2 Donald A. Mackenzie — Scottish Pork Taboo 



it becomes horror and loathing. The serpent is a symbol of 

 the Devil, and all Highlanders know that the eel, being like a 

 serpent, is like the symbol of the Devil, and is associated with 

 the evil influence. People who can eat such creatures are, in 

 his opinion, very far from particular in their feeding. The 

 fact that many Continental peoples find the eel a most valuable 

 food only shows that such foreigners will eat anything. The 

 eel remains taboo." 



The writer of the pamphlet then goes on to say that '' some 

 people in the West Highlands will not eat mackerel," and 

 that others on the Solway, *' till quite recently would not touch 

 skate." Dogfish is not eaten in Scotland. I may remark 

 here that this official pamphlet has not encouraged the eating 

 of tabooed fish in Scotland. 



Mackerel is supposed to devour human flesh, gorging on 

 the decaying bodies of the drowned. They are reputed to be 

 poisonous,^ and especially so if caught in moonlight. Cat- 

 fish and ling are tabooed still in some districts, as well as 

 mackerel and dog-fish. Shell-fish and haddock must not be 

 eaten when there is an '' r " in the month. Haddocks should, 

 in fact, get '* three drinks of May water " before being caught, 

 that is, they should not be fished for until after three May 

 tides have ebbed and flowed. Eels are called ''devil-fish." 

 They are supposed to originate from the hairs of horses' 

 manes and tails that have fallen into pools or rivers. Those 

 who eat eel become mad and set out to fight with wild horses. 

 Although " fish and the flesh of the boar and the badger " 

 were freely eaten by the Irish Celts, some Irish and some 

 Highland peoples used to dislike and despise the Saxons 

 because they ate fish (2, 72). It may be that the Celtic 

 military aristocrats ate food which was taboo to their pre-Celtic 

 subjects. Perhaps that was why the salmon was in Ireland 

 '' considered food for Kings and nobles " (21, ccclxx). 



Tabooed animals might, however, be eaten once a year 

 in connection with a festival. The association of the goose 

 with Michaelmas is of interest in this connection : — 



'' September, when by custom, right divine, 



Geese are ordain 'd to bleed at Michael's shrine." 



In the Highlands until recently goose was taboo except at 

 Christmas. Birds are in Gaelic lore something more than 

 birds. They may be forms assumed either by supernatural 

 beings or enchanted men and women. 



1, As a matter of fact, mackerel are poisonoys when kept too long. 



