University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Scope and Contents

Note probably collected from Donald MacColl, foxhunter, Glencreran, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire, that biers 'carbads' were also broken at Port na Crois [Portnacroish, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] to prevent witches using them in carrying away bodies. The broken carbad is thrown in the stream.

Scope and Contents

Note about Cladh Churalain [St Cyril's Graveyard] collected from John Livingstone 'Muillear Mòr', Portnacroish, Appin [Port na Crois, An Apainn, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] aged 73, that the women dragged corpses to the graveyard as no men were left to carry them.

Scope and Contents

Note about Episcopalian burials at St Cyril's graveyard [Cladh Churalain, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] describing how they run into the graveyard rather than walk and that once the coffin is removed from the bier it is smashed against a tree.

Scope and Contents

Note probably collected from Donald MacColl, foxhunter, Glencreran, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire, about Rathad Mòr nam Marbh, Appin, Argyll [Earra Ghàidheal] along which the corpses are carried to get to the graveyard. A day or two before the funeral, twigs are trimmed away and stones levelled along this road. The note mentions that every piper started their pipes at Bun an Fheadain near the graveyard.

Scope and Contents

Note possibly collected from Donald MacColl, foxhunter, Glencreran, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire, about St Cyril's graveyard [Cladh Churalain, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] and how the biers of the 'Eaglaish Shass[anach]' [English Church (Episcopal Church)] 'are smashed against an aged gnarled low cuilion holly tree after it carries up the dead' there, whereas presbyterian biers are covered with a cloth.

Scope and Contents

Note entitled 'Iona Names' containing scholarly suggestions for the origins of the name 'Iona' citing Irish, Hebrew, Greek and Latin as possible origins and noting that Norse writers call the island 'Insula Sancta Holy Island'. The note continues that 'Sodora' was the name for the village on Iona in old times and that no women were allowed to be buried near 'the Great church' as late as 1693. Note concludes 'M[anu]s[cript] writer unknown'.

Scope and Contents

Story collected from Duncan Carmichael, Lios Mòr/Lismore, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire, about archaeological finds at a grave at Tirefour. The finds were a gold candle, a hammer and a coin 'of anc[ient] date' which were sent to Lochnell 'along with two heads of bisons of im[mense] size' and which were there during 'the General's time'.

Scope and Contents

Story about the discovery of Christ's body being the reason for 'dol deiseil a chlaidh', collected from Peter [-], who learned it from Mr Aonas Donullach sagairt [Angus MacDonald, priest] who 'went to Rome as professor and died there. He had been educated in Lismore' [Lios Mòr].

Scope and Contents Story about the murder of an Appin man by Macleans of Duart collected at Bachuill, Lios Mòr/Lismore, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire. The story tells how the Appin men beat the Macleans of Duart at a games in Muile/Mull after which they fought each other and one of the Appin men was killed and the Macleans 'hung up the body against the castle and defied the world to touch it.' The Baron of Bachuil heard what happened and went to Duart Castle with his two red-haired daughters and 'rend[ered] all...