc., but Gaelic to them is a sealed book, and I will fight you with dirk and target against they cannot believe that either Iain Lom, Mairi your sword which puts the advantage on your Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh, Alasdair MacMhaigh- side. Your being a prisoner need not deter you, stir Alasdair, or Duncan Ban Maclntyre, could for I pledge my honour, if you beat me, you will produce anything like Byron, Scott, or Burns. beset at liberty." " Get me a promise to that The complaint is natural, and it is to be hoped effect from the General," said the dragoon, " and that someone with a competent knowledge of the our wager of battle is complete." "Montrose Gaelic language will come to their assistance by is a disciplinarian," said Ronald, but if you beat translating the best Gaelic poems that have not me, there is not a MacDonald now present, or in hitherto been done. There are, however, a good the royal army, who will not feel himself bound many translations of poems and songs if people in honour to make my pledge good." The knew whei'e to find them. The late Rev. Englishman kneAv the clan faith and feel- Thomas Pattison, of Isla, Professor Blackie, ing and Avas satisfied. The instant the men Alexander Nicolson, and others, have produced stood ready for action they were inter-

• very good translations of some of our best Gaelic cepted by the sudden appearance of "Ailean poems, and Messrs Henry Whyte, Lachlan Mac- dubh nam fiadh," the celebrated Dalness deer- Bain, M. MacFarlane, and others have done the stalker, who hearing of the duel hastened to take same for many of our songs. The late Professor the place of Ronald and fight the Englishman. Blackie studied the Gaelic language late in life, Ronald refused to allow any man to take his and produced very good translations of Duncan wager of battleoutof his own hands, on which Allan " Maclntyre's best poems and some others, but, of said to him in Gaelic : 'S fhearr an claidheamh, course, as we all know, translations into such a gu mòr na' bhiodag 's an targaid. Gabh mo hotch-potch language as the English, must chomhairle, oir cha'n'eil fios ciod a dh'èireas always fall far short of the original. dhuit " (the sword is much better than the dirk and target. Take my advice, or there is no know- ing what may happen to you). "Cha'n'eil," RAONALL NA SGEITHE replied Ronald sternly, "fios 'de a dh'eireas dhomhsa, ach eiridh an diabhol fhein dhasan " (RANALD OF THE SHIELD). (no there is no knowing what may happen to me, but Ranald MacDonald, or Ranald of the shield, the very devil will happen to him). The result of was a son of Allan MacDonald of Achatriachadan the combat is incomplete but the dragoon did not his in Glencoe. He distinguished himself as a soldier gain liberty, and Ronald gained his tradition- ally celebrated soubriquet—" Raonall na Sgeithe." under Montrose and Dundee, and was also with He composed several songs, one entitled " Latha the Highland that defended army Worcester Raon Ruari,"* is a very long one of 216 lines, of

against ten times their number so gallantly as to which the following stanza will give an idea : their make even enemies regret their sufterings 'S do la, a Raon Ruari until the king himself at length ordered them to A dh'fhàg luaineach mo dhùsgadh, retreat. He was killed at the horrible massacre Mu na thuit de Chlann Dònihnaill 'S cha bu leòn o'n taobh cùil daibh, of Glencoe on February 12th, 1691 or 1692. He 'Toirt a mach an ra-treata left two sons, Donald and Alexander, who escaped 'Choisinn ceuta le diùbhail, from the massacre by having stolen away a few 'S gedbu thèarnadh gu leir dhaibh bàs Chleibhers r' days previously after a servant from Glenlochy to Bha a chùnntadh. visit their aunt who was married to Campbell of Captain Campbell gives a free translation of the Achariach. Donald on his return found his father song which relates to the battle of Killiecrankie, murdered and his home burnt down and desolate. fought on the 27th of July, 1687, and the repulse The traditional story regarding the soubriquet of at Dunkeld on the 21st of August following. "Ronald of the Shield" is as follows :—An English dragoon who had been taken prisoner by * The battle of Killicrankie was fought on Saturday, July 27th, 1689, and Montrose's army, on discovering that the High- on August 21st the Highlanders attacked Dunkeld, but were repulsed with the loss of landers had not been trained to use the sword 300 men. — .

Raon Ruairi's day has chased away my rest, DOMHNULL MACKAONUILL And rules the mixed emotions of my breast, For there, alas, my high and noble race, (Donald, son of Ronald). Have met a loss the age will not replace. But, ah, though all had 'scaped since Clavers fell. Donald MacDonald, son of Ronald of the Shield, Our much wronged King may bid his throne farewell. already mentioned as having escaped the massacre In glory's path with faith unstrained he moved, of Glencoe, was the maternal grandfather of He spurned ambition, love of gold he proved Beneath his thoughts, undaunted though alone. Captain Campbell, author of " The Language, He faced rebellion and sustained the throne. Poetry, and Music of the Highland Clans." He In manhood's calmness, as in fervid youth. commanded the Glencoe men in the " forty-five," One path was his—the path of loyal truth. whose gay wit and broad humour kept the men of The carnage at tliis battle must have been con- the glens in continual amusement. He was the siderable, for in the "Memoirs of Dundee" author of the famous burlesque song, " Blia printed for James Brown at the Black Swan claidiieanih air Iain 'san t-shearmoin," occasional without Temple Bar in 1714, " the enemy did not by some practical joking on the part of the poet. maintain their ground two minutes after tlie On one occasion he called with his friend " Acha- Highlanders were amongst them, and I dare bold Triachadain " on a weaver named "Iain Mac-a- to say, there were scarce ever such strokes given Ghibidh"—John, son of the shaggy—Avhose in Europe as were given that day by the High- vanity contrasted strangely with his shabby ap- landers. Many of General MacKay's officers and pearance and doubtful reputation for bravery, soldiers were cut down through tlie skull and and asked how tliey happened to find him at neck to the very Ijreast, otliers had tlieir skulls liome, when the Prince having arrived, tlie wliole cut oil" above their ears like night caps, some people of the glen had gone to cliurch in tiie "Isle soldiers had both their bodies and cross-belts cut of Munn " fully dressed and armed. "How is through at one blow. Pikes and small swords that," replied John, suspiciously " and you were cut like willow wands. Whoever doubts absent." " Our arms and dress are hid in a cave this, may consult many witnesses of the tragedy in the hill, and we are on our way to get them," still living." replied Donald. " Good morning, John, I thought When Ronald of the shield heard of the execu- your loyalty was more zealous and less hesitating." tion of Charles I. he composed " High Cumha No sooner did they disappear than John started Tearlach a li-Aon " lament for King Charles the — to dress himself in great delight having donned his first —of whicli the following is a stanza :— kilt and arms, and marclied to the little island An cualadh sibh sgeula an k'iridh 's a' chràidh, where he broke in upon tiie worshippers Avho were Chuir an rioghachd fo bhròn o Scuir Mhòr-bheann both surprised and amused at his appearance. gu traigh Next day the glen rung with the burlesque song Dh'fhalbh Prionnsa' bha saibhir an ealain 's an iùil, " 'S tha' Bhan-righ a' cumhadh 's an deur 'na siiil, of "Bha Claidheamh air Iain 'san t-shearmoin 'S tha, &c. (the sword on John at the sermon).

Heard ye the news of grief and pain, The song, which is very amusing, and full of That has put the country in mourning from the humour, describes the swagger of the warrior peaks of the mountains to the shores, Gone is the Prince that was rich in science and minutely, and was as follows : various knowledge. Bha Claidheamh air Iain 's an t-searmoin. And the Queen is lamenting with the tear in her eye. Air Iain, air Iain, Little else is known of this poet-soldier who was Bha Claidheamh air Iain 's an t-searmoin, Bha Claidheamh air Iain, evidently a very brave man.* Fear deas-laimh mo chiidhe, 'S tu dheanadh an fliighe neo-chearbach. A sword was on John,

On John, on John ; A sword was on John at the sermon, A sword was on John. * Campbell's Language, Poetry, and Music of the The right-handed man of my heart, Highland Clans. Who makes the weaving not awkwardly. — ! ! — — —"

23

Bha Iain gun teagaibh ClioruK. Gu faiglieadli e freagairt Ho ro and ho ! ho ro the panic ! Mii'n deach e do'n eaglais 'na armaibh May a thousand curses pursue, Is mhosgail na ninathan le iolach 's le aighear Since all of you have fled ! 'Nuair dhealraich a chlaidheamli 'san t-spanuoii).

Fire faire* Lochiel ! John never doubted How swiftly thy banner (clan)

That his offer had been accepted, Has cleared the heath ! So he went to the church in arms. Is it always their wont How the women opened their eyes and shouted witli Thus to shy and scatter ? joy Ob, ob, the " big warriors t

When his sword glittered at the sermon. Of Strathlochy of the salmon ! Of l)och-an-assay of milky kine Great disparagement to thy person, And the holms and glens of Lochaircaig ! Was thy excess of harness ; When thou went magnificently under arms. Donald MacDonald and Duncan Ban Mac- Thy reeds, thy looms. Intyre were great friends although the former Thy shuttles, thy clews. was a much older man, and they fougiit on And thy skin-bags full of marachunn." different sides in the "forty-five." On one occasion they Another of his humorous songs was " Brigis had a bet which resulted in two of the best Mine Ruaraidh " —Roryson's breaks. The sub- descriptive poems in the Gaelic language, the subject being their ject was a Glencoe nian who had learned tiie favourite forests Coireaclian tailoring trade in Glasgow, and in his outlandish Ghlinne-Comhan and Beinndorain. It may here be mentioned that the following Lowland dress tried to pass himself oft' on an oM aunt as a great foreign gentleman. The poet was traditional tune is commemorative of the surprise of a party oi P]nglish soldiers not pleased with the saxonised tailor for tliis from tlie castle of irreverent exhibition of his aged rekitive and Lochandorb by the MacDonalds—King Edward having in one of his Scottish raids caused his "inexpressibles" to l)e abstracted at placed a garrison in that night, fixed them like a banner on a hay-fork castle, they were obliged to scour the surrounding for and sent them with three verses of poetry all over countiy supplies. One of these parties the country, the result of which was that hundreds which had eoniniitted cruel excesses of satirical verses were composed for them. The in a foraging expedition were overtaken when at their dinner, and their conduct having been in- ciiorus is as follows : famous, the pursuers determined to make an Oh ho, oh ho, oh he, oh he, example of them. An d' fh'osraich, an d'-fharraid, no'n cualadh sibh. They took the ears off all the men, and the tails Oh ho, oh ho, oh he, oh he, ofi"all the horses, and sent them in this state to Co idir 'ihiig brigis Mhic Ruaraidh leis ? join the main army, then in full retreat. The Oh ho, oh ho, oh he, jh he, tradition is adverted to in a MacDonald parody Searched ye, asked ye, or heard ye. on the Gaelic verses of " The Campbells are Oh ho. oh ho. oh he, oh he, Coming." For the wandering breeks of Roryson ? 'Siad Clann Dhùndinuill tha mi 'g àireamh— His poem on the battle of Sherift'muir is con- Buidheann g'aii ùrdugh srùil is armaibh sidered one of liis best satirical pi'oductions— of Buidheann dheas ullamh 'fliuair urram 'an Albain wiiich the following is a stanza with chorus 'Dh' fhàg an trup shalach air cumachd na h-earba. Chorus. It is the MacDonalds I am commemorating. The party to whom has been decreed banners and Ho ro agus ho ! ho so an t-eagal arms— Mile mallachd 'uar deigh The ready, active party that are famed in Albyn, Gu leir o'n theich sibh. Who left the infamous troops trimmed like roes Fire faire Lochial (without tails). 'S elisg thair sliabh do bhratach ! In MacKenzies " beauties of Gaelic Poetry 'M bu chleachda dhith riamh Aonghus MacAlasdair Ruaidh, Angus son of Sealltainn fiata 's sgapadh ? Alexander Roy MacDonald is mentioned as the Ob, ob, na " fir mhòra" author of the burlesque song. " Bha Claidheamh O shrath-lùchaidh' bhradain ! air Iain's an t-searmoin," but there is a consider- Dhoch-an-asaidh chruidh-n able ditterence between the words of the song and

Luib is ghlinn Lochaircaig I * Mocking and scarcastic exclamations which have * This word has no representative in English. It no equivalents in English. means the wool of sheep that died on the hill, and t A sarcastic allusion to the clan men that "ran were left to be consumed by birds and beasts of prey. awa " at SherifFmuir. unloaded gun. description of the weaver " shaggy John, m this taking with him by mistake the work and that in Campbell's—both evidently re- The soldiers fired at him and the bullet broke his same individual—which causes ferring to the leg ; then they came up to him and demanded of of names. MacKenzie was in some "confusion him who he was. " I am a MacDonald," he re- Glencoe in 1833, and probably got his version from plied, but nevertheless they took him with them oral tradition there, but since Campbell was a prison. o-randson of the poet I have adopted his version to Inverness where he was confined in He of the story. According to MacKenzie the weaver was tried by court martial but got off. When in and himself, had been cat the battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715, prison he had a dream in which he saw was among those that ran away, and to shield Alastair Mac Cholla, and Donald MacRaonaill himself from danger he lay down beside a dyke, Mhoir, " ag ol," over a glass of grog. It was this pulling a portion of it over him to screen him Donald MacKanald Mhoir, of whom it was from the enemy, and on the first favourable oppor- alleged that he iiad two hearts. He was taken tunity he bolted home to (ilencoe. As is usual prisoner at Falkirk, and subsequently executed in the Highlands several songs may have been at Carlisle. After Donald Ban's dream he com- composed to the same air, or the same individual posed the following song :^ the best by different persons, and sometimes Gur h-e mise 'tha sgith I can hardly Avords are lost sight of. Otherwise 'S mi air leaba learn fhin, reconcile the difierent versions of the weaver 'S iad ag ràitinn nach bi mi beò. warrior and his famous song. Gur mise, &c. Chunnacas Alastair Ban Is da Dhòmhnall mo ghraidh DOMHNALL BAN A' BHOCAIN. 'S sinn ag ol nan deocii-slàmt air bòrd. 'Nuair a dhiiisg mi a ni' shuain, Donald Ban MacDonald of the spectre, was of 'Se dh' fhàg ni' aigneadh fo ghruaim, Nach robh agam 'san uair ach sgleò. the Keppoch family. For the following account (ied a tha mi gun spreidh, of him I am indebted to Mr MacLean Sinclair's Bha mi mòr asam fein " to him in Gaelic Gaelic Bards." It was related Fhad 's a mhair sibh fhein dhonih beò. MacDonald, by a Lochaber tailor named John Faodaidh balach gun taing pedigree. He was a who claimed the following 'N diugh 'bhi raidh air mo cheann : Dh'fhalbli thaiceadh, chàil 's threòir. son of Gilleasbuig MacAonghais Mac Alastair mo mo mo Bhain, Mac Alastair Mhoir, Mac Aonghais a' The Bòcan, or spectre, was annoying Donald very much, and he thought that if he left his Bhòcain, Mac Aonghais Mhoir Bhoth-Fhiunntain, Ban house he would have no more trouble. He did so Alastair Mac Iain Duibh, iNIac Raonaill Mac and took everything away with him except a about 30 years Mhoir na Ceapaich. He had been pair of harrows, which he left alongside the of age when he came to Nova Scotia. He had a house. The people who were carrying his goods good memory and had a great love for the history and chattels away saw the harrows coming after them. This being reported to Donald, he said and traditions of the Highlanders. He knew a "Well, if the harrows are coming after us we great deal about the MacDonalds of Keppoch's may as well return," so he at once returned and could repeat portions family and history. He never left his house after. The lelater's grand- of a great many (Jaelic songs, and the following father, Aonghas Mac Alastair Bhain, who was a story was taken down from him on the 12th of very truthful and honest man, was one night at slept something January, 1885. He was then in declining health Donald Ban's house, and there ; caught hold of both his toes from which he could and died some months afterwards. He said that no more escape than from the vice of a black- Donald Ban a' Bhòcain lived at "Muin-Easaidh." smith. He could not move ; it was the Bocan He was of the MacDonalds of Keppoch, and had that had hold of him, but he did him no other been married to a M iss MacGvegor, Kannoch. He harm. was at the battle of Culloden. After the battle he Konald of Aberarder was also one night at Donald Ban's house, and Donald's wife said to hid himself in a "bothan àiridh" a shelling bothy. Konald, " Should I put the butter on t\w table guns with him ; one was loaded but He had two to-night, it will get dirtied ;" to which Konald in hiding Mac- the other one was not. While replied " I will go and put out the butter with a Donald of Sleat's company came upon him, dirk in my hand and a bonnet over the butter- he jumped out of a back window, dish, and it won't be dirtied to-night." Konald whereupon I —

went down with her and took away the butter Gu bheil mise de Chlann Dòmhnaill, but it was dirty as before. Is tha thusa 'nad Chamshronach, 'S cha'n fhaca mi gin riamh dhe d' sheòrsa Na clachan agus na caoban Nach buailinn mo dhòrn air'san leithcheann. Cha leigeadh leis an naomhan cadal. 'N cunihne leat a Lotti ghràda Big John MacDougall, the priest, spent a ni<^lit 'Nuair a bha thu thall 'am Flanras or two in Donaki Ban's house, but the bocan 'S tu cho salach agus sgàthaeh would not come while the priest was in the house. 'S nach b' urrainn thu 'n rang a sheasanih? The bocan used to throw things at the boys and they used to hear knives being sharpened at the head of Donald Ban's bed. ALASDAIR MAC MHAIGHSTIK ALASDAIR. The last night the bocan came, he told them that he had other spirits along with him, and (ALEXANDER SON OF MR ALEXANDER.) Donald's wife remarked, " I would think that if these came with him they would speak to us." Alexander MacDonald, better known as The bocan answered, " they have no more power Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair, the greatest to the sole of foot." also speak than your He of all our Gaelic poets, was born about the year said "come out here, Donald Ban:" "yes," 1700. He was the second son of the Rev. Mr replied Donald, "and thank God that you have asked me to do so." Donald was going out with Alexander MacDonald, who was parish minister his dirk, " Leave your dirk in the house, Donald of Ardnamurchan before the revolution, but was Ban," said the bocan, " Leave your knife in also." deposed in 1697 for nonjurancy. He was evi- Donald went out and he and the bocan then went dently, from al! accounts, an upright, honest, and through Acha-nac-Comhachan in the middle of conscientious man, and of great Ijodily strength. the night, then they went through rivers and he resided birch woods for three miles until they came to After his deposition at Dalilea in continued his ministrations in Fheairt ; when they arrived there the bocan Moidart, and searched two holes where he hid some plough Ardnamurchan and Moidart, in connection with alive. irons when he was AVhen he was taking the Episcopal Church, till his death. He had a them out of the hole the bòcan's eyes gave him a large family of sons and daughters. The latter greater fright than anything he had ever seen or after they families heard. "When he found the irons they returned all died of small-pox had of home to " Miiin-Easaidh," and they separated their own. Four of his sons lived to a good old that night at Donald Ban's house. Then the age. Angus, the eldest, and his descendants bocan went to a farmer's house. He stretched continued tacksmen of Dalilea for a his arm o^-er the farmer and began century. Alexander, as already stated, was the to put the clothes upon his wife. " What second son, and the two younger brothers were are you doing there ?" said the irate farmer. " I am putting the clothes upon settled as tacksmen in Uist. Of our poet's early my kinswoman," said the bocan, who immediately life-history little is known. His father intended disappeared and was never seen again. Donald him for the church, but the clan—Ranald of the Ban also composed a laoidh, or hymn, of 40 lines, — day who countenanced young men of ability, of which the following is a stanza : preferred that he should be educated for the bar, 'Dhia, a chruthaich mi gun chàileachd, and he was accordingly sent to the University of Daingnich mo chreideamh is dean làidir ; Thoir air aingeal tighinn a Paras Glasgow, of which his father was a graduate, for Is còmhnuidh 'ghabhail ann am fhàrdaich, some sessions. How long he remained at the Gu m' theasraiginn bho gach buaireadh University is not known, but some of his poems 'Tha droch shluagh a' cur 'am charaibh : indicate an acquaintance with the ancient classics. 'losa, dh'fhuiling do cheusadh, a The upshot of his University career was that he Caist'am beusan 's bi fhein mar-rium ! followed his own inclinations, and disappointed I might have mentioned under the head of both his father and his chief. When attending Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich, that his son Angus college it is certain that he did not neglect his Odhar composed a very good satirical song to a studies altogether, as he was a good classical man of the name of Cameron who took a bet of a scholar. His genius and powers were great, and cask ot whisky with him that he could not com- his energy of mind equal to any task he took in pose a song that would ofiend him. The result hand, but, like many geniuses, he was rather im- was a song of seven verses, of which the following prudent. He married early in life Jane are stanzas ; MacDonald of the family of " Dail-an-Eas," in — —

Glenetive. This rash step which interfered with which his first volume of original Gaelic poetry, liis University career, compelled him to look out the first ever puljlished, took place. The work for some employment, and shortly after, we find was entitled " Ais-eiridh na Sean chanoin him in his native ]>arish teaching in one of the Albannaich." A second edition appeared in 1764 schools supported by the society Ifor propagating in Glasgow, and it was several times re-published Christian knowledge, from which he was after- there, in 1802, in 1835, in 1839, in 1851, and in wards promoted to the parish school of Ardnamur- Edinburgh in 1872, but the latter not as originally ciian,* where he was an elder in the church, published. It is supposed, however, that one- consequently, he must have been at that time a tenth of his poems and songs have never been Presbyterian, or member of the Church of Scot- given to the world, his MS. having been torn up land, otherwise he could not have held the office and lost in the house of one of his sons, except a of teacher in a parish school. At this time he lived few that were published by his son Ronald, witli on the farm of Coirivullin, at the base of Ben- some poems of his own in 1766. His mission to Hhiante, the highest mountain in that part of the Edinburgh having proved unsuccessful he returned country, and near the ruins of the famous castle to the Highlands and settled at " Eignaig " in of Mingarry, a romantic situation on the Sound of Moidart. While there he and the local priest Mull, opposite Tobermory, where he had ample lived on very bad terms, probably on account of scope for courting the muses. His reputation as some of his songs, and he removed to Knoydart a scholar must have been early established, as the where he resided at Inveraoi. According toMac- Presbytery of Mull recommended him to the Kenzie in his " beauties of Gaelic poetry," our society for tlie propagation of Christian know- poet composed a number of songs after this—one ledge,' as a competent person to undertake the of them entitled " lomraich Alasdair a Eignaig do compilation of a Gaelic vocabulary for the use of dh' Inner-aoidh," in which he displays a consider- their schools. This work he undertook, and able amount of irritability and discontent at the successfully executed in 1741, which was the first treatment he received while at Eignaig. He re- of its kind ever published. In 1745 Avhen the presents all things animate and inanimate, rocks Highland chiefs rose to support the cause and thorns, thistles and wasps, ghosts and hob- of Prince Charles Edward Stewart goblins, combining to torment him. Inveraoi he the "Bonnie Prince Charlie" of the Jacobites— describes as a place like Paradise, full of all good our poet joined the Highlantl army under the things, ))l()()ming witli roses and lilies, and flow- younger Clan Ranald, and received a commission, ing M ith milk and honey, free of ghosts and liob- but whether he accompanieil the Prince's army goblins, and venomous leptiles. How long he and fought in any of the battles is not known, remained in this rocky Paradise is noc known, but but the probability is that he did, as he was a he appears to have lived some time in Morar, as man of a very different calibre to Iain Lom ; he he composed a very fine song in praise of that could both sing and fight. He was considered a country. The writer was told many years ago by valualde adherent to the Stewart cause, both as an Arisaig man that his " Fàilte na Mòrthir," an officer and a poet, in which latter capacity he " Fàilt' ort fhèin a Mhòrthir bhòidheach raised the enthusiasm of the Highlanders to the Anns an òg mhios Bhealltain " was composed highest pitch. He shared the disasters of that on his arrival on the mainland from Canna, but campaign, and " losi his all," and after the defeat MacKenzie, who is one of our best known of the Prince's army at Culloden, he, like several authorities, does not mention this. According to others, was obliged to conceal himself in the wood Reid, MacDonald, when a young man, was ground and caves of " Ceannloch-nan-uamh," above agent under the factor of Canna, and Thomas Borrodale, in the district of Arisaig, where he was Pattison remarks that Alexander MacDonald was exposed to great hardships. On one occasion so long in the island of Canna that he seems to when lurking about with his brother Angus, the have come to regard the mainland of Argyll at one cold was so intense that the side of MacDonald's time with the eyes and feelings of an Hebridean ; head which rested on the ground became quite as his poem " Hail to the mainland" (or Mòr'ìr) grey in a single night. After the act of indemnity shows. Many have been under the impression was passed he received from Clan Ranald the the writer amongst them —that " Diomoladh na appointment of baillie, or land steward, of the Mòrthìr "—dispraise of Morar—was composed by island of Canna, but how long he remained there Alexander MacDonald, but it seems that this was is uncertain. He had been invited to Edinburgh not the case. In the Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair's by some Jacobite friends there to take charge of " MacLean Bards" published last year, I find it the education of their children, and it is supposed was composed by his keen rival John MacLean that he was in Edinburgh in 1751, the year in " Iain Mac Dhòmhnuill "—a herdsman in Mull, of which the following stanzas only have been

preserved : — 27

'S mairg a mhol a' Mhòrthir robach 'athair, "Co chunnaic thu an sud?" " Cha'n Air son stobaich challtuinn, fhaca mi ni ach na chi mi an so ; cha'n fhaighinn " " Heitirinn àirinn uirinn ohoro, 'an coir an teine le ministearan ! Where were Heitirinn àirinn liò rò. you Alister ?" " Alister was in Hell," replied his father (meaning that he in Fearann mosach 's olc r'a choiseaclid was not the best of " Cha chinn molt no nieann air. company) What did you see there, asked a facetious gentleman of the long robe. " I saw Mnathan binneach air bheag grinnoas, nothing but what I see here ; I could not get near iad ri inisg chainnteach. 'S " the fire for ministers ! Like many other poets It is said in disparagement of our poet that he Alexander MacDonald was in poor circumstances, changed his religion several times, that he was and had many trials and numerous enemies, yet bred an Episcopalian, afterwards joined the he manao-ed to live to a good old age, and ulti- Church of Scotland, and finally became a Koman mately died at Sandaig, in Arisaig, and was Catholic. It is not surprising that a man of such gathered to his fathers in EileanFhionain in Loch conspicuous ability should have been marked out Sheil. Our poet has always held a foremost place for criticism by weak-kneed, clean shaven philis- among our Highland bards. He was a genius of tines, goody-goodies in various stages of hypocrisy, the highest rank. Every line he has Avritten is who went out of their way to collect any sciindal full of energy and strength, especially in his that could be found out about him, regardless of martial songs. He is a vehement, rapid, and all Christian charity, even to the coarseness and exciting singer, and no one has ever api)roached clumsiness of his appearance, the shabbiness of him in his great command of the Gaelic language. liis coat, ^rc. Keid in his Hihliofhirn SniioCcltka Pattison says of him that he is the most warlike, is his first traducer, and most other w liters follow and by far the fiercest of the Highland poets, yet in in his wake. Since Keid has L;iven no authority his pastoral pieces descriptive of nature, he is full for his statements, we are ijuite justihed in reject- of tenderness, sweetness, and grace. If his most ing them. Yet the same Mr Keid says of his sea vigorous passages may be called fierce, the time piece, composed to the birlinn, or pleasure boat, in which he lived, and the cause he adopted will of Clan Kanald, that " for subject matter, account for it. Many feel just as impetuous, but language, harmony and strength, it is almost un- they lack the language to express their im- equalled in any language." Both Mr Keid and his petuosity. informants were probably unaware that genius His "Birlinn Chlann-Raonuill"—Clan Konald's often scorns personal adornment, and if these pleasure-boat or skiff— the longest poem in the tattlers expected to lind our poet in his " best Gaelic language, except such as are Ossianic, is Sunday clothes" expecting distinguished visitors, considered his finest effort. No one could have it is no wonder tliat they should Jiave produced it except a man of strong nerve and been disappointed. Another of Keid's stories daring courage, who delighted to be in the thick is that he used to " lie upon his back in bed in of danger wherever he could meet with it by land winter, or on the grass in sunmier, with a large or sea. stone on his breast, muttering to himself in a low It opens with a blessing on the ship and armour whisper his poetical aspirations." Lying on one's of Clan Konald. He pleads for favourable gales back is a great calmative to deep thinking, but and for the safety of the hardy sailors and the what benefit could be derived from a large stone ship, and for guidance to the desired haven. The resting on one's chest is not so clear. The above dedication of Clan Konald's armour mentions story probably originated from the fact that the swords, lances, heavy mail, hand arms, j^laited poem to Clanranald's birlinn was suggested to the shields, shoulder belts, unfailing birch-arrows, poet one day on taking shelter under an upturned bayonets, daggers, and hilts. The men are ex- old boat from a heavy shower of hail. While horted to be brave, so long as a plank of the skiff lying down in his cramped position he noticed a remains, or an inch of it above the water. The centipede struggling on its back in a small pool of rowing song is full of po-wer and animation. The water, having fallen from the roof of the boat, oars are described and their eft'ect. " They buffet the play of its numerous legs resembling the oars the seas that rise into the sky. Tlie phosphorescent of a boat. Scand.al-mongers like Mr Keid, and his light gleams. The haughty waves must bend coadjutors, forgot to record another story which their heads, and over the hilly billows speeds the is favourable to the poet's wit and humour. On skiff. Strong shoulders work their way through one occasion at a meeting of Presbytery at which the mountains of the main, and as if in sympathy his father was present, the poet made liis appear- the creaking boards respond. The skiff is strained ance among the assembled divines, one of whom in every plank ; but forced onward by the might asked him in Gaelic, " C'àit an robh thu Alas- of unwearied arms and skilful oaring it ploughs " *' dair ? Bha Alasdair ann an Ifrionn," fhreagair it's way regardless of danger." Then we come "

to the oarsmen's " lorram " -which the writer con- moment else the ship may suddenly become a siders the greatest and best rowing song ever wreck upon the rocks. Besides, there is a man composed, except the " Dubh Ghleannach " by appointed to watch the waters, and stand beside the Alex. MacKinnon, whicli has no equal in any steersman and inform him whether wind and wave language. It is explained that this song is called strike fore or aft, one to jHunp out or empty tlie for by Malcolm, son of Ronald of the seas, after ship with a wooden pail, who must not quit his the 16 men have taken their place at the oars. post or faint at the roar of the ocean. " The substance of what Malcolm sings is as — As tlie storm increases tAvo other men are sent follows : "As you have been selected let your to take down some of the sails, men of stature forward movement prove not unworthy. Let the and strength. Six men are kept in reserve in case barque brave the blast and dare its full force. Let any of the preceding should fail, or fall over- your cheeks be ablaze, your hands part with their board, and these are to go from one end of the skin, and your sweat fall in drops on the boards. ship to the other, and from side to side to see that Bend and pull, and make the grey fir win against all is right. Would that most captains at the the sea-streams. Together strong and bold, split present day were as cautious as our poet. the dread and roaring waves, strike straight and After all had been arranged and every one each on one another to awaken courage in your knew, and was expected to do his duty—Nelson's veins. Let her oar-prow disperse the swollen famous signal at Trafalgar was probably borrowed billows, and her sides smash all obstacles. Let from our poet ! —the start was made on St. the sea overflow her, but let your mighty arms Bridget's day from Loch Ainneart in South Uist. overmatch and at last raise the sails to catch a The sun rose in golden hues, but soon the heavens fair wind from Uist." Having at length got into gathered darkness and gloom, the sea became the open sea, and having a fair wind the oars ars dark-green, billowy, boisterous, and the sky con- taken in, and the sails quickly set and the Mac- tained every hue found in tartan plaid. The Donalds, as choice sailors, who fear no storm or storm came on from the west, clouds were career- danger of any kind, are put in charge. ing, torn by the wind. The speckled sails were "All the received men having and obeyed orders, raised aloft, the ropes were strained—oil was the helmsman is called to his post and addressed tightly bound and fastened by iron hooks. Each as follows : —Let there be at the helm, a stout and man was in his ]ilace. Then opened the windows brave man that billows cannot move, a courageous, of tlie sky. The dark-grey ocean assumed its and powerful fellow, a cautions, patient, and cool rough, dark and awful mantle, and suddenly it sailor that deviates not by an inch from the due swelled into shaggy mountains and deepened into course, that remains unmoved when the sea dreary glens. Tiie blue deep opened wide its heaves over his head, and that guides the vessel cavernous mouths, and there was a deadly conflict in the stormiest hour to the desired haven." in the yawning whirlpool. Phosphorescent liglit To any one accustomed to boating in rough and illumined each mountain billow and the white stormy weather, the descriptions given in the poem crested waves wildly roared. Long before tiie " " of the Birlinn seem absoluiely perfect. The waves came near their vehement lieaving was ' next goes on to describe the position of ' Fear- heard. When under the ridge of the high billows Beairte," or the man to attend to the rigging. He the good ship was all but doomed in a seething, must be constantly on the alert, must see to the churning, upheaving, ocean caldron. In this spars, tackle, &c., or let loose as the case may de- lilight, when lightning gleamed, thunders rolled, mand. He must know the directions of the wind, and the storm grew more terrific in the blackness and according to the sailing course, constantly of darkness, with the elements above and below at tighten or loosen the ship's gear. war, still we despaired not, and because we did " The Fear-sgòid," or sheet man, must have a not yield, the sea pitied our state, and made peace strong, stout, and bony arm, and sturdy fingers to with us ; but not before every mast had been bent, pull in or relax as the case niay requii-e. The every sail torn, every plank and spar strained, "Fear-cluaise," or look-out man, must watch with every oar shattered, every fastening loosened, our careful eye whether piogress is made or not, and helm twisted, every spike cracked, and cerdage if he finds that the wind is rising or veering round, snapped, every nail displaced. In the Sound of he must shift the "lug " accordingly. He must go Islay the rough and furious winds journeyed to in front where he can see clearly, and be a tower the upper regions of the air, and the sea became of strength, and source of information. He must as smooth as a level plain. Then we gave thanks look to the four points, and tell the steersman to the Almighty who preserved Clan Ronald from how to act by carefully noticing the land-marks. death, we reached the safe harbour of Carrick Another man, " Fear Calpa-na-Tàirne," is put Fergus, threw out anchor slowly, refreshed our- in charge of the halyards of the ship. He selves, and rested. must be accurate, punctual, and fail not for a — ; ! ; — —

The late Thomas Pattison of Isla translated the With shoulders knotty, nervy, hairy, whole poem of the " Birlinn," and the late Hard with strength Professor Blackie and Sheriff Nicolson also trans- See you raise and drop together With one motion lated part of it. Those who are unacquainted Your grey and heavy shafts, well-ordered. with the poem can form an opinion from the Sweeping ocean. following quotation which I take from Pattison's rendering of it : Thou stout surge-wrangler on the foremost oar, Shout loudly " Suas oirre " (up with her). May God bless the ship of Clan Ranald, The song that wakes the arm's best vigour This first day it floats on the brine, In each cruiser. Himself, and the strong men who guide it, And hurls the "Birlinn " through the cold glens Whose virtues surpassing shine ! Loudly snoring. May the Holy Trinity temper Or, climbing, clearing the swollen surges, The stormy breath of the sky, Hoarsely roaring. And sweep smooth the rough swelling waters. That our port we may draw nigh. When hill-waves thus are flung behind

By your stout shoulders ; Father ! creator of ocean " Hugan " will the ocean wailing shouting say. And each wind that blows from on high ! And " Heig" groan the oar-holders. Bless our slender bark and our heroes, From the strong surge a thud—a dash of spray. Make all ill things pass them by, Goes o'er each timber. Son ! bless then our anchor. But still oars creak, though blisters rise on Our tackling, helm, and sail Strong and limber. [fingers Every thing on our mast that is hanging. Till our haven at last we hail. Then after the sixteen men are seated at the oars in order to row under the wind to the THE BLESSING OF THE ARMS OF CLAN RONALD. sailing place, let stout Galium, son of Ronald of May God bless all our weapons. the ocean, shout the " lorram," or boat song Our blades of Spain, sharp and grey. (pronounced Yirrani), for her, and be seated on

And our massy mails which are able the foremost oar, and let this be it :

The keenest edge to stay ; Our swords of steel and our corslets. Now, since you are ranked in order. And our curled and shapely targets. And seem all te be well chosen. Bless them all without exception, Give her one good plunge like champions.

The arms our shoulder-belts carry ; Brave and boldly, Give her one good plunge, &c. Our bows of yew, well made and handsome, Give her not a plunge imperfect. Bent oft-times in the breast of battle ; Our birchen shafts not prove to splinter. But with right good will and careful, Kee]5 a watch on all the storm hills Cased in the sullen badger's hide ; Bless our poignards and our pistols. Of the ocean. And our tartans fine and folded. Keep a watch, &c. And every implement of warfare With a mighty grasp and manful In MacDonakVs bark this hour. Stretch your bones and stretch your sinews, THE INCITEMENT TO ROW TO A SAILING PLACE. Leave her track in light behind you Stepping proudly. To bring the barge so dark and stately. Leave her track, &c. Whence we'd sail away, Thrust out those tough clubs and unyielding Raise the foam -bells round the thole-pins, Polished bare and grey, Till your hands are sore and blistered, Those oars well made, smooth-waisted. And the oars themselves are twisted Firm and light. In the strong waves. That row steadily and boldly And the arms themselves, &c. smooth palm to white. From foam Let your beams be hotly lighted ; Heed not, should your palms get skinless. That send the sea in sialashing showers And the huge drops from your forehead Aloft unto the sky, Fast be falling, And liglit the brine-fire bright and flashing And the huge drops, &c. As when the coal-sparks fly.

With purpose-like blows of the great heavy and it ends with the following stanza : With a ]>owerful sweep [weapons Wound the huge swell on the ocean meadows Sweep around you, point before, Till your beams are streaming moisture Rolling and deep. ; Thence, with full-spread sail, leave Uist Ye lusty, heavy, stalwart youngsters Of the solans.

Stretch your full length ; Thence, with full-spread sail, &c. —

These stanzas will give an idea of the poem as a fast moving flies. The honey-sucking, speckled whole, bearing in mind always that any transla- bee flits from flower to flower, and seeks no other tion falls far short of the original. food than the fragrance of the rose. The clear The first song composed by our poet was "Cuachag and crystal rivulets rejoice, and the cascades an Fhàsaich"—Cuckoo of the sheiling—to a dairy- of " Alit-an t-Siiicair" murmur pleasing sounds. maid of whom he was enamoured. It is full of Its banks are made beautiful by water-cresses tenderness of exjjression, just what a love song and green herbs, gold-decked thistles, red and " should be. His " Moladh Mòraig is also full of yellow bees collect their stores. As music to the beauty and tenderness, and is considered one of ear is the lowing of the cows with the responsive the finest productions of the Celtic muse. It is calves. The dairymaid fills her sounding pail, in the form of a pibroch and extends to 318 lines. and the herd is near at hand. The ground is be- The following extract from Pattison's translation spangled with flowers of richer hues than the will give an idea of the style of the jwem : most costly gems, and the primroses look like A face I never saw candles set to illuminate the whole. Nature has, Since my dawning days, with rare care, adorned its banks with daisies and Not one so free of flow, other flowers that resemble the expanse of Full of glorious grace ; brilliancy seen in the sky on a frosty and clear Though Mally still was mild, night," etc. Good judges say there is not a poem And her cheeks like rowans wild in English or Gaelic to be compared with this As fickle as the wind she smiled. it drones and stays. When " " Peggy had a slight His Oran an t-Samhraidh," an Ode to Trace of age's blight, Summer," is also a delightful poem, concerning Marsaly was light pastoral beauty. He composed it at Glencribis- Full of saucy ways, dale, on the south side of Loch Suinart, in the Lilly's love was bright parish of Morven. His "Ode to Winter" is Though a speck had dimmed her sight, longer, and displays even greater powers of But they were all as tame and trite genius, but it is not so poj^ular owing to its con- washing suds to As Mòrag taining so many " recondite terms " and allusions. All MacDonald's biographers are agreed that It was composed in Ardnamurchan. After such a beautiful song as the above should have leaving that locality a subject pre- been left undisturbed, and he is much blamed for sented itself, which roused all his having produced his dispraise of Morag, to appease energy and enthusiasm. His soul was fired with his wife's jealousy. It certainly leaves him open the cause of the Stewarts, and all his powers, to censure, and was ungallant, to say the least of mental and bodily, were roused to action. His it, even should the dispraise have been repugnant Jacobite poems and songs surpass all others. "The to his own feelings. Lion's Eulogy" is full of that fierceness which " As regards the Aigeannach," from all accounts Pattison speaks of ; so are several of the Jacobite she deserved, in a manner, the retaliation which songs. His " Oran nam Fineachan Gaelach," song he poured out and heaped upon her mortal frame. to the Highland Clans, to the air of " Waulking o' He might well say, as one of the writer's the Fauld," "Am Breacan uallach " —the gay — " " Dominies once remarked, " I am a terrible plaid ; O Hi Hi Ri tha e tighinn," he (the " " flogger when I flog ! However, it is not our Prince) is coming," and the ever popular Agus

part to pass sentence on the dead ; what we want Ho Mhòrag," where Prince Charlie is represented to know is, what was good in the man. It is as " Morag," a young girl with flowing locks of said that he lived to regret any pain he may have yellow hair waving over her shoulders. She had given anyone by his declamatory utterances and gone away over the seas, and the bard invokes very robust literature, and that we must accept. her to return with a party of maidens {i.e. soldiers) Another of his greatest compositions is " Allt- to dress the red cloth, or in other words, to beat an t-Siiicair," " the sugar brook," a small, ignoble the English red coats. The allegory is kept up stream between his farm and the one next it. As with great spirit to the end, and the poet intro- " a descriptive poem it has hardly an equal in the duces himself as one who had followed " Morag language. "It is an animated description, in in lands known and unknown, and was still ready glowing words, of a beautiful scene in the country to follow her over the whole world if necessary. on a lovely summer morning. The dew is seen It speaks volumes for the loyalty of the High- glittering on every leaf and llower. Fiichard and landers to the Stewart cause. When, having lost lied Kobin sing cheerily, and the cuckoo tells her all they possessed in the world, they were still tale. The mavis, the blackbird, and the black- willing to rejoin the Prince. cock with his mate all warble pleasantly. The His "Snieorach Chlainn-Raonuill," — Clan fish are of leaping out the water and catching the Ronald's mavis—is a splendid song of 34 verses ; —

so is " Tearlach Mac Sheumais " (Charles, son of ORAN DO THIGHEARNA CHLANN- James), with 22 lines in each verse, a song be- RAONAILL. tween the Highlanders and Prince Charlie in wiiicii the Prince praises the MacDonalds above Seisd :—Tha tigh'nn fodham, fodham, fodhani, all others. " Moladh an Chaim-Beuloch Dhuibh," Chorus Tha tigh'nn fodhani, fodham, fodham, and several others. Of his thirty-nine pieces Tha tigh'nn fodhani, fodham, fodhani, Tha tigh'nn fodham eiridh. which we possess, there is not a single second- class song or poem amongst them. That Alex- Sud an t-slàinte chùraniach, ander MacDonald was a great genius there can be Olamaid gu sùnntach i, no doubt, and as a poet he stands second to none Deoch-slàint' an Ailein Mhùideartaich, that Great Britain has produced. In poetic lire, Mo dhùrachd dhuit gu'n eirich. force, eloquence of expression, and command of Tha tigh'nn fodhani, &c. language, he has no equal, and certainly in Ged a bhiodh tu fada bhuainn, descriptive power no one has ever surpassed him. Dh' eireadh sunnd 'us aigne oim ; Indeed, it may be said of him as of Shakespeare, 'Nuair chluinninn sgeul a b' aite leam, Byron, Burns, and Scott,— " We shall never see Air gaisgeach nan gnionih euchdach. the like of him again." Tha tigh'nn fodham, &c. It is related that on the night on which he died, 'S iomadh maighdean bharrasach, two young men were sitting up with him. Find- Dha maith a thig an earasaid, Eadar Baile Mhanaich, ing the time long they began to compose a song. 'S Caolas Bharraidh a tha 'n deigh ore. The poet made some remark about their want of Tha tigh'nn fodhani, &c. success and helped to make a few verses for them. He had scarcely finished the last verse when he Tha pàirt an Eilean Bheagrani dhiubh, Tha cuid 's an Fhraing 's an Eadailt dhiubh, fell back upon his pillow and expired ; the date 'S cha 'n 'eil latha teagaisg of which has not been recorded. Nach bi 'n Cille Pheadair trend dhiubh. Tha tigh'nn fodham, &c, 'N uair chrunnicheas am bannal ud, Breid caol' an càradh crannaig orr' IAIN MAC DUGHAILL 'IC LACHLAIN Bi'dh fallus air am malaidhean, A' danns' air ùrlar dèile. (JOHN SON OF DUGALD SON OF LACHLAN.) Tha tigh'nn fodham, &c. N' uair chiaradh air an fheasgar

Gu 'm beadarach do fhleasgaichean : This excellent poet, whose compositions have Bhiodh pioban mòr 'g an spreigeadh ann, also mostly been lost, was a native of P.enbecula 'Us feadanan 'g an gleusadh. Tha tigh'nn fodham, &c. in North Uist, or rather an island between North Sgiobair ri la gaillinn thu, and South Uist, containing a population of about A sheòladh cuan nam marannan, 1600 souls. He flourished in the time of James A bheireadh long gu calachan, Frances Edward, son of James II., King of Great Le spionadh glac do threun fhear. Britain and Ireland, commonly called " The Tha tigh'nn fodham, &c. Pretender." Sgeul beag eile dhearbhadh leat, Gur sgealgair sithne 'n garbhlaich thu, He composed his ever jiopular song, " Tha Le d' chuilbheir caol nach dearmadach. tighinn todham eiiidh," in praise of Allan, the Air dearg-ghreidh nan ceann eutroni. gallant captain of Clan lionald, shortly before the Tha tigh'nn fodham, &c. rising of 1715. The hero of the song was a man B'e sud an leoghann aigeannach, of great culture, as well as military courage, and 'N uair nochdadh tu do bhaidealan, Làmh dhearg 'us long 'us bradanan, his fall at the battle of Sheritt'niuir was deeply 'N uair lasadh meamna t' eudainn. lamented throughout the Highlands. The desire Tha tigh'nn fodham, &c. rooted in the Highland breast to rise for the " Note—The above is from " The Uist Collection restoration of the Stewart dynasty is well of poems and songs by the Rev. Archd. MacDonald, Kiltarlity. expressed in the chorus and song, which I here give in extenso, as it is one of the best Gaelic James Boswell, the distinguished biographer of songs that can be sung on convivial occasions, Dr. Johnson boasted that he could sing a verse of it, and he relates that especially when Jacobites are present : when Clan Ronald's servant was found watching the body of his ! —

32 master the day after the battle of Sheriffmuir, "AN AIGEANNACH." someone asked who that was ? The servant (MAIRI NIGHEAN IAIN MHIC IAIN.) replied, " he was a man yesterday."* None of our poet's other compositions have been This strong-minded clanswoman, styled preserved, as far as I am aware, which is a great " Nighean Dhonuill Ghuirm " in Gillies's pity, as it is hardly credible that this excellent collection, and supposed by some to have belonged martial song could have been the only one which to the MacDonald's of Sleat, in Skye, and a he produced. Other particulars regarding his life and death are also wanting. daughter of Donald Gorm, brother of the Lord MacDonald of the day. Others, on the other OF hand, hold that she was a native of Moidart, and FODHAM EIRIDH," "THA TIGHINN a descendant of the clan Konald family. Judging 7?Y JAMES BOSWELL. from what the writer Avas told by an Arisaig man pledge the health we proudly name, Come, many years ago, he is inclined to believe that she The health of hero bright- Allan of Moidart, to thy fame, lived at and belonged to the Moidart district. And may'st thou rise in might In fact, he understood that she lived not very far Tha tighinn, &c. from the residence of the famous poet Alexander MacDonald. At any rate, she and Alisdair Mac Though far from me thou might'st remove, My heart would glow to hear Mhaighstir Alasdair, who frequently met her, edition of The martial tidings that I love. were at daggers drawn ; for in the first

The deeds of heroes dear ! his songs, published in 1751, there is one headed " Marbhrann Mairi Nigheann Ian Mhic Iain, do'n Oh, many a maiden in her mirth- goirteadh Aigeannach." this heading in costly habitt fine. An From From Manich town to Barra firth, some have tried to prove that she was a native Would joy that she were thine. of Moidart, and those opposed to this view base their claim as already stated on Gillies's collection And some of England's daughters free, where is Dhonuill And some in flowery France, she styled as "Nighean And some in sunny Italy Ghuirm." Whoever she was, she was a terror in May rue thy witching glance. her own day, and I don't suppose that either branch of the great Clan Donald would be very Even to Kilphedar'sJ holy fane anxious to receive her with open arms. Her Crowd all the damsels fair. Nor seem to list the preacher's strain. songs were principally satires or lampoons. That For Allan Moidart s there. she was a woman of great talent there can be no doubt, but she was a very ditterent person from Or gathering at the trysting ground, our famous Skye poetess, Mairi nighean Alasdair When falls the evening grey. To pipe and flute the dancers bound Ruaidh," who sang so sweetly, so faithfully, and With coifs§ and streamers gay. so pathetically for her kindred, the fan^ous Mac- Leods of Dunvegan and Bernera, etc. One of the A pilot wise in storms art thou. " Aigeannach's " songs, entitled, " Oran do To sail by gulf or strand. " song for young With dauntless skill to point the prow Lachunn òg Mac lonmhuinn — And steer the bark to land. Lachlan MacKinnon—(looks as if she had some connection with Skye), appears in Sinclair's A hunter brave, thy quarry still " Oranaiche," and another of very high poetic On mountain rough to find, merit is printed in " Gaelic Bards " by the When breaks the main on pass and hill. The And starts the stag and hind. Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair. The numerous stories that are afloat regarding her encounters A lion fierce in battle thou. with the King of the Jacobite Bards, I have no Thy blood-red crest |1 on high ; doubt have been very much exaggerated. Here Grim valour sits upon thy brow. are a few stanzas of her song to young Lachlan And glory lights thine eye ! Tha tighinn, &c. MacKinnon, from Archibald Sinclair's " Oran- aiche," entitled " Oran do Lachlann Og Mac- * 358. Bos well's Journey, p. [onudiuinn, Leis An ' Aigeannaich,' Nighean loose dress used by ladies in the West + Habit, a Dhonuill Ghuirm." Highlands in 1715, a fashionable walking dress. or burying-grou d dedi- Ì CUlle Phedair, the chapel Gu'n tug mi 'n ionnsuidh bhearraideach, Peter. cated to St. Mur do mheall thu m' aithne mi, S The young women wore fillets of white cambric round the head, which were fastened behind, crossed Cha b' e d' fhuath 'thug thairis mi like a clergyman's band. Ach d' aithris air bhi falbh. ship, a salmon were the armorial etc. II A red hand, a and Cha b' e d' fhuath, bearings of the Captain of Clan Ranald. ; —

33

Ma chaidh thu nunn thar linntichean, MAIREARAD NIGHEAN LACHAINN. 0, gu'm a slàn a chi mi thu, 'Fliir 'ehiiil dualaich shniomhainich, (MARGARET, DAUGHTER OF LACHLAN.) 'S ann leat bu nihiann 'bhi mòr. 'Fhir 'chùil, etc. Mairearad nigh'n Lachainn was an excellent

Bu mhiann leat bàta dìonach 's i poetess. There is a dispute as to whether she cunita, fuaighte, finealta, Gu was a MacLean or a MacDonald. She lived in A rachadh suas 's nach dibrcadh i, of 'S a chiosnaicheadh muir mhòr. the island Mull, and attained a great age. A rachadh, etc. One of her poems was composed in 1702, and Le d' sgioba treubhach, furacliail, another in 1757. The dates of her birth and Bu ro-mhaith feuni 's na ruinigil,* death are not known. A ghleidheadh air bharr tuinne i Mr MacLean Sinclair speaks of her as follows : 'Cheart aindeoin cur is ceo. A ghleidheadh, etc. — " We are inclined to think that she was a There are other twelve verses of this song, MacDonald. We got the following account of any one capable of producing it must have been her, October 14th, 1S73, from a daughter of Joiin gifted witli poetic talent of a high order, whether MacLean, the poet, who told us tliat she had applied riglitly or wrongly. There is little else received it from her father. Mairearad nigh'n Laciiainn was born in Mull, and lived and died known about her at the present day ; wiiether siie was successful or unsuccessful in life, where there. Her father was a MacDonald, and Iter siie lived, or where she died ; but charity bids us motlier a MacLean. She was married and had a draw a veil over the life of one who seemingly large family. All her children died before herself. had many enemies. She nursed sixteen MacLeans of the best families in Mull. All tiiese, like her own children, A'^o^e.—The Rev. Mr MacLean Sinclair gives the following reason as strong proof that the"Aigean- predeceased her. She used to go very frequently nach " belonged to the Clan branch of the Ronald to the grave of the last of them, and sit there. MacDonalds. In Alexander MacDonald's (Alasdair Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair) poems published in 1751, She was a very old woiiian, and was much bent there is a poem entitled "Ma rbhrann Màiri nighean by age. John MacLean took down several of Iain Mhic Iain do'n goirteadh An Aigeannach," in which the following lines occur :— her poems from oral recitation about the year 1816. of of these he " 'N am 'bhi cur na h-ùir' ort, In the heading one poems Sheanachaisinn mo rùn-sa, calls her Mairearad Dhòmhnullach, da 'm bu 'Mach a teaghlach Mhùideart cho-ainm Mairearad nigh'n Lachainn." Culaidh 'rùsgadh phiostal." Some of her principal sono's are " Oran do Shir Alexander MacDonald must have known to which " Iain Mac-Gilleain," of 66 lines ; Duanag do family she belonged, and the above seems conclusive Chlann-Ghilleain," which is a short poem that she belonged to the Clan Ronald branch of the ; " clan." Her " Oran Do Bhean Chladh-na-Macraidh " is Gaoir nam ban Muileach"—the loud murmur- even better than the one to young MacKinnon. The ing of the Mull women—a lament for John :— first stanza goes MacLean, chief of Duart, who died in 1716. This 'Fhir a dhireas am bealach 's theid a null thar a is a long poem of 176 lines, and it seems a very mhàm, fine elegy, or lament, for a popular chief. Thoir soraidh no dhà le dùrachd bhuam. Do ribhinii nam meall-shiiil a's farsada gnè. Another long song of 144 lines to Allan " Do mholadh gu h-àrd bu dùthchasach ; MacLean, is entitled Oran do dh-Ailean Mac- nighean Ghilleasbuig fhallain' a's Deagh de'n feàrr Gilleain, Fear Bhrolais"; she calls it a 'Am misnich. 'an stàt, 's fìùghantas 'am ; " ditty the chorus of which is : Slàn iomradh do dh' Anna, gur math learn i slàn, lunneag"—a — S air m' fhalluinn gur nàdar cùise sin, &c., &c. Hi ri, ri, ri eile, Horin o ro ho i o ho-eile, " If she composed the air to Fhir a dhireas am Hiurabh i hu o ho na ho eile. bealach," it is one of the most beautiful in our 1st Verse. Highland minstrelsy. There is nothing south of Mo cheist an Leathanach mòdhar ! the Grampians to be at all compared with it. Gualla dheas dha 'n tig an còta, The writer hardly thinks, however, that she could 'S feàrr a chuireas Gaill o'm meùiribh, Sìod' is pasmunn air do dhòrnaibh. have composed such a lovely air. He is of opinion Mar a chàireadh tàillear dòigh orr' that it is much more ancient. Glan airgiod 'ad bhroilleach òrbhuidhe, 'S gur a math 'thig " scarf" de'n t-sròl dhuit,

" Roinn-eagail, dangerous promontories (?) Mu do nihuineal geal 'an òrdugh. — — —

There is another long elegy by her to Sir Hector Cumberland, sent an officer with some soldiers to MacLean, who died in Rome in the year 1851, of set fire to her house. To this event she refers in

128 lines. It also seems a good poem of eight tlie following stanzas : — of the following is a lines in each verse which 'Bhliadlin' a rugadh thus', a Ruairi, : stanza 'S ann a thog iad bhuainn na creachan.

'Fhir 'tha 'n cathair an Fhreasdail 'S trom 's gur muladach a tha mi Cum-sa ceart agus coir ruinn, 'Cumail blaiths air aoia na seachduin. 'S cuir deagh sgeul iigainn dhachaidh, Loisg iad mo shabhal 's mo bhàthach, Air Sir Eachann nan rò-seòl : 'S chuir iad mo tbaigh-clair 'n a lasair. Tha e fad' uainn a 'fhearann,

Agus tamull air fògradh ; She also composed a lament for her son Donald. Gur h-e sgeula mo sgaraidh The first stanza of it runs as follows : each 'bhi 'g aithris nach beò e. La na nollaig mhòir a b' fhuar glad toappropriate this excellentpoetess, We are Fhuair mi sgeula mo chruaidh chàis, even if she had some MacLean* blood in her, as DòmhnuU donn-gheal òg mo ruin she certainly deserves a niche in the temple of Bhi 'na shineadh 'n tiugh a' bhlàir.

