Blair Collection > Carmina gadelica > Volume 2

188 MEASGAIN
DUAN NAN DAOL [208]
There are many curious legends and beliefs cuiTent in the Isles about the ' cearr-
dubhan,' or sacred beetle. When His enemies were in search of Christ to put
Him to death, they met the sacred beetle and the gravedigger beetle out on a
foraging expedition in search of food for their families. The Jews asked the
beetles if they had seen Christ passing that way. Proud to be asked, and
anxious to conciliate the great people, the gravedigger promptly and volubly
replied : ' Yes, yes ! He passed here yesterday evening, when I and the people
of the townland were digging a grave and burying the body of a field-mouse that
had come to an untimely end.' ' You lie ! you lie ! ' said the sacred beetle ; ' it
was a year ago yesterday that Christ the Sou passed here, when my children and
I were searching for food, after the king's horse had passed.'
Because of his ready officiousness against Christ, the gravedigger is always
killed when seen ; while, for his desire to shield Christ, the sacred beetle is spared,
but because he told a lie he is always turned on his back. The sacred beetle is
covered with a strong integument like a knight encased in armour. Consequently
he is unable to resume his position, and he struggles continually, waving his feet
in the effort to touch something which will assist him to rise. It is unlawful to
pass by the sacred beetle without putting him on his back, but should he succeed
in righting himself, it is unlawful to molest him further.
In some places the gravedigger is killed because otherwise he will profane the
grave of the grandmother of the person who passes him by.
The following somewhat similar legend is also current in Uist : —
The anti-Christians were pursuing Christ, wishing to kill Him. Christ came to
a townland where a crofter was winnowing corn on the hillock. The good crofter
placed Christ under the heap of grain to conceal Him from His enemies. The
crofter Avent into the barn to bring out more grain
to jjlace over Christ to hide Him more effectually.
;In his absence the fowls attacked the heap of corn
under which Christ was hidden. They were round
the heap and over the heap — hens and ducks feed-
ing as rapidly as they could. The ducks contented
RATH bha Ti nan dul fo choill.
Agus daoibhidh air a dheigh,
De thuirt daolaire na doill,
Ris an daol 's an dealan-de