288 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



perpetuated, the enmity between the brothers-german in- 

 creasing, instead of diminishing, with time. That the old 

 chief should be dragged into the feud was inevitable. 

 Apparently, his leanings towards his junior family were too 

 pronounced to escape the notice of his eldest sons, who 

 strongly resented his attitude. Neil Og and Gilliconneill, 

 who are described as Macneill's " natural sons," at length 

 decided upon a bold step. With their partisans, they be- 

 sieged and captured Kisimul Castle, seized their father, and 

 kept him a prisoner in irons. The old man and Gilleonan 

 Og, a son by the second marriage, lodged a complaint with 

 the Council on nth March, 1613, and the Council imme- 

 diately sent a charge to the King's messenger to denounce 

 as rebels, Neil Og, his brother, and John MacAllan. A 

 commission was given to Clanranald to pursue the 

 rebels, " thair being no uther who wald undirtak suche a 

 commissioun."* Armed with this commission, Clanranald 

 succeeded in terminating the quarrel, in a manner which 

 was satisfactory to himself, his nephews, and the old chief 

 of Barra. He secured the succession to the chiefship for 

 the eldest son of the junior family, on the death of Ruari 

 Macneill, an event which occurred soon afterwards. By 

 a Crown charter dated i6th July, 1621, the grant of Barra, 

 with its pertinents, to the Tutor of Kintail, was confirmed, 

 and his son, Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat, was, in 1627, 

 served heir to the estate.f We find the property still in 

 the possession of the Cromartie family when, in 1655, 

 Sir George Mackenzie of Tarbat was served heir to his 

 father, Sir John.f At the commencement of the eighteenth 

 century, the then chief of the Macneills held the island from 

 Macdonald of Sleat. According to Dr. George Mackenzie, 

 Barra was transferred by Sir John Mackenzie of Tarbat to 

 Sir Donald Gorm Macdonald ; but it is difficult to recon- 

 cile this statement with the facts already mentioned. In 

 any case, the Macdonalds obtained the superiority by 

 marriage, and it still remains, nominally, with them. 



* Reg. of P.O., Vol. X., p. 817. 



t Inquis. Retor. Abbrev. (Ross and Cromarty, No. 71 ; Inverness, No 78). 



