tilleadh air m' ais; nì mi an nì a's fearr a's urrainn domh." Fhreagair e Fear-gun-fheusaig agus thubhairt e ris, "Thig air t'aghaidh agus tòisich." Dh'aithris Fear-gun-fheusaig móran bhreugan, agus an uair a bha e sgith sguir e. Thubhairt an t-òganach "A! Fhir-gun-fheusaig, mo ghràidh, ma 's e sin uile na 's aithne dhuit, tha thu fada fada air ais. Ach éisd riumsa agus cleachd foighidinn gus an innis mise barrachd 's an fhìrinn. An làithean m' òige, 'nuair a bha mise 'nam sheann duine, bha sinn ag cumail móran de sheilleanan, agus b' e mo ghnothuch-sa gach maduinn an cunntas ; agus b'urrainn domh-sa na seilleanan àireamh soirbh gu leòr, ach am feasda cha b' urrainn domh na sgeapan àireamh. Air maduinn àraidh am feadh a bha mi ag àireamh nan seilleanan chunnaic mi gu 'n robh an seillean a b' fhèarr air seacharan. Chuir mi dìolaid air a' choileach agus mharcaich mi air a' choileach cho luath ris an each a's meamnaiche a shireadh an t-seillein. Thog mi a lorg a dh' ionnsuidh a' chladaich agus chunnaic mi gu 'n deachaidh e thar a' chuain. Gidheadh lean mi a lorg. Agus 'nuair a chaidh mi thar a' chuain gu tìr chéin, chunnaic mi gu 'n d' fhuair neach e. Agus bha e a' treabhadh achaidh leis, anns an robh e gu meanbh-pheasair a chur. Thubhairt mi ris "'S e sin mo sheillean-sa. C'àite 'n d' fhuair thu e." Fhreagair an duine agus thubhairt e, Mo bhràthair, ma 's leat-sa e, thoir leat e.' Thug mi air ais mo sheillean domh ; agus a thuilleadh air an t-seillean thug e dhomh làn poca de mheanbh-pheasair. Chuir mi am poca air mo dhruim agus dh' atharraich mi an dìolaid o'n choileach gus an t-seillean, agus mharcaich mi air, a' treòrachadh a' choilich a'm dhéigh, a chum gu'm faigheadh e anail am feadh a bhithinn a' tilleadh. Ach air dòigh eiginn, bhris an còrd a bha a' ceangal a' phoca agus thuit mo mheanbhpheasair uile do 'n mhuir. 'Nuair a fhuair mi nall bha an oidhche a' dorchachadh. Theirinn mi dheth 'n t-seillean agus leig mi fuasgailte e air an fheur; ach cheangail mi an coileach gu teann làmh rium, agus thug mi cònnlach dha ri ith. An sin laidh mi féin sios gu cadal. feuch 'nuair a dhùisg mi suas 'sa mhaduinn bha madadh-ruadh an déigh mosheillean a mharbhadh agus itheadh suas. Agus bha mil an t-seillein air a dòrtadh air feadh nan gleann ionnan 's gu 'n rachadh neach fodha innte gus an aobran, agus na beanntan cho làn 's gu 'n rachadh neach fodha am mil gus a ghlùn air am bàrr. Agus aig an àm so smaointich mi c'àite an cruinnichinn a' mhil. Ach chuimhnich mi air mo thuaigh bhig; agus ghlac mi a'm laimh i, agus chaidh mi do 'n choille leatha an dòchas gu 'm marbhainn uilebheistean eiginn a chum 's gu'n deanainn poca de na craicinn. Agus nuair a bha mi 'sa choille, chunnaic mi dà fhiadh ann, a' dannsadh GilleCalum air an leth-chois. Bhris mi an casan le Agus m' thuaigh agus ghlac mi iad agus rinn mi feannadh-builg orra. A nis air an dà fhiadh bha trì craicinn air an d' rinn mi trì pocannan anns an do chruinnich mi suas a' mhil uile. Chairich mi na pocannan air muin a' choilich a ghiùlain iad dachaidh gu h-eutrom. Agus 'nuair a ràinig mi dhachaidh fhuair mi m'athair 'na naoidhean air ùr-bhreith. Chuir mo sheanair mi gu neamh a shireadh uisge coisrichte. A nis 'nuair a bha mibeachd-smaointeachadh air cionnas a gheibhinn suas gu neamh chuimhnich mi air a' mheanbhpheasair a thuit uam do 'n mhuir, agus dh' fhalbh mi a dh' ionnsuidh a' chladaich. Agus feuch bha mo mheanbh-pheasair air fàs suas ionnan's gu'n robh a mullach a' ruigheachd gu neamh. Agus streap mi a suas orra do' n athar far am faca mi gu'n robh a' mheanbh-pheasair làn abaich, agus i air a buain. Agus an neach a bhuain i, rinn e, bonnach mór eòrna dhi, a bha e ag ith, air a mheasgachadh am bainne blàth. Chuir mise fàilte air ag ràdh 'Gu 'n còmhnadh Dia leat, a charaid.' Agus fhreagair esan mi air an dòigh cheudna, ag ràdh 'Gu 'n cuideachadh Dia leat-sa cuideachd.' O 'n duine so fhuair mi uisge-coisrichte agus thill mi. Ach mu 'n d' fhuair mi air m' ais, shil uisge mór o neamh air an talamh, agus thuirling e cho trom 's gu 'n d' éirich a' mhuir cho àrd 's gu 'n do sguab i air falbh mo mheanbh-pheasair. Bha mi air an uair sin am buaireas inntinn gu mór cionnas a gheibhinn a nuas gu talamh. Ach am beagan ùine thug mi fainear gu'n robh m' fhalt anabarrach fada, eadhon cho fada 's 'nuair a sheasainn air mo dhà bhonn gu 'n ruigeadh e bho m' cheann gu m' shàilean, agus 'nuair a shuidhinn, ruigeadh e a nuas gu 'm dhà chluais. Agus air ball ghlac mi mo sgian agus ghèarr mi ròineanan de m' fhalt a cheangail mi ri cheile. Agus air ròineanan de m' flalt theirinn mi a nuas gu h-aighearrach. 