The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

440
The HiglUand Monthly.
Mr Macbain give^ another Gaelic version of it in the
Highland Monthly, Vol. III., p. 229.
Another Uist version is as follows : —
A bhean sin 's a bhean bhalbh,
Thainig thugainn a tir nam marbh ;
A rug air a choiie 'na cruth,
Fuasgail an dubh 's lig an dearg.
A PANACEA FOR ALL ILLS.
The following was a cure for all the ills that flesh is
heir to :
— —
Translated
Ola cas easgainn,
Bainne cich circe,
A's geir mheanbh-chuileag,
Ann an adharc muice,
Agus ite cait ga shuathadh ris.
Oil from an eel's foot,
Milk from a hen's teat,
The taUow of midges
(Compounded) In the horn of a pig,
And rubbed to the part with a feather from
a cat's wing !
The above was as potent as " An t-ian a thig a ubh
coilich, sgriosaidh e 'n saoghal !"— (The chicken that will
come out of a cock's egg can destroy the world).
AMBIGUOUS INCANTATIONS.
Occasionally one meets not only with obscure phrases,
but also with whole Incantations, the meaning of which is
far from clear. Here is one :
—
Uisg' an Easain
Air mo dhosan.
Tog dhiom do rosad
'S aghaidh fir an cabhaig orm !
Will any learned Gael explain its meaning and purpose ?
THE BLESSINGS.
I have dwelt at such length on the Charms intended for
cures, &c., that my observations on Blessings and miscel-
laneous Charms must be very brief There were ceremonies