Scope and Contents Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael containing material collected mostly in An Apainn/Appin and Lios Mòr/Lismore, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire. A large proportion of the stories and biographical information about Appin was collected from Donald MacColl, foxhunter, Glencreran, who was known as Dòmhnall a' Bhrocair. Amongst the material collected from Dòmhnall a' Bhrocair are proverbs, sayings, customs, stories about local figures and families and historic anecdotes. The other main...

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Fragment of a story collected from Donald MacColl [foxhunter, Glencreran, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] that the ferryman [Archibald MacInnes] at Fasnacloich, Glencreran [Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] had the second sight, and asked Cailen Glinn-Iur [Cailean Ghlinn Iubhair or Cailean Uaine/Colin Campbell of Glenure] [not to cross over on the day he was murdered into Appin].

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Note about Cladh Churalain [St Cyril's Graveyard] that it is 250 feet above sea level and surrounded by a 'good oblong square dyke'. Also, inscription of the gravestone of Hugh MacColl, late of Caolas Na Con [Caolasnacon, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire], who was a native of Glencreran [Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] and was at the Battle of Culloden. The note is accompanied by a drawing of a heart and a gun and the date 1794.

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Note about Donald MacColl 'Donul Brocair', [foxhunter, Glencreran, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] aged 89 or 93 collected from him. On average he would kill, fifty foxes, six wild cats and sixty-six 'martin cats' in a season. He worked for 53 years. The note also mentions that at a fair at Tai-an-ribi [Taigh an Ribidh/Tynribbie, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] the best looking men were from Lismore.

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Note about Feill Churalain [Fèill Churalain/St Cyril's Festival] collected from John Livingstone 'Muillear Mòr', Portnacroish, Appin [Port na Crois, Apainn, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] aged 73, that it was held at Sgeir a' Phobuill, that the girls of Glencreran would have 'babagan beithe' (tassles of birch) and that it was held on 16 March 'Cuiralain an diugh us Pàdruig am màireach' ('Curalan today and Patrick tomorrow'). Also notes that St Cyril's Church was built of clay.

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Note probably collected from Donald MacColl, foxhunter, Glencreran, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire, about geometrically proportioned stones found on Beinn Aulay [Beinn Fhionnlaidh], Glencreran, Beinn Starbh, on the south of Locheite [Ben Starv, Loch Èite/Loch Etive], and on Scurra Chòis [Sgorr a' Choise] [all Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire].

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Note about men who fought at Culloden hiding in Dòmhnall nan Òrd's cave and that 20 of them who died were from Glencreran [Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire], and were very young: 'on whom fias[a]g [beard] did not mark'. The Glencreran men were commanded by Stewart of Airdsheile, who is noted as being 'a fine sword man'.

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Note about priests preaching on Sgeir a' Phobuil [An Apainn/Appin] and that Cill Mhodain in Ardchattan [Cille Mhaodain/Àird Chatain] was the oldest [priory] in Argyllshire, probably collected from Donald MacColl [foxhunter, Glencreran, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire]. Also notes that Sir Walter Scott was in Glencreran several times, while Donald was there.

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Note probably collected from Donald MacColl [foxhunter, Glencreran, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] that there were [wooden] holy statues or images of Curalan [St Cyril], Calum Cille [St Columba] and St Moluag kept in the church on Cuirralan [Beinn Churalain], Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] which were destroyed by 'sgampeoran' [scamps] who came to a bad end as a result and that there was a castle on top of Beinn Chuirailain [Beinn Churalain].

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Note, probably collected from Donald MacColl [foxhunter, Glencreran, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire], about stones and wells for healing in Appin [An Apainn] including Creag Chuirulain [Creag Churalain], Chuiralain Tobar [Churalain Tobar], Tobar nan Sul [Tobar an Sùl], Clach an Droma and Tobar a Ghlun [Tobar a' Ghlùin]. Some descriptions of the stones and wells and the ailments they heal are noted.