Mediaeval times

* " Uist Bards," by Rev. A. MacDonald, Klltarlity

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* " Uist Bards," by Rev. A. MacDonald, Klltarlity.

Cha bu ghlas bho'n a' chuan thu, Cha bu duaichnidli do dhreach, Ged a dh' èireadh muir tuaireap, Agus stuadhana cas, 'Bagradh reef oirr' le soirbheas, Le stoirm 'us droch fhras, Bha do mhisneach cho làidir, 'S bho do làmhsa cho maith.

Cha robh do leithid ri fhaighinn Eadar so 'a a' Chaoir-dhearg. Eadar Lite no Barraidh, 'N dean iad taghal no falbh ; Cha robh maighistear soithich 'Chuala gliocas do làmh, Nach bi faighneachd am V fhiosrach C àite'm faicte do bhàt,

Ged bhiodh cìosnaich mhar' ann, A bhuaileadh barraibh a crann, Chuireadh fodh' i gu 'slataibh, 'S luaithe h-astar na long ; Tha i aotrom aigeannach, 'G èirigh eadar gach gleann, Muir a' bualadh mu "darach, A' fuasgladh reangan 'us lann.

An iùrach àluinn aighearaich,

'S i ri gabhail a' chuain,

I ruith cho dìreach ri saighead,

'S gaoth 'na h-aghaidh gu cruaidh ;

Ged bhiodh stoirm chlachan-meallainn

Ann's cathadh a tuath,

Nì fear Heisgir a gabhail,

Làmh nach athadh roimh stuaidh,

The song describes the sea and the skill of the commander, but like many of our fine Gaelic songs the air has never, so far as I am aware, been published, and is now difficult to procure. Now is the time to bring all these remnants to light before being lost for ever. There is a good deal to be picked up yet in the Outer Hebrides, and I have no doubt one or two more of Rachel's songs among them. However, should she never have composed any other song but " Oran fir Heiskir," it entitles her to be ranked among our Highland poetesses.
AILEAN DOMHNU LLACH. (allan macdonald.) Allan MacDonald was born at Allt-an-SiothaiL, in Lochaber, in 1794, and described his pedigree as follows: -He was a son of Alastair Mac-Aonghais, Mhic Alastair Bhàin, Mhic Alastair Mhòir, Mhic Aonghais a' Bhochdain, Mhic Aonghais Mhòir, Both-Fhiunntain, Mhic Alastair, Mhic Iain Dubh, Mhic Raonaill Mhòir na Ceapaich. His father was a drover, and lived at Achadh-nan-Coinnichean, in Glenspean. His mother was Mary Campbell, a daughter of Donald, son of black John, who lived at Achadh-a-Mhadaidh, in Glenroy. He was a shepherd with Iain Bàn MacDonell (MacDonald) of Inch. He married Catherine Nic Mhurich, and emigrated to Canada in 1816, lived a while at Cape Breton, and left it in 1847, and went to reside by the river south of Antigonish, where he died in 1868. Having lived some time at Cape Bieton,

the Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair picked up a good deal of information from him. He had a great many old Highland songs and stories, and took a great interest in the history and tradition of the Highlands. He was a fine, honest, and truthful man, and an excellent poet. One of his compositions was a beautiful lament for Alastair Mac-Donald, who was drowned at Merigonish in 1830, the first stanza of which is as follows.* It extends to 66 lines :—
* See Mr William MacKenzie's description of this
bard In the Highland News of Oct. 21st, 1899.
+ Dedicated to the Gaelic Society of London.

Tha sgeul truagh a's cruaidh ri aithris Tigh'nn air ra' aire an dràsta, Sgeul a chualas mu na chailleach, Alastair a bhàthadh : Cha b' e 'n sòlas dhuit e' Dhòmhnaill; Gur h-e leòn 'a a chràidh thu, An corp ciatach 'bu ghlan fiamh A bhi gun dròn's an t-sàile.

There are other two Nova Scotia Gaelic poets that may be mentioned in this place. John MacDonald, the hunter, and Alex. MacDonald, a native of Moidart, who lives at Keppoch, Anti-gonish. The following is the title and a stanza of John MacDonald's song :—

" Oran a rinneadh le Iain Dòmhnallach, an sealgair, mu shia bliadhna an deigh dha tighinn do'n dùthaich so."

