Old Skye Tales by William Mackenzie

Author:William Mackenzie [Mackenzie, William]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Folklore & Mythology, History, Europe, Great Britain, Scotland, Anthropology, Cultural & Social
ISBN: 9780857909688
Google: GtEcEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Published: 2017-07-13T04:11:13+00:00

18 SNIZORT

Borve was cleared of crofters about 1840 and was added to the farm of Skirinish. The tenant of my earliest recollection was Mr William MacDonald, a Eurasian, a man of outstanding presence, inheriting to a high degree the dignified bearing and handsomeness of the Eurasian. His father, I believe, occupied the farm before him. An old Indian who was about the place, Cheko, was perhaps his personal servant. Poor Cheko died, and was laid to rest far from his own beloved land of sunshine and warmth under the cold leaden sky of Eilean a’ Cheo. Dun-Sgirinnis is a prominent landmark on what is called Iochdar Sgrinnis. There are several smaller duns. There is greensward of considerable extent, including an extensive area of fertile arable land. Sgeir nan Cudaigean, on Rudha Sgirinnis, was the resort of boys and girls to fish for young saithe. In the sandy shore every variety of shell fish abounded, and was a welcome addition to the daily food; it is not now taken so much advantage of. On the opposite side of the loch, forming part of Sgirinnis is Beinn Achaidh nan Bard (‘Eachan’, but more probably ‘Achadh’), whose height is prolonged till it joins Beinn a’ Chearcuill on the Scorrybreac side of the watershed. The following tradition may supply the key: Achadh nam Bard was a field held by the bard Duncan MacRuaraidh from Sir James MacDonald. His successor was the famous Iain MacCodrum. These bards held poetical schools in Skye. The last of the occupants of Borve was Mairi nan Gobhar. The goats, like Mary’s lamb, followed her about. When she had to go far afield she had to pen them. A school, built and endowed by one MacDiarmid, for Borve children, was disposed of, and the endowment transferred to Carbost School. The question may arise: ‘Have the Borve children a right to the school and endowment?’ There were no children in Borve when the transference was made, but there are now.

About the centre of Loch Snizort, there was a famous cairidh (weir), Cairidh Mhor Shniseart. The wall was nearly a quarter of a mile in length, and could be trod safely over all. At the bend there was a picket, to fish which was the exclusive privilege of the tacksman, the rest being free to all. Salmon and grilse were got, and sold at the salmon fishery at Portree, or privately. Occasionally great shoals of herring were driven up the loch, and often fifty to sixty crans were landed. But the old cairidh, in which seventy years ago I often splashed, is gone. It was broken down, and today not a trace of it seen, inevitable by progressive encroachments on sea and land by the privileged class. So also the stake nets on Eyre shore, where sea trout were nightly got.

The shepherd no longer carries his breacan (plaid) with its pocket for an ailing lamb. On the farm of Skirinish there were two famous shepherds, Iain MacAilein and Tearlach Ciobair. They raised the black-faced stock to such perfection that they carried all awards at the local shows.

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