Inglis Collection of printed music > Printed text > Piobaireachd [Tus is Alt a'Chiuil-Mhoir]

The Teaching and Study of Piobaireachd 29
to do for him." Charles MacArthur was accordingly sent to Boreraig, where he
remained for eleven years, when MacCrimmon, considering him as perfect as he
could be made, proceeded to Mugstad, to deliver his charge to Sir Alexander, who
was then residing there, and where Eain Dall MacKay, Gairloch's blind piper,
happened also to be. MacDonald, hearing of their arrival, thought it a good
opportunity to determine the merit of his own piper by the judgment of the blind
man, whose knowledge of pipe-music was exceptional. He therefore enjoined Patrick
Og and MacArthur not to speak a word to betray who they were, and addressing
MacKay, he told him that he had a young man learning the pipes for some years,
and was glad he was present to say whether he thought him worth the money which
his instruction had cost. MacKay said if he heard him play he would give his
opinion freely ; but requested to be informed previously with whom the piper had
been studying. Sir Alexander told him that he had been with Patrick Og Mac-
Crimmon. " Then," exclaimed MacKay, " he could never have found a better
master." The young man was ordered to play, and when he had finished Sir
Alexander asked MacKay for his opinion. " I think a great deal of him," replied
Eain ; " he is a good piper ; he gives the notes correctly, and if he takes care he will
excel in his profession." Sir Alexander was pleased with so flattering an opinion,
and observed that he had been at the trouble of sending two persons to the college
that he might retain the best, so he said that the second one should also play, that
an opinion of his merit might also be given. MacKay observed that he must be a
very excellent performer, if he could surpass the first, or even compare with him.
When Patrick Og, who acted as the second pupil, had finished playing, Sir Alexander
asked the umpire what he thought of his performance. " Indeed, sir, no one need
try me in that manner," returned the blind man, " for though I have lost the eyes
of my human body, I have not lost the eyes of my understanding ; and if all the
pipers in Scotland were present, I would not find it a difficult task to distinguish
the last player from them all." " You surprise me, MacKay ; and who is he ? "
" Who but Patrick Og MacCrimmon ! " promptly rejoined MacKay ; and, turning to
where Patrick Og was sitting, he observed, " It was quite needless, my good sir, to
think that you could deceive me in that way, for you could not but know that I should
have recognised your performance among a thousand." Sir Alexander then asked
MacKay to play, and afterwards he called for a bottle of whisky, drank to their healths,
and remarked that he had that night under his roof the three best pipers in Britain.
From the foregoing narrative it can be clearly seen that the MacCrimmons had
characteristics even in their performances of piobaireachd peculiarly their own, as