'S a cheart àm bha an oidhche a' dorchachadh agus b'éiginn domh snaim a chur air an ròine agus tàmh a ghabhail air an t-snaim ré na h-oidhche. Ach cionnas a dhèanainn gu 'n teine. cur mór ghruaim orm. Bha bocsa 's acfhuinn agam; ach cha robh fiodh agam. Chuimhnich mi gu'n robh snàthad mhór am broilleach mo chot-uachdair. Bhris mi an t-snàthad mhór 'na mìrean móra air son connaidh do 'n teine, agus rinn mi teine mór, mór. Agus an uair a bha mi gu math blàth, shin mi mi féin a sìos ri taobh an teine gu cadal,agus chaidil mi gu fior-shunndach car tacain. Ach gu mi-fhortanach loisg sradag de 'n teine an ròine air an robh mi an crochadh, agus thuit mi car mu char a nuas a dh' ionnsuidh na talmhainn; agus stop mi fodha anns an talamh gu ruig an dà chruachainn. Dh'amhairc mi ceithir-thimchioll orm a dh' fheuchainn cionnas a gheibhinn à sàs. Ach bu dìomhain domh amharc air son cuideachaidh, oir cha robh neach ri fhaicinn timchioll an àite. Ach rinn mi Bha e ag cabhag dhachaidh a dh'iarraidh sluasaid, leis an do chladhaich mi timchioll orm gus an d' fhuair mi à sàs. An uair a ràinig mi dhachaidh bha na buanaichean a' buain an arbhair. Ach bha an t-arbhar cho àrd agus bha a' ghrian cho teth 's nach mór nach robh na buanaichean air an losgadh suas le teas na gréine. An sin ghlaodh mise riù, agus dh'àithn mi gu 'n d' thugadh iad an làthair an làir bhàn a bha cho fad ri astar dà là agus cho leathann ri aon là samhraidh, agus air a druim bha craobhan móra daraich a' fàs, a chum gu'n cuireadh am faileas sgàil air na buanaichean o theas an latha. Air ball thug m' athair an làir gus an achadh, agus dh'oibrich na buanaichean gu sunndach, fonnmhor 'na sgàile. Agus an uair sin féin ghabh mise soitheach-uisge a thug mi leam gus an tobar a chum deoch a tharruing do na buanaichean. Ach fhuair mi 'n tobar còmhdaichte le deigh; agus cha robh innleachd agam air an deigh a bhriseadh. Ach mar a tha 'n seanfhacal ag ràdh, "Cha robh bean riamh gu 'n ìnnleachd 's a cas air tìr." 'S ann mar sin a thachair dhomh aig an àm sin; oir ghlac mi mo cheann a'm dhà laimh agus an déigh tacain de shaothair chruaidh bhris mi 'n deigh le iomadh buille throm de mo cheann. A gus lìon mi mo shoitheach le uisge agus ghiùlain mi an t-uisge a chum nam buanaichean. Ach ghlaodh iadsan agus iad air tì teicheadh uam le h-eagal, 'C'àite 'm bheil do cheann?' Thog mise suas mo làmhan gu mo cheann fheuchainn; ach, mo thruaighe! cha robh ceann air mo ghuailnean, oir dh' fhàg mi aig an tobar e. iomadh dòruinn a tha 'leantainn na di-chuimhne. Dh' fhalbh mi le cabhaig a dh' ionnsuidh an tobair a shireadh mo chinn. Ach, mo chreach ! bha sionnach ann romham. Oir 'nuair a ràinig mise an tobar bha an sionnach a' deòchdadh na h-eanachainn as mo chean; gidheadh fhuair mi dlùth dha agus bhuail mi e gu garg. Ach thòisich e ri ruith, agus am feadh a bha e ruith thuit leabhran agus leugh mi e. A nis b'e an ni a bha sgrìobhte ann: Gu 'm biodh am bonnach mór uile agam féin agus nach faigheadh Feargun-fheusaig ach neo-ni." Uime sin thog an t-òganach leis air falbh am bonnach, agus cha robh aig Fear-gun-fheusaig ach tàmh ag amharc 'na dhéigh. Is Eadar-theangaichte le CALUM MACFHEARGHUIS. THE "PALADIN " OF THE SOUDAN. (Major-General Sir Archibald Hunter, K.C.M.G., who so distinguished himself during the recent Soudan campaign, gained for himself not only the reputation of being one of the bravest of the brave, but a far higher and rarer quality, that of chivalry. By his mother's side a Grahame, showing that he follows in the footsteps of those two knightly Paladins of his clan, Montrose and Bonnie Dundee). N OT mine the right, thou gallant son, Nor yet the skill to sing thy praise; Till some more powerful hand shall wake His tuneful lyre with polished phrase, Some bard from out thine own Clan Græme, So far renowned in Scottish fame, His clansmen's deeds in verse portrays : A sister Scot her right may claim. Courage!