222 NETHER LOCHABER. 



direct and constant intercourse and communion for good between 

 Heaven and Earth. 



The following " Blessing," to be said over cattle when being led 

 to pasture of a morning, is exceedingly interesting : — 



Eann Boachailleaohd. 



Siubhal beinne, siubhal coille, 

 Sinbhal gu rMdh fada, farsuinn, 

 Banachag Phadruig ma 'n casan, 

 'S gu faio mise slkn a rithisd sith. 

 An seun a chuir Moire mu 'buar, 

 Moch 'us anmoch 'sa tigh'n bhuaidh', 

 Ga'n gleidheadb o phoU, o eabar. 

 fheithe, o adh'rcean a cheile, 

 liana' na Oraige-Ruaidhe, 

 'S o Luaths na F^inne. 

 Banacbag Pbadruig ma'r casan, 

 Gu'm bu slkn a thig sibh dhachaidh. 



In English thus — 



A Ehyme .to be said in dbiving Cattle to Pasture. 



"Wandering o'er uplands, wandering through woods, 



Hither and far away wander ye still, 



St. Patrick's own milkmaid attend your steps 



Till safe I see you return to me again. 



The charm that Mary made to her cattle, 



Early and late, going and coming from pasture, 



Still keep you safe from quagmire and marsh. 



From pitfalls and from each other's horns, 



From the sudden sweDing (of the torrent about) the Red Rock 



And from Luath of the Fingalians. 



St. Patrick's milkmaid attend your feet, 



Safe and soaithless come ye home again. 



The reference to " Luath," CuchuUin's matchless dog, so celebrated 

 in the Ossianic poems and old Fingaliau tales, is curious. The 

 ghosts of the Eingalian heroes, existing in a sort of middle state — 

 not yet exactly saved nor wholly lost — with those of their famous 

 dogs, were believed to visit at times the scones of their former 

 exploits for the sake of the hunting, in which they so much 



