GAELIC PLANT NAMES.

STUDY OF THEIR USES AND LORE

I—ROOTS AND STEMS

T h i s p a p e r is n o t m e a n t t o b e an e x h a u s t i v e t r e a t m e n t o f t he flora o f t he H i g h l a n d s , b u t a s t u d y o f t he o u t s t a n d i n g p l a n t s a n d t r ees k n o w n t o t he G a e l f o r t h e i r s eve ra l v i r t u e s — d i e t e t i c , m e d i c a l , a n d m a g i c a l . N a t u r a l l y , t h e r e f o r e , s o m e m a y b e d i s a p p o i n t e d a t a f a v o u r i t e p l a n t o r flower o f the i rg n o t b e i n g m e n t i o n e d . I h a v e g i v e n t h e I r i s h s y n o n y m s o f t he G a e l i c n a m e s , and , w h e r e t h e r e s e m b l a n c e i s f o u n d , t he A r m o r i c ones . I sha l l , a t t h e ou t se t , d e s c r i b e t he v a r i o u s pa r t s o f p l a n t s a n d t r ees a n d h o w t h e y c a m e t o b e so c a l l e d . B e g i n n i n g then w i t h t h e r o o t w e h a v e —

(1) F r e u m h . T h i s i s t h e g e n e r a l t e r m . T h e w o r d Bun i s s o m e t i m e s u s e d , bi t r e la tes r a t h e r t o t h e u n d e r g r o u n d s t e m o r r h i z o m e . E x ­amp le s :—A. s an fhreumh, f r o m t h e r o o t ; eada r bhun is bhàrr, r o o t a n d b r a n c h .

(2 ) T h e s t e m is v a r i o u s l y d e s i g n a t e d i n t h e case o f he rbs b y cas, cuiseag ( d i m i n u t i v e ) ; o f t rees b y stoc o r bun.

(3 ) F l o w e r s — B u d s a re boinnean, gucag -gireag; b l o s s o m o r b l o o m , plùr, plùran, guc, barr-guc, blàth.

(4) T h e l e a f is duille. M o r e c o m m o n , how­ever , i s i t s d i m i n u t i v e , duilleag; duilleagan, l e a v e s ; c o l l e c t i v e l y as c l a d d i n g a tree, duill­each; duilleagach, l e a f y .

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Bileag is t h e d i m i n u t i v e o f bile or bil, a n e d g e , and g e n e r a l l y a p p l i e d t o l e aves o f g r a s s .

(5) T h e p e e l o f a p l a n t o r t r ee is rusg. (6 ) F o r t h e b r a n c h t h e r e a re severa l t e r m s : —

( a ) Meangan, b u t i t s v a r i a n t meanglan i s c o m m o n e r . Meangan Dhaibhidh, meangan fireanta ( t h e b r a n c h o f D a v i d , t he r i g h t e o u s b r a n c h , r e s p e c t i v e l y ) , are B i b l e t e r m s f o r M e s s i a h .

( b ) Geug, w h i c h I t h i n k r a t h e r c o n n o t e s t h e shape , o r a t t a c h m e n t , as t he case m a y b e : — " Thig geug a mach o fhreumh Iese," " A b r a n c h s h a l l c o m e o u t o f t h e r o o t o f J e s s e . "

( c ) W e h a v e a l so meur, w h i c h i s u s e d t o d e n o t e t he i n t e rna l s p r i n g f r o m the p a r e n t s t e m as t h e finger f r o m t h e p a l m o f t h e h a n d .

(7) F o r t h e f ru i t w e h a v e severa l i n t e r e s t i n g

t e r m s : —

( a ) T h e g e n e r a l t e r m i s meas. I t is t h e s a m e w o r d i n I r i s h , b u t i n c o m m o n w i t h o t h e r c o g ­na te C e l t i c l a n g u a g e s i t w a s used in t h a t t o n g u e a t first f o r a c o r n . T h u s measog i s I r . f o r a c o r n ; mesa, E a r l y I r i s h f o r f r u i t ; W e l s h mes, a c o r n s ; C o r n i s h m e s o n , g l a n s ; B r e t o n i c m e s e n , a c o r n . M a c B a i n d e r i v e s i t f r o m messu, r o o t f r o m med a n d mad, t o e a t ; G r e e k medomai, t o t h i n k o f . I t w o u l d seem t o b e a k i n t o t h e E n g l i s h w o r d mast, A n g l o - S a x o n maest, t h e f r u i t o f t h e b e e c h , e t c .

( b ) T h e n as t o m o r e def ini te t e r m s w e h a v e dearc, a b e r r y ; I r i s h s a m e ; O l d I r i s h derc ( t h i s w o r d has n o t h i n g t o d o w i t h d e a r c i n dearc-luachrach, w h e r e the r o o t i s r e a l l y earc, t he d at t h e b e g i n n i n g b e l o n g i n g o r i g i n a l l y t o the a r t i c l e ) . T h e c r a n b e r r y p l a n t i s n a m e d af ter i t s b e r r y , mu iZeag , w h i c h m e a n s l i t t l e f r o g . Muilteag i s p r o b a b l y a v a r i a n t . C r o w -b e r r y i s eidhreag o r oidhreag; c l o u d b e r r y i s broidhleag. Caor, p l u r a l caoran, i s t h e b e r r y o f t h e m o u n t a i n a sh o r f o w l e r ' s s e r v i c e t r e e , o r r o w a n t r e e . M a c B a i n d e r i v e s i t f r o m o r ident i f ies i t w i t h caor, a b l a z e , w h i c h w i l l n a t u r a l l y a p p e a l a s c o g e n t t o a n y o n e w h o h a s feas ted h i s eye s o n a c l u m p o f r o w a n t r ees i n t h e m o n t h o f A u g u s t , w i t h t h e i r b r a n c h e s b e n d i n g u n d e r t h e i r c r o w d e d u m b e l s o f c o r a l -

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•red be r r i e s so b e l o v e d o f t h e v a r i o u s o u z e l "tribes.

( c ) A n o t h e r w o r d f o r f r u i t w a s subh, sùbhag; i n the W e s t H i g h l a n d s and I s l a n d s p r o n o u n c e d - ju i ' eag . I t w a s a t o n e t i m e a p p l i e d t o t h e m i s t l e t o e , sùbh-daraich, i.e., t h e f ru i t o f t h e •oak. I t i s n o w u s e d o n l y o f t h e s t r a w b e r r y and r a spbe r ry , v i z . , subh-làir a n d subh-chraobh r e s p e c t i v e l y — t h a t i s , i n c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n ( o w i n g t o t he r e s e m b l a n c e o f t he t w o t o e a c h

•other) , ea r th - f ru i t a n d t ree - f ru i t . T h e b r a m b l e o r b l a c k b e r r y i s smeur o r smiar,

s o m e t i m e s smeurag. ( d ) T h e h a w t h o r n b e r r y o r h a w i s sgeach

( I r i s h s a m e ) ; a lso sgiach; E a r l y I r i s h see. A •variant is sgitheag. C o m p a r e B i b l e c r ù n sgitheach, crown of thorns. A s a p l a c e - n a m e

•we have Altnasgiach, H a w t h o r n - b u r n . (e ) T h e h i p o f t he rose i s mucag, o r p l u r a l

•mucan ( s h o r t f o r mucagan), l i t t l e p i g . I n Skye t he h i p s are mucan-faileag.

( f ) Ubhal o r abhal i s f o r a p p l e . I t w a s a p ­p l ied in G a e l i c t o t he f ru i t o f t he p o t a t o , j u s t as i n E n g l i s h t h e w o r d p l u m i s u s e d .

( g ) Such f ru i t s as p o d s a n d o t h e r l e g u m e s a re "known as cochul, a t e r m t h a t i s a l so a p p l i e d "to a husk o r sac o r ca.ul. Chaidh e a cochul a chridhe—He b u r s t t h e c a u l o f h i s hea r t .

(8) A m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g field o f i n v e s t i g a t i o n is the w a y s i n w h i c h p l a n t s are d e s i g n a t e d and d i f fe rent ia ted . T h e g r e a t m a j o r i t y are s imp ly n a m e d b y a t e r m d e n o t i n g s o m e q u a l i t y they possess . A l l such h a v e s i m i l a r o r nea r l y s imi la r n a m e s in I r i sh , and can b e ea s i l y t raced t o E a r l y I r i s h , w h i l e at t he s a m e t i m e t h e y show a f a m i l y r e s e m b l a n c e t o t he s a m e in t he o ther C e l t i c g r o u p o f l a n g u a g e s ; n a y m o r e , a g o o d m a n y c a n b e s h o w n t o b e r e l a t e d t o t he c o g n a t e t e r m s i n t h e v a r i o u s A r y a n tongues .

A g a i n t h e r e a re m a n y n a m e s t h a t a r e c o m ­pound . T h e o r d i n a r y b o t a n i c a l c l ass i f i ca t ion i i some t imes f o l l o w e d b y a d d i n g t h e spec i f ic t o the g e n e r i c n a m e ; t h u s , Giuthas geal, G . Lochlannach, w h i t e p i n e . N o r w a y s p r u c e , Feamainn, sea a l g a e , g i v e s F. bhuidhe, F. dubh,

_F. dearg , F. bholgan—yellow, b l a c k , r ed , and

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d r o p t a n g l e s r e s p e c t i v e l y . T h e p e c u l i a r i t y o f a p l a n t g i v e s i t s n a m e o f t en , as Duilleag bhaite, W a t e r - l i l y ( l i t e r a l l y t h e d r o w n e d l e a f ) , and . s t i l l f u r the r d i f f e ren t i a t ed i n D. bhàite gheal a n d D. bhàite bhuidhe, w h i t e a n d y e l l o w w a t e r -l i l y r e s p e c t i v e l y .

S o c a o r , b l a z e , g i v e s c a o . a dearg, r o w a n b e r ­r i e s ; caora fitheag, c r o w b e r r y ; c a o r a staoin, caora bad miann, caor thalmhainn. So a l s o meacan, r o o t o r b u l b , g i v e s meacan each a n d meacan ruadh, ho r se p a r s n i p and c a r r o t r e s p e c ­t i v e l y . W h e r e g e n e r a i n c l u d e seve ra l spec i e s t h e o n e is m a d e t o p r e c e d e t he o t h e r ; t h u s . Glunach, t h e p o l y g o n u m o r b i s t o r t , g ives-G. uisge, G . d h e a r g , G. mòr, G. teth, e t c .

S i m i l a r l y Mionnt, m i n t , g i v e s M. arbhair, w i l d m i n t ; M. coille, w o o d s a g e , e t c . , e t c .

W e find a g a i n Plùr, flower, p re f ixed as m o r e d e s c r i p t i v e o f ce r t a in flowers. S i m i l a r l y peasair, pea , and pònair, b e a n , a re p re f ixed b e f o r e t he i r v a r i o u s spec ie s .

T h e s i m e u s a g e is f o l l o w e d i n t he case o f Raineach, f e rn . B. nan creag, r o c k f e r n ; B. cruaidh, h a r d fe rn (blechnum spicant); B. rioghal, r o y a l f e r n ; R. uaine, g r e e n s p l e e n w o r t , and sr> on .

A g r e a t t e r m in G a e l i c p l a n t n o m e n c l a t u r e w a s praiseag, f r o m the I r i s h praiseagh, b r o t h , p o t h e r b , p o t t a g e , t h u s : — P . na mara, s e a k a l e ; P. faidh, m o n k ' s r h u b a r b , and m a n y o t h e r s . M a c B a i n de r ives i t f r o m L a t i n brassica, c a b ­b a g e , t h r o u g h E a r l y I r i s h braiseach; cf . W e l s h bresnch, c a b b a g e s . C a m e r o n , o n t h e o the r h a n d , in h is G a e l i c names o f p l an t s , d e r i v e s i t f r o m vràiseati, w h i c h i s t he d i m i n u t i v e o f pràis, a l i t t l e p o t , d e r i v e d f r o m M i d . E n g . bras, b rass .

Càl, c a b b a g e , was g e n e r i c a l l y pref ixed t o severa l spec ies :—Càl na mara, s e a k a l e ; C. colbhairt, c o l e w o r t ; C. cearslach, d r u m h e a d ; C. gruidheam, cau l i f lower .

B u t t he w o r d m o s t c o m m o n l y used as a d i s ­t i n g u i s h i n g nref ix ( m o r e r a r e l y affix) w a s Lus. T h u s L. caitheamh, w o o d r u f f ; L. nan cnamh briste, c o m f r e y ; L. chosgadh na fola, y a r r o w ; L. an t-siapuinn, s o a p w o r t ; L. a chriibain, g e n t i a n ; o r t o p o i n t a r e s e m b l a n c e , e.g., L. na

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nathrach, v i p e r ' s b u g l o s s ; L. na peighinn, p e n n y w o r t ; L. a chinn chriom, d a f f o d i l ; o r t o JiSTiify o r i g i n a l h a b i t a t , e.g., L. na Frainge, ( F r e n c h ) t a n s y ; L. na Spainnte ( S p a n i s h ) o x -eye d a i s y ; o r i t s pe r sona l a s s o c i a t i o n , e.g., L. an rìgh, L. na banrigh, L. Phara-liath ( B r e a d a l b a n e t e r m f o r g r o u n d s e l , l i t e r a l l y G r e y Pe t e r ' s p l a n t ) .

L e t m e n o w g o b a c k t o t he first m o d e m e n ­t ioned o f n a m i n g p l a n t s , v i z . , b y s o m e q u a l i t y . T h i s was d o n e b y such affixes as an ( m a s c . ) and ag (fern.) , and ach o r ch. T h e first t w o c o n ­veyed a lso t he sense o f d i m i n u t i o n . A s e x ­amples w e have seangan, t he leas t ( y e l l o w ) c l o v e r ; sgeallag ( i n s o m e d i s t r i c t s sgeallan), o h a r l o c k , p r o b a b l y f r o m geal ( t h e s e u p h o n i c ) , whi te .

Ach i s v e r y exp res s ive . I t m a y m e a n a g e n c y , e.g., da rach , o a k , t he h a r d , u n y i e l d i n g o n e , f rom dor, dur, cf . d o u r ; or m o r e f r e q u e n t l y i t means a b o u n d i n g i n , Gallanach, a b o u n d i n g i n "butter-bur, o r a p p e r t a i n i n g t o , as in Bealaidh Frangach, Bealaidh Sasunnach, F r e n c h a n d Kng l i sh b r o o m r e s p e c t i v e l y . I t m a y a l so s ign i fy a p l an t ' s d i s t i n g u i s h i n g c h a r a c ­t e r i s t i c , as Aigheannach, ( h e a r t y ) c o r n t h i s t l e ; Aon-chasach, o n e - s t e m m e d sea w r a c k ; Beatha carraigeach, k n o t t y b i r c h ; Barr-cluigeanach, "bell-flower; Cannach, c o t t o n - g r a « s : Miosach and Caolach lus, t w o n a m e s for c a t h a r t i c flax; Cluaran deilgneach, spea r - t l i i s t l e ; Da-bhileach, twayb lade o r c h i s ; An fhiodhagach ( t h e w o o d y one ) , b i rd s ' c h e r r y ; Seileach, w i l l o w ; Gluin-each, the g n e e d o n e ; Meangach, t h e b r a n c h e d one.; Babhagach, w a t e r - l i l y ( t h e w a r n i n g o n e , f rom i t s d a n g e r o u s locale); Dromanach, t h e

c o m m o n e l d e r ; S o b h r a c h ( a l s o Sobhroichean (p lu ra l ) , p r i m r o s e .

T h e c h i e f f o o d p l a n t s a re : —

(1) Cereals , s u c h as o a t s , core, IT. coirce, M i d I r . c o r c a ( w h i c h i s s t i l l t h e c o l l o q u i a l form on t he W e s t Coas t and I s l a n d s ) , W e l s h ceire, Bre t , kerc'h, L a t . ceres ( c e r e a l ) . T h i s may be said t o b e the n a t i o n a l ce rea l o f S c o t ­land, espec ia l ly i n t he f o r m o f p o r r i d g e . I t was m u c h m o r e so t w o cen tu r i e s a g o . J o h n -

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Cruithneachd o r cruineachd, w h e a t , I r . cruithneachd, O . I r . cruithnecht. I t a l so has been compared t o L a t . ceres ( E n g . c e r e a l ) , La t . creo and cresco.

Cameron connec t s t he w o r d w i t h t h e " Cruithne," a t r i b e o r t r i be s w h o , t r a d i t i o n ­al ly , came f r o m L o c h l i n t o E r i n and t h e n c e t o A lb in , where t h e y f o u n d e d a k i n g d o m w h i c h lasted d o w n t i l l t he s even th c e n t u r y . N a t u r ­ally Cameron does n o t i d e n t i f y t he Cruithne with the P i c t s o f R o m a n w r i t e r s , s e e i n g t h a t Skene and o the r s w h o m a d e t he d i s c o v e r y w r o t e their works la ter . O f cou r se t he r e s e m b l a n c e is a mere c o i n c i d e n c e . Cruithneachd w a s n o t cropped in S c o t l a n d n o r t h o f t he F o r t h t i l l compara t ive ly recen t t i m e s ; h e n c e t h e h a r d l y any traces o f i t i n G a e l i c p l a c e - n a m e s , t h e o n l y place-name tha t w o u l d s eem t o b e a s s o c i a t e d with i t beinsr Airidh-nan-Cruithneach ( i n Applecross) , w h i c h , h o w e v e r , is n o t " t he sh ie l ­ing of the w h e a t , " bait " t he s h i e l i n g o f t he Cruithneach o r P i c t s , " s e e i n g t h a t nan, " o f the ," is used o n l y o f c o l l e c t i v e o r p l u r a l n o \ m s .

Seagal, same in I r . , r y e , M i d . I r . secul, f r o m •Lat. secale, B r e t o n segal. " An cruithneachd agus an seagal." " Nach cuir e 'n cruithn­eachd anns an ait' a's fearr, agus an t-eorna anns an ionad shuidhichte, agus an seagal 'na. chrich fein?" ( I s a i a h x x v i i i . 25 ) . T h i s e r a i n was bu t spare ly c u l t i v a t e d i n t h e H i g h l a n d s , and then o n l y b u t o f r e c e n t y e a r s , a f te r i t w a s discovered t o c r o p h e a v i l y a f te r p o t a t o e s . I t has never appea led , h o w e v e r , as an a r t i c l e o f food on accoun t o f i t s coa r se t a s t e and c o m ­paratively small nu t r i en t v a l u e .