-it is the heritage Born in the mountain race; Yet e'en that glorious virtue To one more rare gives place; The old time bards assigned the crown To knights whose deeds of brave renown Showed chivalry's high thoughts of grace, Which thou, brave son, hast made thine own. 'Tis chivalry that fast enshrined Brave Clavers in our Highland hearts : Is knighthood's spotless shield unstained; The outcome of the heart within; Is thine to hold, was thine to win. Worthy of that brave clan art thou That owned a Clavers -a Montrose : So long as Scottish names disclose Bardess of the Clan Donald. TRANSLATION FROM THE GAELIC. EMIGRANT'S FAREWELL. Farewell to our country! ye glens and ye mountains Adieu! Your red deer and roe will the foot of the stranger Pursue, While far o'er the ocean in anguish and sorrow I roam, In the land of the stranger, to seek for a country And home. Dear land of our fathers! the home of the faithful And brave, The foremost in battle their king and their country To save! Now far from that country your children to exile Must go, And spirits are broken that ne'er were subdued by A foe. GAELIC SOCIETY OF LONDON. The annual grand Celtic concert in connection with this Society takes place in the Queen's Hall, London, on 26th October, and promises to surpass even the great successes of former years. Gaelic music will be represented by its two most gifted exponents, Miss Jessie N. Maclachlan and Mr. Roderick Macleod, Inverness, the latter of whom has just returned from the Clan Mackay tour in the Reay country, where he electrified the people with his charming rendering of Iseabel Nic Aoidh and other popular northern airs. The other artistes are all of the first rank, and the programme is a most attractive one. As the proceeds from the concert are devoted to the encouragement of Gaelic teaching in the Highlands, we trust that our large circle of readers in London will support this excellent object by taking tickets for the concert. THE HIGHLAND SOCIETIES OF GLASGOW have arranged to hold a great Scottish Concert in St. Andrew's Hall, on 2nd November, for the purpose of raising funds to encourage the teaching of Gaelic in the Highlands. A capital programme has been arranged, and we hope to see a crowded attendance. Tickets, price 2s. 6d. (reserved), and 1s. 6d., can be had at the Celtic Monthly Office, 1 Blythswood Drive, Glasgow. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. MACDONALD OF GLENTILLAN. SIR,- Can you or any reader tell me who was Macdonald of Glentillan, mentioned in 1741, or at least where Glentillan is or was? Was it in Perthshire? Any information as to the above would be welcomed by SNUFF-MULL. FARQUHARSONS OF ALLARGUE. SIR,-1 shall be glad if I may be allowed to point out to you an inaccuracy in a recent issue of the Celtic Monthly, in which the late Major-General G. M'Bain Farquharson (who died in November, 1898), is referred to as proprietor of Allargue and Breda. This was not the case, as Major-General M'Bain Farquharson was never proprietor of Allargue. My grandfather, Robert Farquharson (1783-1863) was the only one of the name who was ever proprietor of Breda as well as of Allargue. He was the sixth direct heritor of Allargue, and a few years before his death became proprietor of Breda, being the nearest male relative of the former pro. prietor. As none of my grandfather's sons outlived him, Breda, at his death, went to his brother, Lieutenant-General Francis Farquharson, of the Bombay Army, at whose death his nephew, Major.. General G. M'Bain Farquharson succeeded to Breda, and he, some years ago, sold the estate. On the