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

THE PEAT-FIRE FLAME
Scotland at the time of " the Fifteen." This particular
warrior, when on the point of leaving his home for Sheriffmuir,
buried all his treasure in a corrie above Scamadale
known as Coire Scamadale. The precise position of the
treasure could be located only by the light of the moon when
visible from a certain spot. This warrior's name was Rory
Mor. At Sherififmuir he was a casualty ; and so his treasure
still lies hidden in Coire Scamadale.
A native of the district, who now resides by the shores
of Loch Nevis, the fiord to the south of Loch Hourn. is
known to have spent many moonlight nights in search of
this treasure. It is told of this man that, when chasing a
hind in the corrie one day, his foot touched a spot at which
it seemed as though the treasure lay, judging by the jingling
sound he heard. But he was too intent at the time in
pursuing his quarry, and thought now that in any case he
could identify the spot with ease. The hind got away from
him ; and, when he endeavoured to return to the spot where
he thought his foot had disturbed the treasure of Rory Mor,
he could not find it. Never before was man more regretful
that he had not let the hind go her own way earlier in the
chase.
On the last day of 1935, I sailed up Loch Nevis with the
mail-boat from Mallaig. Among the secluded places by the
shore at which we called was Camusrory, where a small
boat came out to meet us, rowed by the official postman of
this remote and scattered township. When we had handed
to the boatman the New Year mails and odds and ends of
merchandise, and had taken from him such outward mails
as he had to give us, I learnt that his name was John
MacPherson, and that this was the very man who, while
living near Scamadale, used to search the corrie for Rory
Mor's treasure.
Kegs of Gold Coin.
There are few matters upon which the opinions of
authorities differ so widely and so violently as on matters
of history. It has been disputed, for example, as to where
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