(2) Of roo t p lan t s w e n a t u r a l l y g i v e t he premier p l ace t o t he potato, w h i c h , l i k e t h e Gaelic buntàta ( a n d i n d e e d a l l E u r o p e a n f o r m s of the w o r d ) , i s f r o m t h e Span i sh batata. This , in turn , m u s t b e f r o m s o m e S. A m e r i c a n dialect , see ing tha t t he t u b e r w a s i n t r o d u c e d by the Spaniards f r o m C h i l e . S i r J o h n M a c -grcgor has h u m o r o u s l y d e r i v e d i t s G a e l i c n a m e from bun-taghte, c h o i c e r o o t . T h e p o t a t o belongs t o t he e-reat f a m i l y Solanàceai, w h i c h include some 1000 spec ie s o f h e r b a c e o u s p l a n t s and shrubs, and w h i c h are f o u n d d i s t r i b u t e d

s o n , in h i s b i a s a g a i n s t S c o t l a n d , def ined in. h i s d i c t i o n a r y oa t s as t he f o o d o f horses i n E n g l a n d , a n d o f m e n i n S c o t l a n d , w h i c h c a l l e d f o r t h L o r d Jef f rey ' s r e t o r t , " A n d whe re w i l l y o u find s u c h horses a n d s u c h m e n ? " W h e n t h e f a m o u s Edinburgh Review w a ^ s t a r t ed a c e n t u r y a n d a h a l f a g o , i t s f ounde r s chose as i t s m o t t o , Incolunvus litteras parvo-avenae—" W e c u l t i v a t e l i t e r a tu r e o n a p i c k l e -o a t m e a l . " '

T h e p r i m i t i v e m o d e o f p r e p a r i n g oa t s f o r f o o d is n o t so v e r y l o n g e x t i n c t . I w e l l re­m e m b e r s e e i n g t he q u e r n o r h a n d - m i l l a t w o r k . I n m y e a r l y d a y s p e o p l e o c c a s i o n a l l y m i g h t be-c o m p e l l e d t o r e so r t t o t he w a s t e f u l m e t h o d of gradanadh ( f r o m grad, q u i c k , s u d d e n ) , when a. sheaf w o u l d b e h e l d o v e r a flame, and t h e grain-t h u s p a r c h e d w a s w i n n o w e d and t h e n d i r e c t l y g r o u n d i n t he q u e r n . O u r f o r e f a t h e r s l a r g e l y ) s u b s i s t e d on t h i s g r a i n i n v a r i o u s f o r m s o f p r e p a r a t i o n — e . g . , p o r r i d g e , lite, o r b rochan . Brochan, h o w e v e r , m i g h t be o f severa l c o n s i s t ­enc i e s , t h u s : — B r o c h a n tiugh ( t h i c k ) , and brochan tana ( t h i n p o r r i d g e ) ; g r u e l w a s sifted brochan m i x e d w i t h m i l k , b u t t e r , and sal t , and k n o w n as seasan. O a t c a k e w a s bonnach ( a l s o i bannag) o r araji . A h i r ed h a n d w o u l d t h i n k i t b e n e a t h h i m t o a c c e p t aran eorna ( b a r l e y cake) as h i s f o o d . " Cumte 'n t-aran rium fhad 's is earrach e "—" F e e d m e on o a t c a k e d u r i n g the s p r i n g . "

Eorna, b a r l e y , p r o b a b l y c o n n e c t e d with-.j L a t i n hordeum. S o m e see a r e s e m b l a n c e in i L a t . horreo, t o b r i s t l e , f r o m t h e b e a r d o f the-ce rea l . T h i s i s less w i d e l y g r o w n i n O a e l d o m t h a n the p r e c e d i n g . I t i s c r o p p e d chief ly for d i s t i l l i n g p u r p o s e s . O u r a n c e s t o r s u s e d i t for­t i u s p u r p o s e , w h i s k y b e i n g t e r m e d b y t h e noets* as i l fac na braiche ( s o n o f t he m a l t ) , Subh an eorna ( b a r l e y - b r e e ) . A s a f o o d g r a i n i t i s l c u l t i v a t e d in t he O u t e r H e b r i d e s a n d nor th­w e s t S u t h e r l a n d m o r e t han e l s e w h e r e i n t he H i g h l a n d s b e c a u s e i t i s b e t t e r a d a p t e d t o the l i g h t so i l t he re t h a n the o r d i n a r y o a t s . In-U i s t i t i s v e r y m u c h so . T h e i s le i s poe t ica l ly -k n o w n as Uist an Eorna. T h e o n l y oa t s tha ta s u c c e e d s t he re is t he t h i n , s n n d y k i n d .

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o v e r m o s t p a r t s o f t he w o r l d e x c e p t t h e co ldes t , a n d a re m o s t a b u n d a n t w i t h i n t h e T r o p i c s . T h e p r e v a i l i n g p r o p e r t y o f i t s m e m b e r s is n a r c o t i c , h e n c e m a n y o f t h e m are h i g h l y p o i s o n o u s . I n o t h e r s c e r t a i n p a r t s o f t h e p lan t h a v e p o i s o n o u s p r o p e r t i e s , t h e res t o f i t be ing h a r m l e s s , a n d s o m e even c o n t a i n i n g a l a rge q u a n t i t y o f n u t r i t i o u s m a t t e r . T h e genus Solatium, t o w h i c h o u r t u b e r b e l o n g s , conta ins spec ie s o f e i the r o f t h e f o r e g o i n g desc r ip t i on . P o r w h i l e i t i n c l u d e s t he W o o d y N i g h t s h a d e o r B i t t e r - s w e e t a n d B l a c k N i g h t s h a d e (Sol. dulcamara a n d Sol. nigrum r e s p e c t i v e l y ) , bo th d a n g e r o u s l y n a r c o t i c i n a l l i t s p a r t s , i t con­t a i n s t h e P o t a t o (Solanum tuberosum), wh i ch , t h o u g h i t s l e aves a n d f r u i t a r e n a r c o t i c , i n its t u b e r s has n o t h i n g n o x i o u s , b u t a b o u n d s in a:i a l m o s t t as te less s t a r c h ; o n w h i c h accoun t i t is less l i a b l e t o c l o g o n t h e ipalate t han any o t h e r v e g e t a b l e f o o d e x c e p t b r e a d . " I t was i n t r o d u c e d i n t o S p a i n b e t w e e n 1580 and 1585, and i n t o I r e l a n d b y T h o m a s H e r i o t t , w h o b r o u g h t i t f r o m V i r g i n i a i n 1586, w h e n Sir W a l t e r R a l e i g h p l a n t e d i t o n h i s es ta te a t Y o u g h a l , C o . C o r k . I t w a s c u l t i v a t e d in the E m e r a l d I s l e f o r f o o d l o n g b e f o r e i t s value w a s k n o w n in E n g l a n d . T h e first m e n t i o n we h a v e o f i t t he r e i s b y J o h n G e r a r d , t h e famous h e r b a l i s t , w h o g r e w i t i n h i s g a r d e n p r i o r t o 1597, t he y e a r i n w h i c h h i s H e r b a l w a s pub­l i s h e d . T h e f r o n t i s p i e c e o f th ig b o o k repre­sents t h e a u t h o r h o l d i n g a flowering branch o f the p o t a t o . I t w a s n e a r l y t w o hundred y e a r s af ter , b e f o r e t he p l a n t w a s k n o w n in S c o t l a n d : a f a c t w h i c h , as w e t h i n k of the V'lace i t has m a d e f o r i t s e l f as an a r t i c le o f f o o d , m a k e s us w o n d e r w h a t o u r forefa thers p r e v i o u s t o t h a t t i m e d i d w i t h o u t i t . " B u t o f c o u r s e t h e y c o u l d n o t m i s s w h a t t h e y d i d no t k n o w .

T h e n e x t r o o t f o o d i n o r d e r o f i m p o r t a n c e is t h e t u r n i p , sneap (cf. " n e e p " ) . tuimeap. from tl ie E n g l i s h , and s w e d e , sneap shuaineach. T h e s e , w h i l e used f o r t he t a b l e , a r e m a i n l y g r o w n f o r c a t t l e a n d sheep , w h i c h soon cond i ­t i o n w e l l o n t h e m . R a p e i s a l so srrown for s t o c k - f e e d i n g . A l l t h r ee b e l o n g b o t a n i c a l l y to

the same genus (Brassica) as t he v a r i o u s f o r m s of cabbages, the difference b e i n g t ha t t h e o n e set developed, t h r o u g h c u l t i v a t i o n , m o r e i n t he root, and the other i n t he l eaves .

The common car ro t (Carota daucus) is k n o w n os carran bu idhe , and g r o w s w i l d i n m o s t pa r t s of the H igh lands , wh i l e t h e r a d i s h (Baphanus raphinistrum) is k n o w n as curan dearg ( r e d carrot), or meacan dearg ( r e d r o o t ) . T h e c o m ­mon parsnip was ca l l ed meacan-an-righ ( t h e king's roo t ) , Peucadenium sativa, a l s o curran geal (white c a r ro t ) .

W e see these t w o t e rms , meacan a n d curran, t-ì be in te rchangeable f o r severa l r o o t p l a n t s in use. Gael ic w i t h i t s l o v e f o r an , w h e n f o r m ­ing a name f r o m any r o o t , t o s i g n i f y s o m e t i m e s an offshoot, somet imes a d i m i n i n u t i v e . T h u s meacan is f rom roo t mek, p r o b a b l y male o r mac, little son, and curran f r o m cors, corr, head. Cf. car ro t , f r o m G r . karota, f r o m kara, head. Thus curran=little head .

(3) The c a b b a g e en te red l a r g e l y i n t o t he f o o d of the Gael . T h e gene ra l n a m e i s càl. T h u s the various k inds : —

Càl traghad, seakale , l i t e r a l l y ( b e a c h k a l e ) crambe maritinus, a lso praiseag tragha. Càl colbhairt (colbh, s t a lk + art, flesh), t h e k a l e with the s tout flesh s ta lk . ( P e h a p s B r u s s e l s sprouts). Praiseach bhaidhe i s g i v e n b y Cameron for s ea -cabbage (brassica oleracea).

Càl-cearslach, g l o b u l a r ( t h a t i s , d r u m h e a d ) , and Càl-gruidheam, c u r d s - c a b b a g e ( t h a t i s , cauliflower).

Gàradh-càil, a c a b b a g e — o r k i t c h e n - g a r d e n .

II—IN DIETETIC USE.

The adaptab i l i ty o f G a e l i c i s seen i n t h e secondary use o f t e rms l i k e p r a i s e a g a n d càl. Both came t o b e e m p l o y e d f o r a n y p o t - h e r b o r pottage in genera l . T h u s càl dheanntag, nettle-broth, and càl-duileaisg, du l s e -b ro th . In Spring the first t ende r shoo t s o f t h e c o m m o n nettle were m i n c e d and b o i l e d . S o m e t i m e s a little fine oatmeal was mixed wi th it . I t wag ever regarded as one o f t he best S p r i n g

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d i u r e t i c s , a n d a l s o n o u r i s h i n g . Duileasg, w h i l e i t c o u l d b e ea ten r a w ( a n d i n d e e d w a r d e d off h u n g e r fo r m e n a b o u t t he sho re ) , w a s m u c h m o r e p a l a t a b l e a n d d i g e s t i b l e w h e n c o o k e d . I t a l so w a s r e g a r d e d as a v a l u a b l e asset b y o u r m a r t i t i m e ances to r s , b o t h a s a f o o d a n d d i u r e t i c .

T h e r e w e r e o t h e r e d i b l e p l a n t s t ha t , w h i l e n o t s t r i c t l y r e g a r d e d as f o o d , w e r e u s e d t o e i the r a l l a y t he p a n g s o f h u n g e r w h e n n o t h i n g b e t t e r w a s t o h a n d , o r e l se as a s o o t h i n g p leasu re . A m o n g s u c h w e r e t he v a r i o u s spec ie s o f so r r e l (rumex), c a l l e d sealbhag ^some h o l d t h e w o r d o r i g i n a l l y w a s searbhag, f r o m i t s a c i d t a s t e ) . T h e c o m m o n e s t w a s sealbhag, o r sealbhag nan con ( d o g ' s s o r r e l ) . I t w a s ( a n d p e r h a p s s t i l l i s ) u s e d i n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , as w e l l as o u r s , as a sa lad . T h e r e wag S. nan caorach, s h e e p ' s Borrel, less suc­c u l e n t t h a n the p r e c e d i n g . T h e y a re c lass i f ied in t he na tu ra l o r d e r as JR. acetosa and B. acetosella r e s p e c t i v e l y . C l o s e l y a l l i e d t o t he se i s Oxyria reniformis, Sealbhag nam fiadh ( l i t e r a l l y , d e e r ' s s o r r e l ) , m o u n t a i n so r r e l . I t i s b o t h sa l t i sh as w e l l as a c i d i n t a s t e . A s i t s n a m e i m p l i e s , i t is conf ined t o h i g h g r o u n d . I t i s n o t w i d e l y d i s t r i b u t e d . D u r i n g m a n y y e a r s ' r e sea rch I f o u n d i t b u t i n o n e l o c a l i t y , v i z . , i n Grlendhu, o n t h e W e s t C o a s t o f Su ther ­l a n d .

D e s p i t e i t s n a m e , t he w o o d so r re l (Oxalis acetosella) d o e s n o t b e l o n g t o t he f o r e g o i n g , b e i n g a l l i e d t o t h e Gerania, o r c r a n e b i l l s . I n G a e l i c i t i s seamrag ( o l d n a m e samh), a l so biadh nan eoinean ( i n S k y e t h i s b e c o m e s big-an-eoinean), w h i c h m e a n s t h e l i t t l e b i r d ' s f o o d . I t i s a d a i n t y l i t t l e t h i n g ; a n d t he w h o l e p l a n t a p e r f e c t h y d r o s c o p e , t he d e l i c a t e t r i f o l i a t e l e a f f o l d i n g i n t o a t r i a n g u l a r p y r a m i d , a n d t h e e x q u i s i t e l y v e i n e d , l i l a c -c o l o u r e d c o r o l l a c l o s i n g u p b e f o r e r a in , o r w h e n e v e r t h e s u n g o e s d o w n . I t g r o w s i n she l t e r ed s i t u a t i o n s i n w o o d s a n d u n d e r bushes , b e i n g c o p i o u s i n i t s h a b i t s . C h i l d r e n l i k e t o m u n c h t h e l e aves , w h i c h h a v e a v e r y a g r e e a b l y a c i d t a s t e , g r a t e f u l o n a h o t d a y . A s t h e l e a v e s , h o w e v e r , a re v e r y s m a l l , i t w a s u s u a l

11

•to g a t h e r a g o o d l y b u n c h t o m a k e i t w o r t h w h i l e , and g e t the fu l l benef i t . T h i s w e u s e d "to ca l l Greim saighdear, a s o l d i e r ' s m o u t h f u l . I suppose , h o w e v e r , i t w o u l d t a k e m a n y s u c h m o u t h f u l s t o p r o d u c e t h e m i n i m u m o f sal ts o f sorre l ( e x t r a c t e d f r o m t h e p l a n t ) t h a t w o u l d be fa ta l . Y e t w e w e r e o f t en w a r n e d t ha t eat­i n g t o o g e n e r o u s l y o f t he l eaves had b e e n k n o w n t o b e f o l l o w e d b y i l l -ef fec ts . B u t l i t t l e heed w i l l c h i l d r e n g i v e t o s u c h ; w i tnes s t h e i r

"habit o f s u c k i u g t h e h o n e y - b a g s o f t h e F o x ­g l o v e flowers. W o n d e r f u l is t he i r i m m u n i t y !

T h e r o o t s o f t he c r e e p i n g c i n q u e f o i l , o r s i l ve r weed (Potentilla anserina), w e r e k n o w n as Brisgean, or barr brisgean. T h e y w e r e t u b e r ­o u s . R a w , t h e y h a d a s l i g h t l y n u t t y t a s t e , b u t m u c h harsher . W h e n roas ted , h o w e v e r , "they h a d a s o m e w h a t p l e a s a n t m e a l y flavour.

C h i l d r e n a l so used t o d i g u p the ear th- o r p i g - n u t , breconan (Bunium flexiosus), t he b u l b o u s r o o t o f an u m b e l l i f e r o u s p l a n t , w i t h a s lender s t e m t o p p e d b y a n u m b e r o f s m a l l w h i t e flowers. T h e nu t - l ike r o o t i s c o v e r e d b y a d a r k - b r o w n sk in , w h i c h b y a •s l ight p ressure s l ips off. I t a l so ha s a s o m e ­w h a t nu t - l ike flavour, b u t so wersh a n d un­p a l a t a b l e t ha t t he v e r y m e m o r y o f i t m a k e s o n e m a r v e l a t t h e p r i m i t i v e n e s s o f t h e c h i l d taste . M a y i t n o t be a ha rk ing ' b a c k t o s a v a g e tas te . P i g s are v e r y f o n d o f i t .

L e g u m i n o u s p l a n t s f u r n i s h e d t h e i r q u o t a , t h o u g h a smal l o n e , t o o u r f o o d r e g i m e , b o t h fo r m a n a n d beas t . P e a s w e r e c r o w n a t o n e

' t ime in s o m e pa r t s o f t he H i g h l a n d s fo r m e a l —Min pheasrach. B e a n s (Ponair) w e r e less w i d e l y u s e d . S o m e of t he w i l d v e t c h e s and v e t c h -l i n g s w e r e e n c o u r a g e d t o g r o w a m o n g c o r n a n d g r a s s as v a l u a b l e a d j u n c t s t o c a t t l e f o d d e r . A m o n g s u c h w e r e :—Peasa i r -nan-Uich , t u f t e d v e t c h (Vicia cracca); Peasair nam preas (Vicia sepium), b u s h v e t c h ; Peasair fiadhain, or Peasair chapull (Vicia sativa), c o m m o n v e t c h ; Peasair bhuidhe (Lathyrus pratense), y e l l o w m e a d o w v e t c h l i n g ; Peasair an arbhair (Ervum hirsutum), t a r e , o r h a i r y v e t c h .

T h e c l o v e r s w e r e : — W h i t e (Trifolium repens), seamrag, o r seamrag bàn, a p l a n t w h o s e i n t r o d u c t i o n t o o u r d a m p , u n p r o d u c t i v e

12

so i l s , has been o f u n t o l d bene f i t ; H o p t r e f o i l , seamrag bhuidhe (Trifolium procumbens); and R e d c l o v e r (T. pratense), seamar chapull, or tri-bhilean.

F u r z e , w h i n , o r g o r s e (Vlex Europmus) i s Conas g ( a l s o Guinnis, f r o m w h i n s ) , f r o m conas, i n c i t i n g t o a n g e r , b e c a u s e o f i t s p r i c k l y a spec t . I t ha s sp read o v e r m o s t o f t he H i g h ­l a n d s , t h o u g h n o t c o m m o n i n t h e H e b r i d e s . I n o l d e n d a y s i t w a s p o u n d e d f o r f o d d e r , e s p e c i a l l y w h e n s t r a w w a s s c a r c e . I a m t o l d t h a t one a t leas t o f t he m i l l s so u s e d i s s t i l l e x t a n t i n t h e n e a r n e i g h b o u r h o o d .

I m u s t n o t f o r g e t a n o t h e r l e g u m i n o u s p l a n t , v i z . , t he t u b e r o u s o r e v e r l a s t i n g b i t t e r v e t c h (Orobus tuberosus), k n o w n as cairmeille, o r coirmeille ( i n S k y e carachan). I t ha s l o n g , b r a n c h i n g , u n d e r g r o u n d r o o t s , s t r u n g w i t h n o d u l o u s l u m p s a t f r equen t i n t e r v a l s . T h e s e , a f te r t h e y are d r i e d , a re c h e w e d as w i l d l i q u o r i c e . F o r c h e w i n g p u r p o s e I c o n s i d e r t h e m s u p e r i o r t o and fa r less d e l e t e r i o u s t h a n c o m m o n c h e w i n g g u m . T h e tas te c o n t i n u e s i n t he m o u t h f o r h o u r s a f t e r t h e las t s h r e d i s c h e w e d . T h e y a re sa id t o w a r d off h u n g e r f o r a l o n g t i m e . T h e t a s t e i s b o t h a c i d a n d swee t , a n d n e v e r p a l l s . M o s t o f t he e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y t r a v e l l e r s t o t h e H i g h l a n d s , such as M a r t i n , P e n n a n t , and L i g h t f o o t , d i l a t e on t h e f a c t t h a t t he carmeil ( b y t he w a y , i s i t n o t r e l a t e d t o c a r a m e l ? ) w a s i n t i m e s o f s c a r c i t y u s e d b y t he p e o p l e f o r f o o d . T h u s t h e las t n a m e d : — " T h e H i g h l a n d e r s h a v e a g r e a t es teem f o r t h e t u b e r c u l e s o f t he r o o t s ; t h e y d r y a n d c h e w t h e m t o g i v e a b e t t e r t a s t e t o t h e i r w h i s k y (sic). T h e y a l so affirm t h a t t h e y a re g o o d a g a i n s t m o s t d iseases o f t he t h o r a x , and t h a t b y t he use o f t h e m t h e y are e n a b l e d t o r e p e l h u n g e r and t h i r s t f o r a l o n g t i m e . I n B r e a d a l b a n e and R o s s - s h i r e t h e y s o m e t i m e s b r u i s e and s t eep t h e m i n w a t e r , a n d m a k e an a g r e e a b l e , f e r m e n t e d l i q u o r w i t h t h e m , c a l l e d Cairm. T h e y h a v e a s w e e t t as te l i k e t h e r o o t s o f l i q u o r i c e , and w h e n b o i l e d are we l l - f l avoured and n u t r i t i v e , a n d i n t i m e s o f s c a r c i t y h a v e s e r v e d as a s u b s t i t u t e f o r b r e a d . "

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III.—PLANTS USED IN HEALING.

