Scope and Contents

Note written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Nine, Naodh' describing how the fairies are said to be 'nine nines of years sucking the breast' and the same number of years each at boyhood, young hood, middle manhood, old manhood and at 'the bre[a]st of death "ri uchd bais"'.

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 written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula telling how about sixty years before [c1834] Lachlan MacRuaraidh [Lachlan MacRury], Ardmona, Iochdar, [Àird na Monadh/Ardnamona, Ìochdar, Uibhist a Deas/South Uist] was out looking for a lost stirk at dusk. Near Tigh Cloiche, Mointeach an Ìochdar, he saw what he thought was the men of Ìochdar digging lazy beds. As he approached them he realised they were not men 'for they all wore a green long garbe and a sort of green[e]d...

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...