Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

where it is short. This has generally been kept in
view, but occasional slips wUl be found.
In addition to some misplacings or omissions of
accents, there are a few omissions of apostrophes,
chiefly after the article a, contracted for an. Pro-
bably they will never be noticed, except by some
very critical eyes.
As to the matter of the book, I have followed, and I
hope improved upon, the example of Macintosh, in
giving such illustrative notes and comments as seemed
necessary or suitable. In this respect my original
intention, merely to give an improved translation,
with a few additions, has been greatly changed, and
I found at last that the collection could no more be
called ' Macintosh's Collection '. He rightly included
Familiar Phrases as well as Proverbs, and I have
followed the example, giving a large number of ver-
nacular phrases, which, though not proverbs, are house-
hold Highland words, all the more worthy to be
preserved, that the use of the Gaelic language in its
native land is slowly but surely passing away. The
venerable creature dies hard,^ but the process is going
on, some of her heartless children doing their little best
to hasten her end. I have included phrases and say-
ings which may seem of small value, but if that be an
error, it is on the safe side. Good Macintosh was not
afraid to give some specimens of Gaelic maledictions,
and a considerable number has been added in this
volume. To very strait-laced people this may seem
1 'S e 'm bial a dli' obas mu dheireadh — Tlie mouth gives in last.