I.

TRADITION E MORRISONTH F SO S (CLA GHILLEMHUIEE)C NMA , HERE- DITARY JUDGES OF LEWIS. BY CAPT. F. W. L. THOMAS, R.N., VICK- PEESIDENT S.A. SOOT. A letter communicated to the Athenceum, in March 1866, contained some account of the Lewis Clans founded on oral tradition. Since then I have collected much additional information concerning them, either from printed book MSB.d an s r froo , m notices residenty supplieb e m n o o dst the island. In the letter to the Athenaeum it was stated, on the authority of those aroun , tha df me mint o timt d ou eLewi d beeha s n inhabite y thredb e confederated clans—the Macleods, the Morrisons,1 and the Macaulays.

1 K. Chambers has, unde e headinth r f "Familo g y Characteristics,s hi n i " "Popular Rhymes of Scotland,"—" The Manly Morrisons. This is, or was, especially applicable to a family which had been settled for a long period at Wood- parise endth Kirkmichaelf n hi ,o Dumfriesshiren i , becomd an , e remarkable e foth r handsomeness of its cadets " (Collected Works, vol. vii. p. 97). It is still applicable to the Morrisons of the Outer Hebrides. VOI.I. XII. PAR . TII K *2 4 50 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAIi , 1878Y11 .

This statement is confirmed in a " Description of the Lewis, by John Morisone,1 indweller there," which is inferred to have been written between 167 "e 1688d Indwelle8Th an . r " states:— mos firsd e an "ttTh ancient inhabitants of this coimtrie were three men of three several races, viz., Mores, the sone of Kennanus, whom the Irish historians call Maku- rich, whom they make to be naturall son to one of the kings of Norovay, some of whose posteritie remains in the land to this day. All the Morri- son Scotlann si challengy dma e their descent from this secon e manTh .d was Iskai Aulayc rMa Irishman n a , , whose posteritie remain likewiso t e e Lews e thirs Macnaicleth Th dwa n i . thiy da s , whose only daughter, Torquile, the first of that name (and sone to Claudius the son of Olipheus, who likewise is said to be the King of Norvay his sone), did violently espouse, and cut off immediately the whole race of Maknaicle, and possessed himsele wholth f eo f Lews d continuetan , s posteritihi n i h e (Macleod Lews), during thirteen or fourteen generations, and so extinct before, or at least about 1600." 2 traditioe th Suc rulinorigie e s th th hwa f f ngo o families sevene th n i - teenth century, and it is first to be noted that the writer uses " Irish " and " Irishman," where we should now write " Gaelic " and " Gael." With regarMacleodse th o dt traditioe th , generas ni l that that family t dominiogo Lewin ni marriagy sb e wit Nicolc e heireshth t Ma f bu ;o s while willing to believe that Torquil increased his superiority by such marriage I hav, e e Memoishowth n n Lewii no r s Place-names that Thormod Thorkelso Lewisn i s nwa , with wife, men goodsd an , 123n i , 1; tha d clan-namee an th t l probabilit, al Leod n i s i , y derived from Liotulfr, who was a chief in Lewis in the middle of the twelfth century.3

1 From internal evidence it can be proved that the "Description" was written after 1678, and probably before lf'88. He speaks of the destruction of Stornoway Castle, which took place in 1654, as having " lately '' occurred. The writer was intimavely acquainted with Lewis; when young, there were only three peopl Lewin ei kne o e alphabetswwh th t whebu , wrotee n h famile heae th th ,f t do yn leasusualls wa t y abl o rea t ed writeauthoe d an Th probabls . wa r e Eevyth . John Morrison, sometime minister of Urray, son of John Morrison of Bragar, and father of Eeve th . John Morrison, ministe Pettyf o r . 2 Spot. Mis .. 341 p vol . .ii . 3 Pro. Soc. Ant. Scot . .507 p vol. .xi . TRADITIONS OF THE MOERISONS. 505

Of the Morrisons, it is strange that the " Indweller," himself a Morrison, should have ignored what he would have called the " Irish " name of his clan, whic fros hi m Gille-Mhuire, i.e., servan f Maryo t ; from Grille, i.e., a servant, &c., and More, i.e., Mary. A Morrison in Gaelic is Mae GTiillem'tiuire, sometimes shortene o Gillmoret d , Gilmour r translateo ; d Morrison, Maryson reducer o ; Milmoreo dt , Miles, Myles Morrisone Th . s ar numeroua e s cla Lewisn ni , where 1861n i , , they numbered 1402r o , one-fifteenth of the whole population; in Harris there were 530, equal to one-sevent inhabitantse th f o h . These numbers indicat edominatioa n ni the island of many centuries. There is no real tradition1 of their original settlement in Lewis, except tha foundeinevitable Kine e th th th t f Lochlannf s go o e wa rn on eso t bu ; remarkable genealog f Macleoo y d makes Gillemuire to have beee th n father of Leod; and before Eaice (Eooke) and Olbair (Ulf 1} the Hewer, we have another Gillemuire addes i t I d. that Ealga fholt-alainn, i.e., Ealga Beautifue oth f l Hair, daughte Arailf ro Semmairc Ma t , Kin Lochlainnf go , wamothee sth Gillemuire."f o r 2 I learn from Mr Skene that the serfs or tenants on lands belonging to a churc monasterr ho y dedicate Virgie th o dt n woul callee db Gilliee dth f so Mar y; henc originamee procese n i eth th t f no f timbu eviden;s so i t ei t that such names as Gillemuire were used as proper names, and without referency an offico et employmentr o e . Although Petrie says tha Iriso n t h churches were dedicate Virgie th o dt n befor e twelftth e h century,3 there are notices of Maelmaire, son of Ainbith, at 919 A.D.,4 and of Maelmuire,

Norman Macleod, "the bard, believeo "wh d himsel acquaintee b o t f d wite hth builder1 s of the Druidical Circles, and with the origin and history of the Lewis people from the fourth century, told that the Morrisous were originally Macleods [therein agreeing wit e ancienhth t genealogy]youna y b ge chien f so MacleoTh o fa . d ha d woma name th Maryf f e ladeo no f Th Macleoyo . d coul t toleratno d o es thae on t born should bear the clan-name, so the infant was called " Gille Moire," the son of Mary; hence the origin of the Morrisons. "I have also sent for another account of the origin of the Morrisons, from a Morrison patriarch, which will doubtless be more honourable than the bard's, the latter being a Macleod" (Letter, Rev. J. M'Rae, Stornoway, 12th Dec. 1860). 2 Ulst. Jour. Arch. vol. ix. p. 320. Round Towers, p. 173. " The dedications to St Mary in Scotland came in long before 312te th , h century sixth."—We earls th a , s ya . SkeneF . . 4 Todd's " Wars of the Gaedhil with the Gaill," p. xei. 506 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

son of Eochaidh, abbot-bishop of Armagh, at 1020 A.D.1 Nor, although e inferree namb th o s t Gaelici e t di thas e i possesso, th tf pur o s e wa r Gaeli Gall-Gaele c th descent f o t e rathe mixer bu o on ,, s rd wa tha race h t e of Northme d Gaepeopleo nan wh l e town dth d shore an s f Irelano s d and the western islands and coasts of Scotland. For Maelmaire, sister of Sitric, King of Dublin, is on record circa 1066;2 and, before the conquest of Ireland, in ] 130, Mac Gille Maire, son of Allgoirt of Port Lairge (Waterford), the best foreigner (Gall) that was in Eirinn, was slain.3 In Ireland there was a Clan Mac Ghillemuire settled in Lecale (Leth- Cathal), County Down Juln , O 1244y7 . , Henry III. requests—among others—that Mac Gillemuri himself, and with his forces, will join the Justiciary of Ireland about to depart for Scotland :— The Kin [Mao gt c Gillemuri] e goo. th r dThank fo servic s m i hi se e h prepared to 'render. As Alexander, King of Scotland, has made peace [Mac Gillemuri countryn e kinth ow g t returs y praybu hi , ]ma e o nt h s reade b servicr y yfo ma e ensuin *th g summer. [For further noticef so GhillemhuireClae c th nMa Keevese se , ' "Ecc. Antiquities, . 339."p ] The chief of the Clan Morrison, whose dwelling was at Habost, Ness, was hereditary judge or brieve (Breitheamh) of Lewis, and continued to

hol office dth e e tilbeginninth l e seventeentth f go h century onle Th y 5 . record of his judgeship is that given by Sir E. Gordon, who, under the

1 Todd's " Wars of the Gaedhil with the Gaill," p. clxxxix. 2 Ib. p. cxlix. " Cliron. Scot." p. 334. And I hare seen in a history of Waterford a mandate of 3 protection from Henry II. or III. to Mao Gillvore awd the other Danes there,—hut have losreferencee tth . 4 Gal. Doc. Ireland . 405p , . The traditionary origin of the title of Brieve of Lewis is absurd. It is that 6 Lewis had been given to Donald Mor Mackay. Donald Mor fell so desperately in love with daughtea thee th nf ro Ear Sutherlanf o l d tha offeree h t givo t d e Lewio t s woule brids hi sh onlr nighte f consentede e i fo db yon r Sh he . claimed an , d Lewis, but her pretensions were stoutly resisted by John Morrison. The case went to " head- quarters," when the judge said, " lan is tusa Sritheamh an /hear aim, agus eha ne am boirionach," i.e., " John, thou art judge of the land, and not this woman." The grai f trutno h her , thae mainlanis e th t d estateLewie th f so Macleods were really granted to Mackay in 1508; and for some of the other circumstances compare the Edderachyllisf o . A tradition . S . 0 n .si 7 TRADITION50 MOKRISONSE TH F SO .

rubri f "co Wha Breiva office f th to eamongs s ei ilanders,e th t " 1 states tha Breivte "kina Th f judgs ei o d e amongs e ilandersth t hato n ha wh , absolute judicatorie, vnto whose authoritie and censure they willinglie submitt themselves, when he determineth any debatable question betuein partie and partie." In former times there was a brieve in every island, d one-eleventha e h d f everan ho y subjec disputen ti thas t frowa t bu , m whom appean chie e a ther th s fo t elwa judg Islay.n ei 2 Very exaggerated notions remain of the extent of the jurisdiction of the Brieve of Lewis. One writer asserts that it was a venerable institution that had stood for many ages d thajurisdictioe an th ,t n extended ovee Hebrideth r s from opposite Caithf o Bute th Isla th d Lewisn f o o t-o y Or t e d e coasan ,th o t t ness • another s investes Majest, wa Hi tha e y h s judgb td a y e arbiter from Cape Wrath to the Mull of Kintyre, and was absolute in his jurisdiction.3 It is probable that the Brieve in Lewis represented the log-maftr of Norse domination progrese thad th an n , i t f tim so office eth e changed from tha law-maf o t speaker-of-the-lar no -ping,e th popular t wo a r assemblyo t , tha f Domandi,o t r administratoo e th n Ma e f Isljustice o f th re o n I . Deemster hel officn da greaf o e t antiquityjudgs wa case n ei e f H lifso .e e mosd deathth an t n i s weltriflin a ,s a l g contentions s presenceHi . , whethe housn i r r fieldo e horsebac n o , footn o r , ko constitute da court ; his decisions were guided either by what he could remember of like cases, or by his sense of justice, and this lex non scripta was called " breast-law." On assuming office he swore that he would administer justice between man and man as evenly as the back-bone of the herring lies between the fishe sideo th .f tw so Whereve deemstee th r presents wa r e aggrieveth , d part yopponens coulhi g dlu t before e plaintifhimTh . f place s foodhi t upo ndefendante thath f to held an ,t dther i e till judgmen pronounceds twa . Both in Lewis and in Man the decision seems to have been accepted with- t reserveou .

. GordonR r Si 1 , " Earl Suth.f o , Conflic . e Supp268e Clans"e p th th Th , o t f . ,o t has, after "themselfs," "and never doe appeal from his sentence quhen he deter- mineth," &c., p. 12. 2 Coll Rebe D . . Alb . 297p . . 3 See also 0. S. A. vol. vi. p. 292. 8 50 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1878Y11 .

On the 29th May 1527, King James addressed a letter to "Oure Breff of Inuerness," where "breff synonymous i " s with "sheriff;" from whence it may be inferred that the vice-comes of Skye, named in the Chronicle of Man, was the brieve of that island. How the office of law-man was abused under Scottish tyranny in Shetland may be seen in Balfour's " Oppres- sions ;" but in Lewis, owing to its remote situation, the brieve appears to have exercise s ancienhi d t jurisdiction without interference vers i t yI . doubtfu f evei l brievra Lewif eo s could have spoke nwora f Englisho d , and as the Scots Acts of Parliament have not been translated into Gaelic, e decision th e judg th neven f ca ey o relatios ran hav d o themt nha e . Before the utter confusion into which the country fell towards the close of sixteente th h century e brievth , f Lewiso e , like bar th ef Clanranald do , may have received some educatio cas y have an ew n Gaelici nen i t bu ; ample proof tha exercisee h t offics dhi e most unsparinglyw therr fe fo e , ear islands or districts in which the Cnoc na Chroiche, or Gallows Hill,1 is not conspicuoua s feature. Wit judgee hIvorth c ,Ma , say perisher D s e th d different records of the Lewis, and of the countries over which he had jurisdiction, except a few memoranda, or rather scraps,2 retained by some judge'e oth f s descendant escapeo e Macleodsswh th fure f dth o y . e "IndwellerTh s onli " y partially correc n statini t g that Kennanus Makurich, i.e., Cain Macvurich (Cathan c Mhurich), e firsMa th ts wa Morriso Lewiscurrenn e ni th r fo ;t tradition throughou islane th t thas di t the heiress of the Morrisons, having determined she would only marry with a Morrison, Cain, who was a Macdonald from Ardnamurchan, passed him- a Morrison r fo f selof f, became husban e lady th d consequentl f an ,do y brieve also. The Harris Morrisons claim to be of the original stock. The North Uist historia e Sleath f tno Macdonalds (Hugh Macdonald) states

Ther Gallowa s ei s Hil t Kneepa l , Uig t Shawbosta ; , Barvas; another near Stor- 1 noway Cnocnaa ; Chroiche t Scalpaya , place Harristh ed wheran ; gallowea s stoos di pointed out at Eodil, Harris. A boat's mast seems to have often been used to hoist up a man instead of a sail, or the mast upon which the victim was suspended was laid across a rift between rocks. Gallows Hill is a common name in the Orkneys and in the Shetland islands. £ These scraps . werHistor e MackenziesMS eth a f pary o f o t , calle Donaly b d d Gregor e Letterfearyth . Morrison'MS n s "Tradition f Lewiso s " contains whas i t probabl ycopa thosf yo e scraps. TRADITIONS OF THE MOEBISONS. 509 that " Eeginald married a brother's son of his grandfather's to an heiress of the name of the Morrisons in the Lewis;" and that Eeginald was Eare kille Eosth f o l y d1346.n b si 1 genealoge Th Macdonaldse th f yo Uise gives th a , ty nhistorianb , when compared with that compiled by Donald Gregory,2 is found to be confused and inaccurate. Eeginald is made to be a son of John, son of Somerled, son of Somerled, the common ancestor of the Macdougals. the Macrories, and the Macdonalds, when, in fact, he was Eeginald (Eanald) Mac Eorie, the illegitimate brother of Amie Mac Eorie, who was the first wife of John first Lord of the Isles. For the glorification of his own clan, the Uist historian ignores the existence of the clan Eorie, or wilfully con- founds them wit Macdougalse hth bastardised an , s them both together. d Johc Somerle e an Johc Angue UisMa nr Th th Ma n f t Mo so d historian are the same person; and he is historically known as Eon Sprangaich, r Joho f Angu e o Bold nth n foundee sso th , Mors i f e o r h ; the Clan Mac lan of Ardnamurchan. s alsi ot I stated that John (Sprangaich) cam o Uistt e , marriea d daughte namef n Macleoo rso a d d f HarrisMurdo;do ha d d thaan , an 3 t from Murd descendes oha anciene dth t brance Maedonaldth f ho s called Shiol Mhurchy. Mac Mhurich represents the " Makurich" of Lewis tradition. It is further stated that Angus Oig of Islay married a daughter of Guy O'Kain Ireland;n i e d thi s confirmean i 4sFirbisc writeo Ma wh y , b sd that the mother of John Mac Angus of Islay was Aine, daughter of Cumhaighe 0' Gaihain? In this way the name of Cain has been intro- t therduced—ino es before—intwa t i f Clae oth n Macdonald througd an , h them it has been continued as a family name among the Morrisons to the present day. The conclusion to be drawn is that Kennanus Makurich, i.e., Cain

