Blair Collection > Sar-obair nam bard gaelach, or, The beauties of Gaelic poetry, and lives of the Highland bards

NIALL MAC-MHUIRICH.
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Badenoch ; that it was near as thick as a Bible, but that it was longer and broader,
though not so thick in the cover. That the parchments and the red book were written
in the hand in which the Gaelic used to be written of old both in Scotland and Ireland
before people began to use the English hand in writing Gaelic ; and that his father knew
well how to read the old hand. That he himself had some of the parchments after his
father's death, but that because he had rot been taught to read them, and had no reason
to set any value upon them, they were lost. He says that none of his forefathers had the
name of Paul, but that there were two of them who were called Cathal.
He says that the red book was not written by one man, but that it was written from age
to age by the family of Clan Mhuirich, who were preserving and continuing the history
of the Macdonalds, and of other heads of Highland clans.
After the above declaration was taken down, it was read to him, and he acknowledged
it was right, in presence of Donald M'Donald of Balronald, James M' Donald of Gary-
helich, Ewan Mac Donald of Griminish, Alexander Mac Lean of Hoster, Mr Alexander
Nicolson, minister of Benbecula, and Mr Allan Mac Queen, minister of North-Uist, who
wrote this declaration.
(Signed) LACHLAN x MAC VUIRICH.
RODERICK MAC NIEL, J.P.
ORAN. DO MHAC-MHIC-AILEIN.*
GuR c naigheaclid na ciadain,
Rinn mo chruitheachd a shiaradh.
Le liunn-dubh, 's li- bvòn cianail,
Gu'n dhrùidh i trom aii- mo chriochaibh,
Mo sgeul duilich iiach iarr,
Mi 'ur còmhradh.
Mo sgeul, &c.
]\r uaildh, ni' aighear, is m' aiteas,
Tlia to bhiim aig fir shasuiiin.
Ar tighearn' òg maiseach.
An t-ogh ud laria nam bratach.
Mac an fhir tiiug dhomh fasga
'Nuair b' òg mi.
Mac an fhir, &c.
Nàile dhiolainn do bhàs,
Dheanainn feòlach,
Nàile dhiolainn, &c.
Uidhist aighearach, eibhinii,
Dhubhach, ghalanacb, dheurach,
Nis o rug ort am l)eum so.
'S goirt r"a fhulang ni 's eiginn,
Liuthad fear a tba 'n deigh air
Mac-Dhomhimill.
Liuthad fear, &c
Clia 'n e 'n Domhnull sin roimhe,
Ach mac sin Dhomhnuill ogh lain,
Aileanaoibhinn an aigheir.
Urram feile ; righ flatha,
Ceauiiard meaghreacli gu caitheamh
Na mòr-ehuis,
Ceannard, &c-.
'Nuair a chiaradh am feasgar.
Gum hiodh branndaidh ga losgadh.
Fion Frangauh ga cliosg Ifilpìi.