I t m a y be q u e s t i o n e d i f t h e r e w e r e a n y o f t he g r e a t r aces o f m a n k i n d so w i d e l y v e r s e d i n t h e c u r a t i v e v i r t u e s o f p l a n t s a n d h e r b s a s t h e Ce l t s , e x c e p t t h e A m e r i c a n I n d i a n s . P r i m i t i v e m a n i n h i s s a v a g e s t a t e h a d n o t o n l y t o subs i s t f o r a g o o d dea l o f h i s f o o d o n t he v e g e t a l w o r l d , b u t a l so t o find t h e r e t h e r e m e d i e s f o r h i s a i l m e n t s . I n t he c o u r s e o f a g e s t he h e a l i n g p r o p e r t i e s o f c e r t a i n h e r b s c a m e ( b y c h a n c e t o b e g i n w i t h ) t o b e c o m ­m o n l y u s e d . W i t h t he a d v a n c e o f l e a r n i n g , a l l s u c h c a m e t o b e c lass i f ied i n t o a materia medica, w h i c h , i n c o u r s e o f t i m e , w a s m a d e t o i n c l u d e r e m e d i e s f r o m t h e a n i m a l a n d m i n e r a l k i n g d o m s . B u t t he v e g e t a b l e e l e m e n t i n m e d i c i n e pe r s i s t ed as t he m o s t i m p o r t a n t ; a n d n o t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h a t m a n y o f t he s i m p l e s i n use fo r c e n t u r i e s a re n o w l a r g e l y d i s ­c r e d i t e d , y e t m a n y of t he m o s t v a l u a b l e h e r b a l r e m e d i e s in t he m o d e r n p h a r m a c o p i a s o f t h e c i v i l i z e d w o r l d h a v e b e e n k n o w n and used as s u c h f r o m t h e ea r l i e s t d a w n o f h i s t o r y . A m o n g t h e n a t i o n s ea r l i e s t d i s t i n g u i s h e d in t h e a r t o f h e a l i n g w e r e t he G r e e k s , w i t h s u c h •exponents as A r i s t o t l e , G a l e n , a n d H i p p o c r a t e s . I t m u s t b e con fe s sed , h o w e v e r , t h a t t h e y o w e d a l o t o f t he i r sk i l l t o t he A r a b s and M o o r s , as a l so d i d t h e S p a n i s h and , t h r o u g h t h e m , t h e F r e n c h p h y s i c i a n s .

I n o u r o w n c o u n t r y t h e m o s t f a m o u s h e r b a l i s t s o f E n g l a n d w e r e G e r a r d a n d C u l -p e p e r , w h o flourished, t h e f o r m e r in t h e l a s t q u a r t e r o f t he 16th c e n t u r y , a n d t he l a t t e r i n t he first and s e c o n d q u a r t e r s t he r eo f . I n S c o t l a n d t he g r e a t e x p o n e n t s o f m e d i c a l s k i l l w e r e t h e B e a t o n s o r B e t h u n e s o r M a c -B e t h s . T h e y flourished i n t h e W e s t e r n H i g h l a n d s a n d I s l a n d s f r o m t h e b e g i n ­n i n g o f t he 14th c e n t u r y . T h r o u g h ' t h e c o u r t e s y o f o n e o f t h e o l d e s t m e m b e r s o f t h e G a e l i c S o c i e t y , I w a s a b l e t o t r a c e t h e i r g e n e a l o g y b a c k t o t h e i r p r o g e n i t o r , J a m e s d e

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B e t h u n e , w h o w a s k i l l e d at t he b a t t l e o f D u p p l i n M o o r i u 1339. H i s son m a r r i e d a, d a u g h t e r o f t he L a i r d o f B a l f o u r i n F i f e s h i r e . J a m e s , t he 5 th l a i rd o f B a l f o u r , h a d s i x s o n s , o f w h o m D a v i d w a s first l a i rd o f Cre i che a n d m i n i s t e r o f J a m e s I V . ; J a m e s w a s A r c h b i s h o p o f St A n d r e w s and C h a n c e l l o r o f S c o t l a n d ; w h i l e A r c h i b a l d had l a n d s i n P i t l o c h r y . H e w a s t he f a the r of P e t e r , the first o f t he l i n e o f f a m o u s p h y s i c i a n s w h o se t t l ed i n S k y e e a r l y i n t he s i x t e e n t h c e n t u r y . T h i s f a m i l y t r e e g i v e s A n g u s , M . D . , h is g r e a t - g r a n d s o n , as t h e a u t h o r o f t he f a m o u s t r ea t i s e , Lilium Medi­cine. B u t the re i s a w e l l - a u t h e n t i c a t e d d o c u ­m e n t , o f da te 1408, b e i n g a c h a r t e r o f c e r t a i n l ands i n I s l a y g r a n t e d b y D o n a l d , L o r d o f t h e I s l e s , t o B r i a n V i c a r M a c k a y , and wr i t ten , , n o t as w a s u sua l f o r s u c h d o c u m e n t s i n L a t i n , b u t in G a e l i c . N o w the w r i t e r w a s F e r g u s M a c B e t h o r B e a t o n , one o f t he f a m o u s f a m i l y u n d e r r e v i e w and h e r e d i t a r y p h y s i c i a n s t o t h e L o r d o f t he I s l e s , so t h a t t h e y m u s t have-e m i g r a t e d t o t he W e s t e r n H i g h l a n d s e a r l i e r t h a n the f a m i l y t r ee a l r e a d y m e n t i o n e d se ts f o r t h . K e l t i e i n h i s H i s t o r y o f t h e H i g h l a n d s m e n t i o n s , a m o n g a l i s t o f M S S . i n G a e l i c , t h e f o r e - m e n t i o n e d L i l y o f M e d i c i n e as w r i t t e n and t r a n s l a t e d a t t he f o o t o f M t . P e l i o p b y o n e o f the f a m o u s B e a t o n p h y s i c i a n s o f S k y e . I n t he f a m i l y t r ee the re a re v a r i o u s m e m b e r s o f t h e f a m i l y w h o qua l i f i ed as M . D . T h r e e h u n d r e d y e a r s af ter t he c h a r t e r o f 1408 w a s d r a w n u p , m e n o f t he same r ace are f o u n d o c c u p y i n g t he s a m e p o s i t i o n . " H e r e d i t a r y p h y s i c i a n s m i g h t s e e m t o offer b u t p o o r p r o s p e c t s t o t he i r p a t i e n t s , and t h a t e s p e c i a l l y a t a t i m e w h e n s c h o o l s o f m e d i c i n e w e r e a l m o s t i f n o t a l t o g e t h e r u n k n o w n in t he c o u n t r y , b u t t h e f a c t i s t h a t t h i s w a s t he o n l y m o d e in w h i c h m e d i c a l k n o w l e d g e c o u l d be m a i n t a i n e d a t a l l . I f s u c h k n o w l e d g e w e r e n o t t r ans ­m i t t e d f r o m f a the r t o son , t he p r o b a b i l i t y w a s t h a t i t w o u l d p e r i s h , j u s t as w a s t h e case w i t h t h e g e n e a l o g i c a l l o r e o f t h e Seannachies. T h i s t r a n s m i s s i o n , h o w e v e r , w a s p r o v i d e d fo r in t h e C e l t i c s y s t e m , and , w h i l e t he re w a s n o doub t -c o n s i d e r a b l e d i f fe rence b e t w e e n i n d i v i d u a l s i n

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t h e s u c c e s s i o n in p o i n t o f m e n t a l e n d o w m e n t , t h e y w o u l d a l l possess a c e r t a in m e a s u r e o f sk i l l a n d a c q u i r e m e n t as t he resu l t o f f a m i l y e x p e r i e n c e . T h e s e m e n w e r e s t u d e n t s o f t he i r a r t as i t e x i s t e d a t t he t i m e . A s I ' v e m e n ­t i o n e d b e f o r e , t he M o o r s w e r e t hen the c h i e f w r i t e r s on M e d i c i n e . A v e r r o e s and A v i c e n n a w e r e m e n w h o s e n a m e s w e r e d i s t i n g u i s h e d , and w h o s e w o r k s , t h o u g h l i t t l e k n o w n n o w , e x ­t e n d e d t o f o l i o s . A l o n g w i t h t he i r r ea l and s u b s t a n t i a l sc ien t i f ic a c q u i r e m e n t s t h e y d i v e d d e e p i n t o t h e secre t s o f A s t r o l o g y , a n d o u r C e l t i c s t u d e n t s , w h i l e r e a d y d i s c i p l e s o f t h e m i n t he f o r m e r s t u d y , f o l l o w e d t h e m m o s t f a i t h ­f u l l y a n d z e a l o u s l y i n t he l a t t e r l i k e w i s e . T h e r e a re n u m e r o u s m e d i c a l a n d a s t r o l o g i c a l t r ea t i se s s t i l l e x i s t i n g w r i t t e n i n t he G a e l i c l a n g u a g e , and t a k e n chief ly f r o m t h e w o r k s o f M o o r i s h and A r a b i a n w r i t e r s " ( K e l t i e ) .

A p e r u s a l o f these M S S . s h o w s h o w the lan­g u a g e has d e c l i n e d , and t o w h a t a h i g h d e g r e e i t w a s c u l t i v a t e d a t an e a r l y p e r i o d . T h e m o s t a b s t r a c t i d e a s in m e t a p h y s i c s a n d m e d i c i n e a re exp re s sed i n t he G a e l i c o f t h e l a te M i d d l e A g e s , i n t e r m s t h a t w o u l d b e u t t e r l y u n i n t e l l i ­g i b l e t o a n y o r d i n a r y p r e sen t -day speake r o f G a e l i c ; a f a c t w h i c h p r o v e s t h a t o u r fo r e ­f a the r s w e r e fa r f r o m t h e s ta te o f b a r b a r i s m t h a t m o d e r n h i s t o r i ans a s c r i b e t o t h e m , a n d t h a t t he l a n g u a g e i s n o t , as m a n y h o l d , i n c a p a b l e o f t e c h n i c a l and sc ien t i f i c e x p r e s ­s i o n . G a e l i c - s p e a k i n g S c o t l a n d c o u l d b o a s t o f a r a c e o f l e a r n e d l a w y e r s , sk i l l ed p h y s i c i a n s , as w e l l as a b l e p o e t s and t h e o l o g i a n s , w h i l e t he res t o f t he c o u n t r y w a s l a r g e l y w i t h o u t s u c h . I t i s a w e l l - k n o w n f a c t t h a t a ches t fu l o f t he B e a t o n M S S . w e r e d e s t r o y e d i n o n e o f t h o s e s a c k i n g s a c c o m p a n y i n g the i n t e r n e c i n e f e u d s b e t w e e n t he M a c L e a n s o f M u l l and M a c D o n a l d s o f I s l a y .

W e fifad t h a t a l t h o u g h t h e B e a t o n s filled o t h e r p r o f e s s i o n s , s u c h as h i s t o r y , l a w , a n d t h e o l o g y , the re w a s n e v e r a g e n e r a t i o n o f t h e m w i t h o u t p h y s i c i a n s , and severa l c o n t e m p o r a r y d o c t o r s o f t he same n a m e a n d k i n c o u l d b e f o u n d i i d i f ferent pa r t s o f t h e W e s t H i g h l a n d s a n d I s l a n d s , t h o u g h the m o s t w e r e r e s iden t in

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S k y e and M u l l . M a r t i n i n h i s Western Islands m a k e s m e n t i o n o f t h e m , a n d i n c i d e n t ­a l l y o f t h e L i l y o f M e d i c i n e . H e s h o w s t h a t w h e n t h e S p a n i s h A r m a d a t r e a s u r e s h i p , " t h e Florida, w a s b l o w n u p i n T o b e r m o r y h a r b o u r , D r B e a t o n , t he f a m o u s p h y s i c i a n o f M u l l , w a s t h e n s i t t i n g o n t h e u p p e r d e c k , w h i c h w a s b l o w n u p en t i r e , and t h r o w n a g r e a t w a y off ; y e t t h e d o c t o r w a s s a v e d , and l i v e d severa l y e a r s a f t e r . "

I n h is d e s c r i p t i o n o f S k y e , t h e s a m e w r i t e r m e n t i o n s t he w o n d e r f u l cu res w r o u g h t b y an " i l l i t e r a t e e m p i r i c , " N e i l B e a t o n i n S k y e , " w h o of l a t e i s so w e l l - k n o w n i n t h e i s l e s and c o n t i n e n t [ S c o t l a n d ] f o r h i s gTeat s ucces s i n c u r i n g severa l d i s t e m p e r s , t h o u g h he n e v e r a p p e a r e d i n t h e q u a l i t y o f a p h y s i c i a n u n t i l he a r r i v e d a t t he a g e o f f o r t y y e a r s , a n d t h e n a l so w i t h o u t t h e a d v a n t a g e o f e d u c a t i o n . H e p r e t e n d s t o j u d g e o f t h e v a r i o u s q u a l i t i e s o f p l a n t s and r o o t s b y t h e i r d i f ferent t a s t e s ; he has l i k e w i s e a n i c e o b s e r v a t i o n o f t he c o l o u r o f t h e i r flowers f r o m w h i c h he l ea rns t h e i r a s t r i n g e n t a n d l o o s e n i n g q u a l i t i e s ; he e x t r a c t s t h e j u i c e s o f p l a n t s a n d r o o t s a f te r a chemical way peculiar to himself, and w i t h l i t t l e o r n o c h a r g e . H e c o n s i d e r s h i s p a t i e n t ' s c o n s t i t u ­t i o n b e f o r e a n y m e d i c i n e i s a d m i n i s t e r e d u n t o t h e m ; and he has formed such a system for curing diseases as serves for a rule to him upon all occasions of this nature. H e t r ea t s R i v e r i u s ' Lilium Medicinr and s o m e o t h e r p r a c t i c a l p i e c e s t h a t he ha s h e a r d o f w i t h c o n t e m p t ; s i nce i n severa l i n s t ances i t a p p e a r s t h e i r m e t h o d o f c u r i n g has f a i l e d w h e n h i s has s u c c e e d e d " ( t h r o u g h , p e r h a p s , j e a l o u s y o f h i s college-bred r e l a t i v e s ) .

H e t h e n p r o c e e d s t o m e n t i o n s o m e m a r v e l ­l ous c u r e s , w e l l v o u c h e d f o r , t h a t t h i s " e m p i r i c " h a d w r o u g h t ; o n e b e i n g t he b o l d essay o f " c u t t i n g a p i e c e o u t o f a w o m a n ' s s k u l l b r o a d e r t h a n h a l f a c r o w n , and w h i c h r e s to red he r t o p e r f e c t h e a l t h . " ( T r u l y t re ­p a n n i n g is n o t so m o d e r n , t h e n , as i s g e n e r a l l y s u p p o s e d ) . " T h e succes s a t t e n d i n g t h i s m a n ' s cu res w a s so e x t r a o r d i n a r y t h a t s e v e r a l p e o p l e t h o u g h t h i s p e r f o r m a n c e s t o h a v e p r o c e e d e d

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f r o m a c o m p a c t w i t h t he d e v i l " ( a n a t u r a l s u p p o s i t i o n i n an a g e w h e n w i t c h e s w e r e s t i l l b u r n t ) " r a the r t h a n f r o m the v i r t u e o f s i m p l e s . T o obviate this Mr Bearon pretends to have had .some e d u c a t i o n f r o m his f a the r , t h o u g h he d i e d w h e n h e h i m s e l f w a s b u t a b o y . I h a v e d i s c o u r s e d h i m se r ious ly a t d i f ferent t i m e s , a n d a m f u l l y sat isf ied h e has n o u n l a w f u l (sic) m e a n s fo r o b t a i n i n g h i s end . H i s d i s c o u r s e o f t he severa l c o n s t i t u t i o n s , t h e q u a l i t i e s o f p l an t s , & c , w a s m o r e so l i d t h a n c o u l d b e e x ­p e c t e d f r o m o n e o f h i s e d u c a t i o n . Seve ra l s i c k p e o p l e f r o m r e m o t e i s l e s c a m e t o h i m , a n d s o m e f r o m the sh i r e o f R o s s a t 70 m i l e s d i s t a n c e sent f o r h i s a d v i c e . I l e f t h i m v e r y success fu l , b u t can g i v e n o fu r ther a c c o u n t o f h i m s ince t h e n . "

N o w i t is v e r y c u r i o u s t h a t t h e f a m i l y t r ee o f t h e B e a t o n s g i v e s A n g u s B e a t o n , M . D . , as t h e a u t h o r o f t he Lilium Medicine:. H e l i v e d a b o u t t he las t d e c a d e o f t he 16th a n d second q u a r t e r o f t h e 17th c e n t u r i e s . H e had , a m o n g o the r sons , P a r q u h a r a n d N e i l . P a r q u h a r h a d a son A n g u s w h o , l i k e h i s g r a n d f a t h e r , w a s M . D . , and a n o t h e r son , N e i l . T h o u g h n o d a t e is g i v e n , I r a t h e r t h i n k t h a t th i s N e i l w o u l d b e c o n t e m p o r a r y w i t h M a r t i n , and o f c o u r s e he r e s ided i n S k y e . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g r e c o r d e d i n t he f a m i l y t r ee a b o u t h i m . A n e p h e w o f h i s i s set d o w n as M . D . , and a N e i l is f o u n d in a l m o s t e v e r y s u c c e e d i n g g e n e r a t i o n , as w e l l as F a r q u h a r and A n g u s . N o w , i f a m a n w h o in a l l l i k e l i h o o d w a s a near r e l a t i ve w r o t e t he sa id m e d i c a l t r ea t i s e , w h y s h o u l d M a r t i n ' s N e i l B e a t o n b e l i t t l e h i s w o r k ? O f c o u r s e , w h e r e t h e r e w o u l d b e m o r e t han o n e son i n t he p h y s i c i a n ' s f a m i l y , i t c o u l d n o t b e exipected t h a t i n t h o s e t i m e s he c o u l d afford t o send m o r e t h a n o n e t o c o l l e g e . B u t , a l l t he s ame , a son that stayed at home might h i v e more of the hereditary healing predilection and skill than his college bred brother ; be s ide s h a v i n g t he a d v a n t a g e o f p a t e r n a l i n s t r u c t i o n , a n d s e e i n g and h e a r i n g a b o u t t h e w o r k o f h e a l i n g ; s ee ing t he p l a n t s a n d he rbs p r e p a r e d as m e d i c i n e s ; i n f a c t , he w a s i n a p o s i t i o n t o b r e a t h e i n a l l t he l o r e o f l e e c h c r a f t f r o m h i s c h i l d h o o d . I t i s a l l v e r y

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w e l l t o ca l l h i m an " e m p i r i c " ; b u t t h a t w a s b e c a u s e he w a s w i t h o u t the m a g i c imprimatur o f t h e S c h o o l o f M e d i c i n e . B u t t h i n k o f t h e h u n d r e d s o f y e a r s t ha t th i s a r t o f m e d i c i n e ( a l w a y s b e i n g i m p r o v e d u p o n ) w a s i n t h e f a m i l y . S u r e l y t h a t o f i t se l f f o r a m a n w i t h t h e n a t u r a l g i f t s , a n d a l l t h e s t o r ed -up k n o w ­l e d g e , as w e l l as s e e i n g i t p r a c t i s e d , w a s as s o u n d a n d efficient a t r a i n i n g as c o u l d b e f o u n d in o u r c o u n t r y . O f c o u r s e w e m u s t a l l o w f o r a l i t t l e p ro fe s s iona l j e a l o u s y o f h i s c o l l e g e - b r e d b r o t h e r a n d o the r r e l a t i v e s , w h o i n a l l l i k e l i h o o d d i s d a i n e d h i s m e t h o d s ; y e t w h o w i l l d a r e t o say tha t Ne i l w a s no t r i g h t i n a s s e r t i n g t ha t he s u c c e e d e d whe re t h e y f a i l e d ? H e had h i s s y s t e m o f s t u d y i n g , a n d e x t r a c t i n g f r o m p l a n t s , as a l so o f t he c o n s t i ­t u t i o n s o f h i s pa t i en t s—a s y s t e m p r o b a b l y as sa fe t o g o b y as the i r s—a s y s t e m so l o n g es tab­l i s h e d and p r a c t i s e d b y h i s a n c e s t o r s ; and M a r t i n , in s p e a k i n g o f h i m as he d o e s , s h o w s h i s n a r r o w p e d a n t i c s p i r i t , e v e n t h o u g h he h a s sa id t h i n g s t h a t r a n k t h i s N e i l as o n e o f t h e w o r t h i e s t o f h i s f a m o u s t r i b e .

