Story about an encounter with a fairy while gathering plants for healing, 24 September 1872
Scope and Contents
Story about an encounter with a fairy while gathering plants for healing and accompanying song collected from Catrine Pearson [Catherine MacFarlane née MacPherson, Ceanntangabhal/Kentangaval, Barraigh/Isle of Barra]. The story tells how Niall Pearson of Bruarnis [Neil MacPherson, Bruairnis/Bruernish] was at Drollam [Drolum] cutting cairst-leanna or braonan-a-choin [cairt-leamhna or braonan-nan-con, tuberous bitter vetch or dog carmillion], which is good for diahorrea or tanning leather, and which can be found among heather roots and moss. He heard a fairy woman singing a song, while grinding her quern. The informant notes that if a thing is denied 'geasad' to the fairies, they will take it, but if it is consecrated to the Trinity or to Mary, they cannot and praise it.
Dates
- Creation: 24 September 1872
Language of Materials
Gaelic,English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 72 folios ; 12.7 x 20 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 38r, line 20 to folio 38v, line 15
Subject
- MacFarlane, Catherine, c1806-1880 (Person)
- MacPherson, Neil, c1800 (Niall Pearson | Bruairnis | Isle of Barra | emigrated to Cape Breton | Canada) (Person)
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
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
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Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
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