The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Skyc Bards. 697
Lom, who was guide to the Ciaran Mabach on this expedi-
tion, says Lliat there was not one of the seven, who " in an
equal fight was not a match for ten."
Iain Lom composed a song in which he gives great
praise to the Ciaran Mabach for his skill and bravery in
this expedition.
Slan fo d' thriall, a chiarain Mhabaich,
Shiubhladh sliabh gun bhiadh, gun chadal ;
Fraoch fo d' shin' gun bhosd gun bhagradh,
Chuir thu ceo fo 'n roiseal bhradach.
&c., &c.
NIGHEAN MHIC GRILLE CHALUIM RAAKSAIDH.
John Garbh^ son of Alexander Macleod, fifth ofRaasay,
was married to Janet, daughter of Sir Roderick Macleod of
Dunvegan. He was drowned at the age of twenty-one,
while on a passage from Stornoway to Raasay. It was to
him that Mairi Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh composed the
Marbhrann already mentioned. He had two sisters Janet
and Julia, one of whom composed a Cumha. Whether she
composed any other songs we are unable to say.
Cnniha do dh-lain Garbk Mac Ghille-dialuim'}
'S mi 'nam shuidh' air an fhaoilinn,
Gun fhaoilte, gun fhuran,
Cha tog mi fonn aotrom,
O Dhi-h-aoine mo dhunach.
Hi-il o ho bha ho,
Hi-il o ho bha ho,
Hi-il o ho bha ho,
Hi-il o ro bha eile.
^ " There is a tradition among the people of Raasay that John Garbh was a
natural son. According to the tales uf superstition, the storm which
occasioned his death was raised by a witch. His step-mother
was
own
anxious to get rid
son ; so she hired
of John Garbh and
the witch to set the
make
winds
room for her
and waves in
motion. The witch raised the storm by boiling water in a pot over the fire.
She had a small dish of some kind in the pot. When she saw that this dish
was upset, she knew that Liin Garbh and his men were drowned. All at once
she repented, anfl exclaimed—
' Tha mo chreich deante.' "— Rev. A Maclean
Sinclair in " The Gaelic Bards from 141 1 to 17
5."
1
- Professor Mackinnon tells me that there are four verses
MS., by Mac Ghille Chaluim Raarsaidh.
in the Fernaig