TRANSACTIONS (IF THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS. ' I . - TRANSACTIONS OP THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS. VOLUM]E VII. 1 877-78. TRANSACTIONS THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS. VOILTJIMIZE "VII., 1877-78. Clann nan daMeal an feillean a' Clmle, PRINTED FOR THE GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS, BY THE FREE PRESS PRINTING COMPANY, INVERNESS; AND SOLD BY JOHN NOBLE, JAMES H. MACKENZIE, JAMES MELVEN, AND WILLIAM MACKAY, BOOKSELLERS, INVERNESS ; AND MACLACHLAN & STEWART, EDINBURGH. 1878- PRINTED BY THE FREE PRESS PRINTING COMPANY, INVER.VK88. 7 CONTENTS. PAGE Office-bearers for 1878, . vii. Constitution, ......... viii. Introduction, ......... xiii. George Buchanan on the Customs and Languages of the Celts Eev. A. C. Sutherland, .... 1 Government Return anerit Gaelic in Highland Schools, . 1 1 Sixth Annual Assembly Speeches by Professor Blackie and Mr. Colin Chisholm, and a Poem by Mary Mackellar, ...... .19 Introductory Address in Gaelic Rev. Alex. Macgregor, . 43 Leaves from my Celtic Portfolio, first series William Mackenzie, . .52 Sixth Annual Dinner Speeches by Captain A. M. Chisholm, Captain R. Grant, ex-Bailie Davidson, W. Jolly, John Murdoch, Colin Chisholm, D. A. Macrae, John Macdonald, Provost Simpson, John Mackay, William Mackay, &c., ...... 7G Leaves from my Celtic Portfolio, second series William Mackenzie, . '. .100 Gaelic Names of Trees, Shrubs, and Plants, &c. Charles Fergusson, . .127 The Highland Garb J. G. Mackay, . .158 The Celtic Poetry of Scotland Angus Macphail, . .177 Celtic Literature Rev. Dr. Maclauchlan, . .191) Errors regarding the Election of Chiefs, and the Land Laws John Mackay. .212 vi CONTENTS. PAGE Great Oliic Demonstration Speeches by Provost Simpson, Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, M.P., liev. Alex. Macgregor, Eev. A. D. Mackenzie, W. Jolly, Win. Mackay, G. J. Campbell, &c 220 " Bliadhna nan Caorach The year of the Sheep" William Mackenzie, . , . 254 Honorary Chieftains and Members of the Society, . .281 List of Books in the Society's Library, . .291 of OPFIOE-BEARERS, YEAR 1878, CHIEF. John Mackay, Swansea. CHIEFTAINS. Alexander Simpson, Provost of Inverness. Colin Chisholm, Broadstone Park. Duncan A. Macrae, late of Fernaig. HONORARY SECRETARY. William Mackay, Solicitor, Church Street. SECRETARY. William Mackenzie, "Free Press" Office, Inverness. TREASURER. Geo. J. Campbell, Solicitor, Castle Street. COUNCIL. Charles Mackay, Culduthel Road. John Macdonald, The Exchange, Inverness. John Murdoch, "The Highlander" Office, Inverness. Charles Fergusson, Raigmore. John Whyte, "Highlander" Office. LIBRARIAN. Charles Fergusson, Raigmore. BARD. Mrs. Mary Mackellar. PIPER. Pipe-Major Alexander Maclennan. BANKERS. The Caledonian Banking Company. COMUNN GAILIG INBHIR-NIS. CO-SHUIDHEACHADH. " 1. 'S e ainm a' Chomuhin COMUNN GAILIG INBHIR-NIS." 2. 'S e tha an run a' Chomuinn : Na buill a dheanamh 'sa' cinneas Ciuil na iomlan Ghailig ; Canaine, Bardaehd, agus Leabhraichean Gaidhealtachd ; Bardaehd, Seanachas, Sgeulachd, 's a' chanain sin a thearnadh o dhearmad agus Sgriobhanna ; Leabhar-lann a chur suas ann am baile Inbhir-Nis de leabhraichibh agus sgriobhannaibh ann an canain sam bith a bhuineas do Chaileachd, lonnsachaidh, Eaclidraidheachd agus Sheanachasaibh thairbhe na Gaidhealtachd coir cliu nan nan Gaidheal no do ; agus a dhion na Gaidheil a shoirbheachadli a Gaidheal ; agus ghna ge b'e ait am bi iad. 3. 'S iad a bhitheas 'nam buill, cuideachd a tha gabhail suim do runtaibh a' Chomuinn, agus so mar gheibh iad a staigh : Tairgidh aon bhall an t-iarradair, daingnichidh ball eile an tairgse, agus, aig an ath choinneamh, ma roghnaicheas a' mhor-chuid le crannchur, nithear ball dhith-se no dheth-san cho luath 's a an chomhthoirt cuirear crainn le dhubh phaidhear ; ponair agus gheal, ach, gu so bhi dli^heach, feumaidh tri buill dheug an crainn a chur. Feudaidh an Comunn Urram Cheannardan a thoirt do urrad 'us seachd daoine cliuiteach. 4. Paidhidh Ball Urramach, 'sa' bhliadlma . 10 6 Ball Cumanta 050 Foghlainte . ... .010 Agus ni Ball-beatha aon chomh-thoirt de . 770 5. 'S a' Cheud-mhios, gach bliadlma, roghnaichear, le crainn, Co-chomhairle a riaghlas gnothuichean a' Chomuinn, 's e sin aon Cheann, tri lar-chinn, Cleireach Urramach, Runaire, lonmhasair, agus coig buill eile feumaidh iad uile Gailig a thuigsinn 's a ni bhruidhinn ; agus coigear dhiubh coinneamh. GAELIC SOCIETY OF INVERNESS. CONSTITUTION. 1. The Society shall be called the "GAELIC SOCIETY OP INVERNESS." 2. The objects of the Society are the perfecting of the Mem- bers in the use of the Gaelic language; the cultivation of the and music of the Scottish the res- language, poetry, Highlands ; cuing from oblivion of Celtic poetry, traditions, legends, books, the in Inverness of a to and manuscripts ; establishing library, consist of books and manuscripts, in whatever language, bearing upon the genius, the literature, the history, the antiquities, and the material interests of the and the Highlands Highland people ; vindication of the and character of the Gaelic rights people ; and, generally, the furtherance of their interests whether at home or abroad. 