The Scottish Celtic review
The Scottish Celtic review The Scottish Celtic review
136 The Muileartach.13. Stii'iramaiche, in the Hebrides, denotes the steersman of a particularboat, stiuradair a steersman generally.14. Rhymes or "runs" (ruitheannan) , such as this and those preceding, inthe description of the sea-journey, are common in Gaelic Tales, and are madeuse of by the reciter on every suitable occasion. Tliey are more or less full,according to the skill of the reciter.15. The version which the reciter himself gave, is evidently very much fallento pieces. It is bald in Gaelic, and much more so in English. Translations,at the best, have not the "taste" (bias) of the original.16. This vpord and Arrackt, which is used by other reciters, is most probablyfrom athar (the air), and merely denotes an aerial phenomenon.17. This is a piece taken unconsciously by the reciter from another Fianballad, called Ailvinn or lorghuin.18. In various printed versions of the tale, this hillock is called tulaich oirill,which may be correct.19. The meaning of this line is not very clear ; and it is a meie matter ofinference from the sound and collocation of the letters, that they denote somemonstrous, lumbering, heavy-moving object, rocking from side to side.20. This word, like some others, is conventionally used both in a masculineand feminine form.21. Other versions, such as that given by Mr. Campbell in his West HighlandTales, vol. iii., 135, make the indemnity ten hundred instead of eighthundred of each article. They all agree in making fine-coloured flags, anddogs, and gold, part of the ransom.22. Conair mheangain,\s most probably coin air mheangain (dogs on branches),i.e., on withes, or leashes, a most valualjle ransom in the days of the Irishwolf-hounds and stag-hounds. In the Long Island, among the Eoman Catholicpopulation, a rosary is called Conair Mhoire, the beads of S. Mary. Meangainis the designation of a certain kind of heather (fraoch -meangain), and universallyin the Highlands, ineangan means a branch, so that the expression maydenote some kind of bead. In early times, before the days of coinage, and tothe present day among savage tribes, beads are valuable as a circulatingmedium, and as personal ornaments.In regard to " close" searchers, the existence of fiondrvine as a name of ametal renders it highly probable that a tribute of it was here meant. Thereciter did not know the meaning of the words, though, as in other instancesof popular recitation, the sound of the correct words is retained.In the Island of Tiree, pins or small .skewers—of some composite metalresembling bronze—about three inches in length, are occasionally found. Theyare called by the natives, Prlne fionndrainn.The " close " searchers may be the smaller dogs.The short haired men are doubtlessly slaves or bondsmen, long hair beingmuch affected by Chiefs.23. Thinman (Caoilte) is more commonly called Mac Eonain. He was theweakest, but the fastest of the Fian band.
—The Muileartach. 13724. The meaning of the word age (aois) is not evident.25. In tradition Cuchulin is not mentioned in connection with the Fians.The lays about himself or his chariot are different from anything to be foundin Macpherson.With our explanation, in our introductory remarks, of this tale as a myth,descriptive of a contest between the Sea violently invading the Land, andHuman Might, will fall to be compared an auecdote frequently met with,also further illustrative of the popular view of the Fians as the representativesof bodily strength. One of the Fians {aon de'n Fheinn), looking atthe sea breaking in foam, was told that it was laughing at him. He wasfor rushing out to chastise it.The idea of personification is, however, entirely lost sight of by reciters,and it belongs to the poet's skill that, while his words are singularly descriptiveof the augi-y Sea, such should be the case. The last lines, enclosedwithin brackets, written down iu 1870, from the dictation of James Cameron,a native of Morven resident in Coll, is illustrative of this, and of the mannerin which modern ideas become involved with old tradition.John G. Campbell.The Manse, Tiree.NOTES ON THE TUAIRISGEUL MOR.No. 1, p. 61.This curious and valuable tale consists of two distinct storiesthe one dealing with the adventures of the hero in search of theTuairisgeul Mor, the other being the recital of the old man. Thefirst belongs to what may be called the "task" group of Marchen,in which the fulfilment by the hero of a given task is the mainincident; the second to the "calumniated wife" group. Theconnection between the two is very well managed, and the wholetale is of the greatest interest. The opening incident is especiallyCeltic in character ; the hill upon which the hero goes to huntmay be compared to that upon which Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed,walks, and to which it is peculiar "that whoever sits upon itcannot go thence without either receiving wounds or blows, orelse seeing a wonder " (Mahinogion, p. 344). The same magichill appears in Campbell, 38; Murachaidh MacBrian; and inGonnala of the Golden Hair; Joyce, Celtic Romances, No. 4.In each case the hill is haunted by a supernatural maiden of greatbeaut}' ; in the Mabinogi, as in our story, she is on horseback ;inJoyce and Campbell on foot apparently-, but unaccompanied in allthree versions. The coming of the magician out of a shower fromthe west may be compared to the opening of Campbell, 52, The
- Page 96 and 97: —m Thr L,nrs,.f Aiishnii nt Irish
- Page 98 and 99: 88 TliC Luivn of Aitdaut in Irish.H
- Page 100 and 101: :. . Aeda—'.ID Tlic Linvs of A as
- Page 102 and 103: ;92 77«_' Lav.v of Aadant in Irish
- Page 104 and 105: —^•iTIte Laivs of Auslaut in Ir
- Page 106 and 107: ni9G Tlie Laws of Auxlaat in Iridi.
- Page 108 and 109: —;98 The Laivs of Auslaid in Iris
- Page 110 and 111: —;100 The Lau-s of Auslaut in Iri
- Page 112 and 113: —102 'The Laws of Ah da at in Iri
- Page 114 and 115: :104 The Laws of Aushmt in Irish.1.
