Going Round in Circles

[Boreades]

Tut, was it a Campbell that told you they were rustled? Surely the Highlanders had a more liberal interpretation of ownership than that?

[TisILeclerc]

They believed in sharing other people's cattle.

Rob Roy MacGregor and his 'black mail', the rent for the black cattle crossing his land. Or to get them back perhaps springs to mind.

It was a rite of passage for the young warriors. Once you could travel miles over the mountains into enemy territory and come back with some of their cattle you were a man my son.

As for the Campbells, they found the vocation ideally suited to their particular skills and all became lawyers in Edinburgh and advisers to the government. I believe one of that tribe was an adviser to Tony Blair of that ilk in recent times. It's in the blood. In their very dna.

Campbell means 'twisted mouth' in the same way Cameron means 'twisted nose'.

[Boreades]

We're a wee way from the famous Clachaig Inn, but we're still careful who we offer hospitality to.

[TisILeclerc]

Funny how HAWKER and LAWYER are so close in spelling.

[Boreades]

No solicitors?

[TisILeclerc]

Oldest profession so I've heard.

[hvered]

Rob Roy MacGregor and his 'black mail', the rent for the black cattle crossing his land. Or to get them back perhaps springs to mind.

Perhaps extortion rather than blackmail as we now understand it. The levies would apply to all colours of cattle but more importantly have to be fair, hence perhaps the 'black' bit? But remember, on long-distance routes the payees make circular, and regular, journeys -- so maintaining routes is in the drovers' interests so long as there's a consensus, however grudging.

The problem on the borders seems to be that the big players are in charge and there's no profit to be had apart from robbing cattle when everyone is on the take. Not unlike Fifa.

[Boreades]

Highlanders have always had a dim view of levies, duties and customs people especially.

Even more especially when it involves the essentials, like the water of life.

See SS Politician.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Politician
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisky_Galore!_%28film%29

[hvered]

Gigha, just off the west coast of Kintyre, is the most southerly island of the Hebrides. Its main landing place is East Tarbert Bay, with a standing stone

the so-called giant’s tooth (the aforesaid fellow lived on Kintyre and got such bad toothache that he pulled out the offending tooth and hurled it over to Gigha ..... Another tradition is that it is the 'Hanging Stone' where criminals were executed.

East Tarbert is also blessed with a holy/sacred well and local legend, namely that "if a sailor wants a fair wind he should throw some well-water from Tobar a' Bheathaig, south of East Tarbert Bay, in the required direction and leave payment by the well."

A remarkable well east of Tarbert farmhouse and a short distance S. W. [South West] of Eilean nan Caorach, local tradition asserts this well to have been used by the islanders in causing a storm to arise, which would prevent the excise officers on the opposite side of the sound from crossing to disturb those on the island who carried on the illicit trade of distilling. When a storm was required for there [their] safety the stone cover was removed the water thrown in the direction from which the wished wind was to blow, when out of danger the stone was replaced Sig: [Signification] Well of the Beech Tree "Tobar-rath-Bhuathaig the lucky well of Beathog, situated at the foot of a hill fronting the N. E. [North East] near an isthmus called Tarbat 6 ft [feet] above where the water gushes out there is a heap of stones which forms a cover to the sacred fount. When a person wished for a fair wind this part was removed with great solemnity and the water thrown in the direction from which the wished for wind was to blow. When the ceremony was over the well was again carefully shut up to prevent fatal consequences"

Even though it's a very small island there are several wells with similar legends warning that if unguarded their waters would rise and flood the island.

Despite having apparently been inhabited since prehistoric times, Gigha is said to 'derive from Norse Gud'ey' meaning God's island which sounds highly unlikely. Perhaps Gigha is connected to Uisge i.e. Whisky Island?

[Mick Harper]

A most valuable find since it is the first indication of an actual function of water-on-islands, something we have been seeking ad infinitum. Though what the legend in fact commemorates is still elusive. The origin of tarbert is required (it occurs elsewhere) and whether it has any affinity with the 'tre' affix being discussed over on the other site. Islands flooding if a hole is left open is interesting.