Volume II. Guth na Bliadhna ' leabhar II.]

I social system ". We have here the Saint and his disciple, the local Morair or Righ, the Tòiseach, and little else from the social point of view. Pass­ing to the entries themselves, we find here repro­duced the bare outline of the same " social system," tit may be with a little more detail; but it is scarcely more than a bare outline nevertheless.

It may be as well to quote Dr. MacBain again St this conjuncture. " Again," he says, " we get a glimpse of the political and social systems of the times. The Ardri, or chief king, rules the leading— Lseven originally—provinces of Scotia. Under him tìmmediately, and over these provinces, are the Mor-[maers, that is the Earls of later times; and under $he jurisdiction of the Mormaers are the tribal or raistrict chieftains called the Tosechs (chiefs) known


29°

com] Evai St. J Cree bless it fr<

tent:

writ

the :

is ^

whi(

so-c;

the

fron

fifth

The

ther

verj

and

Gos

com

whc

the

wor

inte

Boa

plac

of (

mel

pas

tior

wh<

was

cou



The Oldest Scottish MS, 295

294 The Oldest Scottish MS.

ed in Ireland was precisely that " outlined"
among the Saxons as Thanes. All these , Sook of Beer. The Pictish succession, as
grades of power had their ' exactions' out lacBain justly observes, was through the
land, besides having their own manor land. ,. but here we see, not Pictish succession,
had rights of personal service, civil and m »^*_c p_Ure and simple, under which " sons
of entertainment when travelling and of ei >j ₀fte_n succeed to fathers and brothers were
rent in kind or in money. These are th _re(j ^ children". Under the Gaelic system,
exactions' referred to iri the entries in the i _{re WO}men succeeding to lands and hus-
Deer. The somewhat bewildering success^ holding in right of their wives. We have
names in the entries is also of interest. S< _aDle instance of an Irish queen succeeding
not often succeed fathers, and brothers ar^ _a throne in the case of Queen Maebh.
ferred to children. This points to sm, j)_r MacBain would not contend that suc-
Pictish influence in the succession, where s j _m her case was regulated by Pictish in-
sion was in the female line. The mention ^ 1 ^_e know that the ecclesiastical systems
the daughter along with her husband as gr and Ireland were precisely the same;
lands conjointly, shows the husband's right > f_ar |j._0IQ regarding " the social system out-
on the female alliance." by _t^_e Book of Deer" as supporting Dr.

For my part I fail entirely to see inLjn'g peculiar theories on the Pictish ques-respect this social system differs from the|_reg_ar(jit,asnothingif not entirely destructive The Ard - Righ is obviously the same ro|_m

countries. The Morair—or Mor-mhaor- ' F. S. A.

[To be continued.)

sponds to the provincial "Righ," so famil students of the early literature of Erin; an Tòiseach, or Chief, is common enough to countries. As for the " exactions " spoken ol are in every respect identical with those men' by O'Curry in his Manners and Customs, 1 one can ascertain for himself by referring ti work. The " brithem," or judge, who also i in the Book of Deer, as also the "Ferlegin Reader, are surely typical Gaelic offices, who troduction here serves to complete the pictnn the purely Gaelic point of view. Dr. MacE gards the system of succession outlined by thi of Deer as due to Pictish influences ; but here.| I fail to see what need there was to go to; for an explanation. The system of succession]

For GOOD VALUE and PURE WINE 1

TRY

^{JAMES KEITH}

Mine Merchant HAMILTON, LANARKSHIRE!

_{Guth na Bliadhna}
LEABHAR IL] AM FOGHAR, 1905. [AIREAMH 4.



_i

PURE FRENCH " CHATEAU " CLARET.

15/- per doza.

PURE HOCK.

18/- per doatj

PURE MOSELLE.

19/- per dol

LIGHT PURE CHAMPAGNE.

62/- per doi Vintages, 1889 and 1893,
PURE BRANDY.

66/- per dozet
PURE (1869) LIQUEUR BRANDY.

