IN THE HIGHLANDS 241 



strathspeys, reels, and jigs, the most celebrated of 

 which are called Cailleach a Mhuillear and Cailleach 

 LiatJi Rasaidh. 



When he was with Macrimmon there were no fewer 

 than eleven other apprentices studying with the master 

 piper, but Iain Dall outstripped them all, and thus 

 gained for himself the envy and ill-will of the others. 

 On one occasion, as Iain and another apprentice were 

 playing the same tune alternately, Macrimmon asked 

 the other lad why he did not play like Iain Dall. The 

 lad replied, " By St. Mary, I'd do so if my fingers had 

 not been after the skate,'' alluding to the sticky state 

 of his fingers after having touched some of that fish on 

 which Macrimmon had fed them at dinner. And this has 

 become a proverbial taunt which northern pipers to this 

 day hurl at their inferior brethren from the south. 



One of the Macrimmons, known by the nickname of 

 Padruig Caogach, composed the first part of a tune 

 called Am port Leatach (the half tune), but was quite 

 unable to finish it. The imperfect tune became very 

 popular, and, as it was at the end of two years still un- 

 finished, Iain Dall set to work and completed it. He 

 called it Lasan Phadruig Chaogach, or " The Wrath of 

 Padruig Caogach," thus, whilst disowning any share in the 

 merit of the composition, anticipating the result which 

 would follow. 



Patrick was furiously incensed, and bribed the other 

 apprentices, who were doubtless themselves also inflamed 

 by jealousy, to put an end to Iain Dall's life. This they 

 attempted while walking with him at Dun Bhorreraig, 

 where they threw the young blind piper over a precipice. 



16 



