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.

Scope and Contents

Fragment of a poem or sayings written down by John Ewen MacRury in ink entitled 'Bailgfhionn' [white-bellied calf] which reads 'Laoigh Bhailfhionn an t seann-duine call codach, Laoigh Bhailgfhionn an duine oig cur ann codach.'

Scope and Contents Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael but also used by John Ewen MacRury. The front cover bears a sticker which reads 'Gaelic Notes 1894-5. (Collection of traditions, tales, etc. by Alexander Carmichael (?). Many pages cancelled, indicating publication.) [Carmichael Watson Collection]'. The flyleaf reads 'Gaelic Notes, 1894-5' and the rear flyleaf contains a jotting which reads 'Wishing Guidhe'. The beginning of the notebook contains field notes made by Carmichael in Uibhist a...

Scope and Contents Story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula telling how 'about 37 years' before [c1858] in Cnoc na Monadh/Torlum Alexander Campbell's cow, which was his wife's tocher went missing. He went looking for it calling the cow's name and as he passed a fairy hill called 'Sithean Beag' he heard a voice saying 'Tha mi so tha mi so I am here I am here.' Realising that the fairies had his cow, he took fright that he fled for home. When he arrived he had the appearance of being...

Scope and Contents Story and customs written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula about Leac na gruagaich [Leac na Gruagaich, Beinn na Faoghla, Benbecula], a stone which was on the croft of Angus MacAulay, Liniclate [Lionacleit] at 'Rudha Chuidh Oib or Cuidh an Obain', an old cattle fold. The tradition was to pour a little milk into the hollow of the stone to prevent the gruagaich letting the cattle out of the fold and into the corn. MacRury tells how Raoghnull MacRuaraidh 'a Cuial decendant...

Scope and Contents Story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Crodh Marra' [crodh-mara or sea-cattle]. It tells how a man in Howgarry, North Uist [Hogha Gearraidh/Hogharry, Uibhist a Tuath] was having a difficult time, with his children and his cattle dying in infancy so on the advice of a wise old man, he decided to get one of the red and white sea cattle, which were often seen in the water near the shore. To do this he had to sprinkle 'ùir dhubh' or black loam soil on the...

Scope and Contents Vocabulary note written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Sea weed', listing twenty one types of seaweed; describing their physical characteristics such as 'Craigean a small plant like the wide spread palm of a baby'; in many cases noting the proportions of potash and carbonate of lime; uses for the sea weed and in one instance a story to 'throw some light on its [seaweed's] use in the Outer Hebrid[e]s in this century'. The seaweeds described are...