Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

28 THE CEtTIC MAGAZIKF:.
slers ■wore coiiiplimcuted for their ability, and encouraged to perscvorc and
dig deeper into tlic same mine.
Kenneth Eraser, Leac-naSaighld, was now called upon to give his jDro-
mised story, or rather series of stories, tracing how the Mackenzies first
came to obtain possession of tlie lands of Gairloch, and how the Macbeaths
were first driven out of the country, and afterwards their successors, the
Macleods — Clann 'ic Ille Qhallum — of Raasay. These legends have been so
well told in the pure dialect of the district, before it became corrupted by
an admixture of English phrases, that, in order to preserve it, we shall give
them here word for word as they were recited on the occasion. Certain
very expressive words peculiar to the district will be noticed, and it will
be remarked that the words heul, meur, fench, and such like, are
pronounced hied, miar, fiach, and so on. Such words as these may easily
be altered in prose writings, without any injury to the text, but it is im-
possible to do so in poetry, the sound being so very different, without al-
tering the harmony and consonance of the piece. This will account for
our giving the Gaelic Songs throughout the Ceilidh in the dialect of the
district in which they were composed, and our answer to any who may
consider the orthography faulty and not in accordance with the now al-
most universally received standards. A literal translation of these legends,
which will bo found a wonderfully fair and close account of the historical
facts to which they refer, will be given with each for the benefit of the
English reader. Kenneth proceeded Avitli the story of the Macbeaths,
premising that it was related to him by an old man, Roderick Eraser, Inver-
kerry, who died some few years befoj'e, aged 105 years, as follows : —
HOW THE MACBEATHS WERE DRIVEN FROM THEIR STRONGHOLD
IN THE ISLAND OF LOCH TOLLY.
"Blia uair-cigin duinc tapaidli — Tain IN lac Iain Uidliir — afuireachann
an Carra Chinntaile, agus an uair a chual e gu'n robh a leithid so do dh-
f hogaraich dhaoine (Clann 'ic Lhcathain) a gabhail comhnuidh ann an Eilean
Loch Thollaidh, smuainich e ann fhein, air oidhche na bliadhn' uire, gu'ni
bu bhochd an leithid a choigrich ndulltich a bhi anns an aite, a togail cis
air an fhearann,nach bunadh dhoibh, agus sliochd dhaoin' uaisle do Chlann
Choinnich, ged da bha cuid dJiiubh aig an robh fearann, gu'n robh cuid
eile dhiubh as aonais.
" Beagan aimsir an deigh sin, dar a thraogh an sneachda dheth na mo-
naidhnean, thog e 'bhalg saighid air a mhuiu. Chuir e fios air Domhnull
Mor ]\Iac i\Ihic IJaonail 'ic IJath a Inbhir-Innait, agus choisich iad, mar
aon le cheile, a null air Cill-fhaolainn. Choisich iad troimh mhonaidh-
nean Loch-Carron. Thainig iad a steach air monaidhnean Cheann-loch-
iugh (Cha be Ceann-loch-iugh a b-ainm dha aig an am so ach Ceann-loch-
ma-righ). Thainig iad trath aumoeh ani fradharc Loch Thollaidh, agus
bheaclidai(di iad air Caisteal jMliic-TJlicathain anns an Eilean, agus
air aite o'm biodh e furasda dhoi])]i an cuid saighid a chur air ionn-
suidli a chaisteal. Bha craobh chaorainn ri taobb a chaisteal a bha anns
an rathad orra, ach dar a thainig plumanaich na h-oidhche, theann iad a
blian ris a chladach, air a leithid do dhoigh, 's gua d' f huair na h-o'laicli