Fame ; we only regret that so little is known of It extends to 28 lines, and is a fairly good poem. one who lived not so very long ago, and to such a Tlie date of her death is unknown. great age. A fuller account of her poems and songs will be found in Mr A. MacLean Sinclair's " MacLean Bards." Alasdair Og Macdonell also belonged to tlie Glensrarry branch of the MacDonells of Ardnabie. He was a contemporary of Alasdair Mac Mhaigh- BAINTIGHEARNA GHIUTHSACHAIN.f stir Alasdair, and was alive in 1751. There is a John MacDonell, Ardnabie, mentioned in 1744, (THE LADY OF GIUSACHAN). but it is not known what relation he was to Margaret MacDonell was a daughter of Mac- Alasdair og MacDonell and Mrs Fraser of Cul- bokie, both of whom were of the Ardnabie family. Donell of Ardnabie, in Glengarry. She was born Tlie following is a stanza of Alasdair Og Mac- about 1715, and M'as married to William Fraser, Donell's song. of Giiisachan and Culbokie. She had nine sons ; "MairiNigh'n Deorsa."—Oran do'n Fhiodhail Simon, John, Archibald, Donald, Rory, and other (song to the fiddle). four, wliose are She was names not known. a Gu'm b' ait leam 'bhi làimh-riut very clever woman. A Mhàiri nigh'n Deorsa, Simon left Scotland in 1773, and settled near Deri ral dal deri Re di ridil dan, Bennington in tlie state of Vermont. was a He De tidil dan dan, captain in Burgoyne's army, and died in 1778. Tha gliocas is nàire His youngest son, Simon, explored the Fraser 'Am Màiri nigh 'n Deorsa Deri ral dal deri River, which is named after him. Mrs Eraser's Re di ridil dan, sons, John and Archibald, fought under Wolfe De ridil dan dan. at (Quebec. Donald and anotlier were officers in Guth do chinn 's taitneach leinn, the Austrian Army. Donald was killed on the 'S ait leam fhin beò thu, Gur suairc thu le solas, battlefield in Germany. Two other sons died in Tha thu caoin ceòlmhor, India, one of them in the ''black hole of Cal- B' ait le m' chluais caismeachd bhuair, cutta." One of her sons, Rory, was only a week 'S leat gach buaidh òrain ; old of when the Hanovarian butcher, the Duke Gu'm b' fheàrr leam na miltean Gu'm bithinn 's tù còrdte. * The MacLeans were brave and stubborn warriors, It extends to 96 lines, and seems a capital song as instanced in the following stanza from " Oran nam Fineachan Gaelach " :— and evidently the work of a talented man. Clann-'Illean o'n Dreòlluinn 'Thtìid sunndach 's an ruaig. Dream a chlosadh ainneart, Tradition says that the following original

Gun taing 'choisinn biiaidh : MacDonell song was the substance of an alterca- Dream riogiiail do-chiosaicht' tion between a father and a daughter, the former Nach strioehdadli do'n t-sluagh : S iomadh mile deas, direach, abusing the MacDonells with gross invective, and 'Bheir inntinn dhuibh suas. the latter extolling that illustrious race with " t From Mr MacLean Sinclair's " Gaelic Bards." appropriate encomiums. It is entitled Oran do —

Mhac Mhic Alastair," and said to have been com- Chunnaig mi long seach an rugha, posed in the days of Donald Mac Anghais INIhic Crith air a biiird 's 'na siubhal, Alastair of Glengarry, in whose veins the Ross Gaoth 'ga seòladh roimh chaol cnmhann, branch had conjoined with the chief of the Clann-Dòmhnaill-an-fhraoicli, a' bhuidheann. MacRonalds by the marriage of his grand- Translated by Mr Ewan MacLachlan, Aberdeen. fatlier and grandmother. Campbell is said to have been the satirist's name, and the mother THE FATHER (POET). of the poetess was a MacDonald. There are only See Sumerled's great child from Rutlia speed two stanzas of the poet's, the rest of tiie song is With his dilsc-pannier, and rag-fluttering weed. ascribed to the poetess : He trots on the lame, lifeless lazy beast, To dig for spoilt fish, his luxurious feast. AN T-ATIIAIR (THE FATHER). But Erra's Earl, who makes the valiant yield, Thig Mac Shomhairle bho'n Rùta Shall bring his countless armies to the field Le 'chliabhan duilisg, 's le 'liiirich, To Rutha's towers the hero bends his course, Air ghearran ban bacacli frùbach, And Huntly soon shall prove his mighty force. 'Se 'riiith gu h-oitir nam niùsgan. THE DAUGHTER (POETESS). Thig larl Eura romh chial Dùragh, Great Sumerled's great son, from Rutha speeds, Cho daondacli 's nach faodar a channtas ; Illustrious rider of high-mettled steeds, Cha stad e'n taobh so do'n Rata, With thund'ring prance they beat the smoky plains 'S bheir e maidhni* air larla Hounntaidh. And sunbeams glitter from their golden reins. AN NIGHEAN (THE DAUGHTER). Glengarry's chief shall lead the warlike throng, Thig Mac Shomhairle bho'n Rùta, With brave MacRanalds, famed in lofty song. 'Marcach nam fàlairean crùitheach, Oft cheers, thy boon, the bard and shiv'ring swain, Nan steud fallain, meadhrach, sunntach, And threat'ning foes defy thy might in vain. Strian òir 'nan ceann air a lùth-ehleas. Oft near thy mansion, round the jovial crowd. Thig Mac-Mhic Alastair air thus ann, Health foU'wing health, the barmy beverage flowed. 'S Raonallach g'an coir 'bhi cliùiteach, While Malt's delicious son with virtues stored ("eannard bhàrd is chearach rùisgte, In silver cups quick crossed the lib'ral board. Chuirinn geall gu'm b' fheàird a' chùis sibh. See Muidart's captain comes with soul on fire, Gheibht' 'ad bhaile beùir gun ehunntas, A thousand warriors march behind their sire, loraairt thric air phiosan dliitha, With helmets, shields, and radiant mail display'd Mac-na-Braich' air bhlas an t-shiùcair, Dire scene ! where these unsheath the azure blade _ Air bhòrd aca 's aiseag dlùth air. The branch of Ronald comes from Keppoch's Thig Mac-Mhic- Ailein a Mùideart, groves. Le dheich cewd do dh'fhearaibh clii\iteacli With easy grace the court-bred warrior moves, Nan clogaid 's nan sgiath 's nan h'lireach, His fiery coursers dart with lightning's pace. 'S nan lann glas nach tais ri rùsgadh. Panting with joy to run in glory's race. Thig Mac Athic'Raonnuillbho'nCheapaich, Near these the heirs of Cona's winding vale, Cùirt-fhear air 'fliaolum 'an Sasonn, Their yellow tresses streaming on the gale. Nan steud h'lthor nu-Mdlirach gasta, Champions that never crouched to mortal foe, '8 grcùdhnach a rachadli nan astar. With rapid march around thy standard flow. bho'n Dh' eirgheadh leat Ghleann-an-Chumhann Red-pated Allan ! loosely railed your tongue ! Oighreachan deas nan cùl buidhe, My wrath shall scourge you for the insulting song. Cinn-fheòdhna nach ciiirt' am niughadh, At spotless worth you aimed your vulgar jibe, '8 greòdhnach 'dh' fhalbhadh a' bhuidheann, Deserting fame to gain a jialtry bribe.

'Ailein ruaidh, le d' theangadh liiibte ! If once you dare to touch our sacred grove. 'd is chi e Theid mi bhian, do shùil ; You'll pay the forfeit from your folded drove. Bho'n threig thu na facaill bu chliùiteach, Your back-bound hands the felon's thongs shall Gu earras 'thoirt leat, 's nach b' fhiùighe e. tame. iron torment your guilty frame. Ma ghearras tu slat 's dlùth-choill, And pegs an nbhladh Togar do mhart anns ; How sweet to hear the yell of barking hounds. Bidh agad sreang air do chùlaobh, Strung to your houghs inflicting wounds on wounds, 'S tu 'marcachd air chnagaibh dlùtha. And dragging from the land the Knave of Knaves, in town, to toil with kitchen slaves. 'S binn leam an langan 's am btiireadh, Doom'd, some Miol-choin 'an ceangal ri d' lùithean, I saw the barge that passed yon headland mound. 'Bhi 'gad tharruing as an di\thaich, With bellying sails, she skimmed the frothy sound, Gu citsin a' Bhaile mhiiraich. Her gallant crew Clann Domhnuill's matchless name. * Maoin. That weais the branchy heath in fields of fame. " —

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Sm ALEXANDER, 1st LORD MACDONALD. MacDonald Highlanders. His Lordship was distinguished from the other barons of the family by the appellation of the " Morair Ban," or the " Among our clan bards the distinguished subject fair-haired lord, and being an English-bred chieftain and given to increasing his rents, he of the present sketch deserves a high place. Sir was somewhat unpopular with his principal sixteenth baron, and Alexander MacDonald, tenants, several of whom combined to keep the ninth baronet of Sleat, was on the 17th of July, lands at the old rents, and many of them feeling 1766, created a peer of Ireland by the title of keenly the hard pressure of the times, were forced Baron MacDonald of Sleat and County Antrim.* to emigrate."* In May 1761 he obtained a commission as At the time of Dr. Johnson's visit to Skye there was an emigrant ship, called the Nestor, in ensign in the Coldstream regiment of Foot Portree Harbour to carry off the emigrants. Dr. Guards, on the 3rd of INIay, 1768, he married and Johnson's profound intellect saw at a glance the Elizabeth Diana, eldest daughter of Godfrey mistake of " educating a young heir to a great Bosville of Gunthwaite, county of York, by estate, at a distance from, and in ignorance of whom he had a family of seven sons and three the country where he has so high a stake ; he cannot acquire of the people, form no daughters. a knowledge can local attachment, be a stranger to his own He was educated at Eton, and turned out a property and to his tenants, is often disgusted highly accomplished scholar and musician, and a with both, although the one is valuable by its very keen politician. He took a considerable produce, and the other estimable in character." interest in literature, and was elected a member In continuation of the same .subject Boswell of the Society of Antiqiiaries. His taste for records the following conversation as having

occurred his lordship Dr. Johnson : music led him to encourage those who took an between and — " Were I in your place, sir," said Johnson, " in interest in the arts. A celebrated harper named seven years I would make this an independent O'Kane, who travelled in the Highlands in those island, I would roast oxen whole, and liang days, was often entertained by his Lordship, and out a flag to the MacDonalds." Sir Alexander he used to be delighted and charmed with his was still stating difficulties. " Nay, sir," con- " performances. tinued Johnson, if you are born" to object, I

have done with yon ; sir, I would have a magazine Gunn, in his work on the harp, published in of arms." Sir Alexander, " They would rust." 1805, remarks that " no one was better able to " To which Johnson replied : Let tliere be men superior talents of O'Kane, feel and to estimate the to keep them clean ; your ancestors did not let for I can vouch Lord MacDonald to have been them rust. Four years after this. Sir Alexander his people one of our best amateurs on the violin, and one of found that arms put in the hands of would not be suffered to ruse, and that when an the best judges of musical talents of that period. opportunity offered they were ready to take them There had been for a great length of time in the up in defence of their country."! it finely family a valuable harp key ; was Besides being a first-rate player on the violin ornamented with gold and silver, and with a of classical and general music, Ìiis lordship com- precious stone. This key is said to have been posed a number of strathspeys and reels, still very worth eighty or one hundred guineas, and on this popular, such as " Lord MacDonald'sreel," " Mrs occasion our itinerant harper had the good MacLeod, Raasay," " Mrs MacKinnon, Corry," fortune of being presented by Lord MacDonald and several others. A famous Sleat violinist, with this curious and valuable implement of his named " Iain Ruadh (John Roy) Kennedy," was profession. a great favourite of his and used often to be entertained at Armadale, in a musical capacity, In December, 1777, letters of service were it is said occasion, at least, his issued to his Lordship to raise a regiment in the and that on one lordship tied Kennedy's arm to a chair, but the Highlands, with an offer of a lieutenant-colonelcy, result was almost the same as if it had been free. He declined the rank, but recommended that it is selection from his poetical should be given to Major MacDonald, Lochgarry, The following a effusions : who was in consequence at once appointed. Lochgarry raised a fine body of men, numbering 1086, which was afterwards known as the 76th or * History and traditions of the Isle of Skye. t General Stewart's Sketches of the Highlanders, * MacKenzie's History of the MacDonalds. vol. II., pp. 21-420. — « — ! ; ;

Latin Verses. 4. Nor let it grieve thee (generous craft) (to see) them weepingfor abraveman(lost) ; for we know Verses written by Sir Alexander, Lord Mac- how (like a living thing) grief boils up in thy Donaldj addressed and presented to Dr. Johnson, heart when misfortune unexpected claims its victim. at Armadale, in the Isle of Skye, in 1773. 5. And wherefore not ? for oft it is the lot of the Viator o qui nostra per aequora beholder to suffer more keenly thanthe man whom venis, Visurous agros skiaticos they see snatched off by death ; and a tender En te salutantes tribatim heart has measureless depths of sorrow. Undique conglomerantur oris. 6. But adieu sadness ; hence, sorrow and tears. We Donaldini, quotquot in insulis shall go. We shall go, where mid proud scenes

Conipescit arctis limitibus marc ; the memory of Fingal's halls is kept ever fresh. Alitque jamduduni, ac alendos 7. And you our noble guest, soon your steps shall fovebit. Piscibus indigenas stray, where aroused by the winding ruins, Ciere fluctus siste, Procelliger, your imagination will revel in exploring the Nee tu laborans perge, precor, ratis, gathering halls where oft the bugle has sounded Ne conjiigem plangat marita, victory (its victorious notes). Ne doleat soboles jjarentem. 8. Can you not hear it ? Again the chieftain lives and breathes, the poets art summons the spirits Nee te vicissimpoeniteat virum back to life and gruesome horrors live again. Luxisse; vestro scimus ut Kstuant In corde luetantes dolores. 9. Thus the proud father of Ossian used to march Cum feriant inopina corpus. forth shaking his brazen darts in his strong hand. But let him lie still in his grave, and

! clade tuentibus Quidni peremtum let the faithful Phersonius (MacPherson) stand illo qui morritur pati Plus semper ; guard by the tomb. Datur, doloris dum ]jrofundos Pervia mens aperit reeessus. LORD MACDONALD'S REEL.*

Valete luetus ; hinc lacrymabiles (MORAG NIGHEAN DHOMHUILL DUINN.) Areete visus : ibimus, ibimus Superbienti qua theatro A Mhòrag nighean Dhomhuill duinn, auhi.'. Fingalice memorantur Tha thu cruinn sgiobalta ; A Mhòrag nighean Dhomhuill duinn, lUustris hospes ! mox spatiabere Tha thu cruinn bòidheach ! Qua mens ruinae dueta meatibus Gaudebit explorare c(etus A Mhòrag bheag nighean Dhomhuill ghibich. Buceina qua cecinit triumphos. Is ioma fear 'thug ribean duit A Mhòrag bheag nighean Dhomhuill ghibich. Audin ? resurgens spirat anhelitu Is ioma fear 'tha 'n tòir ort Dux usitato, suseitat efl&eax Poeta manes, ingruitque A Mliorag bheag nighean Dhomhuill uidhir Vi solita redivivus horror. Thug mi cion an uiridh duit A Mhòrag bheag nighean Dhomhuill uidhir,

Abajna quassaus tela gravi manu Bhuilichinnf do phòsadh !

yie ibat atrox Ossiani pater : Thug mi cion ! 'us cion ! 'us cion ! Quiescat urna, stet 'fidelis Thug mi cion an uiridh dhuit, Phersonius vigil ad favillam. Thug mi eion ! 'us cion ! 'us cion !

'S bhuilichinn do phòsadh ! 1. Oh traveller, who coniest o'er our seas, to view the fair lands of Skye, look how the clansmen I am also indebted to Mr Alexander Carmichael, are gathering on all sides to give thee welcome. one of the best living authorities on Highland

2. MaeDonalds all of them ; they have gathered tradition, for the following quaint poem composed from every island that lies in the ocean's em- by one of the semi-regal MaeDonalds of the Isles, brace (they are children of the sea), it has fed ; many of whom were poets : them of yore, and in times to come they shall draw their food from ocean's stores. A nigliean righ nan roiseal soluis. An oidhche bliios òirnn do bhanais, 3. Oh thou bearer of the whirlwind, do thou cease JMa's fear beù mi'n Duntuilm, and 110 longer raise the billows ; and thou craft Thig mi tòirleum do d' (which bearest the stranger) I pray thee, thou tossing craft, do not set forth (till the storms * The words of this excellent reel song were kindly have ceased) lest the wife have cause to mourn communicated by Mr Alex. Carmichael. her spouse, and the children to weep for their t A localism in Uist with the same meaning as father. " dh'fhuiliginn. —

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Gheibh tu ciad bruicean taghal bruach, Donald of Sleat. He was succeeded by his son Ciad dòbhran donn dualach allfc, John, and John by his son Donald. This Donald Gheibh tu ciad damh allaidh ail nach tig was known as Domhnall Maclain Mhic Shenmais. Gu innis àrd Ghleannaidh. He was a distinguished warrior, and defeated the Gheibh tu ciad steud stàtach luath, MacLeods in several engagements. Alexander, Ciad bròc bruail an t-samhraidh, his eldest son, and successor, fouglit under Mon- 'S geibh tu ciad maoilseach* niaolmadh, trose and was killed at the battle of Killiecrankie Nach teid'm buabhairamfaoilleach geamhraidh. in 1689. It is to him that the lament is supposed TRANSLATION. to refer. The song describes his prowess in war, and traces his relationship to the chief of the of the king of the region of light, Thou daughter MacDonalds, to Gilleasbuig (na Ceapaich), Mac On that night that thy wedding is on us, 'Ic Ailein Clan Ronald, MacKinnon, Earl of If living man am I in "Duntulm, Antrim, &c. It extends to 60 lines of 6 lines in I will come bounding to thee with gifts. each verse, of which the following is the first Thou would'st get one hundred badgers, dwellers of stanza* : banks.

One hundred brown otters, natives of streams ; Go socrach a tha 'n leaba so, Thou would'stget one hundred wild beauteous stags, Gur hole a' chulaidh chadail i, That will not come to the green folds of the high 'S a' mhuintir a dh'fhalbh fada bhuainn

glens. 'S gach aon neach a bhi togradh oirnn : Thou would'st get one hundred swift stately steeds, B' iad fhein na fir 'bu taitniche, 'S ann aca bha'n deagh ghnàths. One hundred rein deer intractable of summer ; And thou would'st get one hundred hummeled red B'iad fhein, &c. hinds. That will not install in wolf-month of winter. CAPTAIN DONALD ROY MACDONALD Sir Alexander MacDonald's predecessor and brother. Sir James MacDonald, was also a splendid OF SKYE. scholar. He was styled the " Scottish Marcellus," Another poet of Uist extraction was Captain and it is said of him that in extent of learning MacDonald, of Knockow, Skye, and "enius he resembled the Admirable Criclilon. Donald Roy Gaelic elegies were composed for him by his brother of Captain Hugh MacDonald of Baleshare, brother, " An Ciaran Mapach," and John Mac- North Uist, and a grandson of Sir James Mac- Codruni, the famous Uist bard. He attained in Donald of Oronsay. I am indebted for tiie follow- degree to a knowledge of mathematics, an eminent ing notes regarding this distinguished Highland philosophy, languages, and in every other branch warrior and poet to an excellent paper by Mr of useful and polite learning. Tlie example of his learning and virtues, his kindly feelings William MacKenzie of the Crofters Commission, towards his people, and the encouragement and published in the Glasgow Herald, of 16th May, improvements he contemplated for them, would, 1878, on the famous MacLean physicians of Skye, no doubt, have produced incalculable advantages. who had been hereditary physicians to the His accomplishments could have been understood MacDonalds for centuries. This Donald Roy and appreciated by the gentlemen farmers, who in the foot were so well educated that conversations were MacDonald was Avounded when frequently carried on by them in the Latin walking off the Culloden battlefield, and was in language!! He was educated at Eton, travelled consequence much hampered in his movements. on the Continent, and died at Rome on the 26th He proceeded, however, by land to Loch Torridon, and took a boat to Troternish, in Skye, arriving July, 1766, in his 25tli year ; greatly regretted by at tlie house of the famous Dr. MacLean of all who knew him. the Sth day after the battle. Here It may not be out of place here to mention a Cuidrach, on dressed, and the " cripple captain," very fine lament that was composed on the death the wound was the in of one of the MacDonalds of Kingsburgh, Skye, as we are informed by "Lyon mourning," house entitled " Cumha do dhuine uasal de Chlann continued in the surgeon's without any Dòmhnaill." molestation til! Sunday, June 29th, when Prince Charlie landed in the Isle of Skyewitli Miss Flora James, first MacDonald of Kingsburgh, was the " hear of him afterwards rid- second son of Donald Gruamach, fourth Mac- MacDonald. We ing the surgeon's horse while carrying out various missions in the interests of the Prince, and finally * From maol, bare, bare-headed, tonsured, humme-

led ; probably intended for maoisleach, roe, doe. * t Stewart's Sketches. From A. M'Lean Sinclair's Gaelic bards. — ; ; — —

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after bidding farewell to the Royal fugitive at There on a bank by Flora drest. Portree, he returned to his old quarters at Where flocks dist)ort beneath the shade, Sluilista. Donald Eoy was a classical scholar, and By Tweed's soft murmurs luU'd to rest,

lovely asleep, : during his retirement after CuUoden, he beguiled A nymi)h, is laid Her shepherd, trembling, all in bliss. tlie weary hours by composin|; Latin verses deal- Steals, unobserved, a balmy kiss ! ing with the situation in the Highlands." One of

his poems is specially devoted to the wounded Here, by the banks and ,l;i(j\-u.'-' so green. foot, and is entitled " De Pede Donaldi Where Yarrow's watrrs \\ arliling roll. MacDonald in priplio Culoddino plumbea glande The love-sick swain, iiiilicard, unseen, his vulnerato." In the last verse we have Pours to the stream sccift soul : Sings his bright charmer, and, by turns. a tribute to the assiduity and skill of the doctor Despairs, and hopes, and fears, and burns. in curing the wounded limb, together with a prayer to the beneficent Builder of the universe There, night her silent sable wears.

: And gloom invests the vaulted skies to favour his eftbrts ; No star amid the void ajipears. Interim curat medicus mederi Yet see fair Nelly blushing rise, Sedulus partem mihi valneratani And lightly stepping, move unseen, Et poccor coeptis faveat benigniis To let her panting lover in. Conditor Orbis. But far removed on happier plains, With harps to love for ever strung, None of his effusions in Gaelic have been Methinks I see the favour'd swains. preserved so far as I am aware, but it is more Who first these deathless measures sung, than likely that he did compose something in his For sure I ween no courtly wight Those deathless measures could indite. native tongue before he tried such a difficult language as Latin. No, from the pastoral cot and shade Thy favourite airs, my Lora, came. By some obscure Corelli made.

Or Handel, never known to fame ! There is also a beautiful " Ode to Scottish And hence their notes from nature warm. Music " by a MacDonald, better known as Like nature's self, must ever charm.

" Mathew Bramble," the author of Vimonda, Y'"e sp'rits of fire for ever gone

Sort as strains, ! »!v;c., whose genealogy I have not yet made out, your be your sleep And if your sacred groves were known. but he deserves mention as his name has long We there should hallow'd vigils keep. since been forgotten. Ode to Scottish Music : Where, Laura, thou shouldst raise the lay. And bear our souls to Heaven away.* What words, my Laura, can express That jiower unknown, that magic spell Thy lovely native airs possess When warbled from thy lips so well. In MacLean Sinclair's Glenbard collection there Such nameless feelings to impart is a lament for young John of Scalpa by his As melt in bliss the raptured heart. sister, which is either by a MacDonald or Mac- No stroke of art their texture bears Leod, probably the former. It consists of 88 lines, No cadence wrought with learned skill And though long worn by rolling years, eleven verses of eight lines in each verse, of which

Yet unimpaired they please us still the following is the 1st stanza : While thousand strains of mystic lore " Have perished, and are heard no more. 'Se'n sgeul a fhuair mi 'n diàsta

Nach do leig dhomh air choir : Wild as the desert stream they flow, Is iombuaineach na teasaichean Wand'ring along its mazy bed ; A ghrab mi gun bhi falbh Now scarcely moving, deep and slow. ;

Now in a swifter current led : Cha bu toiseach faochaidh dhomh, And now along the level lawn Bhi smaointeachadh Iain Og With charming murmurs softly drawn. 'Chur 's a' chiste chaoil 'am falach

Ah I what enchanting scenes arise Air a sparadh leis an ord."

Still as thou breath'st the heart-felt strain ! How swift exulting fancy flies

O'er all the varied sylvan reign ! And how thy voice, blest maid, can move * " The rapture and the woe of love ! Logan's Scottish Gael." — ;

40

GILLEASBUIG NA CIOTAlG. hands upon him, Sir James's robust franre never recovered from the shock of the accident. It was (ARCHIBALD MACDONALD.) then that his kint-man, MacDonald of Vallay,* composed the well-known piobaireachd, " Cumha Kiltarlity, The Rev. Archibald MacDonald, na coise," for him. Clan joint editor of the liistory of the great Our poet, like all true bards, had an ambition l)onald, in his excellent work on the Uist hards, to immortalise his name by publishing his poems, published in 1894, gives by fxv the best account I and with that intention he started for Inverness, the ca])ital of the Highlands, in order to carry his have met with of liis distinguished namesake and object into ettect, but he only got as far as Fort fellow-countryman, and I avail myself of his Augustus, where he took ill and died, and he was the author labours in giving a brief description of buried there. The spot where he lies can't now of the famous comic song " An Dotair Leòdach." be traced, which is a great pity, as he was con- Archibald MacDonald, better known to his sidered the cleverest of all the Gaelic comic bards. countrymen as " Gille na ciotaig," was born at It is said that while at Fort Augustus he met Paible, in North Uist, about the middle of the with Alexander Stewart, who had been parochial He received all the education he 18th century. schoolmaster of North Uist—the author of " A parochial school of his parish, possessed at the Mhàiri bhcidheach, 's a Mhàiri ghaolach," and the only one available in his day. When Sir that his manuscripts, having fallen into James MacDonald of Sleat (at the time our poet Stewart's hands after MacDonald's death, formed the foundation of the volume of was a youth), with a number of Uist and Skye Gaelic poems called " Stewart's Collection." gentlemen, was deer stalking in the hills there, Many of his satires and lampoons have or àiridh where the they came across a sheiling been" lost, but sufficient have been preserved parents of the bard were lesiding for a few weeks to stamp him as a first-class Gaelic poet. with their cattle and sheep—a very old custom in One of his most amusing songs is his lampoon on Lepdach, Dr. MacLeod, of which the the Highlands. The good wife, with that warm the Doctor following stanzas, to suit the translation, will hospitality so characteristic of the Highlanders, give an idea of the song to non-Gaelic speaking drink of milk of hei heather-fed offered them a people : cows—" bainne air àiridh "—which is well-known Thugaibh thugaibh òb òb, to have a peculiar sweetness of its own. Sir An Dotair Leùdach 's biodag air, James, in his usual affable manner, conversed Faicill oirbh an taobh sin thill, with her in her native language, asking her Mu'n toir e'n ceann a thiota dhibh. aljout the welfare of her family, &c. She told Biodag's an deach an gath-seirg, of sons were at school at the him that two her An crios seilg an luidealaich ; west side of the island, and that one of them liad Bha seachd òirlich oirre 'mheirg, been born with adefective arm and short, with only 'S gur mairg an rachadh bruideadh dh' i rudimentary fingers. Sir James asked his name, Thugaibh, &c. that he was baptised and when told him Bha thu 'na do bhasbair còrr, " it was a Gilleasbuig (Archibald), he remarked 'S claidheamh mòr an tarruing ort. pity they did not call him Coll, so that there An saighdear is mios' aig Righ Deòrsa would be another Colla Ciotach in the MacDonald Chòmhraigeadh e Alasdair. clan." Thugaibh, &c. for our bard, the sound arm was Fortunately Claidheamh agus sgàbard dearg, he was able to use it in the right one, so that 'S cearbach sud air amadan, various ways, and being an expert writer, he was 'Ghearradh amhaiehean nan sgarbh, bàiUidh employed by Alexander MacDonald, the A dh' f hàgadh marbh gun anail iad. breac—the speckled factor—a son of " Alasdair Thugaibh, &c. Mac Dhomhnuill," to whom Mac-Codrum had Gu'm biodh sud ort air do thaobh, composed an elegy—as clerk while he held the Claidheamh caol 's a' ghliocartaich Ronald estate of South factorship of the Clan Cha'n'eil falcag 'thig o'n tràigh, the occasion of this hunting Uist. It was on Nach cuir thu bai r nan itean d' i. excursion that Sir James got shot in the leg by Thugaibh, &c. MacLeod of Tallisker's gun going oft" by accident, and it was with difficulty that the crofters of North Uist were prevented from laying violent ;

voyage in a small Translation by Mr L. MacBean of some of the to have been a tempestuous ricketty craft from Lochmaddy to some other port in the western isles. ill-tempered, old At you ! at you ! bo, bo, bo ! A gentleman in Skye, an Take care what may become of you, farmer at Bernisdale, South Snizort, fared badly The Doctor with his dirk may go at his hands. The occasion Avas his horse having And take the head of some of you. being pin-folded for having strayed on to the his reveng^e on the inhospit- See on liis belt, with i-ags and dust, farm, The poet had The dirk with all the rust of it able old farmer by describing him as the ugliest 'Twould kill a man with sheer disgust man in the sheriffdom, and predicted tliat there If he should get a thrust of it. were terrible things in store for him. He says :—

At you ! &c. Bodach Bhearnasdail a Uinnis ; As fencer bold he used to swing Duine 's gràinnde 'tha 's an t-Siarrachd His sword, but made so small a stir, Bodach Bhearnasdail a Uinnis, The poorest soldier of the king Ceann-cinnidh gach dèistinn : Would dare to fight with AUaster. Amhuich fhada corra-ghridhich, Ni thu fhathast caimb a ruidheadh : At you ! &c. Amhuich fhada corra-ghridhich,

Claymore and scabbard bright he vaunts. Ni na fithich feusd ort !

And clumsily he carries them ; vegan Inn, He chops the heads of cormorants, His satire on the servant at Dun And hews and hacks and harries them, in Skye, was also very good. She turned him out of bed saying the list packet, by which he At you ! &c. was to leave," had arriveil, and gave his loom to a be Brave at his side the sword must friend of her own. It was a false alarm, and she That he must clank and rattle with, had cause to regret it when the bard launched And ne'er a bird can come from sea. forth, to the air of " Ben-Dorain " :— But he will b )ldly battle with. sgeiidalaich At you ! &c. Cha d(. cliuir mi ùigh 's an te

Ged chiiirradli i liiintanan sròil oirre: have The Skye people, the writer concluded, Raiiiisaicliidli mi thu bho d' aghaidh gu d' chùl, impression that the always been under the O d' mliulbuh -ii urlar do bhrògan. " Doctair Leòdacii " referred to in the above One of his favourite butts was a South Uist excellent song-, was i he famous Dr. Ban MacLeod Aonghus MacCalluni, who went of Skye, but' I am informed by INIr Alexander man named of the " fanihair " (giant), Carmichael, the author of "Or agus Ob"—Hymns, under the nick-name his but rather on Incantations—that the Dr. MacLeod mentioned not on account of stature, intellectual obtuseness—body in the song was a son of the Rev. Mr MacLeod, account of his was an old soldier, who was of St. Kilda, who had been officiating there for without mind. He Cumberland's army, some years, during which time the subject of the in the service of the Duke of Jacobite, had no high song was born there. This, of course, gives more and the bard being a rank or patriotism. It is more point to the sallies of wit and humour displayed opinion of his courage extends to 64 lines. by our author, and his ridicule of him as a martial scurrilous than witty, and " was composed man, even though hedid strut about in his Highland His other satire on the famhair" wedding garb.* MacDonald nick-named him " An Gioban on account of his having appeared at a a gross piece of Hirteach," as he was such a fop, always parading uninvited, M Inch is considered Highlands. in full Highland dress, and addresses him as impertinence in the West His " Marbhrann do Iain Ruadh Piobair"— follows— (one of three stanzas) : — elegy on John Roy, the piper—and its companion Gu seinn mi 'n Gioban Hirteach dhuit, song, the " Aiseirigh Iain Ruaidh "—John 'S e nis a' tigh'nn do'n dùthaich ; Roy's resurrection—are, according to the author Cha dean mi di-chuimhn' idir air, of the " Uist Bards," master-pieces of wit. 'S ann bheir mi tiotal ùr dha ; It is said that the hero of both poems was well Ma dh' fhalbh e uainn gu briogaiseach, pleased with the jokes, and paid the bard a stim Gu'n d' thainig e gu biodagach, song to Lochiel, to the 'S cha'n fhaigh e 'n àite bhrioscaidean, of money for them. His " by Mac- Ach iseanan an t-siilair. air of Tweedside," was not considered Kenzie of sufficient importance to be included Another of his amusing poems is in the form of amongst his " Beauties of Gaelic poetry," but it a " sgiobaireachd "—feat of navigation—supposed seems a fairly good song, consisting of 15 verses of eight lines iii each, 120 lines in all, in which the chief of the Camerons gets a good deal of praise. — "

42

" Banais Chiostal-Odhair " relates to " Ciostal in praise of his wife, the celebrated Flora in Skye, the scene of a riotous wedding festivity MacDonald, tlie only woman lie ever eulogized in at which the bard was present. The following song. amusing stanzas give a graphic description of the " Tàladh Iain Mhhideartaich " is another confusion and excitement among the guests when splendid poem which, tradition says, was an ex-

they began fighting : ample of his extempore versification. It was com- posed to Clan Ronald's heir, the famous John of A' bhanais a bha 'n Ciostal-Odhar, Moidart, the grandfather of the present head of Ann an Ciostal-Odhar, Odhar, the house, Admiral Sir Reginald MacDonald, A' bhanais a bha'n Ciostal-Odhar, Cha robh fòghail choir oirre. K.C.B. It is said to have been composed under the following circumstances:— MacCodrum, who Thàinig fear a stigh 'g am' ghriobadh, was, like most of the bards and minstrels of an- Dh' innseadh gu'n d' thai nig am pige, cient times, of a roving disposition, was one day Fhuaras botal, lionadh slige, seen approaching Nunton House, in Benbecula, Bu bhinn gliog 'us crònan. then a residence of the Clan Ranald. Mac 'Ic Thàinig fear a nuas le mi-mhodh Ailein, the chief, happened to be walking about Gus 6 fein a chur 'an ire, leading his heir, Iain Miiideartach, by the hand Thòisich c airbleith nan iongnan, at the time, and sent the boy to meet the bard, mi-feiu sgrùbadh. Gu a giving him a gold coin to present to him if he Ach labhair mise gu fiadhaich, would compose a song without further preparation. Ma 's e mi-stàth 'tha thu 'g iarraidh, MacCodrum, on receiving it, asked him if that Gur dòcha gu'n cuir mi 'n fhiacail v\as all the money he liad, and on his replying

Air iochdar do sgornain ! tiiat it was, the bard said^" Well, there is not another heir in the world that would give me all Fear I'i caoineadh, feir ri aigliear. his possessions but yourself,"' and taking the Fear 'n a sheasamh, fear 'n a luidhe, child Fear a' pògadh bean an taighe, up in his arms walked to the house witii him but would not part until Fear a' gabhail òrain ! with him he comiK)sed a song in his praise. The bard asked to be allowed other nine verses The are equally amusing. to walk once round the garden, and after doing so, All MacDonalds oAve a debt of gratitude to our the lioem was ready, and sung to Iain Miiid- genial clansman the Rev. Archibald MacDonald, eartach. Kiltarlity, for having placed the Uist bards in i In it he reviews the brave exploits of the boy's their position before tlie world, and especially for ancestors in many a hard fought battle, and traces having secured some of the songs and poems of their prowess from the days of Harlaw, when this undoubted wit and genius from oblivion. Lachlann Mac^NIhuirich stirred up the courage of the MacDonalds with his famous poetical harangue, down to the battle of Kinloch-Lochy, 1 am sorry I can't claim MacCodrnm as a clans- called "Blar Leine," because the Highlanders n)an, but as it has been alleged that the fought in their shirts on that occasion, when Lord MacCodrums—a name long extinct—were a sept Lovat, and the master of Lovat, were both slain, of the MacDonalds, and his having been bard to and the Clan Fraser almost annihilated. Inver- Sir James MacDonald of Sleat, in Skye, I shall lochy, Killiecrankie, Sheriftmuir, at all of which the clan Ranalds fought with the traditional briefly mention some of his songs to the Mac- heroism of their race. Donalds—his favourite clan. Sir James Mac- " Oran do Mhac 'Ic Ailein " is another excellent Donald made him his family bard, with an annual song he composed for the father of Iain Miiideart- pension. Nearly all MacCodrum's patriotic ach shortly after his succeeding to his patrimony. songs were composed either to the clan MacDonald Another individual poem to a MacDonald was in general, or some of its more noted scions. He his song to Sir James MacDonald of Sleat—a long one of 15 verses of 8 lines in each verse. Some of exulted in the heroic history of his favourite clan his other best known poems are " Smeorach and the great men it produced, and he lavishes Chlann Dòmhnuill"— the mavis of the MacDonalds all the power of his eloquence in singing their — " " Moladh Chlann— DòmhnuiU —in praise of the praises ; and for a man who could neither read nor MacDonalds " Oran do Shir Seumas Mac write, " he showed a singular acquaintance with DhòmhnuiU —song to Sir James MacDonald ; the history of the MacDonalds, and other High- " Marbrann do Alasdair MacDliòmhnuiU "—elegy land clans. One of his most noted poems to an on the death of Alexander MacDonald ; and individual is that to Captain Allan MacDonald, another elegy on the death of Sir James Mac- Kingsburgh. In it the last two verses are devoted Donald, who died at Rome. The Alex. MacDonald above referred to was Only three of his poems have been preserved. " MacDonald of Kirkibost and Balranald. He was The first, Oran do Eoghain og Bhallaidh," was composed to Ewen MacDonald, Vallay, not the tlie seventh in succession of the MacDonalds of author of " Cmiiha na Coise," Sir James Mac- Balranald, of Alex. MacDonald of Eden- whom Mr Donald's friend, but his grandson, who lived at wood and Balranald is the eleventh and present re- Griminish. The second was to Ewen's brother. presentative. He had been factor for the chief of Major Alexander MacDonald, fourth of Vallay, Sleat over his Long Island proi)erty, and seems to on the occasion of his return from the south where he had been recruiting his health, and the third have been greatly beloved in his native land. was to Kobert MacDonald Maclntyre, Clan for his great statnre and He was also renowned Ronald's piper, which he composed at Nunton, plij'sical strength. His tragic end is celebrated where the chief occasionally resided. These pieces, in the " Marbhrann " having been drowned in — though short, are of considerable merit, and ciossing the channel that separated Kirkibost, establish his fame as one of our Highland bards. where he lived, from the main island. Mac It is not known how many of his poems have been Codrnm ranks very high among the Gaelic poets lost, or when he died, butJ it is more than probable of the last two centuries, the only pity is that though not a voluminous writer, he must that the clan has not got a stronger cliuiu have produced several more songs, or poems, of upon him. He died about 1796, ainl wiislmiii'd more or less excellence. As a bard he stands in the Churchyard of Kilmuir, Ids rcsliiij^ iiliue inferior to his countrymen John MacCodrum and being by an amorphous l)l(ick of gneiss marked Archibald MacDonald (" Gille na Ciotaig"), but said to have been selected by himself to be his his profession as a catechist probably interfered own " carragh cuimhne."* with his courting the muses to any great extent.

ALEXANDER MACDONALD. MICHAEL MOR DOMHNULLACH. (AN CALL MOE). (BIG MICHAEL MACDONALD).

Another Uist bard of some eminence was The only account I have met with concerning Alexander MacDonald, commonly called "An this bard is in the Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair's " Dall Muileach," from the fact of his father having Gaelic Bards," published in 1896. He was born resided for several years in the island of Mull, in Uist about 1745. He received some education, where he was probably born, and " An Dall Mor" and emigrated to America; went to Prince to distinguish him from another blind man of Edward Island in 1772, and settled near the diminutive stature, who lived in the same locality. Hillborough river. Hemarried Ann MacEachern, He was contemporary with John MacCodrum. His a sister of Bishop MacEachern. He composed a father, like a true Highlander, migrated back to number of songs but they all seem to have been lost, except the following one which is probably Uist, and his posterity are still called the — " Mnilich," from their ancestor having resided in not generally known : Mull for a time. Our bard was a man of fine O, 's àluinn an t-àite physique, a regular specimen of a stalwart High- 'Th 'agara 'n còis na tràghad, lander, and always went about dressed in the 'Nuair 'thig e gu bhi 'g àiteach anp

Leis a' chrann, leis a' chrann, ! garb of Old Gaul. He lost his eyesight in early Ni mi'n t-aran leis na gearain, youth from a virulent attack of small pox, which 'S an crodh bainne 'chur mu'n bhaile, was common enough in his day, and disfigured a 'S eha bhi annas oirnn 'san earraeh, people. great many He was a great rhymester, Chuirinn geall, chuirinn geall. and being possessed of a very powerful memory, he O, 's fraoidhneasaeh, daoimeanach, was able to repeat the whole of the shorter Glan mar sholus choinnlean, catechism, and large portions of the Bible, qualifi- Am bradan le 'chuid shoillseinich cations which secured for him the appointment of Anns gaeh allt, anns gach allt, O ! catechist for the parish of North Uist, through Mear ri mire, 'leum na linge, which he travelled summer and winter, and it is 'S bòidheach niilis leam do ghile ; said did a great deal of good by teaching the 'S ioniad gille 'bhios 'gad shireadh, youth of his district the shorter catechism, a Anns an am, anns an am. number of psalms, and portions of scripture. 0, 's cùbhraìdb na smùidean A bhios dhe'n taighean-siùcair ; * See Rev. A. MacDonald's " Uist Bards." Craobhan tronia dlùth dhaibh, —

'S iad gun mheang, 's iad gun niheang, 0! the falsehood of the Ossianic poems. The most 'N àm an fhoghair b' e nio roghainn that he or any other critic need hope for is, that A bhi tadhal gus an taghadh : MacPherson may have linked some fragments 'S gu'ra b' e 'm baothair' nach tug oidheirp togetiier, or even filled up a few gaps, but that bhi ann, air bhi ann. Air would not make the main poems out to be Bidh pìobaireachd 's fidhleireachd forgeries. He should be able to separate these là Fheill-Micheil Againn ; fragments and restored gaps, and point out Cluinnear sin air mhìltean wherein they difier from the original. What bi gann, nach bi gann, ! Nach stirred tiie bile of those critics from the begin- Na fir shona, 'n ;\m na Nollaig, ning was the fact that MacPherson unexpectedly Bheireadh dorus air na sporain, tapped a new mine in literature amongst a 'S dheanadh " frolic " nach biodh dona Leis an dram, leis an dram. people who were reckoned by ignorant outsiders as wild savages. He lived for a winter alone at Cape Breton and As regards " the aged bard's wish," it has no could not induce his brother to again join him, in resemblance to modern poetry ; it has a much consequence of which he is the " bràtiiair " of the more ancient flavour about it. In the introduc- song. was a of much energy per- He man and tion to the translation of the poem in MacDonald's severance, and died in 1S15. collection, in which I entirely concur, it says : " From the poem it may easily be perceived tliat KAONULL MAC DHOMHNUILL, ANN AN the doctrines of Christianity were unknown to the poet. The Elysium of Bards upon Ardven, the EILEAN EIGG. departure of the poet's shade to the hall of (RONALD MACDONALD, SCHOOLMASTER IN EIGG). Ossian and Daol, his last wish of laying by his side a harp, a shell full of liquor, and his Ronald MacDonald, a son of the great ancestors' shield, are incompatible with the " Alastair Mac Mhaighstir Alastair," leaves us in Christian notion of a future state. From the dark as to whether he was a composer of any the poem itself it is evident that the Bard

I who composed it lived in times later note or not. He published a collection of his own than those of Ossian, and at a period when the and some of his father's and Iain Loni's poems in manners of the Caledonians had undergone a con- 1776, and intended publishing more, but his first siderable change. In Ossian's poems there is not effort met with so little encouragement that he a passage which alludes to the pastoral state. did not make a second attempt. His collection Hunting and war were tlie sole occupations of Fingal and his people. The art of taming cattle contains—at least the edition published in Glasgow was not cultivated in the days of Ossian the in 1809—eleven songs and poems, without an ; pastoral life was unknown to him." author's name, out of 105 in all. If we presume Ranald MacDonald does not claim the poem. that those without an author's name were composed He knew too well that if he did he would not be by himself, then he would stand high as a poet, believed by his countrymen, why then force it upon him. He merely calls his book a collection, but I can't accept " Miann a' Bhàird a fhuair and so it is. • In this he was perfectly honest. Aois," and " Mac Griogoir a Ruarudh," as having The character of the poem will be best under- been composed by him. They existed long before stood by quoting a few verses with a literal trans- his time, probably some of the others also. lation. " It extends to 144 lines. Mrs Grant of

Dr. L. Stern in his paper on " The Ossianic Laggan, says it was composed in Skye ; however, Heroic poetry," translated by Mr J. C. Robertson, she throws no more light upon the subject, nor H. M. I. S., attributes " Miann a'Bhàird Aosda"— does she give her reasons for so localizing it. " the aged bard's wish—to him, because it first The mention of Treig*" (Loch Treig) points, in appeared in his book, but he has given no the opinion of many, to Lochaber as the scene of authority for doing so. This iconoclast seems to the poem. delight in turning everything Celtic upside down. O càraibh mi ri taobh nan allt, His denunciation of MacPherson's Ossian has got A shiiibhlas mall le ceumaibh ciùin, such an evident bias about it that no Highlander Fo sgàil a' bharraich leag mo cheann, is likely to believe him. It is one thing to be a 'S bi thus', a ghrian, ro-chàirdeil rium. Celtic scholar, and quite another thing to be a 0, place nie near the brooks, which slowly fair and impartial critic, Avhich Dr. Stern, on his move with gentle steps ; under the shade of the own showing, certainly is not. It is not by shooting branches lay my head; and be thou, denouncing MacPherson as a forger and a liar, sun, in kindness with me. that he will be able to convince Highlanders of * Supposed to be Loch Treig in Lochaber. t " —

4S

Mrs Grant translates the verse as follows :— In any case, the Highlanders of Scotland have reasons for congratulation, because no other O lay me by the streams that glide With gentle murmurs, soft and slow, country has produced such splendid epic poems as Let spreading boughs my temples hide, the Ossianic poems, and even if they originated Thou sun, thy kindest beams bestow. only in MacPherson's fertile brains, he must have been the greatest poetic genius of his age, and Tlie last four verses contain internal evidence infinitely superior to any critic that has yet of the antiquity of the poem quite different from modern compositions. appeared.

! cuir mo chluas ri fuaim Eas-niòr Le 'chrònan a' tearnadh o'n chreig ; DOMHNULL DOMHNALLACH. Bi' dh cruit agus slige ri'm thaobh, 'S an sgiath a dhion mo shinnsir 's a' cliath. (DONALD MACDONALD). Thig le càirdeas thar a' chuain, Osae mhin a ghluais gu mall, Donald MacDonald, better known as " Dòmhn- Tog nio cheò air sgiath do luathais, all Maclain Oig," was a native of the island of 'S imich grad gu eilean fhlaitheis. Tiree, where he was born about the year 1773. Far 'm beil na laoich a dh' fhalbh o shean. lived ac Crossgaire, now a part of the farm of An eadal trom gun dol le ceòil, He Fosglaibh-sa thalla Oiseiri a's Dhaoil, Hough. He had all the ([ualifications that go to Thig an oidhche 's cha bhi 'm bard air bhrath. make up the ideal poet of rural districts. He Ach O m' an tig e, seal m' an triall mo cheo, was full of humour, and his enemies had reason Gu teach nam bard air àr-bheinn as nach pill, to dread his scathing wit, of which he could make Fair cruit 's mo shlige dh' iunnsaidh 'n ròid. such effective use in his lampoons. Further, An sin mo chruit, 's mo shlige ghràidli, slùn leibh ! MacDonald was a bit of an idler who could never 33 place me within hearing of the great waterfall, with its murmuring sound, descending from the bring his mind or body to submit to any yoke.

rock ; let a harp and shell be by my side, and Being an excellent player on the bagpipes it was the shield forefathers in that defended my his habit each winter to absent himself from home battle. and billet himself on his friends in the township 34 Come with friendship over the sea, soft blast, of Balameanach. These visits of his were occa- that slowly movest ; bear my shade on the wind of thy swiftness, and travel quickly to the isle sions of great joy to the young people about. of heroes. Dancing was carried on with great gusto, for in 35 Where those who went of old are in the deep those happy days the Tiree people had their danc- slumber, deaf to the sound of music. Open the ing-mastei's and musicians and change houses hall where dwell Ossian and Uaol. The night indispensable adjuncts to an enjoyable Saturnalia. shall come, and the bard. shall not be found. But it must be borne in mind that dancing was Ceilidh .36 But ah ! before it come, a little while ere my not the only attraction. There was the shade retire to the dwelling of bards upon withallits happy associations, when the fair damsel Ardven,+ from whence there is no return, give wicked and filled the cruisgean (an oil lamp) several me the harp and my shell for the road, and times before the company dispersed. Grey-headed then, my beloved harp and shell, farewell ! men discoursed on second-sight, Fingalian legends, Another point against Ranald MacDonald being stories of infants snatched off by fairies, adven- the author of " Miann a' Bhàird Aosda," is the tures of smugglers, &c., while the younger portion tact that there are only twenty-seven stanzas in of the company contributed their quota by sing- his version, whereas there ai'e thirty-six in the ing songs. of the entire poem. Is there forgery here again ? The MacDonald himself was one most famous modern scientific Celtic scliolars should bring out taibhsearan—second-sight seers— in Tiree in his a new edition of Ossian's poems with MacPherson's day. In versifying he frequently designated the additions, and where he linked poems together, object of his laudation or ridicule by a sobriquet, marked in red ink, witli the reasons for the con- which, from its extreme appropriateness, clung clusions arrived at. The late Campbell of Islay's like his shadow ever afterwards to the person so conclusions on the subject are the least convincing named, and even to his descendants. He com- " 1 have read. posed a number of comic songs. His Niall Mac Eòghain an Cuiridh," " Bod ach cam Koasdale," " are still popular in Tiree, t This was the Flath-Innis or Heaven of the Druida. and AnTuriaman," " " (song to a horse), and an » There is no mountain now known as "Arden or also Oran an Eich" " Scur-eilt " which is also mentioned in the poem. amusing piece to a sailor who had to go a long — — —

" " distance to see his lady-love, beginning as Clih Ailein (Allan's praise), a mocking song to Allan MacDonald when his fairy sweetheart follows : was troubling him. It extends to 72 lines, 12 Do ghlùincan air lùghadh, lines in each verse. It seems an able song, or A' direadh a' bhruthaich, luinneag, and is set to the air of one of Màiri 'S gur fada bhuait Ruaig Le turraman niin, Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh's famous songs, viz. : a' tighinn Tha oidhche I h-urabh o, i h-orin o, flùn. 'S mise leam I h-urabh o, i ho ro h-o, Another excellent one he composed to a man I h-urabh o, i h-orin o, named Neil MacMillan and a lad named Mac- H-i ri ri ri o h-i og o. Fadyen, of 120 lines, 10 lines in each verse. It "Cumha A' Ghamhna" (The lament for the relates to a cart accident that occurred Avhen they stirk), is a long poem of 120 lines consisting of a were returning home from the mill. It seems that dialogue between the bard, his wife, and Charles

MacMillan was standing in the cart when the Mac Ailein, over the following circumstance : horse shied, and both were thrown out. When Charles Mac Allan, who lived near the bard, the bard saw that MacMillan was in danger, and threw an old mare over the rocks, and a great being troubled about him, he sang as follows :— number of birds collected to feast on the carcase. Shortly after, the bard lost a stirk in the same Tha fleasgach 's na bailtean, birds in 'Tha tuilleadh is sgairtell, place, and the collected a similar manner Theid ainm air mach do Dhuneideann, to have a further feast, but the bard anticipated Bho'n glac thu 'n lair Shas'nach them by taking the stirk home. Catherine, the 'S a chaidh thu g' a marcachd, bard's wife, blamed Charles Mac Allan very much Gu'n d' spealg thu a chairt anns na speuraibh for having assembled the birds. Her concern at Gur ghrianail thu' gearan, the occurrence is well exemplified in the following Dh' fhalbh m' aobharrach geurain stanza : A dheanadh dhonih 'n fearann a reubadh ; " Cha'n e 'tha mi 'g àireamh, Tearlach Mac Ailein a Mùidart, Ach thusa Mhie-Fàidein Gur h-e 'rinn an diùbhail oirnne, Bhi 'n cunnart a' bhàis le do chreuchdan, &e. 'Nuair a chruinnich e na biastan Air an t-sliabh 'tha 'n taobh so 'n mhòintich " ; Some of his other songs are, Oran do dh' Fitheach is feannag is biatach, Eòghan Mac Gilleain, Ceannard dii-fhear-dheug's Bu chonninn gun riaghailt dhòmhs' iad."* an treas reisimeid de Mhilisi Earraghaidheal," It is a great j3Ìty that such an excellent comic to Hector MacLean of the .3rd Regiment of song poet should have experienced the pinch of poverty Argyllshire Militia. Fonn (chorus), " Gur is so of ;" in his old age, and the marvel that many h-i bean mo ghaoil an Spàinnteach his compositions have been preserved. He left his " do (ihilleasbuig Mac Neil Fear na Oran native island and went to live in Barra, where he pacaide ann am Muile" (song to Archibald died in very straitened circumstances in 1835, MacNeil of the steam packet. Mull). Fonn ;" and my informant, the Rev. Donald MacLean, " deoch-sliiinte 'n rigii a"s feàrr leinn (chorus), 'Si Duirinish, Skye, himself a native of Tiree, " do Niall Mac-Gilleain am Maor Ban ann Cumha significantly adds, "the slothful shall be under Tiritheadh, achaidh a bhathadh 's e 'tighinn a He tribute!" 's a' bhliadhna 1S09." (Lament for Neil Mac- Lean the fair-haired ground-officer who was drowned coming from Islay in 1809), Fonn DOM HNALLACH NA TOISEACH. (chorus), " Gaoir nam ban Muileach." The song on the death of Hector MacMillan's (MACDONALD, FERINTOSH.)

horse extends to 80 lines ; Niall Mac Eoghain's, The Rev. John MacDonald, D.D., was born in totheairof " JohnCampbell of the Bank," 176 lines " the parish of Reay, Caithness, in 1779. He of 16 lines in each verse ; and 'Se Mo Laochan an Tàillear " (My hero is the tailor), 74 lines of 12 became minister of the Celtic Church in Edinluirgh, lines in each verse. In this song the bard pre- in 1807, and of Ferintosh in 1813. He was a man tailor for his skill in tailoring, tends to praise the possessed of talents of a high order, and was a but in his usual style he is applying his scathing very eminent preacher. He composed a number wit and sarcasm throughout. songs, died in 1849. A few "Am Bi\ta Riomhach " (The beautiful boat), of spiritual and Fonn "A chomuinn rioghail riinaich," consisting stanzas of ' An Aiseiridh " will convey an idea of of 80 lines and composed to Allan son of Angus, his powers as a composer. who was at the fishing in Tiree, and fell out of the boat into the sea. * From Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair's " Gaelic Bards. — — — ;

Och, aluchd-àiteacluiidli iia h-uaigh' ! The first line of the chorus is sung slowly, and O'n dh' flmll)li -a. h àillca.lul 'nis is snuadli, the others considerably quicker. The single line 'S anil oirbh a Ìai-h an lusdachd bliuan ; of verse is also sung slowly. In the Rev. Hugh ! c'uin a ghluaisear idir sibh 'i MacDonald's both verse and chorus seem to go all Caidlidh an durrag anns an iiir. together if it has all been noted correctly. The Is gabhaidh 'chuileag fois "an cùil, one stanza quoted in " Albyn's Anthology," with Ri doininn gheamliraidh 's gaillinn dhlùth, chorus, consists of 14 lines, the first line of which Ach diiisgear leis an earrach iad. Ach c'uin 'thig earrach 'thogas suas, Luchd-còmhnuidh thosdach, chiuin na h-uaigh',

O ! c'uin a dhiusgeas iad o'n suain ? Is làidir buan an cadal e. and the chorus mixed up with tlie verse is —

Thig duilleach fhathast air a' ghcig, Shùbb, ùbh, ubhan

Ged tha i lorn an diugh gun sgeimh, Co 'dh' fhaotas a bhi gun clieòl,

'Tha seargt', is pillidh 'ghrian air ais do'n speur, Shùbh, ùbh, ùbhan ! cò 'dh' fhaotas a bhi gun cheòl? An deigh 'dhol as an t-sealladh uainn. &e., &c. His " Marbhrann do Mhaighstir Caldair " A parody on this song was written by James eleBracadale" and verses, or 148(1 lines. He also composed a song runs :

and elegy to Dr Stewart ; one to Mr John Robin- Came ye o'er by Mornich, son, of 136 verses, to the air of " Is tu mo hiaidh," Saw ye John of Bracadale, etc., a poem on his visit to the island of St. At his nose a siller quaich.

