The book Arran; - Cook Clan

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252 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
and unknown, burial-cairns for example, circles of standing
stones, duns, and such like, Ossian's Mound at Clachaig,
reputed the burial-place of that poet, son of Finn, has proved
to be part natural hillock, part burial-mound.^ The great
cave at Drumadoon, now called the King's Cave,^ once bore
the name of ' Fingal's Cave,' and was reputed a residence of
Finn and the Feinne when hunting in Arran.^ Here—runs
the tale—a son was born to him, and a groove in the side of
the cave is alleged to mark the length of the infant's foot the
day after he was born. The groove is more than two feet
long. From this Mr. Headrick calculates that the child must
have then been twelve feet high, and his parents of a height
sufficient to make even that large cave a somewhat narrow
dwelling. From this place, too, Finn is declared to have
formed a bridge or set of stepping-stones across to Kintyre.*
On Machrie moor is a circle of stones known as FingaVs
Cauldron Seat,^ the rest for his cooking-pot, an identification
which is known also in the west of Lewis.
Nothing is gained by recapitulating such fancies, for
folk-fancies only they are, belonging to a depraved stage of
the Finn legends, of which similar examples are to be found
elsewhere. Something huge is credited to a ' giant ' to begin
with, and the giant in time becomes one of the Feinne : such
appears to be the logic at work.
A particular presentation of some of these stories runs as
follows :
In bygone days it is said a battle had been fought near Slidderie
Water between Fionn's forces and some others. A great rhany were
slain and buried near the field of slaughter.
This had become a dreaded place by the natives, as it was said
to be haunted, owing to the ground having been tilled, which
disturbed the rest of these dead warriors.
1 See vol. i. pp. 101-2. ^ cf_ p. us,
3 See citation in vol. i. p. 218. * Headrick, pp. 160-1.