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

XLVII.
FEAEACHUE LEIGH.
From Sutherland.
"VrOW Farqiiliar was one time a cbover in the Eeay
-^^ country, and he went from Glen GoUich to Eng-
land (some say Falkirk), to sell cattle ; and the staff
that he had in his hand was hazel (caltuinn). One
day a doctor met him. " What's that," said he, " that ye
have got in y'r hand 1 " " It is a staff of hazel." " And
where did ye cut that Ì " " In Glen Gollig : north,
in Lord Reay's country." " Do ye mind the place
and the tree 1 " " That do I." " Could ye get the
tree ? " " Easy." " Well, I wiU give ye gold more
than ye can lift, if ye will go back there and bring me
a wand off that hazel tree ; and take this bottle and
bring me something more, and I will give you as much
gold again. AVatch at the hole at the foot, and put
the bottle to it ; let the six serpents go that come out
first, and put the seventh one into the bottle, and tell
no man, but come back straight Avith it here.
So Farquhar went back tg the hazel glen, and when
he had cut some boughs off the tree he looked about
for the hole that the doctor had spoken of. And what
should come out but six serpents, brown and barred
like adders. These he let go, and clapped the bottle
to the hole's mouth, to see would any more come out