120/- per dom
WHISKY—12 Years Old—

ADVERTISES ITSELF.

44/* per doir

maighstir ailean, eiriscaidh

" 'S ann agamsa tha'n sgeula thiamhaidh, bhrònach duibh an nochd. Shiubhail Mr. Ailean, Eiriscaidh, mu aon uair's a' mhaduinn an diugh." 'S ann mar so a labhair Pears'-Eaglais nan Gàidheal ann am baile Ghlaschu air feasgar Dhidonaich air an ochda la dha'n mhios a chaidh seachad. Air dha so a ràdh, chaidh gaoir mhuladach roimh a chothional, oir bha mòran do'n luchd-eisdeachd a bha eòlach air Mr. Ailean o thùs an òige. Air ball, thairg iad a suas a' Chonair-Mhoire, Ios gun tugadh Dhia fois agus tàmh dha anam.

Rugadh Mr. Ailean ann an Gearrasdandubh-Ionarlochaidh, air a 25 do Mhios deireannach an Fhoghair anns a' bhliadhna 1859.

Fann do Chloinn-a-Phearsain a Mhathair, agus b'ann do Chloinn-Dòmhnuil a bha 'Athair (Iain Ailein òig). Mu'n robh e ach dusan bhlaidhna 'dh'ois, chaidh a chuir do Cholaisde a' Bhleirich faisg air Abareadhainn. As a sinn chaidh a chuir do'n Spàin, do Cholaisde nan Albanaich ann am Bhaladolid. Bha e daonan ro-ghàolach air a* Ghàidhlig, agus ged a bha e air bhacadh dha a, bhi labhairt cainnt a mhathar anns a' Cholaisde thuathach na dhùthaich fhèin, thòisich e fhèin,

a

Maighstir Ailean, Eiriscaidh

Maighstir Ailean, Eiriscaidh 299

agus a chompanaich, air a chainnt cheudna ionns­achadh gu pongail ann an tir chèin. An uair a thill e dhachaidh, fhuair e Ordugh Naomh ; agus fad dà bhliadhna shaothraich e anns an Oban-latharnach ann an seadh nach leigar air diochain 'an cabhaig.

As 'an Oban, chuir an t-Easbuig Aonghas e do dh'Uidhist-a-chinn-deas, do Dhalabrog. 'S i Sgireachd Dalabrog is mua ann an Sgireachd-Esbuigachd Earraghaidheal's nan Eilean ; agus an àm air bheil mi a labhairt, bha eilean Eiriscaidh fuaighte ri Dalabrog. Ach ged a bha, cha robh an domhain fhein tuille 's farsuinn airson eud-anama Mhr. Ailein. Cha d'thug e riabh cothrom dha fhèin. Shaoirich, agus shaoirich, e daonan cearta coma air fhèin, gus mu dheireadh, bhris a shlàinte. 'S math a dh'fhaodamaid a ràdh mu Mhr. Ailein:—

" Tha mo chridhe air a leòn Le saighead a' bhròin

Gur a fràsach na deòir bho'm shuil.

Fàth m'èislean ri m' bheò A bhi g'eisdeachd a sgeòil

Gu'm beil Sagairt mo ghaoil fo'n uir.

Bha e caoimhneil làn bàigh Bha 'ghnùis aluinn làn gràidh

Air nach laidheadh a ghruaim no mhùig.

Och! nan ochain! mar tha Tha mise tùrsach an dràsd'

Mo chreach lèir, gu la bràth gu'n dùil.

Och ! 's ann aige 'bha'm beul Bu mhath gu teasgasg a' threud

'S brigh sòisgeul Mhic Dhè 'thoirt dhuinn.

Mar chithear sneachda bho'n speur Dhòirteadh briathran bho 'bheul Sèimh, tuigsineach, rèidh, ro chiùin.

Mar ghaoir sheillein am bruaich 'N deis nead a thoirt bhuap' 'S amhuil cor do shluaigh do dhùthaich.