- Page 116 and 117: —106 The Laws of Auslaut in Irish
- Page 118 and 119: lOS (Tuelk and JvixjUsli ; or, the
- Page 120 and 121: 110 Gaelic and English ; or, the Af
- Page 122 and 123: 112 Gaelic and English; or, the A§
- Page 124 and 125: 114 Gaelic and English.\34. Cno and
- Page 126 and 127: 116 The Mioileartach.that word. Of
- Page 128 and 129: —118 The MiulcarttKh.A! MHUILEART
- Page 130 and 131: —uda—120 The Mivilcartach.Cha b
- Page 132 and 133: ;:122 The Muileartach.oirre. Rinn i
- Page 134 and 135: ;;124 Tli.e Micileartach.A' cheathn
- Page 136 and 137: ;126 The Muileartach.'S chaidh i st
- Page 138 and 139: ";——128 The Muileartach.She.'Th
- Page 140 and 141: —130 The Muileartach.laughing-sto
- Page 142 and 143: —;;132 The Muilearfach.At the out
- Page 144 and 145: ;:134 The MuileurtackWith winds har
- Page 148 and 149: 138 Notes on the Tuairisgeul Mor.Kn
- Page 150 and 151: —"1-iONotes cm the Tuairisgeul Mb
- Page 152 and 153: ;;;142 Miann a Bhaird Aosda.Brisead
- Page 154 and 155: ;;;;144 Miann a' Bhaird Aosda.O !^i
- Page 156 and 157: ;;14r, Thp Whh of the Aged Bard.My
- Page 158 and 159: pleasantmaidenhast!UH 'The Wish uf
- Page 160 and 161: 150 Notca on Gaelic Grautinar and O
- Page 162 and 163: !152 yote« oil Gaelic Gramuiur ait
- Page 164 and 165: !154 Notes on Gaelic Grammar and Or
- Page 166 and 167: 156 Notes on Gaelic Grammar and Ort
- Page 168 and 169: ! chaomh" Farewell the bright cloud
- Page 170 and 171: s:mm:—:d'.MACRIMMUN'S LAMENT.—"
- Page 172 and 173: 162 Ess-roygh.A reithzin hwUe gi ro
- Page 174 and 175: '*—;—164 L'as-Ruaidh.'UGHDAR SO
- Page 176 and 177: ;;—;;—166 Eas-Ruaidh.Fhieagair
- Page 178 and 179: (to"1()!S; "Eas-Rixaidh.(jled nach
- Page 180 and 181: ;170 Eas-Ruaidh.De thuinn mar 'thai
- Page 182 and 183: ''=mod.172 Eas-Ruaidh.Gar mhath an
- Page 184 and 185: —;—174 Eaa-Ruaidh.The following
- Page 186 and 187: '176 Tir-fa-Tonn.—" TIR-FA-TONN."
- Page 188 and 189: 178 Fin Mac Coid.the words of the p
- Page 190 and 191: 180 Fin Mac Cuid.cha d'fhuair e ni
- Page 192 and 193: "182 Fin Mac Coal.o chadal. " Ciama
- Page 194 and 195: 184 Fin Mac Coid.d'rainig iad cala
—<strong>The</strong> Muileartach. 13724. <strong>The</strong> meaning of the word age (aois) is not evident.25. In tradition Cuchulin is not mentioned in connection with the Fians.<strong>The</strong> lays about himself or his chariot are different from anything to be foundin Macpherson.With our explanation, in our introductory remarks, of this tale as a myth,descriptive of a contest between the Sea violently invading the Land, andHuman Might, will fall to be compared an auecdote frequently met with,also further illustrative of the popular view of the Fians as the representativesof bodily strength. One of the Fians {aon de'n Fheinn), looking atthe sea breaking in foam, was told that it was laughing at him. He wasfor rushing out to chastise it.<strong>The</strong> idea of personification is, however, entirely lost sight of by reciters,and it belongs to the poet's skill that, while his words are singularly descriptiveof the augi-y Sea, such should be the case. <strong>The</strong> last lines, enclosedwithin brackets, written down iu 1870, from the dictation of James Cameron,a native of Morven resident in Coll, is illustrative of this, and of the mannerin which modern ideas become involved with old tradition.John G. Campbell.<strong>The</strong> Manse, Tiree.NOTES ON THE TUAIRISGEUL MOR.No. 1, p. 61.This curious and valuable tale consists of two distinct storiesthe one dealing with the adventures of the hero in search of theTuairisgeul Mor, the other being the recital of the old man. <strong>The</strong>first belongs to what may be called the "task" group of Marchen,in which the fulfilment by the hero of a given task is the mainincident; the second to the "calumniated wife" group. <strong>The</strong>connection between the two is very well managed, and the wholetale is of the greatest interest. <strong>The</strong> opening incident is especially<strong>Celtic</strong> in character ; the hill upon which the hero goes to huntmay be compared to that upon which Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed,walks, and to which it is peculiar "that whoever sits upon itcannot go thence without either receiving wounds or blows, orelse seeing a wonder " (Mahinogion, p. 344). <strong>The</strong> same magichill appears in Campbell, 38; Murachaidh MacBrian; and inGonnala of the Golden Hair; Joyce, <strong>Celtic</strong> Romances, No. 4.In each case the hill is haunted by a supernatural maiden of greatbeaut}' ; in the Mabinogi, as in our story, she is on horseback ;inJoyce and Campbell on foot apparently-, but unaccompanied in allthree versions. <strong>The</strong> coming of the magician out of a shower fromthe west may be compared to the opening of Campbell, 52, <strong>The</strong>
Change language