FINLAY GUIVNAC.

FINLAY GUIVNAC.

At the time MacLean of Dowart was proprietor of Tiree, this man,Fionnladh Guibhneach, was living near a small bay,Port-nan-long, in Balemartin, on the south side of the island (air an leige deas). There was no other joinersmith but himself, or rather, there was none to equal him in skill in the five islands (anns na còig eileanan). Balemartin and Mannal were in those days one farm-holding, and there were few people in the township. The change-house (tigh-òsd) was at the streamlet Gedans (amhuinn Ghoidean), between Island House, the proprietor’s residence, and the shore. At this time, also, there was fosterhood (comhaltas) between MacLeod of Dunvegan and MacLean of Tiree, by which they were bound to give proof of friendship for each other at whatever cost or whenever there was occasion on either side, and MacLeod, being in need of Finlay Guivnac’s service, came with his boat (bìrlinn) to Tiree for him. He landed atPort-nan-long(the creek of sailing ships), and on reaching Island House was heartily welcomed by MacLean. When he asked for Finlay, he was told that he had not been at Island House for some days, “and it is not a good day when I do not see him,” MacLean said. MacLeod said he came to take Finlay with him for a year’s service; that all care would be taken of him, and if no misfortune or mischance befell either of them, he himself would bring him home at the end of the year. When MacLean heard this he said they would go in search of Finlay. They went, and as they were crossing the common (an clar macharach), between the house and the streamlet, they met Finlay, who, having recovered from the attack of ill-humour, was, as was usually his daily custom, on his way to Island House. MacLeod asked after his health, and if he was yetable to do as good work as ever. Finlay said that in place of getting weaker as he got older, he was daily gaining in strength and vigour (neart’s tàbhachd); he was more active in walking, and could see better than he had ever done. MacLeod said he was surprised to hear that, as in Skye people were failing in strength and activity as they became older, “and it is curious that it is different with you.” Finlay said he knew he was better now at walking and was gaining his eyesight, as formerly he could jump over Sorabai stream, but now he walked to the ford to get across; and when he was younger, if he saw a person, it was as one, but now it was as two and three. They took Finlay with them to the change-house. When pledging MacLean’s health, MacLeod, as was customary, said, “Wishing to get my wish from you, MacLean” (Mo shainnseal ort, Mhic’illeathain).

“You are welcome to have your wish freely gratified” (’S e beatha le sainnseal),[15]MacLean replied. “My wish is that I may get Finlay with me,” MacLeod said. In returning the compliment MacLean said, “My wish is that I may keep Finlay to myself.” “But I do not ask to keep him always,” MacLeod said. They then settled the wages, and agreed between them that Finlay should go to Dunvegan, on the west coast of Skye, for a year’s work, and lest he should be kept longer than that time, MacLean was to go with him. When Finlay went home and told his wife about the journey he was to take, she said to him, “You are very foolish to go so far away, when MacLean is giving you a good livelihood.” “I must go at any rate, and you must come with me,” he said, and told her how he was not to remain in Skye, and that MacLean himself was going with him to make sure he would not be kept there, and that she was to go with them. “How can I do that,” she said, “when MacLean will not allow a woman in the same boat with him?” “I will put you in ahogshead,” he said, “and when we reach Dunvegan there will be feasting and enjoyment, and when the nobility of MacLeod (maithibh Siol Leòid) are gathered, you will come in among the company as a poor woman, and I will manage the rest in such a way as that you may perhaps earn more than myself.” She consented to this, and he put her at night with sufficient provision in the boat. They reached Dunvegan safely (le deadh shoirbheachadh). Finlay’s wife got away unnoticed from the boat, and waited at a house near till the festivities began. When the crew and those who came in the boat reached the castle, there was much rejoicing; an abundant feast was provided, and company gathered, and the usual customs when tables were spread and guests invited, were observed. Among those who came to the gathering was a dependent of good position, who, through some trifling cause, had lost the favour of MacLeod. Finlay observed that he kept aloof from the company, and having ascertained the cause, advised him to pledge MacLeod’s health, and at the same time make his grievance known. He took the advice, and said,

“Esteemed was I in MacLeod’s houseWhen justice sat in his land,And I am a forgotten son to-nightAt the time of drawing in to wine (drinking),But this to you, son of Dark John,Who came in to-day or yesterday,I am the son of a heroWho was here in the past,Though I cannot to-dayGet the hill for my cattle.”(“Bu mhùirneach mise ’an tigh Mhic Leòid’Nuair shuidh a’ chòir ’n a thìr,’S mac dì-chuimhnicht’ mi ’n nochd ’n a theach’An àm tarruing a steach gu fion,Ach sud ortsa, mhic Iain Duibh,A thàinig stigh an diugh no ’n dé,Mise mac suinn a bh’ ann riamhGed nach fhaigh mi ’n diugh an sliabh g’ am spréidh.”)

