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Part of a story entitled 'Rocabarrai', 1871

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW119/21

Scope and Contents

The second part of a story entitled 'Rocabarrai' collected from Donald MacKinnon, aged 98½ years, Dalabrog/Daliburgh, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist. The first part begins at folio 43r. The story continues telling how while lost at sea and welcomed onto an unknown island after a year and a day one of the ship's crew saw a vessel passing by and wanted to get on it to return home. This he was allowed to do and after another year and a day another crew member wished the same and after another year and a day, the storyteller and the rest of the crew were sent home '& here I still am alive to tell the adventure of the occasion when I went to the haaf to fish bioraichean.' The storyteller states that the son of MacPhee of Colonsay [Colbhasa], whom he had met on Rocabarrai, lived on Pabbay [Pabaigh] and he invited him to act as goiste or godfather to his child but was refused. Eventually, after much persuasion he agreed but once the child was blessed he said he would return to Rocabarrai but he left as amark of his good will the wish that 'as long as any of y[ou]r race(tré[ubh]) remains in Pabbay neiher mouse not rat nor verminous creatures shall live in it & should they come there they shall die.' He was never seen again but no vermin were seen on the island until his race had gone and the story concludes 'now the place is overrun.'

Dates

  • Creation: 1871

Language of Materials

Gaelic,English

Conditions Governing Access

This material is unrestricted.

Extent

From the Series: 1 volume ; 17 x 20.5 cm