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NIGHEAN MHIC AONGHUIS OIG.<br />
Besides consult<strong>in</strong>g tlie family tree Miss Joseph<strong>in</strong>e<br />
MacDonell, Keppoch, <strong>in</strong>forms me that<br />
Nigiiean Miiic Aonghuis Oig was a granddaughter<br />
of Aonghus Og, lifth son (not fourth son<br />
as alleged by some) of Alastair nan Cleas and<br />
progenitor of the Acha-nan-coicheans.<br />
The Rev. Mr MacLean S<strong>in</strong>clair, however, ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s<br />
that " she was not a descendant of Keppoch,<br />
but of Celest<strong>in</strong>e of Lochalsh, and was a daughter<br />
of Aongus Og, son of Angus, son of James, who<br />
was the first of Ach-na-Coichean." He further<br />
says tliat the family to which she belonged was<br />
known as " Sliochd an larla." One ot the<br />
family, Angus MacDonald, known as Aonghus<br />
Mac Gilleasbuig went to Nova Scotia <strong>in</strong> 1830.<br />
Tlie writer <strong>in</strong> the meantime holds by the family<br />
tradition of the Keppochs.<br />
Mr Alexander MacDonald, of Kidge, Altigonisli,<br />
from whom Mr MacT^ean S<strong>in</strong>clair derived a good<br />
deal of <strong>in</strong><strong>format</strong>ion, is <strong>in</strong>timately acqua<strong>in</strong>ted witli<br />
tlie history, tradition, and poetry of the Mac-<br />
Donalds of Keppocli. He is a son of Allan Mac-<br />
Donald, mentioned <strong>in</strong> the Glenbard collection,<br />
p. 216. His father composed a number of songs ;<br />
so has the son, besides be<strong>in</strong>g a good s<strong>in</strong>ger of all<br />
Ia<strong>in</strong> Lom's songs, and an excellent performer on<br />
the viol<strong>in</strong>.<br />
Oran Do Dh' Alastair DomhnuUach, Mac<br />
Uaonaill na Ceapaich, a bha 'na oifigeach anns an<br />
arm, Le Padruig Caimbeul (Para Piobair).[|<br />
Ged is fad' tha nii'm chadal<br />
'S mithich dhomh a bhi dùsgadh ;<br />
Our h-e dh' fhàg mi fo airsneal<br />
Ceannard feachda na dùthcha<br />
'Bhi gun oighreachd aig baile,<br />
Bho 'n a chaidh thu a d' dhùthchas,<br />
Ach na robairean meallta,<br />
'Gabhail foill air gach taobh dhiot.<br />
8 verses, 66 l<strong>in</strong>es.<br />
ADDITIONAL MATTER CONCERNING<br />
DONALD DONN.<br />
Some stanzas by Donald Donn to tiie " Nighean<br />
donn bha an Cataobh," already mentioned <strong>in</strong><br />
Donald Donn's sketch. He went for a creach<br />
(cattle raid) to Sutherland, and carried off a young<br />
girl with him, the daughter of the man he pill-<br />
aged, but, hav<strong>in</strong>g left her <strong>in</strong> charge of one of his<br />
companions, she managed to escape while her<br />
custodian slept<br />
Thoga<strong>in</strong>n form gun bhi troni<br />
Air nighean donn 'bha 'an Cataobh,<br />
Gruagach »)g a' chuil du<strong>in</strong>n<br />
I)h' eiifadh sunnd orm ri t' fhaic<strong>in</strong>n.<br />
Latha dhomhsa 'bhi siubhal bhe<strong>in</strong>n<br />
Falbh gu tra<strong>in</strong>g togail cruaclian,<br />
Tliachair oi nisa an i;i u;ii;;ich dhonn,<br />
\Um nan lum -buaiii nan dearcag.<br />
'I'liridnii si,.., 's tli.'id iiiÌMias,<br />
Bhoii- mi 1 uagadh d./n v<strong>in</strong>iuil Chataobh,<br />
'S ged bhitheadh taidhe roirahe cheanii choill<br />
Blieirii<strong>in</strong> pàirt do'ii chrodh bhreac leani.<br />
'S iongatach leani do dhu<strong>in</strong>e còrr<br />
'S mòran stòras a bhi aige<br />
Nach robli beurla ann ad cheann<br />
Agus dannsa ann ad chasan.<br />
There is another version of <strong>this</strong> song, so it is<br />
impossible now-a-days to say which was the<br />
orig<strong>in</strong>al one.<br />
Another song of his is, " Moladh a' Phiobaire,"<br />
to Donald Campbell (" Am Piobaire mòr "), who<br />
was piper to Gilleasbuig na Ceapaich, and a<br />
nephew of the poet.<br />
Beir an t-soraidh so bhuam<br />
Do Glileann Ruaidh le fear-eig<strong>in</strong>,<br />
Gu buidh<strong>in</strong>n mo ghaoil,<br />
'S iad nach saoil<strong>in</strong>n 'mhealladh orm.*<br />
Chorus —<br />
Hugoran o. u e ho,<br />
I ri ri hiag o,<br />
Hugan o lail o.<br />
No ho i ri ri ho ro.<br />
48 l<strong>in</strong>es, 4 l<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> each verse.<br />
Additional verses by Donald Donn, when lie<br />
was taken prisoner by the Laird of Grant :<br />
'<br />
Bha Seumas Dubh ann air thus,<br />
Righ ! bu làidir a dhùirn,<br />
Chuir e Uilliam ri 'ghli\n 'san fhiiran.<br />
Bhitheadh am feileadh glè àrd.<br />
Is bhiodh 'osa<strong>in</strong> gle gheàrr,<br />
'S biodag phiollacb air àirde na cruacha<strong>in</strong>n.<br />
'S ioma maighdean ghlan ùr,<br />
'Chlu<strong>in</strong>nt' farum a gù<strong>in</strong><br />
A chuireadh na crùn g'am fhuasgladh.<br />
(tU bheil tè dhiubh 'an Strathspey,<br />
N'an clu<strong>in</strong>neadh i mo sgeul<br />
Gu'n cuireadh i ceud gle nihath ami.<br />
Another song attributed to him is <strong>in</strong> the form<br />
of a " Lu<strong>in</strong>neag," published by Mr William Mac-<br />
Kenzie <strong>in</strong> the "Transactions of the Gaelic Society<br />
of Inverness," p. 57, Vol. Vll. ; but it's hardly<br />
equal to his other songs.<br />
* The air of <strong>this</strong> song was k<strong>in</strong>dly sent to the writer<br />
a few days ago by Mr Alexander MacDonald, Ridge,<br />
Nova Scotia.<br />
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