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Tales

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

Found in 1040 Collections and/or Records:

'Connal Mac Righ Cruachan' [Connal the son of King Cruachan], c late 19th century

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW452
Scope and Contents

Tale headed 'Connal Mac Righ Cruachan'.

Dates: c late 19th century
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection

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
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Copy of a manuscript about the MacDonalds of Sleat and accompanying note, 9 April 1866

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW112/7
Scope and Contents Copy of a manuscript about the MacDonalds of Sleat and North Uist, including stories about the sons of Hugh MacDonald of Sleat viz Donald Galloch, Trotternish and Sleat [An t-Eilean Sgitheanach], Donald Herrach [Hearach], Griminish, North Uist [Griminis, Uibhist a Tuath] and Gillespig Duh [Gilleasbuig Dubh]. How Gilleasbuig Dubh murdered both of his brothers is recorded as is the subsequent revenge of his nephew. Also recorded are the lands that families subsequently occupied and whether...
Dates: 9 April 1866
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Copy of the 'Genealogical Account of the Mac Raes', 10 August 1868

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW112/9
Scope and Contents Copy of the 'Genealogical Account of the Mac Raes' 'As written originally by the Rev John Mac Rae sometime minister of Dingwall...1704..Transcribed by Farquhar MacRae of Inverinate...1786. Copied by Capt[ain] John MacRae...from this transcript in the possession of his son Dr John MacRae...in 1816.' The copy contains insertions by Carmichael, each of which he has intialled. The account describes their origins in Ireland, the origin of their name 'Mac Rath, the fortunate son' and subsequent...
Dates: 10 August 1868
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Transcription notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Custom about a blessing stone on Bernara an Easpuig, 8 August 1867

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW114/37
Scope and Contents Custom collected from Roderick MacNeil, aged 88, crofter, Miùghlaigh/Mingulay about a blessing stone on Bernara an Easpuig [Beàrnaraigh/Berneray] that it was in a stone font in the graveyard and that people who were afraid would go and stroke it. There is also a note about the bishop's house that it 'was up till late and the stone upon which he rested his book while read[ing] is there still.' The custom is preceded by a short saying 'Bean Chaluim Chille am Miulay. Bean Naomh Mòire am...
Dates: 8 August 1867
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Custom and story entitled 'Souming', 15 December 1894

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW1/55
Scope and Contents Custom and story written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Souming' [number and type of stock an individual croft can graze on a common grazings] describing the ages at which cows were included in the 'leibhidh' [levy], how in 1810 Lord MacDonald and MacCoinnich Bodhar of Lewis [MacKenzie of Seaforth, Eilean Leòdhais/Isle of Lewis] introduced new rules while Clanranald had no souming until 1820. MacRury states that in 1830 his grandfather had to send five...
Dates: 15 December 1894
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Custom and story relating to 'Càthadh an Fhras Lìn', c1870

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW7/32
Scope and Contents

Custom and story relating to 'Càthadh an Fhras Lìn', the custom being that the lint seed was winnowed at dusk. The story tells of a servant girl in Draoineach, Skye [An Droighneach/Drynoch, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach/Isle of Skye] doing this but when asked by the lady of the house whom she saw, the girl replied 'that she had no luck that she only saw her master'. Within a year, the lady of the house had died and the servant girl married her master.

Dates: c1870
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Transcription notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Custom called 'Faobh-bhleothan', 14 July 1870

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW116/96
Scope and Contents

Custom called 'Faobh-bhleothan' probably collected from Margaret MacDonald, Malacleit/Malaclete, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist telling how if a woman was caught milking her neighbour's cow and thus stealing its milk, her hand would be cut off at the wrist. 'A spot is still pointed at Udal where this was done for a poor wretch cau[gh]t in the act'. Written transversely over the text is another example citing the spot on Vallay [Bhàlaigh] where a woman was 'buried alive' for the same offence.

Dates: 14 July 1870
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

Custom relating to La Fheill Brìde [St Bride's Day], 1887

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW89/1
Scope and Contents

Custom relating to La Fheill Brìde [St Bride's Day] describing how Mrs Major MacLeod also known as 'Major Ann', the daughter of Flora MacDonald, removed the stocking from her foot and pounded a piece of peat on the doorstep while reciting a verse beginning 'An diu[gh] la [Fhe]ill Bride, Thig nigh[ean] Imhair as an toll'. Text has been scored through in ink perhaps to indicate it has been transcribed elsewhere.

Dates: 1887
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael

Description of a ghost, August 1883

 Item
Identifier: Coll-97/CW120/146
Scope and Contents

Description of a ghost 'cosan' seen by a woman at Leitir Ru'altain [Leitir Rubh Altain or Coille na Leitir/Letterwalton, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire], who had called on Cuiralainn [Curalan/St Cyril]. She describes the ghost as 'gu'n bhlagh gun bhoi[dhchead]...scropadh glan a chreuc'.

Dates: August 1883
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / The Carmichael-Watson Collection / Field notebook of Alexander Carmichael

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