Tales

Notes about fish and snakes collected from John MacAulay from Gearrloch [Geàrrloch/Gairloch, Ros is Cromba/Ross and Cromarty] but living in Edinburgh [Dùn Èideann] including that the skate has no roe, snakes have eggs like hens and the dogfish has no ribs, only a spine. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Notes about fish, shellfish and crustaceans collected on Ìle/Islay, including that 'Abhain Chul Davach Co[unty] Donegal [is] paved with siolag.' and listing differnt types of fish and their English name equivalent. Also notes that 'Long shells - fan-like got off Coll on one bank. On House Bank - 11 in[ches] long.' Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Notes probably collected from John Black, aged eighty-six, Killean, Lios Mòr/Lismore, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire about Gill odhar [Clach Gille Odhar] that it was the only place where there was an echo but that it was now broken. He also describes metal archaeological finds he found while making a drain at Aoine Port an Daimh in Achadun.

Notes about John Stewart, Baleshare [Baile Sear, Uibhist a Tuath/North Uist] who had heard that Carmichael was searching for 'old things' and wanted to 'unburd[en] his mind' to Carmichael but never did although as Carmichael states 'I so often wished'.

Notes about Killemhoire [Cille Mhoire, Lios Mòr/Lismore, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] probably collected from John Black, age eighty-six, that it is now called Fiart, describing its situation in relation to the mill stream and the Killemhoire march as being at Sron na fuarachd [Sròn na Fuarachd] by the sea. The location for Killechiarain [Kilcheran] is described as being where Dòmhnall an Dannsair's house was and Black states that he saw leaca lì [gravestones] 'in both these Kills'.

Notes about Lismore church [Lios Mòr, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire] that it was 'built by the Papists but not roofed', that 'The upper gable was the lower gable before' and that 'The session ho[use] was at the back'. The church was also described as being 'noth[in]g but cabers all over the church & empty space'. A mention is also made of 'Tobar a bhaiste' which was situated close to the church.

Notes about shellfish that the 'Maorach-mor [is] larger than Musgan' [razor-fish]; that a rat can eat a razor-fish by putting a stone in one end of it that 'Maorach iallai' is gathered at night; and a story about a cat in Leac a LÌ/Lackalee, Na Hearadh/Isle of Harris, which got its tongue caught under a limpet, the limpet closed over it and the cat drowned. Each line of this text has been scored through horizontally.

Notes about the bird fulmar and St Kildans that on Hiorta/St Kilda each fulmar is valued at seven pence each between 'oil bird + feather'; that men keep a 'goile Sulaire' on their belts into which they put a fulmar's bill for pouring out oil; describing how fulmars are caught; how the carcasses are divided and how wages are deducted for loss of any birds. The text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.

Note about the origins of the Patons [or Beatons] in Uist [Uibhist] that they are descended from the Olla[mh] Ileach [Ollamh Ìleach], a celebrated herbalist, who lived at Dallabrog [Dalabrog/Daliburgh, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist]. It notes that 'The cuillion [holly] that he bro[ugh]t is good for cleibh druim', that am maraich [scurvy grass] could be found in cairns on the Strand and that the best water for boiling plants was in Geary heille [Geàrraidh Sheilidh/Garryhellie].