“Esteemed was I in MacLeod’s houseWhen justice sat in his land,And I am a forgotten son to-nightAt the time of drawing in to wine (drinking),But this to you, son of Dark John,Who came in to-day or yesterday,I am the son of a heroWho was here in the past,Though I cannot to-dayGet the hill for my cattle.”(“Bu mhùirneach mise ’an tigh Mhic Leòid’Nuair shuidh a’ chòir ’n a thìr,’S mac dì-chuimhnicht’ mi ’n nochd ’n a theach’An àm tarruing a steach gu fion,Ach sud ortsa, mhic Iain Duibh,A thàinig stigh an diugh no ’n dé,Mise mac suinn a bh’ ann riamhGed nach fhaigh mi ’n diugh an sliabh g’ am spréidh.”)

“Esteemed was I in MacLeod’s houseWhen justice sat in his land,And I am a forgotten son to-nightAt the time of drawing in to wine (drinking),But this to you, son of Dark John,Who came in to-day or yesterday,I am the son of a heroWho was here in the past,Though I cannot to-dayGet the hill for my cattle.”

“Esteemed was I in MacLeod’s house

When justice sat in his land,

And I am a forgotten son to-night

At the time of drawing in to wine (drinking),

But this to you, son of Dark John,

Who came in to-day or yesterday,

I am the son of a hero

Who was here in the past,

Though I cannot to-day

Get the hill for my cattle.”

(“Bu mhùirneach mise ’an tigh Mhic Leòid’Nuair shuidh a’ chòir ’n a thìr,’S mac dì-chuimhnicht’ mi ’n nochd ’n a theach’An àm tarruing a steach gu fion,Ach sud ortsa, mhic Iain Duibh,A thàinig stigh an diugh no ’n dé,Mise mac suinn a bh’ ann riamhGed nach fhaigh mi ’n diugh an sliabh g’ am spréidh.”)

(“Bu mhùirneach mise ’an tigh Mhic Leòid

’Nuair shuidh a’ chòir ’n a thìr,

’S mac dì-chuimhnicht’ mi ’n nochd ’n a theach

’An àm tarruing a steach gu fion,

Ach sud ortsa, mhic Iain Duibh,

A thàinig stigh an diugh no ’n dé,

Mise mac suinn a bh’ ann riamh

Ged nach fhaigh mi ’n diugh an sliabh g’ am spréidh.”)

“Good youth,” MacLean said, “go you to Mull and I will give you land (fearann) there.” He said,

“I was a hero’s son last year,But I am a son of sorrow this year;If I am put under a third weight,I will be a son of Mull next year.”(“Bu mhac suinn mi an uiridh,Ach mac mulaid mi ’m bliadhna;Ma chuireas iad orm tuille treise,’S mac Muileach mi air an ath-bhliadhna.”)

“I was a hero’s son last year,But I am a son of sorrow this year;If I am put under a third weight,I will be a son of Mull next year.”(“Bu mhac suinn mi an uiridh,Ach mac mulaid mi ’m bliadhna;Ma chuireas iad orm tuille treise,’S mac Muileach mi air an ath-bhliadhna.”)

“I was a hero’s son last year,But I am a son of sorrow this year;If I am put under a third weight,I will be a son of Mull next year.”

“I was a hero’s son last year,

But I am a son of sorrow this year;

If I am put under a third weight,

I will be a son of Mull next year.”

(“Bu mhac suinn mi an uiridh,Ach mac mulaid mi ’m bliadhna;Ma chuireas iad orm tuille treise,’S mac Muileach mi air an ath-bhliadhna.”)

(“Bu mhac suinn mi an uiridh,

Ach mac mulaid mi ’m bliadhna;

Ma chuireas iad orm tuille treise,

’S mac Muileach mi air an ath-bhliadhna.”)

“MacLeod’s own lands are not yet exhausted,” MacLeod said, and he restored him to his former place and privileges, and he never had to go to Mull or anywhere else for land.

