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

THE THREE WIDO'WS. 229
rather questionable propriety, contains none of the incidents in
this Gaelic tale ; and it is clearly not derived from any of these
modern books. The version translated was written down in
Barra by Hector MacLean, in July, from the mouth of a fisher-
man.
In December, the following version was written down by the
Rev. Mr. MacLauchlan of Edinburgh, a very highly respected
gentleman, well known as one of the best Gaelic scholars of his
day ; while he is also a zealous and active minister. He has in-
terested himself in the collection of the popular lore of his coun-
try ; and he has been kind enough to write down several tales for
me from the dictation of one of his parishioners. He gives the
following pedigree, with his translation of the Gaelic, which he
was good enough to send, and which was returned to him : —
2d. Fi-om Donald MacLean, born in Ardnamurchan, brought
up from the age of 3 years in Mull (Jarvisfield), 69 years of age.
Heard this from an old man in Ardnamurchan, Angus MacPhie,
who died forty-five years ago. Reads a little English ; has never
seen any of these stories in a book ; cannot write ; reads no Gaelic ;
lives in the Grassmarket ; came to Edinburgh thirty-five years
ago.
RiBiN, Robin, and Levi the Dun (Levi-oue).
Once in a time there lived three men in the same place, whose
names were Ribin, Robin, and Levi-our. The men were not on
friendly terms together, as the other two disliked Levi-our. On
one occasion Levi-our was from home, when the other two, out of
revenge, killed one of his cows. On his return, he flayed the cow,
and dried the hide. He made two pockets, which he sewed to
the hide, and put in there several pieces of money of different
value. He went with the hide to the market town. He was
trying at his leisure whether he could find any one to buy it. He
saw a man, who had the appearance of being rich, come to the
place in which he stood, and he made an offer for the hide ; but
Levi-our thought the price too small. Levi-our said that they
had better go into the inn and have a dram. The gentleman
assented, and they entered the inn. Levi-our called for such a