W e see , t hen , t h a t p l a n t s w e r e r e g a r d e d b y o u r G a e l i c f o r b e a r s , f r o m t h e ea r l i e s t a g e s , f r o m t h e p r a c t i c a l p o i n t o f v i e w , n o t so m u c h f o r t h e i r a r t i s t i c a n d d e c o r a t i v e as f o r t h e i r u t i l i t a r i a n q u a l i t i e s ; i t w a s a ca se o f " h a n d ­s o m e is as h a n d s o m e d o e s . " O f c o u r s e , w h i l e s a y i n g t h i s , w e d o n o t f o r g e t t ha t t h e G a e l had an eye f o r t he beau t i fu l in t h e m a t t e r o f flowers, m u c h as h i s A n g l o S a x o n b r o t h e r ; i n d e e d , p e r h a p s , m o r e so . P o r no p o e t r y i s r i c h e r i n t h e i m a g e r y (e.g., i n d e s c r i b i n g f e m a l e c h a r m s ) d r a w n f r o m flowers t h a n G a e l i c . B u t in t he m a i n p l a n t s and t r ee s w e r e e m p l o y e d fo r u t i l i t a r i a n p u r p o s e s , s u c h as f o o d and d r i n k and m e d i c i n e , and useful u t ens i l s and i m p l e m e n t s .

I h a v * a l r e a d y d e s c r i b e d p l a n t s used f o r f o o d ; i s t m e n o w e n d e a v o u r t o set b e f o r e v o u s o m e o f t h e o u t s t a n d i n g o n e s u s e d i n h e a l i n g . T h e s e m a y b e d i v i d e d i n t o v u l n e r a r i e s , f eb r i ­f u g e s , e m e t i c s , a n d c a t h a r t i c s , i r r i t a n t s a n d t o n i c s . .

( 1 ) V u l n e r a r i e s , e.g. :—

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Lus an rois, s o m e t i m e s c a l l e d Lus-an-Eallan ( C a n c e r - w o r t ) , H e r b - R o b e r t (Geranium Bobertum); w i d e s p r e a d ; i n w a s t e , s t o n y p l a c e s . N o t a b l e fo r i t s r e d d i s h t i n g e o f s t e m s , w h i c h a re a l so s w o l l e n , and s m a l l p i n k flowers. T h e f e rn - l i ke leaves b e c o m e c r i m s o n i n a u t u m n . I t w a s s u p p o s e d at o n e t i m e t o b e a p o t e n t r e m e d y i n s k i n a f fec t ions l i ke e r y s i p e l a s ; as a l so c a n c e r . I k n o w o f o n e m a n i n th i s d i s t r i c t w h o s t i l l p r e s c r i b e s i t , a n d m a i n t a i n s h e ha s c u r e d severa l p e o p l e b y i t s m e a n s .

M e o i r Mhuire ( o r Cas-an-Z7atn, L a m b ' s f o o t ) , L a d y ' s F i n g e r s is t he k i d n e y - v e t c h , w i t h i t s tw in - tu f t s o f h a i r y , y e l l o w papillae, a n d w a s f r o m o f o l d he ld t o b e eff icacious i n h e a l i n g ( a s i t s L a t i n n a m e , Anthillus vulneraria, i m ­p l i e s ) c u t s and b ru i ses . I t g r o w s i n l a t e sum-

. m e r o n h a r d , d r y pa s tu re s a n d b y road- s ides . Fuinnseag coille, G o l d e n - r o d , w a s s u p p o s e d

- t o possess t he v i r t u e o f h e a l i n g a n d j o i n i n g b r o k e n b o n e s . I t s b o t a n i c a l n a m e a l so (Soli-dago virgaurea) s igni f ies t h i s .

Buine, W o o d s a n i c l e (San tcuJa Europaus), w a s r e g a r d e d as eff icacious i n h e a l i n g g r e e n w o u n d s a n d u l c e r s . I t g r o w s i n s h a d y p l a c e s , a b o u t 1 f t . h i g h , s l ender s t em, b r o a d t r i p a r t i t e l e aves , d a r k g r e e n a n d g l o s s y , w i t h sparse w h i t e flowers.

Vrbhallach, D e v i l ' s - b i t s c a b i o u s (Scabiosa succisa), às i t s n a m e s u g g e s t s , w a s sa id t o c u r e the i t c h . I t g o t i ts E n g l i s h rpec i f ic n a m e f r o m the l e g e n d t ha t t he d e v i l , e n v y i n g the g o o d i t m i g h t d o t o m a n k i n d , s c o t c h e d i t o f i t s r e m e d i a l s o v e r e i g n t y b y b i t i n g off m o s t o f t h e r o o t . O f c o u r s e t he l e g e n d , as i n m a n y o t h e r cases , w a s m o n k i s h l y i n v e n t e d t o e x p l a i n w h a t , a t t h a t s t a g e o f b o t a n i c a l k n o w l e d g e , w a s a K

m y s t e r y , v i z . , t h e 6tem i m m e d i a t e l y b e l o w t h e sur face o f t he e r o u n d b e i n g a l m o s t d e t a c h e d f r o m t h e r o o t , a p p a r e n t l y as i f s l i c e d o r b i t t e n off b y t h e t e e t h . O f c o u r s e t he r ea l e x p l a n a ­t i o n i s t h a t i n t he first y e a r o f t h e p l a n t ' s ex i s t ence t h e r o o t i s v e r y l i k e a d i m i n u t i v e c a r r o t o r r ad i sh i n shape . J t t h e n b e c o m e s w o o d y and d ie s a w a y , t h e u p p e r p a r t e x c e p t e d ; as i t d e c a y s and fa l l s a w a y „ t h e g n a w e d o r b r o k e n l o o k a p p e a r s . T h e p o r t i o n l e f t t h r o w s

20

o u t n u m e r o u s l a te ra l r o o t s w l r c h c o m p e n s a t e f o r t h e d e c a y e d p o r t i o n .

Grunnasg (also Bualan), G r o u n d s e l , w a s at o n e t i m e m a d e i n t o c a t a p l a s m s t o p r o d u c e s u p p u r a t i o n s .

Earr-thalmhainn ( o r Lus chasgadh na fola), Y a r r o w ; o r M i l f o i l (Millefolium Europceum), w a s , . a n d i n d e e d i s , a p o t e n t s t y p t i c , as I k n o w b y e x p e r i e n c e .

Oragan ( o r Lus Mharsalaidh), Marjoram (Origanum Marjoram). T h i s m e m b e r o f t h e l a b i a t e o r T h y m e f a m i l y w a s a t o n e t i m e i n c o n s i d e r a b l e d e m a n d t o m a k e f o m e n t a t i o n s f o r s t i t ches and p a i n s i n horses .

Iath-shlat thalmhainn, G r o u n d - i v y (Nepeta glechoma), w a s s a i d t o b e eff icacious a g a i n s t s e rpen t -b i t e .

Lus - a- chrùbain, C o m m o n field g e n t i a n (Gentiana campestris), s o c a l l e d b e c a u s e l a r g e l y u s e d o n c e in t h e c a t t l e a i l m e n t c a l l e d An CHiban. T h i s w o r d m e a n s " c r o o d l i n g , " t h a t i s , t h e fee t o f t h e a n i m a l are so affected t h a t t he h ind - f ee t a n d t h e fo re - fee t a re d r a w n t o ­w a r d s e a c h o the r . I h a v e seen o n e i n g e n i o u s s c r i b e w r i t i n g t o t h e P re s s l a t e l y , t o t h e effect t h a t i t i s t h e f o o t e l e m e n t i n t he f o o t - a n d -m o u t h d i sease , t h e m o u t h p h a s e b e i n g t he Gailleach. A s a b o y I r e m e m b e r s e e i n g seve ra l cases o f An Criiban, b u t i n n o s u c h case d i d I hea r o f i t s b e i n g a s soc i a t ed w i t h t he m o u t h t r o u b l e .

Lus-nan-Cnap, P i g - w o r t (Scrofularia nodosa), w a s s u p p o s e d t o c u r e S c r o f u l a o r K i n g ' s E v i l ; h e n c e i t s n a m e .

Seilisdear, Y e l l o w flag o r M a r s h I r i s (Irt 's pseudacorus). I n c o l d s , snuff m a d e f r o m i t s r ots wan used t i induce salvia by a ting o n t he m u c o u s m e m b r a n e .

Meacan dubh, C o m f r e y (Symphytum offici­nalis). O l d C u l p e p e r s ays o f i t : — " Y e a i t i s sa id t o b e so p o w e r f u l t o c o n s o l i d a t e a n d k n i t t o g e t h e r t h a t , i f t h e y b u t b o i l e d w i t h d i s ­severed p i e c e s o f flesh i n a p o t , i t w i l l j o i n t h e m t o g e t h e r a g a i n .

Muisean ( l i t t l e l o w r a s c a l ) , C o w s l i p (Primula vera), w a s d i s t i l l e d i n t o a c o s m e t i c i n g r e a t v o g u e t w o c e n t u r i e s a g o ; T h o u g h sa id b y

21

b o t a n i s t s t o b e u n k n o w n i n t he H i g h l a n d s , I h a v e f o u n d i t g r o w i n g a b u n d a n t l y in N o r t h S u t h e r l a n d .

( 2 ) Febrifuges.—Febrifuges b e c o m e s F e v e r ­few, a p p l i e d t o severa l spec ie s o f Pyrethrums, w h i c h in o r i g i n a l G r e e k m e a n s " e x p e l l e r o f f e v e r . "

Brog-cuthaig, W o o d v i o l e t (Viola canina); a d e c o c t i o n b o i l e d i n w h e y w a s u s e d t o a l l a v fevers .

Ealabor gheal, W h i t e h e l l e b o r i n e (Epipactis latifolia). Snuff m a d e f r o m i t w a s s u p p o s e d t o c u r e c o l d s i n t h e h e a d .

Biolair ghriagain, C u c k o o - f l o w e r (Cardamine pratense), a n d Biolair, W a t e r c r e s s (Nasturtium officinalis), w e r e l a r g e l y used t o r e d u c e f e v e r s ; as w a s a l so

Lus-na-Spainnte, P e l l i t o r y o f S p a i n (Anthemis pyrethum), as i t s b o t a n i c a l n a m e i m p l i e s .

Lus-na'm-braoileag, B l a e b e r r y (Vaccinium myrtillus a n d Vac. vitis idcea), w e r e i n f u s e d t o s o o t h e p a i n .

Lus-nan-cluas, as i t s n a m e i m p l i e s , w a s u sed , m i x e d w i t h c r e a m , t o p u t a w a y e a r a c h e . I t s E n g l i s h n a m e is H o u s e - l e e k ; i t s L a t . Semper-vivum tectorum.

( 3 ) . T h e r e w e r e m a n y he rbs u s e d b y o u r G a e l i c forefa thers^ as coun t e r - i r r i t an t s i n t h è r e d u c t i o n o f s t u b b o r n l o c a l p a i n s . A m o n g t h e bes t k n o w n o f s u c h w e r e : —

Glas-leum ( a l s o Lasair-theine), S p e a r - w o r t , a spec ies o f Ranunculus o r B u t t e r c u p . I t h a d t o b e e m p l o y e d w i t h c a u t i o n o n a c c o u n t o f i t s v i o l e n t a c t i o n , a n d a t t e n d e d w i t h d a n g e r o u s effect w h e n a d m i n i s t e r e d i n w a r d l y . M a r t i n t e l l s u s t h a t t he bes t hea l e r o f t he b l i s t e r s t h u s r a i sed w a s a p l a s t e r o f t h e sea -p lan t Linarich, a spec ie s o f Confervae.

Grunnasg ( a l s o Bualan), G r o u n d s e l (Senecio vulgaris), u sed t o b e m a d e i n t o c a t a p l a s m s t o p r o d u c e s u p p u r a t i o n s .

Cearban feoir, G r a s s r a g , (Ranunculus acris), U p r i g h t M e a d o w - c r o w f o o t o r B u t t e r c u p , s i m i ­l a r l y u sed , t h o u g h less d r a s t i c t h a n i t s c o n ­g e n e r t h e S p e a r w o r t (R. flammula).

Lus nan Cnap, F i g w o r t , (Scrofularia nodosa),

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•was s u p p o s e d t o c u r e s c r o f u l a o r K i n g ' s e v i l . (4 ) E m e t i c s . — T h e r e a r e m a n y s u c h : — Lìon na mna sìthe ( F a i r y Q u e e n ' s flax),

C a t h a r t i c flax (Linum catharticum), a l s o Lus miosach, Lus caolach. I t w a s u s e d t h u s pe r i ­o d i c a l l y . L i g h t f o o t g i v e s S t e w a r t o f K i l l i n ' s c o m p a c t i n g t h e las t t w o i n t o Caol miosachan.

Garbhag-an-t-sleibhe, F i r c l u b - m o s s (Lyco-•podium selago). A n i n f u s i o n o f t h i s p l a n t g i v e n a s a p u r g a t i v e ; b u t a l w a y s r e q u i r e d t o b e u s e d w i t h c a u t i o n .

Am maraich, S c u r v y g r a s s (Cochlearia Offici­nalis). I t h a s d o u b t l e s s v a l u a b l e m e d i c a l p r o ­p e r t i e s o f a c o r r e c t i v e n a t u r e . I t s o t h e r G a e l i c n a m e s (Carra and Plaigh na carra— t h e t h i n g fo r s c u r v y , t he p l a g u e o f s c u r v y ) , l i k e i t s E n g l i s h n a m e , s h o w h o w w i d e s p r e a d w a s t h e f a i t h i n i t s a n t i s c o r b u t i c v i r t u e .

Lus Glinn Bhràcadail, D o g ' s m e r c u r y (Mer-curialis perennis). T h i s p l a n t m u s t h a v e g o t i t s n a m e f r o m t h e g l e n s o f t h e p a r i s h o f B r a c a -d a l e i n S k y e . D o g s w e r e sa id t o r e so r t t o i t as a m e d i c i n e . I t i s a c u r i o u s p l a n t i n m o r e w a y s t h a n o n e . I t h a u n t s w o o d s a n d s h a d y p l a c e s , a n d i s e v e r g r e e n . I t s g r e e n flowers a r e d ioec ious . T h e p l a n t w i l l i n a sho r t t i m e d r i v e o u t a l l o t h e r p l a n t s i n i t s v i c i n i t y , g i v i n g o n e a c u r i o u s i m p r e s s i o n o f i t s i s o l a t e d dense p a t c h e s , n o g r a s s even g r o w i n g a m o n g i t .

Rù beag, Lesse r m e a d o w - r u e (Thalictrum minus), a p o w e r f u l c a t h a r t i c .

( 4 ) T o n i c s a n d appe t i ze r s : — Siunas, L o v a g e (Ligusticum Scoticum).

M a r t i n w r i t e s a l o t a b o u t i t (Shunnis) a s b e i n g v e r y m u c h u s e d i n h i s t i m e as a t o n i c a n d a p r o m p t e r o f s l u g g i s h a p p e t i t e . A n o t h e r s u c h p l a n t w a s

Lus-a-chraois ( G o r g e - p l a n t o r Gluttony-p l a n t , k n o w n as D w a r f c o r n e l (Cornus succisa).

Am bearnan Brìghde ( l i t e r a l l y , t he n o t c h e d p l a n t o f S t B r i d g e t — t h e b e l o v e d S a i n t o f G a e l -d o m and p a t r o n o f y o u n g m a i d s ) , D a n d e l i o n (Taraxacum leontodon—this s e c o n d o r spec i f ic n a m e b e i n g f r o m the G r e e k w o r d w h i c h i s t h e e x a c t m e a n i n g o f d a n d e l i o n , w h i c h i s f r o m t h e L a t i n ( t h r o u g h F r e n c h ) , v i z . , l i o n ' s t o o t h ) . T h i s i s s t i l l o n e o f t h e m o s t v a l u a b l e i n g r e d i -

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ents in t o n i c and o t h e r m e d i c i n e s . O u r f o r e ­f a t h e r s w e r e f a m i l i a r w i t h i t s use . T h u s M a c i n t y r e l a u d s i t s v i r t u e s , c o u p l e d w i t h a n o t h e r w a l l - k n o w n med ic ine—^penny- roya l— i n o n e o f h i s p o e m s :— " A m b e a r n a n B r ì g h d e ' sa p h e i g h i n n - r i o g h a i l . "

Camoohil ( o r Camobhaidh), C o m m o n c h a m o ­m i l e (Anthemis nobilis); u s e d b o t h f o r s l u g ­g i s h l i v e r a n d i n d i g e s t i o n . I r e m e m b e r a s a b o y s e e i n g a p a c k e t p r o c u r e d f r o m a h e r b a l i s t i n t h e s o u t h b y a r e l a t i ve . H e l i t t l e k n e w t h a t i t g r e w as a c o m m o n w e e d i n t he fields a t h o m e .

Athar-liath ( G r e y f a t h e r ) , Slàn-lus ( h e a l i n g p l a n t , a lso n a m e o f r i b w o r t ) .

Saisde, a c o r r u p t i o n o f t he E n g l i s h n a m e S a g e , o r G a r d e n - s a g e (Salvia officinalis). A r m ­s t r o n g renders a L a t i n s aw a b o u t t he p l a n t ' s h e a l i n g p o w e r s t h u s :—*,' Carson a gheibheadh duine bàs aig am bheil saisde fàs na garadh?" — " W h y s h o u l d a m a n d ie t ha t has s a g e g r o w ­i n g i n h i s g a r d e n ? "

Lus-an-righ ( a l s o Mac Righ Bhreatunn), K i n g ' s h e r b ( a n d K i n g o f B r i t a i n ' s S o n ) . I t s h a b i t is h u m b l e , h u g g i n g t h e g r o u n d i t c l o s e l y c o v e r s ; y e t f e w p l a n t s g i v e ra re r p l e a s u r e . I n t he m o n t h o f J u n e y o u see i t s dense p a t c h e s o f b r o w n l eaves and c a l y c e s , b u t s h o r t l y a f t e r t h i s i s d ivers i f i ed b y t h e l o v e l y h e l i o t r o p e f lowers w h i c h , t h o u g h m i n u t e , y e t t h r o u g h t he i r c o p i ­ousness v a r i e g a t e t he g r o u n d - t o n e o f b r o w n . A n d i f i t s c o l o u r s g l a d d e n t h e e y e , n o less d o e s i t s a r o m a re f resh the w a y f a r e r ' s j a d e d o l f a c t o r i e s .

I n d e e d t h e l e g e n d g o e s t h a t i t g o t i t s n a m e thymos f r o m the f a c t t ha t i t i m p a r t e d " c o u r ­a g e and s t r e n g t h t h r o u g h i t s b r a c i n g f r a g r a n c e , v i r t u e s essent ia l t o k i n g s a n d p r i n c e s i n o l d e n t i m e s . " I t r e t a ins th i s s w e e t o d o u r fo r a l o n g t i m e ; l a d i e s t i e d b u n c h e s o f i t a m o n g c l o t h e s and l i nen l a id a w a y , as o t h e r s d i d l a v e n d e r , and c a r r i e d a s p r i g o f i t i n t he i r h a n d k e r c h i e f s •to c h u r c h . I t w a s at o n e t i m e i n u n i v e r s a l •use in t h e H i g h l a n d s f o r m a k i n g t ea .

Dubhan ceann-dubh ( h o o k w i t h t he b l a c k h e a d ) , Se l f -hea l , o r H e a l - a l l (Prunella vul­garis), s u p p o s e d t o r e m o v e a l l o b s t r u c t i o n s o f

"the l i v e r , sp leen , a n d k i d n e y s .

