I. WRESTLING MATCHES. When the youth of a village met at a _céilidh_, or indoor gathering, and a wrestling match was resolved upon, one of them was appointed a king or master of the ceremonies, and the company was bound to be obedient to him in everything. In the following game a stout and likely lad was fixed upon to come in, in the character of a “Desert Glede” (_Croman Fàsaich_). When he came in, the following speech occurred: addressing the king, he said:-- _Croman._ “Leigeadh da, leigeadh da, Dia,” _Righ._ “Co as a thàinig thu, a Chromain Fhàsaich, no ’de an dràsda thug so thu?” _Croman._ “Thàinig mi a m’ fhonn ’s a m’ fhearann, ’s a m’ fhàsach fhéin.” _Righ._ “’Dé chuir fearann ’s fonn ’s fàsach agadsa ’s mise gun fhonn gun fhearann gun fhàsach.”? _Croman._ “Mo chruas, ’s mo luathas, ’s mo làidireachd fhéin.” _Righ._ “Tha òganach geur donn agamsa a leagadh tu, ’s a bhreabadh tu, ’s a bheireadh sia deug dh’ iallan do dhroma asad, agus iall g’ ad cheangal; ’s a mhi-mhodhaicheadh do bhean ann an clais na h-inne ’s tu fhéin ceangailte.” _Croman._ “Cuir a mach so e ma ta.” * * * * * _Kite, or Glede._ “Permit, permit, O Deity.” _King._ “Where have you come from, Kite of the Desert, and what has now brought you here?” _Kite._ “I come from my own land and soil and desert.” _King._ “How have you land and soil and desert, when I have neither land nor soil nor desert?” _Kite._ “My own hardiness and swiftness and strength.” _King._ “I have a smart brown-haired youth, who can throw you down, and kick you, and take sixteen thongs out of your back, and a thong to tie you with, and who can throw your wife into the byre gutter while you yourself are tied.” _Kite._ “Send him out here then.” The wrestling then began, and the one who proved victor became “Desert Glede” for the next encounter, until the whole were run over. The words were sometimes used in the following form:-- _Righ._--“Dida-a-didacha-dìsa, a Chromain Fhàsaich, co as dràsda a choisich thu?” _Croman._--“Feuch ’bheil gìomanach donn agad a chumas rium.” _Righg._--“Tha agamsa gìomanach donn a chumas riut ’s a dheanadh loth pheallagach dhiot aig dorus an tighe, etc.” * * * * * _King._--“Deeda-a-deedacha-deesa, Desert Glede, whence have you walked from now?” _Kite._--“Try whether you have a brown-haired youth to match me.” _King._--“I have a brown-haired youth that will match you and make a matted colt of you at the door of the house, etc.” Another game popular on these occasions was one of forfeits, known as the “Parson’s mare has gone amissing,” (_Làir a’ pharsonaich air chall_). Every boy and girl in the company has a false name, given for the occasion, such as “Old Cow’s Tail” (_Earball Seana Mhairt_); “Rooster on the House-top” (_Coileach air Tigh_), etc. The king, or overseer, commencing the game says,