Alexander 



470 Higlilands and Islands Commission. 



utensils. Round below their waists is a thick woollen conl or leathern strap 

 (Crios-f heile, kilt-band), underneath which their skirts are drawn up to enable 

 Carmichael them to walk easily over the moors. Barefooted, bareheaded, comely boys and 

 girls, with gaunt sagacious dogs, flit hither and thither, keeping the herds 

 together as best they can, and every now and then having a neck-and-neck 

 race with some perverse aninaal trying to run away home. There is much 

 noise. Men — several at a time — give directions and scold. Women knit their 

 stockings, sing their songs, talk and walk as free and erect as if there were no 

 burdens on their backs nor on their hearts, nor sin nor sorrow in this world of 

 ours, so far as they are concerned. Above this din rise the voices of the 

 various animals being thus unwillingly driven from their homes. Sheep bleat 

 for their lambs, lambs for their mothers ; cows low for their calves, and calves 

 low for their dams ; mares neigh for their foals, and foals reply as they lightly 

 trip round about, little thinking of coming work and hard fare. All who meet 

 on the way bless the ' Trial,' as this removing is called. They wish the 

 * Trial ' good luck and prosperity, and a good flitting day, and, having invoked 

 the care of Israel's Shepherd on man and beast, they pass on. 



When the grazing-ground has been reached and the burdens are laid down, 

 the huts are repaired outwardly and inwardly, the fires are rekindled, and food 

 is prepared. The people bring forward their stock, every man's stock separate- 

 ly, and, as they are being driven into the enclosure, the constable and another 

 man at either side of the gateway see that only the proper souming has been 

 brought to the grazing. This precaution over, the cattle are turned out tc 

 graze. 



Having seen to their cattle and sorted their shealings, the people repair to 

 their removing feast, Feisd na h-imrig ; or shealing feast, Feisd na h-airidh. 

 The feast is simple enough, the chief thing being a cheese, which every house- 

 wife is careful to provide for the occasion from last year's produce. The cheese 

 is shared among neighbours and friends, as they wish themselves and cattle 

 luck and prosperity. 



Laoigt bhailgionn bhoirionn air gacli fireach, 

 Piseach crodh na h-airidh. 



Every head is uncovered, every knee is bowed, as they dedicate themselves 

 and their flocks to the care of Israel's Shepherd. 



In Barra, South Uist, and Benbecula, the Roman Catholic faith predomin- 

 ates ; here, in their touching dedicatory old hymn, the people invoke, with the 

 aid of the Trinity, that of the angel with the cornered shield and flaming sword, 

 Saint Michael, the patron saint of their horses ; of Saint Columba the holy, the 

 guardian over their cattle ; and of the golden-haired Virgin Shepherdess, and 

 Mother of the Lamb without spot or blemish. 



' A Mhicheil mhin ! nan stend geala, 

 A choisin cios air Dragon fala. 

 Air ghaol Dia' us Mhic Muire, 

 Sgaoil do sgiath oirnn dian sinn uilo, 

 Sgaoil do sgiath oirnn dian sinn uile. 



II. 



' A Mhoire ghradhach ! Mathair Uaiii-ghil, 

 Cobhair oirnne, Oigh na h-uaisle; 

 A rioghaiuu uai'reach ! a bhuachaille nan tredu ! 