Mi 'n so 'am aonar is tric m' smaointinn

Gur h-iomad caochladh tigh'nn air an t-sluagh ;

Cha chòir do dhaoine 'bhi gòrach daonnan,

Ged bhios iad aotrom an dara h-uair.

A ruith an t-saoghail's gun ann ach faoineis,

E mar a' ghaoth 'bhios ag aomadh uait;

Le gheallaidh briagach gur beag a's fiach e,

'Nuair thèid do thiodhlaiceadh anns an uaigh.

Alexander MacDonald's " Oran molaidh do Mhàiri nighean Alastair Dhach-an-fhasaidh "— song in praise of Mary, daughter of Alexander of Dochanassie—extends to 66 lines, as follows :—

Air dhomh 'bhi'm aonar

Troimh aonach nam beann,

Gu'n d' ghleus mi na teudan

'S gun tè dhuibh air chall.

Gur seinn mar bu mhiann leam

'Chur rian air {rach rann,

Do nigh'n duinn a' chuil shniomhain,

So shios anns a' ghleann.

'S Ban-Chamshronach chinnteach An ribhinn ghlan òg, Dhe'n fhine cho rìoghail 'S a chinn 'san Roinn-Eòrp'! Gn'm b' ainmeil 'n an tìm iad Rì'n inns' anns gach seòl; 'S math 'sheas iad Sir Eòghann, Làmh theòm' air cheann slòigh. I

*" Glen Bard Collection," by Rev. A. MacLean Sinclair.

t From MacLean Sinclair's "Gaelic Bards."

I am informed by Professor MacKinnon that an able Gaelic scholar named Gilbert MacDonald, who resided in Edinburgh early in the present century, translated " The Confession oi Faith,' and was well known to the late Duncan M'Laren M.P., who took lessons from him to refresh his Gaelic.
SEUMAS DONULLACH

(james macdonald).

This excellent writer of lyric poetry was born in September, 1807, in the parish of Fintry, Stirlingshire. His father was employed at the cotton factory of Cuimrich. MacDonald showed early signs of precocity, which attracted the attention of two of his paternal uncles, who were sufficiently well-off to provide James with a liberal education. Having acquired the rudiments of learning at Culcruich, he afterwards studied at the Grammar School of Stirling, and proceeded to the University of Glasgow in 1822, where he intended studying for the ministry of the Established Church, and attended the Divinity Hall for three sessions. Ihe church not being to his taste, he abandoned the study of theology and took to educational pursuits. After teaching in several boarding establishments he became corrector of the press in the printing office of Messrs Blackie of Glasgow. Having suffered in health through close confinement in town, he was induced to accept the appointment of Free Church schoolmaster at Blairgowrie, but he never recovered his health. Continuing to decline he removed to the village of Catrine, in Ayrshire, where he died on the 27th of May, 1848.* He was a devoted teacher of Sabbath Schools, and his only separate publications are two collections of hymns for their use. The following is a specimen cf his poetry :—

MARY.

The winter's cauld and cheerless blast

May rob the feckless tree, Mary And lay the young flowers in the dust,

Where once they bloomed in glee, Mary. It canna chill my bosom's hopes;

It canna alter thee, Mary; The summer o' thy winsome face

Is aye the same to me, Mary.

The gloom o' life, its cruel strife,

May wear me fast awa', Mary ; An' leave me like a cauld, cauld corpse,

* From the Rev. Charles Rogers' " Scottish Poets.

Among the drifting snaw, Mary.

yet 'mid the drift, wert thou but nigh,

I'd fauld my weary e'e, Mary. And deem the wild and raging storm

A laverock's song o' glee, Mary.

My heart can lie in ruin's dust.

And fortune's winter dree, Mary; While o'er it shines the diamond gay

That glances frae thine e'e, Mary. The rending pangs and woes o' life,

The dreary din o' care, Mary. I'll welcome, gin they lea'e but thee,

My lonely lot to share, Mary.

