This was a rhyme or incantation by which the person possessing the knowledge of it could shut the mouths of dogs and open locks. It was reckoned a very useful gift for young men who went a-wooing. Archibald, son of Murdoch, or, as he was also popularly known, Archibald the Light-headed (_Gileasbuig Mhurchaidh, G. Eutrom_), who was about twenty years ago a well-known character in Skye and its neighbourhood, knew the charm, but when he repeated it he spoke so fast that no one was able to learn it from him, and as to his teaching of it to any one, that was out of the question. Poor Archibald was mad, and when roused was furiously so. He went about the country attending markets and wherever there was a gathering of people, and found everywhere open quarters throughout that hospitable island. Indeed, it was not wise to contradict him. He had a keen and ready wit, as numerous sayings ascribed to him testify, and composed several songs of considerable merit. The fear which dogs had of him, and which made them crouch into corners on seeing him, was commonly ascribed to his having the _Glas Ghairm_, but no doubt was owing to the latent madness which his eyes betrayed, and of which dogs have an instinctive and quicker perception than men. On their offering the slightest sign of hostility, Archibald would knock out their brains without as much as looking at their masters. The _Glas Ghairm_ was supposed to be in some way connected with the safety of Israel on the night before the Exodus, “against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast” (Ex. xi. 7). FOOTNOTES [1] The words Elfin and Fairy are, in these pages, used indifferently as equivalents of the Gaelic names, sìth (or shi) people, etc. [2] These virtues it is to have only thrice, and it has been already unfurled twice. Many of the common people wanted it brought out at the time of the potato failure. [3] Fairy motion, _i.e._ not rising and falling on the waves, but gliding smoothly along. [4] “Seachad air Grianaig, Mar fhiadh nam beann fuara, Direadh ri uchd garbhlaich, ’S an sealgair ga ruagadh, Ise is siubhal, sìth aice, Sìnteagan uallach, Sgoltadh nan tonn uaine ’S a fuaradh air chàch.” Long aig Callum MacShìomain. [5] “Ged is math an cala dh’ fhàg sinn, Gum bu fearr an cala fhuair sinn.” [6] Few villages in the Highlands of Scotland are without a _shï-en_ in their neighbourhood, and often a number are found close to each other. Strontian, well known to geologists from the mineral which bears its name, is _Sròn an t-sìthein_, “the nose of the Fairy hillock.” [7] _Bonnach beag boise, gun bhloigh gun bhearn, Eirich ’s big sinne a stigh_, _i.e._ Little cake, without gap or fissure, rise and let us in, is the Elfin call. [8] In the north of Ireland the band was taken off the spinning wheel to prevent the Fairies spoiling the linen.