Kilda in 1822. "The Christian's visit to At his knee a water pail ! Jordan," also in three parts, and many other Copper nose and haffets gray, sacred poems exhibiting a great deal of culture, Bald head and bosom hale, John has drunken usquebae true piety, deep thought, expressive language Mair than a' loch Bracadale ! and scholarship. Hey John ! Ho John !

Hey John of Bracadale !

Hey John ! Ho John ! REV. HUGH MACDONALD. Wae's me gin ye should fail ! Auld John, bauld John, The Reverend Hugh MacDonald, of Portree, in Brave John of Bracadale ! the Isle of Skye, nourished towards the end of the But John will wear away ! last century and beginning of the presenc one. An' the weary usquebae Will grow cheaper by a third. There is not much known about him except When they delve him in the yird ! that he was poetically and musically inclined. O the gay hearts at Portree

One of his songs at least, and a very comical one Will lament sair for thee ! An' I mysel' raise sic a wail, it is, has been preserved in Albyn's Anthology. A' the rocks of Skye shall peal, It is a melody altogether different from the Hey John ! Ho John ! ordinary run of Highland airs. Its rhythm and Hey John of Bracadale ! measure are peculiar and striking, yet very Hey John ! Ho John !

Wae's me gin ye should fail ! melodious when well sung in slow strathspey Auld John, bauld John,

time. It sets all musical scientific rules at Brave John of Bracadale ! ilefiance, and is none the less attractive for that. There are 50 bars of 2-4th time in it. The writer only knows of one other Gaelic air somewhat RAONULL MAC IAIN MHIC EOGHAIN similar to it, where the chorus consists five of (RONALD SON OF JOHN SON OF EWEN). lines, and the verse of .only one, as follows :

Hillin beag o hi ri ruilean o ho, Ronald MacDonald Avas a native of Minginish, Hu ru ri ruilean o ho, in the Isle of Skye, and flourished toAvards the Rill u Rill o oh ho rill ill ho. end of the last century and first quarter of the Rill ho ro, ro ho bha-ho, one. Hillin-beag o hi ri ruilean o ho. present His occupation was that of a grieve, Verse. He was not only a true poet, but also a great wit. Thog iad orm gu'n d'thug mi gràdh dhuit. He composed a good many excellent songs, among Hillin beag, &c. which were "Marbhrann do dh' fhear Thalascair" — —

" (177S), (elegy to MacLeod, Talaskir) ; Oran an Bu bhadanach, soilleir, sùghmhor. Acrais " (song to hunger); "Oran do dli' each An cruth an robh mi 'san am sin, crosda 'sa Chlaigionn " (song to a bad-tempered Gu fliiranach, duilleach, àluinn, 'S mi 'g eirigh ri blàths an t-shamhraidh, horse at Claggin) ; "Oran do'n Chreig Mhoir" " " Gu nieurach, meanglanach, duilleach, (song to the big rock) ; Oran an Uisge-bheatha " Gu h-ianach, ribheideaeh, ceòlmhor, ; Oran, a rinneadh do choille (song to whisky) Gu bocach, maoiseagach, meannach, bhig a bh' anns an Eilean Sgiatlianach, mar gu'ii> Nach iarr 'san earrach an cròdha. b'i fein a bha 'ga dheanamh " (song to a small Little else is known about him except that his grove in Skye, &c.) Most of these songs -were songs were very popular in Skye, and must have published in Donald MacLeod's collection in ISU. been of some importance to have been included in Dr. Magnus MacLean in his excellent paper on Donald MacLeod's collection the father of the "Skye Bards," published in the transactions of — present famous Skye poet, Neil M'Leod, said to the Gaelic Society of Glasgow, LS91-94—delivered be the best living Gaelic poet. The date of our as a lecture in December, 1892—relates a capital poet's death is uncertain. anecdote of our poet, which illustrates the wit of wliich he was capable on the spur of the moment. He and " Fear an Kudha" (a Mr MacAskill, or AM BARD CONANACH. MacLeod, I am not sure which) met one day, and the following conversation passed l^etween them : (THE STRATHCONNON BARD.) — " Ma ta, liaonuill," arsa fear an Rudha, " 's e " mo fhradharc fhein a tha 'dol air ais." " Ma ta," Donald MacDonald, called Am Bard Conan- arsa RaonuU, " nach neònach leibh e, 'fhir an ach," or the Strathconnon bard, was born in KuiUia, 's ann a tha mo fhradharc-sa a' 'dol na's Strathconnon, Ross-shire, in 1780. Probably " dearbh, fheàrr." Tha sin neonach gu a owing to the secluded position of his native glen, Kaonuill," arsa fear an Rudha, " tha thu pailt and the neglect of his parents, he received no cho scan riumsa." " Ma ta," arsa Raonull, " 's ann mar sud a tha. Am fear a chithinnroimheso English education, and his scholarship, so far as 'na sheasamh leis thein air Cnoc, chi mi nise 'na known, consisted in his being able to read Gaelic, dhithis no triiiir e ;" Avhich, being interpreted, which he must have studied deeply after, as (Talaskir)— means, Fear an Rudha— "My eye- shown by his command of the language in his " sight is failing me very rapidly." Ronald : You songs. may think it strange, sir, lint my eye-sight is — The wild and romantic scenery of his native getting better." Talaskir : " That is strange, indeed, for you are quite as old as I am." Ronald, country inspired him at an early age with these " yet it is so ; for, the man that formerly I would poetical leanings, which, at a later period, burst see on a hillock, I now see double or triple," forth into song. Not having been trained to any couple of stanzas of "Oran an Acrais" A particular trade, he earned his livelihood as a song to hunger— will give an idea of his powers of composition. sawyer, which did not require any special training. After being some years engaged at this occupation Our h-eòlach air an acras mi, in his native glen, he removed to Inverness, Tha 'theachdaireachd neo-inntinneach ; Gnr trie a thug e turraig orm. where he set up as a regular sawyer. Like many An uiridh roimh àm-dinnearach : of the sons of genius and song, MacDonald was of Am fear a bhios 'na dhraghaire a congenial disposition and warm temperament, Neo-adhartach neo-inntrigeach, Clio luath 's a gheibh e eòlas air. and the old, old story has to be repeated, he met Cha deònach leis a chuidhteachadh. with someone he loved better than himself, and stumbled and floundered as these love-sick Thug e na h-ochd seachduinean swains generally do, and his parents, fearing an Air lasdadh 'na mo theaghlach-sa ; Dh'fhiach e ri mo sporan, elopement with the young girl of his choice, took

Fhuair e cothroni math air fhaochadh ; all necessary precautions , to prevent his doing Thug e gach ni b'urrainn duine justice to the young maiden, who reciprocated dhioni " A bhuilcachadh dhe'n t-saoghal ; his attachment not wisely, but too well," and Cha mhòr nach d'thug e bàs dhonih, the end was disappointment to both, with the Ach gu'n d' fhàg e 'na mo Raonull mi. inevitable

The following is a stanza from another song : Ae fond kiss, and then we sever ! " Oran a rinneadh do choille bhig a bh'anns an Ae farew eel, and then for ever ! " Eilean Sgiathanach (song to a small grove in Deep in heart-wrung tears I'll pledge thee.

Skye). Warring sighs and groans I'll wage thee ! —

He ultimately married a young girl—a country- MacKenzie, and what is more interesting still, he woman of his own—named MacLennan, with eventually married his winsome Mary, who at the whom he is said to liave lived liappily. All his time the song was composed was only 12 years " l)oems had been arriiii.i;t'il in MS. with a view to of age. MacKenzie in his Beauties of tìaelic l)ul)lication, but he wiis iinfnrtniiately seized with Poetry "says that MacDonald had composed many- cholera in 1832— tlie Hist ("iiidiMiiic of tiie disease excellent poems and songs, and though Murdoch to this country —winch soon terminated tatally. MacKenzie has the merit of having composed the Tlie only two "sonj^s of his wliich have been pre- air, MacDonald is entitled to the praise of " hav- served, so far as I am aware, are, one to Napoleon ing sang that most beautiful of airs in language 15nonaparte, wiiieii he composed in Edinburgh, on which for purity, mellowness, and poetry, was witnessing the demonstrations of joy which took never surpassed. According to the Rev. Roderick place on hearing of the result of "the battle of MacRae, Free Church Manse, Carloway, Lewis, Alexandria. It is a composition of considerable John MacDonald was, when a young man, teacher merit, of a martial and triumphant character, in liochcarron parish, while the famous Mr exhibiting poetical talent of a highly respectable Lachlan MacKenzie was minister, subsequently, ([uality. It consists of 28 verses, or 176 lines. he was tacksman of Scorraig, Lochbroom, and Tlie other was to his first sweetheart in which owner of a vessel of which he himself was skipper. he laments, amongst other things, that they Whilst in this latter capacity he was once storm- were not sailing away to Ireland, or somewhere stayed in the harbour of Stornowav. Then it was else, and reiterates his former attachment, which, that he saw his future wife, and on his way to no doubt, was genuine. This song extends to 13 Loch Torridon, with a fair wind, he composed his verses, or 101 lines, and bears upon the face of it famous song to the youthful maid who was to be a sympatlietic regard for his old love. He is said his wife. On one occasion, when on a visit to to iiave been Ji man of a cheerful disposition, of Ireland, the author, putting up at an inn, heard middlestature,and an excellent and warm-hearted his own song sung in an adjoining room, which companion, much liked by all who knew him. shows how readily a song that catches the popular ear and taste will travel. The following five stanzas with translation will IAIN DOMHNALLACH. be acceptable to many. The entire song will be found in several musical and poetical works. : (JOHN MACDONALD, LOCHBROOM.) MAIRI LAGHACH. John MacDonald was a native of, and born at, Luinncog (Chorus). Ho mo Mhàiri laghach, Corry, Lochbroom, on Feb. 22nd, 1766. was He '8 tu mo Mhàiri bhinn. for some time tacksman of the farm of Scorraig, Ho mo Mhàiri laghach, 'S tu mo Mhàirì ghrinn Lochbroom, and afterwards went to live at Ho mo Mhàiri laghach Crowbeg, in Lewis. He was a man of great 'S tu mo Mhàiri bhinn ; Mo Mhàiri bhòidheach lurach, poetic talents, and was author of the second set of 'Rugadh anns na Glinn. the famous and ever popular song, " Màiri B' ògbha mise a's Mairi 'm fàsiiehean Ghliiin Smeoil, 'Nnair chuir macan Bhenuissaighid gheur 'iiaui fheòil, Laghach," winsome Mary. The original set was Tharruing sinn gu 'chèile ann an cud co bcò, composed by Murdoch MacKenzie, Lochbroom, 'S nach robh air an t,-saoghal, a thug gaol co niòr. " better known in his own country as Murchadh 'S trie bha mise 's Màiri, falbh nam fàsach flil. Ruadh nam bo"—red-haired Murdoch of the Gun smaoiiitean air fàl-bheart, gun chàil gu droch gniomh, cows (droves). MacKenzie, who was also a fairlj'' Cupid ga n-ar tàladh ann an càirdeas dian, good poet, produced the original song and air for 'd barr nan craobh mar sgàil dhuinn, 'nuair a b'àird a his daughter Mary, who at a very early age ghrian. managed his house after his servant had absconded Ged bu leamsa Alba, a h-airgid is a maoin, when her services were most required in the Cia mar bithinn sona, gun do chomunn gaoil, dhonih fhèin, shelling, or mountain milk-house. In gratitude IV annsa bhi 'gad pògadh, le deagh choir No ged fhaighinn siòras na Roinn-Kòrp, gu lèir. for his daughter's exertions at so tender an age, bhrollach solais Ian de shonas gràidh, he composed the song for her, which is a fairly Tha do Uchd a's gile sheallas nan eala air an t-snàmh, good one, and the air being original, and really Tha do mhin shlios fallain, mar cinach a' chair. beautiful, it soon attained a degree of popularity Muineal mar an fhaoilean fuidh 'n aodain a's àilte. that its poetry would never have entitled it to, Tha t 'fhalt bachlach, dualach, rau do chluais a' fas, if composed to an old or inferior air. MacKenzie L'hug nàdur gach buaidh dha, thar gach gruaig a died in 1831. dh'fhàs, Cha'n'eil dragh, no tuairgne, 'na chuir suas gach la John MacDonald adopted the air and composed Chas gach ciamh mu'n cuairt dhe, 's e' na dhuail gu a love song infinitely superior to the original of The late Professor Blackie, who caught the the charm is in the singing of them, hence my great spirit and rhythm of Highland songs in a remark- grief at the numl)er of airs that have been lost. able manner, translated it also—about ihe best I Mr MacDonald had eleven of a family, all of have seen, and the nearest to the original them born at Scorraig. As his children were Gaelic —a few stanzas of which are appended. growing up he removed to Stornoway, where his His opinion of the song was that it was a simple wife had some property. Afterwards he took the air, and to his ear, uncommonly' beautiful. farm of Crobeg in the parish of Lochs, Lewis, where he died on the 16th of January, I860, in his Chorus. 99th year. Ho ! my bonnie Mary Rev. Mr Macrae says, " it was most interesting dainty love, My my queen, to listen—as it was my privilege to do—to his old The fairest, rarest Mary Highland legends, which, if they had been On earth was ever seen. preserved, would fill volumes." Ho ! my queenly Mary, His sons were also men of mark. His That made me King of men. second son, " To call thee mine own Mary, Roderick, was editor of the Pictou Born in the bonnie glen. Observer"; another, Alexander, was captain of

an East India trader ; two were merchants in Young was I and Mary Stornoway, both of whom are dead. The youngest In the windings of Glensmeoil, had the of When came that imp of Venus farm Dun, Carloway, and was ground And caught us with his officer of the parish of Uig. He died in 1892. He wile ; And pierced us with his arrows, was the father of Miss Maggie S. MacDonald, That we thrilled in every pore. authoress of " My native hills for me" and other And loved as mortals never loved poems, of whom a sketch will appear later on. On this green earth before. She is, therefore, a granddaughter of John Oft times myself and Mary MacDonald, the poet, and of Mairi Laghach, the Strayed up the bonnie glen, subject of the famous second song. Several Our hearts as pure and innocent other descendants are also poetically inclined. As little children then. " Mr John MacDonald was author of several Boy Cupid finely taught us other popular songs, one in particular on the To dally and to toy. then Laird of Tulloch, who was also proprietor of the shade fell When from the green tree. a great part of Lochbroom." His excellent And the sun was in the sky. poems and songs were full of nerve, tact, talent, If all the wealth of Albyn intelligence, and wit. His wife, " Màiri Were mine, and treasures rare. Laghach"— Mary Maclvor—was born in Storno- boots all gold What and silver, way on 4th January, 1786, and died in the same If sweet love be not there ? place on 5th July, 1869, in her S3rd year. I More dear to me than rubies, hope the present generation of his descendants In deepest veins that shine. wont let all his songs die out. Is one kiss from the lovely lips That rightly I call mine. Subjoined is another beautiful translation of five stanzas of " Màiri Laghach " by a gifted Thy bosom's heaving whiteness Highlander, Mr D. MacPherson, bookseller, VV^ith beauty overbrims. Like swan upon the waters London. It is perha])S more poetical, but not so near the original as Professor Blackie's, or Evan When gentliest it swims : Like cotton on the moorland MacColl's. Thy skin is soft and fine. Chorus. Thy neck is like the sea-gull, Sweet the rising mountains, red with heather bells, When dipping in the brine. Sweet the bubbling fountains and the dewy dolls. Sweet the snowy blossom of the thorny tree. The locks about thy dainty ears Sweeter is young Mary of Glensniole to me. I)o richly curl and twine ; Dame Nature rarely grew a wealth Sweet, O sweet ! with Mary o'er the wilds to stray, When Glensmole is dressed in all the pride of May, Of ringlets like to thine : And when weary roving through the greenwood glade. There needs no hand of hireling Softly to recline beneath the birken shade.

To twist and plait thy hair ; Sweet the rising, etc. But where it it grew winds and falls There te fix my gaze in raptures of delight. In wavy beauty there ! On her eyes of truth, of love, of life, of light. On her bosom purer than the silver tide, The remaining verses are in a similar strain, Fairer than the cana on the mountain side. which accounts for the beauty and populaiity of Sweet the rising, etc. the song, and its beauty is enhanced ten-fold by What were all the sounds contrived by tuneful men. being sung, and so it is with all Highland songs : To the warbling notes of the sylvan glen ! — — —: : ——

Here the merry lark ascends on dewy wing, I have no idea to what air this song was sung, There the mellow mavis and the blaclibird sing. but the song itself seems a good one, consisting of Sweet the rising, etc. 12 verses of 4 lines in each verse. The first What were all the splendour of the prond and great stanza of wiiich is as follows : To the simple pleasures of our green retreat, From the crystal spring fresh vigour we inhale. 'Se 'n diugh latha na coinneadh, Rosy health does court us on the mountain gale. Leam is bòidheach ùr sealladh ; Sweet the rising, etc. Biodh sinn cridheil 'sa chomunn, Were I ottered all the wealth that Albin yields, Clieann air sloinneadh 'nar Gaidheil. All her lofty mountains and her fruitful fields. With the countless riches of her subject seas, There is also a very good one entitled " Gran blisses such as these. I would scorn the change for do Mhac-Ic-Alastair Ghlinnegaraidh, air fonn Sweet the rising, etc. " Tha tighinn fodham eirigh." IIAOGHALL DONULLACH, ARDNIS. There are numerous other songs also in the same work, the most uncommon of Avhich are tlie (RANALD MACDONALD, OF ARDNESS). following: —"Gran Molaidh a Dh'Eithear a Bh' aig an Ughdair Re Mòran Uine Ri Gnionili: Ranald MacDonald, of Ardness, Arisaig—not " Faill ill i rinn G, na hug a's ho ro eile, the son of " Alasdair MacMhaighstir Alasdair Faill ill i rinn G, na luig a's ho ro eile, of the same name—was probably born towards Faill ill i rinn G, na hug a's ho ro eile, the close of the last century. Very little is Righlinn bhàidheach neo-chearbach, sinn le cheile. known about him except that lie published a 'S trie a dh'fhalbh collection of Gaelic songs in 1S21 (James Fraser, " Gran do Lachun a' Choire." Inverness). The work has been long out of print, Seisd (Chorus). and extremely rare. The only copy I know of it ho i u o, is in the possession of Professor MacKinnon, of Horinn o Horinn o ho i u o, Edinburgli, who very kindly lent it to me for the Horinn o ho i u o, purpose of making these extracts. It extends to Ceum liighor nan Gaidheal. 200 pages, and contains 48 songs and poems. The " Canai, Air do'n title of tlie work is as follows : Gran Rinneadh aim an 's Droch Chairtealan." " Grain iighdair Bhi Ri Port, e an Le Seisd (Chorus). RAOGHALL DONULLACH, Teann, teann, teann a bhodaich, 'I'eann, teann, teann a bhodaich, Arisaig, Siorruichd Inbhirnis. An Ardnis, Teann, teann, teann a bhodaich, 'S fhada am port a th' air breith oirnn. Maille Ri " Gran Do Nighean Araid." Co - Chruinneachadh Dàin Grain, etc., 1st stanza. Le Tha Sali 'na cailin cho ghrinn Ughdairean Eugsamhuil. Nach urra domh innseadh ri m' bheò : Gu tarsada, banail, 'na ceum, Gu bioraltach binn 'na glòir, Inbhirnis : Gu iorganda, tarraganda, grinn, Friseal, Dealbh-bhuailt' le Seumas Gu cruinneagach cruinn gu 'n sgòil, 1821." 12mo pp. 200. (tU bradanda, sgadanda, seang Gun àrdan, gun mheang, gun bhùsd. There are several songs in the work that I have 5 verses, 40 lines. never seen before, the respective airs of which I " Gran Gaoil." am afraid are lost, and there are also some old ones I knew, but had not seen in any other work. 1st stanza. " The lirst one is Gran Do Mliac-Ic-Alastair Fhir a shiùbhlas mu'n cuairt, " (Jhlinnegaraidli," air fonn, Och ! a Mhaire mo Thoir an t-soraidh so uam thar chaol, " dliunaicii.". The next is Moladh. Nan Gu bean an fliuilt duinn, Gaidheal." Na'n tilleadh i ruinn mar shaoil Seisd (Chorus). Thug mise dhuit gràdh, A mhaireas gu bràth, 's naoh sgaoil Horinn o ho i u o, 'S biodh ni' aire ort gach uair, Horinn o ho i u o, Le coniaine bhuan, 's le gaol. Horinn o ho i u o, Ceum lùghor nan Gaidheal. 10 verses, SO lines. " Oran Do Reitheachaii a Cliaiilh Bhàthadh." " Oran Le Te Araid Do Leannain." Seisd (Chorus). 1st stanza.

! gur muladaeh tha mi, Ho i o hu ri ho ho ro thall, Tha mo leannan air fas rium'an gruaim ! i o hu ri ho ho ro thall, Ho Thug mi gaol o cheann tarauil, Ho i o hu ri ho ho ro rhall, Tha te eile 'ga mhealladh sud uam ; Cha cheil mi air each nacl-i d'rinn am bàthadh orm 'N uair a theid mi 's an leabaidh call. Gur a suain h-aotrom mo chadal, eha ;

•S verses, 64 lines. Tha leann-dubh orm air driighadh, Gur trie snithe mo shiil le m' dhà ghruaidh. " Oran Do Dh'Each, Mall air Thuras, 's gun 'n 6 verses, 48 lines. " T-ùghdair Bhi 'na shlàinte. " Marbhrann Mhic-Ic-Ailean Le Niall Mac- Air fonn. Mhiiirich, Seanachaidh Chlann-Ranaill." 11 verses, 99 lines. A chailin duinn a' chuailean reidh, Christina. Huill ho mar bha mi fein ; "Raghal agus Caristine," Ranald and A chaileag sin g'an tug mi speis, Tills comical song has no chorus, but consists of Gu'n d' fhàg thu fein fo mhulad mi. 22 verses of 8 lines in each (176 lines). I heaid it 11 verses, 44 lines. sung by an old man in Skye 45 years ago, to the air of " Chuir mi biodaganns a" bliodach 'sleig am " Oran Do Ghille Og, a Reitich Ri Bantraich, bodacli ran as," the same air as " An gabh thu thug ciil ris 's a Phos Sean Dnine—Mar Gu bean, a Dhòmhnuill P.hig ?"' but have never heard B'e'n Gille og a Dheanadh e." it sung by any one since. It is one of those songs that will pi'obablj never heard again. Air fonn. be " Oran Do Fhiadh, Le Domluill Mac Aonais an Chaidh comunn, an eomunn, ;" ann na Gleannalladail no chorus ; 11 verses of Chaidh an eomunn air ehùl ; 8 lines in each. Dhealaich eomunn ri cheile, 'S rinn sibh fhein comunn iir. "Oran Do Lochial a Tha Làthair" Le

I 10 verses, SO lines. Gilleaspuig Donallach an Bard Uisteach. Air fonn— "Tweedside"— 15 verses, 8 lines each. " Oran Sealgair a chaill a Ghuna, 's a shaoil "Dan Le Eachan Mac Leòid, a bha ann an nach Fhaigheadh e co-math." 9 verses, 72 lines. Uist a chinne-Deas." chorus. 30 verses of 4 " Marbhrann Do Shim Mhorair A chailleadh No lines all. is altogether Le Sgiorradh." This song has no chorus, but in each, 120 lines in It a very good descriptive song or poem. each verse is repeated. It extends to 14 verses of " 5 lines in each. Oran Do'n Chath-Bhuidlieann Dhònullach, 'Nuair Bha lad Dul Do Ameiica." As this is " Oran Do Dhonul Donullach." a very patriotic son- 1 uìm' it in extenso. It is

• Air fonn. sung' to an air simihir to '.Se mo cheist an gille donn," but wliether the words were the Horeann ho ro a ho, original words to the air or not, I unable to 'S mithich duinne eirigh, mo nighean donn. am say. It was probably composed during the 13 verses of 2 lines. American War of independence, about or after " Marbhrann Do Thighearna Giilinn-Alladail," the middle of the last century." tiie first stanza of which is— ORAN "'S ioma fear a bha duilich, DO'N CHATH BHUIDH EANN DHONULLAICH, Agus bean a bha tuireadh, Mu cheann teaghlaich na h-urram, 'n uair Bha lad Dol Do America. A tha 'n Duneudain a' fuireach LUINNEAG. 'Na thigh geamhraidh 's nach urrainn a ghluasad." Bithibh eutrom, 's togaibh fonn, 22 verses, 110 lines. pjireadh 'ur i.TÌdhe 'n 'ur com, Dioladh a' gliloine gu bonn. " Oran Do The Araid." Air slàinte nan sonn flathasach,

Seisd. (Chorus) 'S iad na Gàidheil a fhuair an clit'i, o'n chaidh iad a nunn Hi rill eile horo, Riamh ) Ho ro hi rill horo. Aca bha buinig gach eiiis, Hi rill eile horo Rinn iad turn gun amharus, Ho ro oir cù an t-Sealgair. Bithibh eutrom, &c.

12 verses, 48 lines. * Or after the siege of Quebec in 1759. — . — "

53

'Mhuintir dh' an suaicheantas fraocli, This reference to Skye is rather gratifying,

'S iad na gaisgich nach 'eil faoin ; considering that neither MacDonald of the Isles 'S niairg a thachradh air na laoich, nor MacLeod of MacLeod joined the Stewart 'N uair bhitheadh caonnag chath orra. cause. sibh sios do 'n bhlàr, 'N uair a theid " Corag Bhrain a's a' choin duibh." Le feile, 's le h-osan geàrr ; Bonaid blireac an casadh àrd, 1st Stanza. Cha 'n fhaod 'ur nànihaid aniharc ruibh. Air bhith dhuinn la 'sa bheinn sheilg, leinn Sud na gaisgich is feàrr glens, B' ainmic bhi gun choin, Ag èisdeach ri gàirich Ian, Anns a chorag ni iad feum ; 'S ionia fear a dh' innseas sgeul, Ri bùirich fhiadh, agus Ion. Gur treun air cùl claidhe iad. Nineteen verses of four lines in each verse. 'S iad sud a' bhuidheann gun uaill, "Cumha Shir Iain Chameroin an Fhaisaifhearn," beothail, làidir, luath, Dh' fhàs gu le DonuU Camron—Air fonn, " Martuinn a' Bheal- 'N uair a bheir sibh arm a truaill, laich." Gu 'n gearrar smuais, a's cnaimhean leibh. A long and very good song of 18 verses of 8 'ur claidhean guineach, geur, Tha lines in each, 144 lines in all. Mar ealtuin gu sgaiteach beur ; 'S ann leo ghearrar am beum, Cha 'n eirich fear a luidheas leis. "Cumha do Chaiptein Eòghan Camron, Chuil- cheana, a mharbhadh 's a' bhliana 1810, aig Almeida, Bha sibh luathdàmhach 's an stri, am Portugal." Le Donull Camron. 'N uair a ghhiaiste sibh le spid,

Hinn sibh buanach anns gach tir, This song is also without a chorus ; but the Gu 'n togte cis gach latha leibh. last line of each verse is repeated, a common 'S lionar uasal, àluinn, òg, enough arrangement in Gaelic songs. It extends to 100 lines. There are also some Dh' fhalbh, 's a ghluais do 'n chinne mhòr ; songs by Iain 'S ge nach tig iad uile beò, Lom and other bards, and one by " Màirinighean Bu mhòr an rath chathabh' ac'. Alasdair Riiaidh " (a " Marbhrann do dh' fhear Tha sibh siobhalt' ann an tlachd, na Comraich ") in Ronald MacDonald's collection, Tha sibh aoidheil, tha sibh ceart, which altogether makes it a very interesting Tha sibh rioghail, tha sibh pailt, Avork, and especially so since it is so scarce. No 'An cruadhas, 'an neart, 'an spraicealachd. doubt most of those songs will die out entirely, Tha sibh socrach, tha sibh luath, and my object in mentioning them is to preserve 1 ha sibh iochdar, gun ghruaim, at least their titles and choruses. Tha sibh curanta, cruaidh, I am informed by the Rev. D. MacLean, Tha sibh duaismhor, foighidneach. Duirinish, Skye—one of the best living authorities Celtic there O fhuair sibh aodach a's airm— on Bibliography—that are only five O fhuair sibh le onair gairni, copies of Ronald MacDonald's song book in Na leigibh le h-aon diu meirg, existence, and two copies only of his —hymns. Ach deanaibhs' mathasach. The title of the hymn book is as follows : " Cumha Do Rob. Ruadh Mac Ghillebhra, " LAOIDHEAN Spioradail, le RaoghallDonullach, Fear Srath-Ghlas a Thuit 'an Cuilodair." an Ardnis, Arisaig, Siorruichd Inbhirniss. Le Bhean Fein. Maille ri co-chruinneachadh LAOIDHEAN SPIORADAIL, le Ughdairean Eugsamhuil 1st stanza : Inbhirnis ! Dealbh-bhuailt le Seumas Friseal.

Och ! a Thearlaich òig Steùairt' 1821."-12mo 2 ff=p.p. 28. 'S e do chilis rinn mo leireadh, Mr MacLean remarks that very few Gaelic Thug thu uam gach ni bh' agani scholars are that the district of Arisaig Ann an cogadh 'nad aobhar aware ; published Cha chrodh, a's cha chàirdean, produced, this poet who the above two 'Rinn mo chràdh ach mo cheile volumes of poetry. The two works are so rare — ; O'n la dh' fhàg e mi 'm aonar. that they escaped the notice of John Reid and his Gun sion 's an t-saoghal ach leine coadjutors when writing that useful work, Mo run geal òg. " Bibliotheca Scoto Celtica," published in 1832. It extends to 88 lines, or 11 verses of 8 lines in From the tone and subject uf the hymns composed by the himself, it would that each. The last stanza contains the following : author appear he was an elderly man at the time of their composi- 'S ioma bean tha brònach, all Eadar Troternis a's Sleibhte, tion, and in likelihood they wei'e composed Agus tè tha 'na bantraich, when the gay muse ceased to charm him. Our Nach d'fhuair sanilila de 'm cheile. author was a poet of no mean power, perhaps not —

quite fit to be assigned a first rate rank among our Gaelic poets, but he certainly deserves a place of honour among the MacDonald bards. 'S fhaide learn na paigheadh dùbailt', Various topics engaged his attention. We find Ma chuireas i 'n crùban oirnn. in his printed volume panegyrics, satires, elegies, Fhir nihòirruaidh, nach d'fhuairam pailteas,

and facetious pieces, also congratulatory and Cha do sheall thu d'leabhar ceartais ; descriptive poems. JMr MacLean admires the B' fhearrdhuit buidheachas Chlann Lachuinn, sgillinn beau tif ul and idiomatic Gaelic in which he composed No Shasnach do'n chòiT. —the Gaelic of the Morar district, so rich in every Chaidh mi oiche m' aoidli dhachaidh turns of exjiression. Altogether Gu Gilleasbuig page in felicitous dubh Mac- Artair ; he commends the work as mucli to the perusal of Ged bha mi fliuch 'am chaiseart the lexicographer and ^ranini.uian as to the lover Dh' iaiaidh mi maeh gu Ijhi beò. of lyric jjoetry. Our autlmr appears at his best Sgaoil e lamhan air gach taobh dha,

in some of his satires. Everybody who knows Cuniail aige 'chuid an t-saoghal ! anything of the venerable language of Albin, (^haill e combanas nan daoine, knows that it is unequalled in vituperative power. Leis a' ghaol a thug e 'n or. No one knew this better than the premier poet, Thàinia; mi dhachaidh gu tùrlach,

Alexander MacDonald, when speaking in praise Tigh dnlih narl, -lainte o'n dùdan ; of the language, he said Ghunna mi bean air do chùlaobh Bu choltacli ri iiiiii-u ruin. 'S i 'ii aou chànain Am beul nam bard 's nan eisg, Do shrùin cho bioiach ri faoehaig, Is fheàrr gu càineadh, Casadh innte mach ri t-aodmm. Bho linn Bhàbeil fèin. Gheaii'adh i cuileaim a's caorann, Leis an fhaobhar 'tha gun fheòil, Succeeding poets found the trutli of this for Chaidh mi mach, a's rinn mi ùrnaigh. Tiie occasion that ,uavc ii>c to tlie themselves. Ti g'am ghreapad as an dùthaich — An ; satirical song " Teann, teann, teanii a Mioilaich,"' Pàirt do shoirbheas garbh na dùltachd was as follows :— A boat's crew, aHioiig them our Bhi 'ga ghiùlan anns an t-seòl. bard, were stormstayed on the Island of C'anna, Teann, teann, teann a bhodaich, &c. one of the inner Hebrides. They were most in- received by the Islanders—a very hospitably Mr ^lacLean further informs me that he has uncommon thing in the Highlands—and were re- got the only copy in existence of Donald Mac- fused shelter, and had sold to them at famine prospectus l^rices, it is said, the remains of a lean cow that Donald's—Am Bard Conanach's— of his died of starvation. This, of course, roused the intended song book published in 1814. It gives poet's wrath and he recorded it. AVe shall be the song on Buonaparte in a very ditterent way

happy to hear more of this clan poet ; there from the form in which it appeared in subsequent must be traditions of him still lingering in the imblications. districts of Arisaig and Morar. That a poet of There was also a John MacDonald, a Gaelic the ability of our author was so far forgotten and ' unheard of, is surprising. School teacher, who published a volume of religious poems in Inverness in 1S02. He was a rinneadh ann an Canai air do'n ughdair Oran most vigorous and energetic poet, with very good bhi ri port, 's e an droch chairtealan. Air seisd,

: conceptions. His book is now excessively rare. Teann, teann, teann a bhodaich, There was another Gaelic School teacher of the Teann, teann, teann a bhodaich, name of Kobert MacDonald, Inverness, who pnb- i

Teann, teann, teann a bhodaich, I lished a volume of hymns in 1836, and a Kev. '8 breith oirnn. fhada am port a th'air Donald MacDonald, one of the secession ministers,

I

'iS fhada mi ri port an Canai, I who published poems in Glasgow in 1857, and a A bhiadh air blianaich 's air drama, Rev. Donald MacDonald, a minister in Canada, i Ged' rachainn a chainnt ri caraid, who published a volume of religious hymns in I Cha'n fhaigh mi bainne ri òl. ! 1858, and republished in 1870 in Charlottetown.

spiocaich : 'S fhada tha mi 'san tir For all these names I am indebted to the Rev. j Ge daor a phaigh sinn a' bhlianach, Mr MacLean, of Duirinish. Inverness I con- Bha bias lobhte oirre eha b'fhiach i, sider an old fossil—no information to be had I Cha chumadh i Criosduidh beò. there. Some person of distinction, unfortunately, j o bhràthair Iain 'ic Artair, once remarked that the Invernesians spoke the 'Sann I glaise. iturest English. Since then the people have be- Fhuair sinn bbanaich na bà I An car a bha riabh ann ad chasan come so conceited that their patriotism has gone toirear asd' an òrd e. down into their boots. Cha I — -

KAONAILD NIUHEAN MHIC NEIL. Cha robh do leithid ri fhaighinn Kadar so 's a' Chaoir-dhearg. (RACHEL, DAUGHTER OF THE SON OF NEIL). Kular Lit.. ,10 Banai.lh, '\ ilr;,n i;,,l InJial nu falbh Kjichel MacDonald, a native of North Uist, ; Clia rol.h nKn;jMslrars„ithich was a distinguished poetess in her day. She •('Imala-lioras,!,, la,,,!,, nourished towards the end of the last century. Nach bi taiuhnear-hd am b' fhiosrach àite 'm faicte do bh;it, The only song of hers which has been preserved C Ged bhiodh ciosnaieh mhar' ann, is " Oran fir Heisliir," composed to young A bhuaileadh barraibh a crann, INIacLean of Heiskir, under the following circum- Chuireadh fodli' i gu 'slataibh, stances. in 'iS luaithe On one occasion, while storm-stayed h-astar na long ; the Isle of Skye and waiting for a boat to take Tha i aotrom aigeannach, '(4 ('irish cadai- gach gleann, iier across she to the shore at the Minch, went Muira-linnl.ulhmu 'darach, Dunvegan along with other women to gather shell A fuas-lailli rt!angan 'us lann. (isli. On raising her head and looking westwaid All iiiracli aluinn aighearrach, she saw a tall handsome gentleman j)ass by. To 'S i ri galihail a' chuain, the astonishment of the rest this gentleman, I ruith cho direach ri saighead, 'S 'na beautifully dressed, and wearing a gold ring, gaoth h-aghaidh gu cruaidh ; accosted her, and on finding out that she (red bhiodh stoirm chlachan-meallainn Ann's was waiting to cross over to Uist, ottered her a cathadh a tuatli, Ni fear Hnisgii- a gabliail, passage. He turned out to be young MacLean of Làmh nach atliadh roimh stuaidh. Heiskir, an island known as " Monach," lying M'estward of North Uist. In praise of " Fear The song describes the sea and the skill of the Heiskir," and his Birlinn, or pleasure boat, she commamler. but like many of our fine Gaelic songs the air lia- composed the following stirring verses* : never, so far as I am aware, been iiuhli-licd. and is now difficult to procure. Our e mis' tlia fo mhighean Now is the time to bring all these renmants \S mi learn fein air a' chnoc. to Fada fada bho m' chàirdean light before being lost for ever. There is a good deal to Ann an àite ri port be picked up yet in the Outer Hebrides, Gus a faca mi 'in bàta and I have no doubt one or two more of Rachel's Le siiiil àrda ri dos songs among them. However, should she never Tigh' nn bho Rudha na h-Airde have composed any other song but " Oran fir 'S mac an àrmuinn ri 'stoc. Heiskir," it entitles her to be ranked among our Mac an àrmuain ri stiiiireadh, Highland poetesses. A' tigh' nn a dh' ionnsuidh an t-8noid Steach troimh chaolas a' beucadh AILEAN DOMHNULLACH. 'S nniir ag eirigh ri 'stoc : Tha do làmhsa cho gleusda, (ALLAN MACDONALD.) 'S cha do threig thu do neart Ged a thigeadh muir dii-ghorm Allan MacDonald was born at Allt-an-SrothaÌL, 'Chuireadh srùladh a steach. in Lochaber, in 1794, and described his jiedigree Bu tu sgiobair na fairge, as follows :—He was a son of Alastair Mac- 'S tu fear falmadair grinn, Aonghais, .Vlhic 'S tu gu'n deanadh a stiùireadh Alastair Bhain, Mhic Alastair Mhoir, 'Nuair a dhiùltadh each i ; Mhic Aonghais a' Bhochdain, Mhic 'Nuaira bheireadh iad thairis, Aonghais Mhòir, Botii-Fliiunntain, Mhic Alastair, 'S iad 'nan luidhe 's an tuim, Mhic Iain Dubh, Mhic Raonaill Mhoir Chuireadh tus' i cho gàireach na Ceapaich. His father was drover, Gus an tàradh i tir. a and lived at Achadh-nan-Coinnichean, in Glenspean. His Cha bu ghlas bho'n a' chuan thu, mother was Mary Campbell, a daughter of Cha bu duaichnidh do dhreach, Donald, son of black John, (Jed a dh' eireadh muir tuaireap, who lived at Achadh- A gus stuadhana cas, a-Mhadaidh, in Glenroy. He was a shepherd 'Bagradh reef oirr' le soirbheas, with Iain Ban MacDonell (MacDonald) of Inch. Le stoirm 'us droch fhras, He married Catherine Nic Mhurich, and emi- Bha do mhisneach cho làidir, grated to Canada in 1816, lived a while at Cape 'S bho do làmhsa cko maith. Breton, and left it in 1847, and went to reside by the river south of Antigonish, where he died in * " Uist Bards," by Rev. A. MacDonald, Kiltarlity. 1868. Having lived some time at Cape Breton, — — — —

the Kev. A. MacLean Sinclair picked np a good I am informed by Professor MacKinnon that an (leal of information from him. He had a great able Gaelic scholar named Gilbert MacDonald, many old Highland songs and stories, and took a who resided in Edinburgh early in the i)resent " great interest in tlie history ami tiiuliiinii of the century, translated The Confession of Faith,' Highlands. He was a hne' honoi, aiid trulliful and was well known to the late Duncan -M'Laren, man, and an excellent poet. One nf his cDinposi- M.P. , who took lessons from him to refresh his tions was a heautiful lament for Alastair Mac- Gaelic. Donald, who was drowned at Merigonish in 1830, the first stanza of which is as follows.* It SEUMAS DONULLACH extends to 66 lines : Tha sgeul truagh a's cruaidh ri aithris (.JAMES MACDONALD). Tigh'nn air m' aire an dràsta , This excellent writer of lyric poetry was liorn Sffeul a chnalas niu na ehailleadh,

Alastair a hliàtha.lh : in September, 1S07, in the parish of Fintry, s„las dliuit (' DhònihnaiU Cha b' e 'n ; Stirlingshire. His father was employed at the Gurh-eleun "s a rlinii.lh ihu. cotton factory of Culcruich. MacDonald An corp ciatach 'hu ylilan fiamh A bhi gun dròn 's an tsàile. showed early signs of precocity, which attracted the attention of two of his paternal uncles, who There are other two Nova Scotia Gaelic jioets that may be mentioned in this place. John were sufficiently well-off" to provide James with a MacDonald, the linnter, and Alex. MacDonald, a liberal education. Having acquired the rudi- native of Moidart, who lives at Keppoch, Anti- ments of learning at Culcruich, he afterwards is the title and a stanza gonisli. The following studied at the Grammar School of Stirling, and of John MacDonald's song : proceeded to the University of Glasgow in L'^'i-i, " rinneadh le Iain Dòmhnallach, an sealgair, Oran a where he intended studying for the ministiy of niu shia bliadhna an deigh dha tigliinn do'n dùthaich so." the Established Church, and attended the Divinity Hall for three sessions. Ihe church Mi 'n so 'am aonar is trie m' smaointinn his of Our h-iomad caoehladh tigh'nn air an t-sluagh ; not being to taste, he abandoned the study Cha choir do dhaoine 'bhi gòraeh daonnan, theology and took to educational pursuits. After Ged bhios iad aotrom an dara h-nair. teaching in several boarding establishments he A ruith an t-saoghail 's gun ann aeh faoineis, became corrector of the press in the printing

'bhios aoniadli uait ; E mar a' ghaoth ag office of Messrs Blackie of Glasgow. Having gheallaidh briagach gur beag a's tiaeh e, Le suffered in health through close confinement in 'Nuair theid do thiodhlaiceadh anns an uaigh. town, he was induced to accept the appointment Alexander MacDonald's " Oran molaidh do of Free Church schoolmaster at Blairgowrie, but Mhairi nighean Alastair Dhaeh-an-fhasaidh " he never recovered his health. Continuing to song in praise of Mary, daughter of Alexander of decline he removed to the village of Catrine, in Dochanassie—extends to 66 lines, as follows :-- Ayrshire, where he died on the 27th of May, 1S4S.' He was a devoted teaclier of Sabbath Air dhomh 'bhi 'm aonar Schools, and his only separate publications are Troimh aonach nam beann, two collections of hymns for their use. The Gu'n d' ghleus mi na teudan following is specimen of his poetry : 'S gun te dhuibh air chall. a Gur seinn njar bu nihiann learn MARY. 'Chur rian air gach rann. Do nigh'n duinn a' chuil shniomhain, The winter's cauld and cheerless blast So shios anns a' ghleann. May rob the feckless tree, Mary And lay the young flowers in the dust. '8 Ban-Gliamshronach chinnteach Where once they bloomed in glee, Mary. An ribhinn ghian òg, It canna chill my bosom's hopes Dhe'n fhine cho rioghail ; It canna alter thee, Mary ; 'S a chinn 'san Roinn-Eorp' ! The summer o' thy winsome face Gu'm b' ainnieil 'n an tim iad Is aye the same to me, Mary. Ri'n inns' anns gach seòl ; 'S math 'sheas iad Sir Eoghann, The gloom o' life, its cruel strife.

Lànih theòm' air cheann slbigh. t May wear me fast awa', Mary ; An' leave me like a cauld, cauld corpse, * " Glen Bard Collection," by Rev. A. MacLean Among the drifting snaw, Mary. Sinclair.

• t From MacLean Sinclair's "Gaelic Bards." From the Rev. Charles Rogers' "Scottish Poets. — — — — —

Yet 'mid the drift, wert thou but nigh, Perhaps it is to meditate on love. with disdain I'd fauld my weary e'e, Mary. Which from his station meets but ; And deem the wild and raging storm No selfish interest his spirits move. A laverock's song o' glee, Mary. Oft times the wrongs of others give him pain. The equal rights of man he will maintain. My heart can lie in ruin's dust, swell, And fortune's winter dree, Mary : His wounded spirit oft is wont to While o'er it shines the diamond gay 'Gainstfools, whotreattheirfellows with contempt. That glances frae thine e'e, Mary. And do assert that all must go to hell. The rending ])angs and woes o' life. From which the knaves themselves will be exemiit. The dreary din o' care, Mary. They've tamed the snake which did in Eden tempi. I'll welcome, gin they lea'e but thee, The poem extends to 51 stanzas or 25.5 lines, My lonely lot to share, Mary. and shows considerable acquaintance with the As o'er yon hill the evening star poets and heroes of Scottish history. At the Is wilin' day awa', Mary, .33rd stanza he skilfully brings in the following fair art thou to me. Sae sweet and lines to the air of " Ho ro nighean 'chinn duinn At life's sad gloamin' fa, Mary ; It gars nie greet wi' vera joy, àluinn." When'er I think on thee, Mary, ! silent is (lip harjiof Ossian, That sic a heart sae true as thine, Ossian, son of mighty Fingel, Should e'er ha'e cared for me, Mary. Silent is the harp of Ossian, harp no more shall jingle. Other poems by the same author are—" Bonnie Ossian's of 4 verses and after the Aj^gie Lang" (30 lines), and " The Pride o' the The song consists next stanza of the poem there are other 4 verses Glen " (40 lines), both indicating a certain of a song to the air of " Of a' the airts the win' amount of poetic talent. Had our poet only can blaw." lived longer, he would, doubtless, have produced The next poem is an " Answer to a poem by many poems. ' Sam Snooks,' wherein he ridicules the High- landers," in which he begins : DAVID MACDONALD, INVERNESS. Proud crested land of mountains, wild and waste. Of woodland, lake, and cultivated glen. Sixty-one years ago, in July, 1838, David Of heather, pine, and landscape scenes the best. MacDonald published a book of poems and songs Of sweetest woiuen, and of finest men, Birth-place of heroes, patriots, valiant true. at Inverness, which is now very scarce, entitled Whose free Ijnrn souls did Roman pride rebuke "The Mountain Heath," dedicated to Macintosh Norsemen and Danes, full sorely made tliey rue— of Macintosh, chief of Clan Chattan, embracing The yoke of Saxons never would they brook. tremble when they arms uptonk." 37 poems, and 18 songs in English, and 2 songs But made them in Gaelic. Then he goes into the history of Scottish prowess in war, mentioning especially the High- From remarks in several of the poems he landers in the wars of the last century, and up to evidently resided in London. There is no clue in Waterloo. His address to Lochness begins the work as to Avhat particular part of the

Hail Queen of lakes ! whose beauteous bosom charms country he belonged, or anything regai'ding his The eyes of all who view thy clear ex]mnse. parentage, but from his frequent references to Where hither from their ocean-bed in swarms. Inverness I presume he belonged to Inverness* or The salmon, love-sick for thy waters, dance. its vicinity, and that he was in a manner a dis- Other poems of more or less merit are " Golden appointed man. age at Inverness," " On visiting my native land," " " " The work opens with " The Goddess Scotiaf The Ravens Rock," The Invernessian Lasses" (humorous), " To the Honourable the in which the following lines occur : Commons of Great Britain and Ireland," " The When fancy dictates to poetic mind, Pang—Farewell," "The Castle of Inverness," The soul sustains the first impressive part consisting of 110 verses, or 440 lines, beginning— Hence is the bard to solitude inclined. green hill by Nessia's banks. To breathe the feelings of the pregnant heart. On yon ancient castle stood. And soothe the sting of poverty's keen dart. The Where Duncan, King of Albin's land. Was murdered in cool blood. * See Mr William MacKenzie's description of this bard in the Highland Neirs of Oct. 21st, 1899. From whence th' immortal Shakespeare drew

t Dedicated to the Gaelic Society of London. That bloody scene of death, — — ;

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With all the guilty terrors which 15 Fuil Shasunn ruith 'na caochannan,

Was pourtrayed in Macbeth. 'S na Gàidhoil sior 'ga dòirteadh ; 'S air son gach dochuinn 'dh' fhuiling Alb' Where lovely Mary, Queen of Scots, Thug Allt-a' Bhonnaich tòireachd Once sought a safe retreat. ; Bhaglaic an uillt lom Ian de chuirp. Denied admittance, who was forc'd Mar chruachan a 'm blàr-mòintich, To lodge in open street. Is caolanan a 'm bronnaichean, Another ion<^ poem of 119 verses on "The A' brùchdadh mach troimh 'n còmhdach. origin, birth, life, death, and resurrection of Sam 18 'Se Dia nan di\l 'rinn cuideachadh Snooks" in which he is very severely handled Le luchd nam breacan feilidh ; indeed, ars will be seen by the opening stanza : 'S cha mhòr a thuit dhiubh anns a' bhlàr, Is na bha beò cha gheilleadh In some detested heathen spot, ; Sud mar chroichnaich an cath, 'Twixt H— 11 and Aberdeen, — Was born the imlastic puppy, Snooks, 'Nis cuircam chrioch air m' ùran Of most infernal kin. Mu'n a' bhlàr bha 'n Allt-a' Bhonnaich, 'S ioma corp bha fuar ann ! Tiiere are also several poems to private indi- clans are also well described in the song, viduals. Of the songs "The Battle of Blàr Lèine," The which keeps the war-like spirit up to the em I. to the air of "Johnny Cope," is rather good; The other Gaelic song is a " Marbhrann "—elegy so is " Tlie old Highlander," to the air of "A for MacGillivray, to the air of famous Man was Roliin Hood "; " Bonnie Fanny," — Alexander " Highland Mary," consisting of five stanzas in to the air of " Monymusk "; " Cambri Jean," to the usual melancholy strain, and couched in the air of " Ho mo Mhàiri Laghaeh "; " Nympli '' appropriate language. of tlie Forest," to the air of Màiri BhànOg "; " Bonnie Annie," to tiie air of " Maid of Islay" In the 6th stanza of the poem, or song, on the and several other*. Of the two Gaelic songs battle of Bannockburn, fought in 1314, it relates " Blixr Allt a' Bhonnaich,"* to the air of "John that there were present men from Skye, Uist, of of Badenyon," is the best. It begins : and Knoydart, from Glengarry the high moun- tains of the deer and roe, from Keppoch, Barasdail, 1 Bha Sasnaich bho linn nan clann and the wilds of Glencoe, and that the enemy Le barail fhaoin aig earbsa, felt the strength of the Clan Donald. In the 14th (tu'n sàradh iad le ti'eunas lùmh, stanza it says that when the bards began to Fo chis dhaibh rioghachd Alba ; encourage the clans, the pipers began to blow Ach 's fasa iii a n'lnachadli, Na cùis a ehur 'an u'ninnili dhuinn their pipes^these were probably the horns men- 'Sb'ionanndhoihlisan dli' aindeoindiirachd, tioned by some historians that were blown. It Bhagach ioim.sui.lli .liomliain this was the first time that Lowlanders had heard the pipes in battle, they might readily have 5 AigAUt-a' ];hn, irl, K-liair sliochd been mistaken for horns, as they probably would Na ^asunn a's i have two drones, or perhaps only one.* 'San òrdugli i at i.haidh lad only Ou'n treunatiis I have frequently seen it mentioned that by the historians who detailed the battle of Harlaw, I fought in 1411, no mention is made of the bagpipes. Cia.l We know that Lachlan Mor Mac Mhurieii delivered his famous harangue on that occasion to 6 Bho Ihir an Eilcin Sgiatlianacli, remind the MacDonalds of their hardihood in the Bho Uist agus Cnoideart, hour of battle, but the pipes were also played. 'S bho Ghleannagaraidh morbheinneach. I lind in the Rev. James MacKenzie's History of Nam hadh, nan oarb, 's nan ruadh dhamh ; Scotland the following passage: —"A fierce Bho 'n Clieapaich is bho Bharasdail, Chieftain, Donald, Lord of the Isles, thought he 'S bho frithibh Gleanna-Comliainn, Le crannaibh-tàraidh siùhhlanaeh, had a claim to the Earldom of Ross. The Earl Ghrad chruinnich neart Chlaim Dòmhnudl, of Buchan claimed it too, Donald raised an army of 10,000 men, and almost the lirst tidiii-s which 14 'Nuair tlieann na bàird ri lirosnaeliadh, the governor (Duke of Albanv) liranl uf him was, 'S na piobairean ri scideadh, that the fires of the Highland' ai were bla/ing Chuir sgeulachd 's cenl an siniisridh, mv in the heart of Ross. The Lord of the Isles was NaGàidheal air Ion ghleusadh : Le 'n lannan mora, suas gu còmhrag, met at Dingwall by a force of the Earl of

Ghluais na seòid, 's cha b' iognadh, Buchan's men ; but this little army after a fierce A ghearradh feòil nan daoine beò, struggle was almost entirely cut to pieces. 'S air creubhag cha robh caomhnadh.

