_Boat Language._—When in a boat at sea, sailing or fishing, it was forbidden to call things by the names by which they were known on land. The boat-hook should not be called _croman_, but _a chliob_; a knife, not _sgian_, but _a ghiar_ (the sharp one); the baling dish, not _taoman_, but _spùidseir_; a seal, not _ròn_, but _béisd mhaol_ (the bald beast); a fox, not _sionnach_, but _madadh ruadh_ (the red dog); the stone for anchoring the boat was not _clach_, but _cruaidh_ (hardness). This practice prevails much more on the east coast than on the west, where it may be said to be generally extinct. It is said to be carefully observed among the fishermen about the Cromarty Firth. It was deemed unlucky by east coast fishermen coming to Tiree (as several boats used to do annually to prosecute the cod and ling fishing), to speak in a boat of a minister or a rat. Everywhere it was deemed unlucky among seafaring men to whistle in case a storm should arise. In Tiree, Heynish Hill (the highest in the island) was known at sea as _a Bhraonach_; _Hogh_ Hill (the next highest) as _Bheinn Bhearnach no Sgoillte_ (the Notched or Cloven Hill), and a species of whale as _cas na poite_ (the leg of a pot). It should not be said “He was drowned” (_bhàthadh e_) but “he journeyed” (_shiubhail e_); not “tie a rope” (_ceangail ròp_), but “make it” (_dean e_). In the north it was held that an otter, while in its den, should not be called _béisd du_ (the black beast, its common name), but _Carnag_. It would otherwise be impossible for the terriers to drive it from its refuge. _Fresh Meat._—When fresh meat of the year’s growth is tasted for the first time, a person should say, “A death-shroud on the grey, better grey, old woman, Who said she would not taste the fresh meat, I will taste the fresh meat, And will be alive for it next year.” This ensures another year’s lease of life. _Killing those too long alive._—If a person is thought to be too long alive, and it becomes desirable to get rid of him, his death can be ensured by bawling to him thrice through the key-hole of the room in which he is bedrid, “Will you come, or will you go? Or will you eat the flesh of cranes?” _Funerals._—It was customary to place a plate of salt, the smoothing iron, or a clod of green grass on the breast of a corpse, while laid out previous to being coffined. This, it was believed, kept it from swelling. A candle was left burning beside it all night. When it was placed in the coffin and taken away on the day of the funeral, the boards on which it had been lying were left for the night as they were, with a drink of water on them, in case the dead should return and be thirsty. Some put the drink of water or of milk outside the door, and, as in Mull and Tiree, put a sprig of pearlswort above the lintel to prevent the dead from entering the house.