1 Coll. De Eeb. Alb. p. 292. * Hist. "West. Isles, passim. 3 De Reb. Alb. p. 291. . 294p . ft 4 5 Hill's "Macdoimells of Antrim," p. 375. 1376, Cumoighe O'Kane, Lord of Oireacht O'Kane (Derry takes wa ) n prisone e Englis porth e f y th Coleraine o b trt ha , and sent prisoner in fetters to Carrickfergus.—Connellan's "Four Masters " 510 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

Macvnrich adoptes wa o d wh , into frod an m, whom descende leadine dth g f Murdoo famil e Morrisonn th so f , yo e son th f Nessr rathe o so s , wa , r grandson Johf ,o Bolde nth , founde famile th f Ardnamurchanf o ryo d an ; tha marriage th t e took plac t loneno g before 1346. I am told that the badge of the Morrisons is " drift-wood," of which a great quantity is driven upon the west coast of Lewis. The Lewis word for drift-woo sgoids di ; hence derisionn i , a Morriso, n wil e tolb l d that he has a "skate" (sgait, Gae.) for a baby.1 Besides the district of JTess, the Morrisons were dominant in the district of Diurness Lorn i , d Keay's country traditioe Th . f theino r settlement there is that Ay Mac Hormaid (Aodh Mac Thormoid), a Morrison from handsoma s Lewiswa good-lookind o ean wh , g fellow, cargwena r f fo oo t mea Thursoo t l therd an , e marrie illegitimate dth e daughte sistere th r )(o r of the Bishop of Caithness, who bestowed upon the young couple the whole of Diurness, with Ashir.2 Ay Morrison "brought over with him from Lewis a colony of no less than sixty families, mostly of his own name whoo t , gave mh e lands upo s propertynhi ; henc s thai e t th ei t nam Morrisof eo prevalens ni thesn i t e parts thougr fo , e properthth s yha fallen into other hands inhabitante stoce th th ,f ko s remains." 3 n 1518laI c f Ardnamurchano Ma , killed;s wa n e Tlisth 4 t historian

1 Or, for a wife. Sgoid is undouhtedly a survival of the Norse Skid, a log of timber. " Sgoid-chladaich," Gael., a shore [i.e., drift] log. 2 Now foolishly corrupted to "Old Shores." In 1772 it was written Ashar; in 1551, Aslar n 126I . 3 King Hakon saile ds hos hi wit tl frohal e Orkney mth o t s Asleifar-iAk. Now Asleifar becomes Aslar by the aspiration of the f; and Ashir, Gaelie th c for whicf mo h woul Asear,e furthee db th y b r aspiratio I.e th f Asleifarno - therefors i k vi Locn ei h Inchard (the termination ard whicn i h represent e Norssth e fjordr], and the ink is probably the place now called Badcaul. (I find myself antici- pate thin di s identification. Pope's Torfceus, Norse . 198)p Th e. copyists made great mistakes when they had Gaelic names to write. For long it was a puzzle to tell where they got the name of Satiri for Kintyre; but it was found once written Santiri. This gave the clue, for I do not doubt that hearing the Gaelic Cean-tir (Head-land) they wrote originally Kantiri, whic copyiste hth s have corrupte Santirio t d , Satiri. I consider Saterskot to be a like corruption for Abercros. 3 0. S. A. vol. vi. Edderachylis; where the tradition of the circumstance which cause lande claimee Sutherlandb e dth th o s t y db stateds si . 4 Gregory, "Hist. West. Isles," p. 125, TRADITIONS OF THE MORRISONS. 511

says that lie fled for the space of a mile, but was overtaken by Mr (i.e., Mastee th Heirr o r ) Allan Morison Laire killed th an Eaisay.f ,d y o db 1 In 1546-47, March 22, there is a remission to "Eorie M'Cleud of the Lewis," and some of his clan, for treasonable assistance given to " Mathew, formerly Ear f Lennox,"o l 2 among who s mi "Willia m M'hucheon," brievee th probablf o .n so ya 1551n I , Jul Patric, y23 k Davidso pais ni king'de £\0th y sb treasurer that he may go to the Lewis to charge "M'Cleude of the Lewis and Hucheo Lewie th Lor y f como nso t m do et Governo r [Arran e airth e t a ] at Inverness."8 This is Hucheon Morrison, brieve or judge of Lewis, whindirectls owa e Siol ruie e causth yth f th n o Torquil.f eo e Chie f Th Lewis,o f 4 Eori Malcolc eMa m Macleod, afterwards known as Old Eorie, had married, when young, Janet Mackenzie,6 daughter of

1 De Eeb. Alb. p. 324. 2 Reg. Privy Seal.—Greg. Colls. MS . 3 Treasurer's Acets.—Greg. Colls. MS. The following narrative is founded upon Donald Gregory's "History of the 4 Western Highlands and Isles," compared with his " Manuscript Collections," which contain a large amount of interesting matter, and with Sir R. Gordon's "History of the Earls of Sutherland." Besides which Lord Cromartie's " History of the Macken- zies," printed in Fraser's "Earls of Cromartie," has been consulted; as well as two MS. histories of the Mackenzies, &c. &c. 5 " She was first married to M'Ky, and after his death to this Rory. She had come to a greater age then suited well to his -youth, whereupon did shortly follow a dislike froand ,m dislik lovinto e othersgof , whereb a shor in yt tim becamhe e e wicked, licentious d puttinan , g awa wifes yhi , allegin gfalsehooda t withoubu , t pro- ces proofr so , since they wer t grounde no proof."—Fraser'ey an n do s " Earl Crof so - martie," vol. ii. p. 521. L)r George Mackenzie gives the following account:—Rory Macleod "married Janet Mackenzie, daughte Kenneto t r h [rect eBaro h John8t f Kintaile no ]th whoy b , e mh Torquid ha l Connonach o whot , e gav mh e land th e f Coigacho s n t beinma bu , ga abandone l kindal f luxuro t do s viced yan , and there bein agreemeno gn than o t t account betwixt him and his Lady, the Briff of the Lewis, who was the Supreme Judge l Causeal n i s Civi Ecclesiasticald lan , summon answemano s befort m hi shi m r yehi fo r notorious adulteries, for he had then in adultery no less than five sous—Tormod, Murdoch, Neil, Donald, and Rory. In revenge of this he accuses the Briff of adul- tery with his Lady—" &c.—MS. Hist. Mackenzies. The Letterfearn MS. says nothing about the brieve, but that Mackenzie's daughter was taken away kinsman n fro e Chieow m th f s Lewi o fhi ,y Johsb Gillichallyc nMa , Lair f Rasaydo . This statemen adoptes i t Donaly db d Gregory. 2 51 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1878Y11 .

John Mackenzi f Kintailo e d widoan , f wMackayo e becamSh e . th e paramour of Hucheon Morrison, and on the adultery being known, both e chil e e herselbore—Torquith sh sh dd an f l Connonac calleo h(s d from being fostered among his mother's relations in Strath Connan)—were repudiated by Eorie Macleod. He seems to have had sufficient reason, as shows followine i th y nb g declaration :—

INSTRUMENT 1 UPON THE DECLARATION OF THE BREVE OF LEWIS ANENT THE BIRTH OF TORQUIL, SAID TO BE SON TO M'LEOD OF LEWIS, 22D AUGUST 1566.

. . . , The quhilk day Sr Patrik McMaister mairtin Persoun of Barwas deponit upoun his aithe and that he being in Lewiss visiting Hucheoun Brev f Leweso e spoyne thes thath than i dethf n we no i ty d ean daye Confessous swe saie th d o Hucheout r n attendin consuetude th o gt e usin i t yai tymes That he sperit and requiret of the said Hucheoun anent yis son Torquill borne be Makkenzes sister as wes allegit to Maccleod of Lewess hir housband Quhat ye said Hucheoun's Jugement wes auent him and to quhome the said Torquill as he belefit pertenit Quha ansuerit to ye said Sr Patrik, yat he cull nocht deny hot he had carnale copula°ne w* the said Ne V Kenze in hir

husband's tyme in dew tyme and seasouu afoir ye said Torquhillis birthe And y' the s d Huchouns father afoir him tuik w* ye said Torquil to be ye said Huchoun's sone afoir his deathe And in respect that the said Huchoun wes to depair f thio t s warl pereln di vthervvayideio f d o lcule t dh fathes dno hi r r sno afoir him had tane wt the said Torquill That is that the said Hucheonn wes his fathen i r m natural e sonhi b thad o t e culo t t refuish An t l no dm hi e

tymes (comming thi d saie sth An d ) Hucheoun granti confessid an tsaie y d o t t S r Patrik in his Confessioun being in danger of deathe — Upoun ye quhilk confessiou saie y df no S r Patri Vidimud kan f hio ss Testiflcatiou honore nan - abill man Donald Makdonald gorme of Sleat appearaud and acclaimand rg' to

he air of Lewess Eequirit fra me Notar vnderwritten actis and instrumentis

r befoir yir Witness Ane ry l reverand man M Johne Carswell Bischop of ye lies Hector Makclane Allansoun w* vyeris duierss Ita est PATRICCIUS MILLER Notarius Publicus &c.

After Korie Macleod had repudiated his first wife, he married in 1541,

1 From Macleod's CLarter Chest.— Greg. Colls. MS . TRADITIONS OF THE MOREISONS. 513

Barbara Stewart, daughter of Andrew Lord Avendale, by whom he had a son, Torquil OigJire (Torquil the Heir), to whom Queen Mary wrote that he, being of the Stewart blood, should not marry without her consent;1 but Torquil Oighre was drowned, somewhere about 1566, when crossing Minse th k Torquil Connonaeh then mad a claie succeedmo t , receiving the help of the Clan Kenneth, and no doubt assisted on the island by the Morrisons; he was also supported by two of Eorie Macleod's natural sons, Torquil Uigach (i.e., fostered in Uig) and Murdo, which is easily under- stoo f theidi r mothe Morrisona s wa r . The Castle of Stornoway was taken and the Chief of Lewis made a prisone four fo r r years givee H .miserablsa e pictur e treatmenth f eo e h t received from his pseudo son. The old chief states that the evil handling he has received from Torquil Connonaeh and his accomplices these two years bygon notoriouss ei ; thas "Lugeinghi t invades "wa they db t ma nigh d burntan t , himself hel n mosi d t miserable captivit mountainn yi s and caves far distant from the society of men, and almost perished with cold and hunger. While still a prisoner, Eorie Macleod was taken to Edinburgh and friende madeth f y Torquio b ,s l Connonaeh resigo t , s landnhi o himt s , Eorie Macleod merely holding thed Eorie mliferentOl n i s soot a , Bu n . t bac go o Lewis t ke h s a , repudiate e resignatioth d e grounth n f o no d coercion n I 1576. , botd Eorid Ol Torquihan e l Connonaeh were summoned before the Eegent Morion, when a reconciliation was effected, Old Eorie recognising Torquil Connonaeh as his heir. In these quarrels d Eorie'threOl f o es natural sons—Neill, Donald Eorid an , e Oig—took their father's part, while Tormot Uigach and Murdo sided with the Mackenzies. Old Eorie, apparently between 1566 and 1570, had taken a third wife, Jennette sonso tw ,daughtee r Torquith ,he y b u f Maclean o rD ld ha d an , and Tormot. Before long, what Sir Eobert Gordon calls " The civill troubles of the Lewis," again commenced. Tormod Uigach, of the Morrison faction, was brothes killehi y db r Donald whicr fo ; h Donal s seize wa dy Torqui b d l Connonaeh, with the assistance of Murdo, and carried prisoner to Coy-

1 From Inverary, 23d July 1563. 4 51 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1878Y11 .

geach, from whence, however, he escaped and got back to Lewis. Old Rorie was incensed against Torquil Connonach for seizing Donald, and caused Donald to apprehend Murdo, who was then imprisoned in Storno- way Castle. Torquil Connonach invaded Lewis, took Stornoway Castle afte shora r t siege, released Murdo, mad prisoneea r s imputeagaihi f no d father OldJRorie, killed a number of his men, and carried away all the writs, charters, and infeftments of Lewis; these, on a future occasion, he gave to Mackenzie of KintaiL Torquil Connonach then placed his son John ove Rorird LewisOl ed wasan , ,I suppose sora , prisone f to largt ra n ei Stornoway. The date of these transactions is fixed by "Ane lettre maid Johno t Cloy Rorieescheio e M t y gif e Cloyy f lyfd y o eM o t an f t- dO rent of all guidis &c Quhilkis perteinet to the said Rorie M Cloyd of the perteniw no Lewi d oo st r An Soureans e lord &c Throw e beinsaiy df go Rorie ordourlie denuncit his Maiestes Rebell and put to ye home upoun ye xxij day of May, 1583 for non finding of souertie that he sould com- peir befoi Hienes hi r s s DeputeJustic hi certaie d an bipasy t ean nsa da t to have under lyne ye lawis for airt and pairt of ye persute of Torquill M Cloyd his sone and apperand aire and divers slauchteris and crymes mentiona d conteni an saie t y d . n i tlettres Stirling&c . &c , , 20th Sept. 1585."1 John Macleod, being in possession, set about banishing his bastard uncles, Rorie Oig and Donald. Rorie Oig having placed an ambuscade, caused Johdeludee b shoo o t o n t t tdou swane Loc th f Sandwickt ho sa , when Joh shos ntwa himsel killed d Rorid thes an f Ol en.wa " agane com- mander of that iland, which he did possesse dureing the rest of his troublesome dayes." 2 Malcolm, the father of Old Rorie, died in 1517. Rorie himself appears in record in 1537, and his last appearance is in 1595, in which year he no doubt demised. His least possible age is 78 years, but there is a tradition Lewin yeari 4 9 whed s sol sdied. e nthawa h e th 3 d Roriee OdeatOl nth f ,ho Torqui u possesseD l d Lewis, excluding Torquil Connonach as a bastard. The mainland estates were held by

1 Gregory Collections, MS. . Gordon'R r Si 2 s " Earl Sutherland,f so . 268"p . 3 Dr Macivor. MS , TKAMTIONS OF THE MORRISON S. 515

Torquil Connonach r whicfo , h reason they were n 1596i , , ravagey b d Torquil Du with great barbarity, if Kenneth Mackenzie is to be believed ;J men0 80 e youn r ,th appearo t s followeg0 bu wa chief70 o o s t y b dwh , have been too powerful to have been conquered by the Mackenzie faction. S oa conspirac enteres ywa d int Kennety ob h Mackenzie, Torquil Con- nonach, John Morriso brieve nth Lewisf eo Murdod an , ,con s whewa - t ni sidered necessary that Torqui " u way e shoulD l th f :mai o e bot,dt b dou " says Sir R Gordon, "ther laiked ane to execute the interpryse."2 At length the Brieve, by the promise of a great reward, was induced to under- take the matter. John Morrison having soon afterwards captured a Dutch ship partly laden with wine tooe s h priz, k hi Stornowayo t e invited an , d Torquil Du to come on board to partake of a banquet. But instead of wine they bring them cords, and Torquil Du and his company were carried across to Ullapool, to Torquil Connonach, where Kenneth Mackenzie caused them all to be beheaded, in July 1597. At the instant of execu- tio nn earthquake a thers wa e , which much astonishe e malefactorsdth , though naturally hardened by cruelty and mischief.3 The Lewis estates had been made over to Kenneth Mackenzie, as far as writings could do it, by Torquil Connonach; the Government made Lewis ove adventurerso t r commane th t islane possesses th bu ; f do wa e th y db bastard uncle, Neil Macleod.

