J. F. Campbell Collection > Prophecies of the Brahan seer (Coinneach Odhar Fiosaiche)

THE PROPHECIES OP THE BRAHAN SEER. 17
are acquainted with the traditions and places of inter-
est in the localities they frequent, we were curious
enough to ask them if they ever heard of Coinneach
Odhar in the district, and if he ever said anything re-
garding the fort on Knockfarrel. They directed us to
what they called " Fingal's Well," in the interior of the
ruined fort, and informed us that this well was used by the
inhabitants of the fortress "until Fingal, one day, drove
them out, and placed a large stone over the well, which
has ever since kept the water from oozing up, after
which he jumped to the other side of the (Strathpeffer)
valley." There being considerable rains for some days
previous to our visit, water could be seen in the "well."
One of the boys drove down a stick until it
struck the stone, producing a hollow sound which un-
mistakably indicated the existence of a cavity beneath.
" Coinneach Odhar foretold," said the boy, " that
if ever that stone was taken out of its place, Loch Ussie
would ooze up through the well and flood the valley
below to such an extent that ships could sail up to
Strathpeffer and be fastened to ' Clach an Tiompain ';
and this would happen after the stone had fallen three
times. It has already fallen twice," continued our
youthful informant, " and you can now see it newly
raised, strongly and carefully propped up, near the end
of the doctor's house. " And so it is, and can still be seen,
on the right, a few paces from the roadside, as you pro-
ceed up to the Strathpeffer Wells. We think it right
to give this— a third — with the other versions, for pro-
bably the reader will admit that the one is just as likely
to happen as the other. We can quite understand
Kenneth prophecying that the sea would yet reach
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