As o'er yon hill the evening star

Is wilin' day awa', Mary, Sae sweet and fair art thou to me,

At life's sad gloamin' fa, Mary; It gars me greet wi' vera joy,

When'er I think on thee, Mary, That sic a heart sae true as thine,

Should e'er ha'e cared for me, Mary.

Other poems by the same author are—" Bonnie Aggie Lang " (30 lines), and " The Pride o' the Glen" (40 lines), both indicating a certain amount of poetic talent. Had our poet only lived longer, he would, doubtless, have produced many poems.
DAVID MACDONALD, INVERNESS.

Sixty-one years ago, in July, 1838, David MacDonald published a book of poems and songs at Inverness, which is now very scarce, entitled "The Mountain Heath," dedicated to Macintosh of Macintosh, chief of Cian Chattan, embracing 37 poems, and 18 songs in English, and 2 songs in Gaelic.

From remarks in several of the poems he evidently resided in London. There is no clue in the work as to what particular part of the country he belonged, or anything regarding his parentage, but from his frequent references to Inverness I presume he belonged to Inverness* or its vicinity, and that he was in a manner a disappointed man.

The work opens with " The Goddess Scotiaf " in which the following lines occur :—

When fancy dictates to poetic mind, The soul sustains the first impressive part—

Hence is the bard to solitude inclined, To breathe the feelings of the pregnant heart, And soothe the sting of poverty's keen dart.

Perhaps it is to meditate on love, Which from his station meets but with disdain ;

No selfish interest his spirits move, Oft times the wrongs of others give him pain, The equal rights of man he will maintain.

His wounded spirit oft is wont to swell, 'Gainstfools, who treat theirfellows with contempt,

And do assert that all must go to hell, From which the knaves themselves will be exempt, They've tamed the snake which did in Eden tempi.

The poem extends to 51 stanzas or 255 lines, and shows considerable acquaintance with the poets and heroes of Scottish history. At the 33rd stanza he skilfully brings in the following lines to the air of " Ho ro nighean 'chinn duinn àluinn."

0 ! silent is (he harp of Ossian, Ossian, son of mighty Fingol, •

Silent is the harp of Ossian,— Ossian's harp no more shall jingle.

The song consists of 4 verses and after the next stanza of the poem there are other 4 verses of a song to the air of " Of a' the airts the win' can blaw."

The next poem is an " Answer to a poem by ' Sam Snooks,' wherein he ridicules the Highlanders," in which he begins :

Proud crested land of mountains, wild and waste, Of woodland, lake, and cultivated glen,

Of heather, pine, and landscape scenes the best, Of sweetest women, and of finest men,

Birth-place of heroes, patriots, valiant true, Whose free born souls did Roman pride rebuke

Norsemen and Danes, full sorely made they rue— The yoke of Saxons never would they brook, But made them tremble when they arms uptook."

Then he goes into the history of Scottish prowess in war, mentioning especially the Highlanders in the wars of the last century, and up to Waterloo. His address to Lochness begins—

Hail Queen of lakes! whose beauteous bosom charms The eyes of all who view thy clear expanse,

Where hither from their ocean-bed in swarms, The salmon, love-sick for thy waters, dance.

Other poems of more or less merit are " Golden age at Inverness," " On visiting my native land," "The Ravens Rock," "The Invernessian Lasses " (humorous), " To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland," " The Pang—Farewell," "The Castle of Inverness," consisting of 110 verses, or 440 lines, beginning—

On yon green hill by Nessia's banks,

The ancient castle stood, Where Duncan, King of Albin's land,

Was murdered in cool blood.

From whence th' immortal Shakespeare drew That bloody scene of death,

With all the guilty terrors which Was pourtrayed in Macbeth.
* Iu an old print of the time of James the IV., A.D. 1513, the piper has only ono drone.

Where lovely Mary, Queen of Scots,

Once sought a safe retreat, Denied admittance, who was forc'd

To lodge in open street.

Another long poem of 119 verses on "The origin, birth, life, death, and resurrection of Sam Snooks" in which he is very severely handled indeed, as will be seen by the opening stanza :—

In some detested heathen spot,

'Twixt H—11 and Aberdeen, Was born the imlastic puppy, Snooks,

Of most infernal kin.