1 Fraser's "Earls of Cromartie," vol. ii. p. 440. . Gordon'e fragmenE r Th 2 Si f so Earle t Hist th Sutherlanf f o , o , Miscel-e th n di lanea Scotica is printed from an earlier and better MS. than that of the Edinburgh editio "e 1813f Conflict,nth o n I . " Donal Neilc Ma dl "went into Holland, quher e remainsh . Edinburge 27)(p th " n ;i h editio "whes i t ni diede h r . 276)e "(p Th . paragi-aph relating to the conspiracy of Mackenzie in the " Conflict," is—" Kenneth M'Kenzi f Kintaileo , (afterwards Lor f Kintail,do ) Torq. Conn., Murdo M'Leod baise brothe f Torqo r . e Briewe Lewesth Conn.th d f o e an f ,tha, o (th tn eso Briew e [Hucheon Morrison] who was said to be the father of Torq. Conn.,) haid a secret meiting together, to consult of ther affaires; the Lord Kintail his proposition was, tha advanco t e Torq. possessioe Connth Lewese requisio s t , th wa f no t i , t thas hi t brother Torq. Dow should be maid out of the way, which motion was presently embraced by the rest, but ther laikit on to execut the enterpryce " (p. 15). 3 Here the text in the " Conflict" is better than that of the Edinburgh edition, for we get the information in the former that Torquil Du had but seven men in company (p. 15). 516 PKOCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBKUARY 11, 1878.

Mackenzie Th e faction, having faile gaio t d n Lewis, lefMorrisone th t s exposed to the vengeance of the Macleods for their treachery to Torquil foregoine th Dut bu ; g narrative supplie reasosa their nfo r conducte Th . oligarchic Sir E. Gordon, cannot imagine that the ties of blood should be superior to fealty to a chief. About this time the Morrisons fortified themselves in Dun Eystein, at Ness. Eystein Du naturaa s ni l stronghol norte th t hda end Nessr ,o Lewisf ,o , townlane th n i f Cnocdo Aird, whico t e Morrisonhth s were won retiro t t e when hard pressed or in times of war. It is a flat, cliffy island, of a some- what oval shape, about 75 yards long and 50 yards broad, and is separated from the mainland by a narrow, perpendicular ravine, through a flowwhic se t hig a se hth waterravine 0 Th 4 s betwee.i e d an 0 3 n feet broad, and the same in height. The remains of a strong wall follow the edge of the cliff on the landward side of the island, and through the wall there are said to have been squints or loopholes for observation and defence. Toward north-ease sth castler o t n corneislane ,du sometimeth a f s dro i s called Tigli nam Arm; or the House of Arms, now but 4J feet high. The outsid oblonn dune a th s i . f feete8 go thid 1 square an sy ; b basemen 3 2 , t is nearly solid, for the central area, which is of an oval shape, is only 6| by 4J feet, and there is no appearance of any doorway. The entrance or doorway was no doubt at the height of the first floor, similar to a dun in Taransay f dry-stonwalle o e Th sar . e masonry o proot n thaf bu ,s o i ft age in this part of the country. When exploring the ruins, the Eev. M. Macphail, who made the above measurements, found a small piece of flint, fragments of charcoal, and a strip of leather such as was used for making brogues. remaine Therth e f ehutar so ssoute upoth e islandn ho n th side d an s; a fla s ti ledge, called Pallal na Biorlinn, LedgGallee e th th r f r o eo y o Birlin, whereon tradition tells thae Morrisonth t s use hauo t dtheip u l r boat. Ther traditioo n s ei nEysteine nth f gav o dune nams neth wh hi t i ;o et is a common Norse name.

i This interesting word isasurvival from the Norse, and means in Lewis "agrassy ledge in a cliff." Gf. Cleasby's "led. Die.," sub vocc "Pallr." TRADITIONS OF THE MOERISONS. 517

Many sanguinary battles, still recounte y traditionb d , were fought betwee Macleode nth d Macaulaye Morrisonan th s sidee d on an , n n so so othere t lasth e MorrisonA th t. s were force leavo t d e Lewis d takan , e refuge with that branc f theiho r clan whic s settlehwa n Duirnesdi d an s Edderachyllis n Sutherlandi , , where still n 1793i e native, th , s were all, except a few, of the three names of Mac Leay, Morrison, or Macleod. At that time there lived on Eilean Shiandaidh (pronounced Elen Handa), i.e., Sandey or Sand Island, one of the family of Assynt Macleods, named Little John Mac Donald Vie Hucheon, a man of low stature, but of matchless brievee strengtth d skild , an Johh armsan n e i l H n . Morrison, met accidentall a hous n i yn Inverkirkaii e n Assynti g . e Beinon n i g room and of contrary factions, presently they fell to fighting, when, althoug Joh mend x Brieve si hf an Sande th n, o d eha t four Brievye bu th , e and five of the Morrisons were killed without any loss on the side of the Macleods r R.Si Gordo. n suggests deprived thaGo ts Brieve hi dth d ean compan courage th f yo abilitr eo forgottee t resistb o i musy t t t no tbu ; n that this same Joh f Sandeno beed yha n previously defeate t Carlowayda , in Lewis, by the Morrison faction.1 Amon numeroue gth s islandcoase th Edderachyllif o tn so callee on ds si Eilean Bhritheimh,a Judge'r o s Island; for after John Morriso beed nha n slain his friends in Lewis came in a galley to bring home his corpse ; but contrary winds arising, they were drive thio nt s island, where they found it convenient to disembowel the body and bury the intestines, and on the wind changing they arrived in safety at Ness.2 Malcolm M6r Mac lan, who now succeeded to the chieftainship of the Morrisons, sough Johr fo t f Sandeyno orden i , revengo t r s deate hi eth f ho father, when both parties met by chance in Coygeach. They fought: but Joh f Sandeyno , besides killing e opposit mosth f o t e party, took Malcolm M6r himself prisoner carried Tormoo t an , m dhi d Macleo Lewisn i d o wh , beheadede b causeo t m dhi . Thibetwees swa n 1605d 160an 1 . Octoben I r Eif155e th 9e adventurers 0 soldiers60 r o , ,wit 0 arti50 h- ficers, &c., sailed for Lewis, when Murdo Macleod captured the Laird of

r R.Si 1Gordon' s " Hist Earlf o , . A.S . , . Suth.,vol0 ; . 264. 2 . 292vi"pp 27 pp ,. , 293. . A. . S 293p ,. . .vol0 2vi . 8 51 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

Balcolmy near the Orkneys, where soon afterwards the unfortunate gentle- man died. Neil and Murdo opposed the adventurers in Lewis; but Murdo had all along supported the Morrison faction, while Neil repre- sented the Macleods. The brothers soon quarrelled, and Neil took Murdo prisoner e adventurerTh . s offere woulo e Neilt h d f i ,d deliver Murdo to them, that they would procure Neil's pardon, and give him a portion of the island. Neil accepted these terms, went with the adven- turer Edinburgho st , r takintwelvo n heade gte eth wit f Morriso m hhi - sons,1 and had his pardon. Murdo, against whom the adventurers must have been much exasperated for causing the death of Balcolmy, was also carried south and hanged at St Andrews; " who, at his death, reveiled something of the Lord of Kintayle his proceedings. Then the king was advertise adventurerse th y db , thae Lor th tf Kintayl o d a Grosse s ewa r and hindere f theio r r interpryse; wherevpo broughs wa e nn questionh i t , and was committed to warde in the castell of Edinburgh, from whence he escaped without his tryall, by means and credet of the Lord Chancelar of Scotland." 160n I adventurere 1th Neid san l M'Leod returne Lewiso dt t thebu ,y soon became enemies; an attempt being made to entrap Neil, he, being aware of their purpose, surprised the party sent against him, and killed sixt f theiyo r number. Mackenzie the t loosle n e Tormod Macleod (the Eorie)d youngesOl f o , abducted whon ha so t e mh d from schoo Glasn i l -

1 " There wase ane vther conwention appointed to hold heir at Edinburgh, vpone firse Apryllf th o t c 159 9; wheri ncontraca thes wa r t past betwix e Kingth t s Majes- tie and gentlemen venturers towards the Lewes, vpone certaiue conditions, speciallie, that sufficient securitie being mai theo dt m therof, the yo hi t soul sy Majestipa d e sewin scoire chalders of beare yairlie. And vndertaking the journey toward the ene Lewe f Octobeth do n i ssame th r e yeare, accompanie vnden me ci d v r witr o hv vadges, besyde gentlemen woluntars, thro e coldnes wth e e ilelak f th th ,o ef o s ludgeinge, and vther enterteinment, a number of them died of fluxes. And the laird of Balcombie and his cumpanie, passiuge in ane boate out of the Lewes toward Orkenay, were intercepted be the way be sume hilandmeu supposed to be Mackenzies men, be whome sume of Balcombies men was slaine, and himself taken and detained captive hardlio s d an e, vsed, tha deadlie b t e diseases contracti deceasie h t Orknan i t y sets t libertiemeanee a e specialtaftewe th an e e h rf B o s. l hielandma f thae nof il t there were ten or twelfe apprehendit of the speciall withstanders of that interpryse, and beheidit, and ther heids sent heir in a pok to Edinburgh, which were sett vpone the ports thereof."—Moysie's "Memoirs," p. 165 (Ban. Club). TRADITIONS OF THE MORRISONS. 519

gow and held prisoner and hostage against the Siol Torquil and his mother's relations the Macleans. Mackenzie secretly promised the young man great assistance if he would attack the settlers in concert with his uncle. As soon as Tormod got to Lewis he was at once acknowledged by the islanders as their chief; he speedily attacked the camp of the adventurers, forced an d the mcapitulateo t . They agree o obtaidt a nremissio n from e kinth g l fopasal r t offencee Macleodsth f o s ; that they woult no d retur Lewiso nt t giv p theibu , u e e rislan th titl o Tormodo t dt e d an ; that they would surrender Sir James Spence and his son-in-law, Thomas Monypenny of Kinkell, as hostages, till these conditions were fulfilled. The remission seems to have been procured; but the adventurers only waited till their hostages were out of danger before they prepared for the reconquest of the island. In 1605 the adventurers returned, with extreme legal powers and a great force, to Lewis. The adventurers offered Tormod to procure his pardon from the king, and not to oppose any grant he could obtain to afford him the means of subsistence. Tormod was sent to London; but when it was understood that his—or his nephew's—claim to Lewis was likely to be regarded with favour, the adventurers, by means of their friend t courta s , prevaile r thafa to ds Tormo s sendwa t dow o Edint n - burgh, where this victim of untoward circumstances was detained a pri- yearsn sonete r .rfo Tormod Macleo submitted dha termadventurere e th th f o sdt o s against advice s unclth hi f eo Neil Neid an ;l still opposed them, being assisted by Macneil of Barra, the captain of Clanranald and Macleod of Harris— who were all in fear that their estates would be likewise confiscated—and being secretly supported by Mackenzie, the adventurers became weary of their undertaking, forsoo islande kth returned ,an d home. Mackenzie now, acting upon a resignation formerly made to him by Torquil Connonach chartea t ,go Lewi f ro himselo st f passed unde greae rth t seal by means of his son's father-in-law, the Lord Chancellor. But the ad- venturers complaine king e forceo th o d,wh t d Mackenzi resigo et gifte nth ; islane th d d an being once disposae mor th s Majesty t hi ea f o l grantee h , d it anew to three persons only. In 1609 these adventurers again landed in Lewis Mackenzid an , e propose supplo dt y them with provision shia y psb 2 L VOL. XII. PAR . TII 520 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

from Ross-shire; but at the same time he gave secret information and in- structions to Neil Macleod, who captured the ship. The adventurers, being shor f provisionso t , dismissed their force returned an s d southwards, but lef garrisoa t n theii r e poinfort—whicth f t o ta tols m a dwa I h Holm, where certainl remaine yth f ramparto s d trenchean s s still exist. JSTeil Macleod soon capture d burnean d e fortt sendth e garriso bu , th t n out of the island unhurt. This was the last attempt of the Lowlanders to colonise the Lewis, and, being disgusted with their failure, they were easily persuaded to sell their rights to Mackenzie, who then, July 20, 1610, acquired a legal title to Lewis. The Mackenzies then sent a large force into the island, to which the islanders made no resistance, except Neil Macleos nephewshi d aboud an d an , t thirty others fortifieo wh , a d rocky island in the mouth of Loch Eoag, and there defied the powers of Mackenziee th nearlr sfo y three years. But 1612n ,i , "the Clan Cheinzie gathered their wyffs and children of those that were in Berrisay,1 and

1 Berisay (Berrisay, Berinsay (misprin r Berirsay)fo t , Birsay) n i Gaeli, c orthography Bereasaidh, r Byrgis-ey,fo Norse, = Enclose r Fortified-islano d d; fromByrgi, Norseenclosuren a = , , Norse ,island n fenceEy nama e d = Th ,s an e.i ; identical with Birsa, in the Orkneys. Byrgi, an entrenchment, is repeated in " The Berry," Hoy, Orkney ; at An Bcrigh, Shabost, Lewis; and a Loch na BeridTi, Ben- beeula. A gulf, or estuary, full of islands, on the west side of Lewis, has (like Loch Tarbert, Harris) lost its distinctive Norse name, and has acquired that of Loch Roag, though that name really belongs to a narrow inlet or voe (voagr), now called Little Loch Eoag, in the entrance to which there is a dangerous strain or rapid, which is the Bok (Norse foaminga r fo , , splashing sea). Ther anothes ei r Bok (liosig Skyen i ) . e greateTh r par f Loco t h Roa s nearli g ye larg th fille y eb dislan f Bernero d a f (Bjarnar-ey}Bernerae norto th e d opef th hen of n i , d a numbesea an e ;ar , f o r small islands amond an , g thet sunset a autum n s mBerisays a i n wa o , t nI evening. , that I pulled past this island-fortress, and I had every wish to examine the scene bloode ofth nearln i y lase t dram"e yth ac tConques th f ao Lewis;e e th th f t o t bu " sea was up, it was already nearly dark, and my vessel was several miles away, so after gooa d s cragglooit t ka y sides I steere, Locr dfo h Carloway t I seeme, a ddreadfu l place to live on, for in winter there must be weeks and even months in which, by reason of the raging sea, no boat could land upon it; yet it was here a brave, treacher- ous, and bad man held out against the superior fraud and violence of the Clan Kenneth. Berisay is a craggy islet, one-tenth of a mile long and half as broad, surrounded by mural clifffee0 10 t s high, wit acarsaidn ha landing-placr o e south-easth n eo t side, and the ruins of huts upon the terre plein; the highest part of the rock is 175 feet TRADITIONS OF THE MORRISONS. 521 affinitif o y consanguinityr wa o e y sucb , has , withi islande nth apperd di , - teyn to Neill and his followers, and placed them all vpon a rock within the sea, wher they might be heard and sein from the rock of Berrisay. They vowed and protested that they wold suffer the sea to overwhelme the nixe mth t floo t presentli f no di ISfeil d di l e surrende e fortth r ; which pitifull spectacle did so move Neill Macloyd and his company to compas- sion, that immediatlie they yielde rocke e Lewelefd th th tan , s; where - vpon the women and children were rescued and rendered." 1 Neil took refug n Harrisi e t shortlbu , y presented himself beforr Si e Eorie Macleod of Harris, and requested to be taken to the court of the kin Englandn gi thio r EoriT sSi . e consented the d d arrivean ,yha s a d far as Glasgow on their journey, when Sir Rorie was met by a mandate from the Privy Council to deliver up Neil to them; and the last of the Siol Torquil who led the clan in arms was hanged in Edinburgh, in April endeo s "e 1613.d Troubledth Lewis.An e 2th n si " As noted above, those of the Brieve's descendants8 who had escaped Macleode fure th f th o y s took refuge wit e portiohth f theino r clan that was settled in Lord Reay's country. When the Mackenzies had gained possessio Lewisf no relativee th ,Brieve th f so e returne d establishean d d themselves agai t Nessna . Accordin traditiono gt , Joh e Brieventh o wh , was killed at Inverkarkaig, had four sons,—Allan, Donald, Kenneth, and Angus. A fifth was Malcolm Mor, who was beheaded at Stornoway. othero tw Allasaie havd sar o dt an ne been kille sea-figha n di Neiy b t l Macleod, and their heads were probably taken by Neil Macleod to Edin- burgh, wher himsele eh s afterwardwa f s hanged f DonalO . appeae dw r to have authentic record; for in a commission of Fire and Sword, dated 24th June 1630, granted to "Rorie M'Kenzie of Cogach, Tutor of Kin-

