Ossian Collection > Waifs and strays of Celtic tradition > Volume 4

The Fians.
have followed the chase wherever venison was to be
found, both in Ireland and Scotland. The tales told of
them are both numerous and entertaining. Some tell of
deep and sad sorrow ; some refer to feats of strength
and activity, and in all of them Fionn (Finn) figures as a
man of great wisdom and sagacity. Belonging to this
part of the history of the band is the tale of how Fionn
got his wonderful dog Bran, and how he was in the
House of the Yellow Field, without leave to sit down or
power to stand up, and about his long ship, in which, as
we hear in later stories, he visited the Kingdom of Big
Men.
When the Fian bands were in full order and activity,
the companies of which the host was made up were seven,
in addition to the company of Morna [seachd catJianaii
giiatliaicJite na Feinne 's cath cJdanna Mornd). The most
prominent of these embattled hosts was the Clanna
Baoisgne, of whom Fionn himself was one; and frequent
mention is made of the Clanna Morna, whose leader
was Goll MacMorna. Though the Clanna Morna were
at first at war with Fionn's men, and in the time of
Cumhal were open enemies, yet by the wisdom of Fionn
they became safe and reliable friends. The Collaich
under Ceutach, the son of their former king {CcudacJi
mac righ 7ian CollacJi), and their history and position in
the Fian band, forms an episode by itself, and seems to
have been a subject of much talk.