" The battle of Banuockburn. — —

Donald swept onward, spreading havoc before years ago. It seems that he acted as a sort of him. He over-ran the fertile province of Moray, general and handy-man among farmers, and thence advanced throni;h Strath bof,àe, and from undertook some veterinary surgeon's work in broke into the district of the Garioch, connection with stock, which necessitated his tlireatening to make Scotland a desert to the shores of the Tay. The Garioch belonged to the moving a good deal about the country. These Earl of Mar, a warrior of determined spirit and intelligent handy-men have always been a great L'-reat experience. Enraged at the havoc made on acquisition to farmers, and breeders of stock, and his territory. Mar got together a force. The no doubt our bard had a considerable reputation burgesses of Aberdeen took down their swords, as an empirical veterinary surgeon, as such an pnt on their steel caps, nnfurled the banner of the skill than city, and with the Provost at their head, marched occupation required more and judgment with the Earl of Mar. The two armies encount- most shepherds and herds possessed. To one ered each other at the village of Harlaw, near courting the muses, coming in contact with so the place where the water of Ury falls into the many people of different cla.sses and tempera- Don. With piohrorhs deafening to hear, the ments, must also have sharpened his powers of Highland host came down." We know also that observation, and conduced to increasing that the pipes were played at the first battle of Inver- lochy in A.D. 1431, and that a piobroch was com- poetic inspiration of which he was undoubtedly ])osed on the occasion. Besides being at Bannockburn, I find that in A.D. 1390, during the The first of his songs is at page 244 of the reign of Robert III., the king and a great " Oranaiche," and entitled " Oran Le Iain Mac assemblage of nobles witnessed the combat Dhòmhnuill ann an Eilein Mhuile," air fonn, " O between the clan Chattan and the clan Kay at nach robh sinn mar bha." the " Inch " of Perth, where sixty Highlanders Chorus. thirty from erch clan — settled an old dispute by the judgment of battle, and on that occasion 0, cha'n urrainn mi ann, rie mar is urrainn mi ann? each clan " stalked into the barriers to the Gu Cha'n urrainn mi direadh a' mhullaich sound of their great war-pipes." These facts Bho'n dh' fliàs sinn uile cho fann. should settle the question as to the ancient thairis. custom of playing t'le bagpipes in battle. Ma thig na Russianaich tha iad a' bagairt 's an iini, There can be no doubt as to the antiquity of Mar Co a thilleas iad ohachaidh, the bagpipes ; it was well-known among the 'S na gaisgich againn' air chall? Arabians, and has been found sculptured at gu'n seasadh an làrach, " 'S iad Nineveh. It was also known in Babylon The 'S nach bitheadh gun à-ach an call, Assyrians took it to India, whilst there is great 'S mur striochdadh na nàinihdean dhoibh toileach, probability of its having been played in the Gu'm bitheadh an colunngnn cheann. Temple service at Jerusalem. It was used in 0, cha'n urrainn, &c. this country after the Koman conquest, if not Na Gàidheil fhuranach, ghleusda, earlier, and Procopius, A.D., 500, informs us that 'S an gunn' air deadh ghleusadh 'n an làinih, it was classed as an instrument of war by the Bheireadh an coileach bhar gheugan,

Koman infantry. So in all probability it was 'S a leagadh mac-eilde 'n a dheann : used in this country centuries before the battle Mar sud a's lurhd-breacan an fheilidh, of Bannockburn. Chite air slèibhte nam beann ; Ach ciobairean glasa nan aomadh,

'S beag orr' na daoin' a bhios ann ! IAIN MAC DHOMHNUILL. O, cha'n urrainn, &c. (JOHN MACDONALD.) This patriotic song was probably composed during the Russian war (Crimean war), as the I am indebted to the late Mr Archibald first line says : — If the Russians come over, who Sinclair, Glasgow, the editor of " t-Oranaiche," An will send them home again, as our heroes are for the following notes regarding the subject of lost? " this sketch, viz. : —John MacDonald, a native of His next song, Cha Mhor nach coma leam " Mull, who resided some time in Lome, as indi- cogadh no sith," is, at page 290, of the Oran- aiche." The chorus of it is : cated in the first verse of his song " Cha mhor nach coma leam cogadh no sith." He was a bard Fal o, hal dal o hog i o ho ro i, Fal o, hHl dal o hog i o ho ro i, of considerable repute, and composed some ex- Hithil Ù hillin o, agus ho. ho ro hi, cellent songs. He is said to have died about 50 Cha mhor nach coma leam cogadh no sitli. — —

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Tha mi'n so bho chionn tamail 's nii'n Lathurna Gu'n robh e fas mar an rainich, fuar, 'S cha' n 'eil fhios ciod e'n t-aobhar 'S cha choinnich mi earaid 'ni labhairt rium siiairc', 'Chuir mo thaobhs' air an alt sin. 'S tha mo dhùil ri dol thairis gach la agus iiair, 10 'S gu' m b'dhiubh sin a bha'n Leòdach, Do Mhuile nam beannan, 's nan gleannanaibh uain'. Gun d' fhuair e fòghlutn 'us aithne, Fal o. etc. Gu'n robh 'làimhe air a dhearbhadh, 'ainm Their mo shoraidh le diirachd gu dùthaich mo ghaoil, 'Us anns gach fcarann, Gu'n d' rinn e'n t-saothair cinnteach, Far am bitheadh a' tathaich na h-aighean 's na ud Gur fad a bhios mi 'n am an-f hiach laoigh ; dian g' phàigheadh, Gach lusan a's fliir ann fo dhriùchd air an raon, Mur mi ad 'S bi' dh cnothan a's ùbhlan a' lùbadh nan craobh. Guidheam gràsan dha t' anam. Then after half-a-dozen more verses in praise of There is also a song by him to MacNeill of Barra, Mull, and e -erything in it, comes the following during the Napoleonic wars. It extends to 48 significant one :^ lines, and speaks of his prowess in the Peninsular will seen from the 'Nuair dh' eireadh Cloinn Dùmhnuill, 's i 'n dòigh War and at Waterloo, as be bh' aea riamh', following stanzas : 'Bhi seasamh na còrach, luchd leònadh nam fiadh, 'Dol an toiseach a' chatha, le claidheamh a's sgiath, 'S thàin naigheachd gu'r n-ionnsuidh 'S gu'n deanadh iad pronnadh mu'n cromadh a' 'Dh' fhàg sinn uile fo chiiram 'can am, ghrian. Mu thighearna na dùthcha 'Bhi 'n Cath Waterloo 's bu mhòr call. It is to be regretted that more of this bard's Far robh suinn na Roinn-Kòrpa poetry had not been preserved as he was evi- 'N deigh tarruinn an òrdan gu sti i, dently capable of producing even more excellent Is lionar cutaidh a leònadh songs than the stanzas of those quoted. Agus milidh gun deò a dh' fhan shios. Chaidh tu a rioghachd na Spàinte Far robh neart aig an nàmhaid gu leòir, REV. ANGUS MACDONALD, BAKRA. A h-uile latha bha blàr ann Fhuair ihu 'n urram ged bha thu ro òg, In Dr. George Henderson's excellent work Dhearbh thu spionnadh a' Ghàidheil " Leabhar Nan Gleann " —the book of the glens Claidheamh-mòr de chruaidh stàilinn 'n ad dh;>rn. —published last year (1898), I find several very He also composed a " Cumha do choirneil Mac good songs and elegies by the late Father Angus Neill"—Lament for Colonel MacNeil—of 112 MacDonald, of Barra, who died at Rome in 1833, lines, a very good song, and another shorter poem as Rector of the Scotch College there. He was wishing MacNeil back in his own country, the of the Mac-'Ic-Ailein (Clan Ronald) family, and last stanza of which runs : was born in the island of Eigg. " Laoidh a' Tha leam dul air a chunntais. Phurgadair " is said to have been composed by Is ceann fin' thu le cliù thar Cloinn Neill, him, and afterwards printed in Father Allan Is iad 'nan treubh anns an diithaich, 'S 'eil fios cò'n taobh as an tir, MacDonald's " Comh-chruinneachadh de Laoidh- nach Treubh 'tha fialaidh mu'n chuinneadh, ean Spioradail," published by Hugh Mac- Treubh 'bha macanta miiirnte 's gach ni, Donald, Oban, in 1893. Treubh iriseal cliùteach sheasadh gun tionndadh an Righ. One of his songs is entitled " Oran Le Aonghus A Dònullach, Sagairt 'am Barraidh, 'nuair a bha "Turns Neill a' Mhionnlaidh " is in a more lionnadh (leannachadh) air 's a chaidh a leigheas humorous vein regarding a certain Neil who had leis an Dotair Leòdach." It is a poem of 80 lines returned from the south and found the people ; I quote the first and last verses of it, but I have busy at harvest M'ork, and his wife and children " no idea to what air it was sung. It gives a des- without food and peats ; to the air of Och och cription of an illness—an abscess he had, and mar tha mi." which was cured by a Doctor MacLeod. 'Us mi 'n am aonar caoil far 1 Da mhios dheug agus ràthaich Dol romh na Bho'n thàrmaich an cnap An robh mi eòlach. A fhuair mise fo m' mheòirean All these songs are in Dr. George Henderson's Ann an cos air an asnaidh ; Gad a bha e gun chràdh work ; and a good deal of other original matter. —

MAIRI NIGHEAN IAIN BHAIN that her poetic talent, of which she was herself (MARY, DAUGHTER OF FAIR JOHN). unconscious, lay dormant during her youth and married life, but when the occasion arose she Mary MacDonald (Mrs MacPherson), the Skye burst forth into song, which supports the writer's poetess, Avas born on the 10th of March, 1S21, at theory that there are many Burnses in the land Skeabost, in the Isle of Skye. Her father was when any great political excitement or any other a small farmer at Skeabost, and was known as cause that specially touches the hearts of the " Iain Ban Mac Aonghais Oig,"—John Bane, son people arises; there is lack of faculty of young Angus. Her mothers name was Flora no in the masses, and especially Highlanders. Maclnnes, daughter of Neil Maclnnes, crofter in amongst Uig, Snizort. A miscarriage of justice which our poetess sufiered in 1872 did In Mr MacBain's excellent summary of her life, not bring her to her knees published with her book of poems in 1891, a very suing for mercy. On the contrary, it brought her to feet, interesting sketch is given of tlie poetess's career. her and she soon showed how firmly she It seems that the first twelve years of her parents' could stand upon them, and of what stutt' she was married life were spent in Glasgow, " where they made. Being possessed of a great command of settled on their refusal with many other Skye language, Mary could launch forth as few can, people to proceed to some bogus settlements and if there were any weak points about her exploited for them in Canada." The poetess and adversary, she soon scored a "bull's-eye." Her one brother were the only members of the family powers as a poetess first became prominent during who were born at Skeabost, after the return of the contested election of the Inverness Burghs in their parents to Skye, so that to all intents and 1874, when she composed several songs in favour purposes she is a true native of " Eilean a' cheò," of Mr Charles Fraser Macintosh, who won the the famous isle of mist. Her youth and early contest. She also took a very active part in the womanhood were spent in her native jilace, Avhere Highland land law reform, and the crofters agita- she learned all the complex and necessary routine tion, and it is said that the success of the agita- of a rural lite, and house-keeping, etc., necessita- tion was materially assisted by her songs. It is too early to give an opinion as to what position ting a knowledge of out-door work as well ; tend- she will hold ing cattle, spinning, cloth-making, and various among our Highland bards ; but I other functions, amongst which she did not forget have no doubt her work will be more highly esti- to store her mind with the lays and lyrics of her mated a genei'ation hence than it is even at the native isle. Whether her lays in the misty isle present day. I consider her "Eilean a' cheo," and were romantic or not we do not know, but she her lament for the late Professor Blackie, very left Skye in 1848 to get married to Isaac Mac- fine productions. Our poetess was possessed of a Pherson, a shoemaker at Inverness, whose parents most wonderful memory. In 1891 she published a belonged to Skye. After a happy married life of volume of poems and songs extending to 320 pages, embracing about pieces of difierent nearly a quarter of a century, her husband died in 90 lengths ; 1871, leaving her with a family of four children and since then she has composed several more dependent upon her small resources. Being, hoAv- which will now probably exceed 100. When ever, a woman of courage and ability, she set to Messrs Alexander MacBain and John Whyte work in earnest and left Inverness for Glasgow were preparing her Avork for the press, she re- the following year, where she entered the Royal peated 9000 lines of poetry from memory, a most

Infirmary with a view to becoming a trained remarkable feat ; and Mr MacBain reckoned that nurse. She remained at the Infirmary for five she must have been able to repeat of her own and yeai's, and ultimately obtained a nurse's certifi- other Skye bards' poetry, some 30,000 lines, 12,000 cate both for general and obstetric nursing, and of her own, and 18,000 of others. She Avas also afterwards practised in Greenock and Glasgow for in possession of a great many old airs that I am some years, and returned to Skeabost in 1882, afraid Avill die out since they have not been where the laird placed at her disposal a cottage collected and noted doAvn. Mary, though com- " " Woodside —rent free for life. Strange to say paratively uneducated, except Avhat she did for —

herself in the way of beins able to read Gaelic, LAMENT FOR MRS ALEX, MACDONALD, exhibited great command of language, and in National Bank House Portree, Skye, many of her songs there are very fine passages, Who died in Edinburgh on the 28th April, 1S07. and all her elegies are both touching and good.

Her wonderful memory at her age was oue of the Och rao leiridh ! 's cha mhi 'n ani aonar, Tha ceudan brònach an deaehaidh bà^ best signs of her vitality, and though very re- Na baintighearn' òirdheirc 'bha rianail stblda, markable, it was nothing uncommon for High- Gun inhoit, gun mhòr-chuis no sgleò gun stàth ; landers, especially in the past, to be able to Buadhan nàdurra, b'fhurasda àireamh, Bha seirc 's bàigh, agus gràdh is sith, recite long poems that would astonish a modern 'N a cridhe tiorail 's a lamh oho fialaidh, " Dominie." Captain John MacDonald of Thurso, 'S gu'n d' dhearbh a gniomh nach robh ciall 'ga ditb. formerly of Breaknish, Isle of Skye, who furnished Dhearbh a gniomh e do'n Eilean Sgiathach, Avith some of his Ossianic James MacPherson Am feadh 's a riaghaileas a' ghrian 's na neòil, poems, declared at the age of seventy-eight, on 'S tràghadh 's lionadh mu chuairt d'a chriochan,

Bidh t' 's t' fhiach 'g a chur sios 'an clò : the 12th of March, 1805, that when a boy of ainm Bidh linn nach d' thàinig a' cumail faire twelve or fifteen, he could repeat from one to Air t' onoir àrd, agus gràdh 'n an cridh', two hundred poems wliich he learned from an old 'N am roinn na dileib do shliochd, 's an sinnsear, sios chrioch thim. man of about eighty, who used to sing them to A chuir thu dhaoibh roimh do his father at night when he went to bed in spring, Cha'n ann air thuaireim 'tha sinne luaidh ort, (Jed tha sinn gruamach air son do bhàis and in winter before he got up. ; Tha thusa aig suimhneas, taobh thall gach truaighe, Mhuireach repeated to the Rev. Mr Neil Mac 'S sealbh na duais air son gniomh do lamh : MacNeill the whole of the poem of " Clan 'S ioma dilleachdan 's creatair diblidh, Do'n d'rinn thu didein 'n an tinp, 's 'n am feum, Usnach," called by MacPherson " Darthula," Nach cuala cluas bho do bhilean suairce, and Malcolm MacPherson, Portree, Isle of Skye, Na chuireadh gruaman air neach fo'n ghrèin. son of Dugald MacPherson, who had been a tenant '8 mùr a' bhearn a thuit 's an àite, an eminent bard, at a village in Trotternish, and 'N la chàradh do dhus 's a' chill, declared on oath before two Justices of the Peace, 'S an Eilean àghmlior 's an d'fhuair thu t' àrach,

'8 robh chàirdean re iomadh linn : that his brother, who died in 1780, recited Gaelic an do Cha b' ann de chrionach a dh'thaodadh spionadh, four nights to Mac- ])oems for four days and Fo roid a leamhsgaradh air gach làimh, Pherson. Mr MacBain, who is himself an Ach duilleich chaomh de smior nan Leòideach excellent Gaelic scholar, says of Màiri Nighean Fo dhion Chlann-Dòmhnuill, am pòr gun mheang. Iain Bhàin's poetry, that it is a " well of pure Gaelic undefiled," and that is the best compli- ORAN DO THEAGHLACH SCIABOST. ment which can be bestowed upon it, coming Le Mairi Nighean Ian Bhain. from such an authority as Mr MacBain, and it is .SciwZ—Soraidh leis an òigridh fortunate for her fame, and for Gaelic literature, A sheòl an cuan, that she should have lived under the protection Uaislean tiorail, stòlda, and patronage of the generous laird of Skeabost. Gun phròis gun uaill, Soraidh leis an òigridh She composed and sang up to the very last, and A sheòl an cuan. a tremendous fund of old stories and songs, that Cha'n ioghnadh ged a thàrmaich, are lost for ever, she had. She took ill at now Tioralachd 'nan nadur, Portree in November, 1898, and died there after a Clann an athar bhàigheil, short illness at the ripe age ot seventy-eight Nach gabh cas air tuath. years. She will be much missed by the present Soraidh leis an òigridh, etc. generation of Skye people, both in this country Saoil nach sona 'mhàthair and in the colonies. A shaothraich na h-àrmuinn Tha 'nan cliù do'n àite Subjoined are some stanzas of two of her 'N deach an àrach suas. latest productions : Soraidh leis an òigridh, etc.

Maille ris gach fortan, Nach dean tim a chosgaidh " -

" Tha ùrnuigh nam bochdan, Annals of a quiet neighbourhood," 1866 ; 'n nochd i truas. " Do a "Guild Court," 1867 ; The Disciple, and other fcjoraidh leis an ùigridh, etc. " poems," 1868 ; The Seaboard Parish," 1868 ; " " Tha onair na tuath-cheatharn, Robert Falconer," 1868 ; Wilfred Cumber Islean agus uaislean, " mede," 1871 ; The Vicar's Daughter," and Air an sniorah 'n an duail, " Malcolm," 1874 ; "St. George and St. Michael," Mu'n cuairt duibh fad 'ur re. " " Soraidh leis an òigridh, etc. 1875 ; Thomas Wingfield, Curate," 1876 ; The Marquis of Lossie," 1877. Besides these Dr. Soraidh ieis na h-àrmuinn, Coinneach agus Ràal. George MacDonald has written books for the 'iS " beannaehdan gun kireamh young. Dealings with the Fairies," 1867 ; Gu Tearlach bho'n t-sluagh. "Ranald Bannerman's boyhood," 1869; "The Soraidh leis an oigridh, etc. Princess and the Goblin," 1871; "At the back Gu robh maise nàduir of the North Wind," 1870, and some others. He Oirbh bho thus 'ur làithean, is also the author of " Unspoken Sermons," 1866, 'Chuidich le 'ur tàlantan " 'Nuair a dh' fhàs sibh suas. and a treatise on the Miracles of our Lord," Soraidh leis an oigridh, etc. 1870. In 1877 he received a civil list pension of £100, in consideration of his contributions to liter- Tha 'ur buadhan òirdhearc, " Measgaichte le tròcair, ature. His later works are, The gifts of the 'S cha dean briatliran beòil child Christ," and other poems, 2 vols., 1882; An cuir an clò gu'n luaidh. " " Castle Warlock," 3 vols., 1882 ; The Princess Soraidh leis an oigridh, etc. and Curdie, a fairy romance," 1882; "Weighed Soraidh leis an ainnir, and Wanting," 1882, and " The Wine Woman," 'S caoimhneile sealladh ; a parable, 1883* Dh'fhalbh i leis na gallain, Nach fannaich am fuachd. For some years past Dr George MacDonald has Soraidh leis an òigi'idh, etc. lived principally at Bordigheri in the south of Dh' fbalbh thu le do bhràithrean, France. He is at his best in depicting humble C àite 'm faicte an àicheadh ? Scottish character, and local life. " Robert A' seasaidh air blàr do Falconer " seems to be his most popular work. Ghàidheil an taobh tuath. " The Sangreal " is a of " Soraidh leis an oigridh, etc. poem much beauty. A Hidden Life," is also a beautiful poem. It is a story of a Scotch peasant lad Avhoin the intervals GEOKGE MACDONALD. of labour on his father's farm studied at College. George MacDonald, LL.D., poet and novelist, The Clan Donald may well feel proud of such an was born at Huntly in Aberdeenshire in 1824, eminent author and prolific writer of poetry, song, was educated at the parish school there, and at and romance. King's College and University of Aberdeen. Quotations from some of Dr George Mac- After taking his degree he became a student for Donald's " Scotch Songs and Ballads," published the ministry at the Independent College, High- at Aberdeen in 1893, consisting of 39 pieces. bury, London, and was for a short time an Annie, She's Dowie. Independent minister, but soon retired, became a Annie she's dowie, Willie lay member of the Church of England, and and he's wae What can be the matter wi' siccan a twae^ settled in London to pursue a literary career. For Annie she's fair as the first o' the day, His first work was " Within and Without," a And Willie he's honest and stalwart and gay. dramatic poem, 1856, with dedicatory sonnet to his wife, dated 1855. This was followed by Oh ! the tane has a daddy, is poor and is proud, " " " And the tither a minnie that cleiks at the goud. Poems," 1857 ; Phantasies —a fairy romance " " They lo'ed ane anither, and said their say,— —1858 ; David Elginbrod," 1862 ; Adela But the daddy and minnie " they pairted the twae. Cathcart," 1864 ; The Portent story of second

" * ' sight," 1864 ; Alec Forbes of Howglen," 1865 ; From Men of ihe Time. —

OWER THE HEDGE. Or was ane ta'en, and the ither left— Ane tae sing, ane to greit ? Bonnie lassie, rosy lassie, It's sair, I ken, to be sae bereft Ken ye what is care ? But there's the tide at yer feet ! '' Had ye ever a thought, lassie. " Robbie and Jeanie war twa bonnie bairns," etc., Made yer hertie sair ? " Was't the sea o' space wi' its storm o' time seekin' Johnnie said it, Johnnie That wadna lat things bide ? Sicht o' Mally's face— But Death's a diver frae heavenly clime, i' the hedge o' holly Keekin' Seekin' ye 'neath its tide ! For a thinner place. And ye'll gaze again in ither's ee, " Na," said Mally, pawky smilin', Far abune space and time?" " Nought o' care ken I, Never a word he answered me, Gien I meet the gruesome carline, But changed a wee his rime : " I's haud weel ootby." Robbie and Jeanie war twa bonnie bairns.

And they played thegither upo' the shore ; Up cam the tide and the mune and the sterns. her, .Johnnie turned and left And pairted the twa for evermore." Listed for the war ; " In a year cam' limpin' May be, auld man, 'twas the tide o' change Hame wi' niony a scar. That crap atween the twa ! Hech ! that's a droonin' fearsome strange, Waur, waur nor ane and a' !" Wha was that sittin' He said nae mair, I lukit, and saw On the brae sae still ? His lips they couldna' gang ! Worn and wan and alert. Death, the diver, had taen him awa'. Could it be hersel' ? To gie him a new auld sang. " Robbie and Jeannie were twa bonnie bairns,

Mally's hert played walloij, And they played thegither upo' the shore ;

Kenned him or he spak' : Up cam the tide and the mune and the sterns !" " Are ye no deid, Johnnie ? And souft them baith through a mirksome door Is'it yersel come back ?

" THE REV. CHARLES MACDONALD, Are ye wife or widow ? MOIDART. Tell me in a breath ; To live your lane is fearsome, Though not a poet the late Father Charles Waur nor any death ! MacDonald,* priest of Moidart, published a very " I canna be a widow, A wife, was never nane, interesting book of 264 pages in 1889, entitled But noo, gien ye will hae me, " Moidart," or " Among the Clanranalds." It is 0' wives I will be ane." divided into twelve chapters. The first chapter crutch, he flung it frae " His him ; describes the Garbh-chriochan," or "rough- He thochtnaon his harms— bounds," a Celtic name which, from time im- But couldna stan' without it, And fell in Mally's arms memorial has been given to a large tract of coun- try in the Western Highlands between Loch TIME AND TIDE. Sninart in the south, and Loch Hourn in the " As I was walking on the strand, north-east. The whole of "the rough bounds" I spied ane auld man sit belonged at one time to the MacDonalds. The On ane auld black rock, and aye the waves districts included are Ardnamurchan, Moidart, Cam' washin' up its fit. His lips they gaed as gin they wad lilt, Arisaig, North and South Morar, and Knoydart. o' lintin' wae's nane But me was ; Moidart, Arisaig, Morar, and Knoydart were He spak an owercome, dreary and dreigh, part of the family inheritance of the Clan- A burden whause sang was gane : ' ranalds. Ardnamurchan was owned by an ofl"- Robbie and Jeannie war two bonnie bairns ;

i' They played thegither the gloamin's hush ; slioot of the clan, called the Maclains. For bold Up cam the tide and the mune and the sterns. '' and romantic scenery these districts can hardly be And pairted the tvva wi' a glint and a gush.' surpassed by any thing in Scotland. The princi- " pairted it them, auld man, ?" said I, Hoo pal arms of the sea among them are Loch Suinart, " Was't the sea cam up ower Strang? Oh, gien thegither the two o' them gaed,

Their pairtin' wasna lang ! — — ;

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Loch Moidart, Loch-nan-uanih, Loch Aylort, nearly one hundred and fifty years. The struggle Loch Nevis, and Loch Hourn, and the principal ended in the title of the Lords of the Isles being fresh water lakes are LochSheil and Loch Morar, forfeited in 1475 and 1493. The several insurrec- the one eighteen and the other sixteen miles long. tions which occurred during that period were " The Maclains Mere extirpated in 1625 by the organised by : Campbells, and of the vast estates owned by the Donald, second Lord of the Isles, - ad. 1411 Clanranakis only the ruined castle of Eilean Alexander 3rd Do. - - ,, 1429 Tirrim, and a small uninhabited island called Donald Balloch „ - - „ 1431 Risea, remain to the family as sad memorials of John 4th ,, - - „ 1451 their past greatness." In Chapter IL besides a Sir Alexander of Lochalsh, - - „ 1497 good deal of general historical information, in- Donald Dubh, or the Black, - - „ 1503 cluding an invasion by the Danes, it is related Sir Donald of Lochalsh, - - - „ 1513 that after the death of Somerled Macgillebride, Donald Gorm of Sleat, - - - ,, 1539 disputes arose between two of his sons— Reginald Thase are followed by the troubles which ended and Angus. Angus with his three sons perished in the ruin of the Islay family, and the transfer- in Skye in a conflict with the natives of that ence of their estates to the Campbells. island, although in the annals of Ulster mention The Civil War commenced under Charles I., is made not of Angus's but of Reginald's—sons as and lasted more or less until after the rising of having been present on the occasion : " Cath 1745, Avhen the whole clan system was abolished. tucsat Meie Raghnailt mic Somairligh for feraibh Several of the Clanranald Chiefs were executed. Sciadh du in ra marbhadh an ar" A.D. 1208. "A Alexander, son of Godfrey, was treacherously battle given by the sons of Reginald, son of seized and hanged by James I. at Inverness. The Somerled, to the men of Skye, who were slain next, Allan MacRuari, fared no better, having " with great slaughter (translation by Mr Skene). been beheaded at Perth, in 1509. His son " From Reginald mentioned above, son of Somer- Reginald, called Raonuill Ban, Avas hanged at led, was descen.led John of Isla. This chief Perth, in 1513, for some crime, real or imaginary. married his cousin Amie, a daughter of Roderick, It was for Allan that the following poem from one of Brace's most faithful followers. When the the collection of the Dean of Lismore, and trans- Scottish King liad secured the independence of lated by the late Rev. T. MacLauchlan, was the country, Roderick was coniirmed in his title composed to the estates of Moidart, Arisaig, Morar, and The one Demon of the Gael is dead, Knoydart, which went at his death to his daugh- A tale it is well to remember ter Amie. her with John of Isla, By marriage Fierce ravager of Church and Cross, Amie had several sons, to one of whom, Reginald, The bald head, hoary, worthless boar. the powerful family of the Clanranalds trace their origin." This marriage of John of Isla with Mac Ruairi from the ocean far Amie Nic Ruari was a genuine one, though his Wealth thou'st got without an effort plea for divorcing her was " uneasiness of con- 'Tis a report, science " in having married within the forbidden Bald head Allan, thou so faithless, degrees of kindred, as there are convincing proofs That thou hast, not thine only crime, that before marrying Amie he had applied to the Ravaged Hy and Relig-Oran, Papal Court, and received in 1337 the necessary Fiercely didst thou then destroy Priests' vestments and vessels for the macs. dispensation. After the separation Amie retired Thou art Insh-Gall's great curse, into Moidart where she soon set about building the Thou art the man whose heart is worst present Castle Tirrim in A.D. 1353. Of all who followed have thy Chief John of Isla was the first who received the title There was the Abbot's horrid corpse. of "Lord of the Isles." Donald, the eldest son Beside that other lawless raid by the King's daughter* married the Countess of Against Finan in Glengarry, Ross, and through her founded his title to the Thine own country and thy friends Earldom. The claim was admitted, but the Have cursed thy bald head, Allan, great accession of property which in this way Thou hast cruelly oppressed, last of lost came into the family of the Lords of the Isles The thy goodness was Between the Shiel and the Hourn, was more than enough to excite the jealousy of Worthless, cruel son of Ruari. the Scottish Kings, hence that protracted struggle between themselves and the Lords of the Isles, The fighting propensities of the MacDonalds involving the Western Highlands and Isles for of Clan-Ranald were very considerable. Besides the insurrections already enumerated, after the selection of John of Moidart to be leader of the clan, the bloody battle of Blàr-na-leine was — :

fouftlit between the MacDonalds and Camerons FARQUHAR D. MACDONELL. against the Erasers, where the claimant, Ranald Gallda, was slain in 1554. It was during the time (MACDONALD.) of Allan, the successor of John of Moidart, that From a note by Mr John Murdoch—one of the the tragedy took place in Eigg, by which the best known Highlanders in Scotland regarding whole ijopulation of that island were smothered in — a cave by the MacLeods of Skye. There is no Farquhar D. MacDonell, it seems that this bard certainty as to the exact date of this tragedy, but was a man of considerable ability and attainments. it must have been between 1584, the date of He emigrated to New Zealand a good many years John's death, and 1593, the date of Allan's death, ago, consequently not so much is known about during whose tenure of the Chieftainship the him as we would wish. Prior to his leaving this cruel slaughter took place. From these dates the Clanranalds were engaged country he Used at Plockton or Dornie in Loch- in most of the political disturbances that kept alsh— a very romantic spot for courting the the country in a state of unrest up to the time of muses. CuUoden. At the present day people marvel at According to the late Thon'as MacKenzie, so the destruction of life and property that occurred long Rector of the High School, Inverness, who in the good old days, but there can be no doubt his the blood spilt by our ancestors was for our was teacher at one time, MacDonell was benefit, and through it we are now enabled to live considered a man of great ability and genius. He in comparative harmony with our neighbours, wrote a great deal for the Gael, the Highlander, thus corroborating " the old adage that it's an ill and the Inverness Courier, and so excellent were wind that blows nobody good." I must return, his MSS. that they were the delight of the however, to my bards. The only fault I have with compositors. was a fine, genial Father Charles MacDonald's book is that it is out He man, and a of print, and difiicult to procure. It is not general favourite with every one who knew him. generally known that the famous Alistair Mac His having emigrated, as a natural result Mhaighstir Alistair, according to Father Charles interfered with his literary work and intentions MacDonald, was not buried in Eilean-Fhionnan, of making his mark as a Gaelic poet, so it is not owing to a severe gale tlien raging along the coast, so the Arisaig people got their way and he known how many songs he composed. I append was buried in the cemetery of Kilmhoree, close to stanzas of some of his songs, and a pibroch com- the present Catholic Church at Arisaig ; neither posed at the Antipodes. He died at Hawkesbay, is it generally known that his eldest son Ranald, New Zealand, within recent years—either last the Eigg poet, had a tragic ending. In his old year or the year before last. age his mind gave w'ay, and he had to be Avatched more or less carefully, but, escaping from the " Oran do Urramach Alastair Stiiibhard house one night, he wandered away towards the 'Am Bun-Lochabair." sea-shore, where he was found lying dead the following morning, apparently shot with his own ! mosglani-se le sunnd is càil, gun. Many of these facts, culled from local Is deaehdar dan gu buadhach learn Do'n Fhior-eun uasal fhoinnidh, filial, traditions, are both interesting and valuable to A's paiite ciall is buadhannan all MacDonalds connected with the Clan Ranald Tha 'm Bun-Lochabar nan damh donn, area, and the stirring events of the Jacobite period, 'S nam mac 's nan sonn clis f uasgailte, especially so to the families of the chief. Admiral Dheth 'n aitim rioghail sheasmhach dhàn' Sir Reginald MacDonald, and the houses of 'Bha sgaiteach, dàicheil, cruadalach. Borrodale,Glenaladale,Kinlochmoidart,andMorar, 'S tu fiùran fearail, 's athail gnùis, where interesting relics of the forty-five are still A's teinne lùgh 's a's anamanta, to be seen. The descendants of these would still A's guirnie sùil 's a's deirge gruaidh, rally to the cry of " The Standard on the Braes o' 'S tu fallain snuadhmhor geala-mhaiseach ; Mar," if necessary : O shall do bhuinn gu gruaig do chinn, (liur cuimir, grinn, dealbhach thu, Fy, Donald, up, and let's awa'. 'S na 'm faighte gairm a dhion a' chriiin, We canna langer parley, Bughlan air thus na h-armailt thu, When Jamie's back is at the wa'. The lad we lo'e sae dearly. There are other seven verses ot this song in a We'll go, we'll go, and the meet foe. somewhat similar strain, indicating a considerable And fling the plaid, and swing the blade And forward dash, and hack and smash. amount of poetic power and command of And flay the German carlie. language. — — —

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His pibroch is a long one, and, I think, appeared seag" got possession of the farm now called in the Celtic Magazine of October, 1878. It is Ardintoul, and she took up her abode at a spot entitled known at the present day as " Guraban Connseig,"

" Brolaich a' Bhiiird." on the left hand side as a person enters Kylerhea

(Dream murmur of the Bard : Urlar.) from the east. During the lifetime of Coinnseag,

Thagart rium is gruaim and many years afterwards, the farm was called

Air an Aodhaire ; " Dabhach Coinnseig." She was a most inhos- 'S duilich sin is gur cruaidh pitable woman ; never desired any person who Leam bhi smaointinn air : Ciamar gheibhinn uam entered her house to sit down, much less did she 'N cion dha 'bh' agam idir, offer a morsel of food." Cas-shiubhail-an-t- 'Leanas rium gu buan, sleibhe on hearing of her evil reputation, resolved Gus an eaochail mi, 'S bochd e 'bhi ri luaidh to test the accuracy of the stories told about her Fear 'bha teagasg sluagh for himself, and, accordingly, dressed in the lad 'bhi seirceil, suairc, disguise of a beggar, and on entering her house, '8 gun bhi sraonaiseach, E bhi nis gu truagh, was greeted with : Dh' easbhuidh a chuid buadh, " Cò-as a thàinig fear a' bhuilg chraobhaich, 'G altrum goimh is fuath, 'S e gu toirteil, trom, tarbhach ?" 'S e gun aobhar aig', etc., etc. — In volume VII. of the Transactions of the Esan " Thàinig mis', a bhean mo ghaoil, Gaelic Society of Inverness, Mr William lie a' chaoil 'am beul an anmoich." — MacKenzie, of the Crofters Commission, read Ise " C'ainm a th' ort ? several papers on Mr Farqnhar MacDonell's Esan—" Uilleani-dean-suidhe." Ise— "Uilleani dean suidhe !" poems and songs. He describes him as " one of Esan— Suidhidh, suidhidh, 's ro mhath 'n airidh, our best Gaelic bards," and certainly the songs 'S deagh bhean an tighe 'g a iarraidh. Mr MacKenzie has to light in these brought A long dialogue ensues between them, the papers are very good. One of them is entitled— stranger displaying a good deal of wit, and " Ceud Oidheirp an Duine—A Shonas agus a the "Coinnseag" making herself as disagreeable Thai team." as possible, however he matched her at last. Anns an tùs mu'n do leigeadh air ceàird MacDonell also composed several other songs Gu robh Adhamh 'n a Ghàradair deas, and poems, amongst which are a long poem of 128 'Mealtuinn taitneis gaeh beannachd 'us slàint, lines on the Gaelic bards, in which he mentions Mar a shiuljhail na Iriithan Ic gean : Cha do lagaich a neart air le sgios, all the principal bards—Ossian, Alex. MacDonald, Ni mo 'mhilleadli a iii air le sneachd, Màiri nighean Alastair Ruaidh, Robb Donn, Iain 'S cha do gliaiseadh a thoradh n' a bharr, Lorn, the Clarsair Dall (Roderich jNIorrison), Le dad tuille 's a b' fheàird iad a theas. Alastair Dubh MacDonald, Buchanan, Duncan It is a long song or poem of 144 lines, giving a ban Maclntyre, William Ross, etc., and even description of Adam and Eve in the garden of Homer,—upon the whole an excellent poem. It Eden, and is couched in very graphic and appro- is to be found in volume IX. of the Trans- priate language. He also composed a witty actions of tlie Gaelic Society of Inverness, also a dialogue entitled — " Comh-Abartachd Eadar long poem on the Highlanders, of 112 lines, which Cas-shiubhail-an-t.sleibhe agus Coinnseag." The gained the second prize of the Highland Society story in connection with it, as related by Mr Mac- of Edinburgh, the first stanza of which is as Donell to Mr MacKenzie, is very interesting. "It follows : is supposed that Cas-shiubhail-an-t-sleibhe was dwelling in one of the burghs or dunes, whose 'S fior airidh air beannachd nam bard, Deagh Chomunn nan àrmunn fial ruins are still to be seen in Glenbeg, a divisional A bheothaich gach cleaehdadh, a's gnàths, of " " valley Glenelg. Coinnseag was a daughter A bha aig na Gàidheil riamh ; of " Gnugag," who lived in another burgh or O'n 's toileach leoth 'fhaicinn 'an dan. Mar sgapadh 's gach ceàrn an slol, dvin at Aoineag, on the Letterfern side of Loch Nior mheal mi idir mo shlàint Duich. After the death of her mother, " Coinn- Mur cuir mi gun dàil e sios. — :

Another song by the same author is a " Duanag AONGHUS MAC DHOMHNUILL. Chompanais," a company or jovial song, in fact a (ANGUS MACDONALD.) drinking song, to the air of " Let's be jovial, fill Angus MacDonald, the Glen Urquhart bard, your glasses. possessed poetic genius of a high order, judging Chorus. from the poems of his which have appeared in the rò air falldar araidh, Ho Gael and the Transactions of the Gaelic Society Falldar i-o raraidh ho, of Inverness. His style Falldar i ri-o raraidh somewhat resembled Falldar i-o raraidh ho. that of William Livingstone and R. MacDougall.

1st verse. He and Livingstone both cultivated the style ana manner of Ossian, especially of the Gaelic of Eirich suas, a Bhean-an-taighe, 'Us cuir car dhiot mar bu nòs, 1807. He had a particularly true eye for the Cuimhnich gur i 'nochd an NoUaig. beauties of nature, and being such a master of 'y cur am bòtul 'n a mo dhòrn. the Gaelic language, he could make himself Ho I'o, etc. terrible or tender, just as the muse stirred him. Fair a bhos e le do ghàire, He possessed a fine and cultured ear for music, Cha mhisde sinn Ian na cuaich, Dh'fhailteachadh nan aoidhean càirdeil, which was of great importance to him, as he was 'Chuir an daimh an so air chuairt. a teacher of music for some time, consequently Ho ro, etc. his verses are full of melody and harmonious This jovial song has got 18 verses or 72 lines, cadences. He excelled in poetry of the Ossianic and seems a very good song of the light-hearted type, and, like all true poets, he exhibited great tenderness in his love lyrics. first order ; those that point to a short and merry life. He was the bard appointed to the Inverness Gaelic Society, There is another song of MacDonell's, and a received in 1869 medal for prize poem good one too, entitled " Moladh nan Gàidheal"— and a a from " the club of true Highlanders " of London. in praise of the Gael—of 12 verses, 96 lines, with His daughter, Mrs A. MacKenzie, Inverness, has the following chorus : inherited some of her father's genius, and is Hug o-ho laill o-ho herself an authoress of considerable repute. He Laill o-ho ro i, Hug o-ho laill o-ho died at Redcastle, Inverness, and was buried in Laill o-ho ro i, the churchj'ard of the parish of Killearnan, Muir Hug o-ho laill o-ho of Ord, Ross-shire. Laill o-ho ro i, Gur fearailnaGaidheil, In the first volume of the Transactions of the Mar b' àbhaist 's gach linn. Gaelic Society of Inverness there is a long

1st Stanza. lament by him for the late Lord Clyde, entitled " Dan Mu Bhàs Chailein Chaimbeul, Triath Bha' n t-urram a ghnàth Aig na Gàidheil 's gu'm bi, Chluaidh," which begins— 'S gu'n canadh na Bàird sud, Tha airm an laoich fo mheirg 's an tùr, làithibh Mhic Fhinn, Chòmhdaich ùir an curaidh treun Na fiiirain neo-sgathach, ; Bhuail air Alba speach as-ùr :— Buaidh-ghàireach 's an stri. A feachd tròm ttirsach 'sileadh dheur, 'S iad cinneadail, dàimheil, Mu Ghaisgeach Ghàidheil nan sàr bheairt, Ro chàirdeil 's an t-sith. Fo ghlais a' bhàis, mar dhùil gun toirt Hug o-ho, etc. Triath na Cluaidh 'bu bhuadhaich feairt 'Ga chaoidh gu tròm, le ciidhe goirt, &c. We do not know enough about MacDonell's his- tory to enable us to conclude to what family or to and another poem of 90 lines on the heroism of Highlanders in the Crimea, entitled, " Gaisge which locality heoriginally belonged , but the writer the strongly suspects that he must have belonged to nan Gàidheil anns a' Chrimea," beginnings some Lochaber family, and probably a scion of Canainn dan mu euchd nan sonn the house of Keppoeh. At any rate, he was 'Choisinn cliù le'n glonn thar chàch undoubtedly a very good poet and one worthy of 'Thug anns a' Chrimea buaidh. a niche in the temple of fame. A dh' aindeoin cruadal bhuail nan dail — : —: !

Bhagair ar eascaird eitidh borb, AM BARD (THE BARD)."

garg na li-Airde-tuath : Math-ghamhuinn 'Fhir-shiubhail dean innseadh foill is fairneart, mar a chleachd, Le Do'n uasal Mac-Isaaic is creach thoirt uainn, &c. Umhladh Gur toilicht' tha m' inntinn Also a translation of the National Anthem into A' briodal ri m' chàil, Gaelic, which gave great satisfaction to the Bho'n dh' fheuch e dhomh 'n innleachd Gaelic Society at the time. 'S a rinn e gu siobhalt' In volume IX. of the Transactions of the same Mo choltas ro-chinnteach A shineadh dhomh 'm làimh ; Society there is a song of 64 lines by the same 'N uair ghlac mi 'n am dhòrn e author, to Chiny MacPherson, which was quoted Gu'n d' fhàs mi cho leòmach William MacKenzie, who read a paper— by Mr 'S gu'n d' shaoil mi gur coirneal "Leaves from my Celtic Portfolio"—before the Glan ()g a bha 'ni dhàil ; Society on the Ì9th of November, 1879. He Bidh na h-ighean buidheach speaks of him as "the old bard," who had the 'N uair thig iad 'na chòmhail, greatest admiration for the venerable chief of the 'Ga shliobadh 's 'ga phògadh MacPhersons. The song is to the air of " Blue 'S a feòraich cò e. Bonnets over the Border," and seems a very good a' bhean (the wife). one. 'S a dhuine bi ciallach Chorus. Is faicleach mu d' bhriathran, Seinn, seinn, seinn gu caithreamach : Cha'n fhaca mi riamh Fonn, fonn, gu h-aighearach buaghar : Dad bhriadhachd 'ad ghniiis de ; Leura, leum, leum gu farumach, Le d' bhòilich gun aithne Sgeula na h-ealaidh nm'n fhlath Tighearna Chluainidh 'S ann tha thu d chiiis-fhanaid, 1st Verse. Ged fhuair thu 'n diugh faileas Thoir soraidh le beannachd do Bhaideanach thairis Cha b' airidh air thi'i Do'n cheann fheadhna 'thug barrachd an caithream Gu'n d' chain thu do nihath ris, na h-uailse. Do thùr agus t' aithne, An suairceas, 'an glanaid, cha chualas cho tairis, 'S e 'n crochadh ri balla Gach dull a sior aithris niu mhaith Tighearna Fo am hare do shùil, Chluainidh. Cha'n fhaigh sinn bonn math dhiot Bho'n fhuair thu 'chùis-mhagaidh, lines He also composed a long elegy of 76 on 'S b' e turas a bhreamais of Glenmoriston, the late James Murray Grant 'Thug dhachaidh e dhuinn ! etc., etc.

A chruit thiarahaidh nam pong bròin, The following are some stanzas of a song com- Dùisg gu ceòl 'bheir deòir 'nan taom, posed by John MacDonald, the hunter, after he Seinn gu trom mu'n eug a leòn had gone to Nova Scotia. : Gach Gàidheal còmhla air gach taobh ! àigh, A cheòlraidh bhròin a' chòmhra Mi 'n so 'am aonar is trie mi 'smaointinn chàil Deàrrs a mach ; mo na much Gur h-iomad caochladh tigh 'nn air an t-sluagh, 'S an can mi cliù Mine Phàdruig ghràidh, Cha choir do dhaoine 'bhi gòrach daonnan, Thar tonn do shàr 'bha riamh 'nar dùthaich, &c. Ged bhios iad aotrora an dara h-uair, It is not divided into stanzas, it is one A ruith an t-saoghail 's gun ann ach faoineis, continuous long poem indicating considerable E mar a' ghaoth 'bhios ag aomadh uait briagach a's ability throughout, showing, together with his Le 'ghealladh gur beag fiach e 'N uair 'theid do tniodhlaiceadh anns an uaigh. other poems, that our poet well deserved the honour of being appointed first bard to the Ma gheibh fear greim air 's gu'n dean e stòras, Gaelic Society of Inverness. It would be fitting Gu'm fas e bòsdail 's e mòr air each, Bidh ad is cleòc air, bidh spuir is bòtuinnean, if the said society would collect all the poems of Bidh each le pròis aige 's " carry-all," their bards and publish them separately. Ma bha thu 'd rògaire tha thu gòrach.

Mar h-iarr thu trocair mu'n tig am bàs : ALASTAIR DOMHNALLACH. Theid t' anam brònach a chuir 'san dbruinn, cha 'n fheàrr an t-òr dhuit (ALEXANDER MACDONALD). 'S na dorlach càth. 'N uair bha mi gòrach 'an toiseach m' oige, I with of this poet The only notice have met Cha b' ann do stòrus a thug mi speis, was in Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair's "Glenbard Ach siubhal mòintich air feadh nam mòr-bheann, bhiodh cròic' Collection." It is a long poem of 192 lines, in 'S damh na ann bu bhòidheach gleus form of bard his wife a dialogue between the and Mu iheill-an-roid gu'm bu bhinn a chrònan over his own picture, and runs as follows : 'N uair bhiodh e deònach 'bhi 'choir na h-èild'. — — ; — — ;

B' fheàrr na'n cùinneadh 'bhi air a chùlthaobh REV. FATHER ALLAN MACDONALD. Le m' ghunna dùbailt 's le m' chù air èill. The Rev. Allan Mo ghaol an cùirtear d'ani bi am bùirean MacDonald of Eriskay, Sound 'N iiair chuirteadh cù ris bu lùthmhor ceuni, of Barra, compiler of " Comh-Chruinneachadh de A' ruitli gu siùbhlach 's e 'g iarradh shùrdag Laoidhean Spioradail," published by Mr Hugh

'S e' toirt a bhùirn air gu dlùth 'na leum ; MacDonald, Oban, in 1893, is a Lochaber Gha b' iad na luigeanan trom neo-shunndach, man, Ach gillean subailt' bhiodh as a dhèigh, and a scion of the House of Keppoch, Bohuntin A bhuidhneadh cùis air le gunna dùbaiit', branch. There are sixty-two hymns in his book, Le luaidhe 's fùdar, 's spor ùr 'na gleus. but there are no notes to show how many of them are of his own composition. " Laoidh A' In Dr. George Henderson's " Leabhar nan Phurgadair," has already been mentioned as Gleann," there is mention of a Gaelic poet named Konald MacDonald, South Uist— " Raoull Mac being che composition of the late Father Angus Dho'uiJl 'Ic Aonghais Bbàin," a scion of the house MacDonald, and "Laoidh Mlioire" probably com- of Glenaladale. His grandfather went to Uist posed by Silis na Ceapaich, but the words in some for protection, after killing an otter belonging to of the stanzas in Fatlier Allan's are ditierent from Mac 'Ic Alastair, Glengarry. His first poem is a the version I have got of Silas' hymn. Several lament for a friend who was drowned at hynms he has translated from the Latin showing Greenock : 1st stanza that he is a competent scholar both of Gaelic and Fhuair mi naigheachd o dh' fhalbh mi Latin. Those translated from the Latin are Nach bu mhath leam a dhearbhadh co luath, " Laoidh -Cluiirp Chriosta," "Laoidh 'Spioraid Air an òganach thlachdmhor Naoimh (Vene Creator), " Gu'n seinn mi Laoidh Nach 'eil diiil leam ri fhaicinn air chuairt Cha do leig iad thu dhachaigh, do Mhoire," "Laoidh mu'n Nollaig," (a hymn Rinn iad tiiilleadh 's do neart a thoirt bhuait, about Christmas), "Laoidh na H-oidhche," (a 'S ann air deireadh na sùighe hymn for night), and one for " Smàladh an Teine," A dh' èirich a mhiothlamh thruagh. setting the fire for the night. Good Catholics in It extends to 72 lines, in which he extols the the Highlands had a great many of these hymns virtues and prowess of the deceased, and expresses for different occupations. This one about arrang- pity for his children, and sisters, etc. It is altogether a very good i)oem. His next is ing the fire for the niglit runs thus : " Ceathranna a rinn am bard ceudna 's e bochd," Smàlaidh raise 'nochd an aingeal lamenting his own state in illness, and that Mar a smàlas Mac Moire,

neither doctors nor medicine could do him any Gu'm bu slàn an tigh 's an teine !

good : 13 verses, 52 lines. Gu'm bu slàn a' chuideachd uile ! Another is to " Alastair Torraidh " (Torrie), in Co Hhios air a làthair ? Peadar agua Pal which he praises his friend's truthfulness, neat CÙ bhios air an fhaire 'nochd ? Moire, Geal 's Bial dh'innseas, hand-writing, and gentlemanly behaviour in a Mac Dea 'S 'Aingeal a labhras general : 46 lines. His fourth is to a skiff^a Aingeal 'an dorus nio thaighe short poem. Gu'n tig an latha geal am màireach.*—Amen. His " Oran do dh' fhear Cille-Bride," William MacMillan, from Skye, who was very kind to the There is one long one of 168 lines entitled people in time of great scarcity, about 1847— pro- " Criosta 'g a Thairneadh Ris a Chrois " (Christ durino; bably the potato famine—is also very being nailed to the Cross) ; one descriptive of the " readable. His last is Oran Sheumais Mhòir," mass, one on death, and a variety of religious song to big James, of 48 lines, describing his good subjects. The one on Purgatory is suggestive :— qualities in laudatory terms. There is another poem of 56 lines in Dr. George Mise so 'am prison iseal Henderson's book entitled " Ilabhadh Mhic- Leam is tirn a bhith 'g a fhàgail, air loch fliaodar Shimi," Lord Lovat's warning, after John Ban of 'Snàmh nach innseadh Keppoch's MS., probably by Father Farquharson Gur uisge na dile na sail' e Ach prounstal is teine gun diocladh (of Strathglass), whose name occurs in the Dh'òrduich Dia—'s e 'i)hian a's fheàrr e— Ossianic controversy, according to the tradition Far am bi 'n t-anam 'g a riasladh " " of the Sliochd-an-Taighe family. This was Gus an diol e h-uile fàirdein." the Lord Lovat who was beheaded in 1747. The song is not very complimentary to the "un- * There is a translation of this hymn in Mr fortunate nobleman." Carmichael's " Or agus Ob." —

Another fine hymn of tMenty-nine verses is hardly be kept from school. Her parents and " " Taladh Chriosta," air fonn Cunilia Mhic teachers watched her studies with much zeal, and Arois," the first stanza of is which one of her teachers in particular, so far encouraged

Mo ghaol, mo ghràdh, is ni' fheudail thu 1 her in her studies that he, at his own expense, M' iountas ùr is m' eibhneas thu ! oflered to send her to a training college, ai-d Mo nihacan àluinn, ceutach thu ! Cha-n fhiii mi fhein 'bhi 'd dhàil. although her parents were quite able to send her Tlie Day of Jndf^ment and many others are also themselves, they considered her too young at the Aery goott. Many stories are afloat as to the time, so allowed the kind ofi'er to lapse. This state of tension that existed between Catholics friend and teacher is now the Rev. JohnG. MacNeill and Protestants in former times, which has now of Cawdor, Nairnshire, editor of " An Fhianuis." fortunately in a great measure passed away. Under his and his brother's. Dr. Nigel MacNeill, Priests were reporteil to have horns u[)on their of stationed Ilford), heads even as late as the first decade of the London (now at able tuition, present century. The writer knew a lady in at the age of 12 she was able to take her place iSkye, who on one occasion walked 12 miles across with the senior boys and girls of her school. a hill to see a priest in order to satisfy herself as Latin was a branch of study unknown among to whether he had horns or not, and was both girls in those days, but iMr MacNeill, to encour- surprised and disappointed that he presented no age her in her studies, put her on to Latin along resemblance to his Satanic majesty ! He also knew a gentleman who had been in tlie Glengarry Fen- with tlie senior boys, and no other girl was cibles in the Rebellion in Ireland in 1798, and who taught it in the school but herself. After she usetl to relate that a notice at a Protestant Church — and her youngest sister and brother left school, in a certain district ran as follows : " Members her father engaged a tutor for them for two years. of all congregations may enter this church except Before leaving her school the Roman Catholics." A witty Irishman in passing at age of 12, she noticed it and wrote underneath—" Whoever felt inclined to write poetry, and often when wrote this has done it well, for the same is written writing her copybook at the desk, her teacher on the gates of Hell !" are also There some very found her scribbling away lines f poetry, showing smart allusions to similar subjects in Gaelic, too that the child's poetic talent was budding. long to relate. Tlie writer hopes that this slight Shortly " digression will be some solatium to Father Allan after composing My native hills for MacDonald for having mentioned his excellent me," some verses of hers in Gaelic were also collection of hymns which he regrets is now out published in the Highlander . After removing of print. to Carloway in 1876, she felt so homesick and melancholy that she began to " court the muse" MAIREARAD SHAW NIC DHOMHNUILL. in real earnest. Her next poem was a Gaelic one, composed at the time when the rumour came Margaret Shaw ISIacDonald, better known as that the young Reserve and Militia of Lewis Miss Maggie S. MacDonald, a granddaughter of " were to be called out. It was also at the time John MacDonald, the poet, and " Màiri Laghach that the Rev. Angus Maclver, Uig, had tlie second, was born at Crobeg, Lochs, in Lewis. gone over from the Free to the Established Her father, Donald, was the youngest son of Church, and was inducted to the Uig Parish " Màiri Laghacli's" family, and was tacksman of Cliurch, where, by his preaching, he won over the Crobeg, from the time of his father's death, till most of the Free Church congregation. Both 1876, when he removed to Dun, Carloway. It circuntstances produced such a profound impres- was at that time Miss MacDonald composed her sion upon her youthful imagination that the first lines of poetry. Leaving her old home had Gaelic poem, " Ged dheanainnsa rann a sheinn " such an effect upon her that she at once composed was the result, which was published by her warm the poem "My native hills for me," which was and staunch friend, Mr John Murdoch, in the published in the Highlander. From her childhood Highlander, to which she also contributed a upwards she was of a very studious disposition, good deal of local news. At that time and had a powerful memory. W^hen only 11 she could speak and write Gaelic thoroughly, years of age she got a prize for committing the which was further improved by her father some- 14 chapters of Zechariah to memory. She could times holding family worship in Gaelic for the — —

benefit of their Claelic-speakinp; servants, besides, This is an appropriate place to mention some " her father often made her and her sister read other members of Màiri Laghach's" descendants some verses from the Gaelic bible, so they soon who possessed the poetic gift. The late Mrs came to know it very well. Kenneth MacKenzie, Stommvay, eldest daughter Another friend who helped to encourage her in of " Màiri Laghach," was no mean poetess. She her poetical aspirations was the Rev. Mr Mac- composed a considerable number of spiritual rae, Carloway (still living), to whom she com- songs remarkable for their musical and felicitous posed some lines in 1876, which she never expression, some of them being still preserve;! publisiied. For several years after going to by Miss MacDonald's eldest brother, who also Carloway she composed numerous pieces, some of has composed several jjoems. This gentleman, which were never written down. In 1885, Mr Charles Norman MacDonald, divinity student, Munro Ferguson of Novar and the late Dr. Mac- has got in MS. several touching pieces, though he

: Donald contested Ross-shire and had a hot fight does not affect courting of the muse ; these are " " of it. She had then a secret admiration for Winter in the tomb," Lines on the death of a " "Novar," and composed a poem to him which friend," and Carved names." Her youngest appeared in the " Ross-shire Journal," and for brother also, David Roderick, now in Dakota, which she was afterwards personally thanked by U.S.A., has often been heard singing his own Mr Ferguson himself. After her father's death ditties. Her eldest sister, who is called after " in 1892, she composed an elegy on his death, Màiri Laghach," before her marriage composed whicli appeared in the " Oban Times," and was some verses on her then lover, the late Mr Angus repeated by " Fionn" before the Lewis and Harris MacPhail (" ^Eneas Paulus")t who was himself Association in Glasgow in the same year. The a poet of great ability, and who left behind him above was the last poem she has written. The some beautiful poems. The Rev. Wm. John only other literary production since then was " A MacDonald, of Free St. Brycedale Church, Ramble through Skye," by a visitor, published in Kirkcaldy, also a grandson of "Màiri Laghach," the " Oban Times," in 1894. Miss MacDonald seems to have inherited the poetic gift, for not has composed no less than fourteen more poems, long ago he composed some beautiful verses to his " wife on the anniversary of their marriage, full of besides My native Hills for Me." They ai"e : " " beauty and tenderness. Another sister of our In memory of R. G. MacFarlane," 1881 ; To " poetess is married to the Rev. Peter MacDonald, a loved one," 1881 ; Our own fireside," 1881 ; " To the young reserve militia of Lews being Stornoway, late of Free St. Columba Gaelic " called out,"" 1882; "To ye Bard," 1890: "In Church, Edinburgh. The whole of Màiri " Laghach's " family must have been possessed of memory of H. Woodham," 1887 ; On seeing a " " considerable ability. Her second son, Roderick, friend die," 1884 ; To Novar," 1885 ; 'Twas " was editor of the Picton Observer ; another, only a ilreani," ISSiS ; An adventure witii tlie " Alexander, was captain of East Indiaman. Bernera hulls." Issii •, Two acrostic love poems," an Two of them were merchants in Stornoway, and 1889; "Ami .iii i Ik mi still the same as in those the youngest, Donald, was the father of the years," isiiii ; "In memory of the Rev. Dr. Mac- " subject of our sketch. t Another of her grandsons, Donald," 1892 ; In memory of my Father," 1892. the Rev. N. C. MacFarlane, now of Juniper Two of her poems, one in Gaelic and the other Green, Edinburgh, composed a beautiful elegy on the all evi- in English, are appended for our readers to death of his father ; being sufficient judge of this new bardess' poetic powers. Miss dence of the hereditary transmission of poetic MacDonald is still young, and there is every genius. A brother of Màiri Laghach's also had probability of our hearing of her again, at Avhich, the poetic gift, having composed some beautiful I am sure, all the members of the clan will verses, which forces us to conclude that here we rejoice.* She has not yet recovered from a iiave a very remarkable and talented family. severe attack of influenza she iiad last year. " To the young Militia and Reserve of Lewis on * Her maternal uncle, the late Alex. MacLeod, hearing a rumour that they were to be called out Struan, Skye was a poet of some local repute, so she has inherited the poetic gift from both sides of the in 1S82" :— house. t Nom de plume. Ged dheanainnsa rann a sheinn, " Cha togar learn fonn no ceòl, J See also an article by the author on Màiri Laghach," in the October number of the Celtic Tha m' inntinn 'am breislich 's an am Monthly, 1898. 'S mo chridhe gu trom fuidh bhròin. — ; :

Oir thàinig oirnn naigheachd 'bha truagh, IN MEMORY OF MY FATHER, 1892. 'S a chuireas an sluagh fuidh bhròin, 'S e naigheachd a bhuineas gu cruaidh Dark day of gloom ! that rent my soul in twain, Ri Eilean mo luaidhe-sa, Lebdhas. Beloved father ! when I saw thee go. And leave me in this world of grief and woe O Alba nan gaisgeach 'bha treun, To me thy death was loss— to thee 'twas gain ; 'S a sheasadh iad fein 's an stri, I watched the flickering light of life go down, nis dol a chogadh le cheil' A My ear was quick to catch each hurried breath, 'N aghaidh nàimhdean nach geill 'an sith. I did not think the cruel hand of death

Tha niuinntir Mhilitia 's Reserve, Would lay thee low and njark thee for his own ; A nis air an eigheach a mach With quickening steps he laid his chilly hand A sheasamh na rioghachd 's iad fein On thy dear brow, I could not keep thee back.