above the sea. Berisay is exposed to the whole force of the Atlantic Ocean, but is the beau ideal of a pirate's nest, commanding a view of half the horizon, impregnable, and near a frequented harbour. 1 SirR. Gordon's "Earl, of Sutherland," p. 275. 2 The Macleods of Rasay thereafter inherited the chieftainship of the Siol Torquil ; and I was told by the late Rev. Rory Macleod of Snizort that the head of that family was the nbilliard-markea Londonn ri . 3 "The banker in Stornoway [the late Mr Roderick Morrison] is the 7th or 8th in descent from the last of them;" i.e., the Bneves of Lewis.—Letter, Rev. John Jl'Rae, Stornoway, 12th Dec. 1860. 2 52 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

taill," and others, against the remaining members of the Siol TorquiL " Donald M'lndowie [Donald Macillevore] Brieff" is included, and this is lase th t notic eI hav e Brievefoune th f Lewisf do o . Donald, along with some Macleods describes i , havins a d g been con- cerned in the first rebellion against the Gentlemen Adventurers; but it is

difficul understano t t Morrisona y dwh , whose cla suffered nha severelo ds y ( for having favoure e Mackenziesth d s include wa e commissio, th n di f no extermination repeatedls i t I . y affirmed thae Morrisonth t s assistee dth Mackenzies to reduce Lewis, but a slight explanation is offered by one of e bards, th stateo wh 1s thae " Soldieth t f Kintaio r l promised parf o t Kintail to Donald, but never gave it." Towards the end of the seventeenth century the whole of Lewis formed parishes—Barvao tw t bu (Stornoway)y E d san e ministeTh . f Barvaso r - was the Eev. Donald Morrison, who must have been born about 1620; he wa grandsosa judgee th bres f Episcopalian no wa d,a n minister t con.bu , - forme Presbyterianismto d personallwas He y. know Martinto n and , supplied that invaluable writer with information about Iforth Kona.

Mr Donald helpe suppreso dt e sacrificth s Shonyo et about 1670d an , 2

1 Angus Gunn, North Dell, Ness. This remarkable superstition—of making an offering at Hallowmas to a supposed 2 sea-god, tha e mighh t t sen a plentifud l suppl f sea-weeyo n shore—ano d d which was supposed to have been abandoned about 1670, must have been the survival of the haust-bUt, or autumnal sacrificial feast of the pagan Scandinavians; for Sjtini nama s i e derived from son,atonementn a = , sacrific heathee th f (o e n age) (Cleasby's Iced. Die. pp. 535, 586). Onundr Sjoni is named in the Land-I6k, pp. 73, 89. But although the sacrifice to Shony may have been repressed the superstition only took anothe quito t r p formeu recenr fo ; t times there existe almosn da t extinct custom of proceeding in spring to the end of a long reef, and there invoking " Brianuil," "Brianvilt," to send a strong north wind and drive plenty of sea-ware on shore to manure the land. There seemed little prospec f makino t g anythin f "Brianuil,o t gou Brianuilt," unti Eeve th l . M. Macphail tolthae dm t "Briamdlt" name sainta th f d s eo an , wa that his day was about the 26th or 27th May. Now, St Brenden is written in Irish, Brenainn, Martid an n call t Brendan'sS s Chape t KildS n t Brianan.i ly asS da s Hi on the 16th May; and if this is taken as Old Style his festival would be on 28th May, New Style. With regard to the terminations uil, uilt, I hazard the conjecture that they repre- sen Gaelie tth c Scoladair sailor= , voyager wher fo ; n written phoneticall Sliulta,s i t yi TRADITIONS OF THE MORR1SONS. 523 died before 1700, in his 86th year. He" was succeeded in Barvas by his sonEeve th , . Allan Morrison.1 Whe r DonalnM s ministewa d f Barvaso r s brotherhi , , Eev. Kenneth Morrison ministes wa , Stornowayf o r joinee h ; d wit brothes hhi supn i r - pressin sacrifice gth Shony,o et informed an d Marti singulaa f no r method which he saw practised in his own church for exorcising the second-sight from a " Maid."2 He also conformed to the Presbyterian Church. Mr Kenneth was a highly gifted man, and well suited to repress the turmoils in Lewis which then existed between the Papists and Protestants; for he used to walk from his manse at Tong to the church at Stornoway with his sword at his side, and when preaching he had two men standing with drawn swords at the door of the church. e PapistTh s received great encouragement from John Mackenzif eo Assynt (who was a Papist), Laird of Kildun, and uncle of William, Earl of Seaforth. They kept Mr Kenneth so much on the alert that he never withoud wenbe o t t havin s sworghi doccasioe lyinon himy n gb O n. Laire th Kilduf exasperateo do s s nwa d agains ministee th t r tha sene h t t six stout men to bring Mr Kenneth by force to Aignish, where he then arrive n manse residedth me t e da eKennetr Th jusM .s a tgond hha o et bed; his wife suspected some evil design, and informed her husband. He merely told her to send them up stairs if they had any business with him. They were brought to his room and on his asking them what they wanted they thed toltham e Lairbi mAignish.hi dth o td t takdha m e ehi H 8 replied, " Oh, very well; let us first drink the Laird's health, and then I wil wito g l h you. thio T objectionso " n thers wa e . No Kennetr wM h

and when compounded ulta; so that Erianuilt I take to be a condensed form of Ureanamn-sTieoladair, e.,. i Brenda Voyagere nth . There is a legend among the Lewis folk which implies that the "Temple" on Sulasgeir was erected by or dedicated to St Brendan ; but the inference is counter- e facvaileth t y thadb e islan th t s knowdi s "Bara,a n " which surely meane th s Islan t BarrS f do . 1 Rev. Mr Guun, formerly of Lochs; MS. But the 0. S. A. has " Murdoch " Morrison. 2 Martin's " Western Isles," p. 314. 3 Aignish, for Eggja-nes, Norse = Egg-ness, so called from the rounded pebbles found os shoresnit . Aignish form south-ease th s t poin f Loco t h Stornoway. 4 52 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBEUAR , 1878Y11 .

had a very large "dram-horn,"1 which was only used on particular occasions; and it was now produced, The men drank the Laird's health and then that of his lady. His Beverence then asked them to drink his own health thiy wern B sexhilarateo .eme s tim e eth d that they would drink anybody's health t JohBu n. Barleycor mastes nwa f themo r d an , they were soon unable to move hand or foot. Mr Kenneth then made binn dme n theow m s withi h rope f strawso , carry theboate th mo ,t ferry thee passag theo Aignishth y mt la mn i d e an leadin,e Laird' th o t gs room. The Laird was restless from anxiety, and rose early to learn what success had attended his adventure, and, on going out, stumbled over one of his drunken men. They could give no account of how they came there, they noywh r were bound with ridiculouo stras n wi mannersa e Th . Laird said this .was black Kenneth's doing, and that he had .practised some tric brino kt g the mthao t t condition t thabu ; t they shoul thankfue db l r KennetM o t h t havinfono r g lef t shore theth n meo within e reacth f ho flood. The clemency of Mr Kenneth softened in some degree the anger of the Laird, for shortly afterwards he wrote to Mr Kenneth to come to Aignish to hav discussioea merite th n theif nso o r respective creeds r KennetM . h was kindly received d aftean ,r dinne e discussioth r n took place. Mr Kenneth seem havo st e advance arguments dhi s with moderationd an , illustrated them with amusing stories, by which the Laird was induced assero t t tha woule h t d mor eminutel• y examine int e doctrineoth s hi f so Church. Prom that time the Laird moderated his zeal for the Papists, and live goon do d terms wit r KennethhM . The Bev. Kenneth Morrison was a good poet, as some of his productions in the Gaelic language sufficiently attest. The Kev. Aulay Macaulay, ministe Harrisf o r , marrie ddaughtea Eeve th f . o rKennet h Morrison. Mr Kenneth was succeeded as minister of Stornoway by his second cousin, the Eev. Donald Morrison, whose pedigree is thus given: Donald MacEorie Vie Angus Vie Allan Mhic a Bhreitheimh ; i.e. son of the Brieve

1 " Dram-horn," in Gaelic Adharc-dhrama. The one I have is a section of a cow's horn, 3J inches high, and 2| inches across the mouth ; it holds 3J fluid ounces or about one-third of a tumbler. How large one might be that was only used on par- ticular occasion t woulsi rase d b guess o ht . TRADITIONS OF THE MOKKISONS. 525

(John Morrison) r DonalM . d must have lived till 1747, whes hi n successor the Rev. John Clark, was admitted.1 tols i dt I thar DonalM t d studie t AndrewsS t da , where havinn gwo the good opinion of the professors they recommended him to the notice of William, Earl Seaforth, who presented him to the church of Stornoway. Mr Donal zealou s s calling dhi lonwa o n n s i g n i ;tim e marrieeh dlada y of great personal attractions; Seaforth, the young Laird of Kildun, and many other sweddinge werth t ea . That night nothin t politicgbu s were discussed t earl the d go bed o yt l an , y al . Seaforth invite Donaldr dM s hi , parte th coml o yt bride al Seaforteo d t nex,an y da t h Lodge, where there was a splendid and cheerful feast. The Rev. Kenneth Macaulay, minister of Harris Lewia t bu ,s man presents ,wa . Seaforth himself was a Protestant, but the Laird of Kildun and some others were rank Papists, and they determined to browbeat the two ministers smarA . t discussio Protestana n s ensuedi t i report o t bu wh t; s argumentse th f courso o Protestante s , eth . besit e f th o t d sha Not long afterwards Mrs Morrison became unruly in her family, when founs Morrison's t tha wa cause dou t Mr i th t f eo s change from betteo t r worse was the effect of spirits. Mr Donald was unable to reform his wife tha o r habituas , he t l intemperance became wided knowd an an r , nfa clerge th y threatene suspeno dt separatint fom no r dhi g from suc hwomana . He received a letter from the Synod to appear before it. By the advice of Seaforth he wrote to his relation, the Eev. Angus Morrison (of Contin), whthes onwa livin t Doire-na-muic,ga Littly b e Loch Broom Angur M . s gave Mr Donald a sealed letter, dated 1741, to the moderator of the Synod; but in spite of argument the Synod summoned Mr Donald before the General Assembly. The two friends went to Edinburgh, and there engaged the services of John Macleod of Muiravonside, advocate. After hearing arguments from both sides, the Assembly decided against the Synod. Some months afte r DonalM r returned dha Stornowayo dt Sundaa n o , y after coming from church, he was reading the Bible while Mrs Morrison was brawlin ministeannoyine d th gfamilye an t deas th o l Bu t fwa r gal . her noise, and would take no notice of her; this so enraged Mrs Morrison thae snatchesh t e Bibldth s e firee Hi ofe tabl th d threfth . n an ei wt i

1 0. S. A., vol. xix. p. 250; Cullodcn Papers, p. 293. 6 52 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

reverence preserved his composure, and, drawing his chair close to the fire and warming his hands, he said, " "Well, mistress; this is the best fire I ever warmed myself at." Mrs Morrison gazed at her husband and at the Bible in the flames; without saying anything she withdrew to another room, and l aroun froal f mo dthay her jo became t e hoursh , th o et , sober and penitent, and strove daily to add to the comfort of her husband and family.1 la 1653, Murd oe brievMorrisonth f Allanf o o e n n (Johnso ,so , s wa ) tacksma thred ha Gressf eno e sons—JohnH . , subsequently knowe th s na tacksma Bragarf no , Allan Murdod an , . On the 10th August 1653, Colonel Cobbett of the Eoundhead army took possessio e peninsulth f o n whicn o a e towth h f Stornowano w yno stands, and having had the arms of the place delivered up to him, he fortified the point and left Major Crispe as governor of Lewis, with six companies of soldiers, two great guns, and four sling pieces. On 31st January 1654, a strange report reached Edinburgh, that Seaforthhad with 1400 men stormed the fort of Stornoway and taken it. But on 14th February 1654, more certain information arrived there "thd an , e business • of Lewis was thus—ISforman [rede John] Macloud [of Easay, and nephew of Seaforth] with four or five hundred men, landed in the Lewis island [at Loch Shell], and after three or four days staying at some inaccessible places in the isle, fell upon our soldiers who lay at Stornoway out of the fortd killean , d twelvfore th t f themf beaa parto eo t t t you bu ;the m thence, relieved the remainder of the men, removed the goods' into the burnford e houses.an t th t 21sn O t" March news arrive t Dalkeitha d , that " the garrison of Lewis had made slaughter of the country people that joyned with Seaforth thed an ,y have also slaughtered garrisone somth f eo ; the old natives [Macleods] joyned with our men against the rest of the country, so that these divisions cause great devastation in those parts."2 This account is corroborated by the "Indweller; "3 but the patriotic antiquist telw verla sno y different story whic hrepeatee b nee t dno d here; except that John, the future tacksman of Bragar, being on good terms

1 Morrison's "Tradition Lewis.f so " 2 Spot, Mis. vol. ii. pp. 124, 126, 169, 196. 3 Jb. p. 342. 7 TRADITION52 MORRISONSE TH F SO .

with the officers of the garrison, spent the night previous to the attack in drinking with them, and after observing where the sentinels were posted and the weakest part of the defence, returned to Gress. His brother Allan had been employed in collecting the Lewis men. The attack was made at o columnsnightw n i t ; Seaforth marchin lande th f Torry o sy d gb an , Rasay by Bayhead.1 The result is stated above. John Morrison of Bragar, who is said to have had "Ladies modesty, Bishops gravity, Lawyers eloquence d Captainan , s conduct,"—was personally known to Martin, and described by him as " a person of un- questionable sincerit reputation;d yan stils i e l h remembere d an " s hi r dfo poetry, shrewdness names , 315 i witd e 28 d Marti an y ,H . , dan . b pp t na 31 thf 6o e " Western Isles." A great part of the lands of Bragar was, as was universal at that time, suble tenantso t t happeneI . d that Seaforth sen r Morrisofo t como ut e Stornowayo t sprins wa t gi ; time Morrisod an doub ,n who i o t s s nma twa shoule h d leave in chargfare th m f e o durin s absenceghi orden x I fi . o t r upon the most trustworthy, he took the following plan :—He closed up all windowe th openingd san s that admitted light placed stong an , bi n dea i passage th rooms thee hi H eo n t .tenants tha send hi tel le to l t t lal s that somethind themtenanto ha e t e y Th h sa . sgo t arrived , eac stumbline hon g ove stonee th r ,man d til t ol las la n , aftea t r sprawling acros passagee sth , remarked that that was no place for such a stone, and rolled it out of the way. John Morrison then said to his tenants, " You may now go away f youobe u o t whil absene instructionl m yo ybu a th ; al e eI se t f thiso s old man, whom I leave as my substitute, and who appears to be the most careful and willing of you all." OnJohy eda n Morriso people th d Balalochf eo n ha Bragarn i , , working on his farm. They had their breakfast at his house, but lingered too long over it. When they resumed their work, he addressed them thus :—

Fasan muintir Balaloch, deign A chuio hm d arai brochais ni n ith 'us 61. Na h-uile fear'bagairt iMridh, chS ' a togad feihe n thon. e peoplth f f o Balalocheo y wa e ,th aftes thay wa r t sa i ts muco t A s a h 1 Dr Macivor, M.S. 528 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

eating his bread and drinking his brochan,1 for each to say it is time for frop s seatu mt hi .go worke o t t on thao g o hu , un to st occasioe Onon n John Morrison considered himself overchargee th y db factor, and refused to pay his demand. The factor complained to Seaforth, who sen Morrisor fo t como nt Stornowayo et t oncea t . ,ou Morrit se n so putting the rent into one purse and what he considered to he the over- charge in another. When he arrived at Seaforth Lodge a large dog barked furiousl t himya whicn ,o h Morrison struc violena t i k t blon wo nose th yelleg e do wit s stickde f hSeaforth'hi o dismallyTh e . on d san , servants, on coming to see what was the matter, commenced to abuse Mr Morrison, who punished his insolence by striking him on the jaw. The uproar now was greater than ever, and Seaforth made his appearance. John Morrison explaine origirowe e dadded:th th d f ,an n o —

Gille tighearna ' us cu m6r. Dithis nach coir leigidh leo; Buai balacm a l r a'h ai charbaid . 'S buail am balgair air an t-sroin.

