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

CHAPTER XXI
WITCH TALES AND THE EVIL EYE
COMPARATIVELY speaking, witch tales are not
common throughout the Highlands and Islands.
They are by no means as numerous as are faery
tales, or tales of the water-horse, for instance. In the
Hebrides only a few tales of witches and witchcraft
survive; and these in the main are but variations of witch
tales to be found elsewhere on the mainland.
Of all the Islands, Skye is perhaps the one with the most
interesting witch lore. Somewhat more than half a
century ago—in 1880, to be precise—these elusive hags
were causing considerable commotion on that Island. In
the autumn of that year, certain leading members of the Free
Kirk at Uig petitioned against a mother and daughter who
" by evil arts take the milk from the neighbours' cows."
An office-bearer of the same congregation made a solemn
declaration a year later, before a justice of the peace at Uig,
that a sinister woman dwelling next door to him was in
the habit of bewitching everything he possessed.
The Three Witches of Camus tianavaig.
There lived in the township of Camustianavaig three
witches, whom the natives of Skye consulted whenever they
wished to do a bad turn to anyone toward whom they felt
inimical ; and from all accounts these witches were seldom
loth to allow themselves to be hired for this purpose.
The story is still told in Skye of the skipper of a wellfound
fishing boat, who was desirous of having his revenge
on a rival crew. One evening, therefore, when his boat was
anchored at Portree for revictualling purposes, he took the
opportunity of wandering off to Camustianavaig to confer
with the witches. On arrival at their house, he discovered
that only two of the witches were at home. Anxious to
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