478 Highlands and Islands Commission. 



XCIX. Rann Buachailleac. — The Herding Ruxk 



Alexander This parting blessing used to be sung by old people in South Uist when 

 Carmichael. geiK^ing their cattle away to the pastures in the morning. 



I. 



Siubhal beinne, siubhal baile, 



Siul)]ial gu re fada farsuinn ; 



Buachallle Mhic De m'ar casaibh, 



Gu mu slan a thig sibh dachaidh, 

 Buachaille Mhic De m'ar casaibli, 

 Gu mu slan a thig sibh dachaidh. 



II. 

 Comraig Dhia agus Chalum-Chille, 

 Bhith m'ar timchioll a fabh 's a tilleadh, 

 Agus Banachaig nam basa-min-gbeal, 

 Bride nan or-chiabh donn ! 



Agus Banachaig nan basa min-gheal, 



Bride nan or-chiabh donn ! 



Herding Rune. —Close Translation. Addressed to the Cattlk. 



I. 



Travel ye moorland, travel ye townland, 

 Travel ye gently far and wide, 



God's Son be the Herdsman about your feet. 

 Whole may ye home return. 



God's Son be the Herdsman about your feet, 

 Whole may ye home return. 



II. 



The protection of God and of Coluinba, 

 Encompass your going and coming ; 



And about you be the milkmaid of the smooth white palms, 

 Bridget of the clustering hair, golden brown. 



And about you be the milkmaid of the smooth white palms, 

 Bridget of the clustering hair, golden brown ! 



Taladh Nam Banachag. — The Lullabies op the Milkmaids. 



These lullabies are sung by the milkmaids of Uist to soothe their cows. 

 They are varied in tone and measure, while not infrequently these change in 

 the same simg to suit the different actions of milking. 



The cows become so accustomed to these milking lilts that they will not give 

 their milk without them ; nor, occasionally, without their own favourite airs. 

 Hence a milkmaid 



* Who has no music in her soul ' 



succeeds but indifferently among a fold of Highland cows. Owners of stock 

 prefer as milkmaids those who are possessed of some voice and ' go ' to please 

 the cows, this being to them a matter of considerable importance. 



