J. F. Campbell Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 2

68 AVEST HIGHLAND TALES.
dence to prove that the fairj^ creed is the same there as
everywhere, and that it is not quite extinct.
1. I have a story, got through the kindness of Mr. Osgord
Mackenzie, in which a Lowland minister speaks slightingly
of the fairies. " He was riding home tlirough a dark glen,
and through an oak wood, where there was many a green
tolman (moimd). He was surromided by a s(|uad of little
men, leaping Lefore him and dancing behind liuu. They
took him off the horse and carried him up through the
skies, his head imder him now, and his feet under again,
the world nmning roimd ; and at last they dropped him
near his o-^ai house.
2. In another story, a lot of fairies bori'ow a weaver's
loom at night, without his leave, and make a web of green
cloth from stolen wool.
BEAENAffilDH.
There was in Bearnairidli in the Harris, a man coming
past a knoll, and taking the road, and he heard churning
in the hill. Thirst struck him. " I had rather," said he,
that my thirst was on the herdswoman." He had not
gone but about twenty rods away when a woman met him,
and she had a fine green petticoat on tied about her waist,
and she had a vessel of warm milk between her two hands.
She offered liim a draught, and he woidd not take it.
" Thou one that sought my cbaught, and took not my
draught, mayest thou not be long alive."
He went to the narrows, and he took a boat there
over ; and coming over the narrows he was drowiied.
Bha annn am Bc'arnairidh aiinns na h-Earadh, fear a' tighinn
seachad air cnoc a' gabhail an rathaid ai^us cliiial e aunns a' chuoL
maistreadli. Bhuail am pathadh e. " B' fheiirr leom," ars' esan.