University of Edinburgh Archive and Manuscript Collections

Scope and Contents

Charm beginning 'Mar a dh-orduich Mac an Luin' which is used on cattle. The note describes how the operator places their elbow to the tail of the animal measuring 'lamh-choille' [a cubit] along the spine until she gets to the mouth.

Scope and Contents

Charm entitled 'An Rua - Rose' for healing a reddened udder collected from Catherine MacIntosh, pauper, Staoligearry, South Uist [Stadhlaigearraidh/Stilligarry, Uibhist a Deas] on 20 May 1875, beginning 'Seall a Chriost a bhean s a cioch air at'. Text has been scored through in pencil.

Scope and Contents

Charm entitled 'Eolas a Bhun Deirg' [Incantation of the Red Water] beginning 'An ainm an Athar a Mhic agus an Spioraid Naoimh - Muir mor a so (naming the cow and the colour thereof)' and description of how the [dairy woman] takes the churn from the affected cow to the river and throws the contents in, makes a tube with her hand and blows through it reciting the charm.

Scope and Contents

Charm entitled 'Eolas Na Rua, Ruaidh' [Charm for Rose] for healing a reddened udder beginning 'A rua ghao'ar aogail atail'. A pebble is rubbed against the udder and then thrown on the ground and the action repeated three times. Text has been scored through in pencil.

Scope and Contents

Charm entitled 'Eolas Na Rua(dh), Ruai' [Charm for Rose] marked as being collected 'from the same' (although the name of the previous informant is not given) beginning 'Teich a bhradag rua' and accompanying note which reads 'This is thrice repeated over the woman affected with rose in her breast or over the cow which has it in the udder - substituting ugh for cioch'. The text of the charm has been scored through in pencil and an addition has been made to the text also in pencil.

Scope and Contents

Charm entitled 'Gearradh an tocaidh' in which 'toc', an inflammation of a cow or horses' eye is cut with a needle.

Scope and Contents Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing mainly Fenian songs and cattle charms. Most of the charms relate to cattle and working in the dairy and so are recited for the protection and healing of cattle, although there are some charms for protecting and healing people as well. A number of the charms include the use of medicinal plants, for which there is additional vocabulary. Carmichael also includes charms and customs for predicting marriage partners. Almost all of...

Scope and Contents Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing material collected between October 1867 and December 1885. The material dated from 1883 to 1885 was probably written down at source. The notebook is marked as 'No IV' and the inside cover gives his address as 30 Royal Circus, Edinburgh [Dun Eideann] and the date as 16 November 1883. The material transcribed and collected in this notebook includes love songs, religious songs, waulking songs and songs relating to cattle. Much...

Scope and Contents Vocabulary note written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Sea weed', listing twenty one types of seaweed; describing their physical characteristics such as 'Craigean a small plant like the wide spread palm of a baby'; in many cases noting the proportions of potash and carbonate of lime; uses for the sea weed and in one instance a story to 'throw some light on its [seaweed's] use in the Outer Hebrid[e]s in this century'. The seaweeds described are...