There are also several poems to private individuals. Of the songs "The Battleof Blàr Lèine," to the air of " Johnny Cope," is rather good; so is " The old Highlander," to the air of "A famous Man was Robin Hood "; " Bonnie Fanny," to the air of " Monymusk "; " Cambri Jean," to the air of " Ho mo Mhàiri Laghach "; "Nymph of the Forest," to the air of " Màiri Bhàn Og"; " Bonnie Annie," to the air of " Maid of Islay"; and several other-. Of the two Gaelic songs " Blàr Allt a' Bhonnaich,"* to the air of "John of Badenyon," is the best. It begins :—

1 Bha Sasnaich bho linn nan clann Le barail fhaoin aig earbsa, Uu'n sàradh iad le treunas làmh, Fo chìs dhaibh rìoghachd Alba ; Ach's fasa ni a rùnachadh, Na cùis a chur 'an gnìomh dhuinn — 'S b' ionann dhoibhsan dh' aindeoin dùrachd, Bha gach ionnsuidh dìomhain

5 Aig Allt-a' Bhonnaich thachair sliochd Na t*asunn a's na h-Alba ;

'San òrdugh cath gu'n deachaidh iad Gu'n treunatus a dhearbhadh ; Deich mìle fichead Albanach, 'S'm breaeanan mu'n guaillibh ; Ciad's lath-chiad mìle Sasunnach, 'S gu'n d' fhàg am meatachd fuar iad.

6 Bho thìr an Eilein Sgiathanach, Bho Uist agus Cnoideart,

'S bho Ghleannagaraidh morbheinneach, .

Nam fiadh, nan earb, 's nan ruadh dhamh ;

Bho 'n Oileanaich is bho Bharasdail,

'S bho frìthibh Gleanna-Comhainn,

Le crannaibh-tàraidh siùbhlanach,

Ghrad chruinnich neart Chlann Dòmhnuill,

* The battle of Bannockburn.

14 'Nuair theann na bàird ri brosnachadh, 'S na pìobairean ri sèideadh. Chuir sgeulachd's ceòl an sinnsridh, Na Gàidheal air lon ghleusadh : Le 'n lannan mòra, suas gu còmhrag, Ghluais na seòid, 's cha b' iognadh, A ghearradh feòil nan daoine beò, 'S air creubhag cha robh caomhnadh.

15 Fuil Shasunn ruith 'na caochannan, 'S na Gàidheil sìor 'ga dòirteadh ; 'S air son gach dochuinn 'dh' fhuiling Alb' Thug Allt-a' Bhonnaich tòireachd ; Bha glaic an uillt lom làn de chuirp, Mar chruachan a 'ni blàr-mòintich. Is caolanan a'm bronnaichean, A' brùchdadh mach troimh 'n còmhdach.

18 'Se Dia nan dul 'rinn cuideachadh Le luchd nam breacan fèilidh; 'S cha mhòr a thuit dhiubh anns a' bhlàr, Is na bha beò cha ghèilleadh ; Sud mar chroìchnaich an cath, 'Nis cuircam chrìoch air m' òran— Mu'n a' bhlàr bha 'n Allt-a' Bhonnaich, 'S ioma corp bha fuar ann !

The clans are also well described in the song, which keeps the war-like spirit up to the end. The other Gaelic song is a " Marbhrann "—elegy —for Alexander MacGillivray, do the air of " Highland Mary," consisting of five stanzas in the usual melancholy strain, and couched in appropriate language.

In the 6th stanza of the poem, or song, on the battle of Bannockburn, fought in 1314, it relates that there were present men from Skye, Uist, and Knoydart, from Glengarry of the high mountains of the deer and roe, from Keppocli, Barasdail, and the wilds of Glencoe, and that the enemy felt the strength of the Cian Donald. In the 14th stanza it says that when the bards began to encourage the clans, the pipers began to blow their pipes—these were probably the horns mentioned by some historians that were blown. It this was the first time that Lowlanders had heard the pipes in battle, they might readily have been mistaken for horns, as they probably would only have two drones, or perhaps only one.*

I have frequently seen it mentioned that by the historians who detailed the battle of Harlaw, fought in 1411, no mention is made of the bagpipes. We know that Lachlan Mòr Mac Mhurich delivered his famous harangue on that occasion to remind the MacDonalds of their hardihood in the hour of battle, but the pipes were also played. I find in the Rev. James MacKenzie's History of Scotland the following passage: -" A fierce Chieftain, Donald, Lord of the Isles, thought he had a claim to the Earldom of Ross. The Earl of Buehan claimed it too, Donald raised an army of 10,000 men, and almost the first tidings which the governor (Duke of Albany) heard of him was, that tlie fires of the Highland army were blazing in the heart of Ross. The Lord of the Isles was met at Dingwall by a force of the Earl of Buchan's men ; but tìlis little army after a fierce struggle was almost entirely cut to pieces.

