The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands

THE PEAT-FIRE FLAME
century, laid waste the Outer Isles, and also considerable
tracts of the mainland, with fire and sword. According to
the Sagas, it was in 1098 that Magnus " went with the
fire " through Uist, and that " fire played in the fig-trees "
in Lewis.
The ensuing folk-tales are typical of many that are
recounted yet in the Highlands and Islands, and by a people
jealous for its traditions, and justifiably proud of the
qualities it has inherited from those dauntless, blue-eyed
colonisers who, centuries ago, came across the northern
seas in their galleys.
The Death of Sweno.
There was a king of Lochlann who had a son named
Sweno; and on a day Sweno, the king's son, sailed the seas
with a doughty crew, and much bright gold aboard. By
his step-mother, a wise woman who could envisage disaster,
he had been warned to steer clear of Cape Wrath, of Pol
Dubh, and of Pol Darrachgawn.
On and on sailed Sweno and his doughty men, until at
length they arrived at Port an Shivanaig, Sweno's Port.
At the time of dropping anchor, they did not know what
land they had made. Their arrival, however, occasioned
fear and consternation among the inhabitants of this
northern land. With soot from their pots and swees, the
inhabitants blackened their faces, and in other ways
prepared themselves for any untoward contingency. In
their small boats they rowed out to the strange ship from
Lochlann ;
and eventually they were able to convey to Sweno
that he had come to a place called Pol Gawn.
" The Lord have mercy on my soul," said Sweno, " if
indeed this be Pol Gawn !
" So he directed his crew to
weigh anchor and spread sail. Yet, though they attempted
to stand out to sea, the men of Assynt and of the Isles
hindered them. They boarded Sweno's ship in great
numbers, and demanded of him that he should surrender
both himself and his cargo.
But the Lochlannaich—the men from Lochlann— felt
otherwise disposed. Above deck and below, they fought
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