Showing Records: 1 - 10 of 15
Archaeological and natural history notes on Pabaigh/Pabbay, 1867
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW114/26
Scope and Contents
Archaeological and natural history notes on Pabaigh/Pabbay, describing a circle about a cave there called Cearcal Teinteanach [An Cearcall] where 'The coruscations of the sea flashing about the circle make it appear like sparks of fire flying from the circle.' A 'large cave' of 'unknown length' and 'most difficult to find' is described as being below this circle. Ashes were found in the cave. Carmichael records that he spoke to someone who knew where the cave was, who said that his 'very...
Dates:
1867
Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1883 to 1887
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW120
Scope and Contents
Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing material collected mostly in An Apainn/Appin and Lios Mòr/Lismore, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire. A large proportion of the stories and biographical information about Appin was collected from Donald MacColl, foxhunter, Glencreran, who was known as Dòmhnall a' Bhrocair. Amongst the material collected from Dòmhnall a' Bhrocair are proverbs, sayings, customs, stories about local figures and families and historic anecdotes. The other main...
Dates:
1883 to 1887
Note entitled 'Bittern', 17 March 1874
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW111/77
Scope and Contents
Note entitled 'Bittern' describing a bittern found in a gravel pit 'within a gun shot of Flora MacDonald's house'. It 'fou[gh]t like a buck + squealed like a pig' and the 'ruff about [its] neck stood out as a lady said like an Eliza[bethan] collar'. The bird was deemed to be unlucky and an evil omen and so by the next day it had been eaten by the cats. The same kind of bird was said to have been shot in the same place some years before and also at Bailanloin [Baile Lòin/Balelone, Uibhist a...
Dates:
17 March 1874
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
Story about a woman's trip to a wise woman for a snaile, 5 Aug 1870
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/105
Scope and Contents
Story collected from an unnamed woman Carmichael met on the road probably in Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist about her trip to a wise woman for a snaile. She had gone to the wise woman because she had a cow which was unwell and she did not know why. The wise woman or witch friend as Carmichael describes her, told the woman that it was probably because a number of people had 'put the eye' on the cow and gave her two snaile, 'which she kindly showed me each about 6 or 9 inches long and twisted of...
Dates:
5 Aug 1870
Story about Alastair mac Colla and the 'laogh alla', 1884
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW120/254
Scope and Contents
Story about Alastair mac Colla [Alexander MacDonald] and the 'laogh alla' [wild calf] that when he came to 'Taigh an Tuirn' [possibly Taigh an Trithinn], he tried to put it on fire but he was unable to do so because the laogh alla [wild calf] was there. The laogh alla 'brought a charm to the place he visited'. Notes that 'alla' means wanderer roaming going wild and uncontrolled.
Dates:
1884
Story about Calum Gobha and the storm, September 1872
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/145
Scope and Contents
Story about Calum Gobha who was on Bernary [Berneray/Bearnaraigh nera Barra/Barraigh] during the storm of 3 October 1860. The storm was so fierce that the people were very afraid and sent Calum to get the holy water for prayers. Calum found a bottle of whisky next to the holy water, he took a swig of the whisky and then went out and sprinkled it on the people and cattle, he repeated this and the storm abated. In the morning bean Dhonuil Iain (Macintire) [Mrs Donald John MacIntyre] wanted to...
Dates:
September 1872
Story about Clach na Cabaig and a healing stone, September 1870
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW106/58
Scope and Contents
Story about Clach na Cabaig that it was 'at Temple in the isle' [Teampull, Bernera Isle, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] noting the good milk yield of the cows there. If the stone was taken over to the village at night it was found in its rightful place in in the morning. It was once stolen by an Irishman. The grandfather of Macdugal of Dun olla [MacDougall of Dunollie] had a stone called the Leigh, which was carried about to perform water cures. 'Colin Campb[ell's] wifes mother got it fr[om]...
Dates:
September 1870
Story about murders, a superstition and accompanying place-names, September 1870
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW106/53
Scope and Contents
Story about murders describing how in one day seventeen people were killed in Achadun Castle, Lios Mòr/Lismore, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire and that a chàbag 'was a round stone ab[ou]t the buaile which taken away 7 which caused mischance to those who took it. The following place-names are mentioned although it is not clear what the connection between them, the story and the superstition is: Cladh-a ghleannain, Pillebhride, Clachain nam-baintearnan, An Caibeal and Lag a chaibeail [Cladh a'...
Dates:
September 1870
Story about tinkers and seal hunting on Hasgeir [Heisker], c1875
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW112/24
Scope and Contents
Story about tinkers and seal hunting on Hasgeir [Theisgeir/Heisker/Monach Isles] describing how once tinkers came from Leothas [Eilean Leodhais/Isle of Lewis] and stayed on Heisker for the summer. As long as they were there there were no seals but as soon as they went the seals returned.
Dates:
c1875