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

90 WEST HIGHLAND TALES.
victim on the ground. This came to the ears of " Ian garbh,
MacGillie Challdm, Eaasay," " Big John, the son of M'Leod
of Raasay ;" he was celebrated for his prowess and strength, and
never had been vanquished in any fight, though he had tried with
the strongest. He told his step-mother of the news he had heard
from the Mainland, and asked her advice, as he usually did, be-
fore he undertook any exploit of the kind. She advised him to go,
and avenge the blood of his friend. After his preparations were
made, and not without a blessing from the Oracle, he set out
on his circuitous journey, and met the "Coldinn" after sunset,
on the Mile Keith, and a battle did ensue, and I daresay it was
a very stiff one. Before sunrise, it was necessary for the Coluinn
to be off, as he never could be seen in daylight. Whether find-
ing he made no progress discouraged him or not, we can't say,
but Ian got the victory. Being determined to get a sight of the
Coluinn, and also to prove his victory to others, Ian tucked
him under his arm, to carry him to the nearest light. The
Coluinn had never been heard to speak ; but being in this pre-
dicament, called out, " Leig as mi,'' " Let me go.'' " Cha leig
MI AS THU," " I will not let thee go.'' Leig as mi, he repeated;
but still the answer was Cha leig mi as thu. " Leig as mi, agus
chan feachear an so mi gu brath tuileadh." " Let me go, and I
shall never be seen here any more." " Ma bhoidachais thu air a
leobhar, air a chonail, agus air a stocaidh dhubh, bi falbh." " If
thou swear that on the book, on the candle, and on the black
stocking, begone ! " After making the Coluinn promise this on
his knees, Ian liberated him. The Coluinn flew off, singing the
following doleful words — " S fada uam fein bonn beinn Hederin, s
fada uam fein bealach a bhorbhan," which we can only translate
by-
" Far from me is the hill of Ben Hederin,
Far from me is the pass of murmuring.''
This lament was repeated as long as Ian could hear, and
these words are still sung by women in that country to their
children, to the following notes, which tradition says was the
very air : —