The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

Skye Bards. 753
lament, of which several verses are i^iven below. lie had
a ]:)iece of land at KiKaxter, in the ])arish of Kilmuir, was
married to a relative of the famous Doctair Ban Macleoid,
and had a family of two sons and two daughters. He died
about 18 [cS.
]\Iartin's lament, as it appeared in the Nortlier)i Chromcle
ciL;ht or nine years ago, consists of twenty verses of eight
lines each. This note is prefixed :— ". Mr Martin Martin
was a descendant of the old family of the Martins of Dun-
tulm. He was popularh- known as Martainn a Bhealaich,
fn)m his ha\ing occupied the lands of Bealach, near Dun-
tulm. He was chamberlain of Lord Macdonald of the
Isles, in which capacity he not only earned for himself great
p()])ularit}', but even won the love and gratitude of all with
whom he came in contact. He was remarkable for his great
personal strength. He married a daughter of Macleod of
Raasay, sister of the Countess of Loudon, and had by her
t\\ o daughters—one who was married to Count Maurin, and
the other to Mr Martin ^Martin of Tote. The well-known
Rev. Donald Martin, first of Kilmuir, and latterly of xAber-
ncth}', Strathspc}-, was his youngest brother. This gentleman
was grandfather to .Sir Donald Martin Stewart, so well
known to fame as Commander-in-Chief in India. The wellknown
and justh' celebrated Sir Donald James Martin of
Loudon, and formerly of Calcutta, was his nephew. x'\t the
time of his death Mr IMartin Martin lived at Lachasay,
near Duntulm." The air to which the lament is sung is of
the most plainti\e description.
Nam b' fhear focail na dain mi,
Bho 'n la thiodhlaic iad Martainn 's a chill,
Mar chuimhneachan bais ort
Bheirinn greis air do nadur math inns.
Na b' fhaide na d' eolas
Bha gach teisteanas coir a dol dhiot,
'S mairg fin' as na dh' fhalbh thu
Bha na Ii-uile deadh ainm air do ghniomh.
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