Translation. The boy (menial) and bull-dog (watch-dog) of a laird thaAro t alonettw le shoule eb ; t dno Strike the boy on the jaw, And strike the dog on the nose.

Seafort s amusewa h t Morrison'da s impromptu verse d welcomean , d him cordially. t paie rentno d th d d an ,' ha Morriso e h y nwh tolm hi d presente bage dth s containin e reagth ld bee renwhad ha ne an t h overt - charged. On inquiry, it was found that the factor exacted more rent dismisseds wa e h tha just s d ,n wa whilan , e John Morriso honoue th d rnha of payin rens ghi futurn i t e into Seaforth' handsn sow . John Morriso s servanthi f no pulo sent so ltw t heathe r makinfo r g ropes; one pulled indiscriminately whatever came in his way, whether fit or unfit; the other left a great deal of soil sticking to the roots. When John Morriso whaw nsa t thedoned yha said:e h , —

1 Brochan, Gael., thin gruel. 9 TRADITION52 MOHRISONSE TH F SO .

Chuir me breinean'iis fuididh 'Bhuain fraoic cuideachdn ha a cheile; Thug breinean dhachaidh an cudthrom, 'S thug fuididh dhachidh na geugan.

Translation. I sent Nasty and Turbulent To pull heather in company together; Nasty brought home driffd aa , And Turbulent brought home [only] bare sticks.

John Morriso a red-haire d ha n s sometimed dwa ba wifeo a wh n ,i s temperwhon o e occasionalld mh an , y practise s sarcastihi d c humours a , follows:— Diubhaidh connaidh f ear nfhliucha ; Diubhaidh side flion chur ; 'S gus an teid an saoghal as 'Se diubhaidh an t-saoghail droch bhean.

Translation. The worst of fuel is wet alder; worse Th weathef o t sofs ri t sleat; And until the world is at an end The worst thing in it is a bad wife. Again:— Fadadh teine ann an loch; 'Tiormachadh cuan n cloica n ;han Comhairle ga toirt air mnaoi bhuirb Mar bhuill' uir r iarrundai n fuar.

Translation. Makin lakea firg a n ei ; Drying a stone in the ocean; Giving advic headstrona o et g wife lik s strokI e eth hammea f eo coln ro d iron. It appears to have been the custom in Lewis for the ground-officer (under-bailliff—maor Gaelicn i , havo t ) e claimed hale smith'th f s dues. Donald MacEorie was then ground-officer, and his demand was resisted 530 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1878. by Murdo Morrison. His father pleaded his cause very pithily, as fol- lows :— Aon de charaibh an t-saoghail Saoilidb i feim , n gu 'm bei tuadhale l ; Gobha ga loagadh ail cardaich 'S leth na cain aig Domhuil Mac Euairidh: meaning that he thought the world must be turning round the wrong way; for Donald Mac Eorie to take half the cain (tax, dues) while the smith was being scorched in his smithy. John Morrison had to pay some tax in Stornoway, and sent it by Donald Chuain, a poor man who sometimes worked on his farm. When Donald came back, John Morrison went to Donald's house, where he found him leanins elbohi n bedn wi go . When John Morriso s leavingwa n e h , said:— 'S buidhe dhuit fein Dhomhuill Chuaiu 'S tu ad laidhe air do chluain. thaobh; Clia tliog pracadai gheallo rd , 'S th o cha amh tli tainn ua maoira gn .

Translation. Happ t thouyar , oh! Donal Maine th f do , Reclining easy on your side ; A tax-gatherer will not sue thee for taxes, Nor to a maor (ground-officer) you need not crouch.

On another occasion John Morrison addresses Donald Chuain thu— s:

Dh' fhalbh tliu s' cha mhist learn 'S dh' fhag thu mo lionn again fein 'S leis a bhith bha nam fheoil Dheanainn 61 ged dheidheadh tu eig: but the meaning is obscure.1 Donald of the Ocean is immortalized by Martin ; for he tells us Donald lived in a village near Bragar, and that he cut his toe at the change of the

1 These epigrams of the Tacksman of Bragar are from the Rev. M. Macphail, Kil- niartin, an late Johr dth eM n Morrison, surveyor. TRADITIONS OF THE MOERISONS. 531 moon (perhaps on this very journey), " and it bleeds a fresh drop at the change of the moon ever since."—" West. Isles," p. 13. Once when the family at Bragar was short of meal, John Morrison left home in the morning to buy some, but in the evening returned with empta littl d unloadet a eha y t distanc e sacksgo h r d fo ,ha wha e e h t from the house. When his wife saw the empty sacks she began to scold angrilym hi . tireds Morrisod thewa an , ntile n o sh l n o g allowe o t r he d r moohe dt i changedwen w d fetchesa an te e mealsoos sh th d ,A s na . begae sh smileo nd t an . John Morrison then said:—

Ni thu gaire 'nair a gheibh thu min ; 'S mist do ghean bhi gun bhiadh ; VfeaS ' r learn fern na'n t-each dearg Nach tigidh. fearg ort riammli.

Translation. You laugh when you get meal; Your good humou rworse isth beinr efo g without food; I would rather than the red horse That anger came not on you ever:

meaning that he would give his red horse to have her always in good humour. To his various other talents John Morrison of Bragar seems to have added tha f engineero t r Seafortfo ; h having—about 1660—undertaken castle e siegth th f f Ardvrackeo eo , belongin Macleoo gt Assyntf do d an , findin made g h t littl ebu e progress, sent for John Morrison, who, having gone over the ground, recommended that four hundred raw cow-hides should be made into bags and stuffed with moss. The bags were placed in line and raised to the height of a man, and from the shelter of this rampart the besiegers fired upon their assailants without receiving any damage themselves. Some say the Mackenzies placed the wives of the Mac- e rampart th raty e castl f leods th equicklan o t wa ep a s; to upo ye th n surrendered.1 John Morrison had five sons, four of whom, Roderick, Angus, John, aud Murdo, seem to have inherited their father's genius; the fifth

1 Morrison's " Traditions of Lewis." 532 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

is said to have been Malcolm, who was appointed to the Chapel of Poolewe.1 Roderick, calle n ClasairdA Bline Dull,th r do Harper, find placa s n ei Mackenzie's "Beauties of Gaelic Poetry;" but I have nothing to add to what is there stated, except that his father declared that he was put to more expens musiciana s a troubld n ean so bringin ,n e i e tha on e nh p gu woul deducatinn i hav d eha g thre clergymen.s ea 2 fame f Th Anguseo , ministe f Continro , occupie widsa e spac folkn ei - e lass "th t wa Episcopae loreH . l ministe f Contino r f whoo , m many interesting anecdote e stilar s l related d benevo,an illustrativ t wi - s hi f eo lence. This excellen sufferen ma t d very harsh treatmen r refusinfo t o t g confor Presbyterymo t s rudelwa e y H ejecte. churchn dow fro o s t , mhi sanctuary.a o t fle d whics da ha writee e thahy h Th "e sa 3h tr o goet n so closed a long, honourable, and a useful life in great indigence; but I think this must be a mistake, for, besides that he owned the small pro- perty at Doire-na-Muic, by Little Loch Broom, we find that "Mrs Morrison, daughte r AnguM f o rs Morrison lase th ,t Episcopal ministef o r Contin," left a legacy of £80, for charitable purposes, to the poor of Foderty;4 and that " Mrs St Glair, who died at Jamaica [possibly the same lady as the Mrs Morrison named above], a native of this parish [Contin], daughter of Mr ^3Eneas Morrison, minister of Contin," left a legac £10f e ypooo n th f tha0ow o ro t s ts livinhi parish. wa n ge o H 5 property at Doire-na-Muic, by Little Loch Broom, in 1723, and travelled to Edinburgh in that or the following year. The Eev. Angus Morrison, otherwise call Black Angus, was noted for his sagacity, wit, and good fellowship, as well as for being a learned and eloquent preacher sgeulaclidane Th ." e Fatherth f o n Eoss-shirsi ee "ar valuable, not so much for their historic truth, but as illustrating the way of d modlifan ef thougho e f thao t t time. Alexander Mackenzif o e Applecros d Highfielan s d bought d solan d cattle d sometimean , s went

1 Mackenzie's " Beauties of Gaelic Poetry," p. 85. 2 He may have been recorded in one of the-two lost volumes of Morrison's " Tradi- tion f Lewis.so " 3 N. S. A., Ross-shire, p. 237. . A.. A.S S , . ,. vol0 4 Eoss-shireN ; 4 . 41 vii . p . . 259p , . 5 0. S. A., vol. vii. p. 166 ; N. S. A., Ross-shire, p. 243. 3 TRADITION53 MOKRISONSE TH F SO .

with his droves to England, where he sold them to great advantage. At one time, Mackenzie having sol droves dstayinhi s wa ,gentleman'a t ga s house in Yorkshire, and, on the Sabbath-day, attended divine service. preachee a talenteTh s rwa d mand mucan , h esteeme s doctrinhi r fo d e eloquenced an . Conversation turning upo discoursee nth , Mackenzie said that there w.as a preacher in Boss-shire who excelled any they could bring against him*in soundnes f doctrineso , fluenc f speechyo d cleaan , r and powerful delivery; and that he would stake £50 upon it. His English friend accepte e wagerth d . When Mackenzie came home h e wen Contino t tolr d Anguwagere M dan e ,repliedth H f so . , " Well, Sandy, I'll go with you to Yorkshire; but I fear you will have a poor chance for your money." Mr Angus let his beard grow, and for a snuff- mull he took a rough, undressed ram's horn of most uncouth appearance, and for a lid closed it with a pickle of straw. Applecross and Mr Angus arrived safel a Saturda n yo y nigh t theia t r destinatione nexth n t o d an , wagee wels th days wa a rl , known , a largther s ee wa assemblag heao et r the Scotch minister. It was then the custom, when rivals had to preach, tha texta t , from whic hpreaco t thed yha h extempore places e th wa , n di pulpie Presbyteryth y tb . Whe r AnguM n s enteres e pulpidwa th e h t meanly dressed, and, wit lons hhi g beard, presente uncoutn da h appear- ance. He looked round the pulpit for the slip of paper with the text upon it, and finding none, sat down, pulled out his ram's horn and took s wa e h f i d aske an ministere m , dth hi up f pincha o t t e lassgo A on t. going to address them. Mr Angus said they had given him no text. One of the ministers told him he could take his own beard and snuff-box fo texta r I omi sermone . th tcourse f O . , Aaron' anoints it bear d dan - ing, and what it was typical of, were introduced. In the evening the ram' e textsth hors , whic wa ns illustrate wa h s y hi Joshub d d an a trumpets, with suitable applications and inferences. When the sermons were concluded e ministerth l al , s gave their verdics favourhi o S n i t . Applecross won his wager, which he presented to Mr Angus, who had no scrupl acceptinn ei g it.1 Other reminiscences woul de conclusio leath o dt n e thadaye th th f t so Father Boss-shirn si miserablo s l ebees al werha t ns ea supposedeno t bu ;

1 Mormon's " Traditions of Lewis." 534 PROCEEDINGS OF TlIE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

they are passed over to give place to an instance of the sagacity of the ministe f Contino r . Some shee beed pha n stolen fro mparishionera d an , the soldiers at Fort-Augustus were suspected of the theft. With the consen e commandinth f o t g office e soldierth r s were draw , wheup nr nM Angus gav o eacet f theo h ma straw d tolan d, the e shoulmh d know whic woul e e thiefh n possessioi th r f the he o s dfo b , m longese wa th f no t straw. The man who was guilty of the theft shortened his straw to avoid detection therebs wa d yan , discovered. Mr Angus was as courageous as he was witty; for, having business in Edinburgh, he had arrived at Inverness, where he was informed that a desperate robber, of whom a party of soldiers was in pursuit, and for who mrewara s offered dsupposewa s e wa lurkin,b o t d g upo e roadnth . r AngusM , however, proceeded upo s journeys againhi wa nt warnebu , d tha robbee th tlatel d rha y been see than i n t neighbourhood r AnguM . s having a fast horse thought he might venture to proceed; but as he was passing throug hwooa robbee th d r sprang from behin da tree , and, pre- sentin gr a pistoAngus M t a l ' breast, demanded his purse r AngusM . , saying thas purshi t e contained very little money d tha e woulan ,h t d rather part wit t hi tha lifes nhi , tolrobbee dth holo t rs horse dhi ; and, as the horse was very young and skittish, to take hold of the bridle with both hands Angur stoua M d .t s ha botstick w whed sa h an ,e handnh s robbee oth f r engaged side e turnee d insteah ,on an , o dt f takin do t ou g robbee purss th hi s ea r expected raisee h , stics broughd dhi an k t dowi t n with such force acros e robbee armth th s f s completelso a r o disablyt e Angur him M s horse. hi staie d returne f theth o lan , o nt tieo t m d dhi Inverness, wher receivee eh e reware e heartcapturth dth th r d dfo y ean congratulation people.e th f so 1 Of Mr Angus it is said, " his satirical wit was the terror of many in those days thao persoy s , inviteo an t a treat nwh o t d , n madsucma ha e e besth t shif e coulh t o pleast d eo part him n good to ,witan dm hi h terms." Whe Angur n M livins swa t gLittla e Loch Broom neighboua , r pressingly invited Mr Angus to visit him, which Mr Angus prepared to do rather unexpectedly. The neighbour caught sight of Mr Angus com- towardg in t being thoughte s houseno h shi s d a , an , , sufficiently' prepared

1 Morrison's " Traditions of Lewis." „ . ' TRADITIONS OF THE MOREISONS. 535 to entertain him, lie went int s houstha oy hi tol d e wifs sa h tdan ehi o et had gone from home, and that he would not be back for two days. When Mr Angus entered, the mistress said what her husband desired her. suspicionss hi d Angusr ha M o t , wh ,tolr Bu tha woule he dh t d wait till her husband came back. The mistress was very uneasy all day, and towards evening brough mana t , wit hvera y large creel, int culaiste oth 1 house th of reo smalid n en whicl e roor husbanth hhe t m a secreteds dwa . r AnguM s witn watchema h e mistrese somth dth ed interestan s d an , returninn ma presentl e th g w witysa ha heav y load upo s backr nhi M . Angus guesse creele th dn ,i wha ands wa ,t havin s pocket-knifhi g e ready, s passinwa e n th g ma e dexterousle h e th creee strath s th a f l o pt ycu hearth. s contentBotit creee d hth an l s fell into thegoode th , fired - an , man roared for help. None was more ready than Mr Angus to render e goodmath k assistanceas n o t wha d tan , could have induceo t m hi d practise suc expedientn ha goodmae Th . n mad cleaea d nan breas, it f o t added, that had he got out of the house, he would have come in as from a journey, and made the minister welcome to what he had. Mr Angus explained that he would have been contented with a herring and potatoes, recommended an straightforwarda d lin f conduceo future.n i t 2 Another of the sons of the tacksman of Bragar was the Eev. John Morrison, sometime ministe Urrayf o rh Apri 7t Eoss-shiren i ,e l th n O . 1719, the Kev. John Morrison of Urray, ordained and admitted the Rev. John MacGillegen of Altness, minister of Loch Ailsh.3 I have stated before, tha I tsuppos Eeve th e . John Morriso "e Inf Urrath no s - ywa dweller," who wrote an account of Lewis, now in the Macfarlane Topo- graphical Collections.4 ministee Th f Urrasona o r d , yha als o calle s missionard Johnwa o wh , y at Amulree in 1745; he was settled in Petty, in Inverness-shire, in 1759, 177n i s successo d hi 4 an s appointedcalles wa Bard,re wa dth e d H an . one of his popular Gaelic songs was to the lady whom he had baptized,

