222 NETHER LOCHABER. 



direct and constant intercourse and communion for good between 

 Heaven and Earth. 



The following " Blessing," to be said over cattle when being led 

 to pasture of a morning, is exceedingly interesting : 



RANN BUACHAILLEACHD. 



Siubhal beinne, siubhal coille, 

 Sinbhal gu reidh fada, farsuinn, 

 Banachag Phadruig ma 'n casan, 

 'S gu faic mise slan a ritbisd sith. 

 An seun a chuir Moire mu 'buar, 

 Moch 'us anmoch 'sa tigb'n bbuaidh', 

 Ga'n gleidheadh o pholl, o eabar. 

 O fheithe, o adh'rcean a cheile, 

 O liana' na Craige-Ruaidhe, 

 'S o Luaths na Fe'inne. 

 Banachag Phadruig ma'r casan, 

 Gu'm bu slan a thig sibh dhachaidh. 



In English thus 



A RHYME TO BE SAID IN DRIVING CATTLE TO PASTURE. 



Wandering o'er uplands, wandering through woods, 



Hither and far away wander ye still, 



St. Patrick's own milkmaid attend your steps 



Till safe I see you return to me again. 



The charm that Mary made to her cattle, 



Early and late, going and coming from pasture, 



Still keep you safe from quagmire and marsh, 



From pitfalls and from each other's horns, 



From the sudden swelling (of the torrent about) the Red Rock 



And from Luath of the Fingalians. 



St. Patrick's milkmaid attend your feet, 



Safe and scaithless come ye home again. 



The reference to " Luath," Cuchullin's matchless dog, so celebrated 

 in the Ossianic poems and old Fingalian tales, is curious. The 

 ghosts of the Fingalian heroes, existing in a sort of middle state 

 not yet exactly saved nor wholly lost with those of their famous 

 dogs, were believed to visit at times the scenes of their former 

 exploits for the sake of the hunting, in which they so much 