During this time Finlay kept looking for his wife’s appearance, and whenever he saw her in the doorway he called out to her, “Poor woman! what has brought you here? It must be some pressing need that made you come among the nobles of the Clan Leod to-night. Tell your story, and sure am I they will one and all be willing to give you help, and that they will not let you away as empty-handed as you have come.” She said she was a poor woman who was bringing herself through life honestly as she best could, with help from those who took notice of her poverty and gave her charity, and that she came to the nobles of the Clan Leod, as they were gathered at this time, to try if they would help her. “Let your countrymen do as they like,” Finlay said, “I will give you a calving cow (mart-laoigh).” MacLean looked at him in astonishment, and it was no wonder, when he heard him give away the only cow the poor woman in Balemartin had to the northern wife (do ’n chaillich thuathaich). Everyone of the nobles present gave her a similar gift, till she had the nine cows. When the company left, and MacLean had an opportunity of speaking to Finlay, he said to him, “What made you give the only cow you had to the northern wife?” “Do you know who the wife is?” Finlay said. “What do I care what wife she is or was,” MacLeansaid. “It was just my own wife who was there and got all the cows, and you need not give her yours till you return home,” Finlay said. “And how did you bring her here?” MacLean asked. “Ods! MacLean,” he said, “just in the big hogshead at your feet in the galley.” “No death will ever happen to you but to be hanged for your quirks” (cha tig bàs ortsa ’m feasd ach do chrochadh le d’ raoitean), MacLean said, and he advised him to send the cattle to Mull, till they could be ferried to Tiree. Finlay took the advice, and sent his wife and the cows to MacLean’s place at Benmolach, on the north-west side of Mull, and she got them to Balemartin, where MacLean on his return home sent her his own gift.

Finlay began his work and went on diligently with it that he might be ready at the end of the year to return home, and MacLeod came frequently where he was, more to hear what he had to say than to see the progress he was making with his work. One day, happening to find him at his breakfast, and observing that Finlay began at the back with a shape of butter (measgan-ìme) that was set before him, MacLeod asked him when he had finished, why he did not begin at the front of it. “I took it just from back to front as was wont at MacLean’s table, where the measures were round (far nach biodh na measgain ’n am bloidhean)” On another occasion MacLeod found him paring a remnant of cheese (cùl càise), and asked him when he had learned to pare cheese. “Since I came to MacLeod’s Castle,” he said: “it was not the custom to put a remnant on the inviting, merry, bountiful table in MacLean’s house (air bòrd fiughaireach, aighearach, fialaidh Mhic’illeathain).”

When the year had expired, MacLean, as had been agreed on, went to bring Finlay home. He was cordially received by MacLeod and was enjoying, after his journey, the usual hospitalities prepared for guests of his rank, when he heard the sound of Finlay’s hammer: “My loss! (mo chreach!),” he said, “I havetoo long delayed going where Finlay is.” When he reached him, he said, “Excuse me, Finlay, I have been rather a long time of coming where you are.” “I know that, MacLean,” he said,

“The object of my contempt is the small tableWhere meanness would be (found):The object of my praise was the well filled tableWhere proud heroes sat.You did not take in Finlay GuivnacNor remember him till the last.”(“B’e mo laochan am bòrd suaileAir am bitheadh na laoich mheamnach:Cha d’ thug thusa stigh do ghobhainn Guibhneach,’S cha do chuimhnich thu e gu anmoch.”)

“The object of my contempt is the small tableWhere meanness would be (found):The object of my praise was the well filled tableWhere proud heroes sat.You did not take in Finlay GuivnacNor remember him till the last.”(“B’e mo laochan am bòrd suaileAir am bitheadh na laoich mheamnach:Cha d’ thug thusa stigh do ghobhainn Guibhneach,’S cha do chuimhnich thu e gu anmoch.”)

“The object of my contempt is the small tableWhere meanness would be (found):The object of my praise was the well filled tableWhere proud heroes sat.You did not take in Finlay GuivnacNor remember him till the last.”

“The object of my contempt is the small table

Where meanness would be (found):

The object of my praise was the well filled table

Where proud heroes sat.

You did not take in Finlay Guivnac

Nor remember him till the last.”

(“B’e mo laochan am bòrd suaileAir am bitheadh na laoich mheamnach:Cha d’ thug thusa stigh do ghobhainn Guibhneach,’S cha do chuimhnich thu e gu anmoch.”)

