perform the same feat. This ravine, according to the writers I have mentioned and our guide-books, is on the burn of Aultsigh; and it is described by Sir Thomas Lauder as a "fearful ravine" and a "yawning chasm," while Mr Mackenzie applies the same expressions to it and adds "tremendous abyss."

To any person who knows the district in which these scenes are said to have occurred, it must be evident that neither of the writers whom I have named ever saw the places which they profess to describe. To begin with the leap, there is no such ravine, or chasm, or abyss on Aultsigh as they mention; and, although the burn flows through a deep glen or pass, there is no part of it over which a boy could not leap. Aultsigh, which separates Glen-Uurquhart from Glenmoriston, formed the western march of the old sheep farm of Ruskich (which for years was tenanted by my grandfather), and several miles to the cast of it is the burn of Allt Giubhais, forming the eastern boundary of the farm. In cutting its way through the high and precipitous rock of Craig Giubhais, this latter stream has formed a ravine which exactly answers the descriptions I have quoted. This is the chasm which Allan of Lundy cleared, and to this day it is known as Leum a' Cheannaiche, "the merchant's leap," from the circumstance that Allan, to acquaint himself with the country of the Mackenzies, travelled there before the raid as a "pack-merchant," and not as a mendicant as stated by Mr Mackenzie. That packmen were not unknown in those times we learn from our criminal records, which show that in 1602 (the year before the raid of Killichrist) one of them, named Donald Macfindlay Vic Norosiche, a native of Kintail, was seized in Glenmoriston by the laird of that glen and hanged.

Now, as to the scene of the battle. At the south-eastern base of Mealfuarvonie and in the vicinity of the Meachant's Leap there is an extensive mossy plain, which for ages has supplied the people of Wester Bunloit with peat. It is well known as Lon na Fola, "the Moss of Blood," and there the sanguinary conflict took place, and not "near" or "towards" Aultsigh.

Another point before I close. In Mr Mackenzie's version Alexander Mackenzie of Coul is mentioned as the person who perished in the attempt to follow Macranald, and in a footnote it is explained that it is historically incorrect to say that he so perished, as he lived to die a very old man in 1650. On the other hand, Sir Thomas Dick Lauder gives the unfortunate man's name as Hector Mackenzie of Beauly; while the local tradition simply tells that a Mackenzie met his death as described, without condescending on the particulars given by our writers. Seanachies, like bards, are, rightly or wrongly, allowed a certain license. Whether it is owing to the exercise of that privilege that the names of Mackenzie of Beauly and Mackenzie of Coul have been introduced into the tale I cannot tell, but as a Glen-Urquhart man, who takes some interest in the history and traditions of the Glen, I should like to know when and in what manner these names first came to be associated with the Merchant's Leap. Perhaps the latest seanachie of the tale can throw light on this question.

It is right to mention that a Mr Grassie, who at one time resided in Glen-Urquhart, wrote a book many years ago, in which he gave the legend of Killichrist, and pointed out the true localities of the fight and the leap.-Your obedient servant,

Inverness, May 1880.

WILLIAM MACKAY,

SIR,-Mr William Mackay, in his interesting communication in to-day's Courier on the hitherto considered infamous, but now really famous, raid of Cillechriost, gives me an opportunity of supplying some little additional information regarding it, which may, perhaps, prove interesting to him and to others of your readers. First, however, let me tell him that the version of the story which appears in my History of the Mackenzies," and in the "Historical Tales and Legends of the Highlands," is not my version. It is no secret that it, as well as several others in the latter volume was written by Dr Buchan, late of the Lancashire Insurance Office here, though he was too modest to allow his name to appear in connection with them. Mr Jolly, however, let the cat out of the bag at a meeting of the Field Club, on the occasion of the reading of a paper before the Club by Dr Buchan shortly before he left Inverness, I possess Sir Thomas Dick Lauder's and Grassie's versions of the story. The first is good, but long and prosy. The latter, published in 1843, is wretchedly written, but his description of Glen-Urquhart scenery may possibly be perfect, though his descriptions of the other districts mentioned in the story, as given by him, are simply absurd. For instance, he tells us that the Chief of Glengarry held a property in the seventeenth century “in the neighbourhood of Lochbroom called Groum Garranach, in the centre of the lands belonging to the Clan McKenzie, who were extremely adverse to his neighbour's nearness."

"

This "Groam Garranach' is Grassie's, equivalent from "Stròm Carrannach," or Strome of Lochcarron, which he ridiculously places "in the neighbourhood of Lochbroom." Another writer, possessing an accurate knowledge of the district, has written a version of the same story, in which he says that the leap was by Alexander of Coul at Aultsigh. This was Andrew Fraser, commonly called "Goggan," whose manuscript contains this and many others of local interest, and is in the possession of Mr Noble, bookseller, Castle Street. Of all these, I prefer Dr Buchan's version, and hence, when compiling "The Historical Tales and Legends. of the Highlands," I have chosen it. There are various other traditions as to the Mackenzie supposed to have made the terrible leap. According to some he was Mackenzie of Redcastle.

