Skip to main content

Benbecula Inverness-shire Scotland

 Subject

Staff Only
Subject Source: Local sources

Found in 212 Collections and/or Records:

Story of how Caisteal Stornaway was taken from the MacLeods by the MacKenzies, 20 January 1871

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/151
Scope and Contents

Story collected from Hector MacLeod, aged 85, at Caisteal Bhuirgh/Borve Castle, Lionacleit/Linaclate, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula telling how Caisteal Stornaway [Caisteal Steòrnabhaigh/Stornoway Castle, Eilean Leòdhais] was taken from the MacLeods by the MacKenzies. MacLeods people were locked in the castle and so MacKenzie took many people and tied them to a sgeir nearby so that when the tide rose MacLeod had to come out to rescue them and MacKenzie got into the castle.

Dates: 20 January 1871
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Story relating to Oscar, 14 March 1866

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW104/25
Scope and Contents

Story collected from Iain MacCoinnich [John MacKenzie], Uisgeabhagh/Uiskevagh, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula relating to Oscar and how he got his name, noting that at first he was called 'Cuime-nan-Cnamh' at first but after bravely slaying a beast his grandfather, Fionn, called him Oscar.

Dates: 14 March 1866
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Superstition relating to the fairies, 3 January 1872

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW90/14
Scope and Contents

Superstition relating to the fairies probably collected in Gramasdail/Gramsdale, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula which states that the sithichean are said to be about when the fir chlis [aurora borealis] are out and that the only way to keep them at bay is 'to place an eitig live coal in the breast of a traveller!'.

Dates: 3 January 1872
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

The Carmichael-Watson Collection

 Fonds
Identifier: Coll-97
Scope and Contents The Carmichael-Watson Collection consists of papers belonging to the Reverend Alexander Cameron of Arran, Alexander Carmichael, civil servant and folklorist, Alexander MacBain of Inverness, and Professor William John Watson and his son James Carmichael Watson, along with books and papers belonging to the Reverend Charles Robertson of Jura, the Reverend Angus MacDonald, the Reverend Archibald MacDonald and the Reverend Father Allan McDonald of Eriskay. These include: invocations...
Dates: 18th century - mid 20th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections

Three riddles involving sea-life, vessels and rocks, February 1895

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/90
Scope and Contents

Three riddles written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula involving sea-life, vessels and rocks which read 'Se sin a chuir am breallach-breac a thaigh a chonachair, 'S a chuir an conachair a thaigh a gheara-bhric. An t-ioasad.'; Cha robh fuaim mor o shothach lan riamh, Ged 's beag do [chron] smor t tiomlag.' and 'Chaidh triuir gu carraig thill an triuir, 's cha do chairrich a charraig.'

Dates: February 1895
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Three sayings or proverbs, 1895

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

Three sayings or proverbs beginning 'Is furasda dh'fhear eisdeachd Beum fhaighinn/thoir a dh-fhear labhairt'; 'Co seolta ri sionnach na Maoile' and 'Mionnan bi-bhuan da a mac'.

Dates: 1895
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Three stories about crodh-mara [sea-cattle] and the MacDonalds, 18 January 1871

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/135
Scope and Contents Three stories collected from John MacKinnon, Cairinis/Carinish, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist about crodh mara or sea-cattle and the MacDonalds. The first story tells how Mac Dhonuil Dui lived in a house 200 yards west of Teampull na Trionaid with his wife but they had no family or cattle. MacDonald Dubh fell ill and every morning and evening a cow 'bo mhaol bhui[dhe]' visited them to be milked but was never seen between times. One day, while milking the wife spilt milk and cursed the cow and...
Dates: 18 January 1871
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 1860 to c1866

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW112
Scope and Contents Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael. The majority of the volume has been used but intermittently there are groups of blank folios. Carmichael appears to have written in the book in the 1860s creating sections of different genres at different stages in the volume, with pages left blank in between to fill up appropriately. In about 1875 he has then used some of these blank pages to transcribe notes and stories but has not kept to the genres sections he initially created....
Dates: 1860 to c1866
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection

Transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1865-1886

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW7
Scope and Contents Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing mainly Fenian songs and cattle charms. Most of the charms relate to cattle and working in the dairy and so are recited for the protection and healing of cattle, although there are some charms for protecting and healing people as well. A number of the charms include the use of medicinal plants, for which there is additional vocabulary. Carmichael also includes charms and customs for predicting marriage partners. Almost all of...
Dates: 1865-1886
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection

Transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 1883 to 1885

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW87
Scope and Contents Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing material collected between October 1867 and December 1885. The material dated from 1883 to 1885 was probably written down at source. The notebook is marked as 'No IV' and the inside cover gives his address as 30 Royal Circus, Edinburgh [Dun Eideann] and the date as 16 November 1883. The material transcribed and collected in this notebook includes love songs, religious songs, waulking songs and songs relating to cattle. Much...
Dates: 1883 to 1885
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection