The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

434 ^/^^' Highland Monthly.
An Eriskay woman used to address her cattle
Translated
— — —
—
Gu'm bu duinte gach slochd
'S gu'm bu reidh gach cnoc
Buachailleachd Chalum-Chille oribh.
Gus an tig sibh dhachaidh.
May each pit be closed,
And each hillock be plain ;
Columba's herding on ye
Till home ye return.
We have also the following saying regarding St
Columba's day
Translated
Diardaoin, La 'Ille Chaluim Chaoimh,
Latha chur chaorach air seilbh,
Gu deilbh 's gu cur ba air laogh.
Thursday, gentle Saint Columba's Day,
The day to put sheep to pasture
Suitably, and cow to calf.
Adamnan tells us of the Saint blessing cattle, and their
number increasing. Nesan, a poor man, who entertained
Columba for the night, had five heifers. " Bring them to
me that I may bless them," said the Saint. They were
brought. He raised his holy hand, blessed them, and said
— " From this day thy five little heifers shall increase to
the number of one hundred and five cows. Another poor
man, named Columban, had five small cows." They too
were blessed by the Saint, and thereafter increased to one
hundred and five !
—
{ Vide Book II., chapters xx. and xxii).
Another cattle blessing was as follows :
Translated
Siubhail monadh, siubhail coille,
Siubhail gu reidh fada farsuinn ;
Buachaille Mhoire fo d' chois,
'S gu'm bu slan a thig thu as !
—
Travelling mountain, travelling wood,
Travel freely, far and wide ;
Mary's herdsman by thy feet.
And safely may thou hither come !