Skip to main content

Story entitled 'An t-Og Chraobh', 13 February 1866

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW104/1

Scope and Contents

Story entitled 'An t-Og Chraobh' collected from Alasdair Mac Neil [Alexander MacNeil], fisherman and crofter, Ceanntangvall, Barra [Ceanntangabhal/Kentangaval, Barraigh/Isle of Barra] written on 13 February 1866. Folios 10r to 11v contain text written transversely over the main text and starts from folio 11v. The transverse section of text appears to have been recorded from Lachunn Donullach [Lachlan MacDonald], cottar, Eilean Ghrimiseidh (Ceallun) Uist a Tuath [Ceallan/Kallin, Griomasaigh/Grimsay, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] on 13 March 1866. The story tells of a king who has one daughter and who remarries after his first wife dies. The new wife kills a dog, kills a horse and burns down a precious tree ('An t-Og Craobh') each time blaming the incident on the daughter. After the tree is burned the king takes the daughter to a wood, ties her to a tree, chops off her arms and leaves her bleeding. She is rescued by a doctor with whom she has a child. Some time later the doctor is dealing with the king when the stepmother realises that he knows where the daughter is. The king's daughter flees fearing for her and her son's safety. Her son is carefully tied to her back along with provisions, but at one point he slips off her back into a well. Miraculously her arms come back and she is able to rescue him. Eventually the daughter and the king arrive back at the palace and reveal that the queen had perpetrated the acts for which the daughter was punished. The king and his daughter make up and she and the doctor inherit the kingdom when he dies. The second version of the story tells how the king had a son and a daughter and how the stepmother tried to get the daughter to kill the son but she refused so she killed him herself. The king planted a tree where he was buried hence the precious nature of the tree.

Dates

  • Creation: 13 February 1866

Language of Materials

English Gaelic

Conditions Governing Access

This material is unrestricted.

Extent

From the Series: 91 folios ; 20 x 16.5 cm