House of Argyll and the collateral branches of the clan Campbell, from the year 420 to the present time

EXTRACTS FROM WEST HIGHLAND TALES. 215
when any unlikely thing is proposed. He gained his bet, bnt
it cost him his life; the boar's bristles being so strong that he
bled to death. This legend is said to be the origin of the
boar's head being the crest of the principal families of the
Campbells. "Mary MacTavish, November, 1859."
The Clan MacTavish are a branch of the Campbells, and this
lady, in relating a legend of her own family, tells it as I have
heard it repeatedly told, with variations, by peasants and
fishermen, who firmly believed in their own descent from
Diarmid 0' Duibhn, and in the truth of this legend.
Under the following numbers I have grouped together a
few traditions, etc., relating to the Campbell legend of Dirmaid
and the boar.
FIONN'S QUESTIONS.
From Dugald MacPhie (smith), Breubhaig, Barra, 1860.
" Fionn would not marry any lady but one who could answer all Lis
questions, and it appears that this was rather difficult to rind. Graidhne,
daughter of the King of the fifth of Ullin, answered them all, and
proved herself the wisest as well as the handsomest of women. Fionn
married Graidhne because she answered the questions. The reciter told
me that there were a great many more, but that these were all that he
could remember at the time."
H. MacLean, October 20, 1860.
CEISDEAN FHINN.
[Seo na ceisdean.
Fionn. De" 's lionaire na'm feur?
Graibhne. Tha'n driuchd ; bidh moran bhoineachan deth
air aon ghas feoir.]
Fionn. What is more plenteous than the grass ?
Graidhne. The dew ; there will be many drops of it on
one grass blade.
[De 's leotha na'n teine ?
Ciall mnatba eader da fhear.]
What is hotter than the fire ?
A woman's reasoning betwixt two men.
[De 's luaithe na ghaoth ?
Aigne mnatha eader da fhear.]
What is swifter than the wind ?
A woman's thought betwixt two men.