38 



vert to the subject), that the number nine was undoubtedly the mystic 

 number with the Pagan Irish, of which fact there is abundant evidence, 

 both in writing and tradition. But the property of a ninth wave seems 

 to have been regarded as of particular significance. Thus, our historical 

 writers assertthat, on the landing of the Milesian colonists in this country, 

 the natives, by the advice of their Druids, stipulated that the strangers 

 should re-embark, and put out to sea to the distance of nine waves ; and 

 if they succeeded in reaching land once more, they should have a portion 

 of the soil. In the neighbourhood of the shore where this trial is stated 

 to have taken place (Kenmare estuary), the inhabitants profess to believe 

 that the waves approach the land in successions of nine, and that the last 

 wave of the nine is always the largest. 



The third is thus described : — 



t>di t>in pm aile TClopainb ant) .1. luib TTIopcmn mop bpecac co 

 Pol abpcal, 1 bo bepc eibipcil uao, 1 bio ma bpaigib. In can bin 

 luibib ITIopan bfa bun oc cmbcub 6 pol imanapnic bo ppi cumail 

 bia cumaldib oc bopup in bune. Oc connaipc bin m eipipcil una 

 bpai^ib lmcomapcaib be, cib ptn, a TTlopamb, ol pi ? Qbbe, ol 

 Caimm t)puc. bib pm Tllopainb onbiu co bpac he. Qn can, bno, 

 bo bepeab TTIopann bpec, no gebeb epipcil una bpagaic, 1 nf 

 abpab 501 lapum. 



" Morann had, moreover, another collar, viz., Morann the great 

 judging went to the Apostle Paul, and brought from him an epistle, 

 which he used to have round his neck. As Morann went towards his 

 fort, on returning from Paul, he met a bondmaiden of his bondmaidens 

 at the door of the fort. "When she saw the epistle round his neck, she 

 asked him, ' What is that, 0 Morann* ?' asked she. ' Egad,' said the 

 fool Caimin, ' it will be Morann's Collar from this day forth.' When 

 Morann delivered judgment, he put this epistle round his neck, and he 

 uttered not falsehood afterwards." 



In connexion with this epistle, it is curious that Achilles Tatius 

 ("De Amoribus Clitophontis," Lugd. Batav., 1640, p. 514) describes a 

 fountain near Ephesus which had the virtue of detecting falsehood in 

 this wise : — The oath which a person had sworn was written in a letter, 

 which was attached to his neck. On his descending up to his thighs in 

 the fountain, the water remained stationary if he had sworn truly ; but, 

 if falsely, the water rose up, and touched the epistle, or tablet (iabelld). 



The fourth was another Collar of Moran : — 



bai ptn aile le TTIopann .1. cuapbe bee bai laip amail cipcaill 

 peca. In cnaipb pm bin, bo bepepom o ocamon bpuc ap pib 



* Sin (pron. sheen). This is a play on the word sin, the Irish dem. pron. " that" — 

 cid sin, " what.is that ?" 



