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

URUISGEAN. 159
precipitous rocks, which lie strewed in immense frag-
ments on every side, and this well-defended corrie or
cave, affords a safe asylum for foxes, badgers, and wild-
cats; as also one equally safe, if the natives be cre-
dited, for the goblins, kelpies, and uruisgean. The
uruisgean are, in short, no strangers in various quarters
of Perthshire, as well as in most parts of the Highlands.
Dr Graham says that they are " a sort of lubberly
supernaturals, who could be gained over by kind atten-
tion, to perform the drudgery of the farm ; and it was
believed that many Highland families had some of the
order so tamed, as to become attached to them." Sir
Walter Scott states that " tradition has ascribed to the
uruisgean, a figure between a goat and a man; in short,
however much the classical reader may be startled,
precisely that of a Grecian Satyr."
It is related of an honest farmer's wife in Glenlyon,
that one wet morning, as the decent matron was in the
act of making the porridge for the family breakfast,
she had an unexpected visit from an " uruisg," who
camp in quite unceremoniously, cold, dripping with
rain, and squatted herself close by the cheering fire.
There the huge, slippery-skinned, uncouth monster lay,
enjoying the genial warmth, but awkwardly impeding
the worthy goodwife from cooking the family meal.
Sadly annoyed at the monster's impertinence, the good
old lady lifted a ladleful of the boiling beverage from
the pot on the fire, and poared it on the sides and
thighs of her unwelcome guest, on which, the creature
arose suddenly, darted off in a moment, upsetting
tables and chairs, and exclaiming in pure Gaelic ;-^