(“B’e mo laochan am bòrd suaile

Air am bitheadh na laoich mheamnach:

Cha d’ thug thusa stigh do ghobhainn Guibhneach,

’S cha do chuimhnich thu e gu anmoch.”)

MacLean then asked after his welfare during the year, and said among other things, he would like to hear what were his opinions of the women of the MacLeod country since his coming among them. “Well, I will tell you that,” Finlay said,

“If all the women of the Clan MacLeod,Small and great, old and young,Were gathered in one body,It would be one right one I would make out of them.”(“Ged bhiodh mnathan Sìol Leòid,Beag is mòr, sean ’s crìon,Air an càradh ’an aona bhodhaig’S e aona bhean chòir a dheanainn dhiubh.”)

“If all the women of the Clan MacLeod,Small and great, old and young,Were gathered in one body,It would be one right one I would make out of them.”(“Ged bhiodh mnathan Sìol Leòid,Beag is mòr, sean ’s crìon,Air an càradh ’an aona bhodhaig’S e aona bhean chòir a dheanainn dhiubh.”)

“If all the women of the Clan MacLeod,Small and great, old and young,Were gathered in one body,It would be one right one I would make out of them.”

“If all the women of the Clan MacLeod,

Small and great, old and young,

Were gathered in one body,

It would be one right one I would make out of them.”

(“Ged bhiodh mnathan Sìol Leòid,Beag is mòr, sean ’s crìon,Air an càradh ’an aona bhodhaig’S e aona bhean chòir a dheanainn dhiubh.”)

(“Ged bhiodh mnathan Sìol Leòid,

Beag is mòr, sean ’s crìon,

Air an càradh ’an aona bhodhaig

’S e aona bhean chòir a dheanainn dhiubh.”)

“They will not be well pleased with your words.” “They will be better pleased with my words than I have been with their ways,” Finlay said; “I see it is time to return to Tiree,” MacLean said.

When Finlay went to get payment from MacLeod before leaving, and as they were conversing together after settling between them, MacLeod said he would lay a wager that the peats of Tiree would not burn so well as the peats of Skye. “What isyour opinion, Finlay?” MacLean asked; “Shall I accept the wager?” “Well, as a matter of indifference I will wager they will not burn as well as those of the White Moss in Tiree (Leòra! cuiridh mise geall uach gabh iad co maith ri mòine Bhlàir-bhàin ’an Tireadh),” Finlay said, and the wager was laid. “I will try another wager,” MacLeod said, “that our dogs will thrash the MacLean dogs.” This wager was also accepted, and MacLeod came to Tiree with them, bringing peats and dogs with him in the galley. On putting the wagers to the test, the Skye peat when kindled lighted brightly with a great flare, but was soon burnt out. MacLean then asked if they would try the Tiree kind now. As none had been brought by the servants, and as it had previously been agreed on between them, MacLean asked Finlay to go for them himself. Finlay said perhaps it would not be the best that he would bring in. He went out, and gathering an armful of peats took and steeped them one by one (fòid an déigh fòid) in a cask of oil. When MacLeod saw them he said, “O man, how wet they are! (O dhuine, nach iad a tha fliuch).” “The wetter they are, the livelier they will burn (mar a’ s fliuiche ’s ann a’ s braise iad),” Finlay replied, putting them on; and when they took fire they nearly burned the house. “Did I not say they would burn better than those of Skye,” Finlay said to MacLeod, “and you have lost the wager.” “Undoubtedly I have,” the other replied. Next day the dog fight (tabaid chon) was to be tried. Finlay rose early and gave his dogs the strongest “crowdie” (fuarag, a mixture of milk and meal), and though they were smaller when the fight began, MacLeod’s dogs could not hold one bout with them. “It is surprising,” MacLeod said, “when one of my dogs is as big as two of MacLean’s dogs.” “You need not be at all surprised,” Finlay said, “those here are of the race of dogs that were in the land of the Fians (so sìolachadh nan con a bh’ aca ’s an Fhéinn), and no other kind need try their strength against them.” “If you were in the land of theFians, you came back, and no one need lay a wager with MacLean so long as he has you with him.” MacLeod bade them farewell and returned home (Dh’ fhàg e beannachd aca ’s thill e dhachaidh).

NOTES:[15]Sainnsealmeans the giving of a free gift, or handsel.

[15]Sainnsealmeans the giving of a free gift, or handsel.

[15]Sainnsealmeans the giving of a free gift, or handsel.

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