Matheson Collection > Folk tales and fairy lore in Gaelic and English

board a Loch Linnhe steamer going Oban-wards. The conversa-
tion turned on the subject of Fairy Lore, and Mr. MacDougall
needed no great persuasion to recite some of his fairy stories,
Httle thinking that while he was the collector, and, in a sense, the
author of them, his hearer would become their sponsor. The
appearance of his library gave one the impression that he had a
love for his books. They were neither so numerous as to lie
unread, nor so few as to indicate limited culture, and merely
parochial interests. Mostly of value, they were handled accord-
ingly. Here and there are marginal notes that always show
penetration The roads and lanes and hillocks of Duror, in
common with other country places, had their own tales and
suggestive names, the origin of which he was fond of investigating.
His derivations are reasoned, and in pleasing contrast to the
vagaries of popular etymology. His well known interest in all
local matters ied to his being consulted by the Scottish Boulder
Committee, and to some correspondence with the convener. Mr.
David Milne Home, LL.D.
A delightful host and companion, he drew his friends from
almost every walk in life. Some of them came from far. To
mention but one — the brilliant and ever-to-be-lamented Professor
Strachan, whose genius and enthusiasm have done so much for
Celtic studies, found himself from time to time enjoying the
hospitality of Duror Manse. And the Rev. D. Macfarlane, then
minister of the neighbouring Parish of Glencoe, writes — "One
could not forget the exuberant welcome at Duror when we came
to make a Ceilidh, and the insistence which made the afternoon
call a three days' visit." But whether they came from far or near,
all that knew him owned the charm of his conversation, which
arose in part from his manifest friendliness and courtesy, and in
part from his keen observation and experience of life, ranging
from the quiet of Duror to the excitement of foreign travel, from
geological problems to the Welsh Revival (which he studied on
the spot), from Gaelic Tales (and even riddles) to the translation
of the Hymnal, to which he also put his hand, and executed some
versions with credit. Besides his tales in Wai/s and Strays of