. Popular tales of the West Highlands : orally collected . is more curious. It is wilder altogetber, and savours more of anold Bardic composition. It is, in fact, tbe version of a practisednarrator, wbo cannot read. All tbe figbts, are described by botbtbe men in nearly tbe same words ; but eacb bas a different setof pbrases, tbougb sometimes tbey are very like eacb tbese are rapidly given, tbe effect is tbat of a kind ofcbant; sometbing wbicb, witb music, would almost be a rudecborus, and migbt be so uttered as to express tbe battle. Tbe Barra battles are tbus arranged, and tbey ba
. Popular tales of the West Highlands : orally collected . is more curious. It is wilder altogetber, and savours more of anold Bardic composition. It is, in fact, tbe version of a practisednarrator, wbo cannot read. All tbe figbts, are described by botbtbe men in nearly tbe same words ; but eacb bas a different setof pbrases, tbougb sometimes tbey are very like eacb tbese are rapidly given, tbe effect is tbat of a kind ofcbant; sometbing wbicb, witb music, would almost be a rudecborus, and migbt be so uttered as to express tbe battle. Tbe Barra battles are tbus arranged, and tbey bave tbat 242 WEST HIGHLAND TALES. They stood, Conall, the young Eling of Lochlann,and Garna Sgiathlais, opposite to the house of Mac-a-Moir, and they clashed their shields for battle. Mac-a- kind of symmetry which pervades Gaelic popular tales, as theyexist in the islands. 1st, The slender, dark man, who, according to MacNair, isthe King of Spain, says that he will not let Conall go first onshore, because he has promised to be the first to fall. He lands,. These strange figures may represent warriors of the period to whiciithese romantic GaeUc stories chiefly belong. They are copied from plateIvii., Sculptured Stones of Scotland, which represents a curious cross nearDupplin Castle. They are consequently warriors who lived after the intro-duction of Christianity into Scotland, and beyond that I believe the date tobe as uncertain as that of Conall. A great number of animals, knots, men,and monsters, are sculptured on the same cross, and it is manifestly verj old. THE STORY OF CONALL GULBAN. 243 Moir sent out the three best warriors that were in hisrealm to battle with them. They drew their slendergray swords, and they went to meet each other, but and strikes his shield. Five hundred Lughghaisgeach, and asmany Treanghasgeach are sent out; he slays them all, and liesdown amongst them. 2d, Conall, in the ship, says that he has fled, and offers againto go himself; but the Amhas Ormana
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