Vocabulary note and story about the name Dustaidh, 18 May 1895

Vocabulary note and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the name Dustaidh, stating that it is the modern term for a bad kelper. 'A man that did not burn the sea weed well and in the usual manner, was known to have a great deal of duast dust, which would require to be reburnt with some well seasoned seaweed very carefully.' A man in Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist became known as dustaidh following a season kelp-making on Rona [Rònaigh/Ronay] 'the ground officer who was also kelp officer gave him a slump sum for his dust and procured another practical man'. His daughter, Mary, became known as 'nighean ruadh dhustaidh' although she was described as 'a very upright industrious woman, and never thought of the name, no more than her Christian name'.