Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 1864 to
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW114
Scope and Contents
Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, noted as being 'Bought at St Columb, Cornwall, 30 Nov[ember] 1864 pr[ice] 2/3'. The back inside cover contains a note probably collected as part of excise duties which reads 'Rod[erick] MacPhie Mast of boat 21.8 [-] 1.2½ [-]'. The notebook contains one insertion. The majority of the notebook contains lore relating to Miùlaigh/Mingulay mostly collected from Roderick MacNeil, crofter, aged 88, known as Ruairidh an Rùma. Roderick MacNeil also relayed stories and customs relating to the neighbouring islands of Beàrnaraigh/Berneray, Gèarum Mòr, Pabaigh/Pabbay, Sanndraigh/Sandray, Fuidheigh/Fuday, Barraigh/Isle of Barra and Bhàtarsaigh/Vatersay. There are many notes about archaeological sites such as duns and cemeteries and their relation to saints, in particular Calum Cille/St Columba, Naomh Brianain/St Brendan and Maol Rubha. There are notes on customs, particularly agricultural customs and the movement of islanders between islands. There are also some stories relating to the Battle of Culloden and its aftermath, the MacNeil of Barra and the Lochlannaich/Vikings. Songs are also recorded from MacNeil and from a waulking which Carmichael was witness to. The other key informants in this notebook from whom Carmichael records Fenian stories and songs are Donald MacPhee, smith, Brèibhig/Breivig, Barraigh/Isle of Barra and Donald MacIntyre, catechist, Àird/Aird, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula. The final two folios of this item belong to an insert which appears to be an orphan from elsewhere as it contains notes on archaeological sites around Tolstadh Bho Thuath, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis.
Dates
- 1864 to
Language of Materials
Gaelic English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
88 folios ; 16.6 x 19.8 cm
Physical Location
5.07
- Aird Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Archaeology
- Barra (parish) Inverness-shire Scotland
- Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Berneray Barra (parish) Inverness-shire Scotland
- Biography
- Birds
- Board of Trade (1786-:)
- Carmichael, Alexander, 1832-1912 (Excise officer | folklorist and antiquarian | Edinburgh | Scotland)
- Cemeteries
- Church of Scotland
- Clerk, Archibald, Rev, 1813-1887 (minister | Kilmallie | Inverness-shire)
- Columba, Saint, c 521-?597 (monastic founder | Calum Cille)
- Dogs
- Dwellings
- Fenian cycle
- Fenians
- Fionn MacCumhail
- Fortifications
- Free Church of Scotland (1843-:)
- Geography
- Geology
- Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Isle of Lewis Ross and Cromarty Scotland
- Isle of Skye Inverness-shire Scotland
- Kisimul Castle Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Language
- Language
- Lloyd's Register Group. Lloyd's Register of Shipping (1760-)
- MacInnes, John, c1747-c1837
- MacIntyre, Donald, c1793-1868
- MacNeil (of Barra)
- MacNeil, Hector, c1825
- MacNeil, Roderick, c1790-1875
- MacPhee, Donald, c1816-1869
- Maclean (of Duart)
- Marriage
- Mingulay Inverness-shire Scotland
- Morrison, Peter, c1800-1881 (crofter | Balivanich | Benbecula)
- Pabbay Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Placenames
- Praise
- Proverbs
- Sanndraigh Inverness-shire Scotland
- Songs
- South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Stones
- Tales
- Tolstadh Bho Thuath Isle of Lewis Ross and Cromarty Scotland
- Vatersay Inverness-shire Scotland
- Vocabulary
- Warriors
Creator
- From the Fonds: Carmichael, Alexander, 1832-1912 (Excise officer | folklorist and antiquarian | Edinburgh | Scotland) (Person)
- From the Fonds: Watson, William John, 1865-1948 (Professor of Celtic) (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
is-crc@ed.ac.uk
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
is-crc@ed.ac.uk