cow 113 



Riddles, dark sayings, and proverbs are numerous. A few of 

 the first two are : — 



Theid i mach dubh 's thig 1 stigh geal. Mart dhubh ri la 

 sneachdaeh. 



What goes out black and comes in white ? A black cow on 



a snowy day. 



In Vol. III. of Campbell's Tales, among Fionn's questions to 



Graidhne is, de's fearr de bhiadh } Bleachd ; thig iomadh 



atharrachadh as, niotar im a's caise dheth, 's beathaichidh e leanabh 



beag a's sean duine. 



What is the best of food ? Milk ; many a change comes 

 out of it ; butter and cheese are made of it, and it will 

 nourish a little child and an old man. 

 A bhun an aird, 's a bharr a mhain, 's e fas mar sin. 



The root above, it's point (or top) below, and growing thus. 

 A cow's tail. 

 Ceathrar air chrith, 's ceathrar nan ruith ; dithis a' deanamh 

 an rathad, 's a h-aon a' glaodhaich. 



Four shaking, four running, two finding (or making) the 

 way, and one roaring. A cow's udder or teats, feet, eyes, 

 and mouth. 

 Miodaran beag 's a choill' ud thall 's a bheul foidhe 's cha doirt 

 e deur. 



A little vessel or receptacle in that (or yon) wood beyond, 

 with its mouth downwards, and it won't lose or spill a 

 drop. A cow's udder. Eng. or Scotch, A little bit 

 cogie in yonder wood, its mouth below, but spills not 

 a drop. 

 Tha'n dod air a bho mhaol, cha'n ith i fodar no fraoch. 



The hornless cow has ta'en the dumps, she'll eat neither 

 straw nor heather. Said to a child remaining in the 

 dumps after being promised "something nice." 



There is a Highland game called "Am mart bradach," the 

 thievish cow, a description of which will be found well described 

 by " Fionn " in the Gaidheal. 



One of Coinneach Odhar's sayings or prophecies is : — 



Thig bo mhaol odhar a' steach an t-Aite-mor agus leigeas i 

 geum aiste 'chuireas na se h-uinneagan dheth an Tigh Dhige. 

 A dun, hornless cow will appear in the Minch (Great Place), 

 and give forth a roar (bellow), which will knock the 

 six windows off Gairloch House. This supposed to be a 

 steamboat. The Minch, off Gairloch Point, and Tigh 

 Dhige, Gairloch House, so called from the dig or ditch 

 round it. 



The Proverbs, proverbial sayings, etc., connected with cows 



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