Ochain ! mo leireadh 's mo chreach ! Oh father ! I would follow in thy track. And join tl ee with the hajipy glorious band Thaneul tiugh dorcha co-dhiii That stand before the Throne, where all is light Is coltas ri diomb air Leòdhas, And endless bliss and love in that glorious sphere 'Nuair iha daoine 'bha soilleir o thiis Where now thou art. We would not have thee here A' briseadh a' chfimhnaint mhòir. And leave that Home where all is pure and bright 'S a' fàgailna h Eaglaise-Saoire, Thy place is empty now, a dismal void A sheas bho chionn nine gun ghò, Is in our hearts and home that nought can fill 'S a' leantuinn gach buachaill' gun speis, Weak Nature wrestles, but Faith bids us be still 'Chuir sgapadh 'san treud gu mòr, And looking up, behold thee in thy joy. ehaidh bhur fògradh thar chuan, And Faith triumphant over Nature, sees soul's bright gladness—Nature sees but gloom. Gu beam 'dheanamh suas 's gach ait, Thy of the tomb. Tha niuinntir bhur daimhe 's bhur luaidh Faith sees beyond the darkness Gu muladach truagh fuidh phràmh. And lifts our hearts, and gives us rest and peace : Sweet memories linger round each hallowed place A' oaoidh nam fear ro shuairce Where thou wert wont to tread; the vacant chair ehaidh 'thoirt uapa thar sàile A Where ihnu didst sit, I still can see thee there A chosnadh urraim is buaidh With a bright smile upon thy peaceful face ; 'S nach pill o'n chuairt ach pàirt. No silent tears nor heart distending sighs Is lionmhor màthair 's bean phòsda. Will ever bring thee back to me again, Is piuthar fuidh bhròin a tà I must be still, nor give thy spirit pain, " " An diugh 's gach àite air feadh Leòdhais, There rest Beloved till we meet on High. A' caoidh gu niòr luchd an gràidh.

Maille ri leannanaibh òga 'Thug geallanna pòsda gu bàs, ALISTAIR MAC DHOMHNUILL. An diugh air an sgaradh o cheil' Is cianail learn fein an càs. ALISTER MACDONALD, INVERNESS.

Agus nis Leòdhasaich mo riiin Alister MacDonald, the author of " Còinneach Is fàsaeh an diithaieh 'n 'ur deigh, Tha deur air iomadach sùla 'us Coille," is the son of Angus MacDonald, A' caoidh nam fiùghalan gleusd. crofter, of Achnanconeran, Glenmoriston, a man Is ged nach tigeadh an la of exceptional intelligence, still living, and a 'S am faighte 'san kite sibh fein, great great-grandson of Alexander MacDonald, Tha mile beannachd luchd-g' àidh one of the famous seven men of Glenmoriston Is chàirdean gu bràth 'n 'ur deigh. who protected Prince Charlie for some days in the 0, Shasuinn ! do bhratach tog suas, born Le urram is uaill 's gach àite, wilds of the Glen. Our poet was at Air Russia mhòr 'thoirt f uaime Achnanconeran on the 4th of Sept., 1860, and to A' leagadh luchd d'fhuatha gu làr. his mother is due the credit of writing and Cobharthaich an neart is an uaill, publishing in the midst of very unsympathetic 'Tha còmhnuidh 'san t-sluagh Uiidhd'làimh the songs of Archibald Grant, the Na Gàidheil thapaidh o thuath, circumstances, A choisinn a' bhuaidh 's gach biàr. Glenmoriston bard. When 18 years of age Mr Righ na glòire ta shuas, MacDonald removed to Inverness, where he Nach cronuioh thu sluagh 'na thràth, entered the service of the Highland Railway O dhòrtadh fola mu'n cuairt, Company as a clerk, and he is now assistant 'S o bhuaireadh casg an làmh. accountant of the company. Having taken several Bha feum gu mòr ach air truas, competitions held Is cobhair uailse o'n àird. prizes at some of the some Is teagaisg 'sa sith do t' shlnagh years ago under the auspices of the Gaelic society Chum do niholadh gu buan 's gu bràth. — — —

of Inverness, he had only been a short time in As he himself says " every piece except a few of town when he became an active member of that the long ones should be sung," and they seem learned body, to the " transactions" of which he well adapted for that purpose. There is a free has from time to time contributed interesting flow of language in his love songs that is very papers. Articles on Highland subjects from his refreshing, and "there will be found in them pen have also appeared in other C si tic publica- something to awaken sympathy, intensify love, tions, and he contributed largely at one time sweeten joy, and to reconcile to sorrow." " and still occasionally—to newspaper literature. As a specimen of the sentimental, Guanag Mr MacDonaldis a master of shorthand (Pitman's na Diithcha," to the air of " A nighean donn an system). He is the possessor of the National t-siigraidh," will convey an idea of his popular

Phonographic Society's teaching diploma, and style of song : taught the art successfully for years. He is Thair dhomh-sa 'ghaoil do chaoimhneas, assistant secretary to the Gaelic Society of Inver- 'Se 'chuireadh fàilt' us loinn onn ; a dli' fhàgadh làn mi 'dh' aoibhneas ness, and an active member of the Clan Donald 'S Gach la 'us oidhche 's maireann mi. Society also. But he is, perhaps, best known to 'S mòr a thug thu thaobh mi his countrymen as an enthusiastic lover of High- Le d' mhais' a^us le d' aoidheachd ; land music and song. For years past he has Tha ni-eiginn 'nad aoduinn, cultivated Gaelic poetry, and his compositions Nach cuir an saoghal a m' aire-sa. frequently appeared in the Gaelic column of the Tha cridhe fo do chiochan 'Tha 'deanamh nàdurgrian domh Northern Chronicle, and other Highland publica- 'S na 'm faodainn 'dhol do t' iarraidh tions. As he is still comparatively a young man, Bhiodh Dia agam ri bheannachadh. we hope to have many more poems from his poetic Na 'm faighinn thu ri' bhuannachd, pen, and this liope is buoyed up by the fact tliat Bu deònach leam an uair tighinn, he has taken some prizes at the Highland Mod 'S am bithinn 's mo ghuanag, 'An gaol bith-bhuan neo-dhealaichte. competitions. Mr MacDonald's laudable object in publishing And of his patriotic songs, the following stanzas his " Còinneach 'us Coille " was to popularize and from "Oran do Chomunn-Chlann Dòmhnuill," encourage native song-singing among Highlanders shows what the author is capable of : at the present day. He very truly observes that Thoir tasgaidh bhuain 'us beannachadh " most of the productions of our ancient bards, A dh' ionrsuidh uasail cheannasach A' ehomuinn bhuadhar, fhearalach, beautifully poetic as they certainly are, do not Dha'n uile dhual 'bhi smearalach, lend themselves readily to modern popular sing- A leir mar 'ghluais an seanairean— ing," and the writer quite agrees with him when 'S 6 'thi mi 'luaidh na maithibh glan Chlann Dòmhnuill. he says that many of the songs in our standard 'Tha mu Chomunn 'S e thi mi, etc. works are much too long ; they are more poems than songs. At the same time, of course, one Mac-Dhòmhnuill mòr nan Eileannan,

'Us Mac-'ic-Ailean sheasadh e ; need not sing all the verses of any song, but there Gleanna Comhann cha cheileadh e : is a heaviness about some for which lighter songs 'S a' Cheapuich cha bhiodh deireadh oirr' might be substituted. As the demand for Gaelic 'S Gleann-Garradh dlù 's cha theicheadh e, 'Us iomadh fion-fhuil eile songs and music increases, no doubt all objection- Nach biodh leibideaeh 's a' chomhlan. able features will be reduced to a minimum. At 'Us iomadh fion-fhuil, etc. anyrate, all the Highland airs should be preserved These specimens are taken at random, and by everyone who is at all a patriotic Highlander, they are not necessarily the best, there are other as it seems much easier to produce a new song to and many excellent songs throughout the work, an old air than to compose new music. which niark our clansman as a contemporary of In his " Còinneach 'us Coille," a book of 120 bard of excejitionable ability, and one whom much more will be expected in the future. pages, Mr MacDonald has given seventy-three Since the " Coinneach 'us Coille" was pub- songs, exhibiting intimate and poems and an lished he ha« written and published the following scholarly acquaintance with the Gaelic language. " additional songs, etc. — (1) Brosnachadh Chloinn — — —

Dòmhnuill," 1896 (a poem); (2) " Tìr nam Full Chlann Dònihnuill uasal Beann, nan Gleann, 's nan Gaisgeach," a eono; to D' am bu ghnàth 'bhi uaibhreach, the air of " E ho ro mo rim a' chailin," by Wm. 'S ioniadh blur a bhuadhaich lad fo uaill do chaithream. Ross ; (3) Blàr Allt-a-Bhonnaich, battle of Bannockburn, which took IMr Theodore Napier's Ged thàinig, &c. prize at the Highland Mod for the best poem on Chuir tbu mis' a bhruadar that subject some two or tliree years ago (1896 ; Air an làmli a bhuain thu, (4) " Dunnian," a song on Dunean, Inverness, to 'S shaoil leam gu'ni bu ghruagach, — " A bh'air chuaii t 's a' mhaduinn. the air of " There grows a bonnie brier bush ; (5) "An uair is tinne 'n gad cuaille 's ann is Ged thàinig, &e. dualaich dha bristeadh," a poem illustrating this 'S shaoil leam bhi le m' eudail " well-known proverb ; (6) Coire Lusain," a song Mach a' cualluch sprèidhe to an old air, the melody being very tine ; (7) 'Nuair bha 'ghrian ag eirigh. " Cruinneag a' Chlachain "—the maid of the Air na sleibhtean fallain. clachan—a love-song also to a beautiful old air Ged thàinig, &c resembling a fairy whisper ; (8) "Far a' blieil " S cinnteach mi nach d'fhàs thu Loch Nis a' sanais Crònan tairis do Chillionan Am measg phea' n 'us pliaipeir, Where Loch Ness whispers to Cill Eonan— 'S ann a fhuair thu t' àrach (Kilninian), and some love-songs that have not Air an àrd chnoc ghreannach. yet been printed. Ged thàinig, &c. Considering that Mr MacDonald has had few 'S ged bu gheal 'us dearg thu educational advantages beyond the usual routine Tha thu nise 'seargadh, of a country school, before the passing of the 'S tha do ghnùis a' dearbhadh Education Act, broken by intervals of herding Gur a searbh leat t' aineal. and crofting, his present position as a writer of Ged thàinig, &c. English and Gaelic is very creditable indeed. Cha b'e so an t-àite Both his father and mother had a particularly 'S am bu mhiann leat bàsachd, wide acquaintance with the song literature of the '8 cinnteach mi gu'm b'fheàrr leat Highlands, from whom he inherited that deep Glacaig àrd a' chanaich. Ged thàinig, &c. love of the music of his native country which he undoubtedly possesses. 'S iomadh de chlann daoine Tha mar sin 's an t-saoghal, Is e an t-ionnsachadh òg La 'us la air faontradh An t-ionnsachadh bòidheach Fad o'n gaol 's an aithne. Someofthebestpoemsin"Còinneaph'usCoilleare Ged thàinig, &c. "Mo Dhachaidh Gaidhealaeh," "Mo chaileag Ghàidhealach," "Am Fear-Fuadain," "Airciil Achleagan Bàidheanach," " Tom-an-t-sheòmair," TO MAS DONULLACH. " Cumha Màthair," etc., besides those already (THOMAS MACDONALD). quoted. Our promising bard is still singing away, not later than a few weeks ago he composed the I am indebted to Mr Alister MacDonald, the " " following Luinneag on finding a small twig of Inverness poet, for drawing my attention to the heather under his feet in the office : works of tlie subject of the present sketch, viz., Ged thàinig tu g' am ionnsuidh Thomas MacDonald, the bard of Abriachan, Gun fhios a'ln ciamar, commonly called " Tomas an Tòdhair." My 'S raise rinn an surd riut A fhliirain chamaich. information concerning him is derived from a Ged thàinig, &c. paper contributed by Mr Alister MacDonald and before the Gaelic Society of Inverness last Fhuair mi 'm badan bòidheach read Anns an ofig bhòrdach, spring, 1899. Our poet was descended from a 'S rinn mo chridhe solas family of MacDonalds, who, it is said, migrated Bha mi òg feadh bheannaibh. at one time from Glen Urquhart and settled at Ged thàinig, &c. Abriachan. Ma 's ann a' togar càirdeas From the same MacDonalds it is believed the Air fear cinnidh 'thà thu, famous Bishop John MacDonald of Alvie sprung. Cha'n'eil sin ro dhàn duit 'S full nan àrmuinn annam. His father, John MacDonald, resided on hiscroit, Ged thàinig, &c. called Balintore, in Abriachan, during his life — ;

time, and was married to Helen MacLachlan, the 'S tha Rùsgaich 'us Diòmhach 'Nam frith aig na fèidh. daughter of Rev. Mr MacLachlan, who laboured, at anyrate, for a time in the neighbourhood of Tha tigh-foghluim na h-òigridh Air chòmhnard na dùthch' Inverness. This Helen MacLachlan, the mother Gu greadhnach 'an òrdugh of our bard, was an aunt of the distinguished Le 'sheòmraichaibh ùr ; Celtic scholar. Dr. Thomas MacLauchlan of 'S na h-uaislean cho rianail Edinburgh. The MacLachlans were well-known A' riaghladh a' Bhùird, 'S iad macanta, ciallach. about Inverness. Another member of the same Gun fhiaradh gun lùb. family was a teacher in Abriachan, and a sister, Tha 'n Caisteal air crionadh house for him, also married in the same who kept Le siantaibh nan spèur, place. Mr Alister MacDonald's informant is 'S a bhaidealan àrda married to a descendant of this marriage, so our Air sgàineadh o 'cheil 'S cha 'n 'eil eachdraidh no seanchas bard inherited some talent from both sides of the A dh' fhàg dearbhadh o chein. house. He was born about 1822, and died in 1888. Air an àl 'chuir an àird e He composed a number ot songs and poems, No 'dhaingnich a steidh. mostly on local subjects. He was evidently a Tha Loch-Nis nan tonn siùbhlach ])oet of considerable ability as will be seen by the Ag ionnlaid nan sgòrr, Le fior uisge cùbhraidh poems which have been preserved. One of the Toirt dùbhlan do 'n reòth' ; most prominent features of his compositions is 'S tha Caolas Ghlinn-Urchadain, their sarcastic wit, which he could use with con- Gu h-uirealach stòlt', 'Tighinn o aigeann a chonfhaidh siderable freedom. His descriptive power will be 'S nam boib bhoinne mòr. seen from the following song in praise of Glen '8 bi 'dh gach eun anns a' Urquhart, from which some stanzas are quoted chrò-choiU' Co-chòrdadh r' a' chèil', ORAN DO GHLEANN URCHADAIN. Le 'n ceilearadh bòidheach,

'Cur an òrdugh nan teud ; Tha Gleann Urchadain cho àluinn, 'S bi'dh a' chubhag 's an smeòrach, Fo sgàil nam beann eiar, 'S an òg mhaduinn Chèit, Le fior oibre Nàduir Le an òranan ceòlmhor

A' fas ann an rian ; Air meòraibh nan gèug. Gach raon agus àite 'S tha 'n ealtuinn an còmhnuidh 'Is àilleanta sgiamh, Co òrdail 'na curs', Le neòneanan sàr-gheal 'N uair a ghoireas iad cònihla Gu àirde nan sliabh. Le eò-sheirm a' chiùil ; Tha Meall-fuar-mhonaidh shuas, Le 'n aighearachd thaitneach Fo shuaicheantas h\n, 'Chuireadh m' aigneadh air sunnd, Le 'bhàrr niulaieh an uachdar 'S mactalla 'toirt caismeachd Air s as na ciurn. Thair' stuadhaibh nan earn ; 'S gach taobh dheth air iathadh, 'N uair a theirgeas an geaniliradh, O iochdar gu 'bharr, Thig an samhradh 'n a dheigh, Le fuaranaibh ciatach 'S tuilidh v\r-dhealt na Bealltuinn, 'An iochdar gach sgàirn. 'Toirt fas air an fheur : Tha Eanruig 'us Coilltidh '8 bi'dh flùraicliean àillidh 'Cur loinn air a' ghleann, Fo bhlàth air gach geug, A' tuirlinn tromh 'n oighreachd '8 bàrr-guchd air gach meanglan 'S a' Mhòr-Lanntir gu lèir Le gleadhraich 'nan deann ; 'S tha fonn-chrith le gaoir 'S o 'n a fhuair sinn am Maidsear Aig gach caochan 'us allt', A mhàn a Strath-Spe, Gu niearganta 'taomadh 'S leis dùrachd gun àicheadh O aonach nan gleann. An luchd àitich gu leir ; 'S tha càirdeas 'us fàbhar Tha Creag-Neigh 's Creag-Mhònaidh 'N a nàdur gu rèidh, Air an còmhdach le coill, Nach cuireadh e bàirlinn 'Cur dion air a' chòmhnard Gu fàrdach luchd feich. dhoinionn nan sion ; Tha iasg 'an Loch-Mhioclaidh Agus eunach 's a' bhcinn ; — ; —

77

Lo ])rasgan de Ghaidheil, Le eudmhorachd 'ga mineachadh, Gun dichuimhn o do bheul, Làn àrdain 'nan gnùis ; Le 'n seur lannaibh stàilinn 'S iad uile Ian de dhiomhaireachd, Neo-sgàthach 'nan dùirn, 'S an fhirinn annt' mar steidh. A' toirt buaidh air an namhaid Tha tùr 'us mùirn 'nad ghiùlan, Ann am fàbhar a' chriiin. Gu fearail, siinndach, foil 'S bha 'm Màidsear co eudmhor Is gealtaireachd cha d' ionnsaich thu, '§ Ann an seidse Lucnù, cha d' thug thu rum do phròis ; A' cur daingnich nan rèubalt' Air nail', cha tugainp didan duit An ùine bhios mi beù, 'S na speuraibh na 'n smiiid ; 'S luchd breacan-an-fheilidh, 'S mo dhùrachd cheart cho dliith riut, 'S am beugnaidean rùisgt', 'S a tha 'n driùchd air bharr an fheuir. 'Cur chtkidan de nigearan 'S ann fhuair mi 'n eachdraidh chinnteach Sint' air an ùir. Air an t-sinnsireachd o 'n d' fhàs 'S gu'n Ò1 sinn deoch slàinte An gaisgeach àluinn, finealt' ud, An Mhàidsear le sunnd, Gun chron, gan ghiomh, gun ghaoid, Le glaineaehan dearr-lan 'Us air an stoc o 'n bhuaineadh e Cha shuarach e ri ràdh— Ga 'n tràghadh gu'n grunnd ; De stuth mireanach, làidir, 'Us e shiol nan righrean Stiiibbartach, iSoilleir, taitneach, 'us grinn, 'Bha roimhe crùinte 'n Scàin. cheath' poite tarruingte, Tha d' aignean air an steidheachadh 'Chuireadh stàirn 'n ar cinn. Le beusalachd 'us gràdh, 'S e diirachd mo chàileachd 'S do chleachdaidhean cho reusanach,

Gu dan 'chur 'an ceill, Gun ghruaim, gun bheud, gun ghaoid ; 'Chum 's gu 'ra faighinn teaclid dan Le inntinn ghrinn d' a rtiir sin, Gu geur-chuiseach, gun mheang, Air a nàdur gu leir ; Cha d' imich 's cha d' thàinig, 'S gach buaidh tha dùint' le d' chreubhaig, 'S cha 'n fhàg e 'na dheigh, Cha leir dhomh chur an cainnt. Fear eile 'bheir barr air Gur marsant' ealamh, ionns»icht,' thu, Gu bràth à Strath-Spè. Gu tairis, mùirneach, stòld', The references in this song to the late Major 'S e fialaidheachd 'us fiiighantaciid An turn 's na chuir thu d' dhòigh Grant are said to have been well deserved. The ; 'S Iha faoilt 'us aoidh 'nad ùrlar in praise next song by Thomas MacDonald was Gufallainn, suimdach, òg, of the late Bailie W. G. Stewart, for many years 'S gur iomadh gruagach dhlùth-ghleusach one of the best known members of the Gaelic A dhùraichdeadh dhuit pòg. Society of Inverness. The song is entitled : '8 tu thàlaidbeadh na h-inghneagan " ORAN AIR MR W. G. STIUBHART." Le faoilt 'us briodal beòil, 'S le d' aighearachd 'cur iompaidh orr', Air fonn— " An nochd gur faoin mo chadal domh.' 'S le riomhadh de gach seòrs' ; Sgàileagan d' an t-sioda Le fior-ghean gràidh, ceud soraidh slàn 'Us a h-uile ni is bòidlich', Do'n mleasgach àluinn, òg ; 'S na 'n ceannaicheadh iad da-rireadh iad, 'S na 'n d' fhuair mi iùl gu d' àrdachadh, Cha bhiodh a' phris ro mhùr. Cha'n fhàgainn thu 's a' clieò ; Is ceann-iiiil air thus nan sàr thu, Tha ghliocas agus tàlantan 'N uair thcàrladh tu 'nan coir, A.' tàrmachadh 'nad choir, Le 'd òraidean 'gan gleusadh dhaibh, Gu misneachail, neo-sgàthach, Gu soilleir, reidh-ghlan foil. A' cur àbhachdais air seòl ; A's tha niiiirn as ùr gach la dhuit, 'S gur lionmhor buaidh tha sinte riut, Anns gach ait aig sean a'a òg, Nach tar mi innseadh 'n dràsd ; 'S g'ur trie chliuth 's gàsaidean, Is Gaidheal foinnidh, finealt' thu, do na 'h gach ceàrna de 'n Roinn-Eòrp'. Bho chriin do chinn gu d' shall 'S tha macantachd a's mileantachd Le deònachas no ain-deòineachd, ri ghnàths Co-shinte do ; Thoir beannachd uam gun dàil, 'S tu smachdail, beachdail, inntinneach, Do 'n àrmunn àghmhor, cheanalta, Gun mhi-run gun chion-fàth. Cho tairseach air fas ; Thug Nàdur gibht mar dhileab dhuit, 'Us fear do cheird gur ainneamh e, barraicht' riut Le inntinn fhior-ghlan reidh, Cho thar chàch, 's tha 'Toirt eachdraidh bheachdail, chinn tich dhuinn Ged mòr a de cheannaichean 'S a' bhaile 'm beil thu 'tàmh. Air iomadh linn o chtiin ; 'N uair theid thu chòir nan àbhachdan, admirers hope that this reluctance will soon wear Le feala-dhà gun bheud, away, and no doubt eventually they will be given i cainnt na Fèinne 's t'heàrr leat— 'S in book form for the benefit of his fellow-country- A' Ghàidhlig àluinn reidh ; men and others. Among his more popular songs 'S tha seanchaidhean ri fàistinneachd are " Oran na Parlamaid," " Miirnag," " An Gur i bh' aig Adhanih fcin, " 'S gur niùirneach rinn e h-àracli dhuinn, Gaidheal 'an Tir Chèin," lulach na cnamh," " Fo dhùbhar sgàil nan geug. " Fàsachadh Ghabhson —the Galson evictions —and "Nighean donn na buaile." We submit eich rùidhleinich " 'S tu marcach an as a specimen of his ability, " Oran air Miirnag Is aotrom shiùbhlas sràid, — one of the highest mountains in Lewis. Mr Le luaths an fhèidh 'cur niiltean delh ; MacDonald is still a young man, and we still 'S cha ghabh e sgìos gu bràth : hope to see more able poems from his 'S cha 'n iar e coirc no innlinn, many fertile pen. A's cha phàigh e cìs no càin ; 'S ani fear a dhealbh an innleachd ud, MURNAG. 'S i 'inntinn nach robh 'n tàmh. Seisd.— Mùrnag Leòdhais, Mùrnag àluinn, Ach 's fheudarbhi co-dhùnadh, Mùrnag a' chuil duinn 's a' chàrnaich

'S nach d'fhuair mi iùl fir-dàin ; 'S ann leam bu mhiann a' bhi air t'àiridh 'S na 'n robh mi eagnaidh, ionnsaichte, Air a' Mhòinlich àird an Leòdhas.

Gu 'ni biodh a' chùis na b' fheàrr ; Cha tig nasal do an dùthaich Tha uaill air sluagh na dùthcha, Nach bi 'g aniharc air do stùchdaibh, Gu 'n d' fbuair thu cliù thar chàch;— Gloineachan 'gan cur ri 'shùilibh 'S na 'm faighinn trian mo dhùrachd, Gus am faic e Mùrnag Leòdhais. Cha bu chùram dhuit gu bràth. Cha'n'eil maraich' air na cuaintibh information liave The above and other items of Nach bi 'g am hare riut air uairibh, reconciled the writer once more to Inverness and Bidh fear 's a' chrann aig am a' chruadail Gus am faic e gruagach Lebdhais. its inhabitants. Cha'n'eil culaidh bheag air sàile, Cha'n'eil faoileag bhàn a slieòlas, DOMHNULL DOMHNALLACH. Cha'n'eil eun air sgeith 'san àite Nach tojr Mùrnag sgàth doibh cònihla.

(DONALD MACDONALD.) 'S e miann gach eun a bhi air t' fheurach, 'S e miann gach fiadh a bhi le 'chròicibh, Another of our contemporary bards is Donahl A' gabhail fasgaidh air do bheulthaobh MacDonald, the Barvas bard. He was born at 'S iad gun fhiamh a riamh fo d' sgòidibh. Galson, Lewis, in 1860. At the age of 18 he Tha gach tulach beag 'us garbhlach, went to Stornoway to learn the trade of a black- Is beinn a' Bhàrbhais is i fo t' òrdugh, Beanntan Uig th' an sùil gu leir ort to Inverness smith, and subsequently repaired Gus am faigh iad fein do chòta. to get still farther initiated in the intricacies of Tha gach beinn fo bhinn do còmhraidh, his trade. After a time he settled down at Tha na glinn a' seinn duit òrain, Barvas, where he still follows the trade of a Na lochan tàinih ag ràdh gur neònach Mar tha 'n sùil air MùrnaigLeòdhais. blacksmith, and also cultivates his croft. It was Is gach fear-seilg a' dh' fhalbhas mòinteach while plying his work at Daviot that he made his Chi thu le d' chrùn cho bòidheach, first attempt at composing songs, the result being Stìileach caoin 'us d' fhraoch fo neòinean " (Jran na Lie"—the song of the Hagstone. He Air ceann dualàch gruagach Leòdhais. is tall, dark-haired, and handsome, stands .5 Bidh coilich choille gu raoch a' triall riut, feet lOi inches, with a good physique, and has Bidh a' chearc riabhaeh 's i ri gògail Gus an luidh iad air do chliathaich displayed considerable ability in the art of 'S an àite 'is miannach leò 'bhi còmhnuidh, composition. He appears at his best when singing Tha beanntaichean an Eilein Sgiathaich his own songs ; but he does not compose for 'S a' bheinn riabhaeh air a' Mhòrthir composing sake, only occasionally when the spirit Is iad 'g iarraidh tighinn dlùth dhumn moves him. His songs are exceedingly popular Gus am faic iad Mùrnag Leòdhais. in Lewis and elsewhere, and amount to about Bha mò sheanair trie air t' àiridh Buachailleachd nam bà fo t-ùrdugh. twenty in number. Hitherto he has shown no Is thu gach linn' gu t' fhaicinn uaipe inclination to publish them, but his friends and 'S a cheann-a-tuath do dh' Eilean Leòdhais. —

IAIN DOMHNALLACH AN BALL, OBAN. smith as well. Some of Iheir descendants con- tinued to act as blacksmiths there for several (BLIND JOHN MACDONALD.) generations ; the last of them left the place John MacDonalil, Oban, was born at Lochclon- about thirty years ago. A father with three sons, head, Mull, about 1812, and died in Oban in all blacksmiths. 1884. For the following particulars regarding our Upon one occasion the laird, Lachunn Mor, poet I am indebted to Mr Duncan M' Isaac, Oban. ordered a son of the Gobiiainn Mor to become one His parents and grandparents were crofters at of his fighting men, but the young man refused Lochdonhead, where his grandfatiier, Alexander to obey, and he along with others, were by order MacDonald, and his father, Duncan MacDonald of the laird locked up in a barn. The Gobhainn Mor then sent word of the affair to Glengarrj worked as blacksmiths. His mother's maiden , who sent the following message to Lachunn name was Mary Campbell ; his paternal grand- Mor, " mother's was Betsj' Stewart. He was married to Ged is leatsa an fheòil is leamsa an cnàindi-leig " Catherine MacQuarrie, Bunessan, and a few years an Dòmhnullach mar sgaoil (though the flesh is after marriage they removed to Oban, where they thine, the bone is mine, set MacDonald free). resided for the remainder of their lives. They aie Upon receipt of Glengarry's message Lachunn survived by two daughters and one son. For a Mor after some enquiry set young MacDonald number of years the bard earned a comfortable free, and invited the Gobhainn Mor and his wife livelihood by coast fishing. When fifty-six years to the Castle, where he entertained them hospi- of age he lost the sight of one of his eyes through tably on account of their connection with Glen- an accident in the nutwood, and the other eye garry and Athol. became blind about five years afterwards, and A measure of the bardic faculty wedded to so he was called Iain Dòmhnullach an Dall (blind music appears to have been preserved among the descendants of the Gobhainn John MacDonald). Mor ; some of them composed Gaelic poetry, and most of In his youth he composed some Gaelic songs of the men played the bagpipes. Iain Dall, the subject of a secular cast, but in later years, prefering re- these notes, once made a set of bagpipes for ligious themes, he composed a number of Gaelic him- self, and he used to play them with great glee, hymns, a list of which is appended. These the and one of his brothers, by trade a turner, bard's family hope to get printed soon in booklet earned some fame as a maker of bagpipes in Skye. form. There is a story to the effect that Iain Dall Our poet used to tell some wonderful stories was once sent for in order that he might try to abouc the Lochdonhead MacDonalds. His cure a sick cow by the power of some charm said paternal grandfather—"An Gobhainn Mòr"— to be in his possession. A young girl from Mull belonged to Glengarry. He was a very strong who was employed in the house of the owners of man, over six feet in height, and he always wore the cow advised them to send for Iain Dall in the kilt in the smithy, and elsewhere. Miss order that he might try the efiect of the charm Stewart, of Athol, eloped with him when he ; Betsy they gave their consent, and the lassie soon took was a young man, and on their way to Morven, Iain into the byre, where, perhaps mostly with when the young lady became tired walking, he the object of pleasing the Mull girl, he quietly wrapped her in his tartan plaid, and carried her walked up to the side of the sick cow and muttered something into one of its ears. Happily on his back for nine miles (worthy couple ; it is the cow soon recovered its health, and the Mull to be hoped they lived happy for ever after. Few lassie always maintained that the recovery was swains at the present day would undertake such due to Iain's occult spell. The bard's sister Betsy a loving honeymoon). On arriving in Morven (Mrs Stewart) composed a Gaelic poem upon tlie they were kindly received by a friend there who death of two of her boys who died young. The

following are three stanzas : was a blacksmith, and they were married in his from it house, where MacDonald learned his trade. They 0, nis gabh truas dhiom 'S mi so 's an fhàsach chruaidh, then went to Lochdonhead in Mull. He occupied Mi smuaintinn a bhi gluasad a croft there, -ind earned on his trade as a black- Fo d' bhrataich luachnhor fhein. 80

lehòvah dean riuni fàbhar, Co-sheirm— Mar a rinn thu e ri Màiri, Fanaibh dli\th rium, fanaibh dli\thrium, phàisdean Mar a thug thu nio Fanaibh dlùth rium daonnan, d' àros a suas. Gu Fanaibh dlùth rium auns gach cùis A sin cha bhi iad brònach, Oir thug mi run is gaol dhuibh. 'S has cha tig na 's niò orr', Ged a bhitheas an saoghal ribh a' stri Ach cuimhneach' air a' ghlòìr sin Le innleachdau 'ta làidir, '8 an solas as ùr. Ma dh' fhanas sibhse riumsa dlùth The following hymns were composed by John Cha chuir mi cùl gu bràth ribh. MacDonald :—" Comh-Ghairm a chum iimh- Fanaibh dlùth, etc. departure of composing hymns to popular lachd," 60 lines ; fonn—" Beinn Dòrain." This airs is one that should be encouraged, as they are dhonih nis eisdeachd, is geillibh gu Thugaibh much more apt to stick to the listeners than buileach dhomh, ordinary hymn tunes that are neither so musical Oir tha mi 'g 'ur n-iarraidh 's e mo mhiann bhi nor so often heard as the best of our slow songs. fuireach leibh, MacDonald's hymns are to secular airs, one Oir tha mo chridhe 'n cbmhnuidh 'n tòir oirbh gu All — bunaitea(tii, especially good one " larrbas an Fhirean," 92 'S ma bhitheas sibh dhomhsa dileas cha diobair mi lines, to theair of " Macgriogair o'n Ruadh-shruth," tuille sibh. and another, " Earail do Pheacaich," 120 lines, to air " Air faillirinn, illirinn, uiliirinn " the of An Tobar Fior Uisge," 76 lines ; air fonn— o ! " which seems to me very effective. " Cha'n'eil sonas ri a fhaotuinn anns na faochagan Co-Sheirm —Tha losa a' tighinn ! falamh." Grad bithibh 'n 'ur dùsgadh Tha e tighinn mar bhreitheamh Sibse uile chlann daoir^e, reiteach gach cùis, Tha sibh faoin ann 'ur barail A '8 dean sibh ris pilleadh Ag iarraidh sonais an t-saoghail mur Is tighinn dha dltith Far- nach fhaod sibh 'bhi maireann ; Creidibh mise da-rireadh Nach 'eil ni air an domhan A bheir sonas gu bràth " An Comunn Neanihaidh," 60 lines. Others are Do shliochd Adhainih air thalarah "Am Baile Dion," fonn—"An te sin air am Gus an creid iad an fhirinn " bheii mi 'n geall," 116 lines. May, 1882 ; Toil h-iobairt 'g an glanadh, Fuil na an Fhireau, 37 lines —Air fonn—"Is toigh learn 'S gns an òl iad de 'n fhior-aisg' " an te dhileas dhonn," Aug. 1884 ; and Misneach Chum an iotadh a chasgadh. — agus seoladh do Pheacaich," fonn " Hil ii hil ò

" Laoidh do'n Ard-Blinacbaill, ' 44 lines ; fonn hillin òro," 112 lines. Most of these hymns

— " Gu 'm a slàn a chi mi • appeared from time to time in the Oban Times. As a sacred poet John MacDonald, " Iain '" chuairt, Tha mise so air m' fhàgi' n fhàsaich air DòmhnuUach an Dall," deserves not to be for- deònuich do orli.àoan g am thearnadh o Ach gotten, and I have much pleasure in helping to thruaighe, preserve his name among our clan bards. U Thusa, 'Thi 's ro-àirdf '< ha thearnadh do Phluaigh Thoir dhachaidh mi leat sàbhailt' gu tir Chanaain shuas. AONGHNAS MAC DHOMHNUILL. " lines Gràdh an Fhir-Shaoraiah," 42 ; fonn— (ANGUS MACDONELL). " Tha còta-bàn, tha còta-bàn, Tha còta-bàn air Fionnladh." The subject of this sketch, Angus MacDonell, xxii. of Keppoch,* was a grandson of Barbara, Co-Sheirm—Cum mo shùil ort, gun bhi diiinte, of Cum mo sbviil ort daonnan, daughter of "the gallant Keppoch," "the Cum mo shùil ort, 'se mo dhùrachd forty-tive," and of the Rev. Patrick MacDonald ot daonnan. A bhi dliith fiut Kilmore and Kilbride, the author of the famous Thainig Tu nuas o nèamh, collection of Highland airs published in 1784. A shabhaladh chlainn daoine, He represented the chieftainship from 1831 Is thairneich iad thu suas ri crann, Oir bha iad dall—'ad ghaol doibh. until the time of his death. He married Cum mo shùil ort, etc. Christina MacNab, of the MacNab's of Inishowen, Chriosd." ri2 lines, to the air of "The "Gaol * His poems having been mislaid prevented his Boatie Hows." namu appearing earlier.—K. M. M. ; ;;;

who was a grand-danghter of Charlotte, the The cankered worm his work traduced. Behold the web he has produced. youngest daughter of the famous hero of Culloden M.A. is added—to his name. already mentioned, and, therefore, a second Not by merit 'tis pilfered fame. fousin of his own, by wliom he had a large family. Owen lost his title and his book, The one he lent, the other Rankin took. He was a very handsome man— tall, fair, well- Curious that the title page knit together—and inherited some of the best Didn't es ape the critics rage : traits of his distinguished ancestors. A staunch All the notice that it claims Is that it's in all its aims Jacobite, of course, and full of the ardour of his wrong ; And still we see it spreading wide, jiatriotic race he would have been an ideal chief, Fast gaining ground on every side. and no doubt if occasion had arisen during his We wonder how this came to pass,

" no ! behold !Sir Hudibras time he would have been found " aye ready for Yet ; A great brain turned to])sy turvey, any emergency, and would have shown that the •When of his work Vi'e take a survey. blood of the Keppochs had not in the slightest Verbs and nouns placed far asunder, degree degenerated. He wrote several pieces of As Colossus' legs where ships sail under He spurned all rules of moods and tense. poetry, chiefly in a humorous or satirical vein, Because they're used by men of sense. all of which, except one, have been mislaid or From whence his words, that ill-spelt rabble. lost. He also saved some traditional paper^^ Were they used at the tower of Babel ? A Gaelic book in broad Scotch idiom. relating to the family, which were in the possession Like the hotch-potch that mortals feed on. of his uncle, John MacDonald of Inch, and who As changeable in confoundations was on the eve of burning them a short time As the souls in transmigration ; No points or ])eriods where they should before his death. The specimen of his versih- That would be given if he could. cation appended does not reproduce all he could Where'er there's doubt in prose or song, have done. It was simply written one evening He's always sure to take the wrong ; sound, after dinner to create some amusement for his A tortured fancy groans a Like Titans fighting under ground. guests, among whom was the author of the subject for which the lines were written. The Who then put in his head that foible following are parts of the poem in question, being Queen Bess' ghost with Cranmer's bible. a reply to adverse criticisms on a prayer-book Lucre! the man pretends to scorn. His book is bought like bill-reform. written by the Rev. Father Rankine, the priest The people stared with greedy look at Badenoch, and after at Moidart. Lured by the bait that hid the hook ; " FATHER RANKINE'S PRAYER BOOK." What motley crew of b-b-b-bastards Were to their view on paper plastered ; Ye critics spare your savage look, Pandora's box sent out all evils, Have mercy on poor Rankin's book, But here they're back to fight the Devil For this he had some credit gained What ! though there's here and there a blunder. Jaw-breaking words like distant thunder. Before he g )t them so well trained. Know then, renown was not his aim. Nor glory, yet, nor sounding fame. His lines are all so out of measure. that see his faults Ye too many. That none can read them now with pleasure, His book was to gain the penny. made So very like the one that made them. Don't twit him with a deed so foul. That none can doubt who ever read them. As gaining to his creed one soul, To-day with something he's quite full. Then critic spare his crippled verse. To-morrow he is another's tool. To clink the •' Geordies " in his purse, At times he is our Lord Protector, In labour tossed, his infant brain And now, a Peter's pence collector. Conceived a thought brought forth with pain. A church he'll build, yet do not doubt it. Some other view will drive that out yet And Rankin is a man of feeling, A shining nature full of notion. Tho' Owen says he has been stealing To find perchance perpetual motion. From leaves that lay on shelves for years. That's found if he'd but take the trouble Bronzed by the moves tears smoke that our ; To look but once in his own noddle. Where the spider wove in peaceful toil, One thing is grafted on his creed. Since Owen did possess the soil. We will not pass it without heed. Poor insect he must shift position, So very like old Rothiemurchus, The subject now of inquisition Who, on the Spey, lived near his " duchas.' Let what Bishop chose be in AILIS SORCHA NI' MHIC 'IC RAONUILL He's Vicar of Bray— is Rankin ; What more faults let others tell, NA CEAPAICH. I shall bid him now farewell (ALICE CLARIE MACDONELL OF KEPPOCH.) One who could write the above on the spur of Our famous and the moment must have had more in him that well-known clan bardese Miss Alice Clarie MacDonell, is the only required drawing out, some political excite- 8th and j'oungest daughter of Angus XXII. of Keppoch, ment would have done it. Many of our best and main- tains the reputation of her clan songs were produced during the Jacobite period, and family, and illustrious ancestorsfrom whom she inherited and it only required something of the kind to poetic gifts of a high induce our author to cultivate the muses with order. greater success than the poem on the prayer Ailis dhonn gur niòr mo ghràdh ort book. Gruaidh na nàire 's beul an fhurain. This sketch would not be complete without The founder of this brave, poetic, and war-like some mention of our poet's helpmate, who was family of Keppoch, was Alastair Carrach* third left a widow with a young fannly at too early an and youngest son of John, first Lord of the Isles, age. Mrs MacDonell, who has battled witli life by his second wife, the Lady Margaret, daughter nobly and cheerfully, is still hale and hearty— of Robert High Steward of Scotland, who in the and long may she continue so. She has jjerhaps year 1370 ascended the throne of Scotland by the done more for Highland music than any other title of Robert II. lady in the Highlands. She has preserved the Several reasons have been alleged for the assump- best arrangements of many old Highland airs tion of the surname MacDonell instead of that otherwise would have perished, and improved MacDonald by this family. In Maclan's "Costumes others. Within the last thirty years she has been of the Clans of Scotland," it is stated that Coll consulted by several airangersof Highland music, of Keppoch, the son of Gilleasbuig, who lived in and her stamp is marked upon the majority of the end of the seventeenth century, was the first their choice pieces—" Cailleach Beinn na Brie," who changed the orthography of the name to " Crodh Chailein," " Tha Dhriiichd fhein air barr MacDonell by the persuasion of Glengarry, Lord gach meangan " (a fairy song), " Och nan och mo Aros. leir cràdh," "An nochd gur faoin mo chadal That's not likely, neither was any persuasion domh," " Bodaich nam brigis," " Struan Robert- necessary, as according to the Black Book of son's Salute," "Tha 'n cuan a' cuir eagal air Taymouth, his father, Archibald, signed his name clann nan Gàidheal," and several others in the MacDonell, and Donald Glas the second, signed " Gesto Collection of Highland Music " are her Montrose's bond in 1665 (at Kilchuimen [Fort arrangements. Like the Ges^to family in Skye, Augustus] to unite the loyalty of the Highlanders) all her pieces are of the best, and nothing second- as "Donald MacDonell off Keppoch." The class is to be found in her repertoire, and she patronymic of the family first was " Sliocdh plays them all beautifully. Though her forte lay Alistair Mhic Aonghuis," from Angus son of in slow airs, marches, and pibrochs, yet she was Alistair Carrach, down to the time of Raonull some years ago a powerful strathspey player. Mùr, when it became Mac-Ranald " Mac 'Ic The writer never heard a better exponent of Raonuill." Up to the time of Alastair nan Cleas, " Righ nam port "—the king of reels—the reel of 10th Chief of Keppoch, they always signed " Mack Tulloch—and the prince of strathspeys, " Delvin Ranald " from the patronymic, then it was side." It is no wonder, therefore, that such a anglicised from MacDhomhnuill into MacDonell, talented couple should have a clever son and which is nearer the Gaelic than MacDonald, which clever daughters, but more of some of them was derived from the Latin MacDonaldus, and in presently. * Curly headed and fair, " that is shawit Alexander sua that being the countries custome, because High- land men call it the fairest-hared and sna furthe, for this A.lexander was the farest-hared man as they say of any that ever was," &c. :

all subsequent documents the name and signatures In all thy moods I love thee, In sunshine and in storm, are MacDonell. Lochaber of the towering bens, Few families can boast of such a number of Outlined in rugged form. bards, both in the direct and indirect lines, and Here proud Ben Nevis snowy crowned.

Rests throned amid the clouds ; able ones too. The first of them was Iain Lom There Looby's deep and silvery wave (and his son), entitled John son of Donald, son of A Royal city shrouds ; John, son of Donald, sen of Iain Aluin, the 4th Whose waters witnessed the escape Campbell's dastard shape. Chief, M-as the most famous. Then we have Of coward Disgrace eternal reap the spectre, Donald Donn, Donald Bane of Whilst fair Glen Nevis' rocks resound

Alexander and Donald Gruamach of the house of With Pibroch Dhu' renowned ; Bohuntin, Rev. John MacDonald, " Ni' Mine From Inverlochy's keep. Grey ruined walls, in after years Aonghuis og," grand daughter of Angus og, fifth That saw the great Montrose, son of Alistair nan Cleas. A daughter of Donald MacDonald's, Cameron's, men lead forth Glas the 2nd, and sister of the brothers Alexander To victory 'gainst their foes. Oh ! Lochaber, dear Lochaber, and Ranald, were murdered. Gilleasbuig na who The rich red afterglow Ceapaich, his daughter Juliet, and his sons, Of fame that rests upon thy shield. Angus Odhar, and Alexander, and Coll, and Unbroken records show. " 0, Lochabair, mo Lochabair fhein gu bràth "1 several others, until we come down to the subject " of our present sketch. The next is " Lochaber's sons (the Queen's Miss Alice MacDonell was educated by private Own Cameron Highlanders) in which mention is tuition, and at the convent of Frencli nuns in made of the ties that existed between the Northampton, finishing off at St. Margaret's Camerons and the Keppochs. Allan Cameron of Convent, Edinburgh. She gave early promise of Erracht's mother was a sister of the gallant the bardic gift by stringing couplets together, Keppoch of the '45, and she it was who designed and running about the romantic Braes of Loch- the tartan of the 79th, a blending of the colours abar, listening to wonderful tales of battles and of the MacDonald and Cameron tartans. chivalry, weird romances, fairy tales, Ossianic Another significant poem is to the Clan Donald, poetry, and lovely Highland music, all tended to on their liist formation as a society since the '45, foster the poetic talent, and lay the foundation which breathes intense patriotism throughout. of that intense patriotism and grand martial Rouse ye cliildreii of MacDonald, spirit which pervades much of her poetry, and From each far and distant shore ! Hands outstretched across the ocean wliich would have satisfied even Alistair Carrach Cling in fancied grasp once more. himself. Besides her numerous accomplishments. Helpers of the weak and suffering. Miss MacDonell is very well read in Shakesjieare, As the knights of ancient lore ; ancient and modern poetry, history, and romance. Hearts that never knew dishonour For several years some of her poems have been Beat as loyal as of yore. published in various Higliland papers, but they Wake again, great Clann Dhomhnuill !§ Let not duty call in vain were not published in book form until 1896, when ; In the vanguard of the battle, _ her " lays of the heather" appeared,! a goodly- Form your serried ranks again. sized bookof 206pagesdedicated to Prince Rupert of Miss MacDonell has been as successful in her Bavaria, the present repi-esen tative of the Stewarts, choice of titles, as in the subject of her poems, containing 53 pieces of different lengths, and of a and no one can go through the work without a martial, descriptive, and sentimental character. seeing that the author is capable of still greater As might be expected her first poem is to her things, beloved native glen. " Lochabair gu Brhch" "The Highland Brigade," at the battle of the (Lochaber for ever), written for a historical work, Alma, consists of 133 lines, is an excellent poem, entitled " Loyal Lochaber," by Mr W. Drummond and enough to rouse any Highlander's enthusiasm. Norie.

t Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, London. — !

"The Bonnie Scots Greys" (second to none), is The curse of the strong and the cry of the weak Rose high o'er the blackened boulders peak, poem; "The thin, red an equally fascinating For the ruined hearth and the empty pen Line," and " The passage of the Gare," are like- As the lone wind swept the evicted glen wise well chosen. " The Rush on Cooniassie," Of the Dead " A Soldier's vow," " The Lad with the Bonnet of Ye were strong as ye laughed in your cheerless Blue," "The wearing of the tartan," "The mirth. II For the peasant lives who had perished there ! spell of the mountains," " The plaint of the They wished to remain in the land of their birth. " Sunset," and many others mountain stream," Behold ! "how their God hath heard the prayer ! are very good and reflect great credit upon the The gloom of the rocks on thy dwelling fell. There is neither laughter nor fear in Hell ! authoress, but she is not done yet. Since the ISouls of the just with their God are well. " Lays of the Heather" was published the follow- How fares it with thee in thy cursed den. ing further poems have come from her pen : When the lone winds sweep the leafless glen. "How they won the Red Hackle" (about the O'erhead ? " " Whistle and cry to your hunting hounds, 42nd) ; Gillean an Fheilidh (the lads with the The white Doe lien in the hoshy park. kilts); "The lassie wi' the tartan," " A Ruin," Whoop ! and away, the dead man bounds. (term of endearment), " The Dream Glen," " Sea For you are living and they are stark. Dreams," " The Parting on the Bridge," " When Fingers point to their grass grown homes. Little ones weep on their own grave stones, Hills Look Near," " Through the Zone of Distant The forest echoes give back thy groans, Fire" (Flora MacDonald), "The Doom of Till the tenantless walls are peopled again Knocklea," " The Taking of Abu-Hamed," With living children and lusty men.

Thy Doom ! " The Song of Sleep," " Never go Back,"

' ' ," Ware the river and haunted cave ! ' Friendship," ' Haunted "The Dargai Heights," Ware the forests of dark Knocklea ! " Gill Charoil," " My Picture," "Parting," " On Ware the curbed where the pine trees wave !

the eve," and several others not yet published. Ware the torrent that tumbles free ! evil in the train of night Some stanzas of one of the unpublished ones There walks With the man accursed in the day of his niight. " " " The Doom of Knocklea are appended, The Here men have perished in fearsome plight Doom of Knocklea" (suggested by an incident in Who answered the cry for the aid of men swept the Highland evictions.) That shrieks and raves thro' the wind glen.

Whistle ! for food in your eerie lone, In gloom !

Gold Eagle of Cnoc-nam-beann ! the Folds there are none, but the granite stone, Our clan bardess has also immortalised To steal for thy young on Cnoc-nam-beann, heroic conduct of Brigadier Hector MacDonald at The thatchless roof, and the rained wall. Omdurman in verse and song—" Our heroe's Will echo back to your hungry call, welcome " must be familiar to most Higldanders. No song in the shelling, nor cow in the stall. To tell of the kindly haunts of men From the crash of cannons' roar As the lonely winds sweep up the glen. And the flash of ringing steel. Ochon ! Toilsome march, and swift Bivouac, peal. Whistle ! and cry in your haunted cave. Broken by the trumpets Spirit of him who was called Knocklea, From the desert Afric's sands battle Ye stand on the brink of an open grave Long renowned in story ; With the forms of the dead for company. Omdurman's undaunted field The red deer roams on the bare hillside, Where thy name is linked in glory. No sound of life on the moorland wide Ciad's dad mile faille* Ye scattered afar in the day of your pride : Dear to soldier's heart the laurels, Nor living nor dead, are ye lonesome then. When a glorious deed is done ; As the wintry winds sweep up the glen Dearer when from grim oppressions And moan ? Broken chains, the wreath is won. The ship went down as it left the shore. Dearer still, when hearts that love thee, Honour in thy honours claim, Freighted with sorrowing human lives ; The waves brought back to thy castle door When the race of Conn united Aged mothers and year-old wives. To the world their rights proclaim. Above the wail of the tempest's shriek. Ciad's ciad, &c.

Set to music by Colin MacAlpin. * A hundred thousand welcomes. ;

Maidens ! softly touch the clàrsach, Sing your sweetest songs tu-day, Nor yet the skill to sing thy praise

Pipers ! rouse the magic chanter, Till some more powerful hand shall wake Loud Clan Coila's gathering play, His tuneful lyre with polished phrase.

