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Customs written down by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula relating to cattle herding, describing how when herding cattle to or from the house a number of cattle were allowed to follow behind the herder to avoid the evil eye. Also, if someone praised the cattle, the herder had to praise the cattle even higher. Text has been scored through in pencil as if transcribed elsewhere.

Scope and Contents Field notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, noted as being 'Bought at St Columb, Cornwall, 30 Nov[ember] 1864 pr[ice] 2/3'. The back inside cover contains a note probably collected as part of excise duties which reads 'Rod[erick] MacPhie Mast of boat 21.8 [-] 1.2½ [-]'. The notebook contains one insertion. The majority of the notebook contains lore relating to Miùlaigh/Mingulay mostly collected from Roderick MacNeil, crofter, aged 88, known as Ruairidh an Rùma. Roderick MacNeil also...

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Note praising the Earl of Dunmore's family for the improvements they have made to Na Hearadh/Isle of Harris since they purchased it and in particular the Dowager Countess for establishing 'schools of var[ious] kinds which have affected much'.

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Poem beginning 'Is mithich domhsa dusga[dh]' composed by Seumas Shaw [James Shaw], 'bard Lochnaneala' [Bàrd Thighearna Loch nan Eala] when he saw the Duke of Argyll in Oban [An t-Òban, Earra Ghàidheal/Argyllshire].

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Poem entitled 'Earraghain Mor' collected from Doul mac an tShaoir [Donald MacIntyre, catechist, Àird/Aird, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula] beginning 'La[tha] do Phad[raig] na chuirt, Gun sailm na nigh'. A note written in different ink across the initial lines of text reads 'Trans[cribed] B[ook] II p[-] Nov[ember] 16 1869 A[lexander] A[rchibald] C[armichael].'

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Poem entitled 'Moladh Ghoill Fionn' Don'al mac Dho'uil ic Thearlaich [Donald MacIntyre, catechist, Àird/Aird, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula] beginning 'Aird aigne Ghoill fear cog. Fhin[n], Laoch leoin lòin ful. nac tim' and is poem composed of fifteen lines. Carmichael notes that he heard the story from John MacInnes, Smeircleit/Smercleit, uibhist a Deas/South Uist who told him the previous poem, and that MacIntyre 'himself is about 70 or 71'.

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Poem entitled 'Moladh Ghoill le Fionn' collected from Donul Mac a Phie [Donald MacPhee], smith, Breubhaig, Barraidh [Brèibhig/Breivig, Barraigh/Isle of Barra] beginning 'Ard aigni Ghoill, fear cogai Fhinn, Laoch leothai lonn fulanach nach tinn.' The poem is composed of fifteeen lines and a transverse note written across the text reads 'Copy sent to the Rev Arch[ibal]d Clerk, Killmallie Manse Jan[uar]y 6th 1869'.

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Prayer beginning 'A Sp[ioraid] naomh is mo neart' collected from Catriona Macniell [Catherine MacNeill], cottar, Breuvaig [Brèibhig/Brevig, Barraigh/Isle of Barra]. The prayer is set out in ten verses of four lines each. Adjacent to the first verse is written 'Copied' and the text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere. Catriona is described as 'all alone in a poor bothag.'

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Prayer beginning 'Bride mhin chai eir a glun, Mise teac[hd]a[i]r[e] Mhic De' [Criosda Clèireach Os Ar Cionn or Christ the Priest Above Us]. The vocabulary notes reads 'Stucanach = Rag dur. Stacanach = Diongmhalt strong.' Text has been scored through in pencil as if transcribed elsewhere.

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Prayer beginning 'Gui eag a machair ri Dia ri Moire' collected from Mary Cameron, sister of John Cameron, Borve [Borgh, Barraigh/Isle of Barra]. The prayer is composed of seventeen lines.