DERMID AND GHANA. 379 



and with impunity, the bristled back of a dead boar, 

 proceeding from the tail to the head, against the sharp 

 points of the bristles. To this ordeal Dermid cheerfully 

 agreed to submit, to satisfy his friends that he had never 

 injured any of them. But some invidious person dex- 

 terously sprinkled poison over the bristles, and these 

 1 Hiving punctured Dermid's skin, whilst measuring the 

 length of the boar, the poison took effect, and caused his 

 instant death. 



Grana, another female devoted to Dermid, was present, 

 and in her grief and despair, resolved not to survive her 

 lover ; and throwing herself on the point of his sword, fell 

 lifeless on his body. 



The boar was hurled down the side of Ben-Loyal, and 

 buried close to a mountain stream that runs between two 

 of the scors or pinnacles of Ben-Loyal, still called Aultn- 

 Torc (the Burn of the Boar) ; and the hapless Dermid 

 and his devoted Grana were buried in one grave, and 

 under some trees that grew near the spot. 



There lies the grey cairn at this present day, still held 

 in reverence by the natives : one person alone ventured 

 to despoil the trees, but misery and misfortune befell him 

 and his family.* 



Angus Baillie, of Uppat, was one of the most noted 

 foresters in Sutherland, of whom we have any correct 

 account : he signalised himself in many of the conflicts 

 which were of common occurrence in former times, and 

 particularly in a rocky pass, on the banks of the Black- 

 water, where he and two of his companions defeated a 



* Another version of the Bas Dhiarmid, or the Death of Dermid, 



IKIS l>ccn jrivcn l>y Mr. (Irnnt. 



