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Notes on the chapels and burial sites on Tarasaigh/Taransay and Stewart of Loscintire [Losgaintir/Luskentyre], 8 July 1870

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/19

Scope and Contents

Notes on the chapels and burial sites on Tarasaigh/Taransay, describing the beauty of Chè Temple [Teampull Chè/St Keith's Chapel], its construction, dimensions and situation and that its graveyard is still a burying place. He describes the stream which separates Cille Chè and Cladh Charain [Cladh Tharain/St Taran's graveyard] as being there in winter but dry in summer 'its bed covered over with docken'. Of St Taran's he notes, 'St Caran ruins by houses above & horse & cattle fanks now over the sup[posed] site of the real St Car[an]. Coastal erosion is described as having washed away the graveyards and exposed graves. 'Aft[er] a high tide last w[in]t[er] the whole small bay was covered over with bones - the tide being as ruthless as Stewart who had Loscantire [Losgaintir/Luskentyre, Na Hearadh/Isle of Harris] and who ploughed the cladh the people had at Seilebost.' The graveyard is described as being the oldest on Harris with 'skulls & thigh bones...roll[in]g ab[ou]t on surface of gr[oun]d like stones in a stony field' and the Stewarts as 'the greatest curse ever came upon Harris.' He describes how the Stewarts took the best land from good crofters and evicted them. Also described is a tung [tomb] which goes through the stack yard at Taransay's farmstead and its relationship to St Taran. Finally, Carmichael notes 'The sea gains rapidly upon the land here old peop[le] re[member] horses being tethered what is now under neap high water - the land having been washed away.'

Dates

  • Creation: 8 July 1870

Language of Materials

Gaelic English

Conditions Governing Access

This material is unrestricted.

Extent

From the Series: 64 folios ; 19.5 x 23 cm