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

THE PEAT-FIRE FLAME
the Ell-maid of Dimstaffnage. This Ell-maid habitually
apprised the Castle's inmates by the nature of her cries
whether an event impending was to be a joyous one or a
sorrowful one. Once a stranger came to visit a friend at
Dunstaffnage, and was persuaded to tarry the night. But
so much did the Ell-maid resent his tarrying that thrice
during the night she stripped the bed-clothes off him, and
otherwise kept him awake by pacing heavily up and down
the corridor adjoining his apartment. Her footfalls, it is
said, were as heavy and deliberate as those of a ponderous
man.
The Glaistig of Dunollie.
The MacDougalls also had in constant residence at
Dunollie a Glaistig, whose particular function was the
washing of the family's clothes. Linen and garments left
out for her at night, just as boots and shoes are placed
outside bedroom doors in hotels, were replaced by wakingtime,
all beautifully washed, and duly starched and ironed
when necessary.
The Glaistig's favourite among the staff of the Castle
was MacDougall's amadan or fool, to whom she gave
exceptional latitude, and whom she often shielded when
other members of the household upbraided him. Of
evenings this Glaistig could be seen on her way up the steep
path that to this day leads from the shore-road to the ivyclad
ruins of Dunollie.
The Water-imp of Lochaber.
Of a disposition less amiable than that of the
Glaistigs aforementioned was the water-imp Glaistig, a
creature half-woman and half-goat in form, haunting
lonely lochs and rivers. In Lochaber there is a tale told of
how a certain Big Kennedy of Lianachan encountered such
a Glaistig, when on his way home on horseback at dead of
night. Having seized her. Big Kennedy placed her in the
saddle in front of him, with the belt of his sword securely
fastened round her waist. When daybreak came, he
reddened his plough-coulter in the fire, and forced the
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