Donald swept onward, spreading havoc before t him. He over-ran the fertile province of Moray, , advanced through Strathbogie, and from thence I broke into the district of the Garioch, I threatening to make Scotland a desert to the shores of the Tay. The Garioch belonged to the Earl of Mar, a warrior of determined spirit and great experience. Enraged at the havoc made on his territory. Mar got together a force. The burgesses of Aberdeen took down their swords, put on their steel caps, unfurled the banner of the city, and with the Provost at their head, marched with the Earl of Mar. The two armies encountered each other at the village of Harlaw, near the place where the water of Ury falls into the Don. With piobroclis deafening to hear, the Highland host came down." We know also that the pipes were played at the first battle of Inver-lochy in a.d. 1431, and that a piobroch was com-

jsed on the occasion. Besides being at annockburn, I find that in a.d. 1390, during the reign of Robert III., the king and a great assemblage of nobles witnessed the combat between the cian Chattan and the cian Kay at the " Inch " of Perth, where sixty Highlanders— thirty from epch cian—settled an old dispute by the judgment of battle, and on that occasion each cian " stalked into the barriers to the sound of their great war-pipes." These facts should settle the question as to the ancient custom of playing the bagpipes in battle.

There can be no doubt as to the antiquity of the bagpipes; it was well-known among the Arabians, and has been found sculptured at Nineveh. It was also known in Babylon " The Assyrians took it to India, whilst there is great probability of its having been played in the Temple service at Jerusalem. It was used in this country after the Roman conquest, if not earlier, and Procopius, A.D., 500, informs us that it was classed as an instrument of war by the Roman infantry. So in all probability it was used in this country centuries before the battle of Bannockburn.

IAIN MAC DHOMHNUILL.

(john macdonald.)

I am indebted to the late Mr Archibald Sinclair, Glasgow, the editor of "An t-Oranaiche," for the following notes regarding the subject of this sketch, viz. :—John MacDonald, a native of Mail, who resided some time in Lome, as indicated in the first verse of his song " Cha mhòr nach coma leam cogadh no sìth." He was a bard of considerable repute, and composed some excellent songs. He is said to have died about 50 years ago. It seems that he acted as a sort of general and handy-man among farmers, and undertook some veterinary surgeon's work in connection with stock, which necessitated his moving a good deal about the country. These intelligent handy-men have always been a great acquisition to farmers, and breeders of stock, and no doubt our bard had a considerable reputation as an empirical veterinary surgeon, as such an occupation required moie skill and judgment than most shepherds and herds possessed. To one courting the muses, coming in contact with so many people of different classes and temperaments, must also have sharpened his powers of observation, and conduced to increasing that poetic inspiration of which lie was undoubtedly possessed.

The first of his songs is at page 244 of the " Oranaiche," and entitled " Oran Le Iain Mac Dhòmlinuill ann an Eilein Mhuile," air fonn, " O nach robh sinn mar bha."

Chorus. O, cha'n urrainn mi ann, Gu dè mar is urrainn mi ann? Cha'n urrainn mi dìreadh a' mhullaich Bho'n dh' fhàs sinn uile cho fann.

Ma thig na Russianaich thairis, Mar tha iad a' bagairt 'san àm, Cò a thilleas iad dhachaidh, '•S na gaisgich againn' air chall? 'S iad gu'n seasadh an làrach, 'S nach bitheadh gun a'ach an call, 'S mur strìochdadh na nàimhdean dhoibh toileach, Gu'm bitheadh an colunngun cheann. 0, cha'n urrainn, &c.

