Scope and Contents Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael principally containing material collected on Eilean Leòdhais/ Isle of Lewis. The main informants were Angus Gunn and his daughter Ann MacDonald from Dail bho Thuath/North Dell and Dail bho Dheas/South Dell respectively, who sang songs relating to Christmas and explained associated customs. They also told Carmichael stories about the temples found around Nis/Ness and about St Ronan. In addition, the notebook contains notes on winter customs,...

Scope and Contents

Song beginning ''S ann thàinig am buaileadh an gaol na h òige, S liom bu mhiann a bhi gad phog[adh]' probably collected from Angus Gunn, cottar, Dail bho Thuath/North Dell, Nis/Ness, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis. A vocabulary note adds that 'Cuspair = Lover'.

Scope and Contents

Song entitled 'Duan an Donaich' [The Poem of the Lord's Day] collected from Aonas Guinn [Angus Gunn], cottar, Dail fo thuath, Niss, Lews [Dail bho Thuath/North Dell, Nis/Ness, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis] beginning 'Heir a bannag hora bannag, Thoir a Challain air a dheo'. The text has been scored through in ink and a note across it reads 'Transcribed 29 October 1888 A[lexander] C[armichael]'.

Scope and Contents

Poem entitled 'Duan na Clainn - La nam Bannag' probably collected from Angus Gunn, cottar, Dail bho Thuath/North Dell, Nis/Ness, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis beginning 'Thoire Thoire beannaichte e beann[aichte] e'. Text has been scored through in ink as if transcribed elsewhere and some additions to the text have been made in pencil.

Scope and Contents Story about Brianail, probably collected from Angus Gunn or Ann MacDonald née Gunn, Dail bho Thuath/North Dell, Nis/Ness, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis, in which Brianail, sister of St Ronan, went to Sula Sgeir [Ros is Cromba/Ross and Cromarty] because Ronan had commented on her ankle and so she went where she could not see the smoke from his house 'theid mi far nach faic mise ceo do thaighe'.The text is much abbreviated and unclear. The story also notes that St Ronan built a temple to his...

Scope and Contents

Story about Temple Thòmais [Suainebost, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis] probably collected from Angus Gunn or Ann MacDonald née Gunn, Dail bho Thuath/North Dell, Nis/Ness, that its location was on the machair at Suainebost but that stones were taken from it to lengthen Teampull Pheadair.

Scope and Contents

Story entitled 'Caran mac Fitheall' collected from Ann Gunn, probably Ann MacDonald, daughter of Angus Gunn, crofter, Dail bho Thuath/North Dell, Nis/Ness, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis. The story is about a man with three sons who builds temples and castles but who does not trust his wife while he is away working and wishes to test his sons. The story is incomplete possibly because, as Carmichael notes, Ann is 'a woman who talks like a machine'.

Scope and Contents

Story relating to Saint Ronan probably collected from Angus Gunn, cottar, Dail bho Thuath/North Dell, Nis/Ness, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis telling how St Ronan made his way to the island which became Roney [Rònaidh/North Rona] pursued by a wild beast. The story also relates that Ronan built a chapel on the island and that his two sisters followed him there.

Scope and Contents Story relating to Teampull Bholley [Teampull Mholuaidh, Eòropaidh/Eoropie, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis] and 'An Groey' probably collected from Angus Gunn, cottar, Dail bho Thuath/North Dell, Nis/Ness, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis. He describes how Pollaig [Moluag] built the temple to include an echo but that he had no roof. While asleep he heard a voice telling him to go to Tràigh Sheannta [Traigh Shanndaigh], which he did and then oak was washed ashore which made a roof without using...

Scope and Contents

Two songs, one entitled 'Duan Bannag na Callaig' beginning 'Taobh a phocain toa' an tearcain' and the other beginning 'Fhir a Challain i ri o' probably collected from Angus Gunn, cottar, Dail bho Thuath/North Dell, Nis/Ness, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis. The note explains that after the second song the custom was that '2 bannag were handed out round the fire'. The text has been scored through in ink as if transcribed elsewhere.