death of my grandfather, Allargue became the joint property of his four daughters (my mother and her sisters), the only members of his family who outlived him, and in 1893 I myself became the proprietor of Allargue. Yours truly, D. WILSON FARQUHARSON, Captain, The Black Watch. H EART of my heart, deep love of my soul, Why must I leave thee, why must I go? Why must I leave thee, why must I go? THE MACKAYS OF ISLAY, WITH SOME OF THE PREDICTIONS OF MACKAY OF THE RHINNS. BY FIONN. HAT the Mackays got early foothold in Islay is assured by the fact that Donald, Lord of the Isles, granted in 1408 a Gaelic charter, the earliest extant in that lanThis charter guage, to Brian, Vicar Mackay. was discovered by Dr. Reeves in the possession of John Macgee, who asserts his descent from a family of Macgees in the North of Ireland, followers originally of the Scottish Macdonalds, who settled in Antrim. The charter, which seems to be of goat skin, is now much worn, and almost undecipherable. The charter was written by Fergus Macbeth or Beaton, "Fercos" being the only one of the four witnesses able to write, the others signing with a mark. This Fergus evidently belonged to the famous family of physicians of that name, and was probably at the time physician to the Lord of the Isles. The following is the opening clause of the charter : AN AINIM DE, AMEN. Ataimse Mac Domhnaill ag bronnagh agus tabhairt en mhairg deg go leith dfhearann uaim pfhein agas om oighribh do Bhrian Bhicaire Mhagaodh agus do oighribh do oighribh na dhiaigh go siorthuighe suthain, &c., &c. IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, Macdonald, am granting and giving eleven mark and a half of land from myself and from my heirs to Brian Vicar Mackay, and to his heirs, after them for ever and ever, &c. The charter describes the lands very minutely as follows:-" And these are the lands I have given to him and his heirs for ever, namely, Baile-Vicar, Machaire, Leargariabhoighe, Ciontragha, Graftol, Tocamol, Ugasgoc, the two Glenastols, Cracobus, Cornabus, and Baile Neaghtoin." These lands, which are situated in the Oa district, have passed through the hands of more than one family since, and now neither a Mackay nor a Macdonald owns any land in Islay. There seem to be representatives of several branches of the Clan Aoidh in Islay, and when speaking of them in the native tongue, the older There people pronounce the name differently. are Maa Càidh, Maa-Caoidh, and the north country Mac Aoidh. It may be here stated that in Islay and in a less degree in Kintyrethe a of Mac is prolonged, the c forming a prefix to the surname, thus Mac Aoidh becomes Maa-Caoidh. The Maa-Càidhs are on the east side of the island, next to Kintyre; Maa-Caoidh in the middle, as Laggan; and Mac Aoidh in the Rhinns, as the Seer. Brian Mackay, who in 1408 received the lands of Balvicar and other lands in the Oa district, is an historic character, but must not be confounded with Mackay of Rhinnslocally known as Mac Aoidh na Ranna, who belongs to a later period in the history of Islay. A glance at the map will make it apparent that these two real Mackays are not one and the same, but belong to two districts far apart, forming as they do the two great promontories, between which Lochindaal penetrates the land, making the island somewhat of the horse-shoe shape. Mackay of Rhinns was gifted with prophetic vision, and quite a number of his predictions are firmly believed in by natives of Islay. In the churchyard on Isle Oarsay are said to rest the mortal remains of the seer. It is said that many of his predictions were written down by his son-in-law, Marmaduke Mackay, and the MS. was believed to be at one time at Innisowen in Ireland. Although the document seems to be lost, search should still be made for it in Londonderry, as, according to the following information which I have received from Mr. John Murdoch-who knows Islay and its history better than any man living-the MS. was in existence in 1829. Mr. Murdoch writes: "I think it was in the year 1829 