1 Culaist abbreviation a s i Cul-na-glais,f no behin locke dth . Wher e houseth s ei dividepartitiono tw y db s int three oth e chambers culaist.e th s innei e e th , on r 2 Morrison's " Traditions of Lewis." 3 N. S. A., Koss-shire, p. 408. ' 4 Spottiswoode Mis . 335 p vol . .ii . VOL. XII. PART II. 2 M 6 53 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1878Y11 .

afterwards whoo t wa d e mh an s married.1 Accordin Lewio gt s tradition, he was chosen minister of Petty in a competition with four other can- didates.2 He was a highly-gifted and orthodox preacher, and was believed giftee b o dt wit spirie hth prophecf o t wonderfua n yi l manner. The following tale illustrates some of the customs which I have seen in my youth. Mr John had a family of sons and daughters, and an orphan girl, Kate broughs wa , witp u t h them. After some years MorrisoMr s n died, and Kate had charge of the household. At last it was whispered about that Kat beed eha n indiscreet elden a d r an informe, r JohM df no suspicione th ministee Th . r seeme o excust d e Kate; said that human nature was fallible, and a great deal more which it would be irreverent in me to quote. The elder admitted that all his Reverence had said was quite orthodox, but asked permission to summon Kate before the Kirk- Session to be questioned. Katfirse y calles da Th te wa d beforr he session e s eth wa asked o ,an dwh drovert knoa s no paramournames w d hi thawa d .di e saie ,an h te dSh sh . The elders became clamorous and threatening, in order to extort a confes- e girth sionl t woulbu ; d only giv same eth e answer t r lasJohA M t. n interposed ; he said he was more grieved than any of them for her folly ; treatee b t thaough o e harshlyt o bu dt s sh t no ttha d r crim,an he t e should t deba no r fro s protectiohe rm hi sympathd n an r futurhe f yi e behaviour evinced a sincere repentance. The members of Session could not tell why ministee th r shoul displeasee db t theida r endeavou force.o t r a confession, d thean y therefore bega o suspect n e ministeth t r himself e firsTh t . Sunday after the Kirk-Session one of the parishioners who had been incontinent was ordered to stand up, and the Kirk-officer was directed to sack-clote th t pu h madn ove shoulderss muco ma hi ers e hth t resistbu ; - ance thar JohM t n leav o t aloncrie m t ehi ou de till next Sunday, when woule h d hav ea companion . Everybod e churcth n i yh wondereo wh d this would be. Early nexelderse th tf o wee , e beinkon t marketga , hear t i said d that Mr John was the delinquent, and went to tell him so. " Ah.! well," said Mr John, " hal wora f d fro f judgmenJudge'e o mth y da s moute t th t ha

1 N. S. A., Ross-shire, p. 409. 2 But compare N. S. A., Ross-shire, p. 410. TRADITION MOEEISONS. E TH 53 F S7O .

wil lthaf cleao e t charge.rm eldee Th r" woul d rather tha s Eeverenchi t e migh clearee h t thin di s life. e Onexth n t night Kate knocke windoe th t certaia da f wo n married man; she said there was no use in her screening him any longer, for that he himself must have told the minister of their acquaintance. The man said that he had done nothing of that sort. " Then who could have told him," said Kate; "it will he well for you to go where he is to-morrow youn ow r guiltd comy therebd an ma an ,e u ofe easier.yyo fth " e Ofollowinnth s sack-clothewa g n Sundama e d th yalon g wite hth other delinquent r Joh predicted M nha s hearine a , whole th th n di f geo congregation.1 youngese f JohTh o n n so tMorriso s Bragaf nwa o Murdos e h wa r d an , uncommof o n ma a ns strengthsmith.a wa e bree b H o possessedd t 2 ,an d a full share of the genius of the family; he could make swords and guns, thoug a measur n i h e self-taught propose e fathes H time hi . o on et r t da to make a gun for killing deer. His father, doubting his ability, persuaded s wa e h y attempo t hida t ma no . n it to However d t abouan se , e it th , fixing the gun into the stock when his father entered the smithy. His father said havu , "eYo mad guea n contrar advice y I daresa m d o yt an , y t wili l never kil beast.a l " Murdo replied judgt no ,e o "prematurelyD , for I am just going to put a shot into it." There happened to be a lot of r Morrison'M s cows grazin t somga e distance fro smithye mth Murdd an , o said, " What should I have to pay if I shoot that speckled ox from here?" " Well," said his father, " if you kill six of my cattle at that distance you pennloss.e a th y wil t r hav"pa y fo no l o eMurdt ostote fireth ,t whicda h fell, and Mundo told his father to send a servant to bleed the beast. John Morrison advised his son, if he wanted to keep so good a gun for himself, that he should put no ornament on it, nor fix it in the stock, but simply tie it on with cord, so that the ugly mounting should scare

1 Morrison's " Traditions of Lewis." sociae Th 2 l statu smita f so hcomparee musb t no t d with e a farrietha th f o t a r present day; beside farms scainhi s bi duer , o scompetena gavm ehi t livelihoodn I . e earliesth t iron tim ne ow mad h e (ins hi e Sweden , certainly) whic fashionee hh d into anything that was needed—needles, fishhooks, arms, armour, &c.; he manufac- ture gole silved dth dan r ornament botwealthye s th hf wa s o jewelled an , goldd an r - smith. 8 53 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUARY II, 1878. any gentleman from desirin posseso gt . sit Fro m this circumstancs wa t ei called Gun na Sraing, i.e., the Eope Gun. In spite of its" ugly mounting, Murdo did great execution in the deer-forest, and on one -occasion, when returning fro brothers mvisia hi o t t t Contia s Urrayd nan arrivee h , t da Gairloch when there was a shooting-match for a silver cup. Each com- petitor had to put a half-crown into the cup, and Donald Eoy Mackenzie, otherwise Donald Eoy .Mac Vie Urchy, formerly tacksman of Park, Lewis, co-altd an (fostere r foster-brothero r f Murdoo ) , persuade o tryt m . hi d moneye e th d Th .an Murd p cu botn o e e targetaimehwo th th d t a dan , lair f Gairloc do muco s s h hwa please d with Murdon i tha e senm h t hi t his barge to Lewis.1 n thosI e days Seaforth onc o g use yeaea o t d r round Lewi sporto st , whe woule nh d remai r Morrison'nigha M r t nfo a t s hous t Bragarea n O . one occasion Seafort Mackenzid hha Assynf e captaieo th d tnan witm hhi oa man-of-warf . Seaforth desire peca d k measur broughte b e o h et r fo , beed ha n told thaa swor f s properli t wa d y tempered t i migh, e benb t t int e measurecircle oth th gentleme e f eo Th . n took their l swordsal d an , stood the trial but Seaforth's, which broke. Seaforth was somewhat disappointed wit resulte hth . e time guestdu th e n I s wen theio t t r beds, when John Morrison told his son that he must not go to his bed, but to his smithy, and try to mend Seaforth' worko t whed t san se , nn sword Murdso o fathe S d d . an oha r mended and polished the sword, he handed it over to his father, and desiretelo t l m wherbeed dhi ha n t ei broken s fatheHi . e r se coul t no d where it had been joined. Murdo then wanted to go to bed, but his father e sworsaidth f ,di "No wil y o inttr .pece g t l th s ou yetk t le ; measure withou half-pece Th thes t . breaking.nkwa so broughtd di t I " , an t dstooi d even that trial. After breakfast next day, when Seaforts suithi ed werhan e preparing to leave, Seaforth put on the scabbard with, as he thought, the broken sword, muttering some words about breaking it. John Morrison then said that even here n Bragari , e sworth , d coul e repaireb d madd dan e better than ever. '' Well," said Seaforth, " if you could get my sword mende tempered stano dt an e propes a th d o ds r trial I ,woul d givu yo e

1 Morrison's "Traditions of Lewis." 539 TRADITION MOREISONSTHE SOF .

this year's rent of Bragar down." John Morrison replied, " Let us see the pieces and he thinking ahout it." Seaforth drew forth his sword, and, lookin t witi t ga h astonishment remarkede h , , that thoug e hahh d passed the night in hed, that they, the Morrisons, had not taken their wonted rest. nan Sraing,Gu e Th althoug n uglha y piec f furnitureo e a ver s y wa , profitable one t aftebu ; r Murdo Morrison's death s sonhi , , Donald Mor- rison, who was tacksman of Hahost, at Ness, broke it in a fit of anger, and repented of his rash deed when there was no remedy.1 e BevTh . Norman Morrison, grandso f Joho n n Morriso f Bragaro n , succeeded the Eev. John Macleod, who was the first Presbyterian minister y 1763Ma e Eev ,h th o9t f. Wn Uig.O Morriso. n receive letteda t ra Balnakil, Uig, dated 30th March last, from Macleod of Hamar (Theophilus Insulanus), n Skye2i n answerI . e Eevth , . N. Morrison states tha. he t will subscribe for a bound copy of Hamar's " Treatise on the Second Sight," 8 then publishede aboub e assureo t h t t bu s; Macleod that no t one in his parish can read but himself.4 The hook might have been more useful to Mr Morrison had it contained instructions for dispelling these

1 Morrison's "Traditions of Lewis." 2 Carruthers "Boswell's Jour. . 127"p . 3 This work is a curiosity, and supplies much interesting matter. Hamar was strongly anti-Jacobite. The tradition concerning him is: Roderick Macleod, tacks- man of Hamar, was a true patriot and a loyal subject. After the battle of Sheriffmuir appointes h ewa Commissionere th y db uplifo st forfeitee rente th th tf so d estaten i s Skye and Uist, but managed his business, as king's factor, with prudence and com- passion. Hamar was travelling to Inverness with the king's rent, and had but one servant with him who was very strong, but not very wise. Hamar was surprised by three restins servans robberwoodwa a hi sleepine s d n gi h an s ,wa t s a glittla e distance off. Resistance was useless, so he gave up the money. The robbers returned a crown to e a nightdecline h said d e t an h dan bu , ; lodgingit y ds hi da Hamay a r pa sfo o t r would be obliged to them if they would give a good slap to wake up his lazy servant. The robbers treated the kilted Highlander very rudely, but he sprang up so suddenly tha thef wrestee a momento h t fro n me n i mgu on d killed a an , d them e bothTh . third fled; but Hamar, who had by this time got his gun, brought him down. By the clever stratagem of getting the violent temper of his man aroused he regained all his money. After this adventure Hamar always got some soldiers to be a guard goins whe wa Invernes o gt e nh s with money. 4 " There are none but myself in the parish to use the book.—Second Sight, p. 161. ;540 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

supernatural illusions; however, a demon having got into communication with Malcolm Macleod, tenan f Cliffo tapplie e ministerh e , th o dt o wh , gave him a written paper which he was to offer to the demon. When they next met, Malcolm presented the paper (the demon being able to read, while Malcolm could not); but the demon was disgusted and, on Malcolm continuin persecuto gt e disappearewith m s , hi eit h wa d an d never seen again. t morBu e unruly tha evie nth l spirits wer e spiritth es f somhi o s f o e parishioners; for one of them, Donald Macaulay, tacksman of Brenish, having taken ow n s e ministeroffenchi th f t o a e t , ou locke m hi d e misdemeanouchurchth t bu ; s compromisewa re th a fino t y e b d poor's-box.1 About 177 e Eev8th . Norman Morriso succeedes nwa e th TJin di y gb Eev. Hugh Monro. The Morrison clan, besides forming a large proportion of the popu- lation of Lewis, are numerous in Harris, North and South Uist, and Edderachyllis. The numbers of a clan-name is a good indication of the lengt f timo h e tha e clas beeth tha n n settled upo e landth n . Often, e ironth f fate y yo poorese b th , t begga representative th s i r moste th f eo ancient lord of the soil. The Harris Morrisons claim to be of the original stock, and the following tradition concerning them is interesting. Sometime in the fifteenth century, Macleod of Harris, who was a young man, was in Pabbay. He heard that Peter Morrison, a tenant in Pabbay, was an expert wrestler, so he collected the young men of the island and desired them to show their skill They then began to wrestle, and Peter Morrison proved himself to be the best man. The laird then requested Peter to try a fall with himself; but Peter declined, for he said his tempe s suc over s unlesrwa n h wa tha-ma e coule sh y h t yiel an d no o dt powered. Macleod commended him for his courage, and bade him act as saidd ha . e h They then grappled Peted an , r soon laid Macleod upos nhi back Macleod took no offence, but one who was standing by, thinking to gain the laird's goodwill, drew his sword and killed Peter. But when Macleod saw Peter fall he ordered his men to seize the murderer, who

.... J Morrison'- • s " Tradition Lewis.f so " 1 TRADITION54 MORHISONSE TH F SO .

fledt beinbu , g closely pursue jumpee dh d headlong ove a precipicr e into the sea. Peter Morrison left one son, and the kind laird brought him up with displaye e childrenn h s a ow s d dhi an , considerable ability'h chiee th fd eha management of Macleod's estate. Young Morrison was a comely person, and, in the suite of Macleod, visited Maclean of Coll. It was soon agreed between the chiefs that Morrison should f Coil'o marr e son y daughters calles t whewa bu ,d e nh before them he modestly declined, as he had not wherewith to support a worthe th family t yBu Macleo. plentd d ha sai maintaie o yt h d n them, and that the Laird of Coll would not see his daughter want. Then they went to the young lady's room, and asked he* if she objected to marry Macleod's secretar e chieth fd manageyan affairss youne hi Th f o rg. lady discreetly answered tha coule t refustsh no d e wha beed ha tn arranger dfo her by her .kind friends, but she requested of Macleod that, if she had sons, one should be a minister (priest) and another a smith; that Macleod should present the minister to a parish, and to the smith the usual revenue belonging to his office. This was granted, and there was one son a priest in Harris, who the people remember as A' Person, and another son was the smith there. From this Morrison the smiths in Harris are descended;1 thad anad t dwhilI eI writ smite eth Harrin hi stils si Morrisona l d an , tha distinctiva t t Peteye s ri e nam than ei t family. The following legends are of little historic value, but they often uncon- sciously record the ideas and customs of a remote age, and are eminently suggestiv n thao e t account. These legends, along withe th mos f o t foregoing tales, have been selected either from the MS. "Traditions of Lewis," writte JohMr nn by Morrison, cooper, Stornoway froor ; mthe Eev. M. Macphail's " Traditions of Ness," which were obligingly collected by him in answer to my request for information concerning the " Brieve of Lewis. e sayH "s that "mos f theo t m were taken down froe mth dictation of Angus Gunn, at North Dell, who not unfrequently told the same story with additions and omissions; he died about a year ago." Gunn could not read, and had no dates, but recited volumes of what he supposed to be the history of Lewis.

