Story about a cow taken by the fairies, 1895
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/73
Scope and Contents
Story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula telling how 'about 37 years' before [c1858] in Cnoc na Monadh/Torlum Alexander Campbell's cow, which was his wife's tocher went missing. He went looking for it calling the cow's name and as he passed a fairy hill called 'Sithean Beag' he heard a voice saying 'Tha mi so tha mi so I am here I am here.' Realising that the fairies had his cow, he took fright that he fled for home. When he arrived he had the appearance of being in shock, causing panic in the family. His mother-in-law, Mòr nighean Ailean or Mrs Alexander Morrison 'got a hank of coarse homespun flax and put it three times sunwise round him and put him through it three times, and after a short rime was repeated she singed his busky beard with a straw for fear of being taken into the Sithean.' MacRury adds 'It was the Echo of the rocks that responded to Alaste[r]s hoarse voice. Angus M[a]cEachen, Grocer, Torlum was an eyewitness of the above.' Text has been scored trhough in pencil as if transcribed elsewhere.
Dates
- 1895
Language of Materials
Gaelic,English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 114 folios ; 14 x 20 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 39r, line 12 to folio 42r, line 3
- Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
- Campbell, Alexander, 1829-1916 ('Sgriob' | cow herd and weaver | Torlum | Benbecula | Inverness-shire)
- Cattle
- Charming
- Charms
- Fairies
- MacEachan, Angus, 1830-1895 (grocer | Torlum | Benbecula | Inverness-shire)
- MacRury, John Ewen, c1853-1909 (Torlum | Benbecula)
- Morrison, Marion, c1790-c1860
- Protection
- Tales
- Torlum Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland
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