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

THE PROPHECIES OF THE BRAHAN SEER. 93
appearance of various different physical misfortunes in
several of the other great Highland chiefs, all of which
are said to have actually occurred within the memory
of the generation that has not yet passed away "
On the death of his lordship, his estates, with all
their burden and responsibilities, devolved on his eldest
daughter. Lady Hood, whose second husband was
James Stewart Mackenzie, a member of the Galloway
family, and whose son has just been prevented from
selling all that remains of the Seaforth estates. " Our
friend. Lady Hood," wrote Sir Walter Scott to Mr
Morritt, "will now be ' Cabarfeidh ' herself She has
the spirit of a chieftainess in every drop of her blood,
but there are few situations in which the cleverest
women are so apt to be imposed upon as in the man-
agement of landed property, more especially of a
Highland estate. I do fear the accomplishment of the
prophecy that, when there should be a deaf '■ Cabarfeidh,'
the house was to fall." The writer concludes thus : —
" Scott's apprehensions proved only too well founded.
One section after another of the estates had to be sold.
The remaining portion of Kintail, the sunny braes of
Ross, the church lands of Chanonry, the barony of
Pluscarden, and the Island of Lews — a principality
itself— were disposed ot one after the other, till now
nothing remains of the vast estates of this illustrious
house except Brahan Castle, and a mere remnant of
their ancient patrimony (and that in the hands of
trustees), which the non-resident, nominal owner has
just been prevented from alienating. Sic transit."
Leaving these extraordinary prophecies with the
reader, to believe, disbelieve, or explain away on any