Blair Collection > Carmina gadelica > Volume 1

INTRODUCTION xxvii
some foolish song under their breath, perhaps trying to amble through some
awkward steps of dancing on the points of their toes, or, shame to tell, perhaps
speaking of what dress this or that girl had on at this or that marriage, or
worse still, what hat this girl or that girl had on on the Day of the Lord, per-
haps even on the Day of the Holy Communion, showing that their minds were
on the vain things of the world instead of on the wise things of salvation.'
' But why are the girls in the " culaist " ? What do they fear ? '
' May the Good Being keep you, good man ! They are in the " culaist "
for concealment, " agus eagal am beatha agus am bais orra gu''n cluinnear no
gu'm faicear iad " — and the fear of their life and of their death upon
them, that they may be heard or seen should the good elder happen to
be passing the way.'' ' And should he, what then ? ' ' Oh, the elder will
tell the minister, and the good minister will scold them from the pulpit,
mentioning the girls by name. But the girls have a blanket on the door
and another blanket on the window to deafen the sound and to obscure
the light.'
' Do the young maidens allow the young men to join them in the " culaist " ? '
' Indeed, truth to tell, the maidens would be glad enough to admit the young
men were it not the fear of exposure. But the young men are so loud of
voice, and so heavy of foot, and make so much noise, that they would betray
the retreat of the girls, who would get rebuked, while the young men would
escape. The girls would then be ashamed and downcast, and would not lift
a head for a year and a day after their well-deserved scolding. They suffer
most, for, sad to say, the young men are becoming less afraid of being
admonished than they used to be.'
' And do the people have spirits at their marriages ? ' ' Oh yes, the
minister is not so hard as that upon them at all. He does not interfere with
them in that way unless they take too much, and talk loudly and quaiTel.
Then he is grieved and angry, and scolds them severely. Occasionally, indeed,
some of the carles have a nice " frogan," liveliness, upon them and are very
happy together. But oh, they never quarrel, nor fight, nor get angry with
one another. They are always nice to one another and civil to all around
them.'
'Perhaps were the minister to allow the people less drink and more
music and dancing, singing and merry-making, they would enjoy it as much.
I am sure the young girls would sing better, and dance better, with the