Tha d'eaglais an diugh fàs Co ghabhas dith càs Chaill i 'n caraide b'aird's a' chuirt.
Oir tha fior agam fhèin Gu'm bith sonas is sith Agus sòlas gun chrich gu bràth leis."

An uair a bhris slàinte Mhr. Ailein, chaidh a chuir do dh'eilean Eiriscaidh. Thog a stigh dha fhèin, agus cha do stad e gus a fac e eaglais anns an eilean a tha cho grinn ri eaglais sam bith's an dùthaich. Bha meas mòr aig a h-uile duine air Mr. Ailean. Neach air bith a thachair air, bha iad ro dhèidheil air. 'S e duine fòghlumte a bh' ann. Bha e 'na sgoilear Gàidhlig cho maith 's bha 'sann dùthaich. 'S e rogha agus taogha 'bhaird bh' ann. Sgriobh e Laoidhean a tha fior bhriagh, agus tha mi 'm beachd nach 'eil eaglais eile 's a' Ghàidhealtachd anns a faighear Laoidhean Gàidhlig 'gan seinn mar a sheinneas iad ann an eaglais Eiris­caidh. Bha eòlas mòr aig Mr. Ailean air luibhean na dùthcha, agus bha e ainmeil leis an eòlas a bha aige air sgeulachdan agus seann chleachdainean an t-shluaigh.

Ach dh'fhalbh Mr. Ailean! Dh'fhiach e e fhèin fhalach, fhad's a bha beò e. Ach cho luath 's thàinig crioch air, sgaoil a chliù anns gach cearna. Bha na papeirean-naigheachd a' stri ri chèile cho a b'airde a thogadh chliù, air allt agus gu'n cuala domhain gu lèir mu Mhr. Ailean. Eisdeamaid ri bhriathran agus gabhamaid sùim ris na tha e ag ràdh.

" Tha bràth agaibh bho'n chiad latha a thàinig mi . . . cia mar a ghiulain mi fhèin maille ribh fad na h-ùine: a' seìrbhiseachadh an Tighearna leis a h-uile umhlachd, 's le deòir, 'us buairidhean. . . . Cia mar nach do chum mi aiteal bhuaibh a bha gu leas dhuibh, gun innseadh dhuibh, 's gun a theagasg dhuibh gu follaiseach, 's bho thigh gu tigh."

" Bithibh aoibhneach, a bhriathrean ! bithibh coimhlion, gabhaibh comhairle, bithibh a dh-aon inntinn, bitheadh sith agaibh ; agus bithidh Dia 'na sith agus a ghràidh maille ribh."

Fois agus tàmh soirruidh dh'a anam !

Gille aspuig Mac Dhòmhnuill Mhic Eoghaw.
cas no bas

The current number of this Review brings to a' conclusion our second year of publication, conse­quently, with our February impression, we shall enter upon the third year of our existence as a Catholic bilingual periodical. We beg leave to tender our thanks to all those who have hitherto supported us, and to express the hope that they will continue to do so in future. Our aims are clear, and have never been disguised; and although we are not to suppose that all who read these pages do so from a conviction that what is set forth in them is entirely agreeable to their religious or poli­tical opinions, we are at least entitled to assume that they find our point of view not uninteresting. To be able to engage the attention, is the next best thing to bringing home conviction.

Since this periodical was started some consider­able advance has been made in both the causes which lie near to our hearts. The progress of the

Catholic Religion in Scotland, though slow, yet is sore. In proportion to population, we may make fewer converts per annum than the Church makes in England, but there is less " leakage ". Scottish bigotry dies hard, as befits our strenuous climate; but perishable vessels of this sort must one day swim to the bottom. Our Presbyterian fellow-countrymen are beginning to realise that slavery and wooden shoes are not necessarily symbolic of Catholicism, and that the Pope and the Devil are not as nearly related as at one time they were imagined to be. More enlightened and tolerant views are beginning to make their influence felt throughout Protestant Gaeldom, in consequence, we believe, of the growth of historical research and study What might be characterised as the " out-and-out" Protestant view finds no support in history as science now requires it to be writ. The old lies, the old calumnies which the older genera­tion of Protestant pamphleteers—historians they can scarce be described as—indulged in, with a view to bubbling the public, have been swept away. They could not bear the fierce light shed on them by historical science; and although a considerable substratum of ignorance and prejudice may remain, yet the spirit of sympathetic and intelligent inquiry which that science has been the means (under God) of eliciting is an encouraging augury for the future.