1 Jlorrison's " Traditions of Lewis." 542. PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1878Y11 .

IAN BEITHEAMH, THE JUDGE OF LEWIS. John Morrison was married twice; by his first wife, who was an Irish lady, he had four sons—Allan, Kenneth, Angus, and Murdo.1 He used: evero g o yt alternate yea woor fo r Ullapoolo dt , where, afte e deatth r h of his Irish spouse, he became enamoured of the only daughter of the tacks- man of Ullapool (aon nighean Fir UllapolT). The lady was not willing to accep persuasione th ty b himislander e age t th he df bu ,d so fathe an r e sh r was induced to consent, and they were married. Whe e marriagnth overs ewa , agus chaidha chur g r leabadh,b ai 'and all the household were asleep, some one entered the bedroom of the wedded paird place an , s handhi d s upon them e bothBrievTh . e awoked an , demande loua n di wanvoiceu thiss whai d yo to o an ,?, d "t" wheWh n the person, whoever it was, left the room without saying a word. But the brid r handsome he bega s e kne sh wa cryo n t wr t ei ,fo young loverr fo , t whosfirsa d t erefuseha sak e Brievee sh eth d . Next'da e newlyth y married pair sailed for Lewis; a daughter was born to them before the Brieve made his voyage to Ullapool again, where, after taking in a cargo of wood, himself and crew slept in the boat, waiting the return of the tide. But durin nighe gth bloa t w wit cluha b killeasleepy Brievla e de th h , s ea foue th l d assassian n escaped unseen. Befor e Lewi th elefthn n o ets me morning, a fair-haired, handsome young man came to the boat, and seemed much distresse ds tol whef wha o wa dd happened e nha h t . When.they were about to leave, he said he had long been anxious to visit Lewis, and if they woul dpassageweathed a givba m ed hi ran , came on, tha woule h t d show s goo a himsel hele e a handb th theims o t a t d a f r deceased master: embarkee H d wit tily hl wa themthe e took d helye th an , th arrive l m al d at Ness. As soon as they landed, the stranger asked a boy to show him the way to Tigh mor Thdbost, i.e., the Big House of Habost. The boatmen were astonished, and asked him how he came to know about the Hall of Habost. "I know something," said he, "about Habost." The stranger went to the house, and the Brieve's wife welcomed her former lover. She asked him about her husband. ".He is coming," was the answer.

1 Murdo is a mistake for Donald, and Malcolm Mor is forgotten. 3 TRADITION54 MOKBISONSE . TH F SO .

Presently the crew came up from, the boat, and told her all that had happened thad r husbanan ,he t d beedha n murderedt no e lad d Th y. di . see takmo t t emuci r husban hearto hhe t r hardls fo , dwa y buried before she was again married, and to her first lover. Allan e Brieve'e eldesth th , f o t s children, having arrive sixteeno t d , years of age, claimed his father's sword and the right to use it. For such pretensio stepfathes nhi r sough kilo t t l him Allat bu ; mother' s n hi fle o dt s friends in Ireland. In the course of a few years they came back with him to assist him to get a share of his father's property. It was Christmas whee Ev n they lande s the t a Nessa d y d caman , e nea e housth r e they hear e sounth d f musico d y whicb , h they knew thae inmateth t s were enjoyin feasga makind an t g merry with their friends. Allan, embittered remembrance th y b e injuried suffereth ha f e o et h thei sa d r handss wa , with difficulty restrained from rushing in and dealing with them in the mids f theio t r merriment s unclehi t s Bu reasone.e th n do witm hi h barbarit cowardlinesd yan s doingo s f tolthed m an d,hi y would sheo dn blood without warning them of their danger, so that they might prepare for defence. Allan went into the kitchen and there saw his father's bard, neglected and despised, lying upon straw upon the floor. The bard, on seeing master's hi s son, swooned with joy e sigh th e ;day th t srecallem hi o t d when lan Coirl Britheamh was his patron, when on Christmas he used halle therd th kitchene soud e lifan , n f th , noi eth an eo tl n o t be i t bu , companye th . Whe e barnth d recovere s sensesdhi , Allan urge tom dhi go to the hall door and charge him with the murder of his patron, o feart s Allan' a t , no sd partan y woul e quitb d e nea o rendet r r assistance. doore barth d addressee h ol t ,d a s e a th barm w w dWhehi dne sa e nth follows :—

Failt' ort fein a bhaird E6in, Shuidh'riam ghann1 tig6 n ha n ha ; Dh' fhuadaiph thu'am Britheamh gu chladh, Am beu tigidn o' l Lagn ha h cam.

.J Cdir, Gae., just, upright, good, hospitable. 4 54 PROCEEDING THF SO E SOCIETY, FEBRUAR , 1878Y11 .

Translation. Welcom thee o bar! et h Johnf o d,o . Thou didst always sit where drinking was scanty. Thou didst driv Judge graves eth hi o et . The mouth from which proceede crookee dth d law.

Upon whic e ladth hy clappe r sidehe d s wit hd bard ol delight e , Th . finding his worthy master and himself insulted in this manner, denounced his mistress in the following reply :—

bheaA n bhaoth, Jbheasa n bhaoth, Tean nnaia l ach bhreit o cd i h Fuath do'n fhear do'n rug thu clann 'S gradh do'n fhearathug cheann dheth.

Translation. Oh wicked woman wickeh o , d woman, Draw nigh that we may know your opinion, Hatred to him to whom you bore children, than Antma dbeheadee lovth o et d him.

partye Th , quickly understandin bard'd ol reasoe e sg th th boldness f no , fled from the house and escaped to the mainland. Allan Morrison regained his heritage becamd an , e Briev Lewis.f eo 1

No corroboratio s beeha n n foun f thio d s obscure e eventtaleTh . s belon perioa o gt d anterio sixteente th o t r h century. Tha widoe th t f wo a brieve married the murderer of her husband is supported by the tradition that John Macleod of Sandey did so. Of course, there is no truth as con- cerning him, and the event may have been borrowed from a tragedy that was enacte islann a n Locdn o i h Stack, Edderacbyllis Hugr Si .h Macky of Far fell desperately in love with a beautiful woman, who resisted his addresse a husbandscore d th miscreane en ha so thaTh e . sh t t detained wife th e upo islande th n , cause r husban dhe e murdered b e o th dt d ha ,

1 Rev. M. Maephail's " Traditions of Ness," MS. TRADITIONS OF THE MORRISONS. 545 corpse decapitated, and produced his head to the wife. -The widow offere moro n d e opposition fearee sh s a likda , e . fatherself.r E fo e r Si 1 Gordon's accoun s thai t. MackY t y slew Tormat-Mack-ean-Woyr (Mhdr) [Macleod] chieftaie th , thaf no y b t racen so ,a violated ha s wife d hi d an , her, called Donald-Balloch-Macky.2

ALLAN MbR MORRISON, JUDGE OP LEWIS. Man ywila impossibld dan e stor bees yha n invented fro shadowe mth y remembrance of the tragedies of the seventeenth century, of which the following is an instance :— Neil Macleod, called in the legend Odhar, i.e., dun, the bastard uncle of Torquil Dubh Chief of Lewis, attacked the Morrisons on the Habost moor, but was defeated. Neil sent to Harris for assistance, and came agai Habosto nMorrisone t th t bu d take; sha n n EysteinshelteDu n i r. The Macleods arrived at night and marched to Dun Eystein, when one of the Morrisons, unaware of the presence of an enemy, oame out of the hut. An Uig man shot an arrow—Baolih an Dbrlaich, literally, the Fury of the Quiver, the last arrow of the eighteen that should be used—at him, and e arrows structh wa y b ,ke h which passed throug s e bodyhi hTh . wounded Morrison cried for help; the rest came out, and Allan, the e bravestth r fa f the o ,y eldestb m d spranan , g acros e ravinth s e which separated Dun Eystein from the adjacent cliff, and loudly demanded that assassie th n shoul Macleode givehime o dt b Th p .n u s denie l knowdal - deede ledg t th Alla f bu ;eo n reproached them with cowardice d saidan , , havu yo e "f comI fighoughto eu t yo t , accordin tho g t fror e lawmwa f so creatioe worlde th th f havo no t , e waited till ther s lighewa t enougo t h see each other. thee H n" aske ds Leigh, Neihi r fo l i.e., Doctor atteno t , d e woundeth d man. Nell, after some hesitation, consented; Allan took Leighe leaped th an d m unde bacar s khi r acros ravine sth e witintm hhi o wounde e dune Th th n died. ma d , however e MorrisonTh . s fled from Eystein mainlande Du th o nt , whither Neil pursued e Morrisonth t bu ; s had seen Neil crossing the Minch, and, slipping out from among the islands ,t bac trie ge Lewis o kMaoleode t o d t Th . s ascende hillda , espied

1 O.S.A., vol. vi. p. 294. . 2 Sir B. Gordon's "Earl, of Sutherland," pp. 136, 307.. 6 54 PEOCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

brieve'e th s birlin gavd an ,e chase. There were only Allan Morrisod nan brothero boate tw th s Alla vero s n hi s s;i wa y n o strongs Morhi wh t , se , two brother againsw ro o st himself composed an , sund dan g this iorram or boat song, with whic Nese hth s fishermen still lighten their toil. The chorus " NmKbh na-ho-ro,"s ' i repeates i d after every line.:—

lomair a Choinnaicli fhir mo chrldhe ; lomair i gu laidair righinn ; Gaol na 6g'n ms ba gradh nighean.

' iomraiDh n fein fear mu dhithis, eiginm 'Sna feanthrie u m r . Tha eagal m6r air mo chridhe Gur i biorlinn Neill tha' tighinn, No eathair Mhic Thormaid Idhir.

'S truagh nach robh mi fein 's Nial Odhar An' lagan bea ceans go n Dhun Othail; Biodag nam laimh, is e bhi fodham,— DhearbMnn feinn gun teidheadh i domhain ; biodn 'Sgu h fui chleiba l ghabhaila h'n .

Translation. CHORUS.—"Na liv ee, 's na-ho-ro;" words having no meaning.

Row, Kenneth, man of my heart; Eow with vehement might; e darlinTh damselsf gbeloveo e th d girlsf an d,o .

I myself could row against two ; againse b y tma threed An . There is great fear on my heart That it is Neill's barge that is coming, Or the boat of the son of dun Thormod.

It is a pity that I and dun Neil were not smala n I l hollow abov Oo-ailn eDu ; A dirk in my hand and he beneath. I woul sure db t shoulei deepo dg , And that the blood of his breast should flow down his reins. TRADITION7 THF 54 SO E MOEEISONS.

Neil overtook the Morrisons a short time after they had passed Dun Othail (pro. Dun Oo-ail), where they fought desperately. Neil attacked e Harrith side e d theson an , menn m o a secon n ,i de other boatth n .o , Allan engaged Neil's part killed yan d s mennearlhi l ,y al whe n Neil- ex claimed ,men y "M , something mus e monstee doneth b t r o , r (blast) will not leave a head on the shoulders of any one of us." They fastened a sword to the end of an oar, therewith to stab Allan, who, when he saw it coming, mad n twoi e r t sucoa ,bu a hdesperate th t cu e o blot s wa striking int gunnee e boa oth s sworth hi tf o l d stuck fastbeford an , e eh could extricate it the Macleods closed round him, and both himself and his two brothers were killed. They were buried in a small hollow a little above Dun Othail.1

In this story we have the distinctly Scandinavian notion that it was wron slao gt y after dark. Amon Northmene gth doubo n d t an ,amon l gal other people same th en s i barbarou s stages mere wa th ,n e killinma a f go of little importance,—in Burnt ISfjal e atonementh , a fou r lfo t assassina- tioonls nwa y twelve ounce f silver,—buso s murdee killinwa th t f i ti rg was don t nightea ; ndtt-vigg eru mor^-vig, t calleno t di murde"s I o t r kill people at night?" So, too, Sweyn, Earl Hakon's son, objects to -captives being killed, because " it was night." " Burnt Njal," vol. ii. p. 36. With regard to the Leigh (Lseknir, IceL), Leech or Surgeon, it might be supposed tha e bard importeth t ha d a foreigd n idea ints taleohi . Though I have found no record, yet it may be inferred that a chief would be attended by his hereditary doctor in time of war. But there is no reason why the Macleods and Morrisons should have ever been in want of a doctor; for so late as 1793 the natives of Edderachyllis were nearly all of the names of Macleay, Morrison, and Macleod. These Macleays were the descendants of "Ferchard Leche," i.e., Ferchard Beathadh, Beaton or Bethune, a native of Islay, and who was physician to King Eobert II. In 1379 "Ferchard, the king's physician," had a grant of the lands of Melleneparto f tw Hopes o d Sutherlann san i , d . Pr.("Or " vol . parii . , 2 t p. 704); and in 1386 "Ferchard Leche" has a gift of all the islands

1 Rev. M. Macphau's "Traditions of Ness," MS. 8 54 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUAR , 1878Y11 .

near the coast between the Stour in Assynt and Armadale, Sutherland (ib. p. 695). The Clan Beaton or MaeBeathadh were a medical clan, and there are notices of them in May, Mull, South Uist, and Tar in Suther- land. One of them, the "famous Doctor Beaton," of Mull, had the dubious fortun beinf eo g blow whep nu boarn n o Spanise dth h ship Florida, Tobermoryn i t escapebu , d unhurt. (Martin's " "West. Isles, . 254)"p .

OTHAILN DU , NOKTH TOLSTA. colsnowa d s whendan y wa yda t I , unde guidance rth shepherde th f eo , by wading through overflowin t gheather brookwe d I reache,an s e th d cliff above Dun Othail, which rose before me desolate and grand "through storm and reek," and at any time is one of the most picturesque objects Lewisn i . Dun Othail is a natural fortress, being an irregular peaked rock, upon the sea coast, nearly 200 feet high, and disjoined from the main by a perpendicular ravine which, however, does not reach to the water. The ravine sideth f eso appea o havt r e bee walle a trap-dyke th nf o s , which has been denuded. The dun is only accessible from the land on the south-east side, and there it is defended by a wall. I was unable, through fatigue, to proceed beyond this, but the Eev. M. Macphail informs me that, although therdefensivo n s ei e masonry diffio upos rocke s -i nth t i , cult of access that the path which leads upwards could be defended by a single individual. oblonn A g ruin upo s extremnit e . MuipoinS . s supposei rT t r M y b d to have been a chapel1 Dun Othail is famous in Lewis legends; the ubiquitous Coinneaefa Odhair (Kenneth Oear prophesies ha ) d that there wil e greab l t destruc- e Lewitioth f no s people 'by sword; but-^— Amhainn Lacsdai ttmatho lf , Crinnicn a g m6Ai m ha r shluagh; * * * Ach thi Othain gmaca Du ha l Na bheir cobhair dhoibh 's fuasgladh.2

1 " Characteristic Churcd Ol f hso Arch, , 1682 . . "pp 2 This prophecy is not in the interesting collection made by Alex. Mackenzie of e "Prophecieth Brahae th f so n Seer," Inverness, 1877. TRADITIONS OF THE MOBBISONS. 549 That is :—

Norte th t hA Laxdale river, Where the great multitude of people will gather; * * * But one shall come out of Dun O-ail That shall render them hel reliefd pan .

The deep ravine dividing Tun Othail from the main is called Leum Mhac Nicol, i.e., Meholson' e scena th f o made s i b t i so et Lead an p; legen f whicdo hI hav e severa varioud an l s f theeditionsy o me ma On . be briefly told as follows :—MacNieol, for some misconduct, was sentenced by the chief of Lewis to be mutilated. In revenge he ran away with the only child of the chief, and, being pursued, he leapt over the chasm to Othain Du l wits armschile hi h th n d.i Persuasio uses induco nwa t d e him to surrender the child; but he refused unless the chief were reduced to the same condition as himself. Several subterfuges—which are too technica e repeateb o t l d here—were trie o deceivdt e MacNicoln i t bu , sav o t vaine chil ed th e chie dth an ; f consented. When MacNicos wa l sure that he had gained his purpose, he sprang with the child over the cliff int seae oth , sayin Gaelin g(i course)f co , "I shall hav heiro d n e an , he shall have no heir." Now, this tale is a good instance that where the accidents of a place are fit, a legend is either originated there or is transferred to it. The South Uist people claim the scene of this tragedy to have been at Huish- ness, South Uist "d Nicholson'an ; s Leap marke"s i Johnston'n do s map. Nearly the same tale is told of a place in Mull, and probably elsewhere. But the original tragedy occurred a long way south of Lewis; according to Gerald Barry it was " apud castellum RadulpM," at Chateau Eoux, now the chief town in the department of the Indre, in France. The story is told in the "Itinerary through "Wales," chap, xi., in words of the same meaning as those used by the bards of Lewis at the present day. It is most singular that an event which happened so far away, and probably more than seven centuries ago, should, though falsely located, be' toln di islande th s with such distinctness. Whethe bees ha n t i rpasse fron o d m mouth to mouth, or whether it has been read from Giraldus by intelligent 550 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

priests, nearlis i t y certai nbees thaha n t i tkep t aliv repetitioy eb t a r nfo least three or four hundred years.1.