Na Gàidheil fhuranach, ghleusda, 'S an gunn' air deadh ghleusadh 'n an làimh, Bheireadh an coileach bhar gheugan, 'S a leagadh mac-èilde 'n a dheann : Mar sud a's luohd-breacan an fhèilidh, Chìte air slèibhte nam beann ; Ach cìobairean glasa nan aomadh, 'S beag orr' na daoin' a bhios ann ! O, cha'n urrainn, &c.

This patriotic song was probably composed during the Russian war (Crimean war), as the first line says :—If the Russians come over, who will send them home again, as our heroes are lost?

His next song, " Cha Mhòr nach coma leam cogadh no sìth," is, at page 290, of the " Oranaiche." The chorus of it is :—

Fal o, hal dal o hog i o ho ro ì, Fal o, h»l dal o hog i o ho ro ì, Hithil ù hillin o, agus no, ho ro hì, Cha mhòr nach coma leam cogadh no sìth.

Tha mi'n so bho chionn tamail 'a mi'n Lathurna

'S cha choinnich mi caraid 'ni labhairt rium suairc', 'S tha mo dhùil ri dol thairis gach là agus uair, Do Mhuile nam beannan, 's nan gleannanaibh uain'. Fal o. etc.

Thoir mo shoraidh le durachd gu dùthaich moghaoil, Far am bitheadh a' tathaich na h-aighean 's na laoigh;

Gach lusan a's flùr ann fo dhriùehd air an raon. 'S bi' dh cnothan a's ùbhlan a' lùbadh nan craobh.

Then after half-a-dozen more verses in praise of Mull, and e erything in it, comes the following significant one :—

'Nuair dh' èireadh Cloinn Dòmhnuill, 's i 'n dòigh

bh' aca riamh', 'Bhi seasamh na còrach, luchd leònadh nam fiadh, 'Dol an toiseach a' chatha, le claidheamh a's sgiath, 'S gu'n deanadh iad pronnadh mu'n cromadh a'

ghrian.

It is to be regretted that more of this bard's poetry had not been preserved as he was evidently capable of producing even more excellent songs than the stanzas of those quoted.
REV. ANGUS MACDONALD, BARRA.

In Dr. George Henderson's excellent work " Leabhar Nan Gleann " the book of the glens

published last year (1898), I find several very good songs and elegies by the late Father Angus MacDonakl, of Barra, who died at Rome in 1833, as Rector of the Scotch College there. He was of the Mac-'Ic-Ailein (Cian Ronald) family, and was born in the island of Eigg. " Laoidh a' Phurgadair" is said to have been composed by him, and afterwards printed in Father Allan MacDonald's " Conih-chruinneachadh de Laoidhean Spioradail," published by Hugh Mac-Donald, Oban, in 1893.

One of his songs is entitled " Oran Le Aonghus Dònullach, Sagairt 'am Barraidh, 'nuair a bha lionnadh (teannachadh) air's a chaidh a leigheas leis an Dotair Leòdach." It is a poem of 80 lines ; I quote the first and last verses of it, but I have no idea to what air it was sung. It gives a description of an illness—an abscess he had, and whicli was cured by a Doctor MacLeod.

1 Dà mhios dheug agus ràthaich Bho'n thàrmaich an cnap A fhuair mise fo m' mheòirean Ann an còs air an asnaidh; Ged a bha e gun chràdh

Gu'n robh e fàs mar an rainich, 'S cha' n 'eil fhios ciod e'n t-aobhar 'Chuir mo thaobhs' air an ait sin.

10 'S gu'm b'dhiubh sin a bha'n Leòdach, Gu'n d' fhuair e fòghlum 'us aithne, Gu'n robh 'làimhe air a dhearbhadh, 'Us 'ainm annB gach fearann, Gu'n d' rinn e'n t-saothair ud cinnteach, Gur fad a bhios mi 'n am an-fhiach Mur dian mi g ad phàigheadh, Guidheam grasan dha t anam.

There is also a song by him to MacNeill of Barra, during the Napoleonic wars. It extends to 48 lines, and speaks of his prowess in the Peninsular War and at Waterloo, as will be seen from the following stanzas: ■

'S thàin naigheachd gu'r n-ionnsuidh

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