Appendix A. 453 



sciously to himself probably, too subservient to the Factor and too remiss in their XCIX. 

 ooTicerns. For this reason they elect a man to look after their own special Alexander 

 affairs. Carmichael. 



When a Constable is to be elected for the townland, the people meet, and this 

 and all kindred meetings are called Nabac, ' neighbourliness.' If presided over 

 by the Maorthe meeting is called Mod, Moot. 



If the people meet during the day, they probably meet at a place locally known 

 as Cnoc Na Comhairle — ' The Council Hill,' or at Clach Na Comhairle — ' The 

 Council Stone.' If they meet at night they meet in some central house on the 

 farm. Almost invariably these meetings are held at night, so as to avoid losing 

 time during the day. The meetings are orderly and interesting. 



Not infrequently the man proposed for the Constableship by his fellow-crofters 

 of the townland declines the office. Then another is proposed, and perhaps 

 with like result. Ultimately the people may have to cast lots all round before 

 they get a man among themselves to accept the office, the duties of which are 

 distasteful to them. 



In some townlands the Constable is elected or re-elected yearly, in some for a 

 term of years, and in others for life. 



The crofter having been appointed Constable, takes off his shoes and stockings. 

 Uncovering his head, he bows reverently low, and promises, in presence of 

 heaven and earth, in presence of God and of men, — Am fianuis uir agus adhair, 

 am fianuis De agus daoine, — that he will be faithful to his trust. In some places 

 the elected Constable takes up a handful of earth instead of uncovering his feet. 

 The object is the same — to emphasise, by bodily contact with the earth, that 

 he is conscious of being made of earth, to which he returns. 



These and similar simple and impressive customs are disappearing, to the regret 

 of the old people and the antiquary. 



The services of the Constable appointed by the Factor are paid in money ; those 

 of the Constable appointed by the crofters in kind — Fiar am beinn, agus peighinn 

 air machair — grazing on hill and tillage on machair. 



The duties of the Constable are varied and troublesome — requiring much firm- 

 ness and judgment. The Constable, however, can always rely upon the assistance 

 of one or all of his fellow-crofters as occasion requires. 



The peat banks (Gaelic, Staill, Poill of the townlandj having become exhausted, 

 the Factor or his Maor marks out a new peat moss. 



The Constable divides this into the necessary number of stances or haggs, 

 according to the number of tenants in the townland. For these stances the 

 crofters cast lots, as they do for their rigs of land. Lest a man should be placed 

 at any advantage or disadvantage from his neighbours, these stances are again 

 subjected to the lot (Gaelic, Crann), in the course of three, five, seven, or nine 

 years, as the people consider advisable. 



A peat road (Gaelic, Utraid Moine) has to be made to this new peat moss. 

 Probably the road requires to be made over one, two, or three miles of rock, bog, 

 and moorland. It is the duty of the Constable to see that every crofter in the 

 townland gives the necessary number of days of free labour, with his horses and 

 carts, spades and pickaxes, to construct this new road. 



The Constable must see that all the roads of the townland are kept in repair 

 by the mutual co-operation of the crofters ; that no unnecessary traffic is carried 

 over these roads during or immediately after wet weather ; and that the side 

 and cross drains of the roads run free. 



To insure equal distribution of labour these bye-roads are divided into 

 Peighinnean, ' Pennis.' The good and bad, the soft and hard, the steep and 



