Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 15 July 1870 to 19 October 1871
Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116
Scope and Contents
Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, inscribed on the inside cover with 'Alexander A Carmichael Inland Revenue Lochmaddy N[orth] Uist 15/7 1870 Note Book No 8'. The majority of this notebook contains material collected on Tarasaigh/Taransay from the MacDonalds at Paible House, Mor or Marion MacQueen and Donald MacKinnon including notes on the island's archaeology, local history and geographical changes, with stories of how coastal erosion revealed burial sites and renditions of the song 'Ailein Duinn'. There are also stories and notes on archaeology and local history relating to Na Hearadh/Isle of Harris, especially in the area around Toabh Tuath/Northton, Scarasta/Scarista and Losgaintir/Luskentyre. These were collected from Kenneth Morrison, a cottar at Nisishee and from Mary MacRae, a former dairymaid, about 95 years old, originally from Cinn Tàile/Kintail, in Taobh Tuath/Northton. Carmichael also collected songs from them, some of which are quite lengthy and include fairy lore. A number of the archaeological notes relate to structures which have been submerged.
The notebook also contains material collected in Uibhist/Uist including songs, customs and local history given to him by Margaret MacDonald, Malacleit/Malaclete and John MacKinnon at Cairinis/Carinish. Several items relate to the building of Teampull na Trionaid at Cairinis/Carinish and lore surrounding the site including stories relating to Teampull Chlann a' Phiocair/ the Temple of Mac Vicar, and MacKinnon also tells a story about crodh-mara or sea cattle. There are a number of archaeological and historical items relating to Caisteal Bhuirgh/Borve Castle on Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula told by Roderick MacDonald, also known as Ruairidh Saor, and in particular by Hector MacLeod, Lionacleit/Linaclate, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula. MacLeod also tells stories about the MacDonalds of Clanranald and associated families, and stories of the supernatural. Throughout the notebook are items relating to placenames, some of which are etymological.
The notebook also contains material collected in Uibhist/Uist including songs, customs and local history given to him by Margaret MacDonald, Malacleit/Malaclete and John MacKinnon at Cairinis/Carinish. Several items relate to the building of Teampull na Trionaid at Cairinis/Carinish and lore surrounding the site including stories relating to Teampull Chlann a' Phiocair/ the Temple of Mac Vicar, and MacKinnon also tells a story about crodh-mara or sea cattle. There are a number of archaeological and historical items relating to Caisteal Bhuirgh/Borve Castle on Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula told by Roderick MacDonald, also known as Ruairidh Saor, and in particular by Hector MacLeod, Lionacleit/Linaclate, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula. MacLeod also tells stories about the MacDonalds of Clanranald and associated families, and stories of the supernatural. Throughout the notebook are items relating to placenames, some of which are etymological.
Dates
- 15 July 1870 to 19 October 1871
Language of Materials
Gaelic,English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
64 folios ; 19.5 x 23 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Existence and Location of Copies
Microfilm: Mic.Dup.1148/2
- Archaeology
- Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Biography
- Cairinis North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Caisteal Bhuirgh Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Campbell (of Taransay)
- Campbell, Ann (nian Dhonil ic Iain Oig | composer of the song 'Ailean Duinn')
- Campbell, Kenneth, Captain (of Uidh | Taransay | and Rodel | Isle of Harris)
- Cattle
- Cemeteries
- Church Buildings
- Cladach Chirceboist North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Coasts
- Customs
- Death
- Disputes
- Fairies
- Family
- Family History
- Food
- Free Church of Scotland (1843-:)
- Genealogy
- Geography
- Geology
- Houses
- Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Isle of Harris Inverness-shire Scotland
- Isle of Lewis Ross and Cromarty Scotland
- Isle of Skye Inverness-shire Scotland
- Laments
- Landowners
- Language
- Liniclate Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Losgaintir Isle of Harris Inverness-shire Scotland
- Mac Onail, Uisdean
- MacAulay (of Brenish | Isle of Lewis)
- MacAulay, Aulay, Rev, 1673-1758 (minister | Isle of Harris)
- MacDonald (of Balranald)
- MacDonald (of Clanranald)
- MacDonald (of Sleat)
- MacDonald, Alexander, Sir, c1740-1795
- MacDonald, Alexander, c1850 (Aladsair na h-Aibhne | Cladach Chirceboist | North Uist | Inverness-shire | Scotland)
- MacDonald, Margaret, fl1870 (Mairead nighean Aonghais Duinn | Gearraidh Iain | North Uist | Inverness-shire)
- MacDonald, Mary, c1800-1883 (farmer's wife | Paible House | Taransay | Inverness-shire)
- MacDonald, Ranald, c1834-1913 (sheep farmer | Taransay | Inverness-shire | Scotland)
- MacIsaac, Janet, c1798-1882
- MacKinnon, John, fl1871 (Cairinis | North Uist | Inverness-shire)
- MacLeod (of Berneray)
- MacLeod (of Dunvegan)
- MacLeod (of Harris)
- MacLeod, Hector, c1788- (Eachann mac Dhomhnaill ic Mhurchaidh ic Neill ic Coinnich ic Iain ic Ruaraidh ic Thormaid ic Uilleim ic Thorcail ic Leoid | Liniclate | Benbecula | Inverness-shire)
- MacNeil (of Barra)
- MacQueen (Orasaigh | North Uist)
- MacQueen, Mor, c1778-1880 (or Marion | nurse | Taransay | Inverness-shire | Scotland)
- MacRae, Mary, c1790-1879 (dairymaid)
- MacRury, Archibald, fl1870 (Balivanich | Benbecula | Inverness-shire)
- Malaclete North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Marriage
- Murder
- Names
- National Museum of Antiquities of Scotland (1780-1999)
- Nisishee Isle of Harris Inverness-shire Scotland
- North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Nunton Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Paibeil Taransay Inverness-shire Scotland
- Placenames
- Rocks
- Royal High School (1128-)
- Sayings
- Scarasta Isle of Harris Inverness-shire Scotland
- Seaforth Highlanders. 72nd Highlanders (1778-1881)
- Songs
- South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Staoinebrig South Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Stones
- Tales
- Taobh Tuath Isle of Harris Inverness-shire Scotland
- Taransay Inverness-shire Scotland
- Teampull na Trionaid North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Udal North Uist Inverness-shire Scotland
- Uidh Taransay Inverness-shire Scotland
- University of Edinburgh (Scottish University)
- Vocabulary
- Voyages and Travel
- Wells
- mac Coiseam
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
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk