land agitation of the Highlands is not likely to pass away without some adjustment of the claims of occupiers, acceptable to the greater number who are not yet possessed with extravagant expectations. Only then may it be expected that the crofters, restored to tranquillity, confidence, and the exercise of their natural good sense, will fully avail themselves of the important benefits which may be extended to them in connection with the other remedial measures which we have proposed.

"In submitting the opinions enunciated above, we do not mean to imply that the claims of the crofting people to legislative protection are of an exclusive character. Special legislation has been found necessary for the benefit of workers in plantations, in mines, in factories, and in ships. It may be invoked for other industries with equal justice. The case of the crofters and cottars of the Highlands and Islands is the special matter consigned to our consideration by your Majesty's commands. In the recommendations embodied in the present Report, we have endeavoured to suggest appropriate provisions for their satisfaction and relief, and thus, in the measure of our humble ability, to give effect to your Majesty's gracious solicitude for a deserving class of your Scottish subjects.

"All which we humbly submit to your Majesty's consideration.

"NAPIER AND ETTRICK.

KENNETH S. MACKENZIE.
DONALD CAMERON.

C. FRASER-MACKINTOSH.

ALEXANDER NICOLSON.
DONALD MACKINNON."

THE TRANSLATOR OF THE NEW TESTAMENT INTO GAELIC.The Committee of the Perth Gaelic Society had under consideration recently the proposal to erect a monument over the grave of the late Rev. Mr Stewart, Killin, translator of the New Testament into Gaelic, when it was unanimously resolved that, as many Highlanders and friends throughout the world might like to have a share in perpetuating the name of one who had done so much good to his native land, the Committee of the Perth Gaelic Society throw the subscription list open, so as to give all who felt interested in the matter an opportunity of subscribing. Although the Committee of the Perth Society have taken the initiative, it is proposed that the monument should bear an inscription stating that it has been erected by Highlanders and friends throughout the world. The Committee further suggested, in the event of more money being received than may be required for the erection of the monument (about £50), that the surplus be devoted to the foundation of a Gaelic bursaryto be called the Stewart Bursary-in connection with one of the Scotch Universities. Mr Charles Stewart of Tighn'duin, Killin, Chief of the Perth Gaelic Society, the leading spirit in the movement, and Mr James Macleish, engineer, Mill Street, Perth, have agreed to act as Honorary Treasurers; and Mr Donald Farquharson, watchmaker, High Street, Perth, as General Treasurer. Donations will be received and acknowledged by either of these gentlemen, or by the Secretary, Mr Donald Scott, 45 Stormont Street, Perth. We understand that a number of influential gentlemen will be asked to co-operate with the above, and that an appeal is also to be made to members of Gaelic Societies in Scotland, America, and throughout the world. The Society, we may add, will be glad to receive the names of any persons willing to help.

CUMHA DO DH-FHEAR LONNDABHRA

LE AILEAN DALL.

AIR FONN-" Mile marbhaisg air an t-saoghal."

'S lionmhor sùil a tha galach,

Dubhach, deurach, mu Fhear Lonndabhrà;

'S goirt leam sgaradh do chéile,

Bho 'n la thainig an t-eug ort gun dàil;

Bhi ga d' mhilleadh b'e 'm beud e,

Gun do ghillean ad réir 's tu 'n cruaidh-chàs,

Dhol a chumail do shréine

'N uair a dh' fheargnaich a' bhéist 'thug a' bhlàth.

Tha do nighean fo ghruaman,

Snaim a cridhe cha 'n fhuasgail ach mall,

'S e mar chudthrom na luaidhe

Air tuiteam fo bhruaidhlein nach gann ;

Sior-shnidhe le 'gruaidhibh,

'S i drughadh troimh 'cluasaig fo ceann ;

'S goirt an sgaradh a fhuair i,

'N am dhi dùsgadh, 's cha bhruadar a bh' ann.

'N uair a chaidh thu na d' dhìollaid,

Moch an là ud a' triall bho 'n Tigh-bhàn,

Lan tuigse' agus riasain,

Fhir a chumadh an riaghailt air càch—

Faicleach, furachail, ciallach,

'N uair a ghlac thu do shrian ann ad làimh

Mar stiuir luinge 'n uair fhiathail,

'S i gun eagal, gun fhiamh roimh 'n ghaoith àird.