that Lochindaal was crowded with shipping, stormbound. Many of the vessels were stranded on the shores all the way half round from Traigh Langa to Traigh Chill-a'rubha. It seems that one of the vessels was owned or chartered or looked after by a Maclintock in Londonderry, and to settle about the salvage, the late John Maclean, Cultorsa, agent for Lloyds in the island, had to go to Derry. He was accompanied by John Macdonald, messenger-at-arms in Bowmore. Before leaving, the two Islay men were informed by Maclintock that he had a book in which they would be interested. It was a foolscap bound book, containing Mac Aoidh's prophecies. "The last time he was here he was short of cash, and my predecessor advanced some; and the seer, or the amanuensis of the seer, left the book as an acknowledgment." 'Oh," said Mr. Maclean, "we shall be glad to carry it back to Islay." "And I shall be glad to let you have it if you can satisfy me that you are descendants, or in some way entitled to inherit what he has left." This they could not do, and they returned to Islay with no more than the story, which J. Murdoch had from Neil Mactaggart, of Leurabus, who died in Glasgow a few years ago. One of the duties of the Mackays and others, particularly in and of Islay, is to raise the money and choose the man to send to Derry, even at this late hour, to make all possible efforts to recover the book." I have no doubt that some of the predictions of Mac Aoidh na Ranna could still be collected from old Islay men and women. I have been able to collect the following in the course of my readings and travels. Some were taken down from the recitations of the late Neil Mactaggart, Glasgow, already referred to by Mr. Murdoch, and others I have stumbled across in odd corners. According to my informant, the seer received his gifts in a peculiar manner. It seems he was employed as agent or factor for the Earl of Antrim, who had possessions in Islay (see "The Last Macdonalds of Islay," by Dr. C. FraserMackintosh, page 79). On one occasion he was going to Ireland with the rents, which at that particular time had been but partially paid, on account of the backwardness of the season, He was somewhat afraid to meet his master with such a light purse. While waiting at Portnahaven for a favourable wind to carry him to Erin, he fell asleep. When he awoke he found a book, made of parchment, under his head. This book was full of wisdom and prescience, and endowed its owner with wonderful powers of foresight. Along with the book. he also received a silk purse full of gold. On the book were written the words-" Caillear thusa ach cha chaillear mise"-(You may be lost, but not me); while on the purse was inscribed the following legend, in letters of gold :"Cho fada 'sa thàirneas tu asam bheir mi dhuit, ach ma thilleas tu bonn orm, sguiridh mi”(As long as you draw out of me I will let you have, but if you return a coin I cease to yield). A favourable wind blew, and the seer was carried over to Ireland, where he paid the rental of the estate in full. For many years, and in many straits, the purse proved useful, but on one occasion he forgot the legend and returned a coin, and from that time the purse lost its charm. On one of his visits, Mackay left his book in Derry with the Maclintock family, and on his return journey he encountered a storm when he and his crew were lost, and so the legend on the book was confirmed "You may be lost, but not me.' So much for the manner in which the Mackay seer became possessed of his foresight. Now for some of his predictions, many of which, like Gaelic proverbs, assume a rhythmical form. "Tigh geal air gob gach rudha 'S muileann air gach sruthan fann." The first line is being fulfilled, and who knows how soon the application of water power to purposes of manufacture may become an accomplished fact. "Thig cànain do 'n eilean nach tuig na muinntirich; fàsaidh an talamh an sin na leacan reothaidh fo na casan is cha 'n urrainn iad fuireachd ann. Cinnidh coigrich an Ile agus Ilich ann an duthaich |