Clansmen ! pledge with Highland honours, Some bard from out thine own clan Graeme, Highland cheer, our heroe's name, So far renowned in Scottish fame. Till the Highland hills re-echo His clansmen's deeds in verse p jrtrays, Back again our Hector's fame. A sister Scot her right may claim. Ciad's ciad mile fàilte. 5 Worthy of that brave clan art thou Miss Jessie MacLachlan, tlie famous Scottish That owned a Clavers, a Montrose, Beneath their knightly banners furled vocalist, sang the song at the London above Thy name shall also find repose. banquet given to Colonel Hector MacDonald, Nor courtly ways with these are sped, which was set to music by Mr Colin MacAlpin. Nor chivalry with these are dead. So long as Scottish names disclose Miss MacDonell's latest poem is " The mother One with such knightly virtues bred. land," extending to sixty-three lines, which has Our bardess is still singing away, and long may just been published, 1899, in the year book of the she continue to do so, a wish which, I am sure, MacDonald Society. It breathes the same fer- the whole clan Donald will heartily endorse. vent patriotism so characteristic of many of her " Gu m a fada beo thu 's ceo dheth do thighe." l)oems. The following quotation will give an idea of the poem as a wliole. JOSEPHINA MAIM MACDONELL. '• THE MOTHER LAND." Upon thy kindly breast once more, Another member of tliis talented family, Miss Heart to my heart., cheek to thy cheek, red lips Josephina Màiri MacDonell, deserves mention Of honey, scented bell, myrtle sweet heather and here. Besides having composed the following and wild. — " Keening soft lullabys from out their mossy depths, poems " The Highland Soldier's Keturn," Cry In the sound of the swift brown burns, and the from liochaber pleading for Gaelic," " My Sprig winds of White Heather," and "A Message to the Lilting under the feathery fronds and the clustering leaves. Braes of Lochaber," she contributed two articles Trailing away down the rocky banks where the on Prince Kupert, one in the Celtic Monthly, berries grow. illustrated with his portrait, and one in the Clan

O ! but thou givest rest sweet mother land ! Donald Journal, when he came over for the With thy cool delicate airs, and the songs. Queen's Jubilee. The London letter to the same The old time songs of the hills, DearghuU and Naoise sang journal, and the ladies' column for the London In their wattle hut by the side of the Etive loch, Scot, including nitraerous illustrations, amongst Cucluillin sang in the far-off isle of the mists, others one of Duneveg Castle in Islay, for Eraser And Ossian sang away there by the fairy haunts of " of Isla " " Treig, Macintosh's Last MacDonalds ; The Songs of the perfect life in the land of Atlantis out Highland Brigade," for J. MacKay, Hereford, by the setting sun. " contributed to the Celtic Monthly ; The 79tli " " Miss MacDonell's last poem, published in the Highlanders at Waterloo ; The 72nd at the October number of the " Celtic Montidy," shows same battle"; "The Scots Guard at La Haye no falling off on her previous productions. It is Sainte (Waterloo) or Hugoumont," " The Advance in praise of the Paladin of the Soudan, " Major- of Napoleon's Guard," " Wellington andsomeof the General Sir Archibald Hunter, K.C.M.G., who so Highland Soldiers after Waterloo," " An Illustra- distinguished himself in the recent Soudan cam- tion for a Fairy Legend " by MacKay of the paign, and wlio gained for himself not only the Gaelic Society, Inverness, also in the Celtic reputation of being one of the bravest of the Monthly"; three battle scenes, viz., " Harlaw," l)rave, but a far higher and rarer quality, that " Bannockburn," and " Inverlochy," for tiie of chivalry his mother's side a Graham', show- —by MacDonald History now in the press, several ing' that he follows in the footsteps of those two coats of arms, seals, and documents for the knightly Paladins of his clan, Montrose and same " " Bonnie Dundee." The first and last stanzas are work. For the Lords of Lochaber that partly quoted to give an idea of the poem. came out in the Celtic Monthly," she also did — ;

several illustrations for the Keppoch history— Telling that the tie between us Is not one of yesterday " Alastair Carroch at Inverlochy," " Iain Aluinn, And still the chain of friendship rivets the deposed chief," " The Escape of Sir Janes of Links that bind our hearts for aye. Islay from Edinburgh Castle," "A View of But even here there lurks a shadow, Keppoch," one of " Tom Beag," of " Glen Roy," Why so many voices stilled ? Ah, day by day in Cille Choirrill and tlie " Parallel Roads of Loch Treig," one for Some new grave is being filled. Alice MacDonell's poem, " The Recovery of tlie Kindly hearts we've known and cherished ; Celtic Monthhj. Tartan," when published in the One by one are laid to rest ;

Alas ! will all have left Lochaber She also designed the invitation card for the Ere we see it—God knows best. London banquet to Colonel Hector MacDonald, " Her " Cry from Lochaber pleading for Gaelic and the Clan Donald illuminated address, both is also very good, containing truth that cannot still young and full in the Celtic style. Being be gainsaid. of Highland lore, we hope to see many more illustrations from her fertile pen. THE HIGHLAND SOLDIER'S RETURN. following are samples of her poetic powers, The Well had thev fought in their country's cause, full of patriotic battle-fleld which are graceful and flowing and On many a ; Thev stepped in each gap where a comrade fell, sentiment : Till the foe was compelled to yield ; BRAES OF LOCHABER. In the posts of danger they ever stood A MESSAGE TO THE Like a rock that is lashed by the wave, For under the tartan each heart that beat Backward, backward, all my longings. Was a hero's—undaunted and brave : still must flee, Thought and memory It was they kept the Russian hordes at bay Waking, dreaming, ever turning, " Unbroken their thin red line" ; Dear Lochaber, back to thee : They made Britain's power on the Spanish plain glory shine Back to days of childhood'.^^ gambols With unparalleled ; On the sunny braes at home. Foremost their ranks in the deadly fight Ere they conquered at Waterloo ; to the eltin music Dancing They brouEfht rescue and hope to despairing hearts river's foam Heard among the ; In the power of the dark Hindoo. Back to days when Kep])0ch echoed The noblest laurels round Britain's crown To the music and the mirtli Have been gained by their trusty sword, Of loyal hearts, we learned to value They were worthy a nations grateiul love. Yet, what has been their reward 2 At their true and priceless worth : Back to days when sorrows shadowed, Homeward their longing footsteps turn, Stealing round us like a pall, Back to their hills again. Hills and woods and rushing rivers, They think of the welcome that waits them there, of all their pain 'Twas the hour to leave them all. And they reck not ; will be held to the mother's heart, Then the clansmen of Lochaber The son As she blesses her noble boy, us as of old, Gathering round An'i the girl he loves who has trusted long. While false friendships were so worthless Will soon be his crowning joy ; Showed that they were sterling gold. The heather ofc dreamed of in foreign linds, Proved their leal unbought devotion. Will bloom once again in their sight. Proved our trust was not in vain, And each valley and wood and bubbling burn bring a new delight. Bringing sweetness to that parting Will them Then home— to Sutherland, Ross, Strathglass, Far outweighing all the pain. To Knoydart, the Western Isles raven's plumage Oh ! sooner shall the Their hearts were light tho' their steps were slow Change to white its swarthy hue, As they travelled the weary miles. Than we can e'er forget the friendship What is the welcome that meets them there That has proved so warm and true. A silent and desolate vale ! Dearer, nobler far, each peasant The blackened walls of their ruined homes Dwelling 'midst those lofty hills That tell tho pitiless tale. Than e'en the mightiest men of Europe Where is the father, the mother dear ? the dead Moulding nations to their wills. In God's Acre among ; For thrust from their homes in the snow and hail And now there comes a loving message The wet ground was their only bed. From those bonnie heathery glens- Their brothers, their sisters, the friends they loved Homes of sweet pure-hearted maidens Thev were borne to their native shore To live or die in the Western Wilds, And of staunch and trusty men- But their country shall see them no more ; life's dreary pathway, Brightening o'er And the antlered monarchs are browsing there. Like a gleam of sunny ray Heather shelters the nest of the bird. Bursting through a wall of storm-cloud. The badger may hide 'neath their vacant hearth voice is heard. Chasing all the frowns away ; But no human ; ; —

Let, the free-born sons of the mountains go And can we not hear in the wavelets The space is too narrow there. That babble along on the burn 2 The land of the fathers is for the deer. Like soft Gaelic words of endearment For their sons there is none to spare ! That welcome some loved one's return. Tell them that straths where hundreds have thrived Each dark heaving billow that dashes Have grown sterile all in a day; Its foam 'gainst our rock-begirt shores And from fields that were golden with waving corn ; Bears the rhythm of old Gaelic boat songs. The soil has all melted away ; That measured the time for the oars. What matters it then tho' their arms be strong, Tho' their hearts be loyal and true ? The surf round our isles sobs in Gaelic will gold to the lord of the soil, It bring more With tears it hath fonnd o'er the main. That his tenants be rich and few ; From Highlanders cruelly driven, Some upstart American rents his land, From lands they will ne'er see again. And fills up his greedy purse. And he cares not tho' every coin is stamped Ye dream not—who ne'er have been parted With a people's lasting curse From home, and the friends ye hold dear ; His forests are bringing him longed-for wealth. What music hath each word of Gaelic Each day increases his gain, That falls on the sad exile's ear. And who would weigh 'gainst the glittering gold A few starving cottagers' pain ? Our soldiers on red fields of danger it in pibroch's So each fertile valley and picturesque glen Hear speak the wail ; they conquer or die for their couutry. Are made desolate one by one ! And a courage that never can fail. But Britain ! these deeds wilt thou sorely rue With Ere a few more sands have run. 'Twas Gaelic that fostered the spirit, to Open your arms with motherly love Led our heroes do what they've done ; To each foreign vagrant that comes. Without Gaelic— that spirit must perish. To render more dense the close foetid air For its life and its language are one. In congested London slums ; bravely are wresting your Give them a shelter and home and food. Ye who homesteads From oppression's merciless heel Keep a welcome awaiting them all, From oblivion—oh ! rescue our Gaelic Tho' the city is swarming with hard working men That destroys more than tyrants' steel. Who are starving within it- walls. soldiers to fight your foes When you want brave The voice of " Ard Albainn " is pleading. Perchance you may find them there? Shall she plead to her children in vain. ('Twill useless to seek in Highland gldns be them Oft "Gualainn ri gualainn" you've conquered. Cleared out thro' your generous care !) And for her you must conquer again. And clothe them in tartan 'twere better so.

It has broughi you a world-wide fame ; But see if the soldiers who wear it then There are some very pretty sentiments in " My Will bring glory to Britain's name. Sprig of White Heather," some stanzas of which

are appended : CRY FROM LOCHABER PLEADING FOR MY SPRIG OF WHITE HEATHER. GAELIC. O ! poor little sprig of heather "lean gu dlu ri cliu do shinnsir!" Thou hast been with mo many a day. But withered and dry are thy bonny bells. Sons of the mountains awaken ! And their bloom has all faded away. With hearts full of patriot fire, And save, ere its beauty hath perished. The language bequeathed by our sires. We are proud of our peerless " Ard Albainn,' Of each rugged pine-crested hill Yet, how can we say that we love her Yet there's power in the shrivelled petals. And consent that her voice should be still. Sweetest music in every bell That rings through my heart with wild magic tones. For in Gaelic she breathed forth her melodies. And lays me under a spell.

Bards caught the soul-stirring strain ; Whose echoes still play o'er heart-strings I am borne on the wings of longing In wild notes of joy or of pain. To the hills of the Highlands again,

Where I see o'er the heather the tartan wave ; 'Tis Gaelic alone can interpret To my ear comes the bagpipes' strain. The zephyrs that moan through her glens ; Or translate the hoarse voice of the cateract I see the fair braes of Lochaber

Borne from the mists on her bens. In the halo of sunset glow ; And far away the blue mountain peaks 'Tis Gaelic that rings in the blue bells, Wear their wreaths of eternal snow.

And heather that circle her brow ; 'Twas Gaelic that sang thro' those forests The breezes that blow through the birch woods Where only the deer wander now. Bear the perfumes of all the wild flowers That grow where the woodbine and ivy green 'Twas Gaelic that laughed in the cottage. Are twined into fairy bowers. As they danced after days spent in toil In those homes, once the nests of contentment And now of oppressors, the spoil. — ! —

How silent yon twilight !—the home -our home no

Chill, cheerless ; how fearful, that sullen, bolted door. Allt lonndrainn in harmony murmurs, The sombre, stirless, pine-trees, the wailing in the Whilst the mavis its melody sings,

And far above through the evening sky A phiutharag ! a phiutharag ! 'tis ever in my dreams. The trill of the lark clearly rings. Once again thro' the heather and bracken By the banks of the Spean I roam, I\IARTIAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE And hear " Eas na Smùide " as it thunders down. And lashes the waters to foam. MACDONELLS OF KEPPOCH.

Oh ! how dear are the bonnie thatched hamlets That gladden the face of each hill ? As there is an intimate relation between poetry They shelter true gems, that are Scotia's pride. For Highlanders dwell in them still. and music, love and war, I shall now enumerate the principal battles in which the MacDonells I see their kind faces around me, I can feel in the grasp from each hand, (MacDonalds) of Keppoch were engaged. Having A true noble heart, such as only beats In our riigged, unconquered land. been remarkable for their poetic genius and mar- tial achievements, I consider them to hold about But how sad Roy and Spean seem, wailing. Near the spot where our old castle stood the foremost place among all the MacDonalds, With its plane-trees still bearing black scars of flames to have the most distinguished and Set by Cumberland's bloodthirsty brood. and been most loyal family in the Stewart cause in the My own loved home, I hear but the voices Of strangers within thee to-day, history of Scotland. are thy ancient walls. Dismantled and changed Beginning with the founder of the family, And thy children are far, far away. AlastairCarrach, youngest brother of Donald, fairest Oh ! Lochaber, to me thou are Of scenes where all beauties abound. Lord of the Isles, who was married to a daughter sons And from childhood's days 'mid stalwart of the Earl of Lennox, and flourished from about I have ever true friendship found. A.D. 1380 to 1440-6 I shall briefly mention the the mist from the mountain falls o'er thee. Now ])eople is principal battles in which they, and the The vision that charmed me gone ; And all that I see of Lochaber now of the Braes of Lochaber, fought during the Is a sprig of white heather alone. troublous times in which they lived. Having resigned martial compositions to her 1394*.—Alastair Carrach, 1st Chief of Kep- sister, the Clan bardess, other poems need " Magnificus not be quoted. Meantime we can only poch, who in a deed of 139S is styled express the liope that she will not forsake the vir et potens," became Lord of Lochaber. By muses entirely, interesting as the sister art of order of his brother Donald, Lord of the Isles, of painting may be. connection with a dispute about the Earldom in Since the above was written her very interesting Ross, he laid waste the Valley of the Ness, and paper on " The Little People of Keppoch's miles of country were devastated by the Lochaber in the Donald Country," has been published Clan men, and the Earl of Moray who governed the year book of 1S99, and the following poem, which district found it necessary to make terms with has not hitherto been published : Alastair Carrach on the 5th Sept., 1394, in whicli UNDER TONES. they bind themselves to support each other, and all the church lands and possessions of the Regality of Moray were put under the Lochaber The whisperings and the sobbings 'xieath the rushing chief's protection for seven years, f rudJy streams, it ? t hear it in seized the church lands A phiuthairag ! don't we hear don we 1398.—Alastair Carrach our dreams, of Kinmylies and took upon himself the partition of them. Ah ! m'eudail, ah ! m'eudail, 'twas surely yesterday. bairnies we nestled upon the grassy brae 1 Two attacked and plundered the Canonry The Untie on the thornbush, the humming bees around. 1402.—He As we listen to the music, the music underground. of Elgin, and burned the town, for which he after- wards made some amends, and some time after The sunshine, the sunshine, how soon it fled away. The glow upon the moorland was gone before the day ^ MacDonalds also fought at Bannock- Tears showered upon the heath-bloom, dark mists The Lochaber burn in 1314. that hid the hill. But m'eudail we hear it, we hear the music still. t Sec Loyal Lochaber, by W. D. Norie, pub. in 1893. — — —

fought with his brother Donald against Angus long as chief, so no stirring events took place in Dubh MacKay, and had him taken prisoner. He his time that has been recorded. was also a staunch supporter of his brother Donald, 1503-4.—Donald Glas VI. , and first chief of that all his rebellions and Lord of the Isles, in name, married a daugher of Lochiel and resided dilHculties. at Coille-Diamhainn, or Torran-na-Ceap, within 1411 (July 25th).— He fought at the battle of a mile of the present Keppoch house, till he Harlaw with Donald Lord of the Isles, after which built the castle (moated) on Tom-Beag, which was he returned to his seat at Tom-a-Charraich in i-azed to the ground after the Keppoch murder in Lochaljer. 16fj3. He joined the rising under Donald Dubh of the Isles 'in 1503-4. 1431.— Oil a ,-iveu si-nal at the first battle of Inverlochy, Al.i^l.iir Carracli, with his archers, 1544.—Raonuill Moe VII. of Keppoch fought broadswonls (ilayiiKHo) ami Lochaber axes, made at Blar-nan-Leine, the battle of the shirts, in a tremendous charge against the enemy and swept July 1544, with the MacDonalds against the everything before Idm like chaff before the wind. Frasers, where Lord Lovat and his heir were For the share he took in this rebellion he was killed. The MacDonalds won, but both sides dispossessed of his estates in Glenroy and Glen were nearly annihilated. This was one of the Spean, which were bestowed on Mxlcolm Mac- fiercest battles ever fought in the Highlands. The intosh, Chief of Clan Chattan, and this led to a combatants on both sides stripped to the waist, lasting feud between the Keppoch MacDonalds where Greek met Greek in real earnest. The antl the Macintoshes which continued to the end survivors of this battle, where about 400 were of the seven teentli century. engaged on either side, were 1 Fraser gentleman, and 4 common men, and 8 MacDonalds. 1455. Angus II. of Keppoch, called "Aonghuas In a clan battle fought at Strathnaver in na Feirte " —because he resided at Fersit—was Caithness, where 1200 men were engaged, only 9 with the army of the Isles under Donald Balloch returned from the field. harrying the coast of Ayrshire, burnt Innerkip, men levelled Brodick Castle, taxed Bute, and wasted The battle at the North Inch, Perth, in 1393. " Cumbrays. The author of the " Comhachag Witnessed by King Kobeit III., the officers of says he was as grand a character as Alastair state, and the nobility, between 30 MacPhersons Carrach. and 30 Davidsons or Kays, to settle an old clan dispute, only one Davidson escaped, and the 11 1495.—Donald III. of Keppoch, after being of the Clan "Chattan that survived were so badly forfeited with the historic Lordship of the Isles in wounded that they could not follow him. These of 1493, submitted to James IV. at the Castle \> ere proper battles. iMingarry, Ardnamurchan, on the 18th of May, 1547. Raonuill Mùrwas beheaded at Elgin. His 1493. In 1496 or 1497 he was killed in a battle — son John Dubh, gille gun iarraidh, was progenitor about the head of Glenorchy. The MacLarens of the poets, Donald Doun, Donald Ban, a of Balquhidder had made a foray into Brae- lochaber, and Donald with the Lochaber men Bhocain, &c. turned out in force to revenge tlie injury done. 1549.—Alexander Boloinne VIII. was the Tiie MacLarens sent to their kinsman, Dugald eldest son of Raonuill Mòr. It was during his Stewart, Istof Appin, to assist them, which he did, time that the feud of Boloinne with the Camerons and the two chiefs, Donald and Dugald Stewart, took place. He was unable to lead the Braerians, fell by each others swoids. and his father being bed-ridden Iain Dubh had to take his place. It is alleged that he was a great Iain Aluin IV. of Keppoch, from whom was " favourite with the author of the " ComhachagJ descended the first poet in the family, viz., Iain who says Lom, was deposed liy the clan for having de- livered Donall liuadh BeagMac-Gille-Mhanntaich An cinn a' ghifibhsaich 'na laidhe, to Macintosh, who was Steward of Lochaber. Tha ràmhaid na greighe deirge, Làmh dheas a mharbhadh a' bhradain, This man, little red Donald, had been giving the Bu mhath e'n sabaid na feirge. Clan Chattan some trouble in Badenoch, and when he was surrendered to them they hanged The following stanzas from an old song com- him to a tree near Clach-na-Diolta, Torgulben, at memorate the feud of Boloinne : the end of Loch Logan, at the march between Ho o ho na ha o hi Lochaber and Badenoch. An d' fhidir an d' fhairich no'n cuala sibh, Alexander V. of Keppoch was the second son If the author of the "Comhachag" lived in the of Aonghuas-na-Feirte. an old { He was man time of Alexander Boloinne it would make the famous when he succeeded lain Aluin, and did not reign poem iol years old. Ho o ho na ha o hi, 1640.—Angus Og, son of Ranald og mortally Mu'n luid nach toir cuisleach da gluasad air? wounded at the battle of Stron a' Chlachain, Bha gnothach beag eile mu dheighinn Bholoinne, was carried to Corracharamaig where he was 'S gu'n innis mi soilleir 's an uair so e, killed by the enemy, who discovered his where- Bha creach Mac-an Tòiseich aig muinntir Shrath Lòchaidh abouts. 'S na gaisgaich Clanndonaill thug bhuapa i. 1645.—Donald Glas XL, chief, was the second

'S math is aithne dhomh 'n t-àite 's na choinnich na son of Alastair nan Cleas. He invaded Argyll in hàrmainn, 1644 and was at the 2nd battle of Inverlochy where Fir lira a' Bhra»had 's an uair sin iad, the MacDonalds were again victorious. He was Bha iubhair Loch Treig aig na fiùrain nach gèilleadh, forfeited for the part he took in the battle. He 'S bu shnnntach 'nan dèigh fir Ghlinn-Ruaidh leatha. married a daughter of Forrester of Kilbaggie in Tha còmhdach air fhathast far am beil iad 'nan Forfarshire, and had two sons, Alexander and laidhe, Ranald, who were the subjects of the Keppoch Gu'n robh iad mu'n sleibhtrichaigianlaith an t-slèibhe tragedy. His daughter was the authoress of tì na chaidh dhachaidh le sgeul diubh, bu shuarach e. " Cumha Ni' Mhic Raonuill." Ceann-feadhna air maithibh Iain Mor Shliochd-an- Alexander XII. , murdered along with his tighe, brother in 1663. S ioma ceann bharr na h-amhaich a dh'fhuadaich e, Ma's fhior mo luchd-sgeòil-sa chuir e thairis air 1653.— Alastair Buidhe XIII.—Chief and Lòchaidh, third son of Alastair nan Cleas joined the Earl

'bha 's ! Am beagan beò dhiubh an ruaig orra of Glencairne's rising. The general belief in Alexander Boloinne died unmarried. Lochaber is that he was innocent of the murder of the Keppoch brothers, but that his son Ailein 1564.—Raonull Og IX. of Keppoch, was the second son of Raonull Mor, was progenitor of the Deargwas guilty. houses of Fersit, and Inch. He assisted Glen- 1675.—Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich XIV. was a orchy against the MacGregors and fought under famous poet as well as chief. He married a King James V. till the battle of Solway Moss. daughter of MacMartin of Letterfinlay, the old- of Lochiel, by whom 1579.—Ranald Og defended Glengarry against est branch of the Camerons Argyll. he had two sons and eight daughters. Coll, and Angus Odhar, and Alexander were poets, also 1591.—Alastair nan Cleas X., chief, married Silis, the 4th daughter, who married Gordon of Janet MacDougall of Lorn and had 5 sons, 1 Baldornie in Banffshire and Kildrumnie in Aber- Ranald Og, 2 Donald Glas, 3 Alastair Biiidhe, 4 deenshire, ancestors of the Gordons of Wardons. Donald Gorm, 5 Aonghuas Og—progenitor of tlie The other daughters whose names are known " Achnancoichans, and grandfather of Nigliean were Mor, Seonaid, and Catriona (Catherine) who Mhic Aonghuas Oig," the poetess. At the married MacPherson of Strathanashie, one was instigation of Huntly he made a foray into Strath- married to MacLean of Kin^airloch, one to spey, seized the castle of Inverness, which he was Maclntyre of Glenoe, one to Campbell of Bar- soon obliged to evaoiate. He fought in 1594 at caldine, one to MacLauchlan of Castle Lauchlan, the battle of Allt-Ghuailleachain in Strathspey, one to another MacLauchlan and one to ^lacDonald or near Ballindallach. of Glencoe who was massaciiMÌ in Kill.;. Gilleas- 1602. —He is mentioned in the Act ordaining a buig was eilucated at Foiios. In SrptiMiiber, 1675, levy of Highlanders to assist the Queen of Eng- he joined Glengarry and Lot-liiel when they went land in her wars in Ireland. to xMuU to assist "the MacLeans against Argyll, on which occasion the following verses were 1615. In conjunction with his son Raonull Og, — composed by a "witch wife" who promised the and the eldest son of Mac Mhic Ailein, assisted MacLeans that as long as she lived the Earl of Sir James MacDonald to escape from Edinburgh Argyll should not enter Mull. Castle, Raonull Og using a false key, and accom- panied him through the Isles to Ireland, and Chorus. assisted him in his rebellions. Hi haori ri iù, Hiri am boho hug eile 1616. —Commission was given to Lord Gordon Chall oho hi iù. for the seizure of Mac Ranald and his son. In 1617-18 Alastair-nan-Cleas and his son Ranald Chunnacas long seach an caolas escaped to Spain, and in 1620 Alastair was re- Hi haori ri iù etc. called from Spain and received a pension of 200 Ceart aogasg Mhio-Cailein, nierks sterling. Chall oho hi 111. —

Ach gu'n caisg an Righ Mor e, 1759.—Ranald XVII., a major in Erasers Hi haori hi iù, Highlanders, fought at the siege of Quebec under Hiri am boho hug eile, Wolfe and the other battles in the American Chall oho hi iù. campaign. He married Miss Cargill of Jamaica, Ma tha Dubhart air aire and died before 1798. He was buried on the top Chall oho hi iù. of Tom-Aingeal in Cille-Chaorraill, Lochaber. Giiidheam tonn thair a tobhta, 1793.— Alexander XVIII. was a major in the Hi haori hi iii, Royal Scots, who died unmarried. He fought Hiri am boho hug eile, at the siege of Toulon, at the battle of Aboukir, Chall oho hi iii. where he was wounded, and in the Peninsular Dh'fhiach an tog dheth 'marachd AVar. Chall oho hi iù. 1809.—Richard XIX., a lieutenant in the Gordons, also died without issue. He fought at He was one of the chiefs who had to present Walcheren, Orthos (where he was wounded), themselves at Inverlochy in 1678. He was a poet Quatre-Bras, and Waterloo, where he was also of great ability, composed a number of excellent wounded. songs, and died in 1682. Chichester XX. of Keppoch, was a son of 1685.— only 18 years of Coll XV., chief, was Major Alexander of the Glengarry Fencibles, was his he taken home age when father died, and was married, and had two sons who died without issue. from the university of St. Andrews. In the year John XXI. was another son of Major Alexander 1685 he joined the Duke of Gordon, the Marquis and died unmarried. This ends the male line of Athole, and Lord Strathnaver, when they direct. invaded Argyll. He took the castle of Kuthven, grandson of Barbara, besieged the castle of Inverness and plundered Angus XXII. was a of " forty-five," who the town, for which he was ordered to restore daughter of Alexander the Patrick MacDonald of Kilmore 4000 merks to the burgh. He also fought the last married the Rev. 1st great collector of Highland clan battle, viz., the battle of Mulroy, near and Kilbride, the married his cousin, Keppoch in 1688, against theMacIntoshs, and was, airs, pulilislied in 17S4. He as usual with the MacDonalds, victorious, and Christina MacNab, a daughter of Jessie—Mrs took Macintosh a prisoner (and where MacKenzie MacNab of Garvabeg—and granddaughter of of Alexander killed at of Suddie was slain). Charlotte, 6th daughter Culloden. There were some of Angus's poems fought at Killicrankie, and in 1715 1698.—He in MS. which have been lost. A daughter of he fought at Sheriffmuir where he routed the Patrick MacDonald's (Flora) also composed some English cavalry. He married Barbara, daughter poems, but they don't seem to have been pre- of died Sir Donald MacDonald of Sleat, and served. Alice and Josephine, daugliters of Angus about 1728-30. XXII., are the last poetesses of the family. 1745-46.- " Alexander XVI. the gallant Kep- Donald XXIII., son of Angus, was a young pocli of the forty-five," in all the battles of fought man of considerable ability. He had a great also Sheriilmuir that disastrous campaign, at natural gift for caricaturing, and would un- with his father Coll, and was killed at the battle doubtedly have become distinguished in that line of Culloden, April IGth, 174(). Hisbrother, Donald, if he had live

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Regarding the chiefship of the MacDonells of Lochaber, a Cameron or a MacDonald, who Keppoch, the clan always reserved to themselves married Fraser of Moràgach Mhic Shimidh. If the right to have a say in the matter, as witness she had been married to a Fraser it must have of Iain Aluin, who was deposed, irrespec- the case been a first marriage, of which there is no trace tive of the question of succession in the male, or in the family MSS. or tradition. AVe are bound, female line. The Brae Lochaber people regarded therefore, to conclude that the account given of the late Angus MacDonell XXII, who was " " doubly related to tlie hero of Culloden, as head her in MacKenzie's Beauties of Gaelic Poetry ot the house of Keppoch, and representative of the is incorrect. At the same time it would be as chiefs, and being in possession (though not a interesting to know what evidence MacKenzie proprietor) he was the man whom the clan would had for concluding that she was married to a have followed in an emergency. And they were Fraser. equally emphatic regarding his son Donald, for It to husband, Gordon of Baldornie and when he first left home to seek his fortune in a was her foreign land, the whole of the Braes men went to Kildrummie, that she composed her lament, and see him off' at five o'clock in the morning, and on account of whose death she nearly died of were shedding tears over the men of iron frame grief. It was also about this time that she fell severance of the last link that hound them to the into a trance of some six or seven weeks' duration, house of Keppoch, a chieftainship that existed for say longer. Her husband is said to have more than five hundred years, and when he visit- some ed them for the last time all the people turned fought at Killiecrankie and Sheriflmuir. The out again to receive him, ^ave him a grand ball, Keppoch family believe that some songs were him, and had bonfires on the hills to welcome attributed to her that she never composed. They they would not have done if they had not which liold that her tone was a high one from the considered him " Ceann an taighe." The late beginning. Another of her songs is " Oran do chief of Chisholm, and the Macintosh, chief of Clan Chattan, claim through the female line. Dh' Fheachd MhorairMar, 's a' bhliadhna, 1715," in which she sends her compliments to MacDonald of Sleat, and his brothers, James and William, KEPPOCH ADDITIONAL MATTER REGARDING THE Alastair liath—Alastair dubh of Glengarry AND SOME OTHER LOCHABER BARDS. Ailean o'n Chuain—Allan MacDonald of Moy- dart—An Coileach—the Duke of Gordon—the SILIS NF MHIC RAONUILL. Frasers, Lovat, Donnachadh, Duncan MacPherson of Cluny, MacKenzie, MacLeod of MacLeod, This is the proper place to mention that there of Strath, Chisholm, and Keppoch, has been some confusion with regard to Silis, MacKinnon

&c. , very fine song of 90 lines with six lines in Cicely, or Juliet MacDonell of Keppoch. On a consulting the Keppoch family, I was informed each verse. by Miss Josephine MacDonell that she was She also composed a song of 8 verses to is said undoubtedly, according to the family MSS. and Alexander MacDonell ot Glengarry. It that she was living in 1724, the year that Alasdair tradition, a daughter of Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich, of Glengarry died, and that she also and one of nine daughters, all handsome and Dubh survived Mac Tearlach Oig, who died in highly educated for the time in which they lived, Lachun 1734. and had all been married to landed proprietors ; following by Silis, composed after Juliet was not married to a Fraser but to Gordon The hymn she came out of the trance, was taken down by of Baldornie and Kildrummie in Banffshire and from Archibald Mac- Aberdeenshire, and was known as Ban Tighearna Miss Josephine MacDonell Augustus, in September, 1899. Bhaldornie,* ancestress of the Gordons of Arthur, Fort Wardons who still keep up the relationship with Dith do bheath', a Mhoire Mhaighdean, the MacDonells of Keppoch. She suggests that 'S gile do mhac na 'ghrian, Rugadh e Mac an aois 'athar, there might have been another Juliet from Oighre fhlathanais g' ar dion ; 'S iosal an ceum 'thug ar Slànaidhear * Variously spelt Baldornie or Beldornie. The Rev. tearnadh Pàrras gu talamh. Mr John Michie of Dinnet and Mr J. Davidson, Aber- 'Rinn a deen, two excellent authorities, say that Baldornie Gun aon àite dha falanih. Castle is in Banffshire, and Kildrummie in Aberdeen- shire. 'S aoibhinn an sealladh a fhuair i ; ; — ; ;

'Nuair a thàinig e as a colainn, Ged a phian iad mi 'san eucoir. 'Ga shuanadh ann anartan ban, Rinn e anns a' ghàradh ùrnaigh Ar Slànair thàinig gu ar fuasgladh ; 'Chuir gu dlùth air fallus fala, h-uaisle Cha d'iarr Mac Righ na Dh' fhuilig e rithisd a sgiùrsadh Cusan, no cluasag, na leubaidh, 'S an crùn a chur air gu daingean, gu'n thuit mhàthair Ach a dha Chuir iad e bho Philate gu Herod. Cur 'n a " nihangair" e 'na chadal. Ag innseadh gach sgeul mar a b'àill leo, Cha d' iarrBanrigh na h-ùmhlachd 'S tra nach d' fhuair iad mar bu mhath leo, Uir acli 'na ùrnais 'na seòniar, Chuir iad deise do dh' anart ban air. dh' iarr i mnathan-glùn, Cha mho Thilg iad smngaid 'na aodann, Ach Righ nan dùil a bhi g'a cònihnadh, 'S bhuail iad e anns gach taobh le'n dornaibh, 'Shoillsich rionnag 'san adhar, 'S ghiùlain e an Crois air a ghuaillean Rinn e rathad do na tri I'ighean, Suas gu cnoc Chalvary Thàinig iad 'na ionsuidh Dh' fhuilig e sleagh chuir 'na thaobh Le gaoil, gràdh, 's le faoilte firinn. Tàirnean 'na làimh 's 'na chasan, Chruinneadh na buachaillean bochd 'S ghlac e an cup 's an robh an t-shearbhag 'Ghabhail fradharc oirre 'san tini sin, Beagan mu'n d' fhàg an anail e. A' eur nàisneachd 'san la^ 's an làidir, Thug e mathanas dha naimhdean 'S gu bhi cho dan air an Righ sin ; 'S liubhair e do'n Ard-Righ 'anam. 'Nuair ghlac Herod 'an àrdan Thug iad sin bhar a Crois e Air an Slànair thighinn gu talamh, 'S liubhair a chorp g'a mhàthair Cha d' fhàg e mac a bh' aig màthair ; Chaidh a nigheadh 's a chàradh Gun a chur gu 'bhàs le 'an-iochd. Mar bu ghpàth le 'thireadh ; Thairg iad e suas anns an teampull Tha dòruinn bàis air dol seachad Mar bhitheadh gnàth le chloinn Israel, Dith do bheatha, a Mhoire Mhaighdean. Bha e air 'aithnichinn gu'ni b'e ar Slànair There are other versions of the same hymn. Le Ana agus naonih Shinieon ; Rinn iad t' àrach, agus t' altruni, The version given in the Rev. Allan MacDonald's 'N àite athair agus niàthair, collection, " Laoidhean Spioradail," consists of Theich iad leat do'n Eiphit foui'teen stanzas. Bho Herod 'bh' air do thòir. The following fragments are from another poem 'N am 'bhi tilleadh dhachaidh 'S a bhi caitheamh na slighe of Sills, after losing her husband and daughter, 'Nuair a sheall iad cuairt daibh mu'n A' cheud disathuirne a bha dhiubh Tra dh'ionndraich bhuap' am Messiah, Chuir mi Ann anns an uir, 'S iad a bha brònach duilich 'N a dhisathuirne 'na dhèigh Tra nach b' fhurasda dhaibh 'fhaotainn, Thug mi liubhairt do Mhac Dhe Miad 's a rinn iad 'ga thuireadh 'Us m' fhear-an-taighe bhuani. Cha robh an gnothacli ach faoin leo. Thug mi liubhart ga mo ghaoil Ach am dhol deiseal an teampull Measg nan aingeal 's nan naomh Chualas coin gu beathail Far an gabhadh iad caomh riut Measg nan doctairean teagasg, Ann am flaitheanas. '8 bu deas a thigeadh a labhairt Sin tra thubhairt a mhàthair, 'S trie a shuidhe thu aig mo cheann " Ciaraar a thàineadh dhuit tighinn ? G' am faicinns' leth bheò, 'S tursach a rinn thu ar fàgail Thu nach cunntadh stòras a Na tri latha 'bha sinn 'g ad shireadh." Chlòthadh rium, etc. A mhàthair, na biodh oirbh mulad Ged a dh' fhuirich mi 'san teampull KEPPOCH SONGS. Seirbhis m' athar anns na flaitheas, " Moladh do Fhear na Ceapaich 's do'n phiob," 'S fheudar feitheamh anns gach am dhi, by Iain MacAilein, is a song of 64 lines, first 'S ioma fuachd agus acras the Siubhal is seachran tiamhaidh stanza of which is A tha agamsa ri fhulang fhathast 'Ghillcasbuig, mo bheannachd ri m' bheò Mu'n teid mo ghnothach gu finid. Dh'fhear aithris do ghniomh, Theid fhathasd mo bhaisteadh, Bhrigh OS ceann na chual thu de cheòl.

'S fulangaidh mi traisg anns an fhàsach, Thug uhu'n t-urram do'n phiob ; Fulangaidh g'am naimhdean 'gam bhualadh Cha chuala luchd-teud sgainneil do bheoil,

Ann am buaireadh 's am pàisan ; 'S tu 'bu ro-mhath g'an diol Fulangaidh mi breth agus binn Ach gu'm b' fheàrr leat ealaidh a bhrosnachadh 'S mo dhiteadh le fianuis bhreige, slòigh Seallaidh mi gu h-umhal iosal Na sochair gach sith. § ;

And alongside it may be placed " Moladh na Mìlefàilt air Caitir Bhàn ! Piobat le Fear na Ceapaich." Am bheil thu 'd shlàint a' mairsinn ? O'n a dh'fhàg mi thu air àiridti 'S raairg a dhi-mhol ceòl is caismeachd, Ann an Gleann na Pataig ; tlirein Brosnadh slòigh gu gaisge Riamh o'n la sin, ged bu nàr e, Mòr-phìob leis an dùisgear gach misneach, Cha robh càileachd agam, A torman moid is misde beum. Cha'n fhaigliinn cadal no pràmh Mo gliaol olàrsach, ro-ghaol piob leam, Gun thu 'bhi teann 'am glacaibh leam an ti do chain Miothlachd ; 'S tu 'thog an aimhreit ann mo cheann \S olc an duais da ceòl droch chomain, A chuir air chall an t-acras, 'M bounaibh chluas aig oUamh ri dan. Cha'n' eil raeadhail dhomh ach gann Cha bhi mi di-moladh an dàin, O'n a theann mo bheachd ort Acb 'sann 'bu mhath an dan 's an t-sith, Cha'n'eil leirsinn, cha'n'eil geireid, An nàmhaid cha deachaidh an dan Cha'n'eil feum no taic annam, Riamh cho dan 's a chaidh a' phiob. 'S ged bhiodh agam spionnadh cheud Gu'n chuir m > speis dhuit as da. Na'm faiceadh tu fir air an leirg 'Fo mheirghe 'am bi dearg is ban, 'S mòr an sàrachadh mar tha mi B' fheàrr leam spealtadh dhi ri uair Anns gach la air m' aiseag, Na na bheil gu tuam de dhàin. Tuirseach troin, 's nio chridhe fas, Ag iarraidh blàthais air Caitir, Bu bhinn leam torman a dos, 'S mòr taic do chàirdeas fein a mhàn 'S i 'cruinneaohadh airm fo sgiort ; Mo shlàinte air a h-ais dhomh, An dan nan tigeadh fo 'brat Cha leighis sagart mi no papa, Gu ceart gu'm b' fheàrr leatli' bhi 'n lort. Ged robh gràsan aca. 'Bhean bhinn-fhaclach nach breun sturt, 'S lughaid a tha dhomsa nàire Chiiiin, cliiùin-fhaclach 's mòr bhreug sin, Gràdh a thoirt do Chaitir 'Labfiras gu sùimh air gach magh, '8 na daoine 's cràbhaich' anns a' bhràighe 'S a breid air sleinneinibh a fir. cheann ràidhe glact' aic' '8 mòr an call 's an seòrs' a th' ann SONG TO CATHERINE OF KEPPOCH. Mur dean iad sam]iuill cheart dhuinn, 'S gur iad a chàirich air an ceann The following stanzas are from a long song Na chuir fo cheannsal peacadh. composed by Lachlau MacPherson of Strath- Maighstir Donnclia 's Maighstir Mairtin Air an saradh aioe, mashie. The subject of them is " Caitir Bhàn," Chosdadh fear dhiubh searmon Ghàelig or Fair Catherine, evidently Catherine, daughter Ri aon ghàir 'thoirt aisde ; of Gilleasbuig XIV. chief of Keppoch,t and Thuirt Maighstir Mairtin, '"8 tusa 's gràinnde '8 i mo làmh-s' a ghlacar" sister to Silis the poetess, whom he afterwards ; Thuirt Maighstir Donnach, "Tha thusa n.eallta, married. The poet tells how deeply he himself is '8 mise 's àirde facal." in love with her. She has among her admirers Mebir a 's grinne, lànih a 's gile, Mr Duncan, the minister of the parish, and his Nach bi milleadh anairt, assistant, Mr Martin. The former rests his hope A siosar daor 's a snàthad chaol Ni 'n grèim nach sgaoil air chabhaig of being the successful suitor on account of his ; Thug Nàdur caoin gach gibht mhaith saor, professional position as superior in office, the Tha 'm faolum ud barraicht', latter on his personal appearance. A keen con- Cha'n'eil barr aobhachd, caoimhneis,daonnachd, tention having arisen between the clerical rivals Ann an aoraibh aingil. as to which of them has the better claim to the There are other six verses equally good, and hand and heart of the fair Catherine, the poet another long song by the same author of 64 lines happening to come the way at the time promises to his lady-love, and though he does not mention that unless another suitor', who is for the present Catherine by name, it was probably composed to beyond the seas, returns home, she will never be the same individual. He imagines the condition taken from them. He accounts for the great of the man who could call her his own would be admiration in which Catherine is held by truly enviable. If he were that man he would be descriljing her several accomjalishments and careful to behave in such a manner as would be uncommon personal attractions. worthy of her, and confesses that any description he can give of her and her excellent qualities is altogether inadequate.

i Celtic Magazine for 1879, p. 317. § Celtic Magazine, 1879. p. 116. — —

NIGHEAN MHIC AONGHUIS OIG. Thogainn form gun bhi troni Air nighean donn 'bha 'an Cataobh, Besides consulting tlie family tree Miss Jos- Gruagach »)g a' chuil duinn ephine MacDonell, Keppoch, informs me that I)h' eiifadh sunnd orm ri t' fhaicinn. Nigiiean Miiic Aonghuis Oig was a grand- Latha dhomhsa 'bhi siubhal bheinn daughter of Aonghus Og, lifth son (not fourth son Falbh gu traing togail cruaclian, Tliachair oi nisa an i;i u;ii;;ich dhonn, as alleged by some) of Alastair nan Cleas and \Um nan lum -buaiii nan dearcag. progenitor of the Acha-nan-coicheans. 'I'liridnii si,.., 's tli.'id iiiÌMias, The Rev. Mr MacLean Sinclair, however, main- Bhoii- mi 1 uagadh d./n viniuil Chataobh, tains that " she was not a descendant of Keppoch, 'S ged bhitheadh taidhe roirahe cheanii choill but of Celestine of Lochalsh, and was a daughter Blieiriiin pàirt do'ii chrodh bhreac leani. of Aongus Og, son of Angus, son of James, who 'S iongatach leani do dhuine còrr mòran stòras a bhi aige was the first of Ach-na-Coichean." He further 'S Nach robli beurla ann ad cheann says tliat the family to which she belonged was Agus dannsa ann ad chasan. known as " Sliochd an larla." One ot the There is another version of this song, so it is family, Angus MacDonald, known as Aonghus Mac Gilleasbuig went to Nova Scotia in 1830. impossible now-a-days to say which was the Tlie writer in the meantime holds by the family original one. tradition of the Keppochs. Another song of his is, " Moladh a' Phiobaire," Mr Alexander MacDonald, of Kidge, Altigonisli, to Donald Campbell (" Am Piobaire mòr "), who from whom Mr MacT^ean Sinclair derived a good was piper to Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich, and a deal of information, is intimately acquainted witli of the poet. tlie history, tradition, and poetry of the Mac- nephew Donalds of Keppocli. He is a son of Allan Mac- Beir an t-soraidh so bhuam Donald, mentioned in the Glenbard collection, Do Glileann Ruaidh le fear-eigin, Gu buidhinn mo ghaoil, p. 216. His father composed a number of songs ; so has the son, besides being a good singer of all 'S iad nach saoilinn 'mhealladh orm.* Iain Lom's songs, and an excellent performer on Chorus — the violin. Hugoran o. u e ho, Alastair Oran Do Dh' DomhnuUach, Mac I ri ri hiag o, Uaonaill na Ceapaich, a bha 'na oifigeach anns an Hugan o lail o. arm, Le Padruig Caimbeul (Para Piobair).[| No ho i ri ri ho ro. Ged is fad' tha nii'm chadal 48 lines, 4 lines in each verse. 'S mithich dhomh a bhi dùsgadh ; Additional verses by lie Our h-e dh' fhàg mi fo airsneal Donald Donn, when Ceannard feachda na dùthcha was taken prisoner by the Laird of Grant : 'Bhi gun oighreachd aig baile, Bha Seumas Dubh ann air thus, ' Bho 'n a chaidh thu a d' dhùthchas, Righ ! bu làidir a dhùirn, Ach na robairean meallta, Chuir e Uilliam ri 'ghli\n 'san fhiiran. 'Gabhail foill air gach taobh dhiot. Bhitheadh am feileadh glè àrd. 8 verses, 66 lines. Is bhiodh 'osain gle gheàrr, 'S biodag phiollacb air àirde na cruachainn. ADDITIONAL MATTER CONCERNING 'S ioma maighdean ghlan ùr, DONALD DONN. 'Chluinnt' farum a gùin A chuireadh na crùn g'am fhuasgladh. " Some stanzas by Donald Donn to tiie Nighean (tU bheil tè dhiubh 'an Strathspey, donn bha an Cataobh," already mentioned in N'an cluinneadh i mo sgeul Donald Donn's sketch. He went for a creach Gu'n cuireadh i ceud gle nihath ami. (cattle raid) to Sutherland, and carried off a young Another song attributed to him is in the form " girl with him, the daughter of the man he pill- of a Luinneag," published by Mr William Mac- Kenzie in the "Transactions of aged, but, having left her in charge of one of his the Gaelic Society

of Inverness," p. 57, Vol. Vll. ; but it's hardly companions, she managed to escape while her equal to his other songs. custodian slept * The air of this song was kindly sent to the writer a few days ago by Mr Alexander MacDonald, Ridge, Nova Scotia. — — —

Another song also attributed by some to Donald Donnis "Oran an Amadain Bhòiclheich," in which he is supposed to liave mistaken his lady-love, a Bhindh do phiob mhòr gu spreigeadh, beautiful girl, who was dairymaid to his father, '8 cuid de h-eagal air each. upon river and shot her for a (lufk swiunuing the 'N uair a chluinninn toirm t' fheadain by accident, having been deceived by his mother, Nàile ghreasainn mo làmh. who wished to put a stop to his amour. The girl Thugadh bean leat bho'n Bheugich is said to have been bathing in the river, and on 'S an cluinnt' beucadaich mhang. his mother informing him that she saw a beautiful 'S ro-ndiath 'b' aithne dhonih 'n nighean duck upon the river, he took his gun and soon A bha 'cridh' ort 'an geall. turned his love into mourning. Such a thing is possible in the dusk of an evening, but it savours Anns a' ghleannan bheag laghach strongly of an improbability. The song, however, 'S ann 'bhiodh tu taoghal os n-àird. is a good and romantic one, as will be seen by the following stanzas : DONALD GRUAMACH.

A Mhairearad òg 's tu 'rinn mo leòn, (GRIM DONALD.) (xur cailin bhòidlieach lurach thu, It is mentioned in the Glenbard collection that Gur t,'uirm' do shùil na niaduinn dhriùclid, of had tliree sons, viz., An dearc air chill nan duilleagan. John MacDonald Bohuntin —Alastair, Donald Donn, and Donald Gruamach. Uur guirm' do shiiil na maduinn dhriiichd It would thus appear that Donald Gruamach was An dearc air chùl nan duilleagan ; Gur gil' thu 'ghràidh, na'n sneachda ban, a brother of the famous Donald Donn. As a poet A' cur air àrd nam monaidhean. he was considered not much inferior to his better

Och, 's i nio mhàthair 'rinn an call, known brother. He and Iain Lom were on bad 'N uair chuir i 'shealg na tunnaig mi ! terms, and frequent passage of arms in the poet- 'S 'n uair a rain' mi 'n linne chaoil, ical line passed between them. Very few of his 'S ann bha mo ghaol a' siuthladh innt'. poems have been preserved, but those that have 'S e 'n gunna caol a rinn mo leòn, show him to have been no mean hand at versific- Cha tèid e òirleach tuillidh leam, 'S a' the 'rinn dhomh-sa leine chaoil ation. On one occasion at least he managed to Cha dean thu, 'ghaoil, gin tuille dhondi. make the famous bare John lose his temper badly, Righ nan dùl, cum rium mo chiall, as shall be seen presently. The following was

Cha robh mi riamh 's a' chunnart so ! a dialogue in verse that passed between them : 'S a Mhairearad òg's tu rinn mo leòn, 'S tu 'dh' fhàg fo bhròn 's fo mhulad mi. DOMHNULL GRUAMACH AGUS lAIX LOM. DONALD GRUAMACH. The writer is of opinion that this song nmst have been confounded with hh\ song to the laird A bliean nam pòg meala, of Grant's daughter, composed the night before 'S nan gorm-shùilean meallach, his execution, or by some other person who copied 'S ann a tha mo chion-faUich Fo m' bhannan do m' ghràdh. Donald Donn's style. A bhean, etc. Another " Moladh a' Phiobaire," to Donald Campbell, piper to Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich, by Cha'n'eil mi 'gad leirsinn, Ach mar gu 'm biodh reul Donald Donn : ann An taic ris a' ghrein so Slàn ioraradh do m' ghoistidh, Tha 'g eirigh gach la. Beul nach loisgeach 'an cainnt. IAIN LOM. Slàn iomradh, &c. Air leatsa gur reul i, Mo run air Caimbeulach suairc, 'S gur coltach ri grein i, theid air ruaig thar a' mhàim. A 'S òg a chain thu do leirsinn Mo riin air Cain)beulach siobhalta Ma thug thu 'n eisg ud do ghràdh. Nach cosnaicheadh earn. Boladh iiilleadh an sgadain, Gura math 'thig dhuittriubhas De dh' ùrluinn na h-apa, Gun bhi cumhan no gann. '8 i 's ciibaiche faicinn A tha 'n taice ri tràigh. 'S cha mhiosa 'thig dhuit osan 'S bròg shocair bhuinn DONALD GRUAMACH. Bròg bhileach nan cluaisein Fios bhuam gu Iain Mapach, Air a fuaigheal gu teann. Do 'm bu chèird a bhi 'gadachd, —

Nach co-ion da 'blii 'caig rium RESIDENCES OF ALASTAIR CARRACH, Is ri cabaire bàird. IAIN LOM, AND DOMHNULL BAN Am busaire ronnach, A' BHOCAIN. Fear nam brusg-shùilean musach, The first residence of Alastair Carrach was at a Cha 'n fhasa do thuigsinn j plubartaich càil. near Inverlochy, still Na I place Torlundy and called

Ged tha thu 'm fhuil dhirich, Toni-a-Charrich. There is a small hamlet there

Nàile, cumaidh mi sios thu, now ; it is on Lord Abinger's property. Cha bhi coille gun chrionaich Iain Lom's home was at a place called Gu dilinn a' fas. " Clachaig," between Tiilloch and Moy, between Fiiigheal fior dheireadh feachd thu, the burn of Allt-a'-Chaorunn and Urachar, a short Cha 'n fhiach le each ac' thu : distance above the present high road. Old Mr Chaill thu d' ingnean 's a' Cheapaich 'Sgriobadh prais' agus chlàr. MacArthur of Fort Augustus asserts that the charge of cowardice always preferred against Iain Lom was quite untrue. The reason that he never Fios bhuamsa dhuit, 'Ille, Chaill thu dualchas do chinnidh, drew a sword in battle Avas because in his early Gu bheil thu air nfaire youth he had the misfortune to kill his brother in Làn de dh' inisgean bàird. a fray near Loch Tay, where the two brothers Mi cho saor de na ronnan were on different sides, without either being Ri aon beò dhe do shioinneadh ; aware of it. And when Iain Lom found his sword Nàile, rinn thu breug shoilleir Ann am follais do chàch. had pierced his brother's heart he vowed he would never again draw a sword in battle, and his Ma 's ann ormsa mar dhimeas, 'Ghabh thu 'choill as a crionaich, refusal to do so on later occasions has been the larr an doire na 's isle only motive for ascribing cowardice to him, and Bho iochdar chlàir. do the following verse of a song is quoted as proof

Mur bhi dhomh?a mac d' athar, of the correctness of the story : Is ann da 'tha mi 'g athadh, Mo sgriob do thaobh Loc-h Tàigh. Nàile, chuirinn ort athais Ged a dh' fhàg mi ann m' atliair A tha fàisgte 'nad chàil. Cha b'e sid 'rinn mo sgaradh In the next encounter with Iain Loni, Donald Ach an ailt 'rinn mo chlaidheamh 'am bràthair.

Gruamach seems to have had the best of it, as ("Ad armean " another version says.) the former descended to abusing his adversary. In consequence of his activity in getting the Donald Gruamach spoke as follows of the famous Keppoch murderers brought to justice he made John :— many enemies among their partizans, and was so Thugadh greis air Greumaich leat much persecuted that he had to leave Lochaber and take refuge in Kintail, as already Gu'n euchdan a chur suas ;

Is thugadh greis air Duibhnich leat, mentioned ; and when on his way back 'S air muinntir an taoibh tuath, to his native country, he took ill

Cha'n fheil feum do Dhòmhnallach and died at Càrn - a - Dhotaidh, now Ri 'bheò 'bhi ort a' luaidh, called Auchteraw, near Fort Augustus, and was 'S 6 donnal a' choin bhadhailf ud taken to Lochaber and buried at Cille Chaorrill 'Dh' fhàg bodhar mo dhà chluais. on Tom Aingeal, not in the place where Eraser Iain Loni's reply has not been recorded in full, Macintosh placed his monument, which the but the first line of it his shows that feelings must Lochaber people say is the tomb of Domhnull have been very bitter :— ; it runs thus MacFhionnlaidh, the author of the "Comhachag."

A shean chràidhneach mhòr nan smugaidean ! In Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair's edition of John Lom's poems it is stated, 10, that he viewed the The rest would have been equally bitter and p. battle elevated spot that overlooked fully as oftensive. from an the castle of Inverlochy, which was occupied liy fifty of Argyll's musketeers, and in a letter to me he

t Wandering dogs. remarks that^ ——

Dhìrich mi moch maduinn cheòraich people. The writer, however, does not accept this Gu bràigh, caisteal Inbhir-Lòchaidh, story. Stronger evidence would be necessary, Does not necessarily mean "gu muUach caisteal but it is only fair to record that some of the Inbhir-Lòchaidh," and refers to the memoirs of Brae Lochaber people believe in it.

Montrose by Grant (London : Koutledge & Co., page 221, wherein the following passage 1858), — MRS ERASER, CULBOKIE.* occurs : " The castle of Inverlochy, &c., was occupied by fifty musketeers of the Stirlingshire Miss MacDonell of Ardnabie, near Ardachy, Regiment. These were some of Argyll's men Fort Augustus, afterwards Mrs Eraser of already mentioned." Giiisachan and Culbokie, when a lassie in her teens astonished her lady companions by compos-

DONALD BAN A' BHOCAIN'S RESIDENCE. ing a merry song commencing thus : Co chi, CO chi, The site of Domhnull Ban a' Bhòcain's house is Co chi mi tighinn ? just beside the burn called Allt-Laire on the Co chi ach Mac Phàdruig Inverlair side of it, and a few yards from where 'Stigh le braidh Ardnabie.

the present Inverlair keeper's house now is, the Co chi. CO chi. site is quite plain there. It seems that he Go chi. CO chi, Co chi ach Uistean, (lid not live at Monesie. It was another Bòcan Mae Lùb air a chùil bhuidhe. that haunted Monesie, and the two seemed to get mixed in people's memories. Co chi, CO chi,_ (Jo chi mi tighinn ? Mrs MacDonell, Keppoch, had often heard the 'Shàr mac an duin'-uasail, story from her husband, Angus MacDonell XXII. Teann suas is dean suidhe ! of Keppoch, who had it direct from his own Some years after, she became the wife of Mac grandfather, Ban, Inch, present Angus who was Uistean, the Laird of Giiisachan. There is also many times Avhen the Bòcan molested Domhnull in Ranald MacDonald of Eigg's book an " Gran Ban. le fear Ardnabidh do dh' Alastair Mae Dhomhn- assert Some people in Lochaber that Domhnuill uill," song by Ardnabie to Alastair MacDonald, Fhionnlaidh the author of the Comhachag, Mac of which the following is a stanza : who lived atLoch-Treig, was a MacKillop ; but all A' cheud diluain do'n bhliadhna so, his the Keppochs. descendants fought under The Gu riaraichte 'bha m' inntinn deth, Keppoch old gamekeeper, Archibald MacKillop, 'N ti mu'n robh mi iargaineach, iarrtas ro chinnteach Achluachrocli, maintains that he is descended Bha dha ; Do shlàinte 'blii gun deireas from the poet. He says he got his information Blio'n la 'dhealaich mi 'san tir so riut, from Donald Macintosh, a noted herbalist, who An dèigh gach ciiis a bhuadhachadh. lived at Bohenie, and was considered a most Do in' chluasaibh 's duais ro fhirinneach. reliable Seanachie. He was generally known as It consists of 11 verses, 8S lines, and is evidently Domhnull Mac Eoghan, and had a fund of old a fairly good song. lore and songs which were unfortunately allowed Then there is a marbhrann—death-bed elegj', to die with him. "le mac fir Ardnabie ann an leabaidh a bhàis,' Donald of Advocates' library, — MacPherson the by a son of MacDonell, Ardnabie, which runs : and author of "An Dnanaire" got a good deal Dùisg, a choluinn, o do chadal. of his information from this Donald Macintosh. Is fhad an oidhche dhuit do shuain. Mr MacKillop says in corroboration of his asser- Gun chuimhn' air an t-slighe mu'd choinno, 'S olc dhuit an eomunn a fhuair tion that Domhnull Mac Fhionnlaidh the poet ; Comunn eadar thu 's an saoghal, was a MacKillop, that in Cille Chaorrill he was Cha bhaoghala chuniail ceart, buried in the graves of the MacKillops. I do not Ma gheibh a' eholunii a sùth, know what truth may be in the above story, but Bidh aithreachas 'an la nan leachd. it is believed, Miss Josephine MacDonell of Kep- poch tells me, by some of the Brae Lochaber —

lines A LOCHABER JACOBITE SONG. In this elegy there are 13 verses, or 110 ; the poem, complete, is also in Ranald MacDonald The following stanzas were also taken down of Eigg's book. from Mr MacArthur, Fort Augustus, by Miss There is also a song entitled " Deoch-slàinte 'n Josephine MacDonell, who did not know the oighre," to a member of the Glengarry family, author's name, but being himself a descendant of composed by a local poet named John Kennedy. a scion of the House of Keppoch, and the song It is to be found in tlie Transactions of tlie Gaelic being a Jacobite one, it deserves mention. The

Society of Inverness, vol. ix., beginning : author was probably a prisoner in England after Fonn (Chorus). the " forty-five." Olaidh mi deoch-slàinte 'n oighre, Ged tha raise so ann Sasunn,

S toigh leani fhin e la 's a dh' oidhche Cha 'n 'eil a fasan tighinn 'am chàileachd ; Struidh an eòrna, fear mo chaoimhneis, 'S mòv gu'm b' fheàir 'bhith measg nan gruagaich S cha teid fheighneachd ciod ì 'phris. Far an cluinninn fuaini na Gàidhlig.

