Blair Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 2

XXV.
THE ISLE OF PABAIDH.
From Alexander M'DoDald, tenant, and others, Barra. July 1859.
npHEEE came a woman of peace (a fairy) the way of
J- the house of a man in the island of Pabaidh, and
she had the hunger of motherhood on her. He gave
her food, and that went well with her. She staid that
night. When she went away, she said to him, " I am
making a desire that none of the people of this island
may go in childbed after this." j^one of these people,
and none others that woidd make their dwelling in the
island ever departed in childbed from that time.
EILEAN PHABAIDH.
Thainig boireannach sith rathad tigh duin' ann an eilean Phabaidh,
agus acras na laidhe shiiibhl' urra. Thug e biadh dhi, 's ghabh sin go
math aice. Dh' fhan i 'n oidhche sin. Nur a dh' fhalbh i thuirt i
ris. '•' Tha mise deanadh iairtas nach fhalbh gin, de dhaoin' an eilean
so, ann an leaba na silibhla as a dheigh so." Cha d' fhalbh gin riabh
de na daoine sin 'na gin eile bhiodh a' gabhail comhnuidh 'san eilean
uaidhe sin, ann an leaba na siiibhla.
Written by Hector MacLean, from the telling of a man in
Barra.