454 



Rigldands and Islands Commission. 



XCIX. 



Alexander 

 Cariuicliael. 



level parts of the road are thus divided and allotted. Each crofter must keep 

 his own portion in repair. Should he neglect, he is taken to account by his 

 neighbours, and his portion of road repaired at his expense. 



The Constable engages the Herdsman and Shepherd of the townland, appor- 

 tions them ground for potatoes and bere, collects and pays their wages. These 

 wages are self-levied on the crofters according to their rent, as they have a whole 

 croft, a half croft, or a quarter croft. 



Every townland has a cattle fold on the machair, and another on the gearry— 

 Gaelic, Gearruidh. In wet weather the Constable instructs the Herdsman to keep 

 the cows to the machair, where the fold, from the nature of the soil, is less wet and 

 comfortless to the cows and the women who milk them, than the fold on the gearry 



The Constable must see that the dyke enclosing the cattle-fold is repaired in 

 early summer before being used, and that the gate is good and strong — Cadha- 

 Chliadh ua Cuithe. The term Cadha-Cliath, literally signifies the gorge or pass 

 wattle. 



In wooded districts throughout the Highlands, where materials can be found, 

 doors, gates, partitions, fences, barns, and even dwelling houses, are made of 

 wattle-work 



In the case of dwelling houses and their partitions, the wattling is plastered 

 over on both sides with boulder clay, and whitewashed with lime, thereby giving 

 an air of cleanliness and comfort to the house. 



Of old this wattle-work was largely used by tlie Celts. It is believed that 

 many of their early houses and churches were made of wattling, and Mr Skene 

 thinks that Saint Columba's first church in Zona was so constructed. 



One of the Gaelic name of Dublin — Gaelic, Dubhlinne, 'blacklinn' — is Bail- 

 atb-cliath, ' the town of the ford of wattles,' the first bridge over the River Litfey 

 having been constructed of wattle- work. 



Probably the interlacing so much used and so much admired in ancient 

 Celtic art and sculpturing had its origin in this wattle-work, occasionally called 

 Celtic basket-work. 



In carting sea-weed up the shore, which is extremely trying upon horses, the 

 Constable sees that no man works his horse too heavily nor too long. 



When he orders the people to stop work they must stop. In some places 

 there was a latent superstition among the people that the spirits of their horses 

 were in communication with the spirits of heaven. Probably this gave rise to 

 their saying — 



' Am fear bhitheas trocaireach ri anam. 

 Clia bhith e mi-throcaireach ri bhruid.' 



' He who is merciful to his soul 

 Will not be unmerciful to his beast.' 



The Constable must see to Cuartachadh a Bhaile, ' rounding the townland.' 

 There being no fences round the fields, there is danger that cattle or horses of 

 their own or neighbouring farms may break loose during night and damage the 

 corn. 



To guard against this, two of the crofters make a circuit of the townland at 

 night, each two and two of the crofters taking this watching in turns during 

 summer and autumn. This precaution is called Cuartachadh, ' circuiting.' 

 Should the watchers be remiss and damage to result, the two crofters responsible 

 must make good the loss. The damage to the corn being appraised, Mie two 

 crofters in fault pay it to the Constable, who adds it to the general fund of 

 • the townland. Should cattle or horses from a neighbouring farm cause loss, the 



