Archaeological and natural history notes on Pabaigh/Pabbay, 1867
Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW114/26
Scope and Contents
Archaeological and natural history notes on Pabaigh/Pabbay, describing a circle about a cave there called Cearcal Teinteanach [An Cearcall] where 'The coruscations of the sea flashing about the circle make it appear like sparks of fire flying from the circle.' A 'large cave' of 'unknown length' and 'most difficult to find' is described as being below this circle. Ashes were found in the cave. Carmichael records that he spoke to someone who knew where the cave was, who said that his 'very small terrier dog' had found it. Also noted is how 'No rat or mouse was ever seen in Pab[bay] till the pre[ventive] man went there. If a rat or mouse was bro[ugh]t to it it died imm[ediately] on touch[ing] its soil' and how 'no enemy would ever put foot on Pab[ba]y.' The story behind this is related as having been declared by a 'fairy accouch' [midwife] after delivering MacIvor's wife of a child, MacIvor being 'the man on Pab[bay] at the time.' A second-hand account of rats and mice coming out of mainland corn onto Pabbay, running about for a moment and then dropping down dead is also given. In addition, two duns are note, one on 'Ki'rum Isle, which was inhabited by 'Iover a bhotha mhaide', whose descendants still live in Bearn[ary] [Gèarum Mòr, Beàrnaraigh/Berneray] and one in Sanndray [Sanndraigh/Sandray] 'said by Mr Mure to be the most strange he had seen in these parts'.
Dates
- 1867
Language of Materials
Gaelic English
Conditions Governing Access
This material is unrestricted.
Extent
From the Series: 88 folios ; 16.6 x 19.8 cm
Physical Location
5.07
Physical Location
folio 59r, line 16 to folio 60v, line 6
- An Cearcall Pabbay Barra (parish) Inverness-shire Scotland
- Archaeology
- Barra (parish) Inverness-shire Scotland
- Berneray Barra (parish) Inverness-shire Scotland
- Death
- Fairies
- Fortifications
- Geography
- Isle of Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Light, Scattering
- MacIvor ([tacksman] | Pabbay | Barra (parish) | Inverness-shire)
- Mice
- Pabbay Barra Inverness-shire Scotland
- Rats
- Sanndraigh Inverness-shire Scotland
- Superstition
- Survival
- Tales
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
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379
heritagecollections@ed.ac.uk