474 Higldands and Islands Comviission. 



xcix. 



Ukncigh Smalaidh An Teine. — Prayer on * Smooring' the Fire. 

 Alexander 

 Carmiohael The following beautiful little prayer is said by women in South Uist while 



putting up their fire for the night. And the people believe that those men- 

 tioned in the prayer do watch over themselves and their households and shield 

 them from harm while they sleep. 



* Kind hearts are more than coronets, 

 And simple faith than Norman blood.' 



The Scotch word ' Smooring,' smothering, is the nearest equivalent of the 

 Gaelic word Smaladh that occurs to me. 



' Tha mi smaladh an teine, 

 Mar a smalas Mac Moire • 

 Gu mu slan dha'n taigh 's dha'n teine, 

 Gu mu slan dha'n chuideac uile. 

 Co siod air a lar ? Peadair agus Pal, 

 Co air a bhi'eas an fhaire noc ? 

 'Air Moire mhin-gheal 's air a Mac. 

 Beul De a thuradh.aingeal De a labhradh. 

 Aingeal an dorus gach taighe, 

 Ga'r comhnadh's ga'r gleidheadh, 

 Gu'n tig la geal a maireach.' 



Translation — 



I smoor the fire, 



As it is smoored by the Son of Mary. 



Blest be the house, blest be the fire, 



And blessed be the people all. 



Who are those on the floor ? Peter and Paul. 



Upon whom devolves the watching this night ? 



Upon fair gentle Mary and her Son. 



The mouth of God said, the angel of God tells. 



An angel in the door of every house. 



To shield and to protect us all. 



Till bright day-light comes in the morning. 



Ant Altachadh Leapa. — The Bed Blessing. 



The following prayer is said or sung by Catholics in South Uist, in going 

 to bed. The old man from whom I first took it down, told me that he said 

 it every night since he was fifteen years of age, and that it had been taught 

 him by his father. 



I. 

 Tha mise laidhith noc, le Moire 's le' Mac, 

 Le Mathair mo Righ, tha ga-m' dhion o gach loc; 

 Cha laidh mi lois an olc, cha laidh an t-olc liom, 

 Afh la'idh mi le Dia, 'us la'idh Dia liom. 



II. 

 Lamh dheas De fo m'cheann, 

 Suillse an Spioraid os mo cliionn ; 

 f'rois nan naogli aingeal thaiain sios, 

 U iiiluillaLli 1110 chinn gu iocar mo blionn. 