'S mi gu'n òladh i 's gu'm pàidheadh, 'S mòr gu'm b' fheàrr bhi measg nan gruagaich Do 'n stuth chruaidh a cuach nan Gàidlieal, Far an cluinninn f uaim na Gàidhlig Olaidh sinn deoch-slàinte 'n àrmuinn, Bleodhainn a' chruidh air na buailtean Gu seasamh 'an àite 'linn. 'S na laoigh òg mu'n cuairt li bàraich. Gur deas an Gàidheal an t-oighre, Mo mhallachd air na casaig liiighseach,

Dòmhnullaeh cho àrd 's a sloinnte, 'Si thug sgrios air tir nan àrdbheinn ; 'S 'nuair gheibh e gu 'lamb an oighreachd Cha chan mi gur Gàidheal dileas

Theid na Goill a chur fo chis ! 'Chuireas air a dhruini gu bràth i.

There are other 9 verses in it equally good. 'S niòr gu'm b' fheàrr am breacan riomhach Feileadh, 's bonaid grinn 's cocàd innt', Biodag chraigneach 's lann chinn ileach, IAIN DUBH MAC IAIN MHIC AILEIN. 'Se 'thogadh inntinn chlann nan Gàidheal. lainDubhMac Iain MhicAilein,the bard, fought 'S ioma big fhear 'bha deas direach at the battle of Sherittniuir and composed the 'Sheasadh dileas ri uchd a' chatha following songs besides those already mentioned. 'Tha ann Culodair dhiubh 'na shineadh 'Chuir siol na muic gu tir nan laoich. Oran do Mhac Shimidh Lord Lovat, who was te blia gun annsachd beheaded in 1746 when in France, after 1715. 'S ioma a Agus bantrach 'bha dheth cràiteach, Oran do Mhac Mhic Ailein a Mliarbhadh 'sa Agus mhàthair 'bha gun mhac ann, bhliadhna 1715. Och mo chreach, 's mi 'g acain pàirt diubh. Marbhrann do'n Mac Mhic Ailein, of 15 verses, Thearlaich oig an fhior-fhuil rioghail, 5 lines in each verse, 75 lines. 'Sheasadh dileas cùis nan Gàidheal, Chuir na cùlanan fo chis thu, Cumha Chlann Domhnuill, 12 verses, 96 lines. Siol na muic 'nan righre 't' àite. All in Ranald MacDonald's book. 'S ho na'n tigeadh t'oighre, a Thearlaich, also " do dh' Bhaile He composed Oran Aonghas 'S ho na'n tigeadh t'oighre, a Thearlaich, Fhionnlaidh." ',' Am Bruadar, oran air cor na Dh' fhalbhamaid gu aotrom sunndach ri cùl shàlach. rioghachd 'sa bhliadhna 1715."t Dileas dlùth a There is another song that may be mentioned here for want of a more suitable place. " bean ALEXANDER MACDONALD, RIDGE, N.S. Oran a rinn bana-chombanach do Dhonull gorm Mr Alexander MacDonald, Ridge, or rather of Mac Raonuill Mhic Ailein 's a leannan." Upper South River, Nova Scotia, writes me some Dhonuil Mhic Neill Mhic Iain Bhuidhe, interesting details about the Lochaber bards. ort mudha, Chaidh do shaothair am " With regard to Iain Lom's " Marbhrann do dh' Leig ihu 'ghruagach uait air shiubhal, the air of Le fear àrd na gruaige duibhe Alasdair Dubh Ghlinne Garaidh," to Cruinn chas dhireadh. " 'S ann aig taobh Beinne Bnidhe," he says that Fonn (Chorus). neither Dr MacNicol nor Dr Maclntyre, Kil- 'Se mo leannan th' ann ho ro gheallaidh nionivaig, could know more or give a better Co sheinneadh ealaidh mur sin. account of Iain Lom than his forefathers, because 6 verses, 24 lines. they were good seanachaidhean, and of the same Keppochs), t In Glenbard Collection. branch of MacDonalds as Iain was (the — —

100 and he is snre that they would keep a correct Donald Glas) were transported to South Carolina account of such a remarkable man of their own for the part they had taken in the rebellion of family, and as to his not being fit to compose the 1745. Then my great-grandfather, Aonghas Mac elegy in his old age, he remarks— " We have at Alasdair Bhàin, became representative, or Ceann present in this country two persons who have Taigh to Bothiunntin, and after him my grand- reached the advanced age of 103 years. They are father. In my own young days in Cape Breton Mr Angus Campbell and Mrs MacLean, of the members of the family of Bothiunntin saluted Antigonish town. Mrs MacLean possesses all my uncle Angus ' Cean Taigh.' In 1816 my her faculties, as you will see from the enclosed grandfather, with his family, emigrated from slip, cut from the Antigonish Casket. Mr Camp- Aehnancoichichan, in the Braes of Lochaber, to bell is also as bright as ever, and let me tell you Nova Scotia, and settled in the South- West there never was a Campbell or MacLean on earth Ridge, Mabon, C.B. He had three sons, Angus, who possessed better faculties than Iain Lom. Allan, and Donald, and five daughters. They My father's story about him was that he was in were all settled in that county, and had large his fifteenth year at the battle of Sronachlachain families. He died in 1829 in his 76th year. His in 1640, and was among the boys who drove the wife, Mary Campbell, died in 1860, leaving " Creach " when the battle was fought between descendants to the number of 250. In 1847 my the Lochal>er and Breadalbane men. He died at father with his family left the Ridge and came to the age of 105. When his grave was closed on Upper South River, Antigonish County, about 80 the day of his funeral, Alexander MacDonald of miles from his former residence. I am myself in Kejipoch, who fell at Culloden, asked Alasdair my 77th year, but do not expect to live as long as Mac Aonghuis, i.e., Alasdair Ruadh of Glencoe, Iain Lom did. At the beginning of this century

to say something about the deceased ; so he some Scotch historians got to work writing, and I recited the following verses (which have already believe their main object was to make money, as been mentioned under the head of Iain Lom, they had a good many errors in their works. 1 with slight variation, as having been asked for by suppose they believed nobody knew better. As

Coll of Kejipoch) : you have remarked, the best seanachies and Chunna mi crioch air m'fhear-cinnidh singers left Scotland. They left Lochaber for

Air a phasgadh 'an Tom Aingeal ; certain." 'Ughdair, 's a righ nam filidh, " If you see Neil MacLeod, the Skye bard, you Gitn deanadh Dia sith ri t'anam ! can tell him I sent to Scotland for one of his books, " Clàrsach an Doire." Tell him also that John

Tha gaol an leòghainn 's fuath an tuirc MacDonald, contractor, Antigonish, and I drank Anns an uaigh 's a bheil do chorp. his Deoch-slàinte on 'Xmas eve, simply because B' fhuath leat Uilleam, b' fuath leat Màiri, he is such a good Gaelic bard, though he composed B' fhuath leat na thàinig bho Dhiarmod, one proud song on " Clann Leòi«l," p. 38. Here is B' fhuath leat gach neach nach biodh rioghail, one verse of it— 'S dh' innseadh tu fein e gun iarraidh. Theid an tarbh mar a b' àbhaist " 'S mise Alasdair Mac Ailein 'ic Alasdair 'ic Air an toiseach 's a' ghàbhadh, Aonghuis 'ic Alasdair Bhàin 'ic Alasdair Mhòir, 'S cuiridh biiirein bho 'chàirean Crith air nàmhaid Chlann Leòid. 'ic Aonghuis a' bhòchdain, 'ic Aonghuis Mhòir which I made the following reply on behalf of Bhothiunntin, 'ic Alasdair, 'ic Iain Duibh 'ic To the MacDonalds : Raonuill Mhoir na Ceapaich."J " There are two branches of tigh-Bhothiunntin: CLANN DOMHNUILL. —Sliochd Alasdair and Sliochd Aonghuis. Both LE ALASDAIR AN RIDGE. branches are known as ' Sliochd an taighe,' and Rinneadh an t-òran so mar fhreagairt do dh- òran-molaidh Chlann Leòid. also as Sliochd Iain Duibh 'ic Raonuill. In 1746 Seisd :—Ho i ri ri iu o the two sons of Fear Bhothiunntin (Iain Og and Ho i ri ri iu o Hi ri ri s na i iu o Tha mo run air Clann Dò'iU. "

Gur a binn leam 'bhi leughadh Is na'm fàgte sid aca, Mu'n churaidh 'bha 'n Slciibhte, Mar a b'àbhaist 's mar chleachd iad, Dò'ull Mac Iain 'Ic Sheumais Gu'n tàradh iad dhachaidh 'Chuir 'nan eigin Clann Leòid. Fir Shasuinn nan cleòchd.

Latha mùr sin na tràghad Le aon dusan de chàirdean ALLAN MACDONALD, RIDGE, N.S. Bha dà-fhichead 's an àiridh Ue dh-àlach Chlann Leòid. The following is an additional song by the late

Ged bha 'n tarbh air an reidhlein Allan MacDonald, Ridge, Nova Scotia, father of 'S e air toisoach na clèithe, Alexander MacDonald, of Upper South River, Cha do chrith na fir Shlèibhteach, Antigonish County, N.S. In sending it Mr 'S bha 'n ratreut air Clann Leòid. — ' Alexander MacDonald says : " Oran na Comh- Cha d' rinn bratach na sithe achaig' was, most certainly, composed by Air an la ud bhur didean, Bha dà-fhichead 'nan sineadh Donihnull MacFliiullaidh about 400 years ago. Dh' aindeoin innleachd Chlann Leùid. That is the tradition among the emigrants that B' iomad gaisgeach math gleusda left Lochaber, and has been handed down from 'Bha tamh ann an Sleibhte, generation to generation. Sir DòmhnuU 's Sir Seumas Agus cbudan a chòrr. CATRIONA NIGH'N DUGHAILL. Dun-Tuilm nam fear treubhach, LE AILEAN AN RIDUE. flathail feille, Dun na Catriona nigli'n DùghaiU 'S am biodh tathaich luchd-theudan, Bu ghrinn a chruit chiiiil i, Far an eisdeadh ri ceòl. 'Nuair 'sheinn i le sunnd Clann Dòmhnuill mo ghràidh-sa Sud na fuinn 'bu mhath gleusadh, Bu ro-chliùiteach mar thàinig Bha m' inntinn fo ionghnadh Bho righrean na Spàinnte Ri linn dhomh bhi dùsgadh, 'S mi 'cluinntinn a' chiùil 'S bho chinn-àrd na Roinn-Eòrp'. ud ; Bu chiùin is bu reidh e. Clann Dòmhnuill nan geur-lann, Thug i solas do m' chridhe An cinneadh mòr euchdach, 'Nuair tliòisich i rithisd 'M uair a chàirteadh gu streup iad Air crònan do nioghnaig Cha rèidh dol 'nan coir. bu Bu chridheil i-fein ris ; 'Seinn òrain do 'n leanabh, 's Shleibhte, Bho Gharaidh bho Sud an ceòl a bha tairis, nan geugan, Bho Mhudart 'Bha bòidheach ri aithris, 'S bho Cheapaich freumhan, nam 'S mi 'm chaithris gu h-eisdeadh. Dheanadh reubadh is leòn. Air mo thaobh anns an leaba, Thig bho Mhòr-thir na stuaidhe, Eadar dhùsgadh is chadal. 'S bho Chothann nam fuar-bheann, Thug mi ùine mar bh' agam ; Fir nach sòradh an tuasaid, Bha mi fada gu èirigh, 'S trie thug buaidh anns an tòir. 'S mi 'g èisdeachd an òrain 'Bu ghrinne 's bu bhòidhche Dream eile 'bha ceutach, ; Bu bhinne e na'n t-eòinein Anns a' chaonnaig nach geilleadh, 'Bhiodh air nieòirean nan geugan. larla Antruim a Eirinn 'S ann leamsa 'bu bhòidhch' e Leis an eireadh na slòigh. Na 'n uiseag air lònan, B iad na suinn a bha ainmeil, 'S i 'sior chur ri ceòl

Leis na chuireadh cath-gharbhraeh, Anns an òg mhaduinn chciitein ; 'S a fhuair tigh is leth Albainn Na ceileireadh smeoraich 's Air a dhearbhadh le coir. A sheinneadh na h-òganan ; B'fhearr leam gu mòr e Tha bhur n-eachdraidh ro-dhireach, Na CCÒ1 as na teudan. larla Rois agus He, Innse-Gall is Chinntire, Cha robh 'phiob 's i 'na deannaibh. ceòl fidhle th' air Siol a' Mhilidh 's nan sròl. No thalamh, Chuirinn fein ris an coimeas, 'Nuair a thogte bhur bratach 'S bha mi tamuU 'ga eisdeachd 'Dol ri aodainn nam baiteal Guth cinn a bha fallain, 'Bhi air deas-làimh nan gaisgeach Bu bhinn leam do challan, B'e sid fasan nan seòd. 'S bu ghrinn 'bha mac-talla ; — — —

'S a' bhalla toirt beus d' i. house where he intended to put up for the night Bean shiobhalta, chòir i, he heard some good singing going on inside. Gun nihiothlachd, gun ghù innt' ; There were a number of people singing, " Fire Gu'm bu dìleas i dhòmhsa, faire faramach bidh òl air bainnis Dhiiill." He 'S trie a chòmhn' i mi 'ni èiginn ; Bean laghach 's i fialaidh, stood quietly at the door until they were finished,

na ciadan ; Air an tadhail and then rapped. When the door was opened he Làmh a dheanamh na biatachd, following verse which he composed on 'S trie a riaraich i feumaich. sang the the spot : Thug i 'n dùthehas bho 'màthair, 'Bhi gu fiughanta, bàigheil : Cha'n fheàirde mi 'bhi socbarach, Gu 'n d' ionnsaicli i tràth dh' i 'S nach ceàird dhouih 'bhi ri dorsaireachd,

Bhi gu nàdarra beusaeh ; 'S ma leigeas sibh 'n 'ur toiseach mi 'S cha b' e Dìighall 'bu tàire, Gu'n eoisinn mi mo rum ann. Fear citiin 's e ro stàthail, There happened to be a witty fellow inside who Gun lùb no gun àrdan, 'S gun droch nàdar fo 'n ghrèin ann. answered Ged a tha sinn am Màbu, Bu mhath leinn fhein 'n ar comunn thu, Gum b' fhearr bhi mar bhà sinn, leinn ar eoinneamh thu, Ann an toiseach mo làithean, 'S bu taitneach mu Na'n innseadh tu do shloinneadh dhuinn Air àiridh na sprèidhe : ceil i do dhùthaich. Ann an strath Choire-Làire 'S na cò Bha sinn eàrantach, càirdeil, Then Alasdair Buidhe said 'S gach duine bho 'n d'thàinig sinn Bàigheil ri 'cheile. Ged tha mo dhiithaich fada bhuam, Bu dùthehas an tir Abraeh dhomh, Fhuair i ri phòsadh 'S am biodh na fiùrain mhaiseiehe, Fear suairc de Ohlann-Dòmhnuill. Nach taisicheadh le raùiseag. Nach gluaiseadh le gòraich,' 'S bho 'n dh' fhaighneachd thu mo shinnsearachd, Duine eòir 's e Ian cèille.

Latha Sliabh-an-t-siona, 'Se 'n latha 'chum e'n t-sàbaid, Bu churaidh thar each e A b'àbhaist dhomh bhi ag ùrnaigh, Theid i beag o hi o huil ho ro hug oran an. 'S i 'chailis 'bha 'na làimh 'Rinn mo thàladh gu dlùth ris. Latha Sliabh-an-t-siona Bu churaidh thar each e, 'S 8 'n creideamh a bh'aig Bàchus b'-àbhaist geilleadh, Theid i beag o ho ro, theid i beag o, Da'm dhomh 'Bhualadh nam buillean 'S e 'b'fheàrr na 'bhi dol bàs Le bhi cràbhadh 's a' leughadh, Gu curanta làidir : 'S e 'cheileireadh 's a shòlas Theid i beag o hi o huil ho ro hug oran an. 'Chuir eòlas nan ceud air, Alasdair Buidhe's father, Alasdair Mòr, fought 'S e bhuadhan bho Apollo at the battle of Mulroy in 1688, and was 'Chuir mòran an deigh air. transported to Holland, where he died of yellow Ach teirmsasg ort, a Bhachuis, fever the same year. He was 6 feet S inches in 'Rinn m' fhàiUinn, 's bu mhòr i, 'Nuair fhuair thu'n iùib do ghràidh mi heiglit, and stout in proportion. He and Aonghus Le t'amhuiltean gòrach ; M6r na Tulocha were at that time the heroes of Bu bhinne leam ri eisdeachd the country." An teis 'thig bho d'sgòrnan Na'n fhiodhuil le 'cuid theudan " Nighean Aonghuis Oig composed many a No gleusadh nan organ. song to her husband after his death ; one of them 'Nuair thionaileamaid còmhla is as follows : Mu'n bhòrd 's an tigh-sheinse, Na fir m'am bithinn eòlach O ! 's mi tha gun f^unnd Gun bheadradh gun mhuirn 'S na h-òigearan gleusda, t-tuth Bho'n chuir iad 's an iiir an t-aon duine : 'Nuair chithinn na tòiseachd O, 's mi. &c. 'S an coisreadh cho eibhinn Bu bhinne leam an ceòl sin Duine ceillidh 's e glic, Na sraeòrach 's a' cheitein. As an ire bu mhòr meas, Cha tugadh fear mi-sgoinn cùisean dheth. Bu chàrantach leam 'aogas 'Ga thaomadh 's an stòpan. Duine foghainteach garg, An sruthan tairis caoin 'N uair ghabhadh e 'n fhearg A ni 'chraobhag a's bòidhche 'N am tarruingnan arm cha b' e 'n ciilanach. Seach stuth a tn' air an t-saoghal Bu chaomhail ri 61 e, 'N am rùsgadh nan lann 'S 'nuair gheibhinn e ri m' bhial B' e 'n curaidh gun mheang, B' e mo mhiann 'bhi 'ga phògadh. 'S b' e 'n gaisgeach neo-fhann 's a' chaonnaig e. Thug mise gaol-folaich dha, I also append a song by Allan MacDonald, 'S cha dealaich e ri m' bheò rium, Barr 's a thug na caileagan Kidge, N.S., the father of Mr Alexander, who has Do leannan no dh' fhear-pòsda, supplied me with the above information. It is a Còrr 's a' cheithir uiread song in praise of whisky, and descriptive of the 'S a thug Uilleam riamh do Mhòraig, S ma theid a nis ar tearbadh weakness of those who worship at the shrine of Gu dearbh cha b'e 'choir e. Bacchus. A very good song. Sheinneadh e na h-òrain ORAN DO'N UISGE-BHEATHA. 'Bu bhòidhche ri eisdeachd, Bu ro-mhath bhualadh dhòni e LE AILEIN DOMHNDLLACH (AN RIDGK). ; Gu'm b' eòlach air streup e ; Ge fada na mo thàmh mi Bu mhath e measg nan òighean Tha'n damhair dhomh dùsgadh, 'S nan òigearan beusach, Cia fath mu'n thriall mo mhanran 'S e 'chuireadh air an dòigh iad 'An crocain a chèile. 'S gu 'm b'àbhaist dhomh sùgradh ; 'Sen lagh a rinn am Papa mhath a chluith a' chiùil e, 'Thug m' àbhachd gu tuirse Bu Bu shiùbhlach air dannsa e, 'S a tharruinn mi gu smuairean Sheinneadh e na fuinn Bho'n dh'fhuadaich e 'n drùdhag

'Chumadh cuimhn' air na bàrdaibh ; Cha'n'eil mi 'chreideamh Phàpa, Bu mhath e anns a h-uile rud, Chalbhin no Luthair, 'S gu 'm b'urramach 's gach am e, 'S e 'n creideamh a bh'aig Bàchua Ahc daoine coimheach gnfithaidh

'Tha làidir 'nam shùilean ; Cha dùraig iad ann e. ;

'S truagh nach d' rugadh dall mi Gu'n treiginnse mo dhùthaich Gun chainnt no gun lèirsinn A ghiùlan a' ghunna dhuit. Mu 'm facas riamh an dram sin Sgiobair air a' chuan thu, 'Rinn aimhleas nan ceudan ; 'Nuair dh' èireadh na tuinn uaine, 'Nuair bhuaiieas e 's a' cheann mi 'S leat urram nan daoin'-uaisle, Gu'n teann e ris fhèin nii, Cha ghruaim bhiodh tu 'g iomrachadh. 'S cha 'n fhasa leam na 'm bàs A bhi làthair as 'eugais. Sgiobair thu air Birlinn Cho niaith 's a tha ri fhaotainn, Sguiridh nii 'bhi teagasg air Sàr iomainich' air raon thu No 'beadradh ris an dràsda, Ach dajin' a bhi cuide riut. Bho 'n a chuir greadabh air Sealgair an daimh chròicich Le Eaglaisean a' Phàpa ; A dhh'eas a' ghlac cheòthach, Ma 'se 's gur èiginn dealachadh, 'Us coileach-dubh a' chrònain Mo bheannachd gu là-bhràch leis, 'S an ròin x^i òis tuinne thu ! 'S mo bheannachdan 's nio ghaol Do gach aon a thug gràdh dha. T)o chii\ fada direach. 'Sè 'n ceangal anns an t-sioda, Na 'm faighinns' bhi 'ga chireadh, AN DOMHNULLACH FURANACH* Cha bhitheadh ni dh' am uireasbhuidh. Thig còta dhuit neo-chearbach A song that is very jiopular in Skye is " An Fo chrios nam balla meana-bhreac, Dòmhnullach Furanach," said to have been com- 'Us claidheamh geur 'chinn airgid posed to MacDonald of Lynedale, by a Skye girl. Gu'n dearbhadh tu buillean leis. This was Colonel Alexander MacDonald, IX. of Do Chridhe mar an Daoimean, Balranald, North Uist, designated of Lynedale, L<àn ceartais agus aoibhneis ! 'Nuair dhireadh tu na staidhre, the grandfather of the present Balranald. He Bhitheadh soills' anns na h-uinneagan ! was a captain in the Bengal Artillery, and after- Tha taoghal maradh 's tire wards raised and became Lieutenant-Colonel of An tigh an flileasgaich riomhaich, the 2nd Isle of Skye Regiment of volunteers. He Làmh 'sgapadh an Fhion-dubh 'S a dhioladh na tunnaehan. was a very fine and handsome-looking man. Mr A. R. MacDonald, younger of Waternish, Skye, 'S è mo ghaol an Ceann-ard, Bha òirnn 'an tigh na bainnse, informs me that his granddaughter, the late 'S ann domhsa nach bu chall sud, Miss MacDonald of Rodil, Harris, had a mi li- 'S na bh' ann a' toirt urram dhuit. ature of him, which will probably now be in A Dhòmhnullaich fhuranaich, etc. possession of Mr MacDonald of Edenwood and Few swains of the present day could match the Balranald, or some other near relative. Besides beauty and splendour of the hero of this song, Lynedale, Colonel MacDonald possessed at one whose image the very windows reflected effulgently time the islands of Isry, Mingay, and Clett, now to the admiring observer. The authoress' name in the possession of Captain MacDonald, Water- is not known. It was probably an afiair of the nish. The song, as given to me by a native of heart. Skye, is different from the version given in EXPLANATION OF A FEW UNCOMMON AVORDS. " air of which is very Sinclair's Oranaiche "—the Verse 2— " Crannag-iseal,"—spars and cross- pretty. beams. Seisd—Chorus. Verse 3—" Iomrachadh,"—carrying, or bearing; A DhòmhnuUaich fhuranaich, a deportment. A dhireadh na munaidhean, 5— of Verse " Ois,"—of the border the wave ; Tha d' fhoghlum oho àrd, where seals lie. 'S ged a dh' àraicht' an Lunainn thu ! Verse 6— " Balla meana-bhreac,"— all manner of B'è mo ghràdh an t-àrmunn, ornamental things on his dress. A thug Dirdaoin an tràigh air Verse 6—" Neo-chearbach," well-made, fitting tìu'n òlainn do dheoch-slàinte, — the figure. 'S è b' fhearr na bhi muladach. Verse 7 AVith this splendid appearance— of a Ma thèid thu do na h-Innsean — Air long nan crannag-iseal countenance beaming with kindness from the Diamond Heart—and bright tartan, spark- * Gracious, kindly, courteous in aspect and ling stones, silver buckles, buttons, including — —

105

the silver-hilted sword —the windows reflected Scotland with the " L'Heureux" and the " Prince his image to the admiring observer on some of Conti," to try and bring off the Prince. occasion as he went up the staircase to join Glenaladale says the ship he sailed in was the the marriage party over which he had been " Happy." Burton says it was the " Bellona." presiding. In Finlayson's map it is called " Bellona," and in one passage in the " Scots Magazine " it is said to NIAL MAC EACHAINN MHIC SHEAMAIS.f be the " Happy," while in another it is called the "Bellona." All Lord Albermarle's spies agree (NEIL SON OF HECTOR SON OF JAMES.) that two French ships arrived at Loch-nan-uamh on Neil MacEachainn MacDonald, the faithful the 6th of Sept., and Donald MacDonald, who friend and follower of Prince Charles Edward acted as interpreter to Bishop Forbes, actually Stewart, and Flora MacDonald, and father of went on board the "Prince of Conti " in which the the celebrated Marshall MacDonald, Duke of Prince went off, says the other ship was the Tarentum, did not profess to be a poet, but since " Louine " which he might have mistaken for " he composed one poem at least, he is too impor- L'Heureux. "II In Brown's history of the High- tant a personage to be omitted from the list of lands it says that the Prince sailed from Loch-nan- MacDonald bards. He was born at Howbeg, or uamh, Arisaig, on the 20th of Sept., 1746, on Houghbeag,J in South Uist, in 1719, and, accord- board either the "L'Heureux," or " La Princesse ing to Mr Alexander Carmichael, was remotely de Conti," and arrived safely oft" Koscoff, or connected with Flora MacDonald through the Eoscort, near Morlaix in Lower Bretagne, where

Clanranalds. He was educated in France, at the he landed on Monday, the 29th Sept. , at half Scotch College at Douai, and was probably past two in the afternoon. An eminent Scotch destined for an ecclesiastical career. His son, the judge divided liars into three classes, viz., com- Marshall, did not what his tastes or wishes know mon liars ; 2, d liars ; and 3, expert witnesses. were, but he knew that, after completing a In future historians may be added as a 4th class. brilliant course of study, he returned to his native When history is so contradictory on such a recent country, and from thence he was summoned by event how can it be trusted on larger issues. Prince Charles to share the good and bad fortune Wlien Flora MacDonald was liberated from the of the foolhardy campaign of 1745§. After the tower of London, in 1747, she particularly inter- battle of CuUoden, fought on the 16th of April, ested herself on behalf of old Kingsburgh, who 1746, and when the Prince was a fugitive seeking was a state prisoner in Edinburgh Castle for shelter in caves and other places of concealment, sheltering the Prince, and she succeeded in pro- and while wandering about from island to island curing his freedom, as also that of Donald Mac- among the Hebrides, Neil MacEachainn was his Leod, of Galtrigal —Calum Mac Iain Mhic Iain guide and friend, until at last the heroine. Flora who went in the capacity of guide to the Prince MacDonald, succeeded in baffling their pursuers, from the island of liaasay to Kilmorie in Strath- and saw him safely out of the Isle of Skye, when, aird, and also of Neil MacEachainn (MacDonald) a couple of months after, he escaped on board of a described in most histories as Flora MacDonald's French ship from Borradale (Loch-nan-uamh) on servant. He was no more a servant of hers in the 19th Sept., 1746, which weighed anchor shortly reality than the Prince himself. If he had been after midnight, and sailed for France. There is a a servant he never would have written to her on mystery about the name of the ship in which the terms of equality as the following letter shows. " Prince sailed, Colonel Warren in a letter to Neither would he have been dining with the O'Brien, of 29th August, 1746, says he is going to Prince and Clanranald the night they were arrested in Paris, nor would he have been chosen to be the only friend and companion of the Prince when he was detained in prison in Paris. Ex- t Houghbeag was the home farm of Clan Ranald, chosen in 1616 by command of the Privy Council, as he tracts from his letter to Flora MacDonald : had none at Castle Tirrim. Gregory, p. 393.

§ Recollections Scottish History Society, Vol. xxiii, 1897. of Marshall MacDonald. II ! !

Paris.Feb. 28th, 1769. Chaidh sinn cuideachd air falbh, 's thain' cuideachd Dear Flokry, air ais, I've often had it in my head to write Ann an carbad ceithir chuidh 'leach 's da chaigeann you since I parted with you at Edinburgh, but as I did each. not know liow long you stayed there, I was loss at a Is tha aoibhneas is gleadhraich 's ceòl-fhuaim nach for a direction, but as your welfare is always agree- 'eil tais able to me, it gives me pleasure to hear the reason A' toirt suaimhneis is spionnaidh do'n chridhe aig that has brought you back to London, &c. . . . The

gach neach !

Thug am Prionnsa an Fhraing air, ach chithear e ris, the honest and worthy, to help him to dispose of s tir e, valuable toys he has upon hand. I am sure it must Dhruideadh mach as an ach leanar a cheum; give you a sensible joy to hear the person you once had 'S bidh Nial MacEachainn Mhic Sheamais a ris fo the honour to conduct is in perfect good health. . . . chis, Clan has his Ranald kindest compliments to you. . . Mur grad-ghreas e gu Tearlach, 'na ruith is 'na leum. He and I dined with somebody the very day they were took. Good God what a fright we got Ochan ! Fhionghail, Nighinn Raonuill, gu'm b'eutrom do cheum, No servant would write in sucli familiar terms 'Dol a dh'fhaicinn do Thearlaich a'r àrdach' mar to a mistress. Besides Neil MacEachainn, who by righ ! 'S a chur fàilt air d'alùchairt, le 'chrìm-òir seud, the way signed himself "N. MacDonaid " in the nan Is e 'riaghladh na rioghachd, le ciùineas 's le sith ! above letter, was a good scholar for the time, Shortly after this, Neil Mac Eachainn left his and was very studious. He was well versed in native country and settled in France, where he the Greek and Latin tongues, which he spoke was put into Ogilvy's Scotch regiment After easily, as well as French, English, and Gaelic. the peace of 1763, nearly all the foreign regiments It was after his liberation that he composed the were disbanded. Among them was Ogilvy's, and poem. When matters were fully and finally Neil MacEachainn being proscribed in his own arranged, our heroine, with her faithful Neil Mac- country and abandoned in France, he was reduced Eachainn, left London in a coach-and-tour for the to live ujion the modest pension of three hundred Scottish metropolis. During this jonrney of livres (about £30).* Almost immediately after- several days, the exhuberance of Neil's spirits wards he made what in military circles is could hardly be restrained within proper bounds. called a "garrison marriage," he wedded a girl He was naturally an active, lively, and manly without any fortune, and settled at Sedan where youth, possessed of considerable wit, and no small the Marshall was born on Noveml>er 17, 1765. share of poetic genius. He, as well as most of "When he was invited by Lord Nairn, proscribed his companions never expected to return. They like himself, to the little town of Sancerre, near were fully prepared to suffer as others had done Bourges, the cheapness of the living, and probably in the Stewart cause. Under these circumstances, of the wine, which is good, had determined these it is not surprising that our hero should have felt gentlemen to settle there, other Scotsmen had somewhat elated. It was about this time he preceded them. In this retreat, with his friends composed the following lines. and his books, he consoled himself for the cruelty

Thugadh ochan ! air falbh mi bho Eilean ghràidh mo of fortune. Though generally a quiet man, he Gu dol suas dh'ionnsuidh Lunnain gu'm chrochadh was an excellent talker. His memory was well gun dàil ; Air son gu'n d'thug mi furtachd do Thearlach an stored, full of anecdote, and being a good musician àigh, and player of the violin, he was much esteemed Gus am faigheadh e ann an tearuinteachd 'null thar sail and sought after by the society of that time.f In 1784 an Act of Amnesty was passed by the Bha Fionghal, Nighean Raonuill, a daonnan ri m' thaobh. English Parliament permitting fugitives to return, Chum mostiùireadhlegliocas,'sle misnich rothrèin; but he never saw his country again. One of his Bha i deas agus dileas a dhionadh an laoich compatriots, a Mr MacNab, collected all his books 'Bha gun charaid co dian rith 'n ait eile fo'n ghrein ! and papers, but MacNab at the time being a A nis fhuair sinn ar saorsa o dhaorsa na truaigh Chum gu'm pill sin air ais dh'ionnsuidh Eilein ar corporal in the bodyguard was, like so many breith, others, seized during the Revolution, arrested. 'S thugadh clìù do'n Oigh mhaisich nach comas a luaidh,

Leis an fhilidh a's ealant' gu seinn as a leth ! —

and imprisoned. His papers were carried off the MacDonalds of Clan Ranald. The Marshal and lost for ever. He died at Sancerre in 1788 walked from the ford at Lochdar to Houghbeg, a from the effects of a fall which had dislocated his distance of 10 miles.— On coming in sight of the hip, in his sixty-ninth year. river, he exclaimed ' That is the river Hough.

One of his companions in durance vile in I know it from my father's description ; many a London was the faithful and well-trusted Donald salmon has he caught there.' He sent for all his MacLeod of Galtrigal, Skye, a shrewd, ingenious, relations in the neighbourhood. When his blind and capable man, with great caution, well adapted old uncle was brought to him, he embraced him for carrying out the great object he had in view, affectionately, saying, " You dear old man, how

viz. , in assisting the Prince to elude his enemies. like you are to my own father." He addressed Hence the more eager was the desire of the his relations in French and broken Gaelic. He Government officers to capture him. This was took earth from the floor of the house where his accomplished by his own countryman, Major father was born, and potatoes from the garden, Allan MacDonald of Knock, parish of Sleat, who and these he placed in a bag and carried home had more opportimities than others of ferreting with him to France. He planted the potatoes in outDonald'smovements. Major Allan, commonly his garden, and gave orders that the earth should * called " Ailean a' Chnoic," was a stern, cruel- be placed in his coffin after his death." hearted man. He treated the poor Jacobites with uncalled-for severity, so that he was literally ROBERT MACDONALD, TEACHER, detested by most of his acquaintances, and DINGWALL. particularly so by those who had embraced the {Motto, " Pci- mare per terras.") Prince's cause. A certain priest in Uist composed the 18th of October, at Strathgarve, some verses to him of the most cutting and On 1818, Contin, Ross-shire, Robert MacDonald pub- satirical description, of which the following lines Mr lished the following "family record": — " Tiiis are a sample* : record is to certify to all whom it may concern Ciod i do bharail air Ailein, a' bheist ? that I, the writer hereof, Robert MacDonald, was Cha teid e o'n bhaile gun iùil as a dheigh, Bithidh chlaidh air tarsuing, mar gu'n deanadh e born of respectable i)arents at the west-end of tapadh, Auldinie Bridge, near Loth, in the parish of Loth B'e sin cuinneag a' mhaistridh, is ceis phaisgte nam Sutherlandshire, at three o'clock in the morning breug ! of Monday, the 22nd day of June, A.D. 1795, Tha'n dubh-phuill air Ailean a' Chnoic. was baptised by the Rev. George MacCulloch, 'S ait leam a chluinntinn air Ailean a' Chnoic, and 'S gu'm bheil an dubh-phuill air a sparradhgugrinn minister of Loth. That my father is John 'S gur alt leara a chluinntinn air Ailean a' Chnoic. MacDonald, farmer and cattle dealer, eldest son " In 1825, when Marshal MacDonald visited of Alex. MacDonald and Janet MacPherson, Great Britain, he was everywhere received with there. And my mother, Catherine MacDonald, distinguished honour, both by Government and eldest daughter of Robert MacDonald, weaver, the people. Tiie cordiality of his reception in and Christina Sutherland, Kintradewell, parish London was only equalled by that of his reception of Loth. My eldest brother, George, was a in Edinburgh and Inverness. He visited the soldier in the 42nd Regiment, and was wounded, battlefield of Culloden, and expressed strong dis- and died thereby, at Bayonne, shortly before approbation at the Highlanders for engaging the the battle of Waterloo. I have living a sister Koyal troops in such a place. He visited the named Isabella, and a brother named Alexander, Western Isles in a Kevenue cruiser, placed at his both younger than myself. I had an uncle and disposal by the Government, accompanied by Mr three aunts on my father's side, namely, George, Ranald MacDonald, Writer to the Signet (whom Betty, Isabella, and Elizabeth, and three uncles the writer of this sketch knew very well), who and one aunt on my mother's side, namely, was a son of MacDonald of Boisdale, a scion of Donald, John, William, and Helen." — : ! — : ———; — :

Dingwall, December 4tli, 1821. Alas ! alas ! how he is now

Bereft—bereav'd of his dear love ! " I was united in marriage to Margaret Mac- Kenzie, eldest daughter of Kenneth MacKenzie, He's bereaved of his treasure smith, Dingwall, by the Rev. John MacDonald, Of his darling—of his pleasure Of his delight—and of his choice. of Ferintosh. My brother, Alexander, was first a With whom he often did rejoice. merchant, and after losing his etiects by fire in It is no wonder for to hear America, became a schoolmaster in Nova Scotia. Him weeping—mourning for his dear My ancestors and that of my wife were of the farm- And his children, too, lamenting sudd'nly sent for. ing line. My grandfathers descended from two That she so was MacDonalds who had to flee (one to Sutherland the To him this world is now dreary, other to Caithness) from the Western Isles at the Lonely, desolate, uncheery But he must bear it— 'tis his lot time that MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, was The Lord may bless it. May he not ? overpowered, and, I believe, were natives of If the inhabitants of Gairloch, Islay." Of Conan-side, and Dingwall also. The issue of the marriage, namely, Would well perceive this visitation. would lament their situation. Georgina, Elizabeth, John, Margaret, Robert, They Kenneth, Alexander, Roderick, Katherine, Henry, How appaling this visitation

Is to them and to the nation : Ebenezer, are all on the same page, with dates of Seeing the Lord, in haste remov'd " " birth, and certified as being a true copy by Their Patroness who useful prov'd. Roderick MacDonald, London. This Patroness of Infant Schools, His granddaughter, Mrs Margaret MacLeod, Who countenanced Moral Rules Glasgow, from whom the above information was Promoted ev'ry institution. Within her reach for education. obtained, says that he taught at Inverness, Keils, Weep, infants, weep, she lowly lies. and Dingwall. His last teaching Avas Gaelic, in Who wished to see you happy—wise ; his old age, to the late Macintosh of Macintosh With ardent love her heart was fraught, at Moy Hall. She never saw any ot his work She lov'd to see you early taught. except a small book of poetry in English and Ye sons and daughters, low and high. breathe a mournful feeling sigh Gaelic, and a small pamphlet on "A Sermon to May ; The heart that now has ceased to beat Asses," which is in the possession of her uncle Was feeling's own pure—peaceful seat. at Partick, The date of his death I have been But mourn not friends, as those who have unable to ascertain. Robert MacDonald's jjoetic No hope to meet beyond the grave. gift must, therefore, be judged by the following Her good example always take. In doing good for Jesus's sake. elegy on the death of Lady MacKenzie of Gair- According to the light she got, loch, who died suddenly in 1834 : She did endeavour to promote cause, both far and near. I sing not this for ostentation ; The Gospel But only as a coramem'ration. In foreign lands as well as here. Of the lamented worth departed She liv'd an honour to her sex. Of Kythe Caroline of Gairloch. And churls and misers she did vex ;

This Noble Plant of great renown, By her kind acts to the oppressed ; death And also to the poor distressed. By was suddenly cut down ; Whereby many, in this nation. She used to breathe a sweec perfume Were stricken with consternation. In ev'ry place where she had room ; Mourn, Ross-shire, mourn, you have great cause, She lov'd to aid and patronise For her who'n orn nient to you was The diligent, the good, and wise. For her, whose heart with mercy glow'd. How sweet, and amiable, and kind. Whose lips with kindness overflow'd. She show'd the workings of her mind. How sad a stroke Sir Francis got In schemes, and plans, and such essays

His infants too—how sad their lot ! As might be useful many ways. Methinks I see sadly him weep If she had liv'd for many years. For her who was his own help-meet. What good she'd do, from what appear'd

Oh ! how suddenly she was torn Her busy mind could find no rest From him and them, whom she adorn'd. How she perform'd, is now a test. — ; — — ;

On what she did, now many look, TORMOD DONALLACH. Wondering at the pains she took. Especially to teach the young (NORMAN MACDONALD, DUNHALLIN.) And rising generation. The following two songs were composed by A solemn warning this to all Norman MacDonald, sailor, Dunhallin, Water- By it the Lord does loudly call nish, Skye : To high and low—to rich and poor, To make their own salvation sure. Fonn (Chorus) :— For none shall get eternal rest, Thoir mo shoraidh do'n taobh-tuath, Nor e'er in happiness be blest Eilean Bgiathanach nam buadh. But only such as live to Him An t-eilean dha 'n d'thug mi luaidh, Who died to save them from their sins. Spot a's bùidhcho fo na neòil. By saving grace we must be sav'd— 'S gur ann air toiseach a' Mhàirt The way to rest, with love is pav'd 'Dh' fhàg mi eilean gorm mo ghràidh, Love both to God and all mankind Sneachd 'n a thòrran air a làr, Rules in the soul who rest shall tìnd. Dh' fhàg sud mo mhàthair fo leòn. Besides the above he wrote an elegy on the Dh' fhàg phiuthar fo thus death of his daughter, Elizabeth, who died in e mo Mis' bhi fàgail na dùthcha child-birth, March 9th, aged 41. ; 1866, 'Nuair a thng mi dhi mo chùl When she rose at early morning Bha a siiilean fliuch le deòir. Full of health, all blythe and gay, 'Nuair ràinig mi Glascho nam bùth, She never thought it was the dawning Ceò is deathach mu mo shùil, Of her last—her dying day. Ghabh mi sios gu an dock iir Will ye trifle any longer. 'S gu'n d' leum mi le sunnd air bòrd. Will ye not regard the call. Ye who think yourselves much stronger. Dh' f haighneachd mi de'n sgiobair am beath', " Ye may be the next to fall, An d' fhuair thu do chuid làmh gu leir?" Thuirt e, "Gabhaidh mi thu fein," Farewell, dear children, my life is past. 'S chuir mi mo phaipeir 'n a dhòrn. Your love for me so long did last. Grieve not for me, nor sorrow take, 'S gu'n a dh' fhaighneachd mi gun dàil, " ?" But love each other for my sake. C ait am bi i dol a ghnàths " Dol a dh' Australia an dràsd', He also published a small collection of religious !" " 'S cha'u fhaigh thu ni's feàrr ri d' bheo poems as an aflectionate warning, to which is 'S ann 's a' mhaduinn. Diardaoin, is upon added an appendix which very severe 'Chuir sinn an long m a sgaoil Christian women who ponder over amorous books, Dh' fliàg sinn as ar deigh a' Mhaoil, ballads, and romances, and all vain dressing of the Rachlin,* is Maoil Chinn-0. body and hair, quoting Tertulian on tlie women 'S cuimhne leam 'nuair bha mi maoth 'Buachailleachd mu'n chreagan chaoil, of his time, " What doth this cumbersome dress- Long nan crannaibh ri mo thaobh ing of the head contribute to your health ? Why Is biorain fraoich 'n a slatan seòl. will you not suffer your hair to be at rest and lie 'S gu'm mheal leam na mile criin quiet ? which is sometimes tied up, sometimes A bhi 'n dràsd' air tir 's an Dun, relayed and made to hang down, sometimes 'S mi gu'n togadh mach le sunnd An rathad ùr aig clann 'ic Leòid. frizzled and curled, sometimes put under a strict 'Nuair a ruiginn bràigh a' Bhàigh restraint of plaits, knots, combs, and otherwise, 'S a bheirinn siiil air gach ait, and sometimes suffered to Hutter and Hy at Chithinn Bhaternish mo ghràidh random." It is equally severe upon men for Le ditheana air bhàrr a f heòir. " drinking healths, tippling, carding, dicing, 'S bheirinn siiil air Loch a' Bhàigh Le 'aibhnichean 's lochan tàmh dancing, theatre- going, &c., &c., all the work ; Chi thu gach sgiobair le 'bhàt, of the Devil ! and the houses for such are called Gabh iasgair le ràmh 'n a dhòrn. " by the Fathers and Doctors ot the Church " the Sealladh a's bòidhche 's an tir, Devil's temples, chapels, shops, and schools, the Bràigh an Fhàsaich 's Forsabrithearah, plays are called by them the Devil's spectacles, Trumpan is Borra Feitheach, and the players the Devil's chiefest factors, evi- Eilean Isài 's an Aird Mhòr. dently culled from the works of divines by a very religious man. * Rathlin, Mull of Cantyre, and Mull of Oa. ; ; ;

ORAN BODAICHEAN DHUN-HALLIN. Mar sin 's anbharra cùbhraidh LE TORMOD DONULLACH. 'Tighinn bho 'n tùr a tha taitneach. Is bòidhche sealladh 'n am eirigh Gur e mo ghòraich 'thug dhomhsa Ri latha greine le 'bhrataich. Tir m' eòlais a thrèigsinn, Dol a sheòladh Long nan seòl Mu am eirigh na greine 'Nuair ri stòras fhaotainn Maduinn chtUtein chiùin earrai^h, '8 'S ged tha mo phòca gann de'n or, ann leam a b'àille 'bhi gluasad Mil do bhruachagan fallain Gur mòr a chuirinn feuni air, ; 'S mi anns an Luing 's i dol do Chuibeig, Bhiodh an uiseag 's an smeòrach, '8 'S nach cluinn mi ann ach Beurla. gach ian a's bòidhche 's an ealtainn, A' seinn a chiùil a bhiodh pròiseil 'bha'n Dun-hallin 'S truagh nach mise Na do sheòmraichean fasgach. Far 'n a dh'àraicheadh òg mi. Far 'bheil mo mhàthair measg mo chàirdean Sios gu bearradh nan Oan Is Tormod ban a' còmhnuidh, Aite 's bòidhche do'n talamh, Far 'bheil an tè dho'n d'thug mi gràdh, 'Nuair thig samhradh nan neòinean

Cha'n'eil 's an ait ni's bòidhche ; Bidh do chòmhdach mar shneachda Ma's e 's an dan dhomh pilleadh slàn, 'Nuair thig samhradh nan neòinean

Gu'n gabh mi bàt'-a'-cheò ann. Bidh do chòmhdach mar shneachda ; Cha'n'eil bean-bainnse 's an t-saoghal Sud an t-;iit do'n d'thug mi gràdh, Clio maiseach aogas ri d' leachdainn. '8 e Hallin 'is ainm dha, • O bhràighe Fhasaich sios mu'n (Jhàrnaich, '8 lionmhor diùc is duin'-uasal 'S lionmhor gearr shruith meanmnach ; (Tu'm b'e 'luaidh a bhi faisg ort 'Nuair thig am blàths 's an core a' fas, Le gunna 'bheòil chruadhach '8 am buntàta cha searg e, 'Direadh suas air do leachdainn ; Bidh snieòrach seinn air bharr gach geig' Le gunna 'bheoil chruadhach A' cur an ceill a seanachas. 'Direadh suas air do leachdainn, Tha làithean m' òig-sa mar an ceo Far 'm faighte pheasant 's an ruadh-bhoc Bho'n bha mi òg 'an Trumpan Anns na cluaineagan fasgach. eòlach— Measg dhaoine còire fearail Dhe na shiubhail mi riamh Cha'n'eil beò ach trii\ir dhiubh ; Eadar Grianaig is Glascho, Gur e am bàs a sguab an t-àite, Dun-eideann nam bùthannan, Cha'n'eil fàth 'bhi tiirsach ; Clach-nacùdain is Farrais, 'g leughadh, B'e sgeula deurach leam a Cha do phriob mi mo shùil Gu'n dh'eug Nial Mac Fhionnlaidh, Air aite 's ciibhraidh ri fhaicinn Bha Dòmh'all Shaw, duine taitneach, Na na coillteagan uaine '8 lionmhor cridhe brònach ; 'Tha mu chuairt air an aitreabh. Iain MacNab, Padruig Ban, ^ Ged is ainmeil an t-àite Mo chàirdean 's mo luchd-eòlais, Bràigh Bhàrr is Blàr Athol Iain MacCalum 's Aonghus Petan, Agus Appain nam Meinearrach 8ud an sgeul a lebn mi Taobh an iar Abbair Pheallaidh, Thug deòirean dlùth bho iomadh stiil Cha'n'eil sealladh cho àlumn An uair a bhi 'g an còmhdach, '8 'tha 's an Fhàsach ri fhaicinn, 8guiridh mi nis dhe mo rann '8 cha'n'eil sid dhomhsa 'n a annas Bho'n nach ann ach gòraich' Gach ni maiseach 'tha 'tàmh ann. A' smaointeachadh air tir nam beann Far a bheil a' chlann 'is bòidhche 'S ann as a dh'fhalbh a' bhean-uasal bàigheil '8 a' mhaduinn bhòidheach Chèitein 'Bha truasail ciùin ; A' dol 'n an treud do'n mhòine, Bu leatha beannachd nam boclida

Ceòl 'bu bhinne leam fo'n ghrèin Fad a cuairb anns an fhàsach ; 'Bhi 'g eisdeachd an cuid òran. Ach 's ni cinnteach ri aithris (Ju bheil i 'n diugh ann am Pàrras FA8ACH Air a gloidheadh gu mùirneaoh SONG ON THE VIEW FROM Anns a' chùirt 's a bheil Abraham. BRIDGE.* Ach saoil mi 'bha gun aire MURDOCH MACLEAN, KNOCKBREAK, WATERNISH, nach BY 'Nuair smaointich mi teannadn SKYE. a Ri moladh am Fàsaich,

'S mi 'n am shuidhe 'n am ònar Aite a's àillidh air thalamh ; 'G amharc mòralachd Bhatornish, Ged bhiodh Donnachadh Ban Mac-an-t-8aoir Coin nan cnò ann 's annsachach, Bard gun fhaoilt air an talamh, Gu'm beadarrach 'bhi faisg ort, '8 gann gu'm moladh e 'n Gàidhlig Mar 'thoilleadh Fàsach 'n am ealadh. * Captain MacDonald'a Estate. —

IAIN DOMHNULLACH Mi-fhin gu h-uallach 's piob ri m' ghualainn 'Cluich nan nuallan (John MacDonald). eibhinn. 'S iomadh caileag bhoidheach chuimir, In volume xxi. of the Transactions of the Gaelic 'Bhios 'nan suidh aig cuibhle, Society of Inverness thei'e was a paper read on STiiomh nan r^lag, 'seinn nan luinneag, Bidh gach iorram the 26th November, 1896, for Mr Neil MacLeod, bhinn ac'— An snath 'is boidhche falbli bho 'm mebirean the bard of the Society, entitled, Edinburgh, Gothrom, còmhnard, sìnte, " Beagan Dhiiilleag bho Sheann Bhàrdachd 'S am fait 'na chuaich air cheil an cluais Eilean-a' cheo," in which he relates some jioems 'S e togta suas le cirean. by the old Skye bards. Amongst others there is 'N uair bha mi og mu'n d' rinn mi posadh a song of eleven verses by the subject of this brief Bha mi gorach aotrom, Falbh gu spnrsail 'measg nan oighean, sketch. John MacDonald, better known as Sud an seol 'bu chaomh leam " ; Iain Mac Dhondinuill-'ic-Alasdair," a native of 'S an tè bhiodh coir 's a bheireadh pbg dhomh Shuidhinn stolt' ri Uig, in the Isle of Skye, was born about 1797. 'taobh-sa ; 'So' n te nach fuilingeadh ball'n a coir dhiom, He began life by enlisting in the 42nd High- Gheibhinn dòrn mu'n aodann. landers. His father, however, not approving of 'N uair thig an geamhradh's am nam bainnsean, his continuing the life of a soldier, bought him Gheibh sinn dram no l'òiseachd ; out of the army, and he returned to his native Bidh Nollaig chridheil aig cloinn-nighean S aig ria gillean glen at Uig. He afterwards spent twenty-eight òga ; Na mnathan fein gu subhach, years at the herring fishing, and generally spent eibhinn, 'S iad a' gleusadh òran ; the winters at home. He composed a good many 'S bidh dram aig bodaich anns an fhodar— poems and songs, most of which are now difficult Sogan orra 'còmhradh. to recover. He died in 1875, at the age of seventy- There are other four verses in a similar strain. five years. I The song gives a faithful picture of peasant life in The following are a few verses from one of his his day, and, upon the whole, is an indication of songs : considerable talent. Dh' eirich niise maduinn chiùin 'iS gu'n thog sinn siùil ri garbh-chroinn, Chunnacas dubhradh mòr is dùdlachd. MACDONALD MUSICIANS. An dara taobh 'n uair dh' fnalbh sinn ; 'S gu'n shèid i bras le borb-thuinn chas,

'S i tighinn a mach gu gailbheach ; Intimately connected with the bards were the 'S i ruith le sùgh air bhàrr gach stùchd, musicians, especially the harpists, R i togail smùid na fairge, and in later times, the bagpipers and violinists. Bu mhath bhi 'n uair sin feadh na luachrach The last of the Highland harpists was a clansman, viz., Murdoch MacDonald, harper to MacLean of Coll. Ruith mu'n cuairt gu siùbhlach ; He studied with Kory Dall, in the Island of Skye, Mi fhin 's mo chruinneag ri mo ghualainn, 'S deamhais chruadhach diiint' aic', and afterwards in Ireland, and remained with Gach fear 's gille ruith mu'n cuairt MacLean as a harper until 1734, after which he 'S bhiodu Dòmhnull Ruadh le 'chù ann. retired to Quinish in Mull, where he died. He is Sud an gleann 'is bòidhche sealladh, still spoken of as " Murchadh Clarsair," and his Ann am maduinn reòta, son " Le caoraicb gheala, dhubh, 'us ghlasa, was distinguished as Eoin Mac-Mhurchaidh

Cuid dhiu tarr-fhionn, brògach ; Chlarsair." 'S bidh lair le'n searraich 'm bun gach bealaich The Rev. Patrick MacDonald, Kilmore, near Suas ri srath nan lointean : Oban, was a famous violinist, 'S a dh' aindeoin gaillionn no fuachd Earraich, and author of the Cha 'n iarr mart ann crodhadh. first collection of the vocal airs of the Highlands, 'S iomadh caileag chuimir, ghuanach, which was published in 1784, a work for which all Tha ann ri cuallaeh spreidhe, true Highlanders will for ever feel grateful. This Le cuman 's buarach dol do'n bhuaile, first great collector of Highland Music 'S laoigh was born mu'n cuairt di 'geumnaich ; B'e' n cebl nach b' fhuathach leam an duanag at the manse of Durness, in Sutherlandshire, on 'Na suidhe luadh air clèithe. the 22nd of April, 1729, and died at Kilmore, — —

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Argyllshire, on the 25th September, 1824, at the Bannockburn in 1314 as using tubae (tubes), great age of 95 years.* Litui (clarions and cornets), and cornua (horns). also mentions that the piobaireachd It is not known whether he composed any MacKay " poems or songs, but his essay on " the influence known by the name of Bealach nam Broaig," " of poetry and music upon the Highlanders is a composed at that battle in 1229, is perhaps the very able and exhaustive one, exhibiting much oldest pibroch extant, though this species of research and learning, and he was unsurpassed music existed before then. in his day as a violinist. His daughter, Flora, In the Chapel of Roslyn there is the sculpture was a poetess, but I have not been able to pro- of a cherub playing on a bagpipe, with a book spread cure any of her poems. A generation ago a great before it, showing that in an early age deal more than we now know could have been A.D. 1446, the date in which the Chapel was erected Sinclair, of the collected about the Highlands, but the harvesters by William Earl Orkney— bagpipes played not ear alone, were few in number, consequently a great deal were by but from some musical notation. has been lost for ever. In Mr Baptie's " Musical Scotland," published The following are the most important Mac- in 1S94, there are about twenty-five more or less Donald pibrochs : famous musicians, some of whom were poets as 1. Piobaireachd Dhomhnuill Duibh t—Black well, the most famous of whom were the Kev. Donald Balloch of the Isles' War-tune, when pre- paring for the battle of Inverlochy, in and Patrick MacDonald already mentioned, and his 1427 ; " Spaidsearachd Alastair Charaich," — Alastair Joseph ; Sir Alex. Lord MacDonald, brother, Carrach's March. born in 1743 ; John MacDonald, Dundee, author 2. " Ceann na Drochait Mhòr," the head of the of " the Maids of Arrochar," nine famous minuets, big bridge, was composed during the battle, 1431. It MacDonald, born and other pieces ; Alexander should be mentioned, however, that Donald Dubh, about 1770, author of " the notation of music the Chief of the Camerons, was also present at the battle on the of the forces, simplified," &c. ; Donald MacDonald, born about same side Royal were defeated. It from this Donald 1780, a son of John MacDonald of Skye, who had who was Dubh that the Camerons derived their patrony- spoken to Prince Charlie, drew water from a mic appellation of " Mac Dhonuill Duibh," or son spring for him, and killed trout for Dr. Johnson's of the Black Donald. J breakfast, who knew the MacCrimmon system of 3. "Ceann na drochait bhig," the head of the lived to the age of 106. His articulate music, and little bridge, or Clan-gathering, composed at the son, Donald, was the author of the famous " Col- battle fought by Montrose against the Campbells lection of the Ancient Martial Music of Scotland," in 1645, when the MacDonalds were again 1831. Malcolm MacDonald, Dunkeld, 1750, victorious. author of four collections of reels, &c. ; and 4. "Làmh Dhearg Chlann Domhnuill."—The Hugh MacDonald, Glasgow, born in 1817, and red hand in the MacDonald arms. died in 1860; he was an excellent poet, and is 5. " Failte Chlann Domhnuill," " The Mac- Donalds' Salute," by Donald Mòr Mac Crimmon. mentioned elsewhere ; and several others until we comedown to the famous Sandy MacDonald, of 6. " Failte Chlann Raonuill," no " Failte Mhic Skye, who also composed some songs, as well as Mhic Ailein,"—Clan Ronald's Salute. having been a splendid violinist of Scotch music. 7. " Caismeachd a' Phiobaire da Mhaighstir," " In order to complete my sketch of the Mac- no Piobaireachd Dhunnaomhaig,"—the pipers warning to his master, or Piobaireachd of Duny- Donald Bards and musicians this seems the most veg, 1646 or 1647. suitable place to mention some of the most famous 8. " Muirt Ghlinne-Comhann," the Massacre of MacDonald pibrochs. Glencoe, on 13th February, 1692. Giraldus Cambriensis, who died in 1225, men- " 9. " Failte Ridir Seumais nan Eilean Sir tions the bagpipe as a British instrument, and — James MacDonald of the Isles' Salute, by William at the battle of Major represents the Scots MacDonald of Vallay. * of the life of the Rev. For a biographical sketch " Patrick MacDonald, see a paper by the author in the t Logan's Scottish Gael." " Celtic Monthly ' for April, 1898. t Brown's History of the Highlands. — — —

10. " Spaidsearachd Dlionuill Ghruamaicli,"*— 25. " An Cath Gailbheach,"—the desperate Donald Gmamach of Sleat's lament for the death battle fought at the Cuchullin Hills, Isle of Skye, of his elder brother. between the MacDonalds and MacLeods. 11. " Leannan Dlionuill Ghruaniaich" (Grim 26. " La Blàr Druim-Thalasgar," the battle of Donald's sweetheart.) Waternish, fought between the Uist MacDonalds and MacLeods of Skye. 12. " A' Ghlas-Mheur,"— the finger-lock, on " account of the intricacy of the grace notes render- 27. There is also a fine lament,"called the ing it more difficult to play than ordinary Chieftains," to which words are sung, on the pibrochs, composed by RaonuU Mac Ailein Oig, unfortunate death of the Colonel of Glengarry's one of the MacDonalds of Morar. regiment, who fell in the streets of Falkirk after the victory over the Royal troops in January, 13. "Gill Chriosda," — Glengarry's March, 1746, by the accidental discharge of the gun of played by Glengarry's piper at the b\irning of the one of Clan Ranald's men. church of " Gill Chriosda," or Christ's Church- where a number of people had taken refuge—in 28. Besides the pibroch for the Keppoch tragedy, " revenge for the murder of Aonghas a Ghaoil,t of Cumha na piuthar," there is a slow pathetic the Glengarry family, by the Culloden people. song of three uneriual measures, called "A Cheapaich 'na fasaich," Keppoch desolate—and 14. " Blàr Sròn " commemorates a desperate conflict between the MacDonells of Glengarry, and 29. "Blàr Mhaol Ruaidh," or "Thug clann MacKenzies, at a place so called in Western Ross. Dòmhnuill am liruthach orr'," to the battle of Mulroy, the last clan battle fought in the High- 15. " Cumha na Piuthar,"— the sister's lament lands, in 1688. for the sons of Donald Glas XI. of Keppoch, who were murdered by the next in succession. 30. There is also a Keppoch gathering called " An tarbh breac-dheirg" which resulted from the 16. " Fàilte Fir Bhoisdail,"—a salute to following incident : —On one occasion one of the Alastair Mor MacDonald, first of Boisdale, upon Keppoch chiefs visited Locheil on some business, his taking possession of the estate. when the latter, who had an old score to settle, 17. " Cruinneachadh Chlann Raonuill,"—the loosed a furious bull which he hoped would kill gathering of the MacDonalds of Clan Ranald to Keppoch, but the tables were turned, as Keppoch the battle of Sheriftmuir, in 1715, where the chief killed the bull. The pibroch begins :— Avas slain. 'Se an tarbh breac deirg, 18. " Cumha Raonuill Mhic Ailein Oig," 'Se an tarbh breac deirg, Lament for Ronald MacDonald of Morar. 'Se an tarbh breac deirg a niharbh mi. (" Mac-Allisdrum's) 19. " Cumha Mhic Mhic Alastair,"—Glen- 31. Alex. MacDonald's garry's lament, by Archibald Munro. March" was composed by Alexander MacDonald, who commanded a party of Highlanders in the 20. " A' Bhòilich," the Vaunting, by J— Ronald Irish service under Lord Taafe, at the engage- of Morar. MacDonald ment with the Parliament army, near Mallow, on 21. " Cumha Bhan-Tighearna Mhic Dhomhn- the 13th of November, 1647. uill," — Lady MacDonald's lament, by Angus 32. There is also a " Cumha Fear Ceann Loch- MacArthur. Muidart," to MacDonald of Kinloch Moidart, in 22. " A Mhic Iain Mhic Sheumais,"— celebra- Ross's Collection, and several marches to Mac- ting a battle between the MacDonalds and Mac- Donalds—and last but not least (33) " Flora Mac- Leods. There is also a fine " oran luaidhe " to Donald's lament for Prince Charlie." same wounded, the when and sung to drown his In Major-General Thomson's elaborate work moans. there are the following additional MacDonald 23. " Blàr-lèine,"—the shirt battle, fought at pibrochs : Kinloch Lochy between the Frasers of Lovat and MacDonalds of Clan Ranald and Keppoch, and so 34. Angus MacDonald's Assault—" lonnsaidh called from the parties having stripped to their Aonghais Bhig Mhic Dhomhnuill." shirts. 35. Lady Margaret MacDonald's salute " 24. " Cumha Fear-Foghluim nanDòmhnullach," Fàilte Ban-Tighearna Mhic Dhomhnuill." —the MacDonald's tutor lament. 36. Cumha Morair Chlann Dòmhnuill.

