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

XXXVI.
MAGHACH COLGAE.
From Alexander MacNeill, Barra.
l^IONN, the son of Cumal. Fionn Mac Cumhail
-*- was in Eirinn, and the king of Lochlann in Loch-
lann. The king of Lochlann sent Maghach Colgar
to Fionn to be taught. The king of the Sealg sent to
him his own son, whom they called Innsridh Mag-
EiGH nan Sealg. They were of age, six years (and)
ten. Then they were in Erin with Fionn, and Fionn
taught Maghach, son of the king of Lochlann, every
learning he had.
There came a message from the king of Lochlann,
that he was in the sickness of death for leaving the
world ; and that the Maghach must go home to be
ready for his crowning. Maghach went away, and the
chase failed with the Fheinn, and they did not know
what they should do.
Maghach Avrote a letter to Fionn from Lochlann
to Eirinn : " I heard that the chase failed with you in
Eirinn. I have burghs on sea, and I have burghs on
shore ; I have food for a day and a year in every burgh
of these — the meat thou thinkest not of, and the drink
thou thinkest not of ; come thou hither thyseK and
thy set of Fhiantachan. The keep of a day and a
year is on thy head."