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

CHAPTER XXIII
FOLK-TALES OF THE '15 AND THE '45
may be said without fear of serious contradiction that
ITthe Risings of 1715 and 1745, culminating as they did
in the final overthrow of the Jacobites at Culloden,
constitute the only outstanding phase of Scottish history
since the arrival of Columba, or of Ninian. The Scottish
War of Independence with all its adventures of Wallace
and Bruce, the Cromwellian activities north of the Tweed,
the Union of the Crowns and, later, of the ParHaments,
were all important in their way ; but not one of them raised
Scotland out of the drab, monotonous succession of minor
battles and political intrigues and skirmishes. Bannockburn,
it is true, has its peculiar significance for every Scot the
world over; but the rout of Edward was of less consequence
even to Scotland than Culloden—the last and greatest outburst
of Highland chivalry.
It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that these attempts
to regain a kingdom forfeited, as we know, by crass
intolerance and imprudence, should have given rise to a
wealth of folk-tale and tradition of a most fascinating
nature. So indelible an impression did " the Forty-five "
make upon the people of Scotland that to this day it is quite
a usual occurrence to come in contact with natives of the
Highlands and Islands who speak of Prince Charlie as
though they had known him intimately. I, myself, have
met many such persons in the Hebrides.
The following is but a selection from the lesser known
folk-tales of that period.
Hidden Treasure.
There is a tradition that in the Feadan Mdr, or Great
Chanter, a gully situated on the west of Sutherland, there
lies concealed a hogshead of gold said to have been sent
from France to finance the arduous undertaking of the
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