3. The Society shall consist of persons who take a lively in- terest in its objects, admission to be as follows : The candidate shall be proposed by one member, seconded by another, balloted for at the next meeting, and, if he or she have a majority of votes and have paid the subscription, be declared a member. The ballot shall be taken with black beans and white ; and no election shall be valid unless thirteen members vote. The Society has power to elect distinguished men as Honorary Chieftains to the number of seven. 4. The Annual Subscription shall be, for Honorary Members . 10 6 Ordinary Members . 050 Apprentices . 010 A Life Member shall make one payment of 7 7 5. The management of the affairs of the Society shall be en- trusted to a Council, chosen annually, by ballot, in the month of January, to consist of a Chief, three Chieftains, an Honorary Secretary, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and five other Members of the all of shall understand and Gaelic five Society, whom speak ; to form a quorum. X CO-SHUIDHEACHADH. 6. Cumar coinneamhan a' Chomuinn gach seachduin o thois- each an Deicheamh mios gu deireadh Mhairt, agus gach ceithir- la-deug o thoiseach Ghiblein gu deireadh an Naothamh-mios. 'S i a' Ghailig a labhairear gach oidhche mu'n seach aig a chuid a's lugha. 7. Cuiridh a' Cho-chomhairle la air leth anns an t-Seachdamh- mios air-son Coinneamh Bhliadhnail aig an cumar Co-dheuchainn agus air an toirear duaisean air-son Piobaireachd 'us ciuil Ghaidh- ealach eile anns an bithidh co-dheuchainn air ; fheasgar Leughadh aithris Bardachd nuadh an sin agus agus Rosg agus taghta ; deigh cumar Cuirm chuideachdail aig am faigh nithe Gaidhealach rogh- ainn 'san uirghioll, ach gun roinn a dhiultadh dhaibh-san nach tuig Gailig. Giulainear cosdas na co-dheuchainne le trusadh sonraichte a dheanamh agus cuideachadh iarraidh o'n t-sluagh. 8. Cha deanar atharrachadh sam bith air coimh dhealbhadh a' Chomuinn gun aontachadh dha thrian de na'm bheil de luchd- bruidhinn Gailig air a' chlar-ainm. Ma's miann atharrachadh a dheanamh a's eiginn sin a chur an ceill do gach ball, mios, aig a' chuid a's lugha, roimh'n choinneamh a dh'fheudas an t-atharrachadh a dheanamh. Feudaidh ball nach bi a lathair roghnachadh le lamh-aithne. 9. Taghaidh an Comunn Bard, Piobaire, agus Fear-leabhar- lann. Ullaichear gach Paipear agus Leughadh, agus giulainear gach Deasboireachd le run fosgailte, duineil, durachdach air-son na firinn, agus cuirear gach ni air aghaidh ann an spiorad caomh, glan, agus a reir riaghailtean dearbhta. CONSTITUTION. XI 6. The Society shall hold its meetings weekly from the begin- ning of October to the end of March, and fortnightly from the beginning of April to the end of September. The business shall be carried on in Gaelic on every alternate night at least. 7. There shall be an Annual Meeting in the month of July, the day to be named by the Committee for the time being, when Competitions for Prizes shall take place in Pipe and other High- land Music. In the evening there shall be Competitions in Read- ing and Reciting Gaelic Poetry and Prose, both original and select. After which there will be a Social Meeting, at which .Gaelic sub- jects shall have the preference, but not to such an extent as entirely to preclude participation by persons who do not under- stand Gaelic. The expenses of the competitions shall be defrayed out of a special fund, to which the general public shall be invited to subscribe. 8. It is a fundamental rule of the Society that no part of the Constitution shall be altered without the assent of two-thirds of the Gaelic the roll but if alterations speaking Members on ; any be required due notice of the same must be given to each member, at least one month before the meeting takes place at which the alteration is proposed to be made. Absent Members may vote by mandates. 9. The Society shall elect a Bard, a Piper, and a Librarian. All Papers and Lectures shall be prepared, and all Discussions carried desire for truth on, with an honest, earnest, and manful ; and all proceedings shall be conducted in a pure and gentle spirit, and according to the usually recognised rules. INTRODUCTION. THE Publishing Committee have great pleasure in now issuing the seventh volume of the Society's Transactions. It is the largest ever issued by the Society, and it is hoped that its pages will not be found inferior to those of former volumes. The session of which this volume is a record, was an exceedingly successful one. Many questions of great interest to Highlanders have been discussed from different and it is standpoints ; hoped that the record here presented will commend itself to such members of the Society as were not present when the different papers were read.