Chaidh an t-ainmhidh gu dhùlan,

'S cha ghabhadh a' bhrùid cur fo smachd ;

'S m' an deachaidh tu 'd chùram,

'S ann thainig a' chùis ort gu grad;

Leis an leum thug an cùrs-each,

Mar gu'n lasadh am fùdar fo 'n t-sraid,

Bha do phearsa, 's b' i 'n diùbhail,

Air dhroch càramh fo chruidhean a chas.

Bu tu marcaich nan steud-each,

Gun uireasbhuidh céille na 'n dàil;

'S ged a thuislich do cheum ort,

Cha 'n 'eil fios nach e 'n t-eug a bha 'n dàn ;

Ach sgeul cràiteach ri leughadh,

Gun do chàirdean bhi léirsinn mar bhà.

'S tu call d' fhola, trom-chreuchdach,

Gun aon duin' ach thu féin an gleann fàs.

'N uair a thainig do ghille,

Bha sud nàdurra 'thioma bhi truagh ;

Dhoirt a shùilean air mhire,

'S bu dlùth 'dheoir s iad a' sileadh le 'ghruaidh ; Cha robh chòdhail ach sgiorrail,

'S e gun chòmhnadh a' sileadh nam bruach, Tigh'nn na ònrachd bho 'n fhireach,

'S gun fhear-sgeoil aige dh' innis mar fhuair.

Air tus tighinn do 'n òigeir,

Cha d' fhuair e do chòmhradh ach fann, Bha d' fhuil chraobhach, gun fhòtus,

'S i mar chaochan a' dòrtadh le gleann ; Do cheann sgaoilte gun chòmhdach,

Ri neimh na gaoith-reòta b' fhuar greann,

Mar gu 'n tuiteadh fear còmhraig,

Anns an àrfhaich le stròiceadh nan lann.

'S ma 's e bàs bha mu d' chomhair,

Cha robh seòl air cur roimhe 's an àm,

'S bidh mur-bhi air gach gnothach,

Co dhiubh bhitheas ann prothaid no call;

'S ge b'e dh'amhairceadh domhain,

Tha clach-thuislidh 's leac-shleamhain 's gach ball;

An druim an iomaire threabhaidh

Faodaidh cùis tigh'nn thoirt sobhaidh dhuinn ann.

'S an treas latha de'n bhliadhna,

Fhuair thu 'n t-saighead a chriochnaich do chàil;

'S thainig teachdaire d' iarraidh,

A's co dh' fhaodadh do thearnadh bho 'làimh?

Mar gu'n loit' thu le h-iarunn,

Do chorp uasal ga phianadh le cràdh,

'S fhuair do chairdean an diachainn,

'S bu truagh, muladach, cianail, an càs.

Chiad Diluain de'n bhliadhn' ùir,

A fhuair sinn naigheachd a's cùnntas mu d' bhàs;

'S misde maithean do dhùthcha

Gu 'n do chaireadh do chùlaobh ri làr.

An àm reiteachadh cuise

Bhiodh do threuntas air cul do luchd-gràidh;

'S b' fhearr d' fhacal le d' dhùrachd

Na lan glaice do'n chùineadh bho chàch.

Ann an tagradh no 'n dìoladh,

'S i do theanga bu shìobhalta cainnt;

Bha do ghealladh cho cinnteach

'S ged a dheanadh tu 'sgriobhadh le peann;

Cridhe soilleir, gun mhi-run,

Deàrr-lan soluis le firinn gun fheall;

'S an àrd-bhaile na rioghachd,

Sheasadh d' fhacal, 's cha dìobradh do bhann.

Na 'm biodh éiginn air caraid

Bha thu fuasgailteach, fearail, neo-chli ;

'N uair a ghluaiseadh tu mhala

'S mairg a bhuaileadh aon fhear dhiùbh ri d' lìnn;

'N àm an cruadal a tharuinng

Bha do dhualchas ri fallaineachd sil,

Bho Chloinn-Chamshroin an daraich,

'S tu 'shliochd Iain-ic-Ailein nam pios.

Gnùis na féile neo-sgàthach,

Gheibheadh éisdeachd an làthair a' mhòid;

Fiosrach, euchdach 's na ràidibh,

Ghleidheadh ceum troimh 'n bheul-àth far 'm bu chòir;

'S léir a leus air do chàirdean,

Bho 'n a rinn iad do chàradh fo 'n fhòid;

Chaidh an tobar a thràghadh,

'S leir an gaineamh, 's cha tàr iad deur òl.

THE CAMERONS OF LETTERFINLAY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.

