5 2o HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



tioned by Martin, notably those of St. Columba at Ui, 

 St. Aula (Olaf) at Gress, Holy Cross at Galson, St. John 

 the Baptist at Bragar, St. Michael at Cirrabhig (Loch 

 Carloway), St. Peter at Shader, St. Thomas at Habost, 

 St. Peter at Swainbost, and St. Bridget at Borve. Of 

 the church at Stornoway, dedicated to St. Lennan, which 

 Martin mentions, there is no trace left. The Flannan and 

 Shiant Isles also contain remains of the same character ; 

 likewise Rona, Sula Sgeir, and St. Colm's Isle in Loch 

 Erisort ; all of which are interesting additions to the 

 ecclesiology of the Long Island. But next to the Priory 

 Church of Ui, the greatest interest attaches to the teampull- 

 mdr, or big temple, at Eorrapidh, near the Butt of Lewis, 

 commonly called St. Olaf, from its founder, who was 

 apparently Olave the Black. Captain Dymes calls it 

 " St. Mallonuy " and " St. Mallonvie," and Martin calls it 

 " St. Mulvay." The saint in question was very probably 

 St. Maelrubha (pronounced Malruie),* whose name has 

 appeared in numerous corrupted forms, two of which are 

 Mulruy and Mulroy.f St. Maelrubha, the patron saint of 

 the Morisons of Ness, was regarded as the special healer 

 of lunacy. A belief in the healing virtues of the well in 

 Inch Maree (Mourie or Maelrubha) probably still lingers 

 in West Ross-shire ; in former times, it was a common 

 practice to bring lunatics to Loch Maree to be cured. 

 Similarly, lunatics were taken from many parts of the 

 North-West of Scotland to the church at Ness, with 

 the same object. The patient walked seven times round 

 the building, was sprinkled with water from St. Ronan's 

 Well, close at hand, and was then bound and left for the 

 night on the site of the altar.f We shall notice, later on, 

 other superstitious rites in connexion with this church, 



* The name might also stand for St. Molua or St. Mullins, but Sir Arthur 

 Mitchell, who is an authority on the subject, informs the author that his 

 suggestion of St. Maelrubha is probably correct. 



t It may be remarked that the letters "n" and "r" are commutable in 

 Gaelic, which seems to support the belief that Captain Dymes's " Mallonuy" 

 may be meant for " Mulruy." 



Sir Arthur Mitchell's Various Superstitions in the North- West Highlands 

 and Islands, pp. 19-20. 



