90 COW 



lo«rits, etc., ol" Hy. l"'iachracli, we (iiid a ^ift of cows or cattle by 

 husband to wife was often called '^coibhche" or " tinnscra," but 

 this was more by way of a present than as fixed estate, though 

 said to represent the term " dower " or " dowry " in English ; 

 there are four names for this gift: (1) "slabhra," a present in live 

 cattle and horse bridles ; (2) " coibhche," clothes and warriors ; 

 (3) "tochra," sheep and swine; and (4) "tinnscra," gold, silver, 

 copper, and brass. Another exaction, called latterly mercala vmlifrisy 

 was said to exist, where the cow was the means which preceded 

 the value in marks or mercata. The best cow (or other animal) in 

 possession of a man at his decease, which (it was held) ought and 

 should be given to his landlord, was called " herezelda," and 

 "harrial" means the payment thereof, or " heriot." This word 

 " heriot," gives us the proper name " Heriot." The Church even 

 at one time claimed a custom or tax of a cow on certain occasions. 

 At a burial of one of the Lords of the Isles, in lona, nine hundred 

 cows were consumed. A place called Bornish, part of the erstwhile 

 Clan Ranald estate or property, was held on the tenure of " as 

 long as a black cow gives white milk." 



The Clan MacFarlane's gathering cry or " cruinneac/tadh" is 

 " Thogail nam bo,' and the verses therewith connected run some- 

 what as follows : — 



Thogail nam bo, thogail nam bo, thogail nam bo, theid sinn 



Thogail nam bo, ri uisge 's ri ceo 



Ri monadh Ghlinn-cro theid sinn 



Thogail nan creach, bhuala' nan speach 



Thogail nan creach theid sinn 



Thogail nam bo, ri uisge 's ri ceo 



Ri monadh Ghlinn-cro theid sinn 



Thogail nan creach (three times), theid sinn 



Thogail nan creach, bhuala nan speach 



Thogail nan creach, theid sinn. 



To harry the cows, to harry the cows, to harry the cows go we. 

 To harry the cows, in mist and in rain, 

 To the hills of Glencroe go we. 

 Spoil we will lift, blows will inflict 

 To lift then the spoils go we, etc., etc. 



This famous tune was resuscitated by Mr Robert Macfarlan, 

 })rovost of Dumbarton, and published some years ago. Earca- 

 rainn is given by O'Conn, as cows given in exchange for songs, 

 probably a bard's fee. 



Another famous song, certainly older than the foregoing, 

 frequently sung by dairymaids, is Tain bo Chuailgne, the cattle 

 or cow spoil of Cuilinn or Cuilgne ; the song is written on cow 

 skin, hence called Cuilmenn. Another modern song of some 

 notoriety, referring to cows or cattle, was composed by one John 



