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—
" Banais Chiostal-Odhair " relates to " Ciostal
in Skye, the scene of a riotous wedding festivity
at which the bard was present. The following
amusing stanzas give a graphic description of the
confusion and excitement among the guests when
they began fighting :
A' bhanais a bha 'n Ciostal-Odhar,
Ann an Ciostal-Odhar, Odhar,
A' bhanais a bha'n Ciostal-Odhar,
Cha robh fòghail choir oirre.
Thàinig fear a stigh 'g am' ghriobadh,
Dh' innseadh gu'n d' thai nig am pige,
Fhuaras botal, lionadh slige,
Bu bhinn gliog 'us crònan.
Thàinig fear a nuas le mi-mhodh
Gus 6 fein a chur 'an ire,
Thòisich c airbleith nan iongnan,
Gu mi-feiu a sgrùbadh.
Ach labhair mise gu fiadhaich,
Ma 's e mi-stàth 'tha thu 'g iarraidh,
Gur dòcha gu'n cuir mi 'n fhiacail
Air iochdar do sgornain !
Fear I'i caoineadh, feir ri aigliear.
Fear 'n a sheasamh, fear 'n a luidhe,
Fear a' pògadh bean an taighe,
Fear a' gabhail òrain !
The other nine verses are equally amusing.
All MacDonalds oAve a debt of gratitude to our
genial clansman the Rev. Archibald MacDonald,
Kiltarlity, for having placed the Uist bards in i
their position before tlie world, and especially for
having secured some of the songs and poems of
this undoubted wit and genius from oblivion.
1 am sorry I can't claim MacCodrnm as a clansn)an,
but as it has been alleged that the
MacCodrums—a name long extinct—were a sept
of the MacDonalds, and his having been bard to
Sir James MacDonald of Sleat, in Skye, I shall
briefly mention some of his songs to the Mac-
Donalds—his favourite clan. Sir James Mac-
Donald made him his family bard, with an annual
pension. Nearly all MacCodrum's patriotic
songs were composed either to the clan MacDonald
in general, or some of its more noted scions. He
exulted in the heroic history of his favourite clan
and the great men it produced, and he lavishes
all the power of his eloquence in singing their
praises ; and for a man who could neither read nor
write, he showed a singular acquaintance with
the history of the MacDonalds, and other Highland
clans. One of his most noted poems to an
individual is that to Captain Allan MacDonald,
Kingsburgh. In it the last two verses are devoted
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in praise of his wife, the celebrated Flora
MacDonald, tlie only woman lie ever eulogized in
song.
" Tàladh Iain Mhhideartaich " is another
splendid poem which, tradition says, was an example
of his extempore versification. It was composed
to Clan Ronald's heir, the famous John of
Moidart, the grandfather of the present head of
the house, Admiral Sir Reginald MacDonald,
K.C.B. It is said to have been composed under
the following circumstances:— MacCodrum, who
was, like most of the bards and minstrels of ancient
times, of a roving disposition, was one day
seen approaching Nunton House, in Benbecula,
then a residence of the Clan Ranald. Mac 'Ic
Ailein, the chief, happened to be walking about
leading his heir, Iain Miiideartach, by the hand
at the time, and sent the boy to meet the bard,
giving him a gold coin to present to him if he
would compose a song without further preparation.
MacCodrum, on receiving it, asked him if that
v\as all the money he liad, and on his replying
tiiat it was, the bard said^" Well, there is not
another heir in the world that would give me all
his possessions but yourself,"' and taking the
child up in his arms walked to the house witii him
but would not part with him until he comiK)sed a
song in his praise. The bard asked to be allowed
to walk once round the garden, and after doing so,
the lioem was ready, and sung to Iain Miiideartach.
In it he reviews the brave exploits of the boy's
ancestors in many a hard fought battle, and traces
their prowess from the days of Harlaw, when
Lachlann Mac^NIhuirich stirred up the courage of
the MacDonalds with his famous poetical
harangue, down to the battle of Kinloch-Lochy,
called "Blar Leine," because the Highlanders
fought in their shirts on that occasion, when Lord
Lovat, and the master of Lovat, were both slain,
and the Clan Fraser almost annihilated. Inverlochy,
Killiecrankie, Sheriftmuir, at all of which
the clan Ranalds fought with the traditional
heroism of their race.
" Oran do Mhac 'Ic Ailein " is another excellent
song he composed for the father of Iain Miiideartach
shortly after his succeeding to his patrimony.
Another individual poem to a MacDonald was
his song to Sir James MacDonald of Sleat—a long
one of 15 verses of 8 lines in each verse. Some of
his other best known poems are " Smeorach
Chlann Dòmhnuill"— the mavis of the MacDonalds
— " Moladh Chlann DòmhnuiU "—in praise of the
MacDonalds— " Oran do Shir Seumas Mac
DhòmhnuiU "—song to Sir James MacDonald ;
" Marbrann do Alasdair MacDliòmhnuiU "—elegy
on the death of Alexander MacDonald ; and
another elegy on the death of Sir James Mac-
Donald, who died at Rome.