ALLAN MOERISO THD ENAN DEMON. Macleod of Lewis possessed Assynt and Cogach (but not Strath Con- non, only his son was married there); and when he was passing some time in those countries, he left the sole management of Lewis to Judge Morriso f Nessno . d K"eiDonalan l m MacleodCa d being dead sone th , s of the Judge ruled the country most tyrannically. Allan Morrison e Judge'th , s eldest sons intimatwa , e with a demon; this coming to the ears of Macleod of Lewis, Allan was sent for by him, and was asked if it was true; Allan confessed it was. Macleod then said, " The next time you meet the demon, ask whether I shall die a natural death or not." Allan returned in a few days, and said that the demon foretold thapresene th t t Lewie Lairth f dso woul killee b d ay db Macleod the wickee nth living t dBu Alla. n Morrison feigned this story, for the demon had said that either Allan and his father would be killed by the hands of a John Macleod. n consequencI f thieo s information, Macleo f Lewido s countre lefth t y t consideothes fono hi r d r di estates r e himselh r fo , f safe whil a single e John Macleo lefs td wa aliv Lewisn ei Judgd an ; e Morrison obtaines dhi sanction to bring all the Macleods in the country before his court as suspected persons. • Judge Morrison now began the trial of the suspected Macleods. He killed sixteen of the Macleods of the name of John, for it was by a John Macleod that Judge Morrison was to lose his life. But after he had dis- posed of all the John Macleods in this manner, the demon or spirit told e Johy b b s o nt thas Macleowa m t hi wa i t n f Harrisso do s hi r , o tha e h t killed. The Judge had then recourse to conspiracy, and engaged sixteen stout an sweas o dbloodt hi abl n o support rn i eme y plotm e sene H hi t on t. witn Laire me hlettea th s Harrisf ohi do fo t r , saying, tha ts hJudga e t e had now the sole management of Lewis, he sent him his respects, and

1 Roll's Edition, p. 84. 1 55 TRADITION MOEEISONSE TH F SO .

requested Macleod to meet him on a certain day to sport and hunt deer in the hills of Lewis. John Macleod of Harris had heen by this time forewarne f Judgdo e Morrison's e answeredploth o s , , that having been lately sporting in the Lewis hills, he would rather that the Judge should come to sport with him in Harris. The Judge and his sixteen warriors arrived at Eowdle, and were hospitably entertained by Macleod for the greater part of the night. 'But while the Judge was enjoying himself, quite happy in the thought that he would take Macleod's life e nexupo th e hill tth n o sday , Macleod gathered his chief men about the house; suddenly a strong body of swordsmen entere halle bound dth an , d Judge Morriso s sixteehi d nnan warriors. The Laird of Harris.now produced the letter which a friend in Lewis had written, telling about' the conspiracy. Macleod offered pardon sixteee th o t nbeed menha no force,wh joi o dt e plot nth , provided they would return peaceabl o Lewisyt , which they joyfully acceptede Th . Judg hanges ewa t Eowdleda thud e predictioan ;th s s fulfillenwa n i d spite of the shifts made to avert it by the bloody massacre of the Macleod Lewis.n si 1

This myt s heehha n elaborated, fro e factmth s that John Macleof do Sanda killed lan Breitheamh, i.e., Joh e Judgeth n , defeated Malcolm M6r, his son, and carried him to Stornoway, where he was beheaded.

CAIN MOKKISON. Judge Morrisons executewa o t Rowdlea dwh , s succeedewa , s hi y db son-in-law, Cain Morrison, in the office of Judge. This Cain Morrison was originally a Macdonald, born in Ardnamurchin. It appears the pro- prietor of that estate exacted his right to pass the first night with every bride. A vessel had come to anchor in the loch on the day that Cain had married. Cain did not rest at all on the night on which he was married, but wandered about much grieved. In the morning he was met by the captai shipe th whoo f t ,n o spokevie e mh th lf epractico thaf eo t country. The captain said that that vile custom ought to be done away with, and

1 Morrison's " Traditions of Lewis." VOL. XII. PART II. 2 N 552 PKOCEED1NGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

that he would lend him his cloak and sword. " Watch about the Laird's house, d whe an e com.e h n s out, looy ke castlesa th intentld o an t , p yu serioua see thas wallcracyou tthe . kin Have your sword ready inside your cloak, and when the Laird looks up, have at his throat and kill him boaty .m , o whicThet n nru h waiting n i shal I wil e d b ll an ,carr y yo whero ut shalu safe.e yo b l " Cain acte thin o ds advice escaped an , d wit shipmastere hth t landeNesso a m wh ,, d hi wher marriee eh ddaugha - ter of Judge Morrison and succeeded to his office.1

Mercheta mulierum was a fine paid to a lord by a vassal on the marriage of his daughter; for if she married a villein on another barony, the lord, being deprived of part of his live-stocJc, required indemnification for the loss. But Mercheta mulierum was, in later times associated in idea with jus primae noctis, with which, as Lord Hales shows, it had no concern foregoine Th . g legend illustrate e vulgath s r notio f Merchetano mulierum; and I well remember that the then proprietor of Cava, in the Orkneys, was assured that he had such privilege in that island. The Lords of the Isles are said to have exercised such right; but this, from the nature of the case, is absurd. It is unnecessary to go further into the subjec e followinth t f i here t gbu ; extract fro ma histore Macth f -yo donalds has any foundation in fact, it shows that a state of manners existed in the Highlands so late as between 1506 and 1510, as would justif mose yth t extreme views that have been held concerning Mercheta mulierum :— "Durin e timgth e that Archibald [Gillespick Dub f Sleito h ] kept company with these outlaws, Angus Collach s brotherhi , , went wita h great train to Uist, and as the custom then was, he must needs have for partnes hi r that nigh goodman'e th t s daughter havins casn hi i f r eo o o ,g n daughter, he must have his own wife. He came to St Mary's, the prin- cipal church of North Uist, nigh to which Macdonald of Belranald lived', a gentleman descendes wif hi a daughtee o t f d Godfreydo f ha o r o wh , John Brainish, son of Allan, the son of Eoderick of Muidort, who had Benbecul s patrimonyhi r afo . This gentleman, Donald Macdonald, being

Morrison's " Traditions of Lewis." Norman Macleod, "the Bard," has nearly 1 the same story; but the account of " Kain Morrison," noted by the Bev. M. Mac- phail, turns on a different subject. 3 55 TRADITION MOEEISONSE TH F SO .

in the meantime absent from home, his wife went to church to hear mass, and Angus Collach, meeting her at the church, and saluting her, told her he meant to lodge with her next night, to which she made him welcome. observee H d thae mussh t t herself partak s bedshara e hi f eSh f o .e o replied, whe e houscame nth woulh e o esh t answern da givo S m ehi . Angus went to her house next night, and was received by her very kindly, upon this he began to urge her earnestly to perform her promise. She replied, that it was not yet bedtime, and when it was she would be his partner for the night. So before she ordered supper to be brought to horsa s t retinuhi themego e housereade d th ewhilsh d ,an o yt an ,e h e wer t suppera e e ridesh , s under nigh o Benbeculat t , wher r fathehe e r was."—Hist, of the Macdonalds, Knock MS.

E WICKETH D INCENDIARY. Macleod of Lewis, having found out that he had been imposed upon by Allan Morrison, returne o Stornowat d y Castle settlee H . d Torquils hi , son t Strata , h Chonen s sens younges hi o Cai;t wa t n n so Morrison't s house at Ness; and a son of Cain Morrison was fostered by Macleod at Stomoway, thus • showin e friendshigth good pan d understanding between familiese th . When matters had continued in this way for some time, a wicked man who used to be going back and fore between Ness and Stornoway, came inty onda oe Macleod's castl d saian ed that Cain Morrison hada n ,i violent passion, killed Macleod's child. Macleod unfortunately believed it to be true, and in his anger killed the son of Cain Morrison. The wicked incendiary then flies of Nesso ft telld Macleoan ,w s thasa e h t d kill youne th g Morrison. Cain hearinn o murdere , th f go , coul t conceivdno e any reason for it, and though the young Macleod was much loved by all the family, he was not spared. Thu peace sth thosf eo e familie brokes wa s thiy nb s wicked incendiary. tols i dt I that when Judge Morrison, wit laird'e hth s concurrence, executed all the John Macleods in Lewis, some of the relations of this wicked man suffered with them, and this was the way he took to revenge the death of his friends; and it was through him that the Macleods of Lewis became extinct. Instead of peace between the Macleods and Morrisons, there was now nothing but murder and bloodshed. Cain Morrison was at last 554 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY, FEBEUAEY 11, 1878.

oblige e mainlandth o flet do t e s kille, cottaa n wher a wa y b dn e i rh e islan Locy db h Broom, since then called "Judge's Island." Allan More Morrison then took his father's place at Ness, and fighting wen between clano o t tw s e wherebnth y both suffered severel thein yi r propert friends.d yan 1

The circumstance which gave name to Eilean a' Britheimli, or Judge's Island, has been described above. The custom of sending a child to be fostered in a family which had been at deadly feud with the parents of the child, although intended to strengthen in the strongest manner the truce between the families, often led to his destruction. We shall have another instanc f fosterageo murderer'e th n ei s familtraditione th n yi f so Lewie th s Macaulays. In an edition of the Letterfearn MS. History of the Mackenzies, copied into Morrison's " Tradition Lewis,f so " after stating thae brievth s t ewa hated for his treachery to Torquil Du, there occurs, " as also killing a son of M'Leod's [Torquil Du's] when a child nursing in his own house." This sentence is not in Gregory's copy of the Letterfearn MS., but it is onle th y corroboratio precedine th fin n f do ca nI g legend.

E FODTH E TORQUILS. Soon after Cain Morriso s killewa n t Loca d h Broom e Lairth , f o d Macleod himself died. He had three [legitimate] sons, who were each named Torquil, viz., Torqui e Heirth l , Torquil Connonach Torquid an , l Du; he had also another son named Torquil Ogg. They all died before thei rcause fatherth theif ed o an r, follows:s deatha s swa — Macleo e Lair s th dmarrie wa d d four different timese firsTh t .wif e died and left a son called Torquil the Heir. The second wife had a son whom his father also named Torquil, and his wicked mother bribed some mainland men to hang the heir at Ullapool, that her own son might succeed; he was called Torquil Connonach. The second wife died; the laird married a third time, and had a son named Torquil Du (who had a son named John), and his mother employed wicked hands to kill Torquil Connonach at Sandwick [by Stornoway]. The third wife died, and the

1 Morrison's " Traditions of Lewis." TRADITION5 THF 55 SO E MOERISONS.

laird having married again fourte th , h wife found means havo t e Torquil shou D t upo mooe nth r h ycoupla bloodf eo y men, name Mhurchyc dMa , branc a Macphaile th f ho Mackenziesr so . Macleod was now old and sickly, but coming to know that his wife had caused the murder of Torquil Du, he told his wife to send up their infant child, Torquil Ogg r Youno , g Torquil, tha e mighh t t knoy wb manual operation whether the child was fit to be his heir. The child was takefather's hi o nt s bed, whe handlee nh boy'e dth s body, and revengn ,i e of his mother's doings, he squeezed his sides together and so killed him. He then told his mother that the child would not stand the trial necessary addede h t o d deads constitut , s heirs An wa "thad A hi . e an ,h t m hi e you, bad woman, have left me without an heir, so I have left you without a son." He then expired.1

There is no historic truth in this legend, but it shows to how late a perio powefathee e dth th f ro s chil supposeoves hi fate df wa rth e o o t d exist. Accordin Dasento gt , amon e pagagth n Northmen, soos "a a s na lais chil bors dwa dupot wa ni bare nth e ground untid e fathean ;th l r strons cam thawa lookew d lun n gt limb, i heard i sa te an it g d an t da ,dan s arms hi d hande liften an , i womee t i e t reareddoveth i db o t o rnt s it , fate hung in the balance, and life or death depended on the sentence of its father."—Burnt Njal, vol. i. p. xxv. "On the introduction of Christianity into Iceland, A.D. 1000, it was resolved that regarn i , eatino t d f horse-flesgo exposurd han childrenf eo , the old laws should remain in force; as Grimm remarks, the exposure must take place immediately after birth, befor e chil tasteed th dha d food kiny oan fd whatever s besprinkled beforwa an , t i e d with water (ausa vatni) or shown to the father, who had to fix its name; exposure after any of these acts was murder. The Christian Jus. Eccl. put an end to this heathen barbarism by stating at its very beginning, ala skal Itaru hvert er borit verftr, i.e., all children, if not of monstrous shape, shall be brought up" (Cleasby's Icelandic Die. p. 58; of. Conybeare's " Place of Iceland," &c., p. 147. The practice of giving the same name to two brothers is still common in the islands. 1 Morrison's " Traditions of Lewis." 6 55 PROCEEDING SOCIETYE TH F SO , FEBRUARY 11, 1878.

HOW THE MOBEISONS GOT EONA. The possession of the island of Eona was a subject of dispute between e Morrison th e peoplth f Sutherlandd o e an s e mainlanTh . d people claime , becausedit thes a , y asserted e islanth , nearey dla Sutherlano t r d than to Ness. At last it was agreed that the contending parties should thad islane an th t , dit rac r shoulefo d belon thosfir a o gfirst o t eli tewh triaf mainlandero e th y l da e th theren s O seeme. e firsdth tlikele b o yt to reach to, and make a fire upon the island; but a Morrison shot a burning arrow from his boat and set the grass on fire, and Eona has belonge Lewio dt s ever since.1 custome Onth e Northmen f th eo f so whicy b , h they took possessio, nof or as they called it, hallowed, land to themselves, was by raising a fire t seemI upo . havo nst it e been sufficien moute th havfira o t t t e a t h eli of a river to constitute a claim to all the land through which that river flowed t whaBu t. more immediately bears upo precedine nth g legens i d told in the settlement of Iceland:—"A man, who was called Onund the Pore-knowing (viss), took up land from Merkigil and all the valley east- war itf do ; 'and when Eri adjacenn k[a t landnam-man] though takinf o t g valleye th f o , wese d Onunth en t d felo divinatiot l n (felldi blotspan)o t make him prescient (viss) of the time when Erik intended to come to take the valley; but then Onund was the quicker [of the two], and shot a burning arrow (tund-or, tinder-arrow) over the river, and so appropriated or hallowed (helgadi) to himself all the land westward, and [he] dwelt by the river." Land., p. 193; Cleasby's Die. p. 254.

With these legend e close w "sth Traditione e Morrisons.th f o s " Although the authorities have been carefully consulted, it is probable tha a nativt f Lewio e s could have greatly extended them perhapd an , s have found somethin o represst g a comparativ t bu ; e e strangeth s ha r advantage of being able to tel] the whole truth,—a liberty seldom enjoyed by a family historian.

1 Key. M. Macphail's " Traditions of Ness." In Morrison's " Traditions of Lewis " it is Macleod of Harris and Macdonald of Slait who race for St Kilda. Two boats were to be built of eqnal size, they were then to cast lots for them, and whoever got first " and kinded a fire therein," was to possess the island, " In this way Macleod of Harris became proprietor of St Kilda originally."