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description of the weaver " shaggy John, m <strong>this</strong><br />
work and that <strong>in</strong> Campbell's—both evidently referr<strong>in</strong>g<br />
to the same <strong>in</strong>dividual—which causes<br />
some "confusion of names. MacKenzie was <strong>in</strong><br />
Glencoe <strong>in</strong> 1833, and probably got his version from<br />
oral tradition there, but s<strong>in</strong>ce Campbell was a<br />
o-randson of the poet I have adopted his version<br />
of the story. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to MacKenzie the weaver<br />
had been cat the battle of Sheriffmuir <strong>in</strong> 1715, and<br />
was among those that ran away, and to shield<br />
himself from danger he lay down beside a dyke,<br />
pull<strong>in</strong>g a portion of it over him to screen him<br />
from the enemy, and on the first favourable opportunity<br />
he bolted home to (ilencoe. As is usual<br />
<strong>in</strong> the Highlands several songs may have been<br />
composed to the same air, or the same <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />
by different persons, and sometimes the best<br />
Avords are lost sight of. Otherwise I <strong>can</strong> hardly<br />
reconcile the difierent versions of the weaver<br />
warrior and his famous song.<br />
DOMHNALL BAN A' BHOCAIN.<br />
Donald Ban MacDonald of the spectre, was of<br />
the Keppoch family. For the follow<strong>in</strong>g account<br />
of him I am <strong>in</strong>debted to Mr MacLean S<strong>in</strong>clair's<br />
" Gaelic Bards." It was related to him <strong>in</strong> Gaelic<br />
by a Lochaber tailor named John MacDonald,<br />
who claimed the follow<strong>in</strong>g pedigree. He was a<br />
son of Gilleasbuig MacAonghais Mac Alastair<br />
Bha<strong>in</strong>, Mac Alastair Mhoir, Mac Aonghais a'<br />
Bhòca<strong>in</strong>, Mac Aonghais Mhoir Bhoth-Fhiunnta<strong>in</strong>,<br />
Mac Alastair Mac Ia<strong>in</strong> Duibh, iNIac Raonaill<br />
Mhoir na Ceapaich. He had been about 30 years<br />
of age when he came to Nova Scotia. He had a<br />
good memory and had a great love for the history<br />
and traditions of the Highlanders. He knew a<br />
great deal about the MacDonalds of Keppoch's<br />
family and history. He could repeat portions<br />
of a great many (Jaelic songs, and the follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
story was taken down from him on the 12th of<br />
January, 1885. He was then <strong>in</strong> decl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g health<br />
and died some months afterwards. He said that<br />
Donald Ban a' Bhòca<strong>in</strong> lived at "Mu<strong>in</strong>-Easaidh."<br />
He was of the MacDonalds of Keppoch, and had<br />
been married to a M iss MacGvegor, Kannoch. He<br />
was at the battle of Culloden. After the battle he<br />
hid himself <strong>in</strong> a "bothan àiridh" a shell<strong>in</strong>g bothy.<br />
He had two guns with him ; one was loaded but<br />
the other one was not. While <strong>in</strong> hid<strong>in</strong>g Mac-<br />
Donald of Sleat's company came upon him,<br />
whereupon he jumped out of a back w<strong>in</strong>dow,<br />
tak<strong>in</strong>g with him by mistake the unloaded gun.<br />
The soldiers fired at him and the bullet broke his<br />
leg ; then they came up to him and demanded of<br />
him who he was. " I am a MacDonald," he replied,<br />
but nevertheless they took him with them<br />
to Inverness where he was conf<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> prison. He<br />
was tried by court martial but got off. When <strong>in</strong><br />
prison he had a dream <strong>in</strong> which he saw himself,<br />
Alastair Mac Cholla, and Donald MacRaonaill<br />
Mhoir, " ag ol," over a glass of grog. It was <strong>this</strong><br />
Donald MacKanald Mhoir, of whom it was<br />
alleged that he iiad two hearts. He was taken<br />
prisoner at Falkirk, and subsequently executed<br />
at Carlisle. After Donald Ban's dream he composed<br />
the follow<strong>in</strong>g song :^<br />
Gur h-e mise 'tha sgith<br />
'S mi air leaba learn fh<strong>in</strong>,<br />
'S iad ag ràit<strong>in</strong>n nach bi mi beò.<br />
Gur mise, &c.<br />
Chunnacas Alastair Ban<br />
Is da Dhòmhnall mo ghraidh<br />
'S s<strong>in</strong>n ag ol nan deocii-slàmt air bòrd.<br />
I<br />
'Nuair a dhiiisg mi a ni' shua<strong>in</strong>,<br />
'Se dh' fhàg ni' aigneadh fo ghruaim,<br />
Nach robh agam 'san uair ach sgleò.<br />
(ied a tha mi gun spreidh,<br />
Bha mi mòr asam fe<strong>in</strong><br />
Fhad 's a mhair sibh fhe<strong>in</strong> dhonih beò.<br />
Faodaidh balach gun ta<strong>in</strong>g<br />
'N diugh 'bhi raidh air mo cheann :<br />
Dh'fhalbli mo thaiceadh, mo chàil 's mo threòir.<br />
The Bò<strong>can</strong>, or spectre, was annoy<strong>in</strong>g Donald<br />
Ban very much, and he thought that if he left his<br />
house he would have no more trouble. He did so<br />
and took everyth<strong>in</strong>g away with him except a<br />
pair of harrows, which he left alongside the<br />
house. The people who were carry<strong>in</strong>g his goods<br />
and chattels away saw the harrows com<strong>in</strong>g after<br />
them. This be<strong>in</strong>g reported to Donald, he said<br />
"Well, if the harrows are com<strong>in</strong>g after us we<br />
may as well return," so he at once returned and<br />
never left his house after. The lelater's grandfather,<br />
Aonghas Mac Alastair Bha<strong>in</strong>, who was a<br />
very truthful and honest man, was one night at<br />
someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Donald Ban's house, and slept there ;<br />
caught hold of both his toes from which he could<br />
no more escape than from the vice of a blacksmith.<br />
He could not move ; it was the Bo<strong>can</strong><br />
that had hold of him, but he did him no other<br />
harm.<br />
Konald of Aberarder was also one night at<br />
Donald Ban's house, and Donald's wife said to<br />
Konald, " Should I put the butter on t\w table<br />
to-night, it will get dirtied ;" to which Konald<br />
replied " I will go and put out the butter with a<br />
dirk <strong>in</strong> my hand and a bonnet over the butterdish,<br />
and it won't be dirtied to-night." Konald