And on the Catholics of Scotland themselves these discoveries (for such they really are) are beginning to have a stimulating and bracing effect. Time was when Catholics skulked about the country much as a "Little Englander" would do at a Primrose League gathering. In many cases their attitude towards their Faith was one of unceasing and humble—if not abject—apology. Hence arose] that feverish desire—by which so many well-meaning] but timid souls were at one time grievously pos-j sessed and tormented—to show themselves just as many other men are—" loyalists," " jingoes," " imj perialists," "patriots," big-Englanders, King-worshipa pers, and all the stupid rest of it. To take pride in] religion, to cherish the principles for which thein ancestors fought and died, were forms of "disl loyalty " to the State. The Catholic, to be merely tolerable to his fellow-countrymen, must imitate] them in everything, nay more, must devote all his] talents, time and energies to going one better. Asj to his religion, he would profess it, of course; hel would even avow it, if called on to do so; but, in] consideration of the feelings of his Protestant fellow-countrymen, the less said about that matter—at all events in public—the better.

These were the views of certain bad old days not so very long overpast; and we confess thau they are not particularly beautiful in our eyes! History, however, always nowadays indulgent to] merit, however timid and bashful, has refreshingly come to his rescue ; so that that curious crustacean! the hermit or shell-living Catholic may now safe™ emerge from his place of concealment without] causing scandal, or seriously outraging the feelings! of his Protestant fellow-countrymen. The lesson] of history is, that we should take pride in our religion—not that we should endeavour to make ouq actions and opinions " square " as much as possible] with those whose religious and political faith is still] summed up in the word Protestantism. We have nothing to do with Protestantism; let us consist-, ently show it. History teaches us to be proud alike of our Faith as of our country when unden the influence of the Faith; let us act on that lesson. ■The principles for which our ancestors fought are ithe same to-day as they were when they laid down [their lives in behalf of their Faith and their country; llet us not run away from them to please any one, or [suffer ourselves, or any one else, to compromise [them. History shows us that the so-called Refor­mation and all its works, religious and political, twere anathema; let us spend our lives in getting Bid of that humiliating and ridiculous incubus. LWe have a clear field before us. History—ex­perience—are on our side. Nearly every great evil, religious, political, social and commercial, [which Alba labours under, owes its existence, _hor its continuance, to Protestantism. Protestant­ism despoiled Alba of her brightest jewel, which was her Faith, and has multiplied her sects and her schisms till they are almost as numerous as the sands of the sea-shore. Protestantism robbed Scot­land of her independence. Protestantism intro­duced the English influence, which is hostile to our language, manners and customs. English misrule keeps the Highlands and Isles impoverished, ne­glected, sparsely populated and undeveloped; and [the causes of English misrule came in with English [gold at the time of the so-called Reformation. The cause of England cannot possibly be our cause if, as we maintain, we are a nation; and the English cause is essentially Protestant. Poland and Ire­land—the two countries in Europe which have made the best fight for their national rights and liberties, and which have refused to be absorbed by powerful and tyrannical neighbours—are Catholic countries, in the true sense of the word. Scratch a Scots [Protestant and you will find him little better than an Englishman; scratch an Englishman and you will soon find that with him Protestant ascendancy and Englishism mean the same thing—namely, Anglo-Saxon ascendancy. Is it to be wondered at therefore that the Gael of Scotland in ever-increasing numbers is turning his back, in disdain and disgust, upon so foolish and mischievous a creed ?

