Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
every stream' (^ Raohan air (jack choc agus drochakl air (/'irk dJIfaii') ;
' a mill on every river and a Avliite house on every hillock ' (' MniUiiin
air rjacli ahhainn ar/iis tigli gcnl air gach cnncnm ) ; and ' that the hills
of t lie country wonM he crossed Avitli slioulder-halts ' (criomii guaille).
It is well known that mills Avere formerly very common, and among the
most useful industrial institutions of the country, as may be evidenced by
the fact that, even to this day, the proprietors of lands, where such
establishments Avere once located, pay Crown and Bisliop's rents for them.
And may we not discover the fultilment of " a Avliite house on every
hillock " in the many elegant sliooting lodges, hotels, and school-houses
found in every corner of the Highlands.
Other predictions of this class will no doubt occur as Ave proceed, but we
have no hesitation in saying that, however much natural penetration and
shreAvdness might aid Kenneth in predicting such asthe above, it Avould assist
him little in prophecying " that the day Avould come Avlien Tomnahiiirich."
or, as he called it, Tom-naSithichean, or tlie Fairy Hill, " would be under
lock and key, and the Eairics secured Avithin." It Avould hardly assist
him in foreseeing the beautiful and unique cemetery on the top of the hill,
and the spirits (of the dead) chained Avithin, as we noAV see it.
Eegarding the evictions Avhicli Avould take place in the Parish of
Petty, he said, " The day Avill come, and it is not f;ir off, Avhen farm-
steadings Avill be so fcAV and far between, that the croAV of a cock Avill not
be heard from the one steading to the other." This prediction has
certainly been fuUilled, for, in the days of the Seer there Avere no fewer
than sixteen tenants on the farm of jNIorayston alone.
On the south of the bay, at Pett_7, is an immense stone of at least eight
tons Aveight, which formerly marked the boundary betAveen the estates of
CuUoden and Moray. On the 20th of February 1799, it Avas mysteriously
removed fj'om its former position and carried about 260 yards into the sea.
It is supposed by some that this Avas brought about by an earthquake ;
others think that the stone Avas carried off by the action of ice, combined
with the influence of a tremendous hurricane, Avhich blcAV from the land,
during that fearful and stormy night. It liapi)ened the same night on
Avhich the frightful catastrophe occurred in the Forest of Caick, Avhen the
" Black Captain " and his four attendants Avere overAvhelmed and sulfocated
by the storm. It Avas currently reported, and i)retty generally believed at
the time, that his Satanic INInjesty had a finger in this tragic Avork. Be
that as it may, there is no doubt Avhatever that the Brahan Seer predicted
" that tlie day Avill come Avhen the Stone of Petty, large though it
is, and high and dry ujion the land as it appears to people this day,
Avill be suddenly found as far adA^auced into the sea as it now lies aAvay
from it inland, and no one Avill see it rehiOA'cd, or be able to account
for its sudden and marvellous transportation."
He Avas at one time in the Culloden district on some important
business. "While passing over Avhat is n')AV so Avell knoAvn as the Battle-
field (jf Culloden, the Seer exclaimed, " Oh ! Drummossie, thy bleak moor
Avill, ere many generations pass aAvay, be stained Avith the best blood of
the Highlands. Glad am I that I Avill not see that day, for it Avill be a
fearful period \ heads will be lopped off by the score, and no mercy AviU