Highland Second Sight
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THE LIBRARY IHH UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA ri/^ \y I' HIGHLAND SECOND-SIGHT. HIGHLAND SECOND-SIGHT WITH PROPHECIES OF COINNEACH ODHAR AND THE SEER OF PETTY AND Numerous other Examples from the Writings of Aubrey, Martin, Theophilus Insulanus, the Rev. John Fraser, Dean of Argyle and the Isles, Rev. Dr Kennedy of Dingwall, AND others. Introductory Study by Rev. Wm. MORRISON, M.A., F.S.A. Edited by NORMAN MACRAE. ;( yGEedoE SouTER, Dingwall. Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2010 with funding from University of Britisii Columbia Library http://www.archive.org/details/highlandsecondsiOOmacr PREFATORY NOTE. In the Folk-Lore of the Scottish Highlanders there is no chapter more extraordinary or interesting in its way than that which deals with the stories of the Second-Sight—a "gift," notwithstanding the ridicule of the unbelieving, that to the present day, in one or other of its manifestations, is not uncommon among the Highland people. There is no doubt that much of the merely traditional has gathered around the subject, but there still remains so considerable a body of well-authenticated facts that they deserve the closest study of Folk-Lorist and Psycholo- gist alike. As facts, they certainly challenge enquiry and invite elucidation. It is hoped that the following pages will, therefore, prove as helpful to the serious student as, it is believed, they will be welcome to the general reader—not in the light of the superstitious or the merely curious, but as a subject of particular interest in view of present-day res3arch in matters psychological. The introductory study from the pen of the Kev. William Morrison, M.A., F.S.A. (Scot.), minister of the United Free Church of Duthil, should prove a valuable contribution to any encxuiry into the nature and psychology of the "gift." The references to the Second-Sight which are to be found in the principal early writers on the subject, as given in pages 25 to 95 inclusive, are here for the first time brought together in convenient form. The remaining pages deal with some modern instances known to the present writer, together with the well- known " predictions " of the Brahan and Petty Seers and those remarkable instances from the " Minister of Killearnan " written PREFATORY NOTE. by his gifted son, the late Rev. Dr Kennedy of Dingwall, whose name and authorship must be taken as conclusive testimony to their genuineness. The Editor acknowledges his obligations to Mackenzie's "Prophecies of the Brahan Seer" and Maclennan's "Petty Seer " where quotations have been made from these works, and in this connection also he has to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr R. J. Gillanders, Rosemarkie, and Mr Donald Macdonald, Dingwall, for kindly assistance in elucidating facts regarding the Brahan Seer and several of his prophecies, and to Mr John ^laclennan, Dingwall, for supplying information in connection with the instance of the Second-Sight recorded on page 101. N. M. " Northern Weekly " Office, Dingwall, Dec, 1908. 1 CONTENTS. Highland Second-Sight : By Rev. Wm. Morrison, M.A., F.S.A. Its Natural History -- 1 What is the Second-Sight ? 1 The Psychology of Second-Sight - - - - ^9 Martin's Account of the Second-Sight - - - 25 Fkazer of Tieee on the Second-Sight - - - - 29 Some Incidents from Theophilus Insulanus - - - 35 Aubrey's Account --41 Pepys' Correspondence on the Second-Sight - - 55 BOSWELL AND JOHNSON's ACCOUNTS - - - - 81 A Remarkable Instance of Second-Sight - - - 89 Some Modern Instances -------96 Prophecies: Dr Kennedy's Instancis - - - - 107 The Petty Seer ___--• - - 129 The Brahan Seer - - - . _ - - . - 147 PREFATORY NOTE. In the Folk-Lore of the Scottish Highlanders there is no chapter more extraordinary or interesting in its way than that which deals with the stories of the Second-Sight—a "gift," notwithstanding the ridicule of the unbelieving, that to the present day, in one or other of its manifestations, is not uncommon among the Highland people. There is no doubt that much of the merely traditional has gathered around the subject, but there still remains so considerable a body of well-authenticated facts that they deserve the closest study of Folk-Lorist and Psycholo- gist alike. As facts, they certainly challenge enquiry and invite elucidation. It is hoped that the following pages will, therefore, prove as helpful to the serious student as, it is believed, they will be welcome to the general reader—not in the light of the superstitious or the merely curious, but as a subject of particular interest in view of present-day research in matters psychological. The introductory study from the pen of the Eev. William Morrison, M.A., F.S.A. (Scot.), minister of the United Free Church of Duthil, should prove a valuable contribution to any encxuiry into the nature and psychology of the "gift." The references to the Second-Sight