* MacDonald's " Martial Music of Scotland.' 37. "Cumha an RidireSeumas Mac Dhomhnuill, t Aonghas a choile Lagan, Vol. II. nan Eilean," Lament for Sir James MacDonald of

{ Angus MacKay's Collection of Ancient Pibrochs. the Isles, by C. MacArthur. a

38. " Tha Clann Domhnnill Socharach " (The and before she ever saw him she and Lady MacDonalds are simple). Clanranald were constantly devising schemes for 39. " Spaidsearachd Mhic Dhomhnuill" (the the safety and escape of the fugitive Prince. March of the MacDonalds). "Twelve powerful and trustworthy men who 40. Crninneachadh Chlann Raonnill (sliabh an could acquit themselves by sea or land were t-Siorra,") MacDonald of Clan Ranald's gathering selected by Lady Clanranald to be in readiness to Sheritt'muir. night and day in case their services might be 41. MacDonald of Kinloch Moidart's salute. required." Flora frequently conversed with these 42. " Uaille Chlann Domhnnill " (the parading gallant Highlanders who had seen the Prince on of the MacDonalds.) several occasions, though she had not. One 43. " Cuniha Alastair Dheirg " (lament for morning as two of them had come to Ormiclate to Alexander MacDonald of Glengarry). report how the Prince had passed the night, she 44. " Cnmha Dhomhnuill an Lagan " (lament met them at the door and asked them in Gaelic, for MacDonald of Laggan). "Am bheil e laghach?" Is he nice? "Am 45. Lament for Captain MacDonald. bheil e aoidheil ? " Is he cheerful? "Am bheil

e idir iriosal agus taitneach ? " Is he at al 1

humble and pleasant ? On another occasion she POEMS AND SONGS IN HONOUR OF jocularly remarked to them that she could direct FLORA MACDONALD. them how to become far wealthier than Clan- ranald. " Oh, do tell us how that can come to Flora MacDonald, the historic heroine in the " pass. More wealthy than our noble chief ! Oh, last drama of the Jacobite period, and the yes, perfectly true," said Flora. "Go immed- deliverer of Prince Charles from the clutches of iately and give up the Prince to my step-father. his enemies, was the daughter of Ranald Mac- Captain Hugh MacDonald, and as sure as the Donald, younger of Milton, in South Uist. She sun is now shining in the firmament you shall was born in 1722, and was 24 years of age when have £15,000 a piece for your loyalty." The she first met the Prince in the Long Island in 1746. answer was short but decisive: " Nior leigeadh Her patronymic was "Fionnghal, nighean Ni Maith ! Ochan ! ged gheibheamaid an saoghal Raonuill 'ic Aonghais Oig, an Airidh Mhuilinn," mu'n iadh a' ghrian, cha bhrathamaid ar that is. Flora, daughter of Ranald, the son of n-oganach Rioghail gu bràth." " Goodness for- Angus, younger of Milton. Her mother was bid ! Alas ! should we receive the world around Marion, daughter of the Rev. Angus MacDonald, which the sun revolves we would never betray " ministear làidir " strong Am —the minister— our Royal youth."* Neither they would, and the mild, generous, and most hospitable gentleman. writer does not believe that any genuine High- Her father was a cadet of the family of Clan- lander even at the present day would betray him, ranald, not very distantly related, and her grand- but he would not be answerable for the oiitsiders mother was a daughter of MacDonald of Largie, who now infest the Highlands. After an un- in Kintyre, so that she was well connected on successful attempt to escape to Stornoway and botli sides of the house. She was the only return to Benbecula, and much negotiation and daughter of the family, but she had two brothers. scheming between Clanranald and his lady, The elder, Ranald, a very promising youth, died Boisdale, MacDonald, Baileshear, and Flora from the bursting of a blood vessel —from an over- MacDonald, it was at last arranged—Captain strain in rowing a boat against an adverse wind ; O'Neil and Neil MacEachainn being all along so that the younger brother, Angus, succeeded faithful attendants, that the Prince should make his father at Milton, while her mother in 1728 his escape to Skye accompanied by Flora and married as her second husband, Hugh MacDonald Neil MacEachainn only, in which she nobly re- of Armadale, in Skye, a captain of militia in the marked to Lady Clanranald, —" Think not, dear Long Island during the Prince's wanderings there. lady, for a moment, that I consider my own Flora's adventurous history began shortly after the Prince landed in South Uist in April, 1746, * Rev. Alex. MacGregor's Life of Flora MacDonald. —

115

personal danger ; certainly not, for T am ready Skye, they drew near land, when, to their dismay and willing at any hour to peril my life to there was a large party of the MacLeod militia

forward the enterprise, if you think that there is on the beach waiting their arrival ! The crew " even a shadow of a chance of success. My only shouted simultaneously, Mach i ! mach i !

! " dread is not for myself, but for the ruin that niaj mach i ! air ball " Out with her ! out with " be entailed upon my noble friend, Sir Alexander her ! to sea with her immediately ! The militia MacDonald, if I succeed in conveying the Royal being disappointed, and having no boat fit to fugitive to his estates in Skye." After having pursue, opened fire at once upon them and riddled secured passports from her step- father, Captain their sails, and one ball cleft the handle of the Hugh MacDonald, for herself, Neil MacEachainn, helm, and grazed the steerman's fingers, but did and a female servant, named Betty Burke (the no further harm. The Prince stood up and Prince in disguise) and six boatmen, they pro- cheered the crew and told them not to ceeded at ten o'clock at night on Friday, the 27tli mind the villains, and it took some time to *June, 1746, to the shore where it was previously induce Flora to sit on tiie ballast, which she arranged they should meet the boat. It was refused to do so long as the Prince exposed him- raining in torrents as it usually does among the self. At last when the bullets were whizzing past Western Islands, and to their great horror they their ears, the Prince, Flora, and Neil Mac- saw several wherries filled with armed men sailing Eachainn sat on the ballast Hags, and remained in within gunshot of the spot where they lay con- that position until the boat had got beyond the cealed, However, they gradually moved away. reach of danger. They landed safely in Skye on " About an hour after, their own boat rowed up Saturday the 28th, at Kilbride, in the parish of with muffled oars to the spot where they were Kilmuir, and within 500 yards of the house of awaiting its arrival, and they immediately em- Monkstadt, the residence of Sir Alexander Mac- barked on their perilous journey across the Minch Donald of the Isles, after a voyage of about to Skye, a distance of about thirty-five to forty sixeen or seventeen hours. There was a small miles (hardly so much). The whole channel was cave under a shelving rock near the landing place scoured by Government vessels, which made the in which the Prince took shelter, making a seat undertaking much more dangerous, and to add of Flora's trunk, while she, accompanied by Neil to their anxiety, a tempestf arose a few hours MacEachainn, walked at once to Monkstadt after leaving the shore, accompanied by thunder house, while for a short time the Prince was left and lightning, by which they lost their reckoning, alone in the cave, which some poet has recorded having no compass—probably no one on board as follows :— could steer by one if they had. 'Tis midnight ! a lone boat is on the sea, And dark clouds gather, but no thoughts of fear

The boat was an open one, about twenty-four feet Chill those brave hearts ! A princely refugee Disguised—a faithful maiden sitting near, keel, and one of the best in the island, still she Upon whose cheek anon there falls a tear

had enough to do in such weather, with seas Fond woman's pledge of sympathy ; a crew, Trusty and gallant, labour at the oars. rolling of mountains high in the dead the night. The shifting wind while showers of sprey uprears The rowers plied their oars steadily, though at Like incense heavenv/ard ; the waters roar, While from huge murky clouds the lurid lightning times they instinctively exclaimed to each other, pours.

Ochan ! is ! is e tha ! is Ochan garbh e tha To add to their hair-breadth escapes Flora !" garbh ! alas ! it is rough, it is "Alas rough," MacDonald found another party of Militia under The Prince behaved nobly throughout, so did Captain John MacLeod, son of Donald MacLeod Flora. they approached the point of When of Balmeanach, at Monkstadt, but with excellent Waternish, a promontory on the north west of tact Flora managed to put the militia officers oil the scent, and it was arranged that old Kings- * In Brown's History of the Highlands, the 28th of June is the date mentioned, the same date is also burgh should accompany the Prince and Flora to stated in Vol. XXIII. of the Scottish History Society, his own place next day. Neil MacEachainn and that there were only four boatmen. meantime supplied the Royal fugitive in his cave with refreshments and blankets. Several amus- — ;

ing incidents occurred regarding the awkwardness their English in Lowland Scotch, and don't do it of the Prince in woman's clothes, at which he now, except in those instances of people who have himself laughed heartily on hearing the remarks resided a long time in the Lowlands. This is not made about him. finding fault with the Lowland doric, which is a Sir Alexander MacDonald's cattleman entered most expressive language, and, according to some, the servant's hall at Monkstadt late in the even- a most beautiful language. We only wish to ing in a very excited state, and exclaimed in keep it in its own place. The Highlanders have " Gaelic, Lord preserve us ! I saw a large female their own pronunciation, which is characteristic quickly traversing the fields betwixt this and the enough as will be seen presently. fort, with a long stick in her hand, with a curious But to return to the Koyal party—they arrived hood on her head, and with a remarkable dress on at Kingsburgh about midnight, where the Prince her person. Undoubtedly she must be one of was most hospitably entertained, and after dis- those whom the fairies had locked up in their cussing several bowls of punch* retired to rest at chambers in the fort, who contrived to escape. I a late hour, and slept till two o'clock in the after- never beheld one to be compared with her in the noon of the 30th. On being awakened, and after shape of a worldly creature." partaking of some refreshments, the party started On the following afternoon,* on their way to for Portree, Kingsburgh accompanying them apart Kingsburgh, the party were met by some country of the way,t Flora MacDonald having taken a people returning from church, who, after saluting different way in order to meet the Prince there. Kingsburgh, stared at the uncommon size and When some distance from Portree the Prince, slovenly appearance of the Irish lass that strode dressed in a suit of Kingsburgh's to continue his " so recklesslike along ! Some remarked O ! journey, and on the latter bidding him farewell, faicibh am boirionnach neonach sin ! Faicibh na he embraced Kingsburgh in his arms, and bade ceuman mora, fada, aig an nighean ghairbh, him a long and happy adieu, and in a most

ghobhlaich sin ! Ochan ! nach dàna, slaodach, affectionate manner thanked him for hÌ3 services.

neo-sgiobalta, drabasta an sgliurach i ! Is cinnt- Tears fell from the eyes of both, and a few drops

! each gur ann de shliochd nam famhair i " O ! see of blood from the Prince's nose. Kingsburgh was

that strange woman ! Behold the big wide steps alarmed at seeing the blood, but the Prince told

of that rude, long-legged dame ! Eh me ! what a him this was usual with him on parting with dear bold, untidy, slovenly, uncouth slattern she is ! friends. At Portree, on parting with the gallant

Surely she must be one of the giant race ! f Flora, he laid hold of both her hands and bade James Hogg relates that on this memorable her a tender and affecting farewell, and thanked occasion in wading a rivulet Neil MacEacbainn her for her generous aid. He then handed her his portrait in gold locket, and said he cautioned the Prince that he was not managing a hoped yet to meet her at the Court of St. James. Of this his skirt in feminine fashion, at which he again parting a poet sang laughed heartily, and thanked him. Miss Flora Amid the shells and shingle on the shore. MacDonald's maid also remarked, " Bless me, The Stewart Prince a nd Flora met to part " " what lang strides she takes, and how awkwardly Devoted one," he said, I love thee more Than tongue can utter ; ever in this heart she wurks her petticoats. I dare say she is an My fair preserver's name will hold a place : I hope, dear Flora, at no distant day. Irish woman, or a man in woman's claes. I be- With mine the throne and honours of my race, lieve these Irish women could fecht as weel as the I can in deeds thy neble deeds repay. men." Farewell ! thou faithful one." It jars upon a West Highlander's ear to find * As the Prince did not seem inclined to go to bed, Kingsburgh got hold of the bowl to lock it up, but the " broad Scotch " put into the mouths of Gaelic- Prince tried to prevent him doing so, and the bowl got speaking Highlanders. They never pronounced broken between them. One half is now in possession of Miss Margaret Macalister Williamson of Glasgow. t In the Scottish History Society's account there is * The Scottish History Society's account says that no mention of Kingsburgh having gone part of the the Prince went on to Kingsburgh on the day of his way with the Prince. It says his guide was a little arrival in Skye. This is unliltely, on account of the boy named MacQueen. The writer doubts if this is distance and nature of the country, correct. Kingsburgh would never allow siich an im- t Rev. Alex. MacGregor's Life of Flora MacDonald. portant guest to be guided by a mere boy. !

Another beautiful poem by " Fear Gheasto," internal evidence of not having been composed by MacLeod of Gesto, entitled " Farewell to Skye," a person of such refined feelings as our noble, describes the Skye scenery which our heroine heroic, and maidenly Flora MacDonald undoubt- loved so well, and in which her name is edly possessed. Besides, the last verse mentioned mentioned. that her brother and father had been killed. We must, therefore, search for the real author on the Farewell, lovely Skye, sweet Isle of my childhood, Thy blue mountains I'll clamber no more, mainland. Thy heath-skirted corries, green valleys and wildwood,

I now leave behind for a far distant shore : A native of Kilmaluag in Skye, informs me Adieu, ye stern cliffs, clad in old hoary grandeur, that when she was a child she used to delight in being with a good old man above 80 years of age, who would tell her tales and sing songs as a re- How painful to part from the misty-robed Coollin, ward to herself and other children for helping him The Alps of Great Britain, with antlered peaks high, Bold Glamaig, Coruisk. and sublime ScuirnagiUin, to herd the cows and keep them on their own Make mainland grand mountains look dull, tame, and shy; pasture. From him she learned the song to Majestic Quiraing, fairy palace of nature. Prince Charles, somewhat different from Mac- Stormy Idrigill, Hailleaval, and cloud-piercing Stoer, And the shining spar cave like some beacon to heaven, Kenzie's, but evidently the same song. It was All I deeply lament, and may never see more composed by neither a bard nor a lover, but by a Once more dearest Isle, let me gaze on thy mountains. loving peasant woman—assuming a fictitious Once more let the village church gleam on my view ; And my ear drink the music of murmuring fountains. character and sorrow to beguile the pursuei's of friends adieu. While I bid to my old and my young her unfortunate Prince, and set them oft' his Farewell, Lovely Skye, lake, mountain and corrie. track. When Prince Charlie was wandering on Brown isle of the valiant, the brave and the free. Ever green to thy sod, resting-place of my Flora, the mainland somewhere behind Arisaig, he was sighs are for Skye, tears are for thee. My my closely pursued one day, and contrived to get un- It is not known whether Flora MacDonald her- perceived into a hut, where the goodwife immedi- self composed any songs, but the following Gaelic ately recognising him, took her wool and spinning composition in MacKenzie's " Beauties of Gaelic wheel, hiding him at the same time by covering Poetry," was entitled and marked by a lady, him with her skirt and whatever coverings were " Miss Flora MacDonald's Lament for Prince at hand—carding with great diligence—she began Charles," amongst the author's M.S. collection of to sing the following lament in tearful and pathetic papers. strains so as to give the men outside the im- ORAN DO PHRIONNSA TEARLACH. pression that the Prince must now be far away. As she alluded to having seen a party after him Fhir ud 'tha thall mu àiridh nan Comhaichean, B' fhearr leam fhin gu'n cinneadh gnothach leat, yesterday, they did not enter the dwelling, but Shiùbhlainn Gleann-laoidh a's Gleann'-Comhan, were satisfied to lean against the opening between Da thaobh Loch-iall a's Gleann'-tadha leat. the thatch and the wall which served the purpose Chorus. of a window, and listen to the song to which they Hillirin hò-rò ho blia ho raised the chorus " Na-hi ibh o," at the end of 'S na hillirin hò-rò ho bha hi, each verse. Afterwards singing the poor woman's Na hillirin hò-rò ho bha ho, song as they went on their way, they gave it a Mo leann-dubh mòr o'n chaidh tu dhiora. kind of celebrity, which as a lyric it did not merit. Shiùbhlainn moch leat, shiiibhlainn ana-moch, In course of time its origin was forgotten, and Air feadh choilltean, chreagan, a's gharbhlach ; masculine verses added. old ! gur h-e mo ruin an sea'gair, some were The man 'S tu mo roghainn do sluagh Alba. associated in his youth—back in 1700—with Hillirin hò-rò, etc. people familiar with the incident which gave ris A Thearlaich òig a' chuailein chiataich to the song, which, of course, he never forgot. Thug mi gaol dut 's cha ghaol bliadhna. Gaol nach tugainn do dhiùc na dh' iarla, THE OLD MAN OF KILMALUAG'S VERSION OF B' fhearr leam fhin nach faca mi riamh thu. "OKAN DO PHRIONNS' TEARLACH." There are other four verses in MacKenzie's Fhir sin tha thall, 'an tir-nan-Athaichean, " version, p. 373 of the beauties," but they bear B'fhearr leam fhein, gu'n cinneadh gnothach leat 1 — — — —

ShiùbhlainnGleann-Laoich, 'usGleann-Conihan leat, Come along, come along. reidhìnn dh'am dheòin troimh Choiriche-Buidhe Wit your poatie and your song, 'S You two ponny maytens. leat. And tree ponny maytens. Na hì ibh ò ! For to-night it is tark, And te red coat is gane. Fhir sin 'tha thall 'an Tir-a'-Gharbhlaich, And you're pravely welcome

Shiubhlainn beann 'us gleann leat annioch ; To Skhee akain." Bha mi uair bu tu mo shealgair The above song was copied verbatim from the 'S ghabhainn thu'n roghainn air rogha fir Alba, mouth of Mrs Betty Cameron, from Lochaber, a Na hi ibh ò ! well-known character over a great part of the A Thearlaich òig, a Mhic Righ Seunias, Chunna' mi tòir mhòr an dè ort, Lowlands, especially for her great store of Jaco- ladsan gu sùbhach 's mis' gii deurach, bite songs, and her attachment to Prince Charles Uisge mo chinn 'cur dith air mo leiisinn, and the chiefs that sufiered in his cause, of whom

hi ibh b ! Na she never spoke without bursting into tears. She James Hogg, " the Ettrick Shepherd," one of said that the song was from the Gaelic, and James our best Jacobite bards, also gives " The Lament Hogg thouglit it had been translated by herself. of Flora MacDonald," translated from the Gaelic, No trace of the original now remains, which is and remarks that he got the original from his not at all surprising, as a great change came over friend, Neil Gow, who told him it was a transla- the whole Highlands shortly after the 'forty-five. tion from the Gaelic so rude that he could not Many of the people emigrated, some from disgust, publish it with the old air. Hogg versified it others from compulsion. Those most implicated anew, and improved upon it without altering one in the rebellion would be the most likely to pre- sentiment. The following are a couple of stanzas serve such a relic, and when these left their native

from it : country the song probably left with them, and

Far over yon hills of the heather so green, probably perished on some foreign and inhospit- And down by the Corrie that sings to the sea, able shore. Several other poets have also sang The bonnie young Flora sat sighing her lane, the praises of Flora MacDonald Sir Walter Scott The dew on her plaid, and the tear in her e'e ; — that She looked at a boat with the breezes swung and Professor Ayton in their works of fiction have Away on the wave like a bird of the main. And aye as it lessened she sighed and she sung, alluded to her in glowing terms. MacCodrnm, " again. Farewell to the lad I shall ne'er see the Uist poet, who never praised any woman, Farewell to my hero, the gallant and young. Farewell to the lad I shall ne'er see again. sang in her favour, and John Campbell, the " The moorcock that crows on the brow of Ben Connal Ledaig poet, wrote a beautiful Gaelic poem in He knew o' his bed in a sweet mossy hame ; her honour of which the following is a free The eagle that soars o'er the clifTs o' Clan-Ronald, translation :— Unaw'd and unhunted, his eyrie can claim ; The Solan can sleep on his shelf of the shore. The cormorant roost on his rock of the sea. 'Mid the pomp of huge London her heart was still yearning But oh ! there is ane whose hard fate I deplore, For her home in the corrie. the crag, and the glen ; Nor house, ha', nor hame, in his country has he ; The conflict is past, and our name is no more. Though fair be the daughters of England, the fairest There's nought left but sorrow for Scotland and me." And stateliest walks in the land of the Ben. What poet may praise her! her virtues to number. This poet, who by the way, persists in putting Would baffle the cunning of pencil and pen ; broad Scotch into West Highlanders' mouths, Though fair be the casket, the jewel is fairer The best of true hearts, for the best of good men. and in calling Neil MacEachainn Flora Mac- She is comely and kind, and of graceful greeting, Donald's servant, has come nearer the uneducated Erect and well girt, as a lady should show. Highlanders of old method of pronouncing English And a heart with warm blood, and a pulse ever beating, With loving reply te the high and the low. in " Prince Charles and Flora MacDonald's wel- On the occasion of her marriage another poet come to Skye," somewhat exaggerated : sang : " There are two penny maytens. And three ponny maytens. A Fhionnagl\ail chaoimh chaoimhneil, Come over the Minch, 'S tu sgàthan gach maighdinn, And come over te main 'S an reul-ii\il Iha toirt soillse Wit te wind for teir way, Dhaibh dh' oidhche 's a lò And te corrie for teir hame, ; Let us welcome tern pravely 'S oigh uasal air chinnte, Unto Skhee akain. An ribhinn ghlan òg, ;

De Chlann DòmhnuiU tlo-rireaclli, CONCLUDING REMARKS.

An ribhinn ghlan òg ; 'S gur àilleagan ciatach An ribhinn ghlan òg. In bringing these remarks concerning the Mac- She died on the 5th of March, 1790, universally Donald Bards—who have been separated from beloved and lamented. the other clan bards— to a close, it must not be It is needless at present to add any more to her inferred tliat there were no MacDonald bards noble self-sacrifice, and imperishable name and jirior to the middle ages. fame. Appended is a song to Flora MacDonald's Though we have no record of any, it is more father, by Campbell, an Uist poet :— Angus than probable that numbers existed. At any rate, there ORAN FIR AIRIDH-MHUILINN ; were bards in abundance amongst all ATHAIR FHIONNAOHAL PHOMHNULLAICH A the Celtic tribes, but the injunction of the Druids not to commit anything to writing, though they DH'FHALlill LK 'IIRIONNSA. had an alphabet upwards of fourteen hundred Slàn iomradh do'ii mharaich' years before the Christian era, must have caused A chunnaic mi seachad an ìè, Mac ud Aonghais Oig bheachdaidh, a considerable amount of Celtic literature to be Cha b'e 'n t-iomrall leam tachairt riut fehi lost after their own extinction. Equally calam- ioniluaisg' 'na aigne, Fear gun itous was the burning of lona no less than seven Bha gu siobhalta, stàideil 'an e eill, times with most of what was precious in it. Aig a' mheud s a bha 'thlachd ort, In Cha d'fhuaradh dhuit masladh no beum. the time of Saint Columba the bards were so Slàn o chunnart sud dhàsan, numerous that they had to be restrained and Cha teid duine 'g a àicheadh nach fiòr, restricted to singing to the glory of God, honour O'n 's i'n fhirinn a b' fheàrr leat, of the country, praise of heroes and females, and i 'S o'n 's i'n acfhuin a gnàthaich thu riamh ; exaltation of j^atrons and followers. The era of Mheud 's a fhuair mi dhe d' chòiread Ann an coraain an eòlas nach b'fhiach, Ossian is fixed in the third century, and he speaks Mi mi 'n uiread 's ad chòmhnadh of " the bards of old," showing that there were Fhad 's is urrainn do m' chòta 'ga dhiol. poems well known in his day which were then Gheibhte sud am beul feasgair, reckoned ancient. From tlie beginning of the 5th Ann ad fhàrdaich-sa, beadradli a's nniirn century there were numerous bai'ds, the remains Bùird mhòra 'gan leagadh, A's an àirneis bu dels as an cionn of whose works are still extant. The antiquaries Bhiodh na deoclmiina brasa of Wales enrol in their lists the names of several 'G am brosnucliadh seachad air thus, who are assigned an antiquity so remote that a Anns na eupanna breaca, Is fir òga 'g an aiseag gu dlùth. degree of scepticism is excited as to their exist- ence, and the Irish writers lay claim to national Gheibhte sud ann ad fhàrdaicli poetry three thousand years old.* Ceòl fidhl' agus dàna 'cur leis ; Tigh nan uinneagan clàraidh, The " Albanach Duan" delivered at the coron- Far faigheadh nah-àraidhean am meas ; ation of Malcolm III., in 1056, which can't be dis- Dhòmh-sa b' flmrasda rcàdhainn puted, consists of 21 verses, Gu'm b'e sud mo cheòl-gàire car greis, and proves that Cha bhiudh cuideachd mar dhàimh ort, metrical compositions existed in Gaelic before Bhiodh tu fhein 'n ad cheòl-gàire 'n am measg. 1056 ; for it bears traces of having been formed Tiiere are other three verses in the song, but from older records, though it does not mention the air to which it was sung is not stated. Tlie Fingal or his heroes. From the earliest dawn, song complete is to be found in Sinclair's however, of regular literature in Scotland, refer- " Oranaiche." ences are common enough to the Ossianic heroes. Barbour, the historian of Robert the Bruce, in 1375, mentions Fingal, and Gaul, the son of Morni. Dunbar, also in 1503, and Gawin Doug- las before 1522, as well as Hector Boece in 1520,

* Dr. O'Connor. —

120

3. The absence of any allusion to Christianity all mention the fame of these heroes, and in 1576, — " Avhich Avould be sure to produce a powerful im- in the first book printed in Gaelic Knox's Forms pression upon an uncultivated people, is very of Prayer and Catechism," Bishop Carswell, the translator, alludes with pious severity to histories significant. Any one Avriting for literaiy renoAvn extant and popular in the Highlands concerning could hardly avoid some allusion to it directly or warriors and champions, and Fingal and his indirectly. heroes. 4. —The ideas are sublime, the descriptions un- In the Dean of Lismore's book, the manuscript usually graphic beyond anything else known to " the references to caves ; and the narroAV of which was Avritten before 1537, and still to be us, and caol-taigh leac the of flag- seen in the advocate's Library, Edinburgh, are to house," nan — grave be found many incidents, and whole passages stones, or stone coffins ; and halls of shells, and which occur in MacPherson's translation. Of feasts of shells, pointtoan ancient state of existence these are the death of Oscar, the tales of Cuch- prior to the use of crockery and cutlery, etc. uUin and Conlach, and Fainasollis, the Maid of 5. —As it is quite clear MacPherson could not Craca, with reference to many other of the heroes possibly have foieseen that his translations Avould compositions preserved created such a furore in the literary Avorld, of Ossian ; several of these have by the Dean are headed " The author of this is it is extremely improbable, in fact certain, that Ossian." * he was nothing more than a translator, and even if fcAv lines, Avhich has by The writer has read most of the arguments for he did add a no means and against the authenticity and antiquity of the been proven, it Avould not attect the authenticity Avhole. Start with theory to Ossianic poems that have been published, and of the poems as a a suit idiosyncrasy, with arguments based on the notwithstanding all that has been adduced against of their genuineness, structure of a fluctuating ancient language no* them, he is firmly convinced j to very about, and un- and believes that they belong to the era claimed one seems know much ancient history, it is quite easy to for them, or, at any rate, are very ancient, for the written and arrive at a conclusion favourable to the following reasons : propounder. 1.— Because James MacPherson Avas considered 6. —Because it has been proven by the High- by people who knew him to be incapable of pro- land Society, and other independent individuals, ducing them, though likely enough he linked that many Ossianic poems existed over a great some of them together, and took the usual portion of the Highlands long before Mac- liberties allowed to a translator. The same Pherson's time. applief. to his coadjutor, MacPherson, Strath- 7. Because the Highlanders ahvays had a sort mashie. Both were fairly clever men, but the — of veneration for these ancient poems that they genius of a poet like Ossian Avas not in them. did not have for fabulous and romantic tales, 2. —The internal and external evidence to be fairy tales, and tales of superstition, and they found in the poems is against the possibility of were quite able to distinguish betAveen them. The their having been composed in modern times. unAvritten history of tlie Highlands consisted of The author lived in a world of ghosts, Avarriors, family tales, feudal tales, deeds of bravery, and hunters, Avith no allusion to a pastoral state gallantry, and hunting exploits. These they of society as Ave now understand it, no tillage, no stored carefully in their memories, and repeated flocks of cattle, sheep or goats, milkmaids, shep- them Avith pride. herds, small game, fishing, salmon, etc., so 8. Because the bards have done orally for frequently alluded to by modern Gaelic poets. — Higliland history Avhat Avriting has done in some These Avere beneath the notice of Ossian. His other countries. The bardic order Avere the de- hunters Avere of the deer and Avild boar. An positories of such knowledge, they accompanied allusion to a Avhite bull and a chariot does not the warriors in battle and recited their deeds, constitute a pastoral state. and they carefully preserved the best of it, and

" Iniroduction to Ossian's Poems, by G. Eyre Todd. handed it doAvn to their successors. 121

9. —Because the great majority of Gaelic- grounds is as likely to be wrong as light, it is speaking Highlanders who have lived amongst almost certain that the composer of Ossian's the people most of their lives, and have listened poems did not intend to impose upon and deceive to their tales, and who are not so blinded by future generations. Such a thing would never prejudice and scholarship as to torget the ancient enter the head of such a natural genius. state of society among the people, knowing their 16. —He who pins his faith on orthography is

customs and habits, and the great changes that also equally likely to blunder ; because a great have come over them within the last two hundred deal would depend on the scholarship of the years, believe the great majority of the poems to reciter, and the person writing down the poems. be genuine. So long as the order of the bards held together 10.—Because the few Gaelic-speaking scholars they were safe enough, but when the traditional the general who express doubts as to their authenticity poems came to be handed down by generally, follow some other Celtic scholar, public, some changes at least would most likely is evidence at all to prove generally of the German type, who, by nature of take place. There no Ossian his heroes were myths. his nationality and prejudices, is incompetent to that and decide the question— barring an exception like Dr. 17. —Though it is impossible to say when these August Ebrard, poems were composed, there is no reason to doubt

were not founded on facts ; and the 11. —Because whoever composed the Ossianic that they tenor of the poems indicate a very early poems it was not James MacPherson, and as whole in our history MacPherson did not compose them, the next most state of society—the earliest — and view of likely individual was some ancient author. There taking a comprehensive and impartial the the early may have been several Ossians, as there have whole subject, and bearing in mind date been several Burnses, but there was only one Norse invasions, the poems seem to back at great Ossian and one great Burns. least as far as that period. 18, —Because it is certain that the Gaelic is the 12. —Because Celtic scholars don't always agree original language of these poems, and the best of among themselves they can never decide the them were known in the Highlands before Mac- question, and many of those most prejudiced Pherson's day, and to make him the author of against the authenticity of the Ossianic poems, them is, in the language of the late Dr. Clerk, are men who reason entirely from the philological " utterly absurd." side of the question, ignoring tradition entirely, in connection with the con- and hence can't be impartial critics. One strange thing troversy over the authenticity of the Ossianic 13. —Because there is no evidence worthy of poems is, that though MacPherson deposited the the name to show that these poems were composi- MSS. of the original at his publishers, Messrs tions which iirst saw the light within the last Beeket and De Hondt, Strand, London, and two centuries. So great an author's whereabouts, advertised in the newspapers that he had done so, &c., could not have escaped within such recent no one ever went to see them, though they had times. We know who the author of "A' lain, as Beeket certifies in the Literary Journal of Chomhachag " was, and it is more than tliree 1784, in his shop for the space of a whole year. hundred years since he lived ; why then don't It is little wonder, therefore, after such con- we know more about poems that were treasured temptuous treatment, that MacPherson should by the people like a religion, if they are of such have maintained a sullen silence, or even caused recent date. the MSS. to be destroyed so that all trace of 14. —The names, ideas, descriptions, and sub- them would be lost for ever ! When a man, jects, are all in favour of antiquity, and of having smarting under such scorn, loses his temper, the preceded the era. If clan the ancient Gaelic convenience and interest of future scholars is ballads up to the third are century genuine, why about the last thing that would aft'ect him, not the Ossianic ? poems especifilly after having been called an imposter, a 15. —Because arguing mainlj^ on philological forger, and a liar ! The Dean of Lismore's book proves that more than 350 years ago Ossian was Lord of the Isles and Earl of Ross, to Brian then held to be an ancient poet and the " King of Vicar MacKay, there is only one word in it that Song," and Fingal " the hero of heroes." has become obsolete. In the " Book of Deer," Dr John Smith's " Sean Dana " also show that written in the eleventh and twelfth centuries, there were other ancient poems in the Highlands there are entries where the adjective is placed attributed to Ossian, Orran, Ullin, &c., inde- before the substantive, and where two or three pendent of MacPhersons collections, and their spellings of the same word occur in the same having been known to the Irish puts their sentence.* Another thing that must never be for- authenticity beyond a doubt. In the writer's gotten is that in early times, out of all the fearful opinion the original character of the poetry is in trouble and confusion that existed, men were itself strongly in favour of its antiquity. It deals always to be found, especially in the church, apart with man in a very primitive state. " There is from the bards, who devoted themselves to the no allusion to agriculture, or commerce, to arts or preservation in literary form, with a tendency to sciences, to laws or ordinances. There is not the moral edification, of the ancient songs and legends remotest reference to Christianity, or to any of of their country, bringing them out in new the great moral and social changes Avhich it versions to meet the changing conditions inherent brings in its train. There is no abstraction or in all nations, and their languages, and committing generalisation of ideas. Objects are dealt with them to parchment as the most certain means of individually as they present themselves at the their preservation, but many circumstances inter- first glance. And least of all is there a trace of vened to alter this order of things as regards the that subjective self-reflecting, moral picturing of Ossianic poems. The severance of the ties between the outer world which we find in the poetry of Ireland and Scotland, the Norse rule for centuries modern days." " Ossian describes the face of in the West, the anglicising of state and church, nature simply and purely as it impresses itself on and the severe repression of all that partook of his eye, without a trace of self-colouring the Paganism, and Popery, by the Protestant Church, image, but he depicts the image so vividly and the original Gaelic became gradually almost clearly as to show the true poetic vision. Many unintelligible to the people, who still, however, of his descriptions are unsurpassed, if not un- remembered, sang, and recited portions of them equalled, by any other poet, ancient or modern."* in a more or less connected manner, though they As regards the language of the original poems, may not have been written, and in correct gram- though the vocables seem the language of modern matical form, as may be seen in the Dean of times. Dr. Clerk held that the syntax is certainly Lismore's phonetically spelt Gaelic. ancient. The Norse language, as Professor Miiller The fragments of Ossian's poetry, of such un- testifies, remained unchanged for seven centuries, equal merit, gathered and published by Mac- and the Greek language has undergone no vital Pherson, were the living remains of the endeavours change for two thousand years—these are excep- of bards and scholars to transmit to posterity tions. Where the Celtic scholars flounder is in what they had themselves learned from their drawing too hard and fast a line. There was a predecessors. MacPherson's error was in present- Monkish and a bardic Gaelic, and the vernacular ing these portions of songs and recitations, as would in time be bound to differ in some respects complete compositions, and of having come down from the learned dialect written by scholars. A thus intact from the days of Ossian. Kintail man, an Arisaig man, a Skye man, and a I believe with many Highlanders capable of Lewis man can all be easily distinguished by their judging, that Honn (Fingal) was a great chief in dialects, some of these would spell some of their remote times, beyond the dawn of written history, words differently, recite differently, and would and his son Ossian, a great bard, and moral power have some differences in their written MSS. of for heroism and noble feeling. A language that oral traditional poetry. In a charter written in was not expressed in written signs in their time, Gaelic in May 1408, and granted by MacDonald, their deeds would come down at first in a tradi-

* The Poems of Ossian, by the Rev. Archd. Clerk. * Ibid—Dr. Clerk's Ossian. §

tional form, and as those who cherished their poetry were delivered and orally preserved in remenihrance were changing in their circum- pithy rhymes, and in this way the earlier decrees stances, little could be transmitted word for of Greece were promulgated, and remained for word at the end of a period of nearly 2000 years ages ere they were engraven on tablets in the exactly as it had been originally recited or sung. public ways, and even then the metric form was Another singular circumstance is that there is not abandoned, nor did the jjeople find another no allusion in the whole poems to the voice of word for law than verse.* Though the attach- singing birds, which must have been as tuneful in ment to oral record was strong, the predilection days of old as they are now. There is mention of for rhyme was still stronger, even after writing the " hum of the mountain-bee," and the "dron- had come into use. ing dance of the evening fly," " The birds of night The Ikehons, or Gaelic judges, delivered their are startled by the loud sound of Fingal's decrees in sententious poetry, and St. Columba, siiield,* and the flight of the sea birds is noticed, who is himself believed to have been of the bardic but no reference is made to any bird of song. order, and other early ecclesiastics, delivered The eagle is the only bird specially mentioned, their moral precepts in impressive verse, t and of all the dwellers of the waters the whale It was in this style of composition that the alone is mentioned. Modern Gaelic poetry Gaelic genealogies of the Scottish Kings, repeated abounds in descriptions of singing birds, as well as by the seanachies, were formed. In Wales many of the salmon— " the monarch of the flood."t moral triplets are confidently ascribed to the These omissions are unaccountable, unless on the Druids, and in the Highlands many suchapothegms, supposition that men's minds in these eai'ly times handed down from the sean' ir, or men of were occupied entirely with war and the chase. antiquity, are of similar origin. The Druids, like I was born and bred in Skye, spoke Gaelic as the Pythagoreans, were most careful to exercise

soon as, if not before, P^nglisli. I knew all about the memory, and it was a positive law that there is tlie people as well as one of themselves. I have should be no written record ; so it probable listened hundreds of times to their stories, songs, that it was after the time of the Druids so much and recitations of some of Ossian's poems, by in- of the early poetry was lost. dividuals who knew little or no English, and who The Gael frequently met for the purpose of believed they were handed down from remote friendly contest in the repetition and singing of ages, a belief in which I heartily concur against their ancient poems, and poetic talent was one of all that has been said by scholars in the past, or the most respected accomplishments. J that can be said at the present day, or in the Dr Johnson describes a Highland amusement future, and I further believe that outsiders, + and indicative of the poetic spirit, Avhere a person especially foreigners are utterly unfit to dog- enveloped in a skin enters the house, when, the to frightened, rush forth matise on the subject or to settle the question. company attecting be ; Whether poetry preceded jirose or not, we the door is then closed, and before they are can't say with certainty, but the ethics of admitted, for the honour of poetry, each must repeat at least one verse. The young men who * Reminding one of the African savages sounding celebrate the festival of " Calluinn," bringing in the " great nogara " (drum), a practice which must have existed for thousands of years. the New Year, are obliged to recite an extempore before they are admitted to any house. t Dr. Clerk's Ossian. rhyme days he has than { I am aware that a few insiders also follow the In the writer's younger more German school of critics, but tliey will always be in a once seen a similar practice. On Hogmanay minority as men who are incapable of sifting circum- stantial evidence. night, " Oidhche Callaig," all the men about the

§ Note.—Captain Alexander Morrison of Skinnidin, place collected, and having fastened a dried cow's Skye, copied out lot Gaelic who a from MSS. for or sheep's hide on the back of one man, he ran James MacPherson, as he could neither write nor spell the language properly, declared that he could no * on The Genius of Homer. more compose the Ossianic poems, or anything like Wood them, than he could have written the prophecies of t Dr MacPherson's Dissertations.

Isaiah, or created the Isle of Skye : Life and Letters I MacKenzie's Introduction to the Beauties of Gaelic of James MacPherson, by Bailie Saunders. Poetry. round the house followed by the others, who two lairds in different parts of the country, met belaboured the hide with sticks or clubs, shouting by appointment in Lochaber to vindicate in a "Calluinn c, Calluinn o, Calluinn a' bhuilgean poetical contest their own excellence and their

's an tota," and after several rounds they came up chief's honour, but the result has not been related. to the front door, when the head man delivered a " Music and poetry seem to be inherent qualities (luan of considerable length, after which they in the Celtic race, and their poetical genius and were admitted and got refreshed with bread and artistic advancement have often been subject of cheese and whisky, often followed by a dance. remark. Pastoral occupations and an Alpine Tlie "Dronn," already mentioned in a former situation are congenial to both. The mountains paper, at a feast was called the bard's portion, of Bccotia were tlie favourite abode of the muses, and whoever secured it was obliged to compose a and the Arcadians, who were the Highlanders of verse. This is called "Beannuchadh Bàird," or the Peleponesus, became famous in the most the Bard's blessing, and it was customary to give early ages for their poetry and music." " The a metrical salutation as a mark of respect. A Gaelic language is well adapted for poetry, and it composition in praise of one whose kindness or is evident that the ancient poets did not cramp hospitality had been experienced was an equally their genius by adherence to any rule, although common effort of the muses. there was an attention to rhyme and cadence." " The War-Song of the Gaul," in the fourth The music and poetry of the Highlands are to book of Fingal, shows the usual style of the a certain extent inter-dependent on each other, " Prosnachadh Catha," which is the name applied separately either may be beautiful or att'ecting, " to it, corresponding to the Irish Rosgu Cath," but combined they are unsurpassed by any other " and the Welsh Arymes prydain." nation. The Rev. Edward Davies, author of "The address of the great chief of the Cale- " Celtic researches," " The claims of Ossian donian confederation, Galgacus, delivered to his considered "—a most bitter assailant of the troops previous to the great battle of the venerable bard—remarks that " the Fingal and Grampians, is highly interesting for its antiquity, Temora upon subjects so interwoven with the the eloquence it displays, and the light it throws feelings of the people, set this corner of the on the sentiments of that unconquerable race to island far above poetic competition, not only with whom the Britons of the south alleged the gods any Celtic tribe, but, we may say, with any themselves were scarcely equal. Tiie famed nation in Europe. What people now existing can Caractus would animate his forces in a similar boast of epic poems so interesting, so original, so manner, and it is probable both delivered their replete with generous sentiment, and at the same harangues in verse, have been of the and may time so nationally appropriate ? Tiie man Avho " bardic order." The strife was truly kindled by believes himself descended from Fingal, from " the songs of the bards." Go, Ullin, go, my either of his heroes, or even from the nation which aged bard ! remind the mighty Gaul of battle^ produced such characters, must be a degenerate remind of his yielding, him fathers—support the wretch indeed if he can do otherwise than think tight, for the song enlivens war," says the King of nobly and act honourably." Morven. The chiefs of Clan Ranald retained a "The Celtic poems were generally framed by bard until the middle of the last century, when the bard to suit the melody of the harp, the Lachlan Mac Nial Mhnireach, the 17th in regular instrument sacred to the order, and to its music descent, lost his farm, and dropped the profession, they were sung." The Ossianic class of poetry is which his ancestors held so long, as useless. laÌTi usually sung or chanted in a kind of recitative, Breac MacLeod of Dunvegan, Skye, who died in executed with the gravity due to such levered 1693, was the last Highland chief who upheld tlie compositions. An old Highlander considered it ancient state by numbering in his retinue becoming to take off his bonnet when reciting a bard, harper, a piper, and jester. About 1690 them, and the term laoidh, or hymn, by which John Glas and John MacDonald*, the bards of many are distinguished, indicates the veneration * Probably Iain Lorn, with which they were regarded. The High- landers were accustomed to sing at all their Biscay, 0," " The battle of the Baltic," " Tra- employments, and it was an excellent stimulus, falgar," "The Death of Nelson," "Tom Bowling," serving also to relieve the irksomeness of labour. and all the best British songs. They are in fact Those Highlanders of Greece, the Arcadians, were untranslatable. Owing to the vivid pictures they remarkable for a similar practice, and it is thus give of storms, tSic, there are no words in the very rationally accounted for by an ancient historian English language that would convey an adequate whose observations are applicable to the Gael."* idea of the Gaelic description. At social enter- Singing is useful to all men, but truly necessary tainments all these chorus songs are sung by the the Arcadii, who undergo great hardships whole company, who join hands or by passing to ; for, as the country is rugged, their seasons incle- handkerchiefs from one to another, each holding ment and their pastoral life hard, they have only a corner, and bringing the closed fist down upon the talde, or upon tiie knee, keeping time to the this way of rendering nature mild and bearable ; therefore they train up their children from their song. The slower and older songs were generally infancy until they are at least .30 years of age, to formed for the harp or voice alone, as there could sing hymns in honour of gods and heroes. It is be no accompaniment to the bagpipes, and of no disgrace to them to be unacquainted with other course apply to a period perhaps anterior to the sciences, but to be ignorant of music is a great introduction of pianos and violins. reproach, t Female beauty was always a very congenial

There is nothing more lemarkable in the Gaelic subject for bardic eulogium. The berries of the mode of singing than the repetition of a verse, or mountain ash attbrded a simile for the complexion " white one or two lines, or sometimes a part of one, in a of health ; and snow or the Canach," the chorus which adds much to the effect, and is a flossy down of the mountain cotton, a plant that great means of diffusing a knowledge of songs, as grows in moors and marshy ground, with the by repeatedly joining in them the whole must plumage of the swan or sea-gull, for the fairness soon be impressed upon the memory. These tunes, of the skin. or Luinigs, are simple and touching, and the eflect in a harvest field is particularly pleasing. — The person who sings leaves the chorus to the The following is an instance : " The star of otiiers, who all join, the leader taking up each Gormluba was fair. White were the rows within lips, like of the under succeeding verse : the same applies also to waulk- her and the down mountain ing songs. The " lorrams," or boat songs, are her new robe was her skin, circle on circle formed sung by sea-faring men to alleviate the labour of her fairest neck. Like hills beneath their soft rowing, time being kept to the motion of the oars, snowy fieeces, rose her two breasts of love. and to hear them in the distance on a beautiful The melody of music was in her voice. The

summer or autumn evening, is most charming, rose beside her lip was not red ; nor white the crack of the oars being heard at the same beside her hand, the foam of streams. Maid of time. The bagpipes produce a similar effect Gormluba, who can describe thy beauty ? Thy when heard under the same conditions. These eyebrows, mild and narrow, were of a darkish

things have a charm for, and intluence over, High- hue ; thy cheeks were like the red berry of the landers that nothing else has. While on the sub- mountain ash. Around them were scattered the ject I may mention that some of these lorrams blossoming flowers on the bough of the spring." " liave never been equalled in any other language. The yellow hair of Civadona was like the gilded There are no sea-songs at all comparable to top of a mountain, when golden clouds look down " lorram Chlann Raonuill," by Alexander Mac- upon its green head after the sun has retired.

Donald, and " An Dubh Ghleannach," by Corporal Her eyes were bright as sunbeams ; and altogether Alexander MacKinnon. They tower like moun- perfect was the form of the fair. Heroes beheld tains over such productions as "The Bay of and blessed her. The poems which detail the calamities of war, * MacKenzie's '• Beauties of Gaelic Poetry." t Polybius IV. * Bàs Airt 'ic Ardair—Smith's Antiquities, p. 350. —

deaths of heroes, disappointments of lovers, met at the banquet. The valiant sons of Usna ravages of storms at sea, and other tragic events were there, and Naesa gave a kiss in secret to the leave a deep and enduring impression which is re- fair daughter of the chief of Duntroon. He sent flected in the songs and melodies of the bards. her a hind from the hill, and a young fawn run- I ' They rather gave way to a feeling of melancholy, ning beside it. Returning from the hosts of Inver- and in this mood many of their best productions ness, he visited her by the way, my heart was were executed, though they were by no means filled with jealousy when I heard the news. I devoid of the faculty for producing convivial, took my boat and rushed upon the sea regardless humorous, and satirical eftusions. Being inured whither I should live or die."§ This is the " Clan " to all sorts of trials and griefs, they could sing Uisneachan of the Highlanders. " Pleasant is the joy of grief ! it is like the From this pardonable digression I must return shower of spring when it softens the branch of the once more to the great Clan Donald, and I can oak, and the young leaf lifts its green head." assure eacli member of the clan that it has been a The sensitive bards are represented as at times labour of love to me sifting out the eftusions of bedewing the harp strings with their tears, while our clan bards, and some of the glorious deeds of repeating the sad story which the sterner cliiefs our ancestors, so graphically depicted in their could not listen to unmoved. " The joy of grief songs and poems. And while sensible of the belongs to Ossian amid his dark brown years. inadequate manner in which my subject has been Creen thorn of the hill of ghosts, that shakest thy treated — the material being widely scattered, head to nightly winds, I hear no sound in thee : and some of it difticult to collect—still I hope Is there no spirit's windy skirt now rustling in that I have left the subject in a less chaotic state thy leaves ? Often are the steps of the dead in than I found it, and if many names have been the dark-eddying blasts, when the moon, a dun omitted, some others have been brought to light shield from the east, is rolled—along tlie sky."t that otherwise would probably have been lost. Again the poet breaks forth " I am alone at Our bards have done noble work in the past, and Lutha. My voice is like the sound of the wind have always held the foremost place, while the when it forsakes the woods. But Ossian shall great sept from which we sprang is a clan of whom not long be alone ; he sees the mist that shall we are all justly proud, as being the greatest, the receive his ghost ; he beholds the cloud that shall most renowned, and perhaps the most ancient form his robe when lie appears on the hills. The in Great Britain. family |1 sons of feeble men shall behold me, and admire the stature of the chiefs of old ; they shall creep § Nalson, Introduction to the Irish language, 1808. to their caves, "i Note—Professor MacKinnon in opening the Celtic II The songs of Deardra are held by the Irish to be class at the University of Edinburgh at the commence- of last session, 1899, with a lecture on the Lords of equal, if not greater antiquity than those of ment of the Isles, remarked that "the family of which these Selma. As the poetry of a kindred people, it is great chiefs became the acknowledged head was a similar in character, as the following quotation power in those parts from the earliest times. shows : The native genealogists traced the line hack to Conn- Ceud-chathack, who is said to have been monarch of " Farewell, for ever, fair coasts of Albion, your Ireland abovit the first century of the Christian era, shall delight me. There bays and vales no more and they located the family in the Hebrides before oft I sat upon the hill, with Usna's sons, and the period of the Dalriadic immigration. It is histori- viewed the chase below. The chiefs of Albion cally certain that the ancestors of the MacDonald chiefs were powerful in the Isles and on the western

t Temora. t Berrathon. seaboard during the Norse occupation of the Hebrides." -^/