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Tri bhileach ( t h r ee - l eaved o n e ) , a l so Ponair-chapull, t r e fo i l o r B o g - b e a n . O n e o f t he m o s t p o t e n t o f t o n i c s a n d s t o m a c h i c s . T h i s p l a n t , k n o w n b o t a n i c a l l y as Menyanthes trifoliata, i s o n e o f t h e h a d s o m e s t o f o u r w i ld - f l ower s , i t s f r i l l y , ' h a i r y , p i n k i s h - w h i t e pe t a l s flattened a g a i n s t i t s r o s e - p i n k sepa l s c a p t i v a t i n g t he e y e as a set-off a g a i n s t t he w e t b o g s i t g r o w s i n . A n o t h e r o f i ts G a e l i c n a m e s w a s Milsean monaidh, i.e., t h e s w e e t p l a n t o f t he m o o r . M a c L a u c h l a n i m m o r t a l i z e s i t w i t h t w o o f i t s c o n g e n e r s t hus : — " Millseineach, biolaireach, sobhrach," a b o u n d i n g i n b o g - b e a n , c ress , a n d p r i m r o s e s . O u r o l d m i n i s t e r , w h o was l o o k e d u p t o as a b i t o f a p h y s i c i a n , w a s f o n d o f p r e ­s c r i b i n g a d e c o c t i o n o r t ea m a d e o f i t . I n d e e d , t h e f o r m u l a b e c a m e a f r equen t bon-mot :— " Toisich air òl subh na tri-bhilich " — B e g i n t o d r i n k t he b r e e o f b o g - b e a n .

Samhan, Sab ine (Juniperus Sabinus), u sed f o r a s t i m u l a n t , a l so f o r m a k i n g l o t i o n s and o i n t ­m e n t s . T h e b e r r i e s o f t he c o m m o n j u n i p e r (Juniperus communis) aitinn o r aituinn, w e r e a l so e m p l o y e d f o r flavouring d r i n k s and f o r a s t r i n g e n t s .

(5 ) P l an t s used i n h e a l i n g d i s o r d e r s o f t he r e s p i r a t o r y o r g a n s : —

Lus - na - caitheamh W o o d r u f f (Asperula odorata), (be longs t o t h e i m p o r t a n t f a m i l y , R u b i a c e s e , m a d d e r o r b e d s t r a w . A s i t s n a m e i m p l i e s , i t w a s m u c h used f o r a l l e v i a t i n g , i f n o t c u r i n g , c o n s u m p t i o n a n d o the r ches t t r o u b l e s .

Cluas liath ( G r e y e a r ) , C o l t ' s f o o t ; a l s o Gorm-liath, G r e y - g r e e n , and Gallan-greann-chair, from i t s r e s e m b l a n c e t o Gallan mòr (Petasites vulgare, o r B u t t e r - b u r r ) . B o t h a re s a tu ra t ed t h r o u g h al l t h e i r p a r t s w i t h m u c i l a g e . T h e Coltsfoot has b e e n , and s t i l l i s , u sed as a d e m u l c e n t i n c o u g h s and o t h e r l u n g a i l m e n t s . T h e l eaves a n d flowers are-m a d e i n t o a d e c o c t i o n o r s y r u p . I t is o f t en p r e p a r e d i n c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h H o r e h o u n d , G . grafan o r gràban ( w h i c h has t he s a m e e f f ec t ) , a n d h o n e y t o a l l a y t h e harshness o f t h e l a t t e r .

(6 ) N o x i o u s and p o i s o n o u s p l a n t s : —

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Fuath mhadaidh ( W o l f ' s a v e r s i o n ) , M o n k s ­h o o d (Aconitum napellus), b e l o n g s t o t he o r d e r Ranunculacece. A l l i t s pa r t sa re h i g h l y p o i s o n o u s . I t s d i n g y b l u e - a n d - p u r p l e flowers w o u l d i n d i c a t e t h a t , as i n t h e case o f s e v e r a l o t h e r n o x i o u s p l a n t s . S o m e y e a r s a g o , t h r o u g h i t s r o o t s h a v i n g b e e n se rved as a t a b l e v e g e t a b l e i n m i s t a k e fo r b e e t r o o t ( w h i c h i t s o m e w h a t r e s e m b l e s ) , t h r e e p e o p l e were-p o i s o n e d in t he t o w n o f D i n g w a l l .

Codolian ( f r o m codal, s l e e p ) , O p i u m p o p p y (Papaverum somniferum).

Bealaidh frangach, F r e n c h b r o o m (Labur­num); h i g h l y p o i s o n o u s i n a l l i t s pa r t s .

Minmhear ( s m o o t h o r s m a l l fingered, i.e., b r a n c h e d ) ; Minbhar (f ine t o p p e d ) , Mongach mhear ( g l o s s y m a n e ) , Iteodha and Iteotha ( p l u m e d o r f e a t h e r y ) — a l l these n a m e s , a n d p e r h a p s s o m e m o r e , e a c h s u g g e s t i n g s o m e a spec t o f t h e p l a n t , a re b e s t o w e d o n t h e H e m ­l o c k (Coniinn maculatum). A n t i p a t h y t o i t i s o f l o n g s t a n d i n g a n d c l a s s i c a l . W h a t s c h o o l ­b o y does n o t k n o w tha t a m o n g t h e G r e e k s o f o l d t o h a v e t o d r i n k t he h e m l o c k w a s t o c a r r y o u t o n e ' s s en t ence o f c a p i t a l p u n i s h m e n t h i m ­self l i k e Soc ra t e s . " Mar so tha breitheanas a fàs a nìos mar an iteotha ann an claisibh na mncharach "—" T h u s j u d g m e n t s p r i n g e t h u p l i k e a h e m l o c k in t h e f u r r o w s o f t he f i e l d " ( H o s . x . 4 ) . " I s c o d a c h e m e a s g c h à i c h r i iteodha an g a r a d h " — " A m o n g o t h e r s he i s l i k e a h e m l o c k i n a g a r d e n " ( M a c i n t y r e ) . C h i l d r e n h a v e o f t en b e e n i n a d v e r t e n t l y p o i s o n e d b y i t .

Searbhag mhilis, Fuath gorm ( B i t t e r - s w e e t and B l u e d e m o n r e s p e c t i v e l y ) ; a l so Slat-ghorm ( B l u e w a n d ) , W o o d y - n i g h t s h a d e (Solanum dulcamara).

Lus na h-oidhche ( N i g h t - w e e d , b e c a u s e o f i t s l a r g e b l a c k be r r i e s a n d t h e i r s o m n i f e r o u s q u a l i t i e s . G . B u c h a n a n i n h i s h i s t o r y re la tes t h a t , w h e n S w e n o t h e D a n e i n v a d e d S c o t l a n d a t r u c e w a s d e c l a r e d d u r i n g t h e c a m p a i g n , o n e o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s b e i n g t ha t t h e Sco t s w e r e to-s u p p l y t he D a n e s w i t h d r i n k , b u t t h a t h a v i n g m x e d i t w i t h t he be r r i e s o f t h i s p l a n t , t he i n v a d e r s w e r e so i n t o x i c a t e d t h a t t he S c o t s

26 27

i n g e v e r y t h i n g d e a d o r l i v i n g p l a c e d u n d e r t h e i r p r o t e c t i o n ; w h i l e t he c a n t r i p s o f w i t c h e s a n d fa i r i e s h a v e a l w a y s b e e n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h c e r t a i n t rees and p l a n t s t h a t g r o w u n d e r t h e i r s h a d e . L e t u s c o n s i d e r a f e w o f e a c h : —

Ranunculus auricomus, G o l d i l o c k s . O n e o f i t s G a e l i c n a m e s i s gruag Mhuire, M a r y ' s l o c k s ( M a r i g o l d ) .

Caltha palustris, M a r s h m a r i g o l d . J u s t c o m i n g i n t o b l o o m . G a e l i c , Lus bhuidhe Bealtuinn, Y e l l o w p l a n t o f B e l t a n e o r M a y ( B e l t a n e f r o m Bel- o r Baal a n d teine, f i re ) . T h e n a m e s u r v i v e s i n m a n y G a e l i c n a m e s , e.g.,

• Tullibeltane, Tulli f o r tullach, h i g h p l a c e ( o f fire o f B a a l ) . I t i s a l s o c a l l e d Lus Mairi, p r o b a b l y r e n d e r e d f r o m M a r i g o l d . ' Sisymbrium sophia, V i r g i n M a r y ' s f e n n e l , fineal Mhuire.

Linum catharticum, Lìon na mna sìthe, F a i r y flax.

Hypericum perforatum, P e r f o r a t e d S t J o h n ' s W o r t . I t w a s St C o l u m b a ' s f a v o u r i t e flower (Caol aslachan Chalum Chille), w h o r e v e r e n c e d i t a n d c a r r i e d i t i n h i s a r m s b e c a u s e i t w a s d e d i c a t e d t o h i s f a v o u r i t e a m o n g the f o u r e v a n g e l i s t s , S t J o h n . I t w a s i n g r e a t v o g u e i n f o r m e r t i m e s as a c h a r m a g a i n s t w i t c h c r a f t and e n c h a n t m e n t . A n o t h e r n a m e f o r t he p l a n t w a s Alias Muire, alias b e i n g p r o b a b l y f o r i m a g e o r s e m b l a n c e — t h e i m a g e o f t he V i r g i n M a r y ; a l t o g e t h e r , t hen , a v e r y sac red p l a n t . I t g r o w s c o m m o n l y on r o a d s i d e b a n k s and i n w o o d s ; i t s stiff, s t r a i g h t , b r a n c h i n g s t ems c i a d a t t he j o i n t s w i t h p r e t t y r e f l exed-edged g l o s s y l eaves w h i c h , w h e n h e l d t o the l i g h t , s eem t o b e p e r f o r a t e d a l l o v e r ; t h i s b e i n g , o f c o u r s e , o u a c c o u n t o f the r e s inous o i l -g la i tds w h i c h p e r m e a t e the w h o l e p l an t . I t s h a n d s o m e d u l l -'" o l d flowers w i t h t h e i r l o n g an thers p r o j e c t i n g fa r a b o v e t he pe t a l s d o n o t appea r t i l l t he m i d d l e o f J u n e . I t s W e l s h n a m e s ignif ies t h e b lessed p l a n t ; a n d i t s F r e n c h (La tovte-saine), al l h o l y .

B r o o m (Sarothamnus scoparius), Bealaidh o r Bealuidh. p r o b a b l y f r o m beal, B a a l , and uidh; f a v o u r : t h e p l a n t t h a t B e l f a v o u r e d . Y e l l o w

k i l l e d t he g r e a t e r n u m b e r o f t h e m i n t h e i r d r u n k e n s leep .

Gafann, Gabhann ( t he d a n g e r o u s o n e ) , H e n ­bane (Hyascyamus niger). T h i s i s l i t e r a l l y t r ans l a t ed i n to Caoch-nan-cearc, t h a t w h i c h se t s t h e hens m a d . I t i s w e l l k n o w n t h a t i t s s e e d s a re e x c e e d i n g l y o b n o x i o u s t o hens .

Geur-neimh ( s eve re s t i n g o r p o i s o n ) , P e t t y s p u r g e (Euphorbia peplus). I t s p o i s o n o u s m i l k y j u i c e w a s so c a u s t i c t h a t i t w a s used t o •destroy w a r t s .

Conan ( a h o u n d o r h e r o o r r a b b i t ) , Q u a k i n g -g r a s s , w a s r e g a r d e d as d e l e t e r i o u s . S o m e t h i n k th i s n a m e is f r o m the f a m o u s , o r r a the r i n f a m o u s , " C o n a n M a o l " o f t he F e i n n e , w h o g a i n e d t he s o b r i q u e t " A i m l i s g n a F e i n n e " ( t h e M a r p l o t o f t h e F i n g a l i a n s ) fo r h i s

- though t l e s s i m p e t u o s i t y . T h e g r a s s is a l so c a l l e d " Feur gortach," or h u n g r y , s t a r v i n g g ra s s , o r " Feur sithean sithe " (a p h a n t o m f a i r y ) . I t has b e e n o b s e r v e d b y s o m e t h a t " a w e a k n e s s , t he r e su l t o f s u d d e n h u n g e r , is sa id t o •come o n p e r s o n s d u r i n g a l o n g j o u r n e y , o r i n p a r t i c u l a r p l a c e s , i n c o n s e q u e n c e o f t r e a d i n g •on t h e f a i r y g r a s s . "

IV - T H E I R USES IN MAGIC AND RELIGIOUS CUSTOMS.

O u r p a g a n ances to r s i nves t ed m a n y he rbs and t rees w i t h m a g i c a l p o w e r s , e i the r f o r b l e s s i n g o r b l a s t i n g ; and t h e Chr i s t i an C h u r c h o f t h e E a r l y and M i d d l e A g e s h u m o u r e d t h e m in t h i s as i n so m a n y o the r o f t h e i r supe r s t i t i ous

"bel iefs , b y t r a n s f e r r i n g s u c h p l a n t s a n d t rees o f b l e s s i n g f r o m t h e p a t r o n a g e o f t he i r p a g a n de i t i e s t o t h a t o f t h e V i r g i n and Sa in t s . T h u s the f o r m e r had a g r e a t m a n y p l a n t s u n d e r h e r p a t r o n a g e , w i t h St B r i d g e t o r B r i d e a g o o d s e c o n d ; S t P a t r i c k a n d S t C o l u m b a f a v o u r e d e a c h a f e w , a n d so d i d severa l s a in t s o f o t h e r l ands . N e v e r t h e l e s s , s i d e b y s ide w i t h t h i s c h a n g e o f t u t e l a g e , t he m a g i c a l b e l i e f pe r ­s i s t ed t i l l q u i t e r e c e n t t i m e s , m a u g r e t h e efforts o f t he C h u r c h t o e r a d i c a t e i t , in c e r ­t a i n he rbs and t r ees s a f e g u a r d i n g and p r o s p e r -

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w a s t h e f a v o u r i t e c o l o u r o f t he D r u i d s as w e l l as o f t he ba rds .

V e t c h , K i d n e y , o r L a d y ' s f ingers , M e o i j -Mhuire, M a r y ' s f ingers .

M e a d o w - s w e e t , o r Q u e e n o f t he M e a d o w (Spircea ulmaria).

Crios ( o r Cneas) Chu-chulainn, C u - c h u l l i n ' e b e l t . I t i s a l so c a l l e d " M y l a d y ' s b e l t . "

C i n q u e f o i l (Potentilla reptans). O n e o f i t s G a e l i c n a m e s i s Cuig mheur Mhuire, M a r y ' s five fingers, f r o m i t s leaflets b e i n g so m a n y .

A g r i m o n y (Agrimonia rupatoria) Mur-dhruidhean; mur, s o r r o w , a f f l i c t ion ; dhruidh-ean, o f D r u i d s o r m a g i c i a n s , w h i c h m a y r e f e r t o i t s s u p p o s e d m a g i c a l effects o n t r o u b l e s as w e l l as d i seases . I t w a s used t o hea l v a r i o u s d i seases .

L a d y ' s M a n t l e (Alchemilla vulqaris), Falluing Mhuire, M a r y ' s m a n t l e . I r i s h , dhearna Mhuire, M a r y ' s p a l m . T h e s a t i ny u n d e r s i d e o f t h e l eaves g a v e i t t h i s n a m e .

M o u n t a i n ash , F o w l e r ' s s e rv ice - t r ee , B o w a n (Pyrus aucuparia). K n o w n b y v a r i o u s n a m e s i n G a e l i c , e . g . , luis ( d r i n k ) , luis-reog, a c h a r m ( u s e d t o b e d i s t i l l e d i n t o a s p i r i t ) . Fuinnseag coille, t he w o o d enchan t r e s s ( a n a m e a l so g i v e n t o Circcea lutetiana, E n c h a n t r e s s ' n i g h t s h a d e , a s m a l l s t i f f - s temmed p l a n t , t a p e r i n g b o t h i n s t e m and l eaves l i k e a p y r a m i d , a n d h a v i n g m i n u t e w h i t e flowers. I t g r o w s i n s h a d y p l a c e s . T h e a n c i e n t s a s c r i b e d i t , as i t s n a m e s h o w s , t o C i r c e ) . Craobh chaoran, the b e r r y t r e e ; t h i s i s i t s c o m m o n e s t n a m e . I t s p r e s e n c e b y h o m e s t e a d s s ign i f i ed i t s p r o t e c t i v e p o w e r s , and a l so m a d e i t c o n v e n i e n t f o r t he a fo re sa id d i s t i l l i n g o f i t s b e r r i e s . T o - d a y , h o w e v e r , t h e y are o n l y m a d e i n t o an a g r e e a b l e c o n s e r v e . T h e e r s t w h i l e p o p u l a r i t y o f t h e r o w a n m a y b e g a u g e d f r o m i t s p r e s e n c e ( s o m e t i m e s h e d g i n g al l r o u n d ) i n g a r d e n s o f c o t t a g e s w h e r e o n l y t h e c r u m b l i n g o r g r a s s - w o r n w a l l s a re le f t b e ­h i n d . L i g h t f o o t (1772) says t h a t t he H i g h ­l ande r s b e l i e v e d " t h a t a n y p a r t o f t h e t r e e c a r r i e d a b o u t w i t h t h e m p r o v e a s o v e r e i g n r e m e d y a g a i n s t all t h e d i r e effects o f e n c h a n t ­m e n t o r w i t c h c r a f t . " T h e p o e t s , f r o m O s s i a n d o w n w a r d s , as m i g h t h a v e b e e n e x p e c t e d , h a v e

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d r a w n u p o n the e x q u i s i t e c o r a l - r e d o f t he b e r r y a s a s y m b o l o f the r u d d y c h e e k s o f b e a u t y . T h u s Oss ian : " Bu dhèirge a ghruaidh na caoran "—" H i s cheeks w e r e r u d d i e r t h a n the r o w a n . " " G r u a i d h e a n m a r na c a o r a n f o 'n a o d a n n t h a l e a m c i u i n , " f r o m t h e s o n g " A n c a i l i n d i l e a s d o n n . " P r o f e s s o r B l a c k i e ha s

- r e n d e r e d i t , " T h y cheeks sha l l b l u s h l i k e t he r o w a n s on a m e l l o w a u t u m n d a y " — a r a t h e r f ree r e n d e r i n g .

W o o d s a n i c l e (Sanicula Europma). A m o n g o t h e r G a e l i c n a m e s , i t h a d buine " a n u l c e r . " I t w a s a s c r i b e d t o V e n u s , a n d s u p p o s e d t o c u r e " e i t he r w o u n d s o r w h a t e v e r o t h e r m i s ­c h i e f s M a r s in f l i c t e th u p o n the b o d y o f m a n . "

P a r s l e y (Petroselinum sativum), Pearsal ( c o r r u p t r e n d e r i n g o f t h e g e n e r i c b o t a n i c a l n a m e ) . A b e t t e r n a m e w a s Muinean Mhuire ( M a r y ' s s p r o u t s ) .

S a m p h i r e (Cnthmum maritimum), Saimbhir. B o t h t h e E n g l i s h and G a e l i c a re c o r r u p t i o n s o f t h e F r e n c h n a m e o f t he p l a n t , v i z . , S t P i e r r e ( S t P e t e r ) , t o w h o m i t w a s d e d i c a t e d .

