Scope and Contents Archaeological notes on ancient chapels written at Keallun [Ceallan/Kallin, Griomasaigh/Grimsay] including that there is a fine view from from it and that this must be the chapel to which Martin Martin refers as there is no chapel on Rona [Rònaigh/Ronay]. Carmichael states that as Martin Martin only spoke of one chapel, the chapel and burying ground pointed out cannot have been in existence two hundred years before when Martin was writing. He refers to it as the Lowlanders Chapel and states...

Scope and Contents Archaeological notes on Loch Sgadavagh Isle [Loch Sgadabhagh, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] including a sketch plan of the ruins there with their dimensions, noting that there is a place for the boat at the door an destimating the age [of ruins] to be two or three hundred years old. Carmichael states that the loch is named after the island of Scadabhagh which is 'low, green & flat' and notes that thick heather or eilteach grows there. He adds that there is a pillar about five feet high at...

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Story about Blar nan cuigeal [Blàr nan Cuigeal] which was fought by North Uist women with their distaffs near Lochmaddy [Loch nam Madadh, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist]. The fight was led by Mor Donullach [Marion MacDonald] at Clachan Shannda [Sannda/Clachan Sanda] and [at] Fooghail na Comaraich [Faoghal na Comraich] and Sìg-nan-cuaran [possibly Eilean na Sìge-Cama].

Scope and Contents Story collected from John Morrison, ground officer, Lingreabhagh/Lingerbay, Na Hearadh/Isle of Harris, entitled 'Great fight', telling of the fight in Caolas na Hearadh/Sound of Harris] between Campbeltown [Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain, Cinn Tìre/Kintyre] and Leith herring boats during the herring fishing of Charles II's reign, in which many men were killed from all over Britian and buried in Neartey, Sarstay, Cheesbay, Huarsay, Ortersay, Heamatry and Ta'ay [Nàrstaigh, Sàrstaigh, Bàgh a'...

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...

Scope and Contents Two stories relating to the hangings in Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist and accompanying etymological note probably collected from an unnamed 'Orinsay woman' [Orasaigh/Oronsay] who Carmichael had met. The woman told him that that the name of 'La-le-an-tsamhrai' [Latha leth an t-samhraidh] had been changed to 'Laiilleain' [Latha 'Illeathain] because a MacLean had been hanged on that day. The story tells how a MacLean man had been entrusted with a poor woman's only cow for grazing but when her sons...

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Vocabulary note and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the name Cruaicean. He states that it is 'applied to a short thick stout man of considerable strength. Cruaic a short stump of a tree or a course (sic) piece of timber'. A man from Rona, North Uist [Rònaigh/Ronay, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] who was known as Cruaicean emigrated to America with his family about sixty years before [c1835] where they are known as 'Clann Chruaicean'.

Scope and Contents Vocabulary note and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about the name Dustaidh, stating that it is the modern term for a bad kelper. 'A man that did not burn the sea weed well and in the usual manner, was known to have a great deal of duast dust, which would require to be reburnt with some well seasoned seaweed very carefully.' A man in Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist became known as dustaidh following a season kelp-making on Rona [Rònaigh/Ronay] 'the ground...