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Story entitled 'Ursgeul - An Sagairt agus Bean a Chiabair', 28 February 1861

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW109/25

Scope and Contents

Story entitled 'Ursgeul - An Sagairt agus Bean a Chiabair' collected from Manus Mac Neacail [Magnus Nicolson] Carbost [Càrabost, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach/Isle of Skye]. This tells how a boy finds a dead horse out on a moor. An eagle had started to eat its carcass but had got so full it could no longer fly so the boy takes the eagle with him. He comes across a shepherd's bothy and his wife lets him in. After a while the shepherd's wife sends the boy out into the snow, although he did not want to go, but he manages to creep back in. Up in the hay loft he finds a priest and as the shepherd's wife rests they go and help themselves to food and drink. The shepherd returns and asks his wife if anyone has visited and she tells him about the boy. He says that he is embarrassed that she sent him out when it has started snowing. The boy hearing this takes his chance and enters the bothy again asking for shelter from the cold. The shepherd asks him about his bird and the boy tells him that it can predict things. At this point the eagle lets out a screech and the shepherd asks what the screech means. The boy tells him that there is butter and cheese in the cupboard which the shepherd's wife fiercely denies but the boy protests that the eagle would not say so if it were not true. The shepherd then makes his wife go to the cupboard and bring out the butter and cheese. This happens with flour and whisky too. Then the eagle lets out another screech and the boy says that there is a dark man in the hayloft and picking up a stick offers to go and chase him out. When the priest appears the shepherd is amazed and offers the boy sixty pounds for the eagle. The boy asks him for a hundred pounds which the shepherd gives him. The boy leaves the next day, the shepherd goes out onto the moor, leaving the eagle inside and when the priest arrives, the shepherd's wife tells him that he cannot do anything or the eagle will tell.

Dates

  • Creation: 28 February 1861

Language of Materials

Gaelic

Conditions Governing Access

This material is unrestricted.

Extent

From the Series: 3 notebooks of 80 folios ; 21 x 25 cm

Physical Location

CW107-121

Physical Location

folio 51v, line 1 to folio 52v, line 20

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
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Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
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