Lairds of Glenlyon

THE LAIRDS OF GLENLYON. 317
With reference to the walking-staff also represented on the frontis-
piece, Mr. Pennant makes the following observations : — " Saw at the
house of Colonel Campbell of Glenlyon, a curious walking-staff,
belonging to one of his ancestors ; it was iron cased in leather, five
feet long ; at the top a neat pair of extended wings like a caduceus ;
but, on being shaken, a poniard, two feet nine inches long, darted
out."
ROUND TOWERS (Page 3).
Glenlyon tradition strongly points to these round forts, having been all
lofty and roofed edifices, but the diameter of the Cashlie forts is too
great for any beam to cover it. Others are so small that they could
have been topped easily enough by a beehive roof.
ST. EONAN (Page 5).
St. Eonan is St. Adamnan, the biographer of St. Columba, and Abbot
of Iona. St. Adamnan was expelled by his monks because he yielded
to Rome on the tonsure and Easter questions. It is not so sure that he
ever got restored to his place in Iona, or that it was there he was first
buried. After a time, indeed, his bones are found now in Iona and then
in Ireland. But his first place of burial might have been Dull. There is
no doubt that an abbey and church were established there in St. Adam-
nan's honour. Adamnan means " little Adam" — inGaelic Adhamhnan,
which sound pretty much the same as Eonan. No sooner had I told
the legend in the form in which it was usually recited, than Iain Mor
Mac Bob gave another version of it to me in rather old Gaelic which I
translated as follows: — Calum ot Kells brought a company of Gillean De,
servants of God, or Culdees — from Erinn to preach the Peace-message
to the Gael of the West. In Ii, the little isle at the nose of Mull, the
holy men took up their abode. There they built a church and a
common habitation, and there they opened schools, and Calum of
Kells was their chief or Abba. When these Gillean De had converted
most of the chiefs, and great numbers of the people of the Gael of the
West, Calurn of Kells called the Gillean De together, and said, " Who
of you will cross Drumalban and preach to the men of Alban the Peace-
message of our Lord?" And twelve of the Gillean De rose forthwith,
offering to go ; and Calum of Kells blessed them ; and they set out and