Rory Mor, first of Redcastle, has a charter under the Great Seal, in 1608, five years after the burning of Cillechriost, and his son, Murdoch, who was really one of the leaders of the Mackenzies on the occasion, has a sasine as heir to his father in 1615. Others have it that the hero was a Mackenzie of Ord. John Mackenzie, first of Ord "visited" the burning of the church, but he lived until 1644. There is no record in any Mackenzie document or manuscript of a Hector Mackenzie of Beauly, and if such a person had taken the prominent part ascribed to him at Aultsigh and at Kyleakin by Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, the MSS. which give such a full account, especially of the latter engagement, would certainly have recorded his exploits.

I am fortunate in having temporary possession of some of these MSS. One of them is an original, and was written very soon after the burning of the church; for the writer of it says that his information regarding the events which immediately preceded this atrocious act was obtained from those who had taken a share in them. It also presents other internal evidence which goes to prove that it was written not later than 1650. I

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think, therefore, this contemporary MS. may be fairly considered superior to the venerable "Catechist of Bunloit" of forty years ago, whom Grassie gives as his authority, and even to Mr William Mackay's local knowledge, though his grandfather did occupy a neighbouring farm. One of the MSS., from which I quote, is the property of Mr James F. Mackenzie of Allangrange, and is the oldest that I know of in existence. It proceeds— Shortly after this (that is after the taking of the Castle of Strome) Allan McRannald of Lundy made one onsett to the Braes of Ross, and brunt the Lands of Gillichrist and other adjacent towns, qrupon my Lord Kintaile sends two parties in pursuit of him-one commanded by Murdo Mackenzy of Redcastle, the other by Alexander McKenzy of Coull. Redcastle went the way of Inverness to Stratharrick, and accidentally in a town called Torrybreck he gets intelligence that Angus McRory and 36 of his followers were drinking in ane Change-house nearby. A man of Redcastle's being well acquaintt (called Donald McKennich piper) ledd them secretly to the house, setts it on fire, and every man as came out they killed. Rannald himself coming at last to the door, he sought quarters, which Redcastle would have granted him, but one Donald McCurchie said, you shall have such quarters as you gave to Donald McConochy Chyle. (This Donald was a very pretty fellow of the Clan ean oyr who was killed by this Rannald after he had given him quarters when young Glengarry harryed Lochcarron.) So when he understood there was no mercy for him, he ran out. The oyr gave such a race after him-came so near him-that he could not shoot him. Struks him with the bow on the head, which he brake, throws him flatt to the ground. But or he could recover himself he sticked him with his dirk (so we may see one ill turn meets another). Of all his company none escaped except ane subtile fellow (which I cannot forgett) who came out at the roof of the house, began to tear it and crying for watter and said wt a loud voice, Mackenzie, tho' you have a quarrell agst the Clan Rannald, I hope you have none agst my Mr and me when you burn my house after this manner. With this he went free as if he had been landlord indeed, and Redcastle turns homewards with his company."

"The oyr partie that went with Alexr. M'Kenzy of Coull went the way of Beaulie to Urquhart and to Glen Morriston, and foretakes Allan M'Rannald resting themselves on a sheill in little huts near a rough burn called Ald Sayh. Giveing the alarme, some of them with Allan fought manfully, oyrs fled, which all alive of them were forced in end to doe. But as their misfortune was they missed the foord. The Burn was so rough running 'twixt two craiggs that severalls broke their bones there. Shunning their killing they met death in their way. But Rannald being half nacked, as he fled, lopps just over it, and made his escape of all the rest. The pursuers seeing him loupe and on the oyr side notwithstanding thereof could not be persuaded he did it, and no man ever saw that place yet that would believe it, which being seall times asked of himself afterwards, he said he knew sensibly he loupt that very place, but how he came over that he knew not, except it was with the wings of fear and Providence. But give him all the world he would not try it again."

I have also before me a copy of the Letterfearn MS. by the favour of Captain MacRa Chisholm, Glassburn. This MS. must have been written nearly as early in the seventeenth century er the one already quoted, for

the writer of it informs us that he went to the battlefield of Auldearn, fought in 1645, along with one of the officers who took part in the engagement. After describing the burning of Cillechriost he says "The country being alarmed and gathering, they (the Macdonnells) were forced to return, for Murdo MacKenzie of Redcastle and Alexander MacKenzie of Coul were sent with some forces to pursue them." He then describes the affair at Torbreck, and continues-"And Coul having pursued Allan and his men through Urquhart and Glenmoriston, came unaware upon them while they were resting and reposing themselves in a shielling near a rough burn called Aultsaugh, where some of them stood and fought a while, in the end were forced to fly, and by reason of the rocks and deepness of the burn many of them broke their bones and were drowned in the burn, prefering that to the pursuers' swords. Allan himself beyond all expectation, and to the surprise not only of himself afterwards, but of all that knew the place, did leap over the burn cleverly and made his escape. After this their bad success everywhere, they attempted to trouble Mackenzie no more, nore his people, but give it totally over, thus these unhappy and bloody troubles ended."