M i s t l e t o e (Viscum album), G a e l i c a n d I r i s h Vile-ice, hea l -a l l—a p a n a c e a . T h i s is t h e a n c i e n t D r u i d i c a l n a m e f o r t h e p l a n t . P l i n y t e l l s u s : " T h e D r u i d s ( s o t h e y c a l l t h e i r M a g i ) h o l d n o t h i n g in such sac red r e s p e c t as t h e m i s t l e t o e , a n d t he t r ee u p o n w h i c h i t g r o w s , p r o v i d e d i t b e an o a k . T h e y c a l l i t b y a w o r d s i g n i f y i n g in t he i r o w n l a n g u a g e All­heal, a n d h a v i n g p r e p a r e d sacr i f ices , and feas t u n d e r t he t r ees , t h e y b r i n g u p t w o w h i t e bullB, w h o s e h o r n s a re t h e n first b o u n d ; t he p r i e s t i n a w h i t e r o b e a scends t he t r ee , a n d c u t s i t off w i t h a g o l d e n k n i f e ; i t is r e c e i v e d i n a w h i t e shee t . T h e n , a n d n o t t i l l t hen , t h e y sacr i f i ce t h e v i c t i m s , p r a y i n g t h a t G o d w o u l d r e n d e r H i s g i f t p r o s p e r o u s t o t h o s e on w h o m H e h a d b e s t o w e d i t . W h e n m i s t l e t o e i s g i v e n as a p o t i o n , i h e y a re o f o p i n i o n t h a t i t c a n r e m o v e a n i m a l ba r r ennes s , a n d t h a t i t i s a r e m e d y a g a i n s t a l l p o i s o n s . " I t i s a l s o c a l l e d Druidh-lus, t h e D r u i d ' s w e e d o r h e r b . T h e o r i g i n o f t h e w o r d i s t h e C e l t i c dm, an o a k , c o g n a t e w i t h t he G r e e k drus, o a k . I t is a l s o c a l l e d Subh dharaich, t h e sap o r s u b s t a n c e o f

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t h e o a k , b e c a u s e i t d e r i v e s i t e s u b s t a n c e f r o m

t h e o a k , t h o u g h i t i s a p a r a s i t e o f s o m e o t h e r

t r e e s a l so . I n t he las t i n s t a l m e n t m e n t i o n w a s m a d e o f

d a n d e l i o n (Taraxacum leontodon, bearnan Brìghde—the n o t c h e d - l e a v e d p l a n t o f S t B r i d g e t .

N i p p l e - w o r t (Lapsana communis), duilleag mhaith ( t h e g o o d l e a f ) ; I r i s h , duilleog Bhrìghid, p r o b a b l y S t B r i d g e t ' s leaf , the-p a t r o n sa in t w h o , a c c o r d i n g t o G a e l i c s u p e r ­s t i t i o n , h a d t h e p o w e r o f r e v e a l i n g t o g i r l s t h e i r f u t u r e h u s b a n d s . T h e p r o b a b i l i t y o f t h i s o r i g i n o f t he n a m e i s s t r e n g t h e n e d b y t h e f a c t t ha t the p l an t is c o p i o u s l y iu flower o n Latha Fhèill-Bhrìghde ( C a n d l e m a s D a y ) . I t w a s a l so c a l l e d duilleag bhraghad, b r e a s t l ea f . T h e F r e n c h c a l l e d i t herbe aux mamelles, w h i c h m e a n s t h e s a m e t h i n g ; t h e r e f e r e n c e b e i n g t o i t s h a v i n g f o r m e r l y b e e n a p p l i e d to-t h e b reas t s o f w o m e n t o a l l a y t h e i r r i t a t i o n c a u s e d b y n u r s i n g .

Mary ' 6 t h i s t l e (Carduus Maria:), fothannan beannuichte, I r . fothannan beanduighte ( b e n e -d i c t u s ) , t he b lessed t h i s t l e ( s o c a l l e d f r o m t h e s u p e r s t i t i o n t h a t i t s l e aves a re s t a i n e d w i t h t h e V i r g i n M a r y ' s m i l k ) .

E l e c a m p a n e (inula Helenium). T h e G r e e k n a m e H e l e n u s i s s a i d t o b e f r o m t h e n a m e o f t h e f a m o u s b e a u t y , H e l e n o f T r o y , w h o i s s a i d t o h a v e a v a i l e d he rse l f o f it6 c o s m e t i c p r o p e r ­t i e s . I t s G a e l i c n a m e i s àillean, f r o m à i l l e , b e a u t y , h a n d s o m e n e s s .

A s h (Fraxinus excelsior), G a e l i c a n d I r i s h craobh uinnseann; I r i s h a l t e r n a t i v e s , uinscann, uimhseann. B y a p h o n e t i c u s a g e o f I r i s h , n a m e l y , o f a n o u n b e g i n n i n g w i t h a v o w e l a d o p t i n g t h e final c o n s o n a n t o f i t s inseparab le -a r t i c l e o r a d j e c t i v e o r a d j e c t i v a l n o u n as i t s i n i t i a l l e t te r , t he / ( v a l u e o f bh i n craobh) is pre f ixed t o u in sean , s o as t o b e c o m e fuinsean, a l s o fuinse a n d fuinseag. l i k e a n o t h e r s i m i ­l a r l y n a m e d , fuinnseag coille ( a l r e a d y r e f e r r e d t o ) , i t s eems t o h a v e b e e n i n w i d e s p r e a d a n d f r e q u e n t use i n t h e c h a r m s a n d enchan tmen t s -s o c o m m o n i n o l d e n t i m e s , e s p e c i a l l y a g a i n s t s e r p e n t b i t e ( s p i r i t u a l l y as w e l l as m a t e r i a l l y ) .

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P e n n a n t (1772) s a y s : " I n m a n y p a r t s o f t h e H i g h l a n d s , a t t h e b i r t h o f a c h i l d , t he n u r s e p u t s t h e e n d o f a g r e e n s t i c k o f ash i n t o t h e fire, and , w h i l e i t i s b u r n i n g , r e c e i v e s i n t o a s p o o n t he s a p o r j u i c e w h i c h oozes o u t a t t h e o t h e r e n d , a n d a d m i n i s t e r s t h i s t o t h e n e w ­b o r n b a b e . " Se rpen t s w e r e s u p p o s e d t o h a v e a spec ia l h o r r o r o f i t s l e aves . " Theid an nathair troimh an teine dhearg mu 'n teid, troimh dhuilleach an uinnsinn " " T h e ser­p e n t w i l l g o t h r o u g h the r e d b l a z i n g fire r a t h e r t h a n t h r o u g h t h e l e a v e s o f t h e a s h . " T h e s e s u p e r s t i t i o n s a b o u t t h e a sh w e r e n o t conf ined t o t h e H i g h l a n d s o f c o u r s e .

M u l l e i n (Verbasciim thapsus), G a e l i c a n d I r i s h ctt ineal, o r cuingeal Mhuire, M a r y ' s h e a l i n g f o r a s t h m a (cuing).

F o x g l o v e (Digitalis purpurea). Seve ra l o f i te G a e l i c n a m e s assoc ia te i t w i t h t he f a i r i e s , e.g.: Lus-nam-ban-sith, f a i r y w o m e n ' s p l a n t ; meuran sith, f a i r y t h i m b l e , f r o m t h e shape o f itB flowers; Sìthich, a f a i r y , the m o s t m i s c h i e v o u s sp r i t e i n G a e l i c m y t h o l o g y . W h e r e v e r a c l u m p o f t h i s h a n d s o m e p l a n t g r e w , t h e r e t h e f a i r i e s , " t h e l i t t l e f o l k i n g r e e n , " w e r e t o b e seen a t t h e i r c a n t r i p s " ' n e a t h g l i m p s e s o f t h e m o o n . " F o x g l o v e o f c o u r s e i s f o l k s ' (i.e. f a i r i e s ' ) g l o v e .

V e r v a i n (Verbena officinalis), G a e l , a n d I r . trombhòd, f r o m trom, a c o r r u p t i o n o f drum f r o m Sansc r i t dru, w o o d , L a t . drus, o a k , a n d bòd o r bòid, o a t h v o w . T h e D r u i d s u s e d t h e p l a n t in t h e i r r e l i g i o u s c e r e m o n i e s . W e a re t o l d t h a t v o w s w e r e m a d e a n d t r ea t i e s ra t i f ied o v e r t h i s l i t t l e p l an t . I n d e e d o t h e r p l a n t s e m p l o y e d i n r e l i g i o u s c e r e m o n i e s , s a c r e d ever ­g r e e n s l i k e l au re l s a n d h o l l y : a n d a r o m a t i c h e r b s , s u c h as r o s e m a r y , u s e d i n a d o r n i n g t h e a l ta r , c a m e t o he i n c l u d e d u n d e r t h e g e n e r a l n a m e V e r b e n a .

W o o d L o o s e s t r i f e , o r Y e l l o w P i m p e r n e l (L'ysimachia nemorum), G a e l i c and I r i s h Seamhair Mhuire, s u p p o s e d t o bo f r o m sèamh, sweet, and feur, g rass : Mary's sweet g rass . T h i s l o v e l y g e m o f t he w o o d s is n o w ( A p r i l — S e p t e m b e r ) i n flower. T h e s t a r r y b l o s s o m s a r e o f a d u l l t i n t a n d g l o s s y o f sur­face , p o i n t s w h i c h d i s t i n g u i s h t h e p l a n t f r o m the t o r m e n t i l , w h i c h is o f t e n f o u n d i n itg

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v i c i n i t y . I t i s a l sa n a m e d a f t e r I o n a ' s s a i n t , Lus Ckolumchille. O n e o f i t s I r i s h n a m e s i s Rosòr, g o l d e n ro se .

G r e a t e r P l a n t a i n , o r B r o a d - l e a v e d R i b w o r t (Plantago major), G . and I r . Cuach Phadraig, P a t r i c k ' s b o w l o r c u p ; v a r i a n t , Cruach Ph., P a t r i c k ' s k n o l l o r h i l l . I d o n o t k n o w t h e c o n n e c t i o n o f t h e p l a n t w i t h t h e n a m e o f t h e s a i n t . T h e W e l s h c a l l i t Llydain y jford, S p r e a d on t he w a y . O n e o f i t s l o c a l E n g l i s h n a m e s i s W a y b r e d .

T h e L a u r e l o r B a y - t r e e (Laurus nobilis), G . and I r . Labhras, t h e s y m b o l o f t r i u m p h and v i c t o r y . P o e t s a n d v i c t o r i o u s g e n e r a l s w e r e a l w a y s c r o w n e d w i t h i t . I t a l s o c a m e t o b e a s y m b o l o f m a s s a c r e and s l a u g h t e r , w h i c h e x ­p l a i n s ano the r o f i t s G a e l i c n a m e s , Casgair, s l a y e r . I t s n a m e Vr-uaine m e a n s t he g r e e n p a l m o r b a y - t r e e ; h e n c e , i n t h e G a e l i c c h u r c h c a l e n d a r , P a l m S u n d a y w a s Domhnach an ùir.

T h e S p o t t e d P e T s e c a r i a (Polygonum perse-caria), G . a n d I r . Oluineach mhòr, l a r g e -j o i n t e d p l a n t ; a l s o Am boinne-fola ( F e r g u s o n ) , t h e s p o t o f b l o o d , a n d Lus-a-Chroinn-cheusaidh, h e r b o f t h e c r u c i f y i n g t r ee ( M a c L e l l a n ) . B o t h t h e l a s t t w o n a m e s re fer t o t h e l e g e n d t h a t t h i s p l a n t g r e w a t t h e f o o t o f t he c r o s s , and d r o p s o f b l o o d fe l l u p o n t he l eaves , c a u s i n g t h e m t o b e s p o t t e d f o r eve r a f te r .

H a z e l (Corylus avellance), G . a n d I r . Càll-tuinn, Càlldainn, Càllduinn, Cailtin, Colluinn; W e l s h callen, C o r n . Colwiden. P e r h a p s f r o m A r m o r i c càil, G . a n d I r . coill, a w o o d , a g r o v e . N e w - T e a r ' s t i m e u s e d t o b e c a l l e d Coille, a n d N e w - T e a r ' s n i g h t Oidhche Coille, w h e n t h e haze l i s i n b l o o m . W h o i s n o t g l a d t o see t h e haze l g r o v e c o v e r e d w i t h c a t k i n s t h e n ? T h e first n i g h t i n t he N e w T e a r w h e n t h e w i n d b l o w s f r o m t h e w e s t u s e d t o b e c a l l e d Bàir na coille, t i m e o f t r e e s ' f e c u n d a t i o n . T w o c o n ­flicting supe r s t i t i ons anen t t h e haze l w e r e t o b e f o u n d i n t h e H i g h l a n d s . I n g e n e r a l b e l i e f t h e haze l w a s c o n s i d e r e d u n l u c k y , a n d a s soc i ­a t ed w i t h l o s s o r d a m a g e . I t m a k e s o n e s p e c u l a t e as t o a n y p o s s i b l e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e n a m e o f t h e t r ee and càil, l o s s . T w o nu t s f o u n d t o g e t h e r , h o w e v e r , b o d e d g o o d l u c k .

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T h i s w a s k n w n as C n ò chòmhlaich. T h i s w a s w h y t w o nu t s w e r e b u r n t t o g e t h e r in t h e fire f o r l o v e r s a t H a l l o w e e n , a n d t he i r m a r i t a l p r o s p e r i t y w a s a u g u r e d f r o m the b r i g h t n e s s o f t h e " l o w e . " T h e b a r d s , h o w e v e r , r e g a r d e d t h e haze l m o r e a u s p i c i o u s l y . I t i n s p i r e d t h e m w i t h p o e t i c f a n c i e s . " T h e y b e l i e v e d t h a t t he re w e r e f o u n t a i n s in w h i c h t h e p r i n c i p a l r i v e r s h a d t he i r s o u r c e ; o v e r e a c h f o u n t a i n g r e w w i s e haze l t r ee s (cail crinnon) (crina, m o d e r n crionna, w i s e , s a g a c i o u s ) , w h i c h p r o d u c e d b e a u t i f u l r e d n u t s , w h i c h f e l l i n t o t h e f o u n t a i n a n d floated o n i t s s u r f a c e , a n d t h a t t h e s a l m o n o f t h e r i v e r c a m e u p a n d s w a l l o w e d t h e nu t s . I t w a s b e l i e v e d t h a t t h e e a t i n g of t he n u t s c a u s e d t h e r e d spo t s o n t h e s a l m o n ' s b e l l y , a n d w h o e v e r t o o k a n d a te o n e o f t h o s e s a l m o n w a s i n s p i r e d w i t h t h e s u b l i m e s t p o e t i c a l i d e a . H e n c e t h e e x p r e s s i o n s ' N u t s o f s c i e n c e , ' * T h e s a l m o n o f k n o w l e d g e ' " ( O ' C u r r y ) .

P o p l a r (Populus alba), Pobhuill; G e r m . Pappel, W e l s h a n d A m i o r i c Pobl, P e r s i a n PuZ-pul. P r o m t h e c o m m o n r e s e m b l a n c e b e t w e e n t hese v a r i o u s I n d o - E u r o p e a n n a m e s o f t h e t r e e it i s s u p p o s e d to b e f r o m t h e S a n s c r i t pul, w h i c h meanB g r e a t , h i g h , and t h a t t he f a c t t h a t i t s P e r s i a n n a m e b e i n g a r e d u p l i c a t i o n o f t h i s w o r d , v i z . , pul-pul ( a p r i m i t i v e m o d e o f w o r d - b u i l d i n g t o s i g n i f y e x c e s s ) , w a s g i v e n t o t h e t r ee f r o m i t s u n u s u a l h e i g h t — t h e very high tree. T h i s u s a g e i s s t i l l c o m m o n t o G a e l i c ( a n d no d o u b t o t h e r l a n g u a g e s t o o ) , as w h e n w e say mòr mòr, b i g b i g , f o r v e r y big.

A s p e n (Populus tremula), G . and I r . Crith­eann, t r e m b l i n g . T h e l eaves a re so s l e n d e r l y a t t a c h e d to t h e t w i g s as to catìse a c o n s t a n t m o v e m e n t , even w h e n there ' s n o b r e a t h o f w i n d . I n u n s c i e n t i f i c t i m e s t h i s p h e n o m e n o n -vas m o n k i s h l y a c c o u n t e d f o r b y s a y i n g t ha t t h e w o o d o f t h e Cross w a s m a d e f r o m t h i s t r ee , and t h a t eve r s i n c e t he t r e e c a n n o t cease f r o m t r e m b l i n g .

W i l l o w (Salix), G . Seileach, a l so Salach. T h e p r i e s t s o f J u p i t e r and M a r s w h o a t t e n d e d t o t h e i r r i t e s i n t h e V i m i n a l G r o v e o n o n e of the Sev«n Hills of R o m e were called Sa'ii becnuse it w a s a g r o v e o f w i l l o w os ie r s . A s t h i s w o r s h i p

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w a s f r e q u e n t l y o f a sensua l n a t u r e , t he w i l l o w -c a m e t o he a s soc i a t ed w i t h lu s t , fìlthiness; h e n c e Salam, l u s t fu l , s a l a c i o u s ; a n d G a e l i c salach (sal na feola, l u s t o f t h e flesh),polluted. T h e B a b y l o n i a n w i l l o w (S. babylonica), seileach an t-srutha, i.e., t h è w i l l o w o f t h e s t r e a m o r b r o o k . " Agus gabhaidh sibh dhuibh fhèin air a cheud là meas chraobh àluinn . . . agus seileach an t-srutha " ( L e v . x x i i i . 4 0 ) — " A n d t a k e u n t o y o u r s e l v e s on t h e first d a y o f g o o d l y t r ees a n d w i l l o w s o f t h e b r o o k . "

G a r l i c (Allium). T h e genus i n c l u d e s such ' s p e c i e s a s t h e o n i o n (A. cepa), G . ceap, h e a d . Ceap Maol, e t c . C o m m o n G a e l i c t e r m uinnean, c o r r u p t i o n o f t h e E n g l i s h w o r d ; t h e g a r d e n l eek (A. porrum), G . and I r . leigis, leicis. leiceas.

W i l d G a r l i c (A. ursinum), G . a n d I r . gar-leag, b u t m o r e c o m m o n i s creamh.

R o c o m b a l e (A. scorodoprasum), G . a n d I r . Creamh na crag.

C h i v e s (A. schcenoprasum), G a e l i c Creamh ghàraidh; W e l s h Cenin Pedr, P e t e r ' s l e e k .

S h a l l o t (A. ascalonium), G a e l . Sgalaid. C r o w G a r l i c (A. vineale), G . Garleag Mhuire,

M a r y ' s g a r l i c . G r e a t R e e d m a c e o r Ca t ' s - t a i l (Typha lati-

folia), Cuigeal nam ban-sìthe, t h e F a i r y -w o m a n ' s s p i n d l e .

T h e B u s h (Juncus), G . a n d I r . Luachar. Tl ie p i t h o f severa l spec ies w a s f r o m a n c i e n t t i m e s u s e d t o m a k e r u s h - l i g h t s , t h e m o s t p r i m i t i v e p roces s b e i n g t o s t r ip t h e s t a lks o f t h e i r ou t e r sk in al l e x c e p t o n e n a r r o w s t r i pe , and t h e y w e r e t hen d r a w n t h r o u g h m e l t e d g r e a s e and l a i d ac ross a s t o o l t o se t . T h u s t h e n a m e luachar w a s e x t e n d e d t o m e a n l i g h t , s p l e n d o u r , and n o d o u b t i t i s c o n n e c t e d w i t h t h e L a t i n lucerna, a l a m p , a n d S a n s c r i t r o o t luach, l i g h t . P r o b a b l y a l so t h a t w a s t he s i g ­n i f i c ance o f t h e t i t l e Luachra, c h i e f D r u i d and m a g i c i a n , b o r n e b y t he m a n w h o o p p o s e d S t P a t r i c k a t T a r a in p r e s e n c e o f t h e K i n g -a n d h i s n o b l e s c o m p o s i n g t he c o n v e n t i o n . L a d y - f e r n (Athyrium filix fosmina), G a n d I r .

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Raineach Mhuire, O u r L a d y ' s ( V i r g i n M a r y ' s ) f e r n .

R o y a l F e r n (Osmunda regalis), G a e l i c T o r -d a n , t h e t h u n d e r e r , t h e Celtic J o v e , h e n c e torrdhun, t h u n d e r .

