The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands
The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands
The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands
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THE PEAT-FIRE FLAME<br />
cuckoo in <strong>the</strong> loneliness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Great Glen <strong>of</strong> Hirta (St.<br />
Kilda). At first he dared not tell <strong>the</strong> natives, being<br />
acquainted with <strong>the</strong>ir superstition. When he told <strong>the</strong>m in<br />
<strong>the</strong> end, he was not a little disappointed that <strong>the</strong>y failed to<br />
exhibit <strong>the</strong> perturbation he had anticipated. Nei<strong>the</strong>r<br />
MacLeod nor his factor died that year. It was not until<br />
1929 that Norman, XXIIIrd Chief <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> MacLeods <strong>of</strong><br />
Dunvegan, died.<br />
Clan MacAndy <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Widgeons.<br />
Not to be confused with Bernera in Loch Roag, nor yet<br />
with Bernera (y), <strong>the</strong> most sou<strong>the</strong>rly <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Outer Hebrides,<br />
is <strong>the</strong> isl<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same name situated in <strong>the</strong> legendhaunted<br />
Sound <strong>of</strong> Harris, <strong>and</strong> once inhabited by a sept<br />
known as <strong>the</strong> Clan MacAndy<br />
—<br />
Clann 'ic Anndaidh. In<br />
common with <strong>the</strong>ir North Uist neighbours, <strong>the</strong><br />
MacCodrums, who were transformed into seals, some<br />
members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Clan Andy were metamorphosed into<br />
ducks.<br />
Now, <strong>the</strong> MacAndys had tilled <strong>the</strong> barren soil <strong>of</strong> Berneray<br />
until <strong>the</strong> meagreness <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir garner compelled <strong>the</strong>m to seekmore<br />
congenial pastures. Came a time when <strong>the</strong><br />
community was divided (so <strong>the</strong> legend goes) into two groups<br />
—a l<strong>and</strong> group, under <strong>the</strong> direction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sun, <strong>and</strong> a<br />
maritime group, guided in its activities by moon <strong>and</strong> stars.<br />
And it was when <strong>the</strong> sea colony <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> MacAndy sept<br />
rebuked <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong> colony for <strong>the</strong> manner in which it<br />
conducted its affairs that, by <strong>the</strong> magic touch <strong>of</strong> a Druid<br />
w<strong>and</strong>, <strong>the</strong> former was placed ' under spell,' as a result <strong>of</strong><br />
which <strong>the</strong> members composing it were forced to forfeit <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
human form for that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wedge-tailed lack or widgeon.<br />
To this very day <strong>the</strong> old inhabitants <strong>of</strong> Boreray <strong>and</strong><br />
Pabbay <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> numberless isl<strong>and</strong>s imperilling <strong>the</strong> course <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> navigator in <strong>the</strong> Sound <strong>of</strong> Harris will be telling you<br />
weird yarns concerning <strong>the</strong> MacAndys <strong>of</strong> Berneray; <strong>and</strong>,<br />
whenever <strong>the</strong>y see a bird <strong>of</strong> long, pointed wing <strong>and</strong> wedgeshaped<br />
tail, gliding buoyantly on <strong>the</strong> tide, or flying<br />
apparently without exertion through <strong>the</strong> air, <strong>the</strong>y will be<br />
wishing that <strong>the</strong> lot <strong>of</strong> those who till in barren, stony<br />
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