MacRury, John Ewen, c1853-1909 (Torlum | Benbecula) | University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Custom entitled 'Goisteachd' and 'Blood Brotherhood', 9 January 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/70

Scope and Contents Custom written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Goisteachd' and additionally entitled 'Blood Brotherhood' by Alexander Carmichael. MacRury recalls how if two boys drew blood while playing then one would put blood on the back of the hand of the other and say 'roinn [rinn] mi goisteachd riut' and that would mean that they 'were friends in all plays henceforth', although frequently the bond was short-lived MacRury remarks 'there was something in it as the...

Dates: 9 January 1895

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Note entitled 'Bionach or Biorach', 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/48

Scope and Contents Note written by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Bionach or Biorach' describing different words used for horses at different stages of their lives in An t-Eilean Sgitheanach/Isle of Skye, Na Hearadh/Isle of Harris, Uibhist/Uist and Barraigh/Isle of Barra, including how Bionach' in the Isle of Skye becomes 'Biorach' in Uist and Barra. Also the use of 'Isean an eich' for a foal until six months of age when they become 'Spriodach' or 'foal searach'. He states that a horse...

Dates: 1894

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Note entitled 'Coithean or Cuman', 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/50

Scope and Contents Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Coithean or Cuman' about making pails for milking. The size of the 'bleoghean' varied according to the number of cattle to be milked in the fold. 'There were twelve staves in it a black and white in succession and the twelveth (sic) was five or six inches higher and thicker at the top. It was the handle.' If the staves of a 'Coithean' showed their original colour then the milkmaid was deemed 'clean and tidy and qualified to make...

Dates: 1894

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Note entitled 'Fuath', 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/41

Scope and Contents

Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Fuath' describing it as a invisible spirit deemed an omen that a family will lose all their possessions shortly. It appears in a whirl wind, secluded places or 'at wakes of wicked people'. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Dates: 1894

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Note entitled 'Granet, Granite', 25 February 1895

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/89

Scope and Contents

Note written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Granet, Granite' which reads 'Greoid is the gaelic (sic) in Lews (sic) for Granite, There is fine granite in Dalbeg in Barvas, but in Uig there is only the usual bastard granite.' [Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis]

Dates: 25 February 1895

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Note entitled 'La Feill Mhicheil', 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/49

Scope and Contents Note written by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'La Feill Mhicheil' [St Michael's Day or Michaelmas] describing how it was observed all over the country. Some of the traditions entailed, pregnant women visiting burial grounds 'Believing that the sanctimonious odour of the graves was sufficient to prevent premature birth' and that similarly mares in foal would go 'deasal a chlaidh' [sunwise around the graveyard] unbridled. 'Aodhstar' is noted as headgear for...

Dates: 1894

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Note entitled 'Mian-fuail', 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/44

Scope and Contents

Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Mian-fuail' describing it as 'a drop of "fual" or "wine" direct from either sex if put in any eatables would create or kindle a spark of flaming love in the bosom of the party taking it.' Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Dates: 1894

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Note entitled 'Observations' about 'Corra cnamh', 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/40

Scope and Contents

Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula, entitled 'Observations' describing 'Corra cnamh' as a milkmaid sitting with her knees half bent and her skirt folded on her heels to support her instead of a stool. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Dates: 1894

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Note entitled 'Splang', 1894

Item

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/47

Scope and Contents

Note written by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Splang' which reads ' A portion, division share for example the spawn of fish before it separates is generally termed splang, splang also means the hald of a liver of fish or animal.' Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Dates: 1894

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 12 September 1890 to 1895

Series

Identifier: Coll-97/CW1

Scope and Contents Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael but also used by John Ewen MacRury. The front cover bears a sticker which reads 'Gaelic Notes 1894-5. (Collection of traditions, tales, etc. by Alexander Carmichael (?). Many pages cancelled, indicating publication.) [Carmichael Watson Collection]'. The flyleaf reads 'Gaelic Notes, 1894-5' and the rear flyleaf contains a jotting which reads 'Wishing Guidhe'. The beginning of the notebook contains field notes made by Carmichael in Uibhist a...

Dates: 12 September 1890 to 1895

Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection

University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

MacRury, John Ewen, c1853-1909 (Torlum | Benbecula)

Found in 28 Collections and/or Records:

Custom entitled 'Goisteachd' and 'Blood Brotherhood', 9 January 1895

Note entitled 'Bionach or Biorach', 1894

Note entitled 'Coithean or Cuman', 1894

Note entitled 'Fuath', 1894

Note entitled 'Granet, Granite', 25 February 1895

Note entitled 'La Feill Mhicheil', 1894

Note entitled 'Mian-fuail', 1894

Note entitled 'Observations' about 'Corra cnamh', 1894

Note entitled 'Splang', 1894

Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 12 September 1890 to 1895

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