The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

240 llie Hio/itand Monthly.
A plant called " Caoibhreachan" was also used as an
amulet to protect milk from witches. It was believed
that the substance, or " Toradh," could not be taken out of
milk in an}' house where the " Caoibhreachan" was kept
under an upturned dish. I do not find this plant mentioned
in our Gaelic dictionaries, and I have not been
able to get a specimen of it.
In this connection, I may give Eolas nan Torranan. I
quote it from Dr Stewart's " 'Twixt Ben Nevis and
Glcncoe." Dr Stewart got it from Mr A. A. Carmichael :
Translated
—
Buaineams' thu, thorranain,
Le d' uile bheannachd 's le 'd uile bhuaidh ;
Thainig na naoi sonais
Leis na naoi earranan
Le buaidh an torranain,
Lamh Bhride leam !
Tha mi nis 'gad bhuain.
Buaineams' thu, thorranain,
Le 'd thoradh mara 's tir,
Ri iionadh gun traghadh
Le 'd lamhsa, Bhride mhhi,
Colum naomh 'gam sheoladh,
Odhran caomh 'gam dhion,
Is Micheil nan steud uaibhreach
'Cur buaidh anns an ni.
Tha mo lus lurach a nis air a bhuain.
Let me pluck thee, Torannan !
With all thy blessedness and all thy virtue,
The nine blessings came with the nine parts,
By the virtue of the Torannan ;
The hand of St Bride with me,
I am now to pluck thee.
Let me pluck thee, Torannan !
With thine increase as to sea and land ;
With the flowing tide that shall know no ebbing,
By the assistance of the chaste St Bride,
The holy St Columba directing me.
And St Michael of high-crested steeds
Imparting virtue to the matter the while,
Darling plant of all virtue.
I am now plucking thee
[to be continued.]
!
—