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Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland

 Subject
Subject Source: Local sources

Found in 211 Collections and/or Records:

Charm for love, 29 October 1872

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW106/103
Scope and Contents

Charm for love [Eòlas Gràdhaich or Love Charm] collected from 'old' Angus Currie, pauper, Iocar [Ìochdar, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] beginning 'Chan eolas gra aich dhuit, Uisge thra'adh romh shop'. The text has been scored through in ink and written transversely across the text is 'Trans[cribed] B[ook] III p192 A[lexander] A[rchibald] C[armichael] Creagorry 5 October 1875' [Creag Ghoraidh, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula].

Dates: 29 October 1872

Copy of a manuscript about the family of Mac Iain vic Hemish [Donald MacDonald, Mac Iain Mhic Sheumais] and accompanying note, 9 April 1866

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW112/8
Scope and Contents Copy of a manuscript about Mac Iain vic Hemish [Donald MacDonald, Mac Iain Mhic Sheumais] originally written by James MacDonald at Kalin [Ceallan/Kallin, Griomsaigh/Grimsay] June 1837. The text describes Mac Iain Mhic Sheumais's prowess as a warrior from an early age including his involvement in the Battle of Cuilen in Skye [An Cuilthionn/Cuillin, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach/Isle of Skye] where he killed the MacLeod of Gesto. There is also a detailed account of a raid by MacLeods of Harris on...
Dates: 9 April 1866

Custom about 'Frìth', 3 January 1872

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/13
Scope and Contents

Custom about 'Frìth' probably collected in Gramasdail/Gramsdale, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula, in which the 'Frith rinn Moire ga Mac' [augury] is repeated as the person goes out to the door step mentioning the home of the person concerned. It is made on the first Monday of the quarter between sunset and sunrise.

Dates: 3 January 1872

Custom and saying entitled 'Spilling Milk', 1895

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/60
Scope and Contents

Custom and saying recorded by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Spilling Milk' describing how if someone spilt milk they would say 'Coma libh dheth tha bial feumach a feathamh air' [It doesn't matter, there's a needy mouth waiting for it] and that the thirsty party would get their thirst quenched. Text has been scored thorugh as if transcribed elsewhere.

Dates: 1895

Custom and story entitled 'Souming', 15 December 1894

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/55
Scope and Contents Custom and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Souming' [number and type of stock an individual croft can graze on a common grazings] describing the ages at which cows were included in the 'leibhidh' [levy], how in 1810 Lord MacDonald and MacCoinnich Bodhar of Lewis [MacKenzie of Seaforth, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis] introduced new rules while Clanranald had no souming until 1820. MacRury states that in 1830 his grandfather had to send five...
Dates: 15 December 1894

Custom entitled 'Goisteachd' and 'Blood Brotherhood', 9 January 1895

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/70
Scope and Contents Custom written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Goisteachd' and additionally entitled 'Blood Brotherhood' by Alexander Carmichael. MacRury recalls how if two boys drew blood while playing then one would put blood on the back of the hand of the other and say 'roinn [rinn] mi goisteachd riut' and that would mean that they 'were friends in all plays henceforth', although frequently the bond was short-lived MacRury remarks 'there was something in it as the...
Dates: 9 January 1895

Custom entitled 'Togal an Doinis' [Togail an Donais], 1895

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/67
Scope and Contents Custom written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Togal an Doinis' [Togail an Donais] describing how if something was stolen and the culprit not known, the suspects names were written on a piece of paper and if the person performing the charm could not write then a symbol was drawn to represent each suspect. The paper was folded longways, rubbed between the hands and dropped into a bowl of water. If the culprit's name was on the paper it would sink to the bottom...
Dates: 1895

Customs relating to cattle herding, 1895

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/69
Scope and Contents

Customs written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula relating to cattle herding, describing how when herding cattle to or from the house a number of cattle were allowed to follow behind the herder to avoid the evil eye. Also, if someone praised the cattle, the herder had to praise the cattle even higher. Text has been scored through in pencil as if transcribed elsewhere.

Dates: 1895

Etymological and geographical note for Creaga Loisgte, 20 January 1871

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/146
Scope and Contents Etymological and geographical note collected from Hector MacLeod, aged 85, at Caisteal Bhuirgh/Borve Castle, Lionacleit/Linaclate, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula stating that Creaga Loisgte got its name from being the place where kelp was first burnt, by an Irishman called Ruari na Luath. He had come to the islands to teach kelp-making. Hector says that this was the best place for giomaich and crubagan [lobster and crab] and that potatos and bere [barley] are now grown there. His wife's great...
Dates: 20 January 1871

Field and transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1864-1867

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW113
Scope and Contents Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing field and transcribed material. The notebook is inscribed on the front inside cover with the following: 'Scrap Book MS No1 Alex[ander] Carmichael (of Lismore) Inland Revenue Lochmaddy N[orth] Uist] 1864'. On the recto side of the fly leaf is written 'Angus MacDonald Staoinebrig tale teller' and on the verso side of the fly leaf is written 'Bought at Drew's Saint columb Cornwall this 17 day of Nov[ember] 1864 A. A. Carmichael p2/3'....
Dates: 1864-1867