To turn from things sacred to profane, there is the same encouraging progress to report. The Gaelic movement is undoubtedly increasing in Scotland; and here again progress, though slow, yet is sure. It is true that our rate of progression is not what it ought to be, considering either the simple common-sense principles upon which the movement is founded and proceeds, or the splendid example offered us by Ireland ; but in these hard times of small mercies, it behoves us to be grateful. The people of Alba—as the Highland News recently remarked—"may not be very specially interested in the work" of the Gaelic Association; but as that periodical justly remarked they are at long last beginning to realise the thundering mistake they made in neglecting language and nationality. Near two hundred years of English rule, and with nothing to speak of at the end of it, save what is attribut­able to the species of creeping paralysis which passes for " progress" in the Highlands and Isles is a fact which is beginning to stagger even the denationalised spiritless humanity which still has foothold—and barely that—in our straths and glens. Two hundred years of almost unmitigated neglect of nationality and all that it best comprises—two hundred years during which the Gael of Scotland has done everything that his political pastors and masters advised him to do—two hundred years during which Lord Rosebery's foolish and perni­cious advice to the Isles men to go forth and take their part in the work of supporting the " burden " of Empire—that is, to go into England's army and navy—has been followed as generously in spirit as it has been scrupulously as to letter—and what is at the end of them ? If in the year after next, in 1907 that is to say, any one should be so foolish and misguided as to propose a national celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the passing of the Union, we venture to prophesy for it, so far as the Highlands and Isles are concerned, as great and humiliating a " frost" as that which mercifully has attended the recent " celebrations " in honour of that earlier Jingo, Missionary of Empire, and Pretender to Liberal Principles—John Knox. For our own parts, we promise to use our very best en­deavours to knock the bottom out of any ridiculous proposal of that kind.

But though we have progress to register, para­doxical as it may seem, out of our people's retro­gression, yet timidity and subserviency are still rampant amongst us ; and these two evils constitute a formidable obstacle to the cause. Ignorance and timidity are our besetting sins. We are ignorant when we despise or neglect our nationality; we are timid to the verge of abjectness when we refrain, from a motive of fear, from giving voice to that which we know, and is in us. Timidity taints even the highest places of the Gael; ignorance is the portion of the common run. To begin with timidity. The Gaelic Association is timid when it transacts all ite important business at the annual Mòd in English. The chosen vessel, or presidential figure­head, is all very well in its way, and doubtless, like the ordinary gramophone, which, by the way, it painfully resembles, it has no Gaelic; but con­sistency, to say nothing of scholarship, requires! at least one oration in the language of the Gael, in which the year's work—the year's output—shall I be briefly summarised and some attempt made tol canvass the future. A " cautious policy," since it is felt to be the best and safest one, for the present! at all events, commands, as moderate men, ourj warmest support; but we venture, nevertheless, tol plead for just one Gaelic annual oration. We hope! that our audacity will be taken in good part, and! that it will be found to offer no appreciable violence] to that " cautious policy " which it is the manifest! intention of the Association in question to pursue.!

We think, also, that jokes at the expense of the Gaelic language savour somewhat of timidity, tol say nothing of vulgarity, especially when they are] perpetrated at the Mòd and, according to newspaper] report, are received with " laughter and applause "1 by the audience. At the Dingwall Mòd a Mr.j Davidson, of Tulloch, stated that his medical at-1 tendant had advised him not to attempt to learnl Gaelic, as it might injure his jaw. We strongly ad\ vise any one desirous of emulating the example] of Samson with the jaw-bone of an ass to apply to J this intelligent son of David for the loan of a] suitable weapon; but is not such "joking," andl the mind which can find humour in it, a trifle con! temptible? The Gaelic Association has now itsl own organ, An Deo-Ghrèine (to which we wish all] manner of success); it should set to work to ridia cule this kind of thing out of existence. We find the same note of timidity struck in Professor Mackinnon's recent address from thel Edinburgh University Celtic Chair, on the subject! of Gaelic in the Schools. It struck us as a very! tame performance, spiritless and absurdly apologetic!

an tone. His argument seems to be that Gaelic 'should