M o o n w o r t (Botrychium lunaria); lunaria f r o m luna, m o o n ; G a e l i c luan, h e n c e Di-luan, M o n d a y (i.e., M o o n - d a y ) . T h i s p l a n t w a s h e l d i n supe r s t i t i ous r e v e r e n c e a m o n g a l l a n c i e n t n a t i o n s . H o r s e s w e r e s u p p o s e d t o lose t he i r shoes w h e r e i t g r e w . T h e p l a n t i s a sma l l qne , g r o w i n g i n c o n s p i c u o u s l y in p a s t u r e , a n d t h e r e ­f o r e l i a b l e t o b e c r o p p e d b y sheep a n d c a t t l e ere i t c a n o u t g r o w the g r a s s . I t b e i n g o n e o f t h e t h r e e B r i t i s h f e r n s t h a t d o n o t h a v e t h e i r seed capsu l e s (indusia) sp read on t he l e a f sur ­f a c e o r m a r g i n , b u t on sepa ra t e b r a n c h e s , i t i s w e l l w o r t h s e a r c h i n g fo r b y t h o s e b o t a n i c a l l y i n c l i n e d , and t he m e r r v m o n t h i s t he t i m e w h e n i t is sure t o b e f o u n d in flower, i f t he t e r m w i l l b e a l l o w e d . F e r n s f r e q u e n t l y f o r m e d c o m p o n e n t p a r t s o f c h a r m s , as t h e f o l l o w i n g c o u p l e t s h o w s : —

" F a i g h n a o i g a s a n r a i n i c h <~ir an g e a r r a d h l e t u a i g h ,

A ' s t r i c h n a i m h e a n s e a n n d u i n e a i r a n t a r r -u i n n a u a i g h "

( G e t n i n e b r a n c h e s o f fern c u t w i t h an a x e , A n d an o l d m a n ' s bones p u l l e d f r o m t h e

g r a v e ) .

" F e r n seeds w e r e r e g a r d e d as m a g i c a l , a n d m u s t b e g a t h e r e d o n M i d s u m m e r E v e . "

M u s h r o o m s o f v a r i o u s k i n d s (Agaricus) : — Balg-bhuachaill, S h e p h e r d ' s b a g ; Balg losg-

ainn, F r o g ' s b a g . T h e l a r g e f u z - b a l l (Lyco-perdon giganteum), G a e 1 . a n d I r i s h Beac, beacan, f r o m beach, a b e e , w a s f o r m e r l y used f o r s m o t h e r i n g bees . M u s h r o o m s h e l d a c o n s p i c u o u s p l a c e i n C e l t i c m y t h o l o g y f r o m t h e i r c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t he fa i r i e s . W h e r e v e r a f te r a w a r m , m o i s t y s u m m e r n i g h t i n a w o o d - g l a d e a r i n g o f m u s h ­r o o m s w a s f o u n d , t he re t he g o o d f o l k s w e r e s u p p o s e d t o h a v e t h e i r r e v e l r i e s , t h e l a r g e f la t ones f o r m i n g t h e i r t a b l e s .

W a t e r c r e s s (Nasturtium officinalis), Biolaire. I t is sa id t o b e one o f t he p l a n t s used t o f a c i l i -

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t a t e m i l k s t e a l i n g f r o m t h e c o w , c o m m o n a t o n e t i m e i n S c o t l a n d a n d I r e l a n d . T h i s w a s c a l l e d i n G a e l i c " Toirt an toraidh bho na •chrodh " — D e p r i v i n g t h e c a t t l e o f t h e i r f r u i t ( t h a t i s , m i l k ) . T h e m a n n e r o f d o i n g i t w a s a s f o l l o w s : — T h e w i t c h o r s p a e w i f e , o r a n y o n e w h o h a d t h e eolas ( t he p o w e r o f t he c h a r m ) , c u t t he t o p s o f t he p l a n t w i t h a p a i r o f sc i s so r s , w h i l e t h e i n c a n t a t i o n w a s m u t t e r e d a l o n g w i t h t h e n a m e s o f t h e o w n e r s o f t h e c o w s , a n d t h e p r e g n a n t w o r d s , " 'S leamsa leth do chuidsa"— h a l f ( o r w h a t e v e r s h a r e w a s w a n t e d ) t h i n e i s m i n e . O t h e r p l a n t s , a g a i n , w e r e e m p l o y e d a s c o u n t e r a g e n t s , e.g., G r o u n d s e l , Grunnasg, b y p u t t i n g t h e m a m o n g s t t h e m i l k o r c r e a m . I r e m e m b e r , as a b o y , an o l d w o m a n w h o w a s sa id t o h a v e the p o w e r o f s t e a l i n g t h e toradh, o r c r e a m , f r o m her n e i g h b o u r s ' m i l k , a n d w a s a c t u a l l y c a u g h t p u l l i n g a c e r t a i n p l a n t t h a t g r e w a m o n g t h e t h a t c h o f a n e i g h b o u r ' s h o u s e , a n d m u t t e r i n g s o m e s u c h c h a r m a s t h e a b o v e .

C o m m o n F l a x (Linum usitatissimum), Lìon. Sher i f f N i c o l s o n i n h i s b o o k o f G a e l i c P r o v e r b s g i v e s the f o l l o w i n g q u a t r a i n as i l l u s t r a t i n g t he g r e a t va lue a t t a c h e d t o sa l t and l i n t , e spec i ­a l l y a m o n g a fishing p o p u l a t i o n a t a t i m e w h e n t h e d u t y on sa l t w a s e x c e s s i v e , a n d l i n t w a s c u l t i v a t e d i n t h e H e b r i d e s : —

" M è i r l e s a l a inn 's m è i r l e f r o i s , M è i r l e o n a c h f a i g h a n a m c l o s ; G u s an t e i d an t - i a sg a i r t ì r . C h a ' n f h a i g h m è i r l e a c h a n l ì n c l o s . "

T h e f t o f sa l t a n d the f t o f s e e d A r e the f t s t h a t l e a v e n o s o u l i n p e a c e ; U n t i l t he fish j u m p on d r y l a n d , F o r t h e s t ea le r o f l i n t t h e r e i s n o r e s t .

S h a m r o c k , W o o d - s o r r e l , and W h i t e C l o v e r . T h e reason g i v e n fo r t he I r i s h " w e a r i n g o f t h e g r e e n " l i t t l e s h a m r o c k o n S t P a t r i c k ' s D a y i s as f o l l o w s : — W h e n t h e s a i n t p r e a c h e d t h e G o s p e l t o t h e p a g a n I r i s h , h e i l l u s t r a t e d t h e d o c t r i n e o f t h e B l e s s e d T r i n i t y b y s h o w i n g t h e m a t r e f o i l , w h i c h w a s eve r a f t e r w a r d s w o r n u p o n h i s a n n i v e r s a r y .

37

B l a c k b e r r i e s o r B r a m b l e s , Smeuran, Smeur-agan (Kubus fruticostis). A o n e - t i m e p o p u l a r b e l i e f — p r o b a b l y t o p r e v e n t c h i l d r e n e a t i n g t h e m w h e n u n r i p e — w a s t h a t t he f a i r i e s def i led t h e m a t M i c h a e l m a s a n d H a l l o w e ' e n .

T h e G o o s e b e r r y (Bibes grossularia), grosaid. I t s p r i c k l e s w e r e used as c h a r m s t o cu re w a r t s a n d s ty . A w e d d i n g r i n g l a i d o v e r t h e w a r t a n d p r i c k e d t h r o u g h t h e r i n g w i t h a g o o s e b e r r y t h o r n w i l l r e m o v e t he w a r t . T e n s u c h t h o r n s are p l u c k e d , n ine a re p o i n t e d a t t he p a r t a f fec ted , a n d t h e t e n t h t h r o w n o v e r t h e s h o u l d e r .

Meum spignel o r B a l d m o n e y ( M e u m athaman-t i c u m ) , Muilceann. C a m e r o n s a y s t h e I n v e r ­ness l o c a l n a m e f o r t h i s p l a n t , " B r i c i n , " i s p r o b a b l y c a l l e d a f te r St B r i c i n , w h o flourished a b o u t A.D. 637. Y e t i t s e e m s s t r a n g e t h a t th i s l o c a l n a m e s h o u l d b e conf ined t o I n v e r n e s s a n d b e u n k n o w n in I r e l a n d , o f w h i c h c o u n t r y B r i c i n w a s a sa in t .

T h e E l d e r (Sambucus). A n o l d w r i t e r says t h e c o m m o n p e o p l e o f t h e H i g h l a n d s g a t h e r e d t h e leaves o f t h e e l d e r — d r u m a n , drumanach— o n t h e first d a y o f A p r i l fo r t h e p u r p o s e o f d i s a p p o i n t i n g t he c h a r m s o f w i t c h e s , aff ixing t h e m t o t h e i r d o o r s a n d w i n d o w s .

Y a r r o w , M i l f o i l (Achillea millefolium), Earr-thalmhainn. T h e y o u n g w o m e n c u t i t b y m o o n l i g h t w i t h a b l a c k - h a n d l e d k n i f e , a n d p r o n o u n c e d c e r t a i n m y s t i c w o r d s a s f o l l o w s : —

" G o o d m o r r o w , g o o d m o r r o w , f a i r y a r r o w , A n d t h r i c e g o o d m o r r o w t o t h e e ;

C o m e t e l l m e b e f o r e t o - m o r r o w W h o m y t r u e l o v e sha l l b e . "

T h e p l a n t i s b r o u g h t h o m e , p u t i n t o t h e r i g h t s t o c k i n g , p l a c e d u n d e r t h e p i l l o w , a n d t he m y s t i c d r e a m i s e x p e c t e d ; b u t i f she o p e n s he r l i p s a f te r she has p u l l e d t h e y a r r o w t h e c h a r m i s b r o k e n .

G u n d ' è i r i c h m i m o c h a i r m a d u i n n a n d è 'S g h e a r r m i ' n e a r r - t h a l m h a i n n d o b h r i m o

s g e i l :

A n d u i l g u ' m f a i c i n n r ù n m o c h l e i b h , O c h o i n ! g u ' m f a c a s ' s a c h ù l r i u m fè in .

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t h e las t i n c u t t i n g w a s fined i n s o m e w a y o r ano the r .

T h e r e w a s a l so t h e a n c i e n t c e r e m o n y o f S t B r i d g e t ' s Shea f o n F e b r u a r y 2nd . T h e m i s ­t ress a n d s e r v a n t o f e a c h f a m i l y t a k e a shea f o f oa t s a n d d re s s i t i n w o m a n ' s a p p a r e l , p u t i t i n a l a r g e b a s k e t w i t h a w o o d e n c i u b b y i t , a n d th i s t h e y c a l l B r i è d ' s b e d . T h e y c r y t h r e e t i m e s , " B r i è d i s c o m e a n d w e l c o m e . " T h i s t h e y d o b e f o r e g o i n g t o b e d , a n d w h e n t h e y r i s e i n t h e m o r n i n g t h e y l o o k a t t he ashes f o r t h e i m p r e s s o f B r i è d ' s c i u b t h e r e ; i f seen a p r o s p e r o u s y e a r w i l l f o l l o w .

M a r t i n , w h o r e c o r d s t h e a b o v e c u s t o m , i s r e s p o n s i b l e a l s o f o r o u r k n o w l e d g e o f a n o t h e r r e l i g i o u s c e r e m o n y , c o n n e c t e d t h i s t i m e w i t h t h e p r o d u c t o f t he sea i n s t e a d o f t h a t o f t h e l a n d . T h e c u s t o m , w h i c h he says h a d sur­v i v e d i n L e w i s u n t i l s o m e y e a r s p r e v i o u s t o h i s v i s i t t o t h e i s l a n d , w a s as f o l l o w s : — T h e i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e i s l a n d g a t h e r e d a t H a l l o w -t i d e t o t he l i t t l e c h u r c h o f S t M u l v a y , e a c h p e r s o n c a r r y i n g p r o v i s i o n s w i t h h i m . One o f t h e i r n u m b e r w a s s e l e c t e d t o w a d e o u t i n t o t h e sea u p t o t h e m i d d l e , a n d c a r r y i n g a c u p o f a l e i n h i s h a n d . S t a n d i n g s t i l l i n t h a t p o s i t i o n , and c r y i n g o u t w i t h a l o u d v o i c e , he i n v o k e d s o m e k i n d o f sea -de i ty as f o l l o w s : — " S h o n y , I g i v e y o u t h i s c u p o f a le h o p i n g y o u w i l l b e so k i n d as t o send us p l e n t y o f sea-ware f o r e n r i c h i n g o u r g r o u n d i n t he e n s u i n g y r a r . " a n d h e t h e n t h r e w t h e c u p i n t o t he sea. T h i s was p e r f o r m e d i n t h e n i g h t t i m e . C a m e r o n s a y s th i s S h o n y w a s t he S c a n d i n a v i a n N e p t u n e — Sj 'oni . I f t h a t b e so , t h e s u r v i v a l o f s u c h a p a g a n r i t e c a n b e w e l l u n d e r s t o o d , c o n s i d e r i n g h o w c o m p l e t e t h e N o r w e g i a n c o n q u e s t a n d s e t t l emen t w a s i n t h e W e s t e r n I s l e s d u r i n g t h e t e n t h c e n t u r y , a n d w h i c h c o m p l e t e l y ef faced t h e C e l t i c C h u r c h c u l t u r e f o r a l o n g t i m e .

I t i s w o n d e r f u l t h e e x t e n t t o w h i c h m a g i c en te red i n t o t h e l i f e o f p e o p l e o f o l d , a n d h o w i t pe r s i s t ed e v e n a f te r t he G o s p e l c a m e t o b e u n i v e r s a l l y p r e a c h e d i n i t s p u r i t y , a n d c o n ­t i n u e d t o in f luence t h e b e l i e f s a n d h a b i t s o f those w h o w o u l d b e t h e l a s t t o a d m i t i t a n d "the first t o c o n d e m n s u c h b e l i e f s i n o t h e r s .

Y e s t e r m o r n I rose b e t i m e s . A n d c u t t h e y a r r o w w i t h w o n t e d r h y m e s . H o p i n g m y h e a r t ' s b e l o v e d t o see : A l a s ! I d i d , b u t h i s b a c k w a s t o m e .

B r o a d - l e a v e d P o n d w e e d (Potamogeton natans), Duileasg na h-aibhne ( B i v e r d u l s e ) . A t o n e t i m e i n t he H i g h l a n d s t h i s p l a n t w a s g a t h e r e d in sma l l b u n d l e s i u s u m m e r a n d a u t u m n a n d k e p t u n t i l N e w - Y e a r ' s D a y ( o l d s t y l e ) , w h e n i t w a s p u t f o r a t i m e i n a t u b o f h o t w a t e r and t h e i n f u s i o n m i x e d w i t h t h e f irst d r i n k g i v e n t o m i l c h c o w s on N e w - Y e a r ' s D a y m o r n i n g . T h i s w a s s u p p o s e d t o g u a r d t h e m f r o m w i t c h c r a f t a n d t h e e v i l e y e f o r t h e res t o f t h e y e a r ; as a l so t o i nc r ea se t he s u p p l y o f m i l k .

R e e d - g r a s s (Arundo phragmites), G . Seasgan; f r o m seasg, a r e e d , w h i c h a l so m e a n s b a r r e n ; crodh seasg, y e l d c a t t l e ; I r i s h cruisg-iornach ( f r o m cruisigh, m u s i c , s o n g ) . G r e a t reed m a c e (Typha latifolia) (Cuigeul nam ban-sit he), t he F a i r y w o m e n ' s distaff , i s u s u a l l y r e p r e s e n t e d b y p a i n t e r s i n t h e h a n d o f ou r L o r d as sup ­p o s e d t o b e t h e r eed w i t h w h i c h H e w a s s m i t t e n b y t h e R o m a n s o l d i e r s , a n d o n w h i c h t h e s p o n g e filled w i t h v i n e g a r w a s r e a c h e d t o H i m . T h i s r eed i s in G a e l i c cuilc. A chuile bhriste, t he b r o k e n r eed .

R e e d s h a v e p l a y e d n o inr i gn i f i c a n t p a r t in t h e a d v a n c e m e n t o f h u m a n p r o g r e s s . T l i e a n c i e n t G r e e k s used t o say t h a t t h i s w a s seen i n t h r e e w e l l - m a r k e d s t ages . T h e y t e n d e d t o s u b j u g a t e n a t i o n s b y f u r n i s h i n g a r r o w s f o r w a r ; t h e y so f t ened t he i r m a n n e r s b y m e a n s o f m u s i c (e.g., t he p ipes o f P a n ; a y e t h e y l e n t t he i r v e r y n a m e t o t h e l a r y n x o f v a r i o u s m u s i c a l i n s t r u m e n t s ) ; a n d , finally, l i g h t e n e d t he i r u n d e r s t a n d n g b y s u p p l y i n g i n s t r u m e n t s

f o r w r i t i n g . O a t s (Avena), Coirc. T h e s u p e r s t i t i o u s

c u s t o m s o f A Mhaighdean Bhuana ( t h e h a r v e s t m a i d e n ) and A Ghabhar Bhacach ( t h e l a m e g o a t ) a r e n o t v e r y l o n g e x t i n c t . T h e y w e r e b o t h p r e t t y m u c h t h e s a m e t h i n g , b u t k n o w n b y t h e s e d i f fe ren t n a m e s i n d i f fe ren t p a r t s o f G a e l d o m . T h e p u r p o s e w a s t o a v o i d b e i n g t h e l a s t in c u t t i n g t he y e a r ' s c o r n . W h o e v e r w a s

40

M e d i c a m e n t s t h a t w e r e p r o v e d b y l o n g e x p e r i e n c e t o b e ef f icac ious , w h e t h e r f o r m a n o r b e a s t b y m e r e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ; y e t c o u l d n o t b e g i v e n b y s o m e " s k e e l y o n e s " w i t h o u t t h e a c c o m p a n i ­m e n t o f p a g a n , o r C h r i s t i a n l y - g l o s s e d p a g a n , c h a r m s ; a n d I w i l l c o n c l u d e th i s s e c t i o n b y q u o t i n g a q u a t r a i n b y t h a t s t r a n g e c o m p o u n d o f p a g a n a n d C h r i s t i a n s e n t i m e n t s , J o h n R o y S t e w a r t — k n o w n t o h i s f e l l o w - H i g h l a n d e r s a s Iain Buadh nam blàr—a q u a t r a i n he i s s a i d t o h a v e c o m p o s e d a f t e r s p a i n i n g h i s a n k l e w h e n h i d i n g a f t e r t he b a t t l e o f Culloden :— " N i m i ' n u b h a i d h r i nn P e a d a r d o P h à l

' S a l u i g h e a n a i r f à s l e u m b r u a i c h , S e a c h d p a i d i r ' n a i n m S a g a i r t a ' s P à p ' G a c h u i r r i s m a r p h l a s d m u ' n c u a i r t . " I ' l l m a k e t he i n c a n t a t i o n t ha t P e t e r m a d e

f o r P a u l W i t h t h e h e r b s t h a t g r e w on t h e g r o u n d : S e v e n p a t e r n o s t e r s i n t h e n a m e o f p r i e s t a n d

P o p e , A p p l i e d l i k e a p l a s t e r a r o u n d .

V.—INDUSTRIAL.

T h e s e i n c l u d e d m a n y p l a n t s t h a t fu rn i shed 1

d y e s ; t r ees t h a t w e r e used f o r m a k i n g a g r i ­c u l t u r a l i m p l e m e n t s , f e n c e s , m a c h i n e r y , a n d d o m e s t i c u t ens i l s .

( 1 ) P l a n t s f o r d y e i n g . T h e r e w e r e hundreds -o f s u c h u s e d m o r e o r less t h r o u g h o u t G a e l d o m , a n d t h e b e a u t y a n d h a r m o n y o f b l e n d i n g t h e c o l o u r s i s s h e w n b y t h e v a r i o u s c i a n t a r t a n s . I c a n o n l y m e n t i o n a f e w o f t h e b e s t k n o w n o n e s .

Glas-lus, o r Guirmean, W o a d (Isatis tinctoria). N o w e x t i n c t i n B r i t a i n , t h o u g h c u l t i v a t e d o n t h e C o n t i n e n t f o r i t s h i g h v a l u e i n d y e i n g b r o a d c l o t h . T a c i t u s t e l l s t h a t t h e a n c i e n t B r i t o n s used t o s t a in t h e i r b o d i e s w i t h t h e j u i c e o f t h e p l a n t t o g i v e t h e m a w a r ­l i k e a p p e a r a n c e .

Lus-bhuidhe mòr, D y e r ' s R o c k e t (JReseda-luteola) w a s a t o n e t i m e f a m e d f o r i t s b e a u t i -

41

f u l y e l l o w d y e . S o a l s o w a s Bealaidh, b r o o m ^Sarothamnus scoparius).

Leannartach, o r Cairt leanna, c o m m o n tormentil (Potentilla tormentilla), w a s u s e d l a r g e l y i n t h e H e b r i d e s b o t h as a d y e a n d f o r b a r k i n g c o r d a g e a n d ne ts .