ARDVERIKIE, KINGUSSIE, N.B., 31st July 1884.

SIR, I observe in the Celtic Magazine of this month a letter from Mr Colin Chisholm, headed "The last of the Macmartin Camerons of Letterfinlay,” in which he says that it is generally believed that Hugh Cameron, 36 King Street, Inverness, is the only representative of the ancient Macmartin Camerons of Letterfinlay now living.

Now, Mr Editor, kindly allow me, through the columns of your esteemed magazine, to correct such as may be living under such belief. The family that I am of is of the direct male line of the Macmartin Camerons of Letterfinlay. Our family lives in Brae-Lochaber, and has done so for many generations, probably since they sprang out of the Letterfinlay family. When an heir was wanted for the Letterfinlay estate about the beginning of the present century, my grandfather laid his just claim to the property against another branch of the Macmartin Camerons, but he failed, owing to the testimony of an important witness, on whose evidence the right to the property was to be decided. This witness decided falsely against my grandfather, and, of course, the property went to the wrong party. All this is well known in Lochaber by Camerons and others, and the false witness I referred to had to leave the district, owing to what he had done, for the people could not bear him.

Yours faithfully,

CATHERINE CAMERON.

THE GAELIC ORIGIN OF LOCAL NAMES.

THE following paper was read at the February monthly meeting of the Inverness Scientific Society and Field Club :

In the few examples of the original Gaelic meaning of local names which I shall submit to the Club, no attempt will be made to deal with them in a strictly scientific sense. To a Gaelic-speaking man many of the names will at once convey their origin and meaning. Others are now so completely changed in spelling and sound that great consideration and care are necessary in discovering the original word. It is not always safe to deal with these names and explain their meaning from mere similarity of sound. Without a knowledge of the local history, traditions, and contour of the country, that style of accounting for the original name would, in many cases, be most misleading. I shall begin with the name of the town in which we live.

Inverness. Various origins have been suggested for this familiar name, but none of them is yet so completely established as to secure universal assent. I believe there is not much difference of opinion as to the first half of the name-Inver-Gaelic, Inbhir, from In, an obsolete Gaelic word, according to Armstrong, meaning land, and Bior, Irish and Gaelic, meaning water. Thus we have Inverness, the land at the confluence of the River Ness, not the confluence itself. Aber (as contradistinguished from Inver), from Ab, water, and Bior, also water, would mean water to water, or the confluence itself.

But what is the original meaning of the word Ness, from which the town, the river, and the loch take their names? In one of the legends of Glen-Urquhart, by Mr William Mackay, one of our vice-Presidents, published in the "Transactions of the Gaelic Society," we are informed that on one occasion a famous spring in GlenUrquhart sprung at such a rate that it flooded the whole valley now occupied by LochNess, and that, on seeing this remarkable phenomenon, the people exclaimed "Tha Loch a nis ann ;" that is, Now there is a lake in it. I fear that you will have some little difficulty in accepting that theory in a scientific club; especially as the inundation was consequent upon the neglect of carrying out a Druidical behest--that a stone should always be replaced on the well after water had been drawn from it.

66

In the same legends another theory is propounded, which Mr Mackay had since, more than once, to defend in the Inverness Courier, namely, that the name is from Naois, MacUisneach," who is alleged to have built a house or stronghold on one side of the lake, in Glen-Urquhart, so situated that he could fish for salmon from his window and shoot a stag from his door.

I am of opinion that the origin of the word is from "Eas," a waterfall, and that Loch-Ness is simply "Loch-an-Eas" the Loch of the Waterfall, from "Eas-naSmuid" (or the Fall of the Spray), as the Fall of Foyers is called in Gaelic. LochNess, or Loch-Nis, as it is now pronounced in Gaelic-though the oldest forms of it in charters are "Inwernys" and "Innernes "--would be Loch-an-Eas, or the Loch of the Fall. River Ness and Inver Ness naturally follow.

It may be as well that I should, next in order, deal with the modern name of this fall, and of the lands lying on the low ground between it and the lake.

Fall of Foyers, I believe, means Eas-Fo-thir, the Fall Underground, from Fo, under, and Tir, aspirated Thir, land or ground. This is an exact description of the Fall and its surroundings. Before the Lower Dores Road was made, and when there were no boats on Loch-Ness, the Fall could only be seen from the higher ground-the Tir above-when it would truly appear as "Eas Fo-thir," or the Fall Under