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Personally, I have no theory in connection with this affair. But my friend, Mr Mackay, will excuse me if I prefer plain, unadorned contemporary history like the above to the dogmatic is of even such a seannachaidh" as himself, and the authority of the Lowland exciseman, Grassie, who wrote his version in 1843, about two hundred years later than the above-quoted authorities. In any case I am glad to be in a position to inform Mr Mackay, so far, "when and in what manner" the name of Alexander Mackenzie of Coul first came to be associated with this extraordinary leap. Coul was the fleetest warrior in the North in his day, and was one of the most distinguished leaders of the Clan Mackenzie in those terrible times. Whether the leap was over Aultsigh or Ault-Giubhais, it seems perfectly clear that no Mackenzie followed Allan of Lundy across the ravine; that, consequently, he could not have been killed in the manner described, and that it is more probable, as I suggested elsewhere, that the addition was introduced by those "licensed "seannachies of modern times to adorn the tale.-Yours faithfully,

POEMS AND SONGS, IN GAELIC AND ENGLISH. By Mrs MARY MACKELLAR, Bard of the Gaelic Society of Inverness. Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart.

Ir gives us great pleasure to notice the poetical works of Mrs Mackellar in the form of a pretty volume of 140 pages. As most of our readers know, Mrs Mackellar is no mere rhymer-she is a true poet, and we venture to predict that not only will the present volume add much to her poetical reputation, but that it will also show the highly respectable position she occupies among Victorian poets. With the exception of the bard MacColl, and her own countryman, Ewen Maclachlan, she is perhaps the only Gaelic bard who has made a mark in the composition of English

poetry. She tunes her lyre with equal ease in dulcet strains to captivate either the Saxon or the Gael, and some of her English verse will bear favourable comparison with those of most of our modern English lyric poets. And while she thus maintains a good position among English song-writers, she will be found to stand in the front rank of the Gaelic bards, not merely of the present, but of the past.

Mary Mackellar (neé Cameron) was born and brought up in Lochaber, where she acquired full knowledge of the local Gaelic with all its richness, drinking at the same time poetical inspiration at the foot of Ben-Nevis as if it were Helicon. In course of time she married, and with her husband, Captain Mackellar, visited the principal ports in Northern Europe. She thus had an opportunity of seeing life under various phases-from the quiet, unsophisticated village life in Lochaber to all the activity of the great towns. She became fully conversant with the world as it is, and in her poems we have depicted life and scenes as seen by herself.

In early years the muse manifested herself to Mrs Mackellar, and some of the pieces in this volume were composed many years ago. But the great bulk of those now published were composed when she roved about as a sailor-rovings, by the way, of which she some time ago gave interesting accounts in the columns of the weekly edition of the Free Press. When in Hanover in 1866 she composed one of the best lyrics in the Gaelic language. The water there she found far from palatable, and it compared most unfavourably with the crystal springs that gushed out from the foot of Ben Nevis. The contrast roused within her strong feelings for the old land, and she sang the praises of her native Highlands in flowing verse, finding consolation in the fact that her own Lochy she would soon see:

'S n uair ruigeas mi tìr an àigh,

Tir mo dhàimh 'us luchd mo ghràidh,
Naile, theid mi fhìn gun dàil

A dh'ol mo shàth á Lòchaidh.

A sprig of Highland heather which she received in a distant land awakened thoughts of her dear native mountains, misty glens, winding rivers, and sylvan glades, and these thoughts she embodies in excellent verse

Thou hast come with the smell of my dear native land,
And tales of the freshness of moorland and lea;

From the wild misty glens, where in glory thou bloomest,
A whisper of love thou has brought unto me.

O dear to my heart are thy sweet purple blossoms,

That grow 'mong the brackens that curl on the braes,
And by the green banks of the clear winding rivers,
Whose murmurs I hear, as upon thee I gaze.

We could multiply quotations, but it is unnecessary, for several of Mrs Mackellar's best poetical compositions in recent years have appeared in our own columns, such, for instance, as her spirited song to Captain Chisholm, Glassburn, and her pathetic elegy on the younger Norman Macleod-the former in the tongue of the Gael, the latter in that of the Saxon. Being thus so well known to our readers, it is sufficient to say that we heartily welcome the publication of her poetical works in their present form, and we sincerely hope that the poet may long be spared to sing in flowing verse the praises of her native Highlands.