Liath-lus, M u g w o r t (Artemisium vulgaris), m a d e a l o v e l y y e l l o w d y e . Fraoch, L i n g h e a t h e r (Calluna vulgaris), w a s u s e d f o r v a r i ­o u s p u r p o s e s as w e l l a s f o r d y e i n g . B r e w e d i n t o a l e , m a d e i n to r o p e s , u sed f o r t h a t c h a n d f o r b e d d i n g .

Crò, Crodh, Cròch, Saffron c r o c u s (Crocus sativus), m u c h c u l t i v a t e d i n a n c i e n t t i m e s f o r severa l uses , b u t , a b o v e a l l , f o r d y e i n g . Leine Chròic, Saff ron s h i r t , w a s a h a b i t o f d i s t i n c t i o n .

Ruamh, L a d y ' s B e d s t r a w (Galium verum), fu rn i shed a r ed d y e .

Seileasdar, Y e l l o w flag (Iris pseudacorus) w a s used e v e r y w h e r e for d y e i n g p u r p o s e s .

Dearcfithich, fiannag, fithag, C r o w b e r r y (Empetrum nigrum). B o i l e d w i t h a l u m t h e y m a k e a d a r k p u r p l e d y e . T h e r e w e r e t w o l i c h e n s t h a t figured e x t e n s i v e l y i n d y e i n g i n t h e H i g h a n d s v i z . , Corcur ( c u d b e a r ) a n d Crotal.

Corcur o r Corcar, C u d b e a r (Lecanora tar-tared), as t h e w o r d c o n v e y s , w a s used f o r p u r p l e a n d c r i m s o n d y e s . F i r s t d r i e d i n t h e sun , then p u l v e r i z e d and s teeped in t he c o m ­m o n m o r d a n t , t h e vesse l r e n d e r e d a i r t i g h t ; i t w a s l e f t t h u s f o r t h r e e w e e k s , w h e n i t w a s b o i l e d w i t h t h e y a r n i t w a s t o c o l o u r . I n m a n y pa r t s o f t he H i g h l a n d s t h e p e o p l e e k e d o u t t h e i r l i v e l i h o o d p a r t l y b y t he p r o c e e d s t h e y g o t fo r t h e supp l i e s o f t h i s l i chen t h e y sen t t o t he G l a s g o w d y e r s . I s u p p o s e t h i s is a u i t e f o r g o t t e n n o w , as t h e i n d u s t r y h a s c e a s e d l o n g r'xo. N o t s o , h o w e v e r , t h e o t h e r , H z . , Crotal, S t o n e p a r m e l i a (parmelia saxatilis). w h i c h g i v e s a r e d d i s h b r o w n c o l o u r , f o r w h i c h t h e r e is h a r d l y a n y subs t i t u t e . I t i s a f a v o u r i t e d y e , in v a r i o u s shades , fo r H a r r i s t w e e d .

S o m u c h d i d t h e H i g h l a n d e r s b e l i e v e in t he v i r t u e o f Crotal t h a t w h e n t h e y w e r e t o s t a r t o n a j o u r n e y t h e y s p r i n k l e d i t on t he i r h o s e , as t h e y t h o u g h t i t s aved t h e i r fee t f r o m g e t -

42

t i n g inf lamed d u r i n g t h e i r j o u r n e y . 8 0 m u c h has i t been e m p l o y e d i n t he O u t e r I s l e s f o r ' d y e i n g t h a t i t has b e c o m e e x t i n c t , a n d t h e p e o p l e the re c o m e fo r s u p p l i e s o f i t t o S k y e a n d t h e a d j a c e n t m a i n l a n d . H o w v a l u a b l e these s t o n e l i chens w e r e r e g a r d e d i s s h o w n in a p r o ­v e r b : — " Is fearr a chlach gharbh air am faighear rud-eigin na chlach mhìn air nach faighear dad idir " ( B e t t e r t h e r o u g h s tone-t ha t y i e l d s s o m e t h i n g t h a n the s m o o t h s t o n e t h a t y i e l d s n o t h i n g " ) ; a n d i n t h e p o e t M a c -C o d r u m ' s • l i n e —

" Spreigh air mòinteach òr air clachan " ( C a t t l e o n t h e h i l l s , g o l d on t h e s t ones ) . Garbh'ag-an-t-sleibhe, F i r c i u b m o s s (Lyco-

podium selago), u s e d f o r fixing d y e s .

(2) T h e o n l y p l a n t used i n t h e H i g h l a n d s f o r -f a b r i c s w a s Lion, F l a x (Linum usitattisimum). I t w a s a t o n e t i m e g r o w n e x t e n s i v e l y fo r h o m e -use , as m a n y p l a c e - n a m e s s t i l l s h o w : — L a g - a n -lion, Cnoc-an-lin, Innis-nan-Kon ( B o s e h a l l ) , Strath-lìn, Lion-dail, and m a n y o the r s .

Gaineab, h e m p (Cannabis sativa), w a s e x t e n ­s i v e l y used i n t h e s p i n n i n g o f c o r d a g e .

(3 ) I m p l e m e n t s w e r e m a d e f o r o u t s i d e a n d i n s i l e use : —

Crann-àraidh or Cranntreabhaidh, p l o u g h m a d e o f o a k o r a sh . So w a s t he amal, or•• s w i n g l e - t r e e .

Cuing, y o k e , fo r o x e n , c o u l d b e m a d e f r o m a l m o s t a n y k i n d o f w o o d .

Braighd, h o r s e c o l l a r , w a s m a d e o f s t r a w , b u t i n t h e O u t e r I s l e s o f Muran, s e a - m a r r a m (Psamma arenaria), and is so s t i l l .

Sàc, p a n n i e r and Sonnag, a r m c h a i r , w e r e -a l so m a d e o f s t r a w o r rushes , t h e l a t t e r b e i n g r e - i n f o r c e d b y s t ays o f b i r c h w o o d .

Sùisde. flail, w i t h i t s t w o p i e c e s — lorq, he f t , and buailtan, b e a t e r — w a s m a d e o f h a r d w o o d .

Gad, w i t h y , w a s t he w i l l o w os i e r , w h i c h b e i n g t o u e h and f e a s i b l e , w a s u s e d fo r t i e s a n d t o s t r i n g t h i n g s t o g e t h e r fo r c a r r i a g e , e s p e c i a l l y f o r fish. T h u s t he w o r d b e c a m e t h e e q u i v a l e n t f o r a fish-carrier, as s h e w n i n t h e p r o v e r b —

43

" Cha robh agam ach an gad air an robh an t-iasg" (All 1 had left was the withe that b o r e t he fish).

T h e s e w i t h e s w e r e w o n t t o g e t h a r d w h e n * n o t i n u s e , a n d h a d t o b e s teeped o c c a s i o n a l l y .

T h i s o c c a s i o n e d the s a y i n g , w h e n a m a n n e e d e d t o h u r r y w i t h h is p r e p a r a t i o n f o r a j o u r n e y ,

" Tha 'n t-tàn a bhi 'bogadh nan r/ad,"' m e a n i n g I t is t i m e I w a s s t e e p i n g t he w i t h e s , m u c h the s a m e as " l a y i n g a r o d i n p i c k l e . "

O u r G a e l i c fo re fa the r s w e r e de f t h a n d s a t : w i c k e r - w o r k . B a r n s w e r e a t o n e t i m e e v e r y ­w h e r e m a d e w i t h w i l l o w a n d haze l w i c k e r s i d e s , , and t h e y m a y s t i l l b e seen o n t he W e s t C o a s t . '

IIaois, Cliabh, a b a g , c r ee l . T h e f o r m e r w a s o f s t a n d a r d s ize , t o c o n t a i n , say , five h u n d r e d h e r r i n g ; and u s u a l l y m a d e of s t r a w o r rushes , w i t h haze l s t ays . T h e l a t t e r w a s -al l o f haze l , o r e lse w i l l o w oz ie r s w o v e n o v e r haze l s tays . . T h e y are s t i l l i n use a l l o v e r t h e -W e s t Coas t and H e b r i d e s , f o r c a r r y i n g p e a t s , m a n u r e , & c . ; s o m e t i m e s in a p a i r s t r u n g p a n n i e r - w i s e on a ho r se ' s b a c k .

I n h i l l y d i s t r i c t s i n t he H i g h l a n d s l a r g e w i c k e r f r a m e s , shaped l i k e an i n v e r t e d c o n e , w e r e p u t on i m p r o v i s e d b o g i e s f o r c a r r y i n g -m a n u r e i n t o , o r p o t a t o e s , & c , f r o m , t h e fields. T h e y can s t i l l b e seen i n o p e r a t i o n o n s o m e o f t he s lopes a b o v e L o c h N e s s , a n d a re k n o w n as Lòbain ( p l u r a l of" Lòban). I n S u t h e r l a n d s h i r e i t i s Logan. T h e n a m e s L o b b a n a n d L o g a n a re h e l d t o b e -d e r i v e d f r o m t h e m r e s p e c t i v e l y .

Cliath w a s h a r r o w . Bacan, r a k e . Speal, s c y t h e . . Beairt bhuain, r eape r . Sùgan, a s t r a w o r ru shen r o p e . Sìoman, a hea the r r o p e . Lìon-eudach w a s l i n e n ; Anart m i g h t b e of"

o t h e r m a t e r i a l as w e l l . Lìodan ( o r Leadan) an fhùcadair, T e a s e l ,

(Dipsacus fullonum) F u l l e r ' s t ease l , so ca l l ed ' b e c a u s e i t w a s used t o ra ise t h e n a p on w o o l l e n c l o t h b y m e a n s o f the s t r o n g h o o k e d scales^ u p o n t h e s p h e r i c a l c a l y c e s .

Cliath w a s a g e n e r i c t e r m for a n y flat f r a m e ; h e n c e Cliath luaidh, the f u l l i n g or w a u l k i n g f r a m e .

Crann, on t h e o the r h a n d , w a s t he m a c h i n e on w h i c h a t h i n g w a s d e s i g n e d , as Crann-deilbh, t he u p r i g h t f r a m e on w h i c h t he Inneach, o r w e f t , w a s l a i d .

Dluth w a s t h e w a r p . Crois-iarna w a s t he s i m p l e f r a m e , c o m p o s e d

o f a c e n t r a l p i e c e , t o e i the r end o f w h i c h a c ross -p iece w a s a t t a c h e d , l i ke l e t t e r T , b u t w i t h t he i r p l a n e s a t r i g h t a n g l e s t o each o t h e r . T h e iarna, o r h a n k , w a s f o r m e d on t h i s as i t w a s u n w o u n d (tachras) off t he ree l o f t he sp in ­n i n g w h e e l (Cuibhil shnìomha).

I n m o r e p r i m i t i v e t i m e s t h e c o m m o n m a c h i n e f o r s p i n n i n g w a s t he dis taff a n d s p i n d l e (Cuigedl agus fearsaid). B u t w i t h t h e a d v e n t o * t h e s p i n n i n g w h e e l i t d i d n o t fa l l i n t o d i s ­use , t h o u g h n o w , a l a s ! t he l a t t e r as w e l l is a l m o s t u n k n o w n , e x c e p t as o r n a m e n t a l r e l i c s i n m u s e u m s and e n t r a n c e ha l l s .

Beairt-fhighe ( w e a v i n g f r a m e ) w a s t he l o o m . A t one t i m e h a r d l y a w e l l - t o - d o , t h r i f t y h o u s e ­h o l d i n C a e l d o m w a s w i t h o u t i t s l o o m . I n H a r r i s , o n c e t ha t i t s w o o l l e n c l o t h c a m e t o b e i n d e m a n d e l s ewhere , t h e r e m i g h t b e t w o and even t h r e e l o o m s f o u n d i n o n e c o t t a g e .

(4) H o u s e h o l d U t e n s i l s : —

Buarach, m i l k i n g - f e t t e r , m a d e o f rushes o r s t r a w , t h o u g h s o m e t i m e s o f horse -ha i r .

Cuman, sma l l w o o d e n p a i l , Scottice c o g i e , fo r m i l k i n g .

Meadar o r Miodair, in S k y e Measar o r Miosar, t he w o o d e n b a s i n i n w h i c h t he m i l k w a s se t .

Muidhe, c h u r n . Cuinneag, w a t e r o r m i l k - p a i l . Ladar, l a d l e o r s p o o n . A l l t he a b o v e w e r e m a d e of h a r d - w o o d s

fo r o b v i o u s r e a s o n s ; so a l s o w e r e s u p p i n g d i shes —e.g., Cuach, b o w l ; C6p o r Copan, c u p .

F o r b o a t - u i l d i n g severa l k i n d s o f w o o d w e r e used . Y e w d i d n o t g r o w e i the r p l e n t i f u l l y o r u n i v e r s a l l y in t h e H i g h l a n d s , and so g r e a t w a s i t i n v o g u e f o r b o a t - b u i l d i n g , as w e l l as fo r b o w - m a k i n g , t ha t i t b e c a m e a l m o s t e x t i n c t

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as a n a t i v e t r ee . I n t he M i d d l e A g e s the re w a s a l a w t h a t i n v e r y pa r i sh b u r i a l - p l a c e a c l u m p o f y e w s m u s t b e g r o w n t o b e i n read i ­ness t o fu rn i sh a r r o w s in t i m e s o f w a r . L a t t e r l y b o a t s w e r e b u i l t o f S c o t c h p i n e and l a r c h , w i t h o a k fo r c r o s s - b e a m s a n d ash f o r oa r s .

Fiodh, t i m b e r .

Fiorach-tarsuinn, c ross b e a m s . Bacan, t h o l e - p i n s . Sgrog, t he s t e rn and s t e m pos t s . Ràmh, o a r . A L e w i s b a r d h a p p i l y s ang—

" C u i r g i u t h a s a g u s l a r a g i n n t e 'S fiodh de 'n d a r a c h c h r u a i d h "

( P u t t o t he m a k i n g o f he r p i n e a n d l a r c h A n d t i m b e r o f t he h a r d o a k ) .

Taoman, b a i l e r , a s c o o p e d - o u t c h u n k o f w o o d . Tota, t he boa t - sea t o r r o w e r s ' b e n c h .

VI—PLANTS AND TREES USED AS CLAN BADGES.

O f c o u r s e m a n y o f t he f o l l o w i n g b a d g e s are d o u b t f u l , a n d severa l , as m i g h t be e x p e c t e d , a re c l a i m e d b y m o r e t h a n o n e c i a n , b u t t he m o s t o f t h e m are firmly e s t ab l i shed as p r o p e r t o t he c i an t h e y h a v e been iden t i f i ed w i t h . M a c k i n n o n — E a l a - b h u i d h e , p e r f o r a t e d St J o h n ' s

W o r t (Hypericum perfoliata). S o m e s a y i t i s t he P i n e .

O l i p h a n t — S i c e , o r Malpais, o r Craobh phlant-rainn, S y c a m o r e (Acer pseudo-platanus).

F o r b e s — B e a l a i d h , B r o o m (Sarothamnus sco-parius).

S i n c l a i r — S e a m a r - b à n , Seamrag, W h i t e C l o v e r (Trifolium repens).

M a c f a r l a n e — O i d h r e a g o r Foighreag, C l o u d ­b e r r y (Bubus chamaimorus).

M a c L e a n — D r e a s ( p i . d r t s ) , Smeur, B r a m b l e (Rtibus fruticosus).

M a c N a b — P r e a s nan gorm dhearc, B l u e b e r r y b u s h ( B . c&sius).

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L a m o n t — C r a o b h - a b h a l l , o r Craobh-ubhall, C r a b -a p p l e (Pyrus malus).

M a c L a c h l a n — C r a o b h chaoran, M o u n t a i n A s h (P. aucuparius).

G u n n — L u s nan laoch, R o s e - r o o t (Sedum rhodiola).

Gordon— Eidheann-mu-chrann, Iath-shlat, I v y (Hedera helix).

S t e w a r t — Fodhannan, Fothannan, Cluaran, T h i s t l e (Carduus marianus).

M a c d o n a l d — F r a o c h , Fraoch bhadain, S m o o t h -l eaved H e a t h (Erica cinerea).

M a c L e o d — Braoighleag, Bo-dhearc, C o w - o r W h o r t l e b e r r y (Vaccinium vitis—Ideal).

M e n z i e s — C r a o b h uinnseann, A s h (Fraxinus excelsior). S o m e say M e n z i e s ' hea th .

M a c P h e r s o n a n d M a c i n t o s h — B o c s a , B o x ; an a p p r o x i m a t i o n o f G r e e k Buxos (Buxus sempervirens).

C o l q u h o u n — C a l l t a i n n , H a z e l (Corylus avell-ana); o t h e r s say Grainnseag, B e a r - b e r r y .

B u c h a n a n — B e a t h a , Beithe, B i r c h (Betulus alba); o t h e r s s a y O a k .

F e r g u s o n — Critheann, A s p e n (Populus tremula); o t h e r s say Grian-ros, Sunf lower (Cistus).

C a m p b e l l — R o i d , Rideag, B o g - m y r t l e , Swee t g a l e (Myrica gale).

M a c G r e g o r a n d M a c A l p i n e — Giuthas o r Giubhas, S c o t c h P i n e (Pinus silvestris).

M u r r a y , R o s s , M a c L e o d , a n d A t h o l e H i g h ­l a n d e r s — A l l l a y c l a i m t o J u n i p e r , Aitinn, or Aitiunn, o r Aiteil (Juniper communis).

F r a s e r — l u t h a r , Iubhar, o r Iughar, T e w (Taxtis baccata).

M a c k e n z i e — C ì o b , Cìob a chinn duibh, T u f t e d S c i r p u s , o r D e e r ' s h a i r (Scirpus cosspi-tosus).

M a c k a y — G o b h a l - L u a c h a i r , B u l r u s h (Scirpus lacustris).

S u t h e r l a n d — C a n a c h , Canach an t-sleibhe ( f r . C e l t i c can, w h i t e ) , C o t t o n - g r a s s (Erio-phorum vaginatum).

M a c E à e — G a r b h a g , Garbhag an t-sleibhe, F i r C l u b - m o s s (Lycopodium selago).

M a c D o u p a l l — S o m e a u t h o r i t i e s h o l d i t is Craobh bhroin, C y p r e s s (Cupressus semper-

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virens); o t h e r s m a i n t a i n i t is Fraoch frangach, B e l l - h e a t h e r ( E r t c o tetralix).

M a c A u l a y — G i u t h a s , S c o t c h P i n e (Pinus sil­vestris) .

M a c N e i l l — F e a m a i n n , Sea -ware (Fucus). R o b e r t s o n — R a i n e a c h , B r a k e , B r a c k e n (Pteris

aquilina).

C a m e r o n — D a r a c h , O a k (Quercus robur); s o m e s a y Caora-fiathag, C r o w b e r r y (Empetrum nigrum).

M a c N a u g h t o n — F r a o c h , H e a t h (Erica). M u n r o — G a r b h a g , Garbhag an t-sleibhe, F i r

C l u b - m o s s (Lycopodium selago). G r a n t — A c c o r d i n g t o s o m e Giuthas, P i n e , o r

o t h e r s Muileag, C r a n b e r r y h e a t h (Vac­cinium oxycoccus).

M a c Q u a r r i e — G i u t h a s , P i n e ( P i n u s silvestris). M a c L a r e n — L a b h r a s , Craobh laoibhreìs, L a u r e l

(Laurel nobilis).

N i c o l s o n — A i t i u n n o r Aitinn, J u n i p e r (Juniper communis).

U r q u h a r t — Lus leth-an-t-Samhraidh, W a l l ­flower (Cheiranthus cheirt).

C h i s h o l m — R a i n e a c h , B r a k e , B r a c k e n (Pteris aquilina).

M u r r a y ( A t h o l l ) — C a l g - b h r u d h a i n n , B u t c h e r ' s b r o o m (Ruscus aculatus).

D r u m m o n d — L u s Mhic Rìgh Breatunn, T h y m e (Thymus serpyllum).

G r a h a m — L u s leusaidh, P e t t y S p u r g e (Euph­orbia peplus).

d i m m i n g — L u s Mhic Chuimein, C a r r a w a y (Carum carui).

O g i l v i e — A l k a n e t ( n o G a e l i c ) , L a t . Anchusa.