Mr Harvic-Broiuns Further Notes on North Bona. 285 



good representatives of the Danish and Celtic types. Having 

 objections to the appointment of a layman as preacher to the 

 church at Ness, and being grieved at some feeling shown 

 them in consequence of the action which they took along 

 with a few others of the congregation, they were desirous of 

 making some atonement for their opposition, and resolved to 

 leave the place. 



" Accordingly, on the morning of Monday, 20th May 1884, 

 they sailed for the island of North Eoney, where they landed 

 that night. Ostensibly their reason for going there was to 

 take care of the sheep on the island, but in reality it was to 

 atone for their action against the minister that they went 

 into exile." Mr Carmichael here points out the similarity 

 between the action of these two men voluntarily going into 

 exile, and that of Saint Calum Cille when he left Ireland 

 and went to Scotland. " Twice did boats go out to North 

 Eoney — in the following August and September — and the 

 friends endeavoured to get the two men to return to their 

 families and friends, but in vain. The men were then in 

 good health, and apparently enjoyed their island home, and 

 employed themselves in building sheep fanks, fishing, and 

 killing seals." Mr Carmichael here relates a curious instance 

 of a sort of second sight or presentiment of evil regarding 

 the men, which occurred in the person of an old woman 

 called Flora MacDonald residing near Ness, but we need not 

 relate that here, and only mention it in order to point out 

 that, in consequence of her repeated urging upon the people 

 of Ness, strong efforts were made by the relatives to reach 

 Eoney. " It was only, however, on the 22d April 1885, after 

 two previous unsuccessful attempts, that they effected a 

 landing. No one met them. At the door of the little half- 

 underground house occupied by the two men the boatmen 

 found the body of Malcolm MacDonald in a sitting position 

 beside an improvised fireplace, as if he had fallen asleep. 

 On the floor of the house, beside the fireplace, lay the body 

 of Murdoch Mackay. His tartan plaid was placed neatly 

 and carefully over and under him, showing that the deft 

 hands and warm heart of Malcolm MacDonald had performed 

 the last sad office to the body of his dead friend. The bodies 



