Matheson Collection > Macleods of Dunvegan from the time of Leod to the end of the seventeenth century

64 THE MACLEODS OF DUNVEGAN
Lordship of the Isles till the forfeiture of these potentates
in the latter part of the fifteenth century.
" At the Battle of Harlaw Ian Borb commanded all the
MacLeods, both those of the Siol Tormod and Siol Torquil
alike. At this battle he refused to draw his sword unless
he and his clan were given the post of honour on the right
wing of the army. This the Lord of the Isles yielded to
him, the only instance on record in which the MacDonalds
yielded precedence to any other clan. In this battle
Ian Borb behaved most gallantly. He was wounded
in the forehead, where a deep scar remained ever here-
after. This wound never entirely healed, and used to
bleed whenever he took violent exercise, or was excited
by passion. It was eventually the cause of his death."
In the agreement made at Islay above referred to
St. Kilda appears to have been overlooked. It had
always been considered as belonging to that part of
North Uist which had been ceded by MacLeod to
MacDonald. I conjecture that the dispute referred to
in a tradition occurred at this time. One can understand
how the dispute about the possession of the island arose.
The MacDonalds probably claimed it as being attached
to North Uist, while the MacLeods probably maintained
that it had never been mentioned, and had not therefore
been included in the ceded land. According to tradition
it was agreed that a race should be rowed for the island,
and that whichever boat's crew first touched its shore
should win it for their clan.
The boats started, and for a long time kept very
close together, but as they approached St. Kilda, the
MacDonald boat drew slightly ahead, and it became
obvious that it would touch the island first. MacLeod's
henchman seized an axe, cut off his hand, and threw it
ashore, thus touching the island first, and winning it for
his Chief, whose successor still retains it. This was a
deed of heroism which should not be forgotten.