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

BRUGH FARALA.
When the Fians were for some time without any word
of the chase, and the women still kept their good looks,
while the men were becoming meagre and ill-looking,
on going in pursuit of the chase the Fians left big Garry,
the son of Morna, behind them, to endeavour to find out
what secret means of nourishment the women had. He
found that they lived on the leaves of trees, the roots of
heather, and tops of hazel {duillich nan craobh, bun an
fJiraoicJi ; some say bun na rainicJi, the roots of brackens,
ferns ; 's barr na calltuinn'). While waiting and watch-
ing, Garry fell asleep beside an old log of wood, or the
seven sticks of wood, which, like tether-pins, the women
drove into the ground, and the women having observed
him, tied seven plies of his hair {seacJid dnail a chinn) to
the log or sticks, which they drove into the ground.
They then raised the war-cry of the Fians. Every
member of the band was bound to answer this cry
whenever and wherever he heard it. When raised, it
was heard over five-fifths of Ireland, and Garry, on
hearing it, started to his feet, leaving the seven plies of
his hair sticking to the log or pins which had been driven
into the ground. Annoyed by the deceit practised upon
him, he went to the neighbouring wood, and finding a
burden of suitable material, he took it on his shoulders,
and placing it against the dwelling, set it on fire. It was
then that the attention of the Fians was drawn to the
low-lying, coloured smoke, and before long they saw
that their dwelling and home was in a blaze —