which are to be found in the principal early writers on the subject, as given in pages 25 to 95 inclusive, are here for the first time brought together in convenient form. The remaining pages deal with some modern instances known to the present writer, together with the well- known " predictions " of the Brahan and Petty Seers and those remarkable instances from the " Minister of Killearnan " written PREFATORY NOTE. by his gifted son, the late Rev. Dr Kennedy of Dingwall, whose name and authorship must be taken as conclusive testimony to their genuineness. The Editor acknowledges his obligations to Mackenzie's " Prophecies of the Brahan Seer " and Maclennan's " Petty Seer " where quotations have been made fi'om these works, and in this connection also he has to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr R. J. Gillanders, Rosemarkie, and Mr Donald Macdonald, Dingwall, for kindly assistance in elucidating facts regarding the Brahan Seer and several of his prophecies, and to Mr John Macleunan, Dingwall, for supplying information in connection with the instance of the Second-Sight recorded on page 101. N. M. Northern Weekly " Office, DiNGWAix, Dec, 1908. CONTENTS. Highland Second-Sight : By Rev. Wm. Morrison, M.A., F.S.A. Its Natural History ------- 1 What is the Second-Sight? - - - - - 11 The Psychology of Second-Sight - - - - *9 Martin's Account of the Second-Sight - - - 25 Frazer of Tieee on the Second-Sight - - - - 29 Some Incidents from Theophilus Insulanus - - - 35 Aubrey's Account -_--_-. 41 Pepys' Correspondence on the Second-Sight - - 55 BOSWELL AND JOHNSON's ACCOUNTS - - - - 81 A Remarkable Instance of Second-Sight - - - 89 Some Modern Instances ------- 96 - Prophecies : Dr Kennedy's Instancis - - - 107 The Petty Seer ------ - - 129 The Brahan Seer - - - - - - - - 147 HIGHLAND SECOND-SIGHT. 4'««» CHAPTER I. ITS NATURAL HISTORY. Tlie " Second-Sight " (Da-radharc, Da-shealladii, Taibhsearaclid—tte three Gaelic words have been used in this connection) is popularly believed to be a faculty of prophetic vision long supposed in the Scottish Highlands and elsewhere to belong to particular persons. As known in the Highlands of Scotland it has one feature in common with the oracular responses of old, that of being uttered by the subject of it when in a state of mental exaltation or even delirium. The Second-Sight is in every case regarded as troublesome to the possessor of it. It differs, however, from the class of divine prophecies or of heathen oracles, according to Bacon, and belongs rather to prophecies that have been, to use his words, "of certain memory and from hidden causes." This definition excludes it from the prophecies of St Columba, for example, and of other saints ancient and modern. Three centuries ago men were divided in their opinions as to the source of the gift. Some held that it was akin to witchcraft, and hence ascribed it to the agency of the devil. Others held that as it was innocent in its operations it was due to the agency 2 SECOND-SIGHT. of the fairies, the "good folk" who lived a twilight existence in mountain, stream, or grove. It is interesting to know from Bishop Callaway's Zulu tales that what Highlanders say of the fairies in this respect the Zulus say of the souls of their dead ancestors. That fairies haunt underground dwellings, cairns, or hillocks, places of sepulture where elf-arrows are found, all point to a common pre-historic belief. The fairies are known in the Highlands as "Daoine- sith," literally hill-folk. They are generally known as "Fiosaichin" or "those that know." Like the spirits in the Inferno of Dante, they know the future only. The fairies are also popularly known as "familiars," "co-walkers," "guardian spirits," "men's reflexes" or doubles. This opinion then as to the origin of the Second-Sight as an influence from the picturesque fairy world best accords with the popular conception of the Second-Sight. The Second-Sight is, in every case, regarded us troublesome to the possessor. The vision of coming events is attended by a "nerve-storm," which ends in the complete prostration of the subject of it. Hence, it is not an enviable gift at the best. That it is not peculiar to the Highlands of Scotland is well known. Thus Mason Brown was met on the Coppermine River by the very Indians he was in search of, who told him their medicine-man had seen him coming and heard him talk. Captain J. Carver received from a Cree medicine-man a faithful predic- tion of the an'ival next day at noon of a canoe with news, just as Martin in his "Western Isles" relates tKat in some of the places which he visited the people had made preparation for his company, telling him they had been informed by appearances that he was ITS NATURAL HISTORY. 3 coming to visit them, and as Waldron, the Manx historian, tells how on visiting families in the Isle of Man he found the table spread and the people prepared to receive him—having had some supernatural warning that he was coming.