Blair Collection > Treatise on the language, poetry, and music of the Highland clans

OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS.
167
Archibald, better known by his poetic name of Ciaran Mabach, was brother
to Sir James Macdonald, and stood high in his confidence. When Iain Lom
obtained from him a party to execute the warrant from the Privy Council against
the murderers of Keppoch, Archibald was appointed to the command. He left
his residence in Uist on Wednesday, travelled on foot over the mountains, then
covered with snow, at the head of his party ; stormed and set fire to the block-
house, and slew the murderers at Inverlair in Braelochaber on Sunday ; and
dispatched messengers from luvergarry to Edinburgh with the heads, the same
day, — a feat not even surpassed by Montrose's march from Fort-Augustus by
Glenbuick, Glenroy, Dalnabi, and Lianachan, to Inverlochy, in one day. The
defenders of the blockhouse consisted only of the uncle and six nephews ; yet
they killed and wounded sixty of the besiegers before being conquered. Iain
Lom, who was the guide of the party, says that there was not one of the seven
who, " in an equal fight, was not a match for ten." Some incidents of the
.storming are very romantic, and one of them in particular highly characteristic
of the stem sense of honour found united with the most deadly passions, in the
warriors of the olden time ; but it were an episode here, and would intrude on my
space. Iain Lom, in his verses commemorative of the achievement, gives great
praise to the Ciaran Mabach for the skill and hardihood with which he conducted
the expedition. A verse or two of this song may perhaps be acceptable to the
reader.
Slan fo d' thrial, a Chiarain Mhabaich,
slan fo d' ri-all a cbi-aren vab-aych
Shiubhlas sliabh gu'u bhiadh gu'n chadal,
lii-uvlas sli-av gun TÌ-a' gun cha-dal
Fraoch fo d' shin, gu'n bhosd, gu'n
fraoch fod bin gun vosd gun
bhagradh.
vagra'
Chuir u ceo fo'n roisheal ladarn'.
chuyr u ce-o fon roysel la-darn
Diciadain chai e na uidheam
di-ci-a-den chay e na uy'em
Le bhrataich ard do ghillean dubha.
le vratych ard do yiUen duva
Sgriob Ghilleaspuig ruaidh a Uist
sgri-ob yillespeyg ru-ay' a uyst
Bhuail e meal an ceanu na h-uidhe.
vu-ayl e mel an cenn na buy'
Cha d' iar e bata na long dharaich
cba di-ar e vatA na long yai-aych
Ei am geamhraidh an tus na gaillean.
ri am ge-av-ri' an tus na gayllcn
An triubheas teann feadh bheann is
an tri-n-ves tenn fc-a' veiin is
bhealach,
velacb
Hail to thy course, Ciaran Mabach,
Who travellest over the wolds, without
food or sleep.
Heather thy bed ; nor vaunt nor threat
(was thine.)
Thou hast wasted the stronghold of
the bad and daring.
On Wednesday was equipped
Thy lofty banner of black-haired
gillies.
The expedition of red Archibald from
Uist,
Struck a blow at the end of its rout.
Neither a boat nor a ship of oak didst
thou ask.
In winter, when storms began.
In tight trews through mountains and
defiles,