Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland: Collected Entirely from Oral SourcesCampbell, John Gregorson
History
Superstitions of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland: Collected Entirely from Oral Sources
Campbell, John Gregorson
Folklore -- Scotland
Macphie from Colonsay was cast ashore at Ormsaig, in the district of
Brolas in Mull, clinging to a log of wood. He stayed for some time
at Ormsaig, and was in the habit of going to the hill with his gun. A
Fairy woman met him there, and from her he received the present of a
young dog, which she said would yet be of service to him, but only for
one day. He had seventeen foster brothers, and, on his return home,
they came and asked him to go with them to shoot cormorants at the Paps
of Jura. The Dog, which had by this time grown very large, and had
never before given any indication of being useful, this day eagerly
accompanied the hunters. Macphie’s wife had often urged him to kill
the dog, but he had insisted on keeping it. When Jura was reached, a
servant was left in charge of the boats, and the company passed the
night in a cave. As they reclined round the cave, each expressed a
wish, that his sweetheart were there. Macphie, who was standing by the
fire, said he had no such wish, it was better for his mistress to be at
home. Before long, seventeen women in green dresses entered the cave,
and went over to the beds of heather where Macphie’s foster brothers
were, and Macphie heard the crackling sound of breaking bones. The
seventeen women then came up, as if to attack himself. Afraid of their
number, he called to the Black Dog, “If you assist me not now, I am a
lost man.” The dog attacked the women, drove them out of the cave, and
went off in pursuit. Macphie fled to the boat, and he and the servant
left in charge quitted the shore with all haste. When they were well
out to sea, the servant said there was a fiery star coming after them.
Macphie said it was the Black Dog, and its heart had taken fire. He
made ready, and when the dog overtook them, cut off its head.
THE CARLIN OF THE SPOTTED HILL (_Cailleach Beinne Bhric_).
The Fairy wife, who owned the deer of Ben Breck, is well known in the
Highlands.
It is told of her that on one occasion, as she milked a hind, the
animal became restive and gave her a kick. In return she struck the
hind with her open palm and expressed a wish that the arrow of Donald,
the son of John (a noted hunter in his day), might come upon it. That
very day the restive hind fell to Dò’il MacJain’s arrow.[42]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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