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
High on the peak of Finisgeig,
Which will be red for evermore.’
And she leapt in a green flame,
Over the shoulder of the peak.”[51]
IN GLENORCHY.
The Glaistig, living at the waterfall (_eas_) of Bochaoil in Glenorchy,
came behind a man of the name of Campbell, riding home in the evening
to the adjoining farm-house, and jumping up behind him, urged the horse
to greater speed by crying now and then, “Hoosh! for a horse with two”
(_Huis! air each le dithis_). Campbell put back his hands and caught
her. He was going to take her home, but she managed to get away, and
left as her parting gift, that no Campbell should ever be born alive
(_nach gineadh ’s nach goireadh Cairnbeulach_) above Bo-chaoil.
The water before breaking over the fall is curiously split by an unseen
pinnacle of the rock, and the Glaistig is said to cause the appearance
with her foot.
M‘MILLAN OF KNAP.
The _Cnap_ (that is, the Lump) is opposite Shuna Island in Appin, and
the name still remains in _Tigh a Chnaip_ (the house of the Lump), the
Gaelic name of Balachulish hotel on the road to Glencoe, well-known to
tourists. It was regarding the ownership of Knap by the M‘Millans that
the oral charter ran:
“M‘Millan’s right to Knap
While wave strikes rock.”[52]
A Glaistig once came behind a kilted chief of this sept and caught him,
so that he could not struggle or escape. She asked him if he had ever
been in greater straits (_Mhic Mhaoil a Chnaip, an robh thu riamh an
airc is mò?_). He said he had; she asked when; and he said, “Between
plenty and penury” (_Eadar féill is aimbeairt_). On this she let go her
hold. He said, “I give my word I will not be weighed on the same scales
again,”[53] and stabbing her with his dirk killed her.
THE GLAISTIG AT CRAIGNISH.
A weaver, going home in the evening with a web (_còrn_) of cloth on
his shoulder, was met by a Glaistig at a stream. She caught hold of
him and pummelled him (_làd i e_) all night in the stream with his own
web of cloth, saying to all his remonstrances, “Weaving weaver, you
are the better of being washed” (_Figheadair fighe, ’s fhearrd’ thu do
nigheadh_).
ON GARLIOS, MORVERN.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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