312 FINGAL AND HIS RETINUE. 



which was current ages before Macpherson's publication, 

 runs as follows : 



Fingal agreed to hunt in the forest of Sledale, in com- 

 pany with the Sutherland chief, his contemporary, for the 

 purpose of trying the comparative merits of their dogs. 

 Fingal brought his celebrated dog Bran to Sutherland, in 

 order to compete with an equally famous dog belonging 

 to the Sutherland chief, and the only one in the country 

 supposed to be any match for him. The approaching 

 contest between these fine animals created great interest. 

 White -breasted Bran was superior to the whole of Fingal's 

 other dogs, even to the "surly strength of Luah." But 

 the Sutherland dog, known by the full sounding name of 

 Phorp, was incomparably the best and the most powerful 

 dog that ever eyed a deer in his master's forests. 



When Fingal arrived in the forest with his retinue and 

 dogs, he was saluted with a welcome that may be trans- 

 lated thus : 



" With your nine great dogs, 

 With your nine smaller, game-starting dogs, 

 With your nine spears 

 Unwieldy weapons ! 



And with your nine grey sharp-edged swords, 

 Famous were you in the foremost fight." 



The Sutherland chief also made a conspicuous figure 

 with his followers, and his dogs and weapons for the chase. 

 Of the two rival dogs, Bran and Phorp, the following 

 descriptions have still survived amongst some of the oldest 

 people in Sutherland. Bran is thus represented : 



