Skip to main content

Tales

 Subject
Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Scope Note: Created For = CW

Found in 10 Collections and/or Records:

Archaeological note about Aird Niseboast and accompanying sketch and stories about MacLeod of Harris and Campbells of Taransay, 11 July 1870

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/70
Scope and Contents Archaeological note about Aird Niseboast [Àird Niosabost, Na Hearadh] and accompanying sketch showing the dimensions of the obelisk and stones and describing their positions. He notes that there is no tradition about Àird Niosabost other than 'the Ord bhairneach na caillich'. The first story tells how MacLeod of Harris used to make a smudan to request the Ta[a]n[say] [Tarasaigh] peop[le] come to pay their rent' describing how proprietors can part company with or take on a new tenant. The...
Dates: 11 July 1870

Copy of a manuscript about the family of Mac Iain vic Hemish [Donald MacDonald, Mac Iain Mhic Sheumais] and accompanying note, 9 April 1866

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW112/8
Scope and Contents Copy of a manuscript about Mac Iain vic Hemish [Donald MacDonald, Mac Iain Mhic Sheumais] originally written by James MacDonald at Kalin [Ceallan/Kallin, Griomsaigh/Grimsay] June 1837. The text describes Mac Iain Mhic Sheumais's prowess as a warrior from an early age including his involvement in the Battle of Cuilen in Skye [An Cuilthionn/Cuillin, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach/Isle of Skye] where he killed the MacLeod of Gesto. There is also a detailed account of a raid by MacLeods of Harris on...
Dates: 9 April 1866

Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael, 15 July 1870 to 19 October 1871

 Series
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116
Scope and Contents Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, inscribed on the inside cover with 'Alexander A Carmichael Inland Revenue Lochmaddy N[orth] Uist 15/7 1870 Note Book No 8'. The majority of this notebook contains material collected on Tarasaigh/Taransay from the MacDonalds at Paible House, Mor or Marion MacQueen and Donald MacKinnon including notes on the island's archaeology, local history and geographical changes, with stories of how coastal erosion revealed burial sites and renditions of...
Dates: 15 July 1870 to 19 October 1871

Part of a story entitled 'Rocabarrai' and accompanying story about the informant falling ill, 1871

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW119/16
Scope and Contents Part of a story entitled 'Rocabarrai', collected from Donald MacInnon or Donl mac Iain ic Lachlan ic ionnan [Donald MacKinnon], aged 98½ years, Grianaig, Dallabrig [Dalabrog/Daliburgh, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] telling how he Mor mhor ni MhicLeoid na h Earradh [Marion MacLeod] who was married to Raoul mor mac ic Ail[ein] [Ranald MacDonald of Clanranald] went to Bernary [Bearnaraigh] and in a house there heard a voice 'at the back of a chest' offering to tell them the story of Rocabarrai. At...
Dates: 1871

Song beginning 'Hu ru o na hi oro' and accompanying story, 21 May 1869

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW150/11
Scope and Contents Song collected from Donald MacPhee, blacksmith, Brèibhig/Breivig, Barraigh/Isle of Barra, beginning 'Hu ru o na hi oro, Na nam faite Seathain ri fhuasgla[dh]' [Seathan Mac Rìgh Èireann] composed of fifteen lines. The story tells how the song was composed by an aunt of MacLeod of Harris to MacNeill Dhun an t-Sleibh [Dùn an t-Sleibh, Barraigh/Isle of Barra], her husband. She alleged that a priest had tried to take advantage of her in the confessional the response to which was that the priest...
Dates: 21 May 1869

Song entitled 'Oran Mhic ic Ailen' and accompanying story, 23 March 1871

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW119/10
Scope and Contents Song entitled 'Oran Mhic ic Ailen', collected from Catrina Pearson [Catherine Pearson or MacPherson], Keantangval [Ceanntangabhal/Kentangaval, Barraigh/Isle of Barra] beginning 'Sann a gha[bh] mi mo chead dhiot, A cheist nam fear oga'. The song is composed of fifty-eight lines. The accompanying story tells how the song was composed by the first James of Boisdale, who was the first person to get Boisdale after the MacNeils of Barra had it. His relationship to the MacDonald of Clanranald who...
Dates: 23 March 1871

Story about Comhail Mhic Leoid and Ord bhairneach, 8 July 1870

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/23
Scope and Contents

Story about Comhail Mhic Leoid [Clach MhicLeòid, Na Hearadh/Isle of Harris] that it was where MacLeod signalled to the people of Tarasaigh/Taransay that they had to come and pay their rent. The story continues by describing the 'Ord bhairneach' which an old woman had and which when striking the limpets broke in three. The three fragments were scattered one [presumably] at Clach MhicLeòid, one at Steinegri [Stangrigary] and the third at Aoi [Uidh], now known as Clach an t-sagairt.

Dates: 8 July 1870

Story about Mor mhor and Ailein mac ic Ailein, 20 January 1871

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/150
Scope and Contents Story collected from Hector MacLeod, aged 85, at Caisteal Bhuirgh/Borve Castle, Lionacleit/Linaclate, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula telling how Mor mhor [Mòr Mhòr MacDonald] was the mother of Ailein mac 'ic Ailein [Alan MacDonald of Clanranald] who was killed when someone whom he had banished from the country shot him with a sixpence. Mòr was a daughter of MacLeod of Harris and is described as 'bad' [underlined]. Hector also notes that Torcul [Torcuil MacLeod] was the father of Sìne [Jean...
Dates: 20 January 1871

Story about the MacLeods and Stewarts as proprietors of Harris, 10 July 1870

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/53
Scope and Contents Story about the MacLeods and Stewarts as proprietors of Harris [Na Hearadh/Isle of Harris], telling how the last MacLeod was 'simple' and 'easily advised' and was persuaded by Donald Stewart a shepherd from Perthshire living in Pairc/Park, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis to make him the factor. From there he got Loscintir and 'soon extend[ed] his pos[session]' clearing 'Sheilebost, Nisebost and the Borves - Na Buiridh' [Losgaintir/Luskentyre, Seilebost, Niosabost and Na Buirgh]. 'Even the...
Dates: 10 July 1870

Story entitled 'A Bhuileaistach' and accompanying song, 29 January 1875

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW106/123
Scope and Contents Story entitled 'A Bhuileaistach' [MacMhuirich and the Beast] probably collected from John MacInnes, aged 70 years, Stadhlaigearraidh/Stilligarry, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist. The story tells how Niall Mòr MacMhuirich found a small creature and took it home. The creature's mother, a fearful beast came looking for her young. MacMhuirich threatened her and said that he would not give it back to her unless he built a bridge or causeway from him so that he could get to Lainginis [Langinish]. The...
Dates: 29 January 1875