Herders

Scope and Contents

Photograph of six cattle herders from the Central Estates [Zimbabwe] standing in front of a metal barn in the early 20th century.

Scope and Contents

Photograph of men, women and children who were goat keepers standing in front of a thatched building near Eagle Pass, Texas, [United States] in the early 20th century.

Scope and Contents

Photograph of [Uriah] Robbins, the King's herdsman for 28 years standing in a field at Sandringham with a prize steer in the early 20th century.

Scope and Contents

Story about a girl trapped in a fairy hill while out searching for her cattle. She was told to ball meal and that she would get out once she had finished but the amount of meal would not reduce despite her best efforts. An old man said he would help her get out if he gave her some of the meal because her lover was marrying that night and she got out.

Scope and Contents

Story about a herd who was sent away by 'Baile na Cille' [baillie] from Cill to Duntannachain [Duntanachan, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire], his possessions being put into creels and not carts. The baillie's man told him that the herd had said that no matter what he would choose to return, 'Gad chi mi Mhaol o'ar...Bi mo raghin bhi tilleadh', and on hearing this the baillie told his man to go and bring the herd home.

Scope and Contents Story about Mairi ("ni Raoil") NicNeill [Mary MacNeill née MacDonald], dairy woman to the MacNeil of Barra, [Bruairnis/Bruernish, Eòlaigearraidh/Eoligarry, Barraigh/Barra]. The story tells of how, when General Roderick MacNeil was at war in India, the factor 'would not allow her her own mode of feeding the calfs'. When MacNeil returned he asked for Mary but was told by the factor that she had